Transcript: President Bush Speaks to ABC News' Martha Raddatz

Dec. 11, 2007 — -- The following excerpts are from an exclusive interview Tuesday between President Bush and ABC News' White House correspondent Martha Raddatz.

For more on Martha Raddatz's exclusive report on a day-in-the-life with President Bush, watch ABC News World News With Charles Gibson and ABC's Nightline tonight

Martha Raddatz: Your intelligence briefing today -- I am going to do a quick turn around the world here, which I assume you were told about -- Algiers and the bombing?

President Bush: Yes, you know, I have tried to remind the American people that we face an enemy that kills the innocent to achieve an ideological objective, and here is another example.

I don't know who did it, but anybody who who bombs innocent citizens as well as people who provide relief for the people of Algiers, like the United Nations, is an enemy of the civilized world and must be dealt with.

Raddatz: And in Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying today the NIE [National Intelligence Estimate] was a step forward?

Bush: My answer to the Iranians is: You had a hidden program that was a military program. We think you have shut it down now. You have an obligation to explain to the world loud and clear why you had a military program. Do you intend to start it up again.

In other words, the ball is in their court. They must disclose. They must explain they're the ones who violated the international agreements.

Raddatz: But this seems to make him feel as if he has really got the world by the tail now?

Bush: I don't think so. I think the world must understand Iran was dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if we don't stop their ability to enrich uranium. Because a country that had a weapons program can start a weapons program up again, particularly in a nontransparent society, without the world knowing about it.

Raddatz: And it looks as if your friend [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will be prime minister?

Bush: I don't know about that. I know he endorsed a candidate for president. I don't know him well. I don't remember

For more on Martha Raddatz's exclusive report on a day-in-the-life with President Bush, watch ABC News World News With Charles Gibson and ABC's Nightline tonight

Raddatz: And that candidate said he would want him for prime minster?

Bush: That is what I heard. I think we just better let the elections play out and see what happens. I don't know if President Putin has made any decisions or not on becoming the prime minster.

Raddatz: Is that something you would want to see?

Bush: I don't know. You know, just let me say this. It is not something I would want to do. I want to serve my time as resident of the country and move on and let somebody else take the helm, and that is exactly what is going to happen here.

Raddatz: Last one about your intelligence briefing. The CIA, the spokesperson said the other day, that you knew nothing about those tapes?

For Martha Raddatz's extended interview with President Bush, watch "Good Morning America NOW" tomorrow at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. EDT, available exclusively on ABC News Now.

Bush: That is true. My first recollection of whether the tapes existed or whether they were destroyed was when Michael Hayden briefed me. There is a preliminary inquiry going on, and I think, I think you will find a lot more data. Facts will be coming out in an orderly fashion, and that is good. It will be interesting to know what the true facts are.