[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 37 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Pages 1188-1190]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Sabah of Kuwait and an 
Exchange With Reporters

September 10, 2003

    The President. A couple of questions. First, we'll have a couple of 
statements.
    It's my honor and honor of senior members of my administration to 
welcome you, sir, to the Oval Office. Kuwait is a steady and strong 
friend of the United States. I thank you for your friendship.
    This country led a vast coalition to make the world more secure and 
more peaceful, and Kuwait was steadfast in your support of our common 
desire to respect human life, to promote peace, and I want to thank you 
for that very much. We called upon you to make some difficult choices, 
and you made those choices, and the world is better off as a result of 
the decisions your Government made. So it's my honor to welcome you 
here, sir, today.
    Prime Minister Sabah. I would like to take this opportunity to thank 
the President, and thank you, Mr. President, for this invitation and for 
asking us to come here. I believe that the discussions that I had with 
you were frank discussions, and they were discussions between friends, 
people who are friends and allies together.
    I would like to assure you that this friendship and the alliance 
between our two countries and our two peoples will continue. And it will 
not be limited to the official Government levels, but it will be also, 
and continue to be, between the people. This relationship will continue 
to exist because we strongly believe that it's in the interest of the 
peoples in both countries as well as the region.
    Once again, Mr. President, thank you, sir, for this invitation.
    The President. Mr. Prime Minister.
    Terry [Terry Hunt, Associated Press].

PLO Prime-Minister-Designate Ahmed Korei

    Q. Mr. President, what's your evaluation of the new Palestinian 
Prime Minister? Do you think he's someone that you'll be able to work 
with as well as you were able to work with Mr. Mahmoud Abbas?
    The President. Well, time will tell. I still believe strongly that 
two states living side by side in peace is a hopeful vision for the 
future of the Middle East. The roadmap is still there. The fundamental 
question is whether or not people, peaceful people, will be on the road.
    And one of the essential tenets of the roadmap is that people are 
responsible, parties need to be responsible for creating the conditions 
necessary for peace to prevail. Probably the most--the most important 
condition for peace to prevail is for all parties to fight off

[[Page 1189]]

terror, to dismantle organizations whose intent is to destroy the vision 
of peace.
    And the Prime-Minister-designee--I understand he accepted the 
position minutes ago--the question is, will he be confirmed by his--
Parliament? And his job is, if he's interested in a two-state solution, 
is to consolidate power within his administration, to get the security 
forces under control--all security forces--and then to unleash those 
security forces against killers. And we can make progress if that's the 
case.
    But the Prime Minister and I discussed this subject. He made a very 
interesting point, that nations need to cut off funding to terrorist 
groups. And I appreciated that very much. In other words, that's part of 
the responsibility. Israel, of course, has got responsibility not only 
to protect her people but to create the conditions necessary for those 
in the Palestinian Authority who do believe in peace, who do believe in 
the vision, to prevail.
    And so it's tough times there now, and we mourn the loss of innocent 
life. But the vision is still there, because I strongly believe it's in 
the interest of everybody that two states live side by side in peace.
    Would you care to call on somebody from the press?

Kuwait

    Q. Mr. President, what do you expect from Kuwait, to play a role in 
the future in peace and the future of Iraq? And how do you view this 
visit and Kuwait as an ally to the United States?
    The President. Well, this is a very important visit, because it 
gives me a chance to publicly offer my sincere thanks to an important 
leader in the Oval Office. Secondly, we did discuss our mutual 
responsibilities to promote peace. I assured the Prime Minister that 
this country would stay in Iraq to fulfill our promise to Iraqi citizens 
who are desperate for peace and for the chance to succeed.
    The Prime Minister said that he appreciated our commitment; he was 
glad to be reassured that we will finish the job and said he'd be 
willing to help. And I appreciate that.
    Our friendship is one where we're able to have mutual but frank 
discussions, and we will continue our discussions over lunch. And I am 
grateful for his presence and his willingness to talk frankly about 
issues that relate to our future.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

New U.N. Resolution on Iraq

    Q. Given the French and German opposition, how are you going to get 
a new U.N. resolution on Iraq? Are you willing to concede any control to 
the U.N.?
    The President. Oh, I think that--we're hopeful we can get a good 
resolution. We're in consultations now. I think it's in everybody's 
interest that Iraq be free and be peaceful. And we will continue to work 
through issues. I don't think they're opposed to the resolution. I think 
you're putting words in their mouth that--they may want to fine-tune a 
resolution, and we're--listen, we're open for suggestions.
    But what is necessary is, however, to trust the Iraqi people to--the 
Governing Council to come up with a timetable for elections. They're 
making good progress there now. They've got ministers in charge of key 
parts of the country. They are beginning to put in place the timetable 
necessary for the writing of a constitution. And there will be free 
elections. And that ought to be decided by the Governing Council. These 
are people who know full well how best to move Iraq forward.
    And we'll work with all parties involved. My call, however, to 
nations is, is that let us not get caught up in past bickering. Let us 
move forward. A free Iraq is in everybody's interest. A peaceful Iraq is 
in the world's interest. And I'm confident we can work together to 
achieve that. The Secretary of State will be going around the world 
urging people to make serious contributions, and I will, once again, 
make that plea. We expect and hope that our friends contribute to the 
reconstruction of Iraq. It is in your interest that you do so.
    Final question, Dick--Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].

[[Page 1190]]

Funding for Iraq and Domestic Programs

    Q. Mr. President, the $87 billion you say will be needed for 
peacekeeping in Iraq accounts for roughly a fifth of the domestic 
discretionary spending next year. Realistically, sir, how can you do 
that and hold the line on domestic programs without gutting those 
programs? Can you really have one----
    The President. Of course, we can do--first of all, the $87 billion, 
it's important to spend that money. It's in our national interest that 
we spend it. A free and peaceful Iraq will save this country money in 
the long term. It's important to get it done now.
    And yes, I also believe the 4-percent discretionary--increase in 
discretionary spending number I sent up to Congress makes sense. 
Somebody--I heard somebody say, ``Well, what we need to do is have a tax 
increase to pay for this.'' That's an absurd notion. You don't raise 
taxes when an economy is recovering. Matter of fact, lower taxes will 
help enhance economic recovery. We want our people going back to work. 
We've got good momentum now in our economy. We don't want to destroy 
that momentum.
    But the $87 billion is worth it. And I look forward to working with 
Congress to get that number completed and get the job done.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A reporter referred to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu 
Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Sabah spoke in 
Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.