WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of
remarks by President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi of the Interim Government
of Iraq in a Joint Press Availability:
The Rose Garden
12:06 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to stand with the
Prime Minister of a free and sovereign Iraq. Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. I
applaud your leadership and your courage. It's my honor to welcome a friend
to the White House.
Mr. Prime Minister, you've accomplished a great deal in less than the
three months since the transition to a free Iraq that is governed by Iraqis.
These have been months of steady progress, despite persistent violence in some
parts of your country. Iraqis and their leaders are engaged in a great and
historic enterprise to establish a new democracy at the heart of a vital
region.
As friends of liberty, the new leaders of Iraq are friends of America, and
all civilized nations. As enemies of tyranny and terror, the people of Iraq
and the American troops and civilians supporting their dreams of freedom have
been the target of acts of violence. The enemies of freedom are using suicide
bombing, beheadings, and other horrific acts to try to block progress. We're
sickened by the atrocities, but we'll never be intimidated. And freedom is
winning.
Mr. Prime Minister, America will stand with you until freedom and justice
have prevailed. America's security and Iraq's future depend on it.
The Iraqi people are showing great courage and great determination. As
terrorists have attacked Iraqi security forces, still more brave Iraqis have
come forward to volunteer to serve their country. As killers have attempted
to assassinate government officials, Iraq's leaders have refused to be
intimidated, and the vast majority of Iraqis remain committed to democracy.
The path to our safety and to Iraq's future as a democratic nation lies in
the resolute defense of freedom. If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq,
they would be free to plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other
free nations. To retreat now would betray our mission, our word, and our
friends. Mr. Prime Minister, America will keep it's commitments.
The path ahead is difficult because a free Iraq has deadly enemies.
Remnants of the old regime and terrorist groups want to prevent Iraq's
elections and demoralize Iraq's allies. Because of that, Prime Minister
Allawi and I believe terrorist violence may well escalate as the January
elections draw near. The terrorists know that events in Iraq are reaching a
decisive moment. If elections go forward, democracy in Iraq will put down
permanent roots, and terrorists will suffer a dramatic defeat. And because
Iraq and America and our coalition are standing firm, the Iraqi people, and
not the terrorists, will determine Iraq's future.
There's much at stake. Mr. Prime Minister, you recently said, the war in
Iraq now is not only an Iraqi war, it is a war for the civilized world to
fight terrorists and terrorism, and there is no route but the route of
winning. Prime Minister Tony Blair recently called the struggle in Iraq the
crucible in which the future of global terrorism will be determined. I share
the view of these strong leaders that Iraq is a central front in the war on
terror, and our only option is victory.
We're making steady progress in implementing our five-step plan toward the
goal we all want, completing the mission so that Iraq is stable and self-
governing, and American troops can come home with the honor they have earned.
The first step was achieved on June 28th, not only on time, but ahead of
schedule, when the coalition transferred full sovereignty to a government of
Iraqi citizens.
The second step is to help Iraq's new government establish stability and
security. Iraq must be able to defend itself. And Iraqi security forces are
taking increasing responsibility for their country's security. Nearly 100,000
fully trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, police officers, and other security
personnel are working today. And that total will rise to 125,000 by the end
of this year. The Iraqi government is on track to build a force of over
200,000 security personnel by the end of next year. With the help of the
American military, the training of the Iraqi army is almost halfway complete.
And in Najaf and other important areas, Iraqi military forces have performed
with skill and success. In Najaf, Iraqi and coalition forces effectively
surrounded, isolated and engaged enemy militias. Prime Minister Allawi and
his government reached out to the local population to persuade citizens the
path to a better future would be found in political participation and economic
progress. The interim government then negotiated from a position of strength
to end the standoff.
Serious problems remain in several cities. Prime Minister Allawi believes
this combination of decisive action and outreach to peaceful citizens is the
most effective way to defeat terrorists and insurgents, and secure the peace
of Iraq. And America stands with him.
The third step in our plan is to continue improving Iraq's infrastructure.
On television sets around the world, we see acts of violence -- yet, in most
of Iraq, children are about to go back to school, parents are going back to
work and new businesses are being opened. Over 100 companies are now listed
on the Iraqi stock exchange. And an average of five new companies are joining
each week. Electricity has been restored above pre-war levels. Telephone
service has increased dramatically. More than 2,000 schools have been
renovated and millions of new textbooks have been distributed.
There is much more work to be done. We've already spent more than a
billion dollars on urgent reconstruction projects in areas threatened by the
insurgency. In the next several months, over $9 billion will be spent on
contracts that will help Iraqis rebuild schools, refurbish hospitals and
health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electricity grid, and modernize
the communications system. Prime Minister Allawi and I both agree that the
pace of reconstruction should be accelerated. We're working toward that goal.
The fourth step in our plan is to enlist additional international support
for Iraq's transition to democracy. The multinational force of some 30
nations continues to help secure a free Iraq. We honor the servicemen and
women of Great Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Hungary,
Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, and Ukraine
have died, besides Iraqis and Americans, for the cause of freedom and security
of the world. Our coalition is grateful that the United Nations has
reestablished it's mission in Baghdad. We're grateful to the G-8 countries
and the European Union for pledging support to the new Iraqi government.
We're grateful to the NATO Alliance for helping to train Iraqi forces. We're
grateful to many of Iraq's creditors, which have agreed to a further reduction
of Iraq's debt. Because all nations have an interest in the success of a free
Iraq, I urge all nations to join in this vital cause.
The fifth and most important step in our plan is to help Iraq conduct free
national elections no later than next January. An Iraqi electoral commission
is now up and running and has already hired personnel and is making key
decisions about election procedures. Just this week, the commission began a
public education campaign to inform Iraqis about the process and encourage
them to become voters. United Nations electoral advisors are on the ground in
Iraq, though more are needed. Prime Minister Allawi and I have urged the U.N.
to send sufficient personnel to help ensure the success of Iraqi elections.
At every stage in this process of establishing self-government, the Iraqi
people and their leaders have met the schedules they set, and have overcome
their challenges with confidence. And under this good man's leadership, they
will continue to do so.
The war for Iraq's freedom is a fight against some of the most ruthless
and brutal men on Earth. In such a struggle, there will be good days, and
there will be difficult days. But every day our resolve must remain firm.
Prime Minister, today I want to leave you and the nation you serve with a
clear message: You have not faltered in a time of challenge, and neither will
America. Thank you for your leadership. You honor us with your visit.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: Thank you.
Mr. President, thank you for those kind words. It is an honor to be here
today in your nation's capital. It is a great honor to share this platform
with you, a leader who worked tirelessly for the liberation of my country.
These last few days have been difficult for us Iraqis, for you Americans,
and for all our allies. Let me start by saying that my thoughts and prayers
are with the families of those fighting today in Iraq, and in particularly,
with the families of those who have lost loved ones at the hands of the
terrorists or the insurgents.
Like this nation, which is -- which in the face of such brutality is
standing strong against terrorism, so we Iraqis will not be cowed by the
terrorists. Your government and my government understand what is at stake
today in Iraq. Today we face a concentrated campaign by terrorists and by the
enemies of all the values which we hold dear, a campaign to shake our resolve,
and to prevent Iraq and Iraqis from attaining the freedom and democracy which
we have dreamed of for more than the last 30 years.
These terrorists understand all too well that success in Iraq will be an
enormous blow for terrorism worldwide, and an enormous step forward for peace
and stability in the Middle East, and in the wider world.
I thank you, Mr. President, for your determination to stand firm with us
in Iraq, and for the unflinching message which you are delivering to our
enemies.
Mr. President, I stand here today as a Prime Minister of a country
emerging finally from dark ages of tyranny, aggression, and corruption. Like
you, I knew how evil Saddam Hussein and his regime truly were. Like you, I
knew the damage he had brought on his country. Like you, I knew of the wars
he had started, and the dangers he posed to my region and the world; or at
least I thought I knew. For I, like millions of other Iraqis, were forced
into exile, realizing that we could only fight Saddam from outside Iraq.
Even then we were not safe, as I, myself, can testify. But when I
returned to Iraq, following the liberation of my country, I was truly shocked
by just how much damage Saddam had done to -- in his 30 years of rule. Iraq
is a deeply scarred society in a very troubled region. Today, we are
witnessing all too vividly the true extent of the damage which Saddam
inflicted on our society.
Mr. President, Iraqis thank God, thank America, and thank our allies that
Saddam is gone. We are safer, the region is safer, the world is safer without
him. But the scars will take time to -- determination to -- time and
determination to heal.
Again, Mr. President, I thank you for your leadership. We had an
excellent meeting today, building on the talks we had on Tuesday in New York.
We discussed the challenges ahead of us and how to confront them. We discussed
the plan to take Iraq through these difficulties and to ensure that democratic
elections take place on time next year.
And we discussed the importance of maintaining the strength of the
coalition, and the support of the international community in helping us to
succeed. As we discussed, the plan focuses on building democracy, defeating
the insurgency, and improving the quality of life for the ordinary Iraqis.
Our political plan is to isolate the terrorists from the communities in which
they operate. We are working hard to involve as many people as we can in the
political process, to cut the ground from under the terrorists' feet.
Of course, we know that terrorism cannot be defeated with political tools
alone, but we can weaken it. And in local support helps us to tackle the
enemy head on, to identify, isolate and eradicate this cancer. Our military
plan will enable us to build and maintain security across Iraq. Ordinary
Iraqis are anxious to take over entirely this role and to shoulder all the
security burdens of our country as quickly as possible.
We do not want the multinational force to stay in Iraq any more than you
want to remain there -- for there. But for now, we need you. We need the
help of our American and multinational partners while we continue to
accelerate the training of Iraqi security forces.
The Iraqi government now commands almost 100,000 trained and combat-ready
Iraqis, including police, national guard and army. The government have
accelerated the development of Iraqi special forces and established a counter-
terrorist strike force to address the specific problems caused by the
insurgency. Our intelligence is getting better every day. You have seen that
in the successful resolution of the Najaf crisis and in the targeted attacks
against insurgents in Fallujah.
Finally, our economic plan is to improve the everyday lives of Iraqis as
we deliver both political and security progress. Here, thanks to a large
extent to the generous security and reconstruction funding approved by the
United States Congress, work is underway. Oil pipelines are being repaired.
Basic service has improved; streets and homes rebuilt; schools, hospitals and
clinics reopened. Thousands of Iraqis have new jobs. Salaries have been
increased dramatically -- in many cases, five or four times over. Iraq's
economy, freed from the stranglehold of a failed Baathist ideology, has
finally started to flourish.
Mr. President, we also discussed the importance of holding free and fair
national and local elections this coming January, as planned. I know that
some have speculated, even doubted, whether this date can be met, so let me be
absolutely clear that elections will occur in Iraq on time in January, because
Iraqis want election on time. In 15 out of 18 Iraqi provinces, the security
situation is good for elections to be held tomorrow.
Here, Iraqis are getting on with their daily lives, hungry for the new
political and economic freedoms they are enjoying. Although, this is not what
you see in your media, it is a fact. The Iraqi elections may not be perfect;
they may not be the best elections that Iraq will ever hold; they will
undoubtedly be an excuse for violence from those who disparage and despise
liberty, as we -- the first elections -- as were the first elections in Sierra
Leone, South Africa and Indonesia. But they will take place, and they will be
free and fair.
Finally, Mr. President, a word about international resolve. Iraq cannot
accomplish this alone. The international forces of tyranny and oppression are
lined up against us. Iraq is now the main battleground between the forces of
hope and the forces of fear. This is a struggle which will shape the future
of our world.
Already, Iraq has many partners. More than two dozen countries are
represented in Iraq with troops on the ground. We Iraqis are grateful for
each and every one of these courageous men and women. The United Nations, the
European Union, the G-8 have lent their strong support. NATO, just yesterday,
increased its commitment to Iraq. Many more nations have committed to Iraq
future in the form of economic aid. I am grateful for the support. I look to
my Arab brothers to join us fully.
I know it is difficult, but the coalition must stand firm. When
governments negotiate with terrorists, everyone in the free world suffers.
When political leaders sound the sirens of defeatism in the face of terrorism,
it only encourages more violence. Working together, we will defeat the
killers, and we'll do this by refusing to bargain about our most fundamental
principles.
I understand why, faced with the daily headlines, there are those doubts.
I know, too, that there are -- there will be many more setbacks and obstacles
to overcome. But these doubters underestimate our country and they risk
fueling the hopes of terrorism.
Mr. President, there are those who want to divide our world. I appeal to
you, who have done so much already, to help us to ensure they don't succeed.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: We'll take a couple of questions now. Terry.
Q Mr. President, two more Americans have been beheaded. More than 300
Iraqis have been killed in the last week. Fallujah is out of government
control. And U.S. and Iraqi forces have been unable to bring security to
diplomatic and commercial centers of Baghdad. Why haven't U.S. forces been
able to capture or kill al Zarqawi, who's blamed for much of the violence?
And what's your answer to General John Abizaid's statement that, "I think we
will need more troops than we currently have"?
PRESIDENT BUSH: If that's what he says -- he was in my office this
morning; he didn't say that to me, but if he were to say that, I'd listen to
him, just like I've said all along, that when our commanders say that they
need support, they'll get support, because we're going to succeed in this
mission.
The first part of the question was, how come we haven't found Zarqawi.
We're looking for him. He hides. He is -- he is -- he's got a effective
weapon, and that is terror. I said yesterday that our military cannot be
defeated by these thugs, that -- but what they do is behead Americans so they
can get on the TV screens. And they're trying to shake our will and trying to
shake the Iraqis' will. That's what they're trying to do.
And like all Americans, I'm disgusted by that kind of behavior. But I'm
not going to yield. We're not going to abandon the Iraqi people. It's in our
interests that we win this battle in the war on terror. See, I think that the
Iraq theater is a part of the war on terror. That's what the Prime Minister
said, as well. He believes the same thing. He understands what's going on
there -- after all, he lives there.
And I believe that if we wilt, or leave, America's security will be much
worse off. I believe that if Iraq -- if we fail in Iraq, it's the beginning
of a long struggle. We will not have done our duty to our children and our
grandchildren. And so that's why I'm consistently telling the Iraqi citizens
that we will not be intimidated. That's why my message to Mr. Zarqawi is:
You cannot drive us out of Iraq by your -- by your brutality.
It's tough work, everybody knows that. It's hard work. But we must not
allow the actions of a few -- and I emphasize that -- I say that because there
are 25 million Iraqis, by far the vast majority of whom want to live in a free
society. And we cannot allow the actions of a few to determine the fate of
these good people, as well as the fate of the security of the United States.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: May I, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Sure.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: I just have a few words to say to this question.
We cannot really substitute Iraq for Fallujah. Fallujah is a small part
of Iraq. There are insurgents and terrorists who are active there for
geographical reasons. The people of Fallujah are adamant that they should --
whenever they are capable -- to get rid of the insurgents. We have been
talking to them, I have been talking to them, engaged in dialogue. My deputy
met with the Fallujah tribes two days ago. Things are moving in the right
direction and we are hitting insurgents and terrorists in this part of the
world.
To have more troops, we don't need. What we need really is to train more
Iraqis, because this is ultimately for Iraqis, for Iraqi security forces to
take responsibility for their own security and to defend the rest of the
civilized world. What is happening, sir, in Iraq, is really Iraq is becoming
a front line for a global fight against terrorists. So that's why Zarqawi is
not alone. There are other groups similar to Zarqawi. There are groups who
are insurgents who have stained their hands with the murders of the Iraqi
people, who are Saddam's loyalists. They are working together.
We assure you that we are going to defeat these evil forces, in Iraq and
throughout the world.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Steve.
Q Mr. President, John Kerry is accusing you of colossal failures of
judgment in Iraq and having failed to level with the American people about how
tough it is there. How do you respond to him?
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's hard work in Iraq. Everybody knows that. We see it
on our TV. My message is that -- is that we will stay the course and stand
with these people so that they become free. It's in our national interest we
do so. I believe this is a central part in the war on terror. I believe that
when we succeed in Iraq, that America will be more secure. I also know that a
free Iraq will send a clear message to the part of the world that is desperate
for freedom.
It's hard work. The American people know that. But I believe it's
necessary work. And I believe a leader must be consistent and clear and not
change positions when times get tough. And the times have been hard -- these
are hard times. But I understand that -- what mixed messages do. You can
embolden an enemy by sending a mixed message. You can dispirit the Iraqi
people by sending mixed messages. You send the wrong message to our troops by
sending mixed messages. That's why I will continue to lead with clarity and
in a resolute way, because I understand the stakes. These are high stakes.
And we'll succeed.
Is anybody here from the Iraqi media? Why don't we -- yes, please, sir.
Standing next to a fine man in Deans.
Q (Question not asked in English.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm not so sure I agree with that. (Laughter.)
INTERPRETER: The question to the U.S. President: What are the plans to
accelerate the arrival of the fund donated by various countries around the
world, the countries that are contributing to the rebuilding of Iraq, in order
to encourage investments in Iraq -- particularly with a very high unemployment
rate?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Right. There are at least three aspects to the
reconstruction projects. One is our own money. And as I mentioned in my
remarks, there's $7 billion committed. We've got more money to spend, and we
will spend it when contracts are let and when there's -- and when there's
enough security in certain neighborhoods to be able to spend the money wisely.
Secondly, part of making sure that the Iraq balance sheet is in good shape
is to continue to work on debt reductions. I named former Secretary Jim Baker
to go around to the creditor nations; he received some commitments. And I
believe that the world will make its decision later on this year as to how
much debt reduction there will be in Iraq.
And, thirdly, as you mentioned, other nations have pledged help to the
Iraqi people. And there will be a donors conference in Japan, kind of an
accountability conference for people to come and explain where they are in
meeting their different promises.
Yes, NBC man, there -- your name?
Q Gregory, sir.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Gregory.
Q Mr. President, you say today that the work in Iraq is tough and will
remain tough. And, yet, you travel this country and a central theme of your
campaign is that America is safer because of the invasion of Iraq. Can you
understand why Americans may not believe you?
PRESIDENT BUSH: No. Anybody who says that we are safer with Saddam
Hussein in power is wrong. We went into Iraq because Saddam Hussein defied
the demands of the free world. We went into Iraq after diplomacy had failed.
And we went into Iraq because I understand after September the 11th we must
take threats seriously, before they come to hurt us.
And I think it's a preposterous claim to say that America would be better
off with Saddam Hussein in power. I certainly know that that's the case for
America and I certainly know it's the case for the Iraqi people. These are
people who were tortured. This good man was abed in a London flat, and he
wakes up with two Saddam henchmen there with axes, trying to cut him to pieces
with an axe. And, fortunately, he's alive today; fortunately, we call him
friend and ally. But he knows what it means to have lived under a society in
which a thug like Saddam Hussein would send people with axes to try to kill
him in bed in a London flat.
No, this world is better off with Saddam Hussein in prison.
Q Sir, may I just follow, because I don't think you're really
answering the question. I mean, I think you're responding to Senator Kerry,
but there are beheadings regularly, the insurgent violence continues, and
there are no weapons of mass destruction. My question is, can you understand
that Americans may not believe you when you say that America is actually safer
today?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Imagine a world in which Saddam Hussein were still in
power. This is a man who harbored terrorists -- Abu Abbas, Abu Nidal,
Zarqawi. This is a man who was a sworn enemy of the United States of America.
This is a man who used weapons of mass destruction. Going from tyranny to
democracy is hard work, but I think the argument that says that Saddam Hussein
-- if Saddam Hussein were still in power, we'd be better off is wrong.
King.
Q Sir, I'd like you answer Senator Kerry and other critics who accuse
you of hypocrisy or opportunism when, on the one hand, you put so much stock
in the CIA when it said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and
now say it is just guessing when it paints a pessimistic picture of the
political transition.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.
Q And I like to, if you don't mind, follow on something the Prime
Minister just said. If General Abizaid says he needs more troops and the
Prime Minister says he does not want more troops, who wins?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me talk to General Abizaid. As I said, he just came
in to see me, and I want to make sure -- I'm not suggesting any of the
reporters here might be taking something out of context -- that would never
happen in America. But, nevertheless, I do want to sit down and talk to him
about it. Obviously, we can work this out. It's in the -- if our commanders
on the ground feels it's in the interest of the Iraq citizens to provide more
troops, we'll talk about it. That's -- that's why -- they're friends; that's
what we do about friends.
First part of the question -- oh, yes, yes --
Q They say you've been opportunistic --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, got it. Listen, the other day I was asked about the
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE, which is a National Intelligence Estimate.
This is a report that talks about possibilities about what can happen in Iraq,
not probabilities. I used an unfortunate word, "guess." I should have used,
"estimate." And the CIA came and said, this is a possibility, this is a
possibility, and this is a possibility. But what's important for the American
people to hear is reality. And the reality is right here in the form of the
Prime Minister. And he is explaining what is happening on the ground. That's
the best report. And this report was written in July, and now we are here in
September, and as I said, "estimate" would have been a better word.
Q Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Hold on for a minute. Hold on for a minute, please,
please. We've got other people from -- hold on for a second.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: From the other --
PRESIDENT BUSH: From Iraq. Are you from Iraq?
Q No --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay. No, hold on for a second. We need people from
Iraq first, please. One journalist from Iraq. You're not from Iraq, Allen.
And neither are you, Elisabeth.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: Give Al Arabiya --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Is anybody here from CBS? Roberts, there you are.
Please.
Q -- happy to be here.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Happy to be here, thank you. (Laughter.)
Q Sir, you --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Terry, you're next.
Q You have been accused on the campaign trail in this election year of
painting an overly optimistic portrait of the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Yesterday, in Valley Forge, you said that there was a "handful" of people who
were willing to kill to try to disrupt the process. Isn't that really
understating the case, particularly when there are intelligence reports that
hundreds, if not thousands, of foreign fighters are streaming across the
border from Syria to take up the fight of the insurgency? And do you believe,
given the situation on the ground in Fallujah and other northern cities in the
Sunni Triangle, that elections are possible in four months?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I do, because the Prime Minister told me they are. He is
-- he's interested in moving this country forward. And you heard his
statement, and I believe him.
The first part of the question?
Q The first question was, aren't you being --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, got it, got it. Yes. Yesterday --
Q -- disingenuous --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Right. I said -- look, what we're seeing on our TV
screens are the acts of suicide bombers. They're the people who -- that are
affecting the daily -- the nightly news. And they know its effect. I said
that the enemy cannot defeat us militarily. What they can do is take acts of
violence that try to discourage us, and try to discourage the Prime Minister
and the people of Iraq.
Look, I'm fully aware we're fighting former Baathists and Zarqawi network
people. But, by far, the vast majority of people, John, and of 25 million
people, want to live in freedom. My point is, is that a few people, relative
to the whole, are trying to stop the march of freedom.
It is tough work. Everybody in America knows that. And the fundamental
question is, are we going to allow the tough work to cause us to retreat, to
waver? And my answer to the American people, and the Iraqi people, and to the
enemy, is that we will complete our mission. We will do our duty. We will
adjust strategies on the ground, depending upon the tactics of the enemy, but
we're not going to allow the suiciders to drive us out of Iraq.
Terry.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: May I, may I --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, please.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: Let me explain something, which is very important.
I have noticed -- and the media have been neglected and omitted several times
-- in the Western media -- Iraq is made out of 18 provinces, 18, 1-8. Out of
these 18 provinces, 14 to 15 are completely safe, there are no problems. And
I can count them for you, starting from Basra moving into Iraq Kurdistan.
There are three areas, three provinces where there are pockets of insurgents,
pockets of terrorists who are acting there and are moving from there to
inflict damage elsewhere in the country.
So, really, if you care to look at Iraq properly, and go from Basra to
Nasiriyah to Kut to Diyala to Najaf to Karbala to Diwaniya to Samaraa to
Kirkuk to Sulaymaniyah to Dahuk to Arbil, there are no problems. It's safe,
it's good. There are problems in Fallujah. Fallujah is part of a province;
the province is called Al Anbar. It's vast, very big; it has many other
important towns, such as Ana, such as Rawa, such as Ramadi. There is nothing
there. In Ana and Rawa, indeed, there is nothing, no problem, except on a
small pocket in Fallujah.
So, really, I call upon the responsible media -- throughout the world, not
only here -- to look at the facts as they are in Iraq and to propagate these
facts to the international community.
I am not trying to undermine that there are dangers. There are dangers in
Iraq; there are problems, and we are facing international terrorist onslaught
on Iraq. I, personally, receive every day a threat. In the last four weeks,
they found four conspiracies to kill me. And, likewise, there are killing
people -- they are killing officials, they are killing innocent people. But
the Iraqis are not deterred, and we are not going to be deterred. I went the
next day and saw our recruitment center for the police, after they killed,
massacred 40-45 people. I found hundreds of people coming to be volunteer --
to volunteer to the police and to the army. I spoke to them. They are all
upbeat. They are resolved to beat terrorism and to defeat the insurgents.
These are facts that one really needs to explain to you and you need to
explain it to the people.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Terry.
Q Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, I'd like to ask about the
Iraqi people. Both of you have spoken for them today, and, yet, over the past
several months there have been polls conducted by the Coalition Provisional
Authority, by the Oxford Institute and other reputable organizations, that
have found very strong majorities do not see the United States as a liberator,
but as an occupier, are unhappy with American policy and want us out. Don't
the real voices of the Iraqi people, themselves, contradict the rosy scenarios
you're painting here today?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me start by that. You said the poll was taken when
the CPA was there?
Q One poll --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay, let me stop you. First of all, the Iraqi people
now have got Iraqi leadership. Prime Minister Allawi and his cabinet are
making decisions on behalf of the Iraqi people. Secondly, I saw a poll that
said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than here in America.
(Laughter.) It's pretty darn strong. I mean, the people see a better future.
Talk to the leader. I agree -- I'm not the expert on how the Iraqi people
think, because I live in America, where it's nice and safe and secure. But I
talk to this man. One reason I'm optimistic about our ability to get the job
done is because I talk to the Iraqi Prime Minister. I'm also optimistic that
people will choose freedom over tyranny every time. That's what I believe.
But, Mr. Prime Minister, you might answer the question on the polls.
There's a lot of polls; sometimes they show you up and sometimes they show you
down, as you might remember.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: Let me -- let me take a minute to explain to you
something, a factual event. I meet, personally, every now and then with the
fringes of the so-called resistance to try and talk them into respecting law
and order and withdraw their arms. And I ask them in a very honest, very open
way, I say to them, "What do you want to achieve? Could you know exactly what
you want to achieve? Do you want to bring Saddam back from the hole in the
ground, living like a rat? Do you want to bring him back to rule Iraq? Or do
you want to bring bin Laden or similar persons to bin Laden to rule Iraq? If
you want to do this, we will fight you room to room, house to house. If you
want to be part of the political process, you have to be part of the political
process, you are welcome.
If you do not want the multinational force in Iraq -- I was talking to
Fallujah people recently, to tribes, ex-army officers, ex-Saddam loyalists --
if you want the multinational force out, win the elections, go to the United
Nations, talk to the Security Council, and tell them we don't need the
multinational forces. But I tell you what is going to happen. If you ask the
multinational force to leave prematurely -- this is me talking to the Fallujah
people -- your country will be in ruins, and we cannot now, on our feet, stand
and fight terrorism and global terrorism.
These are realities. And once you are in Iraq, I will be my (sic) host.
I can put you together with these people in my home and you can talk to them.
And you can find out yourselves that the Iraqis, tremendously, by and large,
respect the United States, and respect the other partners in the coalition for
helping Iraq, not only in liberation, but now in helping Iraq to rebuild
itself and to rebuild its institutions.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me -- let me say one other thing about why I'm
optimistic we'll succeed. By the way, you can understand it's tough and still
be optimistic. You can understand how hard it is and believe we'll succeed.
I remember when some were talking about the possibility of success in
Afghanistan in pretty stark terms. I don't know if you remember that period
or not, but there was a period where some were saying that it wasn't possible
for democracy to come forward in Afghanistan. Today, 10 million citizens have
registered to vote, 41 percent of whom are women. It's a phenomenal
statistic, I think. I think it shows what's possible if you believe -- if you
have certain beliefs from which you won't waver. And I believe people yearn
to be free.
Again, I think if you look at polls -- which, sometimes I do and sometimes
I don't, admittedly, Moran -- that, by far, the vast majority of Iraqis want
to vote. They want to live in freedom. And the fundamental question is, do
we -- is this: Do we have the will to stay? Do we have the will to put smart
strategy in place? I've laid out the strategy; we're implementing the
strategy. But really, do we have the will to complete the mission? And my
message to the Iraqi people, and to the enemy, and to our troops in harm's
way, and to our allies is: We'll complete the mission.
Listen, last question -- Wendell. And then we -- I think it's probably
time to head into the air-conditioning --
Q Mr. President --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Excuse me, ma'am.
Wendell.
Q Thank you, sir. Mr. President, in the past couple of days you have
been talking about the consequences of the mixed messages you say John Kerry
sends. I want to ask you, sir, do you mean immediate consequences, not just
if the Senator is elected? Do you mean that the messages being sent now have
a negative effect on the effort in Iraq? And does making the war in Iraq a
part of a campaign also have consequences on the situation there, sir?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think -- look, in a campaign, it's -- the war of
Iraq is going to be part of a campaign. It's -- this is a major moment in
American history. These are historic times. And I view it as a great
opportunity to help secure our country. As I said before, Iraq is a central
part of the war on terror. And I believe it's important for us to succeed
there because of that.
See, 9/11 changed everything. September the 11th meant that we had to
deal with a person like Saddam Hussein. Of course, I was hoping it could be
done diplomatically. But diplomacy failed. And so the last resort of a
President is to use force. And we did. And now we're -- we're helping the
Iraqis.
The Prime Minister said something very interesting a while ago, and it's
important for the American people to understand. Our strategy is to help the
Iraqis help themselves. It's important that we train Iraqi troops. There are
nearly 100,000 troops trained. The Afghan (sic) national army is a part of
the army. By the way -- it's the Afghan [sic] national army that went into
Najaf and did the work there. There's a regular army being trained. There
are border guards being trained. There are police being trained. That's a
key part of our mission.
But, Wendell, I think the world watches America. We're an influential
nation, and everybody watches what we say. And I think it's very important
for the American President to mean what he says. That's why I understand that
the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly I can.
I don't want them to be emboldened by any confusion or doubt. I don't want
them to think that, well, maybe all they got to do is attack and we'll shirk
our duties. See, they've been emboldened before. They have caused certain
nations to withdraw from coalitions as a result of their action, such action
reinforcing the ability for suiciders, for example, to effect free societies.
I know that. I've seen firsthand the tactics of these killers. And so
therefore, I think it's very important for all of us involved in the process
not to send mixed signals.
I don't know what the enemy thinks today. But I do know they're watching
America very carefully. I do know they want to affect other nations by their
acts of murder. I do know they were emboldened by Spain withdrew from Iraq as
a result of attacks on election. And therefore, I have a duty to our troops -
- for starters, most importantly -- not to send a mixed signal. I want our
troops to know that the sacrifices they are making are worthwhile and
necessary for the security of this country. And I want -- don't want the
Iraqis to fear that, oh, all of a sudden, there will be a change of heart,
that there'll be tough times politically, or that a poll might say something
and, therefore, cause me to change my opinion. I don't want them to think
that, because they have to make the hard choices for freedom. They have to go
from a society that has been tortured by a brutal thug to a society in which
they take responsibility for their daily lives.
I don't want the coalition forces to feel like we're wavering. And so I
understand that people watch our words. And that's an explanation of why I
say what I say.
Listen, thank you all very much.
Mr. Prime Minister, appreciate you. Good job.
PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI: Okay. Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Proud you're here.
END 12:53 P.M. EDT
SOURCE White House Press Office
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