For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 17, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
the James S. Brady Briefing Room
12:23 P.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. Just brief remarks to begin with.
The President looks forward this afternoon to meeting with some Iraqi
women leaders who are visiting Washington. This is an opportunity for
the President to reaffirm our commitment to bringing about a free,
peaceful and prosperous Iraq for the Iraqi people. It is also an
opportunity for the President to express his longstanding support for
full participation of Iraqi women in the political transition,
reconstruction efforts, and the future of Iraq.
And with that, I would be glad to go right into questions. John.
Q Scott, British security forces have apparently gone on their
second highest level of alert because of chatter about potential al
Qaeda attacks. They are not necessarily related to the President's
trip, but what do you know about that, and does it raise any security
concerns for the President's trip?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have great confidence in British security
and our own security team. They are taking all appropriate precautions
to make sure the visit is safe. And beyond that, I really don't get
into discussions of security matters.
Q You've gotten into ideas of chatter before, though, about the
potential for terrorist attacks, in raising the alert here in the
United States. Are you hearing similar things about what might be --
MR. McCLELLAN: You might want to direct those questions to the
British government. Again, we have great confidence in the British
security services.
Q Scott, given all the protests and all the stories that are
going to be done about the response to the President's visit, which,
after all, is a heavily ceremonial state visit, why is it so important
to do?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, the President was pleased to accept the
invitation of the Queen to visit the United Kingdom. The President
looks forward to his visit tomorrow and through Friday. And as far as
bringing up the protests, democracy is a wonderful thing. Freedom of
speech and the right to peacefully assemble are the very foundation of
our democracy. They are fundamental rights the people of the United
States and United Kingdom hold dear, and many in the world yearn for.
The President talked a little bit about this in some of his
interviews. We share the same goal. We all seek peace. And that is
why the President has taken the action that he has taken.
But the President believes strongly that freedom is a universal
right of all people. And that's a message he will continue to talk
about. He will continue to talk about the importance of advancing
freedom, because advancing freedom advances peace. The people of Iraq
and Afghanistan are beginning to realize these wonders of freedom,
including the ability to express their views freely.
Q Does he feel like in some ways he has to take on this
anti-him sentiment in Europe, anti-U.S. sentiment?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think he looks at it that way. He look at
it as forward -- as to continue to strengthen a very strong
relationship with a steadfast ally and friend.
Q But he's not blind to the fact that there is this sentiment
--
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just expressed his views.
Q One other. Can you explain why it's appropriate to limit any
coverage of -- at Dover, of the fallen servicemen and women coming
back?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think those are questions to direct toward the
military. They have some rules in place that have been in place, and I
think you should direct those questions --
Q This is the White House, this is the --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- direct those questions to the military.
Q -- have no view about that, on why that's appropriate?
MR. McCLELLAN: Our concern is always with the families.
Q On the eve of the President's trip to London, a London
newspaper is reporting that the administration has basically made the
decision that it wants to internationalize far more than it's now doing
the military forces in Iraq, and that Colin Powell has been speaking to
the head of the European Union about this, and now it's a question of
can an agreement be worked out. Does -- would the President like to
see more forces in, and would the President be willing to give up some
of the control in order to get more forces in?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm not aware of any changes beyond what is
already outlined in Security Council Resolution 1511, which is an
American-led international force. There are, of course, already a
significant number of international -- of other countries involved in
the coalition efforts in Iraq. And you have a number of countries that
are members of NATO that are involved in our efforts in Iraq. There
are more than 30 countries that are involved in those security
efforts.
Q Would the administration -- you mentioned some NATO
countries. Would the administration welcome actual NATO involvement --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said, I'm not aware of any changes,
whatsoever, that are envisaged beyond what's called for in Security
Council Resolution 1511. That's where we are. It's an American-led
international force. There are a number of countries participating.
We welcome their participation, and we will continue to talk with
others about ways they can participate.
Q If an American commander were still in charge, would the
United States welcome NATO going into Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, there are a number of NATO countries
already involved.
Q NATO itself, would you like NATO?
MR. McCLELLAN: There aren't any changes, as I said, beyond the
security -- what Security Council Resolution 1511 outlines, at this
point. It continues to be an American-led international coalition that
is overseeing the efforts in Iraq.
Q What's the status of the British detainess at Guantanamo?
Are you working out some deal on their behalf?
MR. McCLELLAN: We continue to have discussions on that issue, and
we -- those individuals continue to be treated well and there continue
to be discussions on that matter. I don't have anything to announce or
update at this point.
Q Scott, beyond the issue that is freedom of speech, the
President is going to miss several significant events in London --
from the parade with the Queen to speaking before Parliament. Beyond
photo ops, there's a chance that the President could have had
Parliament to sway some of Tony Blair's naysayers. What are your
thoughts --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President will give a very important
speech on Wednesday, and then he will participate in some meetings, I
believe on Thursday, with Prime Minister Blair. They'll continue to
talk about a number of shared priorities that we have, and then they
will have a press availability following that, following those
meetings.
Q What are your thoughts about the fact that the President
cannot speak before Parliament because many --
MR. McCLELLAN: The schedule that we outlined last week is what we
worked on with our friends in the United Kingdom. And the President,
as I said, has an important speech on Wednesday and some important
meetings and other events throughout the week.
Q Well, would you have liked for him to be able to go before
Parliament?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President is pleased to be going to the United
Kingdom and he is pleased to have the opportunity to make those remarks
on Wednesday, pleased to participate in the other events and pleased to
visit with his good friend, Prime Minister Blair and do some travel to
the area where Prime Minister Blair is from on Friday. So there will
be plenty of opportunity for the President to talk to the people of the
United Kingdom.
Q Energy legislation and Medicare were among the President's
campaign promises in 2000, and now that these issues are coming to head
in Congress, is the President personally getting involved in trying to
make these things get accomplished?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President has been personally involved in these
issues --
Q Specifically how is he --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- he has met with congressional leaders on these
issues. He has continued to urge action by Congress that these are two
of his highest domestic priorities. Certainly, on the energy
legislation, that's also important not only to our national security,
but our economic security. And on Medicare, it's time for seniors to
realize the same kinds of choices and benefits that members of Congress
now have. There's some 40 million seniors and it's important that we
seize this historic opportunity to get it passed.
Q I understand what he has done, but today and this week, what
is he personally --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we'll keep you updated on his personal
activities that he's involved with on the legislative front when we're
ready to make those announcements. We'll keep you posted on that.
Q How concerned are you, though, that here is two most
important pieces of legislation, they're coming up for vote this week,
and he's essentially going to be AWOL. He's going to be out in Great
Britain.
MR. McCLELLAN: That's assuming that the President of the United
States cannot focus on domestic priorities while he's abroad. He's the
President of the United States wherever he goes, and he will remain
focused on all his priorities, whether he's in the United States or
outside the United States. This is an important visit coming up to the
United Kingdom, and there also a number of important legislative
priorities that Congress needs to finish this week. You mentioned two
of the highest, Medicare and energy -- comprehensive energy
legislation.
Q But we're trying to get some simple answers about what he's
going to do, and you can't even --
MR. McCLELLAN: And as always --
Q -- he going to be in contact with people, is he going to be
calling members from Great Britain?
MR. McCLELLAN: I would expect that he will continue to stay
involved on these priorities. And I will keep you posted on any
updates to his schedule.
Q Just one more, if I can. How concerned is --
MR. McCLELLAN: But again, I want to point out, he has been
involved. He's been going out across the country talking about these
important priorities. These are two of his highest priorities. And he
has been meeting with leaders of Congress on these very issues.
Q How concerned is he that conservatives in the House seem to
be unhappy about some of the cost-saving provisions in the legislation,
that the premium support provision, whereby private entities would
compete with the Medicare program, is way scaled back in this deal?
What's he going to say to these House conservatives?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President believes that this is a good piece of
legislation that improves health care for our seniors. Seniors have
waited long enough for the prescription drug coverage that they need
and deserve. Seniors should have the same kinds of choices and
benefits that members of Congress and many other Americans have today,
so that they can chose the care that best meets their individual health
care needs. That's what the President will continue to urge. It's the
right thing to pass this legislation. It's an historic opportunity.
We are on the verge of getting it passed.
It brings in competition to Medicare. If seniors want to stay in
their traditional plan, they're fully welcome to stay in their
traditional plan if they like the way it is meeting their health care
needs, but it will also give them more choices and better benefits to
chose from, through competition. And competition will help make that
care more affordable, so it will help address some of the cost issues.
There are also some cost-containment agreements that were reached in a
bipartisan way over the weekend. You mentioned one, on the
demonstration project. And there are some other measures in there to
help address those cost issues as we move forward on Medicare.
Q On the verdict that's just been issued on the John Allen
Mohammed case, has the President been notified -- and does the White
House have a statement on that?
MR. McCLELLAN: He's been in some meetings just before this. But I
guess I would say that the jury has spoken. Hopefully the jury's
decision will help bring some comfort to the families of those whose
lives were senselessly taken and those who were injured. Our thoughts
and prayers continue to be with the families of those who were killed,
as well as the others who were injured.
Q Scott, the President, in an interview, I believe with David
Frost, was asked about the composition of the second term Bush
administration, and he responded by saying, well, of course Vice
President Cheney will be part of it. Given the fact that the Vice
President has been associated with the most criticized facts in the
first Bush administration -- the talk about nuclear weapons that Iraq
allegedly --
MR. McCLELLAN: The intelligence that was shared by many
intelligence agencies around the world and the United Nations?
Q -- weapons of mass destruction, as well as the push for
reintroducing many nuclear weapons as an active part of the U.S.
armory, all those things have been so highly criticized. The Vice
President has been closely associated with them. Does that not
represent a handicap for getting the President reelected?
MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree with a lot of the premise of your
question. The President has already previously said that the Vice
President would continue to be his Vice President if he were to win
election to a second term. The Vice President is doing an outstanding
job, and he's someone who shares the President's commitment to making
America more secure and making the world a safer and better place.
Q Scott, we don't here anymore about Osama bin Laden and
attacks are still going on against the United States, India, Israel and
Turkey now, and also in Iraq. Do you think now Osama bin Laden is not
behind all those attacks going on or al Qaeda or terrorist activities
are going on around the world?
MR. McCLELLAN: You're right, we haven't heard a whole lot from him
lately. I think he continues to be on the run. We will find him and
bring him to justice, as we have been doing to a number of the leaders
within the al Qaeda hierarchy. We continue to pursue those leaders and
bring them to justice. Many of the -- certainly the middle management
leaders have already been brought to justice. The war on terror
continues. I think the tragic attacks in Turkey over the weekend are a
reminder that the war on terrorism continues and it goes on. And the
President's highest priority is winning the war on terrorism. We will
continue to take the fight to the terrorists and bring them to
justice.
Q Is he still wanted dead or alive?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q He's still wanted --
MR. McCLELLAN: We will -- we continue to pursue him and we will
bring him to justice. But what's important is that we have made
significant strides in winning the war on terrorism by taking a number
of steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure of al Qaeda. We've
made great progress, but the war continues.
Q A follow-up to Keith's question on the demonstration project
issue -- where the House conservatives feel it isn't going far enough
-- you have many Democrats in the Senate, and also including some
moderate Republicans in the Senate, feeling that it does not go far
enough. Does the President believe that this is a negotiable item
still?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President, as you heard him express in a
statement on Saturday, believes that -- and even in remarks yesterday
when he arrived back from Camp David, he believes this is a good piece
of legislation and it will help address the health care needs of our
seniors by bringing Medicare up to date to today's health care system.
It will help modernize and improve Medicare for our seniors. And it's
important that we use this opportunity to finally get it passed. And
the President will continue urging the Congress to move forward on this
legislation. He's pleased that leaders within Congress have worked in
a bipartisan way to reach a bipartisan consensus on this legislation.
Q But the sticking point is the requirement, whether it's on a
demonstration level or broader level, to require Medicare recipients to
move into a private plan in the future. Does the President believe
that's absolutely necessary rather than --
MR. McCLELLAN: The President is going to work with the
congressional leaders to get this legislation passed, and he's pleased
that there is an agreement reached and it did address a number of the
cost containment issues that are priorities for the President, as
well.
Q Scott, this week in Miami, the -- of this hemisphere were
going to discuss the free trade area of the Americas. And there is a
lot of problem with Brazil and the United States -- exports and
imports. Brazil says nothing is going to happen in Miami until the
United States eliminates all the subsidies in the agriculture sector.
What does the President expect of this meeting?
MR. McCLELLAN: Ambassador Zoellick continues to work with the
Brazilian officials on those issues. There was recently some informal
dialogue here in Washington on some of those issues. We are continuing
to work toward achieving a free trade area of the Americas. And so
those discussions are ongoing between officials within the United
States and officials in Brazil.
Q Do you think the free trade of the Americas will be a fact in
2005, year 2005, or without Brazil it's impossible to get it --
MR. McCLELLAN: We continue to work to achieve that reality, of a
free trade are of the Americas. And we're continuing to work with
officials throughout the hemisphere on that.
Q Just to follow up on Medicare. Yesterday the President said
that members of Congress are going to be under intense pressure to vote
for this bill. Can you just elaborate on that, what kind of intense
pressure he was talking about that might come from the White House?
And also, is he going to meet with conferees before he leaves for Great
Britain?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the issue here -- one, we're still
working on details of a possible meeting and we'll keep you posted when
anything is final. Back to your question, I think that there are those
leaders who are working in a bipartisan way to improve health care for
our some 40 million seniors and people with disabilities who are
eligible for Medicare. Then there are those who are standing in the
way of the biggest improvements in Medicare in some 40 years.
It is time that we bring Medicare into the 21st century. It is
time that we act on this historic opportunity to improve health care
for America's seniors. We should not let this opportunity pass.
Congress has worked hard to reach a bipartisan agreement and the
President is pleased that they were able to do so. And now it's
important to continue moving forward and get that legislation passed
and to the President's desk, so that seniors can realize the kinds of
choices and benefits that members of Congress now have.
Q On the Hill they're making clear that this is whip-counting
time, and it's going to be very, very tight. And they're saying that
they need -- Republicans are saying they need the President to get
involved specifically --
MR. McCLELLAN: I just said that we're working on a meeting for
later today. The President will continue to emphasize that this is the
right thing to do for America's seniors. This is about America's
seniors, and we should put aside the old politics of the past and move
forward on this legislation, because of the historic opportunity that
we now have before us, and the hard work that members of Congress --
leaders in Congress worked to get this -- get an agreement on this
legislation.
Q There's an article in the Weekly Standard outlining something
like a 13-year relationship between Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein,
based on intelligence reports, and how they were trying to coordinate
or work together on terrorist activities. Your reaction to the
article, and also, do you think that the administration sees this as
more justification --
MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't had an opportunity to read the actual
article. I've seen the reports. But the ties between, or the
relationship between Saddam Hussein's regime and al Qaeda were
well-documented. They were documented by Secretary Powell before the
United Nations, back in February, I believe. And we have previously
talked about those ties that are there.
Q More justification for the war, then?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Do you see that as more justification for the war?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we outlined -- the justification for the war
was clear in all the Security Council resolutions that were passed.
Resolution 1411 called for serious consequences if Saddam Hussein
continued to defy the international community. He did, and the
President acted to make the world a safer and better place by removing
his regime.
Q That large monument of the 10 commandments in the Texas state
capitol in Austin has just been ruled constitutional by the 4th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals, not long after one Alabama federal judge
ruled that just such a 10 commandments monument in an Alabama
courthouse is unconstitutional. And my first of two-part question is,
since the President, while he was governor of Texas, took no step
whatsoever to remove that 10 commandment monument from the Texas
capitol, this surely illustrates the President's support rather than
opposition to 10 commandments monuments, doesn't it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, I think that there are examples you can find
of where the courts have said in some circumstances it's okay to
display the 10 commandments. In other circumstances they have said it
is not. It's important that the legal process be followed. And you
just pointed out that in some circumstances it has been ruled to be
okay, and in other circumstances it has not.
Q Given the fact that one of the stars in the Confederate flag
is for Texas, which provided that army some of its bravest troops, the
President would never call that flag, "loathsome," would he, Scott?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, Les, the President, as governor, was proud
that we displayed the Texas flag.
Go ahead, Sara.
Q But what about the Confederate --
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Sara.
Q Thank you. Thank you, Lester. Scott, the French Foreign
Minister says the U.S. timetable for giving Iraq back to the Iraqis is
not good enough. He says there should be provisional government in
place by the end of the year. Any reaction from the President?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, the decision that was announced
by the Governing Council over the weekend sets in course a process for
transferring sovereignty to the Iraqi people by the end of May. And I
can't emphasize enough how important of a step this is toward achieving
a free, peaceful and prosperous future for the Iraqi people. The Iraqi
people are well on their way toward realizing that important goal. And
this was an important step toward -- this announcement over the weekend
was an important step toward achieving that goal.
Q Yemen has freed 92 suspected followers of al Qaeda, saying
they have repented, and that the release is part of the Ramadan
amnesty. Does this fly in the face of the war against terror?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, does it what?
Q Does it fly in the face of the war against terror?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not sure about the specifics, about who was
released and what their relationships might have been to al Qaeda. I
can look into that. But the war on terrorism -- we continue to carry
out the war on terrorism.
Q Ambassador Bremer said yesterday that U.S. troops will remain
on the ground in Iraq, even after the government is elected there.
What if the government asks the United States to get out? Will we get
out?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that that's the case. The Governing
Council themselves said that they would expect that they would remain
-- that we would remain as invited guests, that the coalition forces --
the security of Iraq is a very high priority. And we will continue to
have discussions with the Governing Council as we move forward. And
then we will continue to have discussions with the new interim
government once it is in place about the security matters.
Q But the question is, let's say they elect a theocracy against
your wishes, and the theocracy says, like in Iran, get out. Will we
get out?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we will continue to have discussions with
the new interim government once it is in place. But I think that the
Iraqi people have indicated in a number of different ways, if you look
at polls, if you look at the Governing Council representatives, that
they want us to stay until the job is finished. And part of that job
is making sure that we have a secure environment for the Iraqi people.
We still have important obligations that will need to be
fulfilled. That includes the security side; that includes the
reconstruction side. There are enormous amount of resources that are
going into Iraq from the international community. All of us have a
stake in seeing a peaceful and free Iraq come about. It's important to
transforming the Middle East. The Middle East has been a volatile
region that has been a breeding ground for terrorism. And bringing
about a free, peaceful, and democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle
East will help transform that region for the better and bring about a
safer and better world.
Q Scott, thank you. Obviously I applaud freedom of religion
and freedom of speech, but are there any prohibitions to terrorists who
want to use our mosques or churches? We have restrictions on charity
terrorist groups, but what about preaching terrorism in this country?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're talking about the United States?
Q Yes.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know specifically what you're referring
to. If you have a specific instance you want to bring to my attention,
then we can talk about that. But there are a number of different ways
that we are going after the terrorists, through the sharing of
intelligence with other countries, through law enforcement efforts,
through some new tools that were passed by Congress to go after those
terrorists. So there are a number of ways we're going after the
terrorists. I don't -- a specific instance you would have to bring to
my attention.
Q All right. If a terrorist gets up in a mosque or a church
and calls for a bombing in America, or any place else, is there any
penalty --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that that's -- well, one, you're not
referring to a specific matter. Let me be clear on that. You're
referring generally. But we will do what it takes to protect the
American people from terrorist attacks. And there's some tools that we
have available to us on the law enforcement side that we will use if
necessary.
Q But is it illegal for them --
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I'm not a lawyer, Connie. I'm not going to
get into all the legal issues here. I sometimes play one on TV.
(Laughter.)
Thank you.
END 12:51 P.M. EST
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