White House Gaggle

By Catherine Corrigan
President’s Schedule

The President had his usual briefings this morning, and then participated in a National Security Council meeting. This afternoon he is scheduled to have a photo opportunity with Miss America 2003, and then has set aside some "congressional time" to receive gifts from members and for photo opportunities with constituents. This evening the President will make remarks at the National Republican Senatorial Committee reception at the home of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Haiti

On Saturday morning there was a National Security Council principals meeting. National Security Adviser Condeleeza Rice updated the President in the evening, and indicated that President Aristide was considering resigning and leaving Haiti. At 1:30am Sunday morning, the President was informed by Dr. Rice that Aristide would, in fact, resign the presidency of Haiti and flee the country. At this point, the President called Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to authorize the deployment of troops to Haiti, "as a lead element for an interim multinational force."

Spokesperson Scott McClellan said that the White House has worked closely with its "international partners", including the Organization of American States, the Caribbean community, France, Canada, and the United Nations, to reach "a peaceful, democratic, and constitutional solution" to the crisis in Haiti. McClellan said that, "there are times when people lose faith in their leaders in a constitutional democracy . . . they lose faith in their leaders to govern effectively". The U.S. Marines deployed yesterday will be joined by multinational troops in order to provide order and stability to Haiti. In accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution last night, after a multi-national force has been in Haiti for three months, the United Nations will provide a peacekeeping force to take over. It is not known whether the U.S. will remain in Haiti as a military presence after three months.

McClellan dismissed assertions that the White House had supported undemocratic actions in Haiti, and insisted that the White House had supported a democratic and constitutional process, maintaining that the White House worked with the government of Haiti and the democratic opposition. He claimed that Aristide’s failure to adhere to democratic principles led to the uprising in Haiti.