Full text of Bush news conference

Steve.

Q Your top military officer, General Richard Myers, says the Iraqi insurgency is as strong now as it was a year ago. Why is that the case? And why haven’t we been more successful in limiting the violence?

THE PRESIDENT: I think he went on to say we’re winning, if I recall. But nevertheless, there are still some in Iraq who aren’t happy with democracy. They want to go back to the old days of tyranny and darkness, torture chambers and mass graves. I believe we’re making really good progress in Iraq, because the Iraqi people are beginning to see the benefits of a free society. They’re beginning—they saw a government formed today.

The Iraqi military is being trained by our military, and they’re performing much better than the past. The more secure Iraq becomes, as a result of the hard work of Iraqi security forces, the more confident the people will have in the process, and the more isolated the terrorists will become.

But Iraq has—have got people there that are willing to kill, and they’re hard-nosed killers. And we will work with the Iraqis to secure their future. A free Iraq in the midst of the Middle East is an important part of spreading peace. It’s a region of the world where a lot of folks in the past never thought democracy could take hold. Democracy is taking hold. And as democracy takes hold, peace will more likely be the norm.

In order to defeat the terrorists, in order to defeat their ideology of hate, in the long run, we must spread freedom and hope. Today I talked to the Prime Minister of Iraq. I had a great conversation with him. I told him I was proud of the fact that he was willing to stand up and lead. I told him I appreciated his courage and the courage of those who are willing to serve the Iraqi people in government. I told him, I said, when America makes a commitment, we’ll stand by you. I said, I hope you get your constitution written on time, and he agreed. He recognizes it’s very important for the Transitional National Assembly to get the constitution written so it can be submitted to the people on time. He understands the need for a timely write of the constitution.

And I also encouraged him to continue to reaching out to disaffected groups in Iraq, and he agreed. I’m really happy to talk to him; I invited him to come to America, I hope he comes soon. There are a lot of courageous people in Iraq, Steve, that are making a big difference in the lives of that country.

I also want to caution you all that it’s not easy to go from a tyranny to a democracy. We didn’t pass sovereignty but about 10 months ago, and since that time a lot of progress has been made and we’ll continue to make progress for the good of the region and for the good of our country.

Gregory. David Gregory.

Q Thank you, sir. Mr. President, recently the head of the Family Research Council said that judicial filibusters are an attack against people of faith. And I wonder whether you believe that, in fact, that is what is nominating [sic] Democrats who oppose your judicial choices? And I wonder what you think generally about the role that faith is playing, how it’s being used in our political debates right now?

THE PRESIDENT: I think people are opposing my nominees because they don’t like the judicial philosophy of the people I’ve nominated. Some would like to see judges legislate from the bench. That’s not my view of the proper role of a judge.

Speaking about judges, I certainly hope my nominees get an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. They deserve an up or down vote. I think for the sake of fairness, these good people I’ve nominated should get a vote. And I’m hoping that will be the case as time goes on.

The role of religion in our society? I view religion as a personal matter. I think a person ought to be judged on how he or she lives his life, or lives her life. And that’s how I’ve tried to live my life, through example. Faith-based is an important part of my life, individually, but I don’t—I don’t ascribe a person’s opposing my nominations to an issue of faith.

Q Do you think that’s an inappropriate statement? And what I asked is—

THE PRESIDENT: No, I just don’t agree with it.

Q You don’t agree with it.

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think people oppose my nominees because—because of judicial philosophy.

Q Sorry, I asked you what you think of the ways faith is being used in our political debates, not just in society—

THE PRESIDENT: No, I know you asked me that. Well, I can only speak to myself, and I am mindful that people in political office should not say to somebody, you’re not equally American if you don’t happen to agree with my view of religion. As I said, I think faith is a personal issue, and I get great strength from my faith. But I don’t condemn somebody in the political process because they may not agree with me on religion.

The great thing about America, David, is that you should be allowed to worship any way you want, and if you choose not to worship, you’re equally as patriotic as somebody who does worship. And if you choose to worship, you’re equally American if you’re a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim. That’s the wonderful thing about our country, and that’s the way it should be.

John.

Q Good evening, Mr. President. Several times we’ve asked you or your aides what you could do about the high price of gasoline, and very often the answer has come back, Congress needs to pass the energy bill. Can you explain for us how, if it were passed, soon after it were introduced, the energy bill would have an effect on the current record price of oil that we’re seeing out there?

THE PRESIDENT: John, actually I said in my opening statement that the best way to affect the current price of gasoline is to encourage producing nations to put more crude oil on the market. That’s the most effective way, because the price of crude oil determines, in large measure, the price of gasoline. The feed stock for gasoline is crude oil, and when crude oil goes up the price of gasoline goes up. There are other factors, by the way, that cause the price of gasoline to go up, but the main factor is the price of crude oil. And if we can get nations that have got some excess capacity to put crude on the market, the increased supply, hopefully, will meet increased demand, and therefore, take the pressure off price.

Listen, the energy bill is certainly no quick fix. You can’t wave a magic wand. I wish I could. It’s like that soldier at Fort Hood that said, how come you’re not lowering the price of gasoline? I was having lunch with the fellow, and he said, go lower the price of gasoline, President. I said, I wish I could. It just doesn’t work that way.

This is a problem that’s been a long time in coming. We haven’t had an energy policy in this country. And it’s going to take us a while to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. What I’ve laid out for the Congress to consider is a comprehensive energy strategy that recognizes we need to be better conservers of energy, that recognizes that we can find more energy at home in environmentally friendly ways.

And obviously a contentious issue in front of the Congress is the issue over the ANWR, which is a part of Alaska. ANWR is 19 million acres of land. Technology now enables us to use just 2,000 of that 19 million to be able to explore for oil and gas so we can have oil and gas produced here domestically.

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