White House Daily Briefing
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 30, 2001
PRESS BRIEFING BY ARI FLEISCHER
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
2:04 P.M. EDT
Q: What will be his message to Russia?
MR. FLEISCHER: His message to Russia is that the development of a missile defense system, so we can think beyond the confines of the Cold War era is the best way to preserve the peace.
Q: And why come out with this tomorrow? What's the significance of the timing?
MR. FLEISCHER: Because as the President said during the campaign, it's very important as he moves forward with this new thinking about how to protect the American people and our allies from missile threats, consultation is key. And the President reached out today to talk to allied leaders and to talk to American people tomorrow; as our teams will soon depart the United States to meet with their European counterparts, to engage in those consultations.
The consultations are an important and promised part of what the President said he would do in the development of a missile defense system.
Q: Is this driven by the need to have consultations in advance of the President's meetings with European leaders in June?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, it's driven by the need that the President believes we have important relationships with our allies and that in the development of such an important phase of planning for protecting the United States and protecting our allies, consultation is vital.
Of course, it is going to be a part of our future discussions when the President travels abroad in June and July, so this is the right moment to begin the consultations in the President's opinion.
Q: Ari, what sort of feedback is he getting from talking to these leaders?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as you know, I won't speak for the foreign leaders. The President tomorrow in his remarks will have a little bit on that, but he is pleased to proceed.
Q: Your proposed budget for next year doesn't include any money for this. But there has been held out the possibility either for a missile defense or after Secretary Rumsfeld's review, that the administration would come back and ask for more money.
Is the speech tomorrow, the timing of that, an indication that you are now prepared to move aggressively on this and does that include a request for money in the short-term?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, I would not read anything into the timing of a possible SOP as a result of the speech tomorrow. That will be something that will be determined down the road.
Q: Ari, did the President ask for any advice or suggestions from the leaders, or just tell them what the United States' proposal is?
MR. FLEISCHER: He is listening to their ideas. And as you know, the President, when he met with Prime Minister Blair and when he met with Chancellor Schroeder, their joint communiques, talked for the first time about the need to develop defensive systems to protect our allies and protect our nations. So the President has been encouraged by the progress to date.
And if you recall in the news conference the President held with Prime Minister Blair after their meeting at Camp David, when the President was asked about the Russian statement, about willingness to work with Europe on a missile defense, the President was encouraged by the statements made by President Putin.
So the President is doing exactly what he promised and said he would do on the campaign, and he is moving forward with the development of the missile defense system that he'll outline tomorrow. They have a consultation process that must begin with our allies to have things go well and to have things go right.
Q: Is the President going to abrogate the ABM treaty, and if he intends to do so, why does he think that after all this time it's appropriate?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I would refer you to his speech tomorrow. I think after you hear the speech tomorrow, you'll have a good understanding about what the President is doing and why. But I would urge you not to rush to any conclusions like that.
Q: What should we make of the speech to the Danish parliament, which sure seemed to indicate that he's ready to --
MR. FLEISCHER: I would urge you to listen to the President's words himself tomorrow, and I think you'll have a very fine understanding of what he's doing, what action he's taken specifically, and why he's taking it.
....
Q: Ari, if I could take you back on missile defense for just a second. When the President spoke with all of the foreign leaders, is it his view that these leaders have an active role in the decision making, or is it his view that these leaders will just be consulted and informed ahead of time about what the U.S. position will be?
MR. FLEISCHER: From the President's point of view, he views it as a question of leadership. He believes that if the United States leads and that we consult wisely, our allies and friends will find good reason to follow and to join with us.
And that's why, as I indicated earlier, when he met with Schroeder and when he met with Blair, this topic, of course, came up and in the joint communiques afterwards there was some encouraging language in there about the need to develop defensive weapons.
So that's the President's mind set as he discusses this with these leaders.
Q: As far as missile defense is concerned, do you have any comments on the Washington Post article that now U.S. is shifting its aim from Russia to China, that means there is a threat from China in the future?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, I think the point the President makes repeatedly about the need to develop a missile defense is that the Cold War is over and the United States needs to protect itself and our allies and our troops that are stationed abroad from a different nature of threat. And the paradigm that existed in the Cold War is no longer the most imperative paradigm that should guide America's defense structures.
That's why Secretary Rumsfeld is conducting a four structure review, as well, to assess our needs in this post Cold War era. And that's the reason the President wants to proceed.
And where is your tie today? No tie? (Laughter.)
Q: So how would you frame what the President is going to do tomorrow? Is he going the make the same case he's made to the foreign leaders to the American people? Is he going to try to explain why we need this?
MR. FLEISCHER: In his remarks tomorrow the President will present this as his view of the best way to preserve the peace in the post Cold War era; and how to work with our allies and work with other nations in the development of a missile defense system that can not only protect the United States from rogue or accidental missile launch, but to protect our allies, as well, and our troops stationed abroad.
The President views this as a new way of thinking in the protection of our nation. And that's what you'll hear tomorrow.
Q: What do you mean by "new way of thinking"?
MR. FLEISCHER: A new way of thinking reflecting that the fact that the Cold War is over and that the threat to peace comes mostly from rogue nation missile launches or accidental missile launches - which is very different from what the threat was in the 1980s, when conversation about a missile defense was about a much broader defense that could protect the United States from a launch of multiple warheads, for example.
This is much more focused on protecting the United States and our allies from accidental or principally rogue missile launches.
....
Q: Ari, two clarifications on the consultations. Did you - you said that he is going to be listening to and at the same time showing leadership on the issue. Is there anything that our allies can say to the President that would persuade him not to move forward with missile defense?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think, frankly, that's not where the focus has been. I think you've already seen since President Bush got elected that there has been a change in tone, as far as the development of a missile defense system. You've seen our allies listen carefully to the arguments that President Bush is making. And the President has been encouraged by their response and continues to be so.
Q: Secondly, is he shedding any light in these conversations on his proposals to draw down the U.S. nuclear defense capability - I mean, offensive capability?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I would suggest you wait until he gives his speech tomorrow and you'll have more specifics.
Q: Ari, can we get a price tag tomorrow or a time frame on the missile defense system?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, wait until the speech tomorrow and you'll get more information. Don't take that to be a yes or a no, but it's just within 24 hours of a speech and it will be up to the President to make the news.
....
Q: Ari, regarding missile defense, aside from the opposition by many of our allies and Russia, aside from the very expensive cost of this system, up to now the basic problem is that it doesn't work. Is the President going to say tomorrow that he knows something we don't know, that there is now a missile defense system that will work?
MR. FLEISCHER: Clearly, the operational details of the missile defense system are crucial, and that's why Secretary Rumsfeld has been at work on this project and the United States is going to continue to proceed with the research efforts that have been underway for a number of years to make certain that's a workable system.
But the President believes that it is his fundamental duty to protect the citizens of this country and our allies abroad from war, or from harm, from missile launch. And, therefore, he is determined to proceed with an effort that he views as a way of securing the peace.
Q: But does he feel that, or has the - has the Secretary of Defense told him so that he's happy and comfortable with the fact that the United States can build a missile defense system that will work?
MR. FLEISCHER: Ivan, you only have 24 hours to wait, and you will be able to hear from the President.
Q: I'm sorry, on the ABM Treaty. As you know, there is a school of thought that says the Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore, so the treaty doesn't exist anymore. Has the President expressed a view on that point?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I'm going to let the President express this in his own words tomorrow, and you will be able to make those interpretations yourself after hearing his reasons for proceeding with the missile defense system.
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