Wednesday
Apr122006
White House Gaggle
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
April 12, 2006
President's Schedule
The President met with Chinese Vice President Wu Yi to discuss the results of the Annual Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce that she jointly chaired yesterday with Secretary Gutierrez and Trade Representative Ambassador Portman. Vice Premier Wu Yi reported that China's market would
soon be re-opened to US beef imports. The President thanked her for her hard work on this and other efforts to make US/China trade more equitable. The President told Madam Wu Yi that he looks forward to the visit of President Hu Jintao to the White House next week, and said it is important that President Hu explain to the American people how China will meet the challenge of rectifying global economic imbalances. The President had his usual briefings. He met with the Secretary of State, and has met with the Secretary of Defense most recently. Later this morning the President will welcome President Kufuor of Ghana back to the White House. The President and Mrs. Bush will host a social lunch for President and Mrs Kufuor. This afternoon the President has a conversation in Annandale, Virginia on the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Conversation participants will include Secretary Chao, Dr. McClellan, a health insurance specialist, a retired senior and a business person. The President will welcome German Chancellor Merkel to the White House on May 3rd. In celebration of our entrepreneurial spirit, the US Small Business Administration is hosting the Small Business Week 2006.
Iran
Asked if the President was concerned about the increasing fear in the country that we might attacking Iran, McClellan said the US is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. He said the announcement by Iran that it has enriched uranium underscores its defiance of the international community, and its united message, calling on the regime to fully suspend its enrichment reprocessing activities. These activities fly in the face of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board, McClellan said. In reply to a question, he said that sanctions were one possibility.
WMD - Washington Post Story
McClellan was asked whether the President was aware that the Defense Intelligence Agency found that there was no evidence of WMD in the trailers two days before the President said there was evidence. He replied that the President's comments were based on the intelligence assessment of the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency which was publicly released on May 28, 2003. He said that a briefing was given for reporters on May 28. The intelligence community said it was highly confident about these labs
being used for producing biological weapons.
McClellan said the article, in the lede, gives the impression that the President said something that had been debunked by the intelligence community. McClellan said that is not true and it is irresponsible
reporting. The independent commission that was appointed determined that the intelligence on biological weapons was wrong, he said.
In responde to a question, McClellan said the CIA told him that a finished product - a white paper - takes coordination, debating, vetting, and does not turn on a dime. It was pointed out that that is what the CIA always says.
McClellan said it was reckless reporting for ABC to go on the air this morning and say that the Washington Post says the President knew at the time what he was saying was not true. He asked the ABC reporter whether ABC would apologize. The reporter said she did not say this. She did not
say whether ABC would apologize.
A reporter quoted President Bush as having said we found weapons of mass destruction. McClellan again cited a joint paper by the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, as well as a briefing for reporters. He said this is rehashing an old issue.
McClellan was asked whether the President faces credibility problems because these questions are still lingering out there. McClellan said this was resolved long ago because they appointed an independent
commission to look at these issues. Numerous reports have spoken about these issues. Some people are making accusations not based on any evidence or facts, he said, to suggest that intelligence was being manipulated or misused, politicized - that is false.
April 12, 2006
President's Schedule
The President met with Chinese Vice President Wu Yi to discuss the results of the Annual Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce that she jointly chaired yesterday with Secretary Gutierrez and Trade Representative Ambassador Portman. Vice Premier Wu Yi reported that China's market would
soon be re-opened to US beef imports. The President thanked her for her hard work on this and other efforts to make US/China trade more equitable. The President told Madam Wu Yi that he looks forward to the visit of President Hu Jintao to the White House next week, and said it is important that President Hu explain to the American people how China will meet the challenge of rectifying global economic imbalances. The President had his usual briefings. He met with the Secretary of State, and has met with the Secretary of Defense most recently. Later this morning the President will welcome President Kufuor of Ghana back to the White House. The President and Mrs. Bush will host a social lunch for President and Mrs Kufuor. This afternoon the President has a conversation in Annandale, Virginia on the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Conversation participants will include Secretary Chao, Dr. McClellan, a health insurance specialist, a retired senior and a business person. The President will welcome German Chancellor Merkel to the White House on May 3rd. In celebration of our entrepreneurial spirit, the US Small Business Administration is hosting the Small Business Week 2006.
Iran
Asked if the President was concerned about the increasing fear in the country that we might attacking Iran, McClellan said the US is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. He said the announcement by Iran that it has enriched uranium underscores its defiance of the international community, and its united message, calling on the regime to fully suspend its enrichment reprocessing activities. These activities fly in the face of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board, McClellan said. In reply to a question, he said that sanctions were one possibility.
WMD - Washington Post Story
McClellan was asked whether the President was aware that the Defense Intelligence Agency found that there was no evidence of WMD in the trailers two days before the President said there was evidence. He replied that the President's comments were based on the intelligence assessment of the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency which was publicly released on May 28, 2003. He said that a briefing was given for reporters on May 28. The intelligence community said it was highly confident about these labs
being used for producing biological weapons.
McClellan said the article, in the lede, gives the impression that the President said something that had been debunked by the intelligence community. McClellan said that is not true and it is irresponsible
reporting. The independent commission that was appointed determined that the intelligence on biological weapons was wrong, he said.
In responde to a question, McClellan said the CIA told him that a finished product - a white paper - takes coordination, debating, vetting, and does not turn on a dime. It was pointed out that that is what the CIA always says.
McClellan said it was reckless reporting for ABC to go on the air this morning and say that the Washington Post says the President knew at the time what he was saying was not true. He asked the ABC reporter whether ABC would apologize. The reporter said she did not say this. She did not
say whether ABC would apologize.
A reporter quoted President Bush as having said we found weapons of mass destruction. McClellan again cited a joint paper by the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, as well as a briefing for reporters. He said this is rehashing an old issue.
McClellan was asked whether the President faces credibility problems because these questions are still lingering out there. McClellan said this was resolved long ago because they appointed an independent
commission to look at these issues. Numerous reports have spoken about these issues. Some people are making accusations not based on any evidence or facts, he said, to suggest that intelligence was being manipulated or misused, politicized - that is false.
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