White House Gaggle

By Victoria Jones
The President had his usual briefings. At 10.00 he will tape the radio address on immigration. He will meet with the President of Vietnam in the Oval Office and will then have lunch with him. He will make remarks at Black Music Month in the East Room this afternoon.

Guantanamo Bay
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said that the President is on record as wanting to close Guantanamo Bay. He has directed his administration to work towards that end, including having the State Department work with the countries that have enemy combatants to encourage them to take them back. That has in some ways worked, but not as much as the President would have liked. Yesterday’s reporting indicated something was imminent. That is not the case. The US is also renovating a prison in Afghanistan.

Perino was asked if there was a National Security Council meeting today. She said that there was. She was asked if Guantanamo Bay was taken off the agenda. She said that from what she knew, Guantanamo Bay was not going to be an agenda item.

Perino was asked if there was ever a meeting concerning Guantanamo considered for today. She replied that there was, but it had been taken off the schedule. This was a separate meeting from the NSC meeting. There are people whose sole responsibility is to ensure that facility is closed. She did not know at what level the meeting was. She declined to list the participants or find out the level of the meeting.

Perino was asked why the President wants to close Guantanamo Bay. She said the US does not want to be the world’s jailors. It has picked up enemy combatants and individuals who were going to commit acts of terrorism and the President does not want them out there loose. The process of charging them is under way. We would like their home countries to take them back and hold them in a place where they cannot get out and they are treated humanely.

Perino was asked why the US should not keep the prisoners in the US. She said they are unlawful enemy combatants who were picked up on the battlefield. They are not American citizens. It was pointed out that there are a lot of people in jail who are not citizens.

Perino was asked if the President has a goal of closing Guantanamo before he leaves office. She said it is as soon as possible, but she had never heard a deadline put on it. Everyone is working to reach the President’s goal, to do it as soon as possible.

Vice President Cheney
Perino was asked how the President feels about Vice President Cheney declaring himself above the law, not accountable to the American people, and not part of the executive branch. Perino said the Vice President has a unique role in our system of government, in which he is Vice President and President of the Senate. The lawyers have been asked to get some information on this. The VP’s office did say they are in compliance with all of the law. Perino was asked if the attorney general has been asked for a ruling. She said the Department of Justice is reviewing the matter.

Perino was asked why the VP’s office would start providing information and then stop. She said she would try to get more from the VP’s office and referred the press to the VP’s office. Under further questioning, she continued to refer the press to the VP’s office.

North Korea
Perino was asked if the White House has seen any traffic on Chris Hill’s visit to North Korea. She said she was not aware of any, but he thought it was a good meeting and he was going to consult with all of the other members of the six party talks. Asked if the President signed off on it, Perino said he was aware of it and he approved it. Perino was asked why someone of his stature would be sent now. She said that since February he has been in the region, meeting with other members of the six party talks. There was an agreement that it was time to have that meeting.

Perino was asked whether the administration believes that North Korea has made the decision to dismantle its nuclear facilities. She replied that it was important to look at the February 13 agreement, and to trust but verify.

Vietnam
It was stated that Vietnam has been backsliding on human rights. Perino was asked if it is still a good idea to reward the President with a visit to the Oval Office. She replied that the relationship with Vietnam has developed and improved over the past several years. One of the issues the President will bring up with the President of Vietnam is human rights. The President will also express deep concern over the arrests of individuals who are promoting democracy.