White House Gaggle

By Scott McClellan
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


(Fort Stewart, Georgia)


_________________________________________________________________




For Immediate Release September 12, 2003





PRESS GAGGLE


BY


SCOTT McCLELLAN


Aboard Air Force One


En route Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia







MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning. Let me run through the day. The President had his
usual briefing before departing the White House. He made two world leader calls
on board Air Force One a short time ago. The President spoke with President
Kirchner of Argentina. The President commended President Kirchner for the IMF
agreement that was reached earlier this week. And President Kirchner thanked the
President for his support and Secretary Snow's support.


Then the President talked -- spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Persson. The
President expressed America's condolences to the Prime Minister at the loss of
Foreign Minister Lindh. And the President also told the Prime Minister to let
Foreign Minister Lindh's husband and children know that America's thoughts and
prayers are with them. And right now he's visiting with senators and congressmen
on board, Senator Miller, Senator Chambliss, Congressman Kingston and
Congressman Burns.


At Fort Stewart -- gave you a little bit of a read out on that yesterday. Let me
just go back through a little bit of that. The President will make remarks to
approximately 20,000 troops and families.


Q Twenty thousand?


MR. McCLELLAN: Yes; troops and families and others at Fort Stewart. The
President will personally thank our troops in the 3rd Infantry Division for
their service and sacrifice in both Afghanistan and Iraq and all that they are
doing to help us win the war on terrorism. The President will also talk about
how America is grateful for their service and sacrifice and how America is
grateful for the men and women at the base who have provided critical support to
our troops when they have been abroad, and how America is grateful to the
sacrifices made by the families, as well.


Q Do you know if they -- the 3rd Infantry, they sustained the highest number of
casualties, right, out of any unit? Do you know that?


MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that for a fact. Let me double check that. Let me
continue on. The President will talk about -- the focus of his remarks, beyond
that, will be on the progress we are making in winning the war on terrorism. And
let me give you -- the President will also present the 3rd Infantry Division
with -- oh, let me give you a little bit on Fort Stewart. Fort Stewart is the
largest military installation east of the Mississippi. It currently occupies
280,000 acres. It's home to the 3rd Infantry Division, as I mentioned. The 3rd
Infantry Division has participated in virtually every military action from World
War I, World War II, Korea, Grenada, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan
and Iraq. It was established in 1917, is known as the Rock of the Marne
Division. The Rock of the Marne Division.


Q Rock of the Marne?


MR. McCLELLAN: That's what they're known as. It was involved in some of the
toughest fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom and helped lead our offensive into
Baghdad. They returned home in September.


The President will present the 3rd Infantry Division with the Presidential Unit
Citation. It is awarded to units of the armed forces for extraordinary heroism
in action against an armed enemy that sets it above and apart from other units
participating in the same campaign.


Q I'm sorry, you said return, as in future tense, or past tense?


MR. McCLELLAN: Returned in September.


Q I don't think they're all back, are they?


MR. McCLELLAN: The division returned home from Iraq in September. That's what I
have.


Q The citation --


MR. McCLELLAN: I'm getting to that. The Presidential Unit Citation will be
presented to -- on behalf of the 3rd Infantry, presented to Captain Vern Tubbs.
If you'll recall, Captain Tubbs -- the President, in his remarks on Sunday
night, mentioned a captain who had sent a letter to him. And this is the captain
that the President referenced in his Sunday night address to the nation.


Following Fort Stewart we will go to Jackson, Mississippi, where the President
will make remarks at a Barbour for Governor event. And then this evening the
President will participate in the 10th anniversary celebration for the Power
Center in Houston. The President's remarks will highlight his initiative to
reach out to faith-based organizations that have a proven record of helping
people in need. And then he will return to Camp David for the weekend. And
remind me at the end and I'll have the week ahead.


Q Do you know if there's anyone else so far this cycle who has had a fundraiser
by Cheney and the President? Had a fundraiser hosted by the Vice President and
--


MR. McCLELLAN: I'll have to check that. I don't know. I'd have to check that
with scheduling.


Q Do you have anything more to add on Israel's declaration that Arafat is to be
expelled?


MR. McCLELLAN: I think our position and our views are very clear and they are
unchanged.


Q Did you hear the report that the Defense Minister of Israel is calling for
Arafat's assassination? Is there anything you guys plan to do to sort of put
more pressure on Israel?


MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think we are always in close contact with the parties in
the region, including Israeli officials. Secretary Powell is in close contact
all the time with his counterpart; Dr. Rice is in close contact with her
counterpart all the time. Our views on this matter are very well-known to the
Israeli government as well.


Q Would you mind restating them?


MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we don't view that it would help matters and it would only
serve to give him a broader stage. We --


Q -- did you say -- give him --


MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, give Arafat. We continue to focus on the two-state vision
that the President outlined, because, as the President has said, it's a hopeful
vision, it is the way forward. And so we're focused on -- that's where our focus
remains.


Q But it seems Israel is determined to go ahead. So what can the administration
do at this point --


MR. McCLELLAN: I've seen some press reports where they talked about the
expulsion. It didn't set any time line. I've seen those press reports, just like
you have. And our views are very well-known.


Q Do you have any comment on the Defense Minister's statement about
assassinating Arafat?


MR. McCLELLAN: I have not seen his comments. Our views are well-known.


Q Does the President plan to call Sharon to sort of express his view directly,
make a more forceful statement?


MR. McCLELLAN: I'll update you if there are any world leader calls. I don't have
any update to give you at this point.


Again, that's why I pointed out that Secretary Powell and Dr. Rice always are in
close contact with their counterparts.


Q Can you give us any sense of the President's mind-set, whether he is more
concerned about this, or whether he shows any additional concern about this
latest turn in terms of wanting to either expel or assassinate Arafat? Or does
he just consider this the normal cycle of behavior in the Middle East conflict?


MR. McCLELLAN: Well, his views are that we need to get the parties back focused
on moving forward on the road map we have outlined -- that is the way forward to
peace -- and that the security forces -- our focus needs to be on cracking down
on terrorism, the security forces need to be unified under the Palestinian Prime
Minister so that the Palestinian Prime Minister has, or is empowered to go after
terrorists and terrorist organizations.


Q Scott, what's the President's mood this morning?


MR. McCLELLAN: The President is looking forward to going to Fort Stewart. He's
looking forward to thanking our troops, and then participating in the event
later this evening in Houston. So he's in good spirits.


Q And in addition to those two calls, what is the President doing up there?


MR. McCLELLAN: He's visiting with senators and congressmen right now.


Q Scott, this is the second day in a row where he's coming sort of face to face
with some of the folks who have really faced front-line duty. Yesterday he was
at the hospital with people who have been seriously injured, obviously. And then
today, this unit that suffered a lot of losses and had their tour of duty
extended. Is it hard for him to kind of come face to face with the people who
have borne the brunt of the decisions that he made?


MR. McCLELLAN: We are forever grateful to our brave troops and their families
for the sacrifices that they are making on behalf of the American people, and
making America more secure. We can never fully express our gratitude. The
President is the one that has to hug the moms and dads and thank them for the
sacrifices that their sons are making in a very important cause, the war on
terrorism. Our nation is forever grateful for the service and sacrifice of the
men and women in uniform.


Q Will he mention Johnny Cash?


MR. McCLELLAN: Stay tuned.


Week ahead: I read out Monday or gave Monday out yesterday, won't go back to
that. Tuesday, nothing to announce at this time on the public schedule.
Wednesday, he will make remarks at the rededication of the National Archives.
Thursday, the President will make remarks at the Small Business Association's
50th Anniversary National Entrepreneurial Conference for Women in Business
Awards Breakfast at the Washington Hilton. And he will --


Q I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.


MR. McCLELLAN: The Small Business Association's 50th Anniversary National
Entrepreneurial Conference for Women in Business Awards Breakfast. Then he will
participate in a photo opportunity with the 2003 NBA Champions. Anybody know who
they -- remember who it is? Remember where they are from? The San Antonio Spurs.


Then the President will travel to Camp David to welcome the King and Queen of
Jordan. We made that announcement yesterday. Friday the President will
participate in a press availability -- meetings and press availability with the
King and Queen of Jordan. And he'll be the remainder of the weekend at Camp
David.


Two quick announcements. The President -- and we're going to have statements on
both these. The President is pleased to announce that he will host the President
of Kenya for a state visit on October 6th. And the President will participate in
the 58th United Nations General Assembly on September 23rd through 24th of this
month. And we'll have statements out on both those. And I think that's --


Q Is he giving a speech?


MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he'll make remarks. It's all -- this will be in the
statement. He will make remarks on the first day of the General Assembly.


All right, thanks.


END 9:07 A.M. EDT