White House Gaggle

By Ellen Ratner and John Ball
Schedule

The President had his usual round of briefings this morning. He met with the Secretary of State and then is having the 25th Cabinet meeting of his administration. They will discuss the priorities of the administration including the war on terror and the economic recovery. Later this morning the President will go to the National Federation of Independent Business Summit. He will discuss how small business is the backbone of the economy, how it creates the most new jobs, how it is the promise and opportunity of the economy, and how the economy has shifted into high gear. He will discuss how the administration's policies are working. He will take on critics and their "gloomy predictions." He will challenge pessimists who doubted the recovery. "I think you know who they are, you have heard from the directly," said McClellan. Later today he will travel to Spokane, Washington where he will speak at a Nethercutt fundraiser and spend the night in Fort Lewis. On the 21st he will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio. There is a 2:30 meeting at the Pentagon, and "Ask the White House" will have a meeting with Secretary Chao at 1:30.



9/11 Commission and New York Times Editorial

Scott McClellan was asked if the President plans on apologizing for misleading statements made prior to the war. He was also asked if he had looked at the New York Times editorial. McClellan said he did not believe the President looked at the New York Times although McClellan did say that he did "look at it." McClellan had several responses. He said that the press "should go back to what Secretary Colin Powell said before the United Nations." They talked about al-Zarqawi and his links to al Qaeda, McClellan said al-Zarqawi remains in Iraq today, and he described al-Zarqawi as a "senior al Qaeda associate."

When asked about the relationship between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda,
McClellan would only say that there were high level contacts. McClellan
said the 9/11 Commission and what the administration said were perfectly
consistent. The administration had said previously that there "was no evidence that Saddam Hussein's regime was involved in the 9/11 attacks." He then suggested that they look at what Tenet had outlined before the senate intelligence committee. Further defending the administration's position, McClellan said "if you want to ignore the facts, that is your prerogative."

He was then asked was Saddam an ally of al Qaeda. McClellan answered that Saddam had supported terrorists, he provided money for suicide bombers and there were "high level contacts with al Qaeda going back some time," and that he "had long standing ties to terrorism including al Qaeda." When asked about chemical and biological weapons training, he said "go back to what Secretary Powell and Tenet said before Congress and the United Nations." And that "Saddam Hussein had a history of using Weapons of mass
destruction," and that there is "a nexus of outlaw regimes and weapons of
mass destruction."

9/11 Hearings

McClellan said that there were lots of events on September 11th and that there were many who should be commended for their hard work. He said "we have learned many lessons from 9/11 especially around communication and information sharing." He said "we want to know everything we can from the 9/11 commission. We look forward to seeing all their recommendations." Asked about their shoot down authority he said "we want to look at all the issues the 9/11 commission raises."

Pentagon Not Informing Red Cross of Holding Suspected Terrorist

McClellan said the Pentagon has responded, that they have taken steps to rectify that matter and that the Red Cross should have been notified. "We believe we should be in close cooperation with the international committee of the Red Cross," he said.

White House Gaggle

By Ellen Ratner
President's Schedule

The President has his usual round of meetings today. He is also meeting with the King of Jordan and has a press availability with Afghan President Karzai. He will then be meeting with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and with the Master of the 9/11 Compensation Fund. So far there are 2,964 claims of the 9/11 Compensation Fund, 98% of the overall potential victims, and overall costs of $7 billion. The President will address the Southern Baptist Convention at 3:45pm and then will make remarks at the Annual Congressional picnic on the White House lawn.



Saddam Hussein

Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that Saddam Hussein will be turned over to face justice from the Iraqi people. Discussions are continuing with the interim government and Saddam Hussein will be turned over at the appropriate time. McClellan reiterated that the Geneva Convention applies in Iraq.

Vice President's Remarks on Terrorism

Scott McClellan said that there had been long established ties with terrorism regimes and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. "We documented this." "We stand by what we said previously." "There was certainly support for suicide bombers in the Middle East."

CIA Leak

McClellan said there is an ongoing investigation. "We want to get to the bottom of this." McClellan would not confirm that the President has retained an attorney.

Richard Clark

Questions came up as to whether Richard Clark's comments were accurate that a National Security Council colleague was used to dig up dirt on Clark. McClellan said that this had been discussed before.

Speech to Southern Baptist Convention

McClellan said the President would discuss the big challenges including the war on terrorism, progress on the economy, the effort to build a culture of life and how to level the playing field for faith-based groups.

Torture

Asked again about torture, McClellan said that, "we do not condone torture and the President does not authorize torture." "He expects everyone to adhere to our laws and treaty obligations." In terms of Guantanamo, the President has directed the military to treat military detainees humanely and consistent with the Geneva Convention.

Economy

McClellan stated that the economy is strong and growing stronger. The unemployment rate is below 1970's, 1980's and 1990's levels. In terms of inflation, it is something we always keep our eyes on. It is important to talk about progress in the economy. "We are in a strong recovery . . . the facts are very clear." "The economy is moving in the right direction. There is more we can do." McClellan said the policies advocated by the President in the past are
continuing to make our economy stronger.

Blank Check

By Ellen Ratner
Given the weeklong 24-hour coverage of President Reagan's death, it is quite likely that most missed Attorney General Ashcroft's Senate testimony. It is a shame that the testimony did not get more air time or print time because it clearly revealed spreading bacteria in the body of our democracy.



Ashcroft effectively told Congress to buzz off. He invoked "executive privilege" – a phrase and concept this administration is quite fond of. He claimed that the advice that is given to a president in a time of war is privileged information.

The other phrase this administration is fond of is "war" or "war on terror." We have heard the term war used many times in order to justify the unjustifiable by this administration. The war on terror allows the government to hold citizens without evidence; to establish constitutional- and Geneva Convention-free zones, to pre-emotively strike other nations (for this first time in our history) and, now, according to leaked memos, to torture terrorist suspects.

If we have learned anything, we have learned that to be in a time of war means that our government is no longer accountable to the principles of the Constitution. These principles include, a balance of power within our government, due process, right to privacy and a unswerving commitment to the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty – to name a few. George W. Bush wrote himself a blank check with the "war on terror."

This self-proclaimed "war on terror" is often used and rarely challenged. Who declared it and on what basis? The answer is that George W. Bush declared it, and so we live with it. It is one thing to use an expression in a speech, but it is another to use that expression as a justification to take over 200 years of the rule of law into one's own hands indefinitely.

Remember, no one knows when the war on terror will end. The executive branch can keep on taking executive privilege, prisoners can rot in jail and suspects can go on being tortured in perpetuity ... or until a Democrat gets elected and decides to take the same privileges.

This notion that being at "war," even if it's a self-proclaimed war, makes the president accountable to no one, but the polls, is absurd and dangerous. I learned many years ago that most rules are created for a reason. Rules make our world work – they are non-negotiable and they keep us on course when it is easy to get off course.

If there has ever been a time when we needed to adhere to the rules of law, it has been in the wake of Sept. 11. We were attacked. The natural tendency is to strike back at anyone who looks like they might be suspect. It's easy to go off the ranch. The rules ensure that we don't lose our soul to fear and anger.

There have been many dark days for democracy during the rule of this King George, but last week was the straw that broke this camel's back. I watched John Ashcroft arrogantly assert that the war on terror puts the executive branch above the law. He effectively admitted that our government found a way to make it legal to torture people.

This authorization is found in two memos prepared by the Bush legal soldiers which included John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales (Bush's favorite potential Supreme Court appointee) and, of course, the office of the vice president. True, this nation is not perfect, but up until now, we have had a set of guiding rules and principles that keep us pointed at relative perfection. If you needed more evidence after the Abu Ghraib, John Ashcroft's testimony proved the government's case – anything goes so long as you invoke the "war on terror."

While the "war on terror" blank check may satisfy the powerless legislative branch of our government, it may not pass the smell test for the Supreme Court of the land. Ashcroft's testimony last week, along with the Abu Ghraib scandal may tip the scale of the often-divided court in the Padilla, Hamdi and Guantanamo Bay cases.

I'll conclude with the following exchange between Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Paul Clement, deputy solicitor general on the afternoon before the Abu Ghraib story broke.

Ginsburg: But if the law is what the executive says it is, whatever is "necessary and appropriate'' in the executive's judgment, as the resolution you gave us that Congress passed, it leads you up to the executive, unchecked by the judiciary. So what is it that would be a check against torture?

Clement: Well, first of all, there are treaty obligations. But the primary check is that just as in every other war, if a U.S. military person commits a war crime by creating some atrocity on a harmless, you know, detained enemy combatant or a prisoner of war, that violates our own conception of what's a war crime. And we'll put that U.S. military officer on trial in a court martial. So I think there are plenty of internal reasons ...

Ginsburg: Suppose the executive says, "Mild torture, we think, will help get this information?" It's not a soldier who does something against the code of military justice, but it's an executive command. Some systems do that to get information.

Clement: Well, our executive doesn't ...

White House Gaggle

By Ellen Ratner
President's Schedule:

The President talked with Russian President Putin this morning. They discussed the UN Security Council Resolution. Scott McClellan said that they understood the importance of working together and that both Presidents agreed that it is important that the Iraqi people's interests are being taken into account. The President had his usual round of briefings and then dropped in to a breakfast for veterans with the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. Today he will meet the Prime Minister of Denmark. He will thank him for efforts to build a "free and peaceful Iraq". They will also discuss the President's five-step plan and the situation in the Mid-East. This afternoon the President will have an interview with Paris Match. The issue will come out on June 3rd. The President will discuss his upcoming trip to France. His radio address this week will focus on Memorial Day and the WWII Memorial. This afternoon on "Ask The White House" the Park Service Director will take questions.



Who will govern Iraq?

Asked if the administration had vetoed the Iraqi scientist to be Prime
Minister, McClellan would only say that the UN Envoy "had not put forth
final determinations". In terms of the Iraqi Governing Council nominating one of their own members, McClellan answered that it is "one of the many ideas being put forth . . . and that they would welcome Iraqis participating in this process."

Veterans and the Budget:

Concerning the memo about the FY 2006 budget, McClellan reiterated that no decisions have been made about the 2006 budget. He talked about increasing health care funding by forty percent since 2001, and "increasing access to those who need it most". He also said that they had greatly decreased the disability claims backlog and that the "President has a strong commitment to honoring veterans." He said that budget guidelines are distributed in every administration . . . veterans are our priority."

Relationships with Homeland Security and the FBI:

Asked about Congressman Cox's comments on the turf war, McClellan said that Secretary Ridge was involved and that the President "discussed this with the principals". He said it was not accurate that he (Ridge) was out of the loop and that everyone felt it was important to keep the American people informed. When asked if Ridge and Ashcroft are giving different messages, he said each gave their message from their position of responsibility. McClellan then said that as we head into summer it was important to keep the American people informed. He suggested speaking to the FBI in terms of which bulletins were issued to law enforcement officials.

The Week Ahead:

The President will dedicate the WWII Memorial on Saturday. On Sunday he will meet some of the Rolling Thunder leadership who will arrive at the White House on motorcycles. He will address the broader Rolling Thunder group via telephone. On Monday he will lay a wreath and make a speech at Arlington. On Tuesday he will attend the first White House Conference on Faith Based Initiatives and then leave for Denver. Dr. Rice will brief on the President's trip. He will address the graduating class of the Air Force Academy on Wednesday. Thursday he will meet with the Prime Minister of Australia at the White House before he leaves for Europe.

White House Gaggle

By Ellen Ratner
President's Schedule

The President had his usual round of briefings. He is meeting with the President of Angola this morning, and then will speak at the National Institute of Health where he will participate in a conversation on Reading First and No Child Left Behind.



Beheading

Scott McClellan was asked if there was any effort to negotiate or to trade for Nick Berg. He said that "our policy is well known. These are terrorists." He then said that "we will defeat the terrorists." McClellan said the President has been briefed about this matter but to his knowledge, had not seen the video. He also said that terrorists realize that the stakes are high, and that a free and peaceful Iraq will be a major blow to terrorist efforts. Asked about contractors in Iraq, he said that the safety and security of contractors is always a priority, and that it is important that we finish the mission in Iraq.

Abu Ghraib Prison

McClellan said that the Pentagon is making the decision about the public release of the torture photos. "We stay in close contact with the Pentagon about those issues." He also said that there is an ongoing criminal investigation and they do not want to interfere with that. He was also asked if the photos were part of the psy-ops process. He said that "you heard the testimony from General Taguba," and that he cannot comment on individual cases. Asked if the President knew where the high level detainees were being held, he directed the questioner to the military. When asked if that meant 'out of sight, out of mind' he said he would look into it. He was also asked if General Miller was a turning point in terms of allowing MPs to be part of the process. He suggested talking to General Miller.

Guantanamo Bay

Pressed about the Geneva Conventions, McClellan said that the policy is very clear and the policy is to comply with US laws and treaty obligations. Asked what does that mean, he replied that "the military can talk to you more about that." Pressed if the US obeys the Geneva Conventions in Guantanamo Bay, McClellan said that we are committed to treating prisoners humanely.