[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 19 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Pages 800-804]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With King Abdullah II of Jordan

May 6, 2004

    President Bush. Your Majesty, welcome once again to the White House. 
I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate the opportunity to hear 
your thoughts on a range of issues that face your country and mine at 
this time of challenge and opportunity in the Middle East.
    The economic relationship between our two countries has never been 
stronger. We continue to increase the ties of trade and investment, 
creating new opportunities for both our people. The free trade agreement 
between Jordan and the United States is a model for the region, as my 
Government works to build a Middle East free trade agreement.
    The United States is committed to helping Jordan along the path to 
prosperity through our strong support at the World Bank and the 
International Monetary Fund. And we're proud to support Jordan through 
our support for Jordan's social and economic transformation program.
    His Majesty and his team are reform-minded individuals who care 
deeply about the citizens of the Kingdom of Jordan. We spent quite a 
deal of time--quite a bit of time talking about lasting prosperity in 
Jordan and our desire to help Jordan achieve lasting prosperity. We also 
know that lasting prosperity requires lasting security and peace in the 
region. Our two countries are working closely to ensure that the Middle 
East becomes safer and more prosperous and more free.
    The fall of Saddam Hussein removed a source of instability and 
intimidation from the heart of the Middle East. All of Iraq's neighbors, 
including Jordan, are safer now. And the emergence of a peaceful, 
prosperous, and free Iraq will contribute to Jordan's security and 
prosperity.
    The United States strongly supports the efforts of U.N. Secretary * 
General's Special Adviser Brahimi to work with Iraqis to develop an 
interim government. His Majesty and I talked about the fact that on June 
30th, a sovereign Iraqi Government will take office. Our coalition 
partners will continue to work with the United Nations to prepare for 
nationwide elections that will choose a new Government in January of 
2005.
    * White House correction.
    Jordan and the United States share a vision for a free, stable, and 
prosperous Middle East. Under the King's leadership, Jordan has become a 
force for reform and positive change in the region. This month, Jordan 
will be hosting a meeting of the World Economic Forum, another important 
milestone on the Middle East journey to greater openness and opportunity 
and liberty. Next June, G-8 nations will discuss ways that we can 
support reform in the Middle East. We will look to the results of your 
World Economic Forum, Your Majesty, as a guide for future actions.
    His Majesty and I also discussed our ongoing quest for a just and 
durable peace between Israel and Palestine. I commend the King's 
personal commitment to peace and justice for all parties. I remain 
committed to the vision I laid out here in the Rose Garden on June 24, 
2002, of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace 
and security and to the establishment of a Palestinian state that is 
viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent.
    I support the plan announced by Prime Minister Sharon to withdraw 
settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. This

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bold plan can make a real contribution to peace, particularly if reform-
minded Palestinians will step forward and lead toward the establishment 
of a peaceful Palestinian state.
    As I have previously stated, all final status issues must be 
negotiated between the parties in accordance with U.N. Security Council 
Resolutions 242 and 338. And the United States will not prejudice the 
outcome of those negotiations. The roadmap is the--is the best path to 
realizing the two-state vision. That is why the roadmap is the plan 
endorsed by the Palestinians, Israel, the United Nations, the European 
Union, Russia, the United States, and many other nations. That's why my 
administration is committed to making it a reality.
    Today the King had some suggestions about how to explain our 
position to the Palestinians. And I appreciated your advice, Your 
Majesty. He advised that I make sure the Palestinians understand my 
desire for a just peace, my desire for there to be a prosperous country, 
my desire that the Palestinian people have a chance to realize their 
hopes and aspirations. I told His Majesty I will shortly send Mr. Korei, 
the Palestinian Prime Minister, a letter that will explain my views, and 
we will expand dialog between the United States and Palestinians. I want 
to appreciate your wise counsel, Your Majesty.
    We also talked about what has been on the TV screens recently, not 
only in our own country but overseas, the images of cruelty and 
humiliation. I told His Majesty as plainly as I could that wrongdoers 
will be brought to justice and that the actions of those folks in Iraq 
do not represent the values of the United States of America.
    I told him I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi 
prisoners and the humiliation suffered by their families. I told him I 
was equally sorry that people who have been seeing those pictures didn't 
understand the true nature and heart of America. I assured him Americans 
like me didn't appreciate what we saw, that it made us sick to our 
stomachs. I also made it clear to His Majesty that the troops we have in 
Iraq, who are there for security and peace and freedom, are the finest 
of the fine, fantastic United States citizens who represent the very 
best qualities of America, courage, love of freedom, compassion, and 
decency.
    Your Majesty, I'm proud you're here. I appreciate you coming. Jordan 
is a friend of the United States, and friends look out for one another. 
I understand your country and your people have important interests at 
stake in the Middle East. Your country has important interests at stake 
when it comes to a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement. You've got 
important interests in the emergence of a new Iraq. I assure you, my 
Government views Jordan's security and prosperity and territorial 
integrity as vital. We will oppose any developments in the region that 
might endanger your interests.
    I look forward to working closely with you to achieve peace and 
freedom. We'll work with you to assist you in your historic efforts to 
lead Jordan to greater peace and freedom and prosperity.
    Welcome.

[At this point, King Abdullah responded in Arabic, and no translation 
was provided. He then continued his remarks in English.]

    King Abdullah II. Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity to 
meet with you today and discuss vital issues of mutual interest to both 
our countries.
    I remain very concerned about the critical phase our region is 
passing through. It is very important for the moderate voices seeking 
peace in our region to prevail so that we can break out of the cycle of 
violence which has held us back for too long and put the region on the 
new path to stability and prosperity.
    I'd like to outline the Jordanian position on the peace process, 
particularly the view of recent developments. We feel that any 
unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank should be part 
of the roadmap and should lead to the achievement of your vision of a 
two-state solution. Let me stress that a viable, sovereign, and 
independent Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders is also 
in Jordan's national interest. Failing to achieve such an outcome would 
invoke other options, all of which would endanger my country's interests 
and that of the region. This is one of the reasons why Jordan insists

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on a two-state solution and why it supports the roadmap as the mechanism 
to get there.
    Jordan remains committed to a final and comprehensive permanent 
status agreement based on the foundations of the Madrid Conference; the 
principle of land for peace; U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 
and 1397; agreements reached by the parties; and the Arab initiative 
endorsed by the Beirut Arab League Summit.
    Jordan also believes all final status issues, including borders, 
refugees, Jerusalem, and settlements, should be a matter for the parties 
to decide. I am encouraged by what I've heard from you today, sir, that 
these issues are not to be prejudiced and should be mutually agreed by 
the parties.
    In the context of the roadmap, I want to assure you, Mr. President, 
that Jordan is ready to do its part in assisting the Palestinian 
Authority to rebuild its capability and assume full control of the 
security situation.
    Jordan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States and the 
international community in our common fight against terrorism. We cannot 
allow the terrorists' political agenda to succeed, and we assure you 
that Jordan will continue to do its utmost to help win this cause.
    Jordan is committed to support Iraqis in their quest to regain their 
sovereignty, rebuild their institutions, and establish a society based 
on freedom and democracy. The stability, unity, and territorial 
integrity of Iraq is an objective we both share, and we are determined 
to achieve it.
    Jordan is also committed to a process of political and economic 
reform in the region. We have adopted a far-reaching plan that addresses 
the key areas of good governance, political freedoms, women's rights, 
judicial reform, economic reform, educational reform, and the 
liberalization of the economy. We also are strongly committed to a key 
role by civil society. Our aim is to move towards a system that respects 
diversity and guarantees pluralism at all times so that democracy is not 
used by any who might opt to subject to it once and then deny it to 
others.
    Mr. President, the leadership of the United States is crucial in all 
our efforts to reach a just and lasting peace of the Middle East. I want 
to thank you again for the opportunity, and I am determined to work with 
you to achieve this goal in a timely manner.
    President Bush. Thank you, Your Majesty.
    We'll take a couple of questions apiece per side. Scott [Scott 
Lindlaw, Associated Press].

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld/Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Harkin said today that for the 
good of the country, the safety of our troops, our image around the 
globe, Secretary Rumsfeld should resign; if he doesn't resign, the 
President should fire him. We know you weren't happy with him yesterday. 
Should he keep his job?
    And for Your Majesty, how much damage did these images do in your 
country?
    President Bush. Secretary Rumsfeld is a really good Secretary of 
Defense. Secretary Rumsfeld has served our Nation well. Secretary 
Rumsfeld has been the Secretary during two wars. And he is--he's an 
important part of my Cabinet, and he'll stay in my Cabinet.
    King Abdullah II. Thank you. Mr. President, I think--the reaction in 
Jordan as well as the reaction here in the United States was the same. I 
think we're all horrified by the images. But as has been clearly 
explained here in Washington, that an immediate investigation has been 
asked for to bring the people who perpetrated these heinous crimes to 
justice. And we hope that that will happen very quickly and that it 
doesn't reflect on the morals, the values that the United States stands 
for. I am quite convinced that once the investigation is underway, those 
who were guilty of these crimes will be brought to justice.

Roadmap for Peace

    Q. Your Majesty, are you optimistic in regard to the movement of the 
roadmap?
    And for you, President, in light of your discussion today with His 
Majesty, do you see U.S. involving itself soon in the actual 
implementation of the roadmap?
    King Abdullah II. Well, I am very encouraged by what I've always 
seen as a dedicated position from the President of the United States. He 
was the first President to articulate a viable, independent Palestinian

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state and created a mechanism, the roadmap, to be able to achieve that. 
Our meetings today reaffirmed the American position as it always has 
been, and I think that definitely we are reassured in Jordan, and we 
hope that the President's statements will reassure everybody else in the 
Middle East.
    President Bush. Yes, we support the roadmap. As a matter of fact, 
the Secretary of State was recently meeting with the Quartet, which is 
an integral part of the roadmap. Here's what I believe has to happen: 
The world must recognize the possibility of a Palestinian state. I mean, 
the development of a Palestinian state is--that's free and democratic--
and by the way, democracy doesn't have to look like America or Europe; 
it's got to be attuned to the cultures and to the Palestinian people. 
It's what they want. But nevertheless, development of a state that's 
free and peaceful will change the dynamic of the Middle East.
    I mean, the Palestinians are people who need hope--hope for a better 
life, hope to be able to make a living, hope to raise their families in 
a peaceful situation. That's what they want, and the best opportunity 
for that to happen is for there to be a state that emerges that provides 
the framework for a peaceful coexistence in the Middle East. And that 
requires not only the United States being involved, and the European to 
be involved and Russia and the United Nations to be involved; it 
requires that reform-minded Palestinians step up and work with the world 
to develop the institutions necessary for a state to evolve. That's what 
has to happen. That's roadmap. In other words, that's how you head down 
the road to peace.
    And as a peaceful Palestinian state grows, one that earns the 
confidence of not only His Majesty or the United States or other 
countries in the world, the final status issues become easier to solve. 
And so what we must do now is take advantage of an opportunity to begin 
the process of the development of a Palestinian state. And that's where 
the world must focus. And I believe we can achieve that. And I believe 
that by achieving it, it will be a very hopeful moment for people. And 
it's possible; it just takes vision and will.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

Investigation of Prisoner Abuse/President's Reaction to Abuse

    Q. Mr. President, if this problem at the prisons was first noticed 
late last year, why has it taken this long for actions to be taken? And 
what did you tell Secretary Rumsfeld yesterday?
    President Bush. I tell him I should have known about the pictures 
and the report. And as I understand it, the--General Kimmitt declared to 
the press corps, in Iraq, I believe it was, that there was an ongoing 
investigation. In other words, he made it clear. The Army said, ``We've 
discovered something. We've discovered an issue, and therefore, we're 
now going to investigate it.'' It was a declaration to--to the world 
that there was an issue, and then there is a process.
    But part of what this ongoing investigation will do, will answer 
that question, answer your questions, so we better understand the 
process, the procedures, and more importantly, to make sure that it 
doesn't happen again. So as I told His Majesty, I said, we will--people 
will be brought to justice in a way commensurate with how our system 
works.
    We also want to make sure there's not a larger problem. And that's 
what the Secretary has assured me will happen. In other words, we will 
take a good, full look at a variety of issues to make sure it doesn't 
happen.
    The acts were abhorrent, Steve. They sickened my stomach. I know 
they sickened yours, too. You're a decent American. Any decent soul 
doesn't want a human being treated that way. And it is--it's a stain on 
our country's honor and our country's reputation. I fully understand 
that, and that's why it's important that justice be done.
    But it's also important for people--and I explained this to His 
Majesty, and I think he understands this, that the actions of the people 
in that prison do not reflect the nature of the men and women who wear 
our uniform. We've got brave souls in Iraq, sacrificing so that somebody 
can be free. And helping that Iraqi citizen be free, it helps America be 
more secure. There are thousands of acts of kindness and decency taking 
place every day in Iraq, because our soldiers,

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our men and women in uniform, are honorable, decent, loving people.
    And we'll find out the truth. We'll take a good look at the whole 
system to determine--make sure this doesn't happen again. But I am--I am 
sickened by what I saw and sickened that somebody gets the wrong 
impression of people who are serving this country and this world with 
such dignity.
    One more question.
    Q. Your Majesty?
    President Bush. Wait, you're not a Jordanian.
    King Abdullah II. We already asked a question.
    President Bush. You want to call on an American? That's very noble 
of you, Your Majesty. [Laughter] Very thoughtful.

Jordan's Role in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, are you asking Arab nations to send troops to 
Iraq?
    And Your Majesty, would you send Jordanian troops to Iraq?
    President Bush. I've never asked a nation to do that which they 
aren't comfortable doing. Jordan has been a loyal friend. They've 
contributed in so many ways to peace and stability. We did discuss 
Afghanistan, but we have not discussed sending troops to Iraq.
    I'll tell you, His Majesty has got good advice, though, about Iraq. 
He's in the neighborhood. He hears from people. He's constantly aware of 
what's going on on the ground, and his advice has been very good. And 
part of the advice is to make sure that Sunni Iraqis have got a bright 
future. In other words, people aren't going to be buying into the 
transfer of sovereignty if they don't think tomorrow is going to be a 
better day. And he gave me very good advice about making sure that 
there's a distinction between those who are violent, those who are 
corrupt, those who are--would not serve a new country well and the 
thousands who will be honorable citizens at working together to make 
sure Iraq emerges as a free, contiguous country.
    And I told His Majesty--I think he gets the sense from me--we have 
an historic opportunity to begin to change a part of the world that 
needs to be changed in some areas. And here is a chance to take what was 
a threat and a destabilizing force and convert it into a force for good 
and reform and hope.
    And I appreciate your vision and your understanding of that, Your 
Majesty.
    King Abdullah II. I think that we in Jordan are too close, as other 
countries to Iraq are also, to send troops. I think it would be very 
difficult for Jordanians to be objective in committing troops to Iraq. 
We do have a long history of U.N. peacekeeping operations all over the 
world, but at this stage, I think the politics of the issue does not 
make sense for Jordanians to send troops at this time.
    President Bush. Thank you, Your Majesty. Good job. Good job.

Note: The President's news conference began at 2:03 p.m. in the Rose 
Garden at the White House. In his remarks, the President referred to 
former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Lakhdar Brahimi, Special 
Adviser to the U.N. Secretary-General; Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of 
Israel; Prime Minister Ahmed Korei of the Palestinian Authority; and 
Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, USA, deputy director of operations, Combined 
Joint Task Force 7.