Bush: ‘Our duty to lead the world’

LIMA, OHIO - Before he headed to the Republican National Convention in New York City, President George W. Bush sat down for an extensive interview with “Today” host Matt Lauer. In this third excerpt from their talk, President Bush addressed issues of security and terrorism, as well as Sen. John Kerry's war record.

Much of the talk this week at the Republican National Convention has been about the president’s leadership in the war on terror. Part of his effort to fight that war is a recently announced plan to withdraw some 70,000 troops from Europe and Asia over the next decade. It's the biggest realignment of U.S. forces since the Cold War ended. But it's an idea that has its critics.

Matt Lauer: John McCain says that your plan to realign military troops and perhaps reduce the number of troops on the Korean Peninsula by about a third sends the wrong message to North Korea right now — saying that they're more dangerous now than at any time since the Korean War.

FREE VIDEO Bush interview Aug. 30:  The Republican National Convention, which will nominate President Bush in hopes of another four-year term in office, opened in New York Monday. In the first part of an exclusive interview, 'Today' show anchor Matt Lauer talks with President Bush about the economy, 9/11 and the war on terror. Today show

President George Bush: Yes, I haven't had a chance to talk to John specifically about that statement. But I would disagree with that. I wouldn't have done anything to weaken our position. If anybody understands North Korea, it's me. I mean I read the intelligence. And I know the dangers that Kim Jong Il, you know, poses. And I also know we have an obligation to keep a very strong presence in South Korea — not only for the sake of the peninsula, but for the sake of stability in the region. And so what we've done is replaced troops that were relevant for a former period with equipment and troops relevant for the wars of the future. We've strengthened our hand not weakened our hand.

Lauer: Your critics say you're playing politics with the military. Saying I can't bring the troops home from Iraq, but I can bring some home from other parts of the world.

Bush: I can't do anything without being criticized, I fully understand that. But this is something that's been in the works ever since I came into office. The Pentagon has been working on this for a period of time. And secondly, we went around the world and talked to our allies. And convinced them — and took their input by the way — and convinced them that this is better for them. The other thing that's important, Matt, is that it will be helpful for our military families to not have — to be able to be in one place for longer periods of time. That place being, you know, a base in the United States. And that's a — it's always a key component to be thinking about how to make the volunteer army work better or the volunteer military to work better. Because I am — I'm ultimately opposed to reinstituting the draft. And I think the volunteer army works really well. And this is a way, by the way, to provide more stability for military families.

But it is the military service of more than 30 years ago, during the Vietnam War, that has cast a long shadow over this campaign. Attack ads have accused John Kerry of lying about his Vietnam record, reigniting for some questions about the president's own service in the National Guard.

Lauer: Did John Kerry serve heroically in Vietnam in your opinion?

FREE VIDEO Bush: "Headed in the right direction" Aug. 30: In more of Matt Lauer's exclusive 'Today' show interview, President Bush talks about the economy, fighting terror and his prospects for reelection. Today show

Bush: I think his service is heroic. Yes. I think he's — and he should be proud of it. And I think that we ought to move beyond the past. I'm — he's proud of his service. I'm proud of mine. And the real question is who best to lead us forward.

Lauer: Do you think you both act — served on the same level of heroism?

Bush: That no, I don't. I think his going to Vietnam was more heroic than my flying fighter jets. I mean he was in harm's way. I wasn't. On the other hand, I served my country. Had my unit been called up, I would have gone.

Despite the Vietnam controversy, it is the question of how to fight this generation's war — the war on terror — that is foremost in voters' minds. Back on his campaign bus, I asked the president if our military actions are creating more enemies, making us less safe.

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Bush: Matt, the enemy was plotting way before we took action in Iraq. They got 'em in Afghanistan. They had designs to kill over 3,000 Americans when America was sitting back and saying, "We're immune from attack." Never even thought there'd be an attack of this size. They were plotting, planning, and training long before we took action—

Lauer: Safety then—

Bush: —in Iraq.

Lauer: —was a fantasy.

Bush: Yes, of course it was a fantasy. Otherwise, you know — no one was safe from their attack.

Lauer: Yes.

Lauer: Not here.

Bush: —threat to the homeland.

Lauer: Yes.

Bush: And that's the fundamental shift that took place on 9/11 that the president and this country must deal with, and must be clear-visioned about. And must be resolute in taking action to defend against. And this is a different kind of war. It's in my speech Thursday. I'll say where's — this is going to be a century of liberty. And I believe that. I believe it is our duty to lead the world.

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