[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 6 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Page 156]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With King Hamad Khalifa of Bahrain

February 3, 2003

    President Bush. Tonight I'll have a statement; His Majesty will have 
a statement; and then we'll ask you all to leave. We've got some 
business to do.
    First, Your Majesty, welcome to the Oval Office. It is such an honor 
to have you here. America has got a great friend in the Kingdom of 
Bahrain. It's a place where we've had longstanding relations, a place 
where we've had mil-to-mil relations for, I think, nearly 50 years. And 
you have been a stalwart when it comes to peace, and we're so 
appreciative that you're here.
    His Majesty hopes that we're able to--like me, hopes that we're able 
to resolve this issue peacefully in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not 
disarm, for the sake of peace and security for not only the people in 
the region, for people here in America, we will go in and disarm him. 
And I have made that clear to His Majesty in prior conversations. He 
fully understands the position of the United States, and he has been 
incredibly supportive, for which I'm grateful.
    Welcome.
    King Hamad. Thank you, Mr. President.
    And I thank the President for his wonderful reception and the clear 
objectives for security and development, especially in our region.
    And this is something we really need at this level of leadership. 
The decisionmaking process and the objectives are very clear concerning 
the well-being of the people of the region and of the world. And I thank 
him for receiving me today.
    I came all the way from Bahrain to here really to show this warm 
relationship and to support the President in what he's doing for our 
stability and purpose.
    Thank you very much.
    President Bush. Thanks very much. Thanks. I appreciate you coming.

Note: The President spoke at 6:30 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. 
A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was 
incomplete.