Interview: Bush Bullish on Economy

W A S H I N G T O N, March 13, 2001 -- President Bush today kept the door open to a compromise on tax cuts and predicted a booming economic rebound.

With stock market anxiety bolstering critics who contend projected budget surpluses may never materialize to finance his $1.6 trillion tax cuts amid the economic downturn, Bush bullishly forecast a recovery — and a government that will remain "awash with money again at the federal level."

"I would make this prediction," Bush said, "not only will this economy recover, but the amount of money coming into the Treasury ... is going to exceed that which is expected."

Bush's comments came in a roundtable discussion with reporters from several newspapers and ABCNEWS.com, marking the new president's first interview with an online news organization.

Defending his budget, Bush said the tax cut package — which he now bills as an "economic recovery plan" — was written based on "very pessimistic" surplus estimates that factored in the possibility of a slowdown.

The budget debate on Capitol Hill is turning to "triggers," budget mechanisms that would kill Bush's tax cut if surpluses evaporate. Asked whether he would reject triggers outright, Bush signaled at least a willingness to consider them: "It depends on what they are."

Limits in Colombia

In the wide-ranging interview, Bush made some of his most extensive comments on foreign policy since taking office. He pledged to pursue a strategy that maintains stability in the world with as little use of U.S. troops as possible.

Bush vowed U.S. involvement in Colombia — the war-torn South American nation where the U.S. has spent $1.3 billion on helicopters, weapons, military trainers and drug control — "is going to be limited."

"It's not going to be military," Bush said, amid concern that creeping U.S. involvement could make Colombia the next Vietnam if burgeoning peace talks break down. "We'll train, we'll use military trainers, and that's the extent of U.S. involvement in Colombia."

Last month, Bush met with Colombian President Andres Pastrada. After the meeting, Bush came under fire for refusing to send an attache to oversee peace talks between Pastrada's government and Marxist guerillas. The State Department has since indicated a willingness to somehow participate in the negotiations.

In or Out?

On the other side of the globe, Bush said, "Africa will not be an afterthought for this administration."

Though Secretary of State Colin Powell vowed last week that ending a deadly 18-year civil war in Sudan "will be a priority" for the administration, Bush expressed unwillingness to use troops anywhere in the world "unless our national interests are threatened."

Instead, Bush said his administration would continue to provide military training "to help the Africans develop the ability to put trained troops in situations that require military to keep civil rest."

To further stabilize floundering African nations, the president said the United States needs to support efforts of relief organizations there, and increase trade opportunities for the continent.

"So in other words, I just named three strategies right there to help keep that continent more peaceful and more prosperous and more free, without the use of U.S. troops," he said.

As for the thousands of U.S. troops currently in Bosnia and Kosovo, Bush said he has told Powell and others in the administration to impress on Europeans that the United States wants them to shoulder more of the burden in the volatile region. But he stopped short of the sort of tough talk about pulling out troops that he campaigned on last year.

"This administration will not precipitously withdraw from commitments that previous administrations made," Bush said.

Last month, Powell assured NATO allies in Brussels: "We went in together and we will come out together."