Text 2495, 595 rader
Skriven 2006-04-17 23:33:04 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0604173) for Mon, 2006 Apr 17
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Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 17, 2006

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Briefing Room

Press Briefing view

Tel Aviv terrorist attack/Hamas...................1; 12-13 Chief of Staff
Bolten/White House staff changes...1-4; 7-8 Secretary
Rumsfeld................................4-5; 7-8 Intelligence on Niger
uranium..........................6-7 Tax
relief...............................................8
India.................................................9-10
China............................................10; 11-12
Immigration.............................................11 Easter Egg
Roll......................................13-14
Iran....................................................14 -->

12:42 P.M. EDT

MR. MCCLELLAN: Before I go to questions, I want to begin with one
statement. We condemn the terrorist attack today in Tel Aviv in the
strongest possible terms. It is a despicable act of terrorism for which no
excuse or justification is possible. We express our condolences to those
who were injured, to the families of those who were killed and to the
people and government of Israel.

The burden of responsibility for preventing terrorist attacks such as this
one rests with the Palestinian Authority. We have noted reactions by
several Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas, that defend, or even
applaud, the barbaric acts of terror committed in Tel Aviv today, as we
have noted President Abbas's quick denunciation of it. Defense or
sponsorship of terrorist acts by officials of the Palestinian cabinet will
have the gravest effects on relations between the Palestinian Authority and
all states seeking peace in the Middle East.

A Palestinian government that encourages or tolerates terrorism against
men, women and children not only increases the level of violence against
Israelis, but can, as well, only do great harm to the interests of the
Palestinian people and ensure its own further isolation.

We reiterate that the United States will have no contact with such a
government, and we call upon all states to demand that it abandon its
support for terror.

And with that, I will be glad to go to your questions.

Q Scott, can you tell us about this morning's senior staff meeting? Were
you surprised that Josh Bolten immediately signaled there will be more
staff changes? And do you get the impression it's going to be a shake-up or
cosmetic changes? What's your impression --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, look, I mean, there are a lot of rumors that go around
at this time, whenever there is a change in Chief of Staff at the White
House, and I think that's what those are -- just rumors and speculation. I
think what Josh was saying this morning -- well, first, let me back up.

I mean, Josh has hit the ground running as Chief of Staff. Last week he
shadowed Andy Card in a lot of his meetings that he regularly participates
in. And Josh, this morning, when he came into senior staff, talked about
how this is a challenging time period that he is coming into as Chief of
Staff. We remain engaged in an ongoing global war on terrorism. There are a
number of important priorities we're working to pursue on the behalf of the
American people. The President outlined a number of those in his State of
the Union Address this year. So we have a very active and full agenda ahead
of us for the remaining two-and-a-half years or so of this administration.

And Josh, this morning, talked about how over the next seven to 10 days, he
would -- he's continuing to look at some of the process of the White House,
meaning the meetings that take place. There are a lot of regularly
scheduled meetings that take place, and for the next seven or 10 days or
so, he's going to pretty much leave that structure in place as it has been
operating.

But any time you have a new Chief of Staff coming in, you can expect that
there will be some changes in some of the structure and personnel and other
issues.

Now, what he said at the end of his remarks at senior staff was simply
talking about, look, we're in a transitional period, and I want to make
sure I have a team in place that is with us for a minimum the remainder of
this year and, to some extent, beyond that. And as you know, any White
House goes through change. People decide to leave after they've served here
for a while. It's hard work serving here at the White House.

And so he said to the senior staff -- and I think this will be passed on to
others, as well -- is that if you're thinking about leaving sometime in the
near future, now would be a good time to do it, because this is this
transitional period. And so that's the way I would look at it.

Q And was this also affecting Cabinet posts, as well? Did you get the
impression it was just White House staff? Or when you say --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this morning he was talking to the White House staff.
I think you would expect that. This is his first full day -- first full
weekday as Chief of Staff. Obviously, when you're Chief of Staff, you're
24/7, and he took over late Friday afternoon from Andy Card, when Andy
departed the White House and Josh was sworn in.

Q Can I clarify that point, though? When you say -- you've said repeatedly,
Josh has full authority, the President's authority --

MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely.

Q -- does that just cover staff? Does that cover Cabinet posts, the entire
administration, or --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President is going to be looking to Josh for his
advice and counsel. And the President has given him the full authority to
do what he needs to do and what he believes is in the best interest of this
White House and this President. We are all here to help the President
advance his agenda. We have accomplished much over the last few years and
there's much that we want to get done in the years ahead as we --
two-and-a-half years is a relatively short period of time left for this
President to get some things done. And there's a lot that he wants to get
done in that remaining two-and-a-half years.

Q Scott, you're one of those visible members of the President's senior
staff. Do you plan to stay on?

MR. McCLELLAN: Are you trying to tempt me here?

Q Not at all.

MR. McCLELLAN: Look, I never speculate about personnel matters.

Q "Personnel" or "personal" or both?

MR. McCLELLAN: Two years in this position is a long time, I'm very mindful
of that. But, look, I never get into any of that speculation.

Go ahead, Martha.

Q Is Kelly done --

Q Did anyone come forward and say they plan to --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that was the purpose of the senior staff -- I
mean, the purpose was for Josh to kind of lay out, you know, we got a lot
of priorities we want to get done, this is a time to reenergize and renew
our commitment to help the President advance his agenda. And so that's the
way he was looking at it, as a time to reenergize ourselves and to really
refresh ourselves. This is a time for a little bit of a fresh start with a
new Chief of Staff in place.

Q He had a couple of weeks, though, running up to taking over this job. Has
he given a time frame for when he wants to have the team in place, moving
forward?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think his impression he has left everybody with is
the sooner, the better to get that team in place, because you want to
continue moving forward aggressively on the President's agenda. And in his
view, I think, the best way to do that is to get that team in place as soon
as possible, recognizing that sometimes it takes a little bit of time. So,
again, you always -- and I talked about this earlier with you -- you always
have to balance some of the continuity with change, and I think he's very
mindful of that.

Q Scott, going to the generals who have been speaking out, you have -- I
know the Pentagon put out a paper saying there are 8,000 living retired or
active duty generals. There are only two who have been on the ground in
Iraq as division commanders and retired since then, and they have spoken
out. They have told the President they don't think Donald Rumsfeld should
stay. And, yet, the President, despite what these commanders on the ground
who have the experience there, who came out and made these comments, the
President said he wanted Don Rumsfeld to stay. Is he telling those generals
they're wrong? And why wouldn't he want to call the --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, what the President did on Friday was make a strong
statement reiterating his full support for Secretary Rumsfeld. He talked
about how Secretary Rumsfeld's energetic and steady leadership is exactly
what is needed at this time. And there have been a number of generals that
I think you've heard from expressing very similar views, generals that have
worked very closely with Secretary Rumsfeld.

General Myers has spoken about his deep trust for Secretary Rumsfeld and
his leadership and his deep respect for his leadership. General Franks, who
was head of Central Command, during the lead-up into Iraq, and for a time
period thereafter, has spoken out in strong support of Secretary Rumsfeld;
General DeLong. So you've had a number of people who've talked about him.
In fact, you had several generals who signed a piece in The Wall Street
Journal this morning talking about how military leaders have been very
involved to an "unprecedented degree," in their words, in every
decision-making process. And they went on to express their strong support
for Secretary Rumsfeld's leadership. So I wouldn't look at it --

Q Scott, I would say that --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- I wouldn't look at it in the terms you described it in
your question.

Q Well, General Franks and General Myers, it seems, were criticized or
obviously in on the planning that -- particularly General Newbold in his
piece in Time Magazine was -- without naming them -- was probably
criticizing, as well, talking about those in uniform who didn't come
forward. So in a sense, aren't they defending themselves, as well?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you -- well, I can go and name -- I mean, I
just named several others that are speaking out about their support for
Secretary Rumsfeld --

Q Who on the ground is a division commander --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- so I think you ought to look to what those --

Q Who on the ground is a division commander?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- generals are saying. But the President, I think, made an
important point in his statement. I did, as well. The President has tasked
Secretary Rumsfeld and our military commanders with some difficult
challenges. And they are rising to meet those challenges. This is a
difficult and challenging period in which we are in. The President, when
Secretary Rumsfeld first came into office, tasked him with transforming our
military so that we're better prepared to respond to the threats of the
21st century.

Then, of course, September 11th came and our nation was attacked, and the
President has asked the Secretary and our military leaders to wage the war
on terrorism on multiple fronts. We are taking the fight to the enemy.
We're on the offensive, and we are a nation that remains engaged in a
global war on terrorism.

So there are many challenges that we face, and the President has tasked
Secretary Rumsfeld and our commanders to meet those challenges, and they
are meeting those challenges.

Q Scott, I want to ask you about the National Intelligence Council report
that came to the White House in January of 2003, that essentially said the
Niger uranium claims were baseless. In view of that report, how did the
uranium claim make its way to the State of the Union Address, subsequently?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know how many times we've been over that. I think we
went over that back in July of 2003 and we talked about that. So I would
encourage you to look back at the briefing that was provided to you all in
this room.

In terms of the intelligence, we have said multiple times that the
intelligence was wrong. That's why the President asked the Robb-Silberman
Commission, an independent bipartisan commission, to take a look at all the
intelligence in the lead up to the decision to go into Iraq. It was
intelligence that was shared with members of Congress, it was intelligence
that was very similar to what nations across the world believed, and it's
intelligence that the United Nations --

Q Well, who got the intelligence here?

MR. McCLELLAN: What's important now is that we make sure we move forward in
implementing the reforms that were recommended by the Robb-Silberman
Commission. We have done that.

Q But can I ask how you got the intelligence here?

MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on. We put in place a Director of National
Intelligence. We have restructured the intelligence community under his
leadership -- Ambassador Negroponte. And so there are a number of steps we
continue to move forward on to make sure that the President has the best
possible intelligence, and to make sure that Congress has the best possible
intelligence, because there are many threats we face in this day and age
and we need to make sure that those threats are being met in the best
possible way.

Q I just want, for the record, who received the intelligence report here?

MR. McCLELLAN: Who received which intelligence report?

Q The January, 2003 National Intelligence Council report.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll have to go back and look and get you that information.
I assume it went to the National Security Council.

Q Thank you, Scott. Writing yesterday in The Washington Post, Richard
Holbrooke, the former Ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the
stinging criticism of Secretary Rumsfeld by the six retired generals as the
biggest conflict between civilian and military leadership over a major
issue since President Truman fired General MacArthur in 1950. And what's
your reaction to Ambassador Holbrooke's characterization?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that our views have been expressed when it comes to
Secretary Rumsfeld. The President has made very clear where he stands, and
he felt it was important to do so.

Q So you have no specific reaction to the attack in print by Ambassador
Holbrooke?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you ought to see what generals that I pointed
to, in response to Martha's question, have said about Secretary Rumsfeld
and about his leadership and his style of leading.

Q Back to Josh's briefing this morning. Insofar as this is a time of
transition and re-energizing and refreshing, et cetera, has there been any
indication -- should the public take any potential changes in the weeks
ahead as a sign that the priorities and policies of this administration are
changing because there might be some changes in the personnel?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think the priorities and policies of this
administration are very clear. They've been outlined by the President of
the United States. Obviously, I talked about that at the beginning --
winning the war on terrorism is right at the top of our priority list. We
remain engaged in a global war. Iraq is central to winning that war on
terrorism. We have a very clear and flexible strategy in place. The
President has talked about that repeatedly over the last several months.

We also have a number of important priorities on the domestic front. We're
working to move forward to keep our economy growing stronger.

You know, today is Tax Day, and the President made some remarks earlier
today talking about Tax Day. And, in fact, I would just point out for you
that the Secretary of Treasury put out a statement today. On this Tax Day
there is some good news out there that people should keep in mind. Tax
relief has helped our economy create more than 5.1 million new jobs over
the last two, two-and-a-half years. It's left more money in the pockets of
American workers, families and small businesses, so that they can decide
best how to save, spend and invest, and keep our economy growing.

And some of the statistics that were put out by the Treasury Department
today pointed out that, thanks to the tax relief signed into law by the
President, over 5 million individuals and families have seen their income
tax liabilities completely eliminated; 44 million families with children
will receive an average tax cut of nearly $2,500; 14 million elderly
individuals will receive an average of $2,000; 25 million small business
owners will save an average of $3,600. And just last month we saw that more
than 211,000 jobs were created. Our unemployment rate is down to 4.7
percent, below the averages of the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

But there are steps we need to take to keep our economy growing. The
President outlined those in his State of the Union. We need to address
rising energy prices. That means reducing our dependence on foreign sources
of energy and addressing the root causes of those high energy prices.
That's why he outlined a plan to transform the way we power our cars and
homes and businesses. And he also outlined a way to address rising health
care costs, by expanding health savings accounts. And he laid out a plan to
keep the American economy the most competitive in the world.

These are important priorities that the President outlined in the State of
the Union address. Those are the priorities we're focused on and those are
the priorities we're moving forward on. And Josh wants to make sure we have
the best possible team in place as we move forward to help the President
over the next year to two years, as we move forward.

Q Thank you. I guess what I'm trying to sort of focus in a little bit more
clearly on is what exactly will be reenergized and refreshed? Is this an
exercise in improving communications with folks on Capitol Hill, improving
communications and explanation to the American --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm not going to get into speculating about things.
Obviously, we'll keep you posted on announcements as we are ready to make
them. There's an OMB position, the Office of Management and Budget Director
position needs to be filled. We have been moving forward on that. I expect
more on that soon. There's some other positions waiting to be filled. And
so this is a period where we're still kind of going through a transition
period with Josh taking over as Chief of Staff. And so we'll keep you
posted on any of those announcements as we move forward.

Q Two questions. One, as far as this U.S.-India civilian nuclear agreement
on Capitol Hill is concerned, getting heated up on the Hill, administration
and India both are lobbying for the agreement. But on the Hill last week
and for the last four months, China and Pakistan both are spending millions
of dollars to lobby against the agreement. And this week, China's President
will be here at the White House to meet with the President -- do you think
this issue will be discussed? And how President Bush is taking this lobby
against his will and agreement on the Hill?

MR. McCLELLAN: How the President is taking what?

Q This lobby by China and Pakistan on the Hill against the agreement.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think there's been good bipartisan response from
members of Congress about moving forward on this agreement with India. It
is an approach that is based on addressing the realities we face, and it's
an important agreement. It will help strengthen our strategic relationship,
but it's an agreement that will help us when it comes to meeting energy
needs in the future -- China and the United States -- and for the first
time will bring -- I'm sorry, India and the United States -- it will bring
India into compliance with nonproliferation agreements for its civilian
nuclear program. So that's an important aspect of it, as well.

But the President is looking forward to seeing President Hu later this
week. There are a number of important issues that they will be discussing.
This is an important strategic relationship we have. There are many areas
of common concern where we are working together. There are also a number of
differences that we have.

But I think this is a relationship that has moved forward and matured to a
point where we can speak openly and candidly about those disagreements. And
just recently, you saw some of the commitments that were made by China to
move forward on the economic side and make sure we're leveling the playing
field when it comes to trade. Those were important steps that were
announced by China. Now we want to see those steps implemented. And so it's
important to see the results from that, as well. And we'll have a briefing
later this afternoon from some of our China experts to talk to you about
the trip -- or talk to you about the visit that's upcoming later this week.

Ivan, go ahead.

Q Thank you, Scott. A little bit of peripheral question on this Secretary
Rumsfeld issue. Under the Goldwater-Nichols Act, the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, as you know, is the chief military spokesman for the
President. Has the President ever, or does he choose to talk directly by
phone or otherwise with the Chairman, the current, or General Myers? Or
does he prefer to go through Secretary Rumsfeld? And turning it around, as
a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think it's an either/or situation. The President
talks with the Joint Chiefs on a regular basis; he talks with General Pace
on a regular basis; he talks with Secretary Rumsfeld on a regular basis. So
I don't think you should look at it in either/or terms.

Q Say, for instance, General Pace -- would he have the "open sesame," if
you will, to come here and meet with the President without bringing
Secretary Rumsfeld along?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think the President has ever looked at it in those
terms.

Go ahead, Les. Go ahead.

Q Yes, Scott, a two part. The New York Times reports this morning from
Arizona that Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth says he has seen "an
incredible backlash" to those illegal immigrant demonstrations, and he
argues that all illegal immigrants should be arrested and eventually
deported. And my question, will the President support or oppose the
reelection of this Republican Congressman?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President has expressed his views when it comes
to the need for comprehensive immigration reform. We've been very clear in
what our views are and how to address --

Q Do they differ from Hayworth --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- how to address this issue. And, of course, the President
has supported Republican incumbents in their reelection bids.

Q And since this morning's annual White House Easter Egg Roll welcomed
everybody, including those wearing rainbow leis promoting their sexual
orientation, will next year's event include all sexual orientations,
including those wearing arm bands proclaiming that pain is pleasure, or
not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Les, the Easter Egg Roll is a very happy tradition at the
White House that dates back to 1878. It is a time for families, and we
welcome all families and their children who want to come and participate in
the --

Q All orientations --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- Easter Egg Roll.

Q But my question was "all orientations."

MR. McCLELLAN: And you got a response to your question.

Q But that wasn't a response.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead. Roger, go ahead.

Q Back to China for a moment. China did, as you mentioned, offer some
concessions last week on trade and some of the other areas, ban on piracy
protection, so on and so forth. When the President meets President Hu this
week, is he going to press further on concessions? Or is he satisfied with
what was announced last week? And how will he measure the progress by which
things are implemented?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think Secretary Gutierrez put out a statement and
said we want to see results. We want to see this implemented. And you have
another meeting of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade that will
take place a year from now. They meet on an annual basis. They have a lot
of discussions in between, so we want to see China move forward on the
steps and the commitments that they just recently made. But those were
important steps that were announced. It's important progress. Now we will
be looking to see the results.

In terms of any additional information, stay tuned, we'll have a briefing
here in a short amount of time. And those individuals can talk to you more
about it.

Q Did the President think he got sort of half of a loaf? Or was he
gratified by the --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I expressed our views on it. It's progress, but now
we want to see results.

Q Scott, thank you. A few more on Hamas. Does the financial support of
Hamas by Iran and Russia and other countries undermine U.S. efforts to
transform Hamas?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that we have spelled out what our views are,
as has the Quartet, of which we are a member. The Quartet has spelled out
what Hamas needs to do. They laid out some very clear principles and has
called on Hamas to agree to abide by those principles. That includes
committing to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and fulfilling
obligations and previous agreements that the Palestinian Authority had made
with Israel and others.

In terms or -- you know, we also announced recently our humanitarian
assistance for the Palestinian people. We're increasing that. But we're not
going to fund a government that does not abide by those important
principles -- and we've made that very clear -- fund or support a
government in any way. And the Quartet has made that very clear, as well.
Now, if they change their ways, then we can address the matter at that
point.

Q Are there any behind-the-scenes talks going on directly with Hamas? Does
there appear to be any give in this situation?

MR. McCLELLAN: We don't deal with a government that is not committed to the
principles I just outlined and that the Quartet outlined.

Q Scott, in early June 2003, did Vice President Cheney tell President Bush
that CIA Officer Valerie Plame was the wife of Joseph Wilson?

MR. McCLELLAN: You know that -- and I wouldn't read anything into this one
way or the other -- you know that I can't get into talking about this
matter. It's an ongoing legal proceeding at this point. And we've had a
policy in place for a long time. I appreciate you asking the question, but
I know that you have heard me say we're not going to get into discussing an
ongoing legal proceeding.

Q Has Prime Minister Tony Blair cancelled an upcoming trip with the U.S.?

MR. McCLELLAN: We haven't made any announcements on any trips by Prime
Minister Blair.

Q Well, that's why I'm asking. Has he cancelled --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't have anything to add to what I just said. I mean, we
haven't announced any trip that he was making to the United States.

Q Scott, on the egg roll, why did the first people in line not get tickets
for the first entry to the grounds this morning?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q Why did the first people in line for the egg roll tickets not get tickets
granting them entry for the first --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you've covered the egg roll probably the last
few years, and one of the things that we have started a tradition of is
designating some time for special groups to come and participate in the
Easter Egg Roll. Go back to May of -- or go back to 2003; I think we set
aside time for military families and their children to participate in the
egg roll. And this year there's a special group that we set aside the
morning time for. That group included youth volunteers -- volunteers with
Big Brothers, Big Sisters; volunteers with organizations like 4-H, Campfire
USA, Citizen Corps, YMCA, and Youth Service America. So that morning time
was set aside for those groups.

Q What about the ones with the arm bands?

MR. McCLELLAN: You've already had your two questions. (Laughter.)

Q Any comments on Iran or Lugar's most recent comments that the U.S. needs
to take action against Iran?

MR. McCLELLAN: That we need to take action against Iran? Well, I think
Secretary Rice expressed last week that if the regime continues on its
current path, that it's time for the United Nations Security Council to
take further steps on the diplomatic front. And that's what she said last
week, and that's what we continue to believe. This is a regime that is only
further isolating itself by its recent announcements and its continuing
behavior. And it's time to address this matter at the Security Council if
they're going to continue on that course.

Q Does the U.S. government know whether or not they have the P2 centrifuges
that will help them get closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon? Do you know
that, or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't have any further update on that. But if the
statements prove to be true, it would be a very serious concern.
Undisclosed work on P2 centrifuges would be a further violation of Iran's
safeguard obligations, in addition to those that have already been
identified by the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Such
violations and failures by the regime to comply with its international
obligations run contrary to the regime's claims that its nuclear program is
solely for peaceful purposes.

The United Nations Security Council, as I mentioned, has called for the
regime to comply with the requirements of the Board of the International
Atomic Energy Agency. If the regime does not, then it is time for further
action by the Security Council.

Thank you. Have a good day.

END 1:09 P.M. EDT

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