Monday
Jul242006
White House Gaggle
Monday, July 24, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
July 24, 2006
President's Schedule
The president will make remarks this morning at a naturalization ceremony at the Walter Reed Medical Center. He will then visit with wounded soldiers. He will return for policy time. At 2:25pm he will sign HR 42, the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005. He will make remarks this evening at a Republican National Committee reception at Evermay. Tomorrow the President will meet with Minni Minawi, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Leader. The focus of the discussion will be how to broaden support for the Darfur Peace Agreement, facilitate its implementation and ensure the expeditious deployment of UN peacekeepers to Darfur.
Pakistan
Asked about the expansion of Pakistan's nuclear program, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that Pakistan is outside the non-proliferation treaty, and therefore they develop their capabilities independently. We have been aware of these plans, he said, and we discourage any use of that facility for military purposes, such as weapons development.
Middle East/Ceasefire
Asked if there was any more reason to think that a ceasefire would work, Snow said that there was not, although the US supports the idea of a ceasefire under conditions that would make it durable and sustainable. As rockets have recently been fired at Kiryat Shmona, Haifa and other targets within Israel, Hizbollah does not intend a ceasefire. We are concerned about the humanitarian cost. It is the result of Hizbollah holding as much of a nation as it can as human shields. In response to a question, Snow stated that everyone in the region understands the importance of dealing with Hizbollah. Our regional partners are doing what they can to talk to the government of Syria to tell it to cease and desist, as well as with the government of Iran to suspend relationships and support for Hizbollah.
Saudis
Snow pointed out that when the Saudis visited on Sunday, they began by talking about the importance of going after Hizbollah. They placed the blame on Hizbollah. The king took the extraordinary measure of stating that before foreign ministers just over a week ago. Asked whether a letter that the king wrote to the president contained a five-point peace plan, Snow replied that it did not. The Saudis took care not to divulge the contents of that letter, Snow said.
There are shared goals: 1. Hizbollah is the source of the problem. 2. Enabling the Lebanese armed forced to operate effectively throughout the country. 3. Working together to deal with the humanitarian issues. 4. Working for a sustainable peace that enables the government of Lebanon to operate effectively.
Visit of Iraqi Prime Minister al Maliki
The Prime Minister's challenge is to find an effective way to secure Baghdad. He is not resting on Operation Forward Together. He is talking with General Casey and others about finding ways to be effective at going after a combination of random gang violence and sectarian violence within Baghdad.
Nomination of John Bolton
Asked what the status of the re-nomination of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN is, Snow replied that there will be hearings on Thursday. The President re-nominated him the day after the recess appointment.
American Bar Association Report
The American Bar Association has issued a report today that is critical of the president's use of signing statements. Asked about this, Snow said that the report had been leaked to the press but not shared with the White House. He would respond more fully when the report has been received. He said the administration fully defends signing statements as a vehicle for trying to lay down markers about what may or may not be constitutional.
July 24, 2006
President's Schedule
The president will make remarks this morning at a naturalization ceremony at the Walter Reed Medical Center. He will then visit with wounded soldiers. He will return for policy time. At 2:25pm he will sign HR 42, the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005. He will make remarks this evening at a Republican National Committee reception at Evermay. Tomorrow the President will meet with Minni Minawi, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Leader. The focus of the discussion will be how to broaden support for the Darfur Peace Agreement, facilitate its implementation and ensure the expeditious deployment of UN peacekeepers to Darfur.
Pakistan
Asked about the expansion of Pakistan's nuclear program, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that Pakistan is outside the non-proliferation treaty, and therefore they develop their capabilities independently. We have been aware of these plans, he said, and we discourage any use of that facility for military purposes, such as weapons development.
Middle East/Ceasefire
Asked if there was any more reason to think that a ceasefire would work, Snow said that there was not, although the US supports the idea of a ceasefire under conditions that would make it durable and sustainable. As rockets have recently been fired at Kiryat Shmona, Haifa and other targets within Israel, Hizbollah does not intend a ceasefire. We are concerned about the humanitarian cost. It is the result of Hizbollah holding as much of a nation as it can as human shields. In response to a question, Snow stated that everyone in the region understands the importance of dealing with Hizbollah. Our regional partners are doing what they can to talk to the government of Syria to tell it to cease and desist, as well as with the government of Iran to suspend relationships and support for Hizbollah.
Saudis
Snow pointed out that when the Saudis visited on Sunday, they began by talking about the importance of going after Hizbollah. They placed the blame on Hizbollah. The king took the extraordinary measure of stating that before foreign ministers just over a week ago. Asked whether a letter that the king wrote to the president contained a five-point peace plan, Snow replied that it did not. The Saudis took care not to divulge the contents of that letter, Snow said.
There are shared goals: 1. Hizbollah is the source of the problem. 2. Enabling the Lebanese armed forced to operate effectively throughout the country. 3. Working together to deal with the humanitarian issues. 4. Working for a sustainable peace that enables the government of Lebanon to operate effectively.
Visit of Iraqi Prime Minister al Maliki
The Prime Minister's challenge is to find an effective way to secure Baghdad. He is not resting on Operation Forward Together. He is talking with General Casey and others about finding ways to be effective at going after a combination of random gang violence and sectarian violence within Baghdad.
Nomination of John Bolton
Asked what the status of the re-nomination of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN is, Snow replied that there will be hearings on Thursday. The President re-nominated him the day after the recess appointment.
American Bar Association Report
The American Bar Association has issued a report today that is critical of the president's use of signing statements. Asked about this, Snow said that the report had been leaked to the press but not shared with the White House. He would respond more fully when the report has been received. He said the administration fully defends signing statements as a vehicle for trying to lay down markers about what may or may not be constitutional.
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