    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 15 (Monday, April 14, 2003)]
    [Pages 427-429]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Visit With Troops Wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom
    and an Exchange With Reporters in Bethesda, Maryland

    April 11, 2003

        The President. Laura and I just had an extraordinary experience here
    at Bethesda and at--initially at Walter Reed, to thank our troops who've
    been overseas in Iraq for their dedication and courage and their service
    to the country. Because of troops like them, because of coalition
    troops, we've had an historic week.
        I don't think I'll ever forget--I'm sure a lot of other people will
    never forget--the statue of Saddam Hussein falling in Baghdad, and then
    seeing the jubilation on the faces of ordinary Iraqis as they realized
    that the grip of fear that had them by the throat had been released--the
    first signs of freedom.
        I came today to thank the troops and their families and their loved
    ones for their sacrifice. I also want to thank the staffs of these
    hospitals, the leadership, the doctors and the nurses, the people who
    care for those who have been hurt, for their extraordinary service to
    their fellow Americans.
        Ours is an amazing country where a young soldier can be wounded on
    the battlefield and 4 days later be receiving the best health care
    possible. This country is dedicated to our military. We try to provide
    the very best we can. And here at Bethesda, at Walter Reed, our troops
    get the very best there is.
        So Laura and I were here not only to thank our soldiers, but also to
    thank those in the medical profession who dedicate their lives to
    healing the hurt and to helping the families. And that's exactly what's
    happening for our soldiers here in these two fine facilities.
        I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Yes.

    POWs and MIAs/Saddam Hussein

        Q. Mr. President, what progress are we making in determining the
    whereabouts and well-being of American POWs and MIAs in Iraq? And the
    same goes for Saddam Hussein. And which do you see as the greater
    priority right now?
        The President. The priority of this campaign is to rid the Iraqi
    people of any vestiges of Saddam Hussein and his regime so we can not
    only free the people but clear that country of weapons of mass
    destruction. I don't know the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein. I don't
    know if he's dead or alive. I do know he's no longer in power.
        In terms of POWs, we will use every resource we have to find any
    POWs that are alive. And we pray that they are alive, because if they
    are, we'll find them.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Victory Declaration/Media Coverage

        Q. Why shouldn't we say that the war is over except for pockets of
    resistance, sir? And do you feel any certain sense of vindication after
    all those people questioned the war plan?
        The President. I don't take anything personally. I committed our
    troops because I believe that Saddam Hussein and his regime posed a
    threat to the American people, posed a threat to anybody who loves
    freedom. We will achieve that objective. And at the same time, we will
    free the Iraqi people. And that's an important objective as well. We
    believe in freedom. We believe freedom is universal. We believe freedom
    is a gift from the Almighty God for every person, regardless of their
    race or their religion.
        This war will end when our commanders in the field tell me that the
    objective has been achieved. And Tommy Franks put together a great
    strategy. Wonderful thing about free speech and a lot of TV stations is
    you get a lot of opinions. Some of them were right, and some of them
    were really wrong. But that's okay. That's what we--that's what we
    believe. We believe in free speech, believe people ought to be able to
    express their opinion.

    [[Page 428]]

        Q. Sir, can you tell us, though, what you think specifically needs
    to happen for you to feel comfortable with the recommendation from
    General Franks that the war is over and victory has been achieved? Does
    Tikrit need to fall, the weapons of mass destruction----
        The President. Hold on, I can't hear you. There's something beeping
    here. We've got a major beeper violation right here at Bethesda.
    [Laughter] Say it again, I'm----
        Q. What are some of the specific things that you want to see? The
    weapons of mass destruction found and secured? Tikrit falling? Saddam
    found?
        The President. The specific thing I want to hear is that our
    commanders say we've achieved the clear objective I set out. And that's
    when we will say this is over. This is a campaign that has been run on
    the frontlines by General Tommy Franks. And that's the way it's going to
    continue to be, that Tommy gets the--Tommy tells us what is necessary to
    achieve the objective. We gave Tommy the tools necessary to win. We
    agreed with his strategy, and he's running this war. And when Tommy says
    we've achieved our objective, that's when we've achieved our objective.
    I'm here in Washington, DC. He's there in Qatar, and he's got commanders
    in Baghdad. He's better to judge whether we've achieved the objective
    than I have.
        Go ahead.
        Q. Do you need to see the weapons of mass destruction found and
    secured?
        The President. The war will end when Tommy Franks says we've
    achieved our objective.

    Syria

        Q. [Inaudible]--for Syria's failure to heed U.S. warnings?
        The President. Syria just needs to know we expect full cooperation,
    and that we strongly urge them not to allow for Ba'ath Party members or
    Saddam's families or generals on the run to seek safe haven and find
    safe haven there. We expect them to do everything they can to prevent
    people who should be held to account from escaping in their country. And
    if they are in their country, we expect the Syrian authorities to turn
    them over to the proper folks.

    President's Agenda

        Q. As the war does come to an end, what domestic or foreign
    priorities are you going to turn your focus to quickly?
        The President. That's a very speculative question about foreign
    priority. My priority right now is to win the war on terror. And that
    means we've got ongoing operations in Afghanistan. The Iraqi theater was
    a part of the war on terror, and we continue to fight the war on terror.
    So that's a major priority.
        Beyond that, obviously, is the promotion of the health and well-
    being of citizens around the world. I'm very serious about the AIDS
    initiative for Africa. But we will continue to deal with it, and we will
    continue to deal with issues like proliferation.
        At home, obviously I'm spending a lot of time on economic growth and
    working with Members of the United States Congress to encourage them to
    pass a stimulus package that will affect the economy so people can find
    work. I want to make sure Medicare gets done--that is, the reform of
    Medicare--so that seniors are able to receive the health care that
    they've been promised. I mean, there's a lot on my agenda.

    Visits With Wounded Troops

        Q. Were there any conversations, either here or at Walter Reed, that
    stood out to you? And what was their effect on you and Mrs. Bush?
        The President. Conversations?
        Q. Here or at Walter Reed that stood out.
        The President. Well, I think the thing that stood out the most to me
    was seeing two wounded soldiers swear in as citizens of the United
    States, one man from Mexico, one man from the Philippines--people who
    had gone overseas, people who had risked their lives for peace and
    security and freedom--they wore the uniform of the United States
    military. And Laura and I got to see them sworn in as citizens. It was a
    very profound moment. We were both honored to witness this.
        You know, we've got an amazing country, where--it's so powerful,
    values we believe that people would be willing to risk their own life
    and become a citizen after being wounded. It's an amazing moment. I'm
    really proud of them.
        Yes, ma'am.

    [[Page 429]]

    Morale of the Troops

        Q. How was the morale of the marines and sailors?
        The President. It's good. The Marines are a tough group--a tough
    group--as you know. And a lot of the troops wanted to get healed quickly
    so they could go back with their units. It's an amazing thing when you
    see a person wounded, sitting there in a wheelchair or bound up in
    bandages or these different looking metal things sticking out of them to
    hold them together--a young man look you in the eye and say, ``I can't
    wait to get back to my unit. I hope I'm healed fast enough to get back
    to Iraq.''
        It's a brave lot here in Bethesda, people who are willing to
    sacrifice for something greater than themselves. And I feel lucky as an
    American to be a part of a country where citizens are willing to do
    that.
        I reminded them and their families that the war in Iraq is--it's
    really about peace, trying to make the world more peaceful. This victory
    in Iraq, when it happens, will make the world more peaceful. I reminded
    them that their sacrifices really had to do with the security of our
    country, that Saddam Hussein and his terrorist allies are threats to
    America, threats to our people because of what we believe in.
        I also reminded them that their courageous sacrifice will help young
    Iraqis grow up in a free society, that out of the chaos that takes place
    there now and after the fear of a Saddam Hussein and his thugs, that the
    Iraqi people will run their own country, make their own decisions,
    choose their own leaders, and will become a country at peace with others
    in the neighborhood.
        And so their sacrifices, as I told them, were worthwhile. And it's
    an honor to have spoken to them and to have been with them and their
    families today.
        Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:40 p.m. in the lobby at the National
    Naval Medical Center. In his remarks, he referred to former President
    Saddam Hussein of Iraq; and Gen. Tommy R. Franks, USA, combatant
    commander, U.S. Central Command. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.