White House Gaggle

By Gregory Gorman
President's Schedule

President Bush had his regular briefings this morning in advance of his private
meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki in the Oval Office. At 11:30 am, the
president and prime minister will have a joint press availability in the East Room


of the White House preceded by an expanded meeting between both U.S. and Iraqi
sides. The meeting participants for the Iraqis will include the Iraqi Ambassador to
the United States as well as the Ministers of Oil, Electricity and Foreign Affairs.
The American participants will include the vice president, Secretary Rumsfeld, Press
Secretary Tony Snow, Stephen Hadley, Josh Bolten and Ambassador Khalilzad. Following
the press availability, President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki will have a working
lunch in the Old Family Dining Room. This afternoon, the president will meet with
Minni Minnawi, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Leader in the Oval Office followed
by some policy time. At 2:30 pm, the bicameral Republican leadership will meet at
the White House to discuss a range of issues. Later today, Stephen Hadley, Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs, will give an off-camera, on the
record briefing to discuss the events of the day.

Pakistani Nuclear Weapon Program

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino reiterated the administration's
discouragement of further nuclear development by Pakistan. She said that the United
States participates in a moratorium on the development of nuclear material and the
administration calls on other countries in the region to do the same.

Meeting with Prime Minister Maliki

Perino said that Baghdad security was the number one priority to be discussed in
today's meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki. When asked to
speculate on the details of the morning meeting, she suggested that the media wait
until the meeting and press availability take place later this morning. Perino went
on to say that the press availability will be a "typical one with each leader making
an opening statement". She did not know how many questions from the press each
leader will take.

Troop Immunity

When asked if the issue of troop immunity will be discussed between President Bush
and Prime Minister Maliki, Perino said that the issue was not on the formal agenda
for the meeting but "they can bring it up if they want". She made a statement on the
issue saying, "If there are any instances or allegations of wrongdoing, that our
military, our nation will carry out a full investigation and a full prosecution so
that any individual who brings dishonor to the uniform . . . will be held accountable. The
president also believes that 99.9% of men and women in uniform are serving honorably
and with dignity".

Condemning Hezbollah

In response to a question regarding the administration's reaction to Prime Minister
Maliki not condemning Hezbollah's actions in the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,
Perino stated that the Iraqi government is a sovereign government and the prime
minister and others are free to express their own views, just as the United States
has done. She reiterated that Baghdad security is the main story of the day.