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Skriven 2007-08-16 23:31:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070816) for Thu, 2007 Aug 16
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Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 16, 2007

Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe Crawford Middle School Crawford, Texas

ÿÿPress Briefings


11:15 A.M. CDT

MR. JOHNDROE: Good morning. The President had his normal briefings this
morning. In addition to his intelligence briefing, he was also briefed on
the earthquake in Peru. The President and Mrs. Bush offer their condolences
to the people of Peru, and especially to those who have lost a loved one
because of this natural disaster.

The United States stands ready to assist Peru, and is willing to provide
assistance based on the needs identified by the government of Peru, as well
as United States government teams there.

There is currently a USAID team on the ground now in Lima, assessing the
situation and working in conjunction with the government of Peru. And we
also have search and rescue teams on standby should they be needed. We'll
update you on that later on.

With regards to next week's travel, on Monday, August the 20th, the
President will travel to Canada for the North American Leaders' Summit. The
President is going to Canada to talk to our North American neighbors about
making the continent safer and more prosperous. These are two of our
largest trading partners. They are also our two largest sources of energy,
and we share 7,000 miles of very dynamic borders with Canada and Mexico.

The President will be greeted by the Governor General of Canada at Ottawa
International Airport. Following that, the President will meet with Prime
Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. This is the President's third bilateral
meeting with Prime Minister Harper. He has, of course, also seen him at
various summits such as the G8 and the APEC last year.

They will continue discussions on issues like border facilitation for
trade, as well as for travelers; expanding commerce; as well as cooperation
on security. They will also discuss global issues like Afghanistan, where
Canada has troops fighting side by side with Americans. They'll discuss the
Middle East, including Iran; climate change; as well as Doha negotiations.

Following that, the President will meet with President Calder¢n of Mexico.
This is the President's third bilateral meeting with President Calder¢n in
10 months. They most recently met in Mérida, Mexico, in March.

They will continue their discussions on security cooperation, as well as
building on the success of NAFTA, as well as on border facilitation and
other bilateral regional issues. I expect they will discuss areas such as
strengthening democracy, the protection of human rights, as well as
expanding trade and development.

That night, Monday night, the three leaders will attend a dinner where they
will all three discuss issues related to the Western Hemisphere.

On Tuesday morning, the leaders will meet with members of the North
American Competitiveness Council. It's a group of business leaders
particularly interested in secure and prosperous trade here in the North
American continent.

Then the President participates in the North American Leaders' meeting, the
Security and Prosperity Partnership. At this year's meeting, the leaders
have agreed to focus work on five areas. They are: enhancing global
competitiveness, safety of food and products, sustainable energy and the
environment, smart and secure borders, as well as energy management.

Then the leaders will participate in a working lunch where I expect they
will discuss global issues. And following that there will be a joint press
availability of all three leaders.

And then the President will depart Canada and travel to Minnesota, as well
as Missouri. And you all have that schedule, and we can talk more about
that later.

With that, I'm happy to take any questions.

Q Gordon, is the White House trying to restrict the testimony of General
Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker when they come here in mid-September with
their latest report on the situation in Iraq?

MR. JOHNDROE: General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will testify to the
Congress in both open as well as closed sessions prior to the September
15th report. That has always been our intention. I believe the President
has talked about the need to hear from General Petraeus and Ambassador
Crocker. Those two men will come back to the United States, they will
report to the President; they will report to Secretary Rice, they will
report to Secretary Gates, as well as the joint staff. They will report to
Congress, and more importantly, they will report to the American people on
what they see on the ground there.

And I think it's unfortunate that anyone would suggest that they would not
do that; trying to start a fight where there really isn't one, because this
has always been the plan, and in fact it's even called for in the
legislation.

Q So, Gordon, can you clarify -- there was no effort by the White House or
the State Department to put Secretaries Rice and Gates out before the
public to testify, as opposed to Ambassador Crocker or General Petraeus, in
their place?

MR. JOHNDROE: That's correct. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will
testify, they will testify about the conditions on the ground in Iraq, what
they see, what they think are some recommendations about the way forward. I
expect that Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates will also testify during
this time period. They often testify before various members of both -- of
various committees of both Houses. But it was never an either/or, because
Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus will be testifying.

Q And just to be absolutely clear, they're going to be testifying publicly,
before cameras, before these various committees?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes. They will -- both Ambassador Crocker, as well as General
Petraeus, will have public testimony prior to September 15th.

Q Gordon, who is going to write that report to Congress? Is that going to
be a White House product, or will it be principally written by Petraeus and
Crocker?

MR. JOHNDROE: General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, along with Admiral
Fallon, Secretary Rice, Secretary Gates, will report in to the President on
what they see as the conditions on the ground in Iraq. Then the President
will submit that report to the Congress. So it is a report that comes from
the President, exactly like the July 15th report, but it is with the input
of all of these people.

Q So who writes the report? Is it the NSC, is it senior staff?

MR. JOHNDROE: Sure. Just like the July 15th report of just over a month
ago, it is a report written by -- it was submitted by the President, so
therefore the White House staff, the NSC staff, but it's very clear that it
is based on inputs from our commanders, as well as the ambassador on the
ground, as well as Admiral Fallon and Secretaries Rice and Gates. This is
the exact same format that was followed for the July 15th report that will
be followed for the September 15th report.

I believe the legislation also says that we need to look at how the
Baker-Hamilton report is -- recommendations from that report feeds in to
the situation, as well. So there's a slight difference from the July 15th
report, but otherwise it will be very, very similar.

Q Gordon, if they're going to testify before the report is released, will
they be constrained -- testify publicly, in their public testimony will
they be constrained not to comment on the contents of the report, since it
will not at that point be public?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, I don't think so. I think everyone expects Ambassador
Crocker and General Petraeus to offer a very candid assessment of the
situation on the ground in Iraq. I know that's what President Bush expects;
that's what the American people expect. And so, no, I don't think there
will be any constraints in their testimony whatsoever.

Olivier.

Q Gordon, earlier this week the State Department said that the United
States was considering aid to North Korea after the floods there. Is there
any update to that? Is there any money going there? Do we have teams there,
as well? Do you know what the situation is?

MR. JOHNDROE: We're in the process of assessing what is going on, on the
ground now, what is the damage, and what are their needs. That process is
still ongoing. But we may have more for you on that later.

Mike.

Q Gordon, any reaction to the bumpy markets today from the White House?

MR. JOHNDROE: I would say that as President Bush has said, the U.S. economy
is fundamentally sound, and so we expect to see continued economic growth;
not for me to comment on daily movements of the market. I think Secretary
Paulson has addressed these issues. Secretary Paulson and the other
economic advisors stay very much on top of these issues.

Q So the President hasn't talked to members of his economic team about this
continued slide this week or -- and he's confident that the market will
right itself?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, I'll have to check and see the last time he spoke
with his economic advisors. Obviously, he has staff down here that keep him
informed, but I'll check on that.

Q So the White House didn't, then, ask Congress, or suggest that he do
limited testimony?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, no.

Q So the story in the Post is -- you're just denouncing it?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes. Although I don't -- I won't use that term that you used.
I just don't think it's correct.

Q I have a market follow-up. President Sarkozy of France has come out today
and said that the G7 should send its finance ministers to discuss the need
for greater transparency in financial markets. Do you have a reaction? Is
that a good idea?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, I haven't seen President Sarkozy's comments. I know
that we have previously issued statements regarding open economies and
transparency. So I think I'd refer you to those in the absence of having
seen President Sarkozy's comments.

Mark.

Q Gordon, is the White House urging President Musharraf to work out some
kind of a political alliance with Benazir Bhutto?

MR. JOHNDROE: As President Bush said at his press conference last Thursday,
we support free and fair elections in Pakistan. We have met with various
parties there. This is ultimately decisions for the people of Pakistan to
make. What the United States wants to see is a peaceful, prosperous,
secure, stable Pakistan -- that's in the interests of the Pakistanis, the
interests of the region, and interests of the whole world. We want to see a
moderate political center form there, following democratic processes. I'd
just leave it at that for now.

Q Is there a power sharing idea being considered or being urged upon
Musharraf?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, I think it's better for the Pakistanis to discuss
what sort of -- how they're going to proceed with their government. But as
I said, we've met with the various parties; explained the U.S. position,
which is we are hopeful for free and fair elections, but also a system that
follows democratic norms.

Yes, sir.

Q Yesterday Dana suggested we talk to the State Department and Treasury
when we asked about whether the Revolutionary Guard is being considered for
inclusion as a terrorist organization, and those agencies had nothing to
say. So I wanted to ask you again, are you considering naming them as a
terrorist organization?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, first of all, I'm not going to comment on internal
deliberations, but I think what is well known is that the IRGC and the Quds
Force element of that are engaging in activities, such as support of Hamas
and Hezbollah, as well as the support of militias in Iraq that are involved
in killing of U.S. forces.

So we know they're involved in these activities, and we'd like them to
stop. But it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any potential
future action.

Q Gordon, in terms of the power-sharing arrangement --

MR. JOHNDROE: Oh, did you have a question? (Laughter.)

Q Oh, I'm sorry, I'll just wait and follow decorum. (Laughter.)

In terms of a power-sharing arrangement, you said that the U.S. has met
with all parties. Who are all parties in this case?

MR. JOHNDROE: I don't want to get into too many details. We're obviously
talking to people involved in Pakistani government and Pakistani affairs.
And I'd rather not get into any details. But we are -- we meet with them in
order to talk about potential ways ahead so that we end up with a Pakistan
that is, again, an ally in the war on terror and provides for its people.

Q Does that include the former Prime Minister, Bhutto, or not?

MR. JOHNDROE: We meet with a number of people involved in the process.

Okay.

Q Any more information about what the President is doing today -- bike
riding, fishing, running his staff into the ground in the heat? Anything
like --

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, right. Let's see, intelligence briefing, update on the
earthquake in Peru, was briefed on some of the weather systems that we have
churning out there, as well. Then I believe was going to do a bike ride
today and probably maybe clear for a trail, as well.

Okay. Thank you all.

END 11:29 A.M. CDT
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