CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush said Friday that although he is listening to the Iraq debate, his decision on how to oust Saddam Hussein will be based on fresh intelligence reports and on how to protect America and its allies.
"I am aware that, you know, some very intelligent people are expressing their opinions about Saddam Hussein and Iraq," Bush told reporters.
"We'll continue to consult" with Congress and allies, Bush said. "It's a healthy debate for people to express their opinion."
But, he said: "America needs to know, I'll be making up my mind based upon the latest intelligence and how best to protect our own country plus our friends and allies."
Congressional hearings earlier this month examined various ways to achieve the U.S. government's stated policy of seeking a regime change in Baghdad, and a steady stream of news reports has suggested the administration is actively reviewing various war plans.
Some fellow Republicans have in recent days strongly counseled Bush against military action.
Brent Scowcroft, who was national security adviser under Bush's father and President Ford, wrote in the Wall Street Journal this week, "An attack on Iraq at this time would seriously jeopardize, if not destroy, the global counterterrorist campaign we have undertaken."
Bush planned to meet this weekend with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and on Wednesday with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
Bush fielded questions on a wide array of foreign and domestic matters after thanking Crawford residents for pitching in whenever he comes to this little town.
Three days after his economic summit in nearby Waco, Bush said he was intrigued by several ideas that emerged.
He cited two proposals by Charles Schwab, chairman of the San Francisco-based investment-services company that bears his name, that the amount of losses individual investors can take as tax deductions be increased to $20,000 from $3,000 now. Another proposal by Schwab was that the so-called double taxation of dividends be reduced to encourage corporate executives to pay more in dividends and worry less about their company's stock prices.
"I am going to analyze and think about some of the suggestions so that when I announce them they'll be well thought out, they'll be a part of a long-term plan," Bush said.
White House advisers later cautioned that proposals arising out of the economic forum have yet to be sorted or summarized, so any decisions on a new Bush economic plan are likely to be weeks away.