REPORTER: Is the tide turning in Iraq?
DUBYA: I think — tide turning — see, as I remember — I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of — it's easy to see a tide turn — did I say those words?

See, Iraq is a part of the global war on terror. It's not the global war on terror, it's a theater in the global war on terror. And if we fail in Iraq, it's going to embolden al Qaeda types. It will weaken the resolve of moderate nations to stand up to the Islamic fascists. It will cause people to lose their nerve and not stay strong. And so I look forward to taking the debate — that's not quite right — kind of getting warmed up as a result of your question — the timing is not right for me to get out there yet. But I think the Democrat economic policy of raising people's taxes isn't going to work either. I know they'll couch it in all kinds of language, but really what they're saying is we're going to raise your taxes.

There's an interesting debate in the Democrat Party about how quick to pull out of Iraq.

As your President, it seems like to make sense to me to say, if we treat you this way, you treat us — that's what fair trade is all about.

I'm sorry my wife isn't here. Yes, I know, most people are sorry — she's not here instead of — she's here — she's not here instead of me. But she is doing great. I'm a lucky man when Laura said, I do. She is a fabulous First Lady, a great mom and a great wife.

There's a lot of us getting ready to retire. We're called baby boomers. As a matter of fact, my retirement age is 2,008.

And I appreciate so very much the honorary degree you're conferring upon me today. I'm delighted that George Steinbrenner is receiving one as well. I guess we're both being honored as legends of baseball — legends, at least, in our own minds.

We are commanded by God and called by our conscience to love others as we want to be loved ourselves.

It was amazing I won. I was running against peace and prosperity and incumbency.