Reply #73: Transcript link here (WH.gov)

[seafan]

..... Yes, a question?

Q Thank you, sir. I would have a question for Mr. Bush. Once, President Kennedy said, "Everyone has two countries, their own, and France." And why is it that your policy tends to be pushing your country and France to divorce?

Second point, some in public opinion have accused you of state terrorism, and do you not believe that what has happened in Abu Ghraib has put you in the same basket, as it were, of Saddam Hussein, especially in the eyes of an international tribunal, and especially in light of the unfound weapons of mass destruction?

PRESIDENT BUSH: To paraphrase President Kennedy, there's America, and then there's Texas.

We have great relations with France. We work closely with the French government on a lot of issues. I just laid out a lot of the issues that we're working together on, as did the President. We're working to stop proliferation, we're working in Haiti, we're working on the continent of Africa. We're working to feed the hungry. We're working to make sure that the pandemic of AIDS gets -- the people get the help they need to arrest the pandemic of AIDS in Africa. No, there are a lot of issues we work on.

As for the prison abuse issue, I am -- I was humiliated, as was most of my country. Those soldiers didn't reflect the character of the American people. They didn't -- they stained our honor. And the world will see a full investigation of those -- of that humiliation, which will stand in stark contrast to what takes place in states run by tyrants. And there will be a full investigation in a transparent way. And those that violated rules will be held to account.

Gregory. Monsieur Gregory. (Laughter.)


(more)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040605-6.html