    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [September 23, 2004]
    [Pages 2178-2189]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of Iraq
    September 23, 2004

        President Bush. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to stand with
    the Prime Minister of a free and sovereign Iraq. Welcome, Mr. Prime
    Minister. I applaud your leadership and your courage. It's my honor to
    welcome a friend to the White House.
        Prime Minister Allawi. Thank you.
        President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, you've accomplished a great deal
    in less--in the 3 months since the transition to a free Iraq that is
    governed by Iraqis. These have been months of steady progress, despite
    persistent violence in some parts of your country. Iraqis and their
    leaders are engaged in a great and historic enterprise to establish a
    new democracy at the heart of a vital region.
        As friends of liberty, the new leaders of Iraq are friends of
    America and all civilized nations. As enemies of tyranny and terror, the
    people of Iraq and the American troops and civilians supporting their
    dreams of freedom have been the target of acts of violence. The enemies
    of freedom are using suicide bombing, beheadings, and other horrific
    acts to try to block progress. We're sickened by the atrocities, but
    we'll never be intimidated. And freedom is winning.
        Mr. Prime Minister, America will stand with you until freedom and
    justice have prevailed. America's security and Iraq's future depend on
    it.
        The Iraqi people are showing great courage and great determination.
    As terrorists have attacked Iraqi security forces, still more brave
    Iraqis have come forward to volunteer to serve their country. As killers
    have attempted to assassinate Government officials, Iraq's leaders have
    refused to be intimidated, and the vast majority of Iraqis remain
    committed to democracy.
        The path to our safety and to Iraq's future as a democratic nation
    lies in the resolute defense of freedom. If we stop fighting the
    terrorists in Iraq, they would be free to plot and plan attacks
    elsewhere, in America and other free nations. To retreat now would
    betray our mission, our word, and our friends. Mr. Prime Minister,
    America will keep its commitments.
        The path ahead is difficult because a free Iraq has deadly enemies.
    Remnants of the old regime and terrorist groups want to prevent Iraq's
    elections and demoralize Iraq's allies. Because of that, Prime Minister
    Allawi and I believe terrorist violence may well escalate as the January
    elections draw near. The terrorists know that events in Iraq are
    reaching a decisive moment. If elections go forward, democracy in Iraq
    will put down permanent roots, and terrorists will suffer a dramatic
    defeat. And because Iraq and America and our coalition are standing
    firm, the Iraqi people and not the terrorists will determine Iraq's
    future.
        There's much at stake. Mr. Prime Minister, you recently said, ``The
    war in Iraq now is not only an Iraqi war. It is a war for the civilized
    world to fight terrorists and terrorism, and there is no route but the
    route of winning.'' Prime Minister Tony Blair
    recently called the struggle in Iraq the crucible in which the future of
    global terrorism will be determined. I share the view of these strong
    leaders that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror, and our only
    option is victory.
        We're making steady progress in implementing our five-step plan
    toward the goal we all want, completing the mission so that Iraq is
    stable and self-governing and American troops can come home with the
    honor they have earned.
        The first step was achieved on June 28th, not only on time but ahead
    of schedule, when the coalition transferred full sovereignty to a
    Government of Iraqi citizens.
        The second step is to help Iraq's new Government establish stability
    and security. Iraq must be able to defend itself, and

    [[Page 2179]]

    Iraqi security forces are taking increasing responsibility for their
    country's security. Nearly 100,000 fully trained and equipped Iraqi
    soldiers, police officers, and other security personnel are working
    today, and that total will rise to 125,000 by the end of this year. The
    Iraqi Government is on track to build a force of over 200,000 security
    personnel by the end of next year.
        With the help of the American military, the training of the Iraqi
    army is almost halfway complete. And in Najaf and other important areas,
    Iraqi military forces have performed with skill and success. In Najaf,
    Iraqi and coalition forces effectively surrounded, isolated, and engaged
    enemy militias. Prime Minister Allawi and his Government reached out to
    the local population to persuade citizens the path to a better future
    would be found in political participation and economic progress. The
    Interim Government then negotiated from a position of strength to end
    the standoff.
        Serious problems remain in several cities. Prime Minister Allawi
    believes this combination of decisive action and outreach to peaceful
    citizens is the most effective way to defeat terrorists and insurgents
    and secure the peace of Iraq. And America stands with him.
        The third step in our plan is to continue improving Iraq's
    infrastructure. On television sets around the world, we see acts of
    violence; yet in most of Iraq, children are about to go back to school,
    parents are going back to work, and new businesses are being opened.
    Over 100 companies are now listed on the Iraqi stock exchange, and an
    average of 5 new companies are joining each week. Electricity has been
    restored above prewar levels. Telephone service has increased
    dramatically. More than 2,000 schools have been renovated, and millions
    of new textbooks have been distributed.
        There is much more work to be done. We've already spent more than a
    billion dollars on urgent reconstruction projects in areas threatened by
    the insurgency. In the next several months, over $9 billion will be
    spent on contracts that will help Iraqis rebuild schools, refurbish
    hospitals and health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electricity
    grid, and modernize the communications system. Prime Minister Allawi and
    I both agree that the pace of reconstruction should be accelerated.
    We're working toward that goal.
        The fourth step in our plan is to enlist additional international
    support for Iraq's transition to democracy. The multinational force of
    some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq. We honor the
    service men and women of Great Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, El Salvador,
    Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia,
    Spain, Thailand, and Ukraine who've died, besides Iraqis and Americans,
    for the cause of freedom and security of the world.
        Our coalition is grateful that the United Nations has reestablished
    its mission in Baghdad. We're grateful to the G-8 countries and the
    European Union for pledging support to the new Iraqi Government. We're
    grateful to the NATO Alliance for helping to train Iraqi forces. We're
    grateful to many of Iraq's creditors, which have agreed to a further
    reduction of Iraq's debt. Because all nations have an interest in the
    success of a free Iraq, I urge all nations to join in this vital cause.
        The fifth and most important step in our plan is to help Iraq
    conduct free national elections no later than next January. An Iraqi
    electoral commission is now up and running and has already hired
    personnel and is making key decisions about election procedures. Just
    this week, the commission began a public education campaign to inform
    Iraqis about the process and encourage them to become voters. United
    Nations electoral advisers are on the ground in Iraq, though more are
    needed. Prime Minister Allawi and I have urged the U.N. to send
    sufficient personnel to help ensure the success of Iraqi elections.
        At every stage in this process of establishing self-government, the
    Iraqi people and their leaders have met the schedules

    [[Page 2180]]

    they set, and have overcome their challenges with confidence. And under
    this good man's leadership, they will continue to do so.
        The war for Iraq's freedom is a fight against some of the most
    ruthless and brutal men on Earth. In such a struggle, there will be good
    days and there will be difficult days, but every day our resolve must
    remain firm.
        Prime Minister, today I want to leave you and the nation you serve
    with a clear message: You have not faltered in a time of challenge, and
    neither will America. Thank you for your leadership. You honor us with
    your visit.
        Prime Minister Allawi. Thank you.
        Mr. President, thank you for those kind words. It is an honor to be
    here today in your Nation's Capital. It is a great honor to share this
    platform with you, a leader who worked tirelessly for the liberation of
    my country.
        These last few days have been difficult for us Iraqis, for you
    Americans, and for all our allies. Let me start by saying that my
    thoughts and prayers are with the families of those fighting today in
    Iraq and, in particularly, with the families of those who have lost
    loved ones at the hands of the terrorists or the insurgents.
        Like this nation, which is--which in the face of such brutality is
    standing strong against terrorism, so we Iraqis will not be cowed by the
    terrorists. Your Government and my Government understand what is at
    stake today in Iraq. Today, we face a concentrated campaign by
    terrorists and by the enemies of all the values which we hold dear, a
    campaign to shake our resolve and to prevent Iraq and Iraqis from
    attaining the freedom and democracy which we have dreamed of for more
    than the last 30 years. These terrorists understand all too well that
    success in Iraq will be an enormous blow for terrorism worldwide and an
    enormous step forward for peace and stability in the Middle East and in
    the wider world.
        I thank you, Mr. President, for your determination to stand firm
    with us in Iraq and for the unflinching message which you are delivering
    to our enemies.
        Mr. President, I stand here today as a Prime Minister of a country
    emerging finally from dark ages of tyranny, aggression, and corruption.
    Like you, I knew how evil Saddam Hussein and his regime truly were. Like
    you, I knew the damage he had brought on his country. Like you, I knew
    of the wars he had started and the dangers he posed to my region and the
    world, or at least I thought I knew. For I, like millions of other
    Iraqis, were forced into exile, realizing that we could only fight
    Saddam from outside Iraq. Even then we were not safe, as I myself can
    testify.
        But when I returned to Iraq, following the liberation of my country,
    I was truly shocked by just how much damage Saddam had done to--in his
    30 years of rule. Iraq is a deeply scarred society in a very troubled
    region. Today, we are witnessing all too vividly the true extent of the
    damage which Saddam inflicted on our society.
        Mr. President, Iraqis thank God, thank America, and thank our allies
    that Saddam is gone. We are safer; the region is safer; the world is
    safer without him. But the scars will take time to--determination to--
    time and determination to heal.
        Again, Mr. President, I thank you for your leadership. We had an
    excellent meeting today, building on the talks we had on Tuesday in New
    York. We discussed the challenges ahead of us and how to confront them.
    We discussed the plan to take Iraq through these difficulties and to
    ensure that democratic elections take place on time next year. And we
    discussed the importance of maintaining the strength of the coalition
    and the support of the international community in helping us to succeed.
    As we discussed, the plan focuses on building democracy, defeating the
    insurgency, and improving the quality of life for the ordinary Iraqis.

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        Our political plan is to isolate the terrorists from the communities
    in which they operate. We are working hard to involve as many people as
    we can in the political process, to cut the ground from under the
    terrorists' feet. Of course, we know that terrorism cannot be defeated
    with political tools alone, but we can weaken it. Ending local support
    helps us to tackle the enemy head on, to identify, isolate, and
    eradicate this cancer.
        Our military plan will enable us to build and maintain security
    across Iraq. Ordinary Iraqis are anxious to take over entirely this role
    and to shoulder all the security burdens of our country as quickly as
    possible. We do not want the multinational force to stay in Iraq any
    more than you want to remain there. But for now, we need you. We need
    the help of our American and multinational partners while we continue to
    accelerate the training of Iraqi security forces.
        The Iraqi Government now commands almost 100,000 trained and combat-
    ready Iraqis, including police, national guard, and army. The Government
    have accelerated the development of Iraqi special forces and established
    a counterterrorist strike force to address the specific problems caused
    by the insurgency. Our intelligence is getting better every day. You
    have seen that in the successful resolution of the Najaf crisis and in
    the targeted attacks against insurgents in Fallujah.
        Finally, our economic plan is to improve the everyday lives of
    Iraqis as we deliver both political and security progress. Here, thanks
    to a large extent to the generous security and reconstruction funding
    approved by the United States Congress, work is underway. Oil pipelines
    are being repaired, basic services improved, streets and homes rebuilt,
    schools, hospitals, and clinics reopened. Thousands of Iraqis have new
    jobs. Salaries have been increased dramatically, in many cases five or
    four times over. Iraq's economy, freed from the stranglehold of a failed
    Ba'athist ideology, has finally started to flourish.
        Mr. President, we also discussed the importance of holding free and
    fair national and local elections this coming January as planned. I know
    that some have speculated, even doubted whether this date can be met, so
    let me be absolutely clear that elections will occur in Iraq on time in
    January, because Iraqis want election on time. In 15 out of 18 Iraqi
    provinces, the security situation is good for elections to be held
    tomorrow. Here, Iraqis are getting on with their daily lives, hungry for
    the new political and economic freedoms they are enjoying. Although this
    is not what you see in your media, it is a fact.
        The Iraqi elections may not be perfect. They may not be the best
    elections that Iraq will ever hold. They will no-doubtedly be an excuse
    for violence from those who despair and despise liberty, as we--as were
    the first elections in Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Indonesia. But
    they will take place, and they will be free and fair.
        Finally, Mr. President, a word about international resolve. Iraq
    cannot accomplish this alone. The international forces of tyranny and
    oppression are lined up against us. Iraq is now the main battleground
    between the forces of hope and the forces of fear. This is a struggle
    which will shape the future of our world.
        Already, Iraq has many partners. More than two dozen countries are
    represented in Iraq with troops on the ground. We Iraqis are grateful
    for each and every one of these courageous men and women. The United
    Nations, the European Union, the G-8 have lent their strong support.
    NATO, just yesterday, increased its commitment to Iraq. Many more
    nations have committed to Iraq future in the form of economic aid. I am
    grateful for the support. I look to my Arab brothers to join us fully.
        I know it is difficult, but the coalition must stand firm. When
    governments negotiate with terrorists, everyone in the free world
    suffers. When political leaders sound

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    the sirens of defeatism in the face of terrorism, it only encourages
    more violence. Working together, we will defeat the killers, and we'll
    do this by refusing to bargain about our most fundamental principles.
        I understand why, faced with the daily headlines, there are those
    doubts. I know too that there are--there will be many more setbacks and
    obstacles to overcome. But these doubters underestimate our country, and
    they risk fueling the hopes of terrorism.
        Mr. President, there are those who want to divide our world. I
    appeal to you, who have done so much already to help us, to ensure they
    don't succeed.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. We'll take a couple of questions now. Terry [Terence
    Hunt, Associated Press].

    Support for the U.S. Military/Terrorists in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, two more Americans have been beheaded. More than
    300 Iraqis have been killed in the last week. Fallujah is out of
    Government control. And U.S. and Iraqi forces have been unable to bring
    security to diplomatic and commercial centers of Baghdad. Why haven't
    U.S. forces been able to capture or kill Al Zarqawi, who's blamed for
    much of the violence? And what's your answer to General John Abizaid's
    statement that, ``I think we will need more troops than we currently
    have''?
        President Bush. If that's what he says--
    he was in my office this morning. He didn't say that to me, but if he
    were to say that, I'd listen to him, just like I've said all along, that
    when our commanders say that they need support, they'll get support,
    because we're going to succeed in this mission.
        The first part of the question was, how come we haven't found
    Zarqawi? We're looking for him. He
    hides. He is--he's got a effective weapon, and that is terror. I said
    yesterday that our military cannot be defeated by these thugs, that--but
    what they do is behead Americans so they can get on the TV screens. And
    they're trying to shake our will and trying to shake the Iraqis' will.
    That's what they're trying to do.
        And like all Americans, I'm disgusted by that kind of behavior, but
    I'm not going to yield. We're not going to abandon the Iraqi people.
    It's in our interests that we win this battle in the war on terror. See,
    I think that the Iraq theater is a part of the war on terror. That's
    what the Prime Minister said as well. He believes the same thing. He
    understands what's going on there. After all, he lives there.
        And I believe that if we wilt or leave, America's security will be
    much worse off. I believe that if Iraq--if we fail in Iraq, it's the
    beginning of a long struggle. We will not have done our duty to our
    children and our grandchildren. And so that's why I'm consistently
    telling the Iraqi citizens that we will not be intimidated. That's why
    my message to Mr. Zarqawi is: You
    cannot drive us out of Iraq by your brutality.
        It's tough work. Everybody knows that. It's hard work. But we must
    not allow the actions of a few--and I emphasize that, I say that because
    there are 25 million Iraqis, by far the vast majority of whom want to
    live in a free society--and we cannot allow the actions of a few to
    determine the fate of these good people as well as the fate of the
    security of the United States.
        Prime Minister Allawi. May I, Mr. President?
        President Bush. Sure.
        Prime Minister Allawi. I just have a few words to say to this
    question.
        We cannot really substitute Iraq for Fallujah. Fallujah is a small
    part of Iraq. There are insurgents and terrorists who are active there
    for geographical reasons. The people of Fallujah are adamant that they
    should--whenever they are capable--to get rid of the insurgents. We have
    been talking to them. I have been talking to them, engaged in dialog. My
    deputy met with the

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    Fallujah tribes 2 days ago. Things are moving in the right direction,
    and we are hitting insurgents and terrorists in this part of the world.
        To have more troops, we don't need. What we need really is to train
    more Iraqis, because this is ultimately for Iraqis, for Iraqi security
    forces to take responsibility for their own security and to defend the
    rest of the civilized world. What is happening, sir, in Iraq is, really,
    Iraq is becoming a frontline for a global fight against terrorists. So
    that's why Zarqawi is not alone. There are other groups similar to
    Zarqawi. There are groups who are insurgents who have stained their
    hands with the murders of the Iraqi people, who are Saddam's loyalists.
    They are working together. We assure you that we are going to defeat
    these evil forces, in Iraq and throughout the world.
        President Bush. Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    U.S. Strategy in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, John Kerry is accusing you of colossal failures of
    judgment in Iraq and having failed to level with the American people
    about how tough it is there. How do you respond to him?
        President Bush. It's hard work in Iraq. Everybody knows that. We see
    it on our TV. My message is that we will stay the course and stand with
    these people so that they become free. It's in our national interest we
    do so. I believe this is a central part in the war on terror. I believe
    that when we succeed in Iraq, that America will be more secure. I also
    know that a free Iraq will send a clear message to the part of the world
    that is desperate for freedom.
        It's hard work. The American people know that. But I believe it's
    necessary work, and I believe a leader must be consistent and clear and
    not change positions when times get tough. And the times have been hard.
    These are hard times. But I understand that--what mixed messages do. You
    can embolden an enemy by sending a mixed message. You can dispirit the
    Iraqi people by sending mixed messages. You send the wrong message to
    our troops by sending mixed messages. That's why I will continue to lead
    with clarity and in a resolute way, because I understand the stakes.
    These are high stakes, and we'll succeed.
        Is anybody here from the Iraqi media? Why don't we--yes, please,
    sir. Standing next to a fine man in Deans [Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers].

    Reconstruction of Iraq

    [At this point, a question was asked in Arabic.]

        President Bush. I'm not so sure I agree with that. [Laughter]

    [The interpreter then translated the question as follows.]

        Q. The question to the U.S. President: What are the plans to
    accelerate the arrival of the fund donated by various countries around
    the world, the countries that are contributing to the rebuilding of
    Iraq, in order to encourage investments in Iraq, particularly with a
    very high unemployment rate?
        President Bush. Right. There are at least three aspects to the
    reconstruction projects. One is our own money. And as I mentioned in my
    remarks, there's $7 billion committed. We've got more money to spend,
    and we will spend it when contracts are let and when there's enough
    security in certain neighborhoods to be able to spend the money wisely.
        Secondly, part of making sure that the Iraq balance sheet is in good
    shape is to continue to work on debt reductions. I named former
    Secretary Jim Baker to go around to the
    creditor nations. He received some commitments. And I believe that the
    world will make its decision later on this year as to how much debt
    reduction there will be in Iraq.
        And thirdly, as you mentioned, other nations have pledged help to
    the Iraqi people. And there will be a donors conference in

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    Japan, kind of an accountability conference for people to come and
    explain where they are in meeting their different promises.
        Yes, NBC man, there--your name?
        Q. Gregory [David Gregory, NBC News], sir.
        President Bush. Gregory.

    Saddam Hussein

        Q. Mr. President, you say today that the work in Iraq is tough and
    will remain tough. And yet, you travel this country, and a central theme
    of your campaign is that America is safer because of the invasion of
    Iraq. Can you understand why Americans may not believe you?
        President Bush. No. Anybody who says that we are safer with Saddam
    Hussein in power is wrong. We went into Iraq because Saddam Hussein
    defied the demands of the free world. We went into Iraq after diplomacy
    had failed. And we went into Iraq because I understand after September
    the 11th we must take threats seriously, before they come to hurt us.
        And I think it's a preposterous claim to say that America would be
    better off with Saddam Hussein in power. I certainly know that that's
    the case for America, and I certainly know it's the case for the Iraqi
    people. These are the people who were tortured. This good man was abed
    in a London flat, and he wakes up with two Saddam henchmen there with
    axes, trying to cut him to pieces with an ax. And fortunately, he's
    alive today. Fortunately, we call him friend and ally. But he knows what
    it means to have lived under a society in which a thug like Saddam
    Hussein would send people with axes to try to kill him in bed in a
    London flat. No, this world is better off with Saddam Hussein in prison.
        Q. Sir, may I just follow, because I don't think you're really
    answering the question. I mean, I think you're responding to Senator
    Kerry, but there are beheadings regularly, the insurgent violence
    continues, and there are no weapons of mass destruction. My question is,
    can you understand that Americans may not believe you when you say that
    America is actually safer today?
        President Bush. Imagine a world in which Saddam Hussein were still
    in power. This is a man who harbored terrorists, Abu Abbas, Abu Nidal,
    Zarqawi. This is a man who was a sworn
    enemy of the United States of America. This is a man who used weapons of
    mass destruction. Going from tyranny to democracy is hard work, but I
    think the argument that says that Saddam Hussein--if Saddam Hussein were
    still in power, we'd be better off is wrong.
        King [John King, Cable News Network].

    Decisionmaking on Troop Levels/National Intelligence Estimate

        Q. Sir, I'd like you to answer Senator Kerry and other critics who
    accuse you of hypocrisy or opportunism when on the one hand you put so
    much stock in the CIA when it said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass
    destruction and now say it is just guessing when it paints a pessimistic
    picture of the political transition.
        President Bush. Yes.
        Q. And I like to, if you don't mind, follow on something the Prime
    Minister just said. If General Abizaid says he needs more troops and the
    Prime Minister says he does not want more troops, who wins?
        President Bush. Let me talk to General Abizaid. As I said, he just came in to see me, and I want to make
    sure--I'm not suggesting any of the reporters here might be taking
    something out of context. That would never happen in America. But
    nevertheless, I do want to sit down and talk to him about it. Obviously,
    we can work this out. It's in the--if our commanders on the ground feel
    it's in the interest of the Iraq citizens to provide more troops, we'll
    talk about it. That's--that's why--they're friends--that's what we do
    about friends.
        First part of the question--oh, yes, yes----

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        Q. They say you've been opportunistic----
        President Bush. Yes, got it. Listen, the other day I was asked about
    the NIE, which is a National Intelligence Estimate. This is a report
    that talks about possibilities about what can happen in Iraq, not
    probabilities. I used an unfortunate word, ``guess.'' I should have used
    ``estimate.'' And the CIA came and said, ``This is a possibility, this
    is a possibility, and this is a possibility.'' But what's important for
    the American people to hear is reality. And the reality is right here in
    the form of the Prime Minister, and he is explaining what is happening
    on the ground. That's the best report. And this report was written in
    July, and now we are here in September. And as I said, ``estimate''
    would have been a better word.
        Q. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Hold on for a minute. Hold on for a minute, please,
    please. We've got other people from--hold on for a second.
        Prime Minister Allawi. From the other----
        President Bush. From Iraq. Are you from Iraq?
        Q. No.
        President Bush. Okay. No, hold on for a second. We need people from
    Iraq first, please. One journalist from Iraq. You're not from Iraq,
    Allen [Mike Allen, Washington Post], and neither are you, Elisabeth
    [Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times].
        Prime Minister Allawi. Give Al Arabiya----
        President Bush. Is anybody here from CBS? Roberts [John Roberts, CBS
    News], there you are. Please.
        Q. ----happy to be here.
        President Bush. Happy to be here, thank you. [Laughter]
        Q. Sir, you----
        President Bush. Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News], you're next.

    Iraqi Elections/Security Situation in Iraq

        Q. You have been accused on the campaign trail in this election year
    of painting an overly optimistic portrait of the situation on the ground
    in Iraq. Yesterday, in Valley Forge, you said that there was a
    ``handful'' of people who were willing to kill to try to disrupt the
    process. Isn't that really understating the case, particularly when
    there are intelligence reports that hundreds if not thousands of foreign
    fighters are streaming across the border from Syria to take up the fight
    of the insurgency? And do you believe, given the situation on the ground
    in Fallujah and other northern cities in the Sunni Triangle, that
    elections are possible in 4 months?
        President Bush. I do, because the Prime Minister told me they are.
    He is--he's interested in moving this country forward. And you heard his
    statement, and I believe him.
        The first part of the question?
        Q. The first question was, aren't you being----
        President Bush. Yes, got it, got it. Yes. Yesterday----
        Q. ----disingenuous----
        President Bush. Right. I said--look, what we're seeing on our TV
    screens are the acts of suicide bombers. They're the people that are
    affecting the daily--the nightly news. And they know its effect. I said
    that the enemy cannot defeat us militarily. What they can do is take
    acts of violence that try to discourage us and try to discourage the
    Prime Minister and the people of Iraq.
        Look, I'm fully aware we're fighting former Ba'athists and
    Zarqawi network people. But by far, the
    vast majority of people, John, and--of 25 million people--want to live
    in freedom. My point is, is that a few people, relative to the whole,
    are trying to stop the march of freedom.
        It is tough work. Everybody in America knows that, and the
    fundamental question is, are we going to allow the tough work to cause
    us to retreat, to waver? And my

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    answer to the American people and the Iraqi people and to the enemy is
    that we will complete our mission. We will do our duty. We will adjust
    strategies on the ground, depending upon the tactics of the enemy, but
    we're not going to allow the suiciders to drive us out of Iraq.
        Terry.
        Prime Minister Allawi. May I----
        President Bush. Yes, please.
        Prime Minister Allawi. Let me explain something which is very
    important. I have noticed--and the media have been neglected and omitted
    several times--in the Western media--Iraq is made out of 18 provinces,
    18, 1-8. Out of these 18 provinces, 14 to 15 are completely safe; there
    are no problems. And I can count them for you, starting from Basra
    moving into Iraq Kurdistan. There are three areas, three provinces where
    there are pockets of insurgents, pockets of terrorists who are acting
    there and are moving from there to inflict damage elsewhere in the
    country.
        So really, if you care to look at Iraq properly and go from Basra to
    Nasiriyah to Kut to Diyala to Najaf to Karbala to Diwaniya to Samarra to
    Kirkuk to Sulaymaniyah to Dahuk to Arbil, there are no problems. It's
    safe. It's good. There are problems in Fallujah. Fallujah is part of a
    province; the province is called Al Anbar. It's vast, very big. It has
    many other important towns such as Ana, such as Rawa, such as Ramadi.
    There is nothing there. In Ana and Rawa, indeed, there is nothing, no
    problem, except on a small pocket in Fallujah.
        So really, I call upon the responsible media throughout the world,
    not only here, to look at the facts as they are in Iraq and to propagate
    these facts to the international community.
        I am not trying to undermine that there are dangers. There are
    dangers in Iraq. There are problems, and we are facing international
    terrorist onslaught on Iraq. I, personally, receive every day a threat.
    In the last 4 weeks, they found four conspiracies to kill me. And
    likewise, they are killing people--they are killing officials; they are
    killing innocent people. But the Iraqis are not deterred, and we are not
    going to be deterred. I went the next day and saw our recruitment center
    for the police, after they killed, massacred 40, 45 people. I found
    hundreds of people coming to be volunteer--to volunteer to the police
    and to the army. I spoke to them. They are all upbeat. They are resolved
    to beat terrorism and to defeat the insurgents.
        These are facts that one really needs to explain to you, and you
    need to explain it to the people.
        President Bush. Terry.

    Iraqi Support for Coalition Efforts

        Q. Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, I'd like to ask about the
    Iraqi people. Both of you have spoken for them today, and yet, over the
    past several months, there have been polls conducted by the Coalition
    Provisional Authority, by the Oxford Institute, and other reputable
    organizations that have found very strong majorities do not see the
    United States as a liberator but as an occupier, are unhappy with
    American policy, and want us out. Don't the real voices of the Iraqi
    people, themselves, contradict the rosy scenarios you're painting here
    today?
        President Bush. Let me start by that. You said the poll was taken
    when the CPA was there?
        Q. One poll----
        President Bush. Yes, okay, let me stop you. First of all, the Iraqi
    people now have got Iraqi leadership. Prime Minister Allawi and his
    Cabinet are making decisions on behalf of the Iraqi people. Secondly, I
    saw a poll that said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than
    here in America. [Laughter] It's pretty darn strong. I mean, the people
    see a better future.
        Talk to the leader. I agree; I'm not the expert on how the Iraqi
    people think, because I live in America, where it's nice and safe and
    secure. But I talk to this man.

    [[Page 2187]]

    One reason I'm optimistic about our ability to get the job done is
    because I talk to the Iraqi Prime Minister. I'm also optimistic that
    people will choose freedom over tyranny every time. That's what I
    believe.
        But Mr. Prime Minister, you might answer the question on the polls.
    There's a lot of polls. Sometimes they show you up and sometimes they
    show you down, as you might remember.
        Prime Minister Allawi. Let me take a minute to explain to you
    something, a factual event. I meet, personally, every now and then with
    the fringes of the so-called resistance to try and talk them into
    respecting law and order and withdraw their arms. And I ask them in a
    very honest, very open way, I say to them, ``What do you want to
    achieve? Could you know exactly what you want to achieve? Do you want to
    bring Saddam back from the hole in the ground, living like a rat? Do you
    want to bring him back to rule Iraq? Or do you want to bring bin Laden
    or similar persons to bin Laden to rule Iraq? If you want to do this, we
    will fight you room to room, house to house. If you want to be part of
    the political process, you have to be part of the political process, you
    are welcome.''
        ``If you do not want the multinational force in Iraq''--I was
    talking to Fallujah people recently, to tribes, ex-army officers, ex-
    Saddam loyalists--``if you want the multinational force out, win the
    elections. Go to the United Nations, talk to the Security Council, and
    tell them we don't need the multinational forces. But I tell you what is
    going to happen. If you ask the multinational force to leave
    prematurely''--this is me talking to the Fallujah people--``your country
    will be in ruins, and we cannot now, on our feet, stand and fight
    terrorism and global terrorism.''
        These are realities. And once you are in Iraq, I will be your* host.
    I can put you together with these people in my home, and you can talk to
    them. And you can find out yourselves that the Iraqis tremendously, by
    and large, respect the United States and respect the other partners in
    the coalition for helping Iraq, not only in liberation but now in
    helping Iraq to rebuild itself and to rebuild its institutions.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        President Bush. Let me say one other thing about why I'm optimistic
    we'll succeed. By the way, you can understand it's tough and still be
    optimistic. You can understand how hard it is and believe we'll succeed.
        I remember when some were talking about the possibility of success
    in Afghanistan in pretty stark terms. I don't know if you remember that
    period or not, but there was a period where some were saying that it
    wasn't possible for democracy to come forward in Afghanistan. Today, 10
    million citizens have registered to vote, 41 percent of whom are women.
    It's a phenomenal statistic, I think. I think it shows what's possible
    if you believe--if you have certain beliefs from which you won't waver.
    And I believe people yearn to be free.
        Again, I think if you look at polls--which sometimes I do, and
    sometimes I don't, admittedly, Moran--that by far the vast majority of
    Iraqis want to vote. They want to live in freedom. And the fundamental
    question is, do we--is this: Do we have the will to stay? Do we have the
    will to put smart strategy in place? I've laid out the strategy. We're
    implementing the strategy. But really, do we have the will to complete
    the mission? And my message to the Iraqi people and to the enemy and to
    our troops in harm's way and to our allies is: We'll complete the
    mission.
        Listen, last question--Wendell [Wendell Goler, Fox News Channel].
    And then we--I think it's probably time to head into the air-
    conditioning----
        Q. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Excuse me, ma'am.
        Wendell.

    [[Page 2188]]

    Impact of Mixed Signals on Coalition Efforts

        Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, in the past couple of days you
    have been talking about the consequences of the mixed messages you say
    John Kerry sends. I want to ask you, sir, do you mean immediate
    consequences, not just if the Senator is elected? Do you mean that the
    messages being sent now have a negative effect on the effort in Iraq?
    And does making the war in Iraq a part of a campaign also have
    consequences on the situation there, sir?
        President Bush. Well, I think--look, in a campaign, it's--the war of
    Iraq is going to be part of a campaign. It's--this is a major moment in
    American history. These are historic times, and I view it as a great
    opportunity to help secure our country. As I said before, Iraq is a
    central part of the war on terror, and I believe it's important for us
    to succeed there because of that.
        See, 9/11 changed everything. September the 11th meant that we had
    to deal with a person like Saddam Hussein. Of
    course, I was hoping it could be done diplomatically. But diplomacy
    failed, and so the last resort of a President is to use force. And we
    did, and now we're helping the Iraqis.
        The Prime Minister said something very interesting a while ago, and
    it's important for the American people to understand. Our strategy is to
    help the Iraqis help themselves. It's important that we train Iraqi
    troops. There are nearly 100,000 troops trained. The Iraqi* national
    army is a part of the army. By the way, it was the Iraqi* national army
    that went into Najaf and did the work there. There's a regular army
    being trained. There are border guards being trained. There are police
    being trained. That's a key part of our mission.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        But Wendell, I think the world watches America. We're an influential
    nation, and everybody watches what we say. And I think it's very
    important for the American President to mean what he says. That's why I
    understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to
    be as clearly as I can. I don't want them to be emboldened by any
    confusion or doubt. I don't want them to think that, well, maybe all
    they've got to do is attack, and we'll shirk our duties. See, they've
    been emboldened before. They have caused certain nations to withdraw
    from coalitions as a result of their action, such action reinforcing the
    ability for suiciders, for example, to affect free societies. I know
    that. I've seen firsthand the tactics of these killers. And so
    therefore, I think it's very important for all of us involved in the
    process not to send mixed signals. I don't know what the enemy thinks
    today. But I do know they're watching America very carefully. I do know
    they want to affect other nations by their acts of murder. I do know
    they were emboldened when Spain withdrew from Iraq as a result of
    attacks and election.
        And therefore, I have a duty to our troops, for starters--most
    importantly--not to send a mixed signal. I want our troops to know that
    the sacrifices they are making are worthwhile and necessary for the
    security of this country.
        And I want--don't want the Iraqis to fear that, oh, all of a sudden
    there will be a change of heart, that there'll be tough times
    politically or that a poll might say something and, therefore, cause me
    to change my opinion. I don't want them to think that, because they have
    to make the hard choices for freedom. They have to go from a society
    that has been tortured by a brutal thug to a society in which they take
    responsibility for their daily lives.
        I don't want the coalition forces to feel like we're wavering. And
    so I understand that people watch our words, and that's an explanation
    of why I say what I say.
        Listen, thank you all very much.
        Mr. Prime Minister, appreciate you. Good job.

    [[Page 2189]]

        Prime Minister Allawi. Okay. Thank you.
        President Bush. Proud you're here.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 12:06 p.m. in the Rose
    Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister
    Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley,
    American citizens who were killed in Iraq on September 20 and 21,
    respectively, by militants led by senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al
    Zarqawi; Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA, combatant commander, U.S. Central
    Command; James A. Baker III, former Presidential envoy on the issue of
    Iraqi debt; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Prime Minister
    Allawi referred to Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist
    organization.