For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 21, 2001
Press Briefing
12:58 P.M. EST
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. Welcome to
what I believe will be our last briefing of this year.
Q An awful big smile on your
face. (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: I will miss you. I just want
to get into a couple of statements. Congress adjourned
yesterday, and looking back, President Bush is very pleased with the
bipartisan accomplishments of the year, particularly in the area of
education, where major bipartisan reform has been agreed to, lower
taxes, including marriage penalty relief, the abolition of the death
tax, doubling of the child credit, and major environmental legislation
passed last night, to clean the brownfield areas in America's cities,
the transportation security legislation that passed and was signed by
the President to make our skies safer.
All are signs, the President believes, of significant bipartisan
accomplishment. In addition, progress has been made as the
House of Representatives passed legislation to expand trade promotion
authority, to promote energy independence through the passage of a
comprehensive energy policy for the United States.
Both the House and the Senate have passed legislation to give
patients more rights in dealing with their HMOs. On foreign
policy, the President is very pleased -- this is the first year it
comes to an end -- with the successes we've had, the successful
relations that have been built with allies around the world, the
peaceful resolution of the P-3 crisis with China, the development of
missile defenses to protect our nation, and also with the successes in
the war on terror.
Yesterday, if you recall, in a ceremony marking the 100th day since
the September 11th attacks against the United States, the President
detailed actions that the United States government took in response to
those terrorist attacks. At the same time, he announced that
the United States government had blocked assets of two more terrorist
organizations, the UTN and the Lakshar al Tauba. The
President yesterday condemned the terrorists attacks against the Indian
Parliament and the Kashmir legislature, and extended condolences to the
Indian government and the families of the victims.
These attacks were meant to strike at India's democracy and kill
its leaders, but were also intended to undermine Pakistan, harm the
rapidly-improving U.S.-Pakistani relationship, and to destabilize the
global coalition against terrorism.
President Musharraf has condemned the terrorist attacks on the
legislature in Srinagar, and on the Indian Parliament. He
has said that he would move against those involved in the
attacks. President Bush has every confidence in President
Musharraf's capacity to act against the terrorists. The President
calls on him to take action against the Lakshar al Tauba, the Yash y
Mohamad and other terrorist organizations, their leaders, and their
finances. The President will support President Musharraf in
his efforts against terrorism.
One final just look back on the year involves the actions that were
taken in confirming the President's nominees in the United States
Senate. When the Senate left town for the holidays, they left close to
170 nominations languishing in the Senate. Of those awaiting
action in the Senate, 49 have had hearings and have been passed by
committee, and only require a vote on the Senate floor.
These individuals could have been reported to work at the beginning
of the year, but because of inaction, the President will begin the new
year without his team in place. Particularly in foreign
policy, this is a troubling development. The Senate failed
to confirm 20 of the President's senior foreign policy nominees,
including officials who will be directly involved in the war on
terrorism, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the economic
crisis in Argentina.
For example, Arthur Dewey, the Assistant Secretary of State for
Population, Refugees, and Migration. Roger Winter, Assistant
Administrator of the USAID for Humanitarian Response. Adolfo
Franco to be Assistant Administrator of USAID for Latin America and the
Caribbean. Otto Reich, Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs.
The President nominated more individuals to serve on the Federal
Bench in his first year in office than any of the past three
administrations, and he submitted them earlier in the
year. Despite this quick action, only 43 percent of the
judicial nominees have been confirmed, and only 21 percent of the
nominees to the circuit court.
When the Senate returns in January, it will have much work ahead of
it, and there will be 98 vacancies in the Federal
Judiciary. Sixteen more than were present when the President
took office. Such large numbers of vacancies in federal
courts are an impediment to justice. The President deserves
to have his team in place, particularly during a time of war, and the
American people deserve to have their government fully staffed, and
they deserve a court system that can fully carry out justice. The
President has done his part, and when the Senate returns, it's
important that they do theirs.
Mr. Ron Fournier.
Q Since these nominations are so important
to carrying out the war on terrorism, we can assume that there will be
-- the President will use his right to appoint them during the
congressional recess?
MR. FLEISCHER: If there are to be any recess
appointments, an announcement will be made at that
time. There is nothing I can indicate --
Q Why wouldn't you do it, though, if they're
so important and you have that right to do it, why not just say you're
going to do it?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, there may be. I'm not
going to guess what steps or actions that the President may take.
Q Is there any reason not to do recess
appointments?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President always prefers to follow
the usual process, and the President always prefers for the Senate to
honor its responsibilities. He does have the right to make
recess appointments. If he decides to avail himself of it,
we'll keep you posted.
Q Isn't that a concern it could hurt
relations between Democrats and Republicans if he goes forward with a
recess appointment?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, there will be -- if there are to be
any recess appointments, you can safely assume it's after a careful
balancing of the senatorial prerogatives with Executive Branch
needs. And if the President makes any decisions, he'll make
it based on that balancing.
Q But you're not ruling them out, are you?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct. The President
has not ruled any out.
Q You say he's heavily considering them?
MR. FLEISCHER: Kelly, I can just tell you if there are
to be any, we'll keep you fully informed. We'll announce
them if there are.
Q Ari, the President said he's asked the NSC
to come up with a system to categorize captives, battlefield captives,
al Qaeda captives, for legal disposition -- whether they would go to a
military tribunal, civilian court, third country. Will that
be made public?
MR. FLEISCHER: The decisions that they make will
obviously, once determinations will be made, will be shared by the
relevant agencies about what the process would be. They're
still working it through, they're still thinking about the best course
of action to take, and when they have a determination, that information
will be shared.
Q But with the criteria that he's asked them
to come up with, for the disposition of each individual, including John
Walker, will that be made public?
MR. FLEISCHER: Terry, I can't promise you that every
piece of information they have will be shared. I don't know
exactly what type of information they're working with. Some
of it could be of a nature that cannot be shared.
But it's fair to say that when a determination is made about how
people will be brought to justice, whether it's to al Qaeda, Taliban,
Mr. Walker, you will see as a result of the decision made the thinking
that was involved, why the procedure has been put in place, if there
are differences in the procedures for the al Qaeda or for the Taliban,
it will be evident in the information that's released.
I think you're going to get a lot of the answers to your questions
once it's clear.
Q One more on this. Now that the
President's asked the NSC to do this, what happens to Attorney General
Ashcroft's recommendation that John Walker be charged with providing
material support to terrorists?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, number one, I'm not discussing any
recommendations that the President may have received up to this
point. But suffice it to say that all the President's
security team will be working together on the ultimate outcome.
Q Is the economy recovering enough that a
stimulus will not be necessary?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, it depends on your point of
view. If you're in an economist, you can look at the simple
numbers and you can say the economy is projected to grow, and grow in a
more robust fashion. At some point, in 2002, if you're
unemployed today, it's already too late, and you want your job
tomorrow. You don't want to have to wait for the economy to
recover in June or July.
The difference between the Senate leaving town and the Senate
taking action yesterday is the difference between somebody being
rehired in July or somebody being rehired in January. The
President would prefer for Americans who are unemployed to be rehired
yesterday, or if they passed the stimulus in January. And
that's the real-life impact of the Senate's failure to
act. There are people who are unemployed who may not get
hired back, and there are people who are clinging to their jobs because
their companies are on the edge, who could have used the assurance in
this holiday season that they have been able to keep their jobs if a
stimulus had been passed.
There are real-life consequences to failure to act. And
the consequence of the Senate not acting does have an impact on
people's lives.
Q So do you still want a stimulus, then?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President would still prefer for the
Senate to pass a stimulus. I think when you talk to the
economists, what you're going to see throughout -- for their
projections for next year is, the economy is projected to rebound next
year. Without a stimulus, it will rebound slower and
later. With a stimulus, it will rebound in a more robust
fashion and do so earlier. That benefits America's workers
the most.
Q You mentioned Mr.
Reich. Senator Dodd has repeated his view that that
nomination is dead. What is your reaction to that, and what
are your options now for that nomination?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, that would be very
unfortunate. If that were the case, that would be contrary
to what Senator Dodd had said earlier in the year, and that would be a
big disappointment. I'm not prepared to discuss what options
the President would take. The President hopes that would not
be the ultimate outcome.
Q And in what way is that contrary to what
Senator Dodd had said before, and why is this nomination important to
the President?
MR. FLEISCHER: On previous occasions, I've read
statements from Senator Dodd, a statement that he made back in 1995
about the right of everybody -- in one particular case, somebody to
have a hearing, have a vote on the floor. He talked about
how wrong it was not to allow a nominee to proceed and have a vote on
the floor. I would hope that the same standard that Senator
Dodd stood strong for on principal then, he will stand strong for on
principal now.
Q I'm sorry, why is that nomination
important to the President?
MR. FLEISCHER: Otto Reich's nomination? Otto
Reich is nominated to be Assistant Secretary of State for the Western
Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere is a very important
region for the United States, particularly in these troubling times,
with Argentina facing economic difficulties, with the drug trade and
the intervention we need to prevent drugs from coming into the United
States from Central American and Latin American countries.
Latin America, Central America, Western Hemisphere are very
important regions that have an impact on life in this
country. And it's important for the President to have his
foreign policy team in place. If people have principled
objections, let them voice them on the floor in the process of a
vote. But it's wrong to deny a vote on the basis of one
senator's objections.
Q Ari, I want two
questions. Latin America -- one has to do with Otto Reich
and the other one with Argentina. Let me start with Otto
Reich. Senators Christopher Dodd and Michael Enzi, who is a
Republican, and Dodd is a Democrat, have written the President asking
him to strongly -- not to give a recess appointment to Mr. Otto Reich
for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere
Affairs.
Our opposition to this nomination is well-known, but what is less
well-known is that many of our colleagues, including our colleagues on
the Foreign Relations Committee, have quietly supported our efforts to
prevent this nomination from going forward. We are aware
that some are urging you to circumvent the Senate and give a recess
appointment to Mr. Reich. We have discussed at length with
administration officials our reasons for opposing Mr. Reich's
nomination, but we stand ready to discuss the matter and the view at
your request. What does the White House say to this?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, again, that question was asked in a
different form earlier about recess appointments and I've answered the
question.
Q But would the President be willing to meet
with Senators Dodd and Enzi on this matter?
MR. FLEISCHER: I haven't seen the letter. The
President is always willing to listen to people's views. But
at the end of the day, it's important for the Senate to schedule a vote
and not hold up Mr. Reich's nomination.
Q Can I ask on Argentina now?
MR. FLEISCHER: Go ahead.
Q As is well-known, the President of
Argentina, Fernando de la Rua, submitted his resignation
yesterday. President Bush has had a very personal
relationship with Mr. de la Rua, he has met with him here at the White
House, met with him at the U.N. and met with him, I think, once or
twice on international events. And you have called him a
strong ally and good friend of the United States.
How does the President view what happened to Mr. de la Rua, and
what is the United States willing to do now with whatever eventual new
government comes in?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, Argentina is our neighbor;
Argentina is an ally of the United States; and the United States and
Argentina share many values and interests. Argentina has a
strong and a vibrant democracy and the President has confidence in the
strength of the Argentine institutions. And he reiterates his
confidence in Argentina's standing as one of the Western Hemisphere's
leading democracies.
Q But on the economic side, is the United
States willing to do something? The situation there is
getting to be chaotic.
MR. FLEISCHER: It's important for Argentina to continue
to work through the International Monetary Fund on sound
policies. There will be a statement coming out later today
by the President, by the Presidents of Canada and Mexico on this topic;
a joint statement, as well. So you can look forward to
having that sometime early this afternoon.
Q Ari, on the bin Laden video that the
government released last week, can you offer assurances that the
omissions in the government-supplied translation were not deliberate?
MR. FLEISCHER: Mark, I think Secretary Rumsfeld
addressed that very eloquently earlier today, when he said, number one,
this tape doesn't change anything -- or, this translation doesn't
change anything about the facts in the case. The Department
of Defense translators worked very diligently on a very short timetable
to put together a faithful translation and that's what they
did. And if you note on the cover note of what the
Department of Defense put out, they wrote "due to the quality of the
original tape, it is not a verbatim transcript of every word spoken
during the meeting; but does convey the messages and information flow."
So I think what you saw was the very best effort possible and, as
the Secretary said about the translation of Arabic, it's not a precise
art that is agreed to by every translator.
Q So absolutely nothing happened to be left
out that could have been embarrassing to Saudi Arabia?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think this whole contention that there
was something deliberately left off is a far-fetched one.
Q Ari, if an agreement wasn't able to be
reached on the stimulus before the Christmas break, why should anyone
expect that one will be reached when the Congress comes back?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, it's hard to say. But,
perhaps, when senators go home -- particularly the Democratic
leadership goes home and they hear from unemployed constituents who
want their jobs back, or they hear from people who are clinging to the
jobs they have and they don't want to be let go, it can have an impact
on the Senate. That's why, again, these decisions that
senators make do affect people's livelihoods. And there are
people who are hurting. And the President thinks it's
important that senators listen to their voices.
Q Ari, it's also a major political issue, is
the President planning to be more out there, in terms of campaigning
for candidates? He's let Cheney and other people in the
administration sort of do that, attend the fundraisers more recently .
Do you expect come January that we'll see more?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, separating the stimulus from the
immediate question of campaigning, I do expect that. I do
think the President in 2002 will campaign for
candidates. The President thinks it's very important for
people who support his agenda to be in the Congress.
I think it's fair to say that if the Senate were under Republican
control, the stimulus would have at least been scheduled and likely
have been passed. So, clearly, there are differences that
result in whether the Congress is in Democratic or Republican
hands. And the President thinks it's very important to have
people in Congress who support his agenda.
Q Can you say if he's going to attend
Governor Jeb Bush's big fundraiser in January?
MR. FLEISCHER: We'll keep you informed closer to the
event.
Q Two quick questions. One, Ari,
we are at the end of --what do you think -- who deserves the front
cover of the magazines and newspapers and televisions? Where
does Osama bin Laden stand? And also, as far as President
Bush is concerned, what he thinks, where he should be -- his place
should be at this time?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as far as what President Bush
thinks, I think he leaves those judgments to others. As far
as what I happen to think about what should be on the front pages of
the nation's newspapers, magazines, TV shows, my influence is
small. That's up to others to make those calls. (Laughter.)
Q Awww.
Q Time Magazine is proceeding; they have
already Osama bin Laden. What do -- do you think he deserves this
title, to be on the front cover?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's not my place to tell magazines who
to put on their covers.
Q And another question is, as far as World
Trade Center is concerned, many of the people who died there were
illegal immigrants. Where is your task force, now they're asking
President to provide some kind of legal status for their families and
financial help. What can the President --
MR. FLEISCHER: As you know, there has been a master
appointed at the Department of Justice to administer the claims -- a
former aide to Senator Kennedy. And the process is underway
so people can receive the compensation. No amount of money
can, of course, make up for what was lost. The process is
set up and this will be administered through the Department of Justice
in accordance with the rules that have been set up.
Q How about the families have no legal
status? Where do they stand?
MR. FLEISCHER: You'll have to ask that to the attorneys
who are involved.
Q What is your assessment of the in-fighting
going on among the Palestinians, and your reaction to the Hamas
statement, especially about the fact that Hamas says it's still all
right to launch suicide attacks in the West Bank and Gaza?
MR. FLEISCHER: On the Hamas statement, the President
believes that all terrorist activities everywhere must
cease. And he believes that Chairman Arafat is the one who
can make that happen and needs to take the action to stop
terrorism. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it's
Chairman Arafat's responsibility as a leader in the region to stop the
terrorism so that peace can take hold.
We'll go to Lester early today.
Q Thank you. Senator Grassley of
Iowa said, I don't know where Senator Daschle is going to spend the
holidays, but I would hate to be in South Dakota and face the
unemployed workers. And my question: Does the
President share Senator Grassley's pungent estimate of the
Daschle-Democrat recession enhancement?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I addressed this
earlier. There are real consequences to the decision that
the Democratic leaders of the Senate made by going home without
addressing the nation's unemployment problems. And the
President regrets that. He's disappointed by that.
This is not a personal matter. Senator Daschle is a good
man, in the President's estimation, who has a very difficult
job. Nevertheless, he believes that the decision that was
made by the Senate Democratic leadership was the wrong decision that is
going to make it harder to help the unemployed and harder to help
people who right now are clinging to their jobs and worried they're
going to get laid off.
Q Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick said, the PLO
has definitely been a terrorist organization, engaging in the
assassination of the American ambassador in Sudan and the murder of
Israeli athletes in Munich. And my question is, does the
President believe Ambassador Kirkpatrick is wrong, or will he add the
PLO to the list of terrorist organizations on his executive order?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think the President is focused on the
Oslo Accords and the results that have been achieved since a peace
process has begun. And under that peace process, Yasser Arafat has
committed himself to foregoing violence, to recognizing Israel's right
to live in security. And that is the agreement made by
Yasser Arafat that the President will hold him accountable to.
Q He thinks the PLO is not a terrorist
organization, then, is that right, Ari?
MR. FLEISCHER: The Palestinian Authority has entered
into a peace agreement, and that's what the President is focused on.
Q How about the PLO, though? Is
the PLO a terrorist organization, or not?
MR. FLEISCHER: If you're looking back in history,
there's no question that it was. But the focus right now is
on --
Q Oh, it's no longer?
MR. FLEISCHER: -- what's happening with the Palestinian
Authority in the wake of the Oslo Accords.
Q Can I follow on the stimulus
question? The President was asked what the impact was to the
stimulus bill not passing. He said, we'll see. And he was
asked, is it a must, and he said, basically, we'll see, or no. Why are
you being so much more clear about what the impact will be --
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President also said he was
disappointed that it had not been passed. And the reason the
President was disappointed are for the exact reasons I articulated.
Q Yes, but he wasn't nearly as clear about
what the impact would be -- do you know why that is?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think we're saying the same thing,
Ron. When I was asked earlier about the effect of no
stimulus on the economy, and when the President says, "we'll see," it's
because he's seen the estimates of what economic growth could be with a
stimulus or without a stimulus. And clearly, private sector
forecasters do believe the economy is coming back next year, in good
part because of the stimulative effect of the previous tax cut that was
put into law.
But private sector forecasters also believe it will be less robust
without the stimulus, and that costs jobs.
Q Ari, related to that, this is the time of
year usually when the President and OMB are making final decisions on
the new budget presentation for February of next year. What
kind of impact do you think that not getting the economic stimulus
package may have on the presentation of the new budget in February?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, it really doesn't change
anything. The President thought the stimulus was the right
thing to do, and therefore, he advocated it. It would
probably have resulted in higher growth, meaning more revenues, had it
been passed, as a result of it having that stimulative effect on the
economy. But for the numbers that OMB is putting together,
their numbers have to be based on the actual numbers in the economy,
and without a stimulus they will have to take that into account.
Q You don't think policy will change in
terms of presentation of tax policy or spending policy, related to the
failure on the stimulus?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I'm not going to, at this point,
indicate everything that's going to be in the budget next
year. That's an announcement for next year.
Q Back to Argentina. What lessons
are we to draw from that event? I mean, is Argentina the victim of
impersonal globalization forces, or is this the result of bad
policies?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's not something that I'm qualified
to judge. The situation in Argentina is a very complicated
one. I think different people in Argentina and different
experts outside Argentina will probably give you different
reasons. By all accounts, it does look like there is no
contagion as a result of what's happening in Argentina. It
does look likes it's isolated to Argentina, and that's a helpful fact.
Q But our policy response will certainly to
be governed by the kind of judgment that is made as to the causes of
what's happened.
MR. FLEISCHER: I think that's a fair
question. I think that's a question that needs to be
addressed to perhaps the Treasury Department or some of the private
sector people who are more expert in that area.
Q Ari, can you describe the torch ceremony
that is going to take place at the White House tomorrow?
MR. FLEISCHER: Tomorrow morning at the White House the
Olympic torch will be arriving, en route to Salt Lake City, as it
crosses its path around the world. The President will be
here tomorrow to welcome two runners to the White House who will be
carrying the torch -- one into the White House, one out of the White
House. Both people's lives were touched on September 11th in
the tragedy, and the President is very proud to welcome them to his
home in Washington and to see them carry the torch for our nation.
Q Is he still hoping to go to the Olympics,
himself?
MR. FLEISCHER: If there are any announcements to be made
on travel, we'll have those closer to the event.
Q What time is the torch ceremony?
MR. FLEISCHER: At 8:20 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Q Ari, on a lighter note, there are accounts
in Boston that President Bush called the chief executive of the Red Sox
and the Baseball Commissioner during the sale negotiations
yesterday. I'm wondering what you can tell me about those
phone calls, and also, generally, what's his reaction to the historic
sale?
MR. FLEISCHER: I've not talked to him about the sale of
the Red Sox. And he hasn't indicated anything to me about any phone
calls he made. I'll be happy to look into that.
Q The long-term rebuilding costs in
Afghanistan run into the tens of billions of dollars. What
level of commitment does the administration have to that
process? And has the President talked about any specific
kinds of programs he favors for the economic development of the
region?
MR. FLEISCHER: As you know, there have been and are
continuing to be a series of meetings with international leaders on the
reconstruction of Afghanistan, now that the interim government has been
put into place.
The President is very committed to the future stability of
Afghanistan. And that will be reflected in the developments
in Afghanistan. As you know, the United States has been and
will continue to be the world's largest supplier of food to the people
of Afghanistan. And certainly, as a result of the military
operations underway in Afghanistan, Afghanistan now, for the first time
in decades, has a chance to have a stable future.
Q Ari, there's a report that a convoy of
Afghan tribal elders was hit near Tora Bora
accidentally. Can you shed any light on that?
MR. FLEISCHER: No. That's something you need
to take up with DOD.
Q Can we go back to Time Magazine person of
the year? I know you would never tell a magazine what they
should do, but if their criteria is as it has been in the past, the
person who has changed our lives the most for better or worse, why
shouldn't it be Osama bin Laden? Or, what sort of message do
you think it would send if they do go that way?
MR. FLEISCHER: I appreciate the opportunity to get
myself into hot water telling the press how to do its
business. (Laughter.) We've tried that
before. No, that's just not something I'm going to get
into. That's the decision that the media has to
make. Whatever decision they make, I, myself will read US
News, Newsweek, and Time that same week.
Q And National Journal.
MR. FLEISCHER: And National
Journal. (Laughter.)
Q Ari, as we enter the holidays, and then
come to a new year, is there any concern as things are sort of ending a
little bit in Afghanistan, any concern that sort of the American
people -- the resolve of the American people won't remain
in terms of going after bin Laden or a broader
war against terrorism? Is there any concern at all?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I think as the President looks
back on the year and what a remarkable first year it's been in so many
ways, from the closeness of the election that did not end to the
recount, the close division in the Congress and then what has been
accomplished through the year, I think one of the things the President
is very, very proud of is the way the country has rallied, pulled
together, and focused so strongly on defending our values, and being
willing to see it through at great length.
And I think that was clear right away from the American
people. When the American people saw and felt the horror of
what happened when our nation was attacked, this country
rallied. And the President played his role in helping make
that rally take place. But I think one of the things he
really looks at is the resolve, the strength, the fortitude of our
country for the long-term.
And the President has said that he is patient and he will be
patient. There is no telling how long this will go, and the President
reminds the American people this is just phase one. And the
reason for that is because the President does believe that this is our
generation's chance to do something for the next generation, to put an
end to terrorism around the world. And that's what this is
focused on for the President. And the support of the
American people gives the President the strength to do that.
Q Thank you.
Q Happy holidays.
MR. FLEISCHER: Thank you. Yes, on that note,
let me just take a personal note, just to say this is the final
briefing of the year. And for all of us in the White House,
this has just been a very remarkable first year. You know,
we still feel like we're all new here. And many of you
people in the White House press corps are parts of institutions that
have been --
Q You are new --
MR. FLEISCHER: We are new
here. (Laughter.) Well, you guys aren't. I want
to just wish every one of you and your families a great, great New
Year, a Merry Christmas. It's really been fun working with
you. This is a fun relationship. I know I don't
answer all your questions --
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12/21/01 - #126
Q You can say that
again. (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: But that's why I love working
here. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Q Same to you.
Q New Year's resolutions?
MR. FLEISCHER: More briefings.
END 1:25
P.M. EST
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