White House Gaggle

By Adam Sharon
President’s Schedule and Rose Garden Speech on Freedom and Democracy

The President this morning spoke with President Kirchner of Argentina. The two leaders are expected to meet this summer. The President will then deliver remarks in the Rose Garden to a gathering of Iraqi Americans and Iraqi lawyers and religious leaders currently visiting the United States. The President will praise all Iraqi voters who "defied the terrorists" and participated in the recent Iraqi elections, Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated. McClellan noted that today’s event was "in the works for some time."

National Assembly Meeting in Iraq

The National Assembly in Iraq is meeting for the second time today and President Bush is expected to mention that in his speech today. McClellan noted that Iraqi legislators are learning to work with each other and negotiate to achieve consensus. "We are seeing democracy in action," the briefer continued. "This is another step on the road to a free society." McClellan added that this process remains an Iraqi driven process.

First Lady Bush Visits Afghanistan

Mrs. Bush departed this morning for Afghanistan where she will join a U.S.-Afghan women’s delegation in Kabul. Her visit will underscore the U.S. government’s commitment to helping the people of Afghanistan, McClellan stated. First Lady Bush will visit a teacher training institute in Kabul. She will announce a 17.7 million dollar grant to the American University in Kabul and a 3.5 million dollar award to the International School. Mrs. Bush will meet with President Hamid Karzai, visit with women creating handicrafts and eat dinner with U.S. troops in Bagram Air Base. The First Lady will be in Afghanistan for five hours and return to Washington at 2am on Thursday morning.