White House Gaggle

By Jay Tamboli
President’s Schedule:

The President began his day with his usual briefings and a meeting of the NSC. Afterwards he will meet with Asian journalists to talk about his upcoming trip. At 11:00 he will have a photo opportunity and make remarks with the San Antonio Spurs. This afternoon the President has television and radio interviews with Asian journalists. Later today Secretary Powell with meet with bipartisan Senators about the Supplemental, and the President may "drop by." This evening the President will host a reception for House and Senate leaders to talk about the legislative agenda. Dr. Rice will brief at 3:15 at the White House about the President’s trip to Asia. Ask the Whitehouse will have the First Lady’s Press Secretary, Noelia Rodriguez, at 12:00. On Thursday, the President will meet with Governor-elect Schwarzenegger. McClellan declined to speculate on what the President and Governor-elect will discuss. Thursday, October 23rd, on his way back from Asia, the President will stop in Honolulu, tour Pearl Harbor, and participate in a wreath laying ceremony.

UN Resolution:

The Security Council is meeting this morning, and the White House expects the resolution to be introduced. Ambassador Negroponte is expecting a vote this week. Press Secretary McClellan said that he would announce any phone calls the President makes to garner support for the resolution, but he pointed out that Negroponte and Secretary Powell have been in discussions already. Asked if the the current resolution and structure for handover of Iraqi rule was "as far as [the White House] is willing to go," McClellan said that the new draft addresses concerns expressed by some members of the Security Council, but he said that "discussions are ongoing." Asked if the President would consider the Coalition handing over authority to the UN before handing it over to the Iraqi people, McClellan said that the goal was to transfer authority to the Iraqi people as soon as possible, and that they would then work with the UN.

Iraq:

Asked whether the President’s interviews yesterday with regional media successfully bypassed the "filter," McClellan said that the President thinks it is important to talk to the American people, and it is important that the American people get a "full picture" of the situation in Iraq. Asked about the bombing this morning in Baghdad, McClellan said that "as we make progress . . . those remnants and those foreign terrorists become more desperate." McClellan said he was only aware of press reports of the form letters supposedly from troops sent to newspapers, and he had no comment.