Skip to comments.

Posted on 11/16/2001 1:23:12 PM PST by Stand Watch Listen

You should be able to sleep better tonight. George Bush, not Bill Clinton, is in the White House and Vladimir Putin, not Boris Yeltsin, is in the Kremlin

So far none of the reports I have read about President George W. Bush and his Crawford Ranch guest, President Vladimir Putin of Russia meeting at Crawford High School have talked about the amazing quality of questions asked by the students. The answers to those questions are being reported around the world because they were substantive questions or questions that allowed both of them to freely express themselves.

As I watched, I was impressed by how superior the high school student questions were to the questions asked by the Washington Press Corps. The questions the students asked were simple, direct and sincere questions of policy without hidden meanings or attempts to entrap, with one final mischievous question from a 7th grade girl that was such a blatantly obvious effort to entrap that it resulted in a hilarious spontaneous skit that left everyone chuckling. The audience reaction to the event would make any professional entertainer envious. The brief meeting resulted in 32 rounds of applause plus 41 rounds of laughter from the youth and gathered adults of Crawford, Texas.

But, this was not a performance of a professional entertaining duo. This was one hour and eight minutes of a summit meeting between the presidents of the world's two greatest nuclear powers who had spent half of the twentieth century threatening to annihilate each other. This may be a harbinger of a totally new day in international foreign policy in the world.

President Bush opened the press conference with the students with serious news mixed with good humor:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Sit down, please. Thank you all for that warm welcome. This is a great day for Central Texas. It's a great day because Laura and I have had the honor of welcoming the Putins to our beloved state. It's a great day because it's raining. (Laughter.)

Then he announced he had just gotten off the phone with

"two Central Texas women, Heather Mercer, who used to live in Crawford -- (applause) -- and Dayna Curry. They both said to say thanks to everybody for their prayers. They realize there is a good and gracious God. Their spirits were high and they love America. (Applause.)

I remember clearly when I stood up in front of the Congress and said we have three conditions to the Taliban. One, release those who are being detained; two, destroy terrorist training camps so that country can never be used for terror again either against us or against Russia, for example; three, bring al Qaeda to justice.

Yesterday I was able to report to the nation that one of those conditions had been met, with the release and rescue of the humanitarian aid workers. And make no mistake about it, the other two will be met -- particularly bringing al Qaeda to justice. (Applause.)

I wanted to bring President Putin to Crawford. I wanted him to see a state that Laura and I love. I particularly wanted to be able to introduce him to the citizens of Crawford, because this part of the state represents the independent-minded nature of Texans. It represents the hard-working Texans, people who have great values -- faith and family. The people here, Mr. President, love their country, and they like countries that work with America to keep the peace. (Applause.)

We had a great dinner last night; we had a little Texas barbecue, pecan pie -- (laughter) -- a little Texas music. And I think the President really enjoyed himself. I told him he was welcome to come back next August -- (laughter) -- to get a true taste of Crawford. (Laughter.) He said, fine, and maybe you'd like to go to Siberia in the winter." (Laughter and applause.)

President Bush observed that "Russia has been a strong partner in the fight against terrorism." And noted that on September 11th the first foreign dignitary he heard from was Vladimir Putin who said he understood Bush's need to place U.S. troops on high alert, and would not put Russian troops on alert.

Bush explained:

"I brought him to my ranch because, as the good people in this part of the world know, that you only usually invite your friends into your house. Oh, occasionally, you let a salesman in, or two, but -- (laughter.) But I wanted the Putins to see how we live. And even though we changed addresses, our hearts are right here in our home state.

"We've got a lot to do together. We've had great discussions in Washington, as well as here in Texas. We're both pledging to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons, offensive weapons, we have in order to make the world more secure. We're talking about ways to cooperate in anti-terrorism and anti-proliferation. We're talking about ways to make sure our economies can grow together. What we're talking about is a new relationship -- a relationship that will make your lives better when you get older, and it will make your kids' lives better as they grow up.

"But in order to have a new relationship, it requires a new style of leader. And it's my honor to welcome to Central Texas a new style of leader, a reformer, a man who loves his country as much as I love mine; a man who loves his wife as much as I love mine; a man who loves his daughters as much as I love my daughters; and a man who is going to make a huge difference in making the world more peaceful, by working closely with the United States -- please welcome Vladimir Putin. (Applause.)

"President Putin, a former KGB agent who resigned in 1990 to become assistant rector for international affairs at the Leningrad State University, it turned out, was gracious and full of surprises certainly for those who spent most of their lives fighting godless communism when he said:

"And like President Bush did, I would also like to congratulate three Texans and two people from Waco, with the liberation by the U.S. official forces and their withdrawal from the land of Afghanistan. (Applause.)

"Of course, it is very important to be born under a happy star and to have destiny facing your way. And, indeed, I'm in agreement with the President, perhaps God was looking quite positively on this.

"But there are different approaches to addressing such kind of problem. There are people deeply religious who usually say that God knows what is to befall a nation, a people, or a person. But there are people no less devoted to God, but who still believe that the people, a person should also take care of their own destiny and lives. And it gives me great pleasure to deal and to work with President Bush, who is a person, a man who does what he says." (Applause.)

"Putin remembered "distinquished Russian-Americans, "a world-known composer and musician, Rachmaninoff; a well-known designer and inventor of aircraft, helicopters and airplanes, Sikorsky; and a world-renowned economist and Nobel Prize winner, Leontiev;" and noted that

"Together, we can achieve quite a lot, especially if we are helped in this by such a young and active and beautiful generation as the one we are meeting with now."

Which was the opening line for President Bush to call for the questions from the students. Putin interjected:

"Only questions. No math questions, please." (Laughter.)

The first question, for President Bush was: "Have you decided on whether you're going to go to Russia or not?" Bush replied that he was looking forward to going, but would wait for warmer weather.

The next student wondered what Putin thought about Texas. Putin diplomatically responded that:

We in Russia somehow tend to know about Texas rather better than about the rest of the United States somehow. Except maybe for Alaska, which we sold to you. (Laughter and applause.)

A senior boy wanted to know "In what ways has this summit helped bring Russia and the U.S. closer together?" Bush responded with:

"There's no doubt, the United States and Russia won't agree on every issue. But you probably don't agree with your mother on every issues. (Laughter.) You still lover her, though, don't you? Well, even though we don't agree on every issue, I still respect him and like him as a person. The other thing is, is that the more we talk about key issues, the more likely it is we come to an understanding. And so the summit enabled us to continue a very personal dialogue. As well, we agreed to some significant changes in our relationship.

I, after long consultations with people inside our government, I announced that our government was going to reduce our nuclear arsenal to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads over the next decade. That's a tangible accomplishment. I shared that information with President Putin. He, too, is going to make a declaration at some point in time.

I spent most of the 1950s and 1960s working to help foster the kind of open climate that would result in the reduction of the nuclear arms threat. I flew to Geneva, Switzerland in 1962 to urge the 17 nation Disarmament Conference to get on with the stalled talks on a nuclear test-ban treaty, and in a matter of a few meetings between these two men, suddenly the nuclear threat was being lessened and the American media did not feel it to be the lead issue. Almost every report is headlined with what DIDN'T happen on the ABM treaty- not with what DID happen. No structured agreement about the ABM treaty was announced, so, we are being told, Bush "failed." But, as Bush accurately put it:

"In other words, this particular summit has made us closer because we've agreed on some concrete steps, as well, specific things we can do together."

Another senior boy asked if the nuclear agreement meant simply "taking them off of alert status or taking apart the warheads and destroying the weapon?"

Bush responded that it meant reducing and destroying a number of warheads and turned the microphone over to Putin who observed:

"First of all, I would like to say that it gives me great pleasure to be here in this room. And it's not quite clear for me whether I am here in the school or at NASA. (Laughter.) Looking at the questions of the 12th graders, it comes to my mind that everything is fine with this nation and in this school." (Applause.)

Bush interjected: "That's right!"

A senior girl asked, "I'm a senior. As we go out into the world, do you have any advice for us? Bush responded:

"Yes, listen to your mother. (Laughter and applause.) I do. I think, follow your dreams, would be my advice. Work hard; make the right choices; and follow your dreams."

The next question was: "Did President Putin like the barbecue last night?" Putin responded:

"Just I had a hard time imagining how could a living person create such a masterpiece of cooking. A fantastic meal. And when I said so to the President, he said, indeed, this cannot be done except for in Texas." (Laughter and applause.)

One of the Russian students asked how the improved relations between Russia and the US "would influence the Russian economy and the future prospects for the entire world and Putin responded that

"Russia has changed greatly recently. And today, the Russian economy is on the rise. The growth rates are considerably higher than the average for the world. Last year, the growth rate was about 8.3 percent; this year we're expecting the growth rates close to 6 percent.

And then a boy from the School debate team asked: "I was wondering if you've come to a conclusion about whether or not to deploy a national missile defense system? Bush responded:

"Are you with the national press corps?"

And then went on with a serious, in depth answer about the ABM treating being outdated. Putin responded with:

"I feel that time was not wasting by coming here. (Laughter.) The President told me that we'll just limit ourselves to generalities, but he was mistaken. (Laughter and applause.) You are applauding yourselves. (Laughter.)

"Our objective is a common both for the United States and for Russia. The objective is to achieve security for our states, for our nations, and for the entire world. We share the concerns of the President of the United States to the fact that we must think of the future threats. And here is a common ground for our further discussions.

"What we differ in is that we differ in the ways and means we perceive that are suitable for reaching the same objective. And given the nature of the relationship between the United States and Russia, one can rest assured that whatever final solution is found, it will not threaten or put to threat the interests of both our countries and of the world. And we shall continue our discussions." (Applause.)

And then, the last question, from a seventh grade girl was, to President Bush, "If you do go to Russia, are you going to be taking some kids from Crawford? (Laughter and applause.)

President Bush, with a smile, said, "No!"(Laughter.)

Putin stepped to the microphone, almost pushed Bush aside, and said:

"I am extremely grateful for this question. The whole audience basically started on this note and you finalized the whole thing with your question. (Laughter.) This is not a mere coincidence, I believe. On our way here, the President invited to come here when it's plus 40 Celsius, more than 110, and he invited me to join a plus-40 club who jog when it is 110 and more. (Laughter.) Well, I'll think about it. (Laughter.)

"Indeed, in our country, there are regions where people live, by the way, in Siberia, where, for one, last year, for two weeks in a row, the temperatures were about around or below minus 50 Celsius -- for two weeks running. My promise is I will not terrorize your President with such low temperatures -- (applause) -- and would be glad to see any of you present here in Russia.

"But, first of all, I would like to address here at this juncture our hosts, the schoolchildren, the young audience here. At the count of three, those who want your President to come to Russia, raise your hands and say, yes.

"One, two -"

The audience, with every hand raised and a joyful shout responded: "Yes.!" (Applause.)

This was the fourth meeting between Putin and Bush. None of the other press conferences generated the kinds of questions that allowed them to demonstrate the nature of their extraordinary relationship and its influence in world affairs. You should be able to sleep better tonight. George Bush, not Bill Clinton, is in the White House and Vladimir Putin, not Boris Yeltsin, is in the Kremlin.

To comment: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com

For complete press conference transcript:

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.