For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 12, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:10 P.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. I'd like to start off with
touching on tomorrow a little bit. The President, tomorrow in Florida,
will visit the Englewood Neighborhood Center. It's a multipurpose
community center in Orlando. And he will begin the event by
participating in a roundtable meeting with Governor Bush and seniors on
Medicare.
The President will continue to urge Congress to act to strengthen
and modernize Medicare for America's seniors. We have a historic
opportunity before us to get this passed this year, and improve
Medicare for America's seniors. There are some 10 million seniors
today who have no coverage for prescription drugs. These seniors are
now bearing the full impact of rising drug costs, and many are being
forced to decide between paying their bills or purchasing the needed
medicines that they need. And that's wrong. We have a historic
opportunity before us to create a new prescription drug benefit under
Medicare that will enable our seniors without drug coverage to
essentially cut their drug bills by about half. It will also provide
more choices and better benefits under Medicare, similar to what
members of Congress enjoy today, and will provide even greater savings
to our low-income seniors. And it will give all seniors savings
through a Medicare discount drug card.
One item to note of significance here is that this speech will be
simulcast via satellite to five events occurring around the country.
Those events are taking place in Phoenix, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver,
and Philadelphia. And they're being sponsored by either the AARP or
the Coalition for Medicare Choices. The speakers at those events
include CMS Administrator Scully, CDC Director Gerberding, Surgeon
General Carmona, NIH Director Zerhouni, and that guy over at the FDA.
(Laughter.)
And with that I will be glad to go into questions.
Q Scott, what did these meetings with Ambassador Bremer yield,
if anything? Any decisions? What message does Bremer take back to
Iraq now?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you heard Ambassador Bremer address some of this earlier today. He will -- well, one, we have --
Ambassador Bremer has been having some very positive and constructive
discussions with the Governing Council and Iraqis generally on the way
forward. And that's what we're talking about here, is how best to move
forward on transferring sovereignty as quickly as possible to the Iraqi
people, making sure that it is done the right way. We have set out a
course; we will stay that course. And we will move as quickly as
possible to work with the Governing Council and the Iraqi people to
achieve a free, peaceful, and democratic future.
Q Can you give us any glimpse into what the President thinks or
the options that Bremer presented to him, and where this is going?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that it -- that Ambassador Bremer
will be going back to Iraq to discuss some of what took place here in
these discussions, and talk with them and listen to -- continue to
listen to their ideas, and other leaders in Iraq, as well. But one
thing that he will continue to make clear to the Governing Council and
the Iraqi people is that the United States remains steadfast in our
commitment to prevailing and defeating the Baathist holdouts and the
foreign fighters. And we remain firmly committed to moving as quickly
as possible toward transferring sovereignty and realizing a peaceful,
free, and sovereign Iraq for the Iraqi people.
Q But, Scott, the reality is that this December 15th deadline
kind of makes all this talk cheap. I mean, this is an intense period.
That's what Ambassador Bremer said. So obviously you're not going to
get in on the record what he's going to go back and tell them, but will
you at least confirm that there is a new idea, a new direction that
this administration is taking back to the IGC to speed up a transfer of
power?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, we've talked about how we're working to
accelerate our efforts on all fronts, and that includes the political
front, in addition to the security front and the reconstruction and
economic front. It's important that we continue to accelerate our
efforts. And as the Iraqi people and the Governing Council are ready
to assume more and more responsibility, we continue to turn that
authority over --
Q But is that yes or no --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- to the Governing Council and the Iraqi people.
We are, as you mentioned, in an intense period of discussions with the
Governing Council, with the Iraqi people and within the administration,
as well. This is an important phase. You have a number of important
things that have happened recently. There is a lot of activity going
on. You had Congress act to pass the wartime supplemental, which
included some significant resources on the reconstruction front to help
the Iraqi people move forward on the reconstruction and economic front
-- which is also important to the security front, as well, because as
we move forward on that front, it helps improve security.
You had the donors conference, where the international community
made a significant commitment to the Iraqi people because they realize
how high the stakes are in Iraq. Then you have this United Nations
deadline of December 15th for the Governing Council to provide a time
line for the drafting of the constitution and the conducting of
elections. And we are working closely with the -- Ambassador Bremer,
specifically, is working closely with the Governing Council to meet
that deadline.
Q Yes or no, is there a new direction, a new idea that he is
taking back?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we're staying the course to realize our same
goal. I think we're having some serious discussions about the best way
to move forward. And those discussions include discussions with the
Governing Council. They have a lot of ideas. The cabinet ministers
are playing an important role. There's a lot of important progress
being made on a number of fronts. Obviously, there are difficulties
that remain, there are dangers that remain. But it's important that we
continue moving forward as quickly as we can on all these fronts.
Q Can I just follow up? What evidence is there, specific
evidence, that the Iraqis are prepared to take over political control
of their country on an expedited schedule?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, that's why I emphasized that we're
working closely with the Governing Council, with the ministers that
were appointed by the Governing Council, and moving as quickly as we
can to transfer that responsibility as they are ready to assume more
and more responsibility. They continue to assume more and more
responsibility. I think you see that the Governing Council is working
to become more effective. The Iraqi ministers are taking control over
their ministries and making more decisions on a daily basis. The
rebuilding of the infrastructure is moving forward, and Iraqis also are
moving to assume more and more responsibility in the security forces,
as well.
That's why I talk about the progress being made. They're already
assuming more and more responsibility and we want to continue working
with them. This is -- yes, there will be tough days ahead, there will
be difficulties ahead. It's not easy transitioning after 30 years of
being under a brutal, oppressive regime that had no concern for the
people of that nation. It's not easy to transition to democracy. But
the Iraqi people deserve a better future, and that's what we're working
with our coalition to help them realize.
Q Scott, do you believe or not believe that Iraqis are losing
confidence in the occupation?
MR. McCLELLAN: I believe that the Iraqi people want the coalition
and the international community to stay the course and finish the job.
And that's exactly what we will do. There are those holdouts of the
former regime and foreign fighters in the country that seek to spread
fear and chaos. They seek to intimidate America. They seek to
intimidate the coalition and they seek to spread fear and chaos among
the Iraqi people. They will not prevail. We will stay the course. We
will prevail. This is a very important cause. The stakes are very
high. Everybody realizes that, including those that are the enemies of
the Iraqi people and that do not want to see a brighter future for the
Iraqi people -- a free and peaceful and democratic future.
Q But do you acknowledge that the Iraqis from time to time may
get frustrated or disillusioned with the occupation?
MR. McCLELLAN: Obviously, you can understand some of the concerns
of the Iraqi people that they express. But the Iraqi people see a
better day coming and appreciate, I think, the efforts that are being
made to help them achieve a free, peaceful, and sovereign future as
quickly as possible. But it's important to, as we move forward
quickly, to make sure that it's done right. And that's why we continue
to have serious consultations, not only within the administration, but
on a daily basis with the Governing Council and leaders in Iraq.
Q Scott, today the President not only acknowledged, but went
out of his way to talk about the deaths of those Italians in a bombing
this morning in Iraq. He offered his condolences; he offered some
words of support to Mr. Berlusconi. Why does he go out of his way to
do that when it's Italians who died, and last week there was no
mention, specifically, by the President of the two helicopters that
went down killing Americans?
MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree with the whole premise of the way you
phrased that question. The President talks on a regular basis about
how we mourn the loss of every one of our men and women in the military
who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom and the
defense of making America more secure for generations to come. They
are involved in a very important cause. And we are forever grateful
for the service and sacrifice of every one of our men and women in the
military who are serving in Iraq.
We also mourn the loss of life when members of the coalition forces
pay the ultimate sacrifice. And the President talks often about that.
But the cause is important, and what we are trying to achieve is not
only a safer world, but a better world and a more secure America. Our
men and women in the military understand their mission and understand
the stakes involved here. and they are carrying it out in an exemplary
way, and they will succeed in their objectives.
Q Why would he not have referenced the two helicopters that
went down in such a specific way, as he did today reference the
bombing?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we were in -- I guess it was California,
last week -- I've lost track with all the travel -- but the President
actually did talk about those who lost their life in that helicopter
downing.
Q Not a specific way, though.
Q Only when he was asked --
Q Some members of the Governing Council are talking about
establishing a provisional government. Is that an attractive
possibility to you?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, this is kind of getting into a
discussion of options. That's why Ambassador Bremer is now -- I mean,
he's been having discussions with the Governing Council. Now, as you
heard him say, at the direction of the President, he will be going back
to Iraq and continuing to have some serious conversations with the
Governing Council about how -- what is the best way to move forward,
what is the best way to move forward on the political front, and what
is the best way to achieve our shared goal of a free, peaceful and
democratic Iraq.
Q Did the President today make a decision on the best way to
move forward?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I'm not going to get into speculating
about any timing or any decisions. I think that Ambassador Bremer will
go back and talk with the Governing Council about some of the
discussions that were had here in Washington. He brought here to
Washington some of the views from the Governing Council and the Iraqi
people, themselves. And so now he can go back and talk with the
Governing Council. That's the best way to approach this, because we're
working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi people to achieve our shared goal.
Q Why can't we know if he made a decision?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll come back to you later.
Q Scott, you keep talking about the Governing Council, going
back to them as if this is entirely their decision. We are the
occupying authority under international law. So, separate and apart
from whatever would be the right course, if the President determined
that we're on the wrong course, the Governing Council is on the wrong
course, is it your understanding that as a matter of law he would have
the right, or through Ambassador Bremer, the right to impose a
different way, a different method of doing elections, a different way
of appointing an executive? I'm not asking you about what the options
are; I'm asking you what your understanding is of the legal authority
vested --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, we believe we are on the right
course and that what we are working to achieve in Iraq will bring about
a safer and better world and a more secure America. So we are on the
right course. There are difficulties any time you are trying to
transition to democracy. Our own country faced those difficulties and
went through a period of years to transition to a democracy.
And so we will continue working with the Governing Council and
leaders in Iraq as we move forward. That's what we are doing. That's
what we have been doing. You're asking me to speculate beyond some of
those discussions that have yet to occur.
Q I'm not asking you to speculate about it. I'm asking you
what your legal authority is.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not in a position -- I'm not a lawyer -- to
talk about what all the legal authorities are. But I know the course
that we are taking is the right course, and it's for the right
reasons. And we will stay that course, and we will finish the job that
we are undertaking.
Q So the answer to the question is, the White House does not
know what its legal authorities are --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm saying I don't know -- I don't know all the
legal authorities.
Q Can you take the question and come back to us with the
answer?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I'll see what I can do.
Q I have a follow on that, and then another question, too.
Maybe you just answered that. But the President kept saying that we
are in war, we're at war. It's my understanding, though, that there
hasn't been a declared state of war since World War II. Have we
declared war?
MR. McCLELLAN: War was declared on America on September 11, 2001,
when some 3,000 people lost their lives here in America. And this is
the war on terrorism. The President has made that very clear. And
this war continues. This war will be a long war, but we will see it
through and we will prevail until we rid the world of those who seek to
spread fear and chaos, and seek to take the lives of innocent people,
and seek to attack the civilized world.
Q Sorry to sound like a lawyer, but for legal and diplomatic
reasons, then, we are in a declared state of war?
MR. McCLELLAN: We are at war on terrorism. The President has made
--
Q Okay, one more --
MR. McCLELLAN: The President made that very clear. Let me keep
moving.
Q Let me try this this way, then a quick follow-up. Coming
into these meetings with Ambassador Bremer, the President's position
was for the new Iraqi government to be viewed as legitimate. He wanted
to have a constitution drafted, and then have free and fair and
democratic elections. Understanding that you say the final decision
has to be made in conjunction with the Governing Council, has the
President now authorized and embraced a change in that system that
could see an interim constitution and an interim appointed Iraqi
administrator?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that the way we are approaching this is
working closely with the Governing Council and Iraqi leaders. And so
Ambassador Bremer will go and continue to have some discussions with
the Governing Council. That's what he is doing. He came here and
briefed the President on some of the ideas from discussions that he had
with Iraqis and with the Governing Council about moving forward. This
is all part of consultations about how -- what is the best way to move
forward. And that's --
Q But as he said, he was going back with a message from the
President --
MR. McCLELLAN: I know, and you're asking --
Q -- and others have said the President has made decisions.
The American people are being asked, and Congress has approved, $66
billion in spending next year in Iraq, including $20 billion in
outright grants, for the reconstruction of a country that has the
world's second largest oil reserves. Do the American people have no
right to any insight into the President's decisions about -- your
answering a question about whether he has made a fundamental change in
the administration's approach?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, John, keep in mind, we regularly provide
people to brief the American people and take questions from you all in
the press corps. We do that on a regular basis and we're very up-front
about what we are doing. And you're asking me to get into speculation
about certain options or ways forward --
Q I'm not asking you to speculate. I'm asking you what the
President told Ambassador Bremer to go tell the Council.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, you're asking me to talk about possible
options about the best way forward. I think those are discussions that
are best had talking with the Governing Council. They have ideas --
talking with them about the best way forward. That's what we're
doing. That's the best way to approach this.
Q Scott, just to take a half-step back, in seems
incontrovertible that a number of senior officials' schedules had to be
rejuggled to make these meetings happen the last couple of days. Who
called this meeting? And can you sort of give us a tick-tock on how it
came to be?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think those are discussions that are had
between senior administration officials, including Ambassador Bremer in
the region. We have those discussions about -- recognizing that this
is an important period that we're in right now, that there's a lot of
activity going on. And I think those discussions were had with all
those concerned and the decision was made that it was best to have some
further in-depth discussions about what we are working on as we move
forward.
Q Did the President say, let's have this meeting, let's bring
Bremer back?
MR. McCLELLAN: I mean, again, I think that those are discussions
that are agreed to amongst a group of people, that it was important to
come back and sit down and have some intense discussions about the way
forward. That's what this was about.
Q -- at the U.N. in September, officials vigorously argued that
we could not have an Iraqi government until after a new constitution
was written and after elections were held. Is that still U.S. policy?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that -- again, that would be going
into possible decisions that may be made --
Q No, no, I'm asking you if --
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure, it would. Sure, it would.
Q -- the policy that was articulated and argued at the U.N. in
September is still U.S. policy.
MR. McCLELLAN: The goal remains the same, moving as quickly as
possible, and doing it right, to realize a free, peaceful and sovereign
Iraq for the Iraqi people.
Q Does the policy remain the same?
MR. McCLELLAN: And just like you have to adapt and adjust on the
security front to meet the enemy, you need to be willing to adjust and
adapt to circumstances on the ground, in terms of reconstruction and in
terms of the political front. So it's important to keep that in mind.
No one ever said that it was going to be an easy task, after 30 years
of tyranny and oppression, to transition to a democratic future.
Q I think we all understand that you don't want to get into too
much detail until Ambassador Bremer has had a chance to talk to the
Iraqi Governing Council --
MR. McCLELLAN: Right.
Q I mean, that's clear. But on the other hand, the U.S. has --
MR. McCLELLAN: Because this is about their future and they are
very involved in discussions moving forward.
Q But, on the other hand, when the discussions happen at the
U.N. where that deadline was set, the U.S. was quite clear and drew a
line saying it could not move toward any sort of appointed government
because it would be inappropriate before a constitution was written and
elections were held. So I'm only asking you, does that policy still
stand?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we're having some serious discussions, both
within the administration and with the Governing Council and Iraqi
leaders about the best way to move forward. I think to get too far
into a discussion about what that may look like moving forward would be
getting into speculation at this point.
Q So is everything on the table, then?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let's -- well, we're having discussions with the
Governing Council.
Q Does the U.S. still have positions that -- things it will not
accept?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm trying to think the best way to address that is
to say that we're continuing to have some intense discussions, and
we're having those discussions with the Governing Council and the
leaders in Iraq. I think that's the best way to approach, is to let
those discussions move forward. And then at some point, I think there
will be more to say. But the immediate focus is on this December 15th
United Nations deadline and working with the Governing Council to meet
that deadline, which calls on the Governing Council to set a timetable
for drafting a constitution and holding elections.
Q -- headline today is you won't stand by the policy --
Q -- they're going to make the December 15th --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Any indication they're going to make that deadline?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we already came to you, David. I'll come
back to you later if you'd like. But let's keep moving. Go ahead.
Q Any indication they're going to make that deadline?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry? We are working with them to make sure
they do, and we believe that -- we believe they will.
Q I have two questions. One, you seem to have renamed the
Sunni Triangle the Baathist Triangle. The President used that
expression yesterday; you used it this morning. Have you done that for
strategic reasons because you want to --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think others have used that term, and I think
that's an appropriate way to phrase it. There are -- the Baathists
were part of the brutal regime that was in power under Saddam Hussein,
and I think that's an appropriate way to phrase that area that we're
talking about where dangerous people are and a lot of dangers remain.
Q Are you trying to divide, are you trying to say that the
insurgency --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm just trying to accurately reflect -- accurately
reflect what we're talking about.
Q Okay, second question. Does the President believe that the
Iraqi Governing Council is moving quickly enough, rapidly enough,
expeditiously enough, to write a new constitution, to meet the
deadline, the December 15th deadline?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just answered that, didn't I? I think I
just answered that we're working -- Ambassador Bremer is working
closely with them to meet that deadline. And we believe they will meet
that deadline.
Q Do you believe that the Council is taking advantage of all
its responsibilities and opportunities to --
MR. McCLELLAN: We're continuing to work with the Governing
Council, and they're continuing to become more effective. You have the
Cabinet ministers that were put in place by the Governing Council.
They've assumed responsibility over their respective areas, and they're
overseeing the daily responsibilities they have in those areas. And so
we're continuing to work with them and transfer more and more
responsibility as they are ready to assume that responsibility. So
we are pleased with the progress that is being made by Iraqis in moving
toward assuming more and more responsibility and authority.
Q Scott, on the Medicare bill, is it true that the
administration is softening its position on insisting that there be
private choice in the seniors' plan?
MR. McCLELLAN: We want seniors to have options, more options to
choose from, to have better benefits to choose from. That's what we're
pushing for. That's what we're talking about when we talk about
modernizing and strengthening Medicare, bringing it up to date to give
seniors access to today's health care. There's a lot of technology
that has advanced since Medicare was first created. And that's why
we're working to bring it up to date and give them more choices. They
can stay -- under the approach we're taking, they can obviously stay in
their traditional plan if they so choose, but we want them to have the
option to choose from other plans, as well. And that's where you're
talking about bringing some competition in, which will help give
seniors more choices to choose from and better benefits, and keep those
choices affordable.
Q So you're not softening your position on the choice part of
the bill?
MR. McCLELLAN: We continue to remain very committed to bringing
competition into Medicare.
Q Alabama's Attorney General Bill Pryor has asked that Chief
Justice Roy Moore be removed from office because he opposed a federal
judge's order to remove the Ten Commandments monument from the state's
judicial building. And my question -- I have a two-part -- since the
U.S. Supreme Court Building has Ten Commandments monuments, and they
open every one of their sessions with a prayer, does the President
support Attorney General Pryor's demand for Chief Justice Moore's
ouster since the President, as I understand it, nominated Pryor for a
federal judgeship?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's an attorney general in the state of Alabama,
and that's an internal state matter.
Q He's appointed this guy at --
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, that is an internal state matter that is going
on there, so we'll leave it to the state.
Q The Boston Globe and other newspapers report that on Sunday,
in a New Hampshire Episcopal church there was both violence, as well as
an assault lawsuit filed over the consecration of a sodomist bishop and
the Episcopal blessing of same-sex unions. And my question: Is the
President grateful that the bishops of the far larger Roman Catholic
church now meeting in Washington have issued a statement defining
marriage as "a lifelong union between a man and a woman"?
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, once again you seem to tie a lot of things
into one question. The President's --
Q -- want to give all sides --
MR. McCLELLAN: The President's views are very well-known when it
comes to the sanctity of marriage, and they remain the same.
Q So he agrees with Catholic bishops? He's glad for that,
isn't he?
MR. McCLELLAN: You know his views very well on the sanctity of
marriage.
Q Scott, what's the evidence that they will be able to meet the
December 15th deadline?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've been working closely with them and
that's what our folks in the region believe; that's what Ambassador
Bremer believes, as well.
Q Mr. Bremer assured the President of that today?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Mr. Bremer assured the President of that?
MR. McCLELLAN: He believes that -- again, I'm not going to get
into specific conversations or discussions about National Security
Council meetings. But he believes that, as well.
Q Scott, can I just switch to the December 15th deadline, to
another December 15th deadline? The World Trade Organization, as you
know, ruled against the U.S. on Monday. And I've heard you say that
you're going to review it carefully, but I haven't heard you say that
you're going to comply with the decision, and I'm a little bit unclear
as to what your thinking is. If there is no compliance, you're still
hoping to avoid the sanctions, or you'll just live with the sanctions?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think, actually, I addressed it the other day in
the gaggle. We are reviewing that decision; we will study it, we will
look at its implications and we will assess all our options.
Q Do you think that if you don't comply with it, you can still
avoid the sanctions somehow?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, there are still steps that have to be
taken, the decision that was announced in the WTO report and there is
still the adoption of those procedures that has to take place. But,
again, it's something that we will carefully review and we'll look at
the implications and we'll assess all our options.
Q And a follow-up to Connie's question, when she asked you
about whether at a state of war, you mentioned that war was declared on
September 11th. Are you now revisiting the link between September
11th, after the President came out and said there was no link?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know exactly what you're referring to and
what I said. I've always said that September -- and the President has
always said that September 11th taught us of the importance of
confronting the new dangerous threats that we face. And that's exactly
what this President is doing, because it's about protecting the
American people. It's also about making the world a safer and better
place. Not only are we confronting the terrorists, but we're also
working on the other side to make the world a better place and improve
conditions that lead to hatred,
and the conditions that create terrorism. And so we're moving
--I'm sorry?
Q Her question was about Iraq, and the answer was September
11th.
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and Iraq is the central front in the war on
terrorism. We've made it very clear that the most dangerous threat we
face in this century is the nexus between terrorist organizations and
outlaw regimes with weapons of mass destruction, and that it's
important to confront those threats.
David, go ahead. I'll come to you.
Q Yes, two points on this. From what Jim was asking about, it
seems clear that if the position at the United Nations from the United
States was that this administration will not recognize an Iraqi
government until there is a constitution drafted and elections held, by
your answers today we can only conclude that that's not necessarily
policy anymore --
MR. McCLELLAN: I wouldn't read anything into what I said, or
anything in or out of what I said.
Q Well, we're going to, we're going to --
MR. McCLELLAN: I understand.
Q -- because what you're saying is that there are serious
discussions --
Q -- stop us --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm just telling -- but I'm just telling you --
Q Tell us why we can't do that.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm just telling you I'm not going to get into
speculation about the --
Q We're asking you to repeat existing policy.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- about the options -- about the options or
discussions that are there.
Q You either stand by that policy or you say they're in serious
discussions which says to us, it may not be policy.
MR. McCLELLAN: There are serious discussions going on about the
best way forward. And --
Q -- you say you're willing to adapt and adjust.
MR. McCLELLAN: And we remain -- we remain committed to -- I think,
again, when you're transitioning to democracy, there always has to be
some flexibility in there as you move forward. And we set up the
Coalition Provisional Authority to work closely with leaders in Iraq.
And that's what the Coalition Provisional Authority is doing, as we
move forward and transfer more and more responsibility as the Iraqi
people are ready to assume those responsibilities.
Q Here's the second point, and I think the American people have
about $150 billion riding on this point, and that is, who decides at
the end of the day what political course is followed? Will it be the
President of the United States, who now occupies Iraq? Or will it be
the Iraqi Governing Council?
MR. McCLELLAN: One, we're on the right course, and we're staying
down the course that we're moving to --
Q You can't answer that question?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- to achieve our shared goal with the Iraqi
people, with the international community, with others, of a free,
peaceful and sovereign Iraq. And these decisions moving forward are
made in consultation with the Governing Council and leaders in Iraq,
with the Iraqi people.
Q The United States decides?
MR. McCLELLAN: This is something that we share, so we're having
those discussions together. And that's the way --
Q But the United States decides?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's the way that I would characterize it.
Q The United States decides, isn't that right?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that you're talking about decisions that
are made in close consultation with the Iraqi people.
Q Beginning at 6:00 p.m. tonight, the Republican majority in
the Senate is staging a 30-hour filibuster buster, marathon debate on
judicial nominees. Does the President have any words of encouragement
for the senators who have to stay up all night?
MR. McCLELLAN: What the President continues to emphasize is that
the Senate needs to move forward and give the -- his nominees an
up-or-down vote. The President has -- that's the responsibility of the
United States Senate, to give those individuals who are highly
qualified an up-or-down vote. And it's unfortunate that some Senate
Democrats have chosen to play politics with our nation's judiciary.
There are positions that need to be filled. And the President has met
his responsibility and put forward highly-qualified nominees,
individuals who are committed to interpreting the law, not making law
from the bench. And there, unfortunately, are some Senate Democrats
that continue to play politics and try to hold those nominees up from
having an up-or-down vote when we know full -- well and full that those
nominees enjoy a majority support of the United States Senate. And
what is suffering is our nation's judicial system, and those -- and the
American people who deserve to have those judges in place.
Q Do you think their actions using the filibuster to require
super majority for -- to bring a vote on these people is
unconstitutional?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that they're bringing attention to a very
important priority for the President of the United States, and that is
filling these posts with qualified individuals, and making sure that
the Senate gives them a up-or-down vote.
Q I was just wondering why this President is unable, working
with a Republican leadership in Congress, to be more effective in
holding down domestic spending, or discretionary spending?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, I think you need to keep a few things in
mind here. We are a nation at war, as we discussed earlier. And the
President will do everything it takes to win the war on terror and
protect the American people. Those -- that is the highest of
priorities, our nation's security. He will also take the action needed
to create the conditions for robust job growth and strengthen our
economy even more. So we will spend what is necessary to win the war
and protect the American -- the lives of Americans here at home.
But when you look beyond the increase in military spending to
address these threats that we face and win the war on terrorism, and
you look beyond the increase in spending for homeland security, I think
you will look that the President has slowed the growth in spending to 6
percent in 2002, 5 percent in 2003, and between 2 and 3 percent for
'04.* That's the discretionary spending when you take out the
increases for defense and homeland security. But the President has an
important responsibility to do everything we can to protect the
American people, and we are meeting that commitment.
Q I had a follow-up. So when he said, 4 percent, he only meant
4 percent outside of defense and homeland security? He didn't mean the
4 percent that he talked about --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that's the way we've always talked about
it. I don't know what specifically you're referring to when he said --
Q He spoke of 4 percent cap on discretionary spending, and has
excoriated Congress when he thought --
MR. McCLELLAN: Are you talking about future budgets, or -- I don't
know which --
Q The budget that he has been talking about since he took
office. He has talked about 4 percent --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's what I pointed out, that when you --
Q He didn't put any asterisks there, Scott.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, we talked about discretionary spending not
related to military and homeland security, that we slowed the growth in
spending to, again, 6 percent in 2002, 5 percent in '03, and between 2
and 3 percent in '04. So the growth in spending is being cut by this
President when it comes to those items that don't directly address the
security of the American people during a time of war.
Q A quick question about next week. There are reportedly
100,000 people that are going to take to the streets in London and
protest against the President. I'm just wondering how concerned is the
White House about the President's security there? There's some talk
that perhaps al Qaeda will take advantage of that kind of a moment, if
there were that many people on the streets, to use it as cover to --
MR. McCLELLAN: The security concerns are always addressed in a
very able manner by those who oversee our security. But people,
obviously, have the right to express their views. That's the strength
of a democratic system. And it's certainly their right to assemble and
express their views in a peaceful way.
Q Scott, has the President been in contact with Tony Blair
about any potential change in American-Iraqi policy?
MR. McCLELLAN: In American-Iraqi policy? He's in regular
consultation, I think, with the Prime Minister, particularly in areas
such as Iraq that are high priority areas. So he's in regular
consultation. I don't have anything that I'm in position to share with
you at this point. But they're in regular consultations on issues such
as that.
Q Scott, I would like to walk out of here 100 percent clear.
Can you tell us, yes or no, whether the President has decided to change
course in Iraq? Has he instructed Bremer to change course?
MR. McCLELLAN: The course is clear. You have to have flexibility
within that course as you move forward. And what we are doing is
having some serious discussions about the best way forward. And those
discussions are being had within the administration, and they're being
had with the Governing Council and leaders in Iraq, as well. And so
that's what we're doing.
Q Has he made a decision about whether to change course on the
transfer of power?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think Ambassador Bremer made it pretty clear that
he'll go back and talk to the Governing Council about some of these
discussions. And then we will go forward from there.
Thank you.
END 1:47 P.M. EST
* In the 2001 budget, the last before President Bush took
office, spending outside of defense and homeland security grew by
nearly 15 percent. The President cut spending growth in this area
(non-defense, non-homeland) to 6 percent in 2002, 5 percent in 2003,
and between 2 and 3 percent for 2004.
The President's budget proposal holds the base of discretionary
government spending growth to 4 percent because government spending
should not grow faster than family incomes.
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