[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.