White House Briefing

With Robert Gibbs

President Obama will meet with his Holiness the Dalai Lama on February 18th in the Map Room of the White House. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that the President is looking forward to “an engaging and constructive dialogue. “
At the White House Briefing, Gibbs was also joined today by Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. She presented the Economic Report, number 64 in the order, that will be sent to Congress.
Romer said that each economic report talks about three things; first it brings up the economic challenges that we face as a country. Secondly, it talks about what policies were put in to place and how they work, and finally it lays out the President’s agenda going forward.
She also talked about the passed year and the coming challenges. Romer felt the importance of this particular report, not because of herself but because of the times we are facing.
Dr. Romer also said that this is the first time that the report is printed in color and also available electronic form. “It’s prettier than ever before”, Romer said.
When asked if the estimates are more conservative in order to not be burned politically, Dr. Romer said that, “every time we try to do the best we can. The truth is that we don’t have a crystal ball. Every year we try to do an honest, reasonable, conservative forecast ... ”

Iran

Gibbs said that they continue to monitor events in Iran as they happen. The President was very clear in his speech in Oslo, that we stand by the universal rights of Iranians to express themselves freely and to do so without intimidation and violence”.
When asked about a statement from the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency who cautioned President Obama about what he called taking the wrong steps, and telling the United States that consequences are beyond imagination; Gibbs said Iran has made a series statements that are based more on politics and not on physics. “We do not believe that they have the capability to enrich to the degree to which they now say that the are enriching. “
He also stated that, “our allies are more united in this than they have ever been,” to take actions and consequences based on the statements and actions of the Iranians.
Gibbs was also asked about the relationship with China and if they are on board with the UN sanctions, and he said that, “ the Chinese will continue to play a constructively role. They worked with us very constructive with the UN resolution with North Korea. It is not in their interest to have an arms race in the Middle East, Gibbs continued.

China

Gibbs was asked why the White House was preceding with meeting with the Dalai Lama considering how much China is clearly against it. “ We think we have a mature enough relationship with the Chinese that we can agree on issues that are of mutual interest, but we also have a mature enough relationship that we know that two countries on this planet are not always going to agree on everything, and we’ll have those disagreements, “ Gibbs said.

Snow in Washington DC Area

When asked if the President is pleased with the response to the storm, considering that the federal government is closed for a 4th day in a row, Gibbs said that what we have seen here is extraordinary. “If there was snowfall that exceeded what we had this winter, it happened before we kept statistics on snowfall. It has been an overwhelming weather event.“ People are working to clear enough so that the federal government can open again.

Sen. Bond and John Brennan

Gibbs was asked about Senator Kit Bond who was accusing the White House of using John Brennan for political purposes. Gibbs responded by telling reporters that John Brennan has worked in counterterrorism for more than 25 years. He worked at the CIA and hired by former President George W. Bush and was asked to stay on. “ I don’t have a slightest idea what political party John Brennan is a member of. I have never had a political conversation with John. I know this; John is there each and every day working in his office to try to do everything he can to keep the American people safe. And I would suggest, whether it's to Senator Bond or others on Capitol Hill, that these are decisions best left to people that have an understanding of counterterrorism, experience in counterterrorism and law enforcement, rather than to politicians on Capitol Hill.”

Republican Hoekstra Strikes Back At Counter-Terrorism Adviser

Hours after John Brennan, the President's top counter-terrorism adviser, lashed out at Republicans for playing "political football" over the handling of Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee accused the Obama administration of trying to "deflect blame."

"The mishandling of this case is the Obama administration's failure, and they have no one to blame but themselves. President Obama failed to respond after the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, and failed to respond immediately after the terrorist attack in Detroit," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) in a statement released by his office.

"Instead of lashing out politically and attempting to deflect blame, Obama and his advisers need to settle on a coherent and rational national security strategy to help secure our homeland," Hoekstra added.

"Quite frankly I'm tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as political football," said Brennan during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday. "They're going out there, they're unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality."

Brennan was referring to arguments made by Republicans that charging Abdulmutallab in a criminal court and giving him legal rights had prevented the intelligence community from obtaining information from him on al-Qaeda and possible future U.S. terrorist attacks. The White House responded to those allegations last week by briefing reporters about how Abdulmutallab has so far cooperated with U.S. intelligence officials.

"They were told about the fact of that cooperation as well as some information he was sharing," Brennan said. "None of those individuals raised any concerns with me at that point. They didn't say, is he going into military custody? Is he going to be Mirandized?"

In Hoekstra's view, Brennan should have taken it upon himself to divulge such information when he spoke to the Congressman shortly after the failed attack.

"Contrary to what [Brennan] attempts to imply, he at no time informed Hoekstra that Abdulmutallab had been Mirandized nor did he seek Hoekstra's consultation or provide any sort of meaningful briefing," said the statement.

TechAmerica Praises Obama’s Cyber Czar

By Rachel St. Amant- Talk Radio News Service

TechAmerica held a media briefing in which they announced their collaboration with the government on the 60 day cyber security project which will create cyber security office.

The association of leading technology companies came out in support of President Barack Obama’s plan to tie public and private institutions together in the hopes of enhancing cyber security.

“The President came out and visibly made his commitment to this effort,” said Enrique Salem, CEO of Symantec.

President Obama said “We need to develop new standards for the cyber-security that protects our most important infrastructures, from electrical grids to sewage systems, from air traffic control to our markets."

John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, said “The national security and economic health of the United States depend on the security, stability and integrity of our nation's cyberspace, both in the public and private sectors."

“We clearly articulated what the risk are, what the threats are,” Salem said.

Phil Dunkelberger, CEO of PGP Corporation agreed, saying “I thought it was important that he (President Obama) linked cyber security to the future of the U.S.”

TechAmerica also affirmed its satisfaction for the new cyber security office regarding the security it will provide to small businesses and individuals.

Dunkelberger argued that “Those (security) rights should be encouraged and that is what the government does.”

On the new collaboration between the public and the private sectors Harriet Pearson said “The relationship that the administration is building is going to be key.”

Despite the efforts of the previous administration to address this topic, TechAmerica seems more enthusiastic about Obama’s plan.

Phil Bond said “ What makes it a fundamental shift is the personal commitment taken by the president”, adding that “He is putting a lot of chips on the table, politically.”

However, Salem warned that “I think its important that we do not let it get caught up in the bureaucracy.”

Obama names key intelligence positions, comments on unemployment

President Elect Obama named nominees for key intelligence positions. Former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta was nominated as CIA director and Retired Admiral Dennis Blair was nominated as National Intelligence Director.

Additionally, Director John Michael McConnell will offer counsel through the President Elect's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Michael Leiter will continue as the head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, and CIA veteran John Brennan will serve as Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism.

Brennan was an earlier contender for the CIA Director position, but pulled himself out of the running after facing criticism for perceived ties with the several of the Bush administration's controversial interrogation and detention policies.

Obama stated that Panetta would be a strong CIA Director and explained his managerial skills.

"He knows how to focus resources where they are needed, and he has a proven track record of building consensus and working on a bipartisan basis with Congress. I am confident that he will strengthen the CIA's capability to protect the American people as it continues to adapt to our reformed intelligence community," said Obama during a press conference in Washington D.C.

The President Elect also lauded Blair's past as a former National Security Council staffer and Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, explaining that the position qualified Blair to build bridges amongst different security institutions.

Both Blair and Panetta made similar pledges to provide the President Elect with the accurate intelligence and analysis, promising that they would not just tell Obama what he wanted to hear.

Following a question regarding U.S. interrogation techniques, Obama pledged that under his administration there will be no torture.

The President Elect also touched upon the recent unemployment crisis,

"My staff and I have been engaged in a constructive dialogue with members of Congress over the last few days and weeks about my American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan which will save or create at least 3 million jobs, and make long-term investments in the critical areas of energy, health care and education."