Monday
Dec112006
White House Gaggle
Monday, December 11, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle
11 December 2006
By Victoria Jones
The President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. At 10.35 he will meet with senior State Department officials, followed by a statement to the travel pool. At 2.00 he has policy time. At 3.00 he has an interview with Steven Hayes, who is writing an official biography of the Vice President. At 3.20 he has a meeting with outside experts on Iraq.
Prime Minister Maliki
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked about press stories that there is a move in Iraq to dump al Maliki as Prime Minister. Snow replied that there was no move afoot to dump Maliki. Furthermore, last week's meetings with al Hakim were designed to bolster the Maliki government by putting together a group of moderates. Snow flatly denied the story.
Snow was asked whether, as Iraq is a sovereign nation, it should care if Maliki is dumped. Snow said it is not standard operating procedure to talk about people being dumped. The President has confidence in the Prime Minister, so does al Hakim. Snow cautioned against rushing to judgment.
The administration thinks there is emerging within the Iraqi government a moderate core of Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, who are working to make the government a success. Snow was asked how Hakim is a moderate. He said that this is someone who is trying to work in a forward leaning way towards sustaining a democracy.
It was pointed out to Snow that one of the complaints Hakim has is Maliki's failure to take on al Sadr. Snow said Maliki has talked about the fact that the only groups that ought to be able to walk around with arms in an organized fashion are government forces.
State Department Meeting
Snow was asked what the President hopes to gain out of his meetings today at the State Department. He said the President will talk with State Department officials about their views of what is going on, not only in Iraq but in the region. The President will have a lot of questions, and there will be brief presentations. Snow was asked whether, because of the meeting with Secretary Rice, her review is coming. He replied that he did not know how all the pieces worked together under the NSC review.
President Talabani
Snow was asked about Talabani's rejection of some ideas in the Iraq Study Group report. He replied that it was important to recognize the sovereignty of the Iraqi government, and he would let Iraqi officials make their own comments.
Announcement on Iraq
Snow was asked whether the President is near a decision on an announcement about Iraq. Snow said it is not locked down. The President will be working through a lot of things this week. There is an expectation that everything is almost done, but that is not the case. The idea of a speech before Christmas is not in cement.
Snow was asked whether the decision is how we get out of Iraq. Snow said the decision is how you pursue successfully the goal of an Iraq that can sustain, govern and defend itself and be an ally in the war on terror. This is not a timetable for withdrawal, Snow said, but we are looking for a better way forward so we can address the need for helping the Iraqi government stand up.
Snow said that the President wants people to give honest assessment of the ISG report, and try to give as much information and advice as appropriate. This is a report that did significantly adopt the very goals the President has outlined – a democratic elected government that can defend, govern and sustain itself and be an ally in the war on terror. There were people on the commission who, by their own accounts, disagreed on a number of things, but agreed to work together in a bipartisan fashion because they understand it is critical to this country to get it done right.
Policy Reviews
Snow was asked about the state of readiness with the various reviews from State, Pentagon and NSC. He said he thought none of them is ready, but referred the Pentagon review to DoD.
Iran
Snow was asked whether, now that Iran has indicated it wishes to improve relations with the US (according to Time,) the US would be willing to engage in talks without insisting on nuclear disengagement. Snow said the US has engaged Iran multilaterally or unilaterally when it came to Afghanistan. However, Iran has a responsibility in the nuclear area. It has to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing. This is also the position of the UN Security Council.
Snow said the Iraqis would be responsible for putting together participants in a regional conference. Snow would not say one way or the other whether the United States would participate if invited.
Lebanon
Snow was asked how concerned the President is about the situation in Lebanon. He said the President is committed to the success of the government of Prime Minister Siniora, and believes it is important for people in the region to be supporting that elected democracy. They should also not try to interfere in the internal workings of the government of Lebanon. The President has called the Prime Minister on a number of occasions.
White House Gaggle
11 December 2006
By Victoria Jones
The President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. At 10.35 he will meet with senior State Department officials, followed by a statement to the travel pool. At 2.00 he has policy time. At 3.00 he has an interview with Steven Hayes, who is writing an official biography of the Vice President. At 3.20 he has a meeting with outside experts on Iraq.
Prime Minister Maliki
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked about press stories that there is a move in Iraq to dump al Maliki as Prime Minister. Snow replied that there was no move afoot to dump Maliki. Furthermore, last week's meetings with al Hakim were designed to bolster the Maliki government by putting together a group of moderates. Snow flatly denied the story.
Snow was asked whether, as Iraq is a sovereign nation, it should care if Maliki is dumped. Snow said it is not standard operating procedure to talk about people being dumped. The President has confidence in the Prime Minister, so does al Hakim. Snow cautioned against rushing to judgment.
The administration thinks there is emerging within the Iraqi government a moderate core of Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, who are working to make the government a success. Snow was asked how Hakim is a moderate. He said that this is someone who is trying to work in a forward leaning way towards sustaining a democracy.
It was pointed out to Snow that one of the complaints Hakim has is Maliki's failure to take on al Sadr. Snow said Maliki has talked about the fact that the only groups that ought to be able to walk around with arms in an organized fashion are government forces.
State Department Meeting
Snow was asked what the President hopes to gain out of his meetings today at the State Department. He said the President will talk with State Department officials about their views of what is going on, not only in Iraq but in the region. The President will have a lot of questions, and there will be brief presentations. Snow was asked whether, because of the meeting with Secretary Rice, her review is coming. He replied that he did not know how all the pieces worked together under the NSC review.
President Talabani
Snow was asked about Talabani's rejection of some ideas in the Iraq Study Group report. He replied that it was important to recognize the sovereignty of the Iraqi government, and he would let Iraqi officials make their own comments.
Announcement on Iraq
Snow was asked whether the President is near a decision on an announcement about Iraq. Snow said it is not locked down. The President will be working through a lot of things this week. There is an expectation that everything is almost done, but that is not the case. The idea of a speech before Christmas is not in cement.
Snow was asked whether the decision is how we get out of Iraq. Snow said the decision is how you pursue successfully the goal of an Iraq that can sustain, govern and defend itself and be an ally in the war on terror. This is not a timetable for withdrawal, Snow said, but we are looking for a better way forward so we can address the need for helping the Iraqi government stand up.
Snow said that the President wants people to give honest assessment of the ISG report, and try to give as much information and advice as appropriate. This is a report that did significantly adopt the very goals the President has outlined – a democratic elected government that can defend, govern and sustain itself and be an ally in the war on terror. There were people on the commission who, by their own accounts, disagreed on a number of things, but agreed to work together in a bipartisan fashion because they understand it is critical to this country to get it done right.
Policy Reviews
Snow was asked about the state of readiness with the various reviews from State, Pentagon and NSC. He said he thought none of them is ready, but referred the Pentagon review to DoD.
Iran
Snow was asked whether, now that Iran has indicated it wishes to improve relations with the US (according to Time,) the US would be willing to engage in talks without insisting on nuclear disengagement. Snow said the US has engaged Iran multilaterally or unilaterally when it came to Afghanistan. However, Iran has a responsibility in the nuclear area. It has to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing. This is also the position of the UN Security Council.
Snow said the Iraqis would be responsible for putting together participants in a regional conference. Snow would not say one way or the other whether the United States would participate if invited.
Lebanon
Snow was asked how concerned the President is about the situation in Lebanon. He said the President is committed to the success of the government of Prime Minister Siniora, and believes it is important for people in the region to be supporting that elected democracy. They should also not try to interfere in the internal workings of the government of Lebanon. The President has called the Prime Minister on a number of occasions.
Reader Comments