[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 28 (Monday, July 12, 2004)]
[Pages 1207-1208]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister David Oddsson of 
Iceland and an Exchange With Reporters

July 6, 2004

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of 
Iceland to the Oval Office.
    Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for coming.
    I'll have an opening statement. He'll have an opening statement. 
We'll answer a couple of questions.
    I remember my first NATO meeting, and I walked in, and the person 
who greeted me and made me feel most at home was my friend here. And 
I've never forgotten that. Iceland has been a steady friend of the 
United States of America, and they have been an important friend.
    We had an interesting discussion on some important issues, and it 
was a frank discussion. And that's what you expect among friends. It was 
open and honest. And the Prime Minister is a person who cares deeply 
about the security of his country and the welfare of his people, and 
that's why he's been such an effective leader for the good people of 
Iceland.
    Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
    Prime Minister Oddsson. Thank you so much, Mr. President. I'm very 
happy to be here, not least on the President's birthday. It's a 
privilege.
    President Bush. Thank you for remembering.
    Prime Minister Oddsson. Well, we discussed some things--I will make 
two points. You had just recently, a week ago, in a NATO meeting in 
Istanbul, a very good meeting, I think, not least because of the firm 
leadership of the President and his open manner, his easy-speaking 
manner that everybody understands when he speaks. And he changed the 
atmosphere inside NATO for the better. The past is behind us. People are 
united to a future. Secondly, we had the opportunity to discuss the 
defense issues in Iceland, which is very important to us. And the 
President is looking on that in a positive way. But of course, he has to 
see the issue from all sides. This was a fruitful discussion about the 
future. Thank you.
    President Bush. Yes.
    A couple of questions. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

2004 Election

    Q. Mr. President, the Republican National Committee says that John 
Edwards is disingenuous, inexperienced, and unaccomplished. I wonder, do 
you agree with that? Is that the tone that you want to set in talking 
about----
    President Bush. Listen, I welcome Senator Edwards on the ticket. The 
Vice President called him early this morning to say--after the 
announcement was made--to say that he welcomes him to the race, and as 
do I. And I look forward to a good, spirited contest.
    Have you got somebody from your press corps?
    Prime Minister Oddsson. Okay. From Iceland somewhere?

Iceland-U.S. Defense Issues

    Q. Mr. Prime Minister, did you reach an agreement on the defense 
treaty with Iceland?
    Prime Minister Oddsson. That was never--the meeting--was to have an 
agreement. Now, today I had the opportunity to explain my view of the 
issue to the President, and he is looking into my position and the 
Iceland position, but he had an open mind.
    President Bush. Yes. Let me comment on this, about--this is an issue 
related to the F-15s, for the American press. We've got four F-15 
fighters stationed there. The Prime Minister pressed very hard for us to 
keep the fighters there. He was very eloquent, very determined that the 
United States keep the troops there. And I told him, I said I'm open-
minded about the subject. I want to make sure I understand the full 
implications of the decision as to whether or not to leave them there. 
And we will gather more information. He is going to provide information 
about the basing there in Iceland and the requirements there. I will 
talk to the respective departments here, and I will make a measured 
judgment as to the finality of this issue.
    I told the Prime Minister I'm--I appreciate our alliance. I 
appreciate his friendship.

[[Page 1208]]

I fully understand the arguments he's made, and we will work together to 
solve the issue.
    Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters], where are you?

Central Intelligence Agency

    Q. Here, sir. Thank you. There's a story today that the CIA held 
back information from you that Iraq had abandoned its WMD programs. Is 
that true? And what's your timetable on nominating a new CIA director? 
Are you going to wait until after the election?
    President Bush. I haven't made up my mind on the nomination process. 
Secondly, I will wait for the report, the Senate report, to come out. 
This is information from the report of the United States Senate, 
Chairman Roberts' committee. I will look at the whole report.
    I will tell you, however, that I know that Saddam Hussein was a 
threat. He was a threat to the neighborhood. He was a threat to the 
people of Iraq. He harbored terrorists. Mr. Zarqawi, who continues to 
kill and maim inside of Iraq, was in the country prior to our arrival. 
Saddam Hussein had the intent. He had the capability. And the world is 
better off without Saddam Hussein in power. And the world will be more 
peaceful when this Iraqi Government, under Prime Minister Alawi, emerges 
and there are elections.
    And that's what we're seeing. We're seeing a transformation in a 
part of the world that needs liberty and freedom. And so I look forward 
to the full report, and I'll react to it when I see it.
    Anybody else?
    Prime Minister Oddsson. Well, I just--on this, I must say I agree 
with the President about Iraq. The future of Iraq is--the future of the 
world is much better because of the undertaking that the United States, 
United Kingdom, and their alliances took there. And without that done, 
the situation in that area of the world would be much more dangerous 
than it is now. There's hope now. There was no hope before.
    President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.

[At this point, all present sang Happy Birthday to the President.]

    President Bush. Thanks. You actually call that singing? [Laughter] 
No, it was beautiful.

Note: The President spoke at 10:59 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of 
Iraq; senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; and Prime Minister 
Ayad al-Alawi of the Iraqi Interim Government.