Text 3803, 777 rader
Skriven 2006-12-13 23:31:16 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0612134) for Wed, 2006 Dec 13
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Press Briefing by Tony Snow
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 13, 2006

Press Briefing by Tony Snow
White House Conference Center Briefing Room

Press Briefing view


12:39 P.M. EST

MR. SNOW: All right, welcome. Questions. Jennifer.

Q Tony, can you try to characterize how the administration is involved in
these discussions, the internal political discussions in Iraq? You brought
up this morning --

MR. SNOW: Yes, I want to -- thank you, I think there was some vagueness.
The administration really is not involved other than consulting and
encouraging those who are already involved in a process or trying to build
a moderate consensus among Shia, Sunni, and Kurds. But the business of
coalition-building, of course, is being done by the government itself.
We're consulting people who have been working with the Maliki government.
This government is not in the business of putting together such an
assemblage. That's been done already.

Q But if, as you have said, and the President has said, the administration
is fully behind Maliki, why would you be even consulting or encouraging a
process that he sees as an enormous threat to him and his power?

MR. SNOW: It's not. This is supportive -- I disagree with the assumption.
These are people who have --

Q It's not my assumption, that's what he said.

MR. SNOW: No. I don't think so. You're talking about the efforts of
Hashemi, al Hakim and Kurdish leaders to support his government? You have
-- today, there was a consultation, for instance, with a member of his
government. So the readout we get -- these are people who have said that
they support the Maliki government and that they support efforts to broaden
across sectarian lines, and also geographic lines, support for that
government, and also a commitment to help that government fight terror
forces who are trying to destabilize it by acts of violence against
innocents.

Q What have you all heard from Maliki? Has he had any requests on how the
United States could be helpful in that process, could be helpful to him?

MR. SNOW: I know that there are conversations in Baghdad, but I'm not aware
of any specific conversations about that, other than -- the President has
made clear on a number of occasions, and will continue to make clear to
Prime Minister Maliki, that he supports the government, and especially
supports its efforts to get more aggressive in going after those who have
been trying to destabilize it, and at the same time, build a consensus
within the country that is going to provide greater strength to the
government and more support for it.

I mentioned this morning, for instance, they seem to be moving very close
to the adoption of a hydrocarbon law, which shares oil and gas revenues,
which is enormously important because it gives everybody a real financial
stake in the success of the government. So those are the kinds of things
that are going on. I am not aware that Prime Minister Maliki has asked
specifically about those, but, again, these are people who have pledged to
support him.

Q Tony, this morning, Senator Levin said that -- when he was talking about
this four-to-six month redeployment, pulling troops out within four-to-six
--

MR. SNOW: His idea.

Q His idea.

MR. SNOW: Yes.

Q And he said, I believe the only way to stop the Iraqi leaders fiddling
while Baghdad burns is to tell them that our presence in Iraq is not
open-ended.

MR. SNOW: Yes, we're aware of his view.

Q Is it a complete non-starter?

MR. SNOW: Look, the President has considered everything, but I think the
most important thing to do is to send signals to the Iraqis that we're
going to support them, but also, at the same time -- the Maliki government
has been making the argument not that it does not want to seize authority
but that it does. And we continue to see signs that they are eager to gain
the capability so that they can have full responsibility for security and
other vital national functions.

Q Philosophically, what is philosophically unappealing about the notion of
saying, this is only going to get done if we have an incentive?

MR. SNOW: Well, the Iraqis have plenty of incentive to take full governance
of their country, and also to fight terror.

I just think, again, rather than -- I'm not going to get into a debate with
Senator Levin, but we've taken a look at every option, including options
that have been suggested by members of Congress. The President has tried to
be as wide-ranging in the review --

Q But this isn't one that you're -- this isn't one that has any traction --

MR. SNOW: Like I said, I am not going to characterize what does or does not
have traction. I leave that to the President to announce the way forward.

Q Just let me follow on this. I guess the question is, you hear people say,
they didn't get a constitution in Iraq until there was a hard deadline that
was put out there. That served as incentive that ultimately helped them get
the constitution. So why doesn't the same philosophy hold as far as saying,
four to six months, the troops come out?

MR. SNOW: Well, a war is a situation that's a little bit different than
constitution drafting. And you may recall a number of Democrats were
suggesting that the Iraqis delay voting on their constitution. And it was
this administration that had faith in the -- not in the Maliki government,
but in the Iraqi people to go ahead and hold elections that would be full,
fair and thoughtful.

So I think, again, Jim, the focus of the deliberations here is to find the
most effective way to make the Iraqis fully capable and in charge of their
destiny as soon as possible.

So I think we share Senator Levin's goal, and I'll let the President
announce whether he thinks that he shares Senator Levin's preferred way of
getting there.

Q Tony, a question about timing. You've heard from Senator Reid yesterday.
Senator Hagel is quoted in the Times as being critical of the President for
putting off the speech, saying that time is of the essence, essentially,
and that there's this appearance of either indecision, internal debate, and
that simply it can't wait. Response?

MR. SNOW: Well, yes, a couple of things. First, there seems to be -- and I
don't want to read too much into it, but let me try to take on some
assumptions that may be out there without attributing them to Senator Reid
or Senator Hagel, because it's not clear exactly what their fuller
positions are, but they've been critical.

Number one, there's plenty going on right now in Iraq. It is not the case
that people have returned to barracks and corked up the cannons and said,
we'll just await further orders. As a matter of fact, there are continuing
aggressive, ongoing operations against terror cells within Baghdad. There
have been very active operations within Anbar in recent weeks. Also there
is continuing the business of trying to build up civil capacity in terms of
support for everything from court systems to justice systems to business
creation and so on. So there are a lot of things going on.

In addition, you have overlaid with that an Iraq government that is busy
doing a lot of things, as well, including a lot of statements in recent
weeks by the Prime Minister about the real importance of going after all
the sources of violence within Iraq, whether they be Sunni, Shia, or
otherwise. You've heard me talk a lot about the hydrocarbon law, which
seems very close to passage. The President has talked to Sunni, Shia and
Kurd leaders. So it's not as if there isn't a lot going on. But the
President also believes, as the American people do, that more needs to be
done and it needs to be done better. And so he's looking at ways of doing
it.

And the most important obligation he has is to do it right. And he is not
satisfied that he has everything before him that enables him to make that
judgment, and so he is asking the people who are working the problem to
give him more, to answer questions, and he's tasked them with a number of
assignments.

I think the best -- it will be interesting, because the President will have
an opportunity to present it as soon as it's ready, and again, I think
Americans do not want a way forward that is not yet complete.

Q Can you give us some sense internally of what he's taking more time with,
what aspect of it --

MR. SNOW: No, I can't, and I apologize, I know it's frustrating. But there
are -- let me try to frame it in a way that at least I hope will be
helpful. There are a lot of considerations that go into this, and it is not
simply a military piece; you've got a diplomatic piece -- I just hinted at
some of the civil considerations that are going on. I mean, we've got a lot
of people doing a lot of different things in Iraq to help support and
sustain this government and this democracy. And that includes areas far
away from Baghdad. It includes the provincial reconstruction teams -- the
President was briefed on those earlier this week.

And you start to get a sense of how people are not only working with the
army and working with Iraqi forces to deal with problems of violence, but
maybe more importantly, they're also actively engaged in the business of
creating hope and opportunity in the form of jobs and building homes and
dealing with infrastructure. Those are issues that you deal with.

You also deal with matters of military readiness on the part of the Iraqis.
You deal with problems of police corruption. You deal with the business of
creating a legal system that is going to have everybody's trust and faith,
property rights. Prime Minister Maliki has announced a plan to build
thousands of homes. And at the same time, they have an investment law --
well, if you're going to invest in Iraq, you've got to make sure that your
property rights are going to be defended.

So you have this enormous complex of issues that you're trying to pull all
together, and it is not a simple balancing act. And the other thing you
have to keep in mind is the necessity, not merely of coming up with what
you think is going to work, but anticipating possible reactions and taking
different views of it. The State Department may have views on the
diplomatic outcome of something that may be suggested by the military. The
military may have some views on perhaps the military implications of
something that might be suggested by State. And it's good to have everybody
take a good, close look so that you can deal with all consequences,
intended and not, to the very best of your capability, so that a way
forward is something that is going to inspire confidence on the part of the
American people, that you've taken a good, hard look at it, that you're
being realistic, and that this is the sort of thing that Democrats,
Republicans, including critics, will, when the President presents it, be
able to support it.

Q Can I just ask one more on a slightly different subject, on the Saudis?
The Times reports that essentially, the Saudis told the Vice President,
we'll help the insurgents if you pull out. But the Hadley memo, which came
to light, whether he liked it or not, makes clear that that sort of support
for the insurgency by the Saudis is already going on, is already an issue
of concern for this administration. So I'm wondering what kind of
communication there's been in the Saudi government to essentially say, stop
it, and stop it now?

MR. SNOW: Well, let me break this into two pieces. Number one, that was a
representation of conversations the Vice President had with the King. I've
spoken with the Vice President's Office, and they say, there's no way that
anybody is going to know what the Vice President said to the King because
that is kept in the strictest confidence.

And the second point, in talking to our NSC folks who are tasked to it:
Number one, that's not Saudi policy. Number two, the Saudis are rightfully
and rightly concerned about the adventurism of Iranians in Iraq. And we
share that concern. And furthermore, they understand that were the United
States to leave without an Iraqi democracy that could sustain, govern and
defend itself, that it would create a vacuum -- a power vacuum that would
have dangerous consequences.

But in addition, the Saudis also understand that there were Shia within
Iraq who fought against Iran in the war the two nations had, and they made
distinctions between Arabs and Persians. And so I would caution against
reading too much into that press account. The fact is the government of
Saudi Arabia understands the importance of having an Iraq not only that
stands up and is free, but also one that respects the rights of everybody
-- Sunni, Shia, Kurd and so on -- and that they have the ability to exist
peacefully within the region. So they share a lot of the same concerns that
we have.

Q But the Hadley memo brings this up as already an issue --

MR. SNOW: Well, the one thing that is not acceptable is the support for
insurgent groups that kill innocent Iraqis and also kill Americans.

Q Does the President intend to leave this war for the next administration,
as he has indicated? Or does he have any option to get out?

MR. SNOW: Helen, what the President has said is that the war on terror will
continue. He has made no firm predictions because neither he, nor I know
exactly when hostilities will cease in Iraq. But we hope that there will be
an Iraqi government that stands up and has successfully fought back against
forces of violence in its midst.

Q We're the invader. Do you realize that?

MR. SNOW: Helen, we've engaged in this conversation a few times. The Iraqi
people have made it clear that they think that America's involvement in
unseating Saddam Hussein was historic and liberating. The real tragedy is
that there are people who are willing to kill by the thousands to prevent
Iraq from becoming free. And I would --

Q How can they feel free when they're under occupation?

MR. SNOW: I would warn against -- I would warn against drawing moral
equivalents between people who take IEDs and blow up civilians and
Americans who are laying their lives on the line so that there can be a
democracy in Iraq. As for our occupation, the United States would like to
be able to leave as quickly as possible. The Iraqis would, too. But the
Iraqis say, don't leave until the job is done. We agree. It is important to
win in Iraq as defined by a free democracy that sustains, governs, and
defends itself.

Q When did the Iraqis say that?

MR. SNOW: They've said it on a number of occasions; they've made it known.

Q Tony, on this moderate bloc, am I right to characterize what you -- the
way you described it earlier as, the President is playing a supporting role
to an existing effort?

MR. SNOW: You know, the President is really consulting with people who have
already made clear their desire to build this bloc. And I'm glad you asked
because I think there was some uncertainty about my morning answer. The
United States is not busy trying to assemble this. That is something that
the Maliki -- the Maliki government is a sovereign government that is
certainly capable of building its own coalitions. And that is -- it's a
coalition that I think has begun to coalesce simply because people do
understand the importance of taking on violence in a serious way and
sending a clear message, and also building the capability and the unified
national desire to go after those who have engaged in killing as a method
of destabilizing a democracy.

Q When I asked about that this morning, you said that -- I asked about the
ability to put down a political process, you said, along the lines of, I
don't know, we had Mr. Hakim, Mr. Hashemi and others now agree on the
fundamentals. Is that -- is agreeing on the fundamentals, is that a -- did
that come out of this latest round of consultations?

MR. SNOW: No, what's happened is that they've all made clear that they
share not only the important goal of national unity and support for the
government, but also some of the things that are essential for creating
that sense of national unity, going after those who commit acts of terror,
and also building a way forward in terms of the kinds of institutions that
the Iraqis are going to need: a strong economy, rule of law, and so on.

Q Tony, as far as this terrorism is concerned in Iraq, are they homegrown
terrorists, or are they coming from outside? And also, are we fighting the
same war in Iraq as in Afghanistan? Or are they connected with al Qaeda?
Because there is two problems -- in Afghanistan, President Karzai is saying
that might -- better than Iraq. But is President also in touch with some of
the NATO commanders or -- how they are doing in Afghanistan, not doing
better in Iraq?

MR. SNOW: Well, okay, you've got about four questions; I'll try to divide
them up. First, when it comes to -- well, I'll start at the end. Of course,
the President is in contact and consultation with NATO allies about the
situation forward in Afghanistan. You're in a situation right now where the
pace of operations tends to slow in Afghanistan, especially in the
mountainous border regions because the snows are deep. And so when the
weather warms up, unfortunately, so do hostilities.

Al Qaeda also has been clearly active -- Anbar Province especially --
within Iraq. And there's a lot of al Qaeda activity and al Qaeda in Iraq
certainly remains a source of concern.

What was the rest of the question, Goyal?

Q Are we fighting the same war? And also --

MR. SNOW: Well, okay, let me just, quickly, of course, we're not fighting
the same war. You've got different countries, you have different
battlefield realities, you have different coalitions who are doing the
fighting.

Q And as far as Afghanistan is concerned, al Qaedas are still coming back
there. And the Karzai government is really concerned about --

MR. SNOW: Well, the Karzai government, and also the Musharraf government.
It's important to try to seal up that border and to prevent further
infiltration and to find effective ways of finding al Qaeda.

Victoria.

Q On the Saudi thing, I just wanted to clarify a couple of things. The Vice
President and the King, you didn't want to characterize their
conversations, but you're not denying that they might have had a
conversation about Saudi support for --

MR. SNOW: I'd just -- what I would do is I would warn you against -- away
from the story, and I will not characterize the conversation.

Q Right, but you're not denying that it could have taken place, you're just
warning us away from it.

MR. SNOW: They could have talked about the Boston Red Sox off-season plan
for spending $50 million on a Japanese pitcher. So the realm of theory is
vast when it comes to conversations.

Q And the likelihood -- unlikelihood --

MR. SNOW: Yes.

Q And then, with regard to the policy itself, what their policy is and what
it isn't, you also would accept that it's possible that, regardless of what
their official policy is, it's quite possible that they would put forward
the idea that they would support insurgents if the Americans leave Iraq?

MR. SNOW: Well, it is not something that has been described to me as
something that is consistent with the conversations we've had. So again,
you can talk -- anything is possible, any words can come out of someone's
mouth, but whether there's a high likelihood or probability that they did
is an entirely different question. And again, unfortunately, I am not in a
position to tell you about the Vice President's conversations.

Q But there are conversations that you can say it's not consistent with?

MR. SNOW: Yes. And those would be those with our diplomats who deal with
the Saudis.

Q Tony, today's Pentagon session, it's the last that's on the President's
public schedule. Does that mark the end of a phase of gathering input, or
does that continue?

MR. SNOW: No, it obviously will continue. And the conversation at the
Pentagon today, although Iraq clearly will be a centerpiece of it, there
will be a lot more. There will be discussion of readiness of service needs.
I know there were some people asking about budget requests and so on. So a
lot of those things are likely to be covered, too, because you got the
Defense Secretary, the incoming Defense Secretary, the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs, all of the Joint Chiefs, you've got some other senior
officials within the Pentagon. But Iraq will also be one. And my guess is
that there will be some discussion -- we'll be able to give you a readout,
and I apologize for musing, but there's some reason to believe that these
are the directions that some of the conversations will go. The President
may, in fact, be asking them about certain ideas that have been knocked
around.

Q I'm interested in going forward from that --

MR. SNOW: Well, yes. Obviously, what's happened is that the President has
been clear that there are a number of things that he wants people to
explore and he wants more detailed answers about various options. And
certainly the work of the Pentagon or the State Department or the NSC or
others does not end with the meeting. It's not as if all the work is done.
Everybody turns it in and now he sits down and tries to grind through it.
He has certainly been doing that all along. But there are still a number of
unresolved issues that are going to continue to keep a lot of people busy.

Q On the area of service needs and the President's talks with Pentagon
officials, a couple of questions. On the reporting that Generals Casey and
Abizaid told the President yesterday they don't need more troops in Iraq,
they need more equipment for Americans and Iraqis.

MR. SNOW: Again, I'm not going to characterize the conversations they've
had. But I've certainly see the reports.

Q Are you going to challenge them?

MR. SNOW: No. I'm also not going to affirm them. Look, there are times when
I have to walk the high wire. This is a high wire moment when I want to be
careful that you understand that when I do not deny something, that does
not mean that I affirm it. I just -- I want to be very careful for the sake
of everybody's work.

Go ahead.

Q We're also learning that Prime Minister Maliki made some proposals we
weren't told about in Amman. Presumably, the President's meeting with
Iraq's Vice President yesterday involved input on this strategy. Do we have
a comprehensive look of where he is getting input now?

MR. SNOW: From the President?

Q From the President -- having seen the meetings this week that were public
and -- or that were announced -- and with our understanding of the Vice
President's meeting in Saudi and the President's meetings last month with
Iraqi --

MR. SNOW: If nothing else, Wendell, I think you -- I'm sure you do not have
an exhaustive list of participants, but I do think you get a feeling for
the breadth of it, because we've had the State Department; we have had the
Department of Defense; we have talked to provincial reconstruction teams,
which tend to be interagency operations in many ways. We have had
consultations with governments throughout the region, including the
government of Iraq and with key players within that government. We've had
the Baker-Hamilton commission; we have had a variety of experts coming into
the White House. So there really has been an attempt to be as comprehensive
as possible, and also, to have cross-pollination in the sense of different
people are taking a look at a broad variety of work, so that you do have
the ability to assess from a variety of viewpoints different potential
approaches to the conflict, so that you find -- you try to anticipate every
possible question that goes into it as you formulate the policy.

Q And not counting the input that Gates will have, and presumably, that
Stephen Hadley will have as he pulls all the stuff together to make a
recommendation, are we now looking at a process of decision-making without
much more input to be given to the President?

MR. SNOW: I can't say that, because what the President has said to a number
of people is, I need more. And he may get something back and say, no, I
still have this concern and this concern. So I don't want you -- in answer
to the earlier question, I don't want to give the impression that all that
work and all the tasking is done because it probably isn't. I've tried to
give you a sense of the complexity of what's going on. And when you get it
back, as you know, quite often you get a fresh piece of work, and it raises
more questions. So this is not going to be something where there's an
eternal cycle of questioning. Obviously, the President is determined to
make decisions and make them as quickly as possible, but he also wants to
make sure that he does it right.

Q Tony, three years after the Iraq war began, there's a new way forward
now, the President is looking for a new way forward. Five years since 9/11,
Osama bin Laden has not been found. Is there any conversations here at the
White House about changing plans and strategy and finding the man who
started all this?

MR. SNOW: Well, there's not a lot of conversation at the White House,
although there is -- the President is regularly briefed in highly
classified briefings about ongoing operations involving bin Laden and
others. And it is certainly the case that there are continued efforts to go
after him and other key members of the terror network. It is worth noting
that al Qaeda has lost a lot of its operational coherence and has been
shattered as an organization. Instead now what you see are offshoot
organizations which we have to address, like al Qaeda in Iraq.

You have seen the inability of the bin Laden organization sometimes to
influence the behavior. For instance, you may remember the letter from Dr.
Al Zawahiri to Abu Masab al Zarqawi, asking him to cease and desist, which
Zarqawi never did do. So there has been a lot of progress in dealing with
al Qaeda and a number of other terror organizations. Bin Laden apparently
does remain at large, and he will continue to be a target of interest. Just
because we don't talk about that every day does not mean that it is not the
ongoing concern of people in the field.

Q Follow-up. So as you're looking at revamping a new way forward, are you
saying -- or is this the thought from the White House that lopping off the
head would not affect the body, meaning al Qaeda? Osama bin Laden, the
head, and the rest of the --

MR. SNOW: No, I don't think -- I don't want to characterize, but obviously
if you capture or kill bin Laden, it is going to be a significant event.

Q Another topic?

MR. SNOW: Yes.

Q Response to the defeat in Texas yesterday of Congressman Henry Bonilla
who had been an important figure in GOP outreach to Hispanics?

MR. SNOW: Yes, well, the President is going to miss him. Henry is a good
guy, but we congratulate the victor.

Q What does it say about Hispanic outreach -- GOP outreach to Hispanics?

MR. SNOW: Nothing. I mean, I think that's a local race and you've got to
take a look at it, but one thing it does say is that GOP outreach to
Hispanics will continue. It's very important to the President, and I think
it's important to the country that both political parties work aggressively
for all votes, people of all races.

Q Is it a significant defeat in the outreach effort to Hispanics?

MR. SNOW: No, it's not. And I suspect that Henry will remain engaged in
that task. He won't be a member of Congress, but there are a number of
people who remain committed to it and will continue to be.

Q -- way he winds up losing a seat as a result of the DeLay effort to
redistrict in Texas. Looking back on that effort, was it a mistake?

MR. SNOW: That's a Texas matter, and we're not going to comment on it.

Q Texas no longer being part of the union? (Laughter.)

MR. SNOW: No. Texas redistricting, state legislative efforts not
necessarily being something over which the President can fruitfully
comment. I heard it's a republic, though. (Laughter.)

Q Not so much Republican. (Laughter.)

MR. SNOW: I said republic.

Q Can't follow Ken. It's impossible. First, on the Syria statement --

MR. SNOW: He's fast, though.

Q -- on Syria, why did you put out the statement now? And have you had any
contact and cooperation with the Syrian government?

MR. SNOW: Well, remember, you've got to keep in mind, Human Rights Day was
this week, and it's important to remind people that Syria remains an
aggressive violator of human rights. And it's also important to draw
attention to their role in trying to undermine the democratic government of
Lebanon and tell them we expect better. But, no, beyond anything we've told
you, we have not had -- it has not changed our approach to the government
of Syria.

Q And on Saddam Hussein, are you confident that security surrounding him is
adequate? And any word on what happened to his nephew?

MR. SNOW: At the risk of being pilloried, I don't know the answer about
security, and nor do I know about his nephew. So

-- because, again, when you want to ask me questions that may not be in the
brief, please feel free to send me an email in advance because I am eager
to get answers for all of you.

Q Did the President and Prime Minister Blair discuss a new direction in
Darfur --

MR. SNOW: I saw the report. If they did, it was not in the expanded group.
It would have been one-on-one. So the most important thing is that we are
committed to an end of violence in Darfur and have been leading the way,
and we certainly appreciate the help and support of Prime Minister Blair.
We also believe in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1706, which does
address the situation. We are hoping that the Addis Ababa framework that
was put together, in consultation with the African Union, is going to
provide the way to provide security.

But we're going to continue looking at diplomatic efforts with the
government of Sudan. And we will also continue looking at effective ways of
trying to prevent the ongoing -- to put an end to the genocide in Darfur.

Q People are dying in Darfur, and a lot of people are saying this is just
lip service and there needs to be military action as you're waiting for
things to happen in Darfur.

MR. SNOW: I think it's -- no government has been more aggressive or
assertive on the Darfur front than this one. And the President has made it
clear -- and for those who often complain about diplomacy, we have been
aggressively engaged in diplomacy in the region, with the African Union,
and it took a lot of effort to get the U.N. Security Council on board.

So, April, as you know, it is not lip service when a nation takes the lead
on an issue and remains committed to it. And what we need are for people in
the region to step up and put an end to the bloodshed.

Q Well, when do you say "when"?

MR. SNOW: We have already said "when" in the sense that it's unacceptable.
We are the ones who characterized it as a genocide. We are the ones who
demanded international attention. We are the ones who have led diplomatic
efforts. We are the ones who have talked about having an effective military
presence. So, April, we share the frustration of anybody who deals with the
region, and we continue to press allies to step up and take moves that are
necessary to put an end to the genocide.

Bret.

Q Tony, do you have a reaction to Senator Nelson sitting down with Syrian
President Assad today?

MR. SNOW: Well, we certainly do not encourage members of Congress to be
traveling to Syria.

Q What about the actual outreach to try to engage Syria?

MR. SNOW: Well, again, I only know the fractional amount, because this
press report just came over very briefly, so I don't know anything that
went on, other than we just -- we think it's important that the Syrians
understand what our position is, and it is not -- we don't think -- we
don't think that members of Congress ought to be going there.

Q Clearly it shows that at least some members of Congress don't believe
that not talking to Syria is the right way to go.

MR. SNOW: Again, we've talked to Syria. We have diplomatic relations with
Syria. Bret, I think it is a real stretch to think that the Syrians don't
know where we stand or what we think. We have made it clear and will
continue to make it clear. So it is not as if there's been failure to
communicate. The communication has been crystal clear. What has not
happened is the appropriate response by the Syrians, in terms of their
adventurism within the region, especially with regard to Lebanon; their
continued support and housing of terrorist organizations. And so we've --
this government has sent on repeated occasions, messages to that
government. They know what our position is.

Q It appears now the Red Sox have signed the pitcher.

MR. SNOW: Did they really? (Laughter.)

Q That's what they're reporting.

MR. SNOW: High fives to Theo Epstein.

Q -- about it in Saudi Arabia. (Laughter.)

Q Tony -- do you know how many Iraqi refugees have gone to Syria for
safety?

MR. SNOW: Well, again, that only underscores --

Q They fled there.

MR. SNOW: Helen, that only underscores the necessity of going after people
who murder those who want to be free.

Q Tony, quick question on human rights.

Q Follow-up on the Syria --

MR. SNOW: I'll get to you next.

Q The President has been always champion of human rights and also freedom
and democracy. But now, as we celebrate -- not celebrate, but these victims
are growing across the globe. And what President doing, as far as --
because religious and military dictators are enjoying their life, and
millions of victims are suffering across the globe under many dictators and
religious fanatics.

MR. SNOW: Right.

Q So what doing now to --

MR. SNOW: The United States has talked repeatedly, and this President,
about a freedom agenda, and the importance of acknowledging the importance
of privacy of religious freedom.

We've got to go here next, then April, then Steve.

Q Tony, anything to say about yesterday's EU decision to delay three years
the accession talks for Turkey to become a full member of the European
Union?

MR. SNOW: Well, we support Turkey's accession to the EU.

Q One more on Iraq. Any communication with Turkey, Iran, Syria on the Iraq
issue after the recommendation by Baker-Hamilton committee for dialogue?

MR. SNOW: I'm sorry, I will apologize. Could you repeat the question?

Q The question is, any communication with Turkey, Syria, Iran on the Iraq
issue after the recommendation by Baker-Hamilton committee for dialogue?

MR. SNOW: The President had a conversation, I think it was earlier this
week, with Prime Minister Erdogan, where Prime Minister Erdogan read out
his conversations with the Iranians and Syrians. And we found it quite
helpful, and we certainly seek his help.

Q What about what the Turkish paper says Mr. Jalal Talabani was very upset
with the report?

MR. SNOW: Well, the President had a talk with President Talabani today, and
he explained the process through which he is trying to come up with a way
forward.

Yes, April.

Q Back on the Sudan, really fast. Originally the White House had tried to
get the African Union to allow the U.N. and other world bodies to help out,
because the Africans said this is an African problem, and we're going to
handle it. And then they allowed the United States and other world leaders
to work on the problem of Sudan, and now you're trying to give it back to
the Africans. Is that passing the buck back?

MR. SNOW: No, what we're trying to do is to come up with an effective
military force. And there are a number of diplomatic concerns, as you know,
and considerations. We think it's important to get a diplomatic -- an
effective military force on the ground as soon as possible, and it requires
a lot of people working together diplomatically and militarily to pull it
off. And we hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Q What is so wrong with Senator Nelson's visit to Syria? Are you worried
that the Syrians will hear two voices from America?

MR. SNOW: We just don't think it's appropriate.

Q Even though we have U.S. diplomatic relations with them?

MR. SNOW: I'm not going to go any further than I've gone, Steve.

Q May I ask one -- you might have to take this, I'm sorry, I never think of
my questions beforehand -- the U.S. inadvertently bugging Princess Diana.
Is the U.S. -- it's a big story over there.

MR. SNOW: I know it's a big story, and that's another one, you've got to --
you can't do this to me.

Q Can you take it tomorrow?

MR. SNOW: You can't do Princess Di questions to me.

Q Well, I didn't know I was going to ask it, but can you take it for
tomorrow, whether the U.S. has a policy --

MR. SNOW: My guess is that that is the sort of thing that under any
circumstances we would neither confirm nor deny. I can say that with a
certain amount of certitude. But I will try to say it definitively, at your
request, tomorrow.

Q The NSA has said that there are conversations; that she wasn't a target,
but there were conversations.

MR. SNOW: Well, again, I'm just -- then call them.

Q Thank you.

MR. SNOW: Thank you.

END 1:15 P.M. EST
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