By Ellen Ratner and Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle October 10, 2003 By: Ellen Ratner and Victoria Jones Schedule: The President attended his usual briefings. He also taped this week' radio address. He will meet with the Secretary of State and also have his weekly lunch with the Vice President.

On this anniversary of the 1868 of the Battle of Independence the President will make a Rose Garden speech on new steps to encourage democracy in Cuba. The President will also meet with the International Commission on Religious Freedom, a commission mandated by Congress. They will present Congress with their 4th report which was published in May. The President will be spending the weekend at Camp David and will be making a speech at the White House on Columbus Day. Next week, he will have several interviews with Asian journalists; attend fundraisers in California, as well as making a speech on housing in Fresno. He will leave for Asia on October 16th. Guantanamo: Asked about the Red Cross report, McClellan said that they were enemy combatants and were being treated humanely. When asked about a report that Korans and water were being withheld he referred the questioner to the Pentagon. Cuba: McClellan said that when the President challenged the Castro regime they responded with defiance. He also said that it was a "matter of time" till there was a democratic regime. He stated, "We will continue to keep pressure on the regime." Iraq: Much time was spent on the 87Billion dollar supplemental and the line authority over that money by Dr. Rice. There is an amendment which addresses this and the White House said that "they are still looking at the amendment". McClellan said that she does not administer funds, and that the NSC coordinates policy. McClellan said that we want to make sure we are providing the assistance here that is needed to help Iraq. He reiterated that the NSC's role was for interagency coordination and to make decisions quickly. Leak: McClellan said that the White House continues to move quickly with the information that the Justice Department asked for. "We welcome getting to the bottom of this as quickly as possible." Regarding the five point Daschle letter he said "it has more to do with politics than getting to the bottom of the investigation."