Bill Clinton

Our common objective should be real, lasting, just, and comprehensive peace.

I think we've got a good chance to resume the talks.

The Iraq government must adhere to all the pertinent United Nations Security Council resolutions.

I think the fact that this Prime Minister is doing what he can and risking significantly to promote peace is a good beginning.

The objective of building a relationship of trust and confidence was achieved.

I have told him that our role is to help to minimize those risks.

If we can achieve a breakthrough to peace in the West, it will make it easier for us to cooperate with the parties that made peace to deal with the threats in the East.

I think there are a lot of reasons to be hopeful.

We're there to facilitate agreement between the parties.

One thing I can say definitely will never change is the unique bond that unites the United States and Israel.

We hope very much that the Palestinians will come to the table.

Well, maybe people who were affected by decisions made before I got here will be, but these decisions we announced yesterday are going to take effect 3 to 5 years from now and we will have our programs in place and we'll be working on it…

I just got here. It's not too little, too late. This is a good program. It is very aggressive. The Congress appropriated $1.4 billion last year, and none of it was spent. And we're going to spend it and move aggressively. Twenty billion…

Well, I don't think you can force--I don't think the national Government can force private companies not to cross State lines. I mean, that's almost a constitutional issue. I mean, under the commerce clause, that would be a hard sell…

You ought to ask the Secretary of Defense. The only thing I asked him to do was to realize that the law imposed on us the responsibility of seriously taking into account the aggregate economic impacts not only on this round of base…

No, because I didn't know whether the list that was in the press was right or not. You know, the Long Beach facility was on that list, and apparently it was not recommended for closing. So I can't comment on that. San Diego is going to net…

That's a question you should ask the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. As I said, I did not review that list. I didn't think I should. This law was established--this is the third round of base closings. The Navy's been pushing for base…

Hello, everybody. Welcome to sunny Washington. [Laughter] I want to basically just answer questions. I brought Mr. Panetta so he could help with any details of any questions you might have. I'm sorry we're a little late, but as you might…

No. The Secretary of Defense had the list, and he made the decisions. The only thing I asked him to do was to make sure that he had really evaluated the economic impacts of it all. And he said that he would do that. The only--he made a…

I can't answer that yet because that's one of the things we have under review. But I will be glad to try to get you an answer from the Defense Department as quickly as I can. The last time I had a conversation about this, there was a…

I think it is an open question, but I haven't changed my position on it. But I cannot tell you it's a lock-cinch deal because of what's happened, because of this--this is sort of a wild card for us--and because I'm obviously involved with…

Well, first I'd like to talk to Congressman Torricelli about it. I'm not sure the Security Council is open to that, but I'll be glad to talk to--he may know more about it than I do, and I'll be glad to talk to him about it. But as you…

First of all, I'm very upset about what happened to Haiti. The man was returned by error, frankly. He should be given status in this country. And this is a very serious thing. We are actually meeting on it today to see what our options are.

I don't want to get into that. I don't know. All I know is that not long after I took office, the people I know in south Dade County reminded me of what I had seen there and talked to me about how important it was to get things moving. And…

Let me just make one more remark, and then we'll be available for questions. I also want to acknowledge the work of Jeff Watson, a valued member of the White House staff, who is a native of Florida and who has worked very, very hard on…