President Bush Participates in Press Availability with Prime Minister Rasmussen

March 1, 2008,PRESIDENT BUSH: Welcome. Thanks for coming. A couple opening statements, and we'll answer two questions apiece.,Mr. Prime Minister, we're really thrilled you're here. Laura and I love having you and Anne-Mette with us. Pretty good guests when you can have a meaningful mountain bike ride at sunset, and then at sunrise, and the man not even break into a sweat. You're in incredible condition, and I really have enjoyed my time with you -- my time when we talked, and my time when we rode. I also appreciate the fact that you're a good personal friend and strong leader.,Ranch¹² in Crawford, Texas, Saturday, March 1, 2008, in Crawford, Texas. White House photo by Shealah Craighead" src="/upimg/allimg/080306/1112030.jpg" width="254" align="right" border="0" /> I want to share with you some of the things we talked about. First of all, we talked about the war on terror and ideological¹ struggle of the 21st century. I appreciate your clear vision of the threats we all face -- and the opportunities that, by working together, we can help young democracies survive, and help people realize the blessings² of free societies.,I do want to thank you very much for the strong support of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. I know brave Danish soldiers have lost their lives. Our deepest sympathies go for their -- to their loved ones. It is painful when anybody loses a life in -- any time, much less in combat. But it's very important for the people of Denmark, like it is for the people of the United States, to understand that, one, we're denying extremist groups safe haven³, the very same groups that attacked and killed thousands of innocent people. We're helping⁴ young girls go to school. We're helping infrastructure⁵ develop. We're helping people find health care. We're helping a hopeful society begin to emerge. And we spent a lot of time talking about that.,I also appreciate very much the Danish contributions to help the people of Iraq. I strongly believe on the policy of return on success. We're returning some of our troops based upon success. That's precisely⁶ what the Danish government did, because they were successful in their mission. And I congratulate you, Mr. Prime Minister, for having a vision.,I also was able to share with you my sense of what's happening in Iraq. We're watching a young democracy grow -- much to the amazement⁷ of a lot of critics, a lot of people who said, well, it's impossible for this to happen in the rocky soils of Iraq. And it's happening today. And there's still more work to be done.,We're looking forward to our summit in Bucharest. We talked about what we intend to do and how to work to have a comprehensive, strategic plan available for Iraq -- I mean for Afghanistan -- so our allies can take this plan home; can explain to the people why it's important. We also talked about the need to make sure that there's more civilian-military cooperation; that tangible⁸ evidence of a free society begins to become more evident to people and to grassroots in Afghanistan.,joint⁹ a press availability with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark at The Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas, Saturday, March 1, 2008, in Crawford, Texas. White House photo by Eric Draper" src="/upimg/allimg/080306/1112031.jpg" width="254" align="right" border="0" /> We talked about the spirit of NATO's open door policy, and we jointly¹⁰ welcome new nations in the Alliance, so long as they meet the standards for membership.,We also talked about other global challenges. We talked about Iran, about how Iran must verifiably suspend its uranium enrichment program and come clean about its nuclear intentions and past actions. I also want Iran to stop supporting terror.,We also talked about Africa. I briefed the Prime Minister on our trip to Africa, talked about our mutual¹¹ desire to help the folks suffering in Darfur. We talked about what happened in Kenya, and we're most grateful to the leaders there to help reconcile what could have been a very difficult situation.,Finally, we talked about climate change -- more than once. We talked about climate change as I showed him my ranch, and about how we're conservationists here in Crawford. And then we talked about the need for us to develop alternative technologies. And I really do welcome Denmark's leadership for the 2009 U.N. climate change meeting. And I appreciate very much you taking the lead in this issue.,And -- look, it was a great visit. And I'm now looking forward to giving the man a hamburger -- (laughter) -- after answering a couple of questions. But, welcome, sir.,PRIME MINISTER RASMUSSEN: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Let me, first of all, express my gratitude¹³ for your invitation to visit your ranch in Crawford. My wife and I are very pleased to be here. We have had a rewarding stay -- and a challenging stay, I must say. (Laughter.) You made me work very hard out there on the terrific mountain bike trails on your wonderful ranch. And I can't imagine a better place to spend time, talking and enjoying time with good friends. And I can't imagine a better symbol of the close and strong ties between the United States and Denmark.,PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.,PRIME MINISTER RASMUSSEN: Mr. President, freedom, democracy and human rights are the core values that unite us. Freedom and dignity of the individual are universal values. It is values that people living under oppression and brutal¹⁴ regimes strive for. We have an obligation to stand by these people in their struggle for liberty and democracy. This is our common challenge. And you, Mr. President, and the United States, have, above anyone else, advanced this vision of liberty and democracy around the world. Allow me to pay tribute to you for this.,THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir.,PRIME MINISTER RASMUSSEN: And it is no easy task. There are obstacles and opponents. But I do share your vision: Freedom is universal. And in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship, no one can be neutral. It is as simple as that., That is why we are in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. That is why we removed a brutal dictator in Iraq. That is why your leadership in the Middle East is crucial. That is why we work for development, and against extremism, in Africa. That is why we have joined forces in the Balkans, stabilized¹⁵ and recognized Kosovo, and work for Balkan countries to be fully¹⁶ integrated in Europe.,The United States and Europe are key partners in this endeavor. Through NATO and the European Union, we reach out to aspiring¹⁷ countries like Ukraine and Georgia. We support their efforts to reform and develop links with Europe and across the Atlantic. And we will send a strong signal of support from our upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest.,Mr. President, as you mentioned, in 2009, Denmark will host the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. And it will take place in the "Land of Windmills." We need a comprehensive global agreement, and American leadership is needed to reach that goal, and American leadership is crucial in order to motivate major economies like India and China to contribute.,Climate is a huge international challenge. Many countries are suffering from adverse¹⁸ weather conditions. We need to protect our globe. We need to reduce CO2 emissions¹⁹ through green technology. We need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, and we need to break our addiction²⁰ to oil -- not only to counter climate change, but also to reduce our dependency on unstable²¹ and sometimes even undemocratic regimes. And I see the United States and Europe as key partners in the struggle to fight climate change and ensure energy security.,Mr. President, together we have handled the challenges of the past. Now let us together meet the challenges and threats of the future. We owe that to future generations.,Thank you.,PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.,Deb.,Q Mr. President, I'd like to ask you about Iraq. General Petraeus and Gates are talking about a pause in troop reductions once we get to the pre-surge levels in July. Will that be it, or is it possible that there will be additional drawdowns before you leave office? And also, does the Iraqi government's decision to host Ahmadinejad in Baghdad undermine your efforts to isolate²² Tehran?,PRESIDENT BUSH: To the latter, look, he's a neighbor. And the message needs to be, quit sending in sophisticated equipment that's killing²³ our citizens, and that the message will be that we're negotiating a long-term security agreement with the United States precisely because we want enough breathing space for our democracy to develop., My message is for him, stop exporting terror, and that the international community is serious about continuing to isolate Iran until they come clean about their nuclear weapons ambitions. And that's why there will be action in the United Nations here early next week, as we work collaboratively to continue to send a clear message.,In terms of troop levels, there is going to be enormous speculation²⁴ again about what decision I will make. I can only tell you, Deb, that it's going to be based upon the recommendations of Secretary Gates, General Petraeus, the Joint Chiefs. My sole criterion is, whatever we do, it ought to be in the context of success.,If we fail in Iraq, the consequences for world peace will be enormous. The consequences for the security of the United States will be enormous. Therefore, my question is, what does it take to succeed? And we're not going to let politics drive my decision -- again. If I worried about polls and focus groups, I wouldn't have sent more troops in. I sent more troops in because the situation was unacceptable. And now we're succeeding. And so, therefore, Ryan Crocker -- the Ambassador -- and General Petraeus will be coming back, and they'll report to the country and they'll report to me. And the decisions -- you'll see them evolve.,Q Can I ask just one follow-up?,PRESIDENT BUSH: Maybe. (Laughter.),Q Are you worried about reducing U.S. troop presence before the elections in October?