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18 March 2003

U.S. Could Open Strategic Petroleum Reserve

(White House Report) (400)
U.S. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE COULD BE OPENED
Asked about the administration's policy on the use of the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve if that were to become necessary to prevent
skyrocketing fuel prices, Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said:
"The policy on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is that the reserve
will be released in the event of an emergency such as a severe
disruption of supply. So, at this moment, it's impossible to
anticipate, predict whether or not there would be a severe disruption
of supply. Those determinations will be made by the experts based on
the circumstances on the ground in terms of what supply conditions
look like.
Fleischer said the issue is primarily assessed by the Department of
Energy in consultation with others.
U.S. MAINTAINS ISRAEL'S RIGHT OF DEFENSE
Asked if there are diplomatic discussions planned with Israel about
the issue of non-response if Iraq were to attack Israel during
military action in Iraq, Fleischer said:
"Well, we have, and we will continue to consult with Israel. Of
course, Israel has the right to defend itself. And we will continue to
consult with Israel as they exercise their rights."
FLEISCHER JUDGES DASCHLE'S CRITICISM "INCONSISTENT"
Responding to remarks by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle
(Democrat-South Dakota) that "the president failed so miserably at
diplomacy that we now are forced to war," Fleischer replied, "it's
hard to know what that means."
"It is within the rights of every member of Congress to say what they
think, to express their opinions. He certainly is well within his
rights to express his opinions. It just strikes me as inconsistent
with previous things he has said," Fleischer told reporters.
"If you take a look at what Senator Daschle has said about the
inevitability of using force in 1998 and if you take a look at what
Senator Daschle said about the importance of raising the rhetoric to a
higher level and not politicizing the rhetoric, I find his statement
to be inconsistent."
Fleischer added that Daschle did not say anything about the
president's diplomatic efforts "in his meeting with the president last
night." Fleischer was referring to the meeting President Bush had
March 17 with leaders of the Congress at the White House shortly
before Bush spoke to the nation and the world.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)