[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 16 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Pages 437-439]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

April 13, 2003

Rescue of U.S. Prisoners of War

    The President. Today is a great day for the families, comrades, 
loved ones of the seven missing in action who are free. I'm really 
pleased, for all those who have been praying for their safety, that they 
are safe.
    We still have missing in action in Iraq; we will continue to look 
for them. We pray that they too will be safe and free one of these days. 
But it's just a good way to start off the morning, to have been notified 
that seven of our fellow Americans are going to be home here pretty 
soon, in the arms of their loved ones.
    I'll answer a few questions. Scott [Scott Lindlaw, Associated 
Press].

Syria

    Q. Mr. President, Secretary Rumsfeld said today he thinks Syria is 
harboring some Iraqi leadership. Could Syria face military action if 
they harbor these people?
    The President. Well, Syria just needs to cooperate with us. We've 
made--I made that clear on Friday. I will, if need be, reiterate it 
today. The Syrian Government needs to cooperate with the United States 
and our coalition partners and not harbor any Ba'athists, any military 
officials, any people who need to be held to account for their tenure 
during what we are learning more and more about. It was one of the most 
horrendous governments ever.
    Q. Could they face military action if they don't cooperate?
    The President. They just need to cooperate.

Prayer

    Q. You have been talking a lot about prayer, and today is Palm 
Sunday. What role do you think faith and prayer had in this rescue?
    The President. I think it played--first of all, I know it helps 
sustain and comfort those who mourn, those who are worried, those who 
are concerned about their loved ones. You know, I went to the hospital 
on Friday and met some of our brave troops and their families. And a lot 
of them told me that they had been sustained by prayer, been comforted 
by the Almighty during what had to have been incredibly difficult times 
for them--to get the phone call that a loved one had been wounded or 
hurt and then not knowing whether the person would live and then being 
able to be reunited with them here in Washington.
    They told me that they felt like prayers had been answered. Prayer 
is powerful. One of the great things about this country is a lot of 
people pray, and I know a lot of people are praying for the families of 
those who grieve and the families of those who wonder whether or not 
their loved ones will ever return.

Conditions in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, some of our colleagues in Iraq are saying while 
the Iraqis are grateful that the coalition forces freed them from

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Saddam Hussein, they're frustrated and even scared about the chaos, the 
looting going on.
    The President. Yes. You know, it's amazing, the statue comes down on 
Wednesday and the headlines start to read: Oh, there's disorder. Well, 
no kidding. It is a situation that is chaotic because Saddam Hussein 
created the conditions for chaos. He created conditions of fear and 
hatred, and it's going to take a while to stabilize the country.
    But just like the military campaign was second-guessed--I'm sure the 
plan is being second--but we will be successful. And there will be----
    Q. [Inaudible].
    The President. Let me finish, please. There will be more stability. 
There will be more medicine. There will be more food delivered over 
time, and it's happening as I speak.
    Have you got a follow-up question?

President's Message to the Iraqi People

    Q. I just want to ask what your message is to the Iraqi people who 
are wondering about----
    The President. You're free, and freedom is beautiful. And you know, 
it'll take time to restore chaos and order--order out of chaos. But we 
will.
    Yes, John [John Cochran, ABC News].

North Korea

    Q. Sir, given the success of American military forces, is this a 
message that people like Syrians and the North Koreans should take to 
heart? Do you think the North Koreans are taking it to heart?
    The President. Well, John, I think that people have got to know that 
we are serious about stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction 
and that each situation requires a different response. But we are making 
good progress in North Korea. We have made it clear that we think that 
the best way to deal with their proliferation is through a multinational 
forum. It looks like that might be coming to fruition. That's very good 
news for the people in the Far East who are concerned about North Korea 
and their willingness to develop nuclear weapons. We're making progress 
on all fronts.

Syria

    Q. Do you think there are weapons of mass destruction in Syria?
    The President. I think that we believe there are chemical weapons in 
Syria, for example. And we will--each situation will require a different 
response, and of course, we're--first things first. We're here in Iraq 
now. And the second thing about Syria is, is that we expect cooperation, 
and I'm hopeful we'll receive cooperation.
    All right. Have a beautiful day.

Victory Declaration

    Q. When do you think you'll declare a victory? And will you be the 
one to declare victory if it comes?
    The President. That's going to be--yes, Friday, I'm--did you watch 
my press conference on Friday?
    Q. I did.
    The President. Do I need to say it again, then? Surely you watched 
it. [Laughter]
    Q. Tommy Franks is going to call the shots? [Laughter]
    The President. Tommy--no, listen, we set clear objectives here in 
Washington. We gave our military what they needed to achieve the 
objectives. And when those objectives are met, we will hear from our 
commanders on the ground that they have been met. And that's when the 
so-called ``victory declaration'' will come forth.
    Q. Mr. President, will you go on national television when the time 
is right?
    The President. I'm on national television right this second. And 
it's an honor to be here on national television. And it's a great day to 
be on national television--seven Americans are alive. Seven people who 
were missing are now alive. And I am so pleased for their families and 
loved ones. It is--Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters], have you got 
anything?

Syria/North Korea

    Q. Yes, sir. Now that there's a vacancy on the axis of evil, is 
Syria a good candidate?
    The President. We will deal with each situation as it arises. We're 
making progress on the Korean Peninsula. Everybody knows our position, 
which is that we expect there to be a nuclear-weapons-free Peninsula. 
The good

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news is it's a position shared by the Chinese; it's a position shared by 
the South Koreans; and it's a position shared by the Japanese. So we've 
got common interests, and working together, I am very hopeful we'll be 
able to achieve those interests diplomatically.
    Have a great day. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:53 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. 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.