Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle
May 23, 2006
By Victoria Jones

The President had his usual briefings. He will meet this afternoon with
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel. There will be further meetings and

a working dinner. The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, will
visit Thursday and Friday. There will be a joint press conference. The
President of Honduras will visit 5 June. President Koizumi of Japan will
visit sometime soon.

Visit of Prime Minister Olmert

Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the President and Prime Minister got
to know each other when the Prime Minister was Mayor of Jerusalem and the
President was Governor of Texas. However, this is partly a get to know
you session, and in part a look forward session on issues of common
interest ranging from Iran to regional strategic issues to figuring out
ways to proceed forward with the roadmap.

Snow said that the US is interested in seeing that the Prime Minister has
serious talks with his Palestinian counterpart, Prime Minister Abbas. The
Hamas government has been characterized as a terrorist organization, and
we are looking for ways to deal with Prime Minister Abbas and people who
are not affiliated with Hamas.

Snow was asked how much Iran would be on the agenda today. Snow said that
it would be on the agenda, but that he would not say what would be said.

Immigration

Snow was asked whether President Bush had seen any movement on immigration
in the House since his speech last week. Snow said that he would not
speak for the House. It was likely that the Senate would conclude
business this week on a comprehensive immigration bill. At that point
there would be extensive discussions between the House and the Senate.
The President and White House would have extreme interest in making sure
that a comprehensive bill is put together. That would involve persuading
Members of the House.

Snow declined to speak about any conversations between the President and
the House Speaker or anyone else on this issue.

Iraq

Asked about Prime Minister Blair's four years time frame on Iraq, Snow
replied that when Iraq stands up, the US will stand down. The conditions
on the ground will determine when the United States begins doing troop
withdrawals, he said. The most important thing to do is to make sure that
the US has laid the basis for a successful self-governing, peaceful and
stable Iraq.

Ambassador John Bolton

Snow was asked about Ambassador John Bolton, US Ambassador to the UN.
When his recess appointment runs out, the President can give him another
recess appointment, but he cannot be paid. Under those circumstances,
Snow was asked, would the President send the Ambassador's nomination to
the Senate floor, and has the President been in touch with Senator
Voinovich, the one Senator who did not recommend him?

Snow said he did not know. The President has full confidence in
Ambassador Bolton. Bolton has done an astounding job at the UN. Senator
Voinovich now seems to share that view.

Amnesty International

The annual report came out today. It was critical of the United States.
Snow said that contrary to any allegation that the US was going out
looking to abuse human rights, the US has been straightforward in its
attempts to guarantee and secure human rights at Guantanamo and elsewhere.
Additionally, the US was fighting a war based on trying to ensure
democracy, human rights and the path to freedom in Iraq, and to roll back
a dictator who killed hundreds of thousands of his own people. If Amnesty
International was interested in looking at that, Snow suggested, that
would qualify as the deliberate and systematic violation of human rights.

Raid on Congressman Jefferson's Office

Snow was asked whether the White House viewed the raid on Congressman
Jefferson's office by the FBI was a violation of the separation of powers.
Snow said that the Justice Department and the House are working together
to resolve these issues. Asked about the concerns of Senator Frist and
Speaker Hastert, Snow said that he would refer it back as he did not wish
to get into laying out what happened before the facts.

Prime Minister Blair

Snow was asked for some more details of the upcoming meeting. He said
that the details were being put together, but that Blair had just returned
from Iraq and would speak about his meeting with Prime Minister al-Maliki.
The President and Prime Minister have a lot of business that they want to
talk about. That will probably be top of the agenda.