Skip to ContentText OnlyGo to Search
Welcome to the White HousePresidentNewsVice PresidentHistory & ToursFirst LadyMrs. Cheney
Welcome to the White HouseGovernmentKids OnlyEspanolContactPrivacy PolicySiteMapSearch
Welcome to the White HouseReceive Email Updates

In Focus
Medicare
Iraq
National Security
Economic Security
Homeland Security
More Issues
En Espaol

News
Current News
Video
Press Briefings
Proclamations
Executive Orders
Radio Addresses
News by Date
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001

Appointments
Nominations
Application

Photos
Arriving for the State Dinner President George W. Bush, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and Laura Bush greet the press from the North Portico of the White House Monday, May 19, 2003.
Photo Essays
Federal Facts
Federal Statistics
West Wing
History
Home > News & Policies > May 2003
Printer-Friendly Version

Operation Iraqi Freedom

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 6, 2003

video screen capure
multimedia

President's Remarks
video image view
audio image listen
President Names Envoy to Iraq
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity After Meeting with the Secretary of Defense
The Oval Office

Fact sheetStatement

1:19 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Today it's my honor to announce that Jerry Bremer has agreed to become the presidential envoy to Iraq. In selecting Jerry Bremer, our country will be sending one of our best citizens. He's a man of enormous experience; a person who knows how to get things done; he's a can-do type person; he shares the same values as the American -- most Americans share, and that is our deep desire to have an orderly country in Iraq that is free and at peace, where the average citizen has a chance to achieve his or her dreams.

The Ambassador goes with the full blessings of this administration, and the full confidence of all of us in this administration that he can get the job done.

Iraq Update
  • President Announces Combat Operations Have Ended
  • President Discusses Future of Iraq
  • Life Under Saddam Hussein

  • So, Mr. Ambassador, thanks for taking this on and I'm proud of you and I appreciate so very much you're willing to sacrifice not only on behalf of our country, but on behalf of the people of Iraq who deserve a free and democratic society. Good luck to you.

    MR. BREMER: Thank you, Mr. President.

    THE PRESIDENT: I'll answer some questions.

    Q Mr. President, how did Mitch Daniels explain his resignation today? And does that departure affect your prospects for a tax package on the Hill?

    THE PRESIDENT: Mitch told me that he wants to go back home to the state of Indiana and perhaps pursue a run for political office. I told him, I said, Mitch, we're going to miss you a lot in this administration. He has served us well. He has been a really good watchdog of the taxpayers' money. And, you know, I'm going to miss him. On the other hand, this administration's loss is the gain of the people of Indiana.

    And we're going to get a tax package through because it's the right thing to do. And I hope Congress acts decisively and boldly. I put up a package that will increase the number of new jobs by a million folks at the end of 2004. And I expect them to understand, there's a lot of people looking for work and the burden is on them right now. And we're going to send a lot of people up there from around the country, and we'll be sending our own folks here in the administration to work with members of the Congress to remind them that the size of the tax package will depend on them and the bigger the package, the more likely it is that people are going to find a job here.

    During a meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush announces L. Paul Bremer, center, as the presidential envoy to Iraq in the Oval Office Tuesday, May 6, 2003. "He's a man of enormous experience; a person who knows how to get things done; he's a can-do type person," said the President of the former ambassador. White House photo by Paul Morse. Randy.

    Q Mr. President, following up briefly on Scott's question, will fiscal discipline be as high on the qualification list for Mitch Daniels' successor as it was when he entered office?

    THE PRESIDENT: First of all, fiscal discipline was high on my agenda. And, therefore, anybody that works for me will place a premium on fiscal discipline. It turns out that the -- that appropriators love to appropriate here in Washington. Given a pot of money, they will appropriate it, unless there's an administration willing to fight on behalf of the taxpayers. This administration is willing to fight on behalf of the taxpayers. We will insist upon fiscal discipline here in Washington, D.C.

    Angle.

    Q Mr. President, Defense officials are now saying they are confident they have found a mobile biological lab, exactly what Secretary Powell described before the United Nations. Are you aware of the details? What can you tell us about that? And has Secretary Rumsfeld given you any details?

    THE PRESIDENT: I'm not surprised if we begin to uncover the weapons program of Saddam Hussein -- because he had a weapons program. I will leave the details of your question to the experts, but one thing we know is that he had a weapons program. We also know he spent years trying to hide the weapons program. And over time the truth will come out and the American people will see that when we rid Saddam Hussein from -- got him out of power, we made America more secure.

    Q Would you mind if we ask Secretary Rumsfeld if he could share --

    SECRETARY RUMSFELD: I like the President's answer.

    END 1:23 P.M. EDT


    Printer-Friendly Version



    President | Vice President | First Lady | Mrs. Cheney | News & Policies |
    History & Tours | Kids | Your Government | Appointments | Jobs | Contact | Text only


    Accessibility | Search | Privacy Policy | Help