Bush, Blair Joint Press Conference at Camp David Feb. 23

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
February 23, 2001

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR IN JOINT PRESS
CONFERENCE

Green Top Camp Dining Hall
Camp David, Maryland
4:45 P.M. EST

Q: Yes, sir. Could both of you explain how you keep the Iraqi
sanctions from crumbling and how do you explain how the Iraqi
sanctions could be reconstituted to keep them from - to help ease the
strain on the Iraqi people?

THE PRESIDENT: We spent a lot of time talking about our mutual
interests in Iraq and the Persian Gulf, and from our perspective, as
you know, I made the famous statement that our sanctions are like
Swiss cheese. That means they're not very effective. And we're going
to work together to figure out a way to make them more effective.

But I think the Prime Minister and I both recognize that it is going
to be important for us to build a consensus in the region to make the
sanctions more effective. Colin Powell left today, after lunch, to
move around the Middle East, collect thoughts and to listen, with a
policy of strengthening our mission to make it clear to Saddam Hussein
that he shall not terrorize his neighbors, and not develop weapons of
mass destruction.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Yes, I'd like to just add to that. I think that
-- I mean, of course, we look the whole time to see how we can make
sanctions more effective. But don't be under any doubt at all of our
absolute determination to make sure that the threat of Saddam Hussein
is contained and that he is not able to develop these weapons of mass
destruction that he wishes to do.

And as I constantly point out to people, I mean, this is a man with a
record on these issues, both in respect to the murder of thousands of
his own people, in respect to the war against Iran, in respect to the
annexation of Kuwait. And we know perfectly well, given the chance he
will develop these weapons of mass destruction; indeed, he's trying to
do so and will get as much technology as he can to do so.

Now, of course, we've got to - we're all conscious of the fact that
our quarrel is not with the Iraqi people who in many ways suffer under
the yoke of Saddam Hussein. But - and therefore, it's important that
we make sure that the sanctions hit him, Saddam, as effectively as
they possibly can. But we need to contain that threat, and that's why
the action that we took is right and justified.

....

Q: Mr. President, you talked about Secretary of State Powell going to
the Middle East, looking for consensus on how to handle Saddam
Hussein. We do know that there is a consensus that sanctions hurt the
people of Iraq too much and perhaps Saddam Hussein not enough. Did the
two of you discuss ways of changing the sanctions to make them tougher
on him and a little less punishing for the people of Iraq? And, if
not, how do you hope to keep the coalition together? You already have
some NATO allies, even, who are questioning the value of the
sanctions.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's the work we've got to do. First, our beef
is not with the people of Iraq; it's with Saddam Hussein. And,
secondly, any time anybody suffers in Iraq, we're concerned about it.
And I would, however, remind you that Saddam's got a lot of oil money
and it would be helpful if he would apply it to helping his people.
Having said that, to the extent the sanctions are hurting the Iraqi
people, we're going to analyze that.

Colin is really going to listen. He's going to solicit opinion from
our friends and folks in the Middle East. And prior to formulation of
any policy, we will have listened, and then I will, of course, consult
with friends and allies such as the Prime Minister here, as we develop
a policy that we hope and know will be more realistic.

The Prime Minister said something interesting, though. A change in
sanctions should not in any way, shape or form, embolden Saddam
Hussein. He has got to understand that we are going to watch him
carefully and, if we catch him developing weapons of mass destruction,
we'll take the appropriate action. And if we catch him threatening his
neighbors, we will take the appropriate action. A change in the
sanction regime that is not working should not be any kind of signal
whatsoever to him that he should cross any line of - and test our
will, because we're absolutely determined to make that part of the
world a more peaceful place by keeping this guy in check.