English subtitles for clip: File:1-6-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Mr. Feller, take us away.

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The Press:
Two topics, please, Robert. On Senator Dodd's

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retirement, what's the President's reaction,
and has he spoken to the Senator yet?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have the readouts, but I know that

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he's spoken to both Senators Dodd and Dorgan
this morning. Look, obviously Senator Dodd

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has been enormously involved and enormously
helpful in moving both health care and financial

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regulatory reform -- working on those issues
and moving them through Congress. The President

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has a great fondness for Senator Dodd and
for his work over 30 years in the United States

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Senate.

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The Press:
Democrats will now have to defend four open

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seats in the Senate, and as you know well,
the White House is having to fight for every

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one of the 60 combined seats to keep the agenda
moving. How do you think these retirements

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in total will affect the President's agenda?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, it is hard to look into the crystal

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ball 11 months from election day. There's
retirements on both sides of the aisle in

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the Senate; they'll be the same in the House.
We'll let the political season play out over

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the course of the next 11 months. I don't
want to make a lot of predictions for 11 months

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from now.

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The Press:
I also wanted to ask about terrorism. We know

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from what the President said yesterday that
the Brennan -- initial Brennan report will

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be released soon --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I expect that it will be released tomorrow.

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The Press:
Tomorrow? Okay.

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The Press:
Is that the public one?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Yes. It will be an unclassified version of

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what John Brennan gives to the President.

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The Press:
Do you have a rough time on that, Robert?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Sometime probably early afternoon. And then

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our hope is -- sorry, Ben, to get ahead of
 -- to bring John down here and go through

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it.

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The Press:
The President also said in the coming days

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he'll be announcing more steps on passenger
screening and intelligence-sharing -- you

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still expect that this week?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I will check on that part of the schedule

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or whether that's part of tomorrow's information.
But I do expect at least the beginning part

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of that to happen tomorrow.

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The Press:
Okay. So I guess what I'm getting at, there

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is that -- can you give us a sense of how
this is all going to finish? Will there be

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a final review and the President will then
speak to the nation again? How is this going

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to work?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the President -- if I was clear -- the

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President will make a statement about this
tomorrow. That review will be released -- the

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unclassified version will be released publicly.
We'll have John and probably Secretary Napolitano

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to discuss their review of detection capabilities
tomorrow here at the White House. I anticipate

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that the President and John will continue
to look at the situation and evaluate it over

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the coming months. The review will simply
identify and make recommendations as to what

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was lacking and what needs to be strengthened.
The review process will be a dynamic one where

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the President and John will continue to ensure
that agencies are implementing their plans

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for correcting what was identified in each
of those reviews. I will say, in yesterday's

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meeting, each agency and department took responsibility
for their aspect of that systemic failure,

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and each outlined what they had identified
as initial shortcomings and ideas for changing

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those. And the President will be anxious to
watch that, and John will watch that and follow

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up with each of those agencies as this transpires.
Yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
I wanted to clarify something and then ask

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a question. You said the review will be released
tomorrow.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

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The Press:
Okay.

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The Press:
And going back to Senator Dodd, how do you

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think it's going to affect financial regulatory
reform, the push? He's been a leader in that

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and there's been some reaction on Wall Street
 -- some stocks have gone up and some have

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gone down.

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Mr. Gibbs:
As is the wont of Wall Street. I would say

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this -- look, I think Senator Dodd has been
a passionate advocate for ensuring that we

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have rules in place so that what happened
on Wall Street doesn't happen again -- that

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we have strong consumer financial protections.
And I think Senator Dodd will continue to

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work on that with his committee throughout
this process.

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The Press:
Do you think his leaving will make him more

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of a lame duck? I mean, it's the loss of a
passionate advocate.

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, look, I -- knowing Senator Dodd and the

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passionate advocate that he is, I think he
will continue to work hard and want to get

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this done by the end of the year, as the President
does, too. Jake.

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The Press:
The President last year set a deadline for

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the end of 2009 for Iran to begin showing
some compliance with the international agencies

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when it comes to its nuclear program. Has
there been any movement? If not --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Has there been any movement?

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The Press:
By the Iranians that we don't know about,

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and if not, what's the next step?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the next step is ongoing, and that is

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working with our partners in the P5-plus-1
and throughout the international community

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in looking at the next steps to hold Iran
accountable. We have said and made clear throughout

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this process that they should act and demonstrate
living up to their responsibilities, that

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failure to act would result in consequences.
And we're in the process of, as you've heard

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the President discuss, developing what those
consequences are with our international partners.

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I would say that -- and you've heard the President
speak on this now, both in Oslo and over the

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Christmas break -- that we've noticed continued
divisions within Iran, including much greater

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calls for universal rights and universal values.
And we are watching those closely as well.

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The Press:
Should we expect that when the United Nations

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reconvenes, the United States will push for
the economic sanctions that they have -- that

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you guys have threatened?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think that working with our partners and

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working throughout the international community,
we will take steps to develop what those consequences

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are and move those forward.

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The Press:
When the U.N. reconvenes?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know if it will -- I don't know the

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exact day that that will be, understanding
that we have begun, and had begun even before

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the end of the year, initial discussions both
within the administration on what can be done,

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as well as with our international partners.

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The Press:
I wanted to follow up also on a comment the

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President made in one of the interviews he
gave right before he went to Hawaii. I forget,

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and I apologize, whether it was with NPR or
with PBS. But he was asked about the fact

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that the minority in the Senate has required
the invoking of cloture I believe more than

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ever before and what he thought should be
done about it. There are -- the measures that

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would require a change of the rules would
be -- one would require 67 votes, which you

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don't have. One would be a reverse nuclear
option, which might cause serious damage to

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the Senate. The other one is a bill offered
by Senator Harkin, which would have some sort

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of sliding scale of cloture. Is there going
 -- especially with facing the prospect of

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losing seats in the Senate in 2010, or at
the very least a wash, but certainly nobody

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predicts that you guys are going to gain any
 -- is there any consideration or any support

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by the President for any of the measures to
change the rules so that he can have an easier

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time getting his agenda put forward?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Jake, I have not heard of any discussion.

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I will check with Legislative Affairs. I have
not heard discussion here about support for

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changing those rules. I know Senator Harkin's
bill has been talked about for some time,

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going back to some judicial disputes that
were had not too long ago. Jake, I think the

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President's overriding frustration has been
 -- I mentioned this a little bit yesterday

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in dealing with some personnel announcements
 -- is it's not simply that you see tactics

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purely to delay, purely to watch the clock
wind around and around, but they don't even

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appear to be philosophical, right? When something
gets filibustered and we take 30 hours to

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debate it, and then the ultimate vote is 88
to 10, is the -- was the filibuster predicated

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on anything else other than watching the clock
wind around? Was it -- it's not a philosophical

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argument. It's just an argument, I suppose,
to hear people talk in order to delay the

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passage of vital legislation for the American
people. I think the President -- I think the

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American people would be frustrated, and are
frustrated, by the lack of not getting anything

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done just to hear somebody talk.

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The Press:
A lot of liberal activists want you guys to

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do something about it. Are you going to?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I will check with Legislative Affairs. Like

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I said, I have not heard anything about changing
the rules. Dan.

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The Press:
Yesterday the President talked about red flags,

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these bits and pieces of information that
the intelligence community had -- that it

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involved someone we now know to be the suspect.
Was this specific information that was tied

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to an airplane, airliner, anything like that,
or was it more general?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Dan, I'm going to let -- I'm going to wait

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for the review to come, the public portion
of the review to come and allow John to be

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able to speak in depth about all of those
issues. I think, to reiterate what the President

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said, the sort of top-line message the President
had was we understand this was a systemic

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failure; we understand that information we
had in our possession, information that likely

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could have prevented or disrupted the incident
on the 25th of December from happening. The

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President is anxious to -- and did so yesterday
for almost two hours with his national security

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and intelligence teams -- go through some
questions about how we got to this point and,

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more importantly, the steps that we're going
to take going forward to prevent something

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like this, based on what we had, from happening
again.

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The Press:
But is there more, though, that we don't know

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about? Is there more there, without telling
us what's there?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think the President has been very candid

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about the fact that what we were in possession
of in different places and what ultimately

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was not analyzed up through the chains in
order to make the necessary connections to

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prevent and disrupt this from happening.

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The Press:
And, again, on the negotiations that are taking

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place to meld these two bills, the House and
Senate, why not have a formal conference?

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Why doing it --

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Mr. Gibbs:
That's a question that I think you can ask

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the leaders in Congress either there or when
they're here later today. Helen.

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The Press:
What did the President -- why did he not call

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on health care -- it seems like he's ready
to accept anything to get it over with.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I would disagree, Helen. I think the President

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laid out in front of Congress some very clear
benchmarks that have to be met in order for

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health care reform to hold with it the promise
that he outlined in that speech. We're in

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the process of working with Congress to iron
out the small number of differences between

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the two pieces of legislation.

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The Press:
But you're not allowing the government plan

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to even be considered.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, obviously, that's in one bill and not

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the other. The President -- nothing can get
enacted unless or until it gets through both

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houses. The President has --

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The Press:
The President can weigh in on the thing. You're

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giving 30 million new plans to the insurers
 -- that's a bonanza.

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Mr. Gibbs:
And in return we're getting vital insurance

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protections against preexisting conditions,
against lifetime caps on health care. I think

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the net winner by far in this process will
be not simply those that have lacked accessibility

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to health care, but those that have had access
to it but have struggled with insurance reforms.

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The Press:
How is he going to pay for it?

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Mr. Gibbs:
The bill outlines the different ways and aspects

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that it's paid for, and it's completely paid
for, as the CBO has mentioned. Chip.

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The Press:
Following up on Dan's question, during the

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campaign the President on numerous occasions
said words to the effect of -- quoting one

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-- "all of this will be done on C-SPAN in
front of the public." Do you agree that the

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President is breaking an explicit campaign
promise?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Chip, we covered this yesterday and I would

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refer you to yesterday's transcript.

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The Press:
But today is today and --

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Mr. Gibbs:
And the answer that I would give today is

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similar to the one --

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The Press:
But there was an intervening meeting in which

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it's been reported that the President pressed
the leaders in Congress to take the fast-track

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approach, to skip the conference committee.
Did he do that?

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Mr. Gibbs:
The President wants to get a bill to his desk

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as quickly as possible.

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The Press:
In spite of the fact that he promised to do

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this on C-SPAN?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I would refer you to what we talked about

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in this room yesterday.

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The Press:
But the President in this meeting yesterday

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--

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Mr. Gibbs:
And I addressed that --

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The Press:
-- pressed for something that's in direct

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violation of a promise he made during the
campaign.

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Mr. Gibbs:
And I addressed that yesterday. Mike.

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The Press:
Well, does the President think it would be

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more helpful if this process were more transparent,
that the American people could see --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Mike, how many stories do you think NBC has

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done on this?

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The Press:
Speaking for myself --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Just a guess.

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The Press:
That's not the issue. The issue is whether

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he broke an explicit campaign promise.

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Mr. Gibbs:
So the answer is --

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The Press:
I deal with the information that --

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Mr. Gibbs:
So the answer is hundreds, is that correct?

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The Press:
Right, but that's got nothing to do with it.

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I deal with the information, however much
or little of it, there is. I'm saying would

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people benefit by having more information?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Have you lacked information in those hundred

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stories? Do you think you've reported stuff
that was inaccurate based on the lack of information?

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The Press:
Democrats ran against the very sort of process

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that is being employed in this health care
 --

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Mr. Gibbs:
We had this discussion yesterday. I answered

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this yesterday. Is there anything --

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The Press:
But the President met with members of Congress

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in the meantime --

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Mr. Gibbs:
And he'll do so today.

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The Press:
-- and pressed them to --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Do you have another question?

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The Press:
-- short-circuit the process.

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The Press:
Does the President -- has the President expressed

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a preference on the approach to pay for reform?
Has he expressed a preference either taxing

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00:17:58,139 --> 00:17:59,139
the Cadillac plans or taxing the millionaires'
plans? Which does he prefer?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think they're going to discuss some of that

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this afternoon. I have not heard him weigh
definitively in one versus the other.

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The Press:
And finally, did anyone here at the White

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House suggest to Senator Dodd, either directly
or through an intermediary, that he should

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consider doing what he did today?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have direct knowledge of every discussion

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00:18:05,139 --> 00:18:06,139
that was had with Senator Dodd. I think you
heard Senator Dodd say, in thinking through

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this, he made a decision based on a lot of
different things in his life and came to the

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decision that it was time to step aside. Jonathan.

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The Press:
I know you don't want to look into a crystal

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ball looking ahead, but Senator Dodd said
that he was facing the toughest political

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00:18:10,139 --> 00:18:11,139
environment he's ever seen. And I wonder,
what responsibility does the President feel

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he and his agenda have in the political environment
that the Democrats are now facing and are

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00:18:12,139 --> 00:18:13,139
making very difficult decisions about their
futures in?

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00:18:13,139 --> 00:18:14,139
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, obviously the President has made conscious

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00:18:14,139 --> 00:18:15,139
decisions about his agenda. But at the same
time, Jonathan, we have -- we are dealing

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with a set of issues, whether it's the financial
collapse, whether it's 10 percent unemployment,

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whether it is decisions on auto companies,
Afghanistan, terrorism -- those are decisions

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00:18:17,139 --> 00:18:18,139
that the President has had to make in a very
tough political environment. The President

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understands that. He didn't sign up for the
easy part of the job. He signed up for the

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job. I have to say, I think if you look at
 -- obviously the President is -- as I said,

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has great fondness for Senator Dodd and for
the work over the past 30 years. I do think

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00:18:21,139 --> 00:18:22,139
that a number of decisions were made on an
individual basis about whether or not to continue

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running for reelection or in running in the
first place. I fail to see a commonality or

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00:18:23,139 --> 00:18:24,139
common thread that goes through each and every
retirement.

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The Press:
Do you think that the President's push for

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00:18:25,139 --> 00:18:26,139
so -- for such big items so fast has contributed
to this environment?

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00:18:26,139 --> 00:18:32,509
Mr. Gibbs:
The President has taken actions to deal with

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00:18:32,510 --> 00:18:39,340
a whole set of crises that he had when he
came in. He understands that. He had to make

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00:18:39,340 --> 00:18:44,710
a lot of tough decisions that may or may not
be politically popular because that was what

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00:18:44,710 --> 00:18:51,920
he was faced with. But, again, that's why
he ran for the job. That's why he decided

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00:18:51,919 --> 00:18:59,569
to throw his hat in this ring -- not to just
make all the easy decisions, because when

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you're President there are very few easy decisions.
The President I think believes that we're

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00:19:07,309 --> 00:19:11,269
on the road to accomplishing quite a bit.
I think we've taken some tough actions to

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00:19:11,270 --> 00:19:19,120
stimulate our economy; to ensure our financial
system didn't collapse; to ensure that two

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00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:23,930
of our auto companies didn't go bankrupt and
out of business, causing tens of thousands

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of people to lose their job. None of that
may have been individually politically popular,

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00:19:30,470 --> 00:19:39,680
but I think if you look at where we have been
on the jobs front in January of 2009 and where

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00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:45,709
we were in the report in November of 2009,
and we've gone from losing 741,000 jobs a

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00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:51,220
month to losing 11,000 jobs a month -- we're
not certainly where we want to be, but we've

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00:19:51,220 --> 00:20:00,880
made marked improvement. Four quarters of
economic decline in terms of GDP met in that

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00:20:00,879 --> 00:20:03,879
fifth quarter with positive economic job growth.

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00:20:03,879 --> 00:20:07,739
The Press:
One quick question. Has the President talked

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00:20:07,740 --> 00:20:13,800
to Secretary Salazar about his future? And
does he want to keep the Secretary in the

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00:20:13,799 --> 00:20:14,799
Cabinet?

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00:20:14,799 --> 00:20:17,679
Mr. Gibbs:
I think Secretary Salazar is, again, a friend

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00:20:17,679 --> 00:20:24,189
of the President; they came to the Senate
at the same time. We think he's doing valuable

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work and I do not believe he's had a conversation
with him recently about politics. Yes, sir.

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The Press:
It sounded like just previous to the Salazar

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00:20:31,499 --> 00:20:33,169
comment you were sort of enunciating what
could be a platform for the midterm campaign.

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00:20:33,169 --> 00:20:35,249
How much do you think the President is going
to be out there campaigning for people in

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00:20:35,249 --> 00:20:36,249
his party?

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00:20:36,249 --> 00:20:44,549
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sure he will weigh in on the elections.

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00:20:44,549 --> 00:20:52,269
You know, again, we've obviously done our
part in raising some funds for candidates

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00:20:52,269 --> 00:20:57,979
and for the Democratic Party. I anticipate
that that will continue, but I think to say

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that I've seen a detailed plan about what
happens 11 months from now would just not

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00:21:02,610 --> 00:21:03,610
be the case.

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00:21:03,610 --> 00:21:06,270
The Press:
Going back to the review, Robert, that they're

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00:21:06,269 --> 00:21:12,179
going to announce tomorrow here, can you give
us some sense as to just generally what issues

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00:21:12,179 --> 00:21:16,639
this thing is going to cover? You've got this
review and then you've got the final review,

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00:21:16,639 --> 00:21:25,199
maybe there will be an interim review. How
far is this one going to go addressing the

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00:21:25,196 --> 00:21:26,196
human and systemic failures that the President
talked about?

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00:21:26,196 --> 00:21:27,326
Mr. Gibbs:
This will be very comprehensive. I mean, the

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00:21:27,330 --> 00:21:38,500
President heard -- the President got preliminary
assessments a little more than a week ago

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00:21:38,499 --> 00:21:47,339
from virtually every agency -- the CIA's came
in a few days after that -- detailing what

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00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:54,920
had gone wrong. John Brennan synthesized a
lot of that and they walked through a decent

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00:21:54,919 --> 00:21:59,909
portion of that yesterday in the Situation
Room. I think the President got a very detailed

295
00:21:59,909 --> 00:22:09,249
look yesterday at what John has found in terms
of -- John's specific portfolio was on watch-listing

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00:22:09,249 --> 00:22:16,549
and obviously it's, in a sense, a tad broader
than watch-listing because information that

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00:22:16,549 --> 00:22:24,899
would lead you to be watch-listed is what
he examined. Secretary Napolitano looked through

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00:22:24,899 --> 00:22:32,659
-- her charge and DHS's charge was about
detection capabilities and screening. Obviously,

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00:22:32,659 --> 00:22:39,389
they’ve taken actions in the interim to
increase air security both at airports here

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00:22:39,389 --> 00:22:45,559
and for flights coming in to this country.
But I think John's report will be -- John's

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00:22:45,559 --> 00:22:48,949
report yesterday to the President was very
detailed, very comprehensive.

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The Press:
So tomorrows' will be even more detailed on

303
00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:52,440
screening and watch-listing?

304
00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, I think it will -- in many ways, this

305
00:22:54,970 --> 00:23:06,550
will be the close of this part of the investigation
as to the 25th. When I alluded to the dynamic

306
00:23:06,549 --> 00:23:11,299
of looking -- of continuing to look, I think
obviously the President and John Brennan will

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00:23:11,299 --> 00:23:17,789
be -- -- let me say it this way -- I think
for the -- the President believes that we

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00:23:17,790 --> 00:23:23,250
simply can't identify what we were doing on
the 25th and what we now have to do differently.

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00:23:23,249 --> 00:23:28,989
I think he will want to look -- continue to
look at whether or not the progress on what

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00:23:28,989 --> 00:23:34,429
has been identified and what will change,
whether we're making progress in meeting those

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00:23:34,429 --> 00:23:42,119
necessary changes. I don't have a timeline
at the moment for that, but I think John's

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00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:46,049
report to the President has been -- has been
enormously detailed.

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The Press:
Any personnel announcements?

314
00:23:52,859 --> 00:23:53,879
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I know of.

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00:23:53,879 --> 00:23:54,879
The Press:
Can I follow?

316
00:23:54,879 --> 00:23:55,969
Mr. Gibbs:
I'll go there and I'll come to you, yes.

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00:23:55,970 --> 00:23:57,280
The Press:
To change the subject a little bit, there's

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00:23:57,279 --> 00:24:04,549
a report out of the Pentagon today that says
there is -- one in five Guantanamo detainees

319
00:24:04,549 --> 00:24:09,839
upon their release return to terrorism, which
is up from the previous Pentagon report on

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00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:16,140
the same subject. What is the linkage of that
to the suspension of transfer of detainees

321
00:24:16,139 --> 00:24:17,319
on Yemen yesterday?

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00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:21,280
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not seen or heard about the latest

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00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:32,779
report that you refer to and I don't have
handy what numbers had been for similar reports

324
00:24:32,779 --> 00:24:42,139
in years past. Yesterday's determination was
made and announced very much on what you heard

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00:24:42,140 --> 00:24:51,520
John Brennan say over the weekend. We never
had a plan to transfer anybody either to their

326
00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:59,420
home country or to a third country that we
believe -- we have reason to believe will

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00:24:59,419 --> 00:25:07,129
present a security situation for us or for
that country. And in relating to Yemen, I

328
00:25:07,130 --> 00:25:15,620
think you heard John say nobody was going
to be transferred back that we did not believe

329
00:25:15,619 --> 00:25:22,489
that the Yemeni government could handle. The
determination was made that given the -- as

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00:25:22,489 --> 00:25:30,089
you heard the President say -- the swift change
in the security environment even over the

331
00:25:30,090 --> 00:25:36,610
last few weeks in Yemen caused the President
and the Attorney General to agree that pausing

332
00:25:36,610 --> 00:25:40,670
any of those transfers was the right policy
right now.

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00:25:40,669 --> 00:25:44,779
The Press:
Does recidivism have any bearing in the --

334
00:25:44,779 --> 00:25:47,959
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me get a better answer from NSC

335
00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:52,360
based on this report. I just -- I haven't
seen it.

336
00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:54,660
The Press:
Okay, and one follow-up. Does it make, or

337
00:25:54,659 --> 00:25:58,499
does it have any -- does it make it harder
to close Guantanamo as a result?

338
00:25:58,499 --> 00:26:00,779
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think you heard the President say

339
00:26:00,779 --> 00:26:09,929
yesterday we are committed to closing Guantanamo.
You heard the President enunciate clearly

340
00:26:09,929 --> 00:26:18,939
that one of the explicit reasons mentioned
in very early recruiting material from al

341
00:26:18,940 --> 00:26:24,590
Qaeda and the Arabian Peninsula was the existence
of Guantanamo Bay. That having been said,

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00:26:24,590 --> 00:26:31,550
as John and others have said on numerous occasions,
we're not going to make any decisions that

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00:26:31,549 --> 00:26:41,829
we believe threaten the security of the country.

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00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:59,260
The Press:
Is there a new date for closing, by any chance?

345
00:26:59,259 --> 00:27:05,279
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware of.

346
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:06,279
The Press:
On terrorism --

347
00:27:06,279 --> 00:27:12,959
The Press:
Do you want to take it, then come back to

348
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:13,960
me?

349
00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,150
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure.

350
00:27:16,149 --> 00:27:30,469
The Press:
Can you assure the public, the traveling public,

351
00:27:30,470 --> 00:27:37,590
that all checked luggage on airlines is inspected?
And will the government be giving --

352
00:27:37,590 --> 00:27:51,050
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me -- I'm going to point you to TSA on

353
00:27:51,049 --> 00:28:04,769
specific airline screening procedures as a
better place to get a very full picture of

354
00:28:04,769 --> 00:28:06,579
what they do on a daily basis.

355
00:28:06,580 --> 00:28:17,700
The Press:
Is this administration doing anything to protect

356
00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:38,050
the safety of the traveling public on trains
and metros? Are you thinking of putting more

357
00:28:38,049 --> 00:28:39,109
money in --

358
00:28:39,110 --> 00:28:45,920
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me check with DOT on that. I mean, without

359
00:28:45,919 --> 00:29:00,149
getting into a lot of specifics, obviously,
I think there is a heightened awareness across

360
00:29:00,150 --> 00:29:02,090
government.

361
00:29:02,090 --> 00:29:15,770
The Press:
A couple quick ones on Yemen. Is it fair to

362
00:29:15,769 --> 00:29:34,369
say that the pause you just referred to is
an indefinite pause for a substantial period

363
00:29:34,369 --> 00:29:39,249
of time?

364
00:29:39,249 --> 00:29:46,329
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I forget the exact phrasing that the

365
00:29:46,330 --> 00:29:55,510
President used, but I would say until we believe
the time is right.

366
00:29:55,509 --> 00:30:02,389
The Press:
And when the President and you refer to the

367
00:30:02,390 --> 00:30:08,520
security situation in Yemen, are you referring
to the ongoing conflict both north and south

368
00:30:08,519 --> 00:30:16,569
that's been described as a civil war, or are
you talking about stepped-up Yemeni government

369
00:30:16,570 --> 00:30:26,670
efforts against al Qaeda strongholds? Are
they related? Because one has been going on

370
00:30:26,669 --> 00:30:38,859
for quite some time, and the al Qaeda efforts
have started much more recently. And if that's

371
00:30:38,860 --> 00:30:48,610
what you're referring to I'd like to know.

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00:30:48,609 --> 00:31:01,369
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me try to phrase this -- obviously

373
00:31:01,370 --> 00:31:09,490
there has been a security situation. This
has not been a safe part of the world for

374
00:31:09,490 --> 00:31:18,090
quite some time. What I think you heard the
President refer to, without getting overly

375
00:31:18,090 --> 00:31:32,310
specific, obviously just in the past couple
of weeks you have seen and we have seen a

376
00:31:32,309 --> 00:31:34,319
far different security situation.

377
00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:38,440
The Press:
I'm just trying to understand the linkage

378
00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:43,040
with that and the necessary decision to pause
the transfers.

379
00:31:43,039 --> 00:31:45,339
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, remember --

380
00:31:45,340 --> 00:31:48,700
The Press:
Does that stepped-up effort against al Qaeda

381
00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:53,920
make it more difficult for the government
to provide the security necessary to hold

382
00:31:53,919 --> 00:31:54,919
detainees?

383
00:31:54,919 --> 00:31:58,629
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that I -- I think I see where

384
00:31:58,629 --> 00:32:12,899
you're going now. I don't know that I would
directly draw that direct linkage. But I would

385
00:32:12,899 --> 00:32:18,559
say that, as John said last Sunday, we never
had a plan to transfer Yemenis back to their

386
00:32:18,559 --> 00:32:22,769
country if the Yemeni government was not capable
of handling that transfer.

387
00:32:22,769 --> 00:32:27,099
The Press:
So that should be what we should assume now

388
00:32:27,100 --> 00:32:37,750
-- that right now, for various reasons, they're
not capable of handling transfers?

389
00:32:37,749 --> 00:32:46,349
Mr. Gibbs:
I would say for a number of reasons we've

390
00:32:46,350 --> 00:32:56,460
decided to make the policy decision we announced
yesterday.

391
00:32:56,460 --> 00:33:00,870
The Press:
To follow up on Jake's question about Iran,

392
00:33:00,869 --> 00:33:08,489
you said the next step is ongoing. How much
is that complicated by the very direct statement

393
00:33:08,489 --> 00:33:17,849
from the Chinese ambassador to the United
Nations that now is not the time for sanctions

394
00:33:17,849 --> 00:33:21,219
at all -- they shouldn't be discussed; diplomacy
and continued dialogue with Iran must take

395
00:33:21,220 --> 00:33:22,220
precedence?

396
00:33:22,220 --> 00:33:23,220
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we have --

397
00:33:23,220 --> 00:33:25,670
The Press:
Now, not just 2009 but currently.

398
00:33:25,669 --> 00:33:32,079
Mr. Gibbs:
But not to -- we have discussed with the Chinese

399
00:33:32,079 --> 00:33:39,059
-- I think the notion that we're not in discussions
with the P5-plus-1 -- I'm not entirely sure

400
00:33:39,059 --> 00:33:42,639
that he said the word "discuss."

401
00:33:42,639 --> 00:33:49,069
The Press:
"Now is not the right moment for sanctions

402
00:33:49,070 --> 00:33:52,860
because diplomatic efforts are still ongoing."

403
00:33:52,859 --> 00:33:59,819
Mr. Gibbs:
Right. Again, like I said, I don't think he

404
00:33:59,820 --> 00:34:04,160
said the word "discuss," meaning I don't want
either my answer or your question to leave

405
00:34:04,159 --> 00:34:14,629
the impression that we haven't been in discussions
with the Chinese, the Russians, and our partners

406
00:34:14,630 --> 00:34:24,900
in the P5-plus-1, as well as in international
efforts involving the IAEA and others to address

407
00:34:24,900 --> 00:34:35,740
the nuclear weapons capability of Iran. Look,
Major, I don't -- obviously there are countries

408
00:34:35,740 --> 00:34:50,580
that have always had varying degrees of interest
in the timing of different consequences. We

409
00:34:50,580 --> 00:35:02,590
understand that and we're working with folks
in order to bring them along on this path.

410
00:35:02,590 --> 00:35:17,780
The Press:
To follow up on the conversation we had yesterday,

411
00:35:17,780 --> 00:35:28,600
which you referred several reporters to, about
openness and transparency -- do you believe

412
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:41,610
that the standard the President described
in the campaign has been met as it regards

413
00:35:41,610 --> 00:35:44,320
to health care competition --

414
00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:53,890
Mr. Gibbs:
I think you asked this yesterday and I think

415
00:35:53,890 --> 00:35:58,240
my answer yesterday was yes.

416
00:35:58,240 --> 00:36:03,050
The Press:
The standard has been met?

417
00:36:03,050 --> 00:36:09,910
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I've turned on any number of televisions

418
00:36:09,910 --> 00:36:17,430
and opened any number of publications and
seen health care discussed quite broadly this

419
00:36:17,430 --> 00:36:18,430
year.

420
00:36:18,430 --> 00:36:24,680
The Press:
When she was asked about this, Speaker Pelosi

421
00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:40,270
said yesterday, "there are a number of things
he was for on the campaign trail," suggesting

422
00:36:40,270 --> 00:36:54,690
that she thinks that perhaps this campaign
promise is not being met, and that aides went

423
00:36:54,690 --> 00:37:00,280
on to say that she was also referring to the
President's declaration he wouldn’t raise

424
00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:07,630
taxes on those making less than $250,000 -- she
interprets the tax mechanism in the Senate

425
00:37:07,630 --> 00:37:13,030
bill on so-called Cadillac health care plans
as violating that promise.

426
00:37:13,030 --> 00:37:18,250
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, as I think you know and I would hope,

427
00:37:18,250 --> 00:37:27,020
in the transparency of network and cable television,
you would explain to your viewers that any

428
00:37:27,020 --> 00:37:32,190
Cadillac taxes on an insurer for offering
a plan that exceeds I think it's $23,000 -- so

429
00:37:32,190 --> 00:37:34,350
we can add to the openness right now by having
that discussion.

430
00:37:34,350 --> 00:37:37,730
The Press:
You would agree with that assessment --

431
00:37:37,730 --> 00:37:41,970
Mr. Gibbs:
I would disagree with your notion that it

432
00:37:41,970 --> 00:37:49,700
is a tax on an individual since the proposal
is written as a tax on an insurance company

433
00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:54,370
that offers a plan. I would say in terms of
Speaker Pelosi, she was here yesterday and

434
00:37:54,370 --> 00:37:57,600
I think all involved thought the meeting that
they had was very productive.

435
00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,000
The Press:
Can I ask just to follow on that, you don't

436
00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:07,080
think they pass those taxes on, those costs
on to consumers?

437
00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:13,010
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not an insurance company broker.

438
00:38:13,010 --> 00:38:19,490
The Press:
Well, it's just obvious. Isn't it self-evident

439
00:38:19,490 --> 00:38:23,510
that they would do that?

440
00:38:23,510 --> 00:38:27,850
Mr. Gibbs:
Not necessarily. They may just not offer --

441
00:38:27,850 --> 00:38:34,980
The Press:
I think any economist would consider it a

442
00:38:34,980 --> 00:38:38,690
de facto tax on a --

443
00:38:38,690 --> 00:38:46,190
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, are you speaking out for economists

444
00:38:46,190 --> 00:38:51,200
or am I speaking out for --

445
00:38:51,200 --> 00:39:01,570
The Press:
Not very well, but it seems pretty self-evident

446
00:39:01,570 --> 00:39:02,570
that --

447
00:39:02,570 --> 00:39:10,420
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, then, let's just go back to Major's

448
00:39:10,420 --> 00:39:11,420
question.

449
00:39:11,420 --> 00:39:32,170
The Press:
You said yesterday, "I don't believe that

450
00:39:32,171 --> 00:39:46,491
anybody has legitimate constitutional concerns
about the legislation," meaning health care

451
00:39:46,490 --> 00:39:54,310
legislation. Is that an opinion that's circulated
through the White House from the Counsel's

452
00:39:54,310 --> 00:39:55,310
Office --

453
00:39:55,310 --> 00:40:05,470
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no --

454
00:40:05,470 --> 00:40:08,720
The Press:
-- that you've done a --

455
00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:15,290
Mr. Gibbs:
No, nobody has done an analysis because I

456
00:40:15,290 --> 00:40:17,470
don't think --

457
00:40:17,470 --> 00:40:21,350
The Press:
Is that a conversation here, or do you have

458
00:40:21,350 --> 00:40:25,040
something that's substantive from a constitutional
point of view or the Counsel's Office on that?

459
00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:29,210
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't believe anybody has looked at it because

460
00:40:29,210 --> 00:40:33,000
I don't believe anything -- anybody believes
that it is unconstitutional.

461
00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:38,580
The Press:
Robert, on the review and the announcement

462
00:40:38,580 --> 00:40:47,670
tomorrow, you probably saw Congressman Peter
King on the morning talk shows saying that

463
00:40:47,670 --> 00:40:53,970
if things are as -- if the lapses were as
serious as the President describes, somebody

464
00:40:53,970 --> 00:40:55,190
should go. In the President's review, has
he seen anything that is a firing offense,

465
00:40:55,190 --> 00:40:56,190
a disciplinary offense?

466
00:40:56,190 --> 00:40:57,190
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, one of the things I think you'll see,

467
00:40:57,190 --> 00:41:02,060
Mark, with the report and when you talk to
John tomorrow is that it was not the falling

468
00:41:02,060 --> 00:41:09,800
down of one agency, one department or one
person. This, as the President has described,

469
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:10,800
was a systemic failure. Each of those agencies
and departments yesterday took responsibility,

470
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:16,640
and as I've said, outlined plans for filling
the gaps that they've found. I don't know

471
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:26,210
what the final outcome in terms of hiring
and firing will be. I know the President is

472
00:41:26,210 --> 00:41:31,670
focused on -- because of the broadness of
 -- what he believes the broadness and the

473
00:41:31,671 --> 00:41:41,291
systemic nature of that failure is, is to
find those holes and fill them.

474
00:41:41,290 --> 00:41:48,160
The Press:
So he does not envision someone leaving, or

475
00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:50,200
is that still possible?

476
00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:56,660
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that a final -- any final decisions

477
00:41:56,660 --> 00:42:07,270
have been made. I just -- I think you'll see
tomorrow that this is a failure that touches

478
00:42:07,270 --> 00:42:10,050
across the full waterfront of our intelligence
agencies.

479
00:42:10,050 --> 00:42:16,540
The Press:
-- personnel changes are still a possibility,

480
00:42:16,540 --> 00:42:21,180
just not part of tomorrow's --

481
00:42:21,180 --> 00:42:34,220
Mr. Gibbs:
I doubt very seriously that it will be part

482
00:42:34,220 --> 00:42:38,960
of tomorrow. Yes, ma'am.

483
00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:43,050
The Press:
Will it reflect any either advice or decision

484
00:42:43,050 --> 00:42:53,580
on how to prosecute Abdulmutallab in terms
of civilian courts, military tribunals -- will

485
00:42:53,580 --> 00:42:58,350
that be addressed in the review?

486
00:42:58,350 --> 00:43:00,510
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware of, because that wasn't

487
00:43:00,510 --> 00:43:05,020
part of the direct review. They discussed
this yesterday, and I think we discussed this

488
00:43:05,020 --> 00:43:10,600
some yesterday, too. I'm reminded very much
 -- if you look at the quite similar parallel

489
00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:17,870
cases between Abdulmutallab and Richard Reid,
obviously spaced some years apart, but each

490
00:43:17,870 --> 00:43:22,860
trying to do harm to a transatlantic flight
using similar chemicals, decisions were made

491
00:43:22,860 --> 00:43:33,100
by the previous administration after looking
at all of the factors involved to enter Richard

492
00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:43,810
Reid into our civil justice system. I think
he was indicted two or three days after the

493
00:43:43,810 --> 00:43:53,610
incident, and is now spending life in prison
in a supermax facility in Colorado -- federal

494
00:43:53,610 --> 00:43:57,140
supermax facility.

495
00:43:57,140 --> 00:44:03,910
The Press:
In the two-hour session yesterday were -- did

496
00:44:03,910 --> 00:44:14,530
the President ever tell those executives sitting
around the table that their jobs are on the

497
00:44:14,530 --> 00:44:19,710
line depending on how they move forward?

498
00:44:19,710 --> 00:44:26,070
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think the President was very clear

499
00:44:26,070 --> 00:44:34,910
in his, say, 10-minute opening statement,
that, to use his words, we screwed up; that

500
00:44:34,910 --> 00:44:41,510
something could -- this incident could have
been a disaster; that that disaster was not

501
00:44:41,510 --> 00:44:45,800
averted, that that disaster was averted by
the brave citizens on that plane, not because

502
00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:56,430
the system worked as it should have. He did
not find that acceptable. He did not find

503
00:44:56,430 --> 00:45:03,280
-- he will not find finger-pointing among
agencies to be something that he'll tolerate.

504
00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:10,710
I think he was very clear about the expectations
in our accepting responsibility for what has

505
00:45:10,710 --> 00:45:17,410
happened and fixing it going forward. I think
one of the reasons that he'll want to continue

506
00:45:17,410 --> 00:45:21,760
to look at the progress that we're making
in addressing the problems that have been

507
00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:25,040
identified is to do exactly that -- have this
process be a dynamic one to ensure that if

508
00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:30,320
someone takes responsibility for their aspect
of the failing, that in -- not just in a report

509
00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:31,320
that comes a couple of weeks after but a couple
months after -- the President, John Brennan,

510
00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:32,730
and others will be able to look back and see
progress that's been made in not just identifying

511
00:45:32,730 --> 00:45:34,320
but in moving forward to address those shortcomings.

512
00:45:34,320 --> 00:45:36,110
The Press:
And finally, will the President replace the

513
00:45:36,110 --> 00:45:37,510
director of the United States Secret Service?

514
00:45:37,510 --> 00:45:40,590
Mr. Gibbs:
That has not been discussed under any circumstance

515
00:45:40,591 --> 00:45:41,591
that I have heard of. I think he has great
confidence in Director Sullivan, who has done

516
00:45:41,591 --> 00:45:43,841
a wonderful job in keeping he and his family
safe. Yes, ma'am.

517
00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:44,840
The Press:
Robert, the President meets today with Charlie

518
00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,840
Rangel, along with a small group of other
House Democrats. Is the President concerned

519
00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:50,550
at all about closely associating himself with
Rangel while he's under an ethics investigation

520
00:45:50,550 --> 00:45:51,550
and his already acknowledged being an error
on his taxes?

521
00:45:51,550 --> 00:45:52,550
Mr. Gibbs:
He's meeting with Charlie Rangel, he's meeting

522
00:45:52,550 --> 00:45:53,550
with Henry Waxman, he's meeting with George
Miller, he's meeting with Nancy Pelosi, obviously

523
00:45:53,550 --> 00:45:54,550
with committee chairs among the three relevant
committees in which health care went through.

524
00:45:54,550 --> 00:45:55,550
I think everybody understands that as part
of the openness of the debate that we've had,

525
00:45:55,550 --> 00:45:56,550
that legislation obviously had to go through
the Ways and Means committee.

526
00:45:56,550 --> 00:45:57,550
The Press:
Just a quick follow-up; Tom DeLay was House

527
00:45:57,550 --> 00:45:58,550
Majority Leader when, you know, Democrats
criticized Bush for appearing alongside him

528
00:45:58,550 --> 00:45:59,550
while he was under investigation. Is this
different?

529
00:45:59,550 --> 00:46:00,550
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't see the analogy that you're drawing.

530
00:46:00,550 --> 00:46:01,550
The Press:
Robert, the Yemenis who went back from Guantanamo

531
00:46:01,550 --> 00:46:02,550
to Yemen in September and December of last
year, where are they now? Are they locked

532
00:46:02,550 --> 00:46:03,550
up somewhere? Are they on some --

533
00:46:03,550 --> 00:46:05,690
Mr. Gibbs:
I can check with the NSC to see where -- what

534
00:46:05,690 --> 00:46:08,720
intelligence we have on where they are now.

535
00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:14,940
The Press:
But can you say anything about the -- I mean,

536
00:46:14,940 --> 00:46:15,940
what were the guarantees of security pertaining
to them?

537
00:46:15,940 --> 00:46:17,200
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not gotten into describing different

538
00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:19,780
arrangements or agreements that we make in
transferring either to home countries or to

539
00:46:19,780 --> 00:46:20,780
third-party countries as part of this process.

540
00:46:20,780 --> 00:46:21,780
The Press:
Can you say if ultimate release is in the

541
00:46:21,780 --> 00:46:22,780
long-term plan for any of those --

542
00:46:22,780 --> 00:46:23,780
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm just not going to get into that.

543
00:46:23,780 --> 00:46:28,390
The Press:
Robert, if for some reason the Democratic

544
00:46:28,390 --> 00:46:30,420
caucus in the Senate lost their 60 votes and
by a considerable margin, how might that change

545
00:46:30,420 --> 00:46:31,420
your legislative strategy?

546
00:46:31,420 --> 00:46:32,420
Mr. Gibbs:
You have taken me down a series of hypotheticals

547
00:46:32,420 --> 00:46:33,420
that it would take me more than just a few
seconds to wrap my head around. And I'm not

548
00:46:33,420 --> 00:46:34,420
entirely sure what we'd get out of either
my short-term or long-term answer.

549
00:46:34,420 --> 00:46:35,420
The Press:
How important is the 60 votes to your legislative

550
00:46:35,420 --> 00:46:36,420
strategy? A filibuster-proof Senate.

551
00:46:36,420 --> 00:46:37,420
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, there's many answers for that, too.

552
00:46:37,420 --> 00:46:38,420
Look, I'll simply leave it at this. I think
the President has outlined an agenda that

553
00:46:38,420 --> 00:46:39,420
he believes addresses the problems that our
country faces now and has faced for quite

554
00:46:39,420 --> 00:46:43,820
some time. We are thankful to have 60 seats
in the Senate and I forget how many in the

555
00:46:43,820 --> 00:46:51,340
House to pass that legislative agenda. But
I think to surmise what a strategy would be

556
00:46:51,340 --> 00:46:54,710
like based on an election that's 11 months
away from happening -- like I said, it's a

557
00:46:54,710 --> 00:46:56,510
little like predicting not who's going to
win this Super Bowl, but who's going to win

558
00:46:56,510 --> 00:46:58,910
the next Super Bowl. It would be nice to think
about I guess or play around with, but I don't

559
00:46:58,910 --> 00:47:03,820
know that it would be based on any specific
 --

560
00:47:03,820 --> 00:47:04,820
The Press:
Speaking of which, Texas or Alabama?

561
00:47:04,820 --> 00:47:05,820
(laughter)

562
00:47:05,820 --> 00:47:06,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I will e-mail all my friends in Alabama and

563
00:47:06,820 --> 00:47:07,820
tell them good luck, and I will root as hard
as one possibly can -- sorry, Christi -- for

564
00:47:07,820 --> 00:47:08,820
Texas.

565
00:47:08,820 --> 00:47:09,820
(laughter)

566
00:47:09,820 --> 00:47:10,820
Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, Christi.

567
00:47:10,820 --> 00:47:11,820
The Press:
This puts a whole new light on you.

568
00:47:11,820 --> 00:47:12,820
(laughter)

569
00:47:12,820 --> 00:47:13,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sure your answer would have been markedly

570
00:47:13,820 --> 00:47:14,820
different if Auburn was playing for the national
champs. Go ahead, I'm sorry.

571
00:47:14,820 --> 00:47:15,820
The Press:
I'll root for Auburn --

572
00:47:15,820 --> 00:47:16,820
Mr. Gibbs:
Against Northwestern?

573
00:47:16,820 --> 00:47:17,820
(laughter)

574
00:47:17,820 --> 00:47:18,820
In the Poulan Weedeater Bowl.

575
00:47:18,820 --> 00:47:19,820
(laughter)

576
00:47:19,820 --> 00:47:20,820
Some people remember that. That's good. Go
ahead, I'm sorry.

577
00:47:20,820 --> 00:47:21,820
The Press:
No problem. Robert, on intelligence issues,

578
00:47:21,820 --> 00:47:22,820
has the President reached out to any African
leaders since this Christmas Day bombing -- failed

579
00:47:22,820 --> 00:47:23,820
bombing attempt, or failed terrorist attack
happened on a plane from a Nigerian man? Has

580
00:47:23,820 --> 00:47:24,820
he reached out to any African leaders?

581
00:47:24,820 --> 00:47:25,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I can go back and check. I do not believe

582
00:47:25,820 --> 00:47:26,820
the President has had any foreign leader calls
to African leaders since this. I know obviously

583
00:47:26,820 --> 00:47:27,820
there are -- I don't know exactly who NSC
might have talked to, counterparts or things

584
00:47:27,820 --> 00:47:28,820
like that, but the President has not.

585
00:47:28,820 --> 00:47:29,820
The Press:
Is this something that could be on the radar

586
00:47:29,820 --> 00:47:30,820
of this administration, especially as Africa,
the continent of Africa in some places is

587
00:47:30,820 --> 00:47:31,820
a place where terrorists are being recruited
and they're being trained there, and there

588
00:47:31,820 --> 00:47:32,820
are tentacles leading out of places like Somalia,
and -- i.e., a Nigerian with this Christmas

589
00:47:32,820 --> 00:47:33,820
Day attack?

590
00:47:33,820 --> 00:47:34,820
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think you've heard the President

591
00:47:34,820 --> 00:47:35,820
discuss in the statements that he's made the
 -- Jonathan are you --

592
00:47:35,820 --> 00:47:36,820
The Press:
I'm sorry, I didn’t know it was so loud.

593
00:47:36,820 --> 00:47:37,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I didn't realize you were checking your voicemail.

594
00:47:37,820 --> 00:47:38,820
I'm going to make a joke. Look, I think you've
heard the President discuss in a number of

595
00:47:38,820 --> 00:47:39,820
his statements actions that our administration
has been involved in in fighting al Qaeda

596
00:47:39,820 --> 00:47:40,820
and its extremist allies not just in Pakistan
and Afghanistan, but as the President has

597
00:47:40,820 --> 00:47:41,820
talked about, in Yemen and in places like
Somalia, the ungoverned spaces where al Qaeda

598
00:47:41,820 --> 00:47:42,820
tends to take root. I know the President has
talked with leaders from throughout the world

599
00:47:42,820 --> 00:47:43,820
on the causes for that type of -- those type
of conditions to be created through lack of

600
00:47:43,820 --> 00:47:44,820
governance, lack of opportunity. And I don't
think there's any doubt that this will continue

601
00:47:44,820 --> 00:47:45,820
both here, at the State Department, and the
Defense Department, going forward. The President,

602
00:47:45,820 --> 00:47:46,820
I know in traveling to Africa in 2006 as a
Senate candidate, spent some time at a military

603
00:47:46,820 --> 00:47:47,820
facility that we have very close to Yemen,
talking to leaders, military officials there

604
00:47:47,820 --> 00:47:48,820
about the security situation not just across
the Straits but in Africa, as well.

605
00:47:48,820 --> 00:47:49,820
The Press:
Do you believe that because this latest incident

606
00:47:49,820 --> 00:47:50,820
was a Nigerian gentleman, it puts a light
back on the continent of Africa? Do you think

607
00:47:50,820 --> 00:47:51,820
that this is something that should just be
still left up to AFRICOM versus a larger contingent?

608
00:47:51,820 --> 00:47:52,820
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think that our command in Africa

609
00:47:52,820 --> 00:47:53,820
would tell you that there is and has been
a lot of discussion and working with not just

610
00:47:53,820 --> 00:47:54,820
other regional commands but have worked with
NSC and others here at the White House, again,

611
00:47:54,820 --> 00:47:55,820
to ensure that we're taking the steps that
we need to in places like Somalia in order

612
00:47:55,820 --> 00:47:56,820
to take the fight to al Qaeda and its extremist
allies. Sam.

613
00:47:56,820 --> 00:47:57,820
The Press:
Thanks, Robert. Yesterday you said you would

614
00:47:57,820 --> 00:47:58,820
check on whether the White House plans to
renominate Dawn Johnsen.

615
00:47:58,820 --> 00:47:59,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not gotten an answer on that.

616
00:47:59,820 --> 00:48:00,820
The Press:
Can you then I guess talk broadly about what

617
00:48:00,820 --> 00:48:01,820
Jake was asking about -- your frustrations
with the pace of how the Senate is moving,

618
00:48:01,820 --> 00:48:02,820
especially on these nominations that the President
has submitted judicially and politically?

619
00:48:02,820 --> 00:48:03,820
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think that -- as I said yesterday,

620
00:48:03,820 --> 00:48:04,820
we've put a number of people into government
in the first year, but at the same time, we

621
00:48:04,820 --> 00:48:05,820
have seen a pacing in dealing with nominations
both for the executive branch and for judicial

622
00:48:05,820 --> 00:48:06,820
nominations that I think by almost any estimation
would be deemed slow. But, again, I go back

623
00:48:06,820 --> 00:48:07,820
to what -- the example I used with Jake earlier.
When you are -- when you spend precious time

624
00:48:07,820 --> 00:48:08,820
in a legislative body filibustering what you
then ultimately turn around and pass virtually

625
00:48:08,820 --> 00:48:09,820
90-10, where 90 percent of the people agree
and ultimately vote for something, you just

626
00:48:09,820 --> 00:48:10,820
-- you really have to go back and wonder
what's the point of -- I mean, this wasn't

627
00:48:10,820 --> 00:48:11,820
a filibuster vote that ultimately, once you
got cloture, was passed 50-49, or something

628
00:48:11,820 --> 00:48:12,820
that was passed with that type of bare majority.
It passed with virtually 90 percent of the

629
00:48:12,820 --> 00:48:13,820
vote. I think there's clearly a theory and
a tactic of slowing down progress on behalf

630
00:48:13,820 --> 00:48:14,820
of the American people. I think that's probably
why most people continue to think that the

631
00:48:14,820 --> 00:48:15,820
President is far better in dealing with their
problems than Republicans in Congress are.

632
00:48:15,820 --> 00:48:16,820
Thanks, guys.

633
00:48:16,820 --> 00:48:17,820
The Press:
You'll check on Johnsen?

634
00:48:17,820 --> 00:48:18,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I have and I haven't got an answer back.

635
00:48:18,820 --> 00:48:19,820
The Press:
Can you give it to me exclusively?

636
00:48:19,820 --> 00:48:20,820
(laughter)

637
00:48:20,820 --> 00:48:21,820
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm going to leave it on Jonathan's voicemail.

638
00:48:21,820 --> 00:48:21,821
(laughter)