My plan reduces the national debt, and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that we're going to run out of debt to retire.
* Presidential Radio Address (24 February 2001)
I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.
* On Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, in a press conference with Putin (16 June 2001)
My administration has a job to do and we're going to do it. We will rid the world of the evil-doers.
* As quoted in "[
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/16/g ... terrorism/ "Bush vows to rid the world of 'evil-doers" at CNN (16 September 2001)
Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.
* speaking aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, May 1, 2003 ["Mission Accomplished"]
We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories....and we've so far discovered two. And we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them. -George W. Bush, May 29, 2003
I'm asking Congress to pass my Zero Down Payment Initiative. We should remove the 3 percent down payment rule for first time home buyers with FHA-insured mortgages. * Remarks to the National Association of Home Builders, Columbus, Ohio, October 2, 2004
And, again, I don't know where he [Osama Bin Laden] is. I — I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.
* White House press conference, March 13, 2002
I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations.
* 3rd Presidential Debate, October 13, 2004
And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence. * Speech in Springfield, Ohio, September 27, 2004
I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a serious storm. But these levees got breached. And as a result, much of New Orleans is flooded. And now we are having to deal with it and will. — September 1, 2005.
There was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the attack of 9/11, I’ve never said that and never made that case prior to going into Iraq.
One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq with the war on terror. * September 7, 2006 interview with Katie Couric [YouTube]
Both those men are doing fantastic jobs and I strongly support them.
* In reference to Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney in an Oval Office interview, one week prior to accepting Rumsfeld’s resignation (November 1, 2006)
I thought an interesting comment was made when somebody said to me, I heard somebody say, where's Mandela? Well, Mandela is dead, because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas. * White House Press Conference (September 20, 2007)
The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. * 26 June 2003
No President has ever done more for human rights than I have. * Ken Auletta "Fortress Bush", The New Yorker, January 19, 2004
We do not torture. * November 7, 2005
The bill Congress sent me would take away one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror -- the CIA program to detain and question key terrorist leaders and operatives. * President's Radio Address, regarding the President's veto of a bill that would have banned waterboarding as an interrogation technique (March 8, 2008)