Bush, speaking with a small group of business reporters at the White House, volunteered twice that he’s not gearing up for a new conflict in response to a question about the future costs of the war on terror. “I have no specific operation in mind at this point in time,” the president said, adding a few minutes later, “I can’t think of a specific moment or a specific incident that would require military action as we speak.”
Immediately after hostilities ended in Iraq, tough talk from the administration about Syria and threats from North Korea about starting up plutonium production raised speculation that Bush might be contemplating military action in those places. The president, who has made no secret of his loathing for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, last week touted in a speech a “new era of warfare” in which “we can target a regime, not a nation.” But the administration has apparently decided to proceed with talks with North Korea–set to open Wednesday–that will attempt to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. And Bush has lately praised Syria for its actions in blocking Iraqi fugitives.
The president spent most of the 45-minute session pitching what’s left of his economic stimulus package ahead of a trip to Ohio on Thursday, where he’ll make the case for a larger tax cut than Congress seems willing to give him. White House officials say the Ohio venue has nothing to do with the fact that it is home to his fellow Republican, Sen. George Voinovich, who has led opposition to the plan. In answer to a question, Bush also suggested he would appoint Greenspan to a fifth term if the 77-year-old Fed chairman wanted one. Some at the White House were displeased recently with Greenspan, who questioned the president’s $726 billion stimulus plan. In addition, Bush indicated that all of his proposed tax cuts, including for the estate tax, should be made permanent.
Wisecracking as he popped a sucking candy into his mouth, Bush also poked fun at the demands for instant victory during the Iraq war. “We live in kind of a real-time TV world in which there’s breathless anxiety about every phase of action that was taken overseas,” Bush said. " ‘You started your campaign–how come you haven’t won yet?’ I’ll never forget that after the euphoria of the first weekend, there was a sense of ‘Oops! How come it’s not over?’ And you know, ‘How come democracy hasn’t taken hold yet in a country [that’s been] been enslaved for 30 years?’"
Bush continued, “I’m going to have to constantly remind the American people–and the world for that matter–that the evolution of democracy is going to take time in Iraq … We’re addressing the health needs, the nutritional needs of the people. Soon we’ll address the issue of education.”
He also affected unconcern about recent Shiite demands for an Islamic state in Iraq and for a quick U.S. departure. “I love the stories about people saying, ‘Isn’t it wonderful to be able to express our religion, the Shia religion, on a pilgrimage this weekend.’… It made my day to read that.” Bush indicated the cost of the war in Iraq was less than he was prepared to spend. “I told the American people it didn’t matter how much it cost to win the war, we’re going to spend it,” he said. “Fortunately the main military thrust was relatively quick in Iraq.” He also said “there’s a lot of countries that want to help. Some countries are helping now. Some countries require UN certification. We’re working with them. The State Department is out soliciting help and the response has been very positive.”
