Statement on Japan's Announcement of Reconstruction Aid to Iraq

Oct. 15 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 Statement on Japan’s Announcement of Reconstruction Aid to Iraq October 15, 2003 I welcome Japan’s announcement that it tion to help a great people build democracy will provide $1.5 billion toward immediate and prosperity and become a beacon of reconstruction needs in Iraq. I applaud this freedom that inspires all nations. bold step, which will help mobilize inter- I also commend Japan’s announcement national support for efforts to build a sta- that it is working on a larger aid package ble, peaceful, and democratic Iraq. Japan in preparation for the October 23–24 Ma- recognizes that this effort is critical to secu- drid Donor’s Conference. We look forward rity and peace not only in Iraq and the to working with Japan and other countries Middle East but also for Japan and to make the Madrid Conference a success throughout the world. Japan’s own history for the people of Iraq. shows the power of international coopera- Statement on the Terrorist Attack on Americans in the Gaza Strip October 15, 2003 I condemn in the strongest terms the The Americans who were attacked today vicious act of terrorism directed against were pursuing a vision for a better future Americans in Gaza today. We are working for the Palestinian people. The U.S. Em- closely with the appropriate officials to bassy officials traveling in Gaza were there bring the terrorists to justice. to interview young Palestinian candidates Palestinian authorities should have acted seeking Fulbright scholarships to study in long ago to fight terror in all its forms. the United States. This is another example The failure to create effective Palestinian of how the terrorists are enemies of security forces dedicated to fighting terror progress and opportunity for the Palestinian continues to cost lives. There must be an people. empowered Prime Minister who controls all On behalf of the American people, I Palestinian security forces, reforms that send my heartfelt condolences to the fami- continue to be blocked by Yasser Arafat. The failure to undertake these reforms and lies of the brave Americans who were killed dismantle the terrorist organizations con- and injured serving our country and its stitutes the greatest obstacle to achieving ideals. the Palestinian people’s dream of statehood. Remarks at a Bush-Cheney Reception in Riverside, California October 15, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It’s nice friendship, and thank you for your strong to be back in Riverside, California. I appre- support. I’m proud to have it. ciate your hospitality. I appreciate your I understand there’s been a couple of changes here in California since I was last 1312 31 2005 08:31 Aug 02, 2006 Jkt 198803 PO 00000 Frm 00508 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 \\ALPHA3\E\HR\OC\198803.015 198803 Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Oct. 15 time here. And tomorrow at the Mission this district—I appreciate you, Ken—and Inn, I have the opportunity to congratulate Congresswoman Mary Bono from the great the Governor-elect of the great State of State of California. Thank you, Mary. California, and I’m looking forward to it. I want to thank my friend Jim Brulte I’ll tell you what we’re doing here to- for being here today. I told him if he gets night. We’re laying the foundation for what any skinnier, he’s going to end up in a is going to be a great national victory in Subway ad. [Laughter] But I appreciate his 2004. And I appreciate you being on the leadership. He’s a great minority leader of team and want to tell you that I’m going the State senate, the cochairman of this to continue to count on your support when event. I also thank State Senator Dennis you go to your houses of worship or your Hollingsworth who is here. I appreciate you community centers or your coffee shops, coming, Senator. Jim Battin is here, an- and you tell the people who haven’t made other State senator. I appreciate you com- up their mind yet that this administration ing, Jim. Thank you. Ray Haynes, another will continue to work for what’s right and State senator, is here. Pretty soon we’re best for every single American. going to get the whole State senate here. The political season is going to come in [Laughter] Bonnie Garcia is a State its own time. I am kind of loosening up— assemblywoman. Russ Bogh is here with [laughter]—and getting ready. But I’ve got us. Thank you, Russ, for coming. I’m hon- a job to do. I’m focused on the people’s ored you’re here. Bob Dutton, John Benoit, business, and there’s a lot on the agenda members of the statehouse. I want to thank in Washington, DC. I will continue to work all the local officials who are here, the su- hard to earn the confidence of all Ameri- pervisors and the mayors and—so honored cans by keeping this Nation strong and se- you all are here. I appreciate the folks who cure and prosperous and free. have worked so hard to make this such My one regret is that Laura isn’t with a successful event. me tonight. That’s your regret too, I know. I particularly want to thank my friend [Laughter] You kind of got the short straw. Brad Freeman and Gerry Parsky—my [Laughter] She was in the Dominican Re- friends Brad Freeman and Gerry Parsky, public today and is flying out. Tomorrow who have been the leaders in this State we’ll meet at March Air Force Base, and for my campaign. As well I want to thank then we’re on a very exciting journey to my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cin- Asia. I’m proud that she’s going to be on cinnati, Ohio, who is the Bush-Cheney na- my side. I’m going to get a few pointers tional finance chairman. He’s taken a lot from her about diplomacy. [Laughter] You of time out of his life to make sure this might remember that she recently took a campaign of ours is well-funded. It seems trip to France. [Laughter] You probably like he’s doing a pretty darn good job. saw the picture of her visit there. [Laugh- But most of all, thanks to you all again ter] I went to France. [Laughter] The peo- for being here. ple were nice to me, but I certainly wasn’t You know, in the last 21⁄2 years, our Na- treated that well by Jacques Chirac. tion has acted decisively to confront great [Laughter] Laura is great. I’m really lucky challenges. I came to this office to solve that she’s my wife. She’s a great First Lady problems, not to pass them on to future for our country. Presidents and future generations. I came I appreciate very much two Members of to seize opportunities instead of letting the United States Congress coming today. them slip away. This administration is I know they flew out for this event. They’re meeting the tests of our time. leaving in the morning for votes tomorrow, Terrorists declared war on the United and that’s Congressman Ken Calvert from States of America, and war is what they 1313 g 31 2005 08:31 Aug 02, 2006 Jkt 198803 PO 00000 Frm 00509 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 \\ALPHA3\E\HR\OC\198803.015 198803 Oct. 15 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 got. We have captured or killed many key strong for the entrepreneur. We want the leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the people of America working. rest of them know we’re on their trail. In Two-and-a-half years ago, there was a lot Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ulti- of talk about education reform, but there matums to terror regimes. Those regimes wasn’t much action. So I acted. I called chose defiance, and those regimes are no for and the Congress passed the No Child more. Fifty million people in those two Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan countries once lived under tyranny, and majority, we delivered the most dramatic today they live in freedom. education reforms in a generation. See, Two-and-a-half years ago, our military we’re bringing high standards to public was not receiving the resources it needed, schools all across America. And we’re going and morale was beginning to suffer. And to have strong accountability measures to so we increased the defense budget to pre- make sure that those standards are met. pare for the threats of a new era. And In return for Federal money, we’re now today, no one in the world can question saying to the public schools, ‘‘Show us the skill and the strength and the spirit whether our children can read and write of the United States military. and add and subtract. We believe they can. Two-and-a-half years ago, we inherited You show us if you’re teaching them how to do so.’’ You see, we’re challenging the an economy in recession. And then our soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe country was attacked, and we had scandals every child can learn. We expect every in corporate America, and our Nation school to teach so that not one single child marched to war, all of which affected the is left behind. people’s confidence. But we acted. We We reorganized the Government and passed tough new laws to hold corporate created the Department of Homeland Se- criminals to account.

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