For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 3, 2002
Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer
James S. Brady Briefing Room
12:30 P.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. And happy day before Independence
Day to you all. The President this morning had -- began his day with
a CIA briefing, followed by a briefing by the FBI, and then had a
meeting of the National Security Council. the President later this
afternoon will participate in a ceremony where he will sign the Tribal
Colleges and Universities Executive Order, focusing on providing
assistance for education of Indian Americans.
And then later this afternoon, the President will make remarks at
the Bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's voyage of discovery. And the
President, of course, will spend tomorrow, July 4th, in Ripley, West
Virginia, celebrating Independence Day with American citizens.
With that, I'm happy to take any questions. Helen.
Q Can you tell the American people what great threats, if there
are any, will befall the United States on tomorrow, 4th of July? I
mean, there seem to be such a beef-up, and I guess the Washington
police are on the alert and so forth. What has caused this? Do you
have anything concrete to tell us?
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay. The government does not have any specific
information about any threats of a specific nature. But what we do
have is a generalized sense of awareness that there are terrorists who
desire to hit and to strike the United States, particularly
well-attended, populated events. Things such as the Super Bowl, such
as the Olympics have brought together security measures before as
precautions, because when Americans gather in large number it does
present for terrorists tempting, possible opportunities from their
point of view. And we always take precautions in this country. That's
why I alluded to the Super Bowl and the Olympics as prime examples.
Tomorrow, July 4th, is the first July 4th celebration since the
September 11th attack on our country. So as a precaution, the law
enforcement community, the FBI, the federal government are joining
together to take precautions around the country to help protect
American citizens from any type of generalized threat that we may think
is potential.
Q And at the same time, you're not discouraging any crowd
gathering?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, the President of the United States would
encourage the American people to gather, to celebrate, to enjoy
America's independence. The law enforcement community of the United
States will do the worrying. They will take care of the precautions.
And that's true at the state, the local, and the federal level.
Jennifer?
Q On the issue of the President's stock sale, Harkin stock, we
talked about this this morning, that the explanation is that it was a
clerical mistake that the reporting was made very late. And during the
campaign, Bush said that it had been misplaced. Are you saying that
because of your explanation --
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm sorry, during which campaign?
Q His campaign, in 2000.
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay, go ahead.
Q Are you saying that the President was misspeaking at the
time?
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay. Do you have a quote that you can read to
me?
Q He said at the time that he believed that it had been filed
and that the SEC must have lost it.
MR. FLEISCHER: Right, at the time. And I think that's a reference
to what the President, or at that time George W. Bush, said back in
1990, 1991, or 1992.
This is one of the most widely reported stories of the '90s and
then going into the campaign. It's been an issue in his campaigns that
political opponents have raised against him, going back to 1994, in his
first campaign ever for office. In this case, the President filed, as
he was required to do, his form 144s, which is a notice of intent to
sell. That was filed on the day it was supposed to be filed, on time,
June 22nd, 1990. Additional forms, a Form 4, as it's called, was not
filed at the time. The President thought it had been filed at the
time, and indicated so publicly. What happened as a result was, it was
a mixup with the attorneys dealing with the Form 4, and it was filed
later. But it was, indeed, filed.
Q Can you be specific about where the mixup occurred? Was it
with the President's attorneys or with the SEC's attorneys?
MR. FLEISCHER: The Form 4 is required to be filed by
corporations. And so it was corporate attorneys.
Q The reason, of course, that this is now back in the news is
because the President's point in his 10-point plan saying corporate
leaders should be required to tell the public promptly when they buy or
sell company stock for personal gain.
MR. FLEISCHER: Absolutely right.
Q And the SEC concluded that the reporting hadn't been according
to the regulations, even though they decided not to prosecute.
MR. FLEISCHER: You're mixing up two issues involving filing and
involving some other incident that the SEC took a look at and concluded
there's nothing there. And in this case, the key issue is the public
notification. The President believes very much that corporate officers
should disclose their sales, which is what the President did. And that
is available, you all have seen it. And that is the Form 144, with the
President's signature on it, then George W. Bush's signature on it,
filed a notice of intent to sell, filed with the SEC on the date of
that sale.
Q Ari?
MR. FLEISCHER: Elizabeth.
Q Can I just clarify then, so he said in 1990 that the SEC must
have lost it, that's what he thought at the time. But since then he
has said to you today that the attorneys, there was a mixup with the
attorneys. When did he become aware --
MR. FLEISCHER: You've got two issues here. When somebody --
the Form 144 was, indeed, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission --
Q What time would that be for the other form?
MR. FLEISCHER: But when you say the President said in 1990, what
was the question he was asked?
Q What happened to the -- okay, but could you just help us
here? I'm not trying to trip you up here, I'm just trying to get some
information.
MR. FLEISCHER: But I just want you to be precise in the question.
You say, when he said that in 1990 -- there are two forms involved.
He --
Q Which was he referring to?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, which -- what was the question about? When
the question is vague, the answer applies to whatever forms the
President was familiar with.
Q We're not interested in that first form that was filed on
time. We're interested in the second form that wasn't filed on time.
MR. FLEISCHER: But they're both important. The form that was
filed on time clearly shows the President made public his intent to
sell, which took place that day. So if somebody says, did you make the
SEC aware of your intent to sell, obviously, he signed the form, filled
it out, sent it in on time. So I don't think anybody would be
surprised if he says I filled out the form and sent it to the SEC.
Q Let's talk about the second form, when he said the SEC must
have lost it -- he was referring to the second form in the early
'90s, when he said that.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's not clear from the question or from in the
articles that you're looking at. The President's aware of the form
that he filled out. There is nothing in the question that you're
looking at that would lead you to believe that that's a reference to
the Form 4, as opposed to the Form 144.
Q Can we clarify which one we're talking about --
MR. FLEISCHER: The point is -- the point is, the President, the
President believed that all the form were filled out properly by the
attorneys and filed with the SEC, because he knew that he filed his
form with the SEC. And then, it turned out to be a mixup with the
attorneys, where the Form 4s were not filed, and we were able to
ascertain that this week.
Q But the Form 4 was filed 34 weeks late, right?
MR. FLEISCHER: The Form 4 was filed late.
Q Thirty-four weeks late, according to this SEC memorandum.
MR. FLEISCHER: And that's something that's been known for more
than 10 years.
Q Right. But you're saying that he was not responsible for that
late filing?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's a corporate form to be filled out.
Q So you're saying that it was the corporation --
Q Can you walk us through this again --
Q When he's --
Q Are you saying it was --
MR. FLEISCHER: Go ahead, Bill. Bill and then Kelly.
Q I just want to clarify. You're saying that it was the
corporation, and not George W. Bush who was responsible for the late
filing of Form 4?
MR. FLEISCHER: Form 4s are filled out by corporations, under the
SEC rules.
Q But what's unclear is when the President said that he had
filed the appropriate forms, the SEC must have misplaced them or
something -- what was the President referring to? To both? Or to the
one dated of the -- the notice of intent to sell?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't think that's clear -- I don't think
that's clear, Kelly.
Q Did you ask him?
Q Can we find that out? I mean, the President has obviously --
Q Can you ask the President?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President believed at the time that he had
filled out all the paperwork that was required, and it was filed, and
that the lawyers did as they were required to do. That was the
President's understanding at the time. Whatever forms were required to
be filled out, the President thought had been filled out. He knew, of
course, the one that he had filled out because he signed it and it was
submitted on the proper date. And if there were any other forms that
were required to be filled out, the President was under the impression
they had been. And then it was determined later that they had not
been. And that's why the Form 4 were later filed.
Q When did the President discover that the Form 4 that was
supposed to be filed -- that's an announcement of stock sale by the
corporation. So when did he learn that this was not filed on time,
that there was a mixup with the attorneys?
MR. FLEISCHER: I couldn't tell you when he learned that.
Q Well, you just said about something just this week. You said
just a minute ago that he just learned this this week.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's involving the mixup by the attorneys --
that's when I first heard that information. That's why I shared it
with you this morning.
Q But you don't know when he learned that this mistake had been
made?
MR. FLEISCHER: Probably right before the form was filed.
Q Ari, Form 4 is a disclosure of an individual selling stock,
not a corporation, correct?
MR. FLEISCHER: They both apply to individual sales of stock. One
is filled out by the corporation; one is filled out by the individual.
Q But it's the individual selling stock that's being reported,
not the corporation?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, reported by the corporation, is what David
asked.
Q But the individual is selling this stock?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q Whose legal responsibility is it to file a Form 4? Is it the
individual selling the stock?
MR. FLEISCHER: I couldn't tell you. You'd have to check with
somebody else. Don't know.
Q Ari, this weekend the Indian American community held a
function for Connie Morella in Maryland. First she was very thankful
to the President for the great job he's doing, especially on India and
Pakistan. And the Indian Globe also did a survey on Indian Americans
and they are supporting of the President as far as his job in the fight
against terrorism. But the question is now that we are here at 4th of
July celebrating in the coming day, Americans are still living in fear
of terrorism. Not only from terrorism, but also now corporation or
from the big companies cheatings and fraud and all that. So what
message he have I think for the Americans that where should the small
investors now -- what is their future for the future? And also the
President said that before September 11th, 9/11 this year, he will
bring to justice top al Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden. He
has any information where he is or how he is going to bring him --
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm trying to work the connection between the small
investors and your follow-up question. Nothing has changed with Osama
bin Laden in terms of any information that we have. We do not know
whether he is alive or dead.
And in terms of small investors or any investors, the President has
tremendous faith in our system, in the economy, in our free enterprise
way of life. And the President believes in our country individuals are
free to make those decisions. And that is one of the strengths of our
system, that people can decide what to do with their money, where to
invest it, and that's one of America's freedoms to choose.
Q Any 4th of July message from the President?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President's 4th of July message tomorrow is
going to be focused on celebrating America's independence, celebrating
America's national unity, focusing on the strengths that unite and bind
us together as a nation, particularly in a time of war.
Q Back on the SEC filing, did the attorneys have a reason, did
they give the President -- back then he wasn't the President -- did
they give him reason for why there was a delay, since this is something
they should do by rote? Did they have an excuse for him?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think, again, this is something that --
this is now in its 11th or 12th year of being reported. This is
something that you all have the paperwork on, you've looked at it
yourselves extensively. As I say, it's been used as an issue by every
political opponent in every campaign in which he's run. When he ran
for President, your investigative reporters all looked into this and
you have the documents. And I think that the best explanation is that
the attorneys thought the form had been filed, which is what would lead
then George W. Bush to say that he thought it had been filed and the
SEC must have lost it. That was not the case.
Q Can I ask you something about the security measures of
tomorrow, which are not only in this country? The State Department has
issued warnings to all American citizens traveling abroad, again citing
unspecified charges. There seems to be big going on with unspecified
charges. Is it because it's the 4th of July and you figure it's a good
target?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's the biggest reason, yes. The 4th of July is
a time of great gathering for the American people. There are large
celebrations in cities, not only on the Mall in Washington, but across
our country. And as I indicated, with the examples that the American
people are very familiar with, such as the Super Bowl or the Olympics,
large gatherings can become targets for terrorists.
And that's why when people go out to stadiums now, they see
enhanced security. They're used to changes in procedures involving
what they can bring in, what they cannot bring in, searches at the
egresses or the entrances into these facilities. This has all changed
since September 11th. This the first July 4th since September 11th, so
it's proper and a wise precaution that additional security measures are
put in step, put into place across the country.
Q And on a different subject which I think is important also --
the President of Argentina has just announced that he will hold
elections six months earlier. The situation there is absolutely dire.
A lot of people are asking themselves why is the U.S. government just
standing by? And now the International Monetary Fund is going to wait
until the new President gets elected. In the meanwhile, it's just
contagious now. It's not just Argentina. Brazil is --
MR. FLEISCHER: The United States and neighbors in the region, as
well as the contributing supporters of the International Monetary Fund,
have been very supportive and helpful to Argentina, working with
Argentina as Argentina focuses on a sustained recovery package. So
there's been a lot of aid provided, as you know, directly to
Argentina. That continues to be something the Treasury Department and
the IMF have been working on very hard, to help Argentina find its way
to reform.
Jim.
Q Yes, a couple of things. One, on the Form 4. You said you
weren't sure whose legal responsibility it is to fill it out; the form
is filled out by corporations. But I gather from your explanation that
you're saying that the President believed that it was the corporation's
responsibility and not his own?
MR. FLEISCHER: It is a corporate responsibility to file the form.
The question was legal liability, and I don't know the answer to that.
But also in terms of legal liability, I think when you take a look at
this, the SEC has been well aware of this, as you all have reported
now, for more than a decade. The SEC has been well aware of this issue
involving the Form 4, the filing of the forms and they've looked at all
of this, and the SEC has concluded that this is not anything that's
actionable.
Q Legal liability, not legal responsibility for filling it out
in the first place is the --
MR. FLEISCHER: That is a separate question, that's correct.
Q Now, on the ICC today, can you give us some sense of what the
state of play is at the U.N. and in New York, and what you believe is
going to happen or at least where things are now?
MR. FLEISCHER: Meetings are continuing in New York to try to bring
resolution to this issue. The United States is working very hard
through the United Nations and through bilateral conversations to try
to reach agreement to give our peacekeepers the immunities that we seek
and that they deserve. Under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, the
Security Council can provide protection for the ICC participants in
U.N. authorized and U.N. approved peacekeeping operations. We've
asked the Council to provide that protection by extending immunities
that already exist for U.N. peacekeepers to America's personnel.
We're looking at that. We're also actively pursuing Article 98
agreements which, under the Rome statute, allow nations to agree not to
turn over each -- other nationals to the ICC. There's a problem
there, because once peacekeepers leave the jurisdiction covered by an
Article 98 agreement, they're vulnerable to the ICC everywhere else in
the world. And that's why we're seeking the full protection of our
peacekeepers through the United Nations Security Council.
Q What is your understanding of why it is that the Security
Council will not extend this immunity to American peacekeepers when, as
I understand it, the French do, in fact, have some immunity that they
negotiated through the ICC?
MR. FLEISCHER: What the United States is seeking is the same type
of protection for America's service personnel that has been provided to
many other nations' personnel. And there is a mechanism that the
United Nations Security Council can look at that would provide
non-participatory nations the same protections that participatory
nations enjoy under the ICC. Those same immunizations and protections
are warranted for the Americans.
Q If I could ask you one other thing, the President has
transferred some money to the Transportation Security Administration?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q Can you tell us what prompted that and to what extent you
believe that the -- that Congress's delay in acting on this will
affect the deadlines Congress imposed on airline security?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is another reason why it's so important for
Congress to complete its unfinished business and to pass the emergency
spending bill for this current fiscal year. This current fiscal year
is almost over. When Congress returns, there's going to be just about
two months left. If Congress cannot get this done in July, you have
August and September, the only two months left, to fund this year's
what's designated as emergency funding and make certain that the
Transportation Security Administration and other vital agencies don't
run out of money in this fiscal year before the year's even over, if it
becomes necessary on occasion to make a transfer or a redirection of
funding.
Q Can the President keep dipping into FEMA funds for TSA, or is
he about at the end of his rope on this?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'd have to ask OMB for the precise dollar
figures. I don't know off the top of my head, Jim.
Q Just a couple questions on the International Criminal Court.
What was the authority that the Security Council has -- you read some
chapter there -- to provide this immunity?
MR. FLEISCHER: Under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, the Security
Council can provide protection from the ICC for participants in
U.N.-authorized, U.N.-approved peacekeeping operations.
Q Even though the U.N. Charter obviously predates the
International Criminal Court by 50 years, there's some power to do
that?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's what the lawyers who write these things
say.
Q Okay. Let me ask one more. What the President said yesterday
was that he didn't want to see American soldiers or diplomats dragged
into this court.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q Are we seeking immunities for American diplomats in the
Security Council? Or is that part of peacekeeping --
MR. FLEISCHER: The Security Council is focused on the
peacekeepers, but there is a broader concern about civilians who could
similarly be targeted arbitrarily by the International Criminal Court
for prosecution, even as a non-participating nation. Our concern
applies, as we've said I think last week, to both military,
peacekeeping elements in the military, as well as to civilians, which,
of course, would include diplomats.
Q But doesn't that court recognize diplomatic immunity?
MR. FLEISCHER: This court can do pretty much what this court seeks
to do in an extraterritorial manner that would put Americans at risk of
being tried by a court that is not accountable to our laws.
Q And does not recognize diplomatic immunity?
MR. FLEISCHER: It is a risk with this court, Bill. The answer is
not clear. They have the purview, under the way this has been written
in Rome to prosecute people they deem to be war criminals.
Q And, Ari, this court is up and running as of right now.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q And so American soldiers and diplomats are possibly under its
purview.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q Is the President prepared --
MR. FLEISCHER: This court came into effect on July 1st. And this
court, the United Nations had been told repeatedly, months before this,
about the American concerns, the longstanding American concerns. We
regret that it has come to the point where the United States had to
take the action it did, involving the veto for the peacekeepers. But
that shows you our deep-seated commitment to the protection of our
peacekeepers and the importance of these peacekeeping missions. They
deserve these protections so their missions can go on.
Q It doesn't look like they're going to get them by midnight
tonight. So is the President prepared, in accordance with that
commitment, to withdraw American peacekeepers?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, let me -- let's see what happens in New
York today. They were meeting just before I came out here, and I
anticipate there will be continued meetings today. So we will see.
Q Are you hopeful?
MR. FLEISCHER: The meetings are underway, Terry. I would not want
to characterize them.
Q Can you clear up --
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen?
Q -- who would be withdrawn --
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen?
Q -- if they were withdrawn?
Q That's all right.
Q Can you clear up who would be withdrawn if the President did
so? Would it be the smaller team of police trainers, which I think is
in the area of 40 people, or the 3,500 or so U.S. troops in the Bosnia
peacekeeping force?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I want to make clear that we will not abandon
Bosnia; that our military people in the field are well- prepared and
equipped to do whatever we ask them to do. So the question then
becomes, is this a U.N.-sponsored peacekeeping mission at that point?
And that's why we're working hard with the U.N. to get an agreement, so
that all can stay in the region to fulfill that mission. But we do
have very clear, well-stated concerns about the ICC.
Q Who would be withdrawn if troops were withdrawn as a result of
this action?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think what you would see in this case, as I said,
is our peacekeepers -- our military people in the field are
well-prepared and equipped to do what we ask them to do. So it's not
necessarily a question of withdrawal, it's a question of mandate.
Connie?
Q Thank you, but you also called on Helen. Do you want to do
Helen first?
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen yielded to Bill. (Laughter.)
Q All right. On Afghanistan --
Q I want another chance.
MR. FLEISCHER: I know you do. You'll get it.
Q I always want to yield to Helen. How involved is the White
House in the Afghan investigation? Will the U.S. change its operations
in Afghanistan? And what effect will this have on the war against
terrorism?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think this was discussed at great length at
DOD this morning. And the Department of Defense is working with the
Afghanis on determination of the cause of the deaths. And we remain
committed to fighting and winning a war in Afghanistan that is a war
aimed at terrorists.
Q But is the White House concerned that this will have a
negative effect on the war against terrorism?
MR. FLEISCHER: We are going to continue to work very closely with
Afghan authorities to make sure that it does not.
Paula?
Q Last week, House Ways and Means issued an outline on how to
handle the WTO-Foreign Service Corporation dispute, as well as some
corporate inversion provisions. And I wondered if the White House has
any comment on their approach to --
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me take that, Paula, because I don't have
anything specific on the FSC legislation that was put before Ways and
Means. I know this is something that the WTO ruled the United States
had to change its rules on to comply with WTO authority. And the
President indicated that we want to work with Congress to do that, to
come into compliance with the WTO ruling on FSC. I have not studied
the action Ways and Means took, but let me see if we can't get you
something for that.
Dick?
Q Can you -- going back to the SEC matter again, can you tell
us, to the best of your ability, to explain what was the screw-up on
the Form 4s? What mistakes --
MR. FLEISCHER: There's really nothing I can add beyond what I said
earlier. I've given you everything I know about it and have about it.
I got asked that question and I gave you the explanation I have. We've
done that one.
David.
Q When you're talking about -- the question is pretty
straightforward, about which troops would be withdrawn from Bosnia if
it came to that. And you're saying it may not be a question of
withdrawal, but a question of their mandate. What do you mean by
that?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as I said, we will not abandon Bosnia. Our
military people in the field are well-prepared and equipped, and they
will do whatever we ask them to do. What you have here is a case where
the U.N. had three days from the veto to try and reach an agreement so
that this can remain a U.N. mission.
Q Right. So we're supposed to read something between the lines
here, right, that --
MR. FLEISCHER: Clearly, with a veto, this would not longer be --
Q -- we would pull out of the U.N. auspices but keep our
unilateral forces there --
MR. FLEISCHER: It would no longer be a U.N. mission.
Q It would change to a NATO mission, you're suggesting?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, there are ways to try to address this while
honoring our security -- our commitments to Bosnia.
Q But that does not affect the police force, right? Isn't that
your greatest concern? Because a NATO force does have some immunity
under Dayton Accords, but the police force does not?
MR. FLEISCHER: Our concerns are for both forces, and we want to
make sure that they're both addressed.
Q But the greatest exposure would be to the police, would it
not, because they have no immunity under Dayton?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I don't know that I'm in a position to
measure one group's exposure versus the other's. We think that they're
both important.
Q Right. But you would not pull out the peacekeepers, but you
might have to pull out the police, is that what you're saying?
MR. FLEISCHER: I would only say let's see what happens before the
day is over to see if this can be addressed. And if any additional
actions, David, were to be taken, we will keep you informed about any
such things. That could include, if it did, withdrawal or change in
mandate.
Q -- tell everybody else. (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: Hold on a second, let's see. Helen? We're back to
Helen.
Q In the last day or so, a New York Times columnist indicated
that the government was hot on the heels of a perpetrator of the
anthrax attacks, and that there is some reason to -- there's been a
laying-off of that. Do you have any clue as to what's happening in
anthrax?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, the FBI is continuing its investigation of who
may be responsible for the anthrax attacks that took place last fall.
They've been pursuing every lead they can possibly find, but there is
no new information to report.
Q This columnist seems to indicate that there was a very strong
suspect.
MR. FLEISCHER: I've not heard that.
Kelly.
Q Ari, the FBI intelligence, the weekly intelligence bulletin
went out today -- or went out yesterday, dated today. Can you tell
us what it said to the state and local law enforcement, what message,
the day before the 4th?
MR. FLEISCHER: Any communication that goes from the FBI to the
field I would leave for the FBI to describe. But again, this gets back
to what I was asked earlier in the briefing. There's a generalized
sense of keeping people on their toes, making certain that there are
additional personnel deployed throughout the country, changing
procedures so that it's easier for security people to keep an eye on
who may be entering a large facility, so that it's easier to have
security precautions in place. And I think that's what you're going to
see throughout the country at many of these sites.
As well, just in terms of actions here by the Homeland Security
Council and others, the Homeland Security Council is going to be
monitoring more than 2,000 events across the country where Americans
are gathering to celebrate in large numbers the July 4th holiday. The
Homeland Security Council maintains a coordination center, an emergency
operations room where they maintain points of contact with officials at
all 2,000 sites, where lines of communication can instantly be opened.
They'll be in constant communication with state homeland security
directors and advisors. Combat air patrols will be flown over numerous
American cities and random areas across the country. There will be
enhanced local police and FBI presence across America tomorrow. And
the FBI, of course, will be manning its emergency operations center, as
well.
Q One follow, though. One thing I want to just check, you keep
talking about the 4th, a lot of people gather. But it's more than
that, though. Isn't the U.S. government picking up increased
operational activity among terrorists that has sort of raised the level
of concern, as well?
MR. FLEISCHER: I can't say "operational activity." Those are very
specific words, "operational activity," which have a different
meaning. We are, have been for a considerable period of time been
picking up increased chatter in the system, and we do our best to try
to interpret this chatter to see if there is anything that can be
gleaned from it. And again, this is the first July 1st -- 4th --
let me say that again, a lot of dates in there. This is the first July
4th since September 11th, and so you will see across the country there
are a lot of precautions put into place.
Q Ari, can I follow up? Why are you encouraging crowds to come
into the Mall? I mean, the country is telling everybody --
MR. FLEISCHER: Because -- because this is July 4th and the
American people should celebrate July 4th. The American people should
gather. The American people should celebrate. And law enforcement
will be on hand to do the worrying and do the watching.
Q If you have to evacuate thousands of people -- it's
impossible.
MR. FLEISCHER: Because, Connie, we don't let the terrorists win by
canceling America's holidays.
Q Ari, President Bush will deliver his speech on corporate
malfeasance on Tuesday, right? He will speak Tuesday, July 9th?
MR. FLEISCHER: Correct.
Q Are there any other events the President is preparing on this
subject? Which seems to be really driving the media today and -- not
only today, but I mean investors, everybody is --
MR. FLEISCHER: I would just suggest, tune in to the President's
remarks. The President feels very strongly about the importance of
promoting and focusing on corporate accountability, corporate
responsibility. The President frequently talks about the
responsibility era, and that applies to all in our society, including
America's corporations. And so you will hear the President make some
remarks about that and any other additional activities by the
administration we'll keep you filled in on.
Q Ari, just on the July 4th security policy, one, is it fair to
describe the security precautions that are being taken tomorrow in
their totality as unprecedented for the United States? And, secondly,
you haven't been emphasizing very much something that the President
used to emphasize, which is the idea of vigilance by the public, by
individual citizens, in the sort of leave it up to -- let the law
enforcement guys worry about it. Are you trying to suggest --
MR. FLEISCHER: No, it's just tomorrow there will be such a
pronounced, visible increase in the law enforcement community around
the country whose job is to worry and to look ahead and to put in place
protections. The American people still should be vigilant. We are
still on code yellow, and that is something the American people have
become aware of. And I think the American people generally have that
sense of how to enjoy themselves, how to celebrate, while at the same
time being vigilant. I anticipate both will happen.
Q But would you call it unprecedented --
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't know, Arshad. I think that certainly
anybody who went to the Super Bowl, they know what unprecedented
security is like. Certainly anybody who attended the Olympics in Utah
knows what unprecedented security is like. So people who are going to
go to different events will see various levels of security, depending
on the size of the event, depending on the reactions of local law
enforcement, et cetera. So you'll see a variety of reactions across
the country.
Terry.
Q Why is the President golfing in 95 degree heat? (Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: The President is golfing today in 95 degree heat
because he heard he gets to take a press pool with him. (Laughter.)
And I'm not sure if there will be any indoor facilities at Andrews Air
Force Base, but we'll do our best to get lemonade, unspiked, to the
reporters who will be covering the President's golfing.
Q Can we read into the fact that he did the same thing last year
before the 4th, getting ready to play golf with dear old Dad?
(Laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: I think you should read into that that the
President loves reporters at all times, no matter what the
temperature.
Q Is this the last briefing for the week?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is the last briefing for the week. This is
the last briefing before we celebrate America's independence. I will
spend the weekend with you, of course, as we travel. I look forward to
doing that. I always look forward to spending my weekends with the
press corps.
Q Are you going to Kennebunkport?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yes, I'll be traveling with the President this
weekend.
Q One more on the 4th, please. You talked about security
precautions, the inclusion of some combat planes over certain sites and
an extensive communications network. What about first responders?
Specifically, some of the strategic teams? Like, for instance, the EPA
has people that they deploy to forward positions. The nuclear
regulatory folks have teams that they deploy to forward positions. Are
those moves also?
MR. FLEISCHER: You may want to talk to the Homeland Security
Council to get specifics on any agencies that I did not mention. They
keep a little closer tabs on that than I do.
Thank you. Happy July 4th.
END 1:00 P.M. EDT
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