White House Gaggle

By Victoria Jones
President’s Schedule:

President Bush received his usual briefings this morning. He participated
in a National Security Council meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Donald
Rumsfeld, and US civilian administrator of Iraq, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer.

The president will meet with the new Secretary of the Environmental
Protection Agency, Gov. Leavitt this morning. The president will meet with
Lord Robertson, the Secretary General of NATO, to thank NATO for its
leadership. He will then present Lord Robertson with the Medal of Freedom,
the United States’ highest civilian award. In the afternoon, the president
will have a round table interview with British print journalists. He will
then be interviewed by Sir David Frost of the BBC. Later, the president
will present the National Medals of Arts awards.

Iraq:

Regarding the deadly attack in Nasariyyih, Iraq, on Italians and Iraqis,
Scott McClellan, the president’s press secretary, said that Mr. Bush sends
his condolences to the families. He said the president appreciates the
leadership and solidarity of Italy, and honors the sacrifice of their brave
soldiers. He said the killers continue to attack Iraqis and others helping
in Iraq’s reconstruction.

Asked about any significance to the attack taking place in Nasariyyih, one
of the "safer areas", Mr. McClellan said that while many of the attacks have
been inside the "Baathist region", there have been attacks outside it. He
said that the killers recognize the stakes involved, and that the US will
continue to take the fight to the enemy and adjust as necessary.

A question was asked about Ambassador L. Paul Bremer’s sudden visit to the
US. The press secretary said that meetings were being held to discuss the
importance of accelerating the reconstruction of Iraq on the political and
economic fronts. He said that Mr. Bremer is working closely with the Iraqi
Governing Council, and that there are serious discussions in the
administration on how to move forward. Mr. McClellan stated that there is a
December 15 United Nations deadline for the IGC to draw up a timetable for
the drafting of a constitution.

A question was asked about reaction to Sen. John McCain’s remarks today that
the situation in Iraq is worsening. The press secretary said that as we
make progress, the holdouts are trying to test our resolve. He said we are
on the offensive, and we will continue targeted strikes, based on Iraqi
intelligence.

In reply to a question about a CIA report suggesting growing Iraqi support
for the insurgents, Mr. McClellan stated that we are constantly assessing
the situation on the ground.