Everytime I watch a White House news conference witch President Bush I scream at the television: ask real questions! WTF are you afraid of? Well, these are American journalists, the people who brought you Watergate. You might just expect something from them.
Yesterday, I stumbled on something interesting. The news archive on the White House homepage. You might me laughing right now, but there are some real gems to be found, especially in interviews with foreign media.
I've excerpted a couple of them below the fold and just so you see that America is doing something about those pesky foreign journalists make sure to take a very good look at the last excerpted interview.
First some excerpts from an interview of the President by
Diana Moukalled, Future Television of Lebanon on March 9, 2006:
Q Mr. President, as you know, the situation in Iraq is really deteriorating, the country is on the edge of a civil war. The support for U.S. policies among Arab public opinion is -- it's minimal. Many believe that you are focusing on Lebanon to divert attention from what's going on in Iraq, or it's a part of a whole scenario to control the region. Why did Lebanon get so much of your attention in the past year, whereas Syria controlled Lebanon for 30 years?
THE PRESIDENT: Because I believe in democracy. I believe democracy yields peace. That's a historical -- it's been proven throughout history that democracies yield the peace we all want. And I repeat to you: I want young boys and girls in Lebanon to grow up in peace. It's what I want.
I am -- I want the same thing for Iraq. I want Iraq to be a democracy -- not a U.S. democracy, but a democracy that takes into the -- the traditions, the Iraqi traditions and the history of Iraq, just like the Lebanese democracy will reflect the history of Lebanon and the traditions of Lebanon.
a few lines down:
Q But so far, you're not winning the hearts and minds of Arab people. Why not?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it's -- there's a lot of negative news on TV. There's a -- the enemy to democracy has got one tool, and that is the capacity and willingness to kill innocent people. And that shocks people. People of good conscience grieve when they see innocent life being taken by car bombs or when they read about beheadings.
The following is an excerpt from a Roundtable Interview of the President by Indian Journalists on February 22, 2006:
Q Is the U.S. more comfortable dealing with dictators and monarchs?
THE PRESIDENT: Do what now? Do I feel comfortable doing what?
Q Dealing with dictators and monarchs?
THE PRESIDENT: Do I feel comfortable dealing with them?
Q No, the U.S.
THE PRESIDENT: The U.S. feel comfortable with dealing with dictators?
Q And monarchs.
THE PRESIDENT: And monarchs? Well, I mean, I've got a great relationship with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. (Laughter.) She's a lovely lady and a great figure in a country that's an important ally. And, of course, that monarchy is very supportive of a free and open and democratic system.
You must take the words that I said in my second inaugural address very seriously, in that we must end tyranny in the 21st century. It's a goal that all of us can work on. India has got a unique role to play. I mean, when you really think about troubled spots, these are countries many times that are having difficulty dealing with what it means to honor minority rights and welcoming different religions within kind of a social and civil fabric.
And another exchange taken from an Interview of the President by Foreign Print Journalists from June 30, 2005:
Klaus.
Q Another subject which will be in some way at the G8 meeting also, Iraq. Denmark is contributing a substantial proportion of the amount of troops to the conflict. Your most recent speech continuously made the link between the conflict and 9/11. How do you react towards those who say that connection has been disproved and that growing skepticism in this country and even more in Europe cannot simply be dismissed by your resolve to stay the course, as you say?
THE PRESIDENT: My point was about September the 11th is that America was attacked and now we're at war in a global war on terror. That's the connection with September the 11th. Some in Europe, I recognize, view September the 11th as a terrible moment. We view it as not only a terrible moment, but a clear indication that we're at war with an ideology; people that are willing to use terror to spread their ideology. So my speech, if you look carefully at how it was written -- I'm confident you did, Klaus -- shows that I was making the connection between the attack and the global war on terror that we now face.
And the ideology of those who attacked us is very similar to those that have now gone into Iraq to try to stop the progress; and make clear our strategy is to find the terrorists, bring them to justice before they harm us here, as well as defeat the ideology of hate with an ideology of hope -- and that's democracy. Our strategy in Iraq is to promote a stable democracy -- in other words, encourage political progress and, at the same time, train up the Iraqis so they can do the fighting. And I look forward to sharing my thoughts about the progress we are making with your Prime Minister. They've been -- Denmark has been a steadfast ally and I know he has obviously stood strong in the face of political pressures, made a decision based upon what he thought was right for the world -- spreading peace.
I strongly believe that we're laying the foundation for peace for generations to come. I reject the notion that certain countries cannot be democratic. I view that elitist, I view that as condemning people to hopelessness. Our policy up to now, prior to September the 11th, was why don't we just kind of tolerate tyranny and hope for the best. It doesn't work that way. And we learned a strong lesson.
The speech, I think you'll see, was that the attack indicated we're at war, and Iraq is part of that war -- otherwise why would people be pouring into the country trying to defeat us? Why? Because they fear democracy. They fear the competing ideology that is a hopeful ideology.
Klaus seems to be especially pesky. Here he goes again:
Klaus.
Q Guantanamo is still a very hot topic for many Europeans. After three years, there are still prisoners there who haven't had their case heard. And the U.N. now are talking about investigating secret U.S. prisons and detainee facilities. Is that a thing -- in the investigation, the U.S. would cooperate with? And don't you have fears that this is going to harm the U.S. image a lot if this situation goes on for years?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think -- I think if the truth is not told, it's a problem. But let's talk about the truth, in terms of Guantanamo. First of all, there's inspections 24 hours a day, seven days a week available for the International Red Cross. There's been a lot of press contingents down to take a look at the situation firsthand, and a lot of congressional folks going down. In other words, a lot of people -- there's a transparent situation there.
I think we probably had about 800 or so people detained there, and remember, Klaus, I made a decision as to what to do with people swept off of a battlefield who didn't wear uniforms. I mean, this is a different kind of war. I made the decision they would be treated humanely, just like the Geneva Accords insist, and they have been.
Of the 800 detained, some 200 or so have been sent back to their countries. In other words, we screened and analyzed and took a look at whether they would be a threat again. I'm in a dilemma -- at one point during this process, because people were let back out on the -- sent back to a country and they ended up killing an American -- what do I tell the loved one? In other words, these people were fighting, they were fighters, they were on the battlefield.
Secondly, I agree with you. We need to make sure there is a way forward. And that's why I set up military commissions. But the military -- and by the way, in a military commission, people would have lawyers, they would have -- there would be procedures, court procedures. Unfortunately -- or fortunately, I shouldn't -- let me take that back -- what has happened has been that our court system is analyzing, making a judicial decision as to whether or not the military -- these people should be tried in a military commission or in a civilian court, and we're awaiting a verdict on that. And once that happens, then there will be a way forward.
So, as you can see foreign journalists can be something of a hassle from time to time but Bush's friends seem to be working on it as becomes evident from this exchange taken from an Interview of the President by Eagle Television from November 8, 2005:
Q Democracies change leaders every few years, so in that change often comes a change in a nation's foreign policy. So what steps has your administration taken to ensure that the foreign policy initiatives you have taken will continue to be guiding principles for the U.S. after you leave the White House?
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, that's a very interesting question. First of all, there are certain values that are inherent in our country that any leader will bring to the White House: the value of human rights, human dignity, freedom to worship, freedom of the press, freedom to speak your mind. And so foreign policy will have inherent in it those values.
The other thing is, is that once democracy takes hold -- it's hard work to make it work, but once it takes hold, it's hard to change it. Because democracy really speaks to the people and says, we listen to you, you're free, you can realize your dreams. And so one of the things my administration is doing is working in places where there hasn't been democracy. I think of the Palestinian Territories, or Iraq. We're working in places where there's a new democracy to help strengthen those democracies. Lebanon is a good example -- Georgia, Ukraine. We're working with countries that have dedicated themselves to democracy but want the friendship of the United States to help them even further democracy. And Mongolia is such a case.
And so one way you leave behind a foundation that others can't undo is to give people -- help people develop a form of government that just can't be unwound unless something catastrophic were to take place inside the country.
...
Q So you will be speaking to our leaders and our nation about the dangers that corruption poses to our democracy. Can you give us a preview about it?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not going to give you a preview of the speech, because then people may not watch it if they get a preview, see. On the other hand, I will say on your TV screens, there should be no corruption in government, that one of the foundations of any government is the ability for the people to trust the government, itself. And a foundation of democracy, and a foundation of our foreign policy, and a foundation of our Millennium Challenge Account is that there be honest government.
...
Q Okay, the last question is so important for our television. You might be aware that the Eagle Television was the first independent TV station established in Mongolia, with American Christians, and Mongolians are working together to advance freedom of speech, press and conscience in our country. So, first, how do you feel about the role of ordinary American citizens supporting this kind of work for Mongolia's democracy? And the second, what further role do you think the ordinary American citizens can play in helping to address faith and freedom in Mongolia through media?
THE PRESIDENT: Very good question. First of all, I believe in a free media, and I believe that people ought to -- and a media that is independent from government, like we have in America, is an important part of a society. In other words, government officials should not fear a free media, they ought to welcome a free media.
Listen, in my own media, I don't agree with everything that is said, but I strongly support their right to say it, just like I strongly support the right of people of faith to be involved with helping to spread this concept of freedom.
Secondly, I think investments will help the people of Mongolia. In other words, there's a way for people in America -- businesses, for example -- to invest in Mongolia, because that means jobs and stability and a good future.
But, no, listen, you'll find Americans are very compassionate people that love freedom. And they want to help people be free. And by the way, your form of government is democracy, but it ought to reflect your traditions and your great history. And I know it is.
Listen, I'm looking forward to going to your wonderful country. It's going to be a fantastic experience. I'm excited, I truly am excited to come.
Q Great. Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, very good job. Thank you.
Any emphasis was added, of course.
This is what I found going back only to June of last year. I bet there are more gems hidden in the archives. Looking forward to your comments.
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