    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [September 10, 2003]
    [Pages 1131-1133]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Sabah of Kuwait and an Exchange With Reporters
    September 10, 2003

        The President. A couple of questions. First, we'll have a couple of
    statements.
        It's my honor and honor of senior members of my administration to
    welcome you, sir, to the Oval Office. Kuwait is a steady and strong
    friend of the United States. I thank you for your friendship.
        This country led a vast coalition to make the world more secure and
    more peaceful, and Kuwait was steadfast in your support of our common
    desire to respect human life, to promote peace, and I want to thank you
    for that very much. We called upon you to make some difficult choices,
    and you made those choices, and the world is better off as a result of
    the decisions your Government made. So it's my honor to welcome you
    here, sir, today.
        Prime Minister Sabah. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
    the President, and thank you, Mr. President, for this invitation and for
    asking us to come here. I believe that the discussions that I had with
    you were frank discussions, and they were discussions between friends,
    people who are friends and allies together.
        I would like to assure you that this friendship and the alliance
    between our two countries and our two peoples will continue. And it will
    not be limited to the official Government levels, but it will be also,
    and continue to be, between the people. This relationship will continue
    to exist because we strongly believe that it's in the interest of the
    peoples in both countries as well as the region.
        Once again, Mr. President, thank you, sir, for this invitation.
        The President. Mr. Prime Minister.
        Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    PLO Prime Minister-Designate Ahmed Korei

        Q. Mr. President, what's your evaluation of the new Palestinian
    Prime Minister? Do you think he's someone that you'll be able to work
    with as well as you were able to work with Mr. Mahmoud Abbas?

    [[Page 1132]]

        The President. Well, time will tell. I still believe strongly that
    two states living side by side in peace is a hopeful vision for the
    future of the Middle East. The roadmap is still there. The fundamental
    question is whether or not people, peaceful people, will be on the road.
        And one of the essential tenets of the roadmap is that people are
    responsible, parties need to be responsible for creating the conditions
    necessary for peace to prevail. Probably the most--the most important
    condition for peace to prevail is for all parties to fight off terror,
    to dismantle organizations whose intent is to destroy the vision of
    peace.
        And the Prime Minister-designee--I understand he accepted the
    position minutes ago--the question is, will he be confirmed by his--
    Parliament? And his job is, if he's interested in a two-state solution,
    is to consolidate power within his administration, to get the security
    forces under control--all security forces--and then to unleash those
    security forces against killers. And we can make progress if that's the
    case.
        But the Prime Minister and I discussed this subject. He made a very
    interesting point, that nations need to cut off funding to terrorist
    groups. And I appreciated that very much. In other words, that's part of
    the responsibility. Israel, of course, has got responsibility not only
    to protect her people but to create the conditions necessary for those
    in the Palestinian Authority who do believe in peace, who do believe in
    the vision, to prevail.
        And so it's tough times there now, and we mourn the loss of innocent
    life. But the vision is still there, because I strongly believe it's in
    the interest of everybody that two states live side by side in peace.
        Would you care to call on somebody from the press?

    Kuwait

        Q. Mr. President, what do you expect from Kuwait, to play a role in
    the future in peace and the future of Iraq? And how do you view this
    visit and Kuwait as an ally to the United States?
        The President. Well, this is a very important visit, because it
    gives me a chance to publicly offer my sincere thanks to an important
    leader in the Oval Office. Secondly, we did discuss our mutual
    responsibilities to promote peace. I assured the Prime Minister that
    this country would stay in Iraq to fulfill our promise to Iraqi citizens
    who are desperate for peace and for the chance to succeed.
        The Prime Minister said that he appreciated our commitment. He was
    glad to be reassured that we will finish the job and said he'd be
    willing to help. And I appreciate that.
        Our friendship is one where we're able to have mutual but frank
    discussions, and we will continue our discussions over lunch. And I am
    grateful for his presence and his willingness to talk frankly about
    issues that relate to our future.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    New U.N. Resolution on Iraq

        Q. Given the French and German opposition, how are you going to get
    a new U.N. resolution on Iraq? Are you willing to concede any control to
    the U.N.?
        The President. Oh, I think that--we're hopeful we can get a good
    resolution. We're in consultations now. I think it's in everybody's
    interest that Iraq be free and be peaceful. And we will continue to work
    through issues. I don't think they're opposed to the resolution. I think
    you're putting words in their mouth that--they may want to fine-tune a
    resolution, and we're--listen, we're open for suggestions.
        But what is necessary is, however, to trust the Iraqi people to--the
    Governing Council to come up with a timetable for elections. They're
    making good progress there now. They've got ministers in charge of key
    parts of the country. They are beginning to put in place the timetable
    necessary for the writing of a constitution. And there will be free
    elections. And that ought to

    [[Page 1133]]

    be decided by the Governing Council. These are people who know full well
    how best to move Iraq forward.
        And we'll work with all parties involved. My call, however, to
    nations is, is that let us not get caught up in past bickering. Let us
    move forward. A free Iraq is in everybody's interest. A peaceful Iraq is
    in the world's interest. And I'm confident we can work together to
    achieve that. The Secretary of State will be going around the world
    urging people to make serious contributions, and I will, once again,
    make that plea. We expect and hope that our friends contribute to the
    reconstruction of Iraq. It is in your interest that you do so.
        Final question, Dick--Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].

    Funding for Iraq and Domestic Programs

        Q. Mr. President, the $87 billion you say will be needed for
    peacekeeping in Iraq accounts for roughly a fifth of the domestic
    discretionary spending next year. Realistically, sir, how can you do
    that and hold the line on domestic programs without gutting those
    programs? Can you really have one----
        The President. Of course, we can do--first of all, the $87 billion,
    it's important to spend that money. It's in our national interest that
    we spend it. A free and peaceful Iraq will save this country money in
    the long term. It's important to get it done now.
        And yes, I also believe the 4-percent discretionary--increase in
    discretionary spending number I sent up to Congress makes sense.
    Somebody--I heard somebody say, ``Well, what we need to do is have a tax
    increase to pay for this.'' That's an absurd notion. You don't raise
    taxes when an economy is recovering. Matter of fact, lower taxes will
    help enhance economic recovery. We want our people going back to work.
    We've got good momentum now in our economy. We don't want to destroy
    that momentum.
        But the $87 billion is worth it. And I look forward to working with
    Congress to get that number completed and get the job done.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A reporter referred to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
    Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Sabah spoke in
    Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.