For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 18, 2003
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
Audio
2:05 P.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. The President was pleased to visit some of our bravest soldiers today at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
This was an opportunity for the President to let these fine members of
our United States military know that America is forever grateful for
their service and sacrifice. These brave troops represent the best of
America, and as such, they are receiving the best care from fellow
Americans at Walter Reed. The President was pleased to be able to
personally thank the outstanding medical team at Walter Reed, and the
volunteers, for the high quality care they provide those who have been
wounded while serving to make America more secure.
Let me give you one update also on Secretary Baker's trip.
Secretary Baker had a good and constructive meeting with Russian
President Putin. They discussed the need to reduce the crushing debt
burden on the Iraqi people. President Putin told Secretary Baker that
Russia will work with us in a cooperative spirit of partnership and is
prepared to join promptly in negotiations in the Paris Club in order to
reach an agreement as soon as possible on debt relief for Iraq.
Secretary Baker is pleased that the countries visited have agreed
to work with us on an issue so important to the future of the Iraqi
people. While this trip has been a good start, there is certainly more
work to do. Secretary Baker will be continuing his efforts and visits
to other capitals in the coming weeks.
And finally, I just would say that the President and Mrs. Bush look
forward very much to seeing everyone here, and others, tonight at the
holiday reception. And with that, we'll go right to questions.
Steve.
Q Prime Minister Sharon is saying he will take a unilateral
security measure of separation if the Palestinians don't continue on
the road map. What do you make of his speech?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, we are pleased to hear Prime
Minister Sharon's strong reiteration of his support for the road map as
the way forward. He, Prime Minister Sharon said it is "the best way to
achieve true peace." We are also pleased, as well, that he repeated
what he said at Aqaba -- "It is not in our interest to govern you. We
would like you to govern yourselves in your own country." Those were
his words. We hope that Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Qurei
will meet face to face soon to discuss how to move forward. We urge
them to do so very soon and without any preconditions.
Q Scott, if I could follow. Sharon also said, however, that if
the Palestinians don't make some headway within several months on the
U.S. backed road map, he's calling for implementing what he's calling
"severance procedure," a procedure he said that is pursued in maximum
coordination with the United States, including moving some settlements,
drawing new security lines, and altering the deployment of Israeli
forces. Is this a plan the administration endorses?
MR. McCLELLAN: A couple of things -- one, the plan the
administration supports is the road map, because that is the way to get
to the President's vision that he outlined on June 24, 2002, here in
the Rose Garden of two states living side by side in peace and
security. And Prime Minister Sharon, as I pointed out, again said that
that is the best way to achieve true peace. And we believe that the
road map is the way to get to the President's two-state vision.
Secondly, we would oppose any unilateral steps that block the road
toward negotiations under the road map that lead to this two-state
vision. Steps that ease the conditions of Palestinian life, that
reduce friction and violence, or that help block terrorist activities
are, of course, part of the road map. And they are steps under the
road map.
And I think what you're referring to was that Prime Minister Sharon
stated that such actions, under what you discussed, would be undertaken
only if there is no progress on the road map. We are continuing to
work hard with Israel and the Palestinians to make progress on the road
map. And we don't think it's best, at this point, to be discussing now
what to do if progress is not made, because we're staying focused,
working with the parties to achieve progress on the road map.
Q So the administration doesn't support this severance -- what
he's calling a severance procedure. That's not what the administration
is endorsing.
MR. McCLELLAN: The United States believes that a settlement must
be negotiated, and we would oppose any effort -- any Israeli effort to
impose a settlement. Unilateral steps can help the road map move
forward if they are part of the road map and steps under the road map,
or they can block the road map. It depends on what they are. And
Israeli action to remove unauthorized outposts or to remove isolated
settlements are consistent with the road map, I would point out.
Q Let's be clear here, Scott. The President believes that if
Sharon makes good on his pledge to essentially cut Israel off from the
Palestinians, he believes that that would not be consistent with the
ideals of the road map, is that fair?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just addressed where we are, and that he
reiterated his commitment to moving forward on the road map. Remember,
under the road map, Palestinians must reform their political
institutions, unify their security services and have an empowered Prime
Minister, and fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist organizations.
The President has repeatedly said that the Palestinians need to take
steps, firm steps against terror --
Q -- what Prime Minister Sharon said.
MR. McCLELLAN: And under the road map, Israel must undertake a
settlement freeze and eliminate unauthorized outposts. We're pleased
that the Prime Minister flatly stated that unauthorized outposts will
be dismantled, period. Those were his words.
Q But you're cherry-picking what you want to hear --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think you are cherry picking.
Q -- appears to blow up the whole process.
MR. McCLELLAN: We look forward to immediate action on that pledge
that I just mentioned. We are also pleased that for the first time, he
said flatly that there would be no new settlements, no confiscation of
land for construction, no special economic incentives for settlers and
no construction beyond present construction zones. We believe that
these are elements of a settlement freeze. And we will soon be
discussing those details and implementation of such a freeze with
Israeli officials.
Q I recognize that those are significant steps. But if Sharon
is saying that he is prepared to take a step that essentially negates
all of the rest, complete separation from the Palestinians, and this
President says, no, we would oppose that, well, what's he going to do
about it? Because he has opposed the fence for some time, and the
result has been, in the face of U.S. opposition, Sharon is ratcheting
up the steps he's willing to take to deal with the problem that he
sees. So what's the U.S. going to do about it, besides say that you
oppose it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, he said, only if there is no progress on
the road map would he take such steps. What we are going to do is
continue to remain actively engaged with the parties, with the Israelis
and with the Palestinians, to make progress under the road map. And at
this point, I think that's where the focus needs to remain. And that's
where our focus is remaining.
We going to stay on this topic? Okay, go ahead.
Q So the position of the President is that you would oppose any
effort to impose a settlement, any effort by Israeli to impose a
settlement? Is that what Prime Minister Sharon is outlining, an effort
to impose a settlement?
MR. McCLELLAN: What I made -- well, what he outlined was that the
road map was the best way to achieve the vision that was outlined by
the President, two states living side-by-side in peace and security.
That's the best way to get there. That's where our focus remains.
That's why we've remained actively engaged with the parties. That's
why a number of administration officials have been visiting with the
parties, some in person, and some over the phone.
Q But he said, if that doesn't work, I'm going to impose a
settlement. And the administration would oppose that?
MR. McCLELLAN: He said only if there is no progress on the road
map. And I think I made it very clear that we would oppose any
unilateral steps that block the road toward a negotiation between the
parties under the road map that will lead to the two-state vision the
President outlined.
Q So you see some of what he outlined today on the settlements
issue as consistent with the road map. He's freezing settlements.
He's --
MR. McCLELLAN: Right.
Q Okay. What about --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said some unilateral steps, if they're
consistent with the road map and taken under the road map, can be
helpful. There are others that cannot be. We want the parties working
with each other and moving forward on the road map.
Q Like the fence --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've said that we've had concerns about the
fence. It's not that we necessarily oppose construction of the fence,
but we oppose a route that interferes with the normal Palestinian life,
or what makes building a viable Palestinian state impossible. We have
said that the fence should not be or appear to be a pretext for taking
land, and it should not be something that presses undue burdens on the
Palestinian people. That remains our view. That's what we've said all
along.
Q As long as the fence is a security measure, it doesn't
preclude settlement issues, you're okay with it. How do you determine
the difference?
MR. McCLELLAN: The Israelis have claimed that it is purely a
security measure, but we've made it clear that we have some concerns
about some of the steps that were taken. And again, that is that if it
led to a pretext for taking land unnecessarily or it unduly burdened
the Palestinian people. We want steps to be taken to ease the plight
of the Palestinian people. We have been deeply concerned about the
conditions of life for the vast majority of Palestinians who seek peace
and oppose violence. And we are glad that Prime Minister Sharon
addressed that issue and promised steps to allow more freedom of
movement and freer economic activity. Those are essential steps and
they should be taken now.
Q So just to button this down, you like some of what he said,
but really you're warning Prime Minister Sharon today not to go forward
with the program he outlined to impose --
MR. McCLELLAN: I described it the way I did, that we are working
very closely with Israelis and the Palestinians to make progress under
the road map. We're pleased that Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his
commitment and support for the road map as the best way to achieve the
President's vision. So that's where things are.
Q Scott, can I follow up --
MR. McCLELLAN: You want to stay on this? Let's stay on this, and
then we'll go to the next topic. Go ahead, Connie.
Q What are you telling Israeli settlers? What do they think?
Do they think that their settlements that they are in now are going to
be dismantled now, or wait a few more months? And what happens to --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, those discussions we'll have with the
Israelis as we move forward on the President's -- the plan that was
outlined to achieve the President's vision. That's the road map. And
the road map calls for some of the steps that Prime Minister Sharon
talked about today.
Q Two other things. What about the loan guarantees, do they
get reinstated now?
MR. McCLELLAN: Do they get reinstated? That remains in place.
We've already had this discussion and the State Department is the one
that oversees that.
Q Is it still your opinion that Jerusalem is a final status
issue?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the road map spells out all those details. I
mean, first and foremost, the President has talked about the need for
the Palestinians -- for new Palestinian leadership to take steps to
dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. It's also important for Israel
to recognize they have steps to take, and I think Prime Minister Sharon
talked about some of that today. And we're pleased with a number of
things that he said in his remarks, particularly his commitment to
moving forward on the road map.
Anything else on this? Anything else on this? And I'll be glad to
move to the next topic. Okay.
Q An appeals court has said the President does not -- any
President does not have the power to detain an American citizen seized
on U.S. soil as an enemy combatant.
MR. McCLELLAN: What I would say is that the President's most solemn obligation is protecting the American people. We believe the 2nd Circuit ruling is troubling and flawed, and the President has
directed the Justice Department to seek a stay and further judicial
review. This is a case in which an individual was involved with
terrorist organization activity and was actively engaged in an effort
to do harm to the American people.
Q Why couldn't that be adjudicated in some way by going through
the regular court system, instead of making him an enemy combatant?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, let's remember what we're
talking about. We're talking about an individual who was involved in
seeking to do harm to the American people. And the President has
repeatedly said that his most solemn obligation and responsibility is
to protect the American people. And the 2nd Circuit's ruling is really
inconsistent with the clear constitutional authority of the President
and his responsibility that I just mentioned, and with previous circuit
and Supreme Court rulings. The 4th Circuit previously ruled on a
similar matter, and it upheld the authority of the President to
designate enemy combatants. So let's keep all that in mind.
The President is going to continue aggressively pursuing the war on
terror and do everything he can to prevent an attack from happening in
this country.
Q So what's the next step?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President directed the Justice Department
to seek a stay and further judicial review. So that's the next step.
Q -- to seek a stay from the same court -- or do you go to the
Supreme Court, what do you do?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'll let the lawyers determine the best
course forward. But the President has made his views very well-known.
Q Is the stay meant to study whether to appeal?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I said, and further judicial review. So we
will continue to --
Q -- might take it to the Supreme Court?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, if that's necessary.
Q What happens if Pedilla's court asks the Pentagon to release
Pedilla from military custody?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that that's the case, if you're
suggesting that, that that would be the case. That's why, one, we're
seeking a stay; and two, seeking further judicial review.
Q I'm asking whether Pedilla would be released per this court's
order.
MR. McCLELLAN: It's my understanding that would not be the case at
this point.
Q He will not be released pending this review?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's my understanding that would not be the case.
Q Does the ruling in this case and the ruling in the Moussoui
case lead the President to believe that he's being well represented by
the Justice Department in these court matters?
MR. McCLELLAN: We believe the Justice Department is doing a great
job.
Q Scott --
MR. McCLELLAN: Any more on this? Anything else --
Q No, but I had a different matter --
MR. McCLELLAN: We can go to a different matter.
Q Okay. Is David Kay thinking about leaving his position?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, I wouldn't presume to speak for
him. I would let him speak for himself. I would point out that the
search is an important priority and the work of the Iraq Survey Group
continues. The interim report already pointed out that Saddam
Hussein's regime was in serious violation of Security Council
Resolution 1441, and the Iraq Survey Group will continue and complete
its work.
Q Has he notified you that he intends to leave?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I would not speak for Mr. Kay. I will let
him speak for himself. But regardless, the work of the Iraq Survey
Group continues, and they will complete that work.
Q One other thing, if I may. Secretary General Annan today
said that he needs much greater clarity on what Iraqis and the
coalition expect of the U.N. before he determines whether or not it is
worth the risk to go back in. Can you clarify what it is the coalition
would like the U.N. to do at this point, and what it would like it to
do, especially with regards to --
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that I need to. I think if you look
back at the Security Council resolutions you'll see what we want the
United Nations to do, to continue to play the vital role that they were
previously playing. And they have designated a new special
representative for Iraq. We're hopeful that they can return to Iraq
soon. We'll continue to have those discussions with the Security
Council. I would just reiterate that you have three Security Council
resolutions that called on the United Nations to play a vital role.
And certainly, in 1511, it talked about the United Nations playing a
vital role in the electoral and constitutional process.
Q Well, that clearly is not enough clarity for Annan. You're
not prepared to offer --
MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen his exact remarks. As you know I've
been --
Q I quoted him pretty much verbatim.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sure you did. I've been with the President at
Walter Reed. But I think that the points I made are still applicable
to your question.
Q Scott, the Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Governor Kean was
quoted today as saying that 9/11 was preventable, that some officials
in the government failed to prevent it, and that some of those people
who failed are still in positions of authority. Any reaction to that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, I would remind you of something
that the President has repeatedly said, the best way to prevent
something like September 11th from ever happening again is to take the
fight to the terrorists. And that is exactly the kind of decisive
action that this President is taking to protect the American people.
And as to the specific news report, I did see that, as well. I saw the
Chairman's comments, and I would just say that I don't think I quite
walked away with the same impression that you did.
Q How so? How so? How do you mean that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that there were some comments made,
and then the report may have gone a step further. I'm not going to
speak for Chairman Kean, but you might want to ask him.
Q Well, I have talked to his office, and they're saying that he
was quoted accurately. But he did say, apparently there's no question
about it, he did say it was preventable. He did say, when asked
specifically, are there people who failed to prevent it who are still
in authority, his answer was, yes, and we'll find out who those people
are.
MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen any further comment from him. But
when I looked at his comments, I didn't quite take that same
impression. But I would reiterate that the President strongly supports
the work of the commission. If there is something that we can learn
that can help prevent a terrorist attack like September 11th from
happening, we want to know about it. And that is why at the direction
of the President, we are working very closely with the commission to
help them complete their important work. Both the chairman and
co-chairman have publicly applauded the assistance of the White House
in helping the commission. So that's where things are. But the
commission is continuing to do its work.
Q What's the status of the commission's access to the
intelligence briefings that it was seeking? Has that process begun
now? Have they --
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, yes. That process began shortly after all the
agreements were reached.
Q What impression did you get from what Kean said?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I don't want to speak for Chairman
Kean, but I just didn't quite walk away with that same impression that
Ken described.
Q Has the commission officially notified the White House of
these claims, or are you learning of it just from this --
MR. McCLELLAN: Of which claims?
Q That there were problems and that there are people in place
who possibly could have prevented September 11th?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, the commission is continuing to do its
work. And it's important that they complete their work. And that's
why we're working closely with them, to help them complete their
important work. I don't want to do anything that would get in the way
of them completing their work. I mean, I think I'll let them describe,
in terms of where they are in conducting their work and completing
their work.
Q In the cooperation that the White House has shown with the
commission, have any of your people found any similar evidence to match
what Governor Kean has suggested?
MR. McCLELLAN: Which part of what he suggested?
Q That there were problems that could have possibly been
prevented.
MR. McCLELLAN: As we have previously said, there is nothing that
we have seen that leads us to believe that September 11th could have
been prevented. We previously said that. That still stands.
Q On the MRI today, did the doctors tell the President if and
when he could resume the kind of running that he wants to do?
MR. McCLELLAN: First of all, while he has not been running really
like he used to, he has been running occasionally. I think that what
you saw today from the medical summary was that the wear and tear is
consistent with his previous -- some of his previous activity and his
previous examinations, and his continued level of activity. I think
that this is -- the treatment that they were recommending for his knee
remains the same, and that is, continue to do cross-training, continue
the elliptical -- such as the elliptical-type training that he does,
the water jogging, strengthening his quadriceps. That's another
important activity that was spelled out in his previous physicals, as
well, and listening to his body.
Remember, after he had the calf strain, the President said what he
learned was that it's important for someone of his age who exercises
rigorously and regularly to listen to their body. And so if you feel
pain, it's saying, don't do that. Take some time, let it heal.
Q I'm a little unclear, though. Is he -- is it the kind of
thing that once he does all that, he can resume running at the pace he
enjoyed before, or is he permanently sidelined from --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, not at all, for the reasons I've just stated.
And like I said, he ran over Thanksgiving, and ran on the treadmill and
ran outside at the ranch in Crawford.
Q -- running for reelection? (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Hold on. Anything else on this?
Q Any prescription painkillers?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, you have the medical summary, both from his
previous physicals and today. And that's where it is.
Q I've seen aspirin, I think, in the past. No prescription
painkillers.
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, you have all the medical summary there, so I
would leave it where it is.
Q Has the President talked with Colin Powell or seen him since
--
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he saw him earlier today while he was at
Walter Reed. And he reported that the Secretary is doing well.
Q What did they say to each other? Did they talk about the
Baker visits and what's going on --
MR. McCLELLAN: They had some private time together. The President
wasn't there very long because he was primarily there to go and visit
our troops who had been wounded defending freedom and making America
more secure. So that's the reason he was there. But Secretary Powell
was there, and so the President dropped by to wish him well and say
hello. And so that was really the purpose of it.
Q He didn't update him on anything at all? Because we
understand that Powell has been working from his hospital bed.
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I typically don't read out his discussions
with Secretary Powell here at the White House, and I don't do it at
Walter Reed, either. But it was a good private discussion, primarily
just the President dropping by. He wasn't in there very long with the
Secretary.
Q On the troops -- I'm sorry -- can I just ask you one thing
about the visit with the troops?
MR. McCLELLAN: You've had questions. I'll come back to you. I'll
come back to you.
Q All right.
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.
Q Can I go back to David Kay for a minute?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q Do you have any concern that if he does depart early, in the
next couple of months, that this would send a signal that the
administration is, if not giving up on finding WMD, then ratcheting
down?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think made it very clear that this is an
important priority -- there are a number of important priorities we
have. This is one of them -- and that that work will continue -- they
will complete their work.
Q Yes, the President alluded to but didn't quite explain for us
in his remarks about the soldier who lost two legs and arm. Could you
tell us what the deal is with his citizenship?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, actually -- actually, this was a young man
from Micronesia that the President saw on his last visit to Walter Reed
on September the 11th. His father was with him there that time, and
his father was with him again today. And I'll tell you it's just
remarkable to see the progress. And it's remarkable to see the spirit
of someone like that who made a great sacrifice on behalf of his
adopted country. And at the time, he had only recently arrived, I
believe, at Walter Reed. And he had not received his prosthetic arm
and legs. And the President had a very good visit with him and his
father.
And it was a short time after that, I believe, in November, that
Secretary Principi made him a United States citizen. And as with all
the Americans who are serving and sacrificing for this country, and to
make the world a safer and better place, we are forever grateful to
him, as well. And it was quite a remarkable experience to be there in
the physical therapy room where you had a lot of people that had been
moved from the stage of being in their hospital beds to going through
rehabilitation and physical therapy. And there's a large room -- some
of the family members were there, as well. And all of them applauded
and yelled very loudly when this new U.S. citizen got up and walked
back and forth along the little path there. It was quite a remarkable
sight.
Q Do non-citizens who serve in the U.S. military automatically
qualify for citizenship? Or do they get some sort of --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, there's -- and I don't recall off the top of
my head -- there's some specific things outlined there. And I know the
President made some designations to speed up that process for some of
those that were serving in our military. I just don't recall the
specifics of that right this second.
Q Scott, quick question, going back on the war on terrorism.
As we enter the new special holidays, or big holidays next week, or in
the next two weeks, are we still living under the threat of terrorism?
Or after Saddam's capture, we or Americans should have some kind of
relief from traveling abroad? And also at the same time, General Clark
said that if he was President, Osama bin Laden would have been
captured, and both should have been captured at the same time. And
he's much more a threat than Saddam Hussein.
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, a lot of things in there. Let me see where I
begin. First of all, as far as travel abroad, the State Department
keeps Americans posted on any advisories or any threats that they need
to be aware of, wherever they are traveling. And there are a number of
advisories that continue to exist right now for Americans traveling to
certain parts of the world. The war on terrorism continues. And there
are -- I would point out that when you talk about al Qaeda -- remember
that Iraq is part of the war on terrorism. In the post-September 11th
world, the President has made it very clear that we must confront
gathering threats before it's too late.
We cannot wait before it's too late, and that attack comes to our
shores. We've learned that. We need to go after these terrorists and
go after these outlaw regimes and confront them. And that's exactly
what the President has been doing. Certainly the capture of Saddam
Hussein was an important moment for the Iraqi people and is great news
for the Iraqi people. It said to them that you can be certain that he
is no longer coming back, his regime is gone, and they will not be
coming back to carry out the torture and intimidation and fear that
they instilled in that country.
Then, you have al Qaeda. Obviously that has been a priority from
immediately after -- well, even before, but certainly more so even
immediately after September 11th. That's -- we have already brought to
justice, in one way or another, two-thirds of the al Qaeda leadership.
The President refers to a lot of it as the middle-management level.
And we
continue to pursue the other leaders, including the one you
mentioned. They will be brought to justice, too. That's where it
stands.
Q Do you think you will have a new year gift by capturing Osama
bin Laden?
MR. McCLELLAN: I would just say that he will be brought to
justice. We will find him. And as the President said the other day,
he remains on the run, but he will be brought to justice.
Q Scott, I have a two-part. In his interview with ABC --
MR. McCLELLAN: Do you ever have a one-part?
Q I don't get six parts like lots of people in the front row?
MR. McCLELLAN: But Jim was being very nice. He had a smile on his
face today.
Q I'll smile, too.
MR. McCLELLAN: This administration doesn't believe in pointing
fingers, Les. Let's try to raise the tone in here, too.
Q In his interview with ABC, the President said, whatever legal
arrangements people want to make, so long as its embraced by the state
or at state level. And my question, does this mean that the President
sees no problem with any state passing civil unions or homosexual
marriage laws that give them the same legal status as marriages between
one man and one woman?
MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you for that question, Les. I would point
out that the President reiterated what he has previously said. The
President has always been strongly supportive of the principle that
marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman, and that he
will do what it takes to protect and defend the sanctity of marriage.
He made that very clear in the interview the other night. He strongly
supports the defense of marriage act, which says that for federal law
purposes, marriage is between a man and a woman. And it says that
states don't have to recognize other states' laws on the matter. So we
strongly support that.
He has also made it very clear, in light of the recent
Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling, that he will do what is legally
necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage. And that's what he's
committed to doing. We said, going back to the campaign, that states
have the right to decide legal arrangements that they so choose.
Certainly the President's views during the campaign, we said that he
would not have supported that for the state of Texas, and he was
governor at the time.
Q In the President's proclamation of human rights day, bill of
rights day and human rights week, he declared, "Freedom is the right of
mankind and the future of every nation." But the New Hampshire
Union-Leader said, President Bush, who not so long ago was speaking
eloquent phrases about the U.S. commitment to democracy all over the
globe, apparently thinks it is a bad idea for the people of Taiwan to
so much as vote on whether they prefer the Chinese missiles not to
pointed in their direction. My question, could you help us, Scott, in
this Bush contradiction?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't agree with the premise of the
question there. The President's priority is to preserve peace and
stability in the Taiwan Strait, in order to safeguard Taiwan's
democracy, to promote the spread of personal freedoms in China and
spare the region the scourge of war. That's the President's priority.
We support Taiwan's democracy, as we do others around the world. The
President's uncompromising position on Taiwan security is the clearest
proof of his administration's commitment on that. And the President
made it clear to Premier Wen that the United States would fulfill its
obligations to help Taiwan defend itself, as called for under the
Taiwan Relations Act.
But as the President said during those meetings, we oppose any
unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo,
for the reasons I stated at the beginning of my comments on this very
issue. And that's the President's view. That's been his position.
Q Those are two good answers. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, they were two good questions, Les.
Q One-part question. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.
Q Scott, this is sort of out of the blue, but now the it's been
upheld by the Supreme Court, does the President have any feelings about
the way the campaign finance reform law is shaking down in that
independent organizations such as Move On is ready to spend millions of
dollars to defeat him, another shadowing organization is ready to spend
money to attack Howard Dean. Does he have any feelings about this? Is
this what he expected?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that from the President's past you've
learned that the President has always been someone who believes in full
disclosure. And that is something he has strongly advocated as one of
the best campaign finance reform measures. He supported the campaign
finance reform that was passed by Congress because he felt overall it
helped improve the system. And that's where it was. We have continued
to look at the recent Supreme Court ruling to review it, and we are
continuing to review it very closely and carefully.
Q Did he expect this is where all the soft money would go when
he signed it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, the Supreme Court tried to bring some
clarity to this issue in the recent ruling, but I think that the
President has always been someone who believes that there should be
full disclosure. And that's why, during the campaign previously, we
rapidly disclosed his campaign contributors. He set the example. It
went beyond what was required.
Q The President at his news conference a few days ago was
noncommittal about advancing another major tax cut next year. Is it
still the administration's plan to move forward with the lifetime
savings account and retirement savings account the Treasury announced
last year, but that didn't go anywhere at the time?
MR. McCLELLAN: As you are aware, we're going through the budget
process as we speak. But I would point out that there are a number of
provisions that the President has already proposed that we've called on
Congress to enact. I would say right at the top of that list is one
part of his six-point plan to strengthen the economy even more, and
that's to make the tax cuts that were passed permanent. Congress
should not take action to increase taxes. That would be the worst
thing we could do to our economy right now when it's continuing to grow
and strengthen. So that's one of the top priorities for the President,
to make those tax cuts permanent.
Q What about the savings --
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, you've seen what he has proposed. We're
going through the budget process for the '05 budget and we will be
coming out with that in February, as you're well aware.
Q Talking about the six-party talks -- how is the United States
going to change North Korea --
MR. McCLELLAN: If they insist on what?
Q Insist there are -- conditions.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've made if very clear what our views are
and what North Korea needs to do. They need to end their nuclear
weapons program in a verifiable and irreversible way once and for all.
And so we are continuing to work with the other parties to seek a
multilateral resolution to this issue. We are continuing to pursue a
peaceful resolution, and we are prepared to go to the next round of
talks without any precondition. We've made that very clear. But I
would remind you that five of the six parties in these talks share one
important goal, and that is a nuclear-free peninsula. And so that's
what we continue to talk about. We've made it very clear, also, that
we are prepared to offer a multilateral security assurance to North
Korea as they commit and achieve benchmarks on ending their nuclear
program.
Q Is this a precondition, though? I don't understand that.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q North Korea needs to end their nuclear program once and for
all, isn't that a precondition?
MR. McCLELLAN: That is what we are all trying to achieve. That's
what all the parties are working to achieve. And we've already made
clear that, look, we'll put forward a multilateral security assurance
if that's what they need. But we expect them to achieve benchmarks
toward ending that nuclear program.
Q Scott, are there any White House concerns about the ruling
yesterday for unsupervised or outings by John Hinkley?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, I would say that our thoughts
and prayers are with the victims and their families, those who were so
needlessly harmed in that incident. And second, I would just say that
it's important to make sure that the concerns of those who were injured
and their families are heard.
Q Thank you.
MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you. We'll see you all a little bit later.
END 2:43 P.M. EST
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