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Skriven 2005-07-07 23:39:54 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0507071) for Thu, 2005 Jul 7
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Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan to the Travel Pool
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 7, 2005

Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan to the Travel Pool
(via telephone)




12:45 P.M. (L)

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, let me just kind of walk through the morning here at
the Gleneagles Hotel. This morning, about 20 minutes after, I guess, first
reports of the explosions in London, Hagin informed Andy Card about the
situation. Andy Card and Steve Hadley have been briefing the President
throughout the morning and they've been keeping him apprised about the
situation.

Q Speak up.

Q We can't hear you, Scott.

MR. McCLELLAN: You want me to start over?

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: About 20 minutes after the first reports relating to the
explosions in London, Joe Hagin informed Andy Card about the situation.
Andy Card and Steve Hadley have briefed the President on the situation.
Both have been keeping the President apprised throughout the morning, of
the latest developments.

Andy Card, also upon being informed, called Fran Townsend, our Homeland
Security Advisor, and then he spoke to Director Negroponte, the Director of
National Intelligence. He also spoke to -- he tried Secretary Chertoff* and
did not immediately reach him, but he did speak with the Deputy Secretary
at the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Jackson. Let's see, Joe
Hagin was in touch with Homeland -- (inaudible) -- military office during
this time.

Q We missed that.

Q You need to repeat that.

MR. McCLELLAN: Joe Hagin was in touch with Homeland Security officials back
at the White House, as well, during this time. And he was also in touch
with the White House Military Office. I think you all are aware that during
this time the G8 meeting was temporarily suspended, I think, so Prime
Minister Blair was receiving briefings, as were other leaders. The meeting
then resumed with all leaders. That meeting wrapped up at approximately
11:25 a.m., I think -- that's when I noticed leaders were first out of the
meeting.

The President returned up to his suite, the area outside his suite, and
continued to receive further updates at that time. The President called a
secure video conference with some of his homeland security and national
security advisors. That was conducted here at the Gleneagles Hotel in a
suite that we have set up with a secure video conference system. That
meeting lasted approximately 10 minutes. The President wanted to make sure
that all appropriate agencies were responding; he wanted to make sure that
appropriate agencies were acting and taking any necessary precautions. As I
informed you earlier, Andy Card had been in touch with all the appropriate
agencies, I think within the hour of being notified. And all those agencies
were beginning to act and look at what precautions needed to be taken at
home.

Q Who?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let's see, the President -- you know, they are continuing to
meet now, returned downstairs. I think it was around 12:15 p.m. and the
meeting is continuing, the G8 meeting that was scheduled, along with the
other five countries, I believe, that were included in this lunch meeting.
And I expect you will be hearing more from the leaders who are here
shortly.

And I think that's what I have for right now. Our thoughts and prayers are
with the victims and their families -- (inaudible) -- developments, as will
the Department of Homeland Security if there is any updates that they need
to make. I'm sure they will keep --

Q Scott, the President has no plans to return to Washington?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. The G8 meeting is continuing and he is continuing on his
schedule, as well.

Q Scott, will we hear from the President?

MR. McCLELLAN: We will keep you posted.

Q Is there any thought being given to raising the terror levels in the
United States?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think here -- as I said, I think here shortly you will
hear more from the leaders here at the G8 summit. And in terms of -- Tom, I
think that was your question about the alert level. Like I said, if there's
any other updates I would expect that they would -- regarding precautions
that are being taken at home, they will come from the Department of
Homeland Security.

I just wanted to make sure you all had the information that I have right
now. I also want to point out that we have offered assistance -- we've
offered to assist in any way we can.

Q Do you have any indication that al Qaeda was behind this?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I think you've heard from the British government and
if there are any further updates, the appropriate agencies will keep you
posted on that. But you've heard from the British government the latest --

Q Who was on the video conference?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and you will hear shortly here from the G8 leaders, as
well.

Q Can't hear you.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that's probably all I have for right now. Does
anybody else have anything immediately?

Q Yes, Scott. The D.C. Transit Authority raised their alert level. Did that
come on the advice of the White House?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you should stay in touch with the Department of
Homeland Security in terms of any latest developments back at home.

Q Scott, did the President and Prime Minister Blair talk about this?
Because the first explosions happened while they were at the news -- at the
photo op.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, they have talked about it. I couldn't give you an exact
time, but they also resumed the meeting and talked about it further during
the meeting, as well. And I think you have that indication from Prime
Minister in his remarks a short time ago.

Q Scott, do you know who was on that video conference call?

MR. McCLELLAN: I would just say it was some of his homeland security
advisors and national security advisors, including members that were here,
as well, including people like Andy Card and Steve Hadley from here, as
well as others who were back in Washington. Oh, and Andy Card had been in
touch with the Vice President, as well.

Okay? I will keep you all posted, and we will let you know if there are any
other updates.

Q Thanks.

END 12:53 P.M. (L)

* For clarification, Secretary Chertoff was on the line with Fran Townsend
at the time. The two also participated in the President's secure video
conference.

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