English subtitles for clip: File:2-4-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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It's nice to
see all of you.

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For those of you who are
paying close attention

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to my personal schedule
today, you know that

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I went and appeared at
a forum with the Center

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of American Progress to
talk about men and fathers

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and work-life
family balance.

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I'm much less nervous
sitting here talking

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to you about a range of
foreign policy issues,

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and even some domestic
ones, than I am talking

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about my personal
life with my wife

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and child in
the front row.

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So for one day I can at
least walk in here and

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say I'm relieved to
see all of you.

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(laughter)

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The Press: How
did you do?

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Mr. Earnest: You
should ask my wife.

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She may have a more
unbiased assessment.

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Julie, you want to
get us started today?

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The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

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I had a couple questions
on Islamic State and Jordan.

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Congressional lawmakers
are calling for increased

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military assistance to
Jordan, including weapons.

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Would the President
support that?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie,
we do have a very powerful

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and important
counterterrorism

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and security relationship
with the nation of Jordan,

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and that relationship has
significantly benefitted

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American national security
interests throughout

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the Middle East.

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We have also found that
Jordan has been a strong

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partner when it comes to
our broader international

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coalition against ISIL.

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We've talked about -- and,
tragically, it's been

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widely discussed -- that
Jordanian military pilots

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are flying alongside
American military pilots,

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striking ISIL
targets in Syria.

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That is just one
indication of the depth

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of the commitment from
the Jordanian people

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to this broader
effort.

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And we certainly value
that relationship

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and we certainly are interested
in maintaining the strong

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military-to-military
national security ties

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that we have with
that country.

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The Press: But do you
feel that there is a need

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to increase military
assistance to Jordan,

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specifically, by giving
them more weapons?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I
don't know if they --

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I'm not aware of any
specific requests that

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the Jordanians have made
for additional --

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The Press: Because
lawmakers on Capitol Hill

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are talking about pulling
something together on this.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly would consider

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anything that they
were to put forward,

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but I do think what would
drive a decision like that

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is a specific request from
our partners in Jordan.

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The Press: You talked
about the commitment from

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Jordan to fly and
launch airstrikes.

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The UAE, which had been
part of that coalition,

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has stopped
doing that.

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What does that say about the
strength of this coalition?

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And what's the reason that
the UAE has given the

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U.S. for stopping
launching airstrikes?

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Mr. Earnest: I did see
that announcement from

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the Emiratis, and I would
refer you to them for the

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latest update in terms
of their military

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participation
in the campaign.

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But I don't think people
should take away from that

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announcement that the
commitment from the

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Emiratis and other Arab
countries in the region

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to this broader coalition
has waned in any way.

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There's a very important
role for the Emiratis

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to play in terms of the range
of other aspects of our

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counter-ISIL strategy
that requires broad

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international support.

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So whether it's providing
humanitarian assistance

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to those who have been
displaced by ISIL's

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violence, or helping us in
the fight against foreign

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fighters, or working
to try to counter the

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messaging from ISIL that
it attempts to radicalize

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people all across the
globe, that there's still

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and continues to be an
important role for the

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United Arab Emirates
to play in this broad,

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international coalition.

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The Press: Just as a
matter of transparency,

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the military was still
listing the UAE on daily

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news releases as being
part of the coalition

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launching airstrikes
against Syria, even after

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they had stopped
doing that.

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Are there other countries
that were part of this

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coalition that
have changed their

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participation that
we don't know about?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, not
that I'm aware of.

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But obviously what we have
tried to do, aside from

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some of the documentation
that you just cited,

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is to allow the individual
countries to discuss

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in detail the kind of
military operations that

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they're engaged in
on a daily basis.

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My guess is, without
knowing exactly which

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document you're referring
to, it might have been

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a list of the countries that
had to date participated

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in military airstrikes
alongside American

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military pilots.

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The Press: At this point,
all of the countries that

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you have said are
participating

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in airstrikes, besides
the UAE, are still part

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of that effort?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm going to let the

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individual countries speak
to the detailed sort

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of day-by-day accounting of
their military activities

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and their participation
in military operations.

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The Press: And just one
more on this topic.

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Is the White House or
the President giving any

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consideration to
increasing the resources

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that you have in the
region to be available

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to rescue pilots if a
plane were to go down?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that there has been some

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reporting that raised
questions about whether

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or not there was sufficient
resources available to try

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to rescue Captain Kasasbeh
when his plane went down.

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The Department of Defense
has spoken to this,

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and they did indicate that
as soon as the plane went

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down, an intensive
airborne search was

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immediately initiated and
personnel recovery forces

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were moving toward the
pilot's last known location.

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For obvious reasons,
we're not going

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to be in a position to
discuss specific response

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timelines for personnel
recovery, but that was

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not, in this case,
a major factor.

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The simple fact of the
matter is that we were not

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in a position to locate
the pilot before he was

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picked up by
ISIL forces.

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The Press: So the
President feels

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comfortable with the
resources that he has

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on the ground if something
were to happen with

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an American pilot
over Syria or Iraq?

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
certainly we would take --

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we already have taken the
necessary precautions

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to do everything we can
to try to make that very

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dangerous mission as safe
as possible for American

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fighter pilots who are
putting themselves

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in harm's way.

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I can tell you that
the President relies

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significantly on the
advice that he gets from

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the leaders of our
uniformed military for

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questions like this.

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I can tell you that the
President is always

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pushing his team to
reevaluate assumptions

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and to take a look at the
strategy to make sure that

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all of our strategies
are pressure-tested,

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that assumptions are
challenged, and that we're

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doing everything that
makes strategic sense

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to do to make this mission
effective, to optimize

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its impact, and to try to put
in place precautions that

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allow our men and women in
uniform to do their very

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important jobs as
safely as possible.

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Roberta.

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The Press: The European
Union has criticized

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Jordan's execution of the
two Iraqis yesterday.

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I'm wondering how the
President feels about that

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execution and whether that
came up during his meeting

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with the King
yesterday.

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
Roberta, we did see

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reports that the Jordanian
government did carry out

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the execution of two
prisoners that had been

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serving time on
death row.

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These were two individuals
that did go through the

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Jordanian justice system.

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They were convicted
of very serious

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terrorism-related
crimes.

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These were individuals who
were sentenced to death

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and were serving
time on death row.

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And then we did see
reports that their

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executions were
carried out overnight.

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For questions about the
circumstances of their

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confinement or the
decision to move forward

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on the execution, I'd
refer you to Jordanian

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authorities who can
provide a great deal more

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insight into the Jordanian
justice system than,

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frankly, I can.

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The Press: So the White
House is not criticizing

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this, unlike the
European Union?

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Mr. Earnest: Again, for
questions about that

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specific situation, I'd refer
you to Jordanian authorities.

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The Press: Today,
Ash Carter, at his

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Senate hearing, said
he leans in favor

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of sending arms
to Ukraine.

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And that seems to go
further than what

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Ben Rhodes said the other day
on TV and what you've said.

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And I'm wondering if the
White House agrees with

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Ash Carter, or if he's
gone out ahead of the

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White House on this issue.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, the
other thing that I noticed

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that Dr. Carter mentioned
in his hearing is that

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he's a strong believer
in the chain of command,

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and he certainly
understands that the

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Commander-in-Chief is
the top of that chain

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of command and that a
decision like this will

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be made by the
Commander-in-Chief.

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That said, the President
is certainly interested

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in the view and opinion and
insight of his national

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security team, including
what we hope will be his

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soon-to-be confirmed new
Secretary of Defense.

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And so, the President will
certainly take that

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advice into account.

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What we have made clear is
that substantial military

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assistance has already
been provided to the

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Ukrainian military.

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We've made clear that an
effort to try to bring

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the Ukrainian military on par
with the Russian military

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is unrealistic, that when
we're talking about the

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Russian military we're
talking about one of the

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largest militaries
on Earth.

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So the idea that we're
going to provide enough

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assistance that would
allow the Ukrainian

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military to be on par
with the Russian military

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is unrealistic.

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That's why we know
that the only way this

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situation is going to be
resolved is around the

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negotiating table.

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And that is why our
strategy has been focused

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on applying pressure to
President Putin and other

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members of the Russian
regime to try to compel

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them to come to the
negotiating table

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to resolve -- or to
deescalate the situation

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in Ukraine.

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That's going to continue
to be our strategy.

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I know that there
are some, including

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Dr. Carter, who
articulated his view

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at the hearing today, who
believe that there might

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be a benefit to providing
additional military

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assistance to Ukrainian
military authorities.

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And that is consistent
with the President's view

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that we should, as I
was mentioning earlier

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as it relates to our strategy
against ISIL, that we're

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always testing and probing
our strategy to make sure

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that it is optimized.

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The Press: Just quickly,
on net neutrality.

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The FCC Chairman put forth
his new proposal today.

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How does the White House
feel about his new proposal?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I
understand from published

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reports, that the FCC
Chairman, Tom Wheeler,

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has published an
overview of his plans

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to safeguard
net neutrality.

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And we're certainly
encouraged to see that the

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FCC is heading in the same
direction of safeguarding

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net neutrality with the
strongest possible protections.

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00:09:52,725 --> 00:09:54,725
This is consistent
with the view that

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00:09:54,727 --> 00:09:58,267
the President articulated
back in the fall.

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00:09:58,264 --> 00:10:01,704
And the President has
indicated that as this

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00:10:01,701 --> 00:10:04,401
process moves forward,
that additional

252
00:10:04,403 --> 00:10:05,803
legislation is
not needed.

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00:10:05,805 --> 00:10:08,745
But we're going to
continue to withhold

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00:10:08,741 --> 00:10:12,281
a detailed comment about
their proposal out

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00:10:12,278 --> 00:10:14,418
of respect for the
independent process

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00:10:14,413 --> 00:10:16,813
that the FCC is
engaged in right now.

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00:10:16,816 --> 00:10:19,356
This proposal will be
subject to a vote of the

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00:10:19,352 --> 00:10:21,352
five members of the -- or
five commissioners of the

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00:10:21,354 --> 00:10:24,754
FCC, and we'll have a
little bit more to say

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00:10:24,757 --> 00:10:27,657
about this after that
vote has taken place.

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00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:28,830
Isaac.

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00:10:28,828 --> 00:10:30,668
The Press: If the speech
by Prime Minister Netanyahu

263
00:10:30,663 --> 00:10:32,663
goes forward,
will the President ask

264
00:10:32,665 --> 00:10:34,665
Vice President Biden
to go to the speech?

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00:10:34,667 --> 00:10:36,667
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Isaac, you know that the

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00:10:36,669 --> 00:10:38,869
Vice President takes his
responsibilities as the

267
00:10:38,871 --> 00:10:42,911
president of the United
States Senate very seriously.

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00:10:42,908 --> 00:10:45,648
That includes even his
ceremonial responsibilities.

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00:10:45,644 --> 00:10:48,244
So many of you who have
watched the Vice President

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00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,890
dig in with gusto as he
swears in new members

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00:10:53,886 --> 00:10:56,056
of the United States Congress
-- they've done that

272
00:10:56,055 --> 00:10:58,495
a couple of times, and I
think that the rating for

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00:10:58,491 --> 00:11:00,491
C-SPAN have gone through
the roof when he's had

274
00:11:00,493 --> 00:11:01,993
the opportunity
to do that.

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00:11:01,994 --> 00:11:04,164
But another of his
ceremonial duties

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00:11:04,163 --> 00:11:09,433
is to be a part of any joint
session of Congress that

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00:11:09,435 --> 00:11:12,735
is convened.

278
00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:15,740
In fact, there have been a
number of joint sessions

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00:11:15,741 --> 00:11:17,741
that have been convened
while he's been Vice

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00:11:17,743 --> 00:11:19,743
President, and the Vice
President has only missed one.

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00:11:19,745 --> 00:11:23,115
He missed one back in
March of 2011 when

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00:11:23,115 --> 00:11:26,515
then-Australian Prime
Minister Julia Gillard

283
00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:29,219
spoke before a joint
session of Congress.

284
00:11:29,221 --> 00:11:31,521
Unfortunately, at that
point, the Vice President

285
00:11:31,524 --> 00:11:33,524
was out of the country
and did not attend.

286
00:11:35,828 --> 00:11:39,368
But as it relates to the
speech that Prime Minister

287
00:11:39,365 --> 00:11:41,635
Netanyahu has planned for
the first week in March,

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00:11:41,634 --> 00:11:43,704
I can tell you that the Vice
President's schedule for

289
00:11:43,702 --> 00:11:46,672
that week has
not yet been set.

290
00:11:46,672 --> 00:11:48,812
So as we get some more
details worked out of his

291
00:11:48,808 --> 00:11:52,478
schedule, we'll be able
to let you know whether

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00:11:52,478 --> 00:11:54,778
or not he'll be able to
attend that joint session.

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00:11:54,780 --> 00:11:55,710
The Press: But would
the President want the

294
00:11:55,714 --> 00:11:56,754
Vice President
to be there?

295
00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:58,749
Mr. Earnest: Well,
again, this is going

296
00:11:58,751 --> 00:12:00,751
to be contingent on
his schedule.

297
00:12:00,753 --> 00:12:02,493
And as I mentioned,
there's only one time

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00:12:02,488 --> 00:12:04,158
in which the Vice President
hasn't been there and

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00:12:04,156 --> 00:12:05,856
it's when he's been
out of the country.

300
00:12:05,858 --> 00:12:08,498
So as we get some more
details for that first

301
00:12:08,494 --> 00:12:10,734
week in March locked down
on the Vice President's

302
00:12:10,729 --> 00:12:11,799
schedule, we'll have
more to say about this.

303
00:12:11,797 --> 00:12:12,797
The Press: Just
one more on that.

304
00:12:12,798 --> 00:12:13,898
Do you think it's
dangerous -- there are

305
00:12:13,899 --> 00:12:15,699
some Democrats who are talking
about skipping the speech.

306
00:12:15,701 --> 00:12:16,771
Do you think it's
dangerous for

307
00:12:16,769 --> 00:12:18,569
American-Israeli
relations for Democrats

308
00:12:18,571 --> 00:12:21,911
to potentially boycott
the Netanyahu speech?

309
00:12:21,907 --> 00:12:23,507
Mr. Earnest: Well,
certainly individual

310
00:12:23,509 --> 00:12:24,909
members of Congress will
have to make their own

311
00:12:24,910 --> 00:12:26,650
decision, some of which
I assume will be driven

312
00:12:26,645 --> 00:12:31,315
by their schedule and some of
it will be driven by their

313
00:12:31,317 --> 00:12:33,787
own views about what has
transpired over the last

314
00:12:33,786 --> 00:12:36,356
several weeks as it
relates to this speech.

315
00:12:36,355 --> 00:12:38,355
Let me just say as a
general matter, that when

316
00:12:38,357 --> 00:12:41,057
I was asked about
Ambassador Dermer's status

317
00:12:41,060 --> 00:12:44,360
a couple of -- maybe it
was just even last week

318
00:12:44,363 --> 00:12:48,103
-- that the President
believed that it was

319
00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:50,840
important to uphold
a broader tradition

320
00:12:50,836 --> 00:12:56,676
of ensuring that the strong
relationship between the

321
00:12:56,675 --> 00:12:58,845
United States and Israel
was not in any way

322
00:12:58,844 --> 00:13:00,844
subjugated to partisan
politics in either

323
00:13:00,846 --> 00:13:02,986
country, frankly.

324
00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:08,292
And we have -- one of the
concerns about the breach

325
00:13:08,287 --> 00:13:11,327
in protocol that we've
seen and articulated

326
00:13:11,323 --> 00:13:14,993
is that it might cause some
to view the relationship

327
00:13:14,994 --> 00:13:16,994
between the United
States and Israel

328
00:13:16,996 --> 00:13:18,966
as a relationship between
one political party

329
00:13:18,964 --> 00:13:21,934
in Israel and one political
party in the United States.

330
00:13:21,934 --> 00:13:23,934
The President does not
believe that would

331
00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:25,376
be a positive development
in our relationship.

332
00:13:25,371 --> 00:13:27,041
And so, the President is
certainly doing everything

333
00:13:27,039 --> 00:13:28,639
that he can to
try to avoid that.

334
00:13:28,641 --> 00:13:30,341
And that -- in fact, that
is one of the reasons that

335
00:13:30,342 --> 00:13:32,012
the President has said he
will not meet with the

336
00:13:32,011 --> 00:13:33,711
Israeli Prime Minister
when he is in town the

337
00:13:33,712 --> 00:13:35,252
first week in March,
because the President does

338
00:13:35,247 --> 00:13:37,417
not want to leave anybody
with even the appearance

339
00:13:37,416 --> 00:13:39,386
of interfering in the
Israeli elections

340
00:13:39,385 --> 00:13:41,355
scheduled for just
two weeks later.

341
00:13:41,353 --> 00:13:42,793
The Press: But given that
-- so does he think that

342
00:13:42,788 --> 00:13:44,928
Democrats should go to
the speech if it happens?

343
00:13:44,924 --> 00:13:46,424
Mr. Earnest: I guess to
give you a more direct

344
00:13:46,425 --> 00:13:47,995
answer, the President
believes that individual

345
00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:50,793
members ought to
decide for themselves.

346
00:13:50,796 --> 00:13:52,336
That's certainly
appropriate.

347
00:13:52,331 --> 00:13:53,261
Jon.

348
00:13:53,265 --> 00:13:58,805
The Press: Josh, coming
back to the UAE, do you

349
00:13:58,804 --> 00:14:02,374
believe that the coalition
has been strengthened or

350
00:14:02,374 --> 00:14:05,344
weakened by this whole
episode involving the

351
00:14:05,344 --> 00:14:07,484
Jordanian pilot?

352
00:14:07,479 --> 00:14:08,519
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think you heard from the

353
00:14:08,514 --> 00:14:10,654
President yesterday that
the commitment of the

354
00:14:10,649 --> 00:14:12,319
United States and other
members of the coalition

355
00:14:12,318 --> 00:14:14,888
has only been
strengthened.

356
00:14:14,887 --> 00:14:17,427
I think he referred to
redoubling our efforts

357
00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:19,723
to carry out this
strategy against ISIL.

358
00:14:19,725 --> 00:14:22,025
I think you saw that
sentiment echoed in the

359
00:14:22,027 --> 00:14:24,527
statement from King
Abdullah yesterday

360
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:30,640
as well, who indicated that
the people of Jordan would

361
00:14:30,636 --> 00:14:36,176
not show weakness in the
face of this barbaric act.

362
00:14:36,175 --> 00:14:40,445
And I think that is an
indication of their

363
00:14:40,446 --> 00:14:42,186
strengthened commitment to
this broader international

364
00:14:42,181 --> 00:14:44,521
coalition, and I think
that is representative

365
00:14:44,516 --> 00:14:46,656
of the sentiment of others
who are participants

366
00:14:46,652 --> 00:14:47,722
in this coalition.

367
00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,690
But I only speak for one
member of the coalition.

368
00:14:50,689 --> 00:14:54,959
The Press: But the UAE had
been perhaps the biggest

369
00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,960
contributor to the air
campaign, and it's been

370
00:14:58,964 --> 00:15:02,704
now over a month since
they have taken part

371
00:15:02,701 --> 00:15:06,371
in any airstrikes
over Iraq or Syria.

372
00:15:06,372 --> 00:15:08,942
It seems like a pretty
significant blow to the

373
00:15:08,941 --> 00:15:12,241
coalition, and one that
we weren't informed of.

374
00:15:12,244 --> 00:15:15,544
I mean, you've talked
excessively about the

375
00:15:15,547 --> 00:15:17,547
strength of this
coalition over the past

376
00:15:17,549 --> 00:15:19,049
weeks and months.

377
00:15:19,051 --> 00:15:21,521
This seems to be a pretty
significant setback

378
00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,560
to have the UAE no longer
flying with American pilots.

379
00:15:26,558 --> 00:15:28,728
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly have appreciated

380
00:15:28,727 --> 00:15:30,727
the wide range of
commitments that the

381
00:15:30,729 --> 00:15:32,729
United Arab Emirates has
made to this broader

382
00:15:32,731 --> 00:15:34,731
international coalition,
including their military

383
00:15:34,733 --> 00:15:35,733
commitments.

384
00:15:35,734 --> 00:15:37,874
But, Jon, I can tell
you that the pace

385
00:15:37,870 --> 00:15:40,740
of operations in Syria has
not slowed; that with

386
00:15:40,739 --> 00:15:43,109
their -- to date, more
than 1,000 strikes over

387
00:15:43,108 --> 00:15:45,308
Syria have been carried
out, and these have

388
00:15:45,311 --> 00:15:47,451
targeted a wide range of
things -- everything from

389
00:15:47,446 --> 00:15:50,016
ISIL fighters themselves
to their commanders,

390
00:15:50,015 --> 00:15:52,615
hundreds of vehicles
and tanks, nearly 260

391
00:15:52,618 --> 00:15:53,988
oil and gas
facilities.

392
00:15:53,986 --> 00:15:54,986
And just
recently --

393
00:15:54,987 --> 00:15:55,987
The Press: What
percentage --

394
00:15:55,988 --> 00:15:57,088
Mr. Earnest: Well, let
me say one other thing,

395
00:15:57,088 --> 00:15:59,918
which is, just recently,
we learned -- and has been

396
00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:01,990
reported by some of you --
that ISIL fighters have

397
00:16:01,994 --> 00:16:02,994
abandoned the
city of Kobani.

398
00:16:02,995 --> 00:16:05,695
They've essentially been
defeated in Kobani.

399
00:16:05,698 --> 00:16:09,968
And they've been defeated,
as ISIL fighters

400
00:16:09,968 --> 00:16:13,168
themselves said, because
of the strong coordination

401
00:16:13,172 --> 00:16:16,042
between forces on the
ground and the airstrikes

402
00:16:16,041 --> 00:16:18,041
carried out by
coalition pilots.

403
00:16:18,043 --> 00:16:20,683
So I think that is an
indication that the air

404
00:16:20,679 --> 00:16:22,679
campaign that's being
waged over the skies

405
00:16:22,681 --> 00:16:26,121
of Syria remains incredibly
and, in some cases,

406
00:16:26,118 --> 00:16:27,658
even devastatingly
effective.

407
00:16:27,653 --> 00:16:30,523
The Press: But what percentage
of those airstrikes

408
00:16:30,522 --> 00:16:35,062
over Syria over the last
month have been U.S. pilots?

409
00:16:35,060 --> 00:16:37,060
Mr. Earnest: Jon, I don't
have that information

410
00:16:37,062 --> 00:16:39,062
in front of me, but
you can check with the

411
00:16:39,064 --> 00:16:41,034
Department of
Defense about that.

412
00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:42,603
The Press: And then can
you give a direct answer

413
00:16:42,601 --> 00:16:44,341
to the concerns that
have been expressed

414
00:16:44,336 --> 00:16:48,606
by UAE about the --
what they see as a lack

415
00:16:48,607 --> 00:16:50,207
of an effective
search and rescue?

416
00:16:50,209 --> 00:16:52,179
Clearly, it wasn't
effective -- but a lack

417
00:16:52,177 --> 00:16:55,247
of a timely search-and-rescue
effort to get that

418
00:16:55,247 --> 00:16:56,517
Jordanian pilot back?

419
00:16:56,515 --> 00:17:00,085
Mr. Earnest: Well, as I
mentioned in the statement

420
00:17:00,085 --> 00:17:06,225
that the Department of
Defense issued, that they

421
00:17:06,225 --> 00:17:09,365
did commence an intensive
airborne search

422
00:17:09,361 --> 00:17:13,061
immediately after the
plane went down, and that

423
00:17:13,065 --> 00:17:15,835
there were personnel
recovery forces en route

424
00:17:15,834 --> 00:17:17,234
to his last
known location.

425
00:17:22,074 --> 00:17:23,814
The Press: So the UAE does
not have a legitimate point?

426
00:17:23,809 --> 00:17:27,149
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
what I'm saying is this:

427
00:17:29,982 --> 00:17:31,482
The response timeline, as
the Department of Defense

428
00:17:31,483 --> 00:17:33,583
has said, as it relates
to this case of

429
00:17:33,585 --> 00:17:36,185
Captain Kasasbeh, was not a
major factor in this case,

430
00:17:36,188 --> 00:17:38,188
that the response timeline
was not the major factor.

431
00:17:41,093 --> 00:17:43,463
But the other thing that I
think is relevant is that

432
00:17:43,462 --> 00:17:46,002
the American pilots,
American military pilots

433
00:17:45,998 --> 00:17:47,898
continue to
fly over Syria.

434
00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:50,670
And they only do that
because the President

435
00:17:50,669 --> 00:17:52,669
believes that we have
taken the necessary

436
00:17:52,671 --> 00:17:54,971
precautions for them
to carry out what

437
00:17:54,973 --> 00:17:57,143
is admittedly a very
dangerous mission

438
00:17:57,142 --> 00:17:59,242
as safely as possible, and
that there are resources

439
00:17:59,244 --> 00:18:03,244
available for contingencies
should they arise.

440
00:18:03,248 --> 00:18:06,918
And I don't think anybody
would suggest that this

441
00:18:06,919 --> 00:18:08,919
Commander-in-Chief, at
least, takes lightly

442
00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:10,921
his responsibility to make
sure that those kinds

443
00:18:10,923 --> 00:18:12,023
of strategies
are in place.

444
00:18:12,024 --> 00:18:14,364
The Press: Okay, just one
more question on Iran.

445
00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,999
We heard from President
Rouhani saying,

446
00:18:16,995 --> 00:18:20,465
in his words, differences
have decreased between

447
00:18:20,466 --> 00:18:26,736
the Iranians and European
and U.S. powers on this.

448
00:18:26,738 --> 00:18:30,438
Is it your assessment that
President Rouhani is right?

449
00:18:30,442 --> 00:18:32,242
Have the differences
decreased?

450
00:18:32,244 --> 00:18:34,244
Have the two sides
gotten closer to coming

451
00:18:34,246 --> 00:18:36,846
to an agreement on the
Iranian nuclear program?

452
00:18:36,849 --> 00:18:39,419
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
tell you that for quite

453
00:18:39,418 --> 00:18:42,888
some time now, these
negotiations have been ongoing.

454
00:18:49,528 --> 00:18:51,528
I think it is fair to say
that progress has been

455
00:18:51,530 --> 00:18:53,530
made, but I don't want
to leave you with the

456
00:18:53,532 --> 00:18:56,502
impression that there
aren't still very

457
00:18:56,502 --> 00:18:58,132
difficult sticking
points that remain.

458
00:18:58,136 --> 00:18:59,436
The Press: Are we
better than 50/50 now?

459
00:18:59,438 --> 00:19:01,638
Mr. Earnest: I would not
change our assessment that

460
00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,880
we are at best -- at best
-- 50/50 in terms of the

461
00:19:05,878 --> 00:19:08,848
likelihood that an
agreement is reached.

462
00:19:08,847 --> 00:19:09,847
Michelle.

463
00:19:09,848 --> 00:19:11,848
The Press: Talking about
the UAE, you've mentioned

464
00:19:11,850 --> 00:19:15,450
it many times in here as
a significant partner

465
00:19:15,454 --> 00:19:16,454
in the coalition.

466
00:19:16,455 --> 00:19:18,425
But it sounds like you're
saying that the loss

467
00:19:18,423 --> 00:19:20,723
of their airstrikes over
the last month hasn't

468
00:19:20,726 --> 00:19:22,056
really made much
of an impact.

469
00:19:22,060 --> 00:19:25,300
So isn't that saying that
their contribution really

470
00:19:25,297 --> 00:19:27,937
wasn't so much of an
impact positively

471
00:19:27,933 --> 00:19:28,933
in the first place?

472
00:19:28,934 --> 00:19:30,274
Mr. Earnest: No, I
wouldn't say that at all.

473
00:19:30,269 --> 00:19:34,539
We certainly value
the very important

474
00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:36,540
contribution that the
Emiratis have made

475
00:19:36,542 --> 00:19:37,542
to this broader
strategy.

476
00:19:37,543 --> 00:19:39,543
That includes their
military contribution,

477
00:19:39,545 --> 00:19:41,545
but is not limited to it;
that there are important

478
00:19:41,547 --> 00:19:43,547
financial contributions
that they have made

479
00:19:43,549 --> 00:19:45,519
to this broader effort,
some of which are related

480
00:19:45,517 --> 00:19:47,517
to dealing with the urgent
humanitarian crisis

481
00:19:47,519 --> 00:19:49,089
that's been
created by ISIL.

482
00:19:49,087 --> 00:19:51,227
Certainly, the Emiratis
have an important role

483
00:19:51,223 --> 00:19:53,523
to play in the Muslim
world to countering some

484
00:19:53,525 --> 00:19:57,425
of the radical extremist
messaging that

485
00:19:57,429 --> 00:19:58,769
we have seen
from ISIL.

486
00:19:58,764 --> 00:20:02,504
We've talked quite a
bit about how ISIL

487
00:20:02,501 --> 00:20:04,501
has attempted to use
social media in rather

488
00:20:04,503 --> 00:20:07,003
sophisticated ways to try
to radicalize populations

489
00:20:07,005 --> 00:20:08,005
in other countries.

490
00:20:08,006 --> 00:20:12,006
And one part of
countering that messaging

491
00:20:12,010 --> 00:20:15,880
is to ensure that
moderate voices in the

492
00:20:15,881 --> 00:20:17,981
Muslim world are also
heard, and that those

493
00:20:17,983 --> 00:20:18,983
messages are
countered.

494
00:20:18,984 --> 00:20:21,524
And certainly the Emiratis
have a lot of credibility

495
00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,520
when it comes to that, and
we certainly appreciate

496
00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:25,522
their cooperation in that
aspect of the campaign too.

497
00:20:25,524 --> 00:20:29,394
That's to say nothing of
the efforts of our ongoing

498
00:20:29,394 --> 00:20:31,964
strategy to choke
off the funding for

499
00:20:31,964 --> 00:20:33,364
ISIL's operations.

500
00:20:33,365 --> 00:20:39,205
Just a couple of months
ago, you had David Cohen

501
00:20:39,204 --> 00:20:41,204
from the Treasury
Department standing here

502
00:20:41,206 --> 00:20:43,206
at the podium sort of
detailing our efforts

503
00:20:43,208 --> 00:20:44,348
to choke off
funding for ISIL.

504
00:20:44,343 --> 00:20:46,343
Those efforts
continue.

505
00:20:46,345 --> 00:20:48,345
It requires the
close coordination

506
00:20:48,347 --> 00:20:50,347
and cooperation of our
partners across the globe,

507
00:20:50,349 --> 00:20:51,449
but particularly
in the region.

508
00:20:51,450 --> 00:20:53,450
The UAE has been very
helpful on that front,

509
00:20:53,452 --> 00:20:54,452
as well.

510
00:20:54,453 --> 00:20:56,453
The Press: But while those
elements might be very

511
00:20:56,455 --> 00:20:58,455
important in the long run,
it doesn't really stop

512
00:20:58,457 --> 00:21:01,757
ISIS on the ground
in the short term.

513
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,630
And for the loss of the
UAE's airstrikes not

514
00:21:05,631 --> 00:21:08,331
really making that much
of an impact, as you say,

515
00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:10,333
that the pace is
continued, doesn't

516
00:21:10,335 --> 00:21:13,575
that just again point to
the fact that the U.S.

517
00:21:13,572 --> 00:21:15,642
continues to do the
lion's share of the work

518
00:21:15,641 --> 00:21:16,641
militarily?

519
00:21:16,642 --> 00:21:17,742
Mr. Earnest: There is
no question that the

520
00:21:17,743 --> 00:21:18,943
United States of America is
playing the leading role

521
00:21:18,944 --> 00:21:20,074
in this international
coalition.

522
00:21:20,078 --> 00:21:22,478
I think the President
is proud that as

523
00:21:22,481 --> 00:21:24,251
the Commander-in-Chief
of our Armed Forces,

524
00:21:24,249 --> 00:21:25,849
that the United States is
leading in this effort.

525
00:21:25,851 --> 00:21:27,151
There's no doubt
about that.

526
00:21:27,152 --> 00:21:29,552
But it does not in any way
diminish the contributions

527
00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,900
of others that have an
important role to play here.

528
00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,620
And we are certainly proud
to continue to have the

529
00:21:34,620 --> 00:21:36,620
support of the Emiratis as
we pursue this strategy.

530
00:21:36,622 --> 00:21:39,432
The Press: We've heard
repeatedly yesterday from

531
00:21:39,431 --> 00:21:41,431
the President and others
about redoubling the

532
00:21:41,433 --> 00:21:46,003
commitment, reinforcing the
vigilance of the coalition.

533
00:21:46,004 --> 00:21:49,774
So now that we're hearing
from Jordan that they want

534
00:21:49,775 --> 00:21:52,715
to do more airstrikes, is
it likely that everyone

535
00:21:52,711 --> 00:21:55,851
is going to be contributing
more at this period

536
00:21:55,847 --> 00:21:56,987
of time, including
the U.S.?

537
00:21:56,982 --> 00:21:58,982
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly would welcome

538
00:21:58,984 --> 00:22:01,224
additional contributions
from other countries,

539
00:22:01,219 --> 00:22:04,189
and we're going to continue
to work to make sure that

540
00:22:04,189 --> 00:22:06,629
this wide variety of efforts
is carefully integrated.

541
00:22:06,625 --> 00:22:09,195
And that is an important
part of this coalition

542
00:22:09,194 --> 00:22:11,194
as well, that we want to
make sure that we're working

543
00:22:11,196 --> 00:22:13,196
closely to make sure that
we're not duplicating

544
00:22:13,198 --> 00:22:15,198
efforts and that our
efforts continues

545
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,200
to be very carefully
integrated.

546
00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:19,202
And we certainly welcome
the kind of support and

547
00:22:19,204 --> 00:22:21,974
continued willingness from
the Jordanians and all the

548
00:22:21,973 --> 00:22:24,573
other members of the coalition
to executing this strategy.

549
00:22:24,576 --> 00:22:26,576
The Press: But we've heard
from some in the Pentagon

550
00:22:26,578 --> 00:22:29,348
that some would like
to see the U.S. pace

551
00:22:29,347 --> 00:22:31,547
increase but that the
White House has favored

552
00:22:31,550 --> 00:22:36,860
more of a steady
pace as it's been.

553
00:22:36,855 --> 00:22:39,355
Do you feel that
that is the case?

554
00:22:39,357 --> 00:22:41,757
And will we see the
U.S. contribute more?

555
00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:43,830
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
haven't heard those

556
00:22:43,829 --> 00:22:44,929
complaints firsthand.

557
00:22:44,930 --> 00:22:46,700
I guess in order to
respond to them, I'd want

558
00:22:46,698 --> 00:22:48,438
a little more detailed
assessment of what exactly

559
00:22:48,433 --> 00:22:49,433
they're talking about.

560
00:22:49,434 --> 00:22:51,174
But I can tell you that
this is something that

561
00:22:51,169 --> 00:22:53,109
the President feels strongly
about, and the President

562
00:22:53,105 --> 00:22:55,775
is pleased with the way
that members of our

563
00:22:55,774 --> 00:22:57,574
military have handled
their responsibilities

564
00:22:57,576 --> 00:23:01,516
in this effort; that the
challenges put before

565
00:23:01,513 --> 00:23:05,083
our military are significant
and their success

566
00:23:05,083 --> 00:23:07,083
in carrying out this
operation and doing

567
00:23:07,085 --> 00:23:10,255
so in close coordination
with more than 60 countries

568
00:23:10,255 --> 00:23:11,625
is no small feat.

569
00:23:11,623 --> 00:23:14,023
And the national security
interests of the

570
00:23:14,025 --> 00:23:16,365
United States are incredibly
well-served by it.

571
00:23:16,361 --> 00:23:18,561
The Press: If you don't
mind one quick question.

572
00:23:18,563 --> 00:23:20,563
When the President was
talking -- or it came

573
00:23:20,565 --> 00:23:22,705
out in a readout, I guess,
of the Vice President's

574
00:23:22,701 --> 00:23:27,541
meeting with the King -- this
ironclad support for Jordan.

575
00:23:27,539 --> 00:23:31,279
Would that then include
support for its reaction

576
00:23:31,276 --> 00:23:33,676
to the murder of the pilot
through these executions?

577
00:23:33,678 --> 00:23:36,018
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have a specific reaction

578
00:23:36,014 --> 00:23:40,924
to the news overnight that
a couple of individuals

579
00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:43,989
who had been convicted
of crimes related

580
00:23:43,989 --> 00:23:46,189
to terrorism, that
they'd been executed.

581
00:23:46,191 --> 00:23:48,461
Again, they'd gone through
the Jordanian justice

582
00:23:48,460 --> 00:23:50,460
system, they'd been
convicted, they were

583
00:23:50,462 --> 00:23:52,462
sentenced to death, they
were serving time on death

584
00:23:52,464 --> 00:23:54,464
row, and their executions
were carried out overnight.

585
00:23:54,466 --> 00:23:56,436
So I'd refer you to the
Jordanian authorities for

586
00:23:56,434 --> 00:23:57,904
additional information
about that.

587
00:23:57,903 --> 00:23:59,203
Lalit.

588
00:23:59,204 --> 00:24:00,944
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

589
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:04,879
On Afghanistan, today at
his confirmation hearing,

590
00:24:04,876 --> 00:24:08,216
Ash Carter told
congressmen that he would

591
00:24:08,213 --> 00:24:11,183
recommend changing the
plan in Afghanistan, both

592
00:24:11,183 --> 00:24:14,653
the pace and the size of
the forces -- this was

593
00:24:14,653 --> 00:24:16,853
in Afghanistan -- if there's
a change in the situation

594
00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:18,655
inside Afghanistan.

595
00:24:18,657 --> 00:24:21,427
Is that the final plan, or
is the President willing

596
00:24:21,426 --> 00:24:23,426
to change the plan
depending on the situation

597
00:24:23,428 --> 00:24:24,528
in Afghanistan?

598
00:24:24,529 --> 00:24:26,329
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the last part is the key

599
00:24:26,331 --> 00:24:29,231
part of this, Lalit --
that I don't think that

600
00:24:29,234 --> 00:24:30,974
-- again, based on -- I
didn't watch the testimony

601
00:24:30,969 --> 00:24:33,139
firsthand, so correct me
if I don't get this right.

602
00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:34,578
But my understanding
about the way that he had

603
00:24:34,573 --> 00:24:37,313
described his view
was that he was open

604
00:24:37,309 --> 00:24:42,719
to changing the pace based
on conditions on the ground.

605
00:24:42,714 --> 00:24:46,154
But I think that as things
stand right now, I believe

606
00:24:46,151 --> 00:24:48,151
that he is supportive
of the strategy that

607
00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:50,293
the President
has laid out.

608
00:24:50,288 --> 00:24:51,788
So the President has been
very clear about what

609
00:24:51,790 --> 00:24:55,530
he believes our
strategy should be.

610
00:24:55,527 --> 00:24:57,527
It's impossible to predict
with 100 percent certainty

611
00:24:57,529 --> 00:24:59,529
exactly what security
conditions are going

612
00:24:59,531 --> 00:25:01,871
to be, but the President is
committed to this strategy.

613
00:25:01,867 --> 00:25:04,937
And the President
believes it serves

614
00:25:04,936 --> 00:25:06,936
our national security
interests very well for

615
00:25:06,938 --> 00:25:09,808
us to responsibly wind down
the war in Afghanistan

616
00:25:09,808 --> 00:25:11,808
and to reduce our
military footprint there.

617
00:25:11,810 --> 00:25:13,810
The President has laid out
a clear strategy for doing

618
00:25:13,812 --> 00:25:15,812
it, and the President
is pleased that we're

619
00:25:15,814 --> 00:25:18,714
pursuing it and is hopeful
that it will be effective.

620
00:25:18,717 --> 00:25:19,447
Ed.

621
00:25:19,451 --> 00:25:20,891
The Press:
Thanks, Josh.

622
00:25:20,886 --> 00:25:21,956
Mr. Earnest: If I might,
just before you ask your

623
00:25:21,953 --> 00:25:24,323
question, your colleague
was here yesterday and

624
00:25:24,322 --> 00:25:27,222
asked a question about
the Affordable Care Act,

625
00:25:27,225 --> 00:25:29,225
and I think this is one of
those awkward situations

626
00:25:29,227 --> 00:25:31,227
where I didn't quite
understand the question

627
00:25:31,229 --> 00:25:32,229
that he was asking.

628
00:25:32,230 --> 00:25:34,230
So if you don't mind me
eating into a little bit

629
00:25:34,232 --> 00:25:36,232
of your time, which I'll
repay on the backend,

630
00:25:36,234 --> 00:25:39,174
let me try to better
answer the question that

631
00:25:39,170 --> 00:25:40,370
I believe that
he was asking.

632
00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:43,512
I think that he was
raising a question about

633
00:25:43,508 --> 00:25:48,248
individuals who will be
assessed a fee for not

634
00:25:48,246 --> 00:25:50,246
purchasing health
insurance in 2014,

635
00:25:50,248 --> 00:25:52,318
even though they
could afford it.

636
00:25:52,317 --> 00:25:55,317
And it is true, according
to CBO estimates,

637
00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,860
that it is possible that
millions of people could

638
00:25:57,856 --> 00:25:59,256
be affected by this.

639
00:25:59,257 --> 00:26:02,957
And so, let me say a couple
of things about that.

640
00:26:02,961 --> 00:26:05,931
The first is, it is, as
I mentioned yesterday,

641
00:26:05,931 --> 00:26:08,801
also true that millions of
Americans saw their taxes

642
00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,600
reduced so that they could
afford health insurance.

643
00:26:11,603 --> 00:26:13,973
It's also true that, as
I mentioned yesterday,

644
00:26:13,972 --> 00:26:15,972
that three-quarters of
Americans will only have

645
00:26:15,974 --> 00:26:17,974
to check a box on their
tax forms to confirm that

646
00:26:17,976 --> 00:26:24,186
they have -- that they did
have health insurance in 2014.

647
00:26:24,182 --> 00:26:27,622
And the likelihood of this
fee affecting a taxpayer,

648
00:26:27,619 --> 00:26:30,019
we're only talking about
a range of 2 to 4 percent

649
00:26:30,021 --> 00:26:33,061
of taxpayers who
are affected.

650
00:26:33,058 --> 00:26:34,058
Last couple of things.

651
00:26:34,059 --> 00:26:36,059
The first is, it is
possible for people

652
00:26:36,061 --> 00:26:38,461
to qualify for an exemption
in certain circumstances.

653
00:26:38,463 --> 00:26:40,703
So that possibility is
held, and I that was

654
00:26:40,699 --> 00:26:42,699
essentially the essence of
his question -- is there

655
00:26:42,701 --> 00:26:44,701
anything that people in
this situation can do.

656
00:26:44,703 --> 00:26:46,703
There are certain cases
I think that are rather

657
00:26:46,705 --> 00:26:49,205
complicated where
individuals could apply

658
00:26:49,207 --> 00:26:50,377
or qualify for
an exception.

659
00:26:50,375 --> 00:26:52,375
I think the last piece
of advice I would have

660
00:26:52,377 --> 00:26:54,377
for individuals who may be
watching us or reading

661
00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:57,519
this who are concerned
about having to pay

662
00:26:57,515 --> 00:27:03,855
a fee in 2014, is to make
sure it doesn't happen again.

663
00:27:03,855 --> 00:27:06,825
And fortunately, they
have until February 15th

664
00:27:06,825 --> 00:27:09,025
to sign up for health
insurance at healthcare.gov

665
00:27:09,027 --> 00:27:11,027
for 2015 to ensure
that they don't

666
00:27:11,029 --> 00:27:12,629
have to pay this
fee in 2015.

667
00:27:12,630 --> 00:27:15,270
So I appreciate you
giving me the opportunity

668
00:27:15,266 --> 00:27:16,406
to clarify all that.

669
00:27:16,401 --> 00:27:17,171
The Press: No
problem.

670
00:27:17,168 --> 00:27:18,068
(inaudible) outstanding
journalist.

671
00:27:18,069 --> 00:27:19,039
Mr. Earnest: Exactly.

672
00:27:19,037 --> 00:27:19,837
The Press: He wanted
to get your answer;

673
00:27:19,838 --> 00:27:20,808
I'm glad you
gave it.

674
00:27:20,805 --> 00:27:21,805
Mr. Earnest: Good.

675
00:27:21,806 --> 00:27:23,806
The Press: I want to go
back to Jordan and ISIS.

676
00:27:23,808 --> 00:27:25,008
I'm confused by your answer
to Michelle's question

677
00:27:25,010 --> 00:27:28,180
about the executions
that happened overnight,

678
00:27:28,179 --> 00:27:30,349
when you said, "I don't
have a reaction to it."

679
00:27:30,348 --> 00:27:34,958
How can the President
yesterday say, we're here,

680
00:27:34,953 --> 00:27:36,953
we support Jordan, they're
a key member of the

681
00:27:36,955 --> 00:27:39,125
coalition; they make this
decision overnight and you

682
00:27:39,124 --> 00:27:41,124
can't say whether or
not you support

683
00:27:41,126 --> 00:27:42,126
the executions?

684
00:27:42,127 --> 00:27:44,127
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, it
is certainly possible for

685
00:27:44,129 --> 00:27:46,299
us to continue to support
and stand with the people

686
00:27:46,297 --> 00:27:48,937
of Jordan at this
very difficult time.

687
00:27:48,933 --> 00:27:51,433
Clearly, their nation, in
the same way that we all

688
00:27:51,436 --> 00:27:54,206
are, is shocked and
appalled at this

689
00:27:54,205 --> 00:27:56,175
terrible act of violence
that was captured on video

690
00:27:56,174 --> 00:27:58,544
by ISIL and released
to the world.

691
00:27:58,543 --> 00:28:00,543
And the United States
stands with our friends

692
00:28:00,545 --> 00:28:06,215
in Jordan as they confront
this awful, barbaric act.

693
00:28:06,217 --> 00:28:08,557
But as it relates to
decisions that are carried

694
00:28:08,553 --> 00:28:10,553
out by the Jordanian
justice system,

695
00:28:10,555 --> 00:28:11,625
I'd refer
you to them.

696
00:28:11,623 --> 00:28:15,223
I don't have the working
knowledge of the

697
00:28:15,226 --> 00:28:17,926
Jordanian justice system to
render an opinion on this.

698
00:28:17,929 --> 00:28:19,669
All I know is that the
individuals that we're

699
00:28:19,664 --> 00:28:22,134
discussing here were
individuals who were convicted

700
00:28:22,133 --> 00:28:24,273
of terrorism-related
crimes.

701
00:28:24,269 --> 00:28:26,269
They were individuals who
were sentenced to death.

702
00:28:26,271 --> 00:28:28,271
And these were individuals
who had been serving

703
00:28:28,273 --> 00:28:29,273
time on death row.

704
00:28:29,274 --> 00:28:31,344
The Press: So let's ask,
though, about something

705
00:28:31,342 --> 00:28:33,342
that you do have an impact
on, which the White House

706
00:28:33,344 --> 00:28:35,584
said, which is support,
direct support for Jordan.

707
00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:38,420
And back to one of
Julie's first questions,

708
00:28:38,416 --> 00:28:40,416
you seemed to be suggesting
that the White House

709
00:28:40,418 --> 00:28:42,988
was not aware that the King
was in Washington to,

710
00:28:42,987 --> 00:28:46,157
in part -- large part -- to
get more support from the

711
00:28:46,157 --> 00:28:48,357
administration and the
Congress for weapons, right?

712
00:28:48,359 --> 00:28:51,459
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, the
administration is standing

713
00:28:51,463 --> 00:28:54,563
squarely behind the people
of Jordan and the King,

714
00:28:54,566 --> 00:28:56,766
and we are certainly
supportive of any efforts

715
00:28:56,768 --> 00:28:58,768
that are underway to try
to strengthen his national

716
00:28:58,770 --> 00:29:01,240
security and to strengthen
his ability to make

717
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:04,039
tangible contributions to
this broader campaign.

718
00:29:04,042 --> 00:29:04,972
The Press: But you
said you weren't aware

719
00:29:04,976 --> 00:29:06,006
of a request.

720
00:29:06,010 --> 00:29:08,250
Are you suggesting
that the King in the

721
00:29:08,246 --> 00:29:10,216
Oval Office last
night didn't ask

722
00:29:10,215 --> 00:29:11,215
President Obama
for more help?

723
00:29:11,216 --> 00:29:13,256
Or in recent weeks, there
hasn't been a conversation

724
00:29:13,251 --> 00:29:15,551
with the Vice President, the
national security advisor?

725
00:29:15,553 --> 00:29:17,953
Are you really saying Jordan
hasn't asked for more weapons?

726
00:29:17,956 --> 00:29:19,956
Mr. Earnest: What I'm
saying is I'm not going

727
00:29:19,958 --> 00:29:21,958
to read out any of the
detailed conversations,

728
00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:23,960
at least in a detailed way,
the conversations that the

729
00:29:23,962 --> 00:29:25,962
King had while he was here
in the United States.

730
00:29:25,964 --> 00:29:27,964
As has been reported,
he did visit with the

731
00:29:27,966 --> 00:29:29,966
President yesterday,
he had the opportunity

732
00:29:29,968 --> 00:29:30,968
to talk to the
Vice President.

733
00:29:30,969 --> 00:29:32,969
I know that he spoke to the
Secretary of State as well.

734
00:29:32,971 --> 00:29:34,971
So he had a number
of conversations.

735
00:29:34,973 --> 00:29:36,973
I'm not going to read them
out in a detailed way.

736
00:29:36,975 --> 00:29:38,975
The Press: He's made it
no secret he wants more

737
00:29:38,977 --> 00:29:40,977
weapons, he wants to step
up the campaign against ISIS.

738
00:29:40,979 --> 00:29:41,979
That's on the record.

739
00:29:41,980 --> 00:29:44,220
So, A, did he ask the White
House for that support?

740
00:29:44,215 --> 00:29:46,685
And, B, is the President going
to give him that support?

741
00:29:46,684 --> 00:29:49,354
Mr. Earnest: Ed, I don't
have a detailed accounting

742
00:29:49,354 --> 00:29:51,354
of the conversation that
the President had with

743
00:29:51,356 --> 00:29:52,356
the King in the
Oval Office.

744
00:29:52,357 --> 00:29:54,357
And the United States
continues to stand with

745
00:29:54,359 --> 00:29:56,699
the people of Jordan
and our ally,

746
00:29:56,694 --> 00:29:58,064
the King of
Jordan, as they --

747
00:29:58,062 --> 00:29:59,332
The Press: If you
stand with them,

748
00:29:59,330 --> 00:30:00,230
why can't you say
you're going to support

749
00:30:00,231 --> 00:30:01,331
and give them
more weapons?

750
00:30:01,332 --> 00:30:02,502
That's what I'm just
struggling to understand.

751
00:30:02,500 --> 00:30:03,840
Mr. Earnest: Well,
because, Ed, a lot

752
00:30:03,835 --> 00:30:07,035
of this requires important
coordination not just

753
00:30:07,038 --> 00:30:08,238
in terms of the work that
we have to do with the

754
00:30:08,239 --> 00:30:10,179
Congress, but also in
terms of the work that

755
00:30:10,175 --> 00:30:12,575
we'll do with the
Jordanians to ensure

756
00:30:12,577 --> 00:30:15,647
that we're providing the
actual assistance that

757
00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:17,847
they are requesting
and that they need.

758
00:30:17,849 --> 00:30:18,879
The Press: Okay.

759
00:30:18,883 --> 00:30:20,153
And it seems like in a
lot of your answers there

760
00:30:20,151 --> 00:30:21,621
doesn't seem to be
anything new coming

761
00:30:21,619 --> 00:30:23,719
from the White House
today in the wake

762
00:30:23,721 --> 00:30:25,121
of what happened
yesterday.

763
00:30:25,123 --> 00:30:28,093
It seems, in the case of
King Abdullah, he really

764
00:30:28,092 --> 00:30:29,532
seemed to believe this
is a game-changer.

765
00:30:29,527 --> 00:30:33,767
I understand there was
a horrible impact

766
00:30:33,765 --> 00:30:35,735
on his country, but on
the entire coalition.

767
00:30:35,733 --> 00:30:37,733
This was a pilot who
was working on behalf

768
00:30:37,735 --> 00:30:39,735
of a coalition led
by this President.

769
00:30:39,737 --> 00:30:42,277
So my question is, it
seems like the strategy

770
00:30:42,273 --> 00:30:44,413
here in terms of defeating
ISIS is status quo;

771
00:30:44,409 --> 00:30:46,049
that nothing
changed yesterday.

772
00:30:46,044 --> 00:30:48,044
Is there anything the
President is committing to do?

773
00:30:48,046 --> 00:30:50,516
Is there anything to step
up the campaign against

774
00:30:50,515 --> 00:30:52,185
ISIS at all from
the White House?

775
00:30:52,183 --> 00:30:54,123
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed,
we have talked about how

776
00:30:54,118 --> 00:30:57,088
these kinds of ongoing
efforts are going

777
00:30:57,088 --> 00:30:59,128
to be difficult and that
it's going to be difficult

778
00:30:59,123 --> 00:31:03,333
to measure success or failure
in one-day increments.

779
00:31:03,328 --> 00:31:05,298
What we're focused on
is the longer-term arc.

780
00:31:05,296 --> 00:31:09,566
I think the best example I
have for this is that last

781
00:31:09,567 --> 00:31:12,837
fall there was extensive,
even breathless coverage

782
00:31:12,837 --> 00:31:16,107
about the success that
ISIL has had, or did have

783
00:31:16,107 --> 00:31:18,777
at that time, in making
significant inroads into

784
00:31:18,776 --> 00:31:22,016
this border village
called Kobani.

785
00:31:22,013 --> 00:31:25,453
And just last -- over
the weekend, we saw news

786
00:31:25,450 --> 00:31:28,050
reports that ISIL has been
repelled from that village

787
00:31:28,052 --> 00:31:30,722
and that ISIL fighters
themselves attributed

788
00:31:30,722 --> 00:31:33,222
their retreat to the
success of ground

789
00:31:33,224 --> 00:31:36,324
operations that were
supported by airstrikes

790
00:31:36,327 --> 00:31:38,327
from coalition
pilots.

791
00:31:38,329 --> 00:31:41,769
So that is an indication
that, yes, the situation

792
00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:42,766
in Kobani was
concerning.

793
00:31:42,767 --> 00:31:45,507
But over the long term,
this administration

794
00:31:45,503 --> 00:31:47,503
led the international
coalition to implement

795
00:31:47,505 --> 00:31:49,505
a strategy that was
successful in repelling

796
00:31:49,507 --> 00:31:50,507
that ISIL advance.

797
00:31:50,508 --> 00:31:53,608
There are any number
of similar stories

798
00:31:53,611 --> 00:31:57,851
to be told
in Iraq.

799
00:31:57,849 --> 00:32:00,889
And this not a matter
of sort of doing

800
00:32:00,885 --> 00:32:03,055
a minute-by-minute
play-by-play here.

801
00:32:03,054 --> 00:32:04,524
This is a matter
of staying focused

802
00:32:04,522 --> 00:32:05,862
on our
broader goal.

803
00:32:05,857 --> 00:32:08,127
And one of those goals
is keeping together

804
00:32:08,126 --> 00:32:09,096
this coalition.

805
00:32:09,093 --> 00:32:11,193
And that's why the
President has been

806
00:32:11,195 --> 00:32:13,165
so clear, and why I'm doing
my best to be as clear

807
00:32:13,164 --> 00:32:15,304
as I can about our
commitment to standing

808
00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,300
shoulder-to-shoulder
with Jordan as they deal

809
00:32:18,303 --> 00:32:19,303
with this
terrible tragedy.

810
00:32:19,304 --> 00:32:20,304
The Press:
Last one.

811
00:32:20,305 --> 00:32:22,275
You've got a summit on
violent extremism coming

812
00:32:22,273 --> 00:32:23,973
up in a week or two.

813
00:32:23,975 --> 00:32:25,975
Has there been any thought
about moving that up,

814
00:32:25,977 --> 00:32:28,977
given events over the last
24, 48 hours, that this

815
00:32:28,980 --> 00:32:30,580
should be at the top of
mind at the White House,

816
00:32:30,581 --> 00:32:32,581
this should happen
today, tomorrow?

817
00:32:32,583 --> 00:32:33,583
Where is the
sense of urgency?

818
00:32:33,584 --> 00:32:36,254
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed,
the fact of the matter

819
00:32:36,254 --> 00:32:39,324
is this issue of foreign
fighters and countering

820
00:32:39,324 --> 00:32:41,394
violent extremism is something
that this administration

821
00:32:41,392 --> 00:32:45,532
has been focused on
for a long, long time.

822
00:32:45,530 --> 00:32:47,530
And this is something
that even in the earliest

823
00:32:47,532 --> 00:32:49,672
days of the administration,
John Brennan went

824
00:32:49,667 --> 00:32:52,737
to NYU and gave a pretty
important policy speech

825
00:32:52,737 --> 00:32:55,237
about our ongoing efforts
to work with communities

826
00:32:55,239 --> 00:32:57,509
all across the country to try to
counter violent extremism.

827
00:32:57,508 --> 00:32:59,948
And this, again, as part
of this ongoing effort,

828
00:32:59,944 --> 00:33:01,944
the President, for
just the second time

829
00:33:01,946 --> 00:33:04,716
in United Nations history,
convened a meeting of the

830
00:33:04,716 --> 00:33:07,156
United Nations Security Council
to talk about the broader

831
00:33:07,151 --> 00:33:10,721
international effort to
shut down the movement

832
00:33:10,722 --> 00:33:11,852
of foreign fighters.

833
00:33:11,856 --> 00:33:15,326
And so this is something
that is ongoing, and there

834
00:33:15,326 --> 00:33:17,766
is work that is done
here in this White House

835
00:33:17,762 --> 00:33:20,562
on a daily basis to try
to mitigate this threat

836
00:33:20,565 --> 00:33:22,235
to the American
people.

837
00:33:22,233 --> 00:33:25,173
And the countering violent
extremism summit that

838
00:33:25,169 --> 00:33:28,409
we're convening next week
-- or in two weeks will

839
00:33:28,406 --> 00:33:30,676
be a very important part and
an important contribution

840
00:33:30,675 --> 00:33:32,215
to that effort.

841
00:33:32,210 --> 00:33:33,240
Steve.

842
00:33:33,244 --> 00:33:36,384
The Press: This morning,
the new Surgeon General

843
00:33:36,381 --> 00:33:39,951
said that preliminary data
shows that marijuana could

844
00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:43,851
be helpful in certain
medical conditions.

845
00:33:43,855 --> 00:33:46,095
I'm wondering if you have
any comment on that,

846
00:33:46,090 --> 00:33:49,330
if this is a sense that the
White House is changing

847
00:33:49,327 --> 00:33:52,727
its position on
medical marijuana.

848
00:33:52,730 --> 00:33:54,630
Mr. Earnest: I didn't
actually see those

849
00:33:54,632 --> 00:33:56,302
comments, Steve, so I
might actually take your

850
00:33:56,300 --> 00:33:57,700
question and take a look
at those comments a little

851
00:33:57,702 --> 00:33:59,402
more carefully before
I get you a reaction.

852
00:33:59,404 --> 00:34:02,604
The Press: On a second
issue, on the budget,

853
00:34:02,607 --> 00:34:04,807
the President seemed to issue
a veto threat when he was

854
00:34:04,809 --> 00:34:06,779
making his comments
on the budget;

855
00:34:06,778 --> 00:34:11,118
he said he wouldn't accept
sequester levels going forward.

856
00:34:11,115 --> 00:34:13,955
It sounds like that's
almost a threat

857
00:34:13,951 --> 00:34:17,751
of a government shutdown
if the Republicans do not

858
00:34:17,755 --> 00:34:19,195
increase spending.

859
00:34:19,190 --> 00:34:21,560
Is that the right
way to look at that?

860
00:34:21,559 --> 00:34:24,099
Is that a veto threat that
if the Republicans don't

861
00:34:24,095 --> 00:34:26,095
increase spending, he's
not going to sign any

862
00:34:26,097 --> 00:34:27,097
of those
spending bills?

863
00:34:27,098 --> 00:34:29,098
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
there has been an effort

864
00:34:29,100 --> 00:34:31,100
to sort of do a little
running tally of veto

865
00:34:31,102 --> 00:34:33,102
threats that have been
issued by the White House.

866
00:34:33,104 --> 00:34:35,104
I'm not sure this
qualifies, simply because

867
00:34:35,106 --> 00:34:37,106
we haven't seen a piece of
legislation from Congress.

868
00:34:37,108 --> 00:34:40,108
So we typically issue veto
threats around specific bills.

869
00:34:40,111 --> 00:34:45,921
But I do think that the
President is very firm

870
00:34:45,917 --> 00:34:49,717
in his belief that the
mindless, across-the-board

871
00:34:49,720 --> 00:34:52,460
cuts that we've seen as a
part of the sequester have

872
00:34:52,457 --> 00:34:55,327
been bad for our economy
and they certainly have

873
00:34:55,326 --> 00:34:57,326
not been helpful to
our national security.

874
00:34:57,328 --> 00:34:59,328
And I recognize that
there's actually some

875
00:34:59,330 --> 00:35:01,330
bipartisan agreement
around that.

876
00:35:01,332 --> 00:35:03,332
And so we're going to be
working in bipartisan

877
00:35:03,334 --> 00:35:05,974
fashion with Congress to
make some of those changes

878
00:35:05,970 --> 00:35:09,410
to the budget in a way
that reflects bipartisan

879
00:35:09,407 --> 00:35:11,407
common ground, because
that's going to be what's

880
00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:13,409
required to actually pass
these funding bills,

881
00:35:13,411 --> 00:35:15,981
but also reflects a focus
on our core priorities,

882
00:35:15,980 --> 00:35:18,420
which is protecting the
country and protecting

883
00:35:18,416 --> 00:35:19,416
the middle class.

884
00:35:19,417 --> 00:35:21,687
The Press: One veto threat
that he's issued in past

885
00:35:21,686 --> 00:35:26,056
years on the sequester
was absent this week.

886
00:35:26,057 --> 00:35:28,397
And two years ago, when
he was talking about the

887
00:35:28,392 --> 00:35:32,502
sequester at that podium,
he basically -- he said,

888
00:35:32,497 --> 00:35:35,997
I will veto a replacement
that did not include

889
00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,000
new revenue,
new taxes.

890
00:35:39,537 --> 00:35:42,877
Is the President open to
doing what the Republicans

891
00:35:42,874 --> 00:35:45,544
are insisting -- John
Boehner and others --

892
00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:48,343
that you replace the
sequester with other cuts?

893
00:35:48,346 --> 00:35:50,346
There's certainly plenty
of other cuts the

894
00:35:50,348 --> 00:35:52,848
President has in his own
budget -- $400 billion

895
00:35:52,850 --> 00:35:55,790
in health care savings --
that in the past few years

896
00:35:55,786 --> 00:35:58,886
the President has put in
a lock box, basically.

897
00:35:58,890 --> 00:36:01,690
He said, I'm only going to
touch these entitlement

898
00:36:01,692 --> 00:36:05,432
cuts if the Republicans
come to the table with

899
00:36:05,429 --> 00:36:06,769
a tax increase.

900
00:36:06,764 --> 00:36:08,234
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
Steve, we haven't seen

901
00:36:08,232 --> 00:36:10,232
a specific proposal
from Republicans.

902
00:36:10,234 --> 00:36:12,204
But I do think that there
is a principle that does

903
00:36:12,203 --> 00:36:14,643
endure to this day, which
is the President believes

904
00:36:14,639 --> 00:36:16,639
that to the extent that
we're looking to reduce

905
00:36:16,641 --> 00:36:18,641
the deficit even further,
that we need to pursue

906
00:36:18,643 --> 00:36:20,643
a balanced approach
in doing so.

907
00:36:20,645 --> 00:36:22,945
And just asking the middle
class or the elderly

908
00:36:22,947 --> 00:36:25,047
to bear the burden of
reducing our deficit,

909
00:36:25,049 --> 00:36:26,919
it's not fair.

910
00:36:26,918 --> 00:36:30,558
It's also not the best
way for us to keep our

911
00:36:30,555 --> 00:36:32,595
commitment to our seniors.

912
00:36:32,590 --> 00:36:34,590
It's also not the best
way to grow our economy.

913
00:36:34,592 --> 00:36:36,592
Our economy grows best
when it's growing from

914
00:36:36,594 --> 00:36:37,594
the middle out.

915
00:36:37,595 --> 00:36:39,565
And asking our middle
class to bear the burden

916
00:36:39,564 --> 00:36:41,934
alone of reducing the
deficit, that doesn't make

917
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:42,933
a lot of
economic sense.

918
00:36:42,934 --> 00:36:44,934
And that is a principle
the President has

919
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:46,936
previously articulated,
and it's one that

920
00:36:46,938 --> 00:36:47,938
continues to
apply today.

921
00:36:47,939 --> 00:36:49,939
The Press: Is that
actually still

922
00:36:49,941 --> 00:36:50,941
a veto threat,
though?

923
00:36:50,942 --> 00:36:52,942
In the past he's
said, "I will veto."

924
00:36:52,944 --> 00:36:56,744
I haven't heard that
V-word on a sequester

925
00:36:56,747 --> 00:36:58,747
replacement that did
not include revenue.

926
00:36:58,749 --> 00:37:00,749
Mr. Earnest: And the
reason, simply, is that

927
00:37:00,751 --> 00:37:03,021
we haven't seen a specific
piece of legislation

928
00:37:03,020 --> 00:37:04,120
from Republicans.

929
00:37:04,121 --> 00:37:06,791
And that is typically when
we'll use the V-word,

930
00:37:06,791 --> 00:37:07,721
as you described it.

931
00:37:07,725 --> 00:37:09,965
So I'll withhold
that word for now.

932
00:37:09,961 --> 00:37:12,731
But that principle
is firmly in place.

933
00:37:13,798 --> 00:37:15,168
Mike.

934
00:37:15,166 --> 00:37:19,066
The Press: Speaking of
taxes, you guys put out

935
00:37:19,070 --> 00:37:21,410
your proposal on
international corporate

936
00:37:21,405 --> 00:37:24,975
taxes, and the Republicans
-- who haven't always been

937
00:37:24,976 --> 00:37:27,646
kind to the administration
-- had a lot of supportive

938
00:37:27,645 --> 00:37:28,645
things to say.

939
00:37:28,646 --> 00:37:32,386
Representative Boustany said it
was the right direction.

940
00:37:32,383 --> 00:37:36,253
The Chairman of House Ways and
Means said, constructive.

941
00:37:36,253 --> 00:37:39,093
Senator Enzi said, a step
in the right direction.

942
00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:41,090
Is the White House
encouraged by the

943
00:37:41,092 --> 00:37:43,062
Republican
reaction so far?

944
00:37:43,060 --> 00:37:45,060
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly welcome that

945
00:37:45,062 --> 00:37:47,062
kind of constructive
response from Republicans

946
00:37:47,064 --> 00:37:49,064
that -- again, that
Representative Boustany

947
00:37:49,066 --> 00:37:51,236
is not somebody with whom
we're going to agree

948
00:37:51,235 --> 00:37:52,235
on a lot of things.

949
00:37:52,236 --> 00:37:54,406
But we can't allow those
disagreements on those

950
00:37:54,405 --> 00:37:56,775
other issues to prevent us
from trying to find common

951
00:37:56,774 --> 00:37:57,804
ground where
it does exist.

952
00:37:57,808 --> 00:37:59,948
And it sounds like,
based on his comments,

953
00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:01,944
that there might be
an opportunity for

954
00:38:01,946 --> 00:38:03,986
us to have a conversation
and a constructive one --

955
00:38:03,981 --> 00:38:07,581
no pun intended -- about --
nobody is going to laugh

956
00:38:07,585 --> 00:38:11,925
at that -- about
international tax reform

957
00:38:11,922 --> 00:38:15,822
and using that revenue to invest
in infrastructure projects.

958
00:38:15,826 --> 00:38:17,726
The Press: So is there an
active conversation now

959
00:38:17,728 --> 00:38:21,668
going on with leaders
in sort of tax thought

960
00:38:21,666 --> 00:38:23,136
on the Republican
congressional side --

961
00:38:23,134 --> 00:38:24,774
Mr. Earnest: Yes, I mean,
this is something that

962
00:38:24,769 --> 00:38:27,639
we've been talking about
for quite some time,

963
00:38:27,638 --> 00:38:28,978
and it's going to
continue to be a part

964
00:38:28,973 --> 00:38:30,303
of the conversations.

965
00:38:30,307 --> 00:38:34,417
I know that the Director
of the OMB, Shaun Donovan,

966
00:38:34,412 --> 00:38:37,052
is actually testifying on
Capitol Hill today about

967
00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:38,248
some of these issues.

968
00:38:38,249 --> 00:38:40,289
So we certainly are
interested in preserving

969
00:38:40,284 --> 00:38:41,454
an open dialogue on that.

970
00:38:41,452 --> 00:38:42,652
The Press: And since
you've released that,

971
00:38:42,653 --> 00:38:44,823
have you had actual
active discussions with

972
00:38:44,822 --> 00:38:46,462
Republicans on this?

973
00:38:46,457 --> 00:38:48,597
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm not going to detail

974
00:38:48,592 --> 00:38:50,862
all of the discussions
that have been underway.

975
00:38:50,861 --> 00:38:53,561
I don't know off the top
of my head what committee

976
00:38:53,564 --> 00:38:55,564
Congressman
Boustany serves on.

977
00:38:55,566 --> 00:38:57,666
Do you have it
in front of you?

978
00:38:57,668 --> 00:38:58,468
No?

979
00:38:58,469 --> 00:38:59,499
The Press: I
don't know --

980
00:38:59,503 --> 00:39:01,073
Mr. Earnest: It's not a
pop quiz, it's okay.

981
00:39:01,072 --> 00:39:02,272
Or I guess it's a pop quiz
for me, but not for you.

982
00:39:02,273 --> 00:39:02,973
The Press: Twelve years
ago I would have when

983
00:39:02,973 --> 00:39:03,973
I covered Congress.

984
00:39:03,974 --> 00:39:05,314
Mr. Earnest: The point is,
there have been extensive

985
00:39:05,309 --> 00:39:07,449
conversations on Capitol
Hill both in the run-up

986
00:39:07,445 --> 00:39:09,015
to and the immediate
aftermath of the

987
00:39:09,013 --> 00:39:10,213
submission of
the budget.

988
00:39:10,214 --> 00:39:11,554
And that's included
congressional testimony

989
00:39:11,549 --> 00:39:14,989
from people like Secretary
Lew and Shaun Donovan,

990
00:39:14,985 --> 00:39:16,225
the Director of
the OMB.

991
00:39:16,220 --> 00:39:18,220
So those lines of
communication are open.

992
00:39:18,222 --> 00:39:20,322
The Press: And last
question on this.

993
00:39:20,324 --> 00:39:22,224
Other Republicans say,
hey, the administration

994
00:39:22,226 --> 00:39:25,896
has not been good to
deal with on taxes.

995
00:39:25,896 --> 00:39:28,236
Do you have any response to
that sentiment among some?

996
00:39:28,232 --> 00:39:31,102
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'd encourage them to take

997
00:39:31,102 --> 00:39:33,142
it up with those
Republicans that actually

998
00:39:33,137 --> 00:39:35,477
think we have put forward
constructive proposals.

999
00:39:35,473 --> 00:39:39,373
And I do think that there
are a lot of Democrats who

1000
00:39:39,376 --> 00:39:40,946
-- the vast majority of
Democrats are strongly

1001
00:39:40,945 --> 00:39:43,785
supportive of the kinds
of proposals that the

1002
00:39:43,781 --> 00:39:45,081
President has
put forward.

1003
00:39:45,082 --> 00:39:46,952
So it seems possible to
me that we can cobble

1004
00:39:46,951 --> 00:39:49,121
together a bipartisan
coalition here relying

1005
00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:52,560
on a large number of
Republicans -- or at

1006
00:39:52,556 --> 00:39:54,826
least a large number of
Democrats and at least

1007
00:39:54,825 --> 00:39:56,825
enough Republicans to move
this across the finish line.

1008
00:39:56,827 --> 00:39:57,597
And that's --

1009
00:39:57,595 --> 00:39:58,325
The Press:
How likely?

1010
00:39:58,329 --> 00:39:59,159
Better than the
Iranian deal?

1011
00:39:59,163 --> 00:40:00,503
(laughter)

1012
00:40:00,498 --> 00:40:02,238
Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't put
any odds on a tax deal.

1013
00:40:02,233 --> 00:40:06,773
But we certainly view
this as a worthy pursuit,

1014
00:40:06,771 --> 00:40:09,611
and it could be a fruitful
conversation that we're

1015
00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:11,807
going to devote some
significant time

1016
00:40:11,809 --> 00:40:13,249
and resources
to pursuing.

1017
00:40:13,244 --> 00:40:14,614
John.

1018
00:40:14,612 --> 00:40:16,982
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

1019
00:40:16,981 --> 00:40:22,391
With the vote to repeal
the Affordable Care Act,

1020
00:40:22,386 --> 00:40:26,286
I note that on other
occasions you've said

1021
00:40:26,290 --> 00:40:29,530
and the President had said,
there has been 40 such

1022
00:40:29,527 --> 00:40:30,627
votes to repeal it.

1023
00:40:30,628 --> 00:40:33,768
Republican members
of Congress --

1024
00:40:33,764 --> 00:40:35,434
Mr. Earnest: I think we're
up to 56 now, aren't we?

1025
00:40:35,432 --> 00:40:36,602
The Press: Well,
Republican members

1026
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:40,400
of Congress insist there are
only four direct repeal

1027
00:40:40,404 --> 00:40:43,074
votes, and that many
of the votes you count

1028
00:40:43,073 --> 00:40:46,173
as repeal votes are
things that, for example,

1029
00:40:46,177 --> 00:40:49,147
are putting legislative force
behind what the President

1030
00:40:49,146 --> 00:40:52,946
did by executive order,
notably the delaying

1031
00:40:52,950 --> 00:40:55,920
of implementation
in certain cases.

1032
00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:56,850
What's your response?

1033
00:40:56,854 --> 00:40:59,754
Do you stand by
the 56 figure?

1034
00:40:59,757 --> 00:41:02,827
Because they're saying that
is inaccurate right now.

1035
00:41:02,827 --> 00:41:05,197
And many of the things
you count are things the

1036
00:41:05,196 --> 00:41:06,366
President
himself support.

1037
00:41:06,363 --> 00:41:08,963
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
can't account for --

1038
00:41:08,966 --> 00:41:11,366
there are 56 of them, so it's
hard to account for every

1039
00:41:11,368 --> 00:41:12,308
single one of them.

1040
00:41:12,303 --> 00:41:13,503
The Press:
Fifty-six of what?

1041
00:41:13,504 --> 00:41:14,474
Mr. Earnest: Efforts to
undermine or repeal the

1042
00:41:14,471 --> 00:41:15,771
Affordable Care Act.

1043
00:41:15,773 --> 00:41:16,743
The Press:
Undermine or repeal?

1044
00:41:16,740 --> 00:41:17,680
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

1045
00:41:17,675 --> 00:41:21,775
And so, since you brought
it up, I did notice that

1046
00:41:21,779 --> 00:41:23,779
there were a couple
of Republican members

1047
00:41:23,781 --> 00:41:27,621
of Congress who voted against
repealing or undermining

1048
00:41:27,618 --> 00:41:31,318
the Affordable Care Act,
and I was struck by why.

1049
00:41:31,322 --> 00:41:38,732
Congressman Poliquin said,
"Show me a fix and you'll

1050
00:41:38,729 --> 00:41:40,229
have my support."

1051
00:41:40,231 --> 00:41:42,671
Congressman Katko said, "I
am disappointed that the

1052
00:41:42,666 --> 00:41:45,036
bill taken up by Congress
today did not provide

1053
00:41:45,035 --> 00:41:48,205
a real solution to the rising
costs of health care."

1054
00:41:48,205 --> 00:41:51,845
And we saw Congressman
Dold indicate that,

1055
00:41:51,842 --> 00:41:53,842
"Casting yet another
symbolic vote for full

1056
00:41:53,844 --> 00:41:55,844
repeal of the law,
without any replacement

1057
00:41:55,846 --> 00:41:58,016
legislation, simply
distracts us from the

1058
00:41:58,015 --> 00:42:00,385
work that must
be done."

1059
00:42:00,384 --> 00:42:03,524
This is an indication
that even Republicans

1060
00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:06,060
are a little skeptical of
the promises from other

1061
00:42:06,056 --> 00:42:07,826
Republicans that they're
actually going to come

1062
00:42:07,825 --> 00:42:11,365
forward with a specific
replacement proposal;

1063
00:42:11,362 --> 00:42:14,002
that we see Republicans
take these symbolic votes

1064
00:42:13,998 --> 00:42:16,338
that don't actually --
as Congressman Dold said

1065
00:42:16,333 --> 00:42:18,333
-- don't actually do
anything other than

1066
00:42:18,335 --> 00:42:22,175
"distract us from the
work that must be done."

1067
00:42:22,172 --> 00:42:25,212
And I think it is
an indication that

1068
00:42:25,209 --> 00:42:27,449
Republicans are not really
serious about health care

1069
00:42:27,444 --> 00:42:32,554
reform; that they continue
to use this as a political

1070
00:42:32,549 --> 00:42:35,049
tool, but certainly the
millions of Americans

1071
00:42:35,052 --> 00:42:37,052
across the country who are
getting health insurance

1072
00:42:37,054 --> 00:42:39,054
because of the Affordable
Care Act don't consider

1073
00:42:39,056 --> 00:42:41,296
this to be a game or
anything like that.

1074
00:42:41,292 --> 00:42:42,762
The Press: So you're
saying there's 56

1075
00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:44,930
symbolic votes, is
that correct?

1076
00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:46,869
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm just relying on the

1077
00:42:46,864 --> 00:42:48,904
widespread public
reporting of this.

1078
00:42:48,899 --> 00:42:50,469
Chris.

1079
00:42:50,467 --> 00:42:52,967
The Press: I just want
to clarify when you were

1080
00:42:52,970 --> 00:42:55,910
asked about whether or not
the coalition has been

1081
00:42:55,906 --> 00:43:00,006
strengthened or weakened
by what has happened here,

1082
00:43:00,010 --> 00:43:02,880
and you said that we're
redoubling our efforts

1083
00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:04,880
and the commitment has
been strengthened.

1084
00:43:04,882 --> 00:43:07,382
But I wonder, given the
fact that before this

1085
00:43:07,384 --> 00:43:12,094
horrible murder of the
pilot there were plans

1086
00:43:12,089 --> 00:43:14,089
to try to make a deal
-- something that the

1087
00:43:14,091 --> 00:43:18,091
United States has not wanted
to do -- and the fact

1088
00:43:18,095 --> 00:43:21,695
that the Emiratis have
stopped with the airstrikes,

1089
00:43:21,699 --> 00:43:24,739
do you feel confident that
the coalition has been

1090
00:43:24,735 --> 00:43:27,635
strengthened or has ISIS
has been successful

1091
00:43:27,638 --> 00:43:28,938
in weakening it?

1092
00:43:28,939 --> 00:43:30,039
Mr. Earnest: No, I feel
confident that the

1093
00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:31,080
coalition has been
strengthened.

1094
00:43:31,075 --> 00:43:32,245
The President of the
United States thinks

1095
00:43:32,242 --> 00:43:33,442
that and the King of
Jordan thinks that.

1096
00:43:33,444 --> 00:43:35,844
They both indicated
as much yesterday.

1097
00:43:35,846 --> 00:43:40,486
Again, I'm reluctant to
say much about a Jordanian

1098
00:43:40,484 --> 00:43:42,484
effort to secure the
release of their pilot

1099
00:43:42,486 --> 00:43:44,486
but I'm confident in
saying that their efforts

1100
00:43:44,488 --> 00:43:47,428
to secure his release in no
way reflected a diminished

1101
00:43:47,424 --> 00:43:50,594
commitment to the broader
international coalition

1102
00:43:50,594 --> 00:43:53,534
or the broader
strategy against ISIL.

1103
00:43:53,530 --> 00:43:55,800
And, again, I think if you
look at the success that

1104
00:43:55,799 --> 00:43:58,169
we've had -- whether it's
driving ISIL fighters

1105
00:43:58,168 --> 00:44:02,138
out of Kobani or repelling
and rolling back the advance

1106
00:44:02,139 --> 00:44:05,409
of ISIL fighters across
Western Iraq, the success

1107
00:44:05,409 --> 00:44:07,409
that we've had in
shutting down the sources

1108
00:44:07,411 --> 00:44:10,311
of funding -- that there a
variety of measures that

1109
00:44:10,314 --> 00:44:12,554
we can point to, to
indicate that this

1110
00:44:12,549 --> 00:44:15,919
coalition, this strong
coalition is continuing

1111
00:44:15,919 --> 00:44:19,289
to build momentum as we
take the fight to ISIL.

1112
00:44:19,289 --> 00:44:21,729
And now, as I pointed out
to Ed, this doesn't mean

1113
00:44:21,725 --> 00:44:23,725
-- this is not a score
that we can keep on a

1114
00:44:23,727 --> 00:44:25,767
daily basis; that these
kinds of efforts require

1115
00:44:25,763 --> 00:44:27,763
sustained commitment
and there are going

1116
00:44:27,765 --> 00:44:28,765
to be setbacks.

1117
00:44:28,766 --> 00:44:32,436
But I think the overall
trajectory here

1118
00:44:32,436 --> 00:44:33,636
is positive.

1119
00:44:33,637 --> 00:44:34,877
The Press: You said
that you couldn't give

1120
00:44:34,872 --> 00:44:37,072
any detail on the
conversation,

1121
00:44:37,074 --> 00:44:39,014
but do you have anything
more for us on that

1122
00:44:39,009 --> 00:44:40,179
conversation
yesterday?

1123
00:44:40,177 --> 00:44:43,047
And since the President
met with the King,

1124
00:44:43,047 --> 00:44:44,947
has he made any other
calls to leaders

1125
00:44:44,948 --> 00:44:47,188
of the coalition
countries?

1126
00:44:47,184 --> 00:44:49,324
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any additional readout

1127
00:44:49,319 --> 00:44:51,089
of the conversation
between the President

1128
00:44:51,088 --> 00:44:53,088
and the King.

1129
00:44:53,090 --> 00:44:54,930
As it relates to calls
with foreign leaders,

1130
00:44:54,925 --> 00:44:56,895
I'm not aware of any
that the President

1131
00:44:56,894 --> 00:44:57,894
has placed since
last night.

1132
00:44:57,895 --> 00:44:59,895
The Press: And then, just
finally, the President

1133
00:44:59,897 --> 00:45:02,097
had said over the weekend
that anything kind

1134
00:45:02,099 --> 00:45:05,239
of related to this he takes
a look at, when he did the

1135
00:45:05,235 --> 00:45:06,405
interview with
Savannah.

1136
00:45:06,403 --> 00:45:08,343
Do you know if he's
seen this latest video?

1137
00:45:08,338 --> 00:45:09,178
Mr. Earnest: I do
not know whether

1138
00:45:09,173 --> 00:45:10,573
or not he's
seen it, no.

1139
00:45:10,574 --> 00:45:11,704
Bill.

1140
00:45:11,708 --> 00:45:14,448
The Press: We've got a new
national security strategy

1141
00:45:14,445 --> 00:45:16,545
scheduled to be
announced on Friday.

1142
00:45:16,547 --> 00:45:19,647
Will it contain more
specifics about exactly

1143
00:45:19,650 --> 00:45:23,450
what the strategy is
in Iraq, Afghanistan

1144
00:45:23,454 --> 00:45:25,454
and generally in
combatting ISIS?

1145
00:45:25,456 --> 00:45:31,396
And will it contain a draft
resolution or an authorization

1146
00:45:31,395 --> 00:45:33,535
of the use of
military force?

1147
00:45:33,530 --> 00:45:36,700
Mr. Earnest: I will
encourage you to stay

1148
00:45:36,700 --> 00:45:40,440
tuned for the release
of that document.

1149
00:45:40,437 --> 00:45:42,607
I know that the national
security advisor intends

1150
00:45:42,606 --> 00:45:45,576
to give a public speech
on this issue on Friday

1151
00:45:45,576 --> 00:45:47,576
as well, so there will be
a couple of ways you can

1152
00:45:47,578 --> 00:45:48,678
learn what's
included in there.

1153
00:45:48,679 --> 00:45:50,679
As it relates to the
authorization to use

1154
00:45:50,681 --> 00:45:52,721
military force, I don't
anticipate that that

1155
00:45:52,716 --> 00:45:55,056
is something that will be
released in the context

1156
00:45:55,052 --> 00:45:57,892
of the national security
strategy, but there has

1157
00:45:57,888 --> 00:46:00,958
been important work and
important progress made

1158
00:46:00,958 --> 00:46:02,998
on that ongoing effort to
consult with members

1159
00:46:02,993 --> 00:46:06,693
of Congress to develop
legislative language that

1160
00:46:06,697 --> 00:46:07,967
could earn
bipartisan support.

1161
00:46:07,965 --> 00:46:10,265
And I would anticipate
that we'll have some

1162
00:46:10,267 --> 00:46:14,567
more news on an AUMF
relatively soon.

1163
00:46:14,571 --> 00:46:15,641
The Press:
How soon?

1164
00:46:15,639 --> 00:46:16,909
Mr. Earnest:
Relatively soon.

1165
00:46:16,907 --> 00:46:18,307
John.

1166
00:46:18,308 --> 00:46:19,308
The Press: Thanks
a lot, Josh.

1167
00:46:19,309 --> 00:46:22,509
I just wanted to follow up
on a question that Isaac

1168
00:46:22,513 --> 00:46:25,913
asked a little bit earlier
about the upcoming visit

1169
00:46:25,916 --> 00:46:28,116
by Prime Minister
Netanyahu to the U.S.

1170
00:46:28,118 --> 00:46:31,618
and the address that he
will give to a joint

1171
00:46:31,622 --> 00:46:32,952
session of Congress.

1172
00:46:32,956 --> 00:46:35,556
You have said that the
reason that the President

1173
00:46:35,559 --> 00:46:38,229
won't be meeting with the
Prime Minister is because

1174
00:46:38,228 --> 00:46:40,328
you don't want to give
the appearance of somehow

1175
00:46:40,330 --> 00:46:43,930
influencing the
Israeli election.

1176
00:46:43,934 --> 00:46:46,634
Would that same
rationale apply to the

1177
00:46:46,637 --> 00:46:51,277
Vice President's attendance at
the joint session of Congress?

1178
00:46:51,275 --> 00:46:53,545
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
see, I think is really the

1179
00:46:53,544 --> 00:46:55,544
best answer I can
give you there.

1180
00:46:55,546 --> 00:46:57,546
We're still working
through exactly what the

1181
00:46:57,548 --> 00:46:59,548
Vice President's schedule
is going to look like that

1182
00:46:59,550 --> 00:47:02,390
first week in March, and
certainly as we consider

1183
00:47:02,386 --> 00:47:04,956
the Vice President's
attendance, that's one

1184
00:47:04,955 --> 00:47:07,155
of the factors that we'll
weigh on that decision.

1185
00:47:07,157 --> 00:47:10,057
The Press: You also said
in answering Isaac's

1186
00:47:10,060 --> 00:47:12,860
question that the Vice
President has been here

1187
00:47:12,863 --> 00:47:15,333
for virtually every joint
session of Congress when a

1188
00:47:15,332 --> 00:47:17,272
foreign leader
has spoken.

1189
00:47:17,267 --> 00:47:20,167
You mentioned the one time
he hasn't been there was

1190
00:47:20,170 --> 00:47:21,410
when he was
out of town.

1191
00:47:21,405 --> 00:47:24,975
If he's in town on that
particular day, should the

1192
00:47:24,975 --> 00:47:27,275
Israeli government
see that as a sign of

1193
00:47:27,277 --> 00:47:28,347
disrespect?

1194
00:47:28,345 --> 00:47:30,185
How do you think they
should view that?

1195
00:47:30,180 --> 00:47:32,180
Mr. Earnest: Well, let's
wait until we've made a

1196
00:47:32,182 --> 00:47:34,182
decision and that decision
has been carried out

1197
00:47:34,184 --> 00:47:37,054
before we start estimating
exactly what the reaction

1198
00:47:37,054 --> 00:47:38,054
will be from other people.

1199
00:47:38,055 --> 00:47:40,755
The Press: Just one last
question regarding this.

1200
00:47:40,757 --> 00:47:46,397
Does the President view
the invitation by House

1201
00:47:46,396 --> 00:47:50,966
Speaker John Boehner as an
effort to influence the

1202
00:47:50,968 --> 00:47:52,608
Israeli election
in any way?

1203
00:47:52,603 --> 00:47:54,803
Mr. Earnest: Well, what
the President has said is

1204
00:47:54,805 --> 00:47:58,075
that that was a decision
that the Speaker made on

1205
00:47:58,075 --> 00:47:59,145
his own.

1206
00:47:59,142 --> 00:48:04,112
It did represent a
departure from protocol,

1207
00:48:04,114 --> 00:48:06,284
but ultimately, that's
a decision that the

1208
00:48:06,283 --> 00:48:08,223
Speaker of the House
has to make.

1209
00:48:08,218 --> 00:48:11,258
The President believes
that it is important for

1210
00:48:11,255 --> 00:48:14,725
us to ensure that
the Israeli-U.S.

1211
00:48:14,725 --> 00:48:16,695
relationship does not
get reduced to partisan

1212
00:48:16,693 --> 00:48:18,693
politics; that the
relationship between our

1213
00:48:18,695 --> 00:48:20,695
two countries is much more
than the relationship

1214
00:48:20,697 --> 00:48:23,437
between two
political parties.

1215
00:48:23,433 --> 00:48:25,433
And that is an important
principle, and the

1216
00:48:25,435 --> 00:48:26,405
President is going
to conduct himself

1217
00:48:26,403 --> 00:48:27,433
accordingly.

1218
00:48:27,437 --> 00:48:30,937
We're hopeful that other members
of Congress and other U.S.

1219
00:48:30,941 --> 00:48:33,081
and Israeli leaders
will do the same.

1220
00:48:33,076 --> 00:48:35,946
But ultimately, they'll
have to determine -- make

1221
00:48:35,946 --> 00:48:38,286
their own decisions
about their behavior.

1222
00:48:38,282 --> 00:48:39,282
Dave.

1223
00:48:39,283 --> 00:48:40,183
The Press: Thanks,
Josh.

1224
00:48:40,183 --> 00:48:42,283
Can you tell us anything
about the President's

1225
00:48:42,286 --> 00:48:44,356
agenda for his meeting
with Muslim leaders this

1226
00:48:44,354 --> 00:48:45,754
afternoon?

1227
00:48:45,756 --> 00:48:47,426
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
can tell you that the

1228
00:48:47,424 --> 00:48:49,424
President is looking
forward to the meeting

1229
00:48:49,426 --> 00:48:51,426
that he'll do a little
later this afternoon.

1230
00:48:51,428 --> 00:48:53,428
It's not unusual for the
President to meet with the

1231
00:48:53,430 --> 00:48:56,100
leaders of a wide variety
of communities from across

1232
00:48:56,099 --> 00:48:57,639
the country.

1233
00:48:57,634 --> 00:48:59,874
Sometimes that includes
religious leaders;

1234
00:48:59,870 --> 00:49:05,410
sometimes that includes
leaders that are involved

1235
00:49:05,409 --> 00:49:09,749
in academia or other
specific issue areas.

1236
00:49:09,746 --> 00:49:11,786
What the President is
hoping to do is to have a

1237
00:49:11,782 --> 00:49:14,682
broader conversation about
the wide range of issues

1238
00:49:14,685 --> 00:49:19,025
that are of importance
to the Muslim American

1239
00:49:19,022 --> 00:49:20,022
community.

1240
00:49:20,023 --> 00:49:22,163
Certainly I would expect a
robust discussion on a lot

1241
00:49:22,159 --> 00:49:24,199
of the kind of
middle-class economics

1242
00:49:24,194 --> 00:49:26,434
that the President has
been discussing in the

1243
00:49:26,430 --> 00:49:28,430
State of the Union and in
the context of the rollout

1244
00:49:28,432 --> 00:49:29,432
of his budget.

1245
00:49:29,433 --> 00:49:32,273
I would anticipate that it
will be an opportunity for

1246
00:49:32,269 --> 00:49:33,639
the President to talk
about some other things.

1247
00:49:33,637 --> 00:49:35,677
I'm confident that he'll
remind them of the

1248
00:49:35,672 --> 00:49:37,672
upcoming deadline for the
Affordable Care Act, and

1249
00:49:37,674 --> 00:49:39,674
encouraging them to get
the word out in their

1250
00:49:39,676 --> 00:49:41,676
communities about the
opportunity that exists

1251
00:49:41,678 --> 00:49:43,678
for people who previously
couldn't afford health

1252
00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:45,980
insurance but now may
be able to by going to

1253
00:49:45,982 --> 00:49:46,982
healthcare.gov.

1254
00:49:46,983 --> 00:49:48,983
So I think it will be a
pretty wide-ranging meeting.

1255
00:49:48,985 --> 00:49:50,725
We're going to do our best
to get you a readout of

1256
00:49:50,721 --> 00:49:52,721
that meeting.

1257
00:49:52,723 --> 00:49:54,693
The Press: Could I ask a
follow-up on the hangings

1258
00:49:54,691 --> 00:49:57,761
in Jordan last night?

1259
00:49:57,761 --> 00:50:00,101
I'm just wondering if the
President agrees that

1260
00:50:00,097 --> 00:50:02,897
there's an important
international principle of

1261
00:50:02,899 --> 00:50:05,639
law here, because after
the burning of the

1262
00:50:05,635 --> 00:50:08,935
Jordanian pilot, the
spokesman for the

1263
00:50:08,939 --> 00:50:11,339
government of Jordan came
out and said "we will have

1264
00:50:11,341 --> 00:50:12,911
revenge."

1265
00:50:12,909 --> 00:50:15,449
And then hours later, they
carried out these two

1266
00:50:15,445 --> 00:50:16,685
executions.

1267
00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:20,220
So my question is, does
the President support any

1268
00:50:20,217 --> 00:50:25,287
ally using the death
penalty as a form of revenge?

1269
00:50:25,288 --> 00:50:28,828
Mr. Earnest: Well, Dave,
again, the executions that

1270
00:50:28,825 --> 00:50:32,295
were carried out by the
Jordanian justice system

1271
00:50:32,295 --> 00:50:35,435
were -- I guess questions
about those executions are

1272
00:50:35,432 --> 00:50:37,432
questions that you should
direct to Jordanian

1273
00:50:37,434 --> 00:50:38,434
authorities.

1274
00:50:38,435 --> 00:50:40,405
Again, these are
individuals who were

1275
00:50:40,404 --> 00:50:42,404
convicted of very serious
terrorism-related crimes.

1276
00:50:42,406 --> 00:50:44,976
They were sentenced to
death, and they had been

1277
00:50:44,975 --> 00:50:46,105
serving time on death row.

1278
00:50:49,212 --> 00:50:52,482
So for questions about
how, or why, or what the

1279
00:50:52,482 --> 00:50:54,922
motivation was for
carrying out that sentence

1280
00:50:54,918 --> 00:50:57,358
are questions that you
should direct to Jordanian

1281
00:50:57,354 --> 00:50:58,354
authorities.

1282
00:50:58,355 --> 00:51:00,925
Let me just say that the
United States continues to

1283
00:51:00,924 --> 00:51:05,494
stand strongly beside
our friends in Jordan.

1284
00:51:05,495 --> 00:51:08,565
And we continue to
welcome their support and

1285
00:51:08,565 --> 00:51:10,905
commitment to this broader
international campaign to

1286
00:51:10,901 --> 00:51:12,941
degrade and ultimately
destroy ISIL.

1287
00:51:12,936 --> 00:51:14,936
Yes, ma'am, I'll give
you the last one.

1288
00:51:14,938 --> 00:51:16,938
The Press: Thank
you very much, Josh.

1289
00:51:16,940 --> 00:51:19,280
On North Korea, the North
Korean leader emphasized

1290
00:51:19,276 --> 00:51:23,676
that North Korea don't
want to talk with the

1291
00:51:23,680 --> 00:51:25,750
United States anymore.

1292
00:51:25,749 --> 00:51:29,419
What would be President
Obama's policy toward

1293
00:51:29,419 --> 00:51:31,359
North Korea?

1294
00:51:31,354 --> 00:51:33,794
Mr. Earnest: What would
be President Obama's --

1295
00:51:39,796 --> 00:51:40,996
I'm sorry I don't
understand --

1296
00:51:40,997 --> 00:51:46,567
The Press: Policy
to North Korea.

1297
00:51:46,570 --> 00:51:48,940
Mr. Earnest: Sorry
that I had difficulty

1298
00:51:48,939 --> 00:51:50,639
understanding.

1299
00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:52,440
Our policy toward North
Korea has not changed.

1300
00:51:52,442 --> 00:51:54,382
We believe it is
critically important for

1301
00:51:54,377 --> 00:51:56,377
that regime to come into
compliance with generally

1302
00:51:56,379 --> 00:51:58,549
accepted international
standards and to start

1303
00:51:58,548 --> 00:52:00,648
doing the kinds of
things that reflect the

1304
00:52:00,650 --> 00:52:02,690
commitment to basic
universal human rights

1305
00:52:02,686 --> 00:52:04,826
that we hold dear in this
country, and we believe

1306
00:52:04,821 --> 00:52:07,421
that other governments
have a responsibility to

1307
00:52:07,424 --> 00:52:09,894
protect those basic human
rights when it comes to

1308
00:52:09,893 --> 00:52:10,893
their citizens.

1309
00:52:10,894 --> 00:52:12,694
And that policy
hasn't changed.

1310
00:52:12,696 --> 00:52:14,936
Certainly, our efforts
to work with the

1311
00:52:14,931 --> 00:52:19,131
international community,
to try to bring North

1312
00:52:19,135 --> 00:52:23,075
Korea into compliance
with those things, those

1313
00:52:23,073 --> 00:52:24,203
efforts continue.

1314
00:52:24,207 --> 00:52:27,807
And certainly other
countries, even countries

1315
00:52:27,811 --> 00:52:30,151
that we don't often have
a close alliance with --

1316
00:52:30,146 --> 00:52:32,846
countries like Russia and
China -- have an interest

1317
00:52:32,849 --> 00:52:35,189
in the same way that we do
in trying to resolve the

1318
00:52:35,185 --> 00:52:38,125
international community's
significant concerns about

1319
00:52:38,121 --> 00:52:40,491
North Korea, about North
Korea's treatment of their

1320
00:52:40,490 --> 00:52:42,730
citizens, and about North
Korea's nuclear program.

1321
00:52:42,726 --> 00:52:44,426
And those efforts
are ongoing.

1322
00:52:44,427 --> 00:52:46,627
The Press: It would
be more aggressively

1323
00:52:46,630 --> 00:52:49,500
approaching the North
Korea, the United States

1324
00:52:49,499 --> 00:52:53,299
(inaudible) more
aggressively?

1325
00:52:53,303 --> 00:52:54,503
Mr. Earnest: At this
point, I don't have

1326
00:52:54,504 --> 00:52:57,474
a change in strategy or
policy to tell you about.

1327
00:52:57,474 --> 00:52:58,544
Thank you, guys.