Text 4423, 131 rader
Skriven 2007-04-23 23:30:50 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0704238) for Mon, 2007 Apr 23
====================================================

===========================================================================
Reid vs. Reid: A State Of Confusion
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release April 23, 2007

Reid vs. Reid: A State Of Confusion Sen. Reid's State Of Confusion On The
Iraq Study Group Report, Regional Conference, Funding For Political
Reconciliation, And His Discussion With The President

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ Setting the Record Straight

"Sen. Reid seems to be in a state of confusion.ÿ Today, he said the
President 'ignored' the Iraq Study Group by sending more troops to secure
Baghdad when the Iraq Study Group report said it would support this step.ÿ
Sen. Reid also called for a regional conference when one is already set to
begin in days, called for emphasizing political reconciliation in Iraq when
the Senate's own bill cuts $243 million vital for political reconciliation,
and said his meetings with the President are unproductive despite
characterizing his discussion with the President last Wednesday as a 'good
exchange' minutes after the meeting concluded."

 White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino, 4/23/07

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: The Iraq Study Group Endorsed Using Additional
Forces To Stabilize Baghdad

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): "By ordering his troop surge," the President
"ignored the advice of the Iraq Study Group."ÿ(Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV),
Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)
  þ Iraq Study Group Report: "We could, however, support a short-term
    redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad,
    or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S.
    commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective."ÿ
    ("The Iraq Study Group Report," 2006)
  þ Iraq Study Group Co-Chair James A. Baker, III: "Setting a deadline for
    withdrawal regardless of conditions in Iraq makes even less sense today
    because there is evidence that the temporary surge is reducing the
    level of violence in Baghdad. ÿAs Baghdad goes, so goes Iraq. ÿThe Iraq
    Study Group said it could support a short-term surge to stabilize
    Baghdad or to speed up training and equipping of Iraqi soldiers if the
    U.S. commander in Iraq determines such steps would be effective. ÿGen.
    David Petraeus has so determined."ÿ (James A. Baker, III, Op-Ed, "A
    Path to Common Ground," The Washington Post, 4/5/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: Regional Conference To Begin In 10 Days

Sen. Reid: "The first thing that needs to be done is a regional
conference." ÿ"Have, as the Iraq Study Group said, have the United States
meet with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and, yes, Iran, to sit down
and see what we can do to resolve the issues that are so ugly in Iraq."ÿ
(Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)
  þ A regional conference is scheduled for early May: "Ministers from
    Iraq's neighboring countries, the five permanent members of the U.N.
    Security Council and industrialized nations will hold a meeting in
    Egypt early next month to discuss the situation in Iraq, Foreign
    Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Saturday. _ Ministers from Iraq's
    neighbors as well as Bahrain and Egypt, and the five permanent members
    of the U.N. Security Council, will hold a meeting in the Egyptian Red
    Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik on May 3-4, Zebari said. _ Also in
    attendance, Zebari said, will be officials from the so-called Group of
    Eight industrialized nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
    Russia, the U.K. and the U.S."ÿ ("Ministers From 20 Countries To Meet
    In Egypt Over Iraq Next Month," The Associated Press, 4/7/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: The Senate Bill Cuts Funds For Political
Reconciliation While Saying Reconciliation Is Key

Sen. Reid: "General Petraeus has said the ultimate solution in Iraq is a
political one, not a military one."ÿ(Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On
Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)
  þ Of the President's FY 2007 supplemental request, the Senate cut $243
    million in critical programs that would help the Iraqis meet important
    political and economic benchmarks.ÿ The Senate added $120 million to
    the President's request, of which $70 million is for refugees and
    internally displaced persons and $50 million is for a specific USAID
    program, leaving a net cut from the President's request of $243
    million.ÿ
  þ The $243 million in net Senate cuts included:
      þ $70 million to build the governing capacity of local governments.
      þ $50 million to help the Iraqis draft and implement key legislative
        and legal reforms.
      þ 50 million to support rule of law programs so Iraqis can better
        govern themselves.
      þ $43 million to promote democracy and civil society efforts.
      þ $40 million to build the governing capacity of the national
        government.
      þ $10 million for private sector development.
      þ $100 million to support our diplomatic mission and civilian
        presence, including $41 million for supporting the doubling the
        PRTs.
  þ President Bush: "We fully recognize that there has to be political
    progress and economic progress, along with military progress, in order
    for that government to succeed." ÿ(President George W. Bush, Remarks,
    East Grand Rapids, MI, 4/20/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: Sen. Reid's Own Comments After Meeting With
The President

Sen. Reid today: "We don't have meetings with the President, not real
substantive meetings, he holds carefully scripted sessions where he repeats
his talking points."ÿ (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington,
DC, 4/23/07)
  þ Sen. Reid immediately following last Wednesday's meeting: "Well, we had
    an hour-long meeting with the President.ÿ It was a good exchange;
    everyone voiced their considered opinion about the war in Iraq  the
    conversation was with the war in Iraq, that's basically all it was,
    with a few variations, but mainly that.ÿ ... [P]eople gave their
    opinions, they gave their considered opinion what was going wrong and
    right with the war in Iraq.ÿ And I think we have too little of that.ÿ I
    think it was extremely important the President hear from us.ÿ And he
    heard from us in detail.ÿ And I think he needs to hear more of
    conversations from people like us  who don't always tell him what he
    wants to hear.ÿ I think we told him things today that he needed to
    hear."ÿÿ (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks After Meeting With The
    President, Washington, DC, 4/18/07)
      þ Speaker Pelosi on the meeting: "I think the conversation that we
        had is the basis for future conversations on this.ÿ But each side
        was very clear with its position that that doesn't mean that that's
        the end of the conversation.ÿ And that is what is known as a
        negotiation and government, that it's not just one meeting."ÿ(Rep.
        Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Remarks After Meeting With The President,
        Washington, DC, 4/18/07)
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/04/20070423-8.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)