From the George W. Bush White House Archives website, dated March 23, 2003:
THE PRESIDENT: I am pleased with the progress that we're making in the early stages of a -- of the war to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction, and to free the Iraqi people from the clutches of a brutal dictatorship.
Today, in our church service, Laura and I prayed for the coalition forces, those in the coalition forces who lost their lives. We pray for their families. We ask God's comfort for those who mourn today. And we thank all the coalition forces for their bravery and courage in Operation Iraqi Freedom...
I'll answer a few questions...
Q What do you know about the prisoners, anything, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: I've been briefed, I'm constantly briefed by the Pentagon and through the National Security Office. I would -- I don't know all the details yet. I do know that we expect them to be treated humanely, just like we'll treat any prisoners of theirs that we capture humanely...
Q Sir, have you specifically been told that American POWs have been executed? And even --
THE PRESIDENT: ... Obviously, any time one of our soldiers loses a life, I grieve with their parents and their loved ones. And if there is somebody captured, and it looks like there may be, I expect those people to be treated humanely...
Q Iraqi TV has shown what appear to be American POWs, and also what appear to be American dead. Your reaction?
THE PRESIDENT: I expect them to be treated, the POWs I expect to be treated humanely. And -- just like we're treating the prisoners that we have captured humanely. If not, the people who mistreat the prisoners will be treated as war criminals.