Transcript: Bush reiterates his decision not to send troops to Darfur
February 14, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — US President George W. Bush has defended his decision not to send troops to the Sudanese region of Darfur, despite what he calls a genocide taking place there.
However Bush, who was speaking to BBC World News America before flying to Africa, said he was frustrated by the pace of international action on Darfur.
The US president was scheduled to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about efforts to efforts to boost peacekeeping forces in Darfur.
The United Nations and African Union have so far deployed only about 9,000 of an authorized 26,000 troops and police.
He also discussed controversy over China’s Olympics – saying he would attend the event as scheduled.
After Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew his assistance to the Olympics in protest at China’s policy towards Darfur, Mr Bush said he would not be taking a similar stance.
“I view the Olympics as a sporting event,” he told the BBC’s Matt Frei. I’ve got a firm, heartfelt commitment to the continent of Africa
But he added that he would meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and “remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur”.
Below is the portion of the interview transcript relating to Darfur
(ST)
Frei: You were very tough in your speech about Darfur. And, yet again, you called what’s happening there genocide?
Mr Bush: Yeah.
Frei: Is enough being done by your administration to stop that?
Mr Bush: I think we are. Yeah. You know, I had to make a seminal decision. And that is whether or not I would commit US troops into Darfur. And I was pretty well backed off of it by – you know, a lot of folks – here in America that care deeply about the issue. And so, once you make that decision, then you have to rely upon an international organisation like the United Nations to provide the oomph – necessary manpower… You know, I read – did call it (SOUND GLITCH) genocide, and I think we’re the only nation that has done so. Secondly, I did remind people that we’re sanctioning leaders. That we have targeted [Sudanese] companies and individuals, including a rebel leader, who have yet to be constructive in the peace process. We [are] beginning to get a sense of these things as they’re affecting behaviour. We’re trying to ask others, by the way, to do the same thing. Some of who are reluctant; some who aren’t. And then, finally, I pledged that we’ll help move troops in. And yeah, and as I also said you might remind your listeners, that I’m frustrated by the pace.
Frei: I’ll get on to that in a minute. But, I mean, genocide is just a loaded – it’s such an important word. And you have committed troops – American troops around the world in other cases throughout… Afghanistan. Why not in this case?
Mr Bush: Well, that’s a good question. I mean, we’re committing equipment, you know? Training, help, movement. I think a lot of the folks who are concerned about America into another Muslim country. Some of the relief groups here just didn’t think the strategy would be as effective as it was. I mean, actually, believe it or not, listen to people’s opinions. And chose to make this decision. It’s a decision that I’m now living with. And it’s a decision that requires us to continue to rally the conscience of the world and get people to focus on the issue. You know, you’re right. I mean, we sent marines into Liberia, for example, to help stabilise the country there. And Liberia’s on my itinerary where I’ll meet with the first woman, you know, elected president in Africa – history. And – but, I just made the decision I made.
Frei: Yesterday, Steven Spielberg – the Hollywood director – pulled out of the Beijing Olympics over Darfur. He said the Chinese aren’t doing enough to stop the killing in Darfur. Do you applaud his move?
Mr Bush: That’s up to him. I’m going to the Olympics. I view the Olympics as a sporting event. On the other hand, I have a little different platform than Steven Spielberg so, I get to talk to President Hu Jintao. And I do remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur. There’s a lot of issues that I suspect people are gonna, you know, opine, about during the Olympics. I mean, you got the Dali Lama crowd. You’ve got global warming folks. You’ve got, you know, Darfur and… I am not gonna you know, go and use the Olympics as an opportunity to express my opinions to the Chinese people in a public way ’cause I do it all the time with the president. I mean. So, people are gonna be able to choose – pick and choose how they view the Olympics.
Frei: The Chinese government has been saying – part in response to this that – “America is [slipping back into] Cold War thinking.”
Mr Bush: Yeah. Well, you know, they’re… I think that’s just a brush back pitch, as we say in baseball. It’s… America is trapped in this notion that we care about human life. We respect human dignity. And that’s not a trap. That’s a belief. And that many of [us] in this country recognise that the human condition matters to our own national security. See, I happen to believe we’re in an ideological struggle. And, those who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives are evil people. But, they have an ideology. And the only way you can recruit for that ideology is to find hopeless folks. I mean, who wants to join an ideology say women don’t have rights? You can’t express yourself freely. Religious beliefs are… you know, the only religious belief you can hold is the one we tell you. And, oh, by the way, it’s great. You can be a suicider. Well, hopeless people are the ones who get attracted by that point of view. And, therefore, it’s in the world’s interest from a national security perspective to deal with hopelessness. And it has to be in our moral interest. I repeat to you… I believe to whom much is given, much is required. It happens to be a religious notion. But, it should be a universal notion as well. And… I believe America’s soul is enriched, our spirit is enhanced when we help people who suffer.
Frei: I mention the genocide thing also because your predecessor, President Clinton, says that the one thing – one of the key things that keeps him up at night is that he didn’t do enough over at Rwanda to stop the killing there. Is it possible that Darfur might become your Rwanda?
Mr Bush: I don’t think so. I certainly hope not. I mean, Rwanda was, you know, I think 900,000 people in a very quick period of time of just wholesale slaughter. And I, you know, I appreciate President Clinton’s compassion and concern. And, you know, I’m comfortable with making’ a decision that I think is the best decision. And comfortable with the notion that once that decision is made we’re keeping the world’s focus as best as we can on that amongst other issues.
(BBC)