English subtitles for clip: File:7-23-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Nice to see you all.

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I do not have announcements
at the top, so we can go

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straight to questions.

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Josh, do you want to start?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thanks, Josh.

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Secretaries Kerry and Moniz
are on the Hill today where

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they're working to allay
some concerns about these

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two bilateral deals between
Iran and the IAEA over

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Parchin, and also past
military activity.

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And they're making basically
the same argument that

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Ambassador Rice made here
yesterday, which is we're

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not holding back anything
from you because we actually

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haven't seen the text
of these agreements.

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So my question to
you is, if the U.S.

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hasn't even seen these
agreements and really has

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gotten only what Secretary
Moniz described as kind of

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general briefings about
them, how can you be so

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confident that these are
good deals and that they

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adequately address
concerns that the U.S.

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and its partners
have about Iran?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, to
be clear -- and I think this

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is consistent with what
Secretary Kerry and Moniz

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and Lew said on Capitol Hill
today, is that this does not

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represent some
sort of side deal.

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In fact, you'll recall that
prior to Iran getting any

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kind of sanctions relief,
they have to provide the

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IAEA with the information
and access that they need in

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order to complete their
report about the possible

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military dimensions of
Iran's nuclear program.

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So I know there has been
a suggestion by some

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Republicans that there is
some agreement that was cut

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off to the side.

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The fact is, this is a
critical part of the

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agreement, and in fact, this
deal cannot go forward until

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that information and that
access has been provided to

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the nuclear experts
at the IAEA.

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Now, separately, this is the
international institution

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that is responsible for
carrying out these kinds

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of inspections.

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They're a neutral party, but
yet they have the kind of

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expertise that's required in
order to conduct these kinds

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of inspections, evaluate
this information, and

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generate reports.

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And that's exactly what
they're going to do.

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And our negotiating team is
aware of the agreements that

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have been made between the
IAEA and the Iranians.

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You'll recall that even
in the final days of the

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negotiations, that there was
some travel by senior IAEA

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officials to Tehran, to
start talking through

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these issues.

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And what I believe Secretary
Moniz made clear today in

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the context of the hearing
is that there are members of

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Congress that would like to
get greater understanding

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into the kind of access and
information that the IAEA is

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seeking that our negotiators
will, in a classified

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setting, have a conversation
with those members of

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Congress about what exactly
the IAEA is seeking.

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The Press: The point right
there -- can you tell us

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when that will take place?

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Because apparently this came
up in some of the classified

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briefings that took place
yesterday, and there was not

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information that was given
to Congress about those

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separate agreements that
the IAEA has with Iran.

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So is there a time when you
plan to brief Congress in a

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classified setting
about those?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I'd refer
you to the Department of

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Energy on this, but we can
see if we can get you some

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more specific things.

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I don't know that there will
necessarily be a formal

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hearing on this, although I
suppose that there could be.

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But again, it would be
in a classified setting.

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What we're talking about
is, is we're talking about

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information that is
sensitive information that

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we obviously don't want to
have a discussion about

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publicly because it poses
a proliferation risk.

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But there is a desire and
a willingness to share

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information, and that's
exactly what our negotiators

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have committed to doing.

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The last thing I'll say
about this, Josh -- and this

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is an important part of this
that should also not

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be overlooked.

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The eventual IAEA report
about the possible military

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dimensions of Iran's nuclear
program will be published

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and made public.

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So people will have an
opportunity to see the

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conclusions that were
reached by the experts at

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the IAEA about the potential
military dimensions of

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Iran's nuclear program.

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The Press: Has the President
been following the situation

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with Sandra Bland in Texas,
and the incident there?

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And does he have any
thoughts or reaction to

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what's taking place there?

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Mr. Earnest: Josh, I know
that he is aware of this

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incident that has received
significant media attention

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over the last week or so.

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This is a situation
that is currently under

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investigation by local law
enforcement and the local

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prosecutor down in Texas.

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And so I'm reluctant to wade
in with the President's

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specific thoughts here until
the local prosecutors have

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had an opportunity to
conclude the inquiry that

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they said that they have
opened into this matter.

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The Press: On another topic
that came up with Ambassador

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Rice yesterday in talking
about the President's trip

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that he leaves on this
evening, and some of the

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calls from Kenyan
politicians and other

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leaders for the President
not to bring up gay rights

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while he's there.

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She said basically, if it's
appropriate, I'm sure the

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President will feel
comfortable bringing up the

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issue if he wants to.

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But that seems like it's a
far cry from some of these

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other trips that the
President has taken where

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you've actually
made a point.

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For instance, in China,
to say we're going to

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proactively bring up the
issue of human rights

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because we realize this is
an issue here and we want

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that out there.

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So I'm wondering why
the distinction there.

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And will the President, if
he's not prompted on it,

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proactively bring
up that issue?

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Mr. Earnest: Whenever the
President travels anywhere

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around the world, Josh --
and you've covered numerous

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overseas trips that this
President has taken -- the

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President routinely makes
a strong case about the

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importance of governments
protecting the basic

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universal human rights
of their people.

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That's true when the
President has previously

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traveled to the Middle East.

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That's been true when the
President has traveled

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to Asia.

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That's been true when the
President traveled to

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Latin America.

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And it'll be true when the
President travels to Africa

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later this week.

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The President understands --
well, I'd actually say it

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this way.

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In the mind of the
President, he can be a

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forceful advocate in
traveling around the world

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in making the case for
the protection of basic

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universal human rights.

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He does that everywhere he
goes, and I'm confident that

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he'll do that in Africa too.

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Julia.

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The Press: The President of
the UAW said that he met

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with Obama and Labor
Secretary Perez last Friday,

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and he wants Obama to
prevent auto-worker jobs

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from going to -- from
leaving the U.S.

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Can you confirm that?

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And did the President -- can
you confirm that meeting?

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And did the President
make any promises?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
confirm the meeting.

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I don't have a lot of
details from that meeting to

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read out to you.

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The President did have,
as he often does, had a

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conversation with some
leaders in the labor

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community about the
President's continuing focus

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on expanding economic
opportunity for middle-class

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families in this country.

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And there was an extensive
discussion on a wide range

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of issues primarily focused
around how to expand

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economic opportunity
for everybody.

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The Press: I also wanted to
see if you had anything more

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to say on the highway bill
and the pay-fors now that

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that bill yesterday cleared
a procedural vote in the Senate.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
tell you that our team is

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still reviewing
the legislation.

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It's more than
1,000 pages long.

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So the things that they're
paying particular close

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attention to are the
pay-fors -- the offsets, if

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you will.

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Whenever we're talking about
funding bills, Democrats and

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Republicans will often
have the most heated

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disagreements when it comes
to ensuring that these

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programs are
properly funded.

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So that is getting some
careful attention.

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There are concerns that have
been raised about some of

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the safety provisions that
are included in the bill.

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The Department of
Transportation makes the

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safety of the American
traveling public their

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top priority.

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So we're going to obviously
take a close look at the

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safety provisions
that are in here.

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And we're going to continue
to have conversations with

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members of Congress
about this.

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The other thing that I
mentioned yesterday that

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continues to be true
today is that service

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transportation legislation
is the most likely

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legislative vehicle -- no
pun intended -- to move

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before the end
of this month.

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And that's why we've
insisted that the provisions

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related to reauthorizing the
Export-Import Bank should be

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added to any transportation
bill that passes Congress

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before the end
of this month.

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The Press: Okay.

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But any more considerations
on using the Strategic

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Petroleum Reserve as a
pay-for, or that's still

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under consideration?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any additional details to

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share about our current
evaluation of the specific

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offsets that have been
included in this legislation

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other than to tell you that
we're continuing to

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review them.

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The Press: One more.

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A local newspaper in Turkey
reported that President

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Obama and President Erdogan
spoke last night and

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finalized an agreement on
using the -- I might say

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this wrong -- Incirlik
Air Base in Turkey.

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Can you confirm that?

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And would this base be
used for launching

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U.S. airstrikes?

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Because I believe it's
already used in

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some capacity.

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Mr. Earnest: There are a few
things I can say about this.

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The President did obviously
convene the telephone call

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that you just described.

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In that call, the two
leaders discussed efforts to

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deepen our cooperation in
the fight against ISIL.

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And when I say "our
cooperation," I mean the

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cooperation that exists
between Turkey and the

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United States and the other
60 or so countries that are

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part of our
counter-ISIL coalition.

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Obviously anybody who's
looked at a map of the

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region understands the
significant interest that

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Turkey has in
this situation.

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They share a border that's
some 560 miles long with Syria.

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There have been reports,
including as recently as, I

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believe, earlier this week
of a bombing that occurred

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on the Turkish-Syrian
border.

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Now, we're still trying to
gather more information

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about what exactly occurred,
but it's an indication that

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the instability along
Turkey's southern border is

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a source of significant
concern, and I think that

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concern is understandable.

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And in the context of the
conversation that the

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President had with President
Erdogan last night, they

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talked about efforts to
enhance and deepen

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our cooperation.

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What they will be focused on
is promoting security and

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stability in Iraq, and they
will be focused on trying to

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bring about a political
settlement inside of Syria.

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Now, it's notable that
Turkey is already doing a

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number of things to support
the counter-ISIL coalition.

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Turkey, as you know, is
hosting one of the training

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00:11:00,926 --> 00:11:03,062
facilities for the
train-and-equip program for

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00:11:03,062 --> 00:11:05,865
the moderate
Syrian opposition.

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00:11:05,865 --> 00:11:08,567
Turkey has taken important
steps to curb the flow of

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00:11:08,567 --> 00:11:09,969
foreign fighters.

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00:11:09,969 --> 00:11:14,840
We do know from reports that
this 560-mile-long border

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00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,144
between Turkey and Syria is
traveled by some foreign

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00:11:18,144 --> 00:11:23,716
fighters who are seeking to
join up arms alongside ISIL.

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00:11:23,716 --> 00:11:25,751
And Turkey has taken some
important steps to try to

255
00:11:25,751 --> 00:11:28,187
close that border, and there
may be more things that we

256
00:11:28,187 --> 00:11:30,723
can do together to help
them stem that flow.

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00:11:30,723 --> 00:11:33,592
Obviously it's not just
Turkey's responsibility to

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00:11:33,592 --> 00:11:35,661
try to stem that flow,
but obviously it's the

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00:11:35,661 --> 00:11:38,097
responsibility of countries
around the world to be

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00:11:38,097 --> 00:11:39,732
engaged in that effort.

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The last thing I'll say
-- two things, actually.

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00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:44,737
The first is that Turkey
has been a leader in the

263
00:11:44,737 --> 00:11:46,137
humanitarian effort.

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00:11:46,138 --> 00:11:48,140
Obviously there are a
significant number of

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00:11:48,140 --> 00:11:50,141
refugees that have been
created by the crisis in

266
00:11:50,142 --> 00:11:53,079
Syria; many of them have
fled Syria into Turkey.

267
00:11:53,079 --> 00:11:55,414
And Turkey is bearing a
significant burden in trying

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00:11:55,414 --> 00:11:59,318
to provide for nearly 2
million refugees who have

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00:11:59,318 --> 00:12:01,787
fled from Syria into Turkey.

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That's an enormous burden on
the nation of Turkey, and

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00:12:07,660 --> 00:12:11,964
we're mindful of the amount
of responsibility that

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00:12:11,964 --> 00:12:13,666
they've assumed
in that regard.

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00:12:13,666 --> 00:12:17,403
You asked specifically about
Incirlik, the military base

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00:12:17,403 --> 00:12:19,405
in Turkey.

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00:12:21,674 --> 00:12:28,646
I'm not able to talk about
some of those issues because

276
00:12:28,647 --> 00:12:31,350
of specific operational
security concerns.

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00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:34,854
So what we have acknowledged
is that our coalition has

278
00:12:34,854 --> 00:12:38,891
access to a variety of bases
throughout Europe and the

279
00:12:38,891 --> 00:12:41,193
Middle East for a
variety of missions.

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00:12:41,193 --> 00:12:44,196
That includes ISR --
intelligence, surveillance,

281
00:12:44,196 --> 00:12:46,565
and reconnaissance --
personnel recovery,

282
00:12:46,565 --> 00:12:53,873
refueling, and the carrying
out of military airstrikes.

283
00:12:53,873 --> 00:12:56,675
But for operational security
reasons, I can't get into

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00:12:59,211 --> 00:13:01,413
which bases are used
for which purpose.

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00:13:01,413 --> 00:13:03,449
The Press: Or whether or not
there was any kind of new

286
00:13:03,449 --> 00:13:06,418
agreement reached last
night on this phone call?

287
00:13:06,418 --> 00:13:08,988
Mr. Earnest: As it relates
specifically to Incirlik, I

288
00:13:08,988 --> 00:13:10,990
don't have any details
for you on that.

289
00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:12,992
But what I can confirm for
you [is] that in the context

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00:13:12,992 --> 00:13:15,661
of that conversation, the
two leaders did agree that

291
00:13:15,661 --> 00:13:18,997
we would deepen our
cooperation as we take on

292
00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:21,233
this ISIL threat.

293
00:13:21,233 --> 00:13:22,300
Kristen.

294
00:13:22,301 --> 00:13:23,302
The Press: Josh, thank you.

295
00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:26,772
FBI Director James Comey
said yesterday that ISIS now

296
00:13:26,772 --> 00:13:28,307
poses a greater
threat to the U.S.

297
00:13:28,307 --> 00:13:29,308
than al Qaeda.

298
00:13:29,308 --> 00:13:31,677
Is that consistent with the
President's understanding of

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00:13:31,677 --> 00:13:32,878
the situation right now?

300
00:13:32,878 --> 00:13:34,480
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kristen,
obviously we've spent a lot

301
00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,715
of time talking about -- and
we just did -- talking about

302
00:13:36,715 --> 00:13:39,485
the significant resources
and time and energy that's

303
00:13:39,485 --> 00:13:42,988
been devoted to countering
ISIL; to executing a

304
00:13:42,988 --> 00:13:44,690
strategy that will degrade
and ultimately destroy

305
00:13:44,690 --> 00:13:48,027
that organization.

306
00:13:48,027 --> 00:13:51,330
And whether it's military
steps or steps to cut off

307
00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:54,733
their financing operations,
trying to stem the flow of

308
00:13:54,733 --> 00:13:57,803
foreign fighters, countering
their efforts to radicalize

309
00:13:57,803 --> 00:14:00,439
individuals using
social media, we have a

310
00:14:00,439 --> 00:14:04,843
multi-pronged strategy that
we're using to counter ISIL.

311
00:14:04,843 --> 00:14:09,548
What's also true is that
this administration has been

312
00:14:09,548 --> 00:14:12,618
successful in decimating
core al Qaeda.

313
00:14:12,618 --> 00:14:19,425
And the progress against al
Qaeda affiliates around the

314
00:14:19,425 --> 00:14:21,359
globe continues.

315
00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,796
You'll note -- we did not
have an opportunity to talk

316
00:14:23,796 --> 00:14:26,799
about it yesterday -- but
the Department of Defense

317
00:14:26,799 --> 00:14:32,304
announced earlier this week
that Al Fadhli, the al Qaeda

318
00:14:32,304 --> 00:14:35,741
leader in Syria, was taken
off the battlefield as the

319
00:14:35,741 --> 00:14:38,377
result of a Department of
Defense airstrike earlier

320
00:14:38,377 --> 00:14:39,645
this month.

321
00:14:39,645 --> 00:14:45,150
This is an individual who
was responsible for plotting

322
00:14:45,150 --> 00:14:49,822
and operationalizing
external plots by al Qaeda

323
00:14:49,822 --> 00:14:51,690
against the United States.

324
00:14:51,690 --> 00:14:54,159
So we continue to be very
mindful of the threat that's

325
00:14:54,159 --> 00:14:55,194
posed by al Qaeda.

326
00:14:55,194 --> 00:14:58,664
And that announcement is an
indication -- should be an

327
00:14:58,664 --> 00:15:00,665
indication to you that we're
not just focused on the

328
00:15:00,666 --> 00:15:02,668
threat, but that we're
actually having success

329
00:15:02,668 --> 00:15:03,669
against that threat.

330
00:15:03,669 --> 00:15:04,670
The Press: Understood.

331
00:15:04,670 --> 00:15:06,738
But what FBI Director James
Comey said was very specific

332
00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:10,109
-- that ISIS now poses a
greater threat to the U.S.

333
00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:11,010
than al Qaeda.

334
00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:12,177
Is that the case?

335
00:15:12,177 --> 00:15:13,846
Does the President agree
with that statement?

336
00:15:13,846 --> 00:15:15,447
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'd refer you to Director

337
00:15:15,447 --> 00:15:17,750
Comey for any comments --
for any explanation of

338
00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:18,550
his comments.

339
00:15:18,550 --> 00:15:20,953
What I'm telling you is
that the President is very

340
00:15:20,953 --> 00:15:25,257
mindful of both threats,
and the discussion of those

341
00:15:25,257 --> 00:15:27,559
threats in this briefing
room should be a pretty

342
00:15:27,559 --> 00:15:28,560
clear indication of that.

343
00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,561
But the other clear
indication is the

344
00:15:30,562 --> 00:15:32,564
significant progress that
we're making in countering

345
00:15:32,564 --> 00:15:34,565
both of those threats
to the United States.

346
00:15:34,566 --> 00:15:36,702
The Press: And to that
point, to your efforts to

347
00:15:36,702 --> 00:15:40,306
counter ISIS, Secretary Jeh
Johnson said today, in terms

348
00:15:40,306 --> 00:15:43,909
of the effort to counter
online social media

349
00:15:43,909 --> 00:15:46,712
messaging from ISIS, he
said, "I believe that

350
00:15:46,712 --> 00:15:49,982
message is being developed,
but it needs a

351
00:15:49,982 --> 00:15:51,283
broader platform."

352
00:15:51,283 --> 00:15:53,385
The question is, Josh, how
come this message is still

353
00:15:53,385 --> 00:15:54,218
being developed?

354
00:15:54,219 --> 00:15:56,121
Why isn't there a clear
counter message in place at

355
00:15:56,121 --> 00:15:57,489
this point?

356
00:15:57,489 --> 00:16:00,059
Mr. Earnest: Kristen, as you
know, this is an effort that

357
00:16:00,059 --> 00:16:02,461
we have been engaged
in for quite some time.

358
00:16:02,461 --> 00:16:05,364
Earlier this year, almost
six months ago now, the

359
00:16:05,364 --> 00:16:08,267
White House convened
a summit to focus on

360
00:16:08,267 --> 00:16:11,470
countering violent extremism
where we talked quite a bit

361
00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:14,640
about trying to counter the
efforts of extremists using

362
00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:20,012
social media to radicalize
vulnerable populations.

363
00:16:20,012 --> 00:16:22,513
And what we have found, and
what continues to be true,

364
00:16:22,514 --> 00:16:26,719
is that when trying to
counter the message of an

365
00:16:26,719 --> 00:16:29,621
organization like ISIL, the
most effective way to do

366
00:16:29,621 --> 00:16:34,093
that is to build up the
platform of moderate Muslim

367
00:16:34,093 --> 00:16:38,262
leaders; that they are the
most persuasive voice.

368
00:16:38,263 --> 00:16:42,067
And we have worked with
other countries -- the UAE,

369
00:16:42,067 --> 00:16:45,003
for example, has played an
important role in helping us

370
00:16:45,003 --> 00:16:49,074
to develop and implement
those messaging strategies.

371
00:16:49,074 --> 00:16:51,477
But the work on that
certainly does continue, as

372
00:16:51,477 --> 00:16:52,810
the Secretary said.

373
00:16:52,811 --> 00:16:54,813
The Press: Well, I guess
my question is, though, he

374
00:16:54,813 --> 00:16:57,983
seemed to suggest
that the U.S. is behind.

375
00:16:57,983 --> 00:16:59,450
He said, "The counter
message exists, but it needs

376
00:16:59,451 --> 00:17:00,719
a larger microphone."

377
00:17:00,719 --> 00:17:04,223
Why haven't we gotten
further than that at this

378
00:17:04,223 --> 00:17:07,725
point, given the deep level
of concern, given the report

379
00:17:07,726 --> 00:17:09,695
that came out last month by
the State Department saying

380
00:17:09,694 --> 00:17:12,798
essentially that ISIS
was trumping the U.S.

381
00:17:12,798 --> 00:17:15,099
when it came to its
social media messaging?

382
00:17:15,099 --> 00:17:18,904
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kristen,
we continue to be engaged on

383
00:17:18,904 --> 00:17:22,407
recruiting moderate voices,
particularly in the Muslim

384
00:17:22,407 --> 00:17:26,811
community, who can be most
effective and have the most

385
00:17:26,811 --> 00:17:30,181
credibility in countering
the radical, hateful

386
00:17:30,182 --> 00:17:31,183
ideology of ISIL.

387
00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:33,719
The Press: Let me just ask
you this: Is ISIS winning

388
00:17:33,719 --> 00:17:35,354
the social media
war at this point?

389
00:17:35,354 --> 00:17:36,288
Mr. Earnest: That's
certainly not the way that I

390
00:17:36,288 --> 00:17:37,122
would describe it.

391
00:17:37,122 --> 00:17:38,157
The Press: How would
you describe it?

392
00:17:38,157 --> 00:17:40,458
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think I would describe it as

393
00:17:40,459 --> 00:17:42,628
-- the United States and
this administration has, for

394
00:17:42,628 --> 00:17:46,197
a long time now, been
focused on the need to

395
00:17:46,198 --> 00:17:52,004
counter the radical ideology
that ISIL is spreading on

396
00:17:52,004 --> 00:17:53,004
social media.

397
00:17:53,005 --> 00:17:55,040
And there are a variety of
ways for us to succeed in

398
00:17:55,040 --> 00:18:00,446
doing that, and one of them
is to build up the capacity

399
00:18:00,446 --> 00:18:04,149
and prominence of moderate
Muslim leaders to counter

400
00:18:04,149 --> 00:18:05,149
that ideology.

401
00:18:05,150 --> 00:18:07,152
The Press: And can you give
us any details about the

402
00:18:07,152 --> 00:18:08,153
specific message?

403
00:18:08,153 --> 00:18:10,088
What should those moderate
Muslim leaders be saying?

404
00:18:10,088 --> 00:18:11,523
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you
to the State Department

405
00:18:11,523 --> 00:18:12,390
for this.

406
00:18:12,391 --> 00:18:13,859
They are the ones who are
principally responsible for

407
00:18:13,859 --> 00:18:17,696
working around the world to
implement these strategies.

408
00:18:17,696 --> 00:18:18,629
So I'd refer you to them.

409
00:18:18,630 --> 00:18:20,132
The Press: Can you
give us a sense?

410
00:18:20,132 --> 00:18:20,599
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you
to the State Department

411
00:18:20,599 --> 00:18:21,399
for that.

412
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:22,134
Paul.

413
00:18:22,134 --> 00:18:24,069
The Press: Josh, so the
White House has full

414
00:18:24,069 --> 00:18:29,241
confidence in the IAEA
and its capabilities?

415
00:18:29,241 --> 00:18:31,210
Is that a reasonable view?

416
00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:34,746
Mr. Earnest: I think what's
a reasonable view, Paul, is

417
00:18:34,746 --> 00:18:39,084
that the international
community has turned to the

418
00:18:39,084 --> 00:18:41,854
IAEA, which is an
independent, international

419
00:18:41,854 --> 00:18:45,557
organization of nuclear
experts who are responsible

420
00:18:45,557 --> 00:18:47,893
for conducting these
kinds of inspections.

421
00:18:47,893 --> 00:18:55,601
They've done that in a
variety of countries, and

422
00:18:55,601 --> 00:18:58,103
obviously they've got an
important role here to play

423
00:18:58,103 --> 00:19:02,307
in examining the possible
military dimensions of

424
00:19:02,307 --> 00:19:05,043
Iran's nuclear program.

425
00:19:05,043 --> 00:19:09,313
We have made contingent on
this deal moving forward

426
00:19:09,314 --> 00:19:14,253
that Iran grant access and
information to the IAEA that

427
00:19:14,253 --> 00:19:16,254
they need to complete
their report.

428
00:19:16,255 --> 00:19:21,293
Now, the other thing that
is true is that we actually

429
00:19:21,293 --> 00:19:25,062
have a lot of information
about Iran's nuclear program

430
00:19:25,063 --> 00:19:26,532
that we have developed.

431
00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:28,533
So this is a lot of
information that we

432
00:19:28,534 --> 00:19:29,535
already know.

433
00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:32,337
But what's important is to
make sure that Iran, from

434
00:19:32,337 --> 00:19:35,240
the get-go, from the
beginning, even before they

435
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,011
receive any kind of
sanctions relief, that they

436
00:19:39,011 --> 00:19:44,081
are ready to comply with the
requirements that the IAEA

437
00:19:44,082 --> 00:19:46,718
has for access
and information.

438
00:19:46,718 --> 00:19:50,022
The Press: One of the raps
against the IAEA, though, is

439
00:19:50,022 --> 00:19:54,560
that in years past, it
missed nuclear activity in

440
00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,529
Syria -- Israel went in
and bombed -- and missed

441
00:19:57,529 --> 00:19:59,531
activity in Libya.

442
00:19:59,531 --> 00:20:01,533
It's missed activity
in other countries.

443
00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:04,069
So how -- are you really,
completely confident in

444
00:20:04,069 --> 00:20:06,938
their capabilities now?

445
00:20:06,939 --> 00:20:09,741
Mr. Earnest: I would say,
Paul, I'm not aware of each

446
00:20:09,741 --> 00:20:11,710
of those specific instances;
presumably the IAEA is.

447
00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:14,479
But I think you're
illustrating precisely why

448
00:20:14,479 --> 00:20:16,548
the President insisted on
the most intrusive set of

449
00:20:16,548 --> 00:20:18,750
inspections that have ever
been imposed on a country's

450
00:20:18,750 --> 00:20:19,818
nuclear program.

451
00:20:19,818 --> 00:20:23,121
It means that IAEA
inspectors will have access

452
00:20:23,121 --> 00:20:25,457
to the Iran nuclear program.

453
00:20:25,457 --> 00:20:27,359
That's unprecedented.

454
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,495
It's unlike any kind of
access that the IAEA has

455
00:20:30,495 --> 00:20:33,298
ever had to any other
country's nuclear program.

456
00:20:33,298 --> 00:20:37,469
IAEA inspectors will have
access to Iran's uranium mines.

457
00:20:37,469 --> 00:20:40,072
They'll have access to
Iran's uranium mills.

458
00:20:40,072 --> 00:20:42,506
They'll have access to
Iran's declared nuclear sites.

459
00:20:42,507 --> 00:20:45,377
They'll have access to
Iran's facilities where they

460
00:20:45,377 --> 00:20:46,745
manufacture centrifuges.

461
00:20:46,745 --> 00:20:50,549
They'll have the ability
to monitor those sites.

462
00:20:50,549 --> 00:20:52,951
They'll have the ability to
confirm that the centrifuges

463
00:20:52,951 --> 00:20:57,055
that need to be taken out of
operation are done so and

464
00:20:57,055 --> 00:20:58,690
are effectively locked up.

465
00:20:58,690 --> 00:21:01,727
This is the kind of access
that the IAEA has never had

466
00:21:01,727 --> 00:21:03,528
to a country's
nuclear program.

467
00:21:03,528 --> 00:21:08,100
And it's why we continue to
be confident that this deal

468
00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:10,101
will prevent Iran from
obtaining a nuclear weapon

469
00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:12,270
-- because it shuts down
every pathway that Iran has

470
00:21:12,270 --> 00:21:13,472
to developing a
nuclear weapon.

471
00:21:13,472 --> 00:21:15,474
The Press: Speaking of
access, it was revealed in

472
00:21:15,474 --> 00:21:18,644
the hearing today that I
think the IAEA will have to

473
00:21:18,644 --> 00:21:24,049
rely on Iran to provide
samples from certain

474
00:21:24,049 --> 00:21:26,184
facilities -- one,
Parchin, was named.

475
00:21:26,184 --> 00:21:27,285
Is that correct?

476
00:21:27,285 --> 00:21:31,156
The IAEA will have to rely
on Iran to provide access to

477
00:21:33,859 --> 00:21:36,662
samples at Parchin and other
sites for its investigation?

478
00:21:36,662 --> 00:21:38,797
Mr. Earnest: Well, for a
detail like that, I'd refer

479
00:21:38,797 --> 00:21:41,466
you to the IAEA about this.

480
00:21:41,466 --> 00:21:42,501
I'll see if I can follow up.

481
00:21:42,501 --> 00:21:45,337
I mean, it's not as if the
IAEA can enter Parchin

482
00:21:45,337 --> 00:21:46,605
through force.

483
00:21:46,605 --> 00:21:49,274
But contingent on this
agreement -- and this is why

484
00:21:49,274 --> 00:21:52,010
this is important -- there
was a lot of time spent in

485
00:21:52,010 --> 00:21:55,981
here about whether or not
the international community

486
00:21:55,981 --> 00:22:00,085
would insist that Iran
address the potential

487
00:22:00,085 --> 00:22:02,821
military dimensions of their
nuclear program in the

488
00:22:02,821 --> 00:22:04,322
context of this deal.

489
00:22:04,322 --> 00:22:06,323
And there was a lot of
suspicion -- a lot of

490
00:22:06,324 --> 00:22:08,660
Republicans stood up and
said that this had to be

491
00:22:08,660 --> 00:22:10,696
part of any agreement.

492
00:22:10,696 --> 00:22:13,098
That's exactly what we've
delivered in this instance.

493
00:22:13,098 --> 00:22:15,867
We have delivered Iran's
commitment that they will

494
00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:18,870
provide the IAEA with
the needed access and

495
00:22:18,870 --> 00:22:21,907
information that those
nuclear experts need to be

496
00:22:21,907 --> 00:22:24,509
able to finalize their
report on the potential

497
00:22:24,509 --> 00:22:27,112
military dimensions of
Iran's nuclear program, and

498
00:22:27,112 --> 00:22:29,648
that access and information
needs to be provided in

499
00:22:29,648 --> 00:22:31,116
advance of October 15th.

500
00:22:31,116 --> 00:22:33,185
If I would have stood here
in late June and said we're

501
00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:35,352
going to have all of the --
the IAEA is going to have

502
00:22:35,353 --> 00:22:37,622
all of the information and
access they need to resolve

503
00:22:37,622 --> 00:22:40,892
questions about -- or to
write their report about

504
00:22:40,892 --> 00:22:44,663
Iran's nuclear program by
October 15th, you would have

505
00:22:44,663 --> 00:22:47,232
looked at me skeptically.

506
00:22:47,232 --> 00:22:48,600
That's the charitable
way to say it.

507
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:49,266
Not that you aren't now.

508
00:22:49,267 --> 00:22:50,068
(laughter)

509
00:22:50,068 --> 00:22:51,636
The Press: So just to circle back --

510
00:22:51,636 --> 00:22:52,803
Mr. Earnest: But that's part of your job description.

511
00:22:52,804 --> 00:22:54,272
The point is -

512
00:22:54,272 --> 00:22:55,540
(laughter)

513
00:22:55,540 --> 00:22:57,576
-- I don't take
it personally.

514
00:22:57,576 --> 00:23:00,779
The point is that this is
a situation in which our

515
00:23:00,779 --> 00:23:04,649
critics, prior to the deal
being written, criticized

516
00:23:04,649 --> 00:23:07,218
the deal before it was
revealed because they were

517
00:23:07,219 --> 00:23:09,588
skeptical that it was ever
going to reach this bar.

518
00:23:09,588 --> 00:23:11,590
But yet that's exactly
what we've done.

519
00:23:11,590 --> 00:23:15,427
We've delivered even ahead
of the expectations of our

520
00:23:15,427 --> 00:23:17,428
most ardent critics
in this regard.

521
00:23:17,429 --> 00:23:19,531
The Press: So just to circle
back, the fact that the IAEA

522
00:23:19,531 --> 00:23:20,966
-- and I encourage you
to look at these other

523
00:23:20,966 --> 00:23:22,501
instances which you say
you're not familiar with --

524
00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:26,037
if they missed Syria, if
they missed Libya, if they

525
00:23:26,037 --> 00:23:29,808
missed Iraq, going years
back, you're still confident

526
00:23:29,808 --> 00:23:31,943
that this time it's
going to be different?

527
00:23:31,943 --> 00:23:34,146
Mr. Earnest: What I'm
confident of is that in

528
00:23:34,146 --> 00:23:36,715
those instances that
you've described, the IAEA

529
00:23:36,715 --> 00:23:39,451
investigators didn't have
the kind of access to those

530
00:23:39,451 --> 00:23:42,521
countries' nuclear programs
that they will to Iran's.

531
00:23:42,521 --> 00:23:45,056
And that's why we can be
confident that because of

532
00:23:45,056 --> 00:23:48,360
this tough inspections
regime, that we can shut

533
00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:50,361
down every pathway that
Iran has to nuclear weapon,

534
00:23:50,362 --> 00:23:53,031
including the covert path.

535
00:23:53,031 --> 00:23:54,633
Bill.

536
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:55,600
The Press: Secretary Moniz
told the Senate Foreign

537
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:56,802
Relations Committee
today that the U.S.

538
00:23:56,802 --> 00:24:01,273
does not have a copy of the
agreement between the IAEA

539
00:24:01,273 --> 00:24:06,911
and Iran on the chain of
custody for the fissile

540
00:24:06,912 --> 00:24:09,614
material that will be moved
out of their program under

541
00:24:09,614 --> 00:24:10,949
the agreement.

542
00:24:10,949 --> 00:24:14,019
Without that, and without
knowing that, how can we

543
00:24:14,019 --> 00:24:17,255
trust what is
going to happen?

544
00:24:17,255 --> 00:24:21,026
Mr. Earnest: Bill, we do
know what the agreement is

545
00:24:21,026 --> 00:24:22,994
between Iran and the IAEA.

546
00:24:22,994 --> 00:24:25,530
It's not something that I
can discuss in this setting,

547
00:24:25,530 --> 00:24:28,633
but it is something that can
be discussed in classified

548
00:24:28,633 --> 00:24:30,635
setting between
senior members of the

549
00:24:30,635 --> 00:24:31,803
administration and
members of Congress.

550
00:24:31,803 --> 00:24:32,737
The Press: The Secretary
said he didn't have a copy

551
00:24:32,737 --> 00:24:35,106
of it, he doesn't know.

552
00:24:35,106 --> 00:24:37,642
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
there are two different --

553
00:24:37,642 --> 00:24:39,644
you're actually conflating
two different things that

554
00:24:39,644 --> 00:24:40,645
are important.

555
00:24:40,645 --> 00:24:42,647
There's one thing between
having a copy of the

556
00:24:42,647 --> 00:24:44,649
document and knowing
exactly what's in it.

557
00:24:44,649 --> 00:24:47,252
The United States and our
negotiating partners -- all

558
00:24:47,252 --> 00:24:49,855
the P5+1 -- are aware
of those agreements.

559
00:24:49,855 --> 00:24:51,323
And U.S.

560
00:24:51,323 --> 00:24:53,425
officials are prepared to
brief members of Congress in

561
00:24:53,425 --> 00:24:56,027
a classified setting about
the details about

562
00:24:56,027 --> 00:24:57,028
those arrangements.

563
00:24:57,028 --> 00:24:59,831
The Press: Members of
Congress are also upset that the

564
00:24:59,831 --> 00:25:02,500
U.N. vote was allowed to proceed
before they had a chance to

565
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:05,203
fully review the document.

566
00:25:05,203 --> 00:25:09,708
They refer back to Secretary
Kerry's testimony yesterday

567
00:25:09,708 --> 00:25:12,744
which suggests
that once the U.N.

568
00:25:12,744 --> 00:25:16,081
has acted, for all practical
purposes international

569
00:25:16,081 --> 00:25:18,483
sanctions are off no
matter what the U.S.

570
00:25:18,483 --> 00:25:19,484
Congress does.

571
00:25:19,484 --> 00:25:23,288
And in fact, that would make
it very difficult to further

572
00:25:23,288 --> 00:25:27,726
sanction Iran if there were
ever any falling away from

573
00:25:27,726 --> 00:25:29,594
the agreement.

574
00:25:29,594 --> 00:25:31,329
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
first thing that we have to

575
00:25:31,329 --> 00:25:34,832
recognize is that the
sanctions are not off until

576
00:25:34,833 --> 00:25:37,335
Iran has reduced their
stockpile by 98 percent,

577
00:25:37,335 --> 00:25:40,372
until they have disconnected
13,000 centrifuges, until

578
00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:43,141
they have rendered harmless
their heavy-water reactor at

579
00:25:43,141 --> 00:25:45,977
Arak, and until they have
complied with the IAEA's

580
00:25:45,977 --> 00:25:49,014
request for access and
information to determine the

581
00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:52,383
possible military dimensions
of Iran's nuclear program.

582
00:25:52,384 --> 00:25:56,154
So that is what's going to
be required for this deal to

583
00:25:56,154 --> 00:25:56,821
move forward.

584
00:25:56,821 --> 00:25:57,254
And again --

585
00:25:57,255 --> 00:25:58,123
The Press: A
of which they're expected to

586
00:25:58,123 --> 00:25:58,990
do in six months?

587
00:25:58,990 --> 00:26:03,261
Mr. Earnest: Well, actually,
the information and access

588
00:26:03,261 --> 00:26:06,764
about the potential military
dimensions of Iran's nuclear

589
00:26:06,765 --> 00:26:08,733
program is actually
something that has to be

590
00:26:08,733 --> 00:26:10,936
provide in 90 days, in
even less than six months.

591
00:26:10,936 --> 00:26:15,072
But that's why we continue
to be confident that -- and

592
00:26:15,073 --> 00:26:17,475
we'll have verification
measures in place to ensure

593
00:26:17,475 --> 00:26:20,544
that they are complying with
the terms of this agreement.

594
00:26:20,545 --> 00:26:22,714
If they don't, this deal
won't move forward.

595
00:26:22,714 --> 00:26:24,716
But it's not going to move
forward in any instance

596
00:26:24,716 --> 00:26:27,118
until all of those steps and
many more have been taken

597
00:26:27,118 --> 00:26:28,285
by Iran.

598
00:26:28,286 --> 00:26:29,054
Jon.

599
00:26:29,054 --> 00:26:30,488
The Press: Another subject.

600
00:26:30,488 --> 00:26:34,693
The House is poised to pass
the Enforce the Law for

601
00:26:34,693 --> 00:26:35,994
Sanctuary Cities Act.

602
00:26:35,994 --> 00:26:37,861
I saw you put out a
statement of administration

603
00:26:37,862 --> 00:26:41,466
policy that the President
would veto this bill.

604
00:26:41,466 --> 00:26:42,300
Mr. Earnest: That's correct.

605
00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:45,937
The Press: Can I understand,
on the underlying issues,

606
00:26:45,937 --> 00:26:47,938
does the White House have
a concern about so-called

607
00:26:47,939 --> 00:26:52,410
sanctuary cities and the
notion that a locality can

608
00:26:52,410 --> 00:26:55,947
decide on its own to
basically not enforce the law?

609
00:26:55,947 --> 00:26:58,483
Mr. Earnest: One of the
characteristic elements of

610
00:26:58,483 --> 00:27:01,086
our broken immigration
system is the significant

611
00:27:01,086 --> 00:27:03,955
challenges that the federal
government and federal law

612
00:27:03,955 --> 00:27:06,791
enforcement officials have
had in enforcing the law by

613
00:27:06,791 --> 00:27:09,394
working closely with local
law enforcement officials.

614
00:27:09,394 --> 00:27:12,030
And this is something that
the United States Congress

615
00:27:12,030 --> 00:27:15,633
had the opportunity to
fix in the context of

616
00:27:15,633 --> 00:27:17,902
comprehensive immigration
reform legislation.

617
00:27:17,902 --> 00:27:20,472
But this fix was blocked by
Republicans in the

618
00:27:20,472 --> 00:27:21,773
House of Representatives.

619
00:27:21,773 --> 00:27:24,309
That's why the President
acted on his own; and in

620
00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:27,512
acting on his own, the
President actually scrapped

621
00:27:27,512 --> 00:27:28,780
the Secure
Communities Program.

622
00:27:28,780 --> 00:27:31,049
This was the program that
previously codified the

623
00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:33,685
relationship between the
federal government and local

624
00:27:33,685 --> 00:27:36,120
law enforcement that
actually caused a number of

625
00:27:36,121 --> 00:27:38,256
cities to declare themselves
sanctuary cities.

626
00:27:38,256 --> 00:27:40,792
What the President directed
his team to move forward on

627
00:27:40,792 --> 00:27:42,793
is the implementation
of something called the

628
00:27:42,794 --> 00:27:46,331
Priority Enforcement Program
that would allow state and

629
00:27:46,331 --> 00:27:49,801
-- state, local, and federal
law enforcement officials to

630
00:27:49,801 --> 00:27:51,803
better coordinate
and better cooperate.

631
00:27:51,803 --> 00:27:55,407
And we're starting to see
cities sign up for and

632
00:27:55,407 --> 00:27:58,676
engage in conversations
about establishing that program.

633
00:27:58,676 --> 00:28:03,247
And it will -- we believe
that it will allow us to

634
00:28:03,248 --> 00:28:07,719
make better progress in
achieving what the President

635
00:28:07,719 --> 00:28:11,189
believes should be our top
priority when it comes to

636
00:28:11,189 --> 00:28:13,725
immigration reform, which
is making sure that we're

637
00:28:13,725 --> 00:28:16,494
concentrating our limited
law enforcement resources on

638
00:28:16,494 --> 00:28:18,495
those individuals who pose
a threat to public safety.

639
00:28:18,496 --> 00:28:20,865
The Press: And do you
believe that even with the

640
00:28:20,865 --> 00:28:23,435
fix -- what you call a fix
that you've been able to do

641
00:28:23,435 --> 00:28:26,004
through executive action --
is it still a

642
00:28:26,004 --> 00:28:28,505
significant problem?

643
00:28:28,506 --> 00:28:31,943
You see certainly -- I mean,
this is why the House is

644
00:28:31,943 --> 00:28:33,078
acting on it today.

645
00:28:33,078 --> 00:28:35,647
There's a belief that you
have basically cities that

646
00:28:35,647 --> 00:28:38,616
have just declared we're not
going to abide by the law.

647
00:28:38,616 --> 00:28:41,352
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, we
do know what would make it

648
00:28:41,352 --> 00:28:45,090
better is if we had the
opportunity to further ramp

649
00:28:45,090 --> 00:28:48,893
up interior enforcement of
dangerous individuals; if we

650
00:28:48,893 --> 00:28:50,895
could provide law
enforcement officials with

651
00:28:50,895 --> 00:28:52,897
additional tools, including
enhanced penalties for

652
00:28:52,897 --> 00:28:55,133
repeat immigration
violators; if we could

653
00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:57,135
increase the penalties on
those who engage in human

654
00:28:57,135 --> 00:29:00,438
trafficking and document
fraud; and if we could make

655
00:29:00,438 --> 00:29:03,274
sure that those individuals
who are convicted of

656
00:29:03,274 --> 00:29:07,111
repeated gang-related
offenses or repeated drunk

657
00:29:07,112 --> 00:29:09,447
driving offenses, that
those individuals would

658
00:29:09,447 --> 00:29:10,715
be deportable.

659
00:29:10,715 --> 00:29:12,716
All of those were things
that were included in the

660
00:29:12,717 --> 00:29:14,719
comprehensive immigration
reform bill that

661
00:29:14,719 --> 00:29:15,720
Republicans blocked.

662
00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,823
So Marco Rubio made
this expression famous.

663
00:29:18,823 --> 00:29:22,093
But he was right about this,
that the closest thing we

664
00:29:22,093 --> 00:29:24,129
have to amnesty in this
country is the current

665
00:29:24,129 --> 00:29:25,196
broken immigration system.

666
00:29:25,196 --> 00:29:27,197
And that's the current
broken immigration system

667
00:29:27,198 --> 00:29:31,035
that Republicans refuse to
fix and that Republicans, by

668
00:29:31,035 --> 00:29:33,404
refusing to fix,
have perpetuated.

669
00:29:33,404 --> 00:29:35,707
So when it comes to law
enforcement and making sure

670
00:29:35,707 --> 00:29:37,775
that we are cracking down
and focusing on those

671
00:29:37,775 --> 00:29:41,346
individuals who pose a
threat to public safety,

672
00:29:41,346 --> 00:29:43,715
it's the President who has
done far more than anything

673
00:29:43,715 --> 00:29:46,083
Congress has done to try to
protect our communities.

674
00:29:46,084 --> 00:29:48,086
But there is more that
should be done and more that

675
00:29:48,086 --> 00:29:50,889
Congress needs to do to put
forward a comprehensive

676
00:29:50,889 --> 00:29:52,890
proposal to address many
of these challenges.

677
00:29:52,891 --> 00:29:54,893
The Press: And then
quickly, one other subject.

678
00:29:54,893 --> 00:29:56,895
Can you just bring me up
to speed -- what is the

679
00:29:56,895 --> 00:29:59,998
President's position on the
issue of transgender people

680
00:29:59,998 --> 00:30:01,332
serving in the military?

681
00:30:01,332 --> 00:30:05,637
Mr. Earnest: Jon, as you
know, the military last week

682
00:30:05,637 --> 00:30:10,041
announced a review to
examine this exact question.

683
00:30:10,041 --> 00:30:15,480
And I know that Secretary
Carter and others have

684
00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:20,518
indicated that individuals
who are capable of serving

685
00:30:20,518 --> 00:30:22,687
their country, that they fit
all of the requirements,

686
00:30:22,687 --> 00:30:28,059
shouldn't be prevented from
doing so based on these sort

687
00:30:28,059 --> 00:30:29,194
of gender-related questions.

688
00:30:29,194 --> 00:30:32,597
Now, the key here is
implementing them, and

689
00:30:32,597 --> 00:30:36,033
implementing them in a way
that the military can move

690
00:30:36,034 --> 00:30:38,503
forward with their
critically important mission.

691
00:30:38,503 --> 00:30:41,406
That's exactly what the
military is studying right now.

692
00:30:41,406 --> 00:30:43,441
The Press: But I think you
-- I think there's an answer

693
00:30:43,441 --> 00:30:44,442
in there.

694
00:30:44,442 --> 00:30:46,844
But does the President
believe that transgender

695
00:30:46,844 --> 00:30:48,446
people have a right to
serve in the military?

696
00:30:48,446 --> 00:30:51,582
That the military's
effective ban on transgender

697
00:30:51,583 --> 00:30:54,319
people serving
should be lifted?

698
00:30:54,319 --> 00:30:55,320
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly welcome the

699
00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,556
decision that was announced
by the Secretary of Defense

700
00:30:58,556 --> 00:31:02,126
to review how they could
implement a change to

701
00:31:02,126 --> 00:31:02,927
that policy.

702
00:31:02,927 --> 00:31:04,294
The Press: I'm not
asking about the review.

703
00:31:04,295 --> 00:31:05,563
But he believes that
ultimately -- it's a

704
00:31:05,563 --> 00:31:07,999
question of how to make
it -- how to lift it.

705
00:31:07,999 --> 00:31:09,801
I mean, right now you have
effectively the military

706
00:31:09,801 --> 00:31:14,339
defines transgender
as a mental disorder.

707
00:31:14,339 --> 00:31:18,076
So that should end, that
the effective ban should

708
00:31:18,076 --> 00:31:20,478
be lifted?

709
00:31:20,478 --> 00:31:24,415
It isn't a question of how that ban will be implemented?

710
00:31:24,415 --> 00:31:26,283
Mr. Earnest: That's not a --
I guess my point is that's

711
00:31:26,284 --> 00:31:27,785
not an irrelevant
question when you're the

712
00:31:27,785 --> 00:31:29,821
Commander-in-Chief; that the
practicality of implementing

713
00:31:29,821 --> 00:31:31,555
this policy makes
a difference.

714
00:31:31,556 --> 00:31:34,592
And so that's exactly what
the Department of Defense is

715
00:31:34,592 --> 00:31:35,593
looking at.

716
00:31:35,593 --> 00:31:37,595
I noted in their statement
that they have said that

717
00:31:37,595 --> 00:31:40,798
they would conduct this
review with a bias in favor

718
00:31:40,798 --> 00:31:42,300
of changing this policy.

719
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:44,302
The President certainly
supports that approach.

720
00:31:44,302 --> 00:31:46,303
The Press: And that people
who are transgender should

721
00:31:46,304 --> 00:31:47,305
be able to serve?

722
00:31:47,305 --> 00:31:49,274
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
exactly what the Department

723
00:31:49,274 --> 00:31:51,275
of Defense is looking
into, and the President is

724
00:31:51,276 --> 00:31:53,578
supportive of them
conducting that review.

725
00:31:53,578 --> 00:31:53,945
The Press: But the question
is, should they have a right

726
00:31:53,945 --> 00:31:54,579
to serve?

727
00:31:54,579 --> 00:31:56,114
It sounds like you're giving
me an answer, but I just

728
00:31:56,114 --> 00:31:59,651
want to -- Mr. Earnest:
Well, I'm doing my best.

729
00:31:59,651 --> 00:32:02,654
And what is relevant here is
the way in which the policy

730
00:32:02,654 --> 00:32:04,822
can be successfully
implemented.

731
00:32:04,822 --> 00:32:06,924
And that's exactly what the
Department of Defense

732
00:32:06,924 --> 00:32:08,026
is reviewing.

733
00:32:08,026 --> 00:32:09,994
But they're reviewing the
implementation of this

734
00:32:09,994 --> 00:32:13,430
policy with an eye toward,
with a bias in favor of,

735
00:32:13,431 --> 00:32:14,432
lifting the ban.

736
00:32:14,432 --> 00:32:16,434
And the President certainly
does believe that that's the

737
00:32:16,434 --> 00:32:17,435
right approach.

738
00:32:17,435 --> 00:32:19,437
The Press: How soon
should that be done?

739
00:32:19,437 --> 00:32:21,438
Mr. Earnest: I think
they've set a timeline for

740
00:32:21,439 --> 00:32:22,440
conducting this review.

741
00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:24,442
I don't remember what it is
off the top of my head, but

742
00:32:24,442 --> 00:32:25,443
you can check with them.

743
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,445
But I know that they have --
it's a 60 -- I think it's a

744
00:32:27,445 --> 00:32:28,679
90- or 120-day review.

745
00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,348
But they can get
you that detail.

746
00:32:30,348 --> 00:32:31,282
Suzanne.

747
00:32:31,282 --> 00:32:32,817
The Press: I want
to go back to ISIS.

748
00:32:32,817 --> 00:32:35,253
So the FBI Director, James
Comey, said not only that

749
00:32:35,253 --> 00:32:37,754
ISIS is a greater threat to
the United States than

750
00:32:37,755 --> 00:32:39,824
al Qaeda, but he said
specifically because they

751
00:32:39,824 --> 00:32:43,928
use encrypted communications
that the FBI doesn't have

752
00:32:43,928 --> 00:32:45,463
access to.

753
00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:46,898
They just cannot
access this.

754
00:32:46,898 --> 00:32:49,801
And he describes it as not
only trying to find needles

755
00:32:49,801 --> 00:32:52,602
in a haystack but invisible
needles that they just --

756
00:32:52,603 --> 00:32:54,706
because of the way that
they're communicating.

757
00:32:54,706 --> 00:32:57,442
Can you talk about that
specific challenge and how

758
00:32:57,442 --> 00:33:00,178
is it that the United States
is dealing with that in

759
00:33:00,178 --> 00:33:01,446
light of that problem?

760
00:33:01,446 --> 00:33:04,615
Mr. Earnest: Well, Suzanne,
this is a thorny political

761
00:33:04,615 --> 00:33:08,186
issue -- or a thorny policy
issue, I should say.

762
00:33:08,186 --> 00:33:11,356
And here's the reason
it's complicated.

763
00:33:11,356 --> 00:33:14,158
The President is a strong
advocate of robust

764
00:33:14,158 --> 00:33:20,697
encryption, that robust
encryption does protect the

765
00:33:20,698 --> 00:33:25,269
privacy and security
of typical Americans.

766
00:33:25,269 --> 00:33:29,474
And they should have access
to -- when they're using

767
00:33:29,474 --> 00:33:31,341
technology, they should have
access to technology that

768
00:33:31,342 --> 00:33:33,411
protects their privacy.

769
00:33:33,411 --> 00:33:38,383
At the same time, there's a
legitimate public interest

770
00:33:38,383 --> 00:33:41,018
-- an interest that's
even shared by many tech

771
00:33:41,018 --> 00:33:43,755
executives -- in ensuring
that that encryption

772
00:33:43,755 --> 00:33:47,525
technology can't essentially
aid and abet somebody who

773
00:33:47,525 --> 00:33:49,527
wants to carry out a
terrible act of violence.

774
00:33:49,527 --> 00:33:53,364
So that is essentially the
question that's

775
00:33:53,364 --> 00:33:55,133
before policymakers.

776
00:33:55,133 --> 00:33:58,403
And it's a question that law
enforcement officials, like

777
00:33:58,403 --> 00:34:01,773
Director Comey, have to
confront in a very real way.

778
00:34:01,773 --> 00:34:04,074
And so this will be a policy
that we'll have to work through.

779
00:34:04,075 --> 00:34:06,244
The President has discussed
this issue quite a bit.

780
00:34:06,244 --> 00:34:09,980
I think in terms of
understanding the

781
00:34:09,981 --> 00:34:11,983
President's position on
this, I would encourage you

782
00:34:11,983 --> 00:34:13,985
to take a look at the
interview that he conducted

783
00:34:13,985 --> 00:34:15,286
with Re/code.

784
00:34:15,286 --> 00:34:17,288
The President was
in California for a

785
00:34:17,288 --> 00:34:19,456
cybersecurity summit that
his administration convened

786
00:34:19,456 --> 00:34:20,458
at Stanford University.

787
00:34:20,458 --> 00:34:24,295
And after that summit, he
had a conversation with

788
00:34:24,295 --> 00:34:26,697
Re/code, in which they
discussed this policy issue.

789
00:34:26,697 --> 00:34:29,467
The Press: So is Comey's
hands tied essentially?

790
00:34:29,467 --> 00:34:33,137
The FBI's hands tied in
terms of trying to figure

791
00:34:33,137 --> 00:34:35,473
out where the ISIS militants
are because of the

792
00:34:35,473 --> 00:34:37,375
encrypted communications?

793
00:34:37,375 --> 00:34:39,243
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what Director Comey would

794
00:34:39,243 --> 00:34:43,915
hasten to add to that
declaration is that our law

795
00:34:43,915 --> 00:34:46,683
enforcement officials here
in this country that are

796
00:34:46,684 --> 00:34:51,222
responsible for keeping us
safe work closely with our

797
00:34:51,222 --> 00:34:53,825
intelligence community,
with our homeland security

798
00:34:53,824 --> 00:34:58,395
community to deploy a range
of measures to protect the

799
00:34:58,396 --> 00:34:59,397
American people.

800
00:34:59,397 --> 00:35:02,099
And it requires
a lot of work.

801
00:35:02,099 --> 00:35:03,768
It requires a
lot of expertise.

802
00:35:03,768 --> 00:35:05,770
It requires a lot
of dedication.

803
00:35:05,770 --> 00:35:07,872
But our men and women in law
enforcement and the intel

804
00:35:07,872 --> 00:35:10,374
community and in homeland
security are up to the task.

805
00:35:10,374 --> 00:35:12,810
And we're proud of
the work that they do.

806
00:35:12,810 --> 00:35:13,377
April.

807
00:35:13,377 --> 00:35:15,346
The Press: Josh,
two questions.

808
00:35:15,346 --> 00:35:17,915
First, I want to go
back to Sandra Bland.

809
00:35:17,915 --> 00:35:21,486
Is the Justice Department --
is the White House aware of

810
00:35:21,486 --> 00:35:23,187
anything by the Justice
Department -- if the Justice

811
00:35:23,187 --> 00:35:26,656
Department is looking at the
issue of Sandra Bland right now?

812
00:35:26,657 --> 00:35:30,394
Because when there are cases
similar to this, we hear

813
00:35:30,394 --> 00:35:32,830
that they are watching
before they step in.

814
00:35:32,830 --> 00:35:34,832
Have you heard anything from
the Justice Department that

815
00:35:34,832 --> 00:35:37,634
they are looking at the
activities -- specifically

816
00:35:37,635 --> 00:35:40,505
last night, hearing that
there's now going to be a

817
00:35:40,505 --> 00:35:43,641
new autopsy of Sandra Bland?

818
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:45,543
Mr. Earnest: April, I'd
refer to the Department of

819
00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:47,178
Justice for exactly what
they're doing in this

820
00:35:47,178 --> 00:35:48,679
specific matter.

821
00:35:48,679 --> 00:35:51,249
The Press: All right.

822
00:35:51,249 --> 00:35:52,450
But you don't know anything
about them just at least

823
00:35:52,450 --> 00:35:54,585
just watching the case?

824
00:35:54,585 --> 00:35:56,587
Mr. Earnest: I understand
that they are monitoring the

825
00:35:56,587 --> 00:35:59,724
situation, but it's the
local prosecutor right now

826
00:35:59,724 --> 00:36:01,826
that is conducting
the investigation.

827
00:36:01,826 --> 00:36:03,561
The Department of Justice
is aware that that local

828
00:36:03,561 --> 00:36:06,230
investigation is ongoing.

829
00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:08,165
And I'm not aware that the
Department of Justice has

830
00:36:08,165 --> 00:36:10,167
opened their own
investigation, but that's

831
00:36:10,167 --> 00:36:12,169
obviously something that
they would announce.

832
00:36:12,169 --> 00:36:14,171
The Press: So just
monitoring -- okay, great.

833
00:36:14,171 --> 00:36:16,173
Now, on the issue of
intelligence, and in

834
00:36:16,173 --> 00:36:17,908
listening to the briefing,
understanding what happened,

835
00:36:17,909 --> 00:36:20,478
with Comey talking about the
needle in the haystack -- on

836
00:36:20,478 --> 00:36:23,514
issues of intelligence, as
the years have progressed

837
00:36:23,514 --> 00:36:26,083
and passed, there are
different phases and layers

838
00:36:26,083 --> 00:36:28,352
of how we have to deal with
how this nation and how this

839
00:36:28,352 --> 00:36:30,721
government is dealing with
threats here in the United

840
00:36:30,721 --> 00:36:32,156
States and abroad.

841
00:36:32,156 --> 00:36:34,959
How would you rank the
intelligence when it comes

842
00:36:34,959 --> 00:36:37,662
to, here in the United
States, trying to find that

843
00:36:37,662 --> 00:36:41,064
needle in the haystack, and
then also trying to find out

844
00:36:41,065 --> 00:36:42,767
about other
countries, like Iran?

845
00:36:42,767 --> 00:36:46,470
During the Bush years, there
was faulty intelligence.

846
00:36:46,470 --> 00:36:48,538
Have things changed?

847
00:36:48,539 --> 00:36:50,875
Has the intelligence gotten
better when it comes to the

848
00:36:50,875 --> 00:36:53,477
global fight against terror
on the intelligence front,

849
00:36:53,477 --> 00:36:56,913
specifically when you had to
bring in -- other countries

850
00:36:56,914 --> 00:36:58,149
had to ask for an Iran deal?

851
00:36:58,149 --> 00:37:00,151
And then, when you hear
Comey saying, it's like a

852
00:37:00,151 --> 00:37:01,452
needle in a haystack,
how would you rank our

853
00:37:01,452 --> 00:37:05,156
intelligence both here
at home and abroad?

854
00:37:05,156 --> 00:37:07,625
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
I'd say a couple of things

855
00:37:07,625 --> 00:37:08,092
about this.

856
00:37:08,092 --> 00:37:11,596
The first is, there are
tremendous capabilities that

857
00:37:11,596 --> 00:37:19,203
our intelligence community
use to keep us safe and to

858
00:37:19,203 --> 00:37:23,107
protect our interests
around the globe.

859
00:37:23,107 --> 00:37:27,845
We live in a world in which
our adversaries and, in some

860
00:37:27,845 --> 00:37:32,250
cases, our enemies are very
inventive and creative and

861
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:39,523
persistent in trying to
develop new ways to evade

862
00:37:39,523 --> 00:37:42,059
detection and carry
out acts of violence.

863
00:37:42,059 --> 00:37:44,061
And that's why it's
critically important that

864
00:37:44,061 --> 00:37:46,664
our intelligence community
remain vigilant about

865
00:37:46,664 --> 00:37:47,665
the threat.

866
00:37:47,665 --> 00:37:48,666
They do.

867
00:37:48,666 --> 00:37:50,334
And these are
seasoned experts.

868
00:37:50,334 --> 00:37:53,471
And they are themselves
creative in taking the steps

869
00:37:53,471 --> 00:37:55,673
that they believe are necessary to try to keep us safe.

870
00:37:55,673 --> 00:37:57,674
The other thing that is
critically important to our

871
00:37:57,675 --> 00:38:00,945
security is the effective
relationship that our

872
00:38:00,945 --> 00:38:03,881
intelligence community has
with intelligence services

873
00:38:03,881 --> 00:38:06,783
around the world, and that
by sharing information and

874
00:38:06,784 --> 00:38:10,655
coordinating our efforts
with other countries'

875
00:38:10,655 --> 00:38:13,791
intelligence capabilities,
we can significantly enhance

876
00:38:13,791 --> 00:38:14,792
our own security.

877
00:38:14,792 --> 00:38:18,162
And this is true -- we talk
a lot about the important

878
00:38:18,162 --> 00:38:20,163
security relationship that
exists between the United

879
00:38:20,164 --> 00:38:21,565
States and Israel.

880
00:38:21,565 --> 00:38:23,834
Intelligence-sharing between
the United States and Israel

881
00:38:23,834 --> 00:38:24,835
is significant.

882
00:38:24,835 --> 00:38:27,638
And that is certainly
something that contributes

883
00:38:27,638 --> 00:38:29,273
to our national security.

884
00:38:29,273 --> 00:38:32,710
In terms of -- I think the
other thing I would do,

885
00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:35,813
April, for this question,
I'd refer you to the Office

886
00:38:35,813 --> 00:38:38,983
of the Director of
National Intelligence.

887
00:38:38,983 --> 00:38:42,887
This is a position that was
created near the end of the

888
00:38:42,887 --> 00:38:45,690
Bush administration
that sought to make the

889
00:38:45,690 --> 00:38:47,992
communication of
intelligence to the

890
00:38:47,992 --> 00:38:51,295
President more effective.

891
00:38:51,295 --> 00:38:53,364
There are a variety of
government agencies that

892
00:38:53,364 --> 00:38:56,567
have an intelligence
mission.

893
00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:58,869
And it's the responsibility
of the Director of National

894
00:38:58,869 --> 00:39:01,305
Intelligence to try to
coordinate that mission to

895
00:39:01,305 --> 00:39:03,339
make sure that each agency
that's engaged in some of

896
00:39:03,340 --> 00:39:07,511
this work is leveraging
their particular expertise

897
00:39:07,511 --> 00:39:11,849
to maximize the benefits
to the country and to our

898
00:39:11,849 --> 00:39:13,084
country's decision-makers.

899
00:39:13,084 --> 00:39:15,419
But obviously the Director
of National Intelligence can

900
00:39:15,419 --> 00:39:16,721
tell you a little
bit more about that.

901
00:39:16,721 --> 00:39:18,589
The Press: And lastly, how
should the average American

902
00:39:18,589 --> 00:39:22,793
take the information from
Comey saying, looking for

903
00:39:22,793 --> 00:39:27,698
the lone wolf, or possible
threats like a needle in

904
00:39:27,698 --> 00:39:28,632
the haystack?

905
00:39:28,632 --> 00:39:31,135
That leaves some
people uneasy.

906
00:39:31,135 --> 00:39:33,237
How is the average American
supposed to digest

907
00:39:33,237 --> 00:39:35,306
that information?

908
00:39:35,306 --> 00:39:37,041
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think, April, we've long

909
00:39:37,041 --> 00:39:42,246
acknowledged that one of the
most difficult threats to

910
00:39:42,246 --> 00:39:47,718
prevent is a lone wolf
attack, and that's because

911
00:39:47,718 --> 00:39:52,256
typically somebody who is a
lone wolf is by definition

912
00:39:52,256 --> 00:39:54,959
not conspiring with a large
group of individuals, but

913
00:39:54,959 --> 00:40:00,397
rather is acting on their
own to take certain steps.

914
00:40:00,397 --> 00:40:06,103
And trying to stop that
person before he or she acts

915
00:40:06,103 --> 00:40:10,374
is very challenging, and
it's something that our law

916
00:40:10,374 --> 00:40:12,877
enforcement and homeland
security officials are very

917
00:40:12,877 --> 00:40:14,445
mindful of.

918
00:40:14,445 --> 00:40:17,448
But they have a variety
of measures and steps and

919
00:40:17,448 --> 00:40:22,086
strategies that they can
employ to prevent a lone

920
00:40:22,086 --> 00:40:26,490
wolf from acting.

921
00:40:26,490 --> 00:40:29,426
So for some more information
about that, I'd refer you to

922
00:40:29,426 --> 00:40:30,427
the FBI.

923
00:40:30,427 --> 00:40:32,496
They have announced just
in the last several weeks

924
00:40:32,496 --> 00:40:36,567
arrests of people who could
have been -- had they been

925
00:40:36,567 --> 00:40:39,036
able to follow through with
their actions -- individuals

926
00:40:39,036 --> 00:40:41,038
who were acting on their own
to carry out terrible acts

927
00:40:41,038 --> 00:40:42,039
of violence.

928
00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:44,008
So they can certainly fill
you in on their activities.

929
00:40:44,008 --> 00:40:45,276
James.

930
00:40:45,276 --> 00:40:46,042
The Press: Josh, thank you.

931
00:40:46,043 --> 00:40:49,013
Returning to
Iran, if we might.

932
00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:51,015
Earlier in this briefing,
you were asked about the

933
00:40:51,015 --> 00:40:58,221
prospect of the IAEA being
forced to rely on Iran to

934
00:40:58,222 --> 00:41:03,027
provide samples from
sensitive sites, a prospect

935
00:41:03,027 --> 00:41:05,863
that seems to be enshrined
in the agreement between

936
00:41:05,863 --> 00:41:08,065
Iran and the IAEA.

937
00:41:08,065 --> 00:41:10,034
And you didn't seem to
want to address this

938
00:41:10,034 --> 00:41:11,335
very directly.

939
00:41:11,335 --> 00:41:14,572
Rather, you touted the fact
that the administration has,

940
00:41:14,572 --> 00:41:17,641
in exceeding the
expectations of its critics,

941
00:41:17,641 --> 00:41:20,644
as you put it, delivered
Iran's commitment.

942
00:41:20,644 --> 00:41:23,613
I don't think you want
to be in the position of

943
00:41:23,614 --> 00:41:25,616
delivering
commitments from Iran.

944
00:41:25,616 --> 00:41:26,417
You want to be in the
position of delivering

945
00:41:26,417 --> 00:41:28,586
compliance from Iran.

946
00:41:28,586 --> 00:41:32,455
And so I wondered what you
can say to us to assure us

947
00:41:32,456 --> 00:41:35,392
that there is not going to
be some gaping hole in the

948
00:41:35,392 --> 00:41:38,796
chain of custody where the
IAEA's sample evidence

949
00:41:38,796 --> 00:41:39,529
is concerned.

950
00:41:39,530 --> 00:41:42,399
Mr. Earnest: James, I do
feel confident in telling

951
00:41:42,399 --> 00:41:44,435
you that this
administration, working

952
00:41:44,435 --> 00:41:46,737
closely with the
international community, did

953
00:41:46,737 --> 00:41:48,439
deliver Iran's commitment.

954
00:41:48,439 --> 00:41:50,607
And if Iran doesn't follow
through on that commitment,

955
00:41:50,608 --> 00:41:54,712
we have a range of steps
that we can take to hold

956
00:41:54,712 --> 00:41:56,213
them to account.

957
00:41:56,213 --> 00:41:59,016
That is the essence of this
agreement, and that takes a

958
00:41:59,016 --> 00:41:59,984
couple of forms.

959
00:41:59,984 --> 00:42:01,986
The first form is this
agreement includes

960
00:42:01,986 --> 00:42:02,987
snapback provisions.

961
00:42:02,987 --> 00:42:05,556
So if we detect that Iran
is now following through on

962
00:42:05,556 --> 00:42:08,125
their commitment, we can put
the sanctions regime back

963
00:42:08,125 --> 00:42:09,126
in place.

964
00:42:09,126 --> 00:42:12,529
This is the sanctions regime
that our most ardent critics

965
00:42:12,529 --> 00:42:16,133
believe and agree has been
critically successful.

966
00:42:16,133 --> 00:42:18,736
The other option -- the
other fact of the matter is

967
00:42:18,736 --> 00:42:21,004
we continue to have all the
options on the table that

968
00:42:21,005 --> 00:42:22,039
the President
previously had.

969
00:42:22,039 --> 00:42:24,241
And that includes
a military option.

970
00:42:24,241 --> 00:42:26,509
The Press: Can you address
the chain of custody issue?

971
00:42:26,510 --> 00:42:28,512
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
the details of the chain of

972
00:42:28,512 --> 00:42:29,513
custody issue.

973
00:42:29,513 --> 00:42:34,952
What I can tell you is --
I can tell you that before

974
00:42:34,952 --> 00:42:40,057
Iran receives any sanctions
relief under this joint

975
00:42:40,057 --> 00:42:45,395
agreement, they must provide
to the IAEA all of the

976
00:42:45,396 --> 00:42:49,233
information and access that
the IAEA says they need to

977
00:42:49,233 --> 00:42:51,268
complete their report about
the potential military

978
00:42:51,268 --> 00:42:53,270
dimensions of Iran's
nuclear program.

979
00:42:53,270 --> 00:42:56,206
So again, I know that our
critics are suggesting that

980
00:42:56,206 --> 00:42:58,208
there is some kind of
side deal going on.

981
00:42:58,208 --> 00:43:00,678
What I'm suggesting to you
is that this is actually a

982
00:43:00,678 --> 00:43:02,680
critically important
part of the agreement.

983
00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:05,582
The Press: What it sounds
to me, though, is that the

984
00:43:05,582 --> 00:43:09,118
administration wouldn't have
a problem with it if the

985
00:43:09,119 --> 00:43:14,091
IAEA is itself content to
receive evidence or soil

986
00:43:14,091 --> 00:43:17,294
samples, or what have you,
that doesn't have a proper

987
00:43:17,294 --> 00:43:18,929
chain of custody.

988
00:43:18,929 --> 00:43:22,533
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the IAEA is an international

989
00:43:22,533 --> 00:43:26,270
body of independent nuclear
experts that can determine

990
00:43:26,270 --> 00:43:28,973
what access they feel like
they need in order to

991
00:43:28,973 --> 00:43:30,741
complete their report.

992
00:43:30,741 --> 00:43:33,677
And what we will all have
the opportunity to do is to

993
00:43:33,677 --> 00:43:35,679
read that report after
it's been written.

994
00:43:35,679 --> 00:43:37,715
And I'm confident that part
of that report will at least

995
00:43:37,715 --> 00:43:40,284
be a description of the kind
of access that they needed

996
00:43:40,284 --> 00:43:42,286
and received in order
to write the report.

997
00:43:42,286 --> 00:43:45,856
The Press: When Ambassador
Rice briefed us yesterday,

998
00:43:45,856 --> 00:43:51,228
we had a colloquy in which
she basically stated that

999
00:43:51,228 --> 00:43:54,765
the Congress has received
copies of everything that

1000
00:43:54,765 --> 00:43:58,234
the United States is in a
position to deliver in terms

1001
00:43:58,235 --> 00:44:01,772
of documentation
relating to this deal.

1002
00:44:01,772 --> 00:44:05,042
I think the way she put it
was words to the effect of,

1003
00:44:05,042 --> 00:44:07,044
we're not in possession of
anything we could give to

1004
00:44:07,044 --> 00:44:09,913
the Congress that we
haven't, with respect to

1005
00:44:09,913 --> 00:44:11,915
documentation associated
with this deal.

1006
00:44:11,915 --> 00:44:17,054
Is it contemplated that,
going forward, by virtue of

1007
00:44:17,054 --> 00:44:19,456
the mechanisms that have
been put in place as part of

1008
00:44:19,456 --> 00:44:21,692
the final agreement, there
could be new

1009
00:44:21,692 --> 00:44:25,195
documentation generated?

1010
00:44:25,195 --> 00:44:32,002
And if that's true, does the
administration commit here,

1011
00:44:32,002 --> 00:44:35,639
now, to continuing to
provide Congress with all

1012
00:44:35,639 --> 00:44:38,008
available documentation
related to the

1013
00:44:38,008 --> 00:44:39,609
implementation of this deal?

1014
00:44:39,610 --> 00:44:41,445
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
aware of any lingering

1015
00:44:41,445 --> 00:44:43,447
documentation
that's out there.

1016
00:44:44,948 --> 00:44:47,817
So that's why it's hard to
confirm what's essentially

1017
00:44:47,818 --> 00:44:48,819
a hypothetical.

1018
00:44:48,819 --> 00:44:53,023
But what I do know is what
Secretary -- I'm sorry, what

1019
00:44:53,023 --> 00:44:55,959
Ambassador Rice said
yesterday, which is that all

1020
00:44:55,959 --> 00:44:57,995
of the documents that the
United States has in our

1021
00:44:57,995 --> 00:44:59,997
possession from this
agreement have been

1022
00:44:59,997 --> 00:45:01,165
forwarded to Congress.

1023
00:45:01,165 --> 00:45:04,368
What I will acknowledge is
that some of those documents

1024
00:45:04,368 --> 00:45:07,604
are documents that have
not been released publicly

1025
00:45:07,604 --> 00:45:09,673
because they do contain
sensitive information.

1026
00:45:09,673 --> 00:45:12,209
But they are all documents
that are available for the

1027
00:45:12,209 --> 00:45:14,544
review of every member of
the United States Congress.

1028
00:45:14,545 --> 00:45:16,680
There's additional
information that the United

1029
00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:20,584
States and our negotiators
are aware of that we can, in

1030
00:45:20,584 --> 00:45:24,520
a classified setting, share
with members of Congress.

1031
00:45:24,521 --> 00:45:25,889
So there aren't actual
documents that we can

1032
00:45:25,889 --> 00:45:27,424
provide, but there's
information that's relevant

1033
00:45:27,424 --> 00:45:29,192
to the negotiations.

1034
00:45:29,193 --> 00:45:31,261
And we have committed to
sharing as much of that

1035
00:45:31,261 --> 00:45:33,997
information as is deemed
necessary by members

1036
00:45:33,997 --> 00:45:36,732
of Congress.

1037
00:45:36,733 --> 00:45:39,670
So that's the position
that we're in.

1038
00:45:39,670 --> 00:45:42,406
What I'll say is, that is an
ongoing commitment, which is

1039
00:45:42,406 --> 00:45:44,775
that we will continue to
provide information and

1040
00:45:44,775 --> 00:45:45,776
answer questions.

1041
00:45:45,776 --> 00:45:50,614
But what we do believe is
that Congress is now in

1042
00:45:50,614 --> 00:45:53,984
possession of all of the
information that they need

1043
00:45:53,984 --> 00:45:55,986
to evaluate this
particular agreement.

1044
00:45:55,986 --> 00:45:57,988
And that's exactly what we
expect that they'll do over

1045
00:45:57,988 --> 00:45:59,022
the course of
the next 60 days.

1046
00:45:59,022 --> 00:46:00,491
The Press: Final question.

1047
00:46:00,491 --> 00:46:05,529
I want to return to the
subjects that Kristen raised.

1048
00:46:05,529 --> 00:46:08,966
In your answer to Kristen,
you spoke about the problem

1049
00:46:08,966 --> 00:46:12,336
of what you call
violent extremism.

1050
00:46:12,336 --> 00:46:14,437
And we know that a lot of
attention has been paid to

1051
00:46:14,438 --> 00:46:16,440
that formulation, and
why it isn't a

1052
00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:17,941
different formulation.

1053
00:46:17,941 --> 00:46:21,578
But in your answer, when you
yourself were talking about

1054
00:46:21,578 --> 00:46:24,948
the problem of violent
extremism, twice you went on

1055
00:46:24,948 --> 00:46:28,852
to talk about the need for
building a platform for

1056
00:46:28,852 --> 00:46:32,756
moderate Muslim leaders, and
finding moderate voices,

1057
00:46:32,756 --> 00:46:35,091
particularly in the
Muslim community.

1058
00:46:35,092 --> 00:46:38,662
So I just wonder, Josh --
if we could return to this

1059
00:46:38,662 --> 00:46:42,432
question -- why is it that
you see the answers to this

1060
00:46:42,432 --> 00:46:45,669
problem in the Muslim
community, but you don't see

1061
00:46:45,669 --> 00:46:48,872
fit to identify the problem
itself as occurring in the

1062
00:46:48,872 --> 00:46:50,607
Muslim community?

1063
00:46:50,607 --> 00:46:53,009
You want to talk about
the violent extremism.

1064
00:46:53,010 --> 00:46:56,780
Mr. Earnest: Well, James, I
think Kristen was asking me

1065
00:46:56,780 --> 00:47:02,252
directly about ISIL, and we
do know that ISIL extremists

1066
00:47:02,252 --> 00:47:06,890
wrap a lot of their ideology
-- their hateful, nihilistic

1067
00:47:06,890 --> 00:47:11,761
ideology -- in the trappings
of the religion of Islam.

1068
00:47:11,762 --> 00:47:14,531
And it makes sense that we
would engage leaders in the

1069
00:47:14,531 --> 00:47:17,634
Muslim community to assist
us as we counter, and even

1070
00:47:17,634 --> 00:47:19,336
rebut, that messaging.

1071
00:47:19,336 --> 00:47:22,004
But that's certainly
not our only strategy.

1072
00:47:22,005 --> 00:47:25,209
There are a variety of ways
that we can both degrade and

1073
00:47:25,209 --> 00:47:28,011
ultimately destroy ISIL, but
also counter their efforts

1074
00:47:28,011 --> 00:47:30,581
in communities both in the
United States but around

1075
00:47:30,581 --> 00:47:31,582
the world.

1076
00:47:31,582 --> 00:47:33,717
The Press: Is there some
other religion, besides

1077
00:47:33,717 --> 00:47:37,487
Islam today, that you say is
fomenting violent extremism?

1078
00:47:37,487 --> 00:47:40,290
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
people of all religions who

1079
00:47:40,290 --> 00:47:42,292
certainly are carrying
out acts of violence.

1080
00:47:42,292 --> 00:47:44,294
But there is no doubt
that this very dangerous

1081
00:47:44,294 --> 00:47:48,365
terrorist organization in
ISIL has sought to wrap

1082
00:47:48,365 --> 00:47:53,470
themselves in the religion
of Islam to try to I guess

1083
00:47:53,470 --> 00:47:57,406
sugarcoat their
hateful ideology.

1084
00:47:57,407 --> 00:47:57,975
Anita.

1085
00:47:57,975 --> 00:47:59,176
The Press: Hi,
two questions.

1086
00:47:59,176 --> 00:48:02,913
One, I wondered if the
administration had a view on

1087
00:48:02,913 --> 00:48:05,849
a bill that the House -- I
think they're voting on it

1088
00:48:05,849 --> 00:48:08,885
now, about genetically
modified food.

1089
00:48:08,885 --> 00:48:11,121
It would block mandatory
labeling of genetically

1090
00:48:11,121 --> 00:48:13,991
modified food by state and
local governments, and

1091
00:48:13,991 --> 00:48:15,826
establish a voluntary
labeling standard through

1092
00:48:15,826 --> 00:48:16,860
the USDA.

1093
00:48:16,860 --> 00:48:17,594
Are you familiar with it?

1094
00:48:17,594 --> 00:48:18,629
Do you have a thought?

1095
00:48:18,629 --> 00:48:19,263
Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry,
Anita, I'm actually not

1096
00:48:19,263 --> 00:48:20,797
familiar with that bill,
but we'll get you some

1097
00:48:20,797 --> 00:48:22,032
information and
follow up with you.

1098
00:48:22,032 --> 00:48:24,868
The Press: Sponsored by
someone from your hometown.

1099
00:48:24,868 --> 00:48:25,669
Mr. Earnest: Oh,
is that right?

1100
00:48:25,669 --> 00:48:27,904
We'll go and collect some
information about it and get

1101
00:48:27,904 --> 00:48:31,908
back to you.

1102
00:48:31,908 --> 00:48:34,645
The Press: Secondly, I
wondered if you were aware

1103
00:48:34,645 --> 00:48:37,514
that, just before the
briefing, Senator Cruz was

1104
00:48:37,514 --> 00:48:39,316
across the street
at Lafayette Park.

1105
00:48:39,316 --> 00:48:43,352
It was a protest against
the nuclear deal.

1106
00:48:43,353 --> 00:48:47,891
Among other things, he
was very vocal about how,

1107
00:48:47,891 --> 00:48:51,795
because of the sanctions
being lifted eventually,

1108
00:48:51,795 --> 00:48:54,264
that there would be so much
money flowing into the

1109
00:48:54,264 --> 00:48:57,401
country that the country
would use the money to

1110
00:48:57,401 --> 00:48:59,336
"kill Americans."

1111
00:48:59,336 --> 00:49:01,370
Do you have any
thoughts about that?

1112
00:49:01,371 --> 00:49:02,973
Mr. Earnest: Well, Anita, I
was aware that Senator Cruz

1113
00:49:02,973 --> 00:49:04,675
was planning to hold a
pro-war rally in front the

1114
00:49:04,675 --> 00:49:05,609
White House today.

1115
00:49:05,609 --> 00:49:08,545
I didn't see actually how
many people turned out for

1116
00:49:08,545 --> 00:49:11,648
the rally, but it doesn't
sound like he said anything

1117
00:49:11,648 --> 00:49:13,116
there that he hasn't
said anywhere else.

1118
00:49:13,116 --> 00:49:14,785
The Press: Pro-war rally?

1119
00:49:14,785 --> 00:49:15,618
Is that what you
just called it?

1120
00:49:15,619 --> 00:49:16,253
Mr. Earnest: I did.

1121
00:49:16,253 --> 00:49:18,188
The Press: You have no
other thoughts about it?

1122
00:49:18,188 --> 00:49:20,123
Mr. Earnest: I think that
pretty much says it all.

1123
00:49:20,123 --> 00:49:21,558
Jordan.

1124
00:49:21,558 --> 00:49:23,093
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1125
00:49:23,093 --> 00:49:25,595
So even though the
administration is familiar

1126
00:49:25,595 --> 00:49:27,897
with the contents of these
bilateral agreements between

1127
00:49:27,898 --> 00:49:30,934
Iran and the IAEA, will
there be any effort to

1128
00:49:30,934 --> 00:49:33,203
obtain the documents
themselves so that

1129
00:49:33,203 --> 00:49:35,971
administration officials can
view the actual documents?

1130
00:49:35,972 --> 00:49:41,311
Mr. Earnest: Jordan, as I
mentioned earlier -- well,

1131
00:49:41,311 --> 00:49:43,080
let me say one
thing about this.

1132
00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,082
The other thing that I think
is a relevant fact here is

1133
00:49:45,082 --> 00:49:49,086
that the IAEA has these
kinds of agreements with

1134
00:49:49,086 --> 00:49:51,221
more than a hundred
countries around the world.

1135
00:49:51,221 --> 00:49:54,224
And these are agreements
between the IAEA and

1136
00:49:54,224 --> 00:49:55,525
individual countries.

1137
00:49:55,525 --> 00:49:59,329
The IAEA is an independent,
international body of

1138
00:49:59,329 --> 00:50:02,599
nuclear experts that is
responsible for a variety of

1139
00:50:02,599 --> 00:50:05,335
things, including carrying
out inspections like this.

1140
00:50:07,604 --> 00:50:10,073
What's true is that the
United States and our

1141
00:50:10,073 --> 00:50:13,143
negotiating partners are
aware of the details of

1142
00:50:13,143 --> 00:50:18,181
those agreements, of those
conversations, and is

1143
00:50:18,181 --> 00:50:20,550
prepared to share them
with members of Congress.

1144
00:50:20,550 --> 00:50:22,686
We obviously can't do it in
a setting like this, but it

1145
00:50:22,686 --> 00:50:24,688
is a conversation that
can occur in a classified

1146
00:50:24,688 --> 00:50:27,224
setting, and it's a
conversation that senior

1147
00:50:27,224 --> 00:50:29,192
administration officials
have committed to having.

1148
00:50:29,192 --> 00:50:30,627
The Press: Yeah, but is
there a reason why you

1149
00:50:30,627 --> 00:50:32,462
haven't seen the
actual document?

1150
00:50:32,462 --> 00:50:35,232
Is there some sort of
rule preventing that?

1151
00:50:35,232 --> 00:50:36,933
Some sort of protocol,
diplomatic protocol that's

1152
00:50:36,933 --> 00:50:39,569
preventing administration
officials from viewing the

1153
00:50:39,569 --> 00:50:40,604
actual document?

1154
00:50:40,604 --> 00:50:43,406
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
protocol, in this case, is

1155
00:50:43,407 --> 00:50:46,576
that this is an agreement
between Iran and IAEA.

1156
00:50:46,576 --> 00:50:50,547
But this is an agreement
that Iran agreed to because

1157
00:50:50,547 --> 00:50:52,382
of the pressure applied by
the United States and our

1158
00:50:52,382 --> 00:50:55,185
negotiating partners in
which we said, unless you

1159
00:50:55,185 --> 00:50:57,854
provide the IAEA the
necessary access and

1160
00:50:57,854 --> 00:51:01,124
information so that the IAEA
can complete their report,

1161
00:51:01,124 --> 00:51:03,426
then we're not going to give
you any sanctions relief.

1162
00:51:03,427 --> 00:51:07,330
And that's -- I guess I
should say, unless and until

1163
00:51:07,330 --> 00:51:10,734
they provide that access and
information to the IAEA, no

1164
00:51:10,734 --> 00:51:11,902
sanctions relief
will be provided.

1165
00:51:11,902 --> 00:51:13,570
The Press: And on a
different subject.

1166
00:51:13,570 --> 00:51:17,073
There was a bill introduced
in the House this week --

1167
00:51:17,073 --> 00:51:20,577
the House and the Senate --
sponsored by David Cicilline

1168
00:51:20,577 --> 00:51:23,547
and Senator Merkley that
would have a lot of

1169
00:51:23,547 --> 00:51:27,317
anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals.

1170
00:51:27,317 --> 00:51:28,885
And I'm wondering if the
White House has a position

1171
00:51:28,885 --> 00:51:30,053
on that bill.

1172
00:51:30,053 --> 00:51:32,154
Mr. Earnest: Jordan, I can
tell you that we applaud the

1173
00:51:32,155 --> 00:51:34,958
efforts of members of the
House and Senate to put

1174
00:51:34,958 --> 00:51:38,395
forth comprehensive legislation to fight discrimination.

1175
00:51:38,395 --> 00:51:40,797
And while we -- we're going
to review the language that

1176
00:51:40,797 --> 00:51:41,798
they've put forward.

1177
00:51:41,798 --> 00:51:44,533
But while we do, let me just
say that the administration

1178
00:51:44,534 --> 00:51:46,636
shares the goal of ensuring
that all Americans are

1179
00:51:46,636 --> 00:51:48,638
treated equally
under federal law.

1180
00:51:48,638 --> 00:51:51,575
And we believe that
legislation is a good next

1181
00:51:51,575 --> 00:51:53,310
step in the right direction.

1182
00:51:53,310 --> 00:51:54,578
Angela.

1183
00:51:54,578 --> 00:51:56,546
The Press: Josh, going back
to the highway bill, you

1184
00:51:56,546 --> 00:51:59,749
told Julia that the White
House is still reviewing

1185
00:51:59,749 --> 00:52:00,984
the paperwork.

1186
00:52:00,984 --> 00:52:04,020
But as a matter of general
principle, the Strategic

1187
00:52:04,020 --> 00:52:07,858
Petroleum Reserve is a
target of one of the pay-fors.

1188
00:52:07,858 --> 00:52:09,826
And does the White House
agree with Republicans in

1189
00:52:09,826 --> 00:52:12,295
Congress that it's a good
target to use as a piggybank

1190
00:52:12,295 --> 00:52:14,798
when needed?

1191
00:52:14,798 --> 00:52:18,033
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
are two reasons why I'm not

1192
00:52:18,034 --> 00:52:19,336
going to answer
your question.

1193
00:52:19,336 --> 00:52:23,573
The first is that it's hard
to talk about --

1194
00:52:23,573 --> 00:52:23,940
The Press: That's honest.

1195
00:52:23,940 --> 00:52:25,242
Mr. Earnest: Yes,
I'm trying to be.

1196
00:52:25,242 --> 00:52:29,346
The first is that I'm not
aware that this is a pay-for

1197
00:52:29,346 --> 00:52:31,214
that's been
previously offered.

1198
00:52:31,214 --> 00:52:33,283
So therefore, it's hard to
talk about it in principle

1199
00:52:37,087 --> 00:52:39,189
because this is the only
sort of example of it, at

1200
00:52:39,189 --> 00:52:41,191
least that I've seen -- and
I could be wrong about it.

1201
00:52:41,191 --> 00:52:43,192
The Press: I believe there
is one other example --

1202
00:52:43,193 --> 00:52:45,195
Mr. Earnest: Okay, so it's
hard for me to speculate on

1203
00:52:45,195 --> 00:52:47,664
the actual -- or opine on
the principle at stake here.

1204
00:52:47,664 --> 00:52:53,537
The second is that the
market sensitivity of this

1205
00:52:53,537 --> 00:52:59,542
particular policy is high.

1206
00:53:01,611 --> 00:53:04,748
And so even just sort of
speculating about it, or

1207
00:53:04,748 --> 00:53:09,586
opining on it on principle
could have an unintended

1208
00:53:09,586 --> 00:53:11,587
impact on the
financial markets.

1209
00:53:11,588 --> 00:53:13,990
And I surely don't
need that today.

1210
00:53:13,990 --> 00:53:15,457
(laughter)

1211
00:53:15,458 --> 00:53:17,193
The Press: Secondly, on the
highway bill, you mentioned

1212
00:53:17,193 --> 00:53:18,895
again today that's it's the
preferred vehicle for moving

1213
00:53:18,895 --> 00:53:22,432
the Export-Import
Bank reauthorization.

1214
00:53:22,432 --> 00:53:24,500
However, the highway bill
does not look like a sure

1215
00:53:24,501 --> 00:53:26,903
thing at all, given what
members on both sides of the

1216
00:53:26,903 --> 00:53:28,038
aisle have said in
the last couple days.

1217
00:53:28,038 --> 00:53:29,873
Do you have a plan
B for moving Ex-Im?

1218
00:53:29,873 --> 00:53:32,275
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
you heard from the President

1219
00:53:32,275 --> 00:53:36,913
yesterday that this is
an important priority.

1220
00:53:36,913 --> 00:53:42,385
And there are some members
of Congress who agree, and

1221
00:53:42,385 --> 00:53:44,721
even a majority in Congress
who agree that the Ex-Im

1222
00:53:44,721 --> 00:53:49,726
Bank is a priority -- a
minority who do not agree.

1223
00:53:49,726 --> 00:53:53,196
But I think just about
everybody in Congress agrees

1224
00:53:53,196 --> 00:53:56,366
that it's a priority to
make sure that we fund our

1225
00:53:56,366 --> 00:53:58,768
transportation system
in a timely fashion.

1226
00:53:58,768 --> 00:54:01,137
And so I don't have a
plan B to tell you about.

1227
00:54:01,137 --> 00:54:04,207
We're going to continue to
urge members of Congress --

1228
00:54:04,207 --> 00:54:08,078
Democrats and Republicans --
to focus on making sure that

1229
00:54:08,078 --> 00:54:10,480
they fund the service
transportation system in

1230
00:54:10,480 --> 00:54:13,850
this country appropriately,
and that they do it on time.

1231
00:54:13,850 --> 00:54:16,620
And when they do, they
should include a provision

1232
00:54:16,620 --> 00:54:17,721
to ensure the
reauthorization of the

1233
00:54:17,721 --> 00:54:19,522
Ex-Im Bank.

1234
00:54:19,522 --> 00:54:21,157
The Press: And then, lastly,
you said yesterday there

1235
00:54:21,157 --> 00:54:23,627
would be a list today of
lawmakers traveling to

1236
00:54:23,627 --> 00:54:25,962
Africa with the President,
with the delegation.

1237
00:54:25,962 --> 00:54:26,896
Do you have that list today?

1238
00:54:26,896 --> 00:54:27,364
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

1239
00:54:27,364 --> 00:54:28,298
I saw the list.

1240
00:54:28,298 --> 00:54:30,667
They are going through it to
make sure that it's final,

1241
00:54:30,667 --> 00:54:32,636
and so it's something that
we'll provide before we're

1242
00:54:32,636 --> 00:54:33,637
wheels up tonight.

1243
00:54:33,637 --> 00:54:35,639
It's a delegation of about
-- yesterday I said it was

1244
00:54:35,639 --> 00:54:36,640
more than a dozen.

1245
00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:38,642
I think the last time I
looked at the list, it was

1246
00:54:38,642 --> 00:54:40,644
about 20 members
of Congress.

1247
00:54:40,644 --> 00:54:43,513
But we will have that before
we're wheels up today.

1248
00:54:43,513 --> 00:54:44,047
The Press: If we say some of
the names, will you say yes?

1249
00:54:44,047 --> 00:54:44,948
(laughter)

1250
00:54:44,948 --> 00:54:45,949
Mr. Earnest: No, because
it's not finalized yet.

1251
00:54:45,949 --> 00:54:47,851
But we'll get that to you
before the end of the day.

1252
00:54:47,851 --> 00:54:49,019
Susan.

1253
00:54:49,019 --> 00:54:53,857
The Press: I'm looking at
the IAEA statement from July

1254
00:54:53,857 --> 00:54:55,492
14th when the deal was
announced, and they're

1255
00:54:55,492 --> 00:54:57,794
calling this a roadmap.

1256
00:54:57,794 --> 00:54:59,596
They're not calling
this the ideal.

1257
00:54:59,596 --> 00:55:02,198
I'm getting a little
confused, though, because

1258
00:55:02,198 --> 00:55:05,567
after listening to Susan
Rice yesterday she said she

1259
00:55:05,568 --> 00:55:09,139
acknowledged that there was
an agreement that did not

1260
00:55:09,139 --> 00:55:12,108
fall within the documents
you could present to Congress.

1261
00:55:12,108 --> 00:55:15,412
So you're saying today
it's not a side deal.

1262
00:55:15,412 --> 00:55:17,379
So I'm a little confused
about whether this is just a

1263
00:55:17,380 --> 00:55:18,848
game of semantics?

1264
00:55:18,848 --> 00:55:22,519
Or why -- if it's not a side
deal, then why can't you

1265
00:55:22,519 --> 00:55:25,955
give the documents
to Congress?

1266
00:55:25,955 --> 00:55:28,825
It's saying here in the
statement that they will

1267
00:55:28,825 --> 00:55:32,227
have -- it's a roadmap.

1268
00:55:32,228 --> 00:55:36,533
And they said they will have
something more definitive,

1269
00:55:36,533 --> 00:55:40,103
concrete -- a document
by December 15th.

1270
00:55:40,103 --> 00:55:42,105
Does that mean that we're
going to have to wait --

1271
00:55:42,105 --> 00:55:43,707
Congress is going to have to
wait to get that document by

1272
00:55:43,707 --> 00:55:45,475
December 15th?

1273
00:55:45,475 --> 00:55:48,111
Mr. Earnest: Well, what they
will know by October 15th is

1274
00:55:48,111 --> 00:55:50,547
whether or not Iran
followed through with their

1275
00:55:50,547 --> 00:55:53,116
commitment to provide the
IAEA with the necessary

1276
00:55:53,116 --> 00:55:55,952
information and access
to complete the report.

1277
00:55:55,952 --> 00:55:58,288
I believe that December
15th is the target date for

1278
00:55:58,288 --> 00:56:00,924
writing the report, at which
point the report will be

1279
00:56:00,924 --> 00:56:02,926
made public and people will
have the opportunity to

1280
00:56:02,926 --> 00:56:03,893
review it.

1281
00:56:03,893 --> 00:56:08,164
But again, the reason that I
do think some of our critics

1282
00:56:08,164 --> 00:56:10,166
-- sort of in their
desperation to try to kill

1283
00:56:10,166 --> 00:56:13,636
this thing -- are playing
semantics games is that --

1284
00:56:13,636 --> 00:56:22,045
again, the critical
component of this agreement,

1285
00:56:22,045 --> 00:56:25,982
is Iran limiting their
nuclear program and cutting

1286
00:56:25,982 --> 00:56:28,384
off every pathway they have
to a nuclear weapon in

1287
00:56:28,384 --> 00:56:30,086
exchange for
sanctions relief?

1288
00:56:30,086 --> 00:56:32,122
And what we have said is
that you have to take all

1289
00:56:32,122 --> 00:56:34,491
those steps to cut off
every pathway you have to a

1290
00:56:34,491 --> 00:56:36,793
nuclear weapon, and you
have to reduce your uranium

1291
00:56:36,793 --> 00:56:38,261
stockpile by 98 percent.

1292
00:56:38,261 --> 00:56:40,430
You have to disconnect
13,000 centrifuges.

1293
00:56:40,430 --> 00:56:43,832
You have to render harmless
your heavy-water reactor.

1294
00:56:43,833 --> 00:56:45,835
But the other thing that you
have to do is you have to

1295
00:56:45,835 --> 00:56:47,837
provide this information
and access to the IAEA.

1296
00:56:47,837 --> 00:56:49,339
And that's why I would
describe this as an

1297
00:56:49,339 --> 00:56:51,908
important component of
the agreement and not be

1298
00:56:51,908 --> 00:56:54,778
dismissed by some as
some sort of side deal.

1299
00:56:54,778 --> 00:56:56,312
The Press: Yes, but if it's
an important component of

1300
00:56:56,312 --> 00:56:57,947
the agreement, you might
want to have some documents

1301
00:56:57,947 --> 00:56:59,082
to provide Congress.

1302
00:56:59,082 --> 00:57:00,283
It just seems like
a game of semantics.

1303
00:57:00,283 --> 00:57:02,118
But let's move on.

1304
00:57:02,118 --> 00:57:04,988
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just say that what this is,

1305
00:57:04,988 --> 00:57:06,990
though, is that this is
the United States and the

1306
00:57:06,990 --> 00:57:09,459
international community
using our leverage to

1307
00:57:09,459 --> 00:57:11,694
benefit the IAEA and their
investigation of the

1308
00:57:11,694 --> 00:57:13,897
potential military
dimensions of Iran's

1309
00:57:13,897 --> 00:57:14,898
nuclear program.

1310
00:57:14,898 --> 00:57:16,533
So that's why it makes sense
that the documents and

1311
00:57:16,533 --> 00:57:21,805
agreement is between
Iran and the IAEA.

1312
00:57:21,805 --> 00:57:22,806
But I don't want to --

1313
00:57:22,806 --> 00:57:24,507
The Press: -- write that.

1314
00:57:24,507 --> 00:57:26,509
I'm writing a story right
now, but trying to describe

1315
00:57:26,509 --> 00:57:28,511
exactly if this is
a side deal or not.

1316
00:57:28,511 --> 00:57:29,512
I used side deal yesterday.

1317
00:57:29,512 --> 00:57:30,580
I'm not using side deal.

1318
00:57:30,580 --> 00:57:32,515
I'm saying it falls without
-- it's just getting really

1319
00:57:32,515 --> 00:57:35,084
ridiculous and confusing.

1320
00:57:35,084 --> 00:57:36,685
Mr. Earnest: Well, I would
acknowledge that

1321
00:57:36,686 --> 00:57:37,654
it's complicated.

1322
00:57:37,654 --> 00:57:39,656
But I think we're -- I
think our position on this,

1323
00:57:39,656 --> 00:57:41,991
though, is crystal clear,
which is that unless Iran

1324
00:57:41,991 --> 00:57:45,461
cooperates with the IAEA in
providing them the access

1325
00:57:45,461 --> 00:57:48,064
and information that they
need to write their report

1326
00:57:48,064 --> 00:57:50,066
about the potential military
dimensions of their nuclear

1327
00:57:50,066 --> 00:57:52,067
program, then Iran is not
going to get any

1328
00:57:52,068 --> 00:57:53,069
sanctions relief.

1329
00:57:53,069 --> 00:57:55,071
And the deal won't go
forward because they've been

1330
00:57:55,071 --> 00:57:55,438
clear --

1331
00:57:55,438 --> 00:57:55,972
The Press: I
think we understand.

1332
00:57:55,972 --> 00:57:57,173
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

1333
00:57:57,173 --> 00:57:57,973
The Press: We're just trying
to write a story, and it's

1334
00:57:57,974 --> 00:58:01,244
getting very -- almost like
cumbersome to write it when

1335
00:58:01,244 --> 00:58:04,814
you're saying you don't have
the documents, but it's not

1336
00:58:04,814 --> 00:58:06,015
a side deal.

1337
00:58:06,015 --> 00:58:08,051
It just -- it
doesn't seem right.

1338
00:58:08,051 --> 00:58:11,754
But anyway, let me move on
to the issue of countering

1339
00:58:11,754 --> 00:58:13,356
violent extremism.

1340
00:58:13,356 --> 00:58:17,393
Michael McCaul, the Homeland
Security Chairman in the

1341
00:58:17,393 --> 00:58:21,564
House, has a bill that
passed out last week that

1342
00:58:21,564 --> 00:58:25,602
would create a center for
countering violent extremism

1343
00:58:25,602 --> 00:58:27,971
in the Homeland
Security Department.

1344
00:58:27,971 --> 00:58:28,938
You're probably
aware of this.

1345
00:58:28,938 --> 00:58:31,140
But I'm wondering -- I
haven't seen whether you

1346
00:58:31,140 --> 00:58:33,776
support that creation of
that center, or whether you

1347
00:58:33,776 --> 00:58:37,814
fear -- as the ACLU does
-- that it could unfairly

1348
00:58:37,814 --> 00:58:40,316
target the Muslim
communities and also to

1349
00:58:40,316 --> 00:58:44,988
create more fear within the
Muslim communities that they

1350
00:58:44,988 --> 00:58:46,723
might be
intelligence-gathering on

1351
00:58:46,723 --> 00:58:49,392
them, instead of actually
helping them prevent

1352
00:58:49,392 --> 00:58:51,160
extremism within
their own communities?

1353
00:58:51,160 --> 00:58:52,060
Mr. Earnest: Well, Susan,
what we've made clear on

1354
00:58:52,061 --> 00:58:55,665
principle is that our
efforts to counter violent

1355
00:58:55,665 --> 00:58:57,834
extremism are going to be
more effective if we can

1356
00:58:57,834 --> 00:58:59,636
actually work with
individual communities and

1357
00:58:59,636 --> 00:59:01,404
work with the leaders of
individual communities all

1358
00:59:01,404 --> 00:59:03,907
across the country to
counter this effort -- to

1359
00:59:03,907 --> 00:59:06,576
counter this effort to
radicalize some

1360
00:59:06,576 --> 00:59:09,279
vulnerable citizens.

1361
00:59:09,279 --> 00:59:11,748
And it's the leaders in
these communities that have

1362
00:59:11,748 --> 00:59:15,285
their own -- they have their
own vested interests in

1363
00:59:15,285 --> 00:59:19,022
trying to counter those
radicalization efforts, and

1364
00:59:19,022 --> 00:59:21,624
that we're going to be more
effective in countering

1365
00:59:21,624 --> 00:59:23,625
those efforts if we're
actually able to partner

1366
00:59:23,626 --> 00:59:25,995
with leaders and partner
with these communities to

1367
00:59:25,995 --> 00:59:30,266
try to prevent radical
ideology and hateful

1368
00:59:30,266 --> 00:59:32,635
ideology from inspiring
people to carry out acts

1369
00:59:32,635 --> 00:59:33,603
of violence.

1370
00:59:33,603 --> 00:59:35,605
And so that's a principle
that has been in place here

1371
00:59:35,605 --> 00:59:36,606
for quite some time.

1372
00:59:36,606 --> 00:59:38,708
And we found -- we know
how effective that is.

1373
00:59:38,708 --> 00:59:40,009
The Press: Congressman
McCaul says there's not

1374
00:59:40,009 --> 00:59:42,178
enough resources being
devoted to it, and it's not

1375
00:59:42,178 --> 00:59:46,214
-- there's not any kind
of agency governing it.

1376
00:59:46,215 --> 00:59:48,785
What do you think of his
legislation about this

1377
00:59:48,785 --> 00:59:50,219
center for --

1378
00:59:50,219 --> 00:59:51,487
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess I would observe.

1379
00:59:51,487 --> 00:59:54,657
It sounds to me like maybe
we have our first Republican

1380
00:59:54,657 --> 00:59:56,659
in the House of
Representatives who is ready

1381
00:59:56,659 --> 00:59:59,429
to come out against
sequester-level funding for

1382
00:59:59,429 --> 01:00:02,799
non-discretionary defense
programs because this is a

1383
01:00:02,799 --> 01:00:06,369
program that would be
affected by the sequester on

1384
01:00:06,369 --> 01:00:09,772
the non-defense side, but
yet is -- even Chairman

1385
01:00:09,772 --> 01:00:13,276
McCaul would agree -- that
it's critically important to

1386
01:00:13,276 --> 01:00:14,210
our national security.

1387
01:00:14,210 --> 01:00:16,045
The Press: But that's a
sidestepping of the -- do

1388
01:00:16,045 --> 01:00:17,113
you support that center?

1389
01:00:17,113 --> 01:00:17,879
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
actually think -- he's

1390
01:00:17,880 --> 01:00:18,982
saying that there aren't
enough resources for the

1391
01:00:18,982 --> 01:00:21,317
program, but yet he supports
legislation that would gut

1392
01:00:21,317 --> 01:00:22,685
funding for the program.

1393
01:00:22,685 --> 01:00:24,587
I think I'm taking on
his concerns directly.

1394
01:00:24,587 --> 01:00:25,989
The Press: No, but do you
support the center that he --

1395
01:00:25,989 --> 01:00:28,358
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
looked at the details of his

1396
01:00:28,358 --> 01:00:29,525
specific proposal,
but we're happy to.

1397
01:00:29,525 --> 01:00:30,460
Cheryl.

1398
01:00:30,460 --> 01:00:31,461
The Press: Thank you.

1399
01:00:31,461 --> 01:00:33,629
Hey, funding.

1400
01:00:33,629 --> 01:00:39,736
So, this morning, House
Speaker Boehner suggested

1401
01:00:39,736 --> 01:00:43,406
that given the few
legislative days left until

1402
01:00:43,406 --> 01:00:45,775
the end of the fiscal year,
there would likely have to

1403
01:00:45,775 --> 01:00:48,611
be a short-term CR or
funding resolution.

1404
01:00:48,611 --> 01:00:51,013
Mr. Earnest: Few
legislative days, right?

1405
01:00:51,014 --> 01:00:52,315
(laughter)

1406
01:00:52,315 --> 01:00:53,616
I'm no math expert.

1407
01:00:53,616 --> 01:00:57,186
I think there are like 70
days between now and the end

1408
01:00:57,186 --> 01:00:58,154
of the fiscal year.

1409
01:00:58,154 --> 01:00:59,489
The Press: He said
legislative days.

1410
01:00:59,489 --> 01:01:00,223
Mr. Earnest: All right.

1411
01:01:00,223 --> 01:01:01,391
At least he was honest.

1412
01:01:01,391 --> 01:01:03,726
The Press: Is the White
House -- is the President

1413
01:01:03,726 --> 01:01:07,463
prepared to support a
short-term -- or concede

1414
01:01:07,463 --> 01:01:09,565
that the short-term
deal will be necessary?

1415
01:01:09,565 --> 01:01:12,835
Mr. Earnest: What we believe
is necessary is that in the

1416
01:01:12,835 --> 01:01:15,271
70 days that remain --
whether Congress is in

1417
01:01:15,271 --> 01:01:18,408
session or not --
Republicans have a

1418
01:01:18,408 --> 01:01:20,910
responsibility to take
Democrats in the Congress up

1419
01:01:20,910 --> 01:01:24,747
on their offer to trying to
negotiate a budget agreement

1420
01:01:24,747 --> 01:01:26,982
that would prevent a
government shutdown.

1421
01:01:26,983 --> 01:01:31,054
And we have seen these kinds
of talks between Democrats

1422
01:01:31,054 --> 01:01:34,791
and Republicans on Capitol
Hill be effective in trying

1423
01:01:34,791 --> 01:01:36,526
to identify common ground.

1424
01:01:36,526 --> 01:01:39,796
And we believe that that
would occur again if

1425
01:01:39,796 --> 01:01:42,330
Republicans, like I said,
would take up Democrats on

1426
01:01:42,331 --> 01:01:44,734
their offer to have
those conversations.

1427
01:01:44,734 --> 01:01:46,936
We believe that is the best
way for us to resolve this

1428
01:01:46,936 --> 01:01:50,106
problem, and even -- again,
even if Congress may not be

1429
01:01:50,106 --> 01:01:53,342
in session, there still is
no reason that those kinds

1430
01:01:53,342 --> 01:01:55,478
of conversations
can't occur.

1431
01:01:55,478 --> 01:01:58,514
We certainly should not wait
until the government has

1432
01:01:58,514 --> 01:02:01,484
already been shut down
before Republicans start to

1433
01:02:01,484 --> 01:02:02,585
engage in those
conversations.

1434
01:02:02,585 --> 01:02:04,587
That's unfortunately
what happened last time.

1435
01:02:04,587 --> 01:02:05,855
We can't repeat
that mistake.

1436
01:02:05,855 --> 01:02:07,256
The Press: So are you
saying you would oppose a

1437
01:02:07,256 --> 01:02:09,325
short-term CR?

1438
01:02:09,325 --> 01:02:11,727
Mr. Earnest: What I'm
suggesting is that the -- in

1439
01:02:11,727 --> 01:02:14,629
the 70 days between now and
the end of the fiscal year,

1440
01:02:14,630 --> 01:02:18,534
that Republicans should sit
down with Democrats and

1441
01:02:18,534 --> 01:02:21,771
broker the kind of
bipartisan agreement that's

1442
01:02:21,771 --> 01:02:23,339
been good for the country
and good for our economy in

1443
01:02:23,339 --> 01:02:24,340
the past.

1444
01:02:24,340 --> 01:02:25,007
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1445
01:02:25,007 --> 01:02:26,375
Mr. Earnest: Mark.

1446
01:02:26,375 --> 01:02:28,778
The Press: Josh, on your
pro-war remark, does the

1447
01:02:28,778 --> 01:02:32,515
White House regard any
and all opponents of Iran

1448
01:02:32,515 --> 01:02:34,016
nuclear deal as pro-war?

1449
01:02:34,016 --> 01:02:36,185
Mr. Earnest: Well, they can
explain for themselves.

1450
01:02:36,185 --> 01:02:37,887
Obviously, there is at least
one Republican *member of

1451
01:02:37,887 --> 01:02:40,556
Congress [candidate for
president] who said that he

1452
01:02:40,556 --> 01:02:43,659
would be prepared if he wins
the presidency in the next

1453
01:02:43,659 --> 01:02:45,428
election, he would be
prepared to carry out a

1454
01:02:45,428 --> 01:02:48,330
military strike against
Iran on Inauguration Day.

1455
01:02:48,331 --> 01:02:52,101
So I haven't heard Senator
Cruz's position on this.

1456
01:02:52,101 --> 01:02:53,269
Maybe he disagrees
with that.

1457
01:02:53,269 --> 01:02:54,870
But he's welcome to say so.

1458
01:02:54,871 --> 01:02:56,339
The Press: But you don't
agree that's the case for

1459
01:02:56,339 --> 01:02:58,841
all opponents of
the deal, do you?

1460
01:02:58,841 --> 01:03:00,843
The Press: Well, I think
that all opponents will have

1461
01:03:00,843 --> 01:03:03,745
the opportunity to explain
why they would oppose the

1462
01:03:03,746 --> 01:03:06,082
best way for us to prevent
Iran from obtaining a

1463
01:03:06,082 --> 01:03:08,451
nuclear weapon, and that
is through diplomacy.

1464
01:03:08,451 --> 01:03:10,553
They can all make their
own individual case.

1465
01:03:10,553 --> 01:03:13,288
But I think that Senator
Cruz -- again, he can speak

1466
01:03:13,289 --> 01:03:14,290
for himself.

1467
01:03:14,290 --> 01:03:16,425
But my understanding is that
he's been sympathetic to

1468
01:03:16,425 --> 01:03:21,464
this view that the next
President should be prepared

1469
01:03:21,464 --> 01:03:23,466
to carry out a military
strike against Iran on

1470
01:03:23,466 --> 01:03:24,467
Inauguration Day.

1471
01:03:24,467 --> 01:03:27,136
The Press: Also, what's the
President been doing all day?

1472
01:03:27,136 --> 01:03:29,672
His public schedule
is fairly barren.

1473
01:03:29,672 --> 01:03:31,240
(laughter)

1474
01:03:31,240 --> 01:03:33,375
He's got a presidential
daily brief, and then

1475
01:03:33,376 --> 01:03:34,610
his departure.

1476
01:03:34,610 --> 01:03:36,112
What's he doing?

1477
01:03:36,112 --> 01:03:37,847
Mr. Earnest: There are a
couple meetings that the

1478
01:03:37,847 --> 01:03:40,316
President is doing today --
some of them related to his

1479
01:03:40,316 --> 01:03:41,917
Africa trip.

1480
01:03:41,918 --> 01:03:44,053
One thing I can -- I might
as well go ahead and tell

1481
01:03:44,053 --> 01:03:45,421
you about, I don't know
if I'm making news here.

1482
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:46,589
The Press: BBC.

1483
01:03:46,589 --> 01:03:47,657
Mr. Earnest: Yes, exactly.

1484
01:03:47,657 --> 01:03:50,126
So I guess I'm not -- unless
Bill has got the scoop here.

1485
01:03:50,126 --> 01:03:52,328
The President is doing an
interview this afternoon

1486
01:03:52,328 --> 01:03:53,629
with BBC.

1487
01:03:53,629 --> 01:03:55,932
And I would expect that that
would be an opportunity for

1488
01:03:55,932 --> 01:03:59,502
the President to discuss
both his upcoming trip to

1489
01:03:59,502 --> 01:04:04,874
Africa, but also the
historic agreement with Iran.

1490
01:04:08,044 --> 01:04:10,046
So obviously there's
significant international

1491
01:04:10,046 --> 01:04:11,647
interest in both
of those stories.

1492
01:04:11,647 --> 01:04:14,183
Those interviews will be
broadcast for the first time

1493
01:04:14,183 --> 01:04:15,885
at 11:00 p.m.

1494
01:04:15,885 --> 01:04:16,986
Eastern Time tonight.

1495
01:04:16,986 --> 01:04:19,589
So you can set your DVRs.

1496
01:04:19,589 --> 01:04:21,224
The Press: Is it
going to be broadcast?

1497
01:04:21,224 --> 01:04:21,791
Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry?

1498
01:04:21,791 --> 01:04:23,593
The Press: Is it going to be
broadcast somewhere earlier?

1499
01:04:23,593 --> 01:04:24,926
(laughter)

1500
01:04:24,927 --> 01:04:28,197
Mr. Earnest: That sounds
like a pre-broadcast,

1501
01:04:28,197 --> 01:04:29,332
not a re-broadcast.

1502
01:04:29,332 --> 01:04:30,900
(laughter)

1503
01:04:30,900 --> 01:04:32,401
So -- 11:00 p.m.

1504
01:04:32,401 --> 01:04:33,202
Jared, I'll give
you the last one.

1505
01:04:33,202 --> 01:04:34,303
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1506
01:04:34,303 --> 01:04:36,239
I also have a question about
the President's schedule today.

1507
01:04:36,239 --> 01:04:38,941
Will he be dropping by the
Community Oriented Policing

1508
01:04:38,941 --> 01:04:41,776
Initiative at
the EEOB today?

1509
01:04:41,777 --> 01:04:45,481
Mr. Earnest: I don't
believe so, actually.

1510
01:04:45,481 --> 01:04:47,483
I know that the Attorney
General was planning

1511
01:04:47,483 --> 01:04:48,484
to be there.

1512
01:04:48,484 --> 01:04:50,486
But I don't believe that's
on the President's

1513
01:04:50,486 --> 01:04:51,453
schedule today.

1514
01:04:51,454 --> 01:04:53,556
The Press: In that context,
just to follow up on April's

1515
01:04:53,556 --> 01:04:55,024
questions about
Sandra Bland.

1516
01:04:55,024 --> 01:04:58,527
The White House has put
out these initiatives, and

1517
01:04:58,527 --> 01:04:59,829
they've been going
for some time now.

1518
01:04:59,829 --> 01:05:03,299
I just want to ask in terms
of process, when these news

1519
01:05:03,299 --> 01:05:08,704
stories come up and we start
to learn about yet another

1520
01:05:08,704 --> 01:05:11,173
video or yet another
incident of these things

1521
01:05:11,173 --> 01:05:13,542
happening, how do these
initiatives, which have

1522
01:05:13,542 --> 01:05:17,113
originated at the White
House, adapt or take this

1523
01:05:17,113 --> 01:05:18,114
new information in?

1524
01:05:18,114 --> 01:05:20,416
Is this something where
they have a mission?

1525
01:05:20,416 --> 01:05:23,119
The President has given
them a purpose, and they

1526
01:05:23,119 --> 01:05:25,821
essentially go forward
along those guidelines?

1527
01:05:25,821 --> 01:05:29,525
Or do they say, with each
new incident, well, let's

1528
01:05:29,525 --> 01:05:32,895
try to figure out how this
fits into the overall narrative?

1529
01:05:32,895 --> 01:05:39,802
Mr. Earnest: Well, my first
instinct is to tell you that

1530
01:05:39,802 --> 01:05:42,138
-- and I think this is
obviously from somebody who

1531
01:05:42,138 --> 01:05:44,674
has following this closely
like you have been, which is

1532
01:05:44,674 --> 01:05:46,676
that each of these
individuals -- or each of

1533
01:05:46,676 --> 01:05:50,613
these incidents occur in
unique circumstances.

1534
01:05:50,613 --> 01:05:54,549
And it underscores the need
that was discussed in the

1535
01:05:54,550 --> 01:05:58,087
President's 21st Century
Policing Task Force to work

1536
01:05:58,087 --> 01:06:00,356
with individual communities
to tailor a solution to

1537
01:06:00,356 --> 01:06:01,324
their communities.

1538
01:06:01,324 --> 01:06:03,326
And the thing that we know
is that when we build

1539
01:06:03,326 --> 01:06:05,328
stronger relationships
between local law

1540
01:06:05,328 --> 01:06:07,330
enforcement agencies and the
communities they're sworn to

1541
01:06:07,330 --> 01:06:09,332
serve and protect, that
they can operate

1542
01:06:09,332 --> 01:06:10,433
more effectively.

1543
01:06:10,433 --> 01:06:14,603
And that's the principle
that we're seeking to apply

1544
01:06:14,603 --> 01:06:15,738
all across the country.

1545
01:06:15,738 --> 01:06:18,240
And, yes, this means that
it applies in a lot of

1546
01:06:18,240 --> 01:06:20,743
different ways in
different communities.

1547
01:06:20,743 --> 01:06:23,879
But the underlying principle
is essentially that one.

1548
01:06:23,879 --> 01:06:26,248
There is one other thing,
and you alluded -- one other

1549
01:06:26,248 --> 01:06:28,684
common thread in a lot of
this that you alluded to,

1550
01:06:28,684 --> 01:06:31,487
which is the prominent role
that video has played in

1551
01:06:31,487 --> 01:06:32,621
telling some of
these stories.

1552
01:06:32,621 --> 01:06:35,758
And that's why the
Department of Justice has

1553
01:06:35,758 --> 01:06:40,096
advanced this pilot program
for body-worn cameras.

1554
01:06:40,096 --> 01:06:42,198
There are a number of local
law enforcement agencies

1555
01:06:42,198 --> 01:06:45,533
that have acted on their own
to ensure that their law

1556
01:06:45,534 --> 01:06:48,170
enforcement officers
are wearing cameras.

1557
01:06:48,170 --> 01:06:50,172
There is more that we need
to understand in terms of

1558
01:06:50,172 --> 01:06:52,174
the impact of this
particular technology

1559
01:06:52,174 --> 01:06:54,143
on policing.

1560
01:06:54,143 --> 01:06:58,681
But it certainly does
indicate that there's some

1561
01:06:58,681 --> 01:07:02,518
potential associated
with body-worn cameras.

1562
01:07:02,518 --> 01:07:03,986
And that's something that
the Justice Department is

1563
01:07:03,986 --> 01:07:05,688
obviously working on.

1564
01:07:05,688 --> 01:07:07,289
The Press: I don't want to
read too much into the cause

1565
01:07:07,289 --> 01:07:10,793
and effect, but the thrust
for body-worn cameras came

1566
01:07:10,793 --> 01:07:14,163
after several incidents
where video was utilized --

1567
01:07:14,163 --> 01:07:15,931
civilian video was utilized.

1568
01:07:15,931 --> 01:07:18,667
And that was something
that spurred a legislative

1569
01:07:18,667 --> 01:07:20,903
proposal and the White
House's proposal.

1570
01:07:20,903 --> 01:07:25,274
What I'm asking is, is there
a need for the Community

1571
01:07:25,274 --> 01:07:28,544
Oriented Policing and the
21st Century Policing Task

1572
01:07:28,544 --> 01:07:32,948
Force -- is there a need
for them to ingest each new

1573
01:07:32,948 --> 01:07:35,750
incident and react to it?

1574
01:07:35,751 --> 01:07:39,922
And a separate question, and
this may be better able to

1575
01:07:39,922 --> 01:07:41,924
get a specific answer out of
you because that one is kind

1576
01:07:41,924 --> 01:07:42,925
of vague.

1577
01:07:42,925 --> 01:07:49,165
When we see -- when we hear
from the Attorney General

1578
01:07:49,165 --> 01:07:53,969
today, should there be some
kind of broad message to

1579
01:07:53,969 --> 01:07:55,805
police departments,
something stronger than

1580
01:07:55,805 --> 01:07:59,308
we've seen in the past to
say, this is happening

1581
01:07:59,308 --> 01:08:00,910
too often?

1582
01:08:00,910 --> 01:08:03,212
That's not a language we've
necessarily heard from the

1583
01:08:03,212 --> 01:08:07,550
President or the Attorney
General that -- I'm seeing

1584
01:08:07,550 --> 01:08:12,521
April saying, yes, he has --
but that this needs to stop,

1585
01:08:12,521 --> 01:08:15,891
and that the police methods
need to be criticized

1586
01:08:15,891 --> 01:08:16,892
more directly.

1587
01:08:16,892 --> 01:08:18,894
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President has been pretty

1588
01:08:18,894 --> 01:08:20,896
outspoken on a lot of this,
so I'd encourage you to

1589
01:08:20,895 --> 01:08:22,096
check his previous comments.

1590
01:08:22,096 --> 01:08:25,099
But the President has also
been just as clear about the

1591
01:08:25,100 --> 01:08:27,603
respect that he has for
our men and women in law

1592
01:08:27,603 --> 01:08:30,806
enforcement that put on
the uniform every day.

1593
01:08:30,805 --> 01:08:32,808
They walk out the front door
of their house prepared to

1594
01:08:32,808 --> 01:08:34,810
put their life on the line
for people in the community

1595
01:08:34,810 --> 01:08:36,812
they're sworn to
serve and protect.

1596
01:08:36,812 --> 01:08:38,080
That's an honorable
profession.

1597
01:08:38,080 --> 01:08:43,751
All the more reason that
efforts to improve their

1598
01:08:43,752 --> 01:08:46,522
ability to do their job and
to keep their community safe

1599
01:08:46,522 --> 01:08:49,225
is something that we should
spend some time working on,

1600
01:08:49,225 --> 01:08:51,227
and that's exactly what the
President's task force was

1601
01:08:51,227 --> 01:08:52,228
focused on.

1602
01:08:52,228 --> 01:08:54,230
That's what the Department
of Justice has been focused,

1603
01:08:54,229 --> 01:08:56,232
and this will continue to be
a priority moving forward.

1604
01:08:56,232 --> 01:08:58,234
The Press: Are any of them
invited to the community

1605
01:08:58,234 --> 01:08:59,235
policing event?

1606
01:08:59,234 --> 01:09:01,237
Mr. Earnest: We can get you
a list of people who are

1607
01:09:01,237 --> 01:09:02,605
involved in that event.

1608
01:09:02,604 --> 01:09:03,805
The Press: Josh, quickly
before you go, any reaction

1609
01:09:03,805 --> 01:09:05,307
to Donald Trump visiting the border --

1610
01:09:05,307 --> 01:09:06,407
Mr. Earnest: No.

1611
01:09:06,408 --> 01:09:06,976
The Press: -- and saying
that the border -

1612
01:09:06,975 --> 01:09:10,379
(laughter).

1613
01:09:10,379 --> 01:09:10,813
The Press: It
was a nice try.

1614
01:09:10,813 --> 01:09:12,248
The Press: Nice try.