White House Report: State of Union, Abu Sayef, Iraq, Borders

(White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed) (930)

BUSH STATE OF UNION TO DISCUSS WHAT COMES NEXT IN WINNING THE WAR ON
TERRORISM

President Bush "looks forward to sharing with the American people his
thoughts about the war on terrorism, what has been accomplished so
far, and what is next in terms of winning the war against terrorism,"
in his State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress the
evening of January 29, Fleischer said.

In that speech, Bush will discuss "winning the war on terrorism beyond
the Afghanistan theater alone," said his Press Secretary.

UNITED STATES CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING OF HOSTAGES IN PHILIPPINES

Asked to comment on the holding of two American missionaries in the
Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, Fleischer said:

"The United States government has made it plain that the United States
is very concerned about the taking of hostages in the Philippines.
There is nowhere in the world, including the Philippines, where the
United States would ever countenance the taking of American hostages.
It is another reminder about the risks that the United States is up
against with terrorists around the world who resort to the capturing
of innocents to pursue their terrorist purposes."

BUSH INSISTS THAT IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN HONOR AGREEMENTS HE HAS MADE

Asked to comment on President Bush's remarks on Iraq, in the interview
with NBC's Tom Brokaw broadcast January 23, that Afghanistan was just
the first step in the war on terrorism and that Iraq was being watched
carefully, Fleischer said:

"Well, the President was very clear in what he said, and the reason
the President said it is because Saddam Hussein signed an agreement
that helped end the Persian Gulf War in which he committed himself and
promised to allow inspectors into the country. That was one of the
terms of surrender. And it's another indication of the risks that
Saddam Hussein presents to the world when he made that agreement,
swore to the world, and then as soon as he was able to, he reneged on
the agreement. And the President stands strong and firm in his
insistence that Saddam Hussein live up to the agreements that he
himself made, that he committed his country to, to protect peace and
stability in the region.

"And the President believes very deeply -- having not decided, and I'm
not indicating any next course of action specific to Iraq -- but that
the world follows strong leadership. And I think that's one of the
lessons that you've seen in Afghanistan, that the President was strong
in Afghanistan, and the world has followed. President Musharraf was
strong in Pakistan, and the Pakistani people have followed. And that's
how the President believes that the United States can lead the world
and lead the world to a more stable world and more peaceful world."

The United Nations has passed resolutions regarding the return of
inspectors to Iraq and Iraq is violating those resolutions, Fleischer
said.

President Bush "has indicated up to this point that Iraq needs to
return the inspectors to Iraq. That is the extent of what the
President has said to date," on that subject, Fleischer said.

BUSH TO MAKE SPEECH IN PORTLAND, MAINE ON BORDER SECURITY

President Bush flies to Portland, Maine January 25 where he will speak
about U.S. border security, Fleischer said.

Bush has asked his Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, to review
ways to make "the borders more efficient in terms of allowing the flow
of people and the flow of commerce that we welcome into this country,
while at the same time preventing people and goods that we don't want
in this country from getting into the country. In other words, having
a border system that keeps terrorists out and keeps people in who want
to come to the United States; keeping drugs out, but letting commerce
in," Fleischer said.

Ridge will be travelling to Mexico shortly, at the President's
direction, to talk with officials there about border initiatives with
Mexico, Fleischer added.

"This remains a top priority for President Bush," said Fleischer. "The
President, despite what has happened on September 11th, sees it as
vital and in America's interest to work closely with Mexico so that
our border with Mexico facilitates the free flow of goods, that people
can come to the United States legally for opportunity while having a
border that keeps out drugs. And that remains an important priority.
The initiative the President is going to be announcing in Portland,
Maine, tomorrow will be very helpful in addressing these border issues
both to the north and the south," Fleischer said.



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