Interview with George Bush Snr.

On Sunday, 14 September 2003, Breakfast with Frost featured an interview with George Bush Snr., Former US President

Please note "BBC Breakfast with Frost" must be credited if any part of this transcript is used.

The French are our allies

DAVID FROST: The second anniversary of September 11th, as we heard earlier from Rudi Giuliani, has focused everyone's mind on the war against terrorism, being led of course by the US President George Bush.

His father, the former President, is a keen observer of the challenges facing the current occupant of the White House.

I spoke to him, President Bush, No. 41, the 41st President of the United States. And I asked him, does he think the war on terror is being won?

GEORGE BUSH: I think we're in better shape in the United States to, not only to avoid terror, but to withstand it. But no, I don't think we can ever say it's over, and of course now we're seeing what I would call terror inside of Iraq.

I think a lot of countries in Europe continue to worry about terror. So I'm afraid we're in this for the long haul but it has to be fought, it has to be stood against.

DAVID FROST: And Americans, as we saw this week, still live partially in the shadow of 9/11 in the war on terror, don't they?

GEORGE BUSH: Well, it's hard for people from abroad. Maybe England understands. But it's hard for people from many countries to understand the impact that 9/11 had on the average American.

Just every American, I think we were fat, dumb and happy , oh this wouldn't happen to us, and all of a sudden it did. And now there's thing, we've got to do something about it. And there's a determination on it. And I think that drives the support that exists in our country for the president. Even in Iraq today.

DAVID FROST: What did you feel about the performance of, for instance, President Chirac? I mean, do you think there will be a reunion with him?

GEORGE BUSH: I think there must be and should be, and I, you know, I go back a long way personally, Sir David, with Jacques Chirac. He's been my friend and I can still consider him a friend.

I confess to a certain disappointment that it seemed to get a little personal, the concerns he had about the United States, and his foreign ministers I must to confess to having been as an observer, not in administration, upset with him. But, look, these are our friends.

These are allies. We fought side by side and it is important we be not only friends with the French, but simpatico on world objectives.

DAVID FROST: And some people say oil has something to do with, we want in fact Iraqi oil to be available if the Saudi oil becomes unavailable because of an overthrow there. Is that hegemony part of the plan do you think?

GEORGE BUSH: No, I think in some quarters in our country people seem to want to make an enemy out of Saudi Arabia. Thank God our President doesn't feel that way. He has a wonderful relationship with Crown Prince Abdullah. Now will the Saudis be changing over the years? Probably. Should they?

Well you can argue that maybe they should. I'll argue that they've already started some kinds of changes inside. So they're our friends and I don't think that we ought to be saying well we're in Iraq, so that oil will be free to the western world because Saudi oil won't be. I

mean, if we'd have let Saudi oil into the hands of Saddam Hussein, and I'm still convinced that that's what, after he went into Kuwait, he wanted to go down into Saudi Arabia. Then we'd have something very different.

DAVID FROST: Meanwhile, this has been perhaps the worst week yet in the Israel and Palestinians dispute, war, whatever. Can you see any hope in that situation?

GEORGE BUSH: I think there has to be. I think you have to feel we can get back to the table. We have to hope that the new Prime Minister of the Palestinians is supported.

We have to feel that they can rein in Hamas terror and have to feel that the Israelis are going to be willing to be a little more forthcoming on settlements, which would be a great way to start all this. But they've got to go back to talking.

This cannot be condoned. I don't think anyone can force that. People say, oh the United States can force them, I don't think so.

But I think world opinion is strongly in favour of what I just said should happen.

DAVID FROST: Have you ever had any experience, have you ever been round a Palestinian camp?

GEORGE BUSH: I went, David, years ago when I was Ambassador of the United Nations, to a Palestinian camp in Lebanon.

And I'll never forget it. I can still see those hopelessness in the eyes of these children. Now they're what, they're 35 years old and I just wonder what's happened to them. But it was a terrible experience and one that I'll remember for the rest of my life.

And it's made me sensitive to the need to have a solution. And I'm very proud that the President of the United States has called for a Palestinian state.

And I'd like to see him get on with the Palestinians, and the Israelis, on with negotiating the terms for such a state. And it has to happen, it has to happen. But I'm not optimistic today.

DAVID FROST: And how is the position on the image of America, linked with the image of the President obviously, they're always linked, around the world at the moment? After 9/11 obviously there was world-wide sympathy. Today the attitude to America is hostile in some places, mixed in others, isn't it?

GEORGE BUSH: It is, and I think some of that has to do with Iraq. Some of it has to do, a lot of these people don't know our President, because they haven't been exposed to him so much.

But I think it's fair to say that in some quarters United States is under-appreciated and I happen to think those people are wrong.

We're not seeking hegemony over Europe, we're not trying to dictate how Europe ought to do its business.

DAVID FROST: Do you think in fact they understand the President everywhere in the world?

GEORGE BUSH: No, I think there's some misunderstanding. They don't know the heartbeat of our President and that's our fault I'm sure.

But they will. And they don't, some people when he came into office had him as a hey, two-gun Clint Eastwood cowboy, you know, shooting his way into Europe.

And he'd never been there, he didn't know anything. Well I think that's given way to something quite different. But I think both sides have a little work to do in that area.

DAVID FROST: And in terms of the White House. We've had two Bushes. There's a real possibility of three Bushes. Do you think there's any possibility over the next few years of a second Clinton in the White House?

GEORGE BUSH: Oh, heavens mercy. Look, Hillary's got a big following in her quarters, but I, you're getting me into politics. I don't want to do it. If I said yes, there's a great chance.

Then they rush over to the White House and say here's what the President's nutty father said on the David Frost Show, what do you think Mr. President.

I want to heroically duck and dive to that question. And incidentally, Barbara and I have a rather pleasant personal relationship with Hillary Clinton. And for her husband. But we get very different views on American politics.

DAVID FROST: Do you ever miss power?

GEORGE BUSH: No I don't miss it. Heck, I'm, the only thing I want to do is make my final parachute jump on my 80th birthday, I think one more freefall and then live long enough to see the aircraft carrier that's been named for me completed.

What more can a guy ask? I mean, that's what, one's a thrill and the other's just the honour.

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