English subtitles for clip: File:10-14-09- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:01,133 --> 00:00:01,863 Mr. Gibbs: Good afternoon. 2 00:00:01,867 --> 00:00:06,237 Let me give you guys a quick readout on the President's morning meeting. 3 00:00:06,233 --> 00:00:09,003 As you know, the President met for three hours with his 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,530 national security team in the Situation Room. 5 00:00:11,533 --> 00:00:13,933 This was the fifth in a series of meetings assessing our 6 00:00:13,934 --> 00:00:16,934 strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 7 00:00:16,934 --> 00:00:22,104 The meeting began with an update of the political and security situation in Afghanistan. 8 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:24,530 The President received a report on our efforts to strengthen our 9 00:00:24,533 --> 00:00:27,063 civilian mission within Afghanistan, particularly as it 10 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:31,336 relates to our effort to partner with the Afghan government. 11 00:00:31,333 --> 00:00:36,333 The President then received a report on our efforts to train Afghan security forces. 12 00:00:36,333 --> 00:00:39,403 And as usual, the President heard from many of his advisors, 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,970 and was joined via video conference by Ambassadors 14 00:00:42,967 --> 00:00:48,197 Patterson and Eikenberry and General McChrystal from 15 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,470 Islamabad and Kabul respectively. 16 00:00:50,467 --> 00:00:52,167 The Press: Did Secretary Clinton not participate in -- 17 00:00:52,166 --> 00:00:57,066 Mr. Gibbs: She was on a plane and was hooked up through audio. 18 00:00:57,066 --> 00:01:05,836 As well as, I assume the guidance said this, but Jim Steinberg and Jack Lew were also 19 00:01:05,834 --> 00:01:09,734 there representing the State Department. Yes, ma'am. 20 00:01:09,734 --> 00:01:15,934 The Press: So what was the most helpful piece of information, or 21 00:01:15,934 --> 00:01:18,304 how did the ball move forward in this particular meeting? 22 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:25,200 Mr. Gibbs Well, look, I think this was, again, a continuation 23 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:30,300 of a series of meetings. Some of what we went through were questions from last 24 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:36,970 meeting, as I read out, the -- an update on the political 25 00:01:36,967 --> 00:01:45,337 situation, and an update on security force training -- 26 00:01:45,333 --> 00:01:49,063 meaning ANA and ANP -- Afghan National Army, Afghan National 27 00:01:49,066 --> 00:01:57,666 Police -- obviously integral in ensuring that at some point the 28 00:01:57,667 --> 00:02:02,467 Afghans are providing security for their own people. 29 00:02:02,467 --> 00:02:08,037 So like the other meetings, there wasn't one magic sentence 30 00:02:08,033 --> 00:02:13,403 or one magic phrase, but again a fairly comprehensive meeting to 31 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,070 go through the remaining situation that hadn't been 32 00:02:17,066 --> 00:02:20,136 covered and needed to be covered more in depth in Afghanistan. 33 00:02:20,133 --> 00:02:22,063 The Press: Will the President make a decision in an 34 00:02:22,066 --> 00:02:25,266 announcement on what he's going to do before his Asia trip, and 35 00:02:25,266 --> 00:02:28,966 do so whether or not the election has been resolved in Afghanistan? 36 00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:36,797 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we back, as I've said before, a look into 37 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:45,370 the situation by the Electoral Complaints Commission, as well as the IEC. 38 00:02:45,367 --> 00:02:48,797 It's our understanding that they're in the process of 39 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:54,730 concluding that review of the election. 40 00:02:54,734 --> 00:02:57,504 I don't want to get out -- I don't want to peg a certain 41 00:02:57,500 --> 00:03:01,270 date, except to reiterate what the President said, a decision 42 00:03:01,266 --> 00:03:03,636 was coming -- would be made in the coming weeks. 43 00:03:03,633 --> 00:03:05,603 The Press: Well, I guess what I'm asking, though, is will he 44 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,970 make a decision and an announcement whether or not the 45 00:03:08,967 --> 00:03:11,537 election situation gets resolved? 46 00:03:11,533 --> 00:03:14,233 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to speculate on that based on -- 47 00:03:14,233 --> 00:03:19,933 I'll have a better sense of -- I don't want to speculate on what 48 00:03:19,934 --> 00:03:26,234 may or may not happen as part of the ECC, and we'll wait on that. Yes, sir. 49 00:03:26,233 --> 00:03:28,533 The Press: The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said 50 00:03:28,533 --> 00:03:33,763 today that his government is ready to send 500 more troops under certain conditions. 51 00:03:33,767 --> 00:03:36,437 And the BBC is reporting that the U.S. 52 00:03:36,433 --> 00:03:40,163 government told the British government that it would soon 53 00:03:40,166 --> 00:03:44,836 announce substantial increase in a U. S. deployment in Afghanistan. 54 00:03:44,834 --> 00:03:49,704 Can you comment on the veracity of that report -- 55 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:55,000 Mr. Gibbs: I wouldn't -- the President has not made a decision, and when he 56 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,530 does, I think that you can assume that the BBC will not be 57 00:03:59,533 --> 00:04:02,663 the first outlet for such a decision. 58 00:04:02,667 --> 00:04:07,397 I would not put any -- throw weight behind the fact that a 59 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,700 decision has been made when the President has yet to make a decision. 60 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:14,900 In terms of -- let me speak just for a second about Prime 61 00:04:14,900 --> 00:04:17,830 Minister Brown's announcement. 62 00:04:17,834 --> 00:04:21,504 Obviously, throughout this process we have been 63 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:25,670 coordinating our review with our allies. 64 00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:28,597 I think we read out a call last week between President Obama and 65 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,400 Prime Minister Brown, where the Prime Minister communicated to 66 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:39,030 us their decision to send more troops. 67 00:04:39,033 --> 00:04:48,263 Obviously, the British people and those that serve there have 68 00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:52,766 borne an enormous price in casualties. 69 00:04:52,767 --> 00:04:57,067 Obviously, we're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition, 70 00:04:57,066 --> 00:05:01,296 and our assessment continues. 71 00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:07,070 But again, I think we're happy for their increase in contribution. 72 00:05:07,066 --> 00:05:09,266 The Press: And on a related subject, now that Congress is 73 00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:13,066 issuing a statement meant to allay the concerns of Pakistan 74 00:05:13,066 --> 00:05:17,736 military, is -- when will the President sign the Pakistan aid bill? 75 00:05:17,734 --> 00:05:19,134 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have a specific time. 76 00:05:19,133 --> 00:05:24,363 But we've said for at least the past week that the bill will be 77 00:05:24,367 --> 00:05:29,497 signed -- I think we have until midnight on Friday to do so. 78 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:30,700 Yes, sir. 79 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:33,700 The Press: Just given the controversy in Afghanistan with 80 00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:37,700 President Karzai and the election, how important is it to 81 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:41,000 the White House -- before you actually make any announcements 82 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,830 about your strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, how 83 00:05:43,834 --> 00:05:50,034 important is it to you that you be seen as having a credible 84 00:05:50,033 --> 00:05:51,833 partner in the Afghan government? 85 00:05:51,834 --> 00:05:55,304 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me take this in a couple of different 86 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:58,830 directions, Jake. One, I think as the President has been clear to say, we're not 87 00:05:58,834 --> 00:06:01,164 leaving Afghanistan. 88 00:06:01,166 --> 00:06:08,436 So we certainly stand ready to work with what -- whatever and 89 00:06:08,433 --> 00:06:17,963 whomever win the election based on the review by the ECC, and 90 00:06:17,967 --> 00:06:19,637 the IEC, and others. 91 00:06:19,633 --> 00:06:28,133 Secondly, I think it goes without saying that part of what 92 00:06:28,133 --> 00:06:33,533 has been discussed throughout this process is ensuring that we do have a strong partner. 93 00:06:33,533 --> 00:06:37,233 Whether that partner -- we have to ensure -- and that's why we 94 00:06:37,233 --> 00:06:41,733 have -- and discussed today an increase in our civilian 95 00:06:41,734 --> 00:06:44,734 capability in partnering directly with the Afghan 96 00:06:44,734 --> 00:06:53,664 government, why we talk about the path for training security 97 00:06:53,667 --> 00:07:01,397 forces, police and army, to ensure that at some point there 98 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:09,430 is an entity that can absorb the functions of providing security 99 00:07:09,433 --> 00:07:17,703 and ensuring continued development and economic growth as we move forward. 100 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:25,300 So obviously having a strong and credible partner is extremely important to this process. 101 00:07:25,300 --> 00:07:26,570 The Press: And then one other question. 102 00:07:26,567 --> 00:07:28,967 Does the President -- has the President any response to the 103 00:07:28,967 --> 00:07:32,367 news about the Wall Street bonuses -- Goldman Sachs and 104 00:07:32,367 --> 00:07:38,167 others -- at a time when there's severe downsizing, people are taking pay cuts? 105 00:07:38,166 --> 00:07:40,036 It seems to be going the other direction on Wall Street. 106 00:07:40,033 --> 00:07:42,663 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President would continue to 107 00:07:42,667 --> 00:07:54,867 tell -- to tell everyone that we -- the pay on Wall Street has to 108 00:07:54,867 --> 00:08:04,267 be -- can't be -- can't return to the speculative era that we 109 00:08:04,266 --> 00:08:09,666 saw last, specifically right before the economic collapse 110 00:08:09,667 --> 00:08:16,967 with which we deal with today; that pay has to be based on 111 00:08:16,967 --> 00:08:20,737 reasonable assumption of risk, not on speculation. 112 00:08:20,734 --> 00:08:27,634 The President appointed Ken Feinberg to assess and look 113 00:08:27,633 --> 00:08:31,463 through the pay structure for firms that have received an 114 00:08:31,467 --> 00:08:35,537 extraordinary amount of assistance from the government. 115 00:08:35,533 --> 00:08:41,863 Just yesterday, plans were due to him for the next highest paid 116 00:08:41,867 --> 00:08:48,437 75 employees -- the first set of plans he looked at were for the top 25. 117 00:08:48,433 --> 00:08:53,963 The next set of plans, which were due yesterday, examined the next 75 highest salaries. 118 00:08:53,967 --> 00:09:00,597 That's why the President has continued to push his legislation for "say on pay". 119 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:06,600 We can't go back to the type of pay structure that 120 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:15,100 incentivized wild speculation like we had before this economic collapse. 121 00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:20,300 It also is important, as we see progress on Capitol Hill on 122 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:29,370 making regulatory reform this year part of the law. 123 00:09:29,367 --> 00:09:32,197 The Press: Is there any personal reaction the President had? 124 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,200 In the past, you've talked about the President having a personal reaction to some of this news. 125 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,100 Mr. Gibbs: I didn't have a chance to talk extensively with 126 00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:42,070 him about it today, because of most of what we were doing was the Sit Room stuff. 127 00:09:42,066 --> 00:09:42,696 Yes, sir. 128 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:45,270 The Press: On health care, House Democrat Leader Hoyer today was 129 00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:47,566 saying that he thinks the House will hold its final vote by 130 00:09:47,567 --> 00:09:51,197 Christmas, but he couldn't guarantee that. 131 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,630 Is the President planning -- would he leave the door open to 132 00:09:54,633 --> 00:09:57,403 the health care debate extending into next year, or does he want 133 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,200 Congress -- is he going to be firm about the deadline of getting this done this year? 134 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,930 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think that -- I think everyone -- I think we 135 00:10:03,934 --> 00:10:08,664 believe confidently that this can get done this year. 136 00:10:08,667 --> 00:10:11,597 I think we've made a tremendous amount of progress. 137 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,930 And now as -- as you heard the President yesterday, yesterday 138 00:10:14,934 --> 00:10:20,134 was an important step -- just one step, but an important step 139 00:10:20,133 --> 00:10:25,303 -- in making these proposals and plans reality. 140 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:28,130 I think it's tremendously important, from the President's 141 00:10:28,133 --> 00:10:30,733 viewpoint, that we finish that this year. 142 00:10:30,734 --> 00:10:34,334 Let me build on that though just for a second, because I think 143 00:10:34,333 --> 00:10:37,503 one of the things that we saw in the newspaper today -- and let 144 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:41,600 me just read to you a couple of lines from a story in the Wall 145 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:47,300 Street Journal, headline, "Big jump seen in health costs for employees. 146 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:50,030 As companies begin unveiling their workplace benefits for 147 00:10:50,033 --> 00:10:53,203 next year many employees are learning they will have to dig 148 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,530 even deeper into their pockets for health coverage. 149 00:10:56,533 --> 00:10:59,403 Such price increases have become a fact of life during open 150 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,470 enrollment season where workers sign up for their health plans. 151 00:11:03,467 --> 00:11:08,097 But the jump is expected to be steeper in 2010 than this year, 152 00:11:08,100 --> 00:11:11,030 as employees struggle with the impact of the recession and 153 00:11:11,033 --> 00:11:14,133 continually rising insurance costs. 154 00:11:14,133 --> 00:11:19,463 Employees will pay $4,023 on average in premiums and 155 00:11:19,467 --> 00:11:25,737 out-of-pocket changes next year, up 10 percent" -- 10 percent -- 156 00:11:25,734 --> 00:11:28,734 "from 2009, according to a projection from Hewitt 157 00:11:28,734 --> 00:11:31,734 Associates, a benefits consulting firm. 158 00:11:31,734 --> 00:11:36,134 In dollar terms it's the biggest boost since the firm started 159 00:11:36,133 --> 00:11:39,563 keeping track of the data a decade ago. 160 00:11:39,567 --> 00:11:42,937 " So that's the story. 161 00:11:42,934 --> 00:11:47,364 So if you don't want to do anything this year, this is what 162 00:11:47,367 --> 00:11:51,637 you're for on behalf of the American people. 163 00:11:51,633 --> 00:11:52,863 Okay? 164 00:11:52,867 --> 00:11:56,767 A 10 percent increase in health care costs and out-of-pocket 165 00:11:56,767 --> 00:12:05,237 expenses at a time in which inflation is either zero or actually negative. 166 00:12:05,233 --> 00:12:07,033 Right? 167 00:12:07,033 --> 00:12:15,533 In addition to this -- the status quo ensures that you 168 00:12:15,533 --> 00:12:18,333 could still be discriminated against based on a preexisting 169 00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:23,033 condition, that you could still lose your health insurance if you get sick. 170 00:12:23,033 --> 00:12:29,633 So the status quo is 10 percent next year without the benefits of insurance reforms. 171 00:12:29,633 --> 00:12:34,433 And I think that's the part of this debate that we now focus on. 172 00:12:34,433 --> 00:12:36,433 We're going through open season. 173 00:12:36,433 --> 00:12:37,633 I'm sure many of you are. 174 00:12:37,633 --> 00:12:40,233 I'm sure your families are, your friends are. 175 00:12:40,233 --> 00:12:45,203 And they're going to see, just as we see in this article, the 176 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,270 skyrocketing cost of health care. 177 00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:48,696 The Press: Given the skyrocketing costs and the 178 00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:51,330 President's belief that there's an urgent need to get it done, 179 00:12:51,333 --> 00:12:54,233 why has he still not gotten specific then -- like in the 180 00:12:54,233 --> 00:12:57,403 Rose Garden yesterday -- and said whether he's for the Baucus bill or not? 181 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:02,430 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, Ed, we're now at a point in the 182 00:13:02,433 --> 00:13:06,633 process that has advanced past an individual committee. 183 00:13:06,633 --> 00:13:08,963 We've got members of the administration, at the 184 00:13:08,967 --> 00:13:11,797 invitation of the Majority Leader, who will blend bills 185 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,700 together up on Capitol Hill today, just as we've had people 186 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:20,830 involved in each of the markups of all this legislation. 187 00:13:20,834 --> 00:13:24,934 The President and his staff have been deeply involved and will 188 00:13:24,934 --> 00:13:27,164 continue to be deeply involved as we move forward. 189 00:13:27,166 --> 00:13:28,436 The Press: -- Democrats continue to privately say it would be 190 00:13:28,433 --> 00:13:30,303 helpful for the President to steer it -- there's five 191 00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:33,200 different bills, as you say -- and say, here's the one that 192 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,730 matches what I want to get through. 193 00:13:34,734 --> 00:13:38,104 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that process I think begins in earnest today 194 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:42,430 and members of the staff will be up there taking part in, in 195 00:13:42,433 --> 00:13:45,363 conjunction with, a process that will be led by the Majority 196 00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:50,937 Leader with relevant committee chairs and participants from those committees. 197 00:13:50,934 --> 00:13:51,664 Chip. 198 00:13:51,667 --> 00:13:53,837 The Press: You shot down the BBC report, but could I get a little 199 00:13:53,834 --> 00:13:57,434 more specific about it so that you can shoot down the specific numbers we're hearing -- 200 00:13:57,433 --> 00:14:00,003 Mr. Gibbs: It's not true. I mean, I can be generalistic 201 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,600 or I can be specific. 202 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:08,030 I've seen the report. It's not true either generally or specifically. 203 00:14:08,033 --> 00:14:11,203 The Press: The report specifically said 45,000 troops. 204 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:11,870 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 205 00:14:11,867 --> 00:14:13,197 The Press:** And I just want you to address that. Is that -- 206 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:14,970 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me address both things. 207 00:14:14,967 --> 00:14:17,097 Well, first of all, the President hasn't made a decision. 208 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:17,700 Right? 209 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:20,000 So the fact that he's made a decision isn't true. 210 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,330 And the fact that the decision that he hasn't made has been 211 00:14:22,333 --> 00:14:26,003 reported as a certain number consequently is also not true. 212 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:31,830 So it's -- I don't know where it comes from, but it's not true. 213 00:14:31,834 --> 00:14:32,734 The Press: It's a good story, though. 214 00:14:32,734 --> 00:14:33,034 (laughter) 215 00:14:33,033 --> 00:14:36,003 Mr. Gibbs: And, you know, by God, don't let the 216 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:40,200 facts get in the way of it, just go with it. 217 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,870 The Press: On the -- were you in the whole meeting? 218 00:14:42,867 --> 00:14:43,397 Mr. Gibbs: I was. 219 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,200 Well, except for about 15 minutes, but yes. 220 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,370 The Press: How much of the discussion was about troop 221 00:14:48,367 --> 00:14:50,797 strength and numbers and that kind of thing? 222 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,170 Can you give us some kind of idea of how big an issue that is now? 223 00:14:54,166 --> 00:14:59,266 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I mean, obviously we're at a point in 224 00:14:59,266 --> 00:15:06,196 this assessment where we're going through training scenarios 225 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,130 when we discuss -- I would certainly say the latter part of 226 00:15:10,133 --> 00:15:16,403 where we discussed specifically security forces, the resource 227 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,670 request and the assessment blended in throughout that discussion. 228 00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:23,737 The Press: As you move into resource discussions -- and 229 00:15:23,734 --> 00:15:27,834 obviously there are people who feel differently about that -- 230 00:15:27,834 --> 00:15:31,134 are you seeing more -- and I know you say people aren't 231 00:15:31,133 --> 00:15:33,463 raising voices; it's not confrontational -- but are you 232 00:15:33,467 --> 00:15:37,737 seeing more clear disagreement among some of the people in the room? 233 00:15:37,734 --> 00:15:40,764 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I think at this point we have gone through 234 00:15:40,767 --> 00:15:44,167 different aspects of the assessment, laid some of the 235 00:15:44,166 --> 00:15:49,836 resource requests over the basis for some of those assessments, 236 00:15:49,834 --> 00:15:57,404 along with updates on the political and security situations in both countries. 237 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:04,700 So I think that's part of it, but I don't -- people are still 238 00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:07,670 not, you know, on different sides of the table with 239 00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:10,767 different numbers and that sort of thing. 240 00:16:10,767 --> 00:16:12,897 The Press: Who -- could you tell -- who is doing most of the talking? 241 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:14,270 Is it mostly McChrystal? 242 00:16:14,266 --> 00:16:15,996 Is it mostly Biden? 243 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,670 Is it the President? 244 00:16:17,667 --> 00:16:20,897 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think -- let's see, I think -- I mean, look, 245 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:24,030 the President obviously is an active participant in asking 246 00:16:24,033 --> 00:16:30,203 questions of the State Department, the Defense 247 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:39,870 Department, General Petraeus, General McChrystal, General and Ambassador Eikenberry. 248 00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:45,097 A lot of what we discussed today -- the political situation, the 249 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:49,970 civilian military capability that's matched, and the 250 00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:52,297 training, I think isolated on that -- obviously there's a lot 251 00:16:52,300 --> 00:17:03,400 of discussion; obviously Vice President Biden was active, as were the intelligence community. 252 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,900 The Press: And increasingly, as they get into this, are you 253 00:17:05,900 --> 00:17:10,130 seeing people express opinions more than they did initially? 254 00:17:10,133 --> 00:17:14,463 Mr. Gibbs: Well, this is not a shrinking violets group. 255 00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:19,097 I think we've seen opinions throughout this -- again, I 256 00:17:19,100 --> 00:17:24,330 think as much as anything -- and certainly in earlier meetings we 257 00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:29,663 have gone through not just the assessment, that's certainly 258 00:17:29,667 --> 00:17:34,167 been part of it, but the intelligence updates and the 259 00:17:34,166 --> 00:17:36,696 political and the security situations in each country on 260 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:41,500 the ground, which in some ways are addressed -- obviously in 261 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,830 General McChrystal's assessment because he was obviously 262 00:17:44,834 --> 00:17:47,104 specifically tasked to assess the situation on the ground in 263 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:52,870 Afghanistan -- but obviously Pakistan is something that was much more intelligence based. 264 00:17:52,867 --> 00:17:55,837 The Press: And does the President tell people where he wants to go? 265 00:17:55,834 --> 00:17:58,234 Does he seek opinions or is he just a -- 266 00:17:58,233 --> 00:18:04,403 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, he's asked -- I think a decent part of today's meeting were 267 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:09,230 questions that -- a lot of which he had asked in the previous 268 00:18:09,233 --> 00:18:16,363 session that he wanted more information on -- you know, 269 00:18:16,367 --> 00:18:19,067 understanding that for each one of these meetings there's a 270 00:18:19,066 --> 00:18:23,596 pretty large notebook that goes along with the three-hour discussion. 271 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:28,770 So there's a lot of intake and information here. 272 00:18:28,767 --> 00:18:30,437 The Press: And I know you were asked about this yesterday, but 273 00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:34,463 we're hearing more -- we're hearing a mixed bag in New Orleans for tomorrow. 274 00:18:34,467 --> 00:18:36,337 We heard, you know, some people saying that there's been a lot 275 00:18:36,333 --> 00:18:39,003 more cooperation with this administration, but a lot of 276 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:43,970 other people saying they're very disappointed that he's not doing more than these two quick stops 277 00:18:43,967 --> 00:18:51,537 Mr. Gibbs: Again, understand that -- I think one of the previous visits 278 00:18:51,533 --> 00:18:54,133 that then candidate and Senator Barack Obama made -- I think one of the 279 00:18:54,133 --> 00:18:57,433 questions was -- there was some question this time about whether 280 00:18:57,433 --> 00:19:00,703 or not -- the appropriateness of a town hall meeting, when last 281 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:06,000 time I think one of the complaints was we weren't talking directly to people. 282 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:14,470 Chip, don't judge anybody on the amount of time that they've spent there. 283 00:19:14,467 --> 00:19:18,837 Don't judge -- judge only what this administration promised 284 00:19:18,834 --> 00:19:25,034 that they would do, what they've done every day, and what they're continuing to work on. 285 00:19:25,033 --> 00:19:32,063 We feel enormously confident that if you judge us on that, 286 00:19:32,066 --> 00:19:35,696 that we'll come out well compared -- not just compared to 287 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:40,930 previous efforts, but more importantly tangible 288 00:19:40,934 --> 00:19:47,404 improvements in the rebuilding and in the lives of people that stayed there. 289 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:55,070 Understand this President has been to the Lower 9th Ward. I was with him. We stood -- 290 00:19:55,066 --> 00:19:56,266 The Press: Not as President. 291 00:19:56,266 --> 00:19:59,896 Mr. Gibbs: No, not as President, but let me -- the Lower 9th 292 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:09,870 Ward, when the President went -- I haven't been recently but I saw it not long after the storm. 293 00:20:09,867 --> 00:20:15,967 We stood on the empty foundation where all you could see next to 294 00:20:15,967 --> 00:20:20,267 this giant levee that had been repaired -- all you could see 295 00:20:20,266 --> 00:20:24,136 were the cement foundations not unlike the podium that I stand 296 00:20:24,133 --> 00:20:26,933 on, for as long as you could see. 297 00:20:26,934 --> 00:20:31,034 We drove through the city when, as you all remember, the symbols 298 00:20:31,033 --> 00:20:34,263 on the door -- the circle with the X and the four numbers that 299 00:20:34,266 --> 00:20:38,666 denoted how people were here, how many people were lost, 300 00:20:38,667 --> 00:20:43,537 whether or not -- making sure everybody was accounted for. 301 00:20:43,533 --> 00:20:47,803 The President has been to schools. 302 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,470 This President has been active. 303 00:20:49,467 --> 00:20:51,267 His Cabinet has been active. 304 00:20:51,266 --> 00:20:59,366 This has been a destination unrivaled by almost any other 305 00:20:59,367 --> 00:21:04,567 for Cabinet officials and for administration officials. 306 00:21:04,567 --> 00:21:07,897 I think if we're judged simply on what we've done, which is all 307 00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:12,300 we'd ever asked that people do, I think they'll understand and 308 00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:17,870 see we haven't just made promises; we've delivered. 309 00:21:17,867 --> 00:21:21,967 The Press: Robert, just a quick follow-up on that. 310 00:21:21,967 --> 00:21:24,167 This seemed to touch a nerve. 311 00:21:24,166 --> 00:21:29,736 I mean, this criticism, do you think it's beyond -- like it's beyond the pale, this criticism? 312 00:21:29,734 --> 00:21:32,334 Do you at all appreciate the criticism that's coming -- 313 00:21:32,333 --> 00:21:35,403 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I appreciate everything that people have been through in New Orleans. 314 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,970 We all remember -- we all remember those pictures. 315 00:21:38,967 --> 00:21:41,697 And we all understand that we said those pictures should never 316 00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:46,400 happen again, and that those that have been affected by those 317 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:52,070 pictures should, through our efforts -- meaning the United 318 00:21:52,066 --> 00:21:55,666 States -- their lives should be rebuilt. 319 00:21:55,667 --> 00:21:59,097 That's what the President promised and that's what we're working to deliver. 320 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:01,230 The Press: When's the nextmeeting on Afghanistan, the next meeting 321 00:22:01,233 --> 00:22:03,163 of the War Cabinet? 322 00:22:03,166 --> 00:22:05,796 Mr. Gibbs: Sometime next week, but I don't have a specific date. 323 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,770 The Press: How many more meetings are we looking at? 324 00:22:07,767 --> 00:22:08,437 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know. 325 00:22:08,433 --> 00:22:14,363 I think -- I will check with scheduling, beyond the meeting next week. 326 00:22:14,367 --> 00:22:16,167 The Press: Is it -- where are we in the process? Is it fair -- 327 00:22:16,166 --> 00:22:18,596 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I -- 328 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,730 The Press: Are we still in the middle of a process or are we now -- 329 00:22:20,734 --> 00:22:24,034 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I don't -- I think the best -- I would just quote the 330 00:22:24,033 --> 00:22:27,733 President saying a decision would come -- a decision would happen in the coming weeks. 331 00:22:27,734 --> 00:22:29,664 The Press: And based on your answers both to Jake and to 332 00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:34,137 Jennifer, is it fair to say, then, this election issue, you'd 333 00:22:34,133 --> 00:22:36,903 like to have more resolution before you came out with some sort of -- 334 00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:38,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't want to -- 335 00:22:38,166 --> 00:22:39,566 The Press: I mean, it does seem like you -- 336 00:22:39,567 --> 00:22:41,237 Mr. Gibbs: I don't -- I mean, look, again -- 337 00:22:41,233 --> 00:22:45,303 The Press: Well, certainly you will not say thatthe election issue is 338 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:46,830 having no influence on this. 339 00:22:46,834 --> 00:22:49,604 Mr. Gibbs: No, I mean, I don't think anybody, regardless of 340 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:54,400 where they stood on the spectrum of strategies and numbers of 341 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,300 troops -- there's nobody that could credibly tell you that the 342 00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:04,000 government doesn't matter -- was nobody -- going back to whatever 343 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,670 historical example you want to use. 344 00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:18,867 I'm simply saying that there's -- we assume fairly soon that 345 00:23:18,867 --> 00:23:23,097 the commission looking into fraud will make a determination, 346 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:27,030 as will the international commission looking into this. 347 00:23:27,033 --> 00:23:32,763 We're not leaving. 348 00:23:32,767 --> 00:23:36,197 We're not talking -- the discussion in the Situation Room 349 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,800 is not X number of troops. 350 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,830 We're not talking about the BBC versus zero. 351 00:23:42,834 --> 00:23:46,134 So we're -- Mark, I had to work that in for you. 352 00:23:46,133 --> 00:23:47,363 The Press: Appreciate it. 353 00:23:47,367 --> 00:23:48,537 (laughter) 354 00:23:48,533 --> 00:23:51,263 Mr. Gibbs: So we're going to work with whatever government is 355 00:23:51,266 --> 00:23:54,496 there, and we have to have a strong partner. 356 00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:57,030 The Press: Have you guys talked about finding -- figuring out 357 00:23:57,033 --> 00:24:01,533 how to partner with other entities in Afghanistan that 358 00:24:01,533 --> 00:24:03,633 isn't necessarily the government, any tribal leaders? 359 00:24:03,633 --> 00:24:05,933 I mean, what is -- is there any of that? 360 00:24:05,934 --> 00:24:07,104 What is the status of -- 361 00:24:07,100 --> 00:24:11,870 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we did not get into that in depth today. 362 00:24:11,867 --> 00:24:16,167 We obviously talked part of the civilian -- the increase in 363 00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:18,566 civilian personnel partnering with the Afghan government, 364 00:24:18,567 --> 00:24:22,297 which the State Department discussed, is matching up our 365 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:26,500 resources with their Ministry of Agriculture. 366 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:40,170 Obviously Chairman Mullen has discussed our direct talking with the Ministry of Defense. 367 00:24:40,166 --> 00:24:43,696 So we have -- that is part of what the discussion is. 368 00:24:43,700 --> 00:24:44,800 The Press: But that's not the central government. 369 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,500 Is there any -- what about in sort of the -- 370 00:24:47,500 --> 00:24:51,100 Mr. Gibbs: We got into a whole range of governmental discussions today. 371 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:57,070 The Press: And then quickly, Dow 10,000 -- good, bad, indifferent? 372 00:24:57,066 --> 00:24:59,536 What does it mean for the American economy? 373 00:24:59,533 --> 00:25:00,163 Where do you guys see -- 374 00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:08,036 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I said this when I got asked about what 375 00:25:08,033 --> 00:25:10,363 was it, Dow 7,000 -- 376 00:25:10,367 --> 00:25:12,137 (laughter) 377 00:25:12,133 --> 00:25:16,433 -- that we don't measure the ups and downs of the stock market each day. 378 00:25:16,433 --> 00:25:21,263 I'll resist the temptation to do that on a day in which it's 379 00:25:21,266 --> 00:25:27,566 good, because seemingly somebody will come back on a day in which it's not as good. 380 00:25:27,567 --> 00:25:29,767 I think the President would be quick to tell you that's only 381 00:25:29,767 --> 00:25:34,337 one measure, obviously, of any sort of economic health. 382 00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:36,163 The Press: How positive a sign -- what does the economic team 383 00:25:36,166 --> 00:25:39,266 -- obviously, in your economic briefing this morning, you knew this was possible -- 384 00:25:39,266 --> 00:25:43,396 Mr. Gibbs: We didn't do the EDB today because of the Sit Room meeting. 385 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,570 But again, I would say, look, there are statistics out today 386 00:25:47,567 --> 00:25:56,767 on retail spending that beat expectations. 387 00:25:56,767 --> 00:26:01,897 So you see -- you see statistics that in some ways are good, you 388 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:04,530 see other statistics which you hope improve. 389 00:26:04,533 --> 00:26:09,603 And obviously, as the President said at his event this 390 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:14,400 afternoon, that the middle class that built this country into 391 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:20,400 what it is today has borne the enormous brunt of this recession. 392 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,700 Millions are out of work that want to work. 393 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:27,200 And the President will work each day to create an environment 394 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:32,270 where we're creating jobs, so that people that want to find jobs will be able to do so. 395 00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:33,766 Yes, ma'am. 396 00:26:33,767 --> 00:26:35,767 The Press: The President -- I wonder if the President had had 397 00:26:35,767 --> 00:26:38,767 an opportunity to read and comment upon the statement that 398 00:26:38,767 --> 00:26:42,667 Gordon Brown issued in committing the 500 more troops? 399 00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:47,167 In it he mentions among reasons for being there, for Britain, a 400 00:26:47,166 --> 00:26:51,766 peaceful and stable Afghanistan would be a strategic failure for al Qaeda. 401 00:26:51,767 --> 00:26:56,397 And that would seem to be a point of disagreement with the council at the moment. 402 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:01,130 Is there some downside in having Britain come out and make this kind of a statement? 403 00:27:01,133 --> 00:27:03,603 Are they espousing a certain view? 404 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:09,300 Mr. Gibbs: I doubt the President has had an opportunity to review that. 405 00:27:09,300 --> 00:27:15,370 Obviously, I think we've discussed our main goal in 406 00:27:15,367 --> 00:27:21,237 Afghanistan and Pakistan is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda. 407 00:27:21,233 --> 00:27:27,203 One of obviously the primary things is ensuring that nobody 408 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:33,170 has the ability, meaning the Taliban, to create a safe haven for the return of al Qaeda. 409 00:27:33,166 --> 00:27:36,896 That's obviously extremely important to not just our 410 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:39,270 government, but obviously to our allies. 411 00:27:39,266 --> 00:27:41,366 The Press: This seemed to go a bit beyond that in advocating 412 00:27:41,367 --> 00:27:45,397 for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, sort of taking a position -- 413 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,430 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to parse Prime Minister Brown's words. 414 00:27:48,433 --> 00:27:49,503 The Press: Can I get a quick follow-up to that? 415 00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:50,630 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 416 00:27:50,633 --> 00:27:52,663 The Press: Secretary of State Clinton, in an interview with 417 00:27:52,667 --> 00:27:55,397 Cynthia McFadden, made a comment about how one of the things 418 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:00,530 going on in the Sit Room is discussing which Taliban do pose a threat. 419 00:28:00,533 --> 00:28:04,063 Obviously, Afghan Taliban are not perceived to pose a direct 420 00:28:04,066 --> 00:28:06,166 threat to the United States or its allies. 421 00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:09,836 But in trying to gauge which ones would ally themselves with 422 00:28:09,834 --> 00:28:13,534 the al Qaeda so as to provide safe haven -- how do you make 423 00:28:13,533 --> 00:28:20,763 that determination between which Taliban would aid al Qaeda or 424 00:28:20,767 --> 00:28:22,537 extremist allies, and which ones would not? 425 00:28:22,533 --> 00:28:24,533 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously some of this is on the ground 426 00:28:24,533 --> 00:28:29,633 assessment based on their actions and what they've said, obviously. 427 00:28:29,633 --> 00:28:36,603 And we talked about this I think last week in relation to news articles. 428 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,900 Obviously, there are some that have traditionally aligned 429 00:28:38,900 --> 00:28:42,470 themselves with the providing of a safe haven. 430 00:28:42,467 --> 00:28:47,697 There are others that have aligned themselves with a local 431 00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:54,800 warlord, but at the same time don't present the type of global 432 00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:00,470 jihadist characteristics that one might see out of al Qaeda. 433 00:29:00,467 --> 00:29:03,967 The Press: Robert, would you now say that President Obama has 434 00:29:03,967 --> 00:29:08,967 spent more time in drafting an Afghanistan strategy than on any 435 00:29:08,967 --> 00:29:11,837 other subject since he's been President? 436 00:29:11,834 --> 00:29:16,334 Mr. Gibbs: No. I think he's probably spent more -- 437 00:29:16,333 --> 00:29:17,803 I think he's probably spent more time I think he's probably spent more time on the economy. 438 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:22,600 Obviously, Afghanistan is something that he has spent an awful lot of time on as of late. 439 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,870 And as I've said before, Mark, I think probably spent some 440 00:29:25,867 --> 00:29:30,967 portion of each day since we started calling him 441 00:29:30,967 --> 00:29:36,367 President-elect thinking about it, and obviously even back into the campaign. 442 00:29:36,367 --> 00:29:39,537 The Press: And did the President have any marching orders for 443 00:29:39,533 --> 00:29:42,263 Rahm as he went to the Hill today? 444 00:29:42,266 --> 00:29:43,236 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I heard him say. 445 00:29:43,233 --> 00:29:47,303 Obviously, we've been involved in this process, and we'll continue to be. 446 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:51,630 Obviously, our desire is to get something done this year, that 447 00:29:51,633 --> 00:29:54,663 we're closer to getting it done than we've ever been. 448 00:29:54,667 --> 00:29:59,867 And we're reminded today the status quo is expensive, it's 449 00:29:59,867 --> 00:30:03,297 expensive and it's directly out of the pockets of millions of 450 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:07,130 Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. 451 00:30:07,133 --> 00:30:09,263 The Press: Will the President's remarks tonight at the Kennedy 452 00:30:09,266 --> 00:30:11,966 Institute, will it include a health care component? 453 00:30:11,967 --> 00:30:15,267 Mr. Gibbs: I have not seen the remarks. 454 00:30:15,266 --> 00:30:20,636 I think it's rare that you speak about what Senator Kennedy spent 455 00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:23,863 a lifetime building without discussing health care. 456 00:30:23,867 --> 00:30:26,767 The Press: Is that a fundraiser for that institute? 457 00:30:26,767 --> 00:30:27,637 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware. 458 00:30:27,633 --> 00:30:32,803 I think it was misconstrued on the earlier guidance. 459 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,630 I do not think it is a fundraiser, but I'll double-check. 460 00:30:35,633 --> 00:30:36,933 The Press: A couple of quick follow-ups, and then a thematic 461 00:30:36,934 --> 00:30:38,304 question I want you to take. 462 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:39,670 The follow-ups, a follow-up to Chuck -- 463 00:30:39,667 --> 00:30:40,537 Mr. Gibbs: We can try. 464 00:30:40,533 --> 00:30:40,633 laughter) 465 00:30:40,633 --> 00:30:41,363 The Press: Does the President see there's anything 466 00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:45,237 in a disconnect between Wall Street 10,000, corporate profits 467 00:30:45,233 --> 00:30:47,963 at the expense of not rehiring, or the continued unemployment 468 00:30:47,967 --> 00:30:50,267 problems -- does the economic team or the President see any 469 00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:54,096 disconnect between what appears to be a rising tide of 470 00:30:54,100 --> 00:30:57,400 prosperity on Wall Street that's not trickling down -- it's not 471 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,970 being felt by Americans still looking for jobs? 472 00:30:59,967 --> 00:31:05,767 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think it just demonstrates that we 473 00:31:05,767 --> 00:31:11,297 still have work to do; that we still have progress to be made, 474 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:20,570 even as again we see positive retail sales figures, as we see 475 00:31:20,567 --> 00:31:26,397 an increasing Dow Jones average, as we see stabilization in the financial system. 476 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:31,370 Obviously, there are many different avenues of this, and 477 00:31:31,367 --> 00:31:32,697 we have to make it work for working Americans. 478 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:34,570 The Press: Is there any anxiety among the economic team that the 479 00:31:34,567 --> 00:31:38,597 retail sale numbers, which were better than expectations, were 480 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,130 in some ways boosted artificially by the lateness of 481 00:31:42,133 --> 00:31:46,103 Labor Day on the purchasing of back-to-school supplies there 482 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:49,830 and continued Cash for Clunkers auto -- 483 00:31:49,834 --> 00:31:54,204 Mr. Gibbs: Well, in fact -- I mean, I think if you take autos out of it, 484 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:54,500 I think many people 485 00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:58,630 looked at -- a number of times people examined these 486 00:31:58,633 --> 00:32:02,603 statistics minus auto sales and gas sales, because you could see 487 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:04,700 an increase in retail spending just because the price of gas 488 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:08,500 went up, which wouldn't be a good way of measuring economic 489 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:14,570 health -- obviously there was a pretty large decrease in auto 490 00:32:14,567 --> 00:32:18,797 sales, largely because -- and not surprisingly -- people made 491 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:26,900 those decisions based on an important incentive program that worked quite well. 492 00:32:26,900 --> 00:32:31,930 And look, I think in terms of school supplies and stuff -- 493 00:32:31,934 --> 00:32:39,004 look, I remember when I was in school in Alabama, we went the Tuesday after Labor Day. 494 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,930 This year, inexplicably -- well, they've been doing this for a 495 00:32:41,934 --> 00:32:45,064 while, but I think it was the second week in August they went back. 496 00:32:45,066 --> 00:32:49,296 So I think school supply sales are spread out over a decent amount of time. 497 00:32:49,300 --> 00:32:51,270 The Press: When you said health care can be done this year, 498 00:32:51,266 --> 00:32:53,136 that's obviously true. 499 00:32:53,133 --> 00:32:56,203 Would you be unwilling to say it will be done this year? 500 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:57,730 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think it will be. 501 00:32:57,734 --> 00:33:04,164 I think the President of the United States will sign into law health care reform this year. 502 00:33:04,166 --> 00:33:08,166 The Press: Will there be a public option? 503 00:33:08,166 --> 00:33:08,766 (laughter) 504 00:33:08,767 --> 00:33:10,767 Mr. Gibbs: We'll have choice and competition. 505 00:33:10,767 --> 00:33:11,497 The Press: Robert, one thematic question I'd like you to address. 506 00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:14,100 In the last couple of weeks -- I was not here last week so 507 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:17,170 forgive if you've gone over some of this territory -- there has 508 00:33:17,166 --> 00:33:20,996 become a small theme among some liberals that the President has 509 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:25,000 either been indecisive, or lacks sufficient backbone or has 510 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:30,400 failed to accomplish enough things on what progressives believe is their core agenda. 511 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:31,000 I could give you -- 512 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:32,130 Mr. Gibbs: I'd say yes and no. 513 00:33:32,133 --> 00:33:33,063 The Press: Okay. 514 00:33:33,066 --> 00:33:33,696 (laughter) 515 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:37,900 Would you, as you often like to do, step back and evaluate that criticism -- 516 00:33:37,900 --> 00:33:41,200 Mr. Gibbs: Well, what's -- I'm sorry, criticism based on? 517 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,270 The Press: Well, let's say the Middle East, asking the Israelis 518 00:33:44,266 --> 00:33:46,196 from settlements then backing away, or perceiving to have 519 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,300 backed away; accomplishing less than they are satisfied with on 520 00:33:49,300 --> 00:33:52,370 gay rights agenda; having what they -- appears to them to be a 521 00:33:52,367 --> 00:33:55,637 prolonged deliberative assessment of Afghanistan that 522 00:33:55,633 --> 00:33:59,503 may or may not result in a definitive decision that they are going to be happy with. 523 00:33:59,500 --> 00:34:00,470 These sort of themes. 524 00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:08,097 I'd like you to evaluate that -- 525 00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:10,900 Mr. Gibbs: I don't -- I don't think the President believed 526 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:18,070 that everything was going to besolved in the first several months of this administration. 527 00:34:18,066 --> 00:34:22,396 I don't think the President was under any illusion that after a 528 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,970 really long time of discussing Middle East peace, that 529 00:34:25,967 --> 00:34:33,897 everything would get done in -- before October of his first year. 530 00:34:33,900 --> 00:34:41,630 I think if you put any number of our accomplishments up against 531 00:34:41,633 --> 00:34:43,503 certainly what other administrations in their first 532 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:47,930 year have accomplished, I think already we've done well. 533 00:34:47,934 --> 00:34:50,834 And look, I'm happy to revisit this question as we get closer 534 00:34:50,834 --> 00:34:56,834 to the end of the year when I think that will even be more robust. 535 00:34:56,834 --> 00:34:59,464 The Press: With or without health care? 536 00:34:59,467 --> 00:35:02,097 Mr. Gibbs: But I said earlier that we would -- would get health care done. 537 00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:05,430 So that will be something we will talk about as an accomplishment. 538 00:35:05,433 --> 00:35:07,533 The Press: Up in the House Armed Services Committee today 539 00:35:07,533 --> 00:35:10,433 Congressman Buck McKeon criticized the current state of 540 00:35:10,433 --> 00:35:14,403 the Afghanistan strategy, saying it's in a state of drift and 541 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,130 lacking direction, and it's unfair to the forces to have 542 00:35:17,133 --> 00:35:19,663 this kind of drift while the review is going on. 543 00:35:19,667 --> 00:35:20,667 Can you respond to that? 544 00:35:20,667 --> 00:35:23,367 And can you talk a little bit about how the strategy is 545 00:35:23,367 --> 00:35:28,267 proceeding during this interim period while he's reviewing it? 546 00:35:28,266 --> 00:35:32,496 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know what the basis for some of those -- I 547 00:35:32,500 --> 00:35:36,070 don't know what the basis for what he said was. 548 00:35:36,066 --> 00:35:41,366 I don't know what -- I don't know what he said for nine 549 00:35:41,367 --> 00:35:49,167 months when General McKiernan's request for additional resources sat on someone's desk. 550 00:35:49,166 --> 00:35:52,536 I don't -- you could go back and ask him, and then I'd have a 551 00:35:52,533 --> 00:35:57,433 better avenue with which to comment on that. 552 00:35:57,433 --> 00:35:58,903 The Press: Let me ask you about going forward. 553 00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:00,770 We saw from -- in that same interview -- 554 00:36:00,767 --> 00:36:01,897 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me just say this. 555 00:36:01,900 --> 00:36:04,430 I will tell you this, I mean, I'll reiterate what I think what 556 00:36:04,433 --> 00:36:09,033 I've said several times now, because of what Secretary Gates has said. 557 00:36:09,033 --> 00:36:10,763 Again, and I said this yesterday, he's been involved in 558 00:36:10,767 --> 00:36:14,167 a number of administrations going back into the '80s, where 559 00:36:14,166 --> 00:36:18,396 he said quite clearly this is the first time we've evaluated 560 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:26,770 and had a comprehensive assessment of our strategy in Afghanistan since then. 561 00:36:26,767 --> 00:36:34,067 I think that is -- I think that is something that all should understand. 562 00:36:34,066 --> 00:36:35,466 The Press: Secretary Clinton, in this -- in the interview that 563 00:36:35,467 --> 00:36:39,437 Jake mentioned, talked about making up her own mind in the next few weeks. 564 00:36:39,433 --> 00:36:41,463 Is he going to have -- is the President going to have 565 00:36:41,467 --> 00:36:44,037 individual meetings with some of the participants in these big 566 00:36:44,033 --> 00:36:46,663 meetings to flesh out their individual views? 567 00:36:46,667 --> 00:36:47,967 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously, with somebody like a Secretary 568 00:36:47,967 --> 00:36:52,267 Clinton, he meets with her I think once a week in a standing 569 00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:55,636 meeting as he meets with Secretary Gates and Chairman Mullen. 570 00:36:55,633 --> 00:36:58,733 I think they talked yesterday. 571 00:36:58,734 --> 00:37:03,964 I mean, the President spoke either over -- I can't remember 572 00:37:03,967 --> 00:37:08,837 if it was over the weekend or on Monday with Ambassador Eikenberry. 573 00:37:08,834 --> 00:37:12,764 Obviously, there's a -- there are these meetings that we've 574 00:37:12,767 --> 00:37:18,467 now had five of, but the President will continue to speak 575 00:37:18,467 --> 00:37:22,737 individually, or in smaller groups, with those in asking 576 00:37:22,734 --> 00:37:28,564 them questions, or in asking their assessment of where he believes they are. 577 00:37:28,567 --> 00:37:31,867 And I think -- I think certainly that didn't necessarily start 578 00:37:31,867 --> 00:37:34,167 with this process, and I doubt it will end now. 579 00:37:34,166 --> 00:37:35,666 The Press: Let me ask you one final thing, yesterday you 580 00:37:35,667 --> 00:37:38,437 didn't have his political schedule in front of you -- 581 00:37:38,433 --> 00:37:42,033 Mr. Gibbs: And I don't -- I continue not to today. 582 00:37:42,033 --> 00:37:44,263 I know, I know. 583 00:37:44,266 --> 00:37:47,036 But I hope I've answered your Afghanistan question. 584 00:37:47,033 --> 00:37:49,203 (laughter) The Press: Well, wait a minute. 585 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:52,200 I mean, so (inaudible) dismissive decision yesterday 586 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,730 that you aren't going to schedule, or we are going to get it? 587 00:37:54,734 --> 00:37:58,004 Mr. Gibbs: No, I endeavored to answer your questions on 588 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,270 Afghanistan today, of which there have been many. 589 00:38:01,266 --> 00:38:04,496 And I haven't talked to the scheduler about that, but I'll 590 00:38:04,500 --> 00:38:10,400 be -- I will not be dismissive of Ann, I might be more of some other suggestions. 591 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:11,770 Go ahead. 592 00:38:11,767 --> 00:38:12,297 The Press: (Inaudible) 593 00:38:12,300 --> 00:38:14,000 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, I meant to call on you. (laughter) 594 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:15,730 The Press: (Inaudible) 595 00:38:15,734 --> 00:38:16,664 Mr. Gibbs: He what? 596 00:38:16,667 --> 00:38:19,767 The Press: You did say -- I thought -- 597 00:38:19,767 --> 00:38:21,797 The Press: So we're not going to get the schedule? 598 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,100 Mr. Gibbs: Go ahead. 599 00:38:23,100 --> 00:38:24,530 I'm happy to play semantic games. 600 00:38:24,533 --> 00:38:28,103 I just -- Chuck, I haven't looked at his schedule. 601 00:38:28,100 --> 00:38:29,000 I haven't looked at his schedule. 602 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:30,370 The Press: Okay, can you get back to us? 603 00:38:30,367 --> 00:38:32,937 Mr. Gibbs: I will get back to you, but not Chuck. Go. 604 00:38:32,934 --> 00:38:34,104 Press: Great. 605 00:38:34,100 --> 00:38:35,100 The Press: At the risk of (inaudible) the schedule 606 00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:36,930 (inaudible) discussion (inaudible) the President has 607 00:38:36,934 --> 00:38:40,204 until Friday at midnight to sign this Pakistan bill. 608 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,930 He's going to be on the road the next two days. 609 00:38:41,934 --> 00:38:45,534 I mean, is he going to do that today then? 610 00:38:45,533 --> 00:38:48,603 Mr. Gibbs: I don't believe it's today, but I don't know over the 611 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:51,770 course of Thursday or Friday when or where that will be. 612 00:38:51,767 --> 00:38:53,267 The Press: -- do it in New Orleans or do on the plane? 613 00:38:53,266 --> 00:38:55,296 Mr. Gibbs: We could do that. 614 00:38:55,300 --> 00:38:57,130 The Press: Has he been personally involved at all in 615 00:38:57,133 --> 00:39:00,863 talking with any of the Pakistani leaders, or people who 616 00:39:00,867 --> 00:39:01,837 are here in this building -- 617 00:39:01,834 --> 00:39:02,804 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of. 618 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:09,500 I know that folks here, and certainly at State and on the 619 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:14,200 Hill, have been in discussions about this. 620 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:17,970 I think General Jones has been in discussions on this as well. 621 00:39:17,967 --> 00:39:19,667 The Press: Did the White House ask for the statement that the 622 00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:20,797 House and Senate leaders -- 623 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,100 Mr. Gibbs: Let me check on that, and I'll get an answer on that. 624 00:39:23,100 --> 00:39:24,730 The Press: Can we come back to health care, Robert, and the 625 00:39:24,734 --> 00:39:30,564 anti-trust discussion that Harry Reid took the folks on the Hill into. 626 00:39:30,567 --> 00:39:34,597 I know that there was a Justice Department official involved in that as well. 627 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:37,700 Does the President think that this is the right time to remove 628 00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:40,000 these anti-trust protections from the insurance industry? 629 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:45,070 Mr. Gibbs: I know that Christine Varney was set to testify. 630 00:39:45,066 --> 00:39:51,296 I have not had a chance to review her testimony or see where we are on that. 631 00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,070 The Press: You can't even say that whether the timing has 632 00:39:54,066 --> 00:39:56,066 something to do with the insurance industry report that came out over the weekend? 633 00:39:56,066 --> 00:39:58,196 It just sort of seems -- 634 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:00,500 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know when the hearing was scheduled. 635 00:40:00,500 --> 00:40:07,630 My sense is that this has been something that Senator Leahy has worked on for quite some time. 636 00:40:07,633 --> 00:40:13,533 I don't -- you have to ask them on the schedule, the hearing schedule. 637 00:40:13,533 --> 00:40:16,933 The Press: After the President was at the U. N., 638 00:40:16,934 --> 00:40:21,064 there was some confidence that Russia would be supportive of 639 00:40:21,066 --> 00:40:25,396 efforts to invoke sanctions on Iran if that was necessary. 640 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:28,630 Now that the Secretary of State has been there, are there any 641 00:40:28,633 --> 00:40:32,133 further thoughts on whether Russia will be cooperative on that? 642 00:40:32,133 --> 00:40:36,033 Mr. Gibbs: I certainly saw the news reports from yesterday, but 643 00:40:36,033 --> 00:40:41,033 was in the room as many of you all were when Medvedev I think 644 00:40:41,033 --> 00:40:45,533 said quite clearly the time for that may come. 645 00:40:45,533 --> 00:40:50,333 And we have nothing that would suggest any different. 646 00:40:50,333 --> 00:40:51,163 Yes. 647 00:40:51,166 --> 00:40:53,966 The Press: Robert, can you comment on a report that General 648 00:40:53,967 --> 00:40:58,097 McChrystal may actually be asking for as many as 80,000 more troops? 649 00:40:58,100 --> 00:41:02,670 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get into any specifics on resource requests. 650 00:41:02,667 --> 00:41:04,567 The Press: Can you address the question of whether that number 651 00:41:04,567 --> 00:41:07,667 might actually be moving during the discussions? 652 00:41:07,667 --> 00:41:10,867 Has the General been asked to revisit it, or -- 653 00:41:10,867 --> 00:41:16,967 Mr. Gibbs: No, we have been discussing the assessment and the resource 654 00:41:16,967 --> 00:41:20,897 request that accompanies that assessment. 655 00:41:20,900 --> 00:41:26,900 To my knowledge, nobody in those meetings has said -- has called for a reassessment. 656 00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:27,830 The Press: Can I follow up on that, Robert? 657 00:41:27,834 --> 00:41:28,734 Mr. Gibbs: Sure. 658 00:41:28,734 --> 00:41:30,534 The Press: It's clear to participants in these meetings, 659 00:41:30,533 --> 00:41:31,963 when you say -- and when the President says -- we're not 660 00:41:31,967 --> 00:41:35,567 leaving Afghanistan that it's not to be entertained, that 661 00:41:35,567 --> 00:41:37,997 option is not to be entertained or discussed or even brought up? 662 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:40,170 I assume that is true, correct? 663 00:41:40,166 --> 00:41:42,696 Mr. Gibbs: The President laid that on the table and dispensed 664 00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:46,870 with that sort of straw man I think in -- again, I was not in 665 00:41:46,867 --> 00:41:49,567 the meeting that was held, the first meeting on Sunday, but 666 00:41:49,567 --> 00:41:51,437 certainly in the second meeting, yes. 667 00:41:51,433 --> 00:41:52,263 The Press: Two Sundays ago, okay. 668 00:41:52,266 --> 00:41:56,196 Is it also true that it's not worth discussing a reduction in 669 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:59,430 our current footprint, or is that an option that is alive and is being discussed? 670 00:41:59,433 --> 00:42:04,133 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President has addressed -- has 671 00:42:04,133 --> 00:42:06,863 addressed that and moved beyond that as well. 672 00:42:06,867 --> 00:42:09,297 The Press: So it's basically where we are now or something larger? 673 00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:12,070 Those are -- that is the essential resource question 674 00:42:12,066 --> 00:42:13,396 before the President and this group? 675 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:13,930 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 676 00:42:13,934 --> 00:42:14,964 The Press: Okay. 677 00:42:14,967 --> 00:42:15,797 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 678 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:18,100 The Press: Thank you, Robert, two brief questions. 679 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:22,470 Secretary -- former Secretary Kissinger last week said that 680 00:42:22,467 --> 00:42:26,167 along with following the recommendations of his 681 00:42:26,166 --> 00:42:30,296 ambassador and the generals in Afghanistan, President Obama 682 00:42:30,300 --> 00:42:34,430 should support an international conference and treaty that 683 00:42:34,433 --> 00:42:38,833 guarantees neutrality of Afghanistan in the long term, 684 00:42:38,834 --> 00:42:43,064 and he likened it to the Treaty of London that guaranteed Belgium neutrality. 685 00:42:43,066 --> 00:42:46,336 Is that something that's ever discussed in the meetings at all? 686 00:42:46,333 --> 00:42:49,233 Mr. Gibbs: I have not heard that topic discussed thus far, no. 687 00:42:49,233 --> 00:42:52,063 The Press: And the other thing I want to -- I mentioned last week about 688 00:42:52,066 --> 00:42:54,836 P.J. Crowley's comment referring to the Guantanamo inmates -- 689 00:42:54,834 --> 00:42:57,364 Mr. Gibbs: Oh, yes. Let me see where we are on that. 690 00:42:57,367 --> 00:43:01,367 I know somebody checked, but I have not heard back from what that was. 691 00:43:01,367 --> 00:43:02,267 The Press: Thank you, Robert. 692 00:43:02,266 --> 00:43:03,096 Mr. Gibbs: April. 693 00:43:03,100 --> 00:43:05,800 The Press: New Orleans, the word out of New Orleans -- the words 694 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:10,370 out of New Orleans, expedite recovery. 695 00:43:10,367 --> 00:43:14,837 You talk about the President and this administration being active there. 696 00:43:14,834 --> 00:43:19,404 Could you talk to me about how you are looking at expediting the recovery? 697 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:26,330 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think you have seen Homeland Security, 698 00:43:26,333 --> 00:43:32,063 HUD, and many other departments and agencies visit, resolve 699 00:43:32,066 --> 00:43:38,336 particularly housing issues down there, continue to focus on 700 00:43:38,333 --> 00:43:44,133 reconstruction, all of which has been a part of fulfilling -- 701 00:43:44,133 --> 00:43:47,033 continuing to fulfill -- and again, this is an active thing 702 00:43:47,033 --> 00:43:53,133 -- this isn't finished, this isn't something that's concluded 703 00:43:53,133 --> 00:44:02,503 -- ensuring that the focus is on rebuilding not just New Orleans, but the Gulf Coast area. 704 00:44:02,500 --> 00:44:05,570 The Press: Some are saying, especially in New Orleans, that 705 00:44:05,567 --> 00:44:11,837 -- the critics that bureaucracy and red tape have prevented it from being restored, and also -- 706 00:44:11,834 --> 00:44:13,034 Mr. Gibbs: They should talk to the governor. 707 00:44:13,033 --> 00:44:18,333 The governor was pretty clear that -- 708 00:44:18,333 --> 00:44:19,233 The Press: This is the current governor -- 709 00:44:19,233 --> 00:44:21,603 Mr. Gibbs: The current governor. 710 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:23,730 "As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama pledged to right 711 00:44:23,734 --> 00:44:29,834 the wrongs he said bogged down efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. 712 00:44:29,834 --> 00:44:32,564 " This is the lead, this is a -- "Seven months into the job, he 713 00:44:32,567 --> 00:44:36,497 is earning high praise from some unlikely places. 714 00:44:36,500 --> 00:44:39,670 Governor Jindal, Republican, Louisiana, says Obama's team has 715 00:44:39,667 --> 00:44:44,067 brought a more practical and flexible approach. 716 00:44:44,066 --> 00:44:45,166 " The Press: But do you think that -- 717 00:44:45,166 --> 00:44:48,636 Mr. Gibbs: "Many local officials offer similar reviews. 718 00:44:48,633 --> 00:44:51,233 Even Doug O'Dell, former President George W. 719 00:44:51,233 --> 00:44:55,103 Bush's recovery coordinator, says the Obama administration's 720 00:44:55,100 --> 00:45:00,300 new vision appears to be turning things around. 721 00:45:00,300 --> 00:45:01,170 " The Press: Okay. 722 00:45:01,166 --> 00:45:04,396 Even with all of that, do you think - (laughter) 723 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:05,800 Mr. Gibbs: All right, I'm going to -- I ought to stop you 724 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:06,830 before you ask that question. 725 00:45:06,834 --> 00:45:08,634 The Press: No, no, no, no. 726 00:45:08,633 --> 00:45:12,403 Mr. Gibbs: Even with -- even with all that okay, let me take that caveat. 727 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:17,630 Even with all of that aforementioned, unlikely praise 728 00:45:17,633 --> 00:45:20,003 The Press: I was not able to finish my question the first time. 729 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:21,930 Mr. Gibbs: Okay, go ahead. 730 00:45:21,934 --> 00:45:24,334 The Press: Thank you. 731 00:45:24,333 --> 00:45:27,503 The issue is, should the federal government have more of a part 732 00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:30,800 -- play more of a part to cut into the bureaucratic red tape 733 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:37,430 that's happening down there to help expedite the reconstruction? 734 00:45:37,433 --> 00:45:44,163 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, and we have, and we will, and we will continue to do so. 735 00:45:44,166 --> 00:45:48,336 This was -- this isn't -- this is a -- this is an American problem. 736 00:45:48,333 --> 00:45:55,933 This is a problem for everybody, despite whether you live in New Orleans or the Gulf Coast. 737 00:45:55,934 --> 00:46:02,464 That was the President's pledge to that region, and that's what 738 00:46:02,467 --> 00:46:07,467 he's done and what other people have said he's worked on doing. 739 00:46:07,467 --> 00:46:08,737 Yes, sir. 740 00:46:08,734 --> 00:46:10,234 The Press: I wonder if you could just -- The Press: Robert, 741 00:46:10,233 --> 00:46:12,563 apparently people are not going to be able to go to an event if 742 00:46:12,567 --> 00:46:13,867 we don't wrap up -- 743 00:46:13,867 --> 00:46:14,967 Mr. Gibbs: I'm happy to -- 744 00:46:14,967 --> 00:46:16,367 The Press: Far be it for me to prematurely -- 745 00:46:16,367 --> 00:46:18,137 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, I'll take this and then I will disappear 746 00:46:18,133 --> 00:46:19,433 lightly into the night. 747 00:46:19,433 --> 00:46:23,833 The Press: No, I was just going to follow up -- it was New 748 00:46:23,834 --> 00:46:26,434 Orleans and the Gulf Coast why not also visit Mississippi, because it was also hard hit? 749 00:46:26,433 --> 00:46:32,763 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously -- again, I don't think this is 750 00:46:32,767 --> 00:46:36,297 about rhetoric. I think this is about results and action. 751 00:46:36,300 --> 00:46:44,600 I think if you -- if you look, as many have done, into that 752 00:46:44,600 --> 00:46:48,330 area, into that region, about what's been helpful, I think 753 00:46:48,333 --> 00:46:55,603 you'll see state and local officials echo what I just read. 754 00:46:55,600 --> 00:46:58,630 I think that's what's important, and I think that's what the 755 00:46:58,633 --> 00:47:02,233 President, his Cabinet and his team will continue to focus on. 756 00:47:02,233 --> 00:47:02,663 Thanks, guys.