Friday
Jul132007
White House Gaggle
Friday, July 13, 2007 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He taped the radio address on the subject of Iraq. He will have a video teleconference on Iraq this morning. At 13.35 he has an interview with columnists.
Iraq
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked how the Iraqi government could achieve "satisfactory" grades in the remaining 10 categories in the 8 weeks left before the September report by General Petraeus, given that they have not been able to achieve success in a year. She replied that the full contingent of troops has been in place for less than a month. The President is in contact with Prime Minister Maliki several times a week to press him on political reconciliation. Many of the 8 satisfactory grades achieved were military ones, and one would expect military stability before political reconciliation. They are motivated to do it. We are motivated to do it. It is very hard work.
Perino was asked if the mission of Secretaries Rice and Gates is to tell Maliki what to say, and if not, what it is. Perino said it is not. The mission is to press the Iraqis and help the Iraqis achieve the pieces of legislation that they absolutely have to have to bring calm to the situation.
Perino was asked whether September is the crucial time. She said the reason the President is pointing to September is that July is an interim report, and that Congress had requested an interim report and then an additional report in September. There are people on Capitol Hill who want to pull the plug on the surge as it is getting underway.
House Vote on Iraq
Perino was asked for reaction on yesterday's House vote on Iraq. She said that it reflects that Republicans for the large part agree with the President that the plan should have a little more time to work. They want to hear the September report. The President felt pretty good about the vote last night, but we are under no illusions that there is a lot more work to be done on Capitol Hill. The President has said he would veto a bill with a precipitous withdrawal date.
Valerie Plame Leak
Perino was asked if she could clarify who the President was talking about yesterday when he said somebody in the administration leaked the name of Valerie Plame. She replied that she had not talked to the President about it, but that everyone knew who they were talking about and she would not comment further.
Perino was asked if there was a reason the President was not critical of the aides who leaked the names. She was asked why he did not say it was wrong. She said the press has been following this issue for a long time. The president said yesterday this issue has been exhausted. He explained his decision about the commutation and he said we are moving on.
North Korea
Perino was asked if the US is open to direct talks with North Korea with a UN mediator. North Korea has said that it wants this. She replied that there is a mechanism within the February 13th agreement for working groups. Chris Hill is in the region. There will be a meeting in Beijing soon.
Secretary Chertoff
Perino was asked if Secretary Chertoff was speaking out of school or operating from intelligence reports when he spoke about his 'gut feeling'. She said his comments were much broader than just saying a gut feeling, if you look at all the things he said. We know that al Qaeda is trying to spread its wings in North Africa, heightened activities in Europe, attempted attacks in the UK, and so it is prudent to have a heightened sense of concern. There is no credible threat that we are following right now. We are just making sure that we are staying one step ahead of the terrorists.
President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He taped the radio address on the subject of Iraq. He will have a video teleconference on Iraq this morning. At 13.35 he has an interview with columnists.
Iraq
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked how the Iraqi government could achieve "satisfactory" grades in the remaining 10 categories in the 8 weeks left before the September report by General Petraeus, given that they have not been able to achieve success in a year. She replied that the full contingent of troops has been in place for less than a month. The President is in contact with Prime Minister Maliki several times a week to press him on political reconciliation. Many of the 8 satisfactory grades achieved were military ones, and one would expect military stability before political reconciliation. They are motivated to do it. We are motivated to do it. It is very hard work.
Perino was asked if the mission of Secretaries Rice and Gates is to tell Maliki what to say, and if not, what it is. Perino said it is not. The mission is to press the Iraqis and help the Iraqis achieve the pieces of legislation that they absolutely have to have to bring calm to the situation.
Perino was asked whether September is the crucial time. She said the reason the President is pointing to September is that July is an interim report, and that Congress had requested an interim report and then an additional report in September. There are people on Capitol Hill who want to pull the plug on the surge as it is getting underway.
House Vote on Iraq
Perino was asked for reaction on yesterday's House vote on Iraq. She said that it reflects that Republicans for the large part agree with the President that the plan should have a little more time to work. They want to hear the September report. The President felt pretty good about the vote last night, but we are under no illusions that there is a lot more work to be done on Capitol Hill. The President has said he would veto a bill with a precipitous withdrawal date.
Valerie Plame Leak
Perino was asked if she could clarify who the President was talking about yesterday when he said somebody in the administration leaked the name of Valerie Plame. She replied that she had not talked to the President about it, but that everyone knew who they were talking about and she would not comment further.
Perino was asked if there was a reason the President was not critical of the aides who leaked the names. She was asked why he did not say it was wrong. She said the press has been following this issue for a long time. The president said yesterday this issue has been exhausted. He explained his decision about the commutation and he said we are moving on.
North Korea
Perino was asked if the US is open to direct talks with North Korea with a UN mediator. North Korea has said that it wants this. She replied that there is a mechanism within the February 13th agreement for working groups. Chris Hill is in the region. There will be a meeting in Beijing soon.
Secretary Chertoff
Perino was asked if Secretary Chertoff was speaking out of school or operating from intelligence reports when he spoke about his 'gut feeling'. She said his comments were much broader than just saying a gut feeling, if you look at all the things he said. We know that al Qaeda is trying to spread its wings in North Africa, heightened activities in Europe, attempted attacks in the UK, and so it is prudent to have a heightened sense of concern. There is no credible threat that we are following right now. We are just making sure that we are staying one step ahead of the terrorists.
Reader Comments