(22 Feb 2001) English/Nat
XFA
President George W. Bush gave his first White House news conference on Thursday, a month after his inauguration.
He said one of his early goals was to "change the tone" in Washington and "encourage civil discourse. I think we're making good progress."
The news conference came on the heels of the arrest of F-B-I agent Robert Philip Hanssen, accused of spying for Moscow for more than 15 years.
Bush said he was deeply concerned by the case and looked forward to the findings of an investigation led by former F-B-I Director William Webster into how the espionage could have occurred.
He indicated the Hanssen case would not derail U-S relations with Moscow.
Bush said he would deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in a very straightforward" manner.
Six days after U-S and British planes struck targets in Iraq, President Bush called the mission a success even though more than half the bombs missed their targets.
He said at a news conference that the airstrikes had two objectives: one to send a signal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein; the other to degrade his military abilities.
The President asserted both were successful.
Asked about reports the Chinese were helping Iraq develop a fibre optic system to link their missile defence sites, Bush said he was concerned but for the moment it did not appear the system was sufficiently developed to endanger American pilots.
The President also will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David on Friday and Saturday.
Bush said expressed determination to maintain the close ties between Washington and London. "Britain and the United States have got a special relationship; we'll keep it that way," he said.
Bush said he looked forward to talking with Blair about the importance of NATO but refused to answer a question on his views about European plans to develop a rapid reaction force within the alliance.
The President also said he hopes Mexican President Vicente Fox can serve as "a stabilising influence" in Latin America.
Bush met Fox last Friday in Mexico.
Bush said he expects Congress will soon give him "fast-track" authority for negotiating trade agreements so he can better promote free trade between North and South America.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I have confidence in the men and women who work at the F-B-I. I am deeply concerned about the current spy case, as is Director Freeh. He has made the right move in selecting judge Webster to review all procedures in the F-B-I to make sure that this doesn't happen again."
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, U-S President
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The primary goal of which will be to say to Saddam Hussein, "we won't tolerate you developing weapons of mass destruction and we expect you to leave your neighbours alone. I have said that the sanctions regime is like Swiss cheese - that meant that they weren't very effective and we are going to review current sanctions policy and review options as to how to make the sanctions work. The primary goal is to make it clear to Saddam that we expect him to be a peaceful neighbour in the region and we expect him not to develop weapons of mass destruction. And if we find him doing so, there will be a consequence."
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, U-S President
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We're concerned about Chinese presence in Iraq and my administration is sending the appropriate response to the Chinese. Yes, it's troubling that they be involved in helping Iraq develop a system that will endanger our pilots."
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, U-S President
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, U-S President
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