22 August 2003
Iraq Site of "Continuing Battle" in War on Terror, Bush Says
White House Rep., Aug. 22: Iraq, Mideast, recess appointments, nomination
Iraq is the site of "a continuing battle in the war on terror," President Bush said August 22, calling the confrontation there one "of the major battles of the first war of the 21st century."
Former Baathist officials, he said, are resisting the efforts of the coalition forces to improve life for the people of Iraq. They "decided that ... they'd rather fight than work for peaceful reconstruction of Iraq because they weren't going to be in power anymore," he said.
Bush said he also believes "there's a foreign element that is moving into Iraq ... al-Qaeda-type fighters.
"They want to fight us there because they can't stand the thought of a free society in the Middle East. They hate freedom. They hate the thought of a democracy emerging. And therefore, they want to violently prevent that from happening."
Bush made his remarks in a short question and answer session with reporters as he visited the state of Washington.
The president predicted that U.S. allies will send more troops to help secure the war-torn nation.
"We're going to stay the course," he said.
Bush said his administration is working with the United Nations to encourage allies to help bring peace the country. "There will be more foreign troops in Iraq," he said.
They will be used "to guard the infrastructure," he said, freeing up coalition military forces to continue the hunt for terrorists.
"Every day that goes by, we're getting more solid evidence from Iraqi citizens about the whereabouts of certain former thugs -- or current thugs of a former regime, is a better way to put it, like Chemical Ali. And we're winning," the president said. [The State Department formally announced August 22 the capture of Ali Hasan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali," by Coalition Forces in Iraq. He was a close adviser of Saddam Hussein.]
Regarding the role of the United Nations in Iraq, Bush said he always believed that "the United Nations ought to have vital role, and they were playing a vital role in Iraq, such a vital role, that the killers decided to destroy the very people that were providing food for the hungry and medicine for the afflicted.
"Now, what kind of mind-set is that? That's -- it is that type of mentality that we must defeat if we expect the world to be secure and peaceful.
"And so, yes, there will be a vital role for the U.N. As a matter of fact, we're discussing ... resolutions now about how to encourage other nations to participate in the process," the president said.
BUSH TO STAY "VERY MUCH ENGAGED" IN PURSUIT OF MIDDLE EAST PEACE
On the subject of the Middle East, a reporter asked the President what he could do to make sure that progress in recent months on the road map to peace continues, especially since Palestinians militants have promised more suicide bombings and Israel has talked about more strikes against militants.
Bush responded that "we'll just keep working the issue, of course, hard and reminding people of this important fact, that if people want there to be peace in the Middle East, if the Palestinians want to see their own state, they've got to dismantle the terrorist networks."
"Those people who conduct suicide bombings are not interested in the vision that I have outlined, and that is a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace," Bush said.
"What the United States will continue to do is to remind those who love peace and yearn for freedom in that part of the world to join together and to battle those few who want to destroy the ambitions of many. I will continue to work with leaders in the neighborhood to encourage them to cut off the money and the aid and the help that goes to these terrorist organizations, all of which aim to destroy any hope for peace.
"I am, and will continue to work the issue. I think it's important for us to -- for the United States to stay very much engaged, and I will."
BUSH MAKES SEVERAL RECESS APPOINTMENTS
President Bush August 22 made several recess appointments, including controversial Middle East scholar, Daniel Pipes.
Bush named Pipes to the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace. He had nominated Pipes on April 2, 2003.
By making the appointment while Congress is in recess, Bush avoids a confirmation vote. But instead of serving the usual four years, Pipes will serve the remaining 18 months of an unexpired term.
Although the position is largely honorary, reports say Muslim organizations and some Jewish groups have campaigned vigorously since April against Pipes' nomination to the federally funded foreign policy think tank, which has 70 staff and 15 board members.
Others receiving recess appointments included Charlotte A. Lane to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission; Daniel Pearson to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission; A. Paul Anderson to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner; and John Paul Woodley, Jr. to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
BUSH CHOOSES GORDON ENGLAND TO BE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
The White House announced August 22 that President Bush intends to nominate Gordon England, of Texas, to be secretary of the Navy.
England currently is deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and had served before that in the same position to which he now is being nominated again, secretary of the Navy. Earlier, he served as executive vice president of General Dynamics Corporation.
"England," the White House said, "has served as a member of the Defense Science Board and has received awards from the National Defense Industrial Association and the National Management Association. He is also a member of the Aviation Heritage Hall of Fame."
England received his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and his master's from the M.J. Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=August&x=20030822184609relhcie0.1030237&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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