    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 27, 2003]
    [Pages 1393-1395]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Presidential Envoy to Iraq L. Paul
    Bremer III and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    October 27, 2003

        The President. Good morning, everybody. I'll share a few words and
    then answer a couple of questions.
        First, Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid have been briefing the Secretary of Defense and my
    national security team, General Myers,
    about the situation in Iraq. We spent time talking about the success of
    the donors' conference, the fact that the world community is coming
    together to help build a free Iraq, and we want to thank the world for
    the willingness to step up and to help.
        Ambassador Bremer was particularly pleased with not only the fact
    that governments stood up but that there was a series of private sector
    companies willing to help in Iraq, and that's a positive move for the
    people.
        We spent time, obviously, on the security situation. There are
    terrorists in Iraq who are willing to kill anybody in order to stop our
    progress. The more successful we are on the ground, the more these
    killers will react. And our job is to find them and bring them to
    justice, which is precisely what General Abizaid briefed us on. It is
    a--the people have got to understand, the Iraqi people have got to
    understand that anytime you've got a group of killers willing to kill
    innocent Iraqis, that their future must not be determined by these kind
    of killers. That's what they've got to understand. I think they do
    understand that--they do. The Ambassador and the general were briefing
    me on the--the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free
    world. And we will find these people, and we will bring them to justice.
        This Government is determined to hear the call from the Iraqis, and
    the call is: They want a society in which their children can go to
    school, in which they can get good health care, in which they're able to
    live a peaceful life. It's in the national interest of the United States
    that a peaceful Iraq emerge. And we will stay the course in order to
    achieve this objective.
        Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated Press], you've got a question?

    Terrorist Attacks in Iraq

        Q. Yes, sir. Mr. President, the attacks are getting more brazen.
    They're getting more frequent. What do you know about who is behind
    these attacks? Is it Saddam? And what steps did you all discuss this
    morning about better protecting U.S. personnel there?

    [[Page 1394]]

        The President. The best way to describe the people who are
    conducting these attacks are coldblooded killers, terrorists. That's all
    they are; they're terrorists. And the best way to find them is to work
    with the Iraqi people to ferret them out and go get them. And that's
    exactly what we discussed.
        What was the other part of your question?

    Protecting U.S. Personnel

        Q. What steps did you discuss this morning about better protecting
    U.S. personnel?
        The President. Well, I think if you--we've hardened a lot of our
    targets for U.S. personnel there. And today's attacks were against
    places like the Red Cross or police stations. These people will kill
    Iraqis. They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill. And we
    will find them, exactly what we discussed on how best to do so.
        The Iraqi people understand that there's a handful of people who
    don't want them to live in freedom, aren't interested in their children
    going to schools, aren't--don't really care about the nature of the
    health care they get, aren't pleased with the fact that the electricity
    is coming back online, aren't happy about the fact that Iraq is now
    selling oil on the world markets and people are finding work. And
    they'll do whatever it takes to stop this progress.
        And our job is to work with the Iraqis to prevent this from
    happening. That's why we're working hard to get more Iraqi policemen.
    That's why we're working hard to build up the Iraqi armed forces, and
    that's why we're working hard with freedom-loving Iraqis to help ferret
    these people out before they attack and strike. And----
        Q. But, sir----
        The President. No, that's your question. Randy [Randall Mikkelsen,
    Reuters].

    Madrid Donors' Conference/ Veto of Iraqi Aid Bill

        Q. Mr. President, much of the aid offered for Iraq at the Madrid
    conference was in the form of loans, rather than grants. What impact
    might this have on your threat to veto the U.S.-Iraqi aid bill if part
    of the reconstruction aid is in loans?
        The President. My attitude is the United States ought to provide
    reconstruction money in the form of grant.
        Q. So no change in the veto threat, then?
        The President. My attitude has been and still is that the money we
    provide Iraq ought to be in the form of a grant. And the reason why is
    we want to make sure that the constraints on the Iraqi people are
    limited so that they can flourish and become a free and prosperous
    society.
        Let's see. Ryan [Ryan Donmoyer, Bloomberg News].

    Terrorist Attacks in Iraq

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome back from Asia, sir.
        The President. Thank you very much. I'm glad somebody welcomed me
    back. [Laughter] I better call on you first next time. [Laughter]
        Q. If I may just follow on Deb's question.
        The President. Yes.
        Q. And actually, Mr. Bremer as well. The situation in Iraq, can you
    characterize how it is you come since July 23d, when you last met, I
    believe, with the President, and as you adjust tactics to deal with
    things like suicide bombers, what effect, if any, is that having on the
    hunt for weapons of mass destruction?
        The President. I'll let the Ambassador speak. Again, I will repeat
    myself, that the more progress we make on the ground, the more free the
    Iraqis become, the more electricity is available, the more jobs are
    available, the more kids that are going to school, the more desperate
    these killers become because they can't stand the thought of a free
    society. They hate freedom. They love terror. They love to try to create
    fear and chaos. And what we're determined in this administration is not
    to be intimidated by these killers. As a matter of fact, we're

    [[Page 1395]]

    even more determined to work with the Iraqi people to create the
    conditions of freedom and peace, because it's in our national interest
    we do so. It's in the interest of long-term peace in the world that we
    work for a free and secure and peaceful Iraq. A free and secure Iraq in
    the midst of the Middle East will have enormous historical impact.
        You may want to speak to the issue, Ambassador.
        Ambassador Bremer. Well, a lot of wonderful things have happened in
    Iraq since July, as you mentioned. We have a cabinet now, with ministers
    actually conducting affairs of state. We have met all of our goals in
    restoring essential services. All the schools and hospitals are open.
    Electricity is back at prewar levels. We're moving ahead with our plan.
    We'll have rough days, such as we've had the last couple of days. But
    the overall thrust is in the right direction, and the good days
    outnumber the bad days, and that's the thing you need to keep in
    perspective.
        The President. Ann [Ann Compton, ABC News], yes. Last question.
    Sorry.

    Southern California Wildfires

        Q. The fires in Southern California, they're now not only taking
    homes, but there are a number of casualties. What can your
    administration do to come in and help? Are you getting reports on what's
    happening in California?
        The President. I have. Chief of Staff Andy Card spoke to the Governor last night,
    spoke to the Senators last night, Senator Boxer, spoke to Congressman Duncan Hunter, assured all three that the Federal Government will
    provide all resources necessary, at the request of the State, to work
    and fight these fires. FEMA Director Brown is on
    his way to California now. He will give us an assessment. We want to
    help put them out. This is a devastating fire, and it's a dangerous
    fire. And we're prepared to help in any way we can.
        I'm sorry, one more question--sympathetic soul here.

    National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

        Q. Thank you very much. Can you tell us if you will direct your
    staff to turn over the highly classified intelligence documents that the
    9/11 Commission has so far been unsuccessfully seeking, even if they are
    Presidential daily briefings, and if so, when?
        The President. Yes, those are very sensitive documents. And my
    attorney, Al Gonzales, is working with
    Chairman Kean.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:04 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA,
    combatant commander, U.S. Central Command; Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF,
    Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gov. Gray Davis of California; Mike
    Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness
    and Response; Counsel to the President Alberto R. Gonzales; and Thomas
    H. Kean, Chairman, National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
    United States (9/11 Commission). A reporter referred to former President
    Saddam Hussein of Iraq.