For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 14, 2003
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan Briefs Reporters Sunday
9:14 A.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning. I want to run through a little bit
of yesterday and today, how the President was informed about this.
Secretary Rumsfeld called the President at about -- approximately
3:15 p.m., yesterday. The President was at Camp David. The Secretary
informed the President that U.S. forces believed that they had captured
Saddam Hussein. Secretary Rumsfeld -- well, let me back up. The
conversation began by Secretary Rumsfeld saying, something to the
effect of: Mr. President, the first reports are not always accurate.
The President interrupted the Secretary and said: This sounds like
it's going to be good news. And Secretary Rumsfeld then continued and
said: General Abizaid called me, he feels confident that we got Saddam
Hussein. The President said: Well, that is good news. (Laughter.)
Both expressed --
Q Did he use the word "confident"? I'm sorry. He used the
word "confident"?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't know the Secretary's exact words, but
essentially something to that effect.
Both expressed some caution at this point, because it was not
confirmed. The President and the Secretary talked about how --
discussed the potential that this could be an impostor, so they were
still cautious at that point. The President felt that -- the President
said that this ought to be reported from the theater, it is a military
matter. The Secretary agreed with him.
The President asked him how confident General Abizaid was, and the
Secretary said that he was very confident. And the President asked him
how they know that it was Saddam Hussein. Secretary Rumsfeld at that
point, I guess, gathered a little bit more information, called the
President back and informed him General Abizaid had confirmed through
some identifying marks on Saddam Hussein, and I think you can probably
get that from General Abizaid, himself.
Q What time was that call?
MR. McCLELLAN: This was all pretty -- shortly after the initial
call.
Q This is still yesterday?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, this is shortly after the initial call at 3:15
p.m.
Q Where was Abizaid?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he was in Iraq.* The President said that he
was going to call the Vice President and Dr. Rice. The Secretary said
something about who would contact Secretary Powell, and the President
said he'll have Condi inform Secretary Powell and Andy Card. The
President then informed the Vice President and Dr. Rice. He was at
that point, as I said, still reserved in his judgment, expressing some
caution.
The President also in that period told Mrs. Bush that: It looks
like we've captured Saddam Hussein, and she said: Great.
Q But Cheney was his first phone call after learning about
this?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll try to double check that. I know he contacted
the Vice President and Dr. Rice right after he got off the phone.
Q So Rice told --
MR. McCLELLAN: She informed Secretary Powell and Andy Card.
Q You don't have the President's words when he told Cheney or
Rice?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think it was -- I was just kind of describing
the way he was looking at it.
MR. McCORMACK: She also talked to Tenet, too.
MR. McCLELLAN: And Director Tenet. Okay.
Q Where?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry? Well, she's here.
MR. McCORMACK: I don't know where she was.**
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, we'll double check that for you. But the
President called her.
Then a little bit after 5:00 a.m., this morning, Ambassador Bremer
called Condi to confirm that it was Saddam Hussein. And at 5:14 a.m.,
Condi called the President and reported to him, and that was
essentially confirmation that we got Saddam Hussein at that point.
Q Was he asleep at the time?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me double check. I suspect he was already
awake at that point, but let me double check that.***
Q He had not been briefed in between the two calls?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Had he not been briefed in between the two calls?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll try to double check that. I'm sure that there
were conversations throughout the day, but those are the ones I know
of.
Let's see, this morning the President -- Senator Frist contacted
the President this morning. The President spoke with Prime Minister
Blair. He spoke with --
Q When?
MR. McCLELLAN: This was a little bit after 8:00 a.m., this
morning.
He spoke with Director Tenet. The President also spoke with Mr.
Pachachi the acting president if the Iraqi Governing Council, and
expressed his congratulations. The President -- oh, I might add, too,
that -- let me back up on the calls.
The President and Mrs. Bush watched the briefing this morning. The
President was particularly moved to see the outburst of joy from the
Iraqis during the briefing, the Iraqi journalists.
Q Was he in the residence?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he was in the residence at that point. And,
getting back to the calls. When we he was talking to Mr. Pachachi, the
President let him know that he was very moved by the outburst of joy
from the Iraqis during the briefing. And the President said that he
believes in the future of the Iraqi people. He's also spoken with
Secretary Rumsfeld this morning; he spoke with General Abizaid, to
congratulate our troops; and he's spoken with Secretary Powell. And
last I left the Oval, President Aznar. I think that's --
Q Powell and then --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Abizaid, Powell and Aznar were the others?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, Aznar.
Q And he talked to Rummy this morning, also?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q Were all those calls from the Oval?
MR. McCLELLAN: And he will be making -- he's making additional
world leader calls; I'll keep you posted as I can.
Q Are we going to hear from him today?
MR. McCLELLAN: He will be talking to other coalition partners and
world leaders, as well. You can expect to hear from the President at
approximately noon today. He will make remarks in the Cabinet Room, it
will be pool coverage.
Q Cabinet Room, you said?
MR. McCLELLAN: Cabinet Room, pool coverage. Just to give you a
couple general comments, the President believes this is very good news
for the Iraqi people. He is very happy for the Iraqi people. Saddam
Hussein was a brutal, oppressive dictator who was responsible for
decades of atrocities. And the Iraqi people can finally be assured
that Saddam Hussein will not be coming back, and they can see it for
themselves.
The President is particularly proud of our men and women in the
military and all their sacrifices and all their successes that they
have achieved, and he congratulates our troops.
Q Was the President briefed at all on how Saddam Hussein was
found, what Saddam Hussein might have said?
MR. McCLELLAN: He has been briefed on those matters, I don't have
a complete readout of that, but he has been briefed on those matters.
Q Is that pretty much all you've got?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's pretty much it. I will keep you posted, but
you'll hear from the President.
All right, thank you everybody.
END 9:21 A.M. EST
* General Abizaid was in the theater, but not in Iraq.
** Dr. Rice was in Washington.
*** The President was already waking up when Dr. Rice called.
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