English subtitles for clip: File:1-8-14- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:02,133 --> 00:00:03,233 Mr. Carney: It's a good crowd. 2 00:00:03,233 --> 00:00:04,467 The Press: Still looking forward to this one? 3 00:00:04,467 --> 00:00:08,966 Mr. Carney: I am; I am, absolutely. 4 00:00:08,967 --> 00:00:10,934 Read any good books lately, anybody? 5 00:00:10,934 --> 00:00:13,265 [laughter] 6 00:00:13,266 --> 00:00:15,567 I don't have an announcement at the top, 7 00:00:15,567 --> 00:00:16,734 so I'll take your questions. 8 00:00:16,734 --> 00:00:17,700 The Press: Have you? 9 00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:18,599 Mr. Carney: No, actually. 10 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:19,934 Nedra. 11 00:00:19,934 --> 00:00:21,700 The Press: On that book, we got your statement last night, 12 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:25,834 and clearly you disagree with the former Defense Secretary's 13 00:00:25,834 --> 00:00:28,200 characterization of Vice President Joe Biden. 14 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,767 But he's someone who was in this Cabinet, 15 00:00:30,767 --> 00:00:33,567 and I wonder what weight Americans should give to his 16 00:00:33,567 --> 00:00:36,066 description of Joe Biden as someone who has been wrong 17 00:00:36,066 --> 00:00:37,900 on nearly every major foreign policy 18 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:41,033 and national security matter? 19 00:00:41,033 --> 00:00:44,300 Mr. Carney: I would reiterate that the President 20 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:46,266 and the rest of us here simply just disagree 21 00:00:46,266 --> 00:00:48,632 with that assessment. 22 00:00:48,633 --> 00:00:50,266 As a senator and as a Vice President, 23 00:00:50,266 --> 00:00:55,132 Joe Biden has been one of the leading statesmen of his time, 24 00:00:55,133 --> 00:00:58,800 and he has been an excellent counselor and advisor 25 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,000 to the President for the past five years. 26 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:08,533 He's played a key role in every major national security 27 00:01:08,533 --> 00:01:11,433 and foreign policy debate and policy discussion 28 00:01:11,433 --> 00:01:16,367 in this administration, in this White House. 29 00:01:16,367 --> 00:01:21,433 He played important roles obviously in the policy 30 00:01:21,433 --> 00:01:24,200 discussions and carrying-out of the policy decisions that 31 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,233 the President made with regards to Iraq and in the policy 32 00:01:28,233 --> 00:01:30,700 deliberations over Afghanistan. 33 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:36,133 The President has said many times that he greatly 34 00:01:36,133 --> 00:01:40,199 appreciates the advice and counsel the Vice President 35 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,633 gives him on matters both domestic and foreign, 36 00:01:43,633 --> 00:01:45,866 and that is absolutely the case. 37 00:01:45,867 --> 00:01:47,800 The Press: How do you respond to Gates's charge 38 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,166 that the White House is too controlling 39 00:01:50,166 --> 00:01:51,366 on national security issues, 40 00:01:51,367 --> 00:01:55,066 and brings micro-managing and meddling to a new level, 41 00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:56,400 in his words? 42 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,633 He said he almost considered resigning over it at one point. 43 00:02:01,633 --> 00:02:05,066 Mr. Carney: Well, let's say a couple of things first -- 44 00:02:05,066 --> 00:02:08,533 that as we noted yesterday, the President greatly appreciates 45 00:02:08,532 --> 00:02:11,100 Secretary Gates's service to the President's administration 46 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:12,166 and to the country. 47 00:02:12,166 --> 00:02:18,533 And Secretary Gates was part of a team here 48 00:02:18,533 --> 00:02:23,600 that helped bring about an end to the Iraq war; 49 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,632 that helped decide upon and implement 50 00:02:27,633 --> 00:02:33,200 a far superior and improved policy in Afghanistan 51 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:39,799 that was much more clear in its objectives and that had, 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,633 as part of that policy, an end to a war, 53 00:02:44,633 --> 00:02:47,934 which was a clear policy objective of the President's 54 00:02:47,934 --> 00:02:51,033 and which we are implementing now. 55 00:02:51,033 --> 00:02:55,367 So when it comes to the internal interagency process, 56 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:58,000 the President expects it to be robust and he expects 57 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:03,033 to hear competing points of view from every member 58 00:03:03,033 --> 00:03:04,899 of his national security team. 59 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:07,633 A lot of you wrote about or talked about at the time that 60 00:03:07,633 --> 00:03:12,767 the President picked a team of rivals -- and when you pick 61 00:03:12,767 --> 00:03:17,000 a team of rivals, you do so in part because you expect 62 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,934 competing points of view and competing opinions. 63 00:03:18,934 --> 00:03:21,834 And that's very much what the President expects in foreign 64 00:03:21,834 --> 00:03:24,834 policy and domestic policy, and that's what he gets 65 00:03:24,834 --> 00:03:26,767 and he's grateful for it. 66 00:03:26,767 --> 00:03:28,633 The Press: Real quickly on the NSA meetings over here 67 00:03:28,633 --> 00:03:30,700 in the next couple of days. 68 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:32,066 What's the purpose of those? 69 00:03:32,066 --> 00:03:35,100 Is the President informing these people who are coming to them 70 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:36,500 what he's planning to do, 71 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:39,633 or is he still collecting information from them? 72 00:03:39,633 --> 00:03:43,967 Mr. Carney: He is still in the process of deliberating over 73 00:03:43,967 --> 00:03:49,166 the Review Group's report and hearing from others on the 74 00:03:49,166 --> 00:03:52,667 issues that were raised in the Review Group's report -- 75 00:03:52,667 --> 00:03:55,567 because remember, the President's overall review 76 00:03:55,567 --> 00:04:01,667 includes not just the Review Group but the PCLOB and others 77 00:04:01,667 --> 00:04:05,400 involved in assessing how we gather our intelligence 78 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,700 and what reforms we might make to the process. 79 00:04:09,700 --> 00:04:14,200 So he's at that stage still where he's listening and 80 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,466 discussing with a variety of stakeholders these issues, 81 00:04:18,466 --> 00:04:22,265 and appreciates very much the opinions and counsel 82 00:04:22,266 --> 00:04:24,433 he's getting on these matters. 83 00:04:24,433 --> 00:04:26,967 The Press: Did the comments in the book about Vice President Biden 84 00:04:26,967 --> 00:04:29,500 prompt the White House decision to let photographers 85 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:31,734 into the lunch today? 86 00:04:31,734 --> 00:04:34,900 Mr. Carney: No. As you know, the President and the Vice President 87 00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:36,566 have a standing weekly lunch. 88 00:04:36,567 --> 00:04:38,066 When the Vice President is in town, 89 00:04:38,066 --> 00:04:42,133 he attends virtually all meetings 90 00:04:42,133 --> 00:04:43,866 that the President holds, 91 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:45,367 especially on national security matters. 92 00:04:45,367 --> 00:04:49,200 And as you know, because we've discussed this a lot at the end 93 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,800 of last year, we have been committed to looking for ways 94 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,433 to provide greater access for photographers to the White House 95 00:04:55,433 --> 00:04:56,567 and the President. 96 00:04:56,567 --> 00:05:01,867 And providing a photo opportunity today was part 97 00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:03,433 of that commitment -- fulfilling that commitment. 98 00:05:03,433 --> 00:05:09,400 And again, I don't think anybody who has covered us or knows 99 00:05:14,533 --> 00:05:16,533 the President and the Vice President, 100 00:05:16,533 --> 00:05:18,900 knows how this White House functions, 101 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:22,099 has any doubt about the President's faith 102 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:26,133 in Vice President Biden as an advisor and counselor. 103 00:05:26,133 --> 00:05:30,000 So we don't need to reinforce that; it's a fact. 104 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,967 The Press: So the timing of the photo is just coincidence then? 105 00:05:31,967 --> 00:05:33,265 Mr. Carney: It is -- it was coincidence. 106 00:05:33,266 --> 00:05:35,533 He has a weekly lunch, so -- 107 00:05:35,533 --> 00:05:37,767 The Press: So he'll be back next week? 108 00:05:37,767 --> 00:05:40,200 The Press: No, but it's not normally on camera. 109 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:41,467 Mr. Carney: No, exactly. 110 00:05:41,467 --> 00:05:43,667 But we've had, as you could ask our friends in the world 111 00:05:43,667 --> 00:05:45,734 of photography here, debate and discussion with them 112 00:05:45,734 --> 00:05:48,567 about how we can better improve access for them. 113 00:05:48,567 --> 00:05:49,567 This has been something 114 00:05:49,567 --> 00:05:53,700 that they've raised with us in the past. 115 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:56,800 So you guys can decide for yourselves. 116 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:02,367 The President greatly values the counsel of the Vice President 117 00:06:02,367 --> 00:06:04,600 on matters foreign and domestic. 118 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:06,433 The Press: What would you think if you were sitting here, Jay? 119 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:08,599 I mean, the timing was a coincidence? 120 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,734 I mean, obviously you and I had a back-and-forth about this. 121 00:06:12,734 --> 00:06:15,066 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I can just tell you what the facts are. 122 00:06:15,066 --> 00:06:17,599 I mean, you can decide for yourselves 123 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:19,333 what you want to believe. 124 00:06:19,333 --> 00:06:21,266 The Press: While we're talking about former advisors, 125 00:06:21,266 --> 00:06:23,834 former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon said yesterday 126 00:06:23,834 --> 00:06:27,400 that he probably would back the Keystone Pipeline if he were 127 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:28,667 still advising the President. 128 00:06:28,667 --> 00:06:30,933 And I'm wondering if that endorsement -- 129 00:06:30,934 --> 00:06:33,834 what weight that endorsement would carry with the President 130 00:06:33,834 --> 00:06:37,667 as he sort of considers this issue going forward. 131 00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:40,799 Mr. Carney: Well, I haven't discussed that report with the President. 132 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,166 The process, as you know, is ongoing, 133 00:06:43,166 --> 00:06:47,500 housed at the State Department in keeping with tradition 134 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:50,166 of previous administrations for many years. 135 00:06:50,166 --> 00:06:53,700 And I don't have an update on that. 136 00:06:53,700 --> 00:06:54,700 That's it? 137 00:06:54,700 --> 00:06:55,700 The Press: That's it. 138 00:06:55,700 --> 00:06:56,967 Mr. Carney: Jon. 139 00:06:56,967 --> 00:06:58,400 The Press: Looking at the President's schedule today, 140 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,633 I think I counted no fewer than four meetings 141 00:07:00,633 --> 00:07:02,700 on the public schedule with Vice President Biden. 142 00:07:02,700 --> 00:07:04,233 Anything I should read into that? 143 00:07:04,233 --> 00:07:05,600 Or -- 144 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,533 Mr. Carney: Again, I trust that you, Jon, 145 00:07:07,533 --> 00:07:09,200 and others who have covered this White House have looked 146 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,066 at schedules before and know that every PDB 147 00:07:12,066 --> 00:07:13,332 when the Vice President is in town, 148 00:07:13,333 --> 00:07:15,066 every major national security meeting 149 00:07:15,066 --> 00:07:17,667 when the Vice President and President are both in town, 150 00:07:17,667 --> 00:07:18,700 the Vice President attends. 151 00:07:18,700 --> 00:07:20,066 There's nothing new about that. 152 00:07:20,066 --> 00:07:23,332 The meetings today that have to do with NSA matters are ones the 153 00:07:23,333 --> 00:07:26,400 Vice President would of course attend if he's not traveling. 154 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:27,734 That's how it works. 155 00:07:27,734 --> 00:07:30,066 The lunch that the President has with the Vice President is one 156 00:07:30,066 --> 00:07:32,332 that he has had every week when they've been in town 157 00:07:32,333 --> 00:07:33,867 since they took office. 158 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:36,433 The Press: And we should expect that the photographers should be 159 00:07:36,433 --> 00:07:38,567 invited back in the next time they have lunch? 160 00:07:38,567 --> 00:07:41,000 Mr. Carney: We make decisions based on requests 161 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,033 and what we can make happen. 162 00:07:44,033 --> 00:07:48,767 We committed to provide -- to find ways to try to provide 163 00:07:48,767 --> 00:07:51,133 better access for photographers. 164 00:07:51,133 --> 00:07:53,133 We're going to keep working with them and look at ways 165 00:07:53,133 --> 00:07:54,467 that we can do that. 166 00:07:54,467 --> 00:07:57,433 As I said back when we were having this discussion, 167 00:07:57,433 --> 00:07:58,500 there is no question 168 00:07:58,500 --> 00:08:02,567 that whatever we do will not be sufficient -- 169 00:08:02,567 --> 00:08:03,967 and I think this is an example of that -- 170 00:08:03,967 --> 00:08:07,166 but we will always endeavor to provide 171 00:08:07,166 --> 00:08:08,700 better access where we can. 172 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:11,133 The Press: What kind of a heads-up did Bob Gates give 173 00:08:11,133 --> 00:08:12,799 the White House about this book? 174 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,700 Mr. Carney: Well, we knew Secretary Gates was writing a book, 175 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:16,533 as everybody I think did, or most people did. 176 00:08:16,533 --> 00:08:19,367 But we received the book last night. 177 00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:20,533 The Press: Last night? 178 00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:24,066 And any concern that, I mean, here he is revealing 179 00:08:24,066 --> 00:08:27,265 blow-by-blow conversations, confidential conversations 180 00:08:27,266 --> 00:08:29,667 he had with the President 181 00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:33,799 and his other top national security advisors? 182 00:08:33,799 --> 00:08:37,799 Mr. Carney: Here's what I would say: Anybody who has the privilege 183 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:41,733 of serving in an administration at a high level 184 00:08:41,734 --> 00:08:45,834 and who participates in policy discussions and has confidential 185 00:08:45,834 --> 00:08:50,099 conversations with principals and presidents 186 00:08:50,100 --> 00:08:51,200 and then leaves office 187 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,967 makes a decision about how they're going to talk 188 00:08:52,967 --> 00:08:56,033 or write about that experience and when. 189 00:08:56,033 --> 00:09:00,667 And that's everybody's decision to make for himself or herself. 190 00:09:00,667 --> 00:09:04,500 I would simply say that the President asked Secretary Gates, 191 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:07,433 Robert Gates to stay on as Secretary of Defense, 192 00:09:07,433 --> 00:09:10,567 and he appreciates the service that he gave 193 00:09:10,567 --> 00:09:13,300 to this administration, to this President, 194 00:09:13,300 --> 00:09:16,800 and very much valued the role he played in this administration 195 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,867 and the advice he gave. 196 00:09:18,867 --> 00:09:23,165 For other issues, I'll leave it to other folks to decide, 197 00:09:23,166 --> 00:09:27,066 because everyone makes their own decision in that circumstance. 198 00:09:27,066 --> 00:09:28,066 Some people write books. 199 00:09:28,066 --> 00:09:29,500 Some people don't. 200 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:36,200 We're focused on all the things that we need to work on in 2014, 201 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,433 both national security matters, domestic matters, 202 00:09:40,433 --> 00:09:46,567 economic matters, matters of providing essential emergency 203 00:09:46,567 --> 00:09:48,867 assistance to the uninsured -- 204 00:09:48,867 --> 00:09:49,867 I mean the unemployed. 205 00:09:49,867 --> 00:09:55,433 And that's what consumes our days. 206 00:09:55,433 --> 00:09:58,133 The Press: At his farewell, the President said of Secretary Gates, 207 00:09:58,133 --> 00:10:00,400 "Quite simply, he is one of the nation's 208 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,199 finest public servants." 209 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,667 Is there anything in this deluge of confidential information that 210 00:10:05,667 --> 00:10:09,600 he's put out and judgments that he's made about the President 211 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,100 and Vice President that causes the President 212 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,233 to reconsider that? 213 00:10:14,233 --> 00:10:16,433 Mr. Carney: Look, I think I answered part of that just now 214 00:10:16,433 --> 00:10:20,100 in terms of how the decisions folks make when they leave 215 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:22,567 administrations -- and that's true of this or any other 216 00:10:22,567 --> 00:10:23,633 previous administration. 217 00:10:23,633 --> 00:10:29,667 What matters most to the President is the service 218 00:10:29,667 --> 00:10:33,800 that his top advisors give him as President, 219 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:41,266 and Secretary Gates provided service to this administration 220 00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:44,099 and to previous administrations, and the President is greatly 221 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:46,033 appreciative of that. 222 00:10:46,033 --> 00:10:49,166 And I think it's important to note, 223 00:10:49,166 --> 00:10:55,166 because you see headlines and you see discrete excerpts 224 00:10:57,367 --> 00:11:03,000 that tell a story, or one story, or seem to say one thing, 225 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,967 but since a lot of what we're talking about here has to do 226 00:11:06,967 --> 00:11:11,367 with the policy review over Afghanistan and Pakistan, 227 00:11:11,367 --> 00:11:13,065 I think it's important to remember that in -- 228 00:11:13,066 --> 00:11:15,367 or not remember; maybe some of you haven't seen this, 229 00:11:15,367 --> 00:11:19,367 but it's been noted in some of the press reports that regarding 230 00:11:19,367 --> 00:11:23,099 that policy debate, in his book, Secretary Gates said, 231 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:26,533 "Obama was much criticized by conservatives and hawkish 232 00:11:26,533 --> 00:11:30,467 commentators for announcing that the troop surge in Afghanistan 233 00:11:30,467 --> 00:11:34,300 would begin to be drawn down in July 2011 and that all U.S. 234 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:37,532 combat troops would be withdrawn and all responsibility for 235 00:11:37,533 --> 00:11:41,967 security transferred to the Afghans by the end of 2014. 236 00:11:41,967 --> 00:11:44,967 Inside the military there was also much grumbling about 237 00:11:44,967 --> 00:11:48,266 the numerical limits he placed on troops. 238 00:11:48,266 --> 00:11:52,400 I believe Obama was right in each of these decisions." 239 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,165 That's from the book. 240 00:11:55,166 --> 00:11:57,967 That's Secretary Gates's published opinion 241 00:11:57,967 --> 00:11:59,467 on these matters. 242 00:11:59,467 --> 00:12:06,033 Were these substantial, rich discussions? 243 00:12:06,033 --> 00:12:09,367 Absolutely, because the policy was so important. 244 00:12:09,367 --> 00:12:11,599 And it was much reported on at the time that there were 245 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,633 differing views about how we should move forward 246 00:12:16,633 --> 00:12:19,734 with our policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. 247 00:12:19,734 --> 00:12:23,400 So some of those disagreements or differing views, 248 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,967 the reporting here is not different from what we've seen 249 00:12:26,967 --> 00:12:28,300 in the past. 250 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:30,065 The Press: But, Jay, these are some explosive statements that 251 00:12:30,066 --> 00:12:31,834 he has made about the President. 252 00:12:31,834 --> 00:12:34,733 This is not some outside critic; this was one of his most 253 00:12:34,734 --> 00:12:38,800 important, if not most important national security advisor, 254 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,333 the guy he chose to keep on to run the Pentagon. 255 00:12:41,333 --> 00:12:45,533 And he says that there was a "suspicion and distrust of 256 00:12:45,533 --> 00:12:48,700 senior military officers by senior White House officials, 257 00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:51,066 including the President and the Vice President," 258 00:12:51,066 --> 00:12:52,900 and that this became a big problem for him. 259 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:53,967 I mean, what do you say -- 260 00:12:53,967 --> 00:12:55,467 Mr. Carney: I think I just read to you -- 261 00:12:55,467 --> 00:12:57,467 again, you have to take the full picture here, Jon. 262 00:12:57,467 --> 00:13:01,934 And I would say on that matter, I think the American people 263 00:13:01,934 --> 00:13:04,266 expect that their Commander-in-Chief listen 264 00:13:04,266 --> 00:13:08,500 to all of his advisors, civilian and military, 265 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:13,867 when it comes to discussions and debates about matters 266 00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:18,934 of war and peace and decisions that affect the lives 267 00:13:18,934 --> 00:13:20,567 of our men and women in uniform. 268 00:13:20,567 --> 00:13:21,567 And that's how it should be. 269 00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,900 The President, the Vice President, 270 00:13:23,900 --> 00:13:26,300 everyone in this building who has ever served 271 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:30,266 and worked on these matters has enormous respect 272 00:13:30,266 --> 00:13:33,165 for our men and women in uniform, 273 00:13:33,166 --> 00:13:35,800 and that includes all of the President's top 274 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,333 senior military advisors. 275 00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:42,367 On policy issues, the President absolutely 276 00:13:42,367 --> 00:13:46,500 wants tough questions asked. 277 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:52,033 On matters of national security, he wants, 278 00:13:52,033 --> 00:13:57,300 in these discussions and debates, 279 00:13:57,300 --> 00:14:01,967 both his military and his civilian advisors to be blunt 280 00:14:01,967 --> 00:14:07,000 and candid about their views and to back up their assessments. 281 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,533 That's what you, I think, would expect and want in the kinds of 282 00:14:11,533 --> 00:14:16,133 discussions that are held and have been held in previous 283 00:14:16,133 --> 00:14:19,633 administrations and previous White Houses, hopefully, 284 00:14:19,633 --> 00:14:22,066 when these fateful decisions have to be made. 285 00:14:22,066 --> 00:14:24,166 The Press: Well, was Gates wrong when he said that the President 286 00:14:24,166 --> 00:14:27,734 didn't believe in his own Afghanistan policy? 287 00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:33,133 Mr. Carney: I think it is absolutely the case, 288 00:14:33,133 --> 00:14:35,867 as many have reported, that it is well known that the President 289 00:14:35,867 --> 00:14:41,400 has been committed to achieving the mission of disrupting, 290 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,934 dismantling and defeating al Qaeda while also ensuring 291 00:14:43,934 --> 00:14:47,199 that we have a clear path for winding down the war, 292 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,200 which will end this year. 293 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:49,934 I mean, these are not separate issues. 294 00:14:49,934 --> 00:14:53,900 The mission and the policy included both ramping up 295 00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:59,900 and refocusing our mission on al Qaeda as well as making sure 296 00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:09,266 we had a policy in place that would wind down that war, 297 00:15:09,266 --> 00:15:15,033 because a war without end was not what the President believed 298 00:15:15,033 --> 00:15:16,166 was the right policy. 299 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:18,133 And there were debates about this. 300 00:15:18,133 --> 00:15:23,333 So the President believes thoroughly in the mission. 301 00:15:23,333 --> 00:15:27,000 He knows it's difficult, but he believes that our men and women 302 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,400 in uniform as well as those civilians in Afghanistan, 303 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,132 and others who are working on this issue, 304 00:15:33,133 --> 00:15:39,900 have admirably and heroically fulfilled that mission. 305 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:40,934 And they do so today. 306 00:15:40,934 --> 00:15:42,367 Chuck. 307 00:15:42,367 --> 00:15:47,699 The Press: Can you comment on the inference that Secretary 308 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:50,367 Gates has in the book that both Secretary Clinton 309 00:15:50,367 --> 00:15:52,165 and President Obama admitted their opposition 310 00:15:52,166 --> 00:15:53,367 to the Iraq surge, 311 00:15:53,367 --> 00:15:56,333 that politics played a role in the Iraq mission -- 312 00:15:56,333 --> 00:15:57,533 the Iraq surge? 313 00:15:57,533 --> 00:16:00,266 It was mostly directed -- there was an inference here 314 00:16:00,266 --> 00:16:03,867 that the President also was engaging in this discussion. 315 00:16:03,867 --> 00:16:06,599 Mr. Carney: What I don't understand about that is anybody 316 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,767 who has covered Barack Obama, going all the way back to his 317 00:16:10,767 --> 00:16:15,500 race for the Senate, knows that he was opposed to the Iraq war. 318 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:19,033 That was his view running for the Senate; 319 00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:21,000 it was his view as a senator; it was his view as a candidate 320 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,367 for the presidency. 321 00:16:23,367 --> 00:16:26,467 So it would be entirely inconsistent for him not to hold 322 00:16:26,467 --> 00:16:29,000 the position that he held with regards to the surge. 323 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,834 So I don't know what conversation that refers to, 324 00:16:31,834 --> 00:16:35,867 but it doesn't track based on what I know and everybody here 325 00:16:35,867 --> 00:16:40,165 knows about the President's positions through the years, 326 00:16:40,166 --> 00:16:43,133 going back to 2002, on these matters. 327 00:16:43,133 --> 00:16:45,133 The Press: You have a very real deadline coming up 328 00:16:45,133 --> 00:16:47,500 with the Afghanistan government having to do 329 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:49,633 with the decision to keep troops -- 330 00:16:49,633 --> 00:16:53,533 what size of force, if any, is there after 2014. 331 00:16:53,533 --> 00:16:56,900 Is there a concern by the President that some 332 00:16:56,900 --> 00:17:00,333 of the revelations about the President's personal views of 333 00:17:00,333 --> 00:17:06,133 Karzai, for instance, is going to make this more difficult. 334 00:17:06,133 --> 00:17:07,433 Mr. Carney: No. 335 00:17:07,433 --> 00:17:10,599 Look, I think that the issues on the table here have to do 336 00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:18,099 with the need for the Afghan government to sign the bilateral 337 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:22,532 security agreement, as was envisioned by President Karzai 338 00:17:22,532 --> 00:17:23,733 and others, which is a product of the BSA, 339 00:17:23,733 --> 00:17:25,032 a good-faith negotiation. 340 00:17:25,032 --> 00:17:30,734 And in order for the United States and our allies to plan 341 00:17:37,133 --> 00:17:43,700 for a post-2014 mission that would have a military component 342 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:48,433 to it focused on counterterrorism and support 343 00:17:48,433 --> 00:17:49,667 and training for Afghan troops, 344 00:17:49,667 --> 00:17:50,734 we need this agreement signed promptly. 345 00:17:50,734 --> 00:17:53,833 And this is a matter, as I said the other day, 346 00:17:53,834 --> 00:17:56,967 of weeks not months. 347 00:17:56,967 --> 00:18:01,066 The Press: You're not concerned that this book sort of breeds 348 00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:03,066 more tension with Karzai? 349 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,632 Mr. Carney: We have direct and regular communications both from 350 00:18:09,633 --> 00:18:14,633 Washington and our embassy in Kabul with President Karzai 351 00:18:14,633 --> 00:18:16,200 and his government. 352 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,700 And I think these matters are well far along the road, 353 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:21,166 so I don't anticipate that. 354 00:18:21,166 --> 00:18:24,332 He and his government understands our views 355 00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:29,000 and our position and the reasoning behind it. 356 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:34,200 And we simply urge prompt action on signing the BSA. 357 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,767 The Press: Was Secretary Gates's characterization 358 00:18:36,767 --> 00:18:39,567 of the President's views of Karzai accurate? 359 00:18:39,567 --> 00:18:45,433 Mr. Carney: I think President Obama has addressed our policy 360 00:18:45,433 --> 00:18:46,500 towards Afghanistan, 361 00:18:46,500 --> 00:18:50,467 our relationship with President Karzai. 362 00:18:50,467 --> 00:18:51,867 That government and President Karzai, 363 00:18:51,867 --> 00:18:56,800 they obviously are in -- it's a challenging situation every day 364 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:03,033 for them, and we work with them every day both through our 365 00:19:03,033 --> 00:19:08,533 military and our civilian force there to help them prepare for 366 00:19:08,533 --> 00:19:14,533 this transition and to help them in a military way prepare for 367 00:19:16,633 --> 00:19:19,834 the increased responsibility for security that comes with it. 368 00:19:19,834 --> 00:19:25,166 That has been a clear focus of the mission that the President 369 00:19:25,166 --> 00:19:28,233 established after the review of our policy there. 370 00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:29,966 The Press: But the description was pretty personal: 371 00:19:29,967 --> 00:19:31,400 the President can't stand Karzai. 372 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,166 Is that -- 373 00:19:33,166 --> 00:19:34,600 Mr. Carney: I wouldn't necessarily agree -- 374 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:35,867 I wouldn't agree with that. 375 00:19:35,867 --> 00:19:38,200 And I think the issues here are not about personalities, 376 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,734 they're about policies. 377 00:19:39,734 --> 00:19:45,734 And the decisions the President makes about sending and keeping 378 00:19:48,033 --> 00:19:50,734 military forces, American men and women in uniform, 379 00:19:50,734 --> 00:19:52,332 in Afghanistan have to do with U.S. 380 00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:55,834 national security interests, not those kinds of issues. 381 00:19:55,834 --> 00:20:00,433 And that's why the signing of the BSA is so important for us 382 00:20:00,433 --> 00:20:02,200 and our NATO allies to move forward. 383 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,700 The Press: Going back to Biden, this is the second book in three 384 00:20:04,700 --> 00:20:08,400 months where the President is basically -- in some way you 385 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,100 guys have come out and had this sort of defend, buck up, 386 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:13,166 whatever you want to describe it, 387 00:20:13,166 --> 00:20:18,399 when it comes to Joe Biden's place. 388 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,000 Why do you think it is that Biden has been derided 389 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,700 negatively in a couple of these books? 390 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:29,367 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm not sure I would agree with that assessment. 391 00:20:29,367 --> 00:20:33,265 When asked, we and the President and others simply reassert the 392 00:20:33,266 --> 00:20:35,567 fundamental fact here, which is that Vice President Biden 393 00:20:35,567 --> 00:20:40,233 is a key advisor on national security matters 394 00:20:40,233 --> 00:20:41,433 and domestic policy matters 395 00:20:41,433 --> 00:20:43,467 and other matters for this President. 396 00:20:43,467 --> 00:20:47,200 And the President greatly values the counsel he provides. 397 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,800 That's just the fact. 398 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,166 And it's a fact known to everyone 399 00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,633 in this building every day -- 400 00:20:52,633 --> 00:20:54,433 The Press: Why do insiders seem to portray him in these books -- 401 00:20:54,433 --> 00:20:58,033 Mr. Carney: Look, I think when it comes to debates internally 402 00:20:58,033 --> 00:21:02,867 the Vice President was one member and continues to be 403 00:21:02,867 --> 00:21:06,834 one member of that team of rivals. 404 00:21:06,834 --> 00:21:12,967 This is not somebody who the President chose to be someone 405 00:21:12,967 --> 00:21:16,867 who simply affirms what others are thinking. 406 00:21:16,867 --> 00:21:20,033 The Vice President has a lot of experience. 407 00:21:20,033 --> 00:21:25,132 The Vice President has done a lot of work on a lot of very 408 00:21:25,133 --> 00:21:29,066 complex issues, including Afghanistan and Iraq, 409 00:21:29,066 --> 00:21:31,567 including a number of domestic policy issues. 410 00:21:31,567 --> 00:21:36,967 And he plays an important role in the discussions here, 411 00:21:36,967 --> 00:21:41,367 and that role includes expressing an opinion that isn't 412 00:21:41,367 --> 00:21:43,667 always agreed to by everybody in the room. 413 00:21:43,667 --> 00:21:46,367 And if it were, it wouldn't be what the President wanted. 414 00:21:46,367 --> 00:21:49,133 Let me move up and back. 415 00:21:49,133 --> 00:21:50,433 Cheryl. 416 00:21:50,433 --> 00:21:51,700 The Press: Hi. Different subject altogether. 417 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,600 This morning, at the U.S. Chamber, 418 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,033 Tom Donohue was talking about the state of business, 419 00:21:57,033 --> 00:22:00,166 and he said one of businesses biggest concerns right now 420 00:22:00,166 --> 00:22:01,367 is overregulation. 421 00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:03,934 He accuses this administration of regulatory overreach. 422 00:22:03,934 --> 00:22:06,867 Is the President satisfied with the level 423 00:22:06,867 --> 00:22:09,800 of regulation on businesses? 424 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,966 Mr. Carney: Well, let me say a couple of things about that. 425 00:22:12,967 --> 00:22:16,033 The President does not believe that we have to choose between 426 00:22:16,033 --> 00:22:20,567 protecting the health, welfare, and safety of Americans, 427 00:22:20,567 --> 00:22:24,000 and promoting economic growth, job creation, competitiveness, 428 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,000 and innovation. 429 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,500 We can do both and we are doing both. 430 00:22:28,500 --> 00:22:30,767 The net benefits of rules finalized 431 00:22:30,767 --> 00:22:35,266 through the fourth fiscal year of this administration 432 00:22:35,266 --> 00:22:37,000 were $159 billion; 433 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,166 that's the net benefits. 434 00:22:39,166 --> 00:22:43,332 This is almost four times the net benefits through the fourth 435 00:22:43,333 --> 00:22:46,700 fiscal year of the previous administration. 436 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:48,500 The Obama administration has had a smart, 437 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:51,533 pragmatic approach to ensure we are reducing 438 00:22:51,533 --> 00:22:52,867 burdensome regulations. 439 00:22:52,867 --> 00:22:55,332 We continue to make significant progress in the President's 440 00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:58,900 unprecedented regulatory retrospective review, 441 00:22:58,900 --> 00:23:00,934 or regulatory look-back initiative, 442 00:23:00,934 --> 00:23:04,800 where we are streamlining, modifying or repealing 443 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,966 regulations to reduce unnecessary burdens and costs. 444 00:23:07,967 --> 00:23:10,433 Federal agencies have issued look-back plans detailing 445 00:23:10,433 --> 00:23:13,333 over 500 initiatives that will reduce costs, 446 00:23:13,333 --> 00:23:15,333 simplify the regulatory system, 447 00:23:15,333 --> 00:23:18,266 and eliminate redundancy and inconsistency. 448 00:23:18,266 --> 00:23:21,033 And this effort is already on track to save more 449 00:23:21,033 --> 00:23:24,533 than $10 billion in regulatory costs in the near term, 450 00:23:24,533 --> 00:23:25,833 with more savings to come. 451 00:23:25,834 --> 00:23:30,100 On the broader issues, look, when it comes to helping 452 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:34,934 our businesses grow, helping them create jobs, 453 00:23:34,934 --> 00:23:40,133 we are absolutely committed to working with the Chamber 454 00:23:40,133 --> 00:23:41,767 and the businesses the Chamber represents, 455 00:23:41,767 --> 00:23:43,834 and with members of Congress in both parties on ways 456 00:23:43,834 --> 00:23:45,300 that we can do that. 457 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:48,667 Further economic growth and the kind of economic growth that 458 00:23:48,667 --> 00:23:54,734 creates jobs that middle-class families can depend on 459 00:23:54,734 --> 00:24:01,100 and save money for retirement and for college on, 460 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:02,100 that's what we're about, 461 00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:04,667 and we want to work with everyone on that. 462 00:24:04,667 --> 00:24:09,332 And we just simply don't agree with assertions that you need 463 00:24:09,333 --> 00:24:13,033 to sacrifice the quality of the water our kids drink, 464 00:24:13,033 --> 00:24:17,233 or the air they breathe, in order to achieve that. 465 00:24:17,233 --> 00:24:18,233 We can do both. 466 00:24:18,233 --> 00:24:19,700 April. 467 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:22,400 The Press: Jay, I want to go back to something that Jonathan asked. 468 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,467 You said that the President -- well, you said 469 00:24:24,467 --> 00:24:26,667 that the White House received the book last night. 470 00:24:26,667 --> 00:24:27,667 Who received the book? 471 00:24:27,667 --> 00:24:30,367 And did the President get a copy? 472 00:24:30,367 --> 00:24:32,966 Mr. Carney: I don't know who else has gotten a copy; 473 00:24:32,967 --> 00:24:35,100 I got a copy. 474 00:24:35,100 --> 00:24:36,199 The Press: Okay. 475 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,433 And did you disperse that amongst the White House? 476 00:24:38,433 --> 00:24:41,166 Who's reading it? 477 00:24:41,166 --> 00:24:42,166 Mr. Carney: Others have looked at it. 478 00:24:42,166 --> 00:24:44,100 I haven't had the time to look at it yet. 479 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:45,466 The Press: Okay. 480 00:24:45,467 --> 00:24:47,667 And what message does it send to the troops when in this book 481 00:24:47,667 --> 00:24:48,766 Gates is talking about how the President was skeptical, 482 00:24:48,767 --> 00:24:50,266 if not convinced, that his strategy 483 00:24:50,266 --> 00:24:51,266 in Afghanistan would fail? 484 00:24:51,266 --> 00:24:56,333 We've had so many people die, 485 00:24:56,333 --> 00:24:58,800 so many people wounded in Afghanistan. 486 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,166 I mean, what does this send to the troops? 487 00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:04,800 This is your man of war, your former man of war. 488 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:06,200 Mr. Carney: Well, April, as I was saying, 489 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,734 it's well known that the President is committed 490 00:25:09,734 --> 00:25:13,433 to the mission that he has asked our men and women 491 00:25:13,433 --> 00:25:17,967 in the military to perform in Afghanistan. 492 00:25:17,967 --> 00:25:25,633 And one of the principles that underlies the policy 493 00:25:25,633 --> 00:25:28,734 decision-making process that this President engages in 494 00:25:28,734 --> 00:25:32,066 when it comes to these kinds of issues is that we need to -- 495 00:25:32,066 --> 00:25:37,934 when we decide to send -- when he decides to send our military 496 00:25:37,934 --> 00:25:40,033 into harm's way, we need to have a clear mission. 497 00:25:40,033 --> 00:25:44,833 And as you know, and everybody here who covered it knows, 498 00:25:44,834 --> 00:25:47,500 when President Obama came into office, 499 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:51,300 we inherited a policy in Afghanistan that was in disarray 500 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:57,433 by the judgment of many people on the outside and inside, 501 00:25:57,433 --> 00:26:00,300 Republicans and Democrats alike. 502 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:03,567 I think it was -- something said at the time that when you went 503 00:26:03,567 --> 00:26:07,967 to Afghanistan and talked to our civilian and military leaders at 504 00:26:07,967 --> 00:26:10,900 the end of 2008, early 2009 and asked them what the mission was, 505 00:26:10,900 --> 00:26:12,567 and you talked to maybe five or ten different people, 506 00:26:12,567 --> 00:26:15,200 you got five or ten different answers. 507 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,166 And this President, as you know, 508 00:26:17,166 --> 00:26:19,133 when he campaigned for President, 509 00:26:19,133 --> 00:26:24,667 made clear that he felt that we needed to refocus 510 00:26:24,667 --> 00:26:28,867 as a nation on the effort in Afghanistan; 511 00:26:28,867 --> 00:26:31,399 that the effort in Iraq had been -- 512 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:32,633 which the President had opposed -- 513 00:26:32,633 --> 00:26:39,600 had resulted in the United States taking its focus 514 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,833 off of the wholly necessary mission to disrupt, 515 00:26:42,834 --> 00:26:46,600 dismantle and ultimately defeat al Qaeda core in Afghanistan 516 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:47,800 in the Af-Pak region. 517 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,000 So that was what that policy review was all about -- 518 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:56,967 was producing clarity for our troops and for every American 519 00:26:56,967 --> 00:27:03,000 who cared deeply about the fact that we had tens of thousands 520 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,166 of troops -- more than 100,000 troops combined 521 00:27:06,166 --> 00:27:08,466 in Afghanistan and Iraq. 522 00:27:08,467 --> 00:27:11,133 They deserved the clarity that the President's policy, 523 00:27:11,133 --> 00:27:13,867 which he devised with Secretary Gates and other members 524 00:27:13,867 --> 00:27:17,500 of his national security team -- 525 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:19,433 and that's why he went about doing it. 526 00:27:19,433 --> 00:27:21,834 The Press: If he had a chance to talk to Secretary Gates right now -- 527 00:27:21,834 --> 00:27:23,700 if the President had a chance to talk to him, 528 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:24,934 what would he say? 529 00:27:24,934 --> 00:27:26,934 I mean, these are some strong accusations in this book. 530 00:27:26,934 --> 00:27:28,166 Mr. Carney: Well, April, I think -- 531 00:27:28,166 --> 00:27:33,533 I wouldn't speculate, but I think our response 532 00:27:33,533 --> 00:27:35,567 about the President's appreciation for 533 00:27:35,567 --> 00:27:38,867 Bob Gates's service reflects what the President feels 534 00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:40,934 and what we all feel. 535 00:27:40,934 --> 00:27:43,100 On the fact that there have been -- 536 00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:46,766 that there were some debates in the prolonged policy review 537 00:27:46,767 --> 00:27:52,433 over Afghanistan is hardly news. 538 00:27:52,433 --> 00:27:55,166 But that process led to a stronger, 539 00:27:55,166 --> 00:27:58,033 better policy for our troops and for our national security 540 00:27:58,033 --> 00:28:01,466 because it was focused on what the original purpose of going to 541 00:28:01,467 --> 00:28:05,734 Afghanistan was about, which was holding responsible 542 00:28:05,734 --> 00:28:07,934 those who attacked the United States 543 00:28:07,934 --> 00:28:10,600 and killed Americans on September 11th, 2001, 544 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:11,600 and assisting the new Afghan government 545 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:17,966 and the Afghan security forces 546 00:28:17,967 --> 00:28:19,667 and helping build them up so that they could 547 00:28:19,667 --> 00:28:22,300 eventually be responsible for their own security. 548 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:23,734 Because it was not the President's view -- 549 00:28:23,734 --> 00:28:31,533 in fact, it was his stated commitment that he would not 550 00:28:31,533 --> 00:28:38,000 endorse a policy that foresaw war in Afghanistan without end. 551 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,000 He thought it was very important to ensure 552 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,333 that we had a withdrawal date; 553 00:28:42,333 --> 00:28:47,633 that even after we surged our forces as part of refocusing 554 00:28:47,633 --> 00:28:51,533 the mission and bringing pressure on al Qaeda central, 555 00:28:51,533 --> 00:28:55,166 that we would also begin the drawdown -- 556 00:28:55,166 --> 00:28:56,567 or after that, begin the drawdown. 557 00:28:56,567 --> 00:28:58,500 And that is the commitment he has made 558 00:28:58,500 --> 00:28:59,767 and it is the commitment he's keeping. 559 00:28:59,767 --> 00:29:02,000 And it's what the American people expected him to do, 560 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,500 he said he would do and he has done. 561 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:06,767 And that applies to Iraq, as well. 562 00:29:06,767 --> 00:29:08,066 Brianna. 563 00:29:08,066 --> 00:29:09,734 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 564 00:29:09,734 --> 00:29:13,265 So when you say that the President thoroughly believed 565 00:29:13,266 --> 00:29:15,033 in the mission in the surge in Afghanistan, 566 00:29:15,033 --> 00:29:19,199 when Secretary Gates says that Obama was "skeptical 567 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,500 if not outright convinced it would fail," 568 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:25,800 about sending 30,000 more troops in, 569 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:27,399 are you saying that he's wrong? 570 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,400 Mr. Carney: I'm saying that the President devised the mission 571 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:37,800 and has great faith in the troops who carry out the mission 572 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,367 and in the mission itself -- that it's the right mission 573 00:29:40,367 --> 00:29:42,934 to pursue in Afghanistan, it has been. 574 00:29:42,934 --> 00:29:44,667 I think that's been borne out. 575 00:29:44,667 --> 00:29:47,367 That doesn't mean that it's not a challenge. 576 00:29:47,367 --> 00:29:48,367 Of course, it is. 577 00:29:48,367 --> 00:29:50,934 That's why these debates were so -- 578 00:29:50,934 --> 00:29:53,734 The Press: So Bob Gates is mistaken in his assessment? 579 00:29:53,734 --> 00:29:56,399 Mr. Carney: You guys can assess the lines -- each line in the book. 580 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,066 I'm simply telling you -- 581 00:29:59,066 --> 00:30:01,367 The Press: Well, but you're in a position obviously to assess it 582 00:30:01,367 --> 00:30:03,100 better than we are. 583 00:30:03,100 --> 00:30:05,065 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm telling you what the President believes 584 00:30:05,066 --> 00:30:07,500 and I think what has been demonstrated again and again 585 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:09,967 by his policy decisions and his statements on these issues. 586 00:30:09,967 --> 00:30:12,200 The President oversaw a process to review our policy 587 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,166 in Afghanistan and in the Af-Pak region precisely 588 00:30:14,166 --> 00:30:17,966 because the circumstances with regards to that policy 589 00:30:17,967 --> 00:30:23,300 when he took office were in disarray. 590 00:30:23,300 --> 00:30:26,567 And I think that was attested to by many people. 591 00:30:26,567 --> 00:30:32,000 There was a need to refocus our strategy in Afghanistan to -- 592 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:33,400 I think Secretary Gates says this -- 593 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:34,400 again, I haven't read the book 594 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:35,800 but I've read some accounts of it -- 595 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,966 says this somewhere that it was a good thing to do -- 596 00:30:38,967 --> 00:30:41,166 one of the right decisions that Secretary Gates 597 00:30:41,166 --> 00:30:44,000 talks about the President making on Afghanistan -- 598 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,500 to narrow the mission, refocus it, 599 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:49,900 make sure that it was clear to our troops and our civilian 600 00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:53,467 leaders and our military commanders what the mission was, 601 00:30:53,467 --> 00:30:55,266 because we owe that to them. 602 00:30:55,266 --> 00:30:57,734 The Press: But it's obviously a very serious charge to say that 603 00:30:57,734 --> 00:30:59,632 President Obama was sending 30,000 troops 604 00:30:59,633 --> 00:31:02,500 into harm's way without really believing in the mission. 605 00:31:02,500 --> 00:31:06,900 Why do you think that he came to that conclusion then? 606 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:09,834 Mr. Carney: Again, I think you should ask Secretary Gates or others 607 00:31:09,834 --> 00:31:12,100 about the meaning of each sentence in his book. 608 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:15,065 What I can tell you is that he also wrote, as I noted earlier, 609 00:31:15,066 --> 00:31:17,367 about all the decisions President Obama 610 00:31:17,367 --> 00:31:18,567 made on Afghanistan -- 611 00:31:18,567 --> 00:31:21,033 "I believe Obama was right in each of these decisions." 612 00:31:21,033 --> 00:31:24,166 He also says, "I believe the President cared deeply about 613 00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:25,867 the troops and their families. 614 00:31:25,867 --> 00:31:28,332 I never doubted Obama's support for the troops." 615 00:31:28,333 --> 00:31:30,834 And I think that's a sentiment 616 00:31:30,834 --> 00:31:32,600 that we all recognize to be true. 617 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:38,567 So the President, as Commander-in-Chief, 618 00:31:41,166 --> 00:31:44,833 has to make decisions about when 619 00:31:44,834 --> 00:31:47,767 and where we deploy U.S. military forces, 620 00:31:47,767 --> 00:31:54,300 and he is extremely conscious of the responsibility 621 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:55,300 that that authority bestows upon him 622 00:31:55,300 --> 00:32:00,265 and those who hold his office. 623 00:32:00,266 --> 00:32:02,867 And therefore, he would not make decisions 624 00:32:02,867 --> 00:32:08,166 about surging U.S. troops without a thorough debate 625 00:32:08,166 --> 00:32:12,567 of the policy objectives and the options available to him 626 00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:14,133 to achieve those objectives, 627 00:32:14,133 --> 00:32:17,700 and a thorough debate about what the proper focus 628 00:32:17,700 --> 00:32:18,934 of the mission ought to be. 629 00:32:18,934 --> 00:32:23,166 And I think that that process produced a policy that, 630 00:32:23,166 --> 00:32:24,667 as Secretary Gates and others have said -- 631 00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:27,567 and Secretary Gates was one of the co-authors, 632 00:32:27,567 --> 00:32:28,633 if you will, of the policy -- 633 00:32:28,633 --> 00:32:31,867 that did just that: refocused our mission; 634 00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:36,533 made it clear for our troops and civilians in Afghanistan what 635 00:32:36,533 --> 00:32:41,934 the mission was about, why we were in Afghanistan and why 636 00:32:41,934 --> 00:32:44,633 it was necessary to be clear that we weren't staying 637 00:32:44,633 --> 00:32:47,734 in Afghanistan in a combat mission forever. 638 00:32:47,734 --> 00:32:48,833 That was the President's commitment 639 00:32:48,834 --> 00:32:49,834 to the American people, 640 00:32:49,834 --> 00:32:53,100 and he is upholding that commitment. 641 00:32:58,400 --> 00:32:59,600 The Press: On unemployment, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid 642 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:00,766 yesterday indicating that he wants the short-term bill 643 00:33:00,767 --> 00:33:03,400 as is and then is open to talking about offsets, 644 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:08,266 proposing the Republican plan of taking it to his caucus for 645 00:33:08,266 --> 00:33:13,400 a longer-term extension of long-term unemployment benefits. 646 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,967 And as I understand it, that's something that has come 647 00:33:15,967 --> 00:33:17,834 to in consultation with the White House. 648 00:33:17,834 --> 00:33:20,800 There's a feeling that you all are on the same page, 649 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,934 so correct me if I'm wrong on that. 650 00:33:22,934 --> 00:33:24,834 How open are you to discussing offsets, 651 00:33:24,834 --> 00:33:27,767 and what type of offsets are you thinking? 652 00:33:27,767 --> 00:33:29,400 Mr. Carney: Well, as I said yesterday, Brianna, 653 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,066 we believe the House -- the Senate ought to continue 654 00:33:32,066 --> 00:33:35,000 its deliberation on this matter and pass the three-month 655 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,166 extension without offsets of this emergency assistance. 656 00:33:38,166 --> 00:33:39,500 The House ought to follow suit -- 657 00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:43,300 it has been done before by previous Congresses 658 00:33:43,300 --> 00:33:45,300 and previous administrations, 659 00:33:45,300 --> 00:33:46,800 Republican and Democratic -- 660 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,767 because it's the right thing to do. 661 00:33:48,767 --> 00:33:50,533 And because this is not -- 662 00:33:50,533 --> 00:33:54,466 the kinds of debates about how you put a longer-term policy 663 00:33:54,467 --> 00:34:02,400 together and what that looks like take time, 664 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,033 for one thing, and the families who had their 665 00:34:05,033 --> 00:34:09,333 assistance cut off last week don't have the luxury of time. 666 00:34:09,333 --> 00:34:12,033 The Press: But I'm asking about the long-term -- 667 00:34:12,033 --> 00:34:14,467 Mr. Carney: Well, look, what I said yesterday holds true today, 668 00:34:14,467 --> 00:34:17,533 which is that we firmly believe that Congress ought to pass 669 00:34:17,533 --> 00:34:21,799 the bill that is currently being considered in the Senate, 670 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:26,734 a three-month extension, and we are happy to discuss 671 00:34:26,734 --> 00:34:32,132 with Congress how to move forward beyond the three months. 672 00:34:32,132 --> 00:34:34,766 But they have to take care of these families. 673 00:34:34,766 --> 00:34:35,766 They used to. 674 00:34:35,766 --> 00:34:37,533 They did in the past, Republicans, 675 00:34:37,533 --> 00:34:45,400 and they did so 14 out of 17 times without offsets. 676 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:51,700 This kind of assistance is obviously beneficial 677 00:34:51,699 --> 00:34:55,799 and a lifeline to many millions of Americans -- 678 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:58,333 1.3 million in this case with those who were cut off 679 00:34:58,333 --> 00:35:02,834 and their families -- but it's also beneficial directly, 680 00:35:02,834 --> 00:35:05,933 economists have told us, 681 00:35:05,934 --> 00:35:08,800 to the economy, because this is the kind of funding that goes 682 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:14,100 directly back into the economy and then it spurs economic 683 00:35:14,100 --> 00:35:15,933 growth and job creation. 684 00:35:15,934 --> 00:35:19,066 So we hope the House will -- 685 00:35:19,066 --> 00:35:20,633 the Senate will complete its work and the House 686 00:35:20,633 --> 00:35:22,366 will take similar action. 687 00:35:22,367 --> 00:35:25,433 And as we said yesterday and Gene said the day before, 688 00:35:25,433 --> 00:35:28,200 we're of course willing to have conversations 689 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:29,834 about what further -- 690 00:35:29,834 --> 00:35:33,200 The Press: But you won't have those until the short-term 691 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,700 is passed and you won't say what kind of offsets 692 00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:37,700 you might be amenable to? 693 00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:39,933 Mr. Carney: We want to see Congress act on the three-month, 694 00:35:39,934 --> 00:35:42,533 short-term extension of emergency benefits. 695 00:35:42,533 --> 00:35:46,700 We are absolutely willing to listen and have conversations 696 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:50,165 about how we move forward beyond the three months. 697 00:35:50,166 --> 00:35:52,133 But this is, again, not an esoteric debate. 698 00:35:52,133 --> 00:35:54,633 There are families who are without this assistance 699 00:35:54,633 --> 00:35:58,433 who fear they will not see that assistance renewed, 700 00:35:58,433 --> 00:36:02,433 and in many cases rely on that assistance to put food 701 00:36:02,433 --> 00:36:05,500 on the table and to pay their gas and electric bills, 702 00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:10,166 which are challenging in parts of the country now 703 00:36:10,166 --> 00:36:12,767 because of the severe cold. 704 00:36:12,767 --> 00:36:14,133 Tamara. 705 00:36:14,133 --> 00:36:17,399 The Press: One of the senators that was -- Republican senators 706 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:19,767 who was critical to this cloture happening yesterday, 707 00:36:19,767 --> 00:36:23,966 Rob Portman, was on the floor recently and said 708 00:36:23,967 --> 00:36:26,834 that it was very important to him that there be offsets, 709 00:36:26,834 --> 00:36:30,966 and he proposed two that would cover the short-term extension, 710 00:36:30,967 --> 00:36:32,767 which he says were things that were proposed 711 00:36:32,767 --> 00:36:34,399 in the President's budget: 712 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:37,400 no double dipping on SSI and unemployment benefits, 713 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:40,066 and some reforms to unemployment benefits 714 00:36:40,066 --> 00:36:42,299 that apparently the President has proposed before. 715 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:45,200 So are these unreasonable proposals? 716 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:47,734 Mr. Carney: Again, when it comes to the absolute necessity 717 00:36:47,734 --> 00:36:52,799 to pass a bill that would extend emergency assistance 718 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,667 to these 1.3 million Americans and their families, 719 00:36:55,667 --> 00:36:59,467 our position is clear: Congress ought to do it now; 720 00:36:59,467 --> 00:37:01,967 the bill that's in the Senate, they should do it now. 721 00:37:01,967 --> 00:37:06,700 And looking in the President's budget, 722 00:37:06,700 --> 00:37:14,066 which is a document that was balanced and dealt with a number 723 00:37:14,066 --> 00:37:17,232 of issues and finding items that you want 724 00:37:17,233 --> 00:37:20,233 to apply here or apply there -- 725 00:37:20,233 --> 00:37:24,333 there's time for discussion about how we pay for things. 726 00:37:24,333 --> 00:37:26,934 If you remember, in the President's budget 727 00:37:26,934 --> 00:37:28,100 that's balanced, 728 00:37:28,100 --> 00:37:32,100 it was a balance between revenues and savings. 729 00:37:32,100 --> 00:37:33,433 That's the approach he's always taken. 730 00:37:33,433 --> 00:37:36,667 It's the approach he believes that has helped lead us 731 00:37:36,667 --> 00:37:37,933 out of this recovery, 732 00:37:37,934 --> 00:37:40,500 helped create the sustained economic growth we've seen, 733 00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,100 helped create the sustained job creation we've seen, 734 00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:46,967 and helped bring about the dramatic deficit 735 00:37:46,967 --> 00:37:47,967 reduction we've seen. 736 00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:49,900 But we need to do more 737 00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:51,600 and we need to be focused on economic growth. 738 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:53,299 We need to be focused on middle-class families. 739 00:37:53,300 --> 00:37:56,734 We need to be focused on those families and those Americans 740 00:37:56,734 --> 00:38:00,266 who are looking for work and need this assistance. 741 00:38:00,266 --> 00:38:02,767 They're not any different from the Americans who needed 742 00:38:02,767 --> 00:38:05,165 that assistance in the previous administration, 743 00:38:05,166 --> 00:38:07,800 when President Bush signed extensions 744 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:12,700 of the assistance without offsets. 745 00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:16,834 They're the same kinds of people and they deserve 746 00:38:16,834 --> 00:38:20,734 the same kind of treatment from Washington, from Congress, 747 00:38:20,734 --> 00:38:22,333 from both parties. 748 00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:24,934 The Press: Were there any assurances made to the Republican 749 00:38:24,934 --> 00:38:26,867 senators who the President or others 750 00:38:26,867 --> 00:38:29,934 in the administration spoke to about any changes 751 00:38:29,934 --> 00:38:34,567 to the unemployment program or offsets in later discussions, 752 00:38:34,567 --> 00:38:37,266 or any assurances at all? 753 00:38:37,266 --> 00:38:39,834 Mr. Carney: Well, as I said, I'm not reading out individual 754 00:38:39,834 --> 00:38:44,165 conversations that the President has had with lawmakers. 755 00:38:44,166 --> 00:38:46,133 But I can tell you that in the conversations 756 00:38:46,133 --> 00:38:47,600 he and others have had, 757 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,200 we've made clear what our view is: 758 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:50,366 We ought to pass this; 759 00:38:50,367 --> 00:38:53,133 we ought to take care of these Americans; we ought to, 760 00:38:53,133 --> 00:38:58,232 in doing so, appreciate the positive economic effect 761 00:38:58,233 --> 00:39:00,100 that extending these benefits would have. 762 00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:02,600 And we are open to then having discussions 763 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:07,000 about how to move forward for a full-year extension. 764 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:10,433 But beyond that, I don't have more to read out. 765 00:39:10,433 --> 00:39:12,533 Bill. 766 00:39:12,533 --> 00:39:15,100 The Press: On the Afghan surge, Gates writes, 767 00:39:15,100 --> 00:39:17,500 "The President doesn't believe in his own strategy 768 00:39:17,500 --> 00:39:20,266 and doesn't consider the war to be his. 769 00:39:20,266 --> 00:39:22,133 For him, it's all about getting out". 770 00:39:22,133 --> 00:39:27,366 Given that there's a copy of the book floating around, 771 00:39:27,367 --> 00:39:29,567 has the President been made aware of that? 772 00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,100 Is there a reaction to it? 773 00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:34,667 Mr. Carney: Well, I think there are numerous press reports about the book. 774 00:39:34,667 --> 00:39:37,000 I don't know whether the President read them. 775 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,834 What I can tell you is that the statement that we put out 776 00:39:40,834 --> 00:39:42,834 and the statements I've made today about the President's 777 00:39:42,834 --> 00:39:45,500 appreciation for Secretary Gates's service reflect 778 00:39:45,500 --> 00:39:47,266 the President's views. 779 00:39:47,266 --> 00:39:48,567 Generally, when I speak for the President, 780 00:39:48,567 --> 00:39:49,867 I don't do it by osmosis. 781 00:39:49,867 --> 00:39:52,433 I do it because I know what his views are. 782 00:39:55,300 --> 00:39:56,300 The Press: Generally? 783 00:39:56,300 --> 00:39:58,300 [laughter] 784 00:40:00,133 --> 00:40:01,433 Mr. Carney: Good catch. 785 00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:03,433 Must be the beard. 786 00:40:05,633 --> 00:40:09,866 Again, I can't analyze every sentence of a book 787 00:40:09,867 --> 00:40:13,233 that I haven't read, but I've read press reports of it. 788 00:40:13,233 --> 00:40:14,200 I know that -- 789 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:15,200 The Press: Has the President read it? 790 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:16,200 Mr. Carney: No, he has not read it. 791 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:17,567 The Press: Will he read it? 792 00:40:17,567 --> 00:40:18,967 Mr. Carney: I haven't asked him. 793 00:40:18,967 --> 00:40:19,967 The Press: Did you give it to him? 794 00:40:19,967 --> 00:40:21,133 Is it on his desk? 795 00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:22,433 Mr. Carney: He doesn't have my copy. 796 00:40:22,433 --> 00:40:23,500 [laughter] 797 00:40:23,500 --> 00:40:28,133 But what I can say -- again, I can't analyze 798 00:40:28,133 --> 00:40:30,899 or interpret for you every sentence of this book, 799 00:40:30,900 --> 00:40:33,100 even if I had read it all. 800 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:36,133 What I can tell you is that the President believes we ought 801 00:40:36,133 --> 00:40:42,133 to wind down and end the war in Afghanistan is not a revelation. 802 00:40:44,166 --> 00:40:48,166 It was his stated commitment to the American people. 803 00:40:48,166 --> 00:40:51,266 So that is why, as part of his policy review, 804 00:40:51,266 --> 00:40:58,600 he insisted that we both surge troops and set a date for the 805 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:01,266 beginning of a drawdown and for the completion 806 00:41:01,266 --> 00:41:03,667 of that drawdown at the end of 2014. 807 00:41:03,667 --> 00:41:07,433 That's the policy we are continuing to implement. 808 00:41:07,433 --> 00:41:12,734 And it is fully in keeping with the President's publicly stated 809 00:41:12,734 --> 00:41:14,567 views and commitments. 810 00:41:14,567 --> 00:41:17,467 The Press: What's the purpose of tomorrow's NSA discussion 811 00:41:17,467 --> 00:41:19,367 with leaders in Congress? 812 00:41:19,367 --> 00:41:24,867 He's not still seeking information from them, is he? 813 00:41:24,867 --> 00:41:30,233 Mr. Carney: I know he wants to hear from them to discuss with them 814 00:41:30,233 --> 00:41:36,767 the status of his review, which is ongoing. 815 00:41:36,767 --> 00:41:42,633 The Review Group's report was publicly released, as you know, 816 00:41:42,633 --> 00:41:45,899 so everybody has had a chance to digest that. 817 00:41:45,900 --> 00:41:48,934 The President certainly has spent time with it, 818 00:41:48,934 --> 00:41:53,266 and as we've said, he believes, with the exception of the one 819 00:41:53,266 --> 00:41:55,667 recommendation on which a decision has already been made, 820 00:41:55,667 --> 00:42:01,633 a personnel issue, he wants serious consideration of every 821 00:42:01,633 --> 00:42:03,033 recommendation from the Review Group. 822 00:42:03,033 --> 00:42:05,633 But there are other pieces of the overall review 823 00:42:05,633 --> 00:42:06,866 that are ongoing. 824 00:42:06,867 --> 00:42:10,367 And, as you know, when the President has made decisions 825 00:42:10,367 --> 00:42:15,500 about what recommendations he will call for implementing 826 00:42:15,500 --> 00:42:18,667 and what he will want to further review, 827 00:42:18,667 --> 00:42:22,133 and what he may decide we should not pursue, 828 00:42:22,133 --> 00:42:23,466 he's going to speak about. 829 00:42:23,467 --> 00:42:26,734 And that will happen before the State of the Union address. 830 00:42:26,734 --> 00:42:28,866 The Press: Jay, on your point about the book a moment ago with Bill 831 00:42:28,867 --> 00:42:31,734 that you can't focus on every line in here and analyze it, 832 00:42:31,734 --> 00:42:34,533 then why in the statement last night did the White House 833 00:42:34,533 --> 00:42:36,366 not refute any of the allegations against the 834 00:42:36,367 --> 00:42:39,333 President, but went out of your way to defend the Vice President 835 00:42:39,333 --> 00:42:41,867 and analyze at least that part of the book? 836 00:42:41,867 --> 00:42:44,266 And when you said to Chuck their relationship is great, 837 00:42:44,266 --> 00:42:46,700 he relies on him -- we've heard that before. 838 00:42:46,700 --> 00:42:54,433 Why if it's such a strong relationship do you have to go 839 00:42:54,433 --> 00:42:55,433 out of your way to defend him? 840 00:42:55,433 --> 00:42:57,133 Mr. Carney: It might be because the press 841 00:42:57,133 --> 00:42:59,066 constantly asks in response to -- 842 00:42:59,066 --> 00:43:02,734 The Press: Well, we also asked about the allegations against 843 00:43:02,734 --> 00:43:07,767 the President and that statement did not address it, is my point. 844 00:43:07,767 --> 00:43:09,567 Mr. Carney: Again, this was in response to a single sentence 845 00:43:09,567 --> 00:43:11,166 that made a categorical statement of opinion by 846 00:43:11,166 --> 00:43:15,600 Secretary Gates about the Vice President and his views that 847 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:19,299 in that case we could say clearly that the President 848 00:43:19,300 --> 00:43:20,934 disagrees with that. 849 00:43:20,934 --> 00:43:22,367 The Press: On the lunch with the Vice President, 850 00:43:22,367 --> 00:43:25,767 you let the photographers in and that is a great positive step, 851 00:43:25,767 --> 00:43:27,767 but you did not let any reporters in. 852 00:43:27,767 --> 00:43:30,299 And we see this more and more, that you seem to think giving 853 00:43:30,300 --> 00:43:32,133 more access is letting photographers in -- 854 00:43:32,133 --> 00:43:33,399 which we support -- 855 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:35,033 but we can't have anybody shout a question, 856 00:43:35,033 --> 00:43:36,366 we can't have -- if the President wants 857 00:43:36,367 --> 00:43:37,600 to defend the Vice President -- 858 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:38,667 Mr. Carney: He doesn't. 859 00:43:38,667 --> 00:43:40,133 Ed, can I tell you, we let photographers in 860 00:43:40,133 --> 00:43:41,700 because he knows he doesn't need to. 861 00:43:41,700 --> 00:43:44,567 We let photographers in because we've had an ongoing discussion 862 00:43:44,567 --> 00:43:46,934 about access for photographers. 863 00:43:46,934 --> 00:43:49,800 And I thought that was a good thing. 864 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:50,800 The Press: And we have an ongoing discussion 865 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:52,066 with reporters as well, though. 866 00:43:52,066 --> 00:43:53,533 You're leaving out that we've had an ongoing discussion. 867 00:43:53,533 --> 00:43:54,799 Mr. Carney: And you're leaving out that word for word, 868 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:56,066 minute for minute, question for question, 869 00:43:56,066 --> 00:43:57,232 this President has answered more questions from the free 870 00:43:57,233 --> 00:43:58,533 and independent press, or at least as many 871 00:43:58,533 --> 00:44:00,232 as his immediate predecessors, which we've discussed. 872 00:44:00,233 --> 00:44:01,567 The Press: So why not today? 873 00:44:01,567 --> 00:44:03,300 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't know of any President in history 874 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:04,834 who's taken questions every day. 875 00:44:04,834 --> 00:44:05,834 The Press: Not every day. 876 00:44:05,834 --> 00:44:06,966 He hasn't taken a question since, what, 877 00:44:06,967 --> 00:44:08,367 was it December 20th, the last press conference? 878 00:44:08,367 --> 00:44:10,333 Mr. Carney: Well you and he were away for quite some time. 879 00:44:10,333 --> 00:44:11,333 The Press: Yes, absolutely. 880 00:44:11,333 --> 00:44:12,734 But it's been a long time. 881 00:44:12,734 --> 00:44:13,933 Mr. Carney: I'm sure he'll be taking questions, Ed, again soon. 882 00:44:13,934 --> 00:44:15,700 The Press: We're looking forward to that. 883 00:44:15,700 --> 00:44:17,200 Okay, two other quick things. 884 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:19,600 You've stressed the President's commitment to the mission 885 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:21,467 in Afghanistan, given the book. 886 00:44:21,467 --> 00:44:23,900 Senators Graham and McCain just came back from Afghanistan. 887 00:44:23,900 --> 00:44:26,734 They spoke to President Karzai and they claim 888 00:44:26,734 --> 00:44:29,500 that President Obama has not spoken to President Karzai 889 00:44:29,500 --> 00:44:30,934 since June or July. 890 00:44:30,934 --> 00:44:32,800 How is it that the two leaders -- 891 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:34,266 if he's committed to the mission, 892 00:44:34,266 --> 00:44:35,467 how could the two leaders, 893 00:44:35,467 --> 00:44:38,233 as you're negotiating a status of forces agreement, 894 00:44:38,233 --> 00:44:41,200 how could the two leaders not talk in months? 895 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:43,299 Mr. Carney: When did we go to South Africa? 896 00:44:43,300 --> 00:44:44,834 Mr. Earnest: December 15th [sic]. 897 00:44:44,834 --> 00:44:47,966 Mr. Carney: Well, I was physically in the presence 898 00:44:47,967 --> 00:44:49,700 of both Presidents when President Karzai 899 00:44:49,700 --> 00:44:51,899 and President Obama exchanged greetings. 900 00:44:51,900 --> 00:44:54,033 The Press: Great. But they had a substantive discussion 901 00:44:54,033 --> 00:44:55,200 about the status of -- 902 00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:56,366 Mr. Carney: The President and President Karzai 903 00:44:56,367 --> 00:44:58,734 have had discussions in the past. 904 00:44:58,734 --> 00:45:03,000 There's not a lot of mystery about our views on this document 905 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,700 that was negotiated in good faith and the need to sign it 906 00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:10,966 on the part of the Afghan government. 907 00:45:10,967 --> 00:45:14,967 So we have robust and constant communication 908 00:45:14,967 --> 00:45:16,066 with the Afghan government, 909 00:45:16,066 --> 00:45:20,033 both from Washington and from our embassy in Kabul 910 00:45:20,033 --> 00:45:22,767 as well as through our military commanders. 911 00:45:22,767 --> 00:45:29,633 The Press: When was the last time the President spoke to 912 00:45:29,633 --> 00:45:32,366 the lead U.S. commander in Afghanistan? 913 00:45:32,367 --> 00:45:33,800 Mr. Carney: I'll have to take the question. 914 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:35,200 I don't -- 915 00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:36,399 The Press: We're in a war footing right now and you don't know 916 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:38,233 the last time he spoke to the commanding general? 917 00:45:38,233 --> 00:45:39,767 Mr. Carney: I'll have to take the question, Ed. 918 00:45:39,767 --> 00:45:40,767 The Press: Okay. 919 00:45:40,767 --> 00:45:41,767 Mr. Carney: Thank you. 920 00:45:41,767 --> 00:45:43,066 Yes, Jon. 921 00:45:43,066 --> 00:45:44,265 The Press: Yesterday, the D.C. public schools were open, 922 00:45:44,266 --> 00:45:45,166 as well as many other inner-city schools were open, 923 00:45:45,166 --> 00:45:46,767 despite minus-20 degree wind chills. 924 00:45:46,767 --> 00:45:48,734 Some of the reasons that the officials are giving 925 00:45:48,734 --> 00:45:51,933 is that this is the only place young kids 926 00:45:51,934 --> 00:45:53,967 could actually get two warm meals. 927 00:45:53,967 --> 00:46:00,433 On the 50th anniversary of LBJ's War on Poverty, 928 00:46:00,433 --> 00:46:02,133 what does this say about America, 929 00:46:02,133 --> 00:46:05,933 and how far do we still need to come? 930 00:46:05,934 --> 00:46:07,867 Mr. Carney: I think it says that we've made progress -- 931 00:46:07,867 --> 00:46:10,633 as those of you who have read the report 932 00:46:10,633 --> 00:46:14,299 from the President's Council of Economic Advisers 933 00:46:14,300 --> 00:46:16,266 know is our view and the President's view; 934 00:46:16,266 --> 00:46:18,533 those of you who saw the President's statement regarding 935 00:46:18,533 --> 00:46:21,567 the 50th anniversary of President Johnson's 936 00:46:21,567 --> 00:46:27,066 War on Poverty know -- but that we have work to do. 937 00:46:27,066 --> 00:46:31,433 And the President is committed to engaging in that work, 938 00:46:31,433 --> 00:46:37,433 because we need to provide ladders of opportunity to 939 00:46:40,367 --> 00:46:45,600 Americans who are in poverty, to those who are in the bottom 940 00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:50,165 rungs of the middle class, who are struggling to pay their 941 00:46:50,166 --> 00:46:52,700 bills every day, every week. 942 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:59,133 We need to provide the kind of opportunity to our kids so that 943 00:46:59,133 --> 00:47:05,200 they can enjoy the economic mobility 944 00:47:08,033 --> 00:47:13,100 that made this country great and that made it 945 00:47:13,100 --> 00:47:16,533 an accepted fact about the United States of America 946 00:47:16,533 --> 00:47:20,232 that no matter what your circumstances, 947 00:47:20,233 --> 00:47:22,233 you could be anyone and do anything. 948 00:47:24,066 --> 00:47:29,799 That is the heart of the President's message 949 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:35,400 that he delivered in Anacostia in December. 950 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:41,834 It is what animates much of his deliberation 951 00:47:41,834 --> 00:47:46,366 about and policy decisions about economic matters 952 00:47:46,367 --> 00:47:48,133 and strengthening the middle class, 953 00:47:48,133 --> 00:47:50,000 creating opportunities for those who strive 954 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:51,300 for the middle class. 955 00:47:51,300 --> 00:47:52,433 And you will be hearing the President 956 00:47:52,433 --> 00:47:55,367 talk about it again and again, 957 00:47:55,367 --> 00:48:02,266 as you have throughout his history in public debate. 958 00:48:02,266 --> 00:48:04,133 The Press: Jay, I'm wondering if you could go beyond the written 959 00:48:04,133 --> 00:48:06,866 statement that you all put out on the President's call 960 00:48:06,867 --> 00:48:08,200 to Chancellor Merkel. 961 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:12,799 Did they discuss any further the questions about eavesdropping 962 00:48:12,800 --> 00:48:14,734 on foreign leaders? 963 00:48:14,734 --> 00:48:16,967 Mr. Carney: I don't have a further readout on that. 964 00:48:16,967 --> 00:48:20,667 I believe the President made the call because of her injury. 965 00:48:20,667 --> 00:48:24,866 The Press: Do you know if he reached her on a hard line or a mobile phone? 966 00:48:24,867 --> 00:48:25,867 [laughter] 967 00:48:25,867 --> 00:48:27,800 It's a serious question. 968 00:48:27,800 --> 00:48:30,767 Mr. Carney: I believe the President calls foreign leaders 969 00:48:30,767 --> 00:48:33,165 on a hard line. 970 00:48:33,166 --> 00:48:34,533 The Press: Thanks. 971 00:48:34,533 --> 00:48:36,266 Mr. Carney: Yes, Connie. 972 00:48:36,266 --> 00:48:38,333 The Press: There's still a lot of emphasis 973 00:48:38,333 --> 00:48:39,700 on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. 974 00:48:39,700 --> 00:48:43,133 Does this administration believe that all the other problems in 975 00:48:43,133 --> 00:48:47,966 the Middle East will be settled if that issue is resolved? 976 00:48:47,967 --> 00:48:51,600 Mr. Carney: I think that the need to make progress on the 977 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:57,033 Middle East peace process is I think clear to the President, 978 00:48:57,033 --> 00:49:00,567 clear to his team, and it's why Secretary Kerry and others 979 00:49:00,567 --> 00:49:05,900 at the President's direction continue to work so hard on it. 980 00:49:05,900 --> 00:49:09,033 I don't think anybody would agree with an assertion 981 00:49:09,033 --> 00:49:13,500 that resolving that conflict resolves all conflicts, 982 00:49:13,500 --> 00:49:18,834 but it is certainly a very important issue that merits the 983 00:49:18,834 --> 00:49:22,133 focus that Secretary Kerry and the President and other members 984 00:49:22,133 --> 00:49:24,000 of his team are giving it. 985 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:25,600 Steve. 986 00:49:25,600 --> 00:49:29,200 The Press: Does the White House have any concern that these 987 00:49:29,200 --> 00:49:33,265 growing al Qaeda enclaves in Iraq and Syria could pose 988 00:49:33,266 --> 00:49:37,233 a direct threat to U.S. security interests 989 00:49:37,233 --> 00:49:39,500 here or abroad and could become 990 00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:43,100 a similar kind of thing that we saw in Afghanistan 991 00:49:43,100 --> 00:49:45,366 before September 11th? 992 00:49:45,367 --> 00:49:50,066 Mr. Carney: There is no question that as the President's national 993 00:49:50,066 --> 00:49:52,232 security team and the President make decisions about 994 00:49:52,233 --> 00:49:54,266 and assessments about the threats 995 00:49:54,266 --> 00:49:55,600 against the United States, 996 00:49:55,600 --> 00:50:01,700 they are very focused on those extremist groups and individuals 997 00:50:01,700 --> 00:50:05,834 and elements that have as their objective doing harm 998 00:50:05,834 --> 00:50:08,200 to the United States and harm to Americans and harm 999 00:50:08,200 --> 00:50:15,033 to our allies, and those who are more local in their focus. 1000 00:50:15,033 --> 00:50:17,734 This is without -- I'm not making a judgment about that, 1001 00:50:17,734 --> 00:50:19,866 but you can be sure that in terms of the al Qaeda 1002 00:50:19,867 --> 00:50:26,834 presence in Iraq, we are, as you know -- 1003 00:50:26,834 --> 00:50:28,133 but that's how we view these things. 1004 00:50:28,133 --> 00:50:33,799 And it is absolutely a higher order of concern when we see 1005 00:50:33,800 --> 00:50:41,633 al Qaeda in a manifestation that represents a threat 1006 00:50:41,633 --> 00:50:42,966 to the United States, 1007 00:50:42,967 --> 00:50:46,033 a threat to the American people and a threat to our allies. 1008 00:50:46,033 --> 00:50:50,200 And I think that one thing that all of us have observed 1009 00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:53,834 and learned over the years since 9/11 and even prior to it 1010 00:50:53,834 --> 00:50:55,734 is that there has been -- 1011 00:50:55,734 --> 00:50:59,165 there are evolutions and developments in the nature 1012 00:50:59,166 --> 00:51:03,600 of these extremist movements and their focus. 1013 00:51:03,600 --> 00:51:07,333 And it's important to be knowledgeable and understanding 1014 00:51:07,333 --> 00:51:09,967 of the difference between various groups 1015 00:51:09,967 --> 00:51:12,633 and their affiliations and their objectives. 1016 00:51:12,633 --> 00:51:16,165 That's a broad statement, not about Anbar province. 1017 00:51:16,166 --> 00:51:19,033 I think I've noted in the past several days the military 1018 00:51:19,033 --> 00:51:23,933 assistance that we have been working to provide the Iraq 1019 00:51:23,934 --> 00:51:28,233 government and the consultations that we are undertaking with 1020 00:51:28,233 --> 00:51:31,100 Iraqi leaders, including the Prime Minister and others, 1021 00:51:31,100 --> 00:51:35,400 on the essentially two-part strategy that we believe 1022 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:38,367 needs to be undertaken and that we are seeing 1023 00:51:38,367 --> 00:51:39,800 the Iraqi government undertake, 1024 00:51:39,800 --> 00:51:44,266 which is one that is military in nature and one that 1025 00:51:44,266 --> 00:51:50,266 is focused on reconciliation and working with Sunni tribes and 1026 00:51:52,333 --> 00:51:57,633 others in the region to expel al Qaeda from those cities 1027 00:51:57,633 --> 00:52:01,533 and territories because the overwhelming majority 1028 00:52:01,533 --> 00:52:05,533 of the Iraqi people do not support 1029 00:52:05,533 --> 00:52:09,667 and do not want al Qaeda in their midst. 1030 00:52:09,667 --> 00:52:11,933 The Press: The Vice President spoke again, 1031 00:52:11,934 --> 00:52:15,066 made some calls to Iraq this morning. 1032 00:52:15,066 --> 00:52:18,265 Does the U.S. think that Maliki could have done more 1033 00:52:18,266 --> 00:52:22,100 to forestall the rise of these groups by reaching out more 1034 00:52:22,100 --> 00:52:25,232 to Sunnis in Iraq's political process? 1035 00:52:25,233 --> 00:52:28,066 Mr. Carney: This is a subject that is an ongoing part 1036 00:52:28,066 --> 00:52:34,299 of the conversations that we have with leaders 1037 00:52:34,300 --> 00:52:36,233 in the Iraqi government, 1038 00:52:36,233 --> 00:52:39,333 including Prime Minister Maliki. 1039 00:52:39,333 --> 00:52:42,433 In the call that he made to the Prime Minister, 1040 00:52:42,433 --> 00:52:46,633 the Vice President encouraged him to continue his outreach 1041 00:52:46,633 --> 00:52:49,033 to local, tribal, and national leaders. 1042 00:52:49,033 --> 00:52:51,633 The Vice President also welcomed the Council of Ministers' 1043 00:52:51,633 --> 00:52:55,033 decision to extend state benefits to tribal forces killed 1044 00:52:55,033 --> 00:52:58,333 or injured in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq 1045 00:52:58,333 --> 00:52:59,967 and the Levant. 1046 00:52:59,967 --> 00:53:01,934 He also welcomed the Prime Minister's statement 1047 00:53:01,934 --> 00:53:07,433 affirming that Iraqi elections will occur as scheduled, 1048 00:53:07,433 --> 00:53:09,900 as well as the Prime Minister's commitment to ensuring that 1049 00:53:09,900 --> 00:53:14,033 humanitarian aid is reaching people in need. 1050 00:53:14,033 --> 00:53:16,866 The Vice President underscored that America will support 1051 00:53:16,867 --> 00:53:20,900 and assist Iraq in its fight against international terrorism. 1052 00:53:20,900 --> 00:53:22,734 Yes. 1053 00:53:22,734 --> 00:53:24,100 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 1054 00:53:24,100 --> 00:53:28,866 Just to follow up, as for Syria, the fighting we see and we hear 1055 00:53:28,867 --> 00:53:32,734 about between ISIL and the moderate rebels, who remain, 1056 00:53:32,734 --> 00:53:38,467 many of them, Islamists -- does the administration know not only 1057 00:53:38,467 --> 00:53:44,867 if the aid to the rebels in Syria goes to these moderate 1058 00:53:44,867 --> 00:53:46,834 still Islamist rebels? 1059 00:53:46,834 --> 00:53:49,466 Do you know? 1060 00:53:49,467 --> 00:53:51,533 Mr. Carney: You're asking do we know if the assistance is going 1061 00:53:51,533 --> 00:53:53,967 where we want it to go? 1062 00:53:53,967 --> 00:53:55,266 The Press: The one -- yes, exactly. 1063 00:53:55,266 --> 00:53:58,834 And the ones fighting ISIL. 1064 00:53:58,834 --> 00:54:01,100 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't know specifically the answer to that question. 1065 00:54:01,100 --> 00:54:05,467 I can tell you, as we've discussed over the months, 1066 00:54:05,467 --> 00:54:09,533 that we carefully evaluate in the provision of assistance 1067 00:54:09,533 --> 00:54:14,667 where it's going, and obviously want our assistance -- 1068 00:54:14,667 --> 00:54:17,500 the humanitarian assistance to go to the people 1069 00:54:17,500 --> 00:54:18,900 who need humanitarian assistance, 1070 00:54:18,900 --> 00:54:21,033 the Syrian people who are suffering, 1071 00:54:21,033 --> 00:54:24,433 and the other forms of assistance to go into the hands 1072 00:54:24,433 --> 00:54:32,400 of those who have the desires and hopes of the Syrian people 1073 00:54:32,400 --> 00:54:36,467 as their objective in their efforts and their desire 1074 00:54:36,467 --> 00:54:40,367 for more democracy and freedom. 1075 00:54:40,367 --> 00:54:42,700 So I don't think that view has changed. 1076 00:54:42,700 --> 00:54:44,200 I can't say if we know -- 1077 00:54:44,200 --> 00:54:47,433 if you're talking about a particular shipment or -- 1078 00:54:47,433 --> 00:54:50,367 I mean, these are -- 1079 00:54:50,367 --> 00:54:53,567 this process is carefully vetted for the reasons 1080 00:54:53,567 --> 00:54:55,567 that I think underlie your question. 1081 00:54:55,567 --> 00:54:56,834 The Press: How can it be monitored? 1082 00:54:56,834 --> 00:54:58,734 How is it monitored, these things? 1083 00:54:58,734 --> 00:55:00,433 Mr. Carney: I think that's a question best directed 1084 00:55:00,433 --> 00:55:04,000 to State and Defense in terms of the mechanics of that. 1085 00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:05,400 But it is a concern. 1086 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:08,166 As you know, with regards to some aid, 1087 00:55:08,166 --> 00:55:11,300 it was suspended in a part of the country 1088 00:55:11,300 --> 00:55:14,300 because of the situation with a warehouse, 1089 00:55:14,300 --> 00:55:15,834 and that goes to the heart of your question. 1090 00:55:15,834 --> 00:55:17,500 But that is a reflection of the seriousness 1091 00:55:17,500 --> 00:55:18,800 with which we take these matters 1092 00:55:18,800 --> 00:55:23,066 and the need to get aid into the hands of those in Syria 1093 00:55:23,066 --> 00:55:25,433 for whom it was meant. 1094 00:55:25,433 --> 00:55:26,433 Last one, Dan. 1095 00:55:26,433 --> 00:55:27,800 The Press: Can I just follow up on that? 1096 00:55:27,800 --> 00:55:29,667 What was the result of that investigation 1097 00:55:29,667 --> 00:55:30,967 in terms of the warehouse and -- 1098 00:55:30,967 --> 00:55:34,600 Mr. Carney: I'll have to direct you to Defense for that. 1099 00:55:34,600 --> 00:55:36,033 I don't know. 1100 00:55:36,033 --> 00:55:37,433 The Press: Is it possible to get a list of the kinds of weapons 1101 00:55:37,433 --> 00:55:39,633 or the monetary level of flow that is now 1102 00:55:39,633 --> 00:55:41,366 going to the opposition? 1103 00:55:41,367 --> 00:55:44,300 Mr. Carney: I think that's going to be a question for State or Defense. 1104 00:55:44,300 --> 00:55:46,266 Sorry, I missed you, Jared. 1105 00:55:46,266 --> 00:55:47,266 The Press: Thanks. 1106 00:55:47,266 --> 00:55:48,600 Two questions, both timing things. 1107 00:55:48,600 --> 00:55:50,866 Is the President going to wait to give this surveillance speech 1108 00:55:50,867 --> 00:55:54,467 until he gets the -- I think it's two reports from PCLOB, 1109 00:55:54,467 --> 00:55:57,467 the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board? 1110 00:55:57,467 --> 00:55:58,967 Mr. Carney: The President, as you know, 1111 00:55:58,967 --> 00:56:01,433 meets with and has had discussions with members 1112 00:56:01,433 --> 00:56:03,834 of that board and others on this issue. 1113 00:56:03,834 --> 00:56:06,533 I'm not sure about the timing of their review, 1114 00:56:06,533 --> 00:56:08,299 but he's certainly in conversations 1115 00:56:08,300 --> 00:56:09,600 with them about their views. 1116 00:56:09,600 --> 00:56:12,900 So what we've said is that the President will be making his 1117 00:56:12,900 --> 00:56:16,567 decision and talking about them in remarks prior 1118 00:56:16,567 --> 00:56:19,033 to the State of the Union address on January 28th. 1119 00:56:19,033 --> 00:56:21,033 I'm not sure about the timing for that report, 1120 00:56:21,033 --> 00:56:24,933 but what I can tell you is the the President has been and will 1121 00:56:24,934 --> 00:56:26,667 be fully briefed on their views. 1122 00:56:26,667 --> 00:56:28,600 The Press: Do you have a timing yet for the budget? 1123 00:56:28,600 --> 00:56:30,834 I know last year was delayed a couple of weeks. 1124 00:56:30,834 --> 00:56:31,767 Mr. Carney: I don't. 1125 00:56:31,767 --> 00:56:32,567 I don't have anything on that. 1126 00:56:32,567 --> 00:56:33,500 Thanks. 1127 00:56:33,500 --> 00:56:35,066 The Press: Preview of tomorrow's event? 1128 00:56:35,066 --> 00:56:36,232 Mr. Carney: We'll get something for you on that. 1129 00:56:36,233 --> 00:56:37,300 I don't have anything for you. 1130 00:56:37,300 --> 00:56:38,233 The Press: Thanks, Jay.