[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[April 20, 2003]
[Pages 354-356]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 354]]
Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters at Fort Hood, Texas
April 20, 2003
The President. We just had a great church service. Like thousands of
our fellow citizens, we celebrated Easter. We celebrated with our
family, but we also celebrated with members of the 4th Infantry Division
military families. The 4th Infantry Division is in Iraq.
We also were with two of--brave Americans, two warrant Jr. officers, chopper
pilots who were captured in Iraq and recently returned to their
families. They were celebrating Easter with their loved ones, moms,
dads, wives, brothers, and sisters from around our country. So it was a
glorious day.
We prayed for peace and for strength, for the many blessings. I am
particularly grateful that these two Jr.
men were with us today. I thank God for
their lives. I hope all our fellow Americans realize that we live in a
great country, full of great people. And today is a day to give
blessings for America as well as an almighty and gracious God.
I'd be glad to answer a few questions.
Ending Operation Iraqi Freedom
Q. Mr. President, you said you prayed for peace this morning. How
soon can you tell the American people that this operation will be
complete?
The President. When Tommy Franks says
it's complete. I'll tell you this, though, the liberation of Iraq will
make the world more peaceful.
Democracy in Iraq
Q. Mr. President, there have been some anti-U.S. demonstrations
stirred up by religious leaders in Iraq. Are you worried that's going to
hurt the rebuilding effort?
The President. I'm not worried. Freedom is beautiful, and when
people are free, they express their opinions. You know, they couldn't
express their opinions before we came; now they can. I've always said
democracy is going to be hard. It's not easy to go from being enslaved
to being free. But it's going to happen, because the basic instincts of
mankind is to be free. They want to be free. And so, sure, there's going
to be people expressing their opinions, and we welcome that, just like
here in America people can express their opinion.
Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].
Former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq
Q. Mr. President, what is the latest that you have on the status of
Saddam Hussein? And if he is not killed or captured----
The President. That Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. That's for
certain. He was in power, and now he is not. And therefore, the Iraqi
people's lives will be much better off. But other than that, I don't--
Stretch, we'll just have to see.
Q. [Inaudible]--sir, any kind of a threat if he is not killed or
captured?
The President. If he is alive, I would suggest he not pop his head
up.
President's Agenda
Q. Sir, do you expect to return more to a domestic agenda now that
the war is winding down?
The President. I will continue to promote an international agenda of
peace and freedom, and I will continue doing what I have been doing--is
working on our economy and working to modernize the Medicare system. I
have always been involved with the domestic policy. I somehow get
somewhat taken aback when I hear stories that assume I can only do one
thing. I am concerned when people in our society can't find work.
And so I've been constantly promoting an aggressive jobs-and-growth
program. I believe our Medicare system needs to be modernized. I've
consistently talked about
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that. I look forward to working with Congress to see that that's done.
Then I will continue to work to make the world a more peaceful
place. The United States is a powerful country, and one of the things we
ought to do is use our power to make the world more peaceful and more
free. And I intend to continue to do that.
Yes.
North Korea
Q. Sir, will talks with North Korea go ahead? And do you expect any
breakthrough?
The President. Well, the key thing on the North Korea agenda is that
China is assuming a very important responsibility, and that is that they
will confirm that which--work toward that which Jiang Zemin Jr. they were the
encouraging people. They were the ones who offered encouragement. I was,
believe this or not, somewhat taken aback when I was in their presence.
And these guys were so uplifting and so positive and so obviously
thrilled to be here. They got in last night at midnight. They can speak
for themselves. I think you can speak for yourselves. At least you did
in my presence.
President's Visit to the Ranch
Q. Sir, what are you doing this weekend around the ranch?
The President. Yes.
Q. What have you been doing at the ranch this weekend?
The President. Exactly. [Laughter] I'm enjoying myself.
Q. Someone said home projects.
The President. Yes, home projects, a little fishing. Nothing better
than fishing with your dad and Barney.
Q. What did Barney catch?
The President. Well, Barney only caught that which I caught.
[Laughter] But worked a little brush cutting, keeping that ranch--
keeping those cedars away from those good hardwoods, letting that--
conserving my property; a little exercise, spent some time with my
family and am really glad I had some time here in Crawford.
Visit With Former Prisoners of War
Q. Did you have a chance to visit with the two pilots in the church?
The President. I did, yes. And you can visit with them too.
Q. And their families as well?
The President. Well, we did. We visited with their families, and I
had a good talk with them. They're good, strong men. It's an amazing
experience, when you think about it. Here we are, Easter, the great--one
of the great religious holidays, and these guys arrived last night--
might have actually arrived Easter day. I don't know if it was exactly
midnight or a little after midnight.
Chief Warrant Officer Young. Jr. It was
a little before midnight.
The President. A little before midnight. Well, Easter eve. I was
trying to make the story a little more dramatic than it really was.
Q. I wondered if either of the two pilots could tell, share their
experience----
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The President. Yes, they can. Sure, they can. That's up to them.
They don't have to. I have to speak to the press; they don't have to.
But it's not that bad an experience. This guy's getting ready--I'll tell you one thing about this guy,
Hillman [G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning News]. He is going to go see
his children for the first time since he was captured. He hasn't even
seen his children. So if you ask him questions, don't make it long,
because, see, we're holding a dad up from hugging two children.
Q. Could you tell us a bit about your meeting with the President
inside the church?
Chief Warrant Officer Williams. It was
an absolute honor, sir, an absolute honor.
Q. [Inaudible]--Officer Young? Chief Warrant Officer Young.
Chief Warrant Officer Young. Jr. We
stand 100 percent behind whatever our President decides to do. We're
honored to serve him, and this is definitely one of the highlights of my
life, absolutely.
Syria
Q. Mr. President, are you getting any signs of cooperation from
Syria yet?
The President. There's some positive signs. They're getting the
message that they should not harbor Ba'ath Party officials, high ranking
Iraqi officials. A lot of other countries have also sent that message.
As you know, Secretary Powell will be going
to visit with the Syrians. It seems like they're beginning to get the
message. And when we think there is somebody there or know somebody is
there, we of course will pass on the name and fully expect the Syrian
Government to hand the person over.
Q. How many are there, do you have any idea, Iraqi leaders?
The President. Well, obviously we felt some were there; otherwise we
wouldn't have spoken out. But probably the best diplomacy is that not
through the Associated Press or Reuters or Dallas Morning News or
Houston Chronicle or any--let's see, who else--Bloomberg. But the best
diplomacy is the diplomacy of having our friends, as well as ourselves,
send clear messages. And we're doing that. And I'm confident the Syrian
Government has heard us, and I believe it when they say they want to
cooperate with us.
Listen, have a wonderful day.
Q. Thank you.
The President. Thank you all.
The First Lady. Bye, happy Easter.
President's Schedule
Q. Are you going to visit with the other POWs?
The President. Today? I don't think so, Bennett [Bennett Roth,
Houston Chronicle]. I think I'm going to head back over to the ranch.
Thank you all.
Note: The President spoke at 11:06 a.m. at the 4th Infantry Division
Memorial Chapel. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Tommy R. Franks,
USA, combatant commander, U.S. Central Command; and former President
Jiang Zemin of China. Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D. Young, Jr., USA,
and Chief Warrant Officer David S. Williams, USA, pilots of an Apache
Longbow helicopter, were shot down and captured in central Iraq on March
23. They were rescued by U.S. Marines on April 13. The Office of the
Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
remarks.