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Skriven 2006-06-30 23:34:04 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0606305) for Fri, 2006 Jun 30
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Press Gaggle by Tony Snow
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 30, 2006

Press Gaggle by Tony Snow
Aboard Air Force One
En route Memphis, Tennessee



9:02 A.M. EDT

MR. SNOW: Questions?

Q How long have you owned those sunglasses?

MR. SNOW: I borrowed them from Deckard. I'm not going to spend money on
them, but I'll gladly wear them for this flight.

Q So now that you've had the drive-by briefings on Gitmo, what are you guys
going to do now?

MR. SNOW: Well, I think right now, as the President said yesterday, it
looks like there's considerable interest in Congress in going ahead and
taking a good look at what the Supreme Court had to say and moving forward
toward making sure that we can proceed with military commissions and bring
to justice the people who are held at Guantanamo, as well as continuing to
process or repatriating those who are going to be headed home.

Q Are you talking to European allies about this over the evening, or this
morning, or anything like that?

MR. SNOW: Certainly a domestic issue right now is figuring out how to go
ahead and continue handling --

Q What about closing it?

MR. SNOW: What?

Q What about closing it?

MR. SNOW: Well, again, you close it when you finish handling all the cases
of people who are at Guantanamo. And as we've said many times, you don't
simply shut it down. There are some people who you do not want on American
soil, who you want to go ahead and conclude the process of bringing them to
justice, and repatriating those to whom it is appropriate to repatriate. As
we've also mentioned, some countries don't want their people back, and that
is a complicated issue.

At the EU summit, some of our EU partners said that they may be willing to
work with us on that. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but that's
something that we may consider in the future.

Q Is there any thought to any contacts with Israel over what's going on in
Gaza? You know they've taken in members of the Palestinian parliament.

MR. SNOW: Well, we addressed that yesterday. What we said is that we want
the -- there are two things: Number one, Hamas must return the soldier. And
we know that there have been some offers, some public offers by Hamas today
to do that. The Israeli government is reviewing that. The other thing we've
said is that the Israelis need to practice restraint. And we are encouraged
by the fact that the Israelis now are standing down in northern Gaza and
that Hamas is talking openly about repatriating the soldier. And we'll
continue to watch the developments.

Q Has there been any U.S. involvement in that dialogue?

MR. SNOW: No, not that I'm aware of. Secretary Rice has been in Moscow, as
you know, consulting with G8 foreign ministers, but I'm not aware of any
direct consultations. Obviously, we've been kept informed.

Q Does the President have any reaction to the bin Laden audiotape that was
released?

MR. SNOW: No, it's another bin Laden audiotape. It is what it is.

Q He specifically asked for Zarqawi's body to be returned to the family.

MR. SNOW: No comment on that.

Q What are they doing up there?

MR. SNOW: Actually, they are sitting in the forward cabin kind of enjoying
themselves. The still photographers have had a picture. The Prime Minister
has an Air Force One jacket now. And it's very interesting -- Senator Frist
and Mrs. Frist have been up there in the forward cabin with them, and it's
a pretty relaxed conversation. They've been enjoying themselves.

Q Are they talking about substantive issues, or are they talking about fun
things?

MR. SNOW: Probably a little bit of both. I mean, the first thing the
President did was just pull out the map and show them where we're going
today. And beyond that, I've not been privy to all the conversations, but I
have a feeling that a lot of it is just informal. Again, these are two guys
-- I don't know if you saw the Prime Minister's toast last night, but he
talked about the first time they met, tossing a baseball together, playing
catch, and moving forward to a very close relationship. I'm sure they'll be
doing some business, but these are also two guys who like each other a very
great deal. And this is going to be their last trip together and I think
they're going to make the most of it.

Q -- is there Elvis music, movies?

MR. SNOW: I don't know if you heard it, but there's Elvis -- we were
playing Elvis music when you came on board.

Q You can't hear it back here.

MR. SNOW: Elvis music was being played through the PA. There are, but have
not yet been played, there are DVDs of "Love Me Tender," and "Viva Las
Vegas," and I am not aware that they have yet been requested by anybody in
the forward cabin, or, for that matter, in the staff cabin, but they are
available for viewing.

Q Do you know what song was playing when he came on? Was it a specific song
--

MR. SNOW: It was an Elvis compilation album. I remember hearing "Love Me
Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel," but I'm sure there were plenty more.

Q Are they both excited about meeting Elvis when they get to Graceland and
having a chance to talk to the King for a while?

MR. SNOW: Well, I think they are going to view the alleged grave site.
(Laughter.)

Q There are some local people who are wanting to give him some present of
some sort. Do you have any idea whether that's being worked into the day?

MR. SNOW: I'm not aware of it. I'll let you know if I find out. But what
local -- what is it? You know more about this than I do.

Q There's some local guy who wants to give him a lock of his hair, Elvis'
hair --

MR. SNOW: I don't know. (Laughter.)

Q Did they close Graceland to the public for this?

MR. SNOW: I'm sure they did. I mean, with all the security issues, I'm
almost certain that it's been closed at least for the duration of the
visit.

Q Priscilla and Lisa Marie are going to conduct the tour; is that right?

MR. SNOW: They will be in on the tour and they will also participate in the
lunch -- The Rendezvous, the favorite barbecue place, ribs place.

Q Are there visitors there that are members of the Japanese delegation?

MR. SNOW: A lot of members of the Japanese delegation. There will be some
Tennesseans joining at the lunch -- Fred Smith of Federal Express, and
others. I think you'll get a full list, if you don't have it already.

And, no, I'm not going to say it -- wait, wait -- the cheesy Elvis
thank-you. Okay, here is the week ahead.

Monday, he signs H.R. 5403, the Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of
Foster Children Act. That will be at the White House.

On Tuesday, Independence Day celebration in Fort Bragg, North Carolina,
followed by a lunch with military personnel. Back to the White House for
July 4th celebrations.

Wednesday, he will participate in a meeting with the President of Georgia
at the White House.

Thursday, he will participate in a photo opportunity with the 2006 March of
Dimes National Ambassador, participate in a meeting with the Prime Minister
of Canada, and have a joint press availability with the Prime Minister of
Canada. Will head that evening to Chicago. And on Friday, there will be
remarks at Citizens For Judy Baar Topinka reception in Chicago, Illinois.

Q Overnight in Chicago?

MR. SNOW: Overnight in Chicago on Thursday night. That is all the detail we
have for now. I will continue to look for bits of color as they proceed.
There ought to be plenty today, so we'll keep an eye out.

Q Did you hear the Prime Minister say anything this morning, like, I really
want to go to the jungle room?

MR. SNOW: No, I haven't, but I'm sure he's anticipating it as eagerly as
the rest of us are.

Q Is the President wearing anything Elvis-y?

MR. SNOW: No. Neither of them is wearing Elvis-y regalia. That has been
only staffers who have been reduced to wearing bad sunglasses.

Q Is it true we're going to have peanut butter and banana sandwiches?

MR. SNOW: We'll have peanut butter and banana sandwiches which, apparently,
have 36 grams of fat.

Q -- they're having?

MR. SNOW: Up in the aft cabin, they have been -- that is one of the
breakfast options. And some brave staffers have tried it.

Q What is the President --

MR. SNOW: I think the President is having a healthier diet than the --

Q What about the Prime Minister?

MR. SNOW: I didn't see what the Prime Minister ate, but I'm willing to bet
-- I'd rather not speak out of turn. I will inquire as to whether they
tried and peanut butter and fried bananas. Although, on the menu it appears
as "ripped" bananas. We are not sure what that means.

Q -- working out?

MR. SNOW: They're working out or getting drunk -- we're not sure which it
is. But in any event, it's 36 grams of fat and apparently those eating it
feel each and every one of those grams as they eat them.

Q Thank you for coming back.

END 9:08 A.M. EDT
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