Today at Talk Radio News

White House Correspondent Lovisa Frost will cover the press gaggle this morning.

The Washington Bureau will cover remarks from political analyst Cokie Roberts on how healthy America's health care debate is on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress. The Bureau will also be covering a discussion on the role of state and local governments in combatting poverty, as well as a briefing on Zimbabwe's economic meltdown, Botswana's ascent and what it means for the rest of Africa. As new worries regarding America's aging infrastructure emerge, the Bureau will attend a forum on our nation's water system and ways it can be improved.

Later in the day, TRNS will cover an event discussing the congressional energy outlook with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), as well as a discussion with the Israel Project on challenges facing Israel today.

White House Gaggle

Briefer: Dana Perino


President’s Schedule

President Bush participates in a photo opportunity and makes remarks to members of the 2008 United States Summer Olympic Team in the Rose Garden. At 10.55 am, he participates in another photo opportunity with the 2008 March of Dimes National Ambassador in the Oval Office of the White House. This afternoon, at 1:15 pm, President Bush meets with the President of Kosovo and the Prime Minister of Kosovo.
This evening, the President and Mrs. Bush host a social dinner in honor of United States past and present Olympians in the East Room of the White House.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 12.15 pm

Iraq:

When asked about a statement from the Iraqi press secretary about a timetable suggesting US combat troops to be out of Iraq by 2010, corresponding with Sen. Obama’s plan for withdrawal, Perino said that she did not see the reports this morning and declined a comment on it. However, she did say that, “we share the goal of American troops being able to transition their mission into one of more overwatch, training and of counter terrorism. We want to get there, and we can get there if we continue to have success, we will be able to bring troops home, this is return on success. But it is going to be based on conditions on the ground and the Iraq Prime Minister has reiterated that and that is what we are working towards,” Perino said.
The US team under Ambassador Crocker is working with the Iraqi team, and they will have to see what they come out with, Perino said and continued, “Whatever we get to, it will be based on conditions and it will be flexible and it will not be arbitrary, and it will be bilateral, which would be a joint goal …but it will not be a unilateral decision, a unilateral date imposed on them. “
“They are not ready to take over all the provinces, but they are closer and we share the goal of them being able taking over more of their responsible,” Perino said. She also quoted General Petreus saying that the gains the Iraqis have made are not irreversible and he believes that the Iraqis understand that.
The gaggle also became rather heated as one reporter referred to the back and forth information from the Iraqis on aspirational goals as almost comical. The reporter was referring to the government spokesperson in Iraq, who over the weekend stated that Maliki’s remarks were mistranslated, and that the White House was working very hard to bend this back into something that looks ok but that they clearly were not on the same page. Perino replied that she would not describe this as comical but very serious business, and then she stopped and decided to not reply further. When the same reporter mumbled something about the notion of this being stupid, she came back to the reporter, who then continued to say that the White House is trying to construct something here to make sense out of the conflicting things that coming out of Baghdad, even though is has been said very clearly from Baghdad. Perino wanted to know what is so clear that he had to call it comical.
Perino then said that she did not agree with his characterization and she is glad he sees it as comical. Perino said that she has checked this info and worked on it all weekend, and she referred to our American spokesperson in Iraq who talked to Dr. al-Dabbagh. Dr. al-Dabbagh was then the one who said that he did not remember it as stated, so he was going to be back and check it. “The key issue is that they understand that this is not arbitrary, it will not be a date that you just pluck out of thin air, it will not be something that Americans say we are going to leave at this date which is what some have suggested,” Perino said.
When asked who has the final say, if it comes down to the Iraqis saying that they want us to go and we do not want, or do not think it is time to go, but they say “go”, don’t we have to go?; Perino replied quoting the President, “We are there because the Iraqis want us there. If they wanted us to leave then we would talk about that, or we would do that. But nobody is talking about that. We are talking about working together, jointly in a bilateral way…” Perino said.
When asked about Perino saying that there will be an aspirational date in the Strategic Framework Agreement, and if that cannot be considered to be a timetable, she replied that is it not; not if it is agreed to on a bilateral basis, that is flexible, and not set in stone and is dependent on the conditions on the ground.

Rice

When asked about this weekend’s meeting in Switzerland, where Secretary Rice described the Iranians as not being serious and Perino was questioned where things go from here. She replied that Secretary Rice did feel that they got the runaround from the Iranians and that nobody appreciated that. Perino also said that there is new found energy in the diplomatic efforts that they are reinvigorated and that the Iranian received the message that there consequence for a missed opportunity like this.

Zimbabwe

When asked about the latest reports coming out of Zimbabwe and if the President supports them, Perino said that they have seen the reports, though they do not know the details of it, and they are monitoring the situation. Perino also said that any final measure has to deal with the concerns expressed by the United Nations, the African Nation and the SADC, and the will of the Zimbabwean people needs to be taken in to account.

Zimbabwe Electoral Crisis Update

This past week, both the United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have renounced violence surrounding the electoral stand-off in Zimbabwe.


On Monday, the Security Council dileberated late in to the evening.  Current Security Council president Zalmay Khalilzad, United States Ambassador to the UN, expressed his frustration at the on-going voilence, indicating that it would be almost impossible for a "free and fair" election to occur on schedule.  Mr. Ban stated earlier this week that an election held under such adverse conditions "would lack all legitimacy."

Additionally, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, renounced recent acts of violence and intimidation.  In a statement issued on 19 June, Pascoe called political intimidation "unacceptable" and noted that if violence continued it would be very difficult for the world community to recognize the results of this Friday's previously-scheduled run-off election.  Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been holed-up within the Dutch embassy after announcing his intention to pull out of his bid to unseat current President Robert Mugabe.  Tsvangirai's supporters have been targeted in attacks by Mugabe loyalists. 

For more information on the Zimbabwe electorial crisis, please visit the BBC's Zimbabwe Q&A, and the Guardian's Zimbabwe timeline.  Google News on the Zimbabwe electorial crisis.

Aid, more than just dropping food out of airplanes

A hearing on international disaster assistance was held before the Senate Foreing Relations Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said that humanitarian aid is more complicated than dropping food and water out of an airplane.

According to panelist James B. Warlick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, the U.S. should turn to the U.N. Secretariat and operational agencies when U.S. bilateral assistance is shunned. Warlick also pointed out that the response of the international community could be rejected or hampered by local forces.

Menendez questioned Warlick as to what the State Department’s view on the ‘responsibility to protect’ concept. Menendez gave the example of Zimbabwe where 20 tons of food assistance for school children was confiscated and distributed only to supporters of President Robert Mugabe at a political rally instead. Warlick said that on the first level, each individual was responsible for helping its people. Following that, the international community should use peaceful means to assist through the U.N. Lastly, the international community should be ready to take action as a last resort if the people of the country requiring aid were denied access to it by the local government.

White House Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Waco, Texas
 
9:35 A.M. EDT
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Good morning.  We're on our way to Texas, as you know.  The President had his normal briefings and recorded his weekly radio address this morning.  I'll come back to that. 
 
First I wanted to make some brief comments about reports out of Zimbabwe of increasing violence.  This violence and intimidation needs to stop.  Mugabe and his supporters need to refrain from this sort of activity against those who are supporting the opposition. 
 
The people of Zimbabwe some time ago voted for change.  The will of the people of Zimbabwe should be respected.  We note that regional leaders such as the President of Zambia have been very much engaged to try and resolve this electoral crisis there.  I understand they'll be meeting soon with the South Africans.  We would urge all the leaders in the region to play a constructive role so that the people of Zimbabwe can get their country back on not only the path to democracy but back on a sustainable economic future so they can support themselves.
 
Now, on the radio address, the radio address the President recorded this morning is really a Mother's Day tribute.  He will talk about also -- briefly about the wedding of one of his daughters, Jenna.  The President is excited to be going down to Texas today.  He is looking forward to the weekend, as is the entire Bush family.  It's really a special moment for them, and he, I think, is also going to make sure he gets a good night's sleep tonight so he can stay up late the rest of the weekend and enjoy all the activities that are planned.
 
With that, I'm happy to take your questions.
 
Q    He was walking with his arm out, just for fun, you know.  Is that his only role?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Sorry, what?
 
Q    He was walking out with his arm, showing us how he was going to -- is that his only role?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Perhaps he was practicing.  (Laughter.)  But, anyway, like I said, he's looking forward to it, he's excited, like any proud father is, to see one of his daughters get married.  You've heard the President and Mrs. Bush talk about this over the last few days.  They're all very excited about it, as is the whole family, and looking forward to it.
 
Q    She's already down there, right, Mrs. Bush?  When is Jenna -- is Jenna there already, too, or --
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Yes.  Mrs. Bush has been down there and Jenna has been down there for a few days, right.
 
Q    Is Barbara there already?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, I'll have to check on other family members, but rest assured that the very large Bush family is all going to be converging in Crawford to celebrate this weekend.
 
Q    We're all concerned about getting some kind of a readout after the event.  Do you expect us to get anything?  Even what you told us now is helpful.  We're going to have to cover this whether we're there or not.
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Right.  I would reduce your level of concern and be assured that there will be absolutely no readout of the wedding, whatsoever.  This really is a private event for the family.  If we can -- if the family decides -- and I think they may -- on Sunday to release a couple of photos of the ceremony, then we will certainly provide those to you.  But otherwise, I think the activities of the weekend are going to be a really private celebration for Jenna and Henry's family and friends.
 
Q    Was 41 on board today?  There was talk that perhaps he had been spotted at the White House yesterday.
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  You know, former President Bush is often at the White House.  I believe he was there earlier this week, but I think he has already gone down to Texas.  Marvin Bush and his family are on board today.  Marvin Bush, one of the President's brothers -- Marvin and his family.
 
Q    There's some conflicting reports about Burma.  First reports said that there was a U.S. plane that landed.  Then we had reports that said that the U.S. did not have permission to go.  What's the latest on that?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  The latest on Burma is we are involved in negotiations with the Burmese government, as are many governments and aid organizations from all over the world, trying to make arrangements so that our assistance and these other countries and aid organizations' assistance can get into Burma to help the people there.  I would just say at this point there are ongoing discussions.  We're hearing conflicting reports as well.  We have –
 
Q    So we don't have permission yet?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  As of our departure time, I was not aware that permission had been granted, but I would just say that we are hopeful.  We are hopeful that permission will be granted not only for United States aid but all sorts of international aid.  As you know, we have been involved through the State Department in talking with a number of governments, both in Washington as well as in their capitals, such as the Chinese and the Thais.  We appreciate the Chinese and any other governments who have used what influence they have on the junta to encourage the junta to allow aid in.  And so all of these efforts are ongoing.  The bottom line is, we want to get aid into Burma as quickly as possible.
 
Q    Gordon, are these talks directly between the United States and the Myanmar government, and at what level are they taking place?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  I think most of the talks have taken place through our embassy in Rangoon with the Burmese government.  There may be also some talks at other -- in other capitals, but I don't have a specific level of official at this time.
 
Q    So nobody at the State Department or the White House is talking directly to their government?
 
MR. JOHNDROE:  Well, our chargé, a State Department official, certainly has.  I'd refer you to the State Department for any more details on that.