English subtitles for clip: File:12-8-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest:
Good afternoon,

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everybody.

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Nice to see you all.

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I hope you had a
pleasant weekend.

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As all of you know, we
had an unexpectedly busy

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Saturday afternoon here
with the President's trip

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to Walter Reed.

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Unfortunately, it
was after a lid

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had been called, so
the print pooler

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was not able
to accompany.

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But our friends at
Bloomberg and your friends

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at Bloomberg stepped in
to file a pool report.

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And, Mike, we're very
grateful for that service.

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That was something
that was of significant

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assistance not just to
your colleagues in the

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press corps but here
at the White House.

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So thank you for that.

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And as a small token
of gratitude,

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I'd like to invite you to ask
the first question today.

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The Press:
Ooooh! (laughter)

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Mr. Earnest:
I'm trying

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to do something
nice.

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Trying to do
something nice.

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Do something
nice for us,

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we're happy to
try to repay.

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The Press:
Let me ask

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you, obviously the
key question today --

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we're expecting the
CIA torture report

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to come out
this week.

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How well prepared
does the President

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think U. S. embassies and
foreign installations

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are for the
potential reaction?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, Mike,

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we have heard from
the committee

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that they do intend to release
the report tomorrow.

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The timing of the release
of the report is something

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that has always been up to
the committee and this is

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the decision that
they have made.

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The administration has
been for months preparing

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for the release
of this report.

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There are some indications
that the release

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of the report could
lead to a greater risk

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that is posed to U. S. facilities and individuals

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all around the world, so the administration has taken

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the prudent steps to ensure that the proper security precautions

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are in place at U. S.
facilities around the globe.

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But that said -- and this
is the last, key part --

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that said, the
administration

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strongly supports the release
of this declassified summary

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of the report.

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The President, on his
first or second day

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in office, took the steps
using executive action

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to put an end to the
tactics that are described

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in the report and the
President believes that,

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on principle, it's important
to release that report

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so that people around
the world and people

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here at home understand
exactly what transpired.

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There obviously are going
to be some limits about

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what can be said given the
classified nature

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of the program, but because
of the scrupulous work

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of the committee and
the administration

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and the intelligence
community, in particular,

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we've declassified as much
of that report as we can.

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And we want to be sure that
we can release that report,

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be transparent about
it, and be clear

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about what American values
are, and be clear about

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the fact that the
administration believes,

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in a way that's consistent
with American values,

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that something like this
should never happen again.

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The Press:
Sort of

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on a tangentially related 
subject of human rights,

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Attorney General Holder,
as you well know,

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today put out a new report
on federal guidelines

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on racial profiling, and he
discussed it this morning.

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Does the President feel
like these guidelines

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on racial profiling
should also be followed

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ultimately by state and
local police agencies?

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And if he does feel that
it's a good idea,

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what steps does he want to
take to forward that goal?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, Mike,

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you're right that the
Department of Justice

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did put out some new rules today
that will enhance

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the protections of -- civil
rights protections

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above and beyond what is
otherwise required by the

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United States Constitution and
by existing federal law.

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These standards
will apply

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to federal law
enforcement officers.

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And we certainly would
welcome a decision

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that's made by -- any decision
that's made by local law

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enforcement to apply these
policies at the state

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and local level as well.

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We would certainly welcome
that kind of development.

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This is a policy that the
Attorney General

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has been working on for
quite some time now.

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And this is something that was
done in close consultation

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with attorneys at the
Department of Justice

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as well as law
enforcement officials

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all across
the federal government.

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And it does reflect a
significant enhancement

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of protections for all
Americans in a way

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that will not have any
impact on the ability

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of these federal law
enforcement officers

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to do the important
work that's necessary

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to keep the American
people safe.

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Now, back to our regularly
scheduled programming.

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Julie.

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The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

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Back to the
torture report.

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The White House put out a
statement on Friday

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that said that Secretary
Kerry had notified

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the White House that he
would call Senator Feinstein

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to share information that he
thought would be pertinent

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to the timing of the
release of the report.

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If the President wants the
report released this week,

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why didn't he tell
Secretary Kerry

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not to make that
phone call?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, Julie,

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Senator Kerry -- and I will
read from the readout

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that the State
Department put out --

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made clear that he
strongly supports --

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as the President does --
strongly supports

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the release of this
declassified version

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of the summary of the report
for the same values-based

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reasons that the President
does, which is we should

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be as transparent as we
possibly can about

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what transpired to allow
the American people

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and people around the world
to examine what occurred,

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and to be just as clear
and transparent about

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what American
values are.

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The President and the
Secretary share the view

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that the release
of the report

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is important for
that purpose.

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The Press:
So then

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what was the purpose of the
phone call as it related

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to timing of the
release of the report?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, again,

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for details of the actual phone
call that transpired --

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The Press:
Secretary Kerry

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called the President
to say that he was going

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to make the phone call,
so clearly the White House

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has information about
what the purpose

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of the phone call was.

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Mr. Earnest:
Well,

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I will allow Secretary Kerry
to explain exactly why

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he made the phone call, and
that's included in the report --

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or in the readout that
the State Department

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issued over
the weekend.

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There are two unmistakable
principles here, though,

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which is that the
administration has taken

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the necessary precautions
because of the potential

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that exists that the
release of the report

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could have an impact on
the security situation

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at U.S. facilities
around the globe.

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But at the same time,
we've taken the necessary

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precautions and done what
is prudent to ensure

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that our facilities and
our personnel are safe.

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But we also want to
make sure that this very

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important information is
communicated because

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of the need to be clear about
our values and to be clear

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about the fact that
what transpired

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should not
occur again.

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The Press:
On the unsuccessful

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raid in Yemen
this weekend,

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the head of an aid group
that was working to secure

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the release of Pierre
Korkie, the South African

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who was being held
alongside of Somers,

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says that it kept
the Yemeni government

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apprised of its
negotiation with AQAP,

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and that two weeks ago,
there was an exchange

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of information about
those negotiations

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in which American
officials were present.

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I know that some officials
have said that the U. S.

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was not aware that there
was an imminent release.

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Can you say what the
U.S. was aware of

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as it relates to negotiations
for Pierre Korkie's release?

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Mr. Earnest:
What I can tell you

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is that the United States
had no information

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that there were
private negotiations

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underway for the
release of Mr. Korkie.

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The Press:
You didn't know there

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were any negotiations in general
for his release underway?

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Mr. Earnest:
That is correct.

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That is the information
that I have.

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That said, we obviously
mourn the death

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of Mr. Korkie in the
same way that we mourn

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the death of
Mr. Somers.

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Today, the thoughts and
prayers of everybody here

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at the White House are
with the Somers family,

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in particular, for the
terrible loss

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of their son.

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He was an innocent
individual

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who was ruthlessly murdered
by AQAP militants.

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And the President, over
the course of

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the last several weeks,
ordered two separate special

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operations raids to try
to secure his rescue,

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and unfortunately, while
those raids were carried out

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flawlessly even under
very significant

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time constraints, Mr. Somers
was not successfully rescued.

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But it should be a clear
and unmistakable signal

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to the militants in
Yemen and to militants

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around the world that the United
States and President Obama

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will not tolerate the
unjustified detention

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and hostage-taking of American
citizens, and we will expend

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significant
resources to secure

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the release of those
individuals.

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The Press:
Just to go back

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to sort of the U.S. information
about Pierre Korkie.

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Again, this aid group says
that there was an exchange

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of information about the
private negotiations that

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happened two weeks ago in
Yemen; American officials

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were present as well as
Yemeni government officials.

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Are you saying that
that did not happen?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well,

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all I can tell you, Julie,
is that the United States

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did not have information
about the private negotiations

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that this aid group
says were underway

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to secure the release
of Mr. Korkie.

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The Press:
And just finally,

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officials said last month
that the President

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had ordered a review
of U.S. policy

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towards
the hostages.

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Do you have any
update on that review?

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Mr. Earnest:
I don't have an update

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on the current status.

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This was part of an
interagency review.

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There are a lot of
agencies, as you would

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expect, who are involved
in working to try to

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secure the release of
American hostages held

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around the world.

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There obviously is a
significant intelligence

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component; there's a law
enforcement component;

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there's a military
component;

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there's a diplomatic
component.

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So each of these agencies
has some work that's involved.

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And the President asked
for a review to try to see

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if there were some steps
that we could take to

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better integrate those
efforts to make them

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more efficient and more
effective, and also

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to ease the burden -- the
significant burden

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that is on families who are
in this terrible,

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even unthinkable, situation
of having a loved one

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that's being
held hostage.

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So that review
is underway.

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I don't have an update at
this point, but I would

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anticipate that when we've
concluded that review,

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we'll have more
to say about it.

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Steve.

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The Press:
Josh,

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some family members of Luke
Somers are reportedly

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00:10:12,511 --> 00:10:14,481
complaining about
what happened.

251
00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,520
Are there any second
thoughts here about

252
00:10:16,515 --> 00:10:19,355
the wisdom of carrying out
these sort of rescue attempts,

253
00:10:19,352 --> 00:10:22,492
and going forward, will
you do more of these?

254
00:10:22,488 --> 00:10:24,888
Mr. Earnest:
The simple answer to that,

255
00:10:24,890 --> 00:10:28,130
Steve, is, no, the President
does not at all regret

256
00:10:28,127 --> 00:10:32,797
ordering this mission to
try to rescue Mr. Somers.

257
00:10:32,798 --> 00:10:34,798
There are a few
reasons for that.

258
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,840
The first is, as we
saw from the video,

259
00:10:37,837 --> 00:10:41,537
it is apparent that these
militants were planning

260
00:10:41,540 --> 00:10:45,850
to kill Mr. Somers on
Saturday, and that's why

261
00:10:45,845 --> 00:10:49,245
this raid was executed,
on very short notice,

262
00:10:49,248 --> 00:10:51,388
on Friday night
-- that there was

263
00:10:51,384 --> 00:10:53,384
a very limited
window for action.

264
00:10:53,386 --> 00:10:58,726
And that is a testament,
more than anything else,

265
00:10:58,724 --> 00:11:02,064
I think, to the bravery and
skill of our men and women

266
00:11:02,061 --> 00:11:04,731
in uniform, who, like I
said, for the second time

267
00:11:04,730 --> 00:11:06,730
in just a few weeks here,
put their lives

268
00:11:06,732 --> 00:11:08,872
on the line in a very
dangerous country

269
00:11:08,868 --> 00:11:11,508
and a very dangerous
mission, to try to secure

270
00:11:11,504 --> 00:11:13,044
the safe rescue
of Mr. Somers.

271
00:11:13,039 --> 00:11:16,579
And while our hearts are
filled with sorrow

272
00:11:16,575 --> 00:11:20,745
for the Somers family, we also
are feeling a lot of gratitude

273
00:11:20,746 --> 00:11:23,116
toward those men and women
in uniform who risked

274
00:11:23,115 --> 00:11:26,315
their lived to try to
secure his release.

275
00:11:26,318 --> 00:11:31,128
And as I mentioned earlier
in response to Julie's question,

276
00:11:31,123 --> 00:11:34,763
this should be taken by
militants around the world

277
00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,360
as a clear sign of this
President's resolve

278
00:11:38,364 --> 00:11:41,934
to do everything possible
to rescue Americans

279
00:11:41,934 --> 00:11:44,104
who are being held hostage
anywhere around the globe.

280
00:11:44,103 --> 00:11:48,373
And militants or extremist
organizations that decide

281
00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:51,544
to take the risk of taking
an American hostage

282
00:11:51,544 --> 00:11:52,544
are put on notice today.

283
00:11:52,545 --> 00:11:55,085
The Press:
And just one other thing.

284
00:11:55,081 --> 00:11:58,981
Reports about Ron Klain
leaving I think next March --

285
00:11:58,984 --> 00:12:01,824
does this mean that
you feel like you have

286
00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:03,821
a pretty good handle
on the Ebola crisis,

287
00:12:03,823 --> 00:12:05,863
that he's now
able to leave?

288
00:12:05,858 --> 00:12:07,498
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

289
00:12:07,493 --> 00:12:11,633
Mr. Klain is planning to leave
because he originally

290
00:12:11,630 --> 00:12:14,530
came on board in a status
that's described as

291
00:12:14,533 --> 00:12:16,833
a Special Government Employee.

292
00:12:16,836 --> 00:12:18,836
That's what allows
individuals to come

293
00:12:18,838 --> 00:12:20,838
and serve the government
for 130 days.

294
00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,180
And Mr. Klain's 130
days will be up

295
00:12:23,175 --> 00:12:25,915
at the beginning of March, and
at that time, he has said

296
00:12:25,911 --> 00:12:28,751
that he'll return to
the private sector.

297
00:12:28,747 --> 00:12:31,087
There is no doubt we've
made substantial progress

298
00:12:31,083 --> 00:12:35,423
against Ebola since Mr.
Klain came on board.

299
00:12:35,421 --> 00:12:37,521
We've made substantial
progress in leveraging

300
00:12:37,523 --> 00:12:41,993
U.S. in West Africa to try
to stop this Ebola outbreak

301
00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:43,394
in its tracks.

302
00:12:43,395 --> 00:12:45,395
Most of those efforts
have been concentrated

303
00:12:45,397 --> 00:12:48,367
in Liberia, and the
statistics there indicate

304
00:12:48,367 --> 00:12:50,567
that we've made
substantial progress.

305
00:12:50,569 --> 00:12:52,569
There is still more
important work that needs

306
00:12:52,571 --> 00:12:59,581
to be done and we still
haven't achieved our goal

307
00:12:59,578 --> 00:13:02,148
of stopping this outbreak
in its tracks, but we've

308
00:13:02,148 --> 00:13:03,248
made substantial progress.

309
00:13:03,249 --> 00:13:05,519
And the statistics about
the spread of this disease

310
00:13:05,518 --> 00:13:07,858
in that country
bear that out.

311
00:13:07,853 --> 00:13:10,593
We've also made important
progress in enhancing

312
00:13:10,589 --> 00:13:14,159
the readiness of medical
facilities here at home.

313
00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,000
And this was included in
the factsheet that we put out

314
00:13:17,997 --> 00:13:19,227
last week in
association with

315
00:13:19,231 --> 00:13:22,201
the President's visit to the
NIH that when Mr. Klain

316
00:13:22,201 --> 00:13:24,801
came on board there
were only three medical

317
00:13:24,803 --> 00:13:26,903
facilities in the United
States, I believe,

318
00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:31,646
that were prepped to treat
an Ebola patient safely.

319
00:13:31,644 --> 00:13:35,284
That number is now up to
35 hospitals nationwide.

320
00:13:35,281 --> 00:13:38,181
And again, that is a
testament to the efforts

321
00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:41,224
that Mr. Klain has
undertaken to integrate

322
00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:43,620
the response from a
variety of agencies to

323
00:13:43,622 --> 00:13:45,622
ensure that we're
focused on these goals.

324
00:13:45,624 --> 00:13:47,594
We've made substantial
progress thanks

325
00:13:47,593 --> 00:13:49,593
to his leadership, and we're
certainly appreciative

326
00:13:49,595 --> 00:13:50,595
of all that he's done.

327
00:13:50,596 --> 00:13:51,596
The Press:
And when he leaves,

328
00:13:51,597 --> 00:13:53,597
will there be another
Ebola coordinator?

329
00:13:53,599 --> 00:13:54,599
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

330
00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,600
that's something that we'll
have to evaluate next year.

331
00:13:56,602 --> 00:13:58,602
The reason that he
was brought on board,

332
00:13:58,604 --> 00:14:00,744
as we mentioned, is that the
President believed

333
00:14:00,739 --> 00:14:03,639
that it was important for
us to have one person

334
00:14:03,642 --> 00:14:08,112
who could dedicate full-time --
and believe me, Mr. Klain

335
00:14:08,113 --> 00:14:10,983
has worked more than full-time
in the time that he's been here

336
00:14:10,983 --> 00:14:13,883
-- but that could dedicate 100
percent of their energy

337
00:14:13,886 --> 00:14:16,726
to focusing on this
specific challenge.

338
00:14:16,722 --> 00:14:20,022
There's no question that
we've made substantial progress

339
00:14:20,025 --> 00:14:25,995
in putting in place processes
to integrate our response.

340
00:14:25,998 --> 00:14:28,438
There now is a more
routinized process

341
00:14:28,434 --> 00:14:30,434
for dealing with individuals,
for example,

342
00:14:30,436 --> 00:14:32,436
who have recently
traveled in West Africa

343
00:14:32,438 --> 00:14:34,438
and are attempting to
enter the country.

344
00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,480
We've now got that down
to a pretty solid routine.

345
00:14:37,476 --> 00:14:39,476
There is a larger footprint
that's on the ground

346
00:14:39,478 --> 00:14:41,478
now in West Africa
both in terms of

347
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,220
Department of Defense personnel,
but also USAID and others.

348
00:14:44,216 --> 00:14:47,916
They're also working
together more smoothly.

349
00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:52,960
So the question that we'll
have to answer is --

350
00:14:52,958 --> 00:14:55,698
even if we have not
accomplished the goal

351
00:14:55,694 --> 00:14:57,694
of stopping this Ebola
outbreak in its tracks

352
00:14:57,696 --> 00:14:59,696
in West Africa -- and
I do not anticipate

353
00:14:59,698 --> 00:15:01,698
that we will have reached that
goal -- the question

354
00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:05,200
will be, will it require
one individual to dedicate

355
00:15:05,204 --> 00:15:07,644
100 percent of their
time to focusing on this

356
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,610
to continue the progress
towards that goal.

357
00:15:10,609 --> 00:15:12,609
It's still an open
question now about whether

358
00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:14,781
that will be required,
and something I anticipate

359
00:15:14,780 --> 00:15:18,520
we'll discuss in the run-up
to early March next year.

360
00:15:18,517 --> 00:15:19,517
Jon.

361
00:15:19,518 --> 00:15:20,518
The Press:
Coming back

362
00:15:20,519 --> 00:15:25,429
to this Kerry -- John Kerry's
phone call to Dianne Feinstein.

363
00:15:25,424 --> 00:15:28,664
He was clearly expressing
concerns about the timing,

364
00:15:28,661 --> 00:15:31,661
as we heard from the
State Department,

365
00:15:31,664 --> 00:15:34,234
of the release
of this report.

366
00:15:34,233 --> 00:15:37,803
Did the President or
does the President share

367
00:15:37,803 --> 00:15:40,403
Kerry's concerns about the
timing of the release

368
00:15:40,406 --> 00:15:41,406
of this report?

369
00:15:41,407 --> 00:15:42,777
Mr. Earnest:
We've been candid

370
00:15:42,775 --> 00:15:44,745
from the beginning,
Jon, that we believe

371
00:15:44,743 --> 00:15:47,543
it's the committee's decision to
determine the appropriate timing

372
00:15:47,546 --> 00:15:48,816
for the release of
this report.

373
00:15:48,814 --> 00:15:50,814
And that's why the
administration has been

374
00:15:50,816 --> 00:15:53,586
at work for months now to
prepare for this report's

375
00:15:53,585 --> 00:15:56,485
eventual release; that
there have been concerns

376
00:15:56,488 --> 00:15:58,488
that have been raised
that have been validated

377
00:15:58,490 --> 00:16:02,030
by the intelligence community
that indicate that

378
00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:07,197
the release of the report
may have an impact

379
00:16:07,199 --> 00:16:09,739
on the security situation
at U.S. facilities

380
00:16:09,735 --> 00:16:11,705
around the world,
and that's why this

381
00:16:11,704 --> 00:16:13,704
administration has been
working for months to plan

382
00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:17,646
for this day and to ensure
that the prudent steps

383
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:21,083
are taken to protect
American personnel

384
00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,080
and American facilities
around the globe.

385
00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:24,082
The Press:
And then

386
00:16:24,083 --> 00:16:28,523
on the central question here,
which is did these tactics,

387
00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,090
these so-called enhanced
interrogation techniques

388
00:16:31,090 --> 00:16:35,860
produce any actionable
intelligence -- the

389
00:16:35,861 --> 00:16:41,271
committee believes they didn't;
the CIA believes they did.

390
00:16:41,266 --> 00:16:44,506
Where does the White House
stand on that question?

391
00:16:44,503 --> 00:16:47,373
Does the White House
believe that these tactics

392
00:16:47,373 --> 00:16:49,373
produced any actionable
intelligence?

393
00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:54,215
Mr. Earnest: Well, this
is something that -- the

394
00:16:54,213 --> 00:16:56,913
President felt it was
important for us,

395
00:16:56,915 --> 00:17:00,385
for the American people to have
a clear, unvarnished look,

396
00:17:00,386 --> 00:17:02,456
or at least as clear a
look as possible into this

397
00:17:02,454 --> 00:17:06,354
classified program about
what actually transpired.

398
00:17:06,358 --> 00:17:08,358
And that's why the
President believes that

399
00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:10,600
the release of this
report is so important.

400
00:17:10,596 --> 00:17:12,396
I haven't read the report.

401
00:17:12,398 --> 00:17:15,168
It's unclear whether or
not the committee has

402
00:17:15,167 --> 00:17:17,637
actually taken up the
question that you are

403
00:17:17,636 --> 00:17:19,706
raising, but certainly,
they'll have something

404
00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:20,705
important to say about it.

405
00:17:20,706 --> 00:17:22,706
The Press: But I
understand, obviously,

406
00:17:22,708 --> 00:17:25,608
that the President was
very much opposed to these

407
00:17:25,611 --> 00:17:28,551
tactics, thought they were
morally reprehensible, not

408
00:17:28,547 --> 00:17:30,817
something the United
States should be doing.

409
00:17:30,816 --> 00:17:33,356
But what does the White
House believe

410
00:17:33,352 --> 00:17:34,352
on that question?

411
00:17:34,353 --> 00:17:36,353
Did they produce
actionable intelligence?

412
00:17:36,355 --> 00:17:37,855
It's just a yes or a no.

413
00:17:37,856 --> 00:17:40,356
Did he believe they
actually -- you can think

414
00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:42,759
the tactics were not --
shouldn't have been done,

415
00:17:42,761 --> 00:17:45,661
but did they -- were they
effective in any way?

416
00:17:45,664 --> 00:17:48,234
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, as
you pointed out, there are

417
00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:50,773
a variety of views across
the federal government about --

418
00:17:50,769 --> 00:17:51,769
The Press:
Yes,

419
00:17:51,770 --> 00:17:52,770
so what's the
President's view?

420
00:17:52,771 --> 00:17:54,771
Mr. Earnest:
-- the effectiveness.

421
00:17:54,773 --> 00:17:56,773
Well, there may be an
opportunity for you

422
00:17:56,775 --> 00:17:57,775
ask him that question.

423
00:17:57,776 --> 00:17:59,776
What I will tell you
is that the President

424
00:17:59,778 --> 00:18:02,948
believes that the use
of those tactics

425
00:18:02,948 --> 00:18:05,418
was unwarranted, that they
were inconsistent

426
00:18:05,417 --> 00:18:07,857
with our values and did
not make us safer.

427
00:18:07,853 --> 00:18:09,853
That, of course, is a
different question than

428
00:18:09,855 --> 00:18:11,855
the one that you're asking
about --

429
00:18:11,857 --> 00:18:13,457
The Press:
Right --

430
00:18:13,459 --> 00:18:15,959
Mr. Earnest:
Let me finish this --

431
00:18:15,961 --> 00:18:19,361
did they unearth useful national
intelligence information.

432
00:18:19,364 --> 00:18:21,804
And I think the President
would say -- and this

433
00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,100
is clear from the President's
decision to outlaw these

434
00:18:24,102 --> 00:18:27,372
techniques -- that even if
they did, that it

435
00:18:27,372 --> 00:18:29,372
wasn't worth it, and
it did not enhance

436
00:18:29,374 --> 00:18:31,344
the national security of the
United States of America.

437
00:18:31,343 --> 00:18:32,343
The Press:
But let me

438
00:18:32,344 --> 00:18:35,514
try just one last very specific
one that you've certainly talked

439
00:18:35,514 --> 00:18:39,284
a lot about over
the last few years.

440
00:18:39,284 --> 00:18:45,694
Osama bin Laden -- were
these techniques crucial

441
00:18:45,691 --> 00:18:48,661
to getting the
intelligence that led to

442
00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:52,760
the killing of
Osama bin Laden?

443
00:18:52,764 --> 00:18:54,934
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Jon,

444
00:18:54,933 --> 00:18:57,673
this has been litigated quite
extensively, and it --

445
00:18:57,669 --> 00:18:58,669
The Press:
You should

446
00:18:58,670 --> 00:19:01,740
have an answer right there
at the tip of your --

447
00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:04,110
Mr. Earnest:
Well, these are, of course,

448
00:19:04,109 --> 00:19:06,549
complicated issues and
they're worthy of discussion.

449
00:19:06,545 --> 00:19:08,545
And this was something
that was talked about

450
00:19:08,547 --> 00:19:11,217
quite a bit in the days
immediately following the

451
00:19:11,216 --> 00:19:13,216
successful raid against
Osama bin Laden.

452
00:19:13,218 --> 00:19:17,558
These were issues that
were raised and discussed

453
00:19:17,556 --> 00:19:20,056
extensively in conjunction
with the release

454
00:19:20,058 --> 00:19:21,998
of "Zero Dark Thirty"
I believe

455
00:19:21,994 --> 00:19:23,994
a little over a
year ago now.

456
00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:27,898
And there were a
variety of views about

457
00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:31,200
whether or not information
that was gleaned

458
00:19:31,203 --> 00:19:36,773
from enhanced interrogation
techniques led to

459
00:19:36,775 --> 00:19:40,515
the eventual capture
of Osama bin Laden.

460
00:19:40,512 --> 00:19:45,522
And what we have been
clear about and what

461
00:19:45,517 --> 00:19:50,757
the President has been clear
about is that he does not

462
00:19:50,756 --> 00:19:55,966
believe that the use
of these enhanced

463
00:19:55,961 --> 00:19:58,801
interrogation techniques
is justified.

464
00:19:58,797 --> 00:20:00,797
He does not believe that
that makes us safer.

465
00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:01,799
He does not
believe that it's

466
00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,800
in the core national
security interest.

467
00:20:03,802 --> 00:20:05,802
And so the point is,
you're asking a very

468
00:20:05,804 --> 00:20:07,804
difficult question and
there are a variety

469
00:20:07,806 --> 00:20:09,806
of views on it, but it's
the President's view that

470
00:20:09,808 --> 00:20:12,978
wherever you come down on
this equation of, yes,

471
00:20:12,978 --> 00:20:15,478
it yielded information
that was helpful, yes,

472
00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,250
it yielded information that
was crucial, or no, it

473
00:20:18,250 --> 00:20:20,990
didn't yield any helpful
information, the President

474
00:20:20,986 --> 00:20:22,986
believes that regardless
of what the answer to that

475
00:20:22,988 --> 00:20:27,088
question is, that the use
of these techniques

476
00:20:27,092 --> 00:20:30,492
was not worth it because of
the harm that was done

477
00:20:30,495 --> 00:20:35,565
to our national values and
the sense of

478
00:20:35,567 --> 00:20:37,667
what it is that we
believe in as Americans.

479
00:20:37,669 --> 00:20:38,669
The Press:
Is there

480
00:20:38,670 --> 00:20:41,070
any daylight between the
President and the CIA

481
00:20:41,073 --> 00:20:43,073
on the question of
whether or not

482
00:20:43,075 --> 00:20:45,275
it yielded any
critical intelligence?

483
00:20:45,277 --> 00:20:46,477
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

484
00:20:46,478 --> 00:20:48,718
I think it is apparent
from at least some

485
00:20:48,714 --> 00:20:52,614
of the anonymous sources that
you and others have at the CIA

486
00:20:52,618 --> 00:20:53,788
that there are
people who have

487
00:20:53,785 --> 00:20:56,155
a variety of
opinions on this.

488
00:20:56,154 --> 00:20:57,494
But with all
due respect --

489
00:20:57,489 --> 00:20:59,459
The Press:
How about the CIA Director?

490
00:20:59,458 --> 00:21:01,458
Mr. Earnest:
-- with all due respect

491
00:21:01,460 --> 00:21:03,460
to those, I think that the
views of the Commander-in-Chief

492
00:21:03,462 --> 00:21:05,462
are the ones that
are most important.

493
00:21:05,464 --> 00:21:06,464
The Press:
Okay.

494
00:21:06,465 --> 00:21:08,465
And you include the
CIA Director on that?

495
00:21:08,467 --> 00:21:10,467
Because I'm not talking
about anonymous sources.

496
00:21:10,469 --> 00:21:12,469
I'm saying, is there
any daylight between

497
00:21:12,471 --> 00:21:14,471
the President and
his CIA Director?

498
00:21:14,473 --> 00:21:15,473
Mr. Earnest:
You'd have to ask

499
00:21:15,474 --> 00:21:17,474
Director Brennan exactly what
he believes about that.

500
00:21:17,476 --> 00:21:19,476
And I think he has been
asked this question

501
00:21:19,478 --> 00:21:21,478
in the context of
congressional testimony.

502
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,480
I don't have that directly
in front of me, but I know

503
00:21:23,482 --> 00:21:25,482
that there was an
extensive discussion

504
00:21:25,484 --> 00:21:27,484
of this issue even during
his confirmation hearings.

505
00:21:27,486 --> 00:21:28,486
Michelle.

506
00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:29,487
The Press:
I'm not sure

507
00:21:29,488 --> 00:21:31,458
if I got your answer from
your response to Jon

508
00:21:31,456 --> 00:21:33,456
when he asked about the
President having

509
00:21:33,458 --> 00:21:34,458
some concerns
about the timing.

510
00:21:34,459 --> 00:21:37,029
I know that he strongly
supports the release

511
00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:40,769
of the report, but was he
or is he concerned about

512
00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:41,766
releasing it now?

513
00:21:41,767 --> 00:21:47,107
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Michelle,

514
00:21:47,105 --> 00:21:50,205
there have been concerns
that have been expressed

515
00:21:50,208 --> 00:21:53,178
by members of the intelligence
community and others

516
00:21:53,178 --> 00:21:55,278
about the risk that the
release of the report

517
00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,320
may pose to U.S. facilities and
personnel around the globe.

518
00:21:59,317 --> 00:22:02,087
That is why the administration,
for months now,

519
00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:04,087
has been preparing
for this day--

520
00:22:04,089 --> 00:22:06,089
the day that the report is
eventually released.

521
00:22:06,091 --> 00:22:08,961
The Press:
Does the President

522
00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:09,960
share those concerns?

523
00:22:09,961 --> 00:22:10,961
Mr. Earnest:
Yes,

524
00:22:10,962 --> 00:22:12,962
the President -- well, let
me say it this way.

525
00:22:12,964 --> 00:22:14,964
The President wants to
make sure that we're doing

526
00:22:14,966 --> 00:22:17,206
what is necessary to
protect our men and women

527
00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:18,232
who are serving
this country

528
00:22:18,236 --> 00:22:21,936
either in the military or
in the diplomatic corps.

529
00:22:21,940 --> 00:22:23,940
And he believes that we
should take all the steps

530
00:22:23,942 --> 00:22:25,942
that are necessary
to do exactly that.

531
00:22:25,944 --> 00:22:29,884
And that's why we didn't
just start planning

532
00:22:29,881 --> 00:22:31,881
to figure out what was
necessary to safeguard

533
00:22:31,883 --> 00:22:33,983
these facilities, but
rather this is something

534
00:22:33,985 --> 00:22:37,925
that we've been focused on
for a number of months now.

535
00:22:37,923 --> 00:22:39,923
The other context I
guess -- the sort of the

536
00:22:39,925 --> 00:22:44,395
implicit question -- or
sort of an implicit point

537
00:22:44,396 --> 00:22:47,166
in your question is, well,
when would be a good time

538
00:22:47,165 --> 00:22:48,265
to release this report?

539
00:22:48,266 --> 00:22:52,136
And it's difficult to
imagine one, particularly

540
00:22:52,137 --> 00:22:55,507
because of the painful details
that will be included.

541
00:22:55,507 --> 00:22:58,677
But again, the President
believes that

542
00:22:58,677 --> 00:23:00,677
it is important for us
to be as transparent

543
00:23:00,679 --> 00:23:04,019
as we possibly can be about
what exactly transpired

544
00:23:04,015 --> 00:23:06,285
so we can just be clear to the
American public and to people

545
00:23:06,284 --> 00:23:08,284
around the world that
something like this

546
00:23:08,286 --> 00:23:09,686
should not
happen again.

547
00:23:09,688 --> 00:23:10,688
The Press:
Okay.

548
00:23:10,689 --> 00:23:12,789
And in the Yemen rescue
attempt, we heard criticism,

549
00:23:12,791 --> 00:23:15,191
obviously, from the South
African's family.

550
00:23:15,193 --> 00:23:17,493
It was maybe more
interesting to hear

551
00:23:17,496 --> 00:23:20,296
some of that criticism from
the American's family

552
00:23:20,298 --> 00:23:22,538
and saying that
they wished that

553
00:23:22,534 --> 00:23:24,534
they could have been
consulted on this.

554
00:23:24,536 --> 00:23:26,536
And we know that the
review is underway

555
00:23:26,538 --> 00:23:29,508
of how families are involved in
that process, but is some kind

556
00:23:29,508 --> 00:23:32,808
of coordination or
family interaction ahead

557
00:23:32,811 --> 00:23:36,751
of a raid even possible
moving forward?

558
00:23:36,748 --> 00:23:40,118
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

559
00:23:40,118 --> 00:23:42,588
part of the review that
the President has ordered

560
00:23:42,587 --> 00:23:46,927
does involve the
communication between

561
00:23:46,925 --> 00:23:49,025
the federal government
and the families

562
00:23:49,027 --> 00:23:51,097
that are in this
terrible situation.

563
00:23:51,096 --> 00:23:53,066
And as I mentioned
earlier, our thoughts

564
00:23:53,064 --> 00:23:55,064
and prayers are with
the Somers family.

565
00:23:55,066 --> 00:23:57,066
It's difficult to
comprehend the level

566
00:23:57,068 --> 00:23:59,068
of grief they must
be feeling today.

567
00:23:59,070 --> 00:24:04,040
But what I can tell you
is that, particularly this

568
00:24:04,042 --> 00:24:09,582
raid that occurred on
Friday took place in a

569
00:24:09,581 --> 00:24:13,221
very short time frame,
that the amount of time

570
00:24:13,218 --> 00:24:16,358
that elapsed between
the intelligence being

571
00:24:16,354 --> 00:24:19,594
developed, the concept
of operations being

572
00:24:19,591 --> 00:24:22,761
put together and approved by
the Secretary of Defense,

573
00:24:22,761 --> 00:24:26,661
and then its approval by
the President was very short.

574
00:24:26,665 --> 00:24:30,165
And the reason for that
is that AQAP had made this

575
00:24:30,168 --> 00:24:32,568
public promise to carry
out an execution

576
00:24:32,571 --> 00:24:36,011
of Mr. Somers on Saturday,
which meant that the only

577
00:24:36,007 --> 00:24:38,007
practical time in which
this raid could

578
00:24:38,009 --> 00:24:40,509
be carried out would
have been Friday night.

579
00:24:40,512 --> 00:24:44,512
And that's why the
President acted quickly.

580
00:24:44,516 --> 00:24:46,516
That's why our special
operators acted quickly.

581
00:24:46,518 --> 00:24:48,518
That's why we worked
quickly with the Yemen

582
00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,960
government to ensure that
this was well-coordinated.

583
00:24:50,956 --> 00:24:52,386
And that's what
was necessary

584
00:24:52,390 --> 00:24:56,700
in order to try to
save his life.

585
00:24:56,695 --> 00:24:59,395
The Press:
So I mean,

586
00:24:59,397 --> 00:25:01,397
I know we don't want to
talk about hypotheticals,

587
00:25:01,399 --> 00:25:05,099
but if there was, say, in
this case a longer time frame

588
00:25:05,103 --> 00:25:08,873
to work with, is consultation
with the families something

589
00:25:08,874 --> 00:25:10,004
that would be considered?

590
00:25:10,008 --> 00:25:12,008
Mr. Earnest:
That's difficult to say,

591
00:25:12,010 --> 00:25:14,350
Michelle, because each
situation is different

592
00:25:14,346 --> 00:25:17,746
and each situation
is unique.

593
00:25:17,749 --> 00:25:19,749
There obviously are
significant operational

594
00:25:19,751 --> 00:25:21,751
security concerns when
you're carrying out a raid

595
00:25:21,753 --> 00:25:23,893
like this, that the
element of surprise

596
00:25:23,889 --> 00:25:26,029
is critically important not
just for the success

597
00:25:26,024 --> 00:25:27,624
of the operation
but also

598
00:25:27,626 --> 00:25:29,626
for the safety of
the operators.

599
00:25:29,628 --> 00:25:31,628
So the amount of
information that

600
00:25:31,630 --> 00:25:34,570
can be shared with
anybody is very limited.

601
00:25:34,566 --> 00:25:38,236
I certainly -- that would
have an impact on

602
00:25:38,236 --> 00:25:41,176
what is communicated to the
family, but is not necessarily

603
00:25:41,172 --> 00:25:44,272
determinative in terms of
what is eventually

604
00:25:44,276 --> 00:25:45,246
communicated to them.

605
00:25:45,243 --> 00:25:46,243
The Press:
I guess

606
00:25:46,244 --> 00:25:48,584
what I'm getting at is, is that
something that is being

607
00:25:48,580 --> 00:25:51,820
looked at as the review is ongoing,
that there could be

608
00:25:51,816 --> 00:25:53,816
some kind of
consultation there?

609
00:25:53,818 --> 00:25:54,818
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

610
00:25:54,819 --> 00:25:56,819
I think just as a general matter,
communication between

611
00:25:56,821 --> 00:25:58,791
the federal government and the
families that are in this

612
00:25:58,790 --> 00:26:01,130
terrible situation is something
that is being carefully

613
00:26:01,126 --> 00:26:03,126
considered as a part
of this review.

614
00:26:03,128 --> 00:26:04,128
The Press:
Okay.

615
00:26:04,129 --> 00:26:06,129
And last question, on
the President's health

616
00:26:06,131 --> 00:26:08,631
and the visit over the
weekend, how long has he been

617
00:26:08,633 --> 00:26:10,433
suffering with
the sore throat?

618
00:26:10,435 --> 00:26:11,875
Mr. Earnest:
My understanding

619
00:26:11,870 --> 00:26:15,710
is that this is something that
has been sort of a minor

620
00:26:15,707 --> 00:26:18,777
but persistent problem for
the last couple of weeks.

621
00:26:18,777 --> 00:26:20,777
And the President got
it checked out here

622
00:26:20,779 --> 00:26:23,619
at the White House
on Saturday morning.

623
00:26:23,615 --> 00:26:26,615
And as you saw from the
statement that Dr. Jackson

624
00:26:26,618 --> 00:26:32,258
issued on Saturday, as a
matter of prudence and

625
00:26:32,257 --> 00:26:35,397
as a matter of convenience,
not a matter of urgency, the

626
00:26:35,393 --> 00:26:38,393
follow-up diagnostic test was
done on Saturday afternoon.

627
00:26:38,396 --> 00:26:40,396
The President has a very
busy schedule over

628
00:26:40,398 --> 00:26:42,398
the course of the next couple
of weeks, including on the

629
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,400
weekends, and the
President did happen

630
00:26:44,402 --> 00:26:46,402
to have an open Saturday
afternoon, and so that's

631
00:26:46,404 --> 00:26:48,704
why the decision was made
rather hastily to go to

632
00:26:48,707 --> 00:26:50,707
Walter Reed and to
get this checked out.

633
00:26:50,709 --> 00:26:54,479
But as you saw from the
President's remarks here

634
00:26:54,479 --> 00:26:56,479
at the White House
last night honoring

635
00:26:56,481 --> 00:27:01,221
the recipients of the
Kennedy Center Award,

636
00:27:01,219 --> 00:27:03,219
the President is
feeling pretty good.

637
00:27:03,221 --> 00:27:04,221
The Press:
Was there ever

638
00:27:04,222 --> 00:27:06,222
a conversation with counsel
about a possible transfer

639
00:27:06,224 --> 00:27:08,224
of power if more tests were
needed on that day?

640
00:27:08,226 --> 00:27:09,196
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

641
00:27:09,194 --> 00:27:11,234
it's my understanding that
there's a pretty standard

642
00:27:11,229 --> 00:27:13,869
playbook for the way
that these things work.

643
00:27:13,865 --> 00:27:15,005
And there are
considerations

644
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,600
that are raised if the President
of the United States

645
00:27:17,602 --> 00:27:22,012
under any circumstances has
to undergo general anesthesia.

646
00:27:22,007 --> 00:27:25,647
But that was not
necessary in this case.

647
00:27:25,643 --> 00:27:26,643
Nadia.

648
00:27:26,644 --> 00:27:27,644
The Press:
Josh,

649
00:27:27,645 --> 00:27:29,645
there are reports indicating
that 2,000 Marines

650
00:27:29,647 --> 00:27:31,647
have been deployed
in the Middle East

651
00:27:31,649 --> 00:27:33,649
in anticipation of
publishing this report.

652
00:27:33,651 --> 00:27:35,851
What few embassies or
your allies actually --

653
00:27:35,854 --> 00:27:39,394
because there are embassies in
Egypt -- is there any countries

654
00:27:39,391 --> 00:27:41,661
that you worry most about
potential trouble,

655
00:27:41,659 --> 00:27:44,229
whether it's in
Egypt or Libya or Yemen,

656
00:27:44,229 --> 00:27:46,499
or a scenario like
Benghazi, for example,

657
00:27:46,498 --> 00:27:47,798
because of this report?

658
00:27:47,799 --> 00:27:49,199
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

659
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,200
I'll say a couple
of things, Nadia.

660
00:27:51,202 --> 00:27:53,202
The first is, I'm not
going to be in a position

661
00:27:53,204 --> 00:27:55,174
to detail the security
precautions that are taken

662
00:27:55,173 --> 00:27:57,173
by U.S. facilities
around the world.

663
00:27:57,175 --> 00:27:59,915
The first is that probably
wouldn't be

664
00:27:59,911 --> 00:28:03,511
a wise security strategy
to detail to everybody

665
00:28:03,515 --> 00:28:05,785
what we're doing
in advance.

666
00:28:05,784 --> 00:28:07,854
There are also precautions
that are being taken

667
00:28:07,852 --> 00:28:09,852
at a substantial number of
facilities around

668
00:28:09,854 --> 00:28:11,994
the globe, so it also would be
difficult for me to stand here

669
00:28:11,990 --> 00:28:13,630
and describe
all of them.

670
00:28:13,625 --> 00:28:15,625
But if you have specific
questions about specific

671
00:28:15,627 --> 00:28:17,627
countries, I'd encourage
you to check with

672
00:28:17,629 --> 00:28:19,629
the State Department or
the Department of Defense.

673
00:28:19,631 --> 00:28:21,631
They may have some
more information

674
00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:22,633
to share with you.

675
00:28:22,634 --> 00:28:24,634
But again, the thing I
want to stress is --

676
00:28:24,636 --> 00:28:26,636
there are two things I
want to stress.

677
00:28:26,638 --> 00:28:28,638
The first is, preparations
have been underway

678
00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:30,640
for months now to
prepare for this day.

679
00:28:30,642 --> 00:28:32,642
And we've been very
mindful of the fact that

680
00:28:32,644 --> 00:28:34,984
this report would someday
be released and so that's

681
00:28:34,979 --> 00:28:37,619
why preparations have been
underway for some time.

682
00:28:37,615 --> 00:28:39,885
The second is that the
concerns that have been

683
00:28:39,884 --> 00:28:44,254
raised are concerns
related to the potential

684
00:28:44,255 --> 00:28:46,425
for violence or potential
for an impact on security.

685
00:28:46,424 --> 00:28:54,034
So this is something that we're
mindful of and watching.

686
00:28:54,032 --> 00:28:56,602
But again, this is the
range of risk and

687
00:28:56,601 --> 00:28:59,241
of potential, not in the
range of certainty.

688
00:28:59,237 --> 00:29:02,477
The Press:
Another controversial policy

689
00:29:02,474 --> 00:29:04,474
that's been carried
out under the previous

690
00:29:04,476 --> 00:29:06,446
administration and
actually been increased

691
00:29:06,444 --> 00:29:09,314
under this administration
is using drones.

692
00:29:09,314 --> 00:29:11,314
Many civilians
have been killed.

693
00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:13,986
They have not been accounted
for or compensated.

694
00:29:13,985 --> 00:29:16,425
And many will argue that
actually this policy has

695
00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:20,091
been used to recruit more
radicals and more jihadists.

696
00:29:20,091 --> 00:29:22,961
So what's the difference
between the harsh

697
00:29:22,961 --> 00:29:25,831
interrogation techniques
and drones that kill civilians?

698
00:29:25,830 --> 00:29:27,570
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Nadia,

699
00:29:27,565 --> 00:29:30,765
the President gave a pretty
detailed speech on this topic

700
00:29:30,768 --> 00:29:35,808
about a year and a half or so
ago, where he talked about

701
00:29:35,807 --> 00:29:41,047
the desire to try to bring
more transparency

702
00:29:41,045 --> 00:29:44,515
to some of the counterterrorism
programs that are implemented

703
00:29:44,516 --> 00:29:46,516
by the United
States.

704
00:29:48,653 --> 00:29:50,653
Despite that commitment
to transparency,

705
00:29:50,655 --> 00:29:54,095
there are still some limits
about what I can say from here.

706
00:29:54,092 --> 00:29:56,492
But I can tell you that
the President does want

707
00:29:56,494 --> 00:29:59,464
to be sure that as we execute
the counterterrorism

708
00:29:59,464 --> 00:30:01,834
strategy that he has
outlined that we

709
00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:05,033
are mindful of the impact
that those strategies have

710
00:30:05,036 --> 00:30:07,836
on our ability to win
hearts and minds.

711
00:30:07,839 --> 00:30:10,239
And that's why one of the
things -- one of the core

712
00:30:10,241 --> 00:30:12,941
components of our strategy
in many of these places,

713
00:30:12,944 --> 00:30:15,684
including in IraThe Press:
and in Syria

714
00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,680
and even in Yemen, is
close consultation

715
00:30:18,683 --> 00:30:22,183
and cooperation with
local governments

716
00:30:22,187 --> 00:30:24,457
and making sure that it's local
forces that are taking

717
00:30:24,455 --> 00:30:27,195
the fight on the ground to
these extremist elements;

718
00:30:27,192 --> 00:30:29,632
that the administration
is working closely where

719
00:30:29,627 --> 00:30:33,067
possible with the central
government in these areas

720
00:30:33,064 --> 00:30:35,104
to make sure that we have
the buy-in of the elected

721
00:30:35,099 --> 00:30:38,569
leadership of these
countries so that

722
00:30:38,570 --> 00:30:43,140
we can ensure that the local
populations understand

723
00:30:43,141 --> 00:30:45,541
that the extremists that
we're going after

724
00:30:45,543 --> 00:30:47,813
are the same extremists that
have wreaked havoc

725
00:30:47,812 --> 00:30:49,812
and violence in
their communities.

726
00:30:49,814 --> 00:30:53,084
And when you talk about
an organization like ISIL,

727
00:30:53,084 --> 00:30:56,024
ISIL, despite their
high-profile and terribly

728
00:30:56,020 --> 00:30:58,790
violent execution of some
Americans, have killed

729
00:30:58,790 --> 00:31:01,690
far more Iraqis than
they have Americans.

730
00:31:01,693 --> 00:31:05,033
The same dynamic is at
play with AQAP,

731
00:31:05,029 --> 00:31:07,429
that the violence that they
have wrought against other

732
00:31:07,432 --> 00:31:11,002
Yemenis and other
Muslims far outnumbers

733
00:31:11,002 --> 00:31:13,142
the violence that they've
carried out against

734
00:31:13,137 --> 00:31:14,137
American citizens.

735
00:31:14,138 --> 00:31:16,138
And that's why it's
important for people

736
00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:20,350
to understand that we're
going to work closely with

737
00:31:20,345 --> 00:31:22,745
local governments and
local forces to take on

738
00:31:22,747 --> 00:31:24,347
a fight against
a common enemy.

739
00:31:24,349 --> 00:31:26,949
The Press:
But the only problem

740
00:31:26,951 --> 00:31:28,951
is these governments
are discredited among

741
00:31:28,953 --> 00:31:30,953
their own people, and
you're a democracy,

742
00:31:30,955 --> 00:31:31,955
and there's a
difference.

743
00:31:31,956 --> 00:31:33,956
Mr. Earnest:
In some situations,

744
00:31:33,958 --> 00:31:34,958
that's true.

745
00:31:34,959 --> 00:31:37,729
And again, that's why we
want to work as much

746
00:31:37,729 --> 00:31:42,069
as we can with local forces
and with local governments.

747
00:31:42,066 --> 00:31:45,066
There are limits to this.

748
00:31:45,069 --> 00:31:47,309
But it is true that even
if those governments

749
00:31:47,305 --> 00:31:50,345
are discredited that the local
population does understand

750
00:31:50,341 --> 00:31:52,341
that these extremist
elements are carrying out

751
00:31:52,343 --> 00:31:54,343
acts of violence against
people in their community.

752
00:31:54,345 --> 00:31:58,445
And I would acknowledge
that there may be some

753
00:31:58,449 --> 00:32:01,489
limits in our ability to
communicate that message

754
00:32:01,486 --> 00:32:03,486
-- for that message to
get through about

755
00:32:03,488 --> 00:32:04,488
who our target is here.

756
00:32:04,489 --> 00:32:09,499
But there are enormous
precautions that are taken

757
00:32:09,494 --> 00:32:11,494
by our men and women in
the military and by our

758
00:32:11,496 --> 00:32:18,106
intelligence community to
limit -- to eliminate or,

759
00:32:18,102 --> 00:32:21,142
at a minimum, minimize
the impact on civilian

760
00:32:21,139 --> 00:32:22,369
populations in
these areas.

761
00:32:22,373 --> 00:32:25,013
And that is something that
we try to be very mindful

762
00:32:25,009 --> 00:32:27,009
of and we're very
careful about.

763
00:32:27,011 --> 00:32:29,981
And that is an extensive
part of this planning.

764
00:32:29,981 --> 00:32:31,981
And I can tell you that
as these terrorist groups

765
00:32:31,983 --> 00:32:34,783
carry out acts of violence
against Westerners

766
00:32:34,786 --> 00:32:37,226
they are not at all
concerned about the impact

767
00:32:37,221 --> 00:32:39,321
of the violence on locals.

768
00:32:39,324 --> 00:32:43,024
When there are car bombs
that are detonated or

769
00:32:43,027 --> 00:32:45,027
there are other acts of
violence that are carried

770
00:32:45,029 --> 00:32:47,029
out that are targeted at
Westerners, they often

771
00:32:47,031 --> 00:32:49,601
have a terrible impact on
the local population

772
00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,600
in terms of the
destruction of property

773
00:32:51,602 --> 00:32:53,942
or even the killing
of innocent people.

774
00:32:53,938 --> 00:32:57,138
And that indiscriminate
killing is the reason that

775
00:32:57,141 --> 00:33:02,311
even these extremists
groups are so marginalized

776
00:33:02,313 --> 00:33:05,213
in many of these areas.

777
00:33:05,216 --> 00:33:06,216
April.

778
00:33:06,217 --> 00:33:07,217
The Press:
Josh,

779
00:33:07,218 --> 00:33:10,558
I want to ask you a couple
questions on racial profiling

780
00:33:10,555 --> 00:33:11,955
and this
interview today.

781
00:33:11,956 --> 00:33:15,496
Could you talk to me about
why it's so important

782
00:33:15,493 --> 00:33:19,063
to target young people with the
President's message on riots?

783
00:33:19,063 --> 00:33:20,503
Mr. Earnest:
Well, April,

784
00:33:20,498 --> 00:33:22,498
you're talking about the 
interview that the President

785
00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:24,270
did with 106 & Park?

786
00:33:24,268 --> 00:33:26,538
It was conducted
last Friday.

787
00:33:26,537 --> 00:33:28,537
Some excerpts were
released over the weekend,

788
00:33:28,539 --> 00:33:31,009
and I anticipate -- or
I understand that the entirety

789
00:33:31,008 --> 00:33:33,008
of the President's interview
will actually be broadcast

790
00:33:33,010 --> 00:33:35,250
later today.

791
00:33:35,246 --> 00:33:37,246
The President conducted
the interview

792
00:33:37,248 --> 00:33:39,788
in conjunction with that
program because

793
00:33:39,784 --> 00:33:43,784
we certainly have seen a
lot of young people --

794
00:33:43,788 --> 00:33:46,628
particularly young people
of color -- be pretty

795
00:33:46,624 --> 00:33:50,164
outspoken in their
concerns about the lack of

796
00:33:50,161 --> 00:33:53,761
trust that exists between
many local law enforcement

797
00:33:53,765 --> 00:33:56,965
communities and the local
law enforcement officials

798
00:33:56,968 --> 00:34:01,068
in the communities that they're
sworn to serve and protect.

799
00:34:01,072 --> 00:34:04,472
And the President wanted
to communicate to them

800
00:34:04,475 --> 00:34:05,475
a few things.

801
00:34:05,476 --> 00:34:07,476
He wanted to let
them know that,

802
00:34:07,478 --> 00:34:09,218
A, their voice
had been heard.

803
00:34:09,213 --> 00:34:11,613
He wanted to encourage
them to continue

804
00:34:11,616 --> 00:34:14,886
to express their views and
their concerns peacefully

805
00:34:14,886 --> 00:34:16,886
-- which the vast
majority of those

806
00:34:16,888 --> 00:34:19,588
who have protested
have done.

807
00:34:19,590 --> 00:34:21,960
And the President wanted
them to know that these

808
00:34:21,959 --> 00:34:25,199
are issues that are
legitimate to raise

809
00:34:25,196 --> 00:34:27,196
and that these are issues
that the President

810
00:34:27,198 --> 00:34:29,338
of the United States himself
takes very seriously

811
00:34:29,333 --> 00:34:31,373
and he wanted to have an
opportunity to talk about

812
00:34:31,369 --> 00:34:33,909
some of the steps that
he had put forward

813
00:34:33,905 --> 00:34:35,905
to try to address
some of these issues.

814
00:34:35,907 --> 00:34:37,907
The last thing is the
President also wanted to

815
00:34:37,909 --> 00:34:40,979
make clear that he shared
their assessment

816
00:34:40,978 --> 00:34:43,518
that these are the kinds of
policies and situations

817
00:34:43,514 --> 00:34:46,114
that are not just going
to change overnight, that

818
00:34:46,117 --> 00:34:49,357
it's not one demonstration
or one speech or one

819
00:34:49,353 --> 00:34:53,663
presidential trip
that's going to cause

820
00:34:53,658 --> 00:34:57,458
the relationship between
local law enforcement

821
00:34:57,462 --> 00:35:00,762
and some of the communities
they serve to be transformed.

822
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:04,765
This is going to require
steady, sustained work.

823
00:35:04,769 --> 00:35:06,769
That's what the President
is committed to.

824
00:35:06,771 --> 00:35:09,011
We've seen the Attorney
General is committed to this.

825
00:35:09,006 --> 00:35:11,006
And all of this was an
important part

826
00:35:11,008 --> 00:35:13,008
of the message the President
wanted to deliver,

827
00:35:13,010 --> 00:35:17,050
and we certainly hope
that will get through

828
00:35:17,048 --> 00:35:19,048
when the interview is broadcast.

829
00:35:19,050 --> 00:35:21,050
But I'd encourage you to
evaluate that

830
00:35:21,052 --> 00:35:22,052
for yourself
when it airs.

831
00:35:22,053 --> 00:35:23,053
The Press:
I will.

832
00:35:23,054 --> 00:35:24,054
Mr. Earnest:
Good.

833
00:35:24,055 --> 00:35:26,055
The Press:
But the dynamic has changed.

834
00:35:26,057 --> 00:35:28,057
It changed this week and
it changed last evening.

835
00:35:28,059 --> 00:35:31,299
And this morning, you said
young people of color

836
00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:33,995
have been pretty
outspoken on this issue.

837
00:35:33,998 --> 00:35:35,538
Well, in Berkeley,
California,

838
00:35:35,533 --> 00:35:39,403
the vast majority of those who
are protesting very --

839
00:35:39,403 --> 00:35:43,643
some of them very agitated and
violently -- are white people.

840
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:45,581
They're not
people of color.

841
00:35:45,576 --> 00:35:50,186
What do you say to those
people and the white people --

842
00:35:50,181 --> 00:35:52,521
white young people
around the nation

843
00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:54,817
who feel that
black lives matter?

844
00:35:54,819 --> 00:35:56,259
Mr. Earnest:
Well, I think

845
00:35:56,254 --> 00:35:58,924
the message that the President
has for them is the same.

846
00:35:58,923 --> 00:36:03,793
And I think it is
indicative of the progress

847
00:36:03,794 --> 00:36:05,794
that we've made in this
country that

848
00:36:05,796 --> 00:36:09,336
the vast majority of protestors
-- black and white

849
00:36:09,333 --> 00:36:13,403
and Hispanic and Asian --
were peaceful, and that

850
00:36:13,404 --> 00:36:18,844
there was a strong show of
support about the value

851
00:36:18,843 --> 00:36:22,213
of black lives, as you
described it, about

852
00:36:22,213 --> 00:36:26,753
the importance of confronting
these issues that plague

853
00:36:26,751 --> 00:36:28,821
so many communities
across the country.

854
00:36:28,819 --> 00:36:32,059
I also think that there
would be a strong area

855
00:36:32,056 --> 00:36:34,256
of agreement-- certainly
not unanimous, but strong

856
00:36:34,258 --> 00:36:39,568
agreement -- about how
bravely so many of our men

857
00:36:39,564 --> 00:36:42,964
and women in uniform and
in local law enforcement

858
00:36:42,967 --> 00:36:46,707
serve; that these are
individuals who put on

859
00:36:46,704 --> 00:36:49,844
a uniform and walk out the
door prepared to put

860
00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,240
their life on the line to
protect citizens

861
00:36:52,243 --> 00:36:54,943
in the community that
they're sworn to serve.

862
00:36:54,946 --> 00:36:59,186
And I think that there is,
broadly, appreciation

863
00:36:59,183 --> 00:37:01,253
and high regard for
individuals who are willing

864
00:37:01,252 --> 00:37:05,022
to take that risk for the
communities that they serve.

865
00:37:05,022 --> 00:37:07,792
And that, too, is an
assessment that is shared

866
00:37:07,792 --> 00:37:10,362
broadly, and again, I
think is a testament

867
00:37:10,361 --> 00:37:13,661
to the substantial progress
that's been made

868
00:37:13,664 --> 00:37:15,664
on this equation
in this country.

869
00:37:15,666 --> 00:37:17,666
The Press:
In the black community,

870
00:37:17,668 --> 00:37:19,668
there has been conversation
upon conversation

871
00:37:19,670 --> 00:37:22,310
upon conversation when it
comes to issues of race,

872
00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:25,206
and within the community
it's always been said

873
00:37:25,209 --> 00:37:28,849
that maybe it needs to
permeate into the other areas

874
00:37:28,846 --> 00:37:31,016
of the society,
meaning white America.

875
00:37:31,015 --> 00:37:33,185
We feel it,
we've heard it.

876
00:37:33,184 --> 00:37:35,724
What about the conversation
with white America,

877
00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:38,990
specifically when it comes
to this kind of situation?

878
00:37:38,990 --> 00:37:40,690
Mr. Earnest:
Well, April,

879
00:37:40,691 --> 00:37:44,861
my assumption is that the reason
that this is an issue

880
00:37:44,862 --> 00:37:50,132
that's been so carefully and
closely covered by newspapers

881
00:37:50,134 --> 00:37:54,604
and television outlets and
even radio outlets is that

882
00:37:54,605 --> 00:37:57,005
this is something that
all Americans care about.

883
00:37:57,008 --> 00:37:59,008
This is not just a subject
of some concern

884
00:37:59,010 --> 00:38:01,480
to the African American
community, but this is something

885
00:38:01,479 --> 00:38:03,419
that all Americans
care about.

886
00:38:03,414 --> 00:38:05,954
And the President laid
down that value I think

887
00:38:05,950 --> 00:38:08,820
pretty clearly, where he
said something along

888
00:38:08,819 --> 00:38:10,919
the lines of if there is
one person in America

889
00:38:10,921 --> 00:38:13,791
whose rights are being
trampled, that's something

890
00:38:13,791 --> 00:38:16,131
that every American should
be concerned about.

891
00:38:16,127 --> 00:38:18,767
And I think that
reflects the values

892
00:38:18,763 --> 00:38:22,363
that we hold dear
in this country.

893
00:38:22,366 --> 00:38:24,736
And I think that's --
again, I think that is

894
00:38:24,735 --> 00:38:28,205
an indication that while
more progress remains,

895
00:38:28,205 --> 00:38:30,875
there is substantial progress
that we've already made

896
00:38:30,875 --> 00:38:33,815
in terms of trying to bring
this country together.

897
00:38:33,811 --> 00:38:35,451
The Press:
And concretely,

898
00:38:35,446 --> 00:38:38,486
what can we expect on this
continuation of this

899
00:38:38,482 --> 00:38:40,482
administration on curbing
racial profiling,

900
00:38:40,484 --> 00:38:43,554
particularly after we've seen
all of these incidents

901
00:38:43,554 --> 00:38:47,424
to include the death of Trayvon
Martin, Eric Garner, Ferguson?

902
00:38:47,425 --> 00:38:51,695
I mean, what concretely do
you think that we will see

903
00:38:51,696 --> 00:38:54,836
with this, with the
curbing of racial profiling?

904
00:38:54,832 --> 00:38:55,962
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

905
00:38:55,966 --> 00:38:59,106
I think we'll see a
couple of things.

906
00:38:59,103 --> 00:39:02,603
The first is, based on
this policy that was

907
00:39:02,606 --> 00:39:05,976
just announced today by the
Department of Justice,

908
00:39:05,976 --> 00:39:09,176
you'll see that this is a
policy that in the weeks

909
00:39:09,180 --> 00:39:11,180
and months ahead will
be implemented in law

910
00:39:11,182 --> 00:39:13,752
enforcement agencies across
the federal government,

911
00:39:13,751 --> 00:39:16,921
that will
come alongside additional

912
00:39:16,921 --> 00:39:19,261
enhanced training for
local law enforcement

913
00:39:19,256 --> 00:39:22,326
to make sure that they are
properly enforcing this policy.

914
00:39:22,326 --> 00:39:25,196
You'll continue to see
the federal government

915
00:39:25,196 --> 00:39:27,196
encourage local law
enforcement agencies

916
00:39:27,198 --> 00:39:29,438
to consider putting in
place a policy like

917
00:39:29,433 --> 00:39:31,733
the one that's in place for
the federal government.

918
00:39:31,736 --> 00:39:33,706
You will also see the
President and this

919
00:39:33,704 --> 00:39:35,704
administration follow up
on the actions

920
00:39:35,706 --> 00:39:38,346
that were initiated at the
beginning of last week

921
00:39:38,342 --> 00:39:39,342
on this matter.

922
00:39:39,343 --> 00:39:44,153
So you'll recall
that Chief Ramsey

923
00:39:44,148 --> 00:39:47,448
from the Philadelphia Police
Department, and Ms. Robinson,

924
00:39:47,451 --> 00:39:49,821
a former Department
of Justice official,

925
00:39:49,820 --> 00:39:52,920
are conducting
this review to evaluate

926
00:39:52,923 --> 00:39:54,923
the practices that are
in place with local law

927
00:39:54,925 --> 00:39:57,565
enforcement in communities
across the country,

928
00:39:57,561 --> 00:39:59,561
and surfacing these best
practices and helping

929
00:39:59,563 --> 00:40:02,263
to communicate them to other
law enforcement agencies

930
00:40:02,266 --> 00:40:03,806
across the country.

931
00:40:03,801 --> 00:40:06,641
You're also going to see
the continued movement

932
00:40:06,637 --> 00:40:11,307
on this report related to law
enforcement equipment

933
00:40:11,308 --> 00:40:13,948
that was conducted by OMB --
that they're supposed

934
00:40:13,944 --> 00:40:16,144
to come back with some
more specific, tangible

935
00:40:16,147 --> 00:40:18,147
recommendations in
120 days about

936
00:40:18,149 --> 00:40:21,889
how to substantially improve the
training that's associated

937
00:40:21,886 --> 00:40:23,886
with the provision
of this equipment.

938
00:40:23,888 --> 00:40:25,888
You're also going to see
the continued application

939
00:40:25,890 --> 00:40:27,890
of the President's
community policing

940
00:40:27,892 --> 00:40:29,892
initiative, where he was
clear that additional

941
00:40:29,894 --> 00:40:31,894
resources should be
provided to local law

942
00:40:31,896 --> 00:40:33,896
enforcement to make sure
that they had access

943
00:40:33,898 --> 00:40:34,898
to the training
and information

944
00:40:34,899 --> 00:40:37,199
that they needed to better
equip their officers

945
00:40:37,201 --> 00:40:39,501
to better serve and protect
the communities

946
00:40:39,503 --> 00:40:41,503
that they're sworn to
serve and protect.

947
00:40:41,505 --> 00:40:43,505
So there's a lot of work
that remains to be done,

948
00:40:43,507 --> 00:40:46,777
and the President is
determined to not allow

949
00:40:46,777 --> 00:40:49,277
this one story to fade
from the headlines

950
00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:51,680
but for the federal government
to demonstrate a commitment

951
00:40:51,682 --> 00:40:52,682
to some follow-through.

952
00:40:52,683 --> 00:40:55,553
The Press:
So how many states are embracing

953
00:40:55,553 --> 00:40:58,393
the encouragement of this
curbing racial profiling?

954
00:40:58,389 --> 00:41:00,059
Mr. Earnest:
I'd encourage you

955
00:41:00,057 --> 00:41:02,057
to check with the
Department of Justice.

956
00:41:02,059 --> 00:41:04,059
They may have some more
insight into

957
00:41:04,061 --> 00:41:06,231
what the reaction has been to
this policy announcement.

958
00:41:06,230 --> 00:41:08,230
It was only announced a
few hours ago, so

959
00:41:08,232 --> 00:41:10,232
I don't know that it's going to
be a long list,

960
00:41:10,234 --> 00:41:12,234
but it's something that
we're certainly --

961
00:41:12,236 --> 00:41:13,236
The Press:
-- been

962
00:41:13,237 --> 00:41:15,237
in communication
with states about this?

963
00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:16,239
Mr. Earnest:
I believe so,

964
00:41:16,240 --> 00:41:18,240
but check with the Department
of Justice about that.

965
00:41:18,242 --> 00:41:19,242
Ed.

966
00:41:19,243 --> 00:41:20,243
The Press:
Josh,

967
00:41:20,244 --> 00:41:22,244
following on that, you've
repeatedly cited progress

968
00:41:22,246 --> 00:41:23,216
in answers to April.

969
00:41:23,214 --> 00:41:25,214
Why then is there this
Bloomberg poll out today

970
00:41:25,216 --> 00:41:27,686
saying 53 percent
of Americans says

971
00:41:27,685 --> 00:41:29,755
interactions between the white
and black communities

972
00:41:29,753 --> 00:41:32,523
have deteriorated since the
President took office?

973
00:41:32,523 --> 00:41:34,523
That would seem to
suggest the opposite.

974
00:41:34,525 --> 00:41:35,525
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Ed,

975
00:41:35,526 --> 00:41:39,896
I think that any sort of
fair-minded look at history

976
00:41:39,897 --> 00:41:41,897
would indicate that
the situation

977
00:41:41,899 --> 00:41:43,999
that is facing the
American people right now

978
00:41:44,001 --> 00:41:46,601
is far better
than it used to be;

979
00:41:46,604 --> 00:41:49,144
that even 40 or 50 years ago
we saw a situation

980
00:41:49,139 --> 00:41:51,139
where local law
enforcement officials were

981
00:41:51,141 --> 00:41:53,581
systematically applying
the law in a way

982
00:41:53,577 --> 00:41:56,617
that trampled on the civil
rights of minority members

983
00:41:56,614 --> 00:41:58,614
of some communities
in this country.

984
00:41:58,616 --> 00:42:00,116
The Press:
They agree.

985
00:42:00,117 --> 00:42:03,687
But this poll is about
today, and it's saying

986
00:42:03,687 --> 00:42:06,857
that while the country,
yes, has made progress,

987
00:42:06,857 --> 00:42:09,627
a majority of Americans
believe the relationship

988
00:42:09,627 --> 00:42:10,627
has deteriorated.

989
00:42:10,628 --> 00:42:11,998
Mr. Earnest:
And I guess

990
00:42:11,996 --> 00:42:14,196
what I'm saying is that the
people who are able

991
00:42:14,198 --> 00:42:20,108
to step back and dispassionately
evaluate the current state of

992
00:42:20,104 --> 00:42:23,104
race relations in this country
would acknowledge two things.

993
00:42:23,107 --> 00:42:25,877
One is that we've made
tremendous progress,

994
00:42:25,876 --> 00:42:27,876
but they would also readily
acknowledge that there's

995
00:42:27,878 --> 00:42:29,878
more important work that
needs to be done,

996
00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:32,080
and this is work that the
President is committed to.

997
00:42:32,082 --> 00:42:33,082
The Press:
Okay,

998
00:42:33,083 --> 00:42:34,083
jump to a few other topics.

999
00:42:34,084 --> 00:42:36,084
On the President's health,
some medical experts

1000
00:42:36,086 --> 00:42:39,126
seem surprised that
he got a CT scan.

1001
00:42:39,123 --> 00:42:41,563
And you had said in I think the
statement over the weekend,

1002
00:42:41,558 --> 00:42:43,728
said it was
convenient.

1003
00:42:43,727 --> 00:42:45,727
Was there something
else the doctor saw?

1004
00:42:45,729 --> 00:42:48,069
I mean, can you rule out
completely -- did they see

1005
00:42:48,065 --> 00:42:50,835
any kind of a growth or
concern about a growth,

1006
00:42:50,834 --> 00:42:52,834
or something that -- most
people when they have

1007
00:42:52,836 --> 00:42:55,906
a sore throat do
not get a CT scan.

1008
00:42:55,906 --> 00:42:57,846
Mr. Earnest:
Most people

1009
00:42:57,841 --> 00:43:01,241
aren't the President
of the United States.

1010
00:43:01,245 --> 00:43:04,645
The Press:
Most people are not. (laughter)

1011
00:43:04,648 --> 00:43:06,648
Mr. Earnest:
It's hard for me to speak

1012
00:43:06,650 --> 00:43:08,620
to the sort of standard
protocol for treating

1013
00:43:08,619 --> 00:43:09,619
a sore throat.

1014
00:43:09,620 --> 00:43:11,190
I'm not a medical
professional.

1015
00:43:11,188 --> 00:43:13,958
But what I can tell you
is what Dr. Jackson said,

1016
00:43:13,958 --> 00:43:16,998
which is that there was
an evaluation that was

1017
00:43:16,994 --> 00:43:19,664
conducted here at the
White House by an ear,

1018
00:43:19,663 --> 00:43:22,333
nose and throat specialist
of this persistent

1019
00:43:22,333 --> 00:43:24,333
sore throat that the
President had been feeling

1020
00:43:24,335 --> 00:43:25,735
over the last
couple of weeks.

1021
00:43:25,736 --> 00:43:29,636
And based on that
examination,

1022
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:33,280
both Dr. Jackson and the
specialist felt it would

1023
00:43:33,277 --> 00:43:35,277
be prudent for the
President to get

1024
00:43:35,279 --> 00:43:38,849
an additional diagnostic
test that included this CT scan.

1025
00:43:38,849 --> 00:43:40,849
And that was something
that they were not able to

1026
00:43:40,851 --> 00:43:44,691
do here at the White House
-- we don't have a CT scan

1027
00:43:44,688 --> 00:43:46,688
equipment here at
the White House.

1028
00:43:46,690 --> 00:43:48,690
So the President made the
decision, because he had

1029
00:43:48,692 --> 00:43:50,692
the opening on his
schedule on Saturday

1030
00:43:50,694 --> 00:43:52,694
afternoon, to get
that done right away.

1031
00:43:52,696 --> 00:43:57,836
And the review of that CT
scan indicated that--

1032
00:43:57,835 --> 00:43:59,005
came back normal.

1033
00:43:59,003 --> 00:44:01,003
And that's something that
the Dr. Jackson concluded

1034
00:44:01,005 --> 00:44:02,975
meant that the sore
throat was consistent

1035
00:44:02,973 --> 00:44:04,973
with some symptoms of acid
reflux and that the President

1036
00:44:04,975 --> 00:44:06,975
would be treated
accordingly.

1037
00:44:10,781 --> 00:44:11,781
The Press:
Israel.

1038
00:44:11,782 --> 00:44:14,652
On Friday, you seemed to
leave the door open

1039
00:44:14,651 --> 00:44:17,751
to the possibility of the U.S.
having sanctions against Israel.

1040
00:44:17,755 --> 00:44:19,725
I understand Jen Psaki at
the State Department

1041
00:44:19,723 --> 00:44:21,463
is saying that
door is closed.

1042
00:44:21,458 --> 00:44:23,458
Did something change
over the weekend?

1043
00:44:23,460 --> 00:44:24,460
Mr. Earnest:
Well, again, Ed,

1044
00:44:24,461 --> 00:44:26,461
I'm not going to be in a
position to talk --

1045
00:44:26,463 --> 00:44:28,463
to detail any sort of
private conversations that did

1046
00:44:28,465 --> 00:44:30,465
take place here at the
White House or anywhere else

1047
00:44:30,467 --> 00:44:31,467
in the
administration.

1048
00:44:31,468 --> 00:44:33,468
But I can tell you
definitively the reports

1049
00:44:33,470 --> 00:44:34,470
that the administration
might

1050
00:44:34,471 --> 00:44:36,471
be contemplating
sanctions against Israel

1051
00:44:36,473 --> 00:44:38,473
are completely unfounded
and without merit.

1052
00:44:38,475 --> 00:44:41,345
Now, what hasn't changed
are the significant concerns

1053
00:44:41,345 --> 00:44:43,345
that we have with
the Israelis continuing

1054
00:44:43,347 --> 00:44:45,417
to pursue settlement
activity.

1055
00:44:45,416 --> 00:44:47,086
We believe that
those actions

1056
00:44:47,084 --> 00:44:49,084
are counterproductive,
that they don't

1057
00:44:49,086 --> 00:44:51,656
sort of facilitate the kind of
trust that we believe

1058
00:44:51,655 --> 00:44:54,495
is necessary for both sides
to try to hammer out

1059
00:44:54,491 --> 00:44:56,531
their differences in a
way that is consistent

1060
00:44:56,527 --> 00:44:59,867
with the national security
concerns of the Israeli people

1061
00:44:59,863 --> 00:45:02,163
and with the broader aspirations
of the Palestinian people.

1062
00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:06,736
So we have made our views
known very clearly about

1063
00:45:06,737 --> 00:45:10,837
our frustration with
the government of Israel

1064
00:45:10,841 --> 00:45:13,211
continuing to pursue
these kinds of settlement

1065
00:45:13,210 --> 00:45:15,210
activities, and that's
something that we're going

1066
00:45:15,212 --> 00:45:18,382
to continue to criticize
and be clear about,

1067
00:45:18,382 --> 00:45:21,852
again, only because we
believe it is so clearly

1068
00:45:21,852 --> 00:45:24,392
in the interests of both the
Israeli people

1069
00:45:24,388 --> 00:45:27,128
and the Palestinian people for
both sides to sit down

1070
00:45:27,124 --> 00:45:29,124
at the negotiating table
and try to resolve

1071
00:45:29,126 --> 00:45:33,626
their differences directly,
and that actions like

1072
00:45:33,630 --> 00:45:35,200
pursuing settlement
activity

1073
00:45:35,199 --> 00:45:37,199
are counterproductive
to that ultimate goal.

1074
00:45:37,201 --> 00:45:38,201
The Press:
Last one.

1075
00:45:38,202 --> 00:45:40,202
On the torture report,
President --

1076
00:45:40,204 --> 00:45:42,204
Former President Bush made some
comments over the weekend

1077
00:45:42,206 --> 00:45:44,406
to CNN expressing concern.

1078
00:45:44,408 --> 00:45:46,808
Two-part on this, which
is, one, has President Obama

1079
00:45:46,810 --> 00:45:48,450
spoken at all in
recent weeks,

1080
00:45:48,445 --> 00:45:50,785
recent months, as this report
was about to come out,

1081
00:45:50,781 --> 00:45:53,181
to coordinate at all between
the two Presidents,

1082
00:45:53,183 --> 00:45:55,523
given the sensitivity
of this -- A.

1083
00:45:55,519 --> 00:45:58,259
And B, does the President
-- current President share

1084
00:45:58,255 --> 00:46:01,395
the former President's
concerns at all that some

1085
00:46:01,391 --> 00:46:03,491
intelligence officials
might -- there might be an

1086
00:46:03,494 --> 00:46:05,494
impression they're being
thrown under the bus here.

1087
00:46:05,496 --> 00:46:07,836
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Ed,

1088
00:46:07,831 --> 00:46:10,371
let me just say as a general
matter that we don't often --

1089
00:46:10,367 --> 00:46:12,367
we don't detail every
conversation that

1090
00:46:12,369 --> 00:46:15,869
the President has with former
Presidents, so I can't speak

1091
00:46:15,873 --> 00:46:21,113
to any conversations that may
or may not have occurred

1092
00:46:21,111 --> 00:46:24,411
between President Obama and
President Bush on this issue

1093
00:46:24,414 --> 00:46:25,414
or any other.

1094
00:46:25,415 --> 00:46:29,115
But I can say as a general
matter, the President does

1095
00:46:29,119 --> 00:46:32,189
believe -- like President
Bush expressed, I believe --

1096
00:46:32,189 --> 00:46:34,389
that the vast majority
of the men and women

1097
00:46:34,391 --> 00:46:37,261
in our intelligence community
are true patriots.

1098
00:46:37,261 --> 00:46:41,501
These are individuals
who in a very dedicated

1099
00:46:41,498 --> 00:46:45,268
fashion used their skill
and expertise and,

1100
00:46:45,269 --> 00:46:49,269
on some occasions, put
themselves at great risk

1101
00:46:49,273 --> 00:46:51,373
to try to protect the
United States of America.

1102
00:46:51,375 --> 00:46:53,715
And those are individuals
who have the enduring

1103
00:46:53,710 --> 00:46:57,150
gratitude of this
President and the American

1104
00:46:57,147 --> 00:46:59,147
people because the
actions that they take

1105
00:46:59,149 --> 00:47:02,189
on a daily basis, even when
nobody is paying attention,

1106
00:47:02,186 --> 00:47:04,956
contribute significantly
to the safety and security

1107
00:47:04,955 --> 00:47:06,925
of the United States of
America and her people.

1108
00:47:06,924 --> 00:47:07,924
Major.

1109
00:47:07,925 --> 00:47:09,925
The Press:
Josh, over the weekend,

1110
00:47:09,927 --> 00:47:11,997
Senate Democrats spent a good
deal of time talking

1111
00:47:11,995 --> 00:47:14,795
among themselves about whether
this was the right time

1112
00:47:14,798 --> 00:47:17,268
to release that report, and
there are many who believe

1113
00:47:17,267 --> 00:47:19,737
this is not the right time;
that it's a very, very close call;

1114
00:47:19,736 --> 00:47:23,276
that there are a number
of objective reasons why it's,

1115
00:47:23,273 --> 00:47:25,273
as you just hinted
a moment ago,

1116
00:47:25,275 --> 00:47:27,245
never a good time to
release this report.

1117
00:47:27,244 --> 00:47:29,244
From the White House's
perspective, what is

1118
00:47:29,246 --> 00:47:32,246
the deciding factor that makes
this the right time --

1119
00:47:32,249 --> 00:47:34,649
other than the political
calendar, which suggests

1120
00:47:34,651 --> 00:47:36,651
if Senate Republicans
are in charge

1121
00:47:36,653 --> 00:47:38,653
of the Intelligence Committee,
this report will never see

1122
00:47:38,655 --> 00:47:39,655
the light of day?

1123
00:47:39,656 --> 00:47:41,656
Mr. Earnest:
The fact is, Major,

1124
00:47:41,658 --> 00:47:43,798
the right time will be
determined by members of

1125
00:47:43,794 --> 00:47:46,294
the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence.

1126
00:47:46,296 --> 00:47:47,466
That is as it should be.

1127
00:47:47,464 --> 00:47:49,734
It's their report and they
should make the decision

1128
00:47:49,733 --> 00:47:51,733
about the appropriate
time for releasing.

1129
00:47:51,735 --> 00:47:53,735
The Press:
But as you often remind us,

1130
00:47:53,737 --> 00:47:55,737
the President is chiefly
responsible for articulating

1131
00:47:55,739 --> 00:47:57,739
and defending the security
of this country,

1132
00:47:57,741 --> 00:47:59,741
its embassies
and its personnel.

1133
00:47:59,743 --> 00:48:01,743
He has to have an
opinion on this.

1134
00:48:01,745 --> 00:48:03,745
He can't be a simple
casual bystander

1135
00:48:03,747 --> 00:48:05,747
leaving it to the committee to
decide entirely

1136
00:48:05,749 --> 00:48:08,249
on its own without any guidance
whether this is the best time.

1137
00:48:08,252 --> 00:48:09,782
Mr. Earnest:
Well, again,

1138
00:48:09,786 --> 00:48:13,026
we have been -- I don't want
to leave you with the impression

1139
00:48:13,023 --> 00:48:15,023
that there hasn't
been any guidance.

1140
00:48:15,025 --> 00:48:17,025
There has been
communication between

1141
00:48:17,027 --> 00:48:19,027
the administration
and the committee.

1142
00:48:19,029 --> 00:48:20,029
The Press:
So why

1143
00:48:20,030 --> 00:48:21,230
is this the right time?

1144
00:48:21,231 --> 00:48:22,231
Mr. Earnest:
Again,

1145
00:48:22,232 --> 00:48:24,302
that is something that
they have to decide --

1146
00:48:24,301 --> 00:48:26,301
that members of the committee
have to decide for themselves.

1147
00:48:26,303 --> 00:48:27,303
It is their report.

1148
00:48:27,304 --> 00:48:29,304
And as you've reminded me
on a number of occasions,

1149
00:48:29,306 --> 00:48:31,306
despite the President's
priority that he places

1150
00:48:31,308 --> 00:48:33,448
on the safety and security
of the United States

1151
00:48:33,443 --> 00:48:35,913
of America, the legislative
branch is a separate

1152
00:48:35,912 --> 00:48:38,082
branch of government
and they have oversight

1153
00:48:38,081 --> 00:48:40,951
responsibilities over the
intelligence community

1154
00:48:40,951 --> 00:48:42,451
and over the executive branch.

1155
00:48:42,452 --> 00:48:47,662
And so they are free to
exercise that oversight

1156
00:48:47,658 --> 00:48:50,828
authority without
inappropriate interference

1157
00:48:50,827 --> 00:48:52,497
from the administration.

1158
00:48:52,496 --> 00:48:56,496
That said, this White
House -- the President

1159
00:48:56,500 --> 00:48:58,700
and obviously the Chief of
Staff, Denis McDonough,

1160
00:48:58,702 --> 00:49:04,172
have gone to great lengths
to try to facilitate

1161
00:49:04,174 --> 00:49:07,644
the kinds of productive
conversations between

1162
00:49:07,644 --> 00:49:09,784
the Intelligence Committee and
the intelligence community

1163
00:49:11,782 --> 00:49:13,782
about the release
of this report.

1164
00:49:13,784 --> 00:49:15,784
And that's been
painstaking work.

1165
00:49:15,786 --> 00:49:17,756
But ultimately this
administration

1166
00:49:17,754 --> 00:49:20,224
and this President and this
White House have been engaged

1167
00:49:20,223 --> 00:49:23,293
in that effort because we
believe so strongly

1168
00:49:23,293 --> 00:49:25,293
in the value of actually
following through

1169
00:49:25,295 --> 00:49:27,365
on the release of this report,
that it says something

1170
00:49:27,364 --> 00:49:30,904
critically important about
our values as a country

1171
00:49:30,901 --> 00:49:35,811
and that even though it
may pose some risk

1172
00:49:35,806 --> 00:49:38,846
to the security situation at
diplomatic facilities

1173
00:49:38,842 --> 00:49:42,882
around the globe, we can
take prudent steps to protect

1174
00:49:42,879 --> 00:49:47,589
those facilities, and that it is
critically important --

1175
00:49:47,584 --> 00:49:49,584
again, consistent
with the values of

1176
00:49:49,586 --> 00:49:51,556
this country -- for the
declassified version

1177
00:49:51,555 --> 00:49:53,555
of the summary of this
report to be released.

1178
00:49:53,557 --> 00:49:55,427
The Press:
There's also a sense

1179
00:49:55,425 --> 00:49:57,565
that one of the underlying
lessons of the report will be

1180
00:49:57,561 --> 00:50:00,331
that it's dangerous when a
bureaucracy runs amok

1181
00:50:00,330 --> 00:50:03,170
if there's not an elaborate
chain of communication

1182
00:50:03,166 --> 00:50:04,166
all the way to the top,

1183
00:50:04,167 --> 00:50:06,167
to the President of
the United States.

1184
00:50:06,169 --> 00:50:08,269
Is that also something you
expect to be a gain net

1185
00:50:08,271 --> 00:50:10,841
in the release of this
report, a CIA that's

1186
00:50:10,841 --> 00:50:13,541
chastised a bit about
its interpretation of

1187
00:50:13,543 --> 00:50:14,783
executive branch
orders and how

1188
00:50:14,778 --> 00:50:15,778
it carried them out?

1189
00:50:15,779 --> 00:50:16,779
Mr. Earnest:
Well, we'll see

1190
00:50:16,780 --> 00:50:19,080
what the report
eventually says.

1191
00:50:19,082 --> 00:50:21,882
I can tell you that
the President strongly

1192
00:50:21,885 --> 00:50:26,695
endorses the work that Director
Brennan has been conducting

1193
00:50:26,690 --> 00:50:30,360
as he's led that agency
and the President

1194
00:50:30,360 --> 00:50:32,360
has got complete
confidence in his ability

1195
00:50:32,362 --> 00:50:34,362
to lead that agency
and to do that --

1196
00:50:34,364 --> 00:50:36,364
The Press: --
this would have been

1197
00:50:36,366 --> 00:50:38,336
a different era under a
different set of circumstances.

1198
00:50:38,335 --> 00:50:39,335
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

1199
00:50:39,336 --> 00:50:41,336
we'll see what the
report has to say.

1200
00:50:41,338 --> 00:50:43,338
But as it relates to
sending a message

1201
00:50:43,340 --> 00:50:45,340
to the Central Intelligence
Agency, I can tell you

1202
00:50:45,342 --> 00:50:47,342
that the message that the
President wants to send

1203
00:50:47,344 --> 00:50:49,344
is that he's got complete
confidence in the Director

1204
00:50:49,346 --> 00:50:51,346
because of the excellent
work that he does

1205
00:50:51,348 --> 00:50:55,218
on a day-to-day basis, and to
express his gratitude

1206
00:50:55,218 --> 00:50:58,658
to the men and women of the
CIA who, again, on a daily

1207
00:50:58,655 --> 00:51:00,755
basis are serving their
country, often without

1208
00:51:00,757 --> 00:51:03,757
any recognition at all, but
doing the kind of work

1209
00:51:03,760 --> 00:51:07,430
that's critical to protecting
the American people.

1210
00:51:07,431 --> 00:51:09,571
The Press:
It was a busy weekend

1211
00:51:09,566 --> 00:51:12,166
on the Hill in another respect,
lots of negotiations going on

1212
00:51:12,169 --> 00:51:14,269
back and forth about several
pieces of legislation

1213
00:51:14,271 --> 00:51:15,571
heading to the
finish line.

1214
00:51:15,572 --> 00:51:17,942
I know you -- I suspect
you're not going

1215
00:51:17,941 --> 00:51:20,581
to get into great detail, but
would you be willing

1216
00:51:20,577 --> 00:51:23,477
to give us an overall sense
of the trajectory of things?

1217
00:51:23,480 --> 00:51:26,120
And are you more confident
than you were, let's say,

1218
00:51:26,116 --> 00:51:28,356
Thursday or Friday, about
the CR being resolved

1219
00:51:28,351 --> 00:51:30,951
largely if not entirely
on your terms, and the

1220
00:51:30,954 --> 00:51:32,954
National Defense
Authorization Act --

1221
00:51:32,956 --> 00:51:35,726
all of those things -- the
extenders bill -- getting

1222
00:51:35,725 --> 00:51:37,765
done by the end of this
week in terms that are

1223
00:51:37,761 --> 00:51:39,601
if not perfect, acceptable?

1224
00:51:39,596 --> 00:51:41,536
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Major,

1225
00:51:41,531 --> 00:51:42,601
I can tell you
that I have --

1226
00:51:42,599 --> 00:51:45,399
in the grand scale of
things, I've not worked

1227
00:51:45,402 --> 00:51:48,372
at the White House that long,
but I've worked here long enough

1228
00:51:48,371 --> 00:51:50,411
to know that I shouldn't be
making predictions about

1229
00:51:50,407 --> 00:51:52,747
the outcome of the
legislative process.

1230
00:51:52,742 --> 00:51:56,142
The Press:
I'm not trying to --

1231
00:51:56,146 --> 00:51:58,216
Mr. Earnest:
I know.

1232
00:51:58,215 --> 00:52:00,215
The Press:
-- what sense you have

1233
00:52:00,217 --> 00:52:02,217
because there are a lot of
conversations, going back --

1234
00:52:02,219 --> 00:52:03,219
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

1235
00:52:03,220 --> 00:52:05,220
I guess what I would say is
just that you would have

1236
00:52:05,222 --> 00:52:07,222
a better sense of
that than I would,

1237
00:52:07,224 --> 00:52:09,224
based on the conversations that
you have with members

1238
00:52:09,226 --> 00:52:10,226
of Congress and their staffs.

1239
00:52:10,227 --> 00:52:12,227
What I can tell you is
that we've been

1240
00:52:12,229 --> 00:52:14,229
really clear about how we
believe those processes should

1241
00:52:14,231 --> 00:52:16,701
be resolved, but I'm not
going to predict

1242
00:52:16,700 --> 00:52:18,700
how they're going
to be resolved.

1243
00:52:18,702 --> 00:52:19,702
The Press:
Okay.

1244
00:52:19,703 --> 00:52:20,703
One last thing.

1245
00:52:20,704 --> 00:52:22,704
Can you tell us why
Antonio Weiss

1246
00:52:22,706 --> 00:52:26,076
is the best nominee for this
position at the Department

1247
00:52:26,076 --> 00:52:28,716
of Treasury, Undersecretary
for Domestic Finance?

1248
00:52:28,712 --> 00:52:32,652
Elizabeth Warren thinks
he's not only unqualified,

1249
00:52:32,649 --> 00:52:35,049
doesn't have any
particular interest

1250
00:52:35,051 --> 00:52:37,451
in the underlying issues which
he would be carrying out

1251
00:52:37,454 --> 00:52:42,924
if confirmed, and that it's
unwise and a bit rankling

1252
00:52:42,926 --> 00:52:45,326
to see that his company,
Lazard, would give him

1253
00:52:45,328 --> 00:52:48,228
nearly $21 million in
compensation for taking

1254
00:52:48,231 --> 00:52:51,601
a government position after
leaving that particular firm.

1255
00:52:51,601 --> 00:52:53,071
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Major,

1256
00:52:53,069 --> 00:52:57,209
I can tell you that Mr. Weiss is a highly qualified nominee.

1257
00:52:57,207 --> 00:52:59,447
He's got deep expertise in
the financial markets

1258
00:52:59,442 --> 00:53:02,142
and economic issues that are
appropriate for somebody

1259
00:53:02,145 --> 00:53:04,145
to take on the
responsibility of being

1260
00:53:04,147 --> 00:53:07,487
Undersecretary of the
Treasury for Domestic Finance.

1261
00:53:07,484 --> 00:53:11,454
He's been in the field of
finance for 20 years,

1262
00:53:11,454 --> 00:53:15,454
and in that time he's overseen
numerous major financial

1263
00:53:15,458 --> 00:53:18,128
transactions across a variety
of industries that have

1264
00:53:18,128 --> 00:53:21,228
driven significant investment
inside the United States.

1265
00:53:21,231 --> 00:53:23,231
This is somebody who has
very good knowledge

1266
00:53:23,233 --> 00:53:28,843
of the way that the financial
markets work, and that

1267
00:53:28,838 --> 00:53:31,838
is critically important when
you're asking somebody

1268
00:53:31,841 --> 00:53:34,581
to take on a position in the
federal government that

1269
00:53:34,578 --> 00:53:38,118
has such a significant
bearing on those markets.

1270
00:53:38,114 --> 00:53:40,114
I can tell you that the
other reason that

1271
00:53:40,116 --> 00:53:42,656
we believe strongly that
Mr. Weiss should

1272
00:53:42,652 --> 00:53:45,492
be confirmed with bipartisan
support is that

1273
00:53:45,488 --> 00:53:48,028
he is somebody who has spent
some time thinking

1274
00:53:48,024 --> 00:53:50,494
about some of the issues that
the President believes

1275
00:53:50,493 --> 00:53:52,093
are critically important.

1276
00:53:52,095 --> 00:53:55,565
For example, in 2012,
Mr. Weiss co-authored

1277
00:53:55,565 --> 00:53:57,635
a report called
"Reforming Our Tax System

1278
00:53:57,634 --> 00:54:00,104
and Reducing our Deficit.

1279
00:54:00,103 --> 00:54:04,073
"Mr. Weiss shares the
President's view that we would

1280
00:54:04,074 --> 00:54:06,474
benefit significantly from
reforming and simplifying

1281
00:54:06,476 --> 00:54:09,676
our tax code and implementing
policies that help

1282
00:54:09,679 --> 00:54:12,019
boost economic growth while
supporting our middle class.

1283
00:54:12,015 --> 00:54:16,555
That includes, by the way,
eliminating the inversion

1284
00:54:16,553 --> 00:54:20,153
loophole that allows some
large corporations

1285
00:54:20,156 --> 00:54:23,126
to renounce -- essentially
renounce their citizenship

1286
00:54:23,126 --> 00:54:24,156
just so that they
can get away

1287
00:54:24,160 --> 00:54:26,160
without paying their
fair share of taxes.

1288
00:54:26,162 --> 00:54:32,072
So Mr. Weiss has a lot of
experience, has knowledge

1289
00:54:32,068 --> 00:54:34,068
that would be
critically important

1290
00:54:34,070 --> 00:54:38,270
to the successful conduct of
the responsibilities

1291
00:54:38,274 --> 00:54:40,274
of somebody who's
going to serve

1292
00:54:40,276 --> 00:54:41,276
as the
Undersecretary

1293
00:54:41,277 --> 00:54:43,277
of the Treasury for
Domestic Finance.

1294
00:54:43,279 --> 00:54:45,279
That's why we're counting
on the Congress

1295
00:54:45,281 --> 00:54:47,281
to take quick action and confirm
him in bipartisan fashion.

1296
00:54:47,283 --> 00:54:48,283
The Press:
Anything troubling

1297
00:54:48,284 --> 00:54:50,254
for this administration about
the compensation that awaits

1298
00:54:50,253 --> 00:54:51,253
him coming into
government?

1299
00:54:51,254 --> 00:54:53,254
I mean, those compensation
packages are designed

1300
00:54:53,256 --> 00:54:55,796
to keep people in the private
sector so they don't jump

1301
00:54:55,792 --> 00:54:56,962
from company to company.

1302
00:54:56,960 --> 00:54:58,960
Now he's coming
into government.

1303
00:54:58,962 --> 00:55:00,962
He will not be regulating
Lazard directly,

1304
00:55:00,964 --> 00:55:04,834
I grant you that, but within
the whole scheme of things,

1305
00:55:04,834 --> 00:55:08,804
doesn't it seem a little,
if not outrageous, odd?

1306
00:55:08,805 --> 00:55:10,675
Mr. Earnest:
Well, again,

1307
00:55:10,674 --> 00:55:13,144
let me -- this is what
I'll say about this.

1308
00:55:13,143 --> 00:55:15,713
Before any nominee takes
a position in government,

1309
00:55:15,712 --> 00:55:17,712
they have to go
through a review

1310
00:55:17,714 --> 00:55:19,714
by the Office of
Government Ethics.

1311
00:55:19,716 --> 00:55:21,716
This is an independent
agency that considers

1312
00:55:21,718 --> 00:55:23,718
exactly this question,
and they have

1313
00:55:23,720 --> 00:55:24,720
a lot of expertise
in doing so.

1314
00:55:24,721 --> 00:55:26,721
So if they have
any concerns about

1315
00:55:26,723 --> 00:55:28,993
the ethics of the
compensation arrangement

1316
00:55:28,992 --> 00:55:31,792
that you've described, I'm sure
they'll make them known.

1317
00:55:31,795 --> 00:55:33,795
It's in their
interest to do so.

1318
00:55:33,797 --> 00:55:35,797
But as far as I
know, they haven't.

1319
00:55:35,799 --> 00:55:36,799
The Press:
Right,

1320
00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:38,800
and the President has
no trouble with it?

1321
00:55:38,802 --> 00:55:40,272
Mr. Earnest:
And he does not.

1322
00:55:40,270 --> 00:55:41,270
Chris.

1323
00:55:41,271 --> 00:55:42,401
The Press:
Given that you said,

1324
00:55:42,405 --> 00:55:45,105
Josh, that the President's stand
about the torture report

1325
00:55:45,108 --> 00:55:49,878
is that we should be as transparent
as we possibly can,

1326
00:55:49,879 --> 00:55:52,179
and that people may
have a different view

1327
00:55:52,182 --> 00:55:54,482
of what could constitute
transparency --

1328
00:55:54,484 --> 00:55:57,054
some members of the
Intelligence Committee

1329
00:55:57,053 --> 00:55:59,093
may differ with members of the
intelligence community,

1330
00:55:59,089 --> 00:56:01,959
for example -- what can
you tell us about

1331
00:56:01,958 --> 00:56:04,498
the redaction process toward
that end of giving

1332
00:56:04,494 --> 00:56:07,664
the American people as much
information as you possibly can?

1333
00:56:07,664 --> 00:56:08,664
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

1334
00:56:08,665 --> 00:56:11,805
what we're talking about are a
wide range of classified

1335
00:56:11,801 --> 00:56:14,041
activities and classified
programs, and that will

1336
00:56:14,037 --> 00:56:16,237
necessarily limit how
much of this information

1337
00:56:16,239 --> 00:56:17,509
can be disclosed publicly.

1338
00:56:17,507 --> 00:56:19,407
The Press:
So is it only

1339
00:56:19,409 --> 00:56:21,849
classified information that
would be withheld?

1340
00:56:21,845 --> 00:56:25,115
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

1341
00:56:25,115 --> 00:56:27,115
I don't know the answer
to that question.

1342
00:56:27,117 --> 00:56:29,117
What I do know is that the
administration

1343
00:56:29,119 --> 00:56:31,659
has been working closely with
both members of the committee

1344
00:56:31,654 --> 00:56:35,094
and the intelligence
community to redact

1345
00:56:35,091 --> 00:56:37,091
as much of that report as
possible -- I'm sorry,

1346
00:56:37,093 --> 00:56:39,093
to declassify as much of
that report as possible.

1347
00:56:39,095 --> 00:56:40,095
(laughter)

1348
00:56:40,096 --> 00:56:43,936
Wouldn't make a lot of sense
to redact that report.

1349
00:56:43,933 --> 00:56:45,433
The Press:
Freudian.

1350
00:56:45,435 --> 00:56:47,435
Mr. Earnest:
I can tell you that the --

1351
00:56:47,437 --> 00:56:52,177
I've been up here a little
while already, you can tell.

1352
00:56:52,175 --> 00:56:53,175
(laughter)

1353
00:56:53,176 --> 00:56:56,116
The administration has been
working very scrupulously

1354
00:56:56,112 --> 00:56:57,812
with members of the

1355
00:56:57,814 --> 00:56:59,814
committee and with the
intelligence community

1356
00:56:59,816 --> 00:57:01,816
to declassify as much of
that report as possible.

1357
00:57:01,818 --> 00:57:04,058
And the reason for that
is simply because

1358
00:57:04,053 --> 00:57:06,593
that actually would further
the goal that the President

1359
00:57:06,589 --> 00:57:08,859
himself has laid out,
which is he does believe

1360
00:57:08,858 --> 00:57:12,498
it's important for the
intelligence community and

1361
00:57:12,495 --> 00:57:14,495
for the committee and for
the federal government

1362
00:57:14,497 --> 00:57:16,567
to be as transparent as
possible with the American

1363
00:57:16,566 --> 00:57:18,836
people and with the
world about what exactly

1364
00:57:18,835 --> 00:57:22,105
transpired, specifically
so that we can make sure

1365
00:57:22,105 --> 00:57:23,545
that it never
happens again.

1366
00:57:23,540 --> 00:57:29,010
So I don't contest that
there -- as with so many

1367
00:57:29,012 --> 00:57:31,552
of these issues, that
there are a variety of opinions.

1368
00:57:31,548 --> 00:57:34,948
But when it comes down to
the administration's view,

1369
00:57:34,951 --> 00:57:37,651
specifically the White
House's view, our view

1370
00:57:37,654 --> 00:57:40,524
is that as much of this
report as possible

1371
00:57:40,523 --> 00:57:41,963
should be declassified.

1372
00:57:41,958 --> 00:57:43,958
Now, we of course need
to make sure that we're

1373
00:57:43,960 --> 00:57:45,960
taking the necessary
precautions to ensure

1374
00:57:45,962 --> 00:57:50,102
the safety of our men and
women in the intelligence

1375
00:57:50,099 --> 00:57:52,099
community, and we
certainly wouldn't want

1376
00:57:52,101 --> 00:57:54,101
to release anything that
would put them at risk.

1377
00:57:54,103 --> 00:57:57,703
But absent that, we
believe as much of this

1378
00:57:57,707 --> 00:58:00,007
information, as much of
this story as possible,

1379
00:58:00,009 --> 00:58:03,579
should be told so that the
American people can have

1380
00:58:03,580 --> 00:58:06,020
a clear assessment of what
exactly happened,

1381
00:58:06,015 --> 00:58:08,555
and that we can be crystal clear
about what our values

1382
00:58:08,551 --> 00:58:11,491
are as Americans and be
sure that regardless

1383
00:58:11,487 --> 00:58:14,727
of circumstance, that that
never happens again.

1384
00:58:14,724 --> 00:58:15,724
The Press:
So would you say

1385
00:58:15,725 --> 00:58:18,425
that the White House wanted
more of this made available

1386
00:58:18,428 --> 00:58:20,428
to the public than is
being made available?

1387
00:58:20,430 --> 00:58:22,430
Mr. Earnest:
What I can say, Chris,

1388
00:58:22,432 --> 00:58:24,432
is that the White House is
satisfied that the concerns --

1389
00:58:24,434 --> 00:58:29,674
or that the agreement that's
been reached between

1390
00:58:29,672 --> 00:58:33,742
the committee and the
intelligence community

1391
00:58:33,743 --> 00:58:36,183
both take into account
the need to protect

1392
00:58:36,179 --> 00:58:38,719
our men and women in the
intelligence community,

1393
00:58:38,715 --> 00:58:40,985
but also to be
as transparent

1394
00:58:40,984 --> 00:58:43,224
as we possibly can with
the American people

1395
00:58:43,219 --> 00:58:44,219
about what exactly happened.

1396
00:58:44,220 --> 00:58:46,220
The Press:
So it would not be correct

1397
00:58:46,222 --> 00:58:48,222
to characterize this saying
that the White House

1398
00:58:48,224 --> 00:58:50,224
would like more of
this made public?

1399
00:58:50,226 --> 00:58:51,226
Mr. Earnest:
Well,

1400
00:58:51,227 --> 00:58:53,227
I think what I would say is
that the White House has been,

1401
00:58:53,229 --> 00:58:55,229
from the beginning, pushing
for the release of this report

1402
00:58:55,231 --> 00:58:58,301
and pushing for as much content
as possible to be released.

1403
00:59:01,204 --> 00:59:03,204
Now, given the classified
nature of these programs,

1404
00:59:03,206 --> 00:59:04,176
there are limits on that.

1405
00:59:04,173 --> 00:59:06,873
But that has been the
posture of the White House

1406
00:59:06,876 --> 00:59:10,676
from the beginning for
years, and that is why

1407
00:59:10,680 --> 00:59:13,150
the White House has I think
been pretty effective

1408
00:59:13,149 --> 00:59:15,989
in trying to work with both
the committee and

1409
00:59:15,985 --> 00:59:18,485
the intelligence community to
resolve their concerns

1410
00:59:18,488 --> 00:59:19,688
and get this report released.

1411
00:59:19,689 --> 00:59:21,729
And that's why we're
gratified that

1412
00:59:21,724 --> 00:59:24,124
the committee has made the
decision to release

1413
00:59:24,127 --> 00:59:25,127
this report tomorrow.

1414
00:59:25,128 --> 00:59:26,128
The Press:
And on

1415
00:59:26,129 --> 00:59:28,129
the hostage rescue mission --
and we've talked about

1416
00:59:28,131 --> 00:59:30,531
this before in this room,
about the President's position,

1417
00:59:30,533 --> 00:59:33,073
the White House position
on not paying ransom.

1418
00:59:33,069 --> 00:59:36,439
And yet, when you have the
combination of situations

1419
00:59:36,439 --> 00:59:39,439
where there have been
hostages who have been

1420
00:59:39,442 --> 00:59:41,712
successfully freed, being
paid either covertly

1421
00:59:41,711 --> 00:59:45,081
by governments or by family
and friends who have

1422
00:59:45,081 --> 00:59:47,321
raised money, in
the failed missions

1423
00:59:47,317 --> 00:59:52,017
what can you say to families who
look at that and say,

1424
00:59:52,021 --> 00:59:56,261
this is my opportunity to save
the life of my loved one?

1425
00:59:56,259 --> 00:59:57,699
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Chris,

1426
00:59:57,694 --> 01:00:00,394
the families who find
themselves in this situation

1427
01:00:00,396 --> 01:00:03,066
are facing a
terrible choice.

1428
01:00:03,066 --> 01:00:06,736
And the kind of pain and
anguish that a parent

1429
01:00:06,736 --> 01:00:10,776
must feel about their son
or daughter being held

1430
01:00:10,773 --> 01:00:13,573
against their will by
terrorists as a hostage

1431
01:00:13,576 --> 01:00:15,016
is unthinkable.

1432
01:00:15,011 --> 01:00:19,081
And it's difficult
to imagine being

1433
01:00:19,082 --> 01:00:23,522
in a situation like that, and
that is why you have seen

1434
01:00:23,519 --> 01:00:27,729
such significant
expressions of sympathy

1435
01:00:27,724 --> 01:00:30,494
for families that
are in that position.

1436
01:00:30,493 --> 01:00:32,993
That is also why you've
seen strong support

1437
01:00:32,996 --> 01:00:34,996
from the federal government
for those families.

1438
01:00:34,998 --> 01:00:36,998
And that's also why you've
seen the President

1439
01:00:37,000 --> 01:00:40,070
of the United States expend
significant capital

1440
01:00:40,069 --> 01:00:43,009
and time and energy to try to
rescue those individuals;

1441
01:00:43,006 --> 01:00:45,706
two different rescue raids
ordered -- clandestine

1442
01:00:45,708 --> 01:00:47,908
rescue raids ordered in
just the last couple

1443
01:00:47,910 --> 01:00:51,650
of weeks to try to secure the
safe return of Mr. Somers.

1444
01:00:51,647 --> 01:00:54,047
This is something that
the administration and the

1445
01:00:54,050 --> 01:00:57,120
President himself is
personally invested in.

1446
01:00:57,120 --> 01:01:03,130
And there is no question
that we are -- that

1447
01:01:03,126 --> 01:01:06,096
that kind of a choice that's
facing an individual family

1448
01:01:06,095 --> 01:01:07,065
is gut-wrenching.

1449
01:01:07,063 --> 01:01:09,063
At the same time,
as policymakers,

1450
01:01:09,065 --> 01:01:14,835
it's the responsibility of
members of this administration

1451
01:01:14,837 --> 01:01:17,777
to lay out policies that are
in the best interest

1452
01:01:17,774 --> 01:01:19,774
of the country and the security
of every American citizen.

1453
01:01:19,776 --> 01:01:23,476
And paying ransom to
terrorist organizations,

1454
01:01:23,479 --> 01:01:30,489
essentially financing the
ability of these terrorist

1455
01:01:30,486 --> 01:01:34,286
organizations to carry out
other hostage-takings,

1456
01:01:34,290 --> 01:01:36,290
is not in the best interest
of the United States

1457
01:01:36,292 --> 01:01:38,862
and it's not in the best
interest of our citizens.

1458
01:01:38,861 --> 01:01:43,031
And again, that in no way
is intended to diminish

1459
01:01:43,032 --> 01:01:45,202
the difficult choice
and the anguish

1460
01:01:45,201 --> 01:01:48,301
that so many
families must feel.

1461
01:01:48,304 --> 01:01:52,144
But as a policy matter,
there's no doubt

1462
01:01:52,141 --> 01:01:56,411
that not paying ransom is
clearly in the best interest

1463
01:01:56,412 --> 01:01:58,912
of the safety and security
of the American people.

1464
01:01:58,915 --> 01:01:59,915
Mr. Viqueira.

1465
01:01:59,916 --> 01:02:00,916
The Press:
Thank you.

1466
01:02:00,917 --> 01:02:02,917
Could I take it back to
racial profiling

1467
01:02:02,919 --> 01:02:04,589
for just a
moment, please?

1468
01:02:04,587 --> 01:02:06,587
In the parlance of
Washington, they call them

1469
01:02:06,589 --> 01:02:09,789
carve-outs -- I think the
rest of us would call them

1470
01:02:09,792 --> 01:02:11,792
exceptions -- for
border security,

1471
01:02:11,794 --> 01:02:13,764
airport security and
the Secret Service.

1472
01:02:13,763 --> 01:02:15,763
Civil libertarians
are angry about that.

1473
01:02:15,765 --> 01:02:17,765
They say there's a big
loophole, particularly

1474
01:02:17,767 --> 01:02:19,907
leaving vulnerable Latinos
and religious minorities.

1475
01:02:19,902 --> 01:02:21,302
What's your response?

1476
01:02:21,304 --> 01:02:23,874
Mr. Earnest:
Well, my understanding, Mike

1477
01:02:23,873 --> 01:02:26,673
-- and you should check with
the Department of Justice on this --

1478
01:02:26,676 --> 01:02:29,116
but it's my understanding that
this new guidance would

1479
01:02:29,112 --> 01:02:32,182
actually be applied on top of
those other what previously had

1480
01:02:32,181 --> 01:02:35,481
been described as carve-outs;
that there are additional --

1481
01:02:35,485 --> 01:02:39,785
there's a higher
threshold level in terms

1482
01:02:39,789 --> 01:02:41,789
of protections that are --
civil liberty protections

1483
01:02:41,791 --> 01:02:42,791
that are in place.

1484
01:02:42,792 --> 01:02:44,792
The Press:
But exceptions still remain

1485
01:02:44,794 --> 01:02:46,794
for those three areas
is my understanding.

1486
01:02:46,796 --> 01:02:47,796
Mr. Earnest:
There are

1487
01:02:47,797 --> 01:02:50,537
some narrow exceptions,
but they were narrowed

1488
01:02:50,533 --> 01:02:52,033
by this new guidance.

1489
01:02:52,034 --> 01:02:56,844
And the way that these
policies are implemented

1490
01:02:56,839 --> 01:02:58,979
is focused on making sure
that we're balancing

1491
01:02:58,975 --> 01:03:02,645
the need to protect civil
liberties of the American

1492
01:03:02,645 --> 01:03:05,415
people, but also
trying to protect

1493
01:03:05,414 --> 01:03:06,484
the American people.

1494
01:03:06,482 --> 01:03:09,582
This is a dynamic that
particularly plays out

1495
01:03:09,585 --> 01:03:12,655
in securing the
transportation sector;

1496
01:03:12,655 --> 01:03:15,055
that we want to make sure
that we are protecting

1497
01:03:15,057 --> 01:03:17,127
the civil liberties of
the traveling public,

1498
01:03:17,126 --> 01:03:19,526
but at the same time we
also need to preserve

1499
01:03:19,529 --> 01:03:22,129
the overall security of the
transportation system.

1500
01:03:22,131 --> 01:03:25,901
And there are complicated
ways in which we can apply

1501
01:03:25,902 --> 01:03:28,872
this policy that balances
both significant concerns.

1502
01:03:28,871 --> 01:03:30,171
The Press:
So, in other words,

1503
01:03:30,173 --> 01:03:33,513
racial profiling -- some element
of racial profiling is necessary

1504
01:03:33,509 --> 01:03:36,149
when it really matters
-- at airports

1505
01:03:36,145 --> 01:03:37,945
and with the Secret Service?

1506
01:03:37,947 --> 01:03:39,047
Mr. Earnest:
No.

1507
01:03:39,048 --> 01:03:42,018
The federal government does not
condone racial profiling.

1508
01:03:42,018 --> 01:03:44,018
That is the policy of
the administration.

1509
01:03:44,020 --> 01:03:46,020
We do not condone
racial profiling.

1510
01:03:46,022 --> 01:03:48,022
And that is something
that is not allowed

1511
01:03:48,024 --> 01:03:49,024
by law enforcement officers.

1512
01:03:49,025 --> 01:03:52,965
But what we also have to
do is we also have

1513
01:03:52,962 --> 01:03:57,432
to be in a position where we
are allowing law enforcement

1514
01:03:57,433 --> 01:04:01,503
officials to make some
risk-based assessments

1515
01:04:01,504 --> 01:04:05,674
to balance the protection
of the American people

1516
01:04:05,675 --> 01:04:07,675
with the protection of
civil liberties.

1517
01:04:07,677 --> 01:04:09,107
And these are complicated.

1518
01:04:09,111 --> 01:04:12,311
Many of them are dependent
on the exact situation

1519
01:04:12,315 --> 01:04:14,985
that you're talking
about, which is why

1520
01:04:14,984 --> 01:04:17,084
the implementation of this new
guidance as it relates

1521
01:04:17,086 --> 01:04:19,086
to racial profiling
is accompanied

1522
01:04:19,088 --> 01:04:22,388
by a significant commitment
of funds to ensure

1523
01:04:22,391 --> 01:04:24,391
that our law enforcement
officials are getting

1524
01:04:24,393 --> 01:04:26,393
the training that they need
to implement this policy.

1525
01:04:26,395 --> 01:04:27,395
Carol.

1526
01:04:27,396 --> 01:04:28,766
The Press:
On the release

1527
01:04:28,764 --> 01:04:33,234
of the report -- given that
the President feels so strongly,

1528
01:04:33,236 --> 01:04:37,306
as he said he does, about
this and the importance

1529
01:04:37,306 --> 01:04:42,176
that he thinks this has, should
we expect that he will speak

1530
01:04:42,178 --> 01:04:43,778
publicly once
it's released?

1531
01:04:43,779 --> 01:04:46,219
And generally, what
does he see

1532
01:04:46,215 --> 01:04:49,885
as his responsibility in terms
of his public posture

1533
01:04:49,885 --> 01:04:52,325
on this given that
it's obviously

1534
01:04:52,321 --> 01:04:55,561
going to incite perhaps
some violence and passion

1535
01:04:55,558 --> 01:04:58,398
on the other side
of the debate?

1536
01:04:58,394 --> 01:05:00,234
Mr. Earnest:
Well, Carol,

1537
01:05:00,229 --> 01:05:02,229
the President has
made his voice heard

1538
01:05:02,231 --> 01:05:04,231
insofar as he
has strongly supported

1539
01:05:04,233 --> 01:05:07,733
the release of a declassified
version of this report.

1540
01:05:07,737 --> 01:05:10,737
That's something the
President has long

1541
01:05:10,740 --> 01:05:12,740
advocated since the
earliest days

1542
01:05:12,742 --> 01:05:13,742
of his administration.

1543
01:05:13,743 --> 01:05:15,743
He, after all, I believe
on the second day

1544
01:05:15,745 --> 01:05:17,885
of his administration took the
action that was necessary

1545
01:05:17,880 --> 01:05:20,380
to ensure that
these techniques

1546
01:05:20,383 --> 01:05:22,383
were no longer
being carried out.

1547
01:05:22,385 --> 01:05:25,025
So the President does have
strong views about this.

1548
01:05:25,021 --> 01:05:27,021
He's made those
strong views known

1549
01:05:27,023 --> 01:05:28,023
on previous occasions.

1550
01:05:28,024 --> 01:05:30,024
I don't anticipate that
the President

1551
01:05:30,026 --> 01:05:33,196
will make a specific statement
on this tomorrow, but we'll see

1552
01:05:33,195 --> 01:05:35,195
if we can find a way to get
you some kind of reaction --

1553
01:05:35,197 --> 01:05:39,137
either a written statement from
him or some kind of readout

1554
01:05:39,135 --> 01:05:41,135
that I may be able to
provide in the gaggle.

1555
01:05:41,137 --> 01:05:42,307
The Press:
And then also

1556
01:05:42,305 --> 01:05:46,275
on the -- there's a report that
the administration --

1557
01:05:46,275 --> 01:05:51,845
a note by the U.N. that Iran
has been trying to procure

1558
01:05:51,847 --> 01:05:55,087
equipment for its
heavy reactor in Arak.

1559
01:05:55,084 --> 01:05:58,354
Is that something
that you can confirm?

1560
01:05:58,354 --> 01:06:00,654
And if so, if
that is the case,

1561
01:06:00,656 --> 01:06:02,656
doesn't that violate the
agreement?

1562
01:06:02,658 --> 01:06:03,828
Mr. Earnest:
I have to admit,

1563
01:06:03,826 --> 01:06:06,466
Carol, I haven't seen those reports,
so we'll look into it.

1564
01:06:06,462 --> 01:06:09,762
One of the conditions of
the ongoing negotiations

1565
01:06:09,765 --> 01:06:13,365
between Iran and the
P5-plus-1 has been

1566
01:06:13,369 --> 01:06:15,839
that Iran not attempt to
make significant

1567
01:06:15,838 --> 01:06:19,138
new investments at the heavy
water facility at Arak.

1568
01:06:19,141 --> 01:06:22,911
So let me refer you to one
of my colleagues

1569
01:06:22,912 --> 01:06:25,452
at the NSC who may be more
familiar with that report

1570
01:06:25,448 --> 01:06:29,288
and can better describe
what impact that report

1571
01:06:29,285 --> 01:06:32,355
may have on the baseline
agreement that we've discussed.

1572
01:06:32,355 --> 01:06:33,355
The Press:
Josh?

1573
01:06:33,356 --> 01:06:34,356
Mr. Earnest:
So, JC,

1574
01:06:34,357 --> 01:06:35,357
I'll give you the last one.

1575
01:06:35,358 --> 01:06:36,358
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

1576
01:06:36,359 --> 01:06:38,359
No matter how you cut it,
this morning the President

1577
01:06:38,361 --> 01:06:40,361
met with the future King
of the United Kingdom,

1578
01:06:40,363 --> 01:06:44,003
one of the greatest allies
America has traditionally had,

1579
01:06:43,999 --> 01:06:46,839
fighting against
common enemies.

1580
01:06:46,836 --> 01:06:51,136
Three enemies come to my
mind as we spoke today

1581
01:06:51,140 --> 01:06:54,140
about al Qaeda,
ISIL and Ebola.

1582
01:06:54,143 --> 01:06:56,713
Did any of those topics
come up with His Royal Highness

1583
01:06:56,712 --> 01:06:58,182
and the President
this morning?

1584
01:06:58,180 --> 01:06:59,180
Mr. Earnest:
JC,

1585
01:06:59,181 --> 01:07:01,181
I can tell you that the President
was pleased

1586
01:07:01,183 --> 01:07:03,183
to welcome Prince William,
the Duke of Cambridge,

1587
01:07:03,185 --> 01:07:05,185
to the White House
this morning.

1588
01:07:05,187 --> 01:07:07,157
The Duke of Cambridge
also met earlier

1589
01:07:07,156 --> 01:07:09,156
with Vice President Joe
Biden and Dr. Jill Biden.

1590
01:07:09,158 --> 01:07:11,158
The President and the Duke
of Cambridge discussed

1591
01:07:11,160 --> 01:07:13,160
the long and special
relationship

1592
01:07:13,162 --> 01:07:15,162
between the U.K. and
the United States.

1593
01:07:15,164 --> 01:07:17,164
In addition, the Duke
of Cambridge briefed

1594
01:07:17,166 --> 01:07:19,166
the President on his
initiative to combat

1595
01:07:19,168 --> 01:07:21,168
the illegal wildlife trade,
an issue to which the

1596
01:07:21,170 --> 01:07:23,170
President and this
administration

1597
01:07:23,172 --> 01:07:24,172
are strongly committed.

1598
01:07:24,173 --> 01:07:26,173
The Vice President and
Dr. Biden discussed

1599
01:07:26,175 --> 01:07:28,175
our bilateral relationship
and global challenges,

1600
01:07:28,177 --> 01:07:30,177
such as the effort to degrade
and ultimately destroy ISIL,

1601
01:07:30,179 --> 01:07:32,179
as well as efforts to
support our two countries'

1602
01:07:32,181 --> 01:07:34,181
wounded warriors through
the Invictus Games,

1603
01:07:34,183 --> 01:07:37,853
which Dr. Biden attended
earlier this year in London.

1604
01:07:37,853 --> 01:07:39,853
I'm not able to determine
at this point whether

1605
01:07:39,855 --> 01:07:42,195
or not the President had the
opportunity to discuss

1606
01:07:42,191 --> 01:07:44,191
tonight's basketball
game with Prince William.

1607
01:07:44,193 --> 01:07:46,993
I know that the President
is certainly envious of

1608
01:07:46,996 --> 01:07:49,796
the Prince's opportunity
to take in a game between

1609
01:07:49,799 --> 01:07:54,039
the Nets and the LeBron
James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.

1610
01:07:54,036 --> 01:07:55,036
Thanks a lot, everybody.

1611
01:07:55,037 --> 01:07:57,037
Have a good afternoon.