For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 17, 2004
Press Gaggle with Scott Mcclellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Fort Polk, Louisiana
11:43 A.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, good morning. Let's get started. The
President had his usual briefings before departing the White House.
Upon arrival in Fort Polk -- at Fort Polk, there will be a Freedom
Corps greeter, Marguerite or Margie Nobles. She's an active volunteer
with Army Community Service, which is an organization that provides
support programs to assist active and reserve soldiers and their
families. And her husband is a staff sergeant in the Army, currently
serving in Iraq.
Then the President looks forward to making remarks to our troops.
Q Who is he talking to?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President will -- I expect about 15,000 people
to be in attendance; military personnel and families from Fort Polk.
And I expect that he -- in his remarks, he will thank our troops and
express our gratitude to their families, as well, for the sacrifices
that they are making. And he will give an update on the war on
terror. I expect he'll talk about Afghanistan and Iraq. I expect, in
his remarks, that he will focus a little bit on the stakes involved in
Iraq.
I think he will talk about the memo from Zarqawi, and point to
that, and how -- as an example of how the terrorists recognize that the
stakes are very high in Iraq, that they are trying to do everything
they can in Iraq to prevent democracy and freedom from taking root in
Iraq. But they will fail. They recognize that Iraq is the central war
-- central front in the war on terrorism. And I expect the President
will talk about that in his remarks. You might want to pay a little
bit of attention to that aspect of his remarks today.
And following the remarks, the President will have lunch with
National Guardsmen from the 39th Brigade Combat Team. They are -- oh,
let me back up; a little bit about Fort Polk first, Im sorry. Fort
Polk is primarily a training base. It has a population of more than
11,000.
Q How much again?
MR. McCLELLAN: More than 11,000, including military personnel and
family members. It's the home of the Joint Readiness Training Center.
It is also home of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 519th Military
Police Battalion, and a number of other brigades. Fort Polk has been
supporting the war on terror by providing training for the Army's light
infantry and Special Operation forces and by deploying home station
forces in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and
participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
And as I said, the President will have lunch with the 39th Brigade
Combat Team. They are an Arkansas National Guard unit that has been
mobilized. They were mobilized in October. They arrived at Fort Polk
for training on -- in late January. And they will deploy to Iraq in
March. And they will be joining the 1st Cavalry Division and sharing
responsibility for the Baghdad area.
Q How many?
MR. McCLELLAN: How many are deploying?
Q No, how many in the unit?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll try to get you that number.
Q The 1st -- say it again?
MR. McCLELLAN: The 1st Cavalry Division will share responsibility
for the Baghdad area.
And then, following that, the President will meet with families of
some fallen soldiers. And then after that we return back to the White
House this evening.
Q Is this his first time he's met with families of fallen
soldiers?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, he's met on several occasions -- North
Carolina --
Q Will that be a private affair?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q No press?
MR. McCLELLAN: No.
Q There were two who were killed from this base last week, on
the 2nd. Is that -- do you know if those are the families that you're
talking about?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll see what I can get you later, after the visit,
after he visits with the families. I think there are seven families
that will be present, including spouses, parents and children.
Q Most of the people he's talking to today, are they going to
Iraq, coming from Iraq? I'm unclear on --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think it's both. Obviously, I just mentioned the
39th Brigade -- they will be going to Iraq. But this is a training
facility, and I think it will include some that have served in Iraq,
too.
Q There are some who are combat veterans here?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's my understanding. I just mentioned that
they've been involved in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom. So I think it will include both.
Q Do you have any idea how many that he will actually be seeing
during the speech are headed to Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: To what?
Q How many are actually about to go to Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I think Fort Polk can probably get you that
information. You ought to check with Fort Polk.
Q Why a National Guard event now? Why having the President's
picture taken with National Guard troops now?
MR. McCLELLAN: This is an event that's been in the works for
several weeks. And the President -- the President recognizes his most
important responsibility is to protect the American people and our
troops. Both those in the Armed Forces and those in our reserve units
and Guard are playing an important role in helping us confront the
dangerous threats that we face, and make the world a safer and better
place.
So this is an opportunity to not only thank our troops, but thank
their families, and also provide them an update in the war on
terrorism. They're involved in a very important cause, and the
President is forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.
Q By several weeks, you mean before the Democrats raised
questions about the President's service?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, yes.
Q It has nothing to do with that whole controversy, his visit
here today?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, this has to do with the President thanking our
troops for their service and sacrifice in an important cause.
Q I have two quick ones. One, why did he pardon the Plano --
former Plano mayor? I know the details of what -- but why did the
President get involved in that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it went through the standard procedures.
This was a gentleman that has paid his debt to society. He is gravely
ill. And no one -- and it went through the standard procedure, and no
one recommended against granting the pardon.
Q It's because of this request? Is this somebody that he knew,
or somebody his family knew?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he certainly knows his son. But this went
through the standard procedures. This is someone that, like I said, is
terminally ill.
Q Second question is, why does the President continue to take
trips like yesterday, to Tampa, the factory, and consider those
presidential events, talking about the economy, when he really is
addressing very political questions that involve running for election?
MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree. I think he's addressing very important
priorities for the American people. He is the President of the United
States 24/7, and it's his responsibility to talk to the American people
about the actions and policies that we are implementing.
Q But under that definition, he could go until November and
never actually do a political event.
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, he's focused on our nation's priorities right
now. He has said repeatedly that there will be plenty of time to talk
about the campaign and talk about the differences. But just because
it's an election year doesn't mean he stops being President. And it's
important for -- he has traveled across the United States throughout
his presidency, because he believes it's important to get outside
Washington, D.C. and talk to the American people.
And the priority he talked about yesterday is one of our nation's
highest, and that is our economy. And it's important to talk to the
American people about the steps that we have taken to strengthen our
economy, and the additional steps that he is calling on Congress to
take. And that's another reminder, it's important for Congress to
remember that regardless of the fact that we're in an election year,
that there are still important priorities that need to be addressed,
and none more higher than continuing to wage the war on terror and work
to strengthen our economy even more.
Q Scott, this is his first trip to a military base, I think,
since the David Kay report. Does he have a special message he wants to
give the troops in the wake of that report?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I think that what his broader remarks
are about is kind of an update on the war on terrorism and, as I said,
he'll talk about how Iraq is the central front in the war on
terrorism. It's important to keep in mind what we are working to
achieve in Iraq. A free and peaceful Iraq will help bring stability to
a region that has been an exporter of violence in the world. It is a
dangerous region. And our efforts are ongoing in Iraq, and a free and
peaceful Iraq will help make the world a safer and better place, and
help bring about peace and stability in a very volatile region of the
world. And so I think the President will talk about the actions that
we took in Iraq to remove a brutal regime from power and liberate the
Iraqi people.
Q On the situation in Haiti, do you think President Aristide
should leave power early, or stay in power and try to put down this
violent unrest?
MR. McCLELLAN: One, that's a matter for the people of Haiti to
decide. Our focus right now is on working with our partners in the
hemisphere to bring about a peaceful resolution to the situation.
Secretary Powell met with many of his counterparts from the Caribbean
community on Friday. And so that's where our efforts are focused on.
Obviously, I think it's important to keep in mind the need for everyone
to work together to resolve this matter peacefully. We urge all
parties to bring an end to the violence and work toward a peaceful
resolution. And the way we get there is through dialogue and
compromise and negotiations.
Q Is Aristide refusing to talk to these groups?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, certainly there are -- there needs to be some
changes in the way Haiti is governed and the security situation, as
well. And so we would call on President Aristide to make sure he
implements those essential steps to address those matters. But again,
in terms of President Aristide, that's for the people of Haiti to
decide. Right now our focus is on bringing about a peaceful resolution
to the situation in Haiti. We're continuing to work closely with our
partners in the hemisphere, including the Caribbean community and the
Organization of American States.
Q Anything new on elections either in -- election plans in Afghanistan or Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: No. I think you know where both stand. I think
our Ambassador in Afghanistan addressed some of the issues involving
Afghanistan, and I think that President Karzai has, as well. In terms
of Iraq, we continue to look forward to the recommendations from the
United Nations, which we expect soon.
Q -- (inaudible) --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you'd have to ask that of the United
Nations. I think they said they expect it to be very soon. But we are
continuing to work with Iraqi leaders to transfer sovereignty on the
time line outlined in the November 15th agreement.
Q On the week ahead, there were a couple days where there's
nothing. Anything that you can tell us about those days yet?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, tomorrow he's got the meeting with the leader
of Tunisia. That's the only update -- I mean, that's already on your
schedule. No updates beyond that right now. But I will keep you
updated.
Q Is there another ranch trip in addition to the one -- the Fox
one?
MR. McCLELLAN: You're asking me for the week ahead on Monday?
Q Tuesday.
MR. McCLELLAN: Two weeks ahead? (Laughter.)
Q How about the month ahead?
MR. McCLELLAN: We'll keep you updated on the schedule. You've got
the trip with President Fox coming up.
Q You don't know of another one?
MR. McCLELLAN: Before that? No, at this point, I don't expect
that. Not before that. I don't expect it before that.
Okay, thanks.
END 11:58 A.M. EST
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