[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 13 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Pages 354-356]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Returning From Camp David, Maryland, and an Exchange With 
Reporters

March 23, 2003

Operation Iraqi Freedom

    The President. I am pleased with the progress that we're making in 
the early stages of a--of the war to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass 
destruction and to free the Iraqi people from the clutches of a brutal 
dictatorship.
    Today in our church service, Laura and I prayed for the coalition 
forces, those in the coalition forces who lost their lives. We pray for 
their families. We ask God's comfort for those who mourn today. And we 
thank all the coalition forces for their bravery and courage in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    It is evident that it's going to take a while to achieve our 
objective, but we're on course, we're determined, and we're making good 
progress.
    I'll answer a few questions.
    Q. Sir, have you seen the tape----
    Q. Mr. President----
    The President. One at a time, please. Scott [Scott Lindlaw, 
Associated Press]. Thank you.

Prisoners of War

    Q. What do you know about the prisoners--anything, sir?
    The President. I've been briefed, I'm constantly briefed by the 
Pentagon and through the National Security Office. I would--I don't know 
all the details yet. I do know that we expect them to be treated 
humanely, just like we'll treat any prisoners of theirs that we capture 
humanely.
    I think it's an interesting contrast that a lot of their soldiers 
welcome American troops. They're surrendering gleefully, happily. And 
they'll be treated well. And I ask you to ask the Defense Department for 
further details.
    Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].
    Q. Sir, what do you know about Saddam Hussein and his fate, if 
anything?
    The President. I know that Saddam Hussein is losing control of his 
country, that we're slowly but surely achieving our objective.
    It's important for the American people to realize that this war has 
just begun, that it may seem like a long time because of all the action 
on TV, but in terms of the overall strategy, we're just in the beginning 
phases, and that we're executing a plan which will make it easier to 
achieve objective and, at the same time, spare innocent life.
    And I'm most proud of our troops and coalition troops for showing 
their bravery and skill.
    Larry [Larry McQuillan, USA Today].

Progress in Operation Iraqi Freedom

    Q. Mr. President, you know--at this point, can you tell Americans, I 
mean, is the war progressing the way you expected it to?
    The President. Yes, Larry, it is. It is, and I--the air campaign is 
achieving its objective, and the ground campaign is also achieving

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objective. We're slowly but surely taking control of that country so 
that we can free the people of Iraq and eventually clear that country of 
weapons of mass destruction. We've made good progress.
    One of the big concerns early on was the southern oilfields. As you 
all remember, we had discussions about that. There was a lot of 
speculation about whether or not coalition forces would be able to get 
to the southern oilfields in time, before--so that Saddam Hussein 
wouldn't destroy them. As a matter of fact, I had frequently talked 
about the southern oilfields or oilfields in general in my declaratory 
policy. Tommy Franks put a plan in place that moved on those oilfields 
quickly, and at least in the south, they are secure. And that is 
positive news for all of us.
    Most of the south is now in coalition hands. Obviously, there's 
pockets of resistance in a place like Basra. We're making great 
progress--in the west, we're making great progress. The area, the launch 
sites for the scuds, while certainly not 100 percent secure, but we've 
made good progress.
    And so I can assure the American people we're making good progress, 
and I also can assure them that this is just the beginning of a tough 
fight.

Prisoners of War

    Q. Sir, have you specifically been told that American POWs have been 
executed? And even----
    The President. I have not been told that. I have been told that we 
have a problem with potential capture. I'm waiting to--when I get back 
upstairs, I'll talk back to the Pentagon again. I was told early this 
morning that perhaps our troops were captured. Maybe between the time I 
left Camp David and here I'll learn more. But I am concerned about our 
troops. Obviously, anytime one of our soldiers loses a life, I grieve 
with their parents and their loved ones. And if there is somebody 
captured--and it looks like there may be--I expect those people to be 
treated humanely.

Regime Change

    Q. What is your level of confidence that the Iraqi regime will 
surrender or collapse before U.S. forces need to be engaged in a fight 
in Baghdad?
    The President. I--all I know is we've got a game plan, a strategy to 
free the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein and rid his country of weapons 
of mass destruction, and we're on plan.
    Bill [Bill Plante, CBS News], and then Mike [Mike Allen, Washington 
Post].

Prisoners of War

    Q. Iraqi TV has shown what appear to be American POWs and also what 
appear to be American dead. Your reaction?
    The President. I expect them to be treated--the POWs I expect to be 
treated humanely. And--just like we're treating the prisoners that we 
have captured humanely. If not, the people who mistreat the prisoners 
will be treated as war criminals.
    Mike.

Possibility of Exile

    Q. Mr. President, do you retain hope that Saddam Hussein will go 
into exile, and are there any active negotiations about that?
    The President. You know, Mike, I--he had his chance to go into 
exile. I gave him a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the country so that we 
could disarm Iraq peacefully. He chose not to go into exile.

Turkey

    Q. Mr. President, how concerned are you about the situation in the 
north and Turkey's statement that they will send troops in there and 
that Americans might get caught in some kind of crossfire up there?
    The President. We have got more troops up north, and we're making it 
very clear to the Turks that we expect them not to come into northern 
Iraq. We're in constant touch with the Turkish military as well as 
Turkish politicians. They know our policy, and it's a firm policy. And 
we've made it very clear to them we expect them not to go into northern 
Iraq as well as--and they know we're working with the Kurds to make sure 
there's not an incident that would cause there to be an excuse to go 
into northern Iraq.

Prisoners of War/Casualties

    Q. Mr. President, what are you saying to the families of those U.S. 
soldiers who appear

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to be killed or captured and are paraded on television----
    The President. I say to the families, thank--I thank them for the 
sacrifice they make, and we pray with them. I pray for God's comfort and 
God's healing powers to anybody, coalition force, American, Brit, 
anybody who loses a life in this--in our efforts to make the world more 
peaceful and more free.
    Ed [Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times].

Weapons of Mass Destruction

    Q. Mr. President, are you surprised the enemy has not used any 
weapons of mass destruction?
    The President. I am thankful the enemy has not used any weapons of 
mass destruction. And we will continue employing a strategy to make it 
difficult for the enemy to use weapons of mass destruction.
    A couple more; then I've got to go.

Funding for Operation Iraqi Freedom

    Q. Mr. President, what will you be telling the congressional leaders 
tomorrow about the cost----
    The President. Wait until I talk to them. It's probably best they 
hear it directly from me.

Prisoners of War

    Q. Mr. President, to your knowledge, is there any hope of getting 
these soldiers back?
    The President. What?
    Q. To your knowledge, is there any chance of getting these soldiers 
back?
    The President. Of course.

Humanitarian Aid

    Q. Mr. President, how swiftly do you expect to get humanitarian 
aid----
    The President. Good question. I appreciate you asking that question. 
The question is on humanitarian aid. In the south of Iraq, coalition 
forces have worked hard to make the port area secure, to make the 
transit of humanitarian aid as safe as possible. As--I was told this 
morning in my briefings that humanitarian aid should begin moving--
massive amounts of humanitarian aid should begin moving within the next 
36 hours. And that's going to be very positive news for a lot of people 
who have suffered a long time under Saddam Hussein.
    We've got a massive ground assault going on, and right behind it 
will be a massive movement of humanitarian aid to help the people of 
Iraq. We have made that promise to the people of this country that we 
will do everything we can to protect innocent life. And we're doing 
that. And we'll do everything we can to help the Iraqi people. First 
thing, of course, that will help the Iraqi people is to rid them from a 
brutal dictator, somebody who has stayed in power through mutilation and 
rape and torture, somebody who has starved his own people so he could 
build palaces. When free from that dictatorship, life will be a lot 
better.
    But we also understand we have an obligation--and this is just not 
America; it's coalition forces--have an obligation to put food and 
medicine in places so the Iraqi people can live a normal life and have 
hope. And that's exactly what's going to happen shortly when the area is 
completely--safe enough to move the equipment forward.
    Listen, thank you all.

President's Stamina

    Q. How are you holding up, sir?
    The President. I feel just fine. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 1 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. 
The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.