pd09de02 Proclamation 7632--National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month,...

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country from one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind 
by routing the Taliban. We went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody 
but to liberate people. And now, thanks to our great country and our 
great soldiers and our wonderful friends, young girls--many young girls 
go to school for the first time in a country that has been liberated by 
the American people.
    And we've got more work to do there. And we'll stay there until we 
rout them out. See, they think they can kind of hide in the countryside 
there in Afghanistan, and they may be able to hide for a day or two. 
They may be able to hide for a year. But it doesn't matter how long. 
See, that's what you just have to know. It just doesn't matter how long; 
we're going to stay on the hunt. These people are scattered in 60 
different countries. They're scattered around, and slowly but surely, 
we're dismantling their terrorist network--slowly but surely.
    The guy who led the U.S.S.--the bombing, mastermind the bombing on 
the U.S.S. Cole, he was the Al Qaida general for the Gulf states. He's 
not a problem anymore.

[[Page 2124]]

[Laughter] One by one, we're bringing them to justice. That's what we've 
been called to do. History has put this big spotlight on us, and we're 
not going to let future generations of Americans down.
    And that's why I was so proud to sign this defense appropriation 
authorization bill. The big increases in defense spending sent a clear 
message to the world: We're in this deal for the long pull.
    And we've also got to recognize here in America times have changed. 
See, when a lot of us were growing up, we could feel pretty secure by 
the fact that we had two oceans surrounding us and protecting us from 
dangers that might be gathering abroad. September the 11th, 2001, 
completely changed the strategic calculations of this country. The 
battlefield is here. And therefore, it's incumbent upon the President 
and the Congress to work together to anticipate gathering dangers before 
they become acute, before the situation becomes so dire that drastic 
measures might be needed.
    It's very important for us to recognize threats when we see them and 
deal with them appropriately. After all, the threat gathering in a 
distant land turns out to be a threat directly on the American people. 
We've got to be wise about how we view the world and make sure that the 
new arrangements, the new alliances, aren't allowed to develop, an 
alliance, for example, where a nation that has weapons of mass 
destruction uses a shadowy terrorist network as a forward army, perhaps 
encouraging them to attack America without leaving any fingerprints. 
You've got to worry about disrupting training facilities.
    And that's why I started talking about Iraq and Saddam Hussein, not 
only starting a debate in the Halls of the United States Congress, which 
overwhelmingly supported any means necessary to deal with the threat to 
the United States, but also took the debate to the United Nations and a 
couple of weeks ago to NATO.
    It's important for our fellow Americans to understand that, when 
we're talking about Saddam Hussein, we're talking about a man who said 
he has had no weapons of mass destruction, yet we believe has weapons of 
mass destruction, a man who has not only had weapons of mass 
destruction, but he's used weapons of mass destruction. He used weapons 
of mass destruction on his neighbors, and he used weapons of mass 
destruction on his own citizens. He's a man who has professed hate to 
America as well as our friends and allies. He's a man who has got 
terrorist ties, a man who helps train terrorists. He's a threat, and 
he's a danger.
    I went to the United Nations because I felt like, in a world that 
required cooperation in this new war of the 21st century, that it was 
important the United Nations show some backbone, that the United Nations 
be something other than an empty debating society, that when they issue 
a resolution, they mean it. And on a 15-0 vote, the United Nations 
recognized the threat of Saddam Hussein and demanded that he disarm.
    I then went to our close Allies in NATO and said the same thing. I 
said, ``This man's a threat. He's a threat to us. He's a threat to you. 
He too must disarm.'' And now, as you've seen in your newspapers, 
inspectors are inside of Iraq. Inspectors are there not to play hide-
and-seek with Mr. Saddam Hussein. Inspectors are there to verify the 
will of the world. And the will of the world says clearly, ``Disarm.'' 
Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace, must disarm. And if he refuses to 
disarm, if he tries to deceive his way out of disarmament, this Nation, 
along with other willing nations, will disarm Saddam Hussein.
    I say that because I believe in peace. I believe this is how you 
achieve peace, by being strong and resolute, by fighting terrorism and 
all forms of terror, by not allowing those who hate to try to dictate to 
those of us who love freedom. See, I believe out of the evil done to 
America is going to come some incredible good. Part of the good done to 
this--part of the evil done to this country is going to help lead the 
world to peace.
    Oh, I know some don't believe that, but I do. I believe that if we 
remain steadfast and strong, if we remain true to our values, we'll 
achieve peace, not only peace for ourselves but because we believe every 
life is precious, everybody matters, everybody has worth. We can achieve 
peace in parts of the world where they've quit on peace, where people 
have given up hope.
    I also believe here at home we can be a more compassionate country. 
See, there's

[[Page 2125]]

people who are hurting in America. Amongst our plenty, there are pockets 
of despair, of loneliness and hopelessness. There are people when you 
say, ``American Dream,'' they wonder what the heck does that mean, 
American Dream? They have no idea about the promise of this country. And 
my attitude is, so long as some hurt, we all hurt.
    And I also recognize the limitations of Government. Government can 
hand out money, and frankly, we do a pretty good job of it sometimes. 
But what it can't do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of 
purpose in people's lives. That's done when a neighbor puts their arm 
around somebody who hurts and says, ``I love you. What can I do to 
help?'' See, I strongly believe that America is going to change one 
heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, because the spirit of this 
country, a selfless spirit, is alive and well.
    There are thousands of people all across New Orleans and Louisiana 
and all across America who understand the responsibility of being an 
American. It's more than just making a living. The responsibility of a 
true patriot is somebody who's willing to serve something greater than 
themselves, serve their country. And one way to best serve your country 
is to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself.
    No, there was tremendous evil done to America, but out of the evil 
is a new spirit, a vitality of the American spirit, perhaps best 
represented by the folks on Flight 93. The story, in my judgment, is 
going to be one of the profound stories of the September the 11th, 2001, 
tragedy. It captures what I know is the strength of our country. People 
were flying across the land, and they heard the airplane they were on 
was going to be a weapon. Imagine what went through their minds. They 
eventually got their thoughts together. They called their loved ones and 
said ``goodbye'' and ``I love you.'' History will show that a prayer was 
said. One guy said, ``Let's roll.'' These citizens took the plane into 
the ground to save lives, to serve something greater than themselves.
    That spirit of America is so strong and so alive, it allows me to 
boldly predict that out of the evil done to this country is going to 
come incredible good, not only a peaceful world but a more compassionate 
and hopeful and decent America for every citizen who's lucky enough to 
live in this country.
    And I can make that prediction with absolute certainty, because I 
know America. This is the greatest country, full of the most decent 
people on the face of this Earth. I'm honored you're here. May God bless 
you all, and may God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at the 
Fairmont Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. M.J. ``Mike'' Foster 
of Louisiana; Pat Brister, chairman, Republican Party of Louisiana; 
Donald ``Boysie'' Bollinger, chairman of the board and chief executive 
officer, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.; Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, Al Qaida's 
chief of operations for the Persian Gulf; and President Saddam Hussein 
of Iraq.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 2125-2126]
 
Pages 2107-2136
 
Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
 
Proclamation 7632--National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 
2002

December 3, 2002

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Drunk and drugged driving threatens the safety of millions of 
Americans. Reducing the incidence of impaired driving remains one of our 
Nation's greatest challenges. As we gather with family and friends to 
celebrate this holiday season, I urge all Americans to observe National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month by making responsible choices 
that will help keep our roads safer for all.
    Drunk driving accidents take a life every 30 minutes and injure 
someone every 2 minutes. In the last 24 months, 41 percent of those 
killed in traffic accidents, which is almost 35,000 Americans, have been 
killed in alcohol-related crashes. To better protect our citizens and 
decrease the number of drunk and drugged driving traffic accidents, we 
must work together to educate our communities about the seriousness of 
this offense and we must raise awareness of its devastating 
consequences.

[[Page 2126]]

    My Administration supports efforts to save lives and prevent 
injuries resulting from impaired driving. The Department of 
Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
works with local law enforcement agencies that conduct sobriety 
checkpoints and saturation patrols; and it also supports State efforts 
to pass legislation that increases punishment for those who drink and 
drive.
    The NHTSA and its State and local partners are dedicated to 
eliminating impaired driving and stopping the associated injuries and 
fatalities. The NHTSA's national safety campaign--You Drink & Drive. You 
Lose.--aims to lower America's impaired driving fatality rate to less 
than 11,000 people per year by the year 2005. By providing its partner 
organizations with guidance on overcoming this national challenge, this 
important campaign is assisting local law enforcement agencies, 
community groups and organizations, public health professionals, and 
businesses to coordinate and address this vital issue.
    As part of the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign, law 
enforcement agencies across the Nation will be out in full force from 
December 20, 2002, to January 5, 2003, to stop drunk and drugged 
driving. During the holiday season, organizations and citizens 
throughout the country also will be working to prevent this deadly 
activity by encouraging citizens to choose sober, designated drivers, 
keep impaired family members and friends off our roads, report drivers 
who are under the influence, and educate young people about safe, 
alcohol- and drug-free driving behavior. Through cooperation and 
determination, every American can do something to make a difference and 
help stop impaired drivers before they harm others.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2002 as National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I call upon State and 
community leaders to join the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. national 
mobilization between December 20, 2002, and January 5, 2003. I also urge 
all Americans to work to enhance the safety of our Nation's roadways and 
protect the well-being of our drivers, passengers, and pedestrians 
during this holiday season and every day of the year.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of 
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
seventh.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 5, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
December 6.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 2126-2129]
 
Pages 2107-2136
 
Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
 
Remarks on Signing the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 
2002 and an Exchange With Reporters

December 4, 2002

    The President. Good morning. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you 
for coming.
    Legislation I sign today will create a new place on the Internet 
that is safe for our children to learn and to play and to explore. Dot 
Kids will be part of the U.S. country domain on the Internet. It will 
function much like the children's section of a library, where parents 
feel comfortable allowing their children to browse. It will be a safe 
place for children to go.
    This bill is a wise and necessary step to safeguard our children 
while they use computers and discover the great possibilities of the 
Internet. Every site designated ``.kids'' will be a safe zone for 
children. The sites will be monitored for content, for safety, and all 
objectionable material will be removed. Online chat rooms and instant 
messaging will be prohibited, unless they can be certified as safe. The 
Web-sites under this new domain will not connect a child to other online 
sites outside the child-friendly zone.
    I want to thank the supporters of this good piece of legislation. I 
want to thank them for their hard work: Representatives Shimkus, Upton, 
and Markey, as well as Senators Ensign, Dorgan and Fitzgerald. I want to 
thank them for coming. I am going to ask them

[[Page 2127]]

to come up in just a second as I sign this piece of legislation.
    All of us here today share the same goals: We must give our Nation's 
children every opportunity to grow in knowledge without undermining 
their character. We must give parents effective tools to help their 
children learn. And we must be on the side of our parents as they work 
hard to raise their children. We must give our parents the peace of mind 
knowing their children are learning in safety. This act of Congress 
helps us meet these goals.
    I appreciate you all coming today. It's my honor now to sign the Dot 
Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act. Would the Members join me.

[At this point, the President signed the bill.]

    The President. I'll answer a few questions. Fournier [Ron Fournier, 
Associated Press], I may answer a few questions. You're stuck in a mini 
press conference here. Yes?

U.N. Inspections in Iraq

    Q. Sir, can you tell me specifically what the inspectors have or 
haven't been able to do, what they've uncovered, or what they haven't 
uncovered that leads you to believe that the signs are not encouraging 
that they're doing their job?
    The President. Yes. Well, I can tell you this: This isn't about 
inspectors. The issue is whether Saddam Hussein will disarm. Will he 
disarm in the name of peace? And we expect him to fully comply. And you 
know, one of my concerns is that in the past he has shot at our 
airplanes. Anybody who shoots at U.S. airplanes or British airplanes is 
not somebody who looks like he's interested in complying with 
disarmament. He wrote letters, stinging rebukes to what the U.N. did. He 
was very critical of the U.S. and Britain. That doesn't appear to be 
somebody who was that anxious to comply.

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