    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 25 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
    [Pages 1091-1092]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

    June 17, 2004

        The President. I've just met with my Cabinet. We discussed primarily
    the economy, and I was pleased with the report I got. The U.S. economy
    is strong, and it's getting stronger. People are going back to work.
    There's a sense of optimism around this table, because these people have
    been out in the field and talking to people, talking to small-business
    owners and entrepreneurs. I'm pleased with the progress we're making.
        There's more to do to make sure this growth is sustained throughout
    the decade. Primarily it requires a proper understanding of the role of
    Government to the economy. The role of Government is not to try to
    manage the economy; the role of Government is to create an environment
    in which the capital flows and entrepreneurs feel emboldened to take
    risk and to make sure workers are trained for the jobs of the 21st
    century. I will continue to talk to the American people about our
    progrowth strategy that I'm confident will work.
        The other thing we talked about was our firm resolve to spread
    freedom and, therefore, peace around the world. We fully understand
    terrorists will try to shake our will, to try to shake our confidence,
    to try to get us to withdraw from commitments we have made in places
    like Afghanistan and Iraq, and they won't succeed. Iraq will be free,
    and a free Iraq is in our Nation's interest. A free Iraq will make the
    world more peaceful. A free Iraq will be an ally of those nations who
    honor human rights and human dignity and the aspirations of men and
    women everywhere. A free Iraq will make America more secure.
        And we're making progress toward that goal. We've been there--it's
    been 14 months since the fall of Baghdad, and the work has been hard and
    difficult. Yet our military on the ground has done an excellent job of
    making sure the conditions are such that an Iraqi government can emerge
    and lead their nation to the better days.
        I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Deb [Deb Riechmann,
    Associated Press], why don't you lead it off?

    Al Qaida-Saddam Hussein Relationship

        Q. Mr. President, why does the administration continue to insist
    that Saddam had a relationship with Al Qaida, when even you have denied
    any connection between Saddam and September 11th? And now the September
    11th Commission says that there was no collaborative relationship at
    all.
        The President. The reason I keep insisting that there was a
    relationship between Iraq and Saddam and Al Qaida, because there was a
    relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida. This administration never said
    that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and Al Qaida. We
    did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and Al
    Qaida. For example, Iraqi intelligence officers met with bin Laden, the
    head of Al Qaida, in the Sudan. There's numerous contacts between the
    two.
        I always said that Saddam Hussein was a threat. He was a threat
    because he had used weapons of mass destruction against his own people.
    He was a threat because he was a sworn enemy to the United States of
    America, just like Al Qaida. He was a threat because he had terrorist
    connections, not only Al Qaida connections but other connections to
    terrorist organizations. Abu Nidal was one. He was a threat because he
    provided safe haven for a terrorist like Zarqawi, who is still killing
    innocent inside of Iraq.
        No, he was a threat, and the world is better off, and America is
    more secure without Saddam Hussein in power.
        Let's see--Morgan [David Morgan, Reuters].

    Defense Secretary Rumsfeld

        Q. Mr. President, given your administration's assertions that it
    works closely with the

    [[Page 1092]]

    International Red Cross, are you disappointed that Secretary Rumsfeld
    instructed military officials in Iraq to hold a member of Ansar Al Islam
    without telling Red Cross officials?
        The President. The Secretary and I discussed that for the first time
    this morning, and he's going to hold a press conference today to discuss
    that with you. I'm never disappointed in my Secretary of Defense. He's
    doing a fabulous job, and America is lucky to have him in the position
    he's in. But the Secretary will hold a press conference today, and you
    might want to ask him that question at his press conference.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq; Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal, who was found dead in Baghdad,
    Iraq, on August 19, 2002; and senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al
    Zarqawi. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.