Excerpts From Bush Interview

Following are excerpts from Monday's Associated Press interview with President Bush aboard Air Force One, as the president traveled to New Jersey to deliver a campaign speech on terrorism.

BUSH: Very quickly, this is an important speech. It's a speech that recognizes that we have important domestic issues, but also recognizes that security is important, to make sure that the plans we have for America at home go forward. I will make it very clear that we have a difference of opinion when it comes to fighting and winning the war on terror. My opponent does not fully understand the nature of the enemy, and he doesn't understand we need to have a comprehensive plan. And I will make that very clear in the speech, that his policies will make America less secure and the world more dangerous. ...

One of the things that, obviously, that we're now being confronted with are shameless scare tactics. My opponent has said to youngsters that if George W. is elected - re-elected, there will be a draft. The American people heard me in the debates say clearly, we will not have a draft, we will have an all-volunteer army.

And then, yesterday, he pulled out the same old, tired, Social Security card, trying to scare our seniors. I tell the people in my stump speech that in 2000, they tried the same thing; if George W. gets elected, seniors won't get their checks. The seniors got their checks. The seniors will continue to get their checks. But it is wrong to try to scare people going into the polls. That's what we have seen in the last couple of days, and I suspect since his plans are nothing but complaints, that that's the kind of politics we'll continue to see. That's old-style politics.

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QUESTION: How concerned are you about a terrorist attack on U.S. soil before the election?

BUSH: We have - ever since the Madrid bombings, we have been concerned, as have other nations, about the terrorists trying to disrupt our election - our elections, meaning - in general. We have no specific threat information, otherwise, we would have - we would have let everybody know.

On the other hand, we are on alert to possible movements by people. ... We've got to be mindful that one of the tactics of the enemy has been to attack during election.

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Q: Mr. President, you said there would be no draft. You made it very clear. But how can you say that? What - don't you preserve that option? What if something happens in Korea or Iran? How can you _

BUSH: I believe we've got the assets and manpower necessary to be able to deal with another theater, should one arise.

Q: So there's no circumstance under which you can envision that you _

BUSH: We're in the middle of a campaign, and my opponent is saying there's a secret plan to institute the draft. There is no secret plan to institute the draft, that's what I'm talking about. And it's shameful politics to do that. This is the politics of scare tactics.

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Q: Are you comfortable that the commanders on the ground in Iraq are getting the equipment they requested, because yesterday, there was a story about General (Ricardo) Sanchez asking for more equipment last winter and not getting it? ...

BUSH: Tom, we respond when these commanders - there's a chain of command. When the commanders on the ground say they need more, we respond as quickly as possible.

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Q: If the people in Iraq, in a free, democratic election, someday choose an Islamic fundamentalist government, is that all right with you?

BUSH: I will be disappointed, but democracy is democracy. They have now got a - the beginnings of a constitution, the TAL, which sends a different message, that there will be tolerance and an open society. But people - if that's what the people choose, that's what the people choose.

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Q: Do you think North Korea and Iran are more dangerous now than when you took office?

BUSH: No, I don't. I think that - let me rephrase that. I think that the circumstances surrounding North Korea and surrounding Iran are more comprehensive. And therefore - in other words, the strategies - the strategies we've employed toward North Korea and Iran are more comprehensive, which makes them less likely to take action that would make the world more dangerous. We've still got work to do, don't get me wrong. But when you have five nations talking to North Korea, it's more effective than just one nation talking to North Korea. And when you've got, now, the foreign ministries of Germany, France and England directly in talks with the Iranians, as well as the IAEA, with a new protocol that would allow for inspections, that's a more effective strategy, is a better way to put it.

So, therefore, to answer your question, because the strategies are more effective, I think we have a better chance of solving the problems. Having said that, North Korea and Iran are dangerous. ...

The strategy is - they're still dangerous countries, and the strategy is more effective, in dealing with these countries.

Q: You don't think they're more dangerous, then.

BUSH: Well, they are more dangerous if there's an ineffective strategy. That's what - to me, that's what causes more danger. They are dangerous, effective or not effective. They are more dangerous if the strategy is not effective. That's what I'm saying to you.

Q: But in terms of, like, more missiles or nuclear threat, or _

BUSH: Well, they are - they are dangerous countries. They are - the fundamental question is, is there a strategy in place that's more likely to work? And my opponent and I have a different view of North Korea. You heard that in the debate loud and clear. He thinks we ought to go back to the days of bilateral negotiations, which failed under President Clinton. And, in my judgment, those bilateral negotiations will undermine the five-party coalition we have. And, therefore, that will make the situation more dangerous.