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27 March 2003

Bush, Blair Say Coalition Forces Making Steady Progress in Iraq

(People of Iraq will be freed from Saddam Hussein regime) (4330)
Coalition forces are making steady progress in Iraq and will be
victorious, no matter how long the fighting takes, President Bush and
Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters at a joint press
conference March 27.
"Our alliance is strong, our resolve is firm and our mission will be
achieved," Bush told reporters at Camp David, the presidential retreat
in the Maryland mountains where the two leaders had met for talks that
began the previous evening.
"Together coalition forces are advancing day by day in steady progress
against the enemy. Slowly but surely, the grip of terror around the
throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened," said Bush.
"The campaign ahead will demand further courage and require further
sacrifice, yet we know the outcome. Iraq will be disarmed; the Iraqi
regime will be ended, and the long-suffering Iraq people will be
free," Bush said.
Blair stressed the coalition's determination and total resolve to
remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power, to disarm Iraq of
weapons of mass destruction, and to free the Iraqi people. "That is
our commitment. That is our determination. And we will see it done,"
said Blair.
Both leaders urged the United Nations to immediately resume the
oil-for-food program for the people of Iraq.
"This urgent humanitarian issue must not be politicized, and the
Security Council should give Secretary-General Annan the authority to
start getting food supplies to those most in need of assistance," Bush
said.
Blair said he would discuss the urgency of the situation with United
Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in a planned meeting later the
same day.
Bush also said both the United States and Britain are "strongly
committed" to implementing the road map for peace between the Israelis
and the Palestinians.
Following is the transcript of the joint press conference:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 27, 2003
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR IN A PRESS
AVAILABILITY
Camp David, Maryland
11:00 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. It's my honor to welcome my friend and
Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, back to Camp David.
America has learned a lot about Tony Blair over the last weeks. We've
learned that he's a man of his word. We've learned that he's a man of
courage, that he's a man of vision. And we're proud to have him as a
friend.
The United States and United Kingdom are acting together in a noble
purpose. We're working together to make the world more peaceful; we're
working together to make our respective nations and all the free
nations of the world more secure; and we're working to free the Iraqi
people.
British, American, Australian, Polish and other coalition troops are
sharing the duties of this war, and we're sharing the sacrifices of
this war. Together, coalition forces are advancing day by day, in
steady progress, against the enemy. Slowly, but surely, the grip of
terror around the throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened.
We appreciate the bravery, the professionalism of the British troops,
and all coalition troops. Together we have lost people, and the
American people offer their prayers to the loved ones of the British
fallen, just as we offer our prayers to the loved ones of our own
troops who have fallen.
We're now engaging the dictator's most hardened and most desperate
units. The campaign ahead will demand further courage and require
further sacrifice. Yet we know the outcome: Iraq will be disarmed; the
Iraqi regime will be ended; and the long-suffering Iraqi people will
be free.
In decades of oppression, the Iraqi regime has sought to instill the
habits of fear in the daily lives of millions; yet, soon, the Iraqis
will have the confidence of a free people. Our coalition will stand
with the citizens of Iraq in the challenges ahead. We are prepared to
deliver humanitarian aid on a large scale -- and as a matter of fact,
are beginning to do so as we speak.
Today the Prime Minister and I also urge the United Nations to
immediately resume the oil-for-food program. More than half the Iraqi
people depend on this program as their sole source of food. This
urgent humanitarian issue must not be politicized, and the Security
Council should give Secretary General Annan the authority to start
getting food supplies to those most in need of assistance.
As we address the immediate suffering of the Iraqi people, we're also
committed to helping them over the long-term. Iraq's greatest
long-term need is a representative government that protects the rights
of all Iraqis. The form of this government will be chosen by the Iraqi
people, not imposed by outsiders. And the Prime Minister and I are
confident that a free Iraq will be a successful nation.
History requires more of our coalition than a defeat of a terrible
danger. I see an opportunity, as does Prime Minister Blair, to bring
renewed hope and progress to the entire Middle East. Last June 24th, I
outlined a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine living
side-by-side in peace and security. Soon, we'll release the road map
that is designed to help turn that vision into reality. And both
America and Great Britain are strongly committed to implementing that
road map.
For nearly a century, the United States and Great Britain have been
allies in the defense of liberty. We've opposed all the great threats
to peace and security in the world. We shared in the costly and heroic
struggle against Nazism. We shared the resolve and moral purpose of
the Cold War. In every challenge, we've applied the combined power of
our nations to the cause of justice, and we're doing the same today.
Our alliance is strong, our resolve is firm, and our mission will be
achieved.
Mr. Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for your
welcome. Thank you for your strength and for your leadership at this
time. And I believe the alliance between the United States and Great
Britain has never been in better or stronger shape.
Can I also offer the American people, on behalf of the British people,
our condolences, our sympathy, our prayers for the lives of those who
have fallen in this conflict, just as we have offered the condolence,
the sympathy, and the prayers to the families of our own British
servicemen.
Just under a week into this conflict, let me restate our complete and
total resolve. Saddam Hussein and his hateful regime will be removed
from power. Iraq will be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and
the Iraqi people will be free. That is our commitment, that is our
determination, and we will see it done.
We had this morning a presentation of the latest military situation,
which shows already the progress that has been made. It's worth just
recapping it, I think, for a moment. In less than a week, we have
secured the southern oil fields and facilities, and so protected that
resource and wealth for the Iraqi people and avoided ecological
disaster. We've disabled Iraq's ability to launch external aggression
from the west.
Our forces are now within 50 miles of Baghdad. They've surrounded
Basra. They've secured the key port of Umm Qasr. They've paved the way
for humanitarian aid to flow into the country. And they brought real
damage on Iraq's command and control. So we can be confident that the
goals that we have set ourselves will be met.
I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and integrity of
our forces and those of the United States of America, our other
coalition allies, and to say how their professionalism, as well as
their skill and their bravery, stands in sharp contrast to the
brutality of Saddam's regime.
Day by day, we have seen the reality of Saddam's regime -- his thugs
prepared to kill their own people; the parading of prisoners of war;
and now, the release of those pictures of executed British soldiers.
If anyone needed any further evidence of the depravity of Saddam's
regime, this atrocity provides it. It is yet one more flagrant breach
of all the proper conventions of war. More than that, to the families
of the soldiers involved, it is an act of cruelty beyond
comprehension. Indeed, it is beyond the comprehension of anyone with
an ounce of humanity in their souls.
On behalf of the British government, I would like to offer my
condolences particularly to the family and the friends of those two
brave young men who died in the service of their country, and to the
ordinary Iraqi people, to whom we are determined to bring a better
future.
The future of the Iraqi people is one reason why much of our
discussion has focused on humanitarian issues. Again, here we have the
ship, the Sir Galahad, loaded with tons of supplies destined for the
people of Iraq. The other immediate humanitarian priority is to
restart the U.N. oil-for-food program, which the President and I
discussed, and which I will be discussing with Kofi Annan later this
evening. And this is urgent.
We also discussed the post-conflict issues. Contrary to a lot of the
comment on this, the position is exactly as the President and I set
out in the Azores -- namely, that we will work with the U.N., our
allies and partners and bilateral donors. We will seek new U.N.
Security Council resolutions to affirm Iraq's territorial integrity,
to ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an
appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq.
But let me emphasize once again that our primary focus now is, and
must be, the military victory, which we will prosecute with the utmost
vigor. And the immediate priority for the United Nations is, as the
President was indicating a moment or two ago, the oil-for-food
program.
In addition, as has just been said to you, we had an excellent
discussion of the Middle East, and we both share a complete
determination to move this forward. It is, indeed, often overlooked
that President Bush is the first U.S. President publicly to commit
himself to a two-state solution, an Israel confident of its security
and a viable Palestinian state. And I welcome the decision announced
recently to publish the road map as soon as the confirmation of the
new Palestinian Prime Minister is properly administered.
Finally, I would just like to say this: I think it is important that
we recognize at this time that the goals that we are fighting for are
just goals. Whatever the difficulty of war, let us just remember this
is a regime that has brutalized its people for well over two decades.
Of course, there will be people fiercely loyal to that regime who will
fight all the way; they have no option. But I have no doubt at all
that the vast majority of ordinary Iraqi people are desperate for a
better and different future, for Iraq to be free, for its government
to be representative of its people, for the human rights of the people
to be cared for.
And that is why, though, of course, our aim is to rid Iraq of weapons
of mass destruction and make our world more secure. The justice of our
cause lies in the liberation of the Iraqi people. And to them we say,
we will liberate you. The day of your freedom draws near.
THE PRESIDENT: We'll take two questions a side. We would hope that you
would respect asking one question per question.
Fournier.
Q: That, of course, means I can ask each leader one question.
THE PRESIDENT: No, it does not mean that. Of course, you will anyway,
but
-- 
Q: Yes, sir.
First to you, Mr. Prime Minister. Briefly, Secretary Powell said
yesterday that the U.N. should have a role in postwar Iraq, but that
the United States should have a significant, dominating control of
post-Saddam Iraq. How will that kind of talk play in Europe?
And, Mr. President, can you help me understand the timing of this war?
You talked yesterday that it will be -- we're far from over. Today you
said, it's going slowly, but surely we're working our way to our end
goal. Given that the resistance has been as strong as it's been in the
south, and that we have what you call the most hardened, most
desperate forces still around Baghdad, are we to assume that this is
going to last -- could last months and not weeks -- and not days?
THE PRESIDENT: I'll answer that question very quickly and then get to
his. However long it takes to win. That's --
Q: -- take months?
THE PRESIDENT: However long it takes to achieve our objective. And
that's important for you to know, the American people to know, our
allies to know, and the Iraqi people to know.
Q: It could be months?
THE PRESIDENT: However long it takes. That's the answer to your
question and that's what you've got to know. It isn't a matter of
timetable, it's a matter of victory. And the Iraqi people have got to
know that, see. They've got to know that they will be liberated and
Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes.
Go ahead.
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: In relation to the United Nations, there's no
doubt at all that the United Nations has got to be closely involved in
this process. That's not just right; it's in everyone's interest that
it happens. All I'm saying to people is, the focus -- the immediate
focus has got to be on the oil-for-food program, because that is thing
we need to get sorted out with the United Nations literally in the
next few days.
Now, after that is the issue of the post-conflict administration,
where, as we said in our Azores statement, it's important there,
again, that the U.N. is involved, and that any post-conflict
administration in Iraq is endorsed by it.
But there are huge numbers of details to be discussed with our allies
as to exactly how that is going to work -- and also, the conflict is
not yet over, we are still in the conflict. So we will carry on
discussing that with the U.N., with other allies. But I think that is
best done in those discussions without trying to do it by discussion
through the press conference or through megaphone diplomacy.
But, about the role of the U.N. and the basis of the principles we set
out in the Azores Summit, there is simply no difference at all there.
But there are a huge amount of details as to exactly how that is to be
implemented that have to be a matter of discussion, and also, a matter
of a reflection of the reality that we will face when we get to the
point of post-conflict.
Q: -- of the BBC. For both leaders, if I may. We, all of us, noted
quite a shift in emphasis over the last few days from a hope that this
could be over very, very quickly, to the military in both countries
briefing about months. My question is really, why do you think that
shift has taken place? Did we underestimate the scale of Iraqi
resistance? Has it been the weather? Has it been poor advice at the
beginning of the campaign, or is it a military question?
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Well, you know, in the previous two campaigns in
which I've been involved -- Kosovo and Afghanistan -- you reach this
particular point where people start asking -- ask us to speculate on
exactly how much time it takes to get the job done. The important
thing is the job will be done. There is no point in entering into a
speculation of how long it takes except to say we have been, I think,
just under a week into this conflict. Now, because of the way it's
reported, you've got this constant 24-hours-a-day media, it may seem
to people that it's a lot longer than just under a week. But actually,
it's just under a week. And in just under a week, there is a massive
amount that has already been achieved. I mean, after all, coalition
forces are within 50 miles of Baghdad, the southern oil fields are
secured, the west is protected from external aggression, we've got
forces going into the north.
Now, we will carry on until the job is done. But there is absolutely
no point, in my view, of trying to set a time limit or speculate on
it, because it's not set by time, it's set by the nature of the job.
All I would do, though, is point out to you that within those six or
seven days, actually an enormous amount has already been achieved.
I think it's also important just to make one other point, which is we
have very deliberately wanted to do this in a way that protects the
future of the Iraqi people, too. And that's one reason why we went
immediately in to secure the oil installations in the south. If we
weren't able to do that, then the prospects of the Iraqi people for
the future would be blighted. That's why the air campaign has targeted
very, very specifically, as precisely as we possibly can, military
command and control, the aspects of Saddam's regime, not the civilian
population.
So we're doing this in the way that we set it out to achieve our
objectives. We will achieve our objectives.
THE PRESIDENT: I have nothing more to add to that.
Randy.
Q: Mr. President, you've raised the possibility of holding Iraqis
accountable for war crimes. I'm wondering if now if you could describe
what war crimes you think they've committed to date. And secondly,
sir, should the Iraqis be prepared for U.S. retaliation with nuclear
weapons if they were to attack coalition forces with weapons of mass
destruction?
THE PRESIDENT: You heard the Prime Minister eloquently talk about the
loss of British life. They were murdered, unarmed soldiers executed. I
mean, that's a war crime. But, you know, I'm not surprised. This man,
Saddam Hussein, has tortured and brutalized his people for a long,
long time.
We had reports the other day of a dissident who had his tongue cut out
and was tied to the stake in the town square, and he bled to death.
That's how Saddam Hussein retains power.
His sons are brutal, brutal people. They're barbaric in nature. So I'm
not surprised he's committing crimes against our soldiers. I'm not
surprised to hear stories about his thugs killing their own citizens
and trying to blame it on coalition forces. I'm not surprised to know
that regular army forces are trying to desert, but get blown away by
fellow Iraqi citizens. I'm not surprised, because the nature of the
man who has run the country for a long period of time.
If he uses weapons of mass destruction, that will just prove our case.
And we will deal with it. We've got one objective in mind: That's
victory. And we'll achieve victory.
Q: -- (inaudible)  -- 
THE PRESIDENT: Well, they've been sent a message in this war, too, in
that if you launch a weapon of mass destruction, you'll be tried as a
war criminal. And I urge those Iraqi generals who have any doubt of
our word to be careful, because we'll keep our word. We're going to
keep our word to the Iraqi people and we'll keep our word to those war
criminals in Iraq.
Q: I'd like to break the rule, because I don't think we know the
details of why you're using this word "executed" about the British
servicemen. I would like if you could explain that. But could I ask
you both -- you both talked about the history, the justness of the
cause that you believe that this war is. Why is it then, that if you
go back to that history, if you go back over the last century or,
indeed, recent conflicts in your political careers, you have not got
the support of people who have been firm allies, like the French, like
the Germans, like the Turkish? Why haven't you got their support?
THE PRESIDENT: We've got a huge coalition. As a matter of fact, the
coalition that we've assembled today is larger than one assembled in
1991 in terms of the number of nations participating. I'm very pleased
with the size of our coalition.
I was down yesterday at CENTCOM and met with many of the generals from
the countries represented in our coalition, and they're proud to be
side-by-side with our allies. This is a vast coalition that believes
in our cause, and I'm proud of their participation.
Q: They're not Western allies.  Why not?
THE PRESIDENT: We have plenty of Western allies. We've got -- I mean,
we can give you the list. Ally after ally after ally has stood with us
and continues to stand with us. And we are extremely proud of their
participation.
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Can I -- in relation to our soldiers, the reason
I used the language I did was because of the circumstances that we
know.
And the reason why I think it is important to recognize the strength
of our alliance -- yes, there are countries that disagree with what we
are doing. I mean, there's no point in hiding it; there's been a
division. And you obviously have to take and go and ask those other
countries why they're not with us, and they will give you the reasons
why they disagree. But I think what is important is to bear in mind
two things. First of all, there are an immense number of countries
that do agree with us. I mean, I hear people constantly say to me,
Europe is against what you're doing. That is not true. There is a part
of Europe that is against what we are doing. There are many existing
members of the European Union, and virtually all the new members of
the European Union, that strongly support what we are doing. So there
is a division, but we have many allies.
And the second point I'd make is this, that I understand why people
hesitate before committing to conflict and to war. War is a brutal and
a bloody business. But we are faced with the situation where Saddam
Hussein has been given 12 years to disarm voluntarily of weapons of
mass destruction, that the whole of the international community
accepts is a threat, and he has not done so. Instead, what we have had
is 12 years in which he has remained in power with these weapons
intact and brutalized his own people.
Now, we felt we had come to the point where if we wanted to take a
stand against what I believe to be the dominant security threat of our
time -- which is the combination of weapons of mass destruction in the
hands of unstable, repressive states and terrorist groups -- if we
wanted to take a stand, then we had to act. And we went through the
diplomatic process. We tried to make the diplomatic process work, but
we weren't able to do so.
And the other reason why I think it is important that we act, and why,
indeed, we have many, many allies, is because people do know that this
is a brutal regime. That is not the reason for us initiating this
action -- that is in relation to weapons of mass destruction. But it
is a reason why, if we do so, as we are doing, we do so in the full
knowledge that we are, indeed, going to bring a better future for the
Iraqi people.
And if you just want one statistic -- although statistics I'm afraid
never have the same emotional appeal as pictures, but we don't see
these pictures of what has happened in Iraq in the past -- but just
one statistic: Over the past five years, 400,000 Iraqi children under
the age of five died of malnutrition and disease, preventively, but
died because of the nature of the regime under which they are living.
Now, that is why we're acting.
And, yes, there are divisions in the international community. There
are many people on our side, there are those that oppose us. But that
is for us, I'm afraid --
Q: -- why do they  -- 
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Well, I'm afraid, Adam, that is a question to
ask to other people, as well as to us. All I can tell you is why we
are acting and why we believe our cause to be just. And, yes, at the
end of this whole process, we need to go back over it and ask why this
has happened. But I simply say to you that if the world walks away
from the security threat facing us, and if we back down and take no
action against Saddam, think of the signal that would have sent right
across the world to every brutal dictator, to every terrorist group.
Now, we believe that we had to act. Others have disagreed. As I say,
at some point, we will have to come back and we'll have to discuss how
the disagreement arose. But I have no doubt that we're doing the right
thing. I have no doubt that our cause is just, and I have no doubt
that, were we to walk away from this conflict at this time, we would
be doing a huge disservice to future generations.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.
END 11:25 A.M. EST
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)