Summary of the Question and Answer session from

Bush’s speech on Monday, March 20, 2006 in Cleveland

Hopeful society

      -encourage minority home ownership

      -more faith-based programs: mentoring, drug rehab, community health centers

Immigration reform

Question: Should we reform Title IV - legal immigrants to the front of the line

      -need to know who is coming

      -after 9/11 - better system

      -need to enforce Texas-Mexico border

      -jobs in America that Americans won't do

        Step 1: Practical border enforcement. Expand # of agents, sensors - technology

      -"Catch & release"

      -how to protect borders and be a humane society

      -Hold accountable employers

      -Be given a fool-proof card - to do limited work

      -no amnesty (automatic citizenship)

      -raise quotas

      -land of immigrants

      -treat people fairly

How is Iran today different from Iraq 3 yrs ago?

      -there were 16 U.N. resolutions against Saddam Hussein

      -1998 Congress voted for regime change

      -Saddam Hussein ignored U.N. resolutions

      -Iranian issue needs to be solved diplomatically w/ allies

      -Iraq-Iranian relations will be negotiated between Iraq & Iran

      -Iraq & Iran should not have the capacity to create a nuclear weapon.

Radical Christianity

Question: Do you see war on terrorism as signs of the apocalypse - agree?

      -farther we got from 9/11, more likely to forget the reason for the War on Terror

      -important doctrine - see a threat - deal with it before it hurts us

      -threat to world peace and alliance when Israel is threatened

      -We will use military might to protect Israel

Before we went to war the reasons were possession of wmd, Iraq-sponsored terrorists, and Iraq purchased radioactive materials, but these are not true. What is your response?

      -I never said Saddam Hussein had a connection to 9/11

      -the whole world thought Saddam Hussein had wmd

      -S.H. was given the choice. He chose not to disclose or disarm.

      -Silverman/Robb Commission to look at the structure o the intelligence network

      -NDI makes sure intelligence-gathering is seamless

Mr. President, how can I help you?

      -my job is to make the case

      -my job to make clear the connection between Iraq and the War on Terror

      -don't agree that 9/11 was an isolated incident

      -like totalitarian fascists - they have a stated objective

      -they believe we're soft and will leave

      -support our troops, help families with serving troops, and thank a soldier

      -people want to defend the country

      -connect liberty with peace

      -we have an obligation to help others b/c free

A Marine mom asks about the continuum of who's a terrorist - are you killing the "bad guys"?

      -3 types of folks trying to stop democracy

              ~Al Qaeda (Zarquawi)

              ~Saddamists

              ~rejectionists - Sunnis unsure of minority rights

          These will become marginalized as more participate in the democratic process.

       -Japan is a peace-maker

           ~60 yrs ago - sworn enemy what took place - democracy

       -Faith in democracy to change societies

       -people can self-govern

       -democracies don't go to war with each other

       -global battle needs strong alliances (NATO)