[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 44 (Monday, November 3, 2003)]
[Pages 1473-1484]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference

October 28, 2003

    The President. Good morning. After the 26,000-mile journey last 
week, I hope the members of the traveling press had a restful weekend. I 
have a brief statement. Then I'll be glad to take questions.
    On my trip to Asia, I had a series of very productive meetings with 
some of America's closest allies in the war on terror. Nations such as 
Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines are fighting 
terrorism in their own region. Their leaders understand the importance 
of our continuing work in Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberating the people of 
those nations from dictatorial regimes was an essential step in the war 
on terror, and the world is safer today because Saddam Hussein and the 
Taliban are gone. We're now working with many nations to make sure 
Afghanistan and Iraq are never again a source of terror and danger for 
the rest of the world.
    Our coalition against terror has been strengthened in recent days by 
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1511. This endorses a multinational 
force in Iraq under U.S. command, encourages other nations to come to 
the aid of the Iraqi people. Last week a donor conference in Madrid 
brought together more than 70 nations to discuss future contributions to 
Iraqi reconstruction. America appreciates the recent announcements of 
financial commitments to Iraq offered by many of the donors at the 
conference.
    After decades of oppression and brutality in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
reconstruction is difficult, and freedom still has its enemies in both 
of those countries. These terrorists are targeting the very success and 
freedom we're providing to the Iraqi people. Their desperate attacks on 
innocent civilians will not intimidate us or the brave Iraqis and 
Afghans who are joining in their own defense and who are moving toward 
self-government.
    Coalition forces aided by Afghan and Iraqi police and military are 
striking the enemy with force and precision. Our coalition is growing in 
members and growing in strength. Our purpose is clear and certain: Iraq 
and Afghanistan will be stable, independent nations, and their people 
will live in freedom.

[[Page 1474]]

    This essential goal in the war on terror requires continued American 
leadership and the continued support of Congress. The House and the 
Senate are now considering my supplemental request for operations in 
Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of this money is for the safety and success 
of our military, for their pay, for their weapons, ammunition, body 
armor, vehicles, fuel, and for every other resource they need to carry 
out their mission. Part of the money is for reconstruction, from the 
training of Afghan and Iraqi police and military personnel to the 
building of schools and clinics. These funding requests are just as 
critical to the overall success in Iraq.
    I commend the House and the Senate for approving the supplemental 
request. I urged both Houses of Congress to reach agreement soon on a 
final bill so these vital funds can go quickly to where they are needed.
    I also asked Congress to move forward on elements of my agenda for 
growth and jobs. After the shocks of the stock market decline, 
recession, terrorist attack, and corporate scandals, our economy is 
showing signs of broad and gathering strength. America is starting to 
add new jobs. Retail sales are strong. Business profits are increasing. 
The stock market has been advancing. The housing construction is 
surging, and manufacturing production is rising. All of this can--all of 
us can be optimistic about the future of the economy, but we cannot be 
complacent. I will not be satisfied until every American who is looking 
for work can find a job.
    So I proposed additional measures to keep the economy on the path to 
greater job creation: taking action to control the rising cost of health 
care; protecting businesses from junk lawsuits; by cutting needless and 
costly Government regulations; by making permanent the tax cuts that 
have helped our economy.
    One action Congress should take immediately is to pass a 
comprehensive energy bill, which I proposed more than 2 years ago. Our 
entire economy depends on steady, affordable supplies of energy. We must 
encourage conservation, promote efficient technology, modernize our 
electricity grid, and increase energy production here at home.
    In the closing months of this year, Congress should also complete 
the vital work of strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The best way 
to provide our seniors with modern medicine, including prescription drug 
coverage and better preventative care, is to give them more choices 
under Medicare. When seniors have options, health plans will compete for 
their business by offering better coverage at affordable price. American 
seniors are counting on these reforms. I look forward to signing them 
into law.
    Finally, the United States Senate must step up to serious 
constitutional responsibilities. I've nominated many distinguished and 
highly qualified Americans to fill vacancies on the Federal district and 
circuit courts. Because of a small group of Senators is willfully 
obstructing the process, some of these nominees have been denied up-or-
down votes for months, even years. More than one-third of my nominees 
for the circuit courts are still awaiting a vote. The needless delays in 
the system are harming the administration of justice, and they are 
deeply unfair to the nominees themselves. The Senate Judiciary Committee 
should give a prompt and fair hearing to every single nominee and send 
every nomination to the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote.
    Finally, of course, we are monitoring the fires in California. FEMA 
Director Brown is in the State. I express my deep concerns and 
sympathies for those whose lives have been hurt badly by these fires. 
The Federal Government is working closely with the State Government to 
provide resources necessary to help the brave firefighters do their 
duty.
    With that, I'll be glad to answer some questions, starting with 
Terry Hunt [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

Terrorist Attacks in Iraq

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, you just spoke about the 
suicide bombers in Iraq as being desperate. But as yesterday's attacks 
show, they're also increasingly successful and seem to be trying to send 
a warning to institutions like the police and the Red Cross not to 
cooperate with the United States. Has the United States been able to 
identify who's behind this surge of attacks,

[[Page 1475]]

where they come from, and how to stop them?
    The President. Yes. I think it's a very interesting point you make 
in your question, ``They're trying to send a warning.'' Basically, what 
they're trying to do is cause people to run. They want to kill and 
create chaos. That's the nature of a terrorist. That's what terrorists 
do. They commit suicide acts against innocent people and then expect 
people to say, ``Well, gosh, we better not try to fight you anymore.''
    We're trying to determine the nature of who these people were. But I 
will tell you, I would assume that they're either, or, and probably both 
Ba'athists and foreign terrorists. The Ba'athists try to create chaos 
and fear because they realize that a free Iraq will deny them the 
excessive privileges they had under Saddam Hussein. The foreign 
terrorists are trying to create conditions of fear and retreat because 
they fear a free and peaceful state in the midst of a part of the world 
where terror has found recruits, that freedom is exactly what terrorists 
fear the most.
    And so I--as I said yesterday, we will not be--I said today again, 
they're not going to intimidate America, and they're not going to 
intimidate the brave Iraqis who are actively participating in securing 
the freedom of their country.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

Syria and Iran

    Q. Mr. President, if there are foreign terrorists involved, why 
aren't Syria and Iran being held accountable?
    The President. Yes. Well, we're working closely with those countries 
to let them know that we expect them to enforce borders, prevent people 
from coming across borders if, in fact, we catch them doing that. The 
coalition forces have stepped up border patrol efforts. There are now 
more Iraqis patrolling the border. We are mindful of the fact that some 
might want to come into Iraq to attack and to create conditions of fear 
and chaos, and that's why General Abizaid, in his briefing to me 
yesterday, talked about the additional troops we have on the borders. 
And that is why it is important that we step up training for Iraqis, 
border patrol agents, so they can enforce their own borders.
    John [John King, Cable News Network].

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

    Q. Mr. President, thank you. As you know, the Chairman of the 
Commission investigating the September 11th attacks wants documents from 
the White House and said this week that he might have to use subpoena 
power. You have said there's some national security concerns about 
turning over some of those documents to people outside of the executive 
branch. Will you turn them over, or can you at least outline for the 
American people what you think is a reasonable compromise so that the 
Commission learns what it needs to know and you protect national 
security, if you think it's that important?
    The President. Yes. It is important for me to protect national 
security. You're talking about the Presidential daily brief. It's 
important for the writers of the Presidential daily brief to feel 
comfortable that the documents will never be politicized and/or 
unnecessarily exposed for public purview. I--and so, therefore, the kind 
of the first statements out of this administration were very protective 
of the Presidential prerogatives of the past and to protect the right 
for other Presidents, future Presidents, to have a good Presidential 
daily brief.
    Now, having said that, I am--we want to work with Chairman Kean and 
Vice Chairman Hamilton. And I believe we can reach a proper accord to 
protect the integrity of the daily brief process and, at the same time, 
allow them a chance to take a look and see what was in the--certain--the 
daily briefs that they would like to see.
    Q. Do you need to bring them here so that the Chairman and Vice 
Chairman can see them----
    The President. Well, we're working out--we're working out the 
procedures. My only point is, I do want to be helpful to Chairman Kean 
and Lee Hamilton. These are men of integrity. They're people who 
understand the process. They know the importance of the Presidential 
daily brief. They know the importance of the daily brief to future 
Presidents. And therefore, I think they will be mindful of the need to 
gather evidence and, at the same time, protect the capacity for

[[Page 1476]]

Presidents to get unfettered, real, good intelligence.
    Norah [Norah O'Donnell, NBC News].

U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Remarks on Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, if I may take you back to May 1st when you stood 
on the U.S.S. Lincoln under a huge banner that said, ``Mission 
Accomplished.'' At that time you declared major combat operations were 
over, but since that time there have been over 1,000 wounded, many of 
them amputees who are recovering at Walter Reed, 217 killed in action 
since that date. Will you acknowledge now that you were premature in 
making those remarks?
    The President. Norah, I think you ought to look at my speech. I 
said, ``Iraq's a dangerous place, and we've got hard work to do. There's 
still more to be done.'' And we had just come off a very successful 
military operation. I was there to thank the troops.
    The ``Mission Accomplished'' sign, of course, was put up by the 
members of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission was 
accomplished. I know it was attributed somehow to some ingenious advance 
man from my staff--they weren't that ingenious, by the way.
    But my statement was a clear statement, basically recognizing that 
this phase of the war for Iraq was over and there was a lot of dangerous 
work. And it's proved to be right. It is dangerous in Iraq. It's 
dangerous in Iraq because there are people who can't stand the thought 
of a free and peaceful Iraq. It is dangerous in Iraq because there are 
some who believe that we're soft, that the will of the United States can 
be shaken by suiciders and--suiciders who are willing to drive up to a 
Red Cross center, a center of international help and aid and comfort, 
and just kill.
    It's the same mentality, by the way, that attacked us on September 
the 11th, 2001: ``We'll just destroy innocent life and watch the great 
United States and their friends and allies crater in the face of 
hardship.'' It's the exact same mentality. And Iraq is a part of the war 
on terror. I said it's a central front, a new front in the war on 
terror, and that's exactly what it is. And that's why it's important for 
us to be tough and strong and diligent.
    Our strategy in Iraq is to have our strike forces ready and capable 
to move quickly as we gather actionable intelligence. That's how you 
deal with terrorists. Remember, these are people that are willing to 
hide in societies and kill randomly. And therefore, the best way to deal 
with them is to harden targets, harden assets as best as you can. That 
means blockades and inspection spots. And as you noticed yesterday, one 
fellow tried to--was done in as he tried to conduct a suicide mission. 
In other words, an Iraqi policeman did their job but as well--that we've 
got to make sure that not only do we harden targets but that we get 
actionable intelligence to intercept the missions before they begin. 
That means more Iraqis involved in the intelligence-gathering systems in 
their country so that they are active participants in securing the 
country from further harm.
    Remember, the action in Iraq was--to get rid of Saddam Hussein was 
widely supported by the Iraqi people. And the actions that we're taking 
to improve their country are supported by the Iraqi people. And it's 
going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role 
in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many. 
You've heard me say that before. That's just kind of the motto of the 
terrorists. It's the way they operate.
    Plante [Bill Plante, CBS News].

U.S. Strategy in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, in--thank you. In recent weeks, you and your White 
House team have made a concerted effort to put a positive spin on 
progress in Iraq. At the same time, there's been a much more somber 
assessment in private, as with Secretary Rumsfeld's memo. And there are 
people out there who don't believe that the administration is leveling 
with them about the difficulty and scope of the problem in Iraq.
    The President. Yes, I can't put it any more plainly: Iraq is a 
dangerous place. That's leveling. It is a dangerous place. What I was 
saying is, there's more than just terrorist attacks that are taking 
place in Iraq. There's schools opening. There are hospitals opening. The 
electricity--the capacity to deliver

[[Page 1477]]

electricity to the Iraqi people is back up to prewar levels. We're 
nearly 2 million barrels of oil a day being produced for the Iraqi 
people. I was just saying we've got to look at the whole picture, that 
what the terrorists would like is for people to focus only on the 
conditions which create fear, and that is the death and the toll being 
taken.
    No, Iraq is a dangerous place, Bill. And I can't put it any more 
bluntly than that. I know it's a dangerous place. And I also know our 
strategy to rout them out--which is to encourage better intelligence and 
get more Iraqis involved and have our strike teams ready to move--is the 
right strategy. People are constantly taking a look at the enemy.
    In other words, one of the hallmarks of this operation in Iraq as 
well as Afghanistan was the flexibility we've given our commanders. You 
might remember the ``stuck in the desert'' scenario that--during the 
dust storms, that we're advancing to Baghdad and all of a sudden there 
was--we got stuck. But remember that at that period of time, it also 
became apparent that Tommy Franks had the flexibility necessary to 
adjust based upon, in this case, weather conditions and what he found.
    And that's exactly what's taking place on a regular basis inside of 
Iraq. The strategy remains the same. The tactics to respond to more 
suiciders driving cars will alter on the ground--more checkpoints, 
whatever they decide--how to harden targets will change. And so we're 
constantly looking at the enemy and adjusting. And Iraq's dangerous, and 
it's dangerous because terrorists want us to leave. And we're not 
leaving.
    Let's see, Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News], then you, Stretch [Richard 
Keil, Bloomberg News].

Reform of the Palestinian Authority/Israeli Security Fence

    Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, your policies on the Middle East 
seem so far to have produced pretty meager results as the violence 
between Israelis and Palestinians----
    The President. Major or meager?
    Q. Meager.
    The President. Oh, okay.
    Q. Meager.
    The President. Meager.
    Q. ----as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues. 
And as you heard last week from Muslim leaders in Indonesia, your 
policies are seen as biased towards Israel, and I'd like to ask you 
about that. The Government of Israel continues to build settlements in 
occupied territories, and it continues to build the security fence, 
which Palestinians see as stealing their land. You've criticized these 
moves mildly a couple of times, but you've never taken any concrete 
action to back up your words on that. Will you?
    The President. My policy in the Middle East is pretty clear. We are 
for a two-state solution. We want there to be a Palestinian state living 
side by side with Israel. Now, in order to achieve a two-state solution, 
there needs to be a focused effort by all concerned parties to fight off 
terror. There are terrorists in the Middle East willing to kill to make 
sure that a Palestinian state doesn't emerge. It's essential that there 
be a focused effort to fight off terror.
    Abu Mazen came here at the White House--you were here. You witnessed 
the press conference. He pledged a focused and concerted effort to fight 
terror so that we could have a Palestinian state emerge. And he asked 
for help, which we were willing to provide. Unfortunately, he is no 
longer in power. He was eased out of power. And I do not see the same 
commitment to fight terror from the old guard. And therefore, it's going 
to be very hard to move the peace process forward until there's a 
focused effort by all parties to assume their responsibilities.
    You asked about the fence. I have said the fence is a problem to the 
extent that the fence is a opportunity to make it difficult for a 
Palestinian state to emerge. There is a difference between security and 
land acquisition, and we have made our views clear on that issue.
    I've also spoken to Prime Minister Sharon in the past about 
settlement activities. And the reason why--that we have expressed 
concern about settlement activities is because we want the conditions 
for a Palestinian state on the ground to be positive, that when the 
Palestinians finally get people that are willing

[[Page 1478]]

to fight off terror, the ground must be right so that a state can 
emerge, a peaceful state.
    This administration is prepared to help the Palestinians develop an 
economy. We're prepared to help the long-suffering Palestinian people. 
But the long-suffering Palestinian people need leadership that is 
willing to do what is necessary to enable a Palestinian state to come 
forth.
    Stretch.

Iraqi Support for U.S. Efforts

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Senior U.S. intelligence officials on 
the ground in Iraq have estimated that we have, at most, 6 months to 
restore order there and quell the violence, or else we risk losing the 
support of the Iraqi populace, which you've said many times we need to 
make this mission work. Do you share that sense of pessimism? And if 
not, why not? And in addition, are you considering the possibility of 
possibly adding more U.S. troops to the forces already on the ground 
there to help restore order?
    The President. That's a decision by John Abizaid. He makes that--
General Abizaid makes the decision as to whether or not he needs more 
troops. I've constantly asked the Secretary of Defense, as well as when 
I was visiting with General Abizaid, does he have what it takes to do 
his mission? He told me he does.
    Secondly, I believe the Iraqi people are appreciative of the 
reconstruction efforts. The small-business owners, who are all of a 
sudden beginning to realize there's a market developing, appreciate 
that. The mothers who send their children to the over 1,500 schools 
we've refurbished appreciate that. There are going to be new textbooks 
coming which no longer glorify the tyrant Saddam Hussein but glorify 
basic education or at least promote basic education. They will be there. 
I think the people of Iraq appreciate what is taking place inside the 
country.
    And what we, of course, are going to do is implement the strategy, 
which is encourage Iraqis to help deal with the security issues. And 
that's what's taking place. We're getting better intelligence, more 
actionable intelligence, and the Iraqi citizens themselves are willing 
to fight off these terrorists. If you look at some of the brave actions 
by the Iraqi police, people who've died for the future of their country, 
you know what I'm talking about. There are people willing to sacrifice 
for the future of their country, the Iraqi citizen--the Iraqi citizens 
willing to sacrifice for the future of their country.
    Rosen [James Rosen, FOX News].

Flexibility in Foreign Policy

    Q. Thank you, sir. Perhaps the clearest, strongest message you have 
ever sent from any podium has been what you like to call the Bush 
doctrine, that is to say, if you feed a terrorist, if you clothe a 
terrorist, if you harbor a terrorist, you are a terrorist. And I'd like 
to follow up on the Middle East. You have noted that Yasser Arafat is 
compromised by terror. Condi Rice has said he ``cavorts with terror.'' 
You've both noted that he is an obstacle to peace. He has, in political 
terms, choked off your last two Palestinian interlocutors. What is it 
that prevents you from concluding that he is, in fact, under your own 
definition of what a terrorist is, a terrorist and should be dealt with 
in the same way that you've dealt with Saddam Hussein and Charles 
Taylor?
    The President. Yes. Well, not every action requires military action, 
Jim. We--as you noticed, for example in North Korea, we've chosen to put 
together a multinational strategy to deal with Mr. Kim Chong-il. Not 
every action requires military action. As a matter of fact, military 
action is the very last resort for us. And a reminder: When you 
mentioned Saddam Hussein, I just wanted to remind you that the Saddam 
Hussein military action took place after innumerable United Nations 
Security Council resolutions were passed, not one, two, or three but a 
lot. And so this Nation is very reluctant to use military force. We try 
to enforce doctrine peacefully or through alliances or multinational 
forums, and we will continue to do so.
    Yes, Elisabeth [Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times].

Iraq Stabilization Group

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You recently put Condoleezza Rice, your 
National Security Adviser, in charge of the management of the 
administration's Iraq policy. What has effectively changed since she's 
been in

[[Page 1479]]

charge? And the second question, can you promise a year from now that 
you will have reduced the number of troops in Iraq?
    The President. The second question is a trick question, so I won't 
answer it. The first question was Condoleezza Rice. Her job is to 
coordinate interagency. She's doing a fine job of coordinating 
interagency. She's doing what--the role of the National Security Adviser 
is to not only provide good advice to the President, which she does on a 
regular basis--I value her judgment and her intelligence--but her job is 
also to deal interagency and to help unstick things that may get stuck, 
is the best way to put it. She's an unsticker. And--is she listening? 
Okay, well, she's doing a fine job.
    Dana [Dana Milbank, Washington Post].

Disclosure of CIA Employee's Identity

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You have said that you were eager to 
find out whether somebody in the White House leaked the identity of an 
undercover CIA agent. Many experts in such investigations say you could 
find out if there was a leaker in the White House within hours if you 
asked all staff members to sign affidavits denying involvement. Why not 
take that step?
    The President. Yes. Well, the best person to do that, Dana, so that 
the--or the best group of people to do that so that you believe the 
answer is the professionals at the Justice Department, and they're 
moving forward with the investigation. It's a criminal investigation. It 
is an important investigation. I'd like to know if somebody in my White 
House did leak sensitive information. As you know, I've been outspoken 
on leaks. And whether they happened in the White House or happened in 
the administration or happened on Capitol Hill, it is a--they can be 
very damaging. And so this investigation is ongoing and--by 
professionals who do this for a living, and I hope they--I'd like to 
know.
    Judy [Judy Keen, USA Today].

Partial-Birth Abortion Legislation/Terri Schiavo Case

    Q. Sir, in your last campaign, you said that the American public was 
not ready for a complete ban on abortion. You're about to sign 
legislation that will ban a certain abortion procedure known as partial-
birth. Do you believe that the climate has changed since the last 
campaign and all abortions should be banned? And do you believe your 
brother made the correct decision in Florida when he intervened in the 
case of a woman who had been ordered by the courts to be taken off life 
support?
    The President. Yes, I believe my brother made the right decision. 
Yes, I'll sign the ban on partial-birth abortion. And no, I don't think 
the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the 
Congress would totally ban abortions.
    Let's see. Who's--Mark Smith [Associated Press Radio], a radio man.

Iraqi Aid Legislation

    Q. Thank you very much, sir, for including our radio folks here.
    The President. A face for radio. [Laughter]
    Q. I wish I could say that was the first time you told me that, sir. 
[Laughter]
    The President. The first time I did it to a national audience, 
though. [Laughter]
    Q. Actually it was my wife the last time. [Laughter]
    Your package of reconstruction aid, sir, that the Congress, as you 
point out, is considering--that's an emergency package, meaning it's not 
budgeted for. Put another way, that means the American taxpayer and 
future generations of American taxpayers are saddled with that. Why 
should they be saddled with that? I know you don't want the Iraqis to be 
saddled with large amounts of debt, but why should future generations of 
Americans have that----
    The President. Well, first of all, it's a one-time expenditure, as 
you know, and secondly, because a secure--a peaceful and free Iraq is 
essential to the security, future security of America.
    First step was to remove Saddam Hussein because he was a threat, a 
gathering threat, as I think I put it. And secondly is to make sure that 
in the aftermath of removing Saddam Hussein, that we have a free and 
peaceful country in the midst of a very troubled region. It's an 
historic opportunity. And I will continue to make that case to the 
American people. It's a chance to secure--have a more

[[Page 1480]]

secure future for our children. It's essential we get it right.
    You know, I was struck by the fact when I was in Japan recently that 
my relations with Prime Minister Koizumi are very close and personal. 
And I was thinking about what would happen if, in a post-World War II 
era, we hadn't won the peace as well as the war. I mean, would I have 
had the same relationship with Mr. Koizumi? Would I be able to work 
closely on crucial relations? I doubt it. I doubt it.
    In other words, we've got very close alliances now as a result of 
not only winning a war but doing the right things in the postwar period. 
And I believe a free and peaceful Iraq will help effect change in that 
neighborhood. And that's why I've asked the American people to foot the 
tab for $20 billion of reconstruction. Others are stepping up as well: 
$13 billion out of the Madrid Conference, which may be just only a 
beginning.
    And by the way, in the Madrid Conference, most of the money came 
from the World Bank and the IMF, which are lending institutions, as you 
know. The Iraqi oil revenues, excess Iraqi oil revenues, coupled with 
private investment, should make up the difference to fund the estimates 
of what the World Bank thought was necessary to help that country.
    Q. Another radio? Another radio, Mr. President?
    The President. Excuse me--particularly since you interrupted me, no.
    And that's what the World Bank estimated it would cost, and it looks 
like we'll be able to help the Iraqis get on their feet and have a 
viable marketplace.
    Bill Douglas [William Douglas, Newsday].

Reform of the Palestinian Authority/Iraq

    Q. Speaking of--in speaking on Abu Mazen, do you feel this 
administration did everything it could to help him out with his 
situation?
    The President. Yes, I do.
    Q. And secondly, on Iraq, do you feel that the attacks that have 
happened recently will discourage some countries to contribute troops or 
manpower?
    The President. Good question. I hope not. That's what the terrorists 
want. They want countries to say, ``Oh, gosh, well, we better not send 
anybody there because somebody might get hurt.'' That's precisely what 
they're trying to do. And that's why it's important for this Nation and 
our other coalition partners to stand our ground, to improve our 
intelligence, to move quickly when we find good intelligence, and to 
bring people to justice.
    The terrorists rely on the death of innocent people to create the 
conditions of fear that, therefore, will cause people to lose their 
will. That's their strategy, and it's a pretty clear strategy to me. And 
this country will stay the course. We'll do our job, and it's to our 
interest that we do our job. It's in our interest we do our job for a 
free world. A free Iraq is essential to creating conditions of peace. 
See, that's what this is all about. This is, how do we achieve a 
peaceful tomorrow? How do we do our duty for our children and our 
grandchildren?
    We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. The 
terrorists will strike, and they will kill innocent life--not only in 
front of a Red Cross headquarters. They will strike and kill in America 
too. We are at war. I said right after September the 11th, this would be 
a different kind of war; sometimes you'd see action, and sometimes you 
wouldn't. It's a different kind of war than what we're used to. And Iraq 
is a front on the war on terror, and we will win this particular battle 
in the war on terror.
    And it's dangerous, and it's tough. And at the same time that we're 
confronting the danger, we're also helping rebuild a society. We put in 
a new currency, in place. For the financial types who are here, you'll 
understand how difficult that assignment is. And yet it seems to be 
going well. It's an achievement that is a very important achievement for 
the future of Iraq. A stable currency, a new currency, a currency 
without the picture of the dictator or the tyrant or the torturer, 
however you want to define him, is important for the future. And that's 
taking place. There's a market developing. There are women-owned small 
businesses now beginning to flourish in Iraq. And there's positive 
things happening in the midst of the danger.
    And I hope that countries, when they take a look at the situation 
there, understand the

[[Page 1481]]

nature of the terrorists and the strategy of the terrorists, and don't 
back off.
    Tom Hamburger [Wall Street Journal], you got a question? If not, 
make one up.

Meeting With Religious Leaders in Indonesia/Lieutenant General Boykin

    Q. Mr. President, tonight you're meeting with Muslim leaders----
    The President. Yes.
    Q. ----at an Iftaar dinner, and I wondered if you could tell us your 
reaction when you encountered Muslim leaders in Indonesia. Were you 
surprised at the hostility they expressed towards the United States and 
towards your policies, both in the Middle East--and also, I understand 
that some of them brought up specific comments made by General Boykin--
--
    The President. Yes, they did.
    Q. ----and I wondered if you would address those comments and 
whether you think that General Boykin ought to be disciplined or resign.
    The President. Sure, I appreciate that. First, the characterization 
of hostility, that just wasn't the case. It was not a hostile meeting, 
nor did I sense hostility. Quite the contrary, I--the five leaders I met 
with were appreciative for a chance to express their views. But it was a 
very positive meeting, very hopeful.
    Two things that came out of there that I think will interest you: 
One was that--the question was, ``Why do Americans think Muslims are 
terrorists?'' That was the universal question from the three Muslim 
leaders. And my answer was, ``That's not what Americans think. Americans 
think terrorists are evil people who have hijacked a great religion.'' 
That's why Mr. Boykin's comments were--General Boykin's comments don't 
reflect the administration's comments. And by the way, there's an IG 
investigation going on inside the Defense Department now about that. He 
doesn't reflect my point of view or the view of this administration.
    Our war is not against the Muslim faith. As a matter of fact, as you 
mentioned, tonight we're celebrating the Iftaar dinner with Muslim 
leaders. But we welcome Muslims in our country. In America, we love the 
fact that we are a society in which people can pray openly or not pray 
at all, for that matter. And I made that point to the Muslim leaders.
    Secondly, the question was about the Middle Eastern policy. ``Why is 
your policy so slanted toward Israel,'' was the question. And I informed 
them I was the first President ever to have advocated a Palestinian 
state. I did so at the United Nations. I also informed them that in 
order for a Palestinian state to go forward, as I told Terry, there must 
be a focused, concerted effort to destroy the terrorist networks who are 
trying to prevent a Palestinian state from emerging--which requires 
good, strong, capable leadership, is what it requires.
    And so those were the two main points that were brought up. There 
was concern about General Boykin. It seemed like to me that we've got a 
challenge to make sure that people in countries like Indonesia 
understand the nature of the American people, that how we think is going 
to be an important part of good diplomacy in the long run, that we've 
got to fight off the imagery of a society which condemns entire swaths 
of people because of the acts of a few, which is not the way we are.
    And I was pleased to get the opportunity to make that case to the 
leaders that were there. It was a very cordial and good discussion, and 
I'm going to drop them a note thanking them for showing up and giving me 
a chance to talk about the America I know and love.
    Bill [Bill Sammons, Washington Times].

Aid Package for Iraq

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. After more than a year of being accused 
by your critics of waging war for oil, is it frustrating to now hear 
some of those same critics demand that you essentially take that oil in 
the form of loans instead of grants for reconstruction?
    The President. Well, that's exactly the point I made to the Members 
of Congress who have come here to the White House to talk about loans or 
grants. I said, ``Let's don't burden Iraq with loans. The only thing 
they'll be able to repay their loans with is oil.'' And hopefully, we'll 
get a good solution out of the Congress on this issue. We're making 
progress. We're working hard with the Members to make the case that it's 
very important

[[Page 1482]]

for us not to saddle Iraq with a bunch of debt early in its--in the 
emergence of a market-oriented economy, an economy that has been wrecked 
by Mr. Saddam Hussein. I mean, he just destroyed their economy and 
destroyed their infrastructure, destroyed their education system, 
destroyed their medical system, all to keep himself in power. He was the 
ultimate----
    Q. [Inaudible]--on the part of your critics?
    The President. No, that's my answer there.
    Hillman [G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning News].

Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You have repeatedly urged Americans to 
have patience when they view postwar operations in Iraq. But isn't there 
a limit to American patience, particularly in an election year, when 
your foreign policies----
    The President. Interesting question.
    Q. ----will be the center of debate?
    The President. Well, I think the American people are patient during 
an election year, because they tend to be able to differentiate between 
politics and reality. As a matter of fact, the American people are--the 
electorate is a heck of a lot smarter than most politicians.
    And the only thing I know to do is just keep telling people what I 
think is right for the country and stand my--stand on what I believe, 
and that's what I'm going to do. And there's no question politics can--
will create--get a lot of noise and a lot of balloon drops and a lot of 
hot air. I'll probably be right in the mix of it, by the way. But I will 
defend my record at the appropriate time and look forward to it. I'll 
say that the world is more peaceful and more free under my leadership 
and America is more secure. And that will be the--that will be how I'll 
begin describing our foreign policy.
    Ed [Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times], and then Bob [Bob Deans, Cox 
Newspapers], and then I'm going to go eat lunch.
    Q. Are we invited? [Laughter]
    The President. It depends on your question.
    Q. Fair enough. Mr. President, you talked about politics. For weeks, 
if not months now, when questions have been posed to members of your 
team, those questions have been dismissed as politics, and a time will 
come later to address those questions. You, indeed, have said that 
yourself. How can the public differentiate between reality and politics 
when you and your campaign have raised over $80 million and you're 
saying that the season has not started?
    The President. Yes. You're not invited to lunch. [Laughter]
    Look, we are--we're arming, raising money to wage a campaign. And 
there will be an appropriate time for me to engage politically; that is, 
in the public forum. Right now, I'm--yes, no question, I'm going out to 
our friends and supporters and saying, ``Would you mind contributing to 
the campaign for the year '04?'' To me, that's--and that's a part of 
politics, no question about it. And as you know, these are open forums; 
you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
    To me, there's a difference between that and actually engaging 
potential opponents in a public discourse in a debate, and there will be 
ample time for that. There will be ample time to differentiate views and 
to defend records in the face of political criticism. And I know that 
the campaign has started for some, in terms of the public debate from a 
political perspective. It just hasn't for me yet.
    And we'll continue to lay the groundwork for the campaign. I mean, 
there's organizing efforts going on in States right now. There are 
people being put in place that are going to work hard to turn out the 
vote. I mean, after all, the election is nearly a year away. There will 
be--we're preparing different strategies in order to run a viable 
campaign.
    But I'm focused on security of the American people, working with 
Congress to get a Medicare bill and an energy bill, and will continue to 
use the platform I have to urge passage of those two pieces of 
legislation. As a matter of fact, tomorrow I'll be giving a speech on 
Medicare, and the next day I'll be talking about energy and will 
continue to talk about job creation. But in terms of the balloon drops 
and all that business, it's going

[[Page 1483]]

to take--it will be a little while for me to be catching the confetti, 
as they say.
    Bob, last question.

Iraqi Weapons Program

    Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President----
    The President. Fine-looking vest, fine-looking vest.
    Q. Thank you, sir. [Laughter] It's inspired by some of the attire 
from your APEC colleagues last week. [Laughter]
    The President. Yes. [Laughter]
    Q. Sir, David Kay's interim report cited substantial evidence of a 
secretive weapons program. But the absence of any substantial stores of 
chemical or biological weapons there have caused some people, even who 
supported the war, to feel somehow betrayed. Can you explain to those 
Americans, sir, whether you were surprised those weapons haven't turned 
up, why they haven't turned up, and whether you feel that your 
administration's credibility has been affected in any way by that?
    The President. David Kay's report said that Saddam Hussein was in 
material breach of 1441, which would have been casus belli. In other 
words, he had a weapons program. He's disguised a weapons program. He 
had ambitions. And I felt the report was a very interesting first 
report--because he's still looking for--to find the truth.
    And the American people know that Saddam Hussein was a gathering 
danger, as I said. And he was a gathering danger, and the world is safer 
as a result for us removing him from power--``us'' being more than the 
United States, of course--Britain and other countries who were willing 
to participate, Poland, Australia, all willing to join up to remove this 
danger.
    And the intelligence that said he had a weapons system was 
intelligence that had been used by a multinational agency, the U.N., to 
pass resolutions. It had been used by my predecessor to conduct bombing 
raids. It was intelligence gathered from a variety of sources that 
clearly said Saddam Hussein was a threat.
    And given the attacks of September the 11th, it was--we needed to 
enforce U.N. resolution for the security of the world. And we did. We 
took action based upon good, solid intelligence. It was the right thing 
to do to make America more secure and the world more peaceful.
    And David Kay continues to ferret out the truth. This is a man--
Saddam Hussein is a man who hid programs and weapons for years. He's a 
master at hiding things. And so David Kay will continue his search, but 
one of the things that he first found was that there is clear violation 
of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. Material breach, they call 
it in the diplomatic circles. Casus belli, it means a--that would have 
been a cause for war. In other words, he said it's dangerous.
    And we were right to enforce U.N. resolutions as well. It's 
important for the U.N. to be a credible organization. You're not 
credible if you issue resolutions and then nothing happens. Credibility 
comes when you say something is going to happen and then it does happen. 
And in order to keep the peace, it's important for there to be 
credibility in this world, credibility on the side of freedom and hope.
    Thank you all very much.

Note: The President's news conference began at 11:15 a.m. in the Rose 
Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to former 
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Mike Brown, Under Secretary of 
Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response; Gen. John P. 
Abizaid, USA, combatant commander, and Gen. Tommy R. Franks, USA (Ret.), 
former combatant commander, U.S. Central Command; Thomas H. Kean, 
Chairman, and Lee H. Hamilton, Vice Chairman, National Commission on 
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission); former Prime 
Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; Prime 
Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel; Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea; 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan; Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, 
USA, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence; and David Kay, 
CIA Special Advisor for Strategy Regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass 
Destruction Programs. The President also referred to Gov. Jeb Bush's 
order on October 21 for doctors to resume tube feeding of Terri Schiavo, 
a brain-damaged Florida patient. Reporters referred to Chairman Yasser 
Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; and former President Charles Taylor 
of Liberia.

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