White House Gaggle

By Jay Tamboli
President’s Schedule:

This morning the President spoke with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski. They discussed several things, including Kwasniewski’s recent trip to Iraq to visit Polish troops. The President then had his usual briefings. This morning he will call the NASA Administrator to congratulate them on the landing of the Spirit. The White House briefs at 12:30. State Department is at 12:45, and the Pentagon is at 1:30. Asked what the President would be doing today, McClellan said he would be "tending to official business" — policy discussions, working on his remarks for tomorrow, and similar.

Immigration:

McClellan announced that the President tomorrow at 2:30 will make remarks on immigration in the East Room. McClellan was hesitant to discuss the contents of the President’s remarks, pointing to previous statements by the President that they are "working on a way to match willing workers with willing employers." "There are jobs that Americans are not interested in doing, and there are jobs available, and that’s an economic need that exists." McClellan would not say whether the President will be announcing a package of specific policies or general principles. McClellan was asked if the remarks have been seen by Mexican President Fox; he said he had no updates on world leader calls. Asked if changes are a reaction to criticism of the visitor fingerprinting policy that was implemented yesterday, McClellan responded first that "the American people understand that we live in a post-September-11th world," and that that policy was intended to insure our borders are open to people coming to the US with good intentions, but closed to people intending to come to carry out terrorist activity.

Leak investigation:

McClellan was asked directly if he had signed the form releasing reporters from confidentiality agreements. He responded that there is an ongoing investigation, and all questions regarding that investigation should be directed to the Department of Justice. Asked if the President’s direction that staff "cooperate fully" includes signing of such waivers, McClellan said "I think the President’s remarks are very clear. He wants the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation." McClellan was asked if the Justice Department would say whether he had signed the form; he responded that he imagines the Justice Department would release information that would not interfere with the investigation.

Musharraf:

A reporter asked what date Pakistani President Musharraf’s assurance that Pakistan would not participate in any kind of WMD proliferation took effect, but McClellan did not know the exact date. McClellan said that the reports that Libya’s WMD program received assistance from Pakistan are still unfolding.

McClellan was asked why US troops do not have the same radio jamming technology that the US provided to President Musharraf. McClellan suggested that the question be directed to the Pentagon.

Other:

Press Secretary McClellan announced that today is national Army Day in Iraq. The holiday predates the Hussein regime. Today 705 recruits of the second battalion of the new Iraqi army will be graduating from training. The army is being built "for purposes of defending Iraq, not engaging in reckless offensive operations or domestic repression or brutality."

McClellan said that he had not discussed Pete Rose with the President.