For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:00 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: The President looks forward this afternoon to a
meeting with the energy conference committee members here at the White
House, and talking about the importance of the conference committee
moving forward quickly on a comprehensive energy plan that reduces our
dependence on foreign sources of energy and updates our electricity
delivery system so that we can prevent the kind of blackouts that we
experienced recently in the Northeast and Midwest.
That's all I have. I'll be glad to jump right in to questions.
Helen, I see your hand up.
Q Earlier today you said that the President made no connection
between 9/11 and Iraq. You said that there was no indication that
there was a linkage at all. Can you explain why the American people
seem to know -- to believe, according to the polls, that there is a
connection? Does the White House have anything to do with that, and
are you going to do anything to disabuse the perception?
MR. McCLELLAN: You're right, if you're talking specifically about
the September 11th attacks, we never made that claim. We do know that
there is a long history of Saddam Hussein and his regime and ties to
terrorism, including al Qaeda. Secretary Powell went before the United
Nations and outlined what we knew back in February. And we have long
talked about --
Q What did you know -- that one person was treated in a
hospital?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me finish -- one other point here that's
important to keep in perspective in light of September 11th is that one
of the most dangerous new threats we face in the post- September 11th
world is the nexus between outlaw regimes with weapons of mass
destruction --
Q Where are they?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- and terrorists. And the horrific attacks of
September 11th vividly brought to light the importance of confronting
these threats and confronting them before they reach our shores. There
are some dangerous new threats out there, and the President is leading
and acting to eliminate those threats so that the American people are
more safe and secure from the kind of attacks that we have
experienced.
Q Are you -- but are you trying to tell the American people now
the truth, that there is no linkage?
MR. McCLELLAN: We know, Helen -- I mean, this is reopening a
debate that was never had because the whole entire -- the entire
judgment of the international community was that Saddam Hussein was a
threat. That's why there were a number of -- the United Nations
Q They never authorized an invasion.
MR. McCLELLAN: The United Nations passed a number Security Council
resolutions. You're correct on that point. But when you talk about
the threat that Saddam Hussein posed, we know that this was a brutal
regime that oppressed the Iraqi people. We know that this was a regime
that had a long history of possessing chemical and biological weapons,
and even using chemical weapons against his own people. We know that
this was a regime that had invaded and attacked its neighbors. So the
threat was --
Q I'm talking about linkage with al Qaeda.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you jumped into the threat there. Secretary
-- again, Secretary Powell went through this. We know that a leading
collaborator and senior associate of al Qaeda was in Iraq, al Zarqawi,
who was responsible for directing the cell that killed an American
citizen in Jordan. He was responsible for the network that developed a
-- poisons and toxics labs in northeastern Iraq. There are many things
we know about the history of Saddam Hussein's regime and his ties to
terrorism, including al Qaeda, and we have outlined all that
previously.
Q Scott, Secretary Snow is on a world tour to get money to help
finance the occupation of Iraq, and, it's not going that well. Have
you received any financial commitments from other countries to help?
And if you're running into trouble, what's the President prepared to do
about that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, keep in mind, I mean, there are a number of
fronts that we're working on and we're having discussions with other
countries in terms of ways that we can broaden the international
participation. One way is through more financial assistance. There is
a donors conference coming up in October. We will be talking with -- a
number of nations will be attending that donors conference and we will
be talking about ways that they can help by providing financial
assistance --
Q Right, I know that. So what's the problem, and what do you
expect out of the donors conference?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think those discussions are continuing.
Again, the donors conference is not for another month, as this point.
But we will continue to have discussions about ways nations can
participate. There are a number of nations --
Q Why are you running into opposition? What's the problem?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- there are a number of nations that are already
participating in Iraq, and one of the things we're working to do is
broaden that participation so that we can accelerate and intensify our
efforts to transfer responsibility to the Iraqi people.
Q One other unrelated. What did the President hear in this
briefing about the hurricane?
MR. McCLELLAN: Glad you brought that up. A few things -- one, he
was briefed on what we were doing in terms of the federal government to
activate and deploy resources that will be needed to respond in case of
-- well, that will respond to its pending landfall.
So let me give you some specifics: Here at the White House, I
think you asked about earlier, there are a number of steps that we are
taking, as well. We are working to secure items that may be blown away
in the event of the high winds here. And so they will be secured by
tomorrow afternoon. This could include flags. It could include the
awnings around the complex. Those will likely be brought down. We'll
be checking the drains in the complex to be sure that they are clear.
And we are preparing to respond to any potential damage that could be
caused.
But going back to the briefing, the Department of Homeland Security
Secretary, Secretary Ridge was in there, as well as FEMA head, Mike
Brown. And they talked about the priorities for the federal government
in terms of initiating life-saving and life-sustaining operations.
They talked about making sure that there is strong and effective state,
federal and local coordination of response and recovery efforts, and
make sure that there is coordination between all those entities to
assess damage needs and ensure rapid recovery after landfall.
But the Department of Homeland Security -- FEMA, being the lead
agency -- continues to have video-teleconference calls with federal,
state, and local authorities. They've deployed liaison teams to
at-risk emergency operations center to ensure rapid federal response to
state needs and, again, activated, as I pointed out yesterday, national
and regional emergency response teams, and prepositioned life-saving
and life-sustaining equipment and supplies. And they're also assessing
potential infrastructure recovery needs in that process. But some of
that prepositioning included cots and food and water, generators,
things of that nature.
So the President got a briefing to make sure that we are doing
everything we can from the federal level to prepare and respond to
pending landfall of Hurricane Isabel.
Q Do you hope to get a new U.N. resolution on Iraq by the time
the President's visit next week, or is that probably not going to
happen?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't want to put any artificial time lines
on it. We're continuing to work that process at this point. Secretary
Powell had some good discussions in Geneva over the weekend. We're
continuing to stay in close contact with members of the Security
Council about how we can move forward on a resolution as quickly as
possible toward our shared goal of transferring more and more
responsibility to the Iraqi people, and realizing a sovereign, free,
and democratic Iraq. So we listened to some of the issues that were
raised by other nations. We're looking at those issues, and we will be
getting back to some of those nations, as well.
Q Is there a consensus within the administration on what the
resolution should say, or is there still --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, remember, we put forward some proposed
language. And you know how the Security Council process works --
there's always input from others, and we want to always listen to the
concerns that they raise or the issues that they think need to be
addressed within it. And that's what we've been doing. So we're
looking at those and we'll be going back to those nations soon.
Q Why is the President meeting with Powell and Rumsfeld today?
Is it about the U.N. resolution? Is it about --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I just don't get into a discussion of
those meetings. Those are meetings -- he meets regularly with
Secretary Rumsfeld and Secretary Powell. And for your benefit, I'll
point out what he's doing during his day. It's just like the National
Security Council meetings. We don't give readouts of those meetings.
Obviously, they are talking about current events and issues that are
going on. But I will leave it at that.
Q How often do they meet on the same day? Does he meet with
both of them on the same day?
MR. McCLELLAN: They've done it from time to time. They -- he
tends to meet with them at least a couple of times a week in person
here at the White House.
Q Scott, frequently when the President is out speaking on the
economy in the country, he'll talk about the need for personal
responsibility and corporate responsibility. In light of that, what's
his opinion of the compensation package of Richard Grasso of the New
York Stock Exchange?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that that's a matter for the New York
Stock Exchange board to address. You're talking about compensation,
and that's an issue for the board to address. Obviously, our SEC has
some regulatory role in this and they've made some comments. But the
President views that this is a matter for the New York Stock Exchange
board.
Q Even though he's out there talking about the need for
corporate responsibility, when he sees a guy making $100 million from
the public trust --
MR. McCLELLAN: Remember, this is a compensation issue. Now, you
did bring up corporate wrongdoing -- we have taken aggressive action to
go after corporate wrongdoers. This specific issue is related to
compensation.
Q So no comment on that. And then just to close off the line
of questioning Helen was pursuing, can you rule out at this point that
Saddam Hussein had anything to do with 9/11, with the attacks on this
country on September 11th?
MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, I think I made it very clear that we have
never made that claim and I'm not saying that now. What I am saying is
that there is a long history between Saddam Hussein's regime and
terrorism, ties to terrorism and ties to al Qaeda. That's why I
mentioned a little bit of that.
Q So in the judgment of the White House there is still a
possibility that evidence will develop showing that Saddam Hussein had
a hand in 9/11? Or can you rule that out?
MR. McCLELLAN: We have not made that claim, Terry. And I'm not
making that claim. What I can do is tell you what we do know. And
I've told you a little bit of that; Secretary Powell outlined some of
what we knew previously, as the Vice President said on the Sunday show
this weekend. He said that there is more and more that we are learning
since we have gone into Baghdad, and we are learning more and more
about the relationship between Saddam Hussein's regime and terrorists,
including al Qaeda. And he talked a little bit about that. But, no,
I'm not at all making that claim, nor have we.
Q Scott, back on Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein is
allegedly now telling people to -- telling the Iraqis to step up their
resistance against U.S. troops. And that, as Secretary Cheney said
over the weekend, that -- paraphrasing -- that how Iraq is handled
could define the election. What is the mandate from President Bush
right now in finding Saddam Hussein, either killing him or bringing him
to justice, for either terrorism or his friendship or links to al
Qaeda?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, we eliminated the threat that
he posed. He is no longer in control of Iraq. He is no longer
oppressing his people. We will continue to pursue. We've captured or
killed I believe it's 42 of the 55 leaders of the former regime, or
people tied to the former regime. We are continuing to go after
others. That's why our military is on the offensive. It was a
significant blow when they took out his sons. We will continue to
pursue him, as well. And he will be found.
Q But what is the mandate specifically for the U.S. troops for
Saddam Hussein, as he is once again telling -- allegedly telling his --
the Iraqi people to resist the American troops. American troops
continue to die. More troops are dead now than when the war was
supposedly -- when we were supposedly in a war.
MR. McCLELLAN: Now, you're talking about the reported tape. I've
seen the news reports. I don't have any more to confirm that.
Obviously, there are remnants of the former regime. There are foreign
terrorists who are desperate because of the success and the progress
that we are making in Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people. And they
continue to want to try to carry out attacks. But our military is on
the offensive, going after them, taking the battle to them. They will
continue to pursue those terrorists and remnants of the former regime,
including Saddam Hussein, and they will find them, and they will find
him.
Q Scott, if Syria is aiding and abetting terrorists, as John
Bolton laid yesterday, in the way that they are, and the President had
made very clear that countries are either with the United States or
against the United States when it comes to terrorism, why is the United
States at least not taking more diplomatic -- more of a diplomatic
effort to punish them --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that we're continuing to keep
pressure on Syria for its behavior. And there are a number of fronts
where -- a number of issues we're concerned about in terms of their
behavior. You mentioned one. They need to stop any cross-border
infiltration of foreign killers or terrorists coming into Iraq. They
need to take steps to address their pursuit of weapons of mass
destruction programs. So there are a number of areas that we've raised
concerns, and we will continue to make it very clear that that behavior
is completely unacceptable and that they need to change their
behavior.
Q -- what you think just basically saying that they need to
change their behavior, that's all you need to do? You don't need to
take further steps, in terms of sanctions or other --
MR. McCLELLAN: We are going to continue to keep the pressure on
them, remind them that this is unacceptable -- unacceptable behavior,
and that they need to change course in all these areas. And there are
several concerns we have --
Q And what if they don't?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- and I'm not going to speculate.
Q You and other administration officials have frequently talked
about the people who are attacking U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq as
Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists and other infiltrators --
MR. McCLELLAN: And criminals, right.
Q There are new reports out of the region, growing reports that
an increasing number of these attacks are, in fact, by Iraqi civilians
who are taking retaliation on U.S. troops for their tactics on the
ground -- the house-to-house searches --
MR. McCLELLAN: What do you mean, a number of reports? Do you have
examples of that?
Q There are a number of newspaper reports -- for house-to-house
searches, for --
MR. McCLELLAN: That it's carried out by who?
Q By U.S. troops, for searches of weapons --
MR. McCLELLAN: Who's carrying out these attacks? I've seen
newspaper reports that --
Q -- sniper attacks, that various bombing attacks, the
sabotage attacks -- that some of them, and a worrying, increasing
number of them are in response to tactics of U.S. troops on the ground,
searches of women, house-to-house searches, round-ups of security
suspects --
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know specifically what you're referring
to. I do know that we are confronting the remnants of the former
regime that are becoming more and more desperate because of the success
we are making in carrying out -- in trying to carry out attacks not
only on coalition forces, but the Iraqi people themselves, and the
international community, remnants of the former regime and foreign
terrorists. They're criminals that were released by the former regime
on their way out. And so those are the threats that we're confronting
now. I think that we continue to receive a lot of positive feedback
from the Iraqi people. I saw some recent polling where the numbers
were very supportive of what we are doing to help build a better future
for the Iraqi people within the -- within Iraq itself.
Q So you're not concerned that the tactics of U.S. troops are,
in fact, causing at least to some degree, a backlash --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we always recognize -- we always recognize
there are some difficulties and frustrations that happen when you're
moving toward transferring this responsibility back to the Iraqi
people. We've talked about that this is not a process that just
happens in four-and-a-half months after major combat operations ends.
It takes time to create the institutions necessary for Iraq to govern
itself and run the country.
Q On that point --
MR. McCLELLAN: I told John I'd come to him --
Q Thank you for sticking by your word. In regard to Syria --
MR. McCLELLAN: Not suggesting that I don't, right? (Laughter.)
Q In regard to Syria, I'm wondering what -- about what appears
to be a selective application of the doctrine of preemption, and that
you exercised that doctrine in Iraq, which, at the time, was not
showing any kind of an overt threat against the United States. But
here you have Syria, which is harboring known terrorists who are going
into Iraq, transiting the border to attack American troops. And I'm
wondering, why Iraq and not Syria.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, Iraq was a unique situation. You had
a brutal regime that had a history of concealment and denying their
history of weapons of mass destruction, defied some 17 U.N. Security
Council resolutions. They had a history of invading their neighbors.
They had a history of using chemical weapons.
Q But my point goes more toward Syria, which you know fits
under the Bush doctrine that if you harbor a terrorist, you're as bad
as a terrorist, and also, it would seem to fall under the doctrine of
preemption. I'm wondering why you haven't exercised that yet.
MR. McCLELLAN: We've made it very clear that their behavior is
unacceptable and that states that harbor or support terror will be held
accountable. Obviously, there are different strategies for different
situations, but I remind you that Iraq was a unique situation, when you
ask about Iraq and the former regime.
Q I'm sorry, I just had one more follow-up on that. So if have
different strategies for different situations, what does that say about
the doctrine of preemption?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry? We're making it very clear that any
support or harboring of terrorists is unacceptable and you will be held
accountable. That's why we are continuing to pressure Syria to reverse
course, to change its behavior. Our views are very well-known; they
know what they need to do and they know how concerned -- these are very
real and serious concerns that we have. And we will continue to
express that to the Syrian government.
Q But it's just beginning to seem that the doctrine of
preemption was applicable only in one case.
MR. McCLELLAN: I just made it very clear that --
Q It's not applicable in Iran, it's not applicable in North
Korea, it's not applicable in Syria.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're getting back to the -- no, no, you're
getting back specifically to -- I mean, I disagree. You're getting
back to why we went into Iraq and confronted that threat. And we have
long said --
Q No, I'm asking why you haven't applied the doctrine of
preemption --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- that that was a unique situation.
Q -- to countries that clearly fall under --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, we made it clear to them that it's unacceptable
and that they will be held to account. We do have new and dangerous
threats in the post-September 11th world that we will confront and we
will address on a number of fronts. We are going after the war on
terrorism in a number of different ways. We are confronting these
issues in a number of different ways and we will continue to do that.
Q The debate over a U.N. resolution seems to revolve around the
question of the pace of returning sovereignty to the Iraqis. The U.S.
has made it clear, as you indicated, that it does intend to do that.
There is some desire on the part of the Security Council members to
have something laid out in terms of a timetable. Is the U.S. willing
to specify in the resolution that is ultimately voted upon some sort of
timetable for the return of sovereignty to the Iraqis?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't think that timetable should be set by
any country, it should be set by the Iraqi people. The Iraqi Governing
Council should be the one, as representatives of the Iraqi people,
setting timetables and putting forward a constitution. That's exactly
what they're working to do, move forward on a constitution. Our
proposed language that we put forward included language in there
specifying that the Governing Council would be the one to set the
timetable for a constitution and free elections and report to the
Security Council, again, broadening that U.N. role, because they have
a vital role to play. But that should be set by the Iraqi people. And
it needs -- obviously, it has to be realistic, you have to base it on
creating the institutions necessary to assume that responsibility and
govern your country.
Q -- today said that he wanted "significant" moves in
transferring power to the Iraqi Governing Council in the short-term,
and said the problems of security are huge and it is in large measure
because Iraqis are not involved in security issues.
MR. McCLELLAN: More and more Iraqis are becoming -- I mean, who's
the second largest number of people involved in the security of their
country? It's right behind the United States, it's the Iraqi people.
And that's growing. There are some 60,000 people involved in the
security and stability -- Iraqi people involved in the security and
stability of the country. Another more than 10,000 that are in
training to participate in those security efforts -- police forces,
border control and so forth.
Q One other thing, if I could, on a slightly different topic.
Did the administration ever get to the bottom of this claim by Senator
Clinton that the EPA misinformed the public about the dangers of
contaminants in the air after 9/11?
MR. McCLELLAN: The EPA did respond to her initial letter and
addressed those issues. We have addressed this repeatedly. We have
also -- I believe a second letter was sent and we've indicated that the
Chairman of the Council of Environmental Quality will be happy to sit
down and meet with her. We're working on those details. And we'll be
glad to sit down and meet with her to talk to her about the steps that
we took to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers, specifically
workers, in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, including
providing respirators for those workers and encouraging those workers
to wear those respirators.
Terry, you had a question.
Q To what extent does the United States think that Saudi Arabia
supports Islamic charities linked to Hamas?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, a couple of things. One, you're talking
specifically about the Saudi Arabian government? Saudi Arabia has been
working closely with us and cooperatively in the war on terrorism,
including cracking down on terrorist financing -- one of the issues you
just mentioned. We have made a lot of progress.
Saudi Arabia recognizes that terrorism is a global problem, that
attacks have been carried out in their own land, and they recognize the
importance of working cooperatively to win the war on terrorism. We
have made significant progress. Obviously, there's more to do. We
will continue working together to take additional steps. So that's
what we will do. But they've been very cooperative in working with us
to win the war on terrorism and crack down on terrorist financing.
Q And the issue of charities, do we think that Saudi Arabia is
supporting these charities that are linked to Hamas?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why I just said that they've been very
cooperative in working with us to confront terrorist financing and
crack down on terrorist financing. I think the Saudi government
addressed that issue that you brought up and said that that was not the
case.
Q Scott, in the tape that was played today on the Arab network
Al-Arabia, it seems to be the voice of Saddam Hussein. It also seems
to be very recent, during the month of September. The U.S. government
has over a $25 million reward for capture or for information that will
lead to the capture of Saddam Hussein. Why is this reward not yielding
any results? Do you think it's not enough?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we're continuing to gather more and more
intelligence and get more and more information from the Iraqi people on
remnants of the former regime. That will be helpful. We are
continuing the pursuit, and it's a matter of time before he is found
and brought to justice. But the one thing that I do know is that there
are remnants of the former regime, there are foreign terrorists that
are trying to intimidate us. And we will not be intimidated. We will
see this through because this is important to making America more
secure and making the world a safer place.
So we will continue to stay on the offensive from a military
standpoint. We will continue to move forward aggressively to
accelerate and intensify our efforts to transfer responsibility to the
Iraqi people so that they can realize a sovereign, free, and democratic
Iraq as quickly as possible.
Q Scott, can I follow up on that, in a sense? What kind --
how would you characterize the feedback the President is getting in his
$87 billion request?
MR. McCLELLAN: The feedback?
Q Yes, from members of --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that members recognize that it's
important to move forward quickly on the request, because this is about
providing all the necessary resources that our military needs to
achieve their objectives, and it's about providing the resources
necessary to bring stability and civility to Iraq as quickly as
possible. And when that happens, then we can get our troops home
sooner. So I think that members of Congress recognize the importance of
moving forward with this request quickly. And, in fact, I expect we
will be sending up the request today.
Q Actually, the reason I asked that, of course, is because some
Republicans have expressed concerns, they're hearing from constituents
who do not believe that the full $87 billion should be spent on Iraq,
and particularly they're concerned, I guess, about $20 billion that
would go towards the rebuilding efforts. They're hearing from
constituents, they say, who don't like that idea because they believe
that kind of money should be spent in the United States.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, we're meeting our priorities
here in the United States. The President is committing to -- committed
to winning the war on terrorism abroad, which this is part of, and it's
central to, the highest priority for the American people, the long-term
safety and security of America. That's what we're working to do here,
because Iraq is a central front in the war on terrorism.
We're also meeting our priorities at home, whether it be taking
steps and actions to strengthen our economy, or improve education, or
move forward on prescription drug coverage for our seniors, which is a
high priority, or passing comprehensive energy legislation. So that's
why the President outlined these steps in his budget and set clear
priorities and made sure that we're meeting our highest priorities,
while making sure that we're meeting these priorities both at home and
abroad.
But this -- but Iraq is an important effort to making the world
safer and making America more secure for future generations. And the
$20 billion you specifically referenced in terms of going toward the
reconstruction and stability of Iraq, again, I would emphasize that
that was looking at the overall needs of what we needed to provide.
Ambassador Bremer went and looked at this extensively, came back with
his recommendations. So this was the overall need for reconstructing
Iraq and bringing about a civil society in Iraq so that the Iraqi
people can have a sovereign, free, and democratic country, and we can
get our troops home. So if we can move forward quickly on this, that
will speed up those efforts, accelerate those efforts.
Q -- one package?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Still want to get one package?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q Scott, I just want to confirm, so the President is sending
the request for the full $87 billion up today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Today. That's correct. And I expect we'll have a
background briefing later this afternoon. So we'll get you information
-- it will probably be a conference call.
Q Secondly, three senators have now placed Leavitt's
confirmation on hold. How long is the President willing to wait and
will he make a recess appointment?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we hope that -- we are continuing to talk
with senators. Governor Leavitt is a highly-qualified individual,
particularly for the post of EPA administrator. He has a proven record
of building consensus and bringing people together to achieve
meaningful results that improve our environment, that improve our air
quality, that protect the land, that improve our water quality. So the
President will continue to urge the Senate to move forward quickly on
his nomination because this is an important position, and we need to
get him in there. He's highly-qualified, long record of experience,
and will do an outstanding job.
Q Scott, just a quick follow-up on the $87 billion. I guess
what you're saying is the President isn't concerned about polls that
are showing an increased belief by Americans that the federal
government will have to make some sort of domestic cuts to the budget,
that they would -- in fact, won't be able to do both the war in Iraq --
or rebuilding Iraq and the spending priorities that you've --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why they need to move forward on the budget
that we outlined, which slows --
Q He's not worried about the polls which think that --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- which slows -- which slows -- well, I think
there's a lot of support for the President's leadership, and the fact
that he is acting to address our policies abroad when it comes to
national security, and he's acting to address our priorities at home
when it comes to the economy and the environment and energy and
education, just to name a few.
Q And also just a related thought --
MR. McCLELLAN: He outlined a budget that set clear priorities and
held the line on discretionary spending for that very reason. But
these are -- there are number of important priorities that we are
acting to address. And that's why it's important for Congress to hold
the line elsewhere in the budget. And they did set a framework that
was within what the average family spends, which is what the President
said, of 4 percent growth, so -- on the discretionary side.
Q On a related question about whether the President is
concerned -- you made it clear that you didn't make any connection
between September 11th and Saddam Hussein. But Americans are not quite
-- they're a little bit more confused on that issue. Is the President
at all worried that they aren't -- that they don't have as clear an
idea of what happened as you do?
MR. McCLELLAN: That they don't have a clear idea of what happened
--
Q Well, in terms of the connection.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I talked about September 11th bringing to
light the need to address threats that we face, the new threats that we
face. And I said one of the most important dangerous new threats that
we face is that nexus between outlaw regimes with weapons of mass
destruction and terrorists. And in terms of the specific question you
asked, we have not made that claim and I'm not making that claim.
Q Thank you. On the $87 billion, there are proposals on
Capitol Hill to fund the Iraq supplemental by shifting money away from
other foreign aid programs. Would the President support that
strategy?
MR. McCLELLAN: Foreign?
Q Other foreign aid programs. For example, there's an economic
package --
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know. I'm sure there will be -- I'm sure
there will be a lot of discussion in Congress. We're sending it up
today. There will be a lot of discussion, I'm sure. We just hope
members would move forward quickly on this package. I'm not going to
get into specific negotiations or discussions about that here. We're
just now sending that proposal to the Hill.
Q Scott, the Constitution's Article II, says, "The President
shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed" with no
stipulation that this applies only to federal laws. But in
California's Ninth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, whose rulings last
year were overruled in 75 percent of its cases before the U.S. Supreme
Court -- you, Scott, as the President's top spokesman --
MR. McCLELLAN: Uh-oh. (Laughter.)
Q You have refused comment because you claim this is a state
issue. And my question --
MR. McCLELLAN: Are you talking about the California recall?
Q Yes -- since this postponement of California's recall
election, why only three federal judges will, if allowed to stand, cost
California and candidates many millions of dollars, how do you believe
Californians will react to no leadership and no help on this from a
President, who in 414 days, wants them to vote for him? And I have one
follow-up. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: How long is it? (Laughter.)
Q No, this is much shorter. But how do you feel? I mean,
shouldn't he speak to this? This is the law --
MR. McCLELLAN: There is always an appeals process, that's the
legal process if people disagree with decisions, and they can pursue
that appeals process.
Q Does the President know that of these California federal
judges who ruled that voting machines that reelected Gray Davis are now
illegal, one was appointed by Jimmy Carter and the other two by Bill
Clinton?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I'm aware of the makeup of the judiciary.
Q He does know that? Is that surprising?
MR. McCLELLAN: Sarah.
Q Thank you. Scott, I have two questions, short. (Laughter.)
The leaders of France, Germany and Great Britain are meeting in Berlin
this weekend to talk about Iraq. Was the United States invited? And,
if not, is this causing a further problem?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, there are always a number of different
discussions that occur when you're talking about diplomatic efforts at
the United Nations. And as I mentioned yesterday, the President and
Prime Minister did touch on this meeting. So there are a number of
discussions that are going on between countries, between groups of
countries, and that's to be expected when you're going through a
Security Council process like this. So Prime Minister Blair will be
meeting with Chancellor Schroeder and President Chirac this weekend.
Q There are reports from Manila that trained terrorists will
try to assassinate the President when he's in the Philippines next
month. In view of this, should he cancel his trip there?
MR. McCLELLAN: Cancel the trip that we haven't announced yet?
Look, we take -- Sarah, we always take any threats very seriously.
Obviously, if you have any specific questions about something of that
nature, I would direct it to the Philippine government or security
agencies here in the United States. I don't have anything on that.
Q Are you still planning to host King Abdullah at Camp David
tomorrow? Is the weather going to have any effect on that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, that's right, arriving tomorrow and then the
press avail would be on Friday. Whether or not it changes some of the
timing, that remains to be seen at this point. But the President --
the schedule will go forward at this point. If there are any updates
to it, I'll let you know.
Q Two quick ones. One, we are still living under the threat of
terrorism and we're getting so many letters now again from Saddam
Hussein or Osama bin Laden. One, we just had second anniversary of the
9/11, and most of the world leaders will be gathered next week in the
U.N. So where do we stand as far as terrorism threat is concerned,
level of threat and colors and all that and how --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of the war on terrorism, we have
made significant progress. Again, we have removed the Taliban regime
in Afghanistan. We have removed the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
We have -- we are dismantling and disrupting terrorist networks
globally. Law enforcement is working cooperatively. Many countries
are -- many countries' law enforcement agencies are working together to
confront it from the law enforcement standpoint; arrests are being
made. We're continuing to crackdown on terrorist financing, there's a
number of important steps there. Two-thirds of the leadership of al
Qaeda has been captured or killed.
So we've made significant progress. But there is more to do. This
is a global war on terrorism. Nations have come together to address
it. It is a war that will take -- require patience and take time, but
we will pursue it to the end.
Q And second, any comments on the 150,000 or more Chinese
troops on the North Korean border, is a threat to the U.S. 35,000 or
37,000 troops there, and if the U.S. is worried about the buildup by
China?
MR. McCLELLAN: You might want to direct -- if you have questions
about military troops in a specific region, you might want to direct
that to the Pentagon.
Q On the energy bill, does the administration feel that with
respect to tax incentives, they should be limited mostly to energy
efficiency and energy conservation incentives, or should -- or is
there room in the budget to also have incentives for production and
possible encouragement of nuclear production?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've put forward -- in our energy plan we
put forward a comprehensive plan in a detailed book that put forward
what our priorities are. Secretary Abraham sent a letter to Congress
saying what our priorities are in this legislation. What we need to do
is have a comprehensive plan to reduce our dependence on foreign
sources of energy. That means diversifying our energy supply. It
means increasing energy efficiency, as you mentioned, and promoting
renewable energy, as well. It's a comprehensive approach, and we need
to move forward on all those fronts.
Q Thank you. I didn't get to ask all my questions yesterday on
the Korean energy situation. When will the KEDO executive board
convene? You say it will convene soon. And where will it convene?
MR. McCLELLAN: You could direct those questions to KEDO. But as I
said, that money was provided for the administration of KEDO. That's
where that money is going. What we -- in terms of North Korea, where
we need to keep our focus is on the multilateral approach that is
making some progress to get North Korea to end, irreversibly and
verifiably, its pursuit -- or its nuclear weapons program. We are
making some important progress through the multilateral approach. We
are continuing to pursue that. And at this point, that funding was
strictly provided to support the administration of KEDO.
Q KEDO, despite its $3.72 million, is not terribly
cooperative. Is there any way you could please get for us -- give us
some idea of when the meeting is going to take place?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll see if there's any more I have on it.
Q You've said several times that the threat of al Qaeda or al
Qaeda has been thrown out of Afghanistan in the war on terror. But
they just crossed the border into Pakistan. Are we pleased with the
lack or what appears to be a lack of effort by Pakistan to take control
of those tribal areas?
MR. McCLELLAN: Pakistan is a strong ally in the war on terrorism.
They have been working closely with us to go after terrorists that may
be crossing the border. But they are a close ally in the war on
terrorism, working with us to go after those threats.
Q But there doesn't seem to be much action. We're getting an
awful lot of Taliban coming across the border from Afghanistan.
They're recruiting again --
MR. McCLELLAN: You have some remnants -- you have remnants of a
regime that we removed, that was an oppressive regime, that is
desperate -- more and more desperate every single day, because of the
progress we are making on many fronts in Afghanistan.
Thanks.
END 1:41 P.M. EDT
|