White House Gaggle

By Jay Tamboli
President’s Schedule:

The President began his day with his usual briefings, followed by a National
Security Council meeting. General Abizaid did not participate in the meeting,
as he was testifying on Capitol Hill. At 10:55 the President will meet with

his Cabinet, where he will discuss terrorism, Iraq, the economy, and other
priorities. The President will meet with the Secretary of State this
afternoon. At 2:25 he will meet with the National Security Telecommunications
Advisory Committee to thank the members for their work and discuss their
mission. At 3:50 he will meet with the NCAA Winter Sports Champions. The
President will welcome Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi this evening for a
meeting and working dinner. Scott McClellan will brief at 1:00. The State
Department is at 12:30. There will be a briefing from Baghdad at 10:00. Ask
the White House today has Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discussing "Project BioShield" at 10:30.

Israeli strike in Gaza:

Press Secretary McClellan said the White House is "very concerned" about
reports from Gaza and has asked Israel for more information about what
happened. The White House continues to ask for the groups to use "maximum
restraint". McClellan would not speculate on a White House reaction, saying
they are waiting to get more information from the Israeli government. Asked if
the White House has asked for information from any Palestinian groups,
McClellan said that the White House is interested in learning the facts about
what happened, and "the State Department is always in contact with people in
the region." McClellan conceded that the White House has asked for restraint
before, but wanted to wait for more information on recent developments rather
than saying at this point that Israel is ignoring the President’s advice.

Iraq:

Asked if the President agrees with Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz’s
statement that we underestimated the "resilience" of Saddam Hussein supporters,
McClellan said that Wolfowitz was referring to the situation "on the ground,"
while the White House’s focus is on the transfer of sovereignty, but he said
"Wolfowitz was representing the administration in talking about some of the
events on the ground." Asked if June 30 would technically mark the end of the
US occupation of Iraq, McClellan agreed that it will be "a full transfer of
sovereignty," but he warned that this government is interim until the elections
in January 2005.

Misc:

Asked about the President’s statement yesterday to the AIPAC conference that
"The world watches for weakness in our resolve," McClellan said he thought the
President was referring to the high stakes in Iraq but would look back at the
comments.