From 
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUponRD: Are you concerned about the growing anti-Americanism in the Arab world and elsewhere?
Bush: By leading us all toward a more peaceful world, America at times will create enemies. We're asking people to change, to listen to the voices of others in their countries. And some don't want to do that. Anti-Americanism also occurs because people don't like that America is powerful. We're leading the world in fighting HIV/AIDS, in feeding the hungry, in opening up markets to poor nations. We're not only a strong nation, but a compassionate one. And our position sometimes gives people a great opportunity to shout at the big guy. But so long as our actions convey our heart and our ideals, we'll be fine in the long run.
RD: What is your vision for Iraq's future?
Bush: The problem is that there has not been the freedom there that encourages civic participation or schools to flourish or health care systems that answer to people's needs. So there's been resentment, and resentment breeds hostility, and hostility breeds terror. So our policy is one that says Iraq will be a free, democratic country. Now it doesn't have to be a Western-style democracy, and it's not going to happen immediately. But stability will come when the Iraqi people have a stake in the future of their country.
And think about it. A free Iraq will embolden people who love freedom in Iran. We're also setting the example for how a Palestinian state can, and I believe will, emerge. I'm trying to convey my sense of what I call "realistic idealism."
RD: With gas and oil prices so volatile, people are worrying about fuel and energy costs. What can we do about that?
Bush: Look, we need an energy plan. We are dependent on foreign sources of oil. I've been saying this for three years, but we can't get our plan out of Congress.
Here's what that plan is based on. One, we've got to encourage conservation -- get people to buy fuel-efficient cars. Two, we have to promote alternative sources of energy, like ethanol and bio-diesel. We ought to have safe nuclear energy, and I believe we have the technologies to do so. We need to promote clean coal technology. And we need to modernize our electricity grid.
In the long term, technology is going to help us. For example, we're spending billions on a hydrogen-powered automobile. That'll change our dependence on foreign sources of energy when we get this automobile up and running.
RD: How do you propose to make health care more affordable for more people?
Bush: First, we need medical liability reform. There are a lot of frivolous lawsuits against doctors that run up medical costs. Second, small businesses must be allowed to pool risk in order to reduce the cost of their health insurance premiums. Third, we must ensure that tax-free health savings accounts enable consumers to make wise choices about what they spend on medicine and how they treat their bodies. Fourth, we need to use information technology to more efficiently deliver services. I know of one dad who took his daughter to various specialists because she had a rare form of leukemia. And he had to carry his daughter's files from doctor to doctor to doctor, which is incredibly costly. These are practical ways to bring costs under control without federalizing health care, which would be wrong for the country.
RD: It looks like abortion will be front and center as an issue in this campaign.
Bush: It probably will be because there are a lot of strong opinions on the subject. My attitude on abortion is that the President needs to promote what I call a culture of life. Our children ought to be welcomed to life and protected by law. Abortion laws will change when people's hearts change, and therefore a President's job is to aim for the ideal world in which people respect every life and we make abortions more scarce in America.
RD: What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent in this election?
Bush: I really don't want to get into that sort of debate. I'll just tell you what my vision is.
Look, I want to win. That's what you've got to know. Because I've got a job to do, and I know how to do it. I want to win the war on terror -- and we are winning. And it's essential that the United States never yield, because if we begin to yield, other nations will grow weak.
Nearly every world problem makes it to this desk in the Oval Office, and you have to have a clear vision about what the world ought to look like. And you must speak clearly. You can't double-talk. You can't hedge. When an American President speaks, the world listens. And the world is a better and more peaceful place when America acts on the words spoken.
Advertisement 
Your Comments
See all
...
Post your commentCancel