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President George W. Bush
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10 November 2005
Bush Says Amman Bombers "Defile a Great Religion", November 10, 2005 (U.S. President meets with Yemen's President Saleh to discuss War on Terror)
President Bush said the November 9 bombings of hotels in Jordan serves as a reminder that terrorists are “willing to kill innocent people … in order to advance their cause,” and he called upon the international community to remain strong to defeat them.
Speaking at the White House November 10 with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Bush said the attacks were carried out by “killers who defile a great religion.”
On November 9, three suicide terrorists with suspected links to the al-Qaida terrorist group detonated three bombs within minutes of each other at three major hotels in Amman, Jordan. (See related article.)
“The bombings should remind all of us that there is an enemy in this world that is willing to kill innocent people, willing to bomb a wedding celebration in order to advance their cause,” he said, adding that those who “love freedom [and] … who respect every human,” in the United States, the Middle East and around the world, “we have an obligation and a duty to remain strong, to remain firm and to bring these people to justice.”
Bush said he and President Saleh would be discussing the War on Terror and “how to bring al-Qaida to justice.”
The Yemeni leader said the “major objective” of his third meeting with Bush was “the declaration of war against terrorism and extremism.”
“[W]e are here to reaffirm that Yemen’s position is clear and firm, our resolve is firm to continue to work with the United States and the international community in combating terror,” he said.
For additional information on U.S. policy, see Response to Terrorism.
Following is the transcript of President Bush and Yemen’s President Saleh remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
November 10, 2005
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND YEMENI PRESIDENT SALEH BEFORE MEETING
The Oval Office
11:28 A.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, welcome. I'm looking forward to our discussion. I'm looking forward to our continued work together to make sure that al Qaeda and people affiliated with al Qaeda are brought to justice.
Today, the world saw with horror the attacks on innocent people in Jordan by killers who defile a great religion. I spoke to King Abdullah. I expressed our nation's deep concern and compassion for those who lost their lives and their families. The bombings should remind all of us that there is an enemy in this world that is willing to kill innocent people, willing to bomb a wedding celebration, in order to advance their cause. And for those of us who love freedom, and for those of us who love -- who respect every human life, no matter whether you're from the West or from your neighborhood, Mr. President, we have an obligation and a duty to remain strong, remain firm, and to bring these people to justice.
And so, Mr. President, welcome.
PRESIDENT SALEH: (As translated.) Thank you, Mr. President. I am delighted to have this friend -- friend, George Bush. This is probably the third meeting that we have together. And we discuss a variety of mutual issues, and our mutual objective here is the declaration of war against terrorism and extremism. We have seen it during 9/11 and after. I am here to reaffirm Yemen's position that it is clear and firm, our resolve is firm, to continue to work with the United States and the international community in combating terror.
Since yesterday, I had the opportunity to have a variety of meetings with members of your administration. I am delighted to have the opportunity to see you and meet with you today, Mr. President. We will have a variety of issues that we will discuss, bilateral issues, as well as issues of interest to both the international community and world peace and stability.
I thank you, very much, for your hospitality and for receiving me.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
END 11:31 A.M. EST
(end transcript)
