[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 39 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Pages 1264-1265]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With the Congressional Conferees on Medicare 
Modernization and an Exchange With Reporters

September 25, 2003

    The President. Listen, thank you all for coming. Today we met with 
the conferees on Medicare and had a good and frank discussion about the 
need to work together to get a Medicare bill that modernizes the system, 
that fulfills the promises to America's seniors, that uses the latest 
technology to improve the health care of our elderly.
    And in my judgment, the sentiment was optimistic. I believe people 
know it's possible to get it done. And there's a lot of work to get 
done, but fortunately, we're surrounded here by conferees that are 
plenty capable, plenty smart, and care deeply about the future of the 
country.
    And so I want to thank them for coming. I want to thank you for your 
commitment to our seniors, and I look forward to working with you to get 
a good bill out of both bodies and to my desk before you go home this 
fall.
    I'd like to take a couple of questions. Terry [Terry Hunt, 
Associated Press].

Medicare Reform Legislation

    Q. Mr. President, with huge Federal budget deficits, do you have any 
qualms about spending $400 billion on Medicare prescription drugs?
    The President. First of all, no, I don't. I think it's the right 
thing to do. We have an obligation to our seniors. Secondly, we've 
proposed a plan that reduces the deficit in half by 5 years--within 5 
years. I absolutely believe we're doing the right thing.

Iran/Meeting With President Vladimir Putin of Russia

    Q. Sir, what did you think of the discovery of traces of weapons-
grade uranium----
    The President. Do what now?
    Q. What did you think of the discovery of weapons-grade--traces of 
weapons-grade uranium in Iran? And will this be on your agenda with 
President Putin this weekend?
    The President. It was on my agenda--it will be on my agenda with 
President Putin this weekend. It was on my agenda with many of the world 
leaders I met with in New York. It is very important for the world to 
come together to make it very clear to Iran that there will be universal 
condemnation if they continue with a nuclear weapons program. And I will 
tell you, the response was very positive. People understand the danger 
of the Iranians have a nuclear weapons program. But you bet; I'll talk 
to President Putin about it this weekend.

Saddam Hussein/Lessons of 9/11

    Q. Sir, in February of 2001, your Secretary of State said that the 
sanctions against Iraq had prevented Saddam from developing any 
significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. A 
year-and-a-half later, before the U.N., you called Saddam a grave and 
gathering danger. And I'm wondering, what changed in that time? Was it 
the nature of the threat? Did you get new intelligence? Or did 9/11 put 
a new--set a new playing field for those----
    The President. Yes, the Secretary of State said the same thing as 
well, that Saddam was a threat. Nine-eleven changed my calculation. It 
made it really clear we have to deal with threats before they come on 
our shore. You know, for a long period of time we

[[Page 1265]]

thought oceans could protect us from danger, and we learned a tough 
lesson on September the 11th. It's really important for this Nation to 
continue to chase down and deal with threats before they materialize, 
and we learned that on September the 11th.

OPEC Production Cuts/National Economy

    Q. Mr. President?
    The President. Yes.
    Q. OPEC yesterday announced an agreement to cut oil production by 
3.5 percent.
    The President. Yes.
    Q. What is your reaction to that? What do you think of it? And what 
are the consequences for the U.S. economy?
    The President. My reaction is, is that I would hope our friends in 
OPEC don't do things that would hurt our economy.

Note: The President spoke at 3:19 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of 
Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.