*EPF402 07/08/2004
White House Report, July 8: Morocco, Iraq, War on Terror
(Bush discusses trade, Iraq with Morocco's King Mohammed; Iraq taking firm stance against terrorists; administration cites progress in war on terror) (610)

BUSH DISCUSSES TRADE, IRAQ WITH MOROCCO'S KING MOHAMMED

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters July 8 that President Bush met with Morocco's King Mohammed and emphasized his desire to see the U.S.-Moroccan Free Trade Agreement ratified by the Senate in 2004.

McClellan said that the leaders discussed progress in Iraq and Afghanistan and addressed the security situation in both countries.

"We certainly appreciate the commitment from Morocco to help support the Iraqi people as they move forward on improving the security situation and building a free and peaceful society," McClellan said.

According to the spokesman, the two leaders also discussed a range of issues including the global war on terrorism, the Middle East peace process and the Western Sahara.

"Morocco has undertaken some important reforms to protect the rights of women and children, moving forward on their family law. And we appreciate those efforts to move forward on reform," the spokesman said.

"We certainly thank His Majesty King Mohammed for his leadership, and appreciate Morocco's close friendship with the United States," McClellan said.

IRAQ TAKING FIRM STANCE AGAINST TERRORISTS

"The prime minister [of Iraq] and others have made strong statements that they are determined to crack down on those who are seeking to derail a better future for the Iraqi people," McClellan said.

According to news reports, Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi signed the National Safety Law July 7 granting the interim government wider powers to help fight insurgents. The new law allows the government to impose curfews, set up checkpoints, and search and detain suspects in limited areas

"You're seeing action by the security forces there, the Iraqi security forces, to go after those who seek to spread violence in their country," the spokesman said.

When asked about recent bombings in Iraq, McClellan responded, "We've always said that as they [Iraq] move forward on the elections and move forward on sovereignty, that you would see the terrorists in the country and others who are opposed to freedom and democracy seek to derail that process.

"Iraq is moving forward and making great progress toward building a free and peaceful future," the White House spokesman said.

ADMININSTRATION CITES PROGRESS IN WAR ON TERROR

"We're making tremendous progress, but there is much more to do to win the war on terrorism and defeat terrorism," the spokesman said.

"Libya has renounced its weapons of mass destruction program and dismantled and its weapons programs. That's a significant development," McClellan said.

Libya publicly gave up its weapons of mass destruction programs in December 2003 following an incident in which U.S. agents seized a ship carrying thousands of centrifuge parts bound for Libya in October 2003.

When asked about a recent speech from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge about intelligence relating to a possible terrorist attack against the United States, McClellan responded, "We receive credible information of this nature that shows that al Qaeda is continuing to work to carry out a large-scale attack against the American people, it's important to keep people informed about that intelligence that we are receiving."

"We revamped and reformed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Their number one priority now is protecting the American people against terrorist attacks. They are working every day to disrupt plots from happening in the first place."

"September 11th taught us that we must confront threats before it's too late and that's exactly what we're doing," McClellan said.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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