For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 3, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route South Bend, Indiana
12:32 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning. Let me run through the President's
day. He had his usual briefings before departing. He also spoke with
Secretary -- he called Secretary Rumsfeld this morning to discuss the
strong actions and steps that the military is taking to address matters
in the prison system in Iraq and prevent prisoner abuse. They talked
about the comprehensive review of the policies and procedures
throughout the prison system in Iraq. And the President wanted to make
sure that appropriate action was being taken against those responsible
for these shameful, appalling acts.
And then following that, the President met with the Secretary of
State. And now we are on our way to events in Michigan.
The President today -- just so you know, the campaign will be
putting out material for you all on the participants in these events --
So you should be able to get those when you're on the ground, if you
haven't received them already. But the President today will be talking
about how we're working to build a safer, stronger and better America.
And he'll talk about what we're doing to win the war on terrorism and
what we're doing to strengthen our economy, so that everybody who is
looking for work can find a job, and what we are doing to encourage
compassion in communities across America, and spread the values that
make our communities better.
The first event -- well, upon arrival in South Bend, we will hop on
the bus. And the President will participate in an interview with some
regional media, including the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and
a reporter from Booth Newspapers, which represents several newspapers
in Michigan.
And then in Niles, Michigan, he'll participate in an "Ask President
Bush" event. Following that, we will go to Kalamazoo, where the
President will participate -- where the President will make remarks.
And then this evening the President will make remarks at a Sterling
Heights, Michigan rally. And I think that's all I've got.
Q What's an "Ask President Bush" event?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the campaign can tell you a little bit more
about it, but from my understanding, there will be some participants
that he'll talk to about the economic situation. And then he'll take
some questions, I believe, also from the audience.
Q Are these ticketed events? Do people have to --
MR. McCLELLAN: The campaign can get you all that information.
They'll get you all that on the ground.
Q The phrase you used, "shameful and appalling," and do you
think that steps that are being taken are strong enough now, so far?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, our military does not tolerate prisoner
abuse. The images are appalling, and such action is inexcusable. And
the shameful actions of a few do not represent the 99 percent of our
men and women in uniform who are performing superbly and representing
the United States with honor and distinction. It is -- we believe in
treating all people, including prisoners, with dignity and respect.
And that is a stark contrast from the regime of Saddam Hussein, who
encouraged and tolerated prisoner abuse.
Q Do you think the administration action -- administrative
action that's been taken against the troops is strong enough?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President expects appropriate action to be
taken, and he is confident our military is taking appropriate action to
correct the situation and hold those who are responsible accountable.
Q Has the President read or been briefed on the internal Army
report that was prepared, I guess, since January? And you mentioned it
was the actions of a few people --
MR. McCLELLAN: Not that I'm aware of. I mean, I think General
Myers spoke to that yesterday. He had yet to see it, at this point.
Q You said, the actions of a few people. There's some
indication that it may have been the actions or the practice of a much
larger group of people.
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why the military is taking strong action to
find out what happened, and hold those responsible for these -- hold
those who are responsible for these appalling acts to account.
Q Scott, is this trip 100 percent political?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, it's a campaign trip.
Q So it's all paid for by the campaign, except for the normal
--
MR. McCLELLAN: The political expenses are paid for by the
campaign.
Q But everything on here is considered a campaign --
MR. McCLELLAN: It's following the same procedures that we do for
these events.
Q On the prisoners, what about the fallout in the Arab world?
It's one thing to condemn it and to take the steps that you're calling,
but what does the President plan?
MR. McCLELLAN: These actions -- and the President made it clear
the other day, He expressed his disgust at these images. These images
are shameful and appalling. They are intolerable. They do not
represent what the United States stands for. They do not represent the
high standards of conduct that our military is committed to upholding.
Q Any special outreach, though, to anybody in the Arab world,
besides sending that particular message to try to --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we're always in contact with people in the
Arab world. And, again, I said that this -- there are some real
differences here. When we find actions like this, we take steps to
hold those responsible accountable and to correct the situation.
Saddam Hussein's regime encouraged and tolerated this kind of behavior,
the United States does not. As I said, all people should be treated
with dignity and respect, and our practice is to uphold high standards
of conduct and treat prisoners humanely and in accord with our
international obligations.
Q You say the President will take appropriate action. What is
that? Does the President, for example, think that these soldiers
should stay in the Armed Forces?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I can't get into discussing specific
cases that may be being pursued. But there are criminal charges that
are being pursued by the military. The military has instituted a
comprehensive review of policies and procedures throughout the prisons
in Iraq. And they are looking at additional criminal charges from --
it is my understanding.
Q Does the Commander-in-Chief think that soldiers participating
in this kind of activity should remain in the Armed Forces?
MR. McCLELLAN: They should be held fully accountable for their
actions. Again, I'm not going to speculate about individual cases.
But the military is taking strong action. They are pursuing criminal
charges and appropriate steps against individuals who might be
responsible for these -- for this kind of abuse.
Q Does the President see any need for a larger review about how
military intelligence and interrogations are conducted?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, the military is looking into all these
matters. That would be asking me to get into speculation about where
this may lead. But I think you can look back to General Myers'
comments from yesterday, as well as General Kimmitt, from earlier this
morning, in terms of where things stand in terms of the investigation
and the criminal charges that are being brought.
Q On Israel, Scott, can you talk about the Likud Party voting
down Sharon's plan? Is there any response?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, we put out a statement yesterday on
that. The President continues to believe that Prime Minister Sharon
put forward a bold proposal that can help us move forward on the
two-state vision that the President outlined. This can help us get
moving again on the road map to help the Palestinian people realize a
state of their own. And we have had some staff level contacts already
with the government of Israel. And we'll continue to consult with
Prime Minister Sharon and the government of Israel. And I expect that
the government of Israel will have more to say in the coming days about
how they intend to proceed.
Q Staff-level contacts since the referendum?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, just in the last day.
Q What did those staff-level contacts lead you to believe?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, we're going to continue talking with
Prime Minister Sharon and the government of Israel about how we move
forward.
Q Is this plan -- or is Sharon still going to pursue it?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't think -- look, I think, one, that's why
I said, Prime Minister Sharon and the government of Israel, I expect,
will have more to say in the coming days. We'll stay in consultation
with them about how to move forward.
Q But what have they told you? Have they indicated to you what
they're going to do?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to get into the staff-level
discussions at this point. Like I said, I think you can expect to hear
more from Israel soon.
Q Will he be speaking with Sharon any time soon?
MR. McCLELLAN: We'll keep you posted if he does.
Q If we write a lead on the Rummy call, instead of saying --
when we write a lead on the Rummy call, can we say that the President
wanted to make sure that those responsible are punished, or just that
those responsible have appropriate action taken against them?
MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely, people that break the law or violate
military standards of conduct need to be held accountable.
Q Is there any reaction to the Turkish police foiling a plot
against the NATO summit?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know the full details of that. Obviously,
we are -- Turkey is someone we're working closely with in the war on
terrorism. And we appreciate the actions that they're taking. But I
don't have the specific information on the latest about that plot.
END 12:42 P.M. EDT
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