17 September 2001
Transcript: White House Daily Briefing, September 17, 2001
(President's schedule, economics, airline industry, Taliban, state of
alert, World Trade Organization, legislative agenda, rebuilding in New
York, reserves call-up, Wall Street, President's comments on Osama bin
Laden, Arab-Americans/non-Americans, assassination directive, Bush's
visit to Islamic Center, coalition, Middle East, G-8, National
Security Council meeting) (6890)
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed.
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2001
PRESS BRIEFING INDEX
-- President's schedule
-- Economics
-- Airline industry
-- Taliban
-- State of alert
-- World Trade Organization
-- Legislative agenda
-- Rebuilding in New York
-- Reserves call-up
-- Wall Street
-- President's comments on Osama bin Laden
-- Arab-Americans, non-Americans
-- Assassination directive
-- President's visit to Islamic center
-- Coalition
-- Middle East
-- G-8
-- National Security Council meeting
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2001
PRESS BRIEFING BY ARI FLEISCHER
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:17 P.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. I would like to fill you in on the
President's day and, also, I have a couple announcements to make.
President Bush this morning spoke with President Zayid of the United
Arab Emirates. The two spoke about cooperation against terrorism. The
President thanked President Zayid for his public statements of support
and his willingness to help the United States.
The President, earlier today, convened a meeting of his National
Security Council to continue making plans. Earlier, the President
visited the Pentagon to be briefed on the status of the call-up of the
Reserves and to thank the employers and families who we know will be
making a sacrifice to allow the Reservists to come serve our nation.
The President is about to make a phone call to the Chancellor of the
New York City public schools, Harold Levy, to discuss how the federal
government is prepared to help the school children and the parents of
New York City deal with this tragedy as children go back to school.
The Secretary of Education is with the Chancellor right now. He will
be there for the phone call and he will be making an announcement
about additional millions of dollars which will be provided to New
York City public schools to help them in this effort and to help our
children and to help their parents.
A little later this afternoon, the President is going to be departing
the White House to go to an Islamic center in the Washington, D.C.
area, where the President intends to speak out very strongly about the
need to remind all Americans that Arab Americans and Muslim Americans
love the American flag, just like everybody else who is a citizen of
this country. And he's looking forward to that visit. He'll spend some
time with the leaders of the community, as well as various members of
the community. The President considers that a very important meeting.
Later this afternoon, the President will return for a meeting of the
economic policy team, where they will discuss the consequences of the
terrorist attack on the United States, from an economic point of view,
as well as discuss the airline industry and the position the airline
industry is in at this moment.
Mrs. Bush will be in Pennsylvania for the memorial service for those
who lost their lives in the crash of the airline in southwest
Pennsylvania.
Two announcements for you, and then I'll be more than pleased to take
questions. President Bush will welcome French President Jacques Chirac
for a meeting and a private working dinner on September 18th,
tomorrow. The visit is part of President Bush's continuing
consultation with key allies about our global agenda, including the
war on terrorism. And I'd note that this was a previously planned
meeting.
In addition, the President will welcome Amir Shaiki Hamad bin Khalifa
Al Thani to Washington. He is the Amir of Qatar, for a working visit
on October 4th. And with that, I'm more than happy to take questions.
QUESTION: Ari, on the economic front, the President talked about
working with Congress on an economic stimulus package. Is he
specifically preparing to back another tax cut? Does he think the
country needs that right now?
MR. FLEISCHER: Too soon to say, David, but the President will continue
to keep his eye on the economy, and he will continue to listen to
members of Congress in both parties about what steps, if any, they
believe need to be taken to help the economy, if any need to be taken.
Q: Can you be more specific? Is that one of the ideas that's currently
being discussed, both in Congress and between Congress and the
administration?
MR. FLEISCHER: That is one of the ideas being discussed, correct.
Q: And what kind of tax cut? Are we talking about capital gains --
MR. FLEISCHER: No, it's too soon to say. The President will have the
briefing later this afternoon, and so I would hesitate to speculate
until the briefing.
Q: Let me go further. Does the administration support the bill in
Congress to provide assistance to the airline industry?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's the topic that will come up at the meeting this
afternoon -- the best forum that assistance, if any is to be coming,
could be available. So that's a topic the President will review, and
he has -- he's very concerned about the health of the airline
industry.
Q: Will there be a decision on either one of these matters out of this
meeting?
MR. FLEISCHER: Let the meeting take place, and I'll try to keep you
informed. And, again, this is the beginning of a process where the
President will keep his eye on the economy, in the aftermath of the
attack on the United States. So I'll keep you updated.
Q: The Taliban is now saying that it's Supreme Council will meet
tomorrow to discuss the U.S. demand to turn over bin Laden. What's the
administration's response to that? What are you looking for out of
that?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President's response will be, he will see what they
say. But this is much bigger than that. The President has made it
clear, the Vice President has made it clear, the Secretary of Defense
has made it clear that this war on terrorism is bigger than any one
person. The al Qaeda organization is a network that is represented in
some 60 countries around the world, that exists beyond any one leader.
And this war on terrorism is a war that the President said he is
committed to taking throughout this organization that engaged in this
attack on our country.
Q: And the Pakistani officials are saying that they told Afghan
leaders, the Taliban, they had 72 hours to turn over bin Laden. Is
that a U.S.-sponsored deadline?
MR. FLEISCHER: Anything involving, any specific actions that may or
may not have been taken by our allies in this matter, I'm not going to
get into. And let me try to shed a little light on the reason for
that, because there have been many questions about what have you asked
your allies to do, and I've indicated the broad areas.
We've asked our allies to cooperate with us in military areas, in
financial areas, in economic areas, in political and diplomatic. And I
understand why you want to know more. But for me to indicate to you
anything more than that would also be an indication to our enemy about
what concrete steps allies may be taking. And one of the easiest ways
for them to get around any steps our allies may be taking is for them
to know about them.
So I wish somehow there was a way that I could share this information
with people here and with the American people. But, as you know, any
answer I would give to that would also be directly provided to our
enemy. And I will not do that.
Q: Ari, two things. One is, we're hearing reports of an American
airliner that had to make an emergency landing in Chicago today. The
FBI came on board, apparently, and took away three gentlemen. What
kind of state of alert is the White House had, and law enforcement,
about people who may still be flying, that may be a danger? And,
secondly, has the President rescinded the order for the military to
shoot down commercial airliners, if necessary?
MR. FLEISCHER: On the second point, I'm not going to address the exact
status of the defense operations to protect the American people.
Suffice it to say the United States remains on a very heightened
status of alert to protect the traveling public. But that's an
operational question so, therefore, I'm not going to get beyond what I
have said.
On the first part of it, the President has tried every day in every
way to warn the American people that this is a war and we are an open
society. Obviously, the events of September 11th, a terrorist
organization was able to penetrate our country and to attack. And
being an open society, everybody does still need to be vigilant;
people still need to take care and to remember that we are in a war
footing. And it is a different time and a different era,
unfortunately.
Q: Does law enforcement, Ari, in the United States, does law
enforcement believe that there may be a number of suspects still at
large in the U.S. that may have participated in the Tuesday attack and
may be planning future attacks?
MR. FLEISCHER: Concerns remain dealing with ongoing security. And
that's why I think you've seen steps that are being taken by the
Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, to
do everything possible to secure the traveling public, particularly in
the air. So there's a reason for the stepped-up vigilance and for the
stepped-up security. It's because there are causes for concern that
remain.
Q: There's a news report today that there's a division among the
President's advisors about whether or how much to help the airline
industry. As the President goes into this meeting, what is the current
thinking about that? And is ironing this out one of the purposes of
the meeting?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think, as you can imagine in any major issue
where it involves the health of an American industry, there are lots
of factors that need to get considered. And the President will have a
good opportunity today to start to address what the facts are. And as
I indicated earlier, the meeting hasn't taken place yet. It will take
place mid-to-late this afternoon, and you may want to check back with
me after that.
Q: Ari, the IMF cancelled their meetings today, and the Emir of Qatar
is coming. Do you think the WTO ministerial should proceed as planned?
MR. FLEISCHER: I have no information about that. That, of course, is
in Qatar and that's an entirely different security situation. So you
can't put everything in the same category. Of course, the meeting that
was cancelled is right here in Washington, D.C., and that meeting
would have involved bringing down police from New York, bringing down
police from Philadelphia. Obviously, there is a major strain on the
police departments along the east coast and they've made their
decision.
Helen.
Q: What items on the President's legislative agenda are now on the
back burner, shelved for the year?
MR. FLEISCHER: None. It was interesting -- none. It was interesting,
at the meeting last week with the Cabinet, the meeting of the Cabinet
was called for the purpose of discussing what the Cabinet members,
again, in collecting information from Cabinet Secretaries about the
status of combatting the attack on our country and dealing with it. At
the end of the meeting, however, the President called on all the
members of the Cabinet to take action on our domestic agenda.
The President reminded them that a patients' bill of rights remains
important; that there are a series of initiatives that are pending up
on the Hill that remain important. And he called on them to get done,
including education reform, which the President reminded them remains
a top priority domestically.
Q: He doesn't expect to get it, surely?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, Helen, I think it's interesting, the Congress
still has a job to do and we still are a constitutional system and
that's what has kept us strong and that's what is going to enable us
to win. So there is a domestic agenda, the President is committed to
it. I think it's fair to say that you'll hear less about it because of
the dominance, obviously, of dealing with an attack on our country.
But the President told the Cabinet members to be dedicated to it and
members of our staff are.
Q: A couple of times in the past two or three days the President has
talked about the need to rebuild New York, the need to do it as
quickly as possible. It is his opinion that the World Trade Center, or
something similar to it, should be rebuilt?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think it's too soon to say, John. And that's the type
of conversation the President is going to want to have with New York
officials and, of course, with the many private organizations who are
headquarter in the World Trade Center.
But, obviously, the President has a real keen eye out for how to help
New York and how to bring New York -- rebuild New York. But what form
that will take, it's too soon to say, this is six days after the
attack.
Q: But is he of the mind, though, that if you did not rebuild that
building, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, that it would be bowing
to the terrorists?
MR. FLEISCHER: No. I think, again, the President is going to have
serious discussions at the appropriate time with the Mayor of New
York, with the Governor of New York, with the appropriate people who
are responsible for such an endeavor. But what the President is making
clear is not only for the symbolism of rebuilding New York in the wake
of attack, but for the humanity of it and for the deserving nature of
helping New York, he is intent to get it done.
Q: Can I just follow up on Helen's question. The President would like
those issues addressed this year, patients' rights, education and
everything that was on the plate, trade promotion authority, still
this year?
MR. FLEISCHER: That was his charge to the Cabinet members.
Q: Now, wouldn't that foster some disunity on the Hill? I mean, a lot
of those are very contentious issues and he's looking for a united
Congress.
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, Keith, I guess that's one way to look at it.
I don't think that's the way the President looks at it. And I think
that in the wake of this there is a different mood in the Congress,
and in the Presidency about working with each other and cooperating
with each other. So I've made no such presumption. The issue should
be, proceed with the people's business on the domestic front and work
together.
Q: Can you give us any kind of summary about the Pentagon meeting the
President had today?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President received an update about the status of
the call up of the Reserves, the number of people involved, the
activities that they will be working in. The President, of course,
listed many of those activities -- you heard him, himself, when he was
talking about engineering roles, he went through -- protecting the
harbors. He went through the whole list of activities which the
Reserves are helping in. And also talked about the employers and the
families, the difficulty that a call-up can impose on them. And the
President expressed his gratitude for those who provide such a vital
service.
It's interesting because the Reserves really do play a tremendous role
in our nation's ability to defend itself. It's not a passive role,
it's not a small role -- it's an integral role. And that's what they
talked about.
Q: Ari, you know the eyes of the world are on Wall Street today. It's
been closed for six days, after the terrorist incident. Is the
President being appraised -- I know Secretary O'Neill was over there
for the opening, but is the President being appraised continually of
the behavior of the markets, not just the averages?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I did not ask him when we went over to the
Pentagon if he was aware what stocks were trading at, at that moment.
But, of course, the President is keenly aware of the first day of the
markets opening, and the importance of the markets working and
functioning. It's a terribly important topic. That's why Secretary
O'Neill has been so involved in it and will continue to be.
Q: Will he be at the meeting this afternoon, the economic meeting?
MR. FLEISCHER: Secretary O'Neill? I believe the meeting is of the
White House staff that works with all the Cabinet Secretaries. But,
again, the meeting will be in a couple of hours.
Q: Ari, can you elaborate a little bit on the President's remarks
today about wanted dead or alive? I mean, could you explain his
intent? Is he essentially issuing an appeal for anyone to hunt down
and possibly kill bin Laden?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't think you can elaborate. I think they were
pretty plainly spoken.
Q: How about in addition to that, then, if we want to go through the
same imagery, is there any consideration of a federal bounty, a
reward?
MR. FLEISCHER: There's nothing that I've heard about like that.
Q: To follow up on that, yesterday afternoon the President used the
term, find the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. Was he
talking about a form of justice in which you police, the international
community polices, brings them to an international sense of justice in
terms of judicial justice, or is he talking about specifically just
military strikes, obliteration?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, and the President said that again today, he said
that remark in the context of justice. He added that, as you heard, in
his comments. I think that justice comes in many different shapes and
forms. And the President has stressed his opinion about a couple of
those different shapes and forms that it could come in.
Q: The comments that the President and his senior advisors have made
about the increased security, the increased awareness that we will
have to follow now have been careful to note that we don't want this
country's freedoms to be eroded by the terrorist attack, we want to
remain America. And, yet, the presence of five or four Middle East
nationals on a domestic flight is exceptionally rare.
Are the rules different for non-Americans? Should that trigger now
questions -- Middle East nationals on domestic flights in large
numbers, should that trigger questions? And are non-Americans in this
heightened sense, this more aware time, to undergo more close scrutiny
than members of the Arab American community -- non-Americans to
undergo more scrutiny than they did in the past?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think when you look at the fact that there are
lines, sometimes people are told to get to their flights four hours
early, that way they can all go through the same security review, I
think it's perfectly clear that these provisions apply to one and to
all. As a matter of law enforcement, anybody who is believed to be
violating the laws of the United States will be held accountable and
responsible. And the laws target law-breakers.
Q: -- whether we can be more focused on non-Americans in this time.
I'm trying not to get to profiling; I'm trying not to get to the
diminution of civil liberties. But is the scrutiny more on
non-Americans than it can be on Americans?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think the scrutiny is on those who violate the
law. And whether that's in the form of immigration, whether it's in
the form of anything else that would give the law enforcement
community reason to believe that there are threats. But I remind you,
again, that the precautions that have been put in place apply to one
and to all.
And, again, the President -- also, there's a reminder here when he
goes to the mosque this afternoon that it still is a time to remind
all Americans about the role of civil justice in our society, about
the role we all play as individuals in treating our neighbors fairly
and in making no presumptions about guilt. And that's one of the
reasons the President is going. He wants to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the American Arab community and Muslims to say that they, too,
are patriots and they, too, are victims of this attack.
Q: But, Ari, one of the hijackers was an American.
MR. FLEISCHER: And I repeat my answer: law enforcement will target
those who break the law.
Q: Ari, on the issue of bringing -- potentially bringing someone like
Osama bin Laden to justice, he's already under indictment in New York.
Does the President believe that it's, as a security matter, that it's
even possible to try Osama bin Laden in the United States,
particularly in New York? Does he think a trial is even a viable
option?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think we'll just have to see what steps unfold and in
what manner this is dealt with.
Q: Does he want him tried, or does he want him --
MR. FLEISCHER: As the President said, dead or alive.
Q: Right, but this is not a hypothetical. I mean, he's under
indictment in New York, currently. If he were to be produced, there's
a real question, if you talk to former prosecutors, current
prosecutors about the ability of the United States to even try such a
person, to secure a courthouse, to be able to put somebody like that
on trial --
MR. FLEISCHER: David, I hope the United States has to deal with this.
I hope the United States has to face the fact that Osama bin Laden is
found, either dead or alive, and then it's a question we will actively
have to deal with. Until that time, I'm not going to speculate about
any trials in the United States. I just refer you to the words of the
President and the words of the Vice President on this very specific
matter.
Q: I'm not asking for details, but has the President settled on a
course of action, or is that still under debate within the
administration?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to discuss the timing of it --
Q: That's not the question. Has he settled on --
MR. FLEISCHER: To answer that could be a clue that something could be
imminent or it could be a long time from now. So I'm not going to get
into giving status reports on the President's decision-making process.
Q: Ari, when the President said, "wanted dead or alive," did he have a
preference as to whether -- (laughter.)
MR. FLEISCHER: I did not hear him express any preference.
Q: Ari, has the President, vis-a-vis the "dead or alive" comment, has
the President lifted the directive that forbids the use of
assassination?
MR. FLEISCHER: That directive is in effect. And I also want to add
that it does not limit the United States' ability to act in its
self-defense.
Q: -- has been interpreted to limit our ability to target a specific
individual at a specific time?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'll just refer you to my words. It is in effect, but
it does not limit America's ability to act in self-defense.
Q: Are you saying we haven't prohibited assassination?
MR. FLEISCHER: I've answered the question in the context in which it
was asked.
Q: Can we follow?
Q: Let me follow up on that point. You said it doesn't limit the U.S.
ability to act in self-defense. Does going after a prime -- going
after someone who we believe is responsible or behind the Trade Center
fall under that directive? Is that an act of self-defense?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm just going to repeat my words, and others will
figure out the exact implications of them. But it does not inhibit the
nation's ability to act in self-defense.
Q: Can you give us a copy of that order?
Q: Would going after bin Laden be an act of self-defense?
MR. FLEISCHER: This is a legal matter and I'm sure the lawyers will
have more to say if they want to. But that's the answer, Ron. It does
not -- the executive order does not limit the United States' ability
to act in self-defense.
Q: And is going after bin Laden an act of self-defense?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to define all the steps that may or may
not be taken.
Q: Ari, we like to think of ourselves as a civilized world, so why
does the administration feel that it is appropriate to encourage,
globally, people to go kill someone else?
MR. FLEISCHER: Jean, our nation has been attacked and we're at war,
and to win a war it is vital for the United States to engage in it.
And, unfortunately, having had the first blow taken at our nation, our
nation will defend itself. And defending itself means acts which
involve the lives of others. We will defend ourself. And the United
States will act in self-defense, and that is why.
Q: The President's visit to the Islamic center you mentioned has an
important domestic purpose. Does it have an international purpose, as
well? How concerned is the President that in defending ourselves we
could ignite, not among the government of the region, but among the
people of the region, a kind of religious conflict, a holy war?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think it's fair to say that any actions the
President takes domestically have international repercussions. The
world is looking to us to see how we react to the fight against
terrorism. The world will follow America's lead in many cases. And we
will continue to work directly with many of those other nations.
But I remind you, also, Terry, that many of those nations have their
own threats from within and they have to ask themselves if they fail
to act against terrorism, will that further embolden the terrorists
and send a signal that they can get away with more?
Q: But is there a concern that this could degenerate into a conflict,
not between terrorism and civilization, but between Islam and
Christianity?
MR. FLEISCHER: This attack had nothing to do with Islam. This attack
was a perversion of Islam.
Q: Ari, if you could just come back to the coalition you're trying to
put together here -- and the President has used that phrase a few
times. How does this differ from the kind of coalitions put together
in the Persian Gulf time? Do you envision a different role for, say,
the close and traditional allies, the NATO allies, and then,
obviously, this other group that you are going to -- who tend to be,
in large cases, either Arab states or states that encircle
Afghanistan?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think that's a very good question. The biggest
difference is while the United States is talking to coalition allies
and asking for various things, the war to be fought is a very
different war. In 1991, the Persian Gulf War was much more a
traditional war. It involved a lengthy period of aerial attacks on
Iraq, as part of a broad coalition, followed by a ground force
invasion of Iraq, organized by a large coalition of nations, including
Arab nations, in that case.
What is different in this war, as the President has said, as the Vice
President has said, as the Secretary of Defense said yesterday on one
of the shows, is a war on terrorism does not involve those traditional
targets. There may be some elements of that, but there will be some
things that don't involve overt military action of that nature.
And what that means is that some nations are going to contribute in
ways more identical to 1991. Others are going to contribute in ways
that are much more limited, but they have real contributions to make
on that front, on the political front, on the diplomatic front, on the
financial front. So different nations will contribute in different
ways. But just because one nation contributes more or less doesn't
make them any more or less an important part of the coalition.
Q: Ari, can you clarify one thing for me? Going back to this "dead or
alive," the Vice President said yesterday that he wouldn't mind seeing
Osama bin Laden dead, but that he would have to consult more with the
White House lawyers. Is the description that you gave us based on a
recent interpretation by the White House legal counsel staff as
recently as yesterday? Or is this the standing policy of this
administration? Can you clarify --
MR. FLEISCHER: I couldn't tell you the exact genesis, the date of
that. But that is the policy.
Q: Two-part. The President does not want the State Department to keep
pressuring Israel to negotiate with Arafat, does he, since that would
be to tell Israel, do as we say, not as we are preparing to do?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I've thought about this a lot, and they
really are very different circumstances. In the case of Israel, and
the situation there, you have a lengthy process that was involved in
bringing the partners together, toward peace, a process that both have
committed themselves to. So the President does see here an opportunity
to help address the problems of the Middle East, and he does believe
that the patterns in the Middle East need to rededicate themselves to
the Mitchell Accords and to the peace process.
Q: The Baltimore Sun reports that radio stations in Washington and
Baltimore and elsewhere owned by Maryland multi-millionaire Kathy
Hughes are, "broadcasting African-Americans either endorsing or
excusing the acts of terrorists who took thousands of lives and who
are expressing sympathy with both bin Laden and the Palestinians."
And my question is, does the President, who stated, we are at war,
believe it would be wrong for the FCC, which already take action on
pornography, to contact Mrs. Hughes? Or does the President believe we
were wrong after another war to send to federal prison Axis Sally and
Tokyo Rose?
MR. FLEISCHER: I have not heard these reports, so I'm not going to
comment on things that I have not --
Q: Well, they were in the Baltimore Sun.
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not going to comment on things that I haven't
heard. But if you have anything that would demonstrate that, I'd be
interested to see it.
Q: Two questions. There was a wire report that Berlusconi said he had
talked to the White House or the President about a G-8 meeting here,
sounding somewhat imminent, and that the White House has agreed to it.
Do you know anything about that? MR. FLEISCHER: No, there's nothing. I
think there was some conversation, I saw a report on the wire that
someone is proposing a G-8 meeting on the ministerial level, but I
don't know what the status of that is. That's something that,
obviously, if it's ministerial, it's Treasury.
Q: What about at the leader level?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, there just was a G-8 meeting and I don't anticipate
any upcoming ones, other than previously scheduled.
Q: The President, in his remarks at the Pentagon, used some fairly
graphic language talking about the terrorists slitting the throat of a
woman who was on one of the planes. Is he talking about a specific
incident or was it imagery or what --
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I have not talked to the President since he
said that, but I know I'm aware of public reports involving things
that were said on cell phones with passengers on the flight in
southwest Pennsylvania.
Q: So there wasn't something -- I mean, do you know which flight he
was talking about or was this just general --
MR. FLEISCHER: I just indicated. I just said.
Q: But it's based on press reports?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I indicated I haven't talked to the President to
see beyond that. But you all have heard those same reports.
Q: On the meeting this afternoon with the economic team, when you said
that they're considering what steps, if any, to consider in the way of
an economic stimulus package, is it possible the administration might
be considering the appropriateness of encouraging proposals to
encourage the sell-off of assets at a time when, in fact, there is a
concern about major sell-offs?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, again, I think you have to let the meeting take
place and see what information is presented to the President and what
his reflections are. I'll be there; I'll do my best to give you some
type of information.
Q: Ari, speaking of civilized nations and religion, America heeded the
call that President Bush gave this week, talking about going to the
church house or going to the place of worship and praying. Many of
those who prayed this week were praying to prevent war. What does the
President, who is a devout Christian, say to these people as they're
praying that there is no more bloodshed?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think that, also, is a great question. I've thought
about that a lot, as somebody who works here, frankly. And I just
think it's really -- it has to be said, but it's unfortunate to say --
that one of the reasons all of us are here and enjoy what we do and
have the lifestyles we lead is because somebody in a generation before
answered the call. And, unfortunately, in our history, there has been
a call to war at times. And it's a call that a peace-loving nation and
a free nation like the United States never -- ever -- wants to get
involved in or answer.
But make no mistake: the United States has been attacked, and the
United States will answer the call.
Q: The Bible says, turn the other cheek.
MR. FLEISCHER: This nation will be defended. That way, we can have a
Bible to continue to live by and to listen to, as well as a Koran, or
as well as everybody else who comes to this country so we can protect
their way of life.
Q: Ari, just a few days ago, the President talked about Osama bin
Laden as a suspect. What has happened in the past few days to bring a
finer point on his sense that this is the perpetrator and that this is
the person who is responsible, and this is what he wants to tell the
American people?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I can't share that information with you, of
course, and that deals with anything that would involve how the United
States has learned information. If I were to answer that question,
that would be information our enemy would love to have about how we
get the information we get.
Q: Just to clarify, this is what the President wants to tell the
American people, that this is the mastermind of this, this is the
person who is responsible, and that he is worth, dead or alive, rather
than being brought to a court of justice?
MR. FLEISCHER: People have asked him questions, and he's answered
them. People have said, is Osama bin Laden a suspect, and he's
answered your questions directly. But this is why I caution you that,
ask away on the topic of Osama bin Laden -- but that is not all this
is about. This is about something so much bigger and broader than any
one person. And as I think the Vice President could not have made it
plainer yesterday, that if Osama bin Laden was dead, this war would
continue on, because it does not stop with him.
Q: Ari, does the President consider the possibility that by declaring
these acts of war, he might prevent some of the businesses in the New
York area that were harmed from collecting on insurance? Is there any
contingency plan, perhaps, to help those businesses out if they have
catastrophe insurance, but cannot collect because this was deemed an
act of war?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, number one, the President has called this an act
of war because it is, and our nation previously has dealt with the
consequences of acts of war. And as a result of our dealing with those
consequences, we've led the world every time. We will do so again. But
there are economic implications to all of this, and that's one of the
reasons the President is meeting today with his economic team.
But, fundamentally, the President knows that America is a nation of
patriots. And as he said today at the Pentagon, corporations have to
pay more attention to just the bottom line, to profits and losses. He
said that in the context of those who allow the Reservists to come up.
But everybody in this country is going to be asked to chip in, in one
way or another.
Q: Ari, is the Vice President, personally, taking part in the NSC
meeting here at the White House today? Was he there? Was he present?
MR. FLEISCHER: That was earlier this morning, and he did.
Q: He was here?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yes.
Q: Ari, going back to the President's trip to Islamic center. There
have been some incidents of Indian Sikhs and Indian Muslims were also
under attack. And one Sikh was shot dead in Phoenix, and other -- now,
also the Prime Minister of India called President Bush. They spoke on
the phone yesterday. So could you share their conversation and what
the President is going to take action against those -- Indian Sikhs
who look like Osama bin Laden?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, the President spoke with President Vajpayee
yesterday, and it's just another reminder that everybody in this
country is an immigrant here, and everybody may have come at a
different time and from a different place. But for this President, it
doesn't matter how recently you've been here, everyone here is just as
American as the next.
And I think at a time like this, it's incumbent on leaders -- and
that's why he is going to go to the Islamic Center today -- to say
that to the American people. I indicated earlier that in several of
the private meetings I've been in with the President and, for example,
at the meeting with those who represented New York and Virginia and
Pennsylvania, the areas that were hit, the President said, it is your
job as leaders to go out and remind people that all of us have to
speak out and remind Americans not to act violently toward our fellow
citizens just because of their ethnicity or the color of their skin.
Q: Just to follow, I'm sorry, almost every Hindu temple around the
country, including this area, they've been having prayers and they are
sending message to President Bush that they are united and they are
with the American people, including yesterday. The Indian Ambassador,
he spoke clearly that India is with the United States. And tomorrow,
all over India, they will observe prayers for the victims in New York
and Washington.
MR. FLEISCHER: And I can report to you, the President, he has noted
this and he's been touched by it. I've heard the President comment
about the prayers and the candle-lightings around the world, the fact
that the American National Anthem was sung at the Elysee. And these
are powerful signals that the world is sending as the world stands as
one.
Q: Ari, just a couple weeks ago the U.S. government was condemning
Israel for hunting down and killing people that they said were
terrorists, they said they were acting in their self-defense, that a
war had been declared on them. And we were saying that was wrong. Now
it seems that we're making the exact same argument the Israelis were.
Has the U.S. changed its position on this?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, that's basically Les's first question. The
difference clearly is that the two parties there had pledged to each
other and to the United States to engage in a peace process. That
process has begun, and when the two parties are committed to that
peace process, the President believes the best course is to help them
and urge them to honor that peace process.
I don't think there's any peace process that was ever begun between
those who committed this act and the United States.
Thank you, everybody.
END 2:00 P.M. EDT
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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