[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 50 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Pages 1782-1783]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting and an Exchange With Reporters

December 11, 2003

    The President. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet for coming 
for what will be the last Cabinet meeting of the year 2003. I've just 
heard from each Cabinet member about the accomplishments in the year 
2003. This has been an historic year. America is safer. America is more 
prosperous. America is a better place because of the actions this 
administration has taken.
    In order to secure America, we liberated the people of Iraq from a 
brutal tyrant, and now we're in the process of rebuilding that country, 
along with others, and we're making good progress.
    In order to make sure people could find work in America, we proposed 
and Congress passed an economic stimulus package, and that package is 
making a significant difference on our economy. Our economy is strong; 
it is vibrant. People are finding work, but we won't rest until 
everybody who wants to find a job can find one.
    The country is better off for a lot of reasons. A significant piece 
of legislation was passed by the Congress, which I recently signed, and 
that is the Medicare reform bill. We took on a tough issue; we worked 
with Congress to make sure that we fulfilled a promise to America's 
seniors by modernizing and strengthening Medicare.
    This has been a year of accomplishment. We also recognize we've got 
a job to do, to continue to do for the American people, to keep this 
country safe and prosperous and strong and a better place for all our 
citizens. And we look forward to working with the Congress in the year 
'04 to accomplish those objectives.
    Today is Mel Martinez's, the fine Secretary of HUD, last meeting. 
Mel has served our country with class and distinction. I'm proud, Mel, 
to have had you on this team. Good job.
    Secretary Martinez. Thank you, sir.
    The President. I'll answer a couple of questions--that would be two 
questions. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

[[Page 1783]]

Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts

    Q. Mr. President, what did the leaders of France, Russia, and 
Germany say to you yesterday about being excluded from contracts, 
reconstruction contracts in Iraq? And can those countries be considered 
for the contract if they forgive debt that's owed by Iraq?
    The President. Let me make sure everybody understands that men and 
women from our country, who proudly wear our uniform, risked their life 
to free Iraq. Men and women from other countries in a broad coalition 
risked their lives to free Iraq. And the expenditure of U.S. dollars 
will reflect the fact that U.S. troops and other troops risked their 
life.
    Now, we want to work with all countries. We have a common goal, and 
that is to see that Iraq is free and peaceful. It is in every nation's 
interest that Iraq be free and peaceful, and we welcome contributions. 
We welcome people's willingness to participate in this difficult yet 
important job of rebuilding Iraq.
    Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters].
    Q. Sir, Chancellor Schroeder says international law must apply in 
this case. What's your understanding of the law?
    The President. International law? I better call my lawyer. He didn't 
bring that up to me. I asked President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder 
and President Putin to see Jim Baker to talk about debt restructuring. 
If these countries want to participate in helping the world become more 
secure by enabling Iraq to emerge as a free and peaceful country, one 
way to contribute is through debt restructuring. And so Jim Baker, with 
the consent of the Secretary of State, is going to go over and talk to 
these leaders about that. But I don't know what you're talking about, 
about international law. I've got to consult my lawyer.

Iraqi Debt Relief

    Q. Can I clarify one thing?
    The President. Yes, you may clarify something.
    Q. Thank you very much.
    The President. Depends on what it is, though. [Laughter]
    Q. Same issue.
    The President. Okay.
    Q. You seem to be saying that the boots on the ground are the only 
qualifications for--but what about the forgiveness of debt? Isn't that a 
fairly substantial----
    The President. It is. It would be a significant contribution for 
which we would be very grateful. What I'm saying is, in the expenditure 
of taxpayers' money--and that's what we're talking about now--the U.S. 
people, the taxpayers, understand why it makes sense for countries that 
risk lives to participate in the contracts in Iraq. It's very simple. 
Our people risk their lives; coalition--friendly coalition folks risk 
their lives; and therefore, the contracting is going to reflect that. 
And that's what the U.S. taxpayers expect.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at at 10:51 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam 
Hussein of Iraq; President Jacques Chirac of France; Chancellor Gerhard 
Schroeder of Germany; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; and James A. 
Baker III, the President's personal envoy on Iraqi debt resolution. A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.