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Skriven 2007-08-17 23:30:40 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0708171) for Fri, 2007 Aug 17
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Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 17, 2007

Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe Crawford Middle School Crawford, Texas

˙˙Press Briefings


10:17 A.M. CDT

MR. JOHNDROE: Good morning, everyone. This morning the President had his
normal briefings. Then he taped the radio address; the topic will be Iraq,
and how the provincial reconstruction teams are working to help facilitate
political and economic reforms, as well as assist with bottom up
reconciliation.

The President was also briefed this morning on the mine situation in Utah.
Our heart goes out to the mine rescuer from the Mine Safety and Health
Administration office who was lost. Assistant Secretary of Labor Richard
Stickler is out in Utah, and will be briefing on that later today.

At 12:20 p.m. today, the President and Mrs. Bush will attend the annual
Republican National Committee reception at the Broken Spoke Ranch. The
President has attended this event every year since 2002.

And with that, I'm happy to take any questions.

Q Gordon, what does the White House think of the Federal Reserve action,
cutting the discount rate?

MR. JOHNDROE: We have full confidence in the Federal Reserve and respect
their independence, but we don't comment on their specific policy
announcements.

Q Was the President briefed on it, on the action?

MR. JOHNDROE: The President's economic advisors, led by Secretary Paulson,
keep him updated. They are in regular communication with him. I can't speak
specifically to the Federal Reserve action. I do know that Secretary
Paulson called the President yesterday evening to give him an update on the
economy and the markets.

Q Gordon, what's the level of concern at the White House about Russia's
resumption of strategic bomber patrols?

MR. JOHNDROE: We have very good working relations with the Russians, with
the Russian military. Militaries around the world engage in a variety of
different activities. It's not entirely surprising that the Russian air
force, the Russian military might engage in this kind of activity or
exercise.

Q Why isn't it surprising? I mean, this is a Cold War activity, put in moth
balls, what, in the first Bush administration? Why isn't surprising that
they'd bring their planes back on line?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, I think it's an internal decision made by the Russians.
And as I said, various militaries around the world can choose to exercise
their forces in different ways. I'd just leave it at that.

Q Can I follow up?

MR. JOHNDROE: Sure, Suzanne.

Q Is it considered a security threat in any sense to the U.S. military?

MR. JOHNDROE: Oh, I don't think our military has those concerns about it.

Q Gordon, how does the White House square the rather dramatic difference
between FBI Chief Muller's written notes on the meeting with Ashcroft in
March 2004 in the hospital with the Attorney General's comments? Just to
read out a couple of the comments he had, Mueller says the Attorney General
was "feeble, barely articulate, clearly stressed," whereas the Attorney
General -- I'm sorry, Gonzales says he was "lucid" and "did most of the
talking" during that visit.

MR. JOHNDROE: I think this issue and this time period and this event have
been gone over many, many times, and I just don't have anything to add to
it. I think if you need additional comments -- not that he may have much to
add, either -- but Tony Fratto back in Washington follows this issue and
comments on it for the White House. But I just -- it's been gone over many,
many times, and there's just nothing to add to it.

Olivier.

Q On a different subject. Tony Snow this week told Hugh Hewitt that he's
already made it clear at the White House that he's not going to be able to
go the distance, meaning serve to the end of the term. Has he submitted his
resignation?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, I had not heard that Tony had made those comments.
I'm not aware of any resignation being submitted or anything like that.

Q On Freddie and Fannie, have you ruled out Fannie and Freddie buying
mortgages beyond their current limits, or to do anything else to help
provide mortgage finance and other credit markets?

MR. JOHNDROE: I don't believe the White House is going to have any
additional comments on the markets or no the mortgage situation. I think
the Fed obviously took action today, and I think the Treasury Department
may have more for you on that.

Q Gordon, does the verdict in the Jose Padilla case lead the administration
to think that enemy combatants can be tried in civilian courts?

MR. JOHNDROE: One, pleased to see that Jose Padilla received a fair trial
and a just verdict. But I think each case has to be looked at individually.
Some cases do fall into a certain tranche, but each case has to be looked
on an individual basis. Different detainees fall under different -- they
have different status, and some might be an American citizen, but many are
not, as are most held in Guantanamo Bay. And I think that's an important
distinction.

All right. Thank you all.

END 10:23 A.M. CDT

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