December 20, 1999
PRESS BRIEFING BY JOE LOCKHART
11:17 P.M EST
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 20, 1999
PRESS BRIEFING BY
JOE LOCKHART
The Briefing Room
11:17 P.M EST
.............
Q Joe, another 200 people, or over 200 people were arrested in
Pakistan in connection with this terrorism activities, including this on
the Canadian and U.S. border. Now, number one, what were they doing? Were
they getting training in Pakistan, or where they come from ?
MR. LOCKHART: My understanding from the Pakistani authorities
disputes the question, which is, they arrested a number of individuals, up
to 200, in connection with criminal activity in Pakistan. I think a
Minister of Finance, one of the Ministers of Finance was murdered. So
while this is a serious law enforcement operation in Pakistan, I?d exercise
some caution in drawing any linkage to terrorist activity and other groups
that have received a lot of attention.
Q I?m sorry, just to follow, some reports are saying it may be the
timing. The new Pakistani ambassador just arrived here, and at the same
time they were arrested there, so there may be some kind of hand-over to
the U.S. authorities in connection with the Osama bin Laden group.
MR. LOCKHART: Well, again, my understanding of the situation is it
has to do with a domestic criminal investigation which, while very serious
in its nature, is not necessarily connected to the kind of international
terrorism that we've spent a good bit of time engaging both with Pakistan
and a number of other countries on.
...............
Q A couple of follow ups. One on the terrorism in general, as we
go toward Y2K now. Is there anything different in this building, in terms
of briefing the President, or activities in the NSC? What can you tell us
about what?s going on here on a day-to-day basis? Sort of in a --
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think John Koskinen has run a fairly remarkable
operation over the last year to prepare the federal government and to help
prepare state and local governments, communities, schools, businesses, to
meet the challenge of Y2K. And I think, as his final reports indicate,
from the federal government?s point of view we?re ready. From most state
and local governments, they?re ready. There are pockets of areas where
there?s some concern. But they don?t expect there to be any real level of
unpreparedness here. That is obviously taking up increasingly more time of
the administration, but has gone forward in a very methodical way under Mr.
Koskinen?s direction.
As far as the President?s time, I mean, he?s been fully briefed
throughout the year, and particularly as we move closer, to what we?re
doing, and I think will be briefed through the command center operation
that Koskinen has set up here in Washington through the day ? New Year?s
Eve and New Year?s Day.
Q But is Koskinen involved in terrorist threats?
MR. LOCKHART: No, I?m sorry. I thought this was about Y2K.
Q Well, that?s one aspect of it, but certainly there?s now, with
the arrest, there?s the terrorist aspect of it. And how has that changed
things in this building, if at all, in terms of briefings and alert status,
that sort of thing?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think you know on the worldwide front that the
State Department?s travel advisory went out now probably eight or nine days
ago. And the law enforcement community in this country, and intelligence
operations around the world, have been working diligently. I mean, I can?t
tell you that there?s anything material that I can point to, as far as
activity in this building, beyond a lot of work that goes into protecting
against these threats.
Q Is it occupying more of the President?s time, though, Joe?
MR. LOCKHART: I think as things go, because it?s an issue of concern,
it probably is occupying more of his time than, say, two months ago. But
we have ongoing efforts that look at both international terrorism and
protecting against domestic terrorism. That work is something that the
President has closely involved himself in, and has done a lot of work on.
Q Joe, has the President been briefed specifically on what
transpired in Washington state on Friday of last week? And are there any
national security implications to what happened?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think the President has been kept up to date on
the situation there, and up to date on the latest information that law
enforcement has been able to gather.
Q Has the President purchased a lot of water, and is he getting
some extra cash out of the bank?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, he can always rely on Kris Engskov if he runs out
of cash ? (laughter) ? which happens from time to time. I don?t know about
particular ?
Q He doesn?t carry any cash?
MR. LOCKHART: I think that ? John Koskinen has spoken to this in a
number of forums and a number of groups. And his advice ? and I think it?s
sage advice ? is that people shouldn?t overreact, but there are some modest
steps ? I think he described it as preparing like you get a weather report
that a storm may be coming in ? and just preparing yourself just in case
there is a temporary disruption of power or something like that.
Q But, Joe, the President is in touch with the world leaders as far
as terrorism and Y2K problem is concerned. Now, if other governments fail,
then what kind of communications will the President have, or option to be
in touch?
MR. LOCKHART: Well, I think one of the real areas of work and concern
has been, because we live in an interdependent world, how other countries
are prepared. I think there have been a series of reports done on that.
And we have worked closely with foreign governments to help them meet the
Y2K challenge, and to also understand the potential impact that it might
have domestically, and to be prepared for that.
.......
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
11:37 A.M. EST
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