English subtitles for clip: File:5-11-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
All right. Settle down.

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Everybody's attendance
is quicker today.

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Before I take your questions,
we're going to hear from our

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Administrator for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency,

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Craig Fugate, to give you all
an update on the flooding in

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Tennessee and Kentucky, as well
as the storms that we all saw

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last evening in Oklahoma.

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Administrator Fugate:
Thank you. Good
afternoon, everybody.

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The last couple weeks we've seen
a lot of severe weather moving

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through the southeast Atlantic
states and Gulf Coast areas,

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including now central
parts of the U.S.

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Yesterday, as many of you know,
we had a rather significant

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tornado outbreak across
Tennessee going into Arkansas

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-- right now, reported five
fatalities, numerous injuries.

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And we have been in contact
with the state team there

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since last night.

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We already had a presence
in Oklahoma from previous

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disasters, so we're working
with Albert Ashwood,

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the State Emergency
Management director,

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and his team there requesting
that we conduct joint damage

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assessments with state for
both impact to survivors

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as well as government.

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They have no outstanding
federal response needs,

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which is -- given the
severity of the tornadoes,

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many people say, well,
why isn't FEMA responding?

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And the answer is because
in many disasters,

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the local and state responders
are dealing with the response

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phase and they're assessing
whether or not they're going

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to need federal
assistance for recovery.

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But earlier in the week we did
see another severe weather

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outbreak, this time manifested
in heavy rainfall across

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Tennessee, Kentucky,
as well as Mississippi.

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And that did result in
significant flood damage,

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particularly in Tennessee,
where the governor requested

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on Monday of last week an
expedited major presidential

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disaster declaration
-- which, on Tuesday,

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the President concurred with and
declared that a disaster did

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exist in the state of Tennessee.

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Prior to that we actually had
folks working with Tennessee,

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as we knew the severe
weather was impacting

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the state with the flooding.

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We have regional offices, 10 of
them, and our office of Atlanta,

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the region which covers
the state of Tennessee,

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deployed staff in Saturday
evening and began working

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with the state.

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But once again, much of the
response was being done by local

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responders, state officials,
volunteers and other groups.

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And so, again, our role in
this response was to support

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recovery, and that
recovery I'm afraid is

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going to be substantial.

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So far, just as
of this morning,

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over 23,000 people in the state
of Tennessee have registered for

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individual assistance.

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Right now we have
already approved in

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our system $51 million
for individual assistance.

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Much of this is going to
individuals who have lost

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their homes and not
had flood insurance

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or had uninsured losses.

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And we expect these numbers
to continue to increase as

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we do that outreach.

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And again, through your ability
to get the word out to folks,

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the process of beginning
that assistance with FEMA

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is to register.

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So if you've been in the state
of Tennessee or watching that --

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we've been talking a lot about
this -- is you've got to

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register at 1-800-621-FEMA
to start this process.

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After Monday, I had actually
met with the governor and

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brought his request back.

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I went back Thursday and
particularly wanted to get out

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to some of the more rural areas
of the state, western Tennessee.

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There's a lot of
focus on Nashville,

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so the tendency is -- the images
you're seeing is that Nashville

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got hit hard; what about
the rest of the state?

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And I can assure you that what
you saw in Nashville was being

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replicated across the state,
moving all the way over into

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Shelby County in Memphis, little
communities such as Millington,

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up where Russia
Naval Air Station is,

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got heavily impacted.

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Small towns throughout rural
Tennessee, heavily damaged,

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flooded businesses
still under water.

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In fact, on Thursday
when I was there,

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you still had water rising
in parts of the river system

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there -- a lot of
impacts, agricultural,

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but a lot of impacts to homes.

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And, unfortunately,
again, not many people

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have flood insurance.

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We're going to be
working to support that.

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But the great story out of
Tennessee was the level of

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participation of volunteers
-- faith-based organizations,

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local responders, the state,
and our role as the federal

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government in support
in the recovery phase.

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Since that time, Secretary
Napolitano was there Saturday,

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met with the governor's
team to address issues.

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We've had Secretary Locke.

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We've had Secretary
Donovan yesterday,

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SBA Administrator
Mills there today.

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One of the things we know about
these large-scale disasters is

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FEMA does not provide all
of the tools necessary for

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a complete recovery.

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In this case, with the duration
and the types of disasters,

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it's going to require a full
federal response and a full

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federal recovery going far
beyond our FEMA program.

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So we already have been working
at the President's direction to

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start addressing not only
the immediate needs of the

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survivors, but also beginning
to look at long-term recovery

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for the state of Tennessee.

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This response, again, on top of
tornadoes previously in the week

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in Mississippi and Alabama,
today President Obama has

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declared the state of Kentucky
now as part of the disaster

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from last weekend.

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And we continue to respond in
support of those survivors,

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those communities -- but
through the state teams.

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The Tennessee Emergency
Management Agency and FEMA

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have actually put together
a Facebook page to help

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update people with fast
moving information, allowing

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people to share information.

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We'll get you that information.

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It's kind of one of these
long-winded things.

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It's like tndisasterinfo
-- "tn" -- for

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Tennessee -- disasterinfo (www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo).

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But again, the idea of starting
to use more and more the tools

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that are reflected for people.

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And then the last piece before
I'll turn it back over for

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questions is when you're
dealing with these situations,

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a lot of our stuff we've
always done on the Web.

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Well, if your home is flooded
you don't have Internet -- I

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can't get to the Web;
how do I get information?

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Fortunately, about
two weeks ago,

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we had been working on something
to get out a mobile version of

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our website, so if you have your
phone you can get information in

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a format for you.

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So if you go to m.fema.gov
with your phone,

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you can get information that's
tailored for you, the survivor,

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to figure out very quickly
the sources of information,

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get those links, and be able to
get assistance without having to

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go through the full website.

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That just happened to be
something that came online,

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but it's really, I find, very
useful for people who are not

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at home, probably staying at
a hotel, staying with friends,

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or staying somewhere
else like a shelter,

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trying to get information.

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So, again, m.fema.gov,
1-800-621-FEMA.

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In all these states where
we have individual assistance

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declared, the first
step is to register.

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And the last part is, we cannot
do this response without the

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communities themselves, the
state, and the federal family.

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It's like I tell people,
FEMA is not a team;

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we're part of a team.

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And we're there supporting
the governors on behalf of

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the President and
Secretary Napolitano

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in this initial response phase.

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Mr. Gibbs:
We've got time for a few
questions because we've got

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to get the Administrator
to the Oval Office.

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He and the President are
going to talk to Governor

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Henry from Oklahoma.

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The Press:
When we were in
Tennessee on Saturday,

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we talked to
Secretary Napolitano,

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and she said that the
extent of FEMA's ability

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to help was limited.

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Given how many people there
did not have flood insurance,

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how heavily impacted they are
and how limited the FEMA aid is,

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where do you suggest these
people go, beyond that?

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I mean, obviously $29,000 isn't
enough if you've lost your home

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and you don't have
flood insurance.

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Administrator Fugate:
That is correct.

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That's, I think, part of the
reason why -- we look at

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disasters a lot differently
than probably in the past,

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and we know that it
takes a full federal

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team to support recovery.

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We have a lot of programs that
Secretary Donovan brings to the

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table, with the HUD Community
Block Development Grant;

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other types of
programs that help.

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Plus another thing that we've
not always done well on the

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federal side, and that is really
collaborate with faith-based and

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volunteer organizations that can
oftentimes provide labor and

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other assistance to people in
trying to rebuild their homes,

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where we can use our
dollars for materials.

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And so, again, if you come
in and you do what I call a

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federal-centric or
government-centric response to

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these disasters, you're going
to have a lot of unmet needs,

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because we do have very
defined programs and limits

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to those programs.

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But if you look at a team
approach and looking at what are

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the resources in a community;
where are we going to be able

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to pull resources together to
address particularly those folks

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that just are not going to have
many other options -- for a lot

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of folks, some of the more
affluent neighborhoods,

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SBA disaster loans will help
them get their homes repaired.

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But for those that don't have
the ability to do the loans and

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where our grants may not be able
to return their home back to a

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useable condition, partnered
with volunteers and other

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groups as part of a team effort
gets us to those unmet needs.

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And so this is our approach of
not just looking at what one

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program can do, but how do we
leverage the entire federal

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family to recognize there's a
lot of other resources in the

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community that we have tended
not to bring to bear or work

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in a coordinated fashion.

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Oftentimes, they were trying to
do one thing -- we're over here,

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we're not talking.

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And we don't help the survivors.

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The Press:
Who leads that? Is it
your team? Or is the state?

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Administrator Fugate:
It's a joint team.

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We go into a coordinated
response with the state.

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I have a federal
coordinating officer,

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as appointed by the President.

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It's Gracia Szczech
-- she's there,

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worked a lot of
disasters before.

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And we work with TEMA,
the Tennessee Emergency

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Management Agency.

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And then at each local level,
you have various groups,

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but generally coordinated
through the county or city

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emergency operations centers.

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So one of the groups that we
were working with or talking to,

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that set up some of the first
information center was All

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Hands, a volunteer organization
that was already working,

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getting information to the
survivors in the aftermath

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of the disaster.

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So it's our ability to, one,
work with the state as a team,

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and then bring in and work with
some of the more traditional

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volunteer organizations like
Red Cross and Salvation Army,

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but also some of their very
localized -- or may only be

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in one community.

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The Press:
The Tennessee delegation
sent a letter to the

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President today asking for
a separate appropriation

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in the supplemental.

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I wonder if he's had a
chance to consider that yet.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I will check with legislative
affairs to see if the request

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has been received
and what it might be.

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I'll have them check on that.

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Yes.

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The Press:
I'm wondering if either
one of you can talk about

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the administration take on the
Hill hearing today where BP and

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the other companies are sort of
pointing fingers everywhere --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'll do that when we get to
-- if you guys have any more --

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The Press:
Is FEMA going to have
any role in the oil

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clean-up at this point?

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Administrator Fugate:
FEMA has already had a role.

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You understand that we're
dealing with a separate

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00:10:10,967 --> 00:10:14,997
statutory authority and a
separate funding stream to

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00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,930
respond to an oil spill where
you have a responsible party.

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00:10:17,934 --> 00:10:19,904
So a lot of people go,
well, what's FEMA's role?

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00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:22,400
Our role as part of DHS, as
part of the President's team,

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00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,800
is a support role to our lead
agency within DHS, Coast Guard.

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00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,770
We've been supporting them with
actual staff as far as public

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00:10:28,767 --> 00:10:33,637
information and liaison roles,
but we don't do a lot of flood

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00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,203
-- we don't do a lot
of oil spill stuff,

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00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,000
so we are more of
a support role.

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00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,770
But we've been engaged
from the very beginning.

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00:10:40,767 --> 00:10:42,897
I was actually involved in
one of the briefings with the

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00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:46,800
President early on when the
initial aftermath was still

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00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,670
focused on search and rescue.

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00:10:48,667 --> 00:10:51,597
And so our job at FEMA I think
is a little bit different than

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00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,800
what you've probably seen before
in that how we responded to

254
00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,330
Haiti, how we responded
to the oil spill,

255
00:10:55,333 --> 00:10:57,703
where FEMA is not
the lead agency.

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00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:00,670
The President commits the full
team; we all have support roles.

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00:11:00,667 --> 00:11:02,097
And in this case, our
support role is, within DHS,

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00:11:02,100 --> 00:11:04,630
is to the Coast Guard for some
of their coordination staffing

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00:11:04,633 --> 00:11:07,533
issues of some things that we
can add to their response.

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00:11:07,533 --> 00:11:11,463
But in many cases, this would
not be untypical of another

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00:11:11,467 --> 00:11:13,637
federal agency having the
lead where FEMA is still in

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00:11:13,633 --> 00:11:14,663
a support role.

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00:11:14,667 --> 00:11:15,497
Mr. Gibbs:
April.

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00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:17,570
The Press:
Is FEMA financially able
to handle all of these

265
00:11:17,567 --> 00:11:19,197
disasters right now?

266
00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,100
Because we understand recently
FEMA was running out of money

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00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:25,700
and there was a call for more
money from Congress to -- more

268
00:11:25,700 --> 00:11:27,000
money for FEMA.

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00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:28,870
Administrator Fugate:
You're referring to the
disaster recovery fund,

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00:11:28,867 --> 00:11:31,067
which is an allocation
that we're given based

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00:11:31,066 --> 00:11:34,096
upon potential disasters,
also dealing with previous

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00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:35,970
disasters in the past.

273
00:11:35,967 --> 00:11:39,237
Around the February time frame,
we were running to a point where

274
00:11:39,233 --> 00:11:41,863
our fund balance was getting
below what we were comfortable

275
00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:44,067
with, having to deal with
existing disasters and future

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00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:47,536
disasters, so we go into what
we call immediate needs funding.

277
00:11:47,533 --> 00:11:50,703
And what that means is we
are still funding response,

278
00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:53,430
individual assistance,
and immediate needs,

279
00:11:53,433 --> 00:11:56,963
but we have stopped all funding
for permanent work going all the

280
00:11:56,967 --> 00:11:59,767
way back to disasters
prior to Katrina.

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00:11:59,767 --> 00:12:02,937
So we have limited our funds
to just those things that are

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00:12:02,934 --> 00:12:06,234
necessary to do a response,
to meet initial needs,

283
00:12:06,233 --> 00:12:08,733
take care of individuals,
the survivors of the disaster,

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00:12:08,734 --> 00:12:11,804
but we have stopped all of our
permanent work until we get a

285
00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,370
supplemental to support that.

286
00:12:13,367 --> 00:12:15,837
The Press:
So for this immediate funding, with this immediate needs

287
00:12:15,834 --> 00:12:18,704
funding, I mean, how long does
it take for this money to run out?

288
00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:21,330
How much money do you need, or
how much money do you have to

289
00:12:21,333 --> 00:12:23,433
deal with these emergencies?

290
00:12:23,433 --> 00:12:24,533
Administrator Fugate:
It's really kind of an unknown.

291
00:12:24,533 --> 00:12:26,333
Given where we are right
now with Tennessee,

292
00:12:26,333 --> 00:12:27,103
we're still fine.

293
00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:28,930
We're still responding,
but it is finite.

294
00:12:28,934 --> 00:12:30,834
And so again, we are working.

295
00:12:30,834 --> 00:12:32,934
The House has passed the
supplemental request.

296
00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:34,164
It's now with the Senate.

297
00:12:34,166 --> 00:12:38,466
We have done things to really
minimize our impacts and be

298
00:12:38,467 --> 00:12:40,437
able to continue to
focus on response.

299
00:12:40,433 --> 00:12:44,163
And we continue that as we await
final resolution on replenishing

300
00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:46,096
the disaster recovery fund.

301
00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:48,370
The Press:
How much is in the supplemental?

302
00:12:48,367 --> 00:12:52,567
Administrator Fugate:
The request from OMB and
us as we worked this up is

303
00:12:52,567 --> 00:12:54,767
$5.1 billion.

304
00:12:54,767 --> 00:12:56,067
The Press:
You mentioned Katrina.

305
00:12:56,066 --> 00:12:58,166
I wonder if you could just tell
us a little bit about how much

306
00:12:58,166 --> 00:13:01,636
the lessons learned from Katrina
are guiding you in Tennessee and

307
00:13:01,633 --> 00:13:03,863
what those lessons learned are.

308
00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:05,537
Administrator Fugate:
To me, the big lesson was
-- I was actually the

309
00:13:05,533 --> 00:13:08,203
state director in Florida
during that time frame;

310
00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,200
I was there through
the hurricane and stuff

311
00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,730
-- was you got to go in as a
team, you got to work as a team,

312
00:13:13,734 --> 00:13:15,834
and you got to
focus on survivors.

313
00:13:15,834 --> 00:13:18,704
And I think we've been
able to demonstrate,

314
00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:21,570
with the President's leadership,
our commitment to that and his

315
00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,367
commitment to bring
the full team to bear.

316
00:13:23,367 --> 00:13:25,197
It's not one of these
things where one agency

317
00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,500
is trying to solve all
the problems by themselves.

318
00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:29,500
We really bring together the
expertise of all the agencies

319
00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:32,430
and look at what the needs are.

320
00:13:32,433 --> 00:13:35,603
The Press:
When hurricane season
starts in, what, two or

321
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:36,870
three weeks, what --

322
00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:37,867
Administrator Fugate:
Twenty-one days.

323
00:13:37,867 --> 00:13:40,567
(laughter)

324
00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:42,897
The Press:
-- what shape are you in
when a first big storm hits?

325
00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:44,170
Will you be able to handle it?

326
00:13:44,166 --> 00:13:46,066
Administrator Fugate:
Well, the first big storm
-- generally hurricane season

327
00:13:46,066 --> 00:13:48,996
may start June 1st, but really
the time frame when you start

328
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,070
seeing the more devastating
hurricanes tends to be about

329
00:13:52,066 --> 00:13:54,536
August, mid-August through.

330
00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:57,103
Again, we are resetting, because
as much as people focus on

331
00:13:57,100 --> 00:13:59,500
hurricanes -- and I come from a
hurricane-prone state -- Chile

332
00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:01,430
and Haiti should have
taught us something.

333
00:14:01,433 --> 00:14:03,463
We don't get to pick
the next disaster.

334
00:14:03,467 --> 00:14:05,397
And an earthquake could
strike at any time.

335
00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,530
Any other event
that could occur,

336
00:14:07,533 --> 00:14:08,703
we have to be
ready all the time.

337
00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:10,600
So although hurricane season
gives us a reminder to get

338
00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,200
people ready for something,
at FEMA we have to be ready

339
00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:15,730
24 hours a day,
seven days a week.

340
00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:18,334
I don't get the luxury of
waiting for a forecast season;

341
00:14:18,333 --> 00:14:21,003
I have to be ready to go.
So we keep adjusting.

342
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,630
Even with Tennessee and others,
we have a lot of disasters

343
00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:26,733
going; we keep resetting our
team and looking at where we're

344
00:14:26,734 --> 00:14:29,504
at and go, right now
if something happens,

345
00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:33,230
what are we ready to do and what
do we have to do to be prepared?

346
00:14:33,233 --> 00:14:35,833
The Press:
The present situation right now,
are you fearful that you might

347
00:14:35,834 --> 00:14:39,304
not be able to meet the need, as
things arise with the financial

348
00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:41,000
problems that
you're going through?

349
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:44,070
Administrator Fugate:
No. I mean, if I looked at it
just as FEMA was the only game

350
00:14:44,066 --> 00:14:46,236
in town, I might be
a little bit concerned.

351
00:14:46,233 --> 00:14:47,663
But we're not the
only game in town.

352
00:14:47,667 --> 00:14:50,667
We work as a team on
the federal side, again,

353
00:14:50,667 --> 00:14:53,897
with a relationship that we
have in this administration

354
00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:55,600
across all our resources.

355
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,530
We're going to respond; we're
going to take care of people.

356
00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:58,463
That's not the question.

357
00:14:58,467 --> 00:15:01,737
The question is really getting
back to the permanent work and

358
00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:04,704
that right now we cannot move
forward on without supplemental.

359
00:15:04,700 --> 00:15:13,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Thank you, sir. Thanks, guys.

360
00:15:13,967 --> 00:15:15,397
It's like tag-team
wrestling, isn't it?

361
00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:23,870
(laughter)

362
00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:25,537
All right.

363
00:15:25,533 --> 00:15:26,403
The Press:
Bill, your turn.

364
00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,430
(laughter)

365
00:15:27,433 --> 00:15:28,603
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, I'm all for that.

366
00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,200
I'm all for that.

367
00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:38,970
Let me just give you guys a
quick update on -- tomorrow

368
00:15:38,967 --> 00:15:41,797
Elena Kagan will make
her way to Capitol Hill,

369
00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,300
as I think some of you know.

370
00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:47,930
Let me give you the schedule
of senators that she will see:

371
00:15:47,934 --> 00:15:52,964
Senator Reid at 10:00 a.m.;
Senator McConnell at 11:00 a.m.;

372
00:15:52,967 --> 00:15:59,097
Senator Leahy at noon; Senator
Sessions at 12:45 p.m.; and

373
00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:02,000
Senator Durbin at 2:30 p.m.

374
00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,870
And as we get updates to that,
we will provide them to you.

375
00:16:07,867 --> 00:16:08,967
Ms. Loven.

376
00:16:08,967 --> 00:16:11,637
The Press:
I guess I'll resubmit
my previous question.

377
00:16:11,633 --> 00:16:12,603
Mr. Gibbs:
Oh, yes.

378
00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,530
The Press:
Your take on the Hill -- the
BP hearings on the Hill and

379
00:16:15,533 --> 00:16:18,663
all these companies pointing
fingers in opposite directions

380
00:16:18,667 --> 00:16:20,867
about the right
way for them to go.

381
00:16:20,867 --> 00:16:27,397
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I don't want to get in the
middle of their finger-pointing,

382
00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:34,270
except to say that we obviously
have an active investigation per

383
00:16:34,266 --> 00:16:38,496
what the President tasked the
Interior Secretary to find out

384
00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:43,530
as to -- to identify the
cause of what happened.

385
00:16:43,533 --> 00:16:45,933
The President -- I think you
all got a readout from the

386
00:16:45,934 --> 00:16:48,704
President's meeting yesterday.

387
00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:54,270
And, look, I would --
watching him in that meeting,

388
00:16:54,266 --> 00:17:02,296
I would say the President is
deeply frustrated that we have

389
00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:06,130
not plugged this leak.

390
00:17:06,133 --> 00:17:10,603
That's what the focus of -- I
would say that's what a majority

391
00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:15,200
of the meeting
time was spent on.

392
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:20,570
Secretary Chu is heading to the
area to work with the response

393
00:17:20,567 --> 00:17:24,397
team to make sure that we have
some of the best and brightest

394
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:31,170
minds down there trying to think
through next steps for doing so.

395
00:17:31,166 --> 00:17:34,566
But I think the President
is deeply frustrated.

396
00:17:34,567 --> 00:17:37,867
The Press:
Can I switch to the climate
bill coming out tomorrow?

397
00:17:37,867 --> 00:17:40,997
Has the administration -- does
the administration support or is

398
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,470
it pushing for a provision
to let states have veto power

399
00:17:44,467 --> 00:17:47,897
over offshore drilling
plans by other states?

400
00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,130
Mr. Gibbs:
I will -- I don't know
the answer to that inside

401
00:17:51,133 --> 00:17:56,403
the legislation, but I can have
somebody check and see if that's

402
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,970
-- where that might lay.

403
00:17:59,967 --> 00:18:00,867
Yes, sir.

404
00:18:00,867 --> 00:18:03,967
The Press:
Robert, one question on
the European debt crisis,

405
00:18:03,967 --> 00:18:06,397
and then one follow-up
on the oil spill.

406
00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:07,570
First on Europe.

407
00:18:07,567 --> 00:18:11,867
How -- as the White House has
monitored the European reaction

408
00:18:11,867 --> 00:18:17,037
to this, how big of a risk is
what's going on there now to

409
00:18:17,033 --> 00:18:20,303
the U.S. economy and, in
fact, indeed to the global

410
00:18:20,300 --> 00:18:21,630
economy as a whole?

411
00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:30,163
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think anytime
-- let me just say this.

412
00:18:30,166 --> 00:18:34,736
Obviously our economic team and
the President have been engaged

413
00:18:34,734 --> 00:18:38,434
over the course of many weeks
in monitoring the situation that

414
00:18:38,433 --> 00:18:42,603
was going on with many
of these countries,

415
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,400
encouraging them to take the
steps that are necessary to deal

416
00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:58,770
with it, because of a fear that
anything might stem the recovery

417
00:18:58,767 --> 00:19:01,867
that we believe is taking
place, and not wanting to

418
00:19:01,867 --> 00:19:02,997
see any of that happen.

419
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,830
The President spoke this morning
with Prime Minister Zapatero

420
00:19:07,834 --> 00:19:11,934
from Spain, who will seek
reforms in his parliament,

421
00:19:11,934 --> 00:19:14,504
I believe, tomorrow.

422
00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:16,700
So it is something that the
President and the team have been

423
00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:21,670
actively engaged on to ensure
that it doesn't unnecessarily

424
00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:26,067
impact either our recovery or
that of the global economic

425
00:19:26,066 --> 00:19:30,836
recovery -- which has obviously
been the topic of virtually

426
00:19:30,834 --> 00:19:37,334
every multilateral meeting that
the President has traveled to

427
00:19:37,333 --> 00:19:40,663
and including the events
in Pittsburgh last fall.

428
00:19:40,667 --> 00:19:43,797
The Press:
Spain is a country that many are
concerned would be a much bigger

429
00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,630
crisis if it were to default.

430
00:19:45,633 --> 00:19:48,633
Why did the President call
Zapatero this morning and

431
00:19:48,633 --> 00:19:49,903
what did he say?

432
00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:53,230
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I'm not going to get
into the personal aspects

433
00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:57,133
of the call except to say we
continue to play a role in

434
00:19:57,133 --> 00:20:00,033
encouraging the Europeans,
as I said a minute ago,

435
00:20:00,033 --> 00:20:04,563
to do what's necessary to ensure
that this problem is dealt with

436
00:20:04,567 --> 00:20:05,537
and doesn't spread.

437
00:20:05,533 --> 00:20:06,703
The Press:
So why Spain?

438
00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:09,530
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, obviously they're
one of the countries that,

439
00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:14,263
as I said, that are --
because of some of their

440
00:20:14,266 --> 00:20:17,396
problems, need to undertake
reforms that the Prime Minister

441
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:18,930
is starting to work through.

442
00:20:18,934 --> 00:20:20,434
The Press:
And then one question
about the oil spill.

443
00:20:20,433 --> 00:20:23,803
The Interior Department
announced today some reforms.

444
00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,300
Will there be more regulatory
reforms and proposals coming

445
00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,030
through in response to this
oil spill similar to that?

446
00:20:30,033 --> 00:20:33,633
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, the President was
very clear with the team again

447
00:20:33,633 --> 00:20:36,803
yesterday -- he wants
everything to be looked at.

448
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,600
I do think it is tremendously
important -- and the President

449
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,800
believes this as well -- the
steps that Secretary Salazar is

450
00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,900
beginning to undertake -- and
understand that this is not

451
00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:51,430
going to require legislation,
the Secretary can do this

452
00:20:51,433 --> 00:20:58,233
administratively -- to split off
MMS into one that is concerned

453
00:20:58,233 --> 00:21:02,563
with leases and royalties and
one that is concerned with

454
00:21:02,567 --> 00:21:08,497
management and safety, and to
ensure that an agency with a

455
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:14,100
purview like that never
gets its two tasks mixed up.

456
00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:15,470
I think that's
important going forward.

457
00:21:15,467 --> 00:21:18,637
But as I've said before and
as the President has said,

458
00:21:18,633 --> 00:21:24,903
we will look at everything --
every bit of this process,

459
00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:27,030
to ensure what can
be strengthened,

460
00:21:27,033 --> 00:21:30,833
what needs to be changed, what
might have been the cause and

461
00:21:30,834 --> 00:21:32,564
how we can rectify that.

462
00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:37,537
The President is very serious
about ensuring that the notion

463
00:21:37,533 --> 00:21:40,503
of failsafe means that.

464
00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:44,830
That has to mean something
to him, given what's gone on.

465
00:21:44,834 --> 00:21:45,864
Yes, sir.

466
00:21:45,867 --> 00:21:48,497
The Press:
Robert, just to follow
on the EU rescue plan,

467
00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:52,270
has the President in his
conversations with these

468
00:21:52,266 --> 00:21:55,536
European leaders gotten a
sense of confidence that

469
00:21:55,533 --> 00:22:00,133
this rescue plan is enough
to stabilize the situation?

470
00:22:00,133 --> 00:22:04,003
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I don't want to get
too deeply into their personal

471
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,570
conversations except to say
I think the President and the

472
00:22:07,567 --> 00:22:10,567
team have believed, as I
think many in Europe have,

473
00:22:10,567 --> 00:22:12,297
that steps needed to be taken.

474
00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:17,030
And these are important
steps in ensuring that

475
00:22:17,033 --> 00:22:18,163
this doesn't spread.

476
00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:19,936
The Press:
So what's the level of
confidence that this --

477
00:22:19,934 --> 00:22:22,734
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, we think the
actions that were taken were

478
00:22:22,734 --> 00:22:25,634
necessary, needed, and
we're glad they happened.

479
00:22:25,633 --> 00:22:28,403
The Press:
On Karzai meeting
with the President,

480
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,000
you and other administration
officials have talked about

481
00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:35,830
how he's the elected
leader of Afghanistan.

482
00:22:35,834 --> 00:22:40,004
Beyond that, very little is said
about whether or not there's

483
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,570
real confidence in him.

484
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:44,367
I'm wondering if this will
-- if there will be strong

485
00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:47,037
language from the President
tomorrow in saying, listen,

486
00:22:47,033 --> 00:22:49,203
I need you to do this,
I need you to do more

487
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:50,630
in order to build confidence?

488
00:22:50,633 --> 00:22:54,133
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, let me -- I'm
going to take this a couple

489
00:22:54,133 --> 00:22:57,333
different ways, first a
little bit more broadly.

490
00:22:57,333 --> 00:22:59,833
The President is focused
and always has been

491
00:22:59,834 --> 00:23:02,564
focused on substance.

492
00:23:02,567 --> 00:23:06,937
We have a job to do with a
partner in the government and

493
00:23:06,934 --> 00:23:09,104
the country of Afghanistan.

494
00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,470
That's what the
President's focus is;

495
00:23:10,467 --> 00:23:12,197
that's what our team's focus is.

496
00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,300
We're not going to
get bogged down in

497
00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:17,770
atmospherics or personalities.

498
00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:20,837
The Press:
We already have.

499
00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:26,164
Mr. Gibbs:
That's not what
we're here to do.

500
00:23:26,166 --> 00:23:33,266
Our focus will be on evaluating
the progress that's been made

501
00:23:33,266 --> 00:23:39,596
since -- security-wise, since
the President increased our

502
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:45,600
forces there, and to go through
what progress has been made on

503
00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,700
a governance side.

504
00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:51,730
We understand, and I think
the government of Afghanistan

505
00:23:51,734 --> 00:23:57,864
understands the importance of
the steps that it has to take

506
00:23:57,867 --> 00:24:03,067
both, again, on the security
side in training a force -- a

507
00:24:03,066 --> 00:24:08,066
security force and a police and
army -- as well as what it takes

508
00:24:08,066 --> 00:24:13,336
to hold an area and ultimately
have that area transferred to

509
00:24:13,333 --> 00:24:14,833
the control of the Afghans.

510
00:24:14,834 --> 00:24:17,534
That's the process, right?

511
00:24:17,533 --> 00:24:24,633
Clear and hold in conjunction
with ISAF and Afghan forces;

512
00:24:24,633 --> 00:24:29,903
building and transferring that
to the control of the Afghans.

513
00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:35,370
That's the process that
they'll talk through tomorrow.

514
00:24:35,367 --> 00:24:38,037
The Press:
I'm not sure that totally
answers the question, though.

515
00:24:38,033 --> 00:24:40,663
I mean, I guess I'm trying to
get a sense of the President,

516
00:24:40,667 --> 00:24:43,337
when he sits down with him,
yes, he'll talk about all the

517
00:24:43,333 --> 00:24:45,463
progress that has been made,
but is he going to hold his

518
00:24:45,467 --> 00:24:47,637
feet to the fire?

519
00:24:47,633 --> 00:24:50,503
Mr. Gibbs:
Dan, I don't know if you saw
or read yesterday's briefing;

520
00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:54,500
we went through a lot of this.

521
00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:56,400
We have a relationship
with the people and the

522
00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,470
country of Afghanistan
where we're going to have

523
00:24:59,467 --> 00:25:02,537
agreements and disagreements.

524
00:25:02,533 --> 00:25:05,963
We're going to laud them for
the steps that they take,

525
00:25:05,967 --> 00:25:09,237
and we're going to work with
them to do what is necessary

526
00:25:09,233 --> 00:25:12,433
to deal with the
problems of governance,

527
00:25:12,433 --> 00:25:15,433
accountability, and corruption.

528
00:25:15,433 --> 00:25:21,063
Look, I think it's been --
the reason I started with the

529
00:25:21,066 --> 00:25:24,136
atmospherics and personalities
is because I think people get

530
00:25:24,133 --> 00:25:27,233
focused on that and they don't
see some of the progress that

531
00:25:27,233 --> 00:25:30,303
has been made, right?

532
00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:32,800
You heard Ambassador Eikenberry
talk about this yesterday.

533
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:34,570
There are high-level
corruption trials that

534
00:25:34,567 --> 00:25:37,767
are going on right now.

535
00:25:37,767 --> 00:25:45,567
The High Office of Oversight
now operates with a mission

536
00:25:45,567 --> 00:25:47,267
to increase its accountability.

537
00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:49,736
And we are watching,
as we will always,

538
00:25:49,734 --> 00:25:52,104
the implementation of that.

539
00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:54,130
We've asked for, and
Karzai has signed,

540
00:25:54,133 --> 00:25:57,063
a law to improve
sub-national governance.

541
00:25:57,066 --> 00:25:59,396
Again, we will watch the
implementation of that because,

542
00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:04,600
again, all of this is necessary
as we undertake the security and

543
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,630
the governance side of this.

544
00:26:06,633 --> 00:26:10,863
And we've asked for, and
President Karzai understands

545
00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:14,767
the need for, fair and
transparent parliamentary

546
00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:16,337
elections that are upcoming.

547
00:26:16,333 --> 00:26:22,263
And not long after the President
visited with President Karzai in

548
00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:26,766
Kabul, there were some important
appointments to the electoral

549
00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:29,837
complaints commission, which
we think is an important step

550
00:26:29,834 --> 00:26:33,604
forward in dealing with a fair
and transparent parliamentary

551
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,430
election that's in the interest
of the people of Afghanistan as

552
00:26:37,433 --> 00:26:39,933
well as in our interest.

553
00:26:39,934 --> 00:26:41,764
The Press:
Robert, can I follow on that?

554
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:42,537
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure.

555
00:26:42,533 --> 00:26:45,233
The Press:
I get the White House is
encouraged by some of the

556
00:26:45,233 --> 00:26:47,263
steps that President
Karzai has taken,

557
00:26:47,266 --> 00:26:49,266
but on the Hill there
seems to be still a

558
00:26:49,266 --> 00:26:50,236
great deal of skepticism.

559
00:26:50,233 --> 00:26:52,863
Majority Leader Hoyer said this
morning that he doesn't think

560
00:26:52,867 --> 00:26:55,237
that President Karzai
is up to the task of

561
00:26:55,233 --> 00:26:56,063
confronting corruption.

562
00:26:56,066 --> 00:26:57,096
I'm just wondering,
does the White House

563
00:26:57,100 --> 00:26:58,070
share that skepticism?

564
00:26:58,066 --> 00:27:01,636
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I'd refer you
to the answer that I gave,

565
00:27:01,633 --> 00:27:04,763
which is we believe there
are steps that they've taken

566
00:27:04,767 --> 00:27:09,197
and we believe there are more
steps that they have to take.

567
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,970
He's the President
of Afghanistan.

568
00:27:12,967 --> 00:27:15,997
We'll have --

569
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,400
The Press:
-- for Osama bin Laden?

570
00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I think there's a lot of
people that are working on that.

571
00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:27,130
We're focused on, again --
we're focused on the security

572
00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:30,903
and the governance with
our partner in Afghanistan.

573
00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:31,630
Yes, ma'am.

574
00:27:31,633 --> 00:27:35,163
The Press:
Robert, there's underwater video
of the leak in progress that BP

575
00:27:35,166 --> 00:27:38,866
has that they have said that
they would release to the press

576
00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:39,597
at some point.

577
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:40,900
So far they have not.

578
00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:43,000
Has the President, and who
in the administration has

579
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,400
seen this video feed?

580
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,100
And does the White House
think that the public

581
00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:47,530
should have access to this?

582
00:27:47,533 --> 00:27:49,733
Mr. Gibbs:
I believe the Coast Guard
has asked for BP to make

583
00:27:49,734 --> 00:27:52,504
that available to the press,
so the answer to your second

584
00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:53,630
question is, yes.

585
00:27:53,633 --> 00:27:56,363
I don't know the degree which
-- who in the administration

586
00:27:56,367 --> 00:27:57,597
has seen it.

587
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,700
I believe that it is --
I believe that they have

588
00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:07,900
seen it at the Unified
Command Centers in the area.

589
00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:09,630
I don't know who in the
administration has seen it.

590
00:28:09,633 --> 00:28:10,963
The Press:
But if the White
House is in charge,

591
00:28:10,967 --> 00:28:13,037
if the federal government
is in charge of all of this,

592
00:28:13,033 --> 00:28:16,363
couldn't they force BP's hand
to make that video available?

593
00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,167
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we've
asked that to happen.

594
00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,196
The Press:
Well, why hasn't it happened?

595
00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,430
Mr. Gibbs:
You'd have to ask that of BP.

596
00:28:21,433 --> 00:28:23,303
The Press:
Second question: Can you elaborate a little bit

597
00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:24,730
more on Beau Biden?

598
00:28:24,734 --> 00:28:26,304
We got this sort of
cryptic email from the

599
00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:27,430
Vice President's office today.

600
00:28:27,433 --> 00:28:28,663
Can you tell us anything more?

601
00:28:28,667 --> 00:28:30,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have anything more
than what you've been told

602
00:28:30,834 --> 00:28:32,004
by the Vice President's office.

603
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,900
And updates on that
will come from them.

604
00:28:35,900 --> 00:28:36,930
Yes, ma'am.

605
00:28:36,934 --> 00:28:39,634
The Press:
Whose war is this
in Afghanistan?

606
00:28:39,633 --> 00:28:42,703
We keep running them and
telling them what to do,

607
00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:45,400
so is it our war
or is it their war?

608
00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,630
Or is it a civil war?

609
00:28:47,633 --> 00:28:50,933
Mr. Gibbs:
There's an international
component to this, Helen,

610
00:28:50,934 --> 00:29:00,434
because the attacks that were
planned when the Taliban had

611
00:29:00,433 --> 00:29:05,503
an area that allowed al
Qaeda to plan what happened on

612
00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:07,470
September 11th -- obviously that
occurred in the United States.

613
00:29:07,467 --> 00:29:09,097
The Press:
By why don't you ever want
to know what happened and

614
00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:10,730
why it happened?

615
00:29:10,734 --> 00:29:12,204
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what
you're talking about.

616
00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,230
The Press:
We have never had an explanation
of why they want to attack us.

617
00:29:16,233 --> 00:29:21,663
Don't you think it's because
we're there attacking there?

618
00:29:21,667 --> 00:29:23,997
Mr. Gibbs:
We're there to ensure the
safety and security of our

619
00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,930
people after the safety and
security of our people were

620
00:29:26,934 --> 00:29:29,304
threatened by what
happened on 9/11.

621
00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:31,270
That's why we're there, Helen.

622
00:29:31,266 --> 00:29:35,966
And the international community
is there because there have been

623
00:29:35,967 --> 00:29:39,567
attacks all over the world as --

624
00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:41,597
The Press:
We never try to find out why.

625
00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,770
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I think we have --
I think we have seen and

626
00:29:44,767 --> 00:29:49,367
you've heard the President talk
about people have distorted one

627
00:29:49,367 --> 00:29:55,767
of the world's great religions
into believing that terrorism

628
00:29:55,767 --> 00:29:58,137
and violence is the answer.

629
00:29:58,133 --> 00:29:59,833
The Press:
You're talking
about the Muslims?

630
00:29:59,834 --> 00:30:02,464
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm talking about some who have
corrupted that great religion,

631
00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:06,297
yes -- certainly not everybody
and not everybody by a long shot.

632
00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:10,800
The Press:
And we go in to kill
and maim and send drones.

633
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,630
Is that Christianity?

634
00:30:14,633 --> 00:30:16,663
Mr. Gibbs:
There are things that have
to be done -- I'm not going

635
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:18,367
to comment on specific tactics.

636
00:30:18,367 --> 00:30:23,597
There are things that we're
doing in Afghanistan through,

637
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,970
again, an international
security force,

638
00:30:26,967 --> 00:30:33,497
to ensure that al Qaeda does not
have a safe haven with which to

639
00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:40,030
plan attacks on our country,
or countries around the world.

640
00:30:40,033 --> 00:30:41,003
Chuck.

641
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:41,730
The Press:
A few things.

642
00:30:41,734 --> 00:30:43,664
Has the President talked
to Prime Minister Brown

643
00:30:43,667 --> 00:30:47,237
today or yesterday?

644
00:30:47,233 --> 00:30:49,663
Mr. Gibbs:
Did not yesterday.

645
00:30:49,667 --> 00:30:52,197
Obviously -- just
as I was coming out,

646
00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:59,900
he made a statement -- as
there are developments of

647
00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:04,630
Britain forming a new government,
we will reach out to -- if that's

648
00:31:04,633 --> 00:31:07,833
David Cameron, I'm sure
the President will have

649
00:31:07,834 --> 00:31:09,464
an opportunity soon
to speak with him.

650
00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:10,837
The Press:
You have not heard from
anybody in the last 24 hours?

651
00:31:10,834 --> 00:31:12,164
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware of, no.

652
00:31:12,166 --> 00:31:14,836
The Press:
The decision -- you said
the President has asked

653
00:31:14,834 --> 00:31:18,004
Energy Secretary Chu
to go down there,

654
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,430
I guess -- is he leading a task
force to try to come up with new

655
00:31:21,433 --> 00:31:22,563
ways to plug the hole?

656
00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:26,837
Mr. Gibbs:
No, Secretary Chu is down there
based on some improvements that

657
00:31:26,834 --> 00:31:32,104
he suggested on ways to look
at what's going on in the leak.

658
00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:36,530
The Press:
Is there -- I mean, was there
any orders before yesterday to,

659
00:31:36,533 --> 00:31:40,403
hey, can we work on -- can
we have X agency working on

660
00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,600
figuring out alternative
plans to plug the hole?

661
00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,370
Or was it all relied on BP?

662
00:31:44,367 --> 00:31:45,197
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no.

663
00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,300
Chuck, we've been doing
everything that we can.

664
00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:51,700
Some people have
criticized, well,

665
00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:56,300
the military didn't send a
C-130 down until -- I said this,

666
00:31:56,300 --> 00:31:58,330
I think at one point on
the back of the plane,

667
00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:03,263
there's not somewhere on a dock
in Annapolis a secret submarine

668
00:32:03,266 --> 00:32:04,836
that will fix this leak.

669
00:32:04,834 --> 00:32:06,134
I don't mean that to be funny.

670
00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,703
I mean that it is -- the
President has asked that

671
00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:13,230
everything in our power be done.

672
00:32:13,233 --> 00:32:15,633
Everything in our
power is being done.

673
00:32:15,633 --> 00:32:18,763
The frustration that the
President has is that,

674
00:32:18,767 --> 00:32:22,767
despite all of that, and
despite the efforts of others,

675
00:32:22,767 --> 00:32:26,567
there still continues to
be a very large oil leak.

676
00:32:26,567 --> 00:32:29,097
The Press:
I mean do you feel like
at this point BP is as

677
00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:31,500
forthcoming as they can be and
doing everything that they can

678
00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:33,730
do at this point?

679
00:32:33,734 --> 00:32:36,864
Mr. Gibbs:
If we have problems
with what they're doing,

680
00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:40,237
we have communicated and will
continue to communicate to them

681
00:32:40,233 --> 00:32:41,603
things that have to be done.

682
00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,070
That's why Secretary Salazar has
been there -- been down there so

683
00:32:44,066 --> 00:32:49,036
often to ensure that everything
that can be done is being done.

684
00:32:49,033 --> 00:32:51,103
The Press:
Any additions to the
schedule before next

685
00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:53,070
Tuesday for Senator Specter?

686
00:32:53,066 --> 00:32:56,696
Mr. Gibbs:
No. Yes, ma'am.

687
00:32:56,700 --> 00:33:00,300
The Press:
It appears that Solicitor
General Kagan did an interview

688
00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:02,370
yesterday right after the
President's announcement.

689
00:33:02,367 --> 00:33:05,967
You've now posted that on
the White House website.

690
00:33:05,967 --> 00:33:07,037
Who did the interview?

691
00:33:07,033 --> 00:33:08,363
And can I have one?

692
00:33:08,367 --> 00:33:10,437
Mr. Gibbs:
I think it's -- I think
it's on the website,

693
00:33:10,433 --> 00:33:11,633
if you want to see it.

694
00:33:11,633 --> 00:33:12,763
The Press:
Do you know who
did the interview?

695
00:33:12,767 --> 00:33:15,767
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, I think it was Arun
who does the video stuff,

696
00:33:15,767 --> 00:33:19,567
similar to what we did
with Judge Sotomayor

697
00:33:19,567 --> 00:33:21,397
during the last one.

698
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,800
The Press:
So a White House
staffer interviewing her?

699
00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:24,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

700
00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,100
The Press:
Would she like to do another
one with a journalists?

701
00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:30,470
Mr. Gibbs:
She has -- she's
not told me that, no.

702
00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:32,767
(laughter)

703
00:33:32,767 --> 00:33:34,167
The Press:
Tell her we're
deeply frustrated.

704
00:33:34,166 --> 00:33:38,866
Mr. Gibbs:
I will. I will. Yes, Major.

705
00:33:38,867 --> 00:33:40,667
The Press:
Who is the President
frustrated with?

706
00:33:40,667 --> 00:33:44,337
Is he frustrated with BP
in this oil situation?

707
00:33:44,333 --> 00:33:45,133
Is it --

708
00:33:45,133 --> 00:33:46,503
Mr. Gibbs:
I think he's frustrated
with the fact that there's

709
00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:47,500
still a leak.

710
00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:48,500
The Press:
That's it? There's no --

711
00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:49,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Well --

712
00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:49,636
The Press:
No, I --

713
00:33:49,633 --> 00:33:54,003
Mr. Gibbs:
Let's -- that's it. Let's
not minimize. That's it.

714
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,930
Yes, he's frustrated with
the fact that we're still

715
00:33:56,934 --> 00:33:57,504
sitting in a place --

716
00:33:57,500 --> 00:33:59,770
The Press:
He's not frustrated with
BP's efforts so far --

717
00:33:59,767 --> 00:34:01,367
Mr. Gibbs:
Major --

718
00:34:01,367 --> 00:34:02,667
The Press:
-- or its ability to --

719
00:34:02,667 --> 00:34:04,967
Mr. Gibbs:
Major, let me be clear --
because I don't want you

720
00:34:04,967 --> 00:34:05,667
to put words in my mouth.

721
00:34:05,667 --> 00:34:06,937
The Press:
I'm just asking --

722
00:34:06,934 --> 00:34:09,264
Mr. Gibbs:
That's why I'm answering.

723
00:34:09,266 --> 00:34:11,536
The President is
frustrated with everything,

724
00:34:11,533 --> 00:34:13,403
the President is
frustrated with everybody,

725
00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:15,900
in the sense that we
still have an oil leak.

726
00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,330
That includes us.

727
00:34:18,333 --> 00:34:21,533
That includes anybody
that's involved in this.

728
00:34:21,533 --> 00:34:24,733
The President wants to
see this leak plugged.

729
00:34:24,734 --> 00:34:26,134
Mark.

730
00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:29,603
The Press:
In that meeting yesterday
was the President told that,

731
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,670
yes, sir, there is
a way to plug it?

732
00:34:31,667 --> 00:34:33,967
Or is that still a
possibility, it might

733
00:34:33,967 --> 00:34:35,697
not be able to be plugged?

734
00:34:35,700 --> 00:34:39,630
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, there were a series
of things that I think BP has

735
00:34:39,633 --> 00:34:48,133
talked about that members of
the group went through: a small

736
00:34:48,133 --> 00:34:52,203
containment dome to take
into account the hydrates

737
00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,700
that had formed 5,000
feet under the ocean

738
00:34:55,700 --> 00:34:58,170
with the larger
containment dome.

739
00:34:58,166 --> 00:35:02,236
The President was briefed on
progress that is being made in

740
00:35:02,233 --> 00:35:06,463
terms of drilling a relief
well which, candidly,

741
00:35:06,467 --> 00:35:12,597
will take quite some time, and
-- as well as getting updates on

742
00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:17,970
our progress on dealing with,
again, the oil that has come up,

743
00:35:17,967 --> 00:35:21,397
how it's being dealt with both
at a subsea and at a surface

744
00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:25,830
level, and the impact
both environmentally and

745
00:35:25,834 --> 00:35:29,804
economically, largely what the
President has been focused on

746
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:30,770
the whole time.

747
00:35:30,767 --> 00:35:33,597
The Press:
But the readout you
put out yesterday,

748
00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:38,230
you said the President called
for independent experts to be

749
00:35:38,233 --> 00:35:39,733
brought in and help --

750
00:35:39,734 --> 00:35:41,334
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

751
00:35:41,333 --> 00:35:43,333
The Press:
Today is the 15th day of this.

752
00:35:43,333 --> 00:35:48,133
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, they're -- BP I know
has consulted with -- I was

753
00:35:48,133 --> 00:35:53,233
in a meeting the first week
of this where John Holdren,

754
00:35:53,233 --> 00:35:56,403
in our Office of
Science and Technology,

755
00:35:56,400 --> 00:36:00,400
has consulted with people
in and out of government,

756
00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,230
as has Secretary Chu and others.

757
00:36:03,233 --> 00:36:08,003
The Press:
So the President still
believes it can be plugged?

758
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,630
Mr. Gibbs:
Believes that, and the
President wants us to do

759
00:36:09,633 --> 00:36:12,033
everything in our power to
ensure that that happens.

760
00:36:12,033 --> 00:36:13,403
The Press:
Robert, to follow on that?

761
00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:17,000
The Press:
Robert, the Senate has
approved an audit of the

762
00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:21,700
Fed's emergency lending
that it exercised.

763
00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:23,500
The President will be
supporting -- or signing

764
00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:24,830
that bill I assume.

765
00:36:24,834 --> 00:36:28,864
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I don't want to fast
forward the Senate's process.

766
00:36:28,867 --> 00:36:33,667
That's part of financial reform
that you heard Deputy Secretary

767
00:36:33,667 --> 00:36:36,297
Wolin say that
the administration

768
00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:37,630
supported last week.

769
00:36:37,633 --> 00:36:40,533
The Press:
And is there any concern
at the White House here

770
00:36:40,533 --> 00:36:45,863
that back provision would alter
the traditional independence of

771
00:36:45,867 --> 00:36:47,737
the Fed at some point?

772
00:36:47,734 --> 00:36:53,234
Mr. Gibbs:
No, because again, this was --
our original concern was that

773
00:36:53,233 --> 00:36:56,733
the broader amendment as
written by Senator Sanders

774
00:36:56,734 --> 00:37:02,164
would unnecessarily
politicize monetary policy.

775
00:37:02,166 --> 00:37:03,336
That was our concern with it.

776
00:37:03,333 --> 00:37:07,033
He rewrote that amendment to
ensure that it was directed at

777
00:37:07,033 --> 00:37:11,933
the transparency as to what had
happened as a result of the

778
00:37:11,934 --> 00:37:15,934
financial collapse and the
money that had to be spent.

779
00:37:15,934 --> 00:37:17,964
And we were supportive
of that transparency.

780
00:37:17,967 --> 00:37:19,697
The Press:
Sort of narrowing
the language then --

781
00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:22,830
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, we supported
the amendment that passed,

782
00:37:22,834 --> 00:37:25,534
the Sanders Amendment
that was re-written.

783
00:37:25,533 --> 00:37:26,603
Yes, sir.

784
00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,970
The Press:
Does the President's interest
in revising Miranda come from

785
00:37:29,967 --> 00:37:32,397
a specific case that he
feels did not go as well

786
00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:33,430
as he might have liked?

787
00:37:33,433 --> 00:37:36,003
And if not, why does he feel
the current system is not as

788
00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:37,330
good as it could be?

789
00:37:37,333 --> 00:37:47,733
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me share that -- look,
I think that what has happened

790
00:37:47,734 --> 00:37:53,964
in this case, I think you've
heard officials discuss that

791
00:37:53,967 --> 00:38:02,937
the public safety exception was
used to originally question Shahzad.

792
00:38:02,934 --> 00:38:06,264
There was -- intelligence
officials the Attorney General

793
00:38:06,266 --> 00:38:10,536
consulted, the power was
given to those in the room,

794
00:38:10,533 --> 00:38:14,303
experienced interrogators, to
decide when the best time would

795
00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:16,570
be to do that.

796
00:38:16,567 --> 00:38:21,197
They did that.

797
00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:26,770
Mr. Shahzad continues to speak
with those that are questioning

798
00:38:26,767 --> 00:38:29,337
him about those events.

799
00:38:29,333 --> 00:38:34,033
Our only thing is to look at, as
we have in each and every case,

800
00:38:34,033 --> 00:38:41,063
any ability to provide
necessary flexibility

801
00:38:41,066 --> 00:38:44,696
for those in law enforcement
to ensure that they're able

802
00:38:44,700 --> 00:38:47,870
to get what is needed.

803
00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:48,567
But I think that --

804
00:38:48,567 --> 00:38:49,867
The Press:
-- what the law says.

805
00:38:49,867 --> 00:38:53,837
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, this
would be -- Helen,

806
00:38:53,834 --> 00:38:55,204
I think we discussed
this yesterday.

807
00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,830
The President is a
believer in this law,

808
00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:02,464
and that's why -- despite a lot
of armchair quarterbacking from

809
00:39:02,467 --> 00:39:06,037
people with not a lot of
experience in interrogation

810
00:39:06,033 --> 00:39:10,163
have brought this up.

811
00:39:10,166 --> 00:39:15,166
But the President is committed
to it and ensuring that we have

812
00:39:15,166 --> 00:39:19,336
protections, as
well as flexibility.

813
00:39:19,333 --> 00:39:22,463
The Press:
Robert, I noticed the Daily
Caller today reported that

814
00:39:22,467 --> 00:39:26,037
Valerie Jarrett and David
Axelrod have drivers --

815
00:39:26,033 --> 00:39:30,163
government drivers to and from
work and been accorded Secret

816
00:39:30,166 --> 00:39:31,836
Service protection.

817
00:39:31,834 --> 00:39:33,764
And I wondered if
that is correct.

818
00:39:33,767 --> 00:39:38,237
And also are any other top aides
to the President -- Rahm or

819
00:39:38,233 --> 00:39:41,633
yourself or others --
afforded that status?

820
00:39:41,633 --> 00:39:43,163
Mr. Gibbs:
Afforded what status?

821
00:39:43,166 --> 00:39:48,166
The Press:
The Secret Service
protection and also the driver.

822
00:39:48,166 --> 00:39:51,066
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, each President is
afforded six opportunities

823
00:39:51,066 --> 00:39:56,696
to provide transportation.

824
00:39:56,700 --> 00:39:58,770
The President does that.

825
00:39:58,767 --> 00:40:02,667
The Press:
Six for the --

826
00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:08,697
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get into who
has protection and who doesn't.

827
00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:13,570
That is a decision that is
made by the Secret Service.

828
00:40:13,567 --> 00:40:22,197
I will mention that the number
of non-statutory protectees --

829
00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:24,470
obviously there are people
that have protection based

830
00:40:24,467 --> 00:40:27,767
on the law.

831
00:40:27,767 --> 00:40:32,697
The Secret Service makes
evaluations as to those

832
00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:37,170
who might need it.

833
00:40:37,166 --> 00:40:40,936
Again, I'm not going to get
into who, where, and why.

834
00:40:40,934 --> 00:40:46,164
But those currently -- currently
in our administration there are

835
00:40:46,166 --> 00:40:51,236
33 percent fewer non-statutory
protectees than at the end of

836
00:40:51,233 --> 00:40:52,803
the previous administration.

837
00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,970
The Press:
And can you just explain,
does the protectee status

838
00:40:55,967 --> 00:40:57,467
come with a car --

839
00:40:57,467 --> 00:40:58,167
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

840
00:40:58,166 --> 00:41:00,496
The Press:
-- or is that a separate
decision that the President

841
00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:01,900
makes to provide transportation?

842
00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:04,600
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no. The President doesn't
make protectee decisions.

843
00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:08,000
Protectee decisions are made
at -- by the Secret Service.

844
00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:10,530
If you have
questions about that,

845
00:41:10,533 --> 00:41:13,463
I would speak with
the Secret Service.

846
00:41:13,467 --> 00:41:16,067
The Press:
Okay, but he makes the
decisions about the transport?

847
00:41:16,066 --> 00:41:17,796
Mr. Gibbs:
It is up to six that
can do that, yes.

848
00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,000
The Press:
-- and has up to six
that he can do that.

849
00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:19,930
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

850
00:41:19,934 --> 00:41:23,504
The Press:
Can you say why he chose Valerie
and David as two of the six?

851
00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:24,830
Mr. Gibbs:
Based on their jobs.

852
00:41:24,834 --> 00:41:26,504
The Press:
You get one?

853
00:41:26,500 --> 00:41:27,370
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

854
00:41:27,367 --> 00:41:29,797
The Press:
This is on the documents
from General Kagan's White

855
00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:31,630
House service -- I'm just
following up on what you

856
00:41:31,633 --> 00:41:33,103
guys were saying
about this yesterday.

857
00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:35,300
Is it your anticipation that
all of those documents will

858
00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:36,700
be made available?

859
00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:39,370
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, it's my anticipation that
the committee and individual

860
00:41:39,367 --> 00:41:44,437
senators will seek documents
from her work via the Clinton

861
00:41:44,433 --> 00:41:49,263
Library, and we look forward
to working with them to fulfill

862
00:41:49,266 --> 00:41:50,736
reasonable requests.

863
00:41:50,734 --> 00:41:53,934
The Press:
Is it your belief that
the executive privilege

864
00:41:53,934 --> 00:41:56,234
will cover any of
those documents?

865
00:41:56,233 --> 00:42:00,163
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd have to check more deeply
with counsel on that. Mark.

866
00:42:00,166 --> 00:42:02,866
The Press:
Just briefly on what Secretary
Chu is being asked to do.

867
00:42:02,867 --> 00:42:06,067
Is he going down there to
propose additional steps,

868
00:42:06,066 --> 00:42:09,096
or to try and get BP to take
steps that they haven't?

869
00:42:09,100 --> 00:42:17,100
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Secretary Salazar has been
down there to ensure that we're

870
00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:21,270
comfortable with the
pacing of their response.

871
00:42:21,266 --> 00:42:24,066
He's been down there I
think a number of times.

872
00:42:24,066 --> 00:42:30,636
He's traveling back down there
with Secretary Chu in order to

873
00:42:30,633 --> 00:42:34,133
-- they've got various different
response teams that Secretary

874
00:42:34,133 --> 00:42:36,063
Salazar thought he
might be helpful with.

875
00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:38,736
The Press:
Robert, can you just --
just add one thing to that.

876
00:42:38,734 --> 00:42:41,104
Will the White House get
involved in the decision about

877
00:42:41,100 --> 00:42:43,370
which documents would be made
available by the Clinton

878
00:42:43,367 --> 00:42:44,597
Library, or do you think --

879
00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,170
Mr. Gibbs:
I will check with
counsel on that.

880
00:42:47,166 --> 00:42:52,936
The Press:
Robert, it's May 11th, and it's
20 days away before the Black

881
00:42:52,934 --> 00:42:58,704
Farmers deadline comes up May
31st -- $1.25 billion, and you

882
00:42:58,700 --> 00:43:02,600
have Cobell, $1.4 billion;
and then you have FEMA for

883
00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:06,600
what FEMA had just
said, $5.1 billion.

884
00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:08,230
That's a lot of money.

885
00:43:08,233 --> 00:43:10,363
Realistically, what do you
think is going to happen?

886
00:43:10,367 --> 00:43:15,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Oh, I'm not going to get
into prognosticating except

887
00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:20,630
to say you know those are
priorities of the President.

888
00:43:20,633 --> 00:43:27,163
I think -- if I'm not mistaken,
as Administrator Fugate said,

889
00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:30,396
on the disaster relief
fund, that supplemental

890
00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:33,730
appropriation has passed.

891
00:43:33,734 --> 00:43:36,304
The House of Representatives
-- I think they tried to get

892
00:43:36,300 --> 00:43:40,570
unanimous consent today in the
Senate and that was objected to.

893
00:43:40,567 --> 00:43:41,837
The Press:
So what about the Black Farmers?

894
00:43:41,834 --> 00:43:44,834
They are pushing for this
money -- it's 15 years.

895
00:43:44,834 --> 00:43:47,764
Mr. Gibbs:
And I think you've seen
the President's statement

896
00:43:47,767 --> 00:43:49,937
on that and we continue to
work to make that happen.

897
00:43:49,934 --> 00:43:52,804
The Press:
John Boyd wants a
meeting with the President.

898
00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:54,400
Is he going to get that?

899
00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:55,870
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not seen
that request. David.

900
00:43:55,867 --> 00:43:57,737
The Press:
Is the President considering
a trip to Pennsylvania to help

901
00:43:57,734 --> 00:43:59,164
Specter, who looks
like he's in trouble?

902
00:43:59,166 --> 00:43:59,866
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

903
00:43:59,867 --> 00:44:01,797
The Press:
I mean, I just want to be clear
that he wasn't thinking about it.

904
00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:02,870
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

905
00:44:02,867 --> 00:44:03,537
The Press:
Okay.

906
00:44:03,533 --> 00:44:05,263
The Press:
Yesterday Fannie Mae
said it needed another

907
00:44:05,266 --> 00:44:07,236
$8.4 billion in aid.

908
00:44:07,233 --> 00:44:08,333
Is that a concern?

909
00:44:08,333 --> 00:44:10,563
And how long is that going to
go on for if they're going to

910
00:44:10,567 --> 00:44:11,767
continue to need that much --

911
00:44:11,767 --> 00:44:19,297
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, they -- I think
that was in line with what we

912
00:44:19,300 --> 00:44:22,530
had expected in
terms of their losses.

913
00:44:22,533 --> 00:44:29,903
We are strongly supportive of
the need to reform the GSEs.

914
00:44:29,900 --> 00:44:34,700
As you heard again last week,
I'd refer you to the answer that

915
00:44:34,700 --> 00:44:38,600
Deputy Secretary Wolin
gave in terms of Secretary

916
00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,170
Geithner having started
a process for this.

917
00:44:42,166 --> 00:44:44,896
We are eager to see reform but
understanding that reform has to

918
00:44:44,900 --> 00:44:52,130
take into account a very
fragile housing market.

919
00:44:52,133 --> 00:44:54,703
And we look forward to
working with Congress in

920
00:44:54,700 --> 00:44:55,630
the future on that.

921
00:44:55,633 --> 00:45:02,763
I don't think that should be
a cause for any delay in the

922
00:45:02,767 --> 00:45:06,237
reform that the Senate
is considering now,

923
00:45:06,233 --> 00:45:10,303
that the President and I believe
many believe is necessary in

924
00:45:10,300 --> 00:45:12,700
putting important rules
of the road going forward.

925
00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:13,670
The Press:
Can I follow?

926
00:45:13,667 --> 00:45:14,497
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

927
00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:19,170
The Press:
Related to the Gulf oil spill,
do we know whether MMS approved

928
00:45:19,166 --> 00:45:23,966
displacing the mud in the pipe
before Halliburton finished the

929
00:45:23,967 --> 00:45:25,897
cementing plug --
plugging with cement?

930
00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:27,570
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd point you to MMS. David.

931
00:45:27,567 --> 00:45:28,497
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

932
00:45:28,500 --> 00:45:31,300
In all the President's
briefings on the BP oil spill,

933
00:45:31,300 --> 00:45:34,700
has it come up that this might
go on for weeks or months?

934
00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:37,400
And if so, is anyone in the
government considering what to

935
00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:40,530
do in that case, how to deal
with a oil leak that goes for

936
00:45:40,533 --> 00:45:42,003
such a long period of time?

937
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:42,770
Mr. Gibbs:
Absolutely.

938
00:45:42,767 --> 00:45:45,937
No, I mean, I think I referred
to it earlier as -- look,

939
00:45:45,934 --> 00:45:51,364
the estimates for drilling a
relief well are many weeks.

940
00:45:51,367 --> 00:45:52,837
Yes -- we talked
about that yesterday.

941
00:45:52,834 --> 00:45:55,034
The Press:
So who is involved then in
talking about contingency

942
00:45:55,033 --> 00:45:57,733
plans on the government
end on how you do it?

943
00:45:57,734 --> 00:45:59,804
Mr. Gibbs:
Everybody that's
involved right now.

944
00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:04,700
I mean, again, the -- let me see
if I can remember sort of going

945
00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:06,200
around the table yesterday.

946
00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:09,900
I think you saw these
names on a readout,

947
00:46:09,900 --> 00:46:13,770
but there were -- John
Brennan was there;

948
00:46:13,767 --> 00:46:18,897
Secretary Napolitano was
there; Secretary Salazar;

949
00:46:18,900 --> 00:46:25,600
Secretary Chu; John Holdren,
who I mentioned earlier --

950
00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:28,970
who was sitting in front of me?

951
00:46:28,967 --> 00:46:31,837
-- Carol Browner was there --

952
00:46:31,834 --> 00:46:32,834
The Press:
But what are some
of the ideas --

953
00:46:32,834 --> 00:46:34,904
Mr. Gibbs:
Dr. Lubchenco was there
from NOAA -- hold on --

954
00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:38,970
EPA; the Secretary
of Defense Bob Gates;

955
00:46:38,967 --> 00:46:43,037
the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen;

956
00:46:43,033 --> 00:46:45,363
General Jones; Rahm Emanuel.

957
00:46:45,367 --> 00:46:49,167
This was a pretty senior-level
meeting at the White House in

958
00:46:49,166 --> 00:46:50,596
the Situation Room
with the President.

959
00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:53,270
The Press:
And what are some of the
ideas under consideration

960
00:46:53,266 --> 00:46:55,536
for dealing with a leak
that goes on for months?

961
00:46:55,533 --> 00:46:57,333
I know it's speculative.

962
00:46:57,333 --> 00:47:03,603
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, a lot of that obviously
happens as a result of -- well,

963
00:47:03,600 --> 00:47:06,070
obviously there's modeling
that has to take place and

964
00:47:06,066 --> 00:47:08,096
NOAA is working
through some of that.

965
00:47:08,100 --> 00:47:14,330
EPA is monitoring the air as it
relates to aspects of controlled

966
00:47:14,333 --> 00:47:17,163
burns that we've tried.

967
00:47:17,166 --> 00:47:20,596
Monitoring obviously is
going on as it relates to,

968
00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:24,930
as I said a minute ago, sub-sea
and surface dispersants -- even

969
00:47:24,934 --> 00:47:30,164
as SBA is in the area working
through a claims process for

970
00:47:30,166 --> 00:47:31,366
the economic damage.

971
00:47:31,367 --> 00:47:34,667
So, David, I don't think there's
anybody that's not involved

972
00:47:34,667 --> 00:47:38,167
right now that would be called
in to deal with long term,

973
00:47:38,166 --> 00:47:39,836
as they're already here.

974
00:47:39,834 --> 00:47:40,704
Sam.

975
00:47:40,700 --> 00:47:41,830
The Press:
Just two questions.

976
00:47:41,834 --> 00:47:45,364
One was, going back to
the Miranda rights issue,

977
00:47:45,367 --> 00:47:47,637
a lot of lawyers actually have
spoken up that the reading of

978
00:47:47,633 --> 00:47:51,003
the Attorney General about the
public safety exception is a bit

979
00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:53,670
loose in that they're
taking much more time than

980
00:47:53,667 --> 00:47:55,567
was generally believed
to be allotted for a

981
00:47:55,567 --> 00:47:56,597
public safety exception.

982
00:47:56,600 --> 00:47:57,830
Will the administration look --

983
00:47:57,834 --> 00:48:01,504
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry, walk me through --

984
00:48:01,500 --> 00:48:03,200
The Press:
The legal reasoning behind that?

985
00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:04,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

986
00:48:04,166 --> 00:48:06,766
The Press:
Well, for starters -- I mean,
I could get very detailed,

987
00:48:06,767 --> 00:48:09,297
but essentially it's supposed
to be a very limited time period

988
00:48:09,300 --> 00:48:11,670
in which you can exercise
the public safety exception.

989
00:48:11,667 --> 00:48:13,697
For instance, if someone
burglarizes a store,

990
00:48:13,700 --> 00:48:14,900
it's to look for his gun.

991
00:48:14,900 --> 00:48:16,000
And this was --

992
00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:18,570
Mr. Gibbs:
And that's what set up
the Quarles exception for

993
00:48:18,567 --> 00:48:19,497
public safety, right?

994
00:48:19,500 --> 00:48:20,900
The Press:
But my question is the
same -- it doesn't matter

995
00:48:20,900 --> 00:48:22,700
what the interpretation is
-- will the administration

996
00:48:22,700 --> 00:48:28,400
look for a legislative vehicle
to expand upon what would --

997
00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:29,570
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I would say this.

998
00:48:29,567 --> 00:48:37,067
The President is interested
in limited flexibility.

999
00:48:37,066 --> 00:48:41,836
The President believes that the
law that we have in place is an

1000
00:48:41,834 --> 00:48:45,304
important one, and obviously
any change that would take

1001
00:48:45,300 --> 00:48:47,600
place would have to be
done legislatively.

1002
00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:52,030
The Press:
And then the second question is,
the White House sent out the

1003
00:48:52,033 --> 00:48:54,533
op-ed in the Wall Street Journal
from the former Harvard Law dean

1004
00:48:54,533 --> 00:48:57,633
about military
recruitment on campus.

1005
00:48:57,633 --> 00:49:01,733
But earlier today Vice President
Biden said that Solicitor

1006
00:49:01,734 --> 00:49:04,434
General Kagan was right to
oppose military recruiters.

1007
00:49:04,433 --> 00:49:06,133
I'm wondering if
you can explain --

1008
00:49:06,133 --> 00:49:11,963
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let's just -- again, I
think -- we sent out the op-ed

1009
00:49:11,967 --> 00:49:15,597
because I think you have
seen those that have said

1010
00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:19,330
the military did not
have access to the campus

1011
00:49:19,333 --> 00:49:21,363
at Harvard Law School -- okay?

1012
00:49:21,367 --> 00:49:24,097
The op-ed that we sent out --
for anybody who hasn't seen it,

1013
00:49:24,100 --> 00:49:27,930
I'll be happy to send it to
you -- is from the former dean,

1014
00:49:27,934 --> 00:49:37,134
the dean that preceded Elena
Kagan who instituted the policy

1015
00:49:37,133 --> 00:49:42,763
of non-discrimination that
Elena Kagan continued.

1016
00:49:42,767 --> 00:49:48,067
Again, we sent this out
so that -- because there's

1017
00:49:48,066 --> 00:49:52,296
people that either don't
know or are unwilling to

1018
00:49:52,300 --> 00:49:55,400
understand the facts.

1019
00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:57,830
The military had, through
a student organization,

1020
00:49:57,834 --> 00:50:00,234
access to Harvard
Law School students.

1021
00:50:00,233 --> 00:50:03,303
And the semester in which
they did not have access

1022
00:50:03,300 --> 00:50:06,800
to the Office of Career
Services actually saw an

1023
00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:11,600
increase in the number of
Harvard Law School students

1024
00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:12,730
that joined the military.

1025
00:50:12,734 --> 00:50:13,834
Bill.

1026
00:50:13,834 --> 00:50:18,204
The Press:
Robert, 68 senators, Republicans
and Democrats, have sent a letter

1027
00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:22,500
to the President asking him
to support ratification of the

1028
00:50:22,500 --> 00:50:24,870
international treaty
banning landmines.

1029
00:50:24,867 --> 00:50:26,797
What is the
administration's position?

1030
00:50:26,800 --> 00:50:29,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have the update.
I'll get something on that.

1031
00:50:29,500 --> 00:50:31,900
I know there was some
discussion of that recently.

1032
00:50:31,900 --> 00:50:35,900
The Press:
But the United States
hasn't used them since 1991,

1033
00:50:35,900 --> 00:50:37,370
so why the hesitation?

1034
00:50:37,367 --> 00:50:40,137
Mr. Gibbs:
My hesitation is I just
don't have anything on it.

1035
00:50:40,133 --> 00:50:44,503
The Press:
Robert, the United States
traded and had diplomatic

1036
00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:47,730
relations with China and
with the Soviet Union,

1037
00:50:47,734 --> 00:50:52,004
but with Iran we insist they
jump through all kinds of hoops

1038
00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:53,330
and meet certain conditions.

1039
00:50:53,333 --> 00:50:54,863
Why can't we just establish --

1040
00:50:54,867 --> 00:50:57,067
Mr. Gibbs:
What do you mean?

1041
00:50:57,066 --> 00:50:58,996
The Press:
That's clear, I think.

1042
00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,030
We say they have to come
to the table and talk --

1043
00:51:01,033 --> 00:51:04,933
why can't we just establish
normal ties with Iran like we

1044
00:51:04,934 --> 00:51:08,634
had with China and the Soviet
Union, and traded with them?

1045
00:51:08,633 --> 00:51:10,333
Why can't we do that with Iran?

1046
00:51:10,333 --> 00:51:11,803
Mr. Gibbs:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question.

1047
00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:22,070
We've offered -- on any number
of occasions we've offered to

1048
00:51:22,066 --> 00:51:24,996
allow them the opportunity to
live up to their international

1049
00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:34,930
obligations and to enjoy what
comes from being part of the

1050
00:51:34,934 --> 00:51:36,564
full international community.

1051
00:51:36,567 --> 00:51:41,097
The Press:
I guess the question is, why
can't we just unilaterally

1052
00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:44,630
recognize the Iranian
-- why can't we do that?

1053
00:51:44,633 --> 00:51:46,303
Mr. Gibbs:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question.

1054
00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:49,700
Again, we've given them I
think plenty of opportunity

1055
00:51:49,700 --> 00:51:55,600
with which to join the
international community,

1056
00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:57,730
but being part of the
international community

1057
00:51:57,734 --> 00:52:01,534
means living up to the
obligations and the treaties

1058
00:52:01,533 --> 00:52:04,163
that you sign that are part
of the international community.

1059
00:52:04,166 --> 00:52:08,566
You can't be part of the
international community

1060
00:52:08,567 --> 00:52:10,967
and then not live up to your
responsibilities as it relates

1061
00:52:10,967 --> 00:52:15,337
to nuclear activities.

1062
00:52:15,333 --> 00:52:21,903
I think you saw the President
discuss last fall in Pittsburgh

1063
00:52:21,900 --> 00:52:27,270
a fairly specific instance in
which they were required to live

1064
00:52:27,266 --> 00:52:30,166
up to their responsibilities
internationally and they failed

1065
00:52:30,166 --> 00:52:31,336
to do so.

1066
00:52:31,333 --> 00:52:34,063
The Press:
On Guantanamo, real quickly,
it's been four months, I think,

1067
00:52:34,066 --> 00:52:36,766
since the one-year
deadline has passed.

1068
00:52:36,767 --> 00:52:38,467
We haven't heard too
much about Gitmo lately.

1069
00:52:38,467 --> 00:52:40,367
Bring us up to date,
if you could, on its --

1070
00:52:40,367 --> 00:52:42,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have anything new.

1071
00:52:42,834 --> 00:52:48,604
Obviously last week I
believe -- I may have

1072
00:52:48,600 --> 00:52:53,800
-- well, I think at least two
detainees were transferred

1073
00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:54,770
to European countries.

1074
00:52:54,767 --> 00:52:58,997
I forget off the top of
my head where those are.

1075
00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:08,470
We continue to go through and
ensure that we have -- go

1076
00:53:08,467 --> 00:53:11,567
through the files and make sure
that we have a proper accounting

1077
00:53:11,567 --> 00:53:17,867
of those that are there;
understand and make transfers

1078
00:53:17,867 --> 00:53:20,997
of those that we believe
are able to be transferred.

1079
00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:23,230
The Press:
Rendition, you mean?

1080
00:53:23,233 --> 00:53:27,703
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no. This is -- these are
people that can be transferred,

1081
00:53:27,700 --> 00:53:30,770
again, to someplace like -- I
think it was Spain and Bulgaria,

1082
00:53:30,767 --> 00:53:34,667
but I'm relying on a
weeks-old memory on that.

1083
00:53:34,667 --> 00:53:39,637
So -- but we continue to work
for a long-term solution that

1084
00:53:39,633 --> 00:53:41,663
would close that facility.

1085
00:53:41,667 --> 00:53:42,437
Thank you.