<downingstreetsays>
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69365" rowid="41968963" side="usa" srcid="69365" text="	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, I think the President, again, made his views very clear when it comes to protecting the sanctity of marriage here in the United States of America, and his position has not changed.  " title="	Q	What do you think about the possibility of Americans going up to Canada to get married, as oppose" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272864" rowid="41997187" side="usa" srcid="272864" text=" MR. PRICE:  It is up to the leaders to, I think -- and then I'll invite Jim to comment -- the test of whether the MEM is or is not successful is not whether, at this stage in July, all 16 agree on a long-term goal.  This process will continue.  Certainly from our perspective, to reach an agreement on a long-term goal is desirable and something we think the major economies needs to work to.  Whether it is in a position to do so at this point, or make other statements about the long-term goal, that remains to be seen.  &lt;p /&gt; Let me invite Jim Connaughton to offer a comment on this.   MR. CONNAUGHTON:  Again, this goes to your -- the reason to get together.  Actually, there's a quite dynamic agenda to the major economies meetings.  A long-term goal is just one piece, but that's a long-term vision.  The more essential aspects of the discussion actually center on each nation's development of their own midterm plans and goals, and the structure by which those can be reflected in a new international agreement.  That goes to the core of what we're going to do now and in the mid-term.  &lt;p /&gt; In support of that, we've also initiated conversations about shared sectoral approaches, which is a bottom-up approach:  How do we get our steel sector, our aluminum sector, our transportation sectors focused on the best outcomes that each of our nations can achieve?  We do some things really well in America that aren't being done in India right now. If India can replicate that, they can make further progress on emissions.  So this is a very practical set of conversations on pushing for best practices in key emitting sectors.  &lt;p /&gt; With that, then, comes the ability to do much more technology exchange on the technologies that are central to solving the problem. It's coal-produced power, it's personal transportation, and it's forestry and land use.	These are the big drivers of climate-related emissions and activities.  The major economies are the ones that engage in most of that activity.  And so we've got very specific conversations going on on forestry, for example; a very specific conversation about more technology exchange on carbon capture and storage from coal.  We're even talking about how do we get large-scale renewable projects going, and how do we get nuclear energy going at a pace that far exceeds the current level of investment.  So these are very practical discussions that, really, this group of countries will make that happen.  &lt;p /&gt; Finally, you may have read a bit about just the issue of measuring emission reductions.  We do pretty good about measurement in America and a few of the other developed countries, but we've got an accounting system on greenhouse gases that is not as precise as it could or should be, and even getting common ground on measures is going to be important in order to demonstrate the success of different policies.  &lt;p /&gt; So just note, you'll see, as a result of this conversation, a fairly expansive set of activities that this group has generated in the near term that will help lead to an agreement next year, but also that will sustain a whole variety of other activities in support of an agreement next year.  " title=" Q    Are you suggesting they might actually reach one, then?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272860" rowid="41997179" side="usa" srcid="272860" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think it is fair to say that in respect of a certain number of these pledges, we are challenged in meeting them.  As I said, the United States has met its commitments as made in past G8s.	And it's important to demonstrate for the world and for the beneficiaries of these pledges that we are meeting the commitment; that we are not, year after year, simply making promises without looking back to see, are we fulfilling them.  And we think it would enhance transparency, credibility and reliability of what the G8 says to institute such a mechanism in respect of their core pledges.   MR. JOHNDROE:  One last question from Mark.  " title=" Q    But what animates the President's concern?  There must be -- are the G8 collectively not mee" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222721" rowid="41995671" side="usa" srcid="222721" text=" MR. FISK:  Well, let me -- let me give the general -- as you all know, I'm the foreign policy guy, not the regulatory guy, if I can put it that way.  I will be happy to refer you to the Department of Commerce, who has the most direct SPP role in that.  But what we're trying to do in the whole regulatory area, what we're trying to do is see if there are ways within our legal -- three distinct legal systems, of how we can better harmonize certain standards.  For instance, whether they're fuel efficiency standards, or, another big issue we hear from the private sector is testing.  In other words, if you have a product, why do you have to test it three different times and three different ways?  Why can't you just do it once and satisfy all three?  &lt;p /&gt; So what we have asked, or what leaders have asked the regulators to do is say, within your existing parameters and authorities, where are there areas that we can minimize duplication?  Where are there areas where, if one -- where all three countries can be satisfied with -- whether it's a test or how a part or a widget works, and that that should meet the standard.  &lt;p /&gt; And the reason we focused on automobiles is because the nature of that trade is so large -- most people don't realize you might -- you may buy a car that says &quot;Made in America,&quot; but of which a significant number of its parts are actually made in Canada.  In fact, one data point I've heard is the average movement of an automobile between a factory in Michigan and in Ontario is eight times to cross the border.  And this -- I can't vouch for this number -- one number I've heard is that potentially adds upwards of $800 to a cost of an automobile.  &lt;p /&gt; Our goal is, why does it have to go through this burdensome process eight times?	Why is it costing us more money?  Isn't it better for everyone -- Canadians and Americans and Mexicans -- to try to minimize that to the extent we can.  &lt;p /&gt; That's kind of the best that I can describe it to you, and I would, again, encourage you to talk to the Department of Commerce.  " title=" Q    Can I get just one more?  Can you talk a little bit about the automobiles -- this is under t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272867" rowid="41997193" side="usa" srcid="272867" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think the G8 and the African beneficiaries of PEPFAR know the commitment of this administration towards dealing with HIV/AIDS, as well as other diseases that have had such a debilitating effect on Africa.  No country's commitment is greater than that of the United States.  " title=" Q    Can I just follow, though?  Does it not weaken the President's hand that he doesn't go into " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222723" rowid="41995673" side="usa" srcid="222723" text=" Q    Dan, thank you very much.	Just two quick questions for you.  On the priorities, you're talking about EMA -- emergency measures.  Does that include a discussion of allowing the armies -- in this case in Canada and the United States -- to operate in each other's territories as part of that emergency response initiative?  &lt;p /&gt; And also, as you know, the Canadians have complained long and loud about what they say is the thickening of the border between the two countries, primarily because of measures that you've taken under homeland security and so on.	Are you going with any &quot;gives&quot; at all on trying to relieve some of that, especially when it comes to security?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  On your question on armies, let me just, if I can, put this into a larger context.  When the Security and Prosperity Partnership was created by the three leaders in 2005, there was a decision at that point that the military-to-military relationship would not be a formal part of the SPP.  The focus has been on law enforcement -- the focus, in terms on the security side -- law enforcement and homeland security-type security measures.  And that's where the conversations remain within the SPP context.  That's where we expect the conversation to remain in New Orleans.  &lt;p /&gt; That does not in any way sidestep the issue that our military, of course, has an engagement and interaction with the Mexican military.  We have a very strong relationship between the United States military and the Canadian military, most visibly represented through NORAD.  But in terms of emergency management, this is, first and foremost, about how do we get first responders to be at, or coordinate and cooperate when you get into an incident or an event that is going to occur in a border region, specifically.  It is not going to the issue of militaries and armies.  It's very much focused on that point.  &lt;p /&gt; The second one, on the line about thickening the border, a phrase I'm well aware of, we have consistently -- and I'd say, more appropriately, the Department of Homeland Security has consistently tried to work with the Canadians, to be as transparent as possible with them, explain to them kind of the process, what we're doing, how we're going about it, trying to make sure that we meet all of our legal requirements, but we also facilitate trade and travel.  &lt;p /&gt; Those conversations will continue to some extent at a leaders level in New Orleans.  But it's not necessarily a case in which the leaders -- we expect them to negotiate or announce anything.  In fact, if you look at it, one of the Canadian &quot;asks&quot; has been that the date be moved, which it now has by statute to no implementation -- no earlier than June 1, 2009.  So for us it's a matter of how we are best positioned to implement so that when that day comes we can proceed, and in the course of that, how we can make sure that we're synchronized with the Canadians to the maximum extent possible so that the free flow of legitimate goods and people can occur with minimal disruption.  So that's where we're focused.  " title=" Q    Dan, thank you very much.	Just two quick questions for you.  On the priorities, you're talki" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272859" rowid="41997177" side="usa" srcid="272859" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think the President has been fairly consistent in what he has sought in these G8 summits, in terms of addressing these critically important health and development issues in Africa; in addressing questions of global security; in addressing questions of the need to maintain open economies; the need to promote democracy and growth.  I think that at this G8 the President's messages will be consistent with those that he has carried to each G8 since he's become President.  " title=" Q    Dan, the President goes to this G8 as his last G8 summit and he goes with just seven months " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272872" rowid="41997202" side="usa" srcid="272872" text=" Q    Given the President's expression of strong support for the dollar, do you expect exchange rates to take any role in the discussions, and will the United States move to try to get the other G8 members to support some kind of exchange rate stability statement?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  I have no comment on that at this time.  " title=" Q    Given the President's expression of strong support for the dollar, do you expect exchange ra" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272863" rowid="41997185" side="usa" srcid="272863" text=" Q    If I could add a second question, which is the reassurance the President will give to Japan that the U.S. will never forget the North Korean abductions.  How does that square with the movement toward removing North Korea from the list of terrorist sponsors?  Some members of the Japanese Diet believe that that is an abrogation of promise.  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  I think you heard Dennis already address that, and you've heard Secretary Rice and the President address that last week when the North Koreans made their agreement and -- or presented their declaration --  " title=" Q    If I could add a second question, which is the reassurance the President will give to Japan " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222722" rowid="41995672" side="usa" srcid="222722" text=" MR. FISK:  I think it's like the Cuba question to the extent we expect they will talk about the hemisphere.  Again, you have got Prime Minister Harper's own interest in the region.  President Calder&amp;oacute;n tried to play a constructive role between Colombia and Ecuador during the -- in the aftermath of the killing of Ra l Reyes.  &lt;p /&gt; So there is -- again, there is a lot of interest in the hemisphere.  So I'm also expecting Venezuela to come up, and you all know as well how the President feels about that topic.  &lt;p /&gt; So I don't know that, again, would not say that there's any expected announcements.	I don't want to leave you all with any impression.  But I do -- I will leave you with our anticipation that at least at one of the exchanges between the three leaders, Venezuela, Cuba and other issues are very likely to arise.  " title=" Q    In the President's discussions with Calder&amp;oacute;n, will the issue of -- concerns about Hug" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272871" rowid="41997201" side="usa" srcid="272871" text=" MR. PRICE:  Issues relating to the global economy are on the agenda.  And when leaders get together they're, of course, free to discuss whatever it is they wish to discuss.  " title=" Q    It's not on the agenda, though, is it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272861" rowid="41997181" side="usa" srcid="272861" text=" Q    Just one on the accountability issue that you talked about, Dan.  I'm just a little bit unclear about specifically what the President is seeking at the summit from the other members.  And secondly, is he -- are you going to be naming names of other countries that have not met their commitments?  Can you tell us today who those countries are?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  We, the United States, will not be naming names.  We -- and we're not naming names today and we don't intend to name names. That's not the point.  The point is for the G8 countries themselves to produce reports showing how each of them is meeting the pledges made in the G8.  " title=" Q    Just one on the accountability issue that you talked about, Dan.  I'm just a little bit uncl" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222726" rowid="41995676" side="usa" srcid="222726" text=" Q    Just two questions related to border security.  Do you expect the Mexican trucking issue to come up?  Because I know that it hasn't been -- there's a pilot program going on right now, but it's not fully implemented, number one.  And number two, are there going to be any discussions about what Congress is doing to pass the Merida Initiative?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  The short answer on both of those is, yes.  I expect that -- we do anticipate that President Calder&amp;oacute;n will raise the Mexican trucking pilot program.  Again, I'm not going to go into or won't speculate on how exactly, but it's my understanding, from our interactions with the Mexicans, that they were pleased with that.  We are fulfilling one of our NAFTA obligations, and the President is fulfilling one of his commitments that he actually campaigned on, on that issue.  &lt;p /&gt; On Merida, we do expect that conversation to come up.  It is on our agenda, as well as, I understand it, on President Calder&amp;oacute;n's agenda.  We think this is something that is, again, in the interest of both countries.  President Calder&amp;oacute;n has taken a number of courageous actions to deal with the drug violence and the drug cartels in Mexico.  &lt;p /&gt; They are under -- parts of Mexico, frankly, have been under siege from the drug-trafficking cartels.  We think he's shown not only the political will but he's put actions behind that.  For instance, we've had record drug seizures, we've had record seizures of cash involved in the drug trade.  We've had 83 extraditions.  In fact, I think one of the best statistics on the Merida initiative and why we hope Congress passes it as we submitted -- and we hope they approve it quickly -- is the fact that, according to what I've seen from drug enforcement agencies, that over the last 14 months, which tracks almost perfectly with the 15 months of President Calder&amp;oacute;n's presidency, we have seen the availability of cocaine on American streets go down and the price of cocaine go up.  &lt;p /&gt; And we think that there is a correlation between what President Calder&amp;oacute;n is doing to fight drugs to make it more difficult for the cartels to get their product to the United States.  And we think there's every reason why we should be supporting them.  And, again, we hope the President -- the U.S. Congress supports the initiative to do so.  " title=" Q    Just two questions related to border security.  Do you expect the Mexican trucking issue to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222724" rowid="41995674" side="usa" srcid="222724" text=" MR. FISK:  Well, I think that, again, there is harmonization to the extent that all three countries agree on the best situation being for Cuba that there is a democratic evolution in which the Cuban people get to decide how they're governed and who governs them.	And now, below that there are a lot of tactical disagreements, and I'm not expecting that to change.  &lt;p /&gt; Yes, sir.  " title=" Q    Just whether there's any chance of the harmonization of Cuban policy among the three North A" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222725" rowid="41995675" side="usa" srcid="222725" text=" Q    One of the big stories of the Western Hemisphere now is the change that's going on in Cuba.  I'm wondering if there's a formal setting in which the leaders can discuss this specifically.  If I can get your reaction to the latest news out of there -- on cell phones, on travel restrictions.  Apparently some moves put to liberalize both.  And do you guys have hopes to get Mexico and Canada on board with U.S. policy at all?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  Literally take them in order here, we're anticipating right now that the working dinner on Monday night -- like I said, there is no set agenda that we're staffing.  But that is a logical place for the leaders to have a discussion about a number of issues, whether they're hemispheric or global.  Again, I would anticipate that Cuba will come up.  President Calder&amp;oacute;n recently had his foreign minister in Cuba.  Prime Minister Harper has taken a more proactive interest in Latin America generally.  Of course, you all know the President's views very well on Cuba and his commitment to hasten democratic change.  So, again, I think it's going to be one of those kind of logical discussion points that will emerge in the course of the conversation.  &lt;p /&gt; As far as the changes in Cuba, I think that the polite way to put this is they're cosmetic.  I will steal a line from Secretary Gutierrez, who I think puts this in perspective, that it is amazing that after 50 years of the Castro brothers in control, that what Cubans can look forward to is a rice cooker by the year 2010.  That is the success of the Castro revolution.  &lt;p /&gt; So the fact of the matter is that if Cubans can have cell phones, one question, of course, is -- or one issue is, is how much will they pay for them, and how much will they have to pay for the service.  We've already seen, in the case of hotels, for example, that what the regime did is end, at least on paper, the tourist apartheid that existed in Cuba, in which Cubans were denied access to their own hotel facilities.  But what the regime turned around and said, okay, we're going to lift that restriction, but at the same time we're going to require that hotels charge Cubans the highest nightly price they can to stay there.  &lt;p /&gt; So we would hope that the international community -- and I say that in the larger terms -- recognize that this isn't real change, this isn't fundamental change in the nature of the system.  And if you look at what the regime is doing in terms of the continued repression against dissidents and civil society activists, the iron fist is still very, very visible, especially to the average Cuban.  &lt;p /&gt; So, since you got me started on that, I'll now get off the soapbox.  Your last question?  " title=" Q    One of the big stories of the Western Hemisphere now is the change that's going on in Cuba. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272869" rowid="41997197" side="usa" srcid="272869" text=" MR. PRICE:  As I said, the 10-point plan outlined by President Bob Zoellick has many points that are in common with the U.S. approach, so I do not see any conflict at all between	what the World Bank has suggested as the focus of considerations and what we are also focusing on.  " title=" Q    So do you back the World Bank's new deal, or not?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222727" rowid="41995677" side="usa" srcid="222727" text=" MR. FISK:  There's nothing broken.  Why fix a success?  " title=" Q    So the administration's position is it does not need to be fixed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272870" rowid="41997199" side="usa" srcid="272870" text=" Q    Thank you, Mr. Price.  Earlier this year, at the last World Bank-IMF meeting here, President Zoellick spoke of a new deal, of putting more money directly into countries hit hardest by the food crisis, notably Haiti.	And he called for immediate and large aid.  Now, twice I have asked in this briefing, has the United States weighed in in support of the World Bank's new deal?  Will this come up at the G8 agenda?  And has the position changed from the U.S. at all, and does it support it now?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Well, I think the issue of food aid will certainly be discussed among the leaders, and the United States is firmly supportive of the view that we need to meet immediate food aids.  We have midterm developmental goals that we need to seek to achieve in terms of boosting agricultural activity.	We've got infrastructure bottlenecks we've got to address, and we've got a set of policy questions that also need to be addressed.  So the issues that you raise will certainly be discussed.  " title=" Q    Thank you, Mr. Price.  Earlier this year, at the last World Bank-IMF meeting here, President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-18#entryid_222728" rowid="41995678" side="usa" srcid="222728" text=" Q    There are a lot of questions from the campaign trail of -- particularly from the Democrats -- about the fairness of NAFTA and what they would do to change NAFTA.	Are the leaders going to talk about -- try to defend the NAFTA agreement, offer to make any adjustments in it?  How is that going to be discussed and presented?  &lt;p&gt; MR. FISK:  Well, I won't try to speculate on exactly how it will be discussed.  We are anticipating that it will be discussed.  We are aware that some of the statements that have been made here have made actually bigger headlines in Canada and Mexico than they have here.  And we expect the leaders to talk about it.  We think NAFTA works.  We think the record of its past 14 years shows that it works.  &lt;p /&gt; When the three-way relationship started as of -- in 1994, if you just look at the trade figures, there were roughly $290 billion in three-way trade.  I mean, again, we're talking about a trillion-dollar -- coming up on a trillion-dollar trading relationship in the 14 years of NAFTA.  &lt;p /&gt; So, again, we want to find ways to, frankly, convince the American people from our perspective, first and foremost, that this is an arrangement that's worked for us and it's also worked for our neighbors.  It's been a win-win situation.  " title=" Q    There are a lot of questions from the campaign trail of -- particularly from the Democrats -" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272862" rowid="41997183" side="usa" srcid="272862" text=" Q    They didn't address whether or not there was an agreement between the United States and Japan that the U.S. would, in fact, hold off on this until the abductions issue was resolved.  Some Japanese think there was at least that understanding.  &lt;p&gt; MR. JOHNDROE:  No, what the U.S. position has always been -- and the Japanese and everyone in the six-party process are well aware of this -- is that the United States would remain committed to the resolution of the abduction issue.  And I think President Bush and Prime Minister Fukuda had a very good conversation about this last week. Secretary Rice had a very good visit to Japan this past week, as well. And I think the Japanese government and the Japanese people should know that the United States will not forget the abduction issue.  And so the Japanese and the DPRK are involved in discussions, as well, and we want to see those progress.  &lt;p /&gt; We'll take two more and then we have to go.   MR. PRICE:  Mike, right?  " title=" Q    They didn't address whether or not there was an agreement between the United States and Japa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272868" rowid="41997195" side="usa" srcid="272868" text=" Q    Two questions on HIV/AIDS.  First, the President's PEPFAR reauthorization is kind of stalled on Capitol Hill, so how can he go in there and ask the other G8 leaders to live up to their commitments when he's having trouble getting Congress to live up to his commitment here? And then, secondly, there have been some news reports that say the draft communique on HIV/AIDS doesn't even mention the $25 billion goal by 2010.  And so it that -- is this communique acceptable to the President?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Let me start -- I'm not going to comment on the text of a draft communique that is not yet public.  Let me say that there is no intention by any G8 member of which I am aware to backtrack on any of the pledges that have been made.  And as I said, we believe it is important not only to make clear that we intend to fulfill our commitments, but to produce tangible evidence of that in the form of progress reports.  " title=" Q    Two questions on HIV/AIDS.  First, the President's PEPFAR reauthorization is kind of stalled" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272865" rowid="41997189" side="usa" srcid="272865" text=" Q    Two questions, if you will.  The first:  Why is it that the G8 and the major economies as a group is not a large enough group to reach some kind of understanding on a commitment to greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2050?  What's the point, if not -- what's the point of the meeting?  &lt;p&gt; MR. PRICE:  Well, I think that there are a number of things that have come out of the major economies process; consideration of a long-term goal is one of them, and it's an important one.  It will be up to the leaders, as they sit there and discuss, to see how far they wish to go on quantifying a long-term goal.  " title=" Q    Two questions, if you will.  The first:  Why is it that the G8 and the major economies as a " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272873" rowid="41997203" side="usa" srcid="272873" text=" MR. PRICE:  Let me say that there's been a lot of discussion about whether the major economies leaders' meeting or G8 would establish a numerical long-term goal for emissions reductions.  And we've had good discussion really in both fora.  I think there's broad recognition among all major economies that having a long-term goal is desirable in pointing us all in the right direction and indicating the scale of the challenge we face.  &lt;p /&gt; There's also recognition that progress toward any long-term goal will require the efforts of all major economies, not just the G8. Indeed, with evidence mounting of rapidly rising emissions from emerging markets, action by the G8 alone will not be effective to address this problem.  That's why we believe that all major economies and indeed all parties to the U.N. convention need to be part of the discussion on setting a long-term goal.  &lt;p /&gt; To us, it is not appropriate for the G8 countries alone to set a goal or to pick a numerical target and then seek to impose it on major developing economies.  Those countries need to be part of the discussion, and they have been part of the discussion, through the major economies process.  &lt;p /&gt; The Bali Action Plan makes clear that in respect of the shared vision and long-term goal, it's for all to decide, and here leadership by all major economies is needed in coming up with that shared goal. What is important, and what has become important in these discussions, is that all major economies are moving toward a shared vision on how to achieve a low-carbon future, again recognizing that what each economy does will differ according to its national circumstances.  And we're making progress on this in the major economies process.  &lt;p /&gt; We've discussed a range of ideas on a long-term vision and goal, including a 50-percent reduction by 2050, and have been exploring in the major economies process the implications of particular goals for both long term and mid term.  We've advanced that discussion in the major economies process.  We expect that the advances in this discussion at the leaders' rep level will be reflected in the discussion among the leaders themselves, and no doubt reflected in the declaration next week.  &lt;p /&gt; Critically, ultimate agreement in the U.N. on a long-term goal will gain confidence through the work we do together on important topics like global technology R&amp;D, accelerating commercial deployment through clean technology, and the establishment of national mid-term goals and plans, and through work on sectoral approaches.  These discussions, whether in the G8 or in the major economies process, in July are not the end of the story.	These discussions will continue just as our work in the UNFCCC negotiations will continue, heading towards the meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.  " title=" Q    Yes, I was interested to hear you talk about it's time for a long-term global goal.	Is there" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-07-01#entryid_272866" rowid="41997191" side="usa" srcid="272866" text=" MR. PRICE:  I think leaders will want to discuss the issue of the rise in oil prices.  They may wish to discuss outcomes from the recent conference.  There's a whole set of issues that they may wish to talk about in connection with oil prices.  " title=" Q    You mentioned that oil prices are going to be on the agenda on Tuesday, I think.  What is it" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69377" rowid="41968975" side="usa" srcid="69377" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:   No, I did not say that.  You are -- you are asking that question.  I told you I would not encourage you to write that.  The President has made his principles very, very clear.  But if you want me to start getting into ruling things in or out on specific legislation, I don't think that's helping to move the process forward from this podium.  I think the best way to move this process forward is for the President to have these discussions with members of Congress and talk about how we get to what our common goal is, which is fixing this unfunded liability and making sure that our younger workers, our children and grandchildren, have their retirement benefits when they retire.  Because right now they are not going to have their savings when they retire.  " title=" 	Q	(Inaudible.)  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69393" rowid="41968991" side="usa" srcid="69393" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, I'm not leaving open any ideas.   " title=" 	Q	-- by not directly answering the question.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68346" rowid="41968308" side="usa" srcid="68346" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, these -- what we know is that these were murders of American citizens who were there in Yemen to provide humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, and we need to let the investigation continue.  And then when we have more information, or when the Yemeni -- when Yemen has more information, we'll share that at that time. " title=" 	Q	-- this is a terrorist attack? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68328" rowid="41968290" side="usa" srcid="68328" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  You're a day ahead of things.  You're not going to leave me anything for tomorrow if we talk about that today. " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;2&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;On a lighter note, have you got any information about how the&lt;/b&gt; Bushes are goin" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68329" rowid="41968291" side="usa" srcid="68329" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, again, Mark, that's kind of getting into questions that -- this is being investigated as we speak.  As I pointed out, one individual is in custody.  Let's let the investigation take place, and as we develop more information and it's ready to be shared, I'm sure it will be shared at that time.  But this underscores the world we're living in these days, the dangerous world we live in these days.  And the State Department has had travel advisories and warnings out to American citizens in different parts of the world.  We take this very seriously and we will work closely with Yemeni officials to bring any and all people who are responsible for these murders to justice. " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Back on Yemen, is it the U.S. view that Americans were&lt;/b&gt; specifically targeted?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68344" rowid="41968306" side="usa" srcid="68344" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  There's not any specific information, David, related to terrorist activities that we have.  We did receive information about these individuals through intelligence.  But, you know, any time we have five individuals like this who enter the country illegally, we want to know why they are here, we want to question them.  And that's why the FBI has enlisted the help of the public.  The FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement officials, so that we can find these individuals and question them and find out more. &lt;p /&gt; 	But with that said, that we don't have any specific information relating to terrorist activities, there are -- and the FBI pointed this out in their release yesterday -- that based on information developed in the course of ongoing investigations relating to the war on terrorism, the FBI would like to locate and question these people. " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;What about these five that the FBI is looking for?&lt;/b&gt;  Is there a suspicion that" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68340" rowid="41968302" side="usa" srcid="68340" text=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;6&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Scott, could you clarify on North Korea, is it the administration's&lt;/b&gt; position that the International Atomic Energy Agency bring the case before the United Nations Security Council in the weeks ahead,  or is that something that you are kind of stepping back --  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, that's a decision for the International Atomic Energy Agency to make, and they will be meeting, as you are aware, on January 6th with their board of governors to discuss what steps they take and whether or not to refer that to United Nations Security Council. &lt;p /&gt; 	I think Secretary Powell yesterday stated the administration's position very clearly. " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;6&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Scott, could you clarify on North Korea, is it the administration's&lt;/b&gt; position " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68330" rowid="41968292" side="usa" srcid="68330" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'm sorry, anything specific you are referring to?  I mean, we are continuing to mobilize the international community to keep pressure on North Korea.  But North Korea, by it's own actions, is isolating itself from the international community.  I mean, China, North Korea's strongest friend in the region, has stated that it's policy is one of no nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.  So by its own actions, North Korea continues to isolate itself. &lt;p /&gt; 	Anybody else? " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;7&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Scott, any thoughts on the reluctance of China and Russia&lt;/b&gt; to use sanctions, e" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68331" rowid="41968293" side="usa" srcid="68331" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, I think that's a question you ought to refer to Dr. Blix and Dr. Elbaradei.  They're are the ones who are -- they are the inspectors.  They're the ones who are implementing the process that was set out by the United Nations Security Council.  And so I think those comments ought to be directed to them. &lt;p /&gt; 	But it's very clear what the resolution states, and that is that we should be able to question those scientists inside and outside the country, if need be. " title=" 	Q	&lt;a name=&quot;8&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;And I also have a question on Iraq&lt;/b&gt;.  What is the U.S. planning to do to get t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69374" rowid="41968972" side="usa" srcid="69374" text=" 	Q	All right, turning back to &lt;a name=&quot;7&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;immigration&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.  The question, there seems to be kind of a disconnect between the administration and Chairman Sensenbrenner.  At his press conference yesterday, he said that he's in agreement with the White House on asylum, but there are disagreements, or he doesn't know the administration's position on the driver's license issue for illegal immigrants, or extending the fence along the border.  Do you think you can clear up those two points that Chairman Sensenbrenner raised?   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, what the President has said, he looks forward to talking with members early next year about some of the other ideas.  Chairman Sensenbrenner certainly had some ideas.  We spelled out some of our views on those issues in letters that we sent to members of Congress -- one this week and one back in October, if I remember correctly.  And so the President looks forward to talking with people about those issues.  &lt;p /&gt; 	In terms of driver's license, the President stated that we need to consult closely with states about the standards that we're talking about setting.  So that's his view there.  &lt;p /&gt; 	Sarah and then April.  " title=" 	Q	All right, turning back to &lt;a name=&quot;7&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;immigration&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.  The question, there seems to be " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69381" rowid="41968979" side="usa" srcid="69381" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Deborah.  " title=" 	Q	And Iraq?  How about Iraq?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68337" rowid="41968299" side="usa" srcid="68337" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I'm not aware of any recommendation that's been made.  That's an IAEA decision. " title=" 	Q	And the administration will not have any position, no recommendation? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68348" rowid="41968310" side="usa" srcid="68348" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, again, I don't have any specific information to provide regarding the investigation.  We'll let the American officials who are working with Yemeni officials investigate that.  But our intention, I want to make clear, is to bring to justice any and all people who were responsible for these murders. " title=" 	Q	And what reason do we have to believe that there's more than one person involved? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68343" rowid="41968305" side="usa" srcid="68343" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  It's based on intelligence -- I'm not going to get into sources or methods -- that the intelligence brought to our attention these individuals.  Again, we don't have any specific information that ties them to terrorist activity, but they -- we do believe they have entered this country illegally.  And any time anybody enters the country illegally we want to know why they're here and we want to question them. " title=" 	Q	And you say, when we have individuals like this, I mean, is that because they're of Middle Easte" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68345" rowid="41968307" side="usa" srcid="68345" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  Nothing -- nothing to report at this time, Mark. " title=" 	Q	Are there any links that the U.S. knows of between the suspect that was arrested and terror grou" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69406" rowid="41969004" side="usa" srcid="69406" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, if there are any costs, they'll be in our budgets that we put going forward.   " title=" 	Q	As he defines the deficit in the next five years, does that include or exclude any costs of tran" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69408" rowid="41969006" side="usa" srcid="69408" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Move it forward to save the overall cost there.    " title=" 	Q	As you said yourself, before, Scott, it's possible you may have to move some of this $11 billion" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69414" rowid="41969012" side="usa" srcid="69414" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, we've said that it could require that for the transition financing.  But we're going to work with members of Congress about how to exactly finance the transition to --   " title=" 	Q	Borrowing, that's borrowing.  Just use English -- that's borrowing.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69400" rowid="41968998" side="usa" srcid="69400" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I think I've made it very clear what the President's principles are.  The President made it very clear what his principles are earlier today.  He reiterated those principles:  no changes at or near retirement, no increase in payroll taxes, and voluntary personal savings accounts.  If you're talking about increasing payroll taxes, that is one of the principles that the President has said we should not pursue.  " title=" 	Q	But I'm asking what your reaction would be.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68342" rowid="41968304" side="usa" srcid="68342" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, I think what I would point back to is what the FBI said, that while there isn't specific information, that based upon information developed in the course of ongoing investigations -- investigations relating to the war on terrorism -- the FBI would like to question these individuals. " title=" 	Q	But intelligence that they may have some association with terror groups, if not terror activity?" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68335" rowid="41968297" side="usa" srcid="68335" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I'm sorry? " title=" 	Q	But is there -- when you say, the entire world stands ready to help? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68332" rowid="41968294" side="usa" srcid="68332" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I think if you look back, South Korean President-elect Rho said last week that North Korea must withdraw the nuclear measures that it has taken and restore facilities and equipment to their original state.  He made those remarks last week.  And that's why I point to the fact that the international community is unified in its approach.  And we are going to continue consulting and working closely with our friends and allies as we move forward. " title=" 	Q	But it doesn't appear to be the case, because South Korea is specifically criticizing our approa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68338" rowid="41968300" side="usa" srcid="68338" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I think that's a decision for the IAEA board of governors.  That's what I was making clear. " title=" 	Q	But will the administration take the position either way on whether or not it should bring it fo" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69427" rowid="41969025" side="usa" srcid="69427" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Go ahead, Terry.  " title=" 	Q	But, Scott --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69413" rowid="41969011" side="usa" srcid="69413" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  -- personal savings account and strengthening Social Security.  There are a number of options for doing that.    " title=" 	Q	By borrowing.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68349" rowid="41968311" side="usa" srcid="68349" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I just know he was informed early this morning by staff. " title=" 	Q	By who? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69429" rowid="41969027" side="usa" srcid="69429" text=" 	Q	Can you clarify one thing on this point?  The question that was asked of him was whether or not -- was about taxes to pay for the transition.  It's not clear to me; are you saying that his principle is no increase in payroll taxes just for the transition, or to solve the overall problems with Social Security?   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  He's made it very clear that the principles for strengthening Social Security are based on no changes for those at or near retirement; no raising of payroll taxes, as well as making sure that younger workers have voluntary personal savings accounts.  Those are principles he feels strongly about.  And that's why he articulated them previously.  And he wants to use that as a basis for moving forward to get this solved.  " title=" 	Q	Can you clarify one thing on this point?  The question that was asked of him was whether or not " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69425" rowid="41969023" side="usa" srcid="69425" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  The fact of the matter is that if we don't solve this problem payroll taxes are going up big time.  We need to solve this problem so that doesn't happen.    " title=" 	Q	Does that violate --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69402" rowid="41969000" side="usa" srcid="69402" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Is there another Ed?  (Laughter.)   " title=" 	Q	Everybody --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68341" rowid="41968303" side="usa" srcid="68341" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, there's no change in the alert status. " title=" 	Q	Given the hunt for these five on our soil, is there any thought to changing the status of -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69397" rowid="41968995" side="usa" srcid="69397" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, we had a meeting on Monday in the Cabinet Room.  The President met with a number of Republican and Democratic leaders to talk about this issue.  It included the leadership, as well as the caucus and conference chairmen of the parties.  And they talked about the problem that we face.  And they talked about ways that we can move forward working together.  I think everybody came to that meeting with a sense of working in a bipartisan way.  We hope that that will continue.  The President will be reaching out.  It takes other people reaching back to get this done.  &lt;p /&gt; 	But first, as he said earlier today, we all need to agree that this is a real problem, and agree on how we proceed going forward based on a common set of data to work from.  And so that's what we're focused on.   &lt;p /&gt; 	Go ahead.  " title=" 	Q	How are you reaching out to Democrats?  And what are you hoping to offer them to get them to com" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69372" rowid="41968970" side="usa" srcid="69372" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  In U.S. courts.  Well, I think the President has stated his views on the issue, and certainly in terms of the legal matters, those are issues being discussed before the courts.  In certain instances, the courts have said it's okay to display the 10 Commandments in public places; in others, they haven't.  And that's an issue that they've been working to resolve.   " title=" 	Q	How hard will the President push to get the 10 Commandments in U.S. courts?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69371" rowid="41968969" side="usa" srcid="69371" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Let me keep going, though, and I'll come back to you if I can.  April.  " title=" 	Q	I have one more question.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69412" rowid="41969010" side="usa" srcid="69412" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  David, do you yield?   " title=" 	Q	I just want to follow on one point, Scott, if I might.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69411" rowid="41969009" side="usa" srcid="69411" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Go ahead.   " title=" 	Q	I yield to the gentleman --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69401" rowid="41968999" side="usa" srcid="69401" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  You would be writing it that way.  I would not encourage you to write it that way.    " title=" 	Q	If there were stories this evening and tomorrow that say the White House on Thursday left open t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68347" rowid="41968309" side="usa" srcid="68347" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, it's continuing to be investigated, so we need to let the investigation continue. " title=" 	Q	Is there an indication by saying &quot;all those responsible&quot; -- is the implication that you think th" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69421" rowid="41969019" side="usa" srcid="69421" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Let me finish, Jim.  The President is reaching out to members of Congress.  There are a lot of ideas.  Some of ideas you're expressing in your question.  I don't want to, from this podium, to try to get into a discussion that we are going to be having with members of Congress about how we can get this solved.  I know that you all want to say, what are you for, what are you against in specific pieces of legislation.    &lt;p /&gt; 	What I want to say is, let's work together, as the President said, so that we can get this done.  And that's the spirit in which we're working, and I don't think it behooves us from this podium to get into a discussion of all the different pieces of legislation that are out there.  What we want to signal to members of Congress is, we want to work with you; let's get this done, working together.  But the principles the President outlined are very clear.  You all are very well aware of them, and I don't think it behooves us, moving forward, trying to get this done to get into a discussion of all the different pieces of legislation.    " title=" 	Q	Is what --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69422" rowid="41969020" side="usa" srcid="69422" text=" 	Q	Just to -- you caused a little confusion here.  The President opposes raising the rate of the payroll tax flat out.  Does the President also propose -- oppose, sorry -- does the President also oppose raising the ceiling of the income on which the tax falls, in other words, above the $87,900?   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Like I said, if you're talking about increasing payroll taxes, the President has said that is not how we should proceed.  We should proceed with solving this problem so that we don't keep facing tax increases or benefit cuts for future generations of workers.  The President --  " title=" 	Q	Just to -- you caused a little confusion here.  The President opposes raising the rate of the pa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69430" rowid="41969028" side="usa" srcid="69430" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, reducing benefits significantly or increasing taxes significantly, that's what would happen if we don't solve this problem.  In terms of the debt, the debt is being increased because this program is going insolvent.  The Social Security trustees he met with earlier today, in their reports over the last couple years, have pointed out that in 2042 this is a system that will become insolvent.  That's why we need to solve it today.  And by solving it, we will address that unfunded liability.  I think the financial markets will look very favorably upon that approach.   " title=" 	Q	Just to be clear:  that would leave open the two other possibilities, which are reducing benefit" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69399" rowid="41968997" side="usa" srcid="69399" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, Ed, this was an issue that was put before the voters.  It was one of the big issues of the campaign that was discussed.  The President said we need to strengthen Social Security.  He talked repeatedly about the principles that should guide us moving forward.  Senator Moynihan is someone who understood the importance of fixing this problem.  Back in the '80s they thought they had fixed it by raising taxes.  Here we are again talking about the need to fix it again because that didn't work.  And now the President wants to work with leaders who are in the same mold as Senator Moynihan and believe that we need to fix these big problems that we face and not continue to let them get worse.    &lt;p /&gt; 	In the Moynihan Commission, they talked about the importance of personal savings accounts.  They talked about the importance of how the thrift savings plan was a good example of where federal employees are able to invest in mutual funds and safely realize a great rate of return upon those -- on those investments.   &lt;p /&gt; 	Go ahead.  " title=" 	Q	Just to follow up.  With the principles that the President has laid out, is he not painting hims" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69415" rowid="41969013" side="usa" srcid="69415" text=" 	Q	Let me just clarify.  That's important, I think.  The answer is, yes -- the American people -- you've got to be clear about this.  There's a lot of questions.  The President is saying to the American people, you're going to have to live with more borrowing, a bigger deficit for now, if we're going to head it off down the road.   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Let me try to explain to you.  What you may be talking about is for the up-front transition financing that would be needed, you're pushing some of that $11 trillion forward, but you're also bringing it down significantly by fixing the problem.  And that's what I'm referring to when I say that the financial markets would look very favorably upon a solution to this unfunded liability.    " title=" 	Q	Let me just clarify.  That's important, I think.  The answer is, yes -- the American people -- y" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69383" rowid="41968981" side="usa" srcid="69383" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'll come back to you if I can.  I'll come back to you if I can.  Goyal, go ahead.  " title=" 	Q	No, I've --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69369" rowid="41968967" side="usa" srcid="69369" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  The President has outlined his principles.  We're going to be talking with members of Congress about how we get this solved and how we proceed forward --   " title=" 	Q	No, it's not negotiating.  You said there are options on the table.  Is that an option on the ta" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69378" rowid="41968976" side="usa" srcid="69378" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  -- resolve what the President stands for in terms of legislation.  And what I'm saying is I'm trying to avoid that from this podium, because it's best to have these discussions directly with members of Congress.  We haven't had a chance to sit down and talk at length with Senator Graham about his proposal.  The President certainly hasn't had that opportunity.  He welcomes -- he welcomes ideas.  " title=" 	Q	No, we're not.  Scott --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69386" rowid="41968984" side="usa" srcid="69386" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Okay, no, that's fine.  " title=" 	Q	No.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69390" rowid="41968988" side="usa" srcid="69390" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Go ahead -- go ahead.    " title=" 	Q	Not in a way that any of us understand.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69379" rowid="41968977" side="usa" srcid="69379" text=" 	Q	Now, his plan provides for raising the ceiling.  Should we conclude from your -- I mean, Scott, we've been playing word games for the last half-an-hour.  Is it fair for us to conclude that you have neither endorsed, nor opposed the idea of --  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I think we're trying to resolve this from this podium, resolve this --  " title=" 	Q	Now, his plan provides for raising the ceiling.  Should we conclude from your -- I mean, Scott, " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69382" rowid="41968980" side="usa" srcid="69382" text=" 	Q	On &lt;a name=&quot;8&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Afghanistan&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.  This week there was a milestone, and also I'm sure the President must be feeling a dream come true that, like Vice President Cheney and also Secretary Rumsfeld called that this is the first time ever in 5,000 years of history of Afghanistan that there was a first ever elected free government.  And millions of Afghans now enjoy freedom.  My question is that how does the President feel?  And also, are we seeing more like this in Iraq?  And also, some woman in Afghanistan -- they were protesting here.  I was speaking to some of the immigrants from Afghanistan in this area -- they are saying there is more to be done, and they are calling on the White House, one, they are saying that -- the White House and Americans -- but more to be done for women, and also to fight against terrorism from --  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Is there a question?  " title=" 	Q	On &lt;a name=&quot;8&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Afghanistan&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.  This week there was a milestone, and also I'm sure the P" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69409" rowid="41969007" side="usa" srcid="69409" text=" 	Q	One of your other principles enunciated during the campaign was to cut the short-term deficit, as you referred to it here, by half within four years.  In the President's mind, does any solution that he comes up with for the transition financing get included in that short-term deficit over the next four years, or does he, in his mind, view this as a completely separate problem?   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Have we changed our plan?  Is that what we're asking?  The President remains committed to cutting the deficit over the next five years, cutting it in half.  And that's something he remains committed to doing.  He also is firmly committed to addressing the unfunded liabilities that we face.    " title=" 	Q	One of your other principles enunciated during the campaign was to cut the short-term deficit, a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69423" rowid="41969021" side="usa" srcid="69423" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Okay, let me finish -- no, no, let me the finish the point I'm making.  The President is firmly committed to working in a bipartisan way with those who want to solve this problem.  This is a very real and growing problem.  We want to get it done.  And we want to reach out to members, listen to their ideas.  But his principles are very clear.  And I think if you're talking about increasing taxes, the President has made it clear that he would not support that.  " title=" 	Q	Put the legislation aside.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69384" rowid="41968982" side="usa" srcid="69384" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, I'm going to keep going.  Goyal, go ahead.  " title=" 	Q	Reuters --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69375" rowid="41968973" side="usa" srcid="69375" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  John, go ahead.  " title=" 	Q	Scott -- excuse me, the next question was for me.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69380" rowid="41968978" side="usa" srcid="69380" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, I said he is someone we want to work with.  " title=" 	Q	Scott, back on &lt;a name=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Social Security&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.  Sorry.  You just specifically mentioned " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69370" rowid="41968968" side="usa" srcid="69370" text=" 	Q	Scott, back on &lt;a name=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Social Security&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, although you're not answering specifically certain issues, early in the first part of the Bush administration there was talk about raising the age for those who were eligible for Social Security.  Is that in or out as far as the President is concerned?   &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  See, here we go again trying to get me to negotiate solutions from this podium.  (Laughter.)   " title=" 	Q	Scott, back on &lt;a name=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Social Security&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, although you're not answering specificall" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69398" rowid="41968996" side="usa" srcid="69398" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, I'll get to you in a second, though.  " title=" 	Q	Scott, can I just follow on Ed's just for a second?    " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69417" rowid="41969015" side="usa" srcid="69417" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, we haven't endorsed a specific plan, Steve, so, I mean, I think that it depends on the plan that you're talking about.  But when you're talking about it, you said cost -- I would argue it's a savings, because the cost right now of inaction is nearly $11 trillion, if we do nothing.  The President believes that we need to address that unfunded liability and solve this problem.  And there will be some up-front transition financing needed to move to personal savings accounts and strengthen Social Security, but it would be a significant savings over the $11 trillion.    " title=" 	Q	Scott, do you agree that the cost estimate is $1 trillion to $2 trillion, or are you coming up w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69376" rowid="41968974" side="usa" srcid="69376" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, do you understand that I try not to negotiate solutions from this podium, and that the President has not endorsed a specific proposal.  You all are trying to get into a specific legislative proposal.  And what I'm saying is that Senator Graham is someone who is committed to solving this.  He's someone we want to work with.  But the President's principles are very clear.  I don't think they're fuzzy at all.  The President said no increase in payroll taxes; no changes for those at or near retirement; and voluntary personal savings accounts for younger workers.  Those principles are very clear.  Everybody knows what they are.  They were discussed during the campaign, and the American people spoke very clearly that they supported that approach going forward.   &lt;p /&gt; 	Go ahead, John.  " title=" 	Q	Scott, do you understand that you have left this possibility in our minds?   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69404" rowid="41969002" side="usa" srcid="69404" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Go ahead, Ed.  I'll come to you.  " title=" 	Q	Scott, I --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69396" rowid="41968994" side="usa" srcid="69396" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  No, Keith, we've been through this question now three or four times.  " title=" 	Q	Scott, is raising the income level that would be subject to payroll taxes tantamount to a payrol" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69403" rowid="41969001" side="usa" srcid="69403" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  David and David, Terry and Terry --   " title=" 	Q	Scott, just to clarify on the points that Terry and Terry were trying to make.  What would the W" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68333" rowid="41968295" side="usa" srcid="68333" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  Yes.  North Korea is the one that is isolating itself by its action.  The international community is unified and is in agreement that North Korea's actions are a challenge to all responsible nations.  And it has made clear that North Korea's relations with the outside world hinge on the elimination of its nuclear weapons program.  So that's the point I would emphasize, that the international community is unified in its approach. " title=" 	Q	Scott, Kim Dae-jung today said that the only option for dealing with North Korea is dialogue, an" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68336" rowid="41968298" side="usa" srcid="68336" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  No.  Secretary Powell actually addressed that yesterday.  Through the World Food Program, we will continue to meet our allocations to the World Food Program.  There is a concern about that food actually getting to the people of Korea, as Secretary Powell stated yesterday. " title=" 	Q	Scott, with what you just said there, are you including food aid in what North Korea may not rec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69387" rowid="41968985" side="usa" srcid="69387" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Do you have a Social Security question?  " title=" 	Q	Senator Robert Byrd --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69385" rowid="41968983" side="usa" srcid="69385" text=" 	Q	Senator Robert Byrd said yesterday, &quot;We cannot expect intelligence reform without closing these gaps in illegal &lt;a name=&quot;6&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;immigration&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;,&quot; while The Washington Times editorial today said, &quot;Three years after September 11th and still our immigration system is in tatters.&quot;  And my first question:  How many illegals are in the U.S. and how many are arriving in this country every day in the Bush administration's estimate?  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  You can check with the immigration people on the latest statistics, but I think there have been a number of estimates around the 8 million range of people.  But the President, what he is working to do is to strengthen our border security and to strengthen our controls along the border to prevent people who should not be entering the country, like terrorists or criminals, from coming into the country, while also making sure that we remain a welcoming society.  We are a nation of immigrants, and the President believes in those core principles that we should remain a welcoming society, but we also need to take steps to strengthen our border enforcement.    &lt;p /&gt; 	And this legislation the President will be signing into law takes a number of steps to do that, by increasing the number of border control agents, increasing the number of agents in the immigration and Custom services over the next five years by a certain amount on each of those.  And there's more that we can do, and the President talked about how he looked forward to continuing to work with Congress.  &lt;p /&gt; 	The President has also put forward a plan based on some specific principles for moving forward on a temporary worker program that would address some of the economic need in this country, while also addressing the issue of people coming to this country from Mexico and other countries to our south who are seeking a better way of life.  Ultimately, what we need to do is continue to expand trade opportunities so that we can raise the standard of living in other countries so that people will be less inclined to want to come here to seek a better way of life.  Many of these people are just coming to the United States to seek a better way of life.  " title=" 	Q	Senator Robert Byrd said yesterday, &quot;We cannot expect intelligence reform without closing these " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69388" rowid="41968986" side="usa" srcid="69388" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Again, this is a question we've gone through and I want to reiterate to you all in this room, I'm not here to try to negotiate with members of Congress from this podium.  There's some plans that have been put forward.  The principles upon which the President is working are very clear to members of Congress.  They know what his position is.  If you're talking about raising payroll taxes, that is a payroll tax increase; the President would not be for that.  It's one of the President's core principles for moving forward on strengthening Social Security.  &lt;p /&gt; 	At the same time, I want to emphasize that the President wants to work in a bipartisan way with all members of Congress who are committed to getting this done.  Congressman Boyd is someone, a Democrat, who came out the other day and said we need to strengthen Social Security.  Now, he was embracing a specific plan, Congressman Kolbe's plan.  Congressman Kolbe has a plan; Senator Graham has a plan.  Senator Graham and Congressman Kolbe and Congressman Boyd are people that this President wants to work with very closely to get this done.  We have some different ideas, but the President is focused on how we can come together to solve this problem.    &lt;p /&gt; 	And that's why -- I'm not trying to get into all the different specific legislative proposals that are out there from this podium, but I want to reiterate to you what the President's principles are.  I think they're very clear.  I know you all want to pull me further into this discussion with members of Congress from this podium.  The President wants to pull members of Congress into discussions here at the White House so we can focus on getting this done.  &lt;p /&gt; 	Go ahead, Les.  " title=" 	Q	So are you ruling out the idea of raising the ceiling as a solution?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69405" rowid="41969003" side="usa" srcid="69405" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  And again, I wouldn't view anything as a cost; I view them as savings.  But, no, no, we have not put out our -- we have not endorsed a specific plan, first of all.  The first step would be endorsing what your specific plan is for the transition financing.  But the President remains committed to cutting the deficit in half over the next five years.   " title=" 	Q	So he is including them?   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69391" rowid="41968989" side="usa" srcid="69391" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  And I've addressed this question.   " title=" 	Q	So I'm just asking you, is that an increase in payroll taxes?   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69424" rowid="41969022" side="usa" srcid="69424" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Terry, this is what you're trying to get me into talking about specific pieces of legislation.  I don't think it serves us well to get into a discussion --   " title=" 	Q	So I'm still unclear, does that violate the principles or not?   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69407" rowid="41969005" side="usa" srcid="69407" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  And my response to that is that the President remains to cutting the deficit in half over the next five years, and he also remains committed to addressing the long-term deficits that we face by fixing these unfunded liabilities.    " title=" 	Q	So my question is, does that count in the number that you are referring to when you say that you" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69428" rowid="41969026" side="usa" srcid="69428" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I think he's made it pretty clear, Jim, to that effect.  But what I want to emphasize, and it's what the President emphasized earlier today, and it's what he emphasized in his meeting earlier this week with members of Congress, this is an important priority.  It's a problem that is getting worse over time.  We need to solve it now so that we don't pass it on to future generations.    &lt;p /&gt; 	And the President has made it very clear:  I want to work in a bipartisan way to get this done.  But there are certain principles that should guide us as we move forward.  And personal savings accounts are part of the solution to strengthening Social Security.  It's part of a comprehensive solution for getting this fixed so that we don't have to continue to come back every so often and keep hiking taxes on the American people.  He wants to add a new benefit for younger workers so that they can realize a greater rate of return on their retirement savings.  " title=" 	Q	So separate -- so separate and apart from the idea of creating private accounts, the President w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69431" rowid="41969029" side="usa" srcid="69431" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  That's one of his principles, but he's made it very clear that he does not believe we should raise payroll taxes; that was something he campaigned on during the campaign, it was one of the issues that was discussed at length.  And the American people spoke very clearly in support of his approach to strengthening Social Security.    " title=" 	Q	So that's a principle, not a prejudgment.    " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69418" rowid="41969016" side="usa" srcid="69418" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  That's not something he's for.  But I'm not getting into a discussion of all the individual pieces of legislation that are out there at this point.  We have not endorsed a specific plan a this point.  What we want to do is get with members of Congress and work to solve this problem.  We want to hear their ideas and we want to work with them in a bipartisan way to get this done.  " title=" 	Q	So that's off the table, too?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69432" rowid="41969030" side="usa" srcid="69432" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Actually, that's one of the principles that the President outlined as part of our efforts to move forward to solve this problem.  There are a lot of members of Congress who are committed to strengthening &lt;a name=&quot;2&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Social Security&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; for future generations.  And the President wants to work closely with them in a bipartisan way to get this done in his second term.  And the President met with some of those leaders earlier this week.  There are, obviously, different ideas, but the President believes there are some important principles that ought to guide us as we move forward.  And that was one of them, as well as, no change for retirees or those at or near retirement.   " title=" 	Q	So the President says that he will not prejudge any solution, but then he rules out a tax increa" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69392" rowid="41968990" side="usa" srcid="69392" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'm saying that the President's principle is no increase in payroll taxes.   " title=" 	Q	So we don't know what he's talking about.   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69410" rowid="41969008" side="usa" srcid="69410" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  One, right now, we are talking with members of Congress about how we proceed forward together.  And sometimes the approach we're taking is a very effective way to get things done.  We have done it in the past.  We've talked about previous big priorities that needed to be addressed.  And we've accomplished significant results on tackling some of the big challenges that this country faces, whether it's education or tax cuts or Medicare.  We have always tried to reach out and work together to proceed forward and accomplish these great goals.    " title=" 	Q	Sorry, David.  I just wonder why the President doesn't feel compelled, on an issue like this, to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69373" rowid="41968971" side="usa" srcid="69373" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'm sorry, could you repeat the first part of your question?   " title=" 	Q	Thank you.  I have two questions, if I may.  How hard will the President push to get the &lt;a name" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69366" rowid="41968964" side="usa" srcid="69366" text="	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, I think the President's views are very clear about the sanctity of marriage.  In terms of actions other countries take, those are internal matters for those countries and questions are best directed to those countries.  " title=" 	Q	The &lt;a name=&quot;10&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Supreme Court of Canada&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; has ruled that parliament can now go ahead a" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69419" rowid="41969017" side="usa" srcid="69419" text=" 	Q	The President has taken something off the table.  He said there is to be no increase in payroll taxes.  And we want to know, what does that mean?  Does it mean, there will be no increase in the rate of payroll taxes?  Yes?  And does it also mean that no more income than the $87,300 right now would be subject --  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I think the President views this as if payroll taxes are going up, you're raising payroll taxes.  That is not something he is for.   " title=" 	Q	The President has taken something off the table.  He said there is to be no increase in payroll " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69420" rowid="41969018" side="usa" srcid="69420" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  He didn't just now take something off the table.  He has laid out those principles for quite some time.  And the American people spoke in support of those.  " title=" 	Q	The President, just now in the Oval Office, took something off the table.  We're trying to figur" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68350" rowid="41968312" side="usa" srcid="68350" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'll check on that.  I'm not sure if he received that.  I know he was informed early this morning of the killings. " title=" 	Q	The Yemenis say they sent -- the President of Yemen sent a note of condolence to President Bush." />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69367" rowid="41968965" side="usa" srcid="69367" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I know you all are all committed to fixing Social Security, as well.  At least the younger ones in here.  " title=" 	Q	Think of it as a principle, not a negotiation.    " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69389" rowid="41968987" side="usa" srcid="69389" text=" 	Q	To talk about how you're going to pay for this, some people have said that this -- the up-front cost that you were just talking about could be as much as $2 trillion, and you say that you're not going to increase payrolls, you're not going to use the deficit because you're going to cut the deficit in half.  So how are you going to pay for this?  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  Well, that's what we're -- we're, one, reaching out to members of Congress and talking to them about how we address the transition financing and other issues needed to strengthen Social Security.  When we get to the point of talking about a specific plan, then we can probably talk further about that very issue.  But there are options available for that transition financing, but it's going to be a solution that fixes this unfunded liability and brings us significant savings, while making sure that Social Security is there for future generations to realize a great rate of return on their investments.  " title=" 	Q	To talk about how you're going to pay for this, some people have said that this -- the up-front " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68327" rowid="41968289" side="usa" srcid="68327" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I don't know what his afternoon activities are at this point.  I would imagine he might get some fishing in, as well.  But, obviously, he continues to conduct business while he's here as well. " title=" 	Q	What's he have planned for today? " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68351" rowid="41968313" side="usa" srcid="68351" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  It's ongoing, it is ongoing, David; it is ongoing.  (Laughter.) &lt;p /&gt; 	&lt;a name=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Let me make some remarks on the news out of Yemen this morning.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  We strongly condemn and deplore the murder of three American citizens who were providing humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people.  We are working closely with Yemeni officials to investigate these attacks. &lt;p /&gt; 	Yemeni officials already have one individual in custody, and we will work with them to bring to justice all those who are responsible.  The President's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and he hopes for a speedy and full recovery of the individual who was wounded in the attacks. &lt;p /&gt; 	And with that, I'm happy to take any questions. " title=" 	Q	When will the brush be cleared?  (Laughter.)  Scott, is there an end to this?  (Laughter.) " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68334" rowid="41968296" side="usa" srcid="68334" text=" 	MR. MCCLELLAN:  I'm trying to make the point that North Korea needs to change its current course.  They need to change their current behavior; that as long as they continue down their current course, North Korea will continue -- North Korea will continue to pay a serious price by its own actions; and it continues to isolate itself from the international community by these actions, by the latest actions.  I think Secretary Powell stated very well yesterday that the United States was ready to help and we were in direct contact, in direct talks with North Korea. &lt;p /&gt; 	Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi, was ready to talk normalization and economic assistance to North Korea.  South Korea was ready to do so as well.  But because of the revelations and by the acknowledgment by North Korea that it was seeking another way to develop nuclear weapons and its continued course of action, in opening the seals off the fuel rods and restarting the Yongbyon nuclear facility, it has continued to isolate itself and it cannot realize those benefits from the international community while it continues down its current course. " title=" 	Q	When you say, the entire world stands ready to help North Korea, I mean, are you trying to stres" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_68339" rowid="41968301" side="usa" srcid="68339" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I'm not aware of any such recommendation that's been made.  But that is a matter for the IAEA.  What we have here is that, you know, I would go back to that North Korea is continuing to isolate itself from the international community.  The entire world stands ready to help North Korea, but North Korea will not realize any of the benefits and help that they need until they reverse its current course. " title=" 	Q	Will the administration make a recommendation to the IAEA, in terms of where to push that -- " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69426" rowid="41969024" side="usa" srcid="69426" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  There are several pieces of legislation that are out there right now by members of Congress to address this problem.  The President wants to work with those members who have put forward some of those proposals.  You're referencing one of the legislative proposals that has been put forward.  The President has outlined his principles.  He's made that very clear.  And what we are doing is not trying to get into what we're against, what we're for.  What we're focused on is what we can get accomplished together to get this done.  But the principles, I think, are very clear.  He does not support raising payroll taxes to strengthen Social Security.    " title=" 	Q	Would raising the $87,900 ceiling cap on taxes, would that constitute a tax increase?  Or is he " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69395" rowid="41968993" side="usa" srcid="69395" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  And I've addressed it.  I don't have anything to add.  " title=" 	Q	You didn't answer it --   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69394" rowid="41968992" side="usa" srcid="69394" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  I understand.  " title=" 	Q	You have not completely addressed it.  You're leaving open -- you're leaving open the idea that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69416" rowid="41969014" side="usa" srcid="69416" text=" 	Q	You made it pretty clear -- rather, the President has, that this is going to be difficult; that taking on something of this magnitude requires sacrifice.  Without getting into specific proposals, is the President prepared to ask the American people to live with increasing the deficit for a period of time, through borrowing, if we're going to fundamentally restructure the Social Security program?  &lt;p&gt; 	MR. McCLELLAN:  There are two things that the President's focused on -- when it comes to the deficit, there are two things he's focused on:  the short-term deficit and the long-term deficit.  Social Security is an unfunded liability that is a long-term deficit problem.  It's a very serious matter that needs to be addressed and not passed on to future generations.  The markets recognize this problem.  The markets, I think, would look favorably upon any plan that fixes that unfunded liability.  And if there are some short-term, up-front financing that is needed to do that, yet it brings down the overall cost of the program, they will view that in a very favorable light.    " title=" 	Q	You made it pretty clear -- rather, the President has, that this is going to be difficult; that " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="0000-00-00 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/0000-00-00#entryid_69368" rowid="41968966" side="usa" srcid="69368" text=" 	MR. McCLELLAN:  -- how we proceed forward to get this done.  April, we're trying to solve problems.  And you don't necessarily do that by getting into negotiations or discussions from this podium.  You do that by working closely with members of Congress to solve the problems, and that's what we're going to continue to do.  " title=" 	Q	You only had one out of three, can you answer mine?  (Laughter.)   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265745" rowid="41996177" side="usa" srcid="265745" text="      MS. PERINO:  We'll check.  And Pete or I will get back to you.  &lt;p /&gt;      Victoria.  " title="      Q    -- go for it.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265746" rowid="41996178" side="usa" srcid="265746" text="      MS. PERINO:  Drop it in.  " title="      Q    -- he just wants to open up the floodgates and just --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265739" rowid="41996171" side="usa" srcid="265739" text="      MS. PERINO:  Let me check on the specific details on the timing.  I don't know if it's been sent up yet, but we'll check on it for you.   &lt;p /&gt;      Last one.  Okay.   " title="      Q    -- nuclear agreement.  Is it true that it has not yet been sent up to Congress?  And isn'" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265743" rowid="41996175" side="usa" srcid="265743" text="      MS. PERINO:  I would put it this way, that it's -- while it's exceedingly difficult, it's not impossible.  " title="      Q    And can I follow up on that?  Is there a realistic expectation that something is going to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265757" rowid="41996189" side="usa" srcid="265757" text="      MS. PERINO:  This is the same question ABC asked me yesterday.  " title="      Q    Any reaction to a poll that shows that Americans are more pessimistic about the economy t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265740" rowid="41996172" side="usa" srcid="265740" text="      MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title="      Q    Dana, I wanted to come back to yesterday's telephone call between the Presidents.  They w" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265750" rowid="41996182" side="usa" srcid="265750" text="      MS. PERINO:  It's an initial contribution in response to the event.  As other NGOs move toward the area and needs become evident we'll consider what, if any, additional funding is needed to help the people of China through our embassy in Beijing.  I think they're still -- given the assessments that are ongoing right now, the half-a-million dollars is our initial offer.  " title="      Q    Dana, on the earthquake assistance to China, the half-million dollars, is that a perfunct" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265752" rowid="41996184" side="usa" srcid="265752" text="      MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title="      Q    Dana?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265749" rowid="41996181" side="usa" srcid="265749" text="      MS. PERINO:  He did not.  But he thanked the President for his offers.  " title="      Q    Did President Hu request any U.S. assistance in particular?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265760" rowid="41996192" side="usa" srcid="265760" text="      MS. PERINO:  I wouldn't put it that way, no.   " title="      Q    Does it seem less likely now than before that there will be such a meeting?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265742" rowid="41996174" side="usa" srcid="265742" text="      MS. PERINO:  Well, this trip certainly -- we don't anticipate any major breakthroughs I don't think to be announced.  But the President believes that his one-on-one meetings are very important and one of the best ways to make progress.  And he'll have meetings with the Israelis while we're there in Jerusalem, and then when he goes to Sharm el Sheikh, he'll have lots of other additional meetings.   &lt;p /&gt;      And every time he's there in the region he talks to all the leaders about the issues of the Middle East, the importance of having a free and fair society right there in the heart of the Middle East when it comes to Iraq.  And then he also talks to them about the Palestinians and the Israelis, and how they have a chance right now, and that they need to be supported by their neighbors.  &lt;p /&gt;      One of the most important things that we can do is work with the Palestinian Territories to build up the economy, to make sure that there are schools and jobs and vocational training, so that people have a hopeful vision, rather than one of despair, which is the one that certainly the people living in Gaza are feeling right now.  &lt;p /&gt;      Did you have one more?  " title="      Q    Does the President have any specific expectations, though, for this trip?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265744" rowid="41996176" side="usa" srcid="265744" text="      MS. PERINO:  I would refer you to all the interviews that the President did yesterday, because he talked a lot about this, but I will reiterate here in brief for you, which is that the President believes that these two governments, the Israelis and the Palestinians, have been doing a lot of good work behind the scenes, out of the glare of the spotlight and away from the microphones, which has helped them make some halting progress.  It's sluggish, that's true.  They have very complex issues to deal with, with decades of conflict that have built up.  And if this was easy it would have been solved a long time ago.  &lt;p /&gt;      But they have an opportunity in front of them right now, because of the people they have in place on both sides of their governments, who are working together, who have good conversations, to go back and forth.  But the issues of the right of return and of Jerusalem and settlements and a map that would define the borders are all issues that are very difficult.  And the President is going to be able to go there, first and foremost, celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel -- that's one of the main purposes of his trip -- and at the same time, be able to continue to try to push them along.  &lt;p /&gt;      As he said before, this is not something that the President of the United States is going to solve; there's not going to be a headline that says, &quot;Bush defines state.&quot;  It is going to be that the Israelis and the Palestinians come together to define their state.  " title="      Q    Given the very slow progress in the Palestinian peace process, and Prime Minister Olmert'" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265741" rowid="41996173" side="usa" srcid="265741" text="      MS. PERINO:  Well, the P5 plus one, which is our crew, is finalizing the details of the incentives package, and it will be delivered as soon as it's ready.  And we continue to reiterate our call to Iran to suspend enrichment and come to the table, as called for in the U.N. Security Council resolutions.  And our incentives package is the one that is the one with merit.  &lt;p /&gt;      Last one, Andre.  " title="      Q    I did, on Iran.  The President of Iran is out saying they'll have new proposals on the nu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265755" rowid="41996187" side="usa" srcid="265755" text="      MS. PERINO:  Go ahead.   " title="      Q    I withdraw the question.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265756" rowid="41996188" side="usa" srcid="265756" text="      MS. PERINO:  And then I gave the answer and ABC didn't use it.  (Laughter.)   " title="      Q    I'm sorry, I wasn't here yesterday.  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265753" rowid="41996185" side="usa" srcid="265753" text="      MS. PERINO:  I've got some points here for you, but I'm going to have to take a look at them because I just came from a meeting.  Well, in the past, as you know, we've had some useful discussions concerning the parameters of a program for the resumption of U.S. food assistance for the North Korean people.  North Korea has been open in saying that it faces a major shortfall in food supplies.  We have discussed providing additional assistance.  One way to do that would be through NGOs and through the World Food Program.   &lt;p /&gt;      If finalized, that formal announcement would be by the State Department.  And I believe an experts meeting is going to be convened in the near future to talk about how to begin detailed implementation of the program.  So for right here I don't have more specifics for you on that, but there are discussions that are ongoing in figuring out a way to make sure that people there are taken care of.  &lt;p /&gt;      It's one of the things that the President talks about repeatedly, which is his concern for the humanitarian condition for the people of North Korea, many of whom are starving.  The President thinks that the government is certainly diverting food to the military and not giving it to its people.  But outside of politics, the President's heart hurts when he knows that people are starving, and especially because -- especially for children who are maybe trying to go to school, and it's really hard to study and work and do all the things that you need to do to live if you don't have enough nutrition.  So it's something we're concerned about, and I'll refer you to the State Department for details on those discussions.  " title="      Q    Is that decision -- can you clarify or comment on that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265747" rowid="41996179" side="usa" srcid="265747" text="      Q    Just one back to Myanmar.  I wanted to see how strongly the President backs a move by some members of the Security Council to invoke a 2005 resolution they passed that could circumvent the generals under a U.N. mandate, and basically air-drop aid.  &lt;p&gt;      MS. PERINO:  I know that that's something that's been talked about at the State Department and Defense Department.  There's lots of interagency discussion about it, especially because people are so concerned about the human condition there in Burma.  So I don't have anything specific for you on what the President specifically thinks.  &lt;p /&gt;      We are pleased that we were able to land a flight yesterday.  Two more are going to be landing today, and I understand we have -- we're going to have access to getting four or five more by the end of the week.  Additional aid is being allowed in, in trickles.  So it's certainly not enough.  Again, when I say &quot;trickle,&quot; that's what I mean in terms of a drop in the bucket.   &lt;p /&gt;      So I'll see if I can get you more on the specific U.N. Security Council resolution.  " title="      Q    Just one back to Myanmar.  I wanted to see how strongly the President backs a move by som" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265759" rowid="41996191" side="usa" srcid="265759" text="      Q    On that topic, there are reports that many of the politicians are Christian, Sunni and Druze are saying that they believe U.S. statements on their crisis there right now have been too weak, and they are calling for more pressure on Hezbollah and Syrian backers.  In particular, they're asking the U.S. to help broaden a U.N. resolution to put Beirut's airport and harbor under the control of international peacekeeping troops.  What do you say to their concerns that they say that they feel abandoned by the U.S. and they've heard nothing substantial on this?  &lt;p&gt;      MS. PERINO:  Well, I think that -- I don't know when those comments were made, but later last night we issued a statement by the President condemning Hezbollah's action and pledging our continued support.  In addition to that, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice participated in a phone call last night with the Friends of Lebanon, and issued a media note, which is quite detailed and very strong in its support for Lebanon.  So I think let's just check the time now on when those statements were made, because I think that our statements could have come after that.  " title="      Q    On that topic, there are reports that many of the politicians are Christian, Sunni and Dr" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265748" rowid="41996180" side="usa" srcid="265748" text="      MS. PERINO:  He offered to assist in any way possible.  I can't tell you exactly -- I wasn't there.  I don't know if he specifically said there would be this half-a-million dollars.  I don't know when -- that information could have come right afterwards.  But obviously, our State Department and our embassy have been working with the Chinese government to try to assess the damage, make sure all of our American citizens are accounted for.  I refer you to State Department for that.  I haven't heard of anything saying that they aren't, but I would refer you to them.  &lt;p /&gt;      Also the Peace Corps Headquarters for the United States is right there in that province.  So -- but I understand last night that Josie Duckett, their press secretary, said everybody was accounted for.    &lt;p /&gt;      Go ahead.  " title="      Q    So the President mentioned that in the phone call and said we're going to give an initial" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265761" rowid="41996193" side="usa" srcid="265761" text="      Q    The President expressed a little bit of hesitation in one of the interviews yesterday over whether he'll actually be able to meet in Egypt with Siniora.  What's the feeling on that now?  Has he -- has the White House reached out to the Lebanon government, and is there a chance that if he leaves Lebanon he won't be able to get back home?  &lt;p&gt;      MS. PERINO:  I think the President would certainly like to meet him while he's there in Egypt, but obviously there's considerations that have to be taken into account.  And so we'll keep you updated as those developments occur.  " title="      Q    The President expressed a little bit of hesitation in one of the interviews yesterday ove" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265754" rowid="41996186" side="usa" srcid="265754" text="      MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title="      Q    There's a report on the FT that the U.S. has decided to send 500,000 tons of food aid to " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265751" rowid="41996183" side="usa" srcid="265751" text="      Q    We talk a lot about what the government is trying to do with respect to lowering our energy costs, whether it's more refinery capacity, whether it's alternative fuels, trying to work with the oil companies.  But I'm wondering what the President is thinking about food prices.  They continue to soar.  They're up dramatically, in particular since 2003.  What is his opinion about what can be done for the American people who are struggling now as much with food prices as they are with energy prices?  &lt;p&gt;      MS. PERINO:  Well, there's no doubt that food prices have gone up, and let me refer you to -- I'll ask Scott Stanzel to attach to this* -- we'll release this gaggle transcript today since we're only doing a gaggle, and I'll ask for us to attach some points at the end, because I don't have them at my fingertips, but some statistics that talk about -- that put this in context in terms of core inflation, which has remained relatively low, but energy and food prices have gone up.  And it's a concern that the President has.  And most importantly, first things first, make sure Congress does no harm in terms of exacerbating problems when it comes to energy or food prices.  That's number one.  &lt;p /&gt;      Number two, make sure that we have policies in place to have a strong and growing economy, so that we can have -- more jobs are being created, and also deal with lots of different issues when it comes to food.  A lot of our food costs come down to the issues of packaging and a lot of transportation costs, which goes back to energy.  So these things are interrelated.  It's something the President is concerned about and he knows that it hits people hard, especially -- this is the ultimate kitchen table issue.  And the President is concerned about it.  And we'll get you those points in this gaggle transcript.  &lt;p /&gt;      Mark.  " title="      Q    We talk a lot about what the government is trying to do with respect to lowering our ener" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-05-13#entryid_265758" rowid="41996190" side="usa" srcid="265758" text="      MS. PERINO:  That could have been something that Secretary Rice talked about specifically with the Friends of Lebanon, and so before any final decisions are made I think I'll decline to comment.  But let's check the timing on that just to make sure.  " title="      Q    What about the idea about the airport and the harbor, international peacekeepers there?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2006-04-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2006-04-21#entryid_59396" rowid="41974329" side="usa" srcid="59396" text=" MR. DECKARD:  No.  We'll get you the information.   MR. McCLELLAN:	I'll get you that information.*  " title="  Q    Is it Shultz's house, the private residence?   " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299743" rowid="41997999" side="usa" srcid="299743" text=" MS. PERINO:  Do you know what time we leave Monday?  " title=" Q	Afternoon, evening?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-11#entryid_222230" rowid="41995475" side="usa" srcid="222230" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I believe so, yes, and those should be -- it's much like we did it last year.	They're included in the same release. And we'll have more information for you then.  " title=" Q	And are you going to have access to them, or do we have to --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-11#entryid_222234" rowid="41995479" side="usa" srcid="222234" text=" MR. STANZEL:  We haven't announced his schedule for that period of time.  So I would just tell you to stay tuned.  " title=" Q	And as current plans stand, is it possible the President will go to the Olympics, but not go to t" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270096" rowid="41996802" side="usa" srcid="270096" text=" Q	And can you clarify something on the relationship between the incentive package and the sanctions?  I'm a little fuzzy on whether the United States now says, let's wait to see what the reaction is to the latest package of incentives and then we'll move ahead with fully implementing the last U.N. resolution, and the banking sanctions that were talked about the other day in Slovenia.  What --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, as you know, this dual-track process is not new.  This was really the process after 2003, when there was an active negotiation between the EU3 and Iran.  There was actually an agreement called the Paris Accord in 2004, where the Iranians suspended enrichment.  There was negotiation of a package of benefits that would help the Iranian people.  And those negotiations were broken off by President Ahmadinejad when he was elected in the summer of 2005.  &lt;p /&gt; We've tried to resuscitate that effort, get both of these tracks moving.  There's been a lot of effort and progress in sanctioning Iran. It was felt that what we needed now to do is to refresh the offer, if you will.  And that's what Solana will do.  &lt;p /&gt; So I think we will get a reaction fairly quickly.  The President Ahmadinejad has already ruled out acceptance of the package.  We'll see what happens when Solana goes, but I think you've heard a number of countries are getting ready and doing the internal processes required, so that should that package be rejected -- and a number of people believe it will -- we are ready to go to continue the sanctions effort that has already been well along.  As you know, there have been three U.N. Security Council resolutions.  We've taken a lot of action.  A number of European countries have also taken a lot of action.  &lt;p /&gt; Steven Lee.  " title=" Q	And can you clarify something on the relationship between the incentive package and the sanctions" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2007-06-05#entryid_179027" rowid="41987341" side="usa" srcid="179027" text=" MS. PERINO:  Well, then we'd have to take that into consideration and I'd have to come back with more reaction.  " title=" Q	And if Scooter Libby says, &quot;I'm not going to appeal&quot;?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299750" rowid="41998006" side="usa" srcid="299750" text=" MS. PERINO:  I don't have anything on coverage of the Opening Ceremony.  I have the -- we'll see what we can do for you.  We've been working as hard as we can to be able to --  " title=" Q	And what's the latest you're hearing about coverage of the Opening Ceremony?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2007-06-05#entryid_179030" rowid="41987347" side="usa" srcid="179030" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes, Dan Bartlett and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten informed the President right after take off -- as you know, that news came in just as we were taxiing -- so they informed the President.  The President said that he felt terrible for the family, especially his wife and his kids, and that he wanted to wait until we heard more about the judge's decision.  &lt;p /&gt; I don't know if you know that when we took off he had initially announced his decision on the sentencing issue, but then he said the court would break, and then came back.	When the court came back, according to reports from the ground, the judge has set up a process for which Scooter  Libby and his attorneys can appeal both the judge's decision today, as well as the jury verdict.  And given that and in keeping with what we have said in the past, the President has not intervened so far in this or any other criminal matter, and so he is going to decline to do so now, as well.  " title=" Q	Any reaction to the sentencing for Scooter Libby?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299754" rowid="41998010" side="usa" srcid="299754" text=" MS. PERINO:  As I said yesterday, we d&amp;#233;marched our Ambassador in Beijing to express our concern and complaint, and to ask that the Chinese reconsider this.  I don't have an update, though.	It's slower than we would like, but -- and they're actually running out of time to be able to rectify it, but we continue to press them.  " title=" Q	Anything that the White House or the State Department is doing in regards to Joey Cheek?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270080" rowid="41996786" side="usa" srcid="270080" text=" MR. HADLEY:  I'm sorry?  " title=" Q	British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has --  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270079" rowid="41996785" side="usa" srcid="270079" text=" MR. HADLEY:  You know, this is an idea that has kind of sprung on the international scene, and of course the President's first question is, what are we going to try to accomplish?  Because if you're going to have a meeting like that, there's obviously going to be great expectations that something will come of it that will have an impact on oil prices to reduce them and stabilize markets.  So there are expectations that have been generated, and it is important that those expectations not be unrealized, because that in itself will have an effect on oil prices in the market.  So one of the things the President has asked is our folks back in Washington to start looking at what we might try to accomplish.  We will be actively engaged with the sponsors to try and develop a plan and a set of outcomes that might come from that meeting.  &lt;p /&gt; At this point, that work is very preliminary.  The President has an opportunity to discuss this with his fellow leaders during this trip. He will then go back to Washington and take stock about how the summit -- how the meeting is shaping out, what might be able to be accomplished, and at that point make some decision about who are the appropriate representatives of the United States.  &lt;p /&gt; Sir.  " title=" Q	British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he plans to attend the oil summit in Saudi Arab" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270090" rowid="41996796" side="usa" srcid="270090" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, one of the things that the President talked about in his speech at the Naval Academy and his speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace is he made that contrast; that because of the level of destruction and all the rest, and the way World War II ended, we went -- I remind you, the war ended in '45 and there were a lot of editorial commentary that the post-war effort in Europe was floundering, and that we were not building the institutions of a democratic society that would lead to a prosperous Europe and a peaceful Europe.  &lt;p /&gt; And the Marshall Plan was announced in '48, really got underway in '49. It was an effort to focus security having been brought on the need for reconstruction development.  One of the things the President said at his Naval Academy speech and the U.S. Institute of Peace speech is, this is different.  We now -- the challenge of the 21st century is going to be states that are under siege, under siege because they are either emerging from conflict or because they are under pressure from international networks of terrorists, drug traffickers, organized crime -- that puts great pressure, and you can see this in Latin America. Look at Central America -- the pressure they are under from drug traffickers and terrorists who have resources, weapons and money that actually outstrips the resources of those individual countries to deal with that problem.  &lt;p /&gt; That's why we've talked about the Merida Initiative, which is so important for Congress to fund, which is a regional approach for Central America, with Mexico and the United States, to deal with these challenges.  The problem is there are transnational challenges that are pressing on states that are under siege that do not have the kind of strong democratic institutions that they need to deal with it.	That's what you see in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, Central America.  &lt;p /&gt; And the challenge for the 21st century is finding ways to bring security to these countries and build these institutions, because we all know that while the first step is to bring security to -- security over the long term, it will only occur when there are democratic institutions and prosperity and reconstruction that gives the people in the country an alternative to the terrorists.  &lt;p /&gt; So it is a -- it is similar in this respect:  It's a huge challenge; it's going to require a major commitment of resources;  it's going to require us to work closely together with the Europeans; and it's going to require us to rely once again on the power of freedom and liberty -- those ideals we talked about.  But it is different in the sense that in some sense it's harder because we're going to have to help strengthen these governments while they are under siege and under fire, if you will.  And that's a big challenge.  " title=" Q	But the Marshall Plan -- the war was over.  I mean, you're still -- there are still wars raging. " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-11#entryid_222224" rowid="41995469" side="usa" srcid="222224" text=" MR. STANZEL:  It's in honor of his visit.  There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit.  " title=" Q	But then it's not a dinner for the Pope, is it?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299758" rowid="41998014" side="usa" srcid="299758" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q	Can you clarify -- tomorrow is pool only, everything?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270094" rowid="41996800" side="usa" srcid="270094" text=" MR. HADLEY:  Well, the President has given a number of speeches. I think there's no -- I think you'll find it's the kind of speech that could be given a number of places, but it's obviously particularly fitting to give it in Paris because, as you know from the history, France is our first and oldest ally and very helpful at the time of our own independence.  And therefore it seemed a fitting place for the President to give this speech -- which, in addition to all the things I talked about, will also look back a little bit, using the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan to show and remind everyone in the United States and Europe how far the United States and Europe have come working together to build a Europe that is whole, free and at peace, and is economically prosperous, really rising out of the ashes of the Second World War.  &lt;p /&gt; Jennifer.  " title=" Q	Can you talk about the symbolism or the significance of having the speech in Paris, as opposed to" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299753" rowid="41998009" side="usa" srcid="299753" text=" MS. PERINO:  There's like 300 attendees.  " title=" Q	Dana, what's your understanding about the lunch tomorrow?  Did I hear you right that it's a lunch" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2007-06-05#entryid_179024" rowid="41987335" side="usa" srcid="179024" text=" MS. PERINO:  Yes.  " title=" Q	Did he include Scooter Libby in that?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299748" rowid="41998004" side="usa" srcid="299748" text=" MS. PERINO:  That's the --  " title=" Q	Do you know if the Zhongnanhai event is going to be pool, as well?  Are we going to be able to se" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2007-06-05#entryid_179025" rowid="41987337" side="usa" srcid="179025" text=" MS. PERION:  Yes, he says he feels terrible for them; he's sorry for the way that -- for all that they're going through and he can --  " title=" Q	Does he feel sympathy for Scooter Libby?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2007-06-05#entryid_179026" rowid="41987339" side="usa" srcid="179026" text=" Q	Does the President think at some point it would be appropriate just to speak out about this?  The guy has been sentenced. I mean, is he going to run out the clock and wait for all the appeals to be done before the President of the United States speaks about a pretty important matter that was perpetrated by a member of his staff?  &lt;p&gt; MS. PERINO:  What I can tell you is how the President reacted today, which is to say that he does feel terrible for them, he thinks they're going through a lot right now, they've been through a lot.  But given the fact that the judge has set up a process for appeal and given the way that the President has handled this for the past year or so, he's not going to intervene.  " title=" Q	Does the President think at some point it would be appropriate just to speak out about this?  The" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-08-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-08-07#entryid_299756" rowid="41998012" side="usa" srcid="299756" text=" MS. PERINO:  It says pool here, but I will double-check.  &lt;p /&gt; Do you know, Carlton?   MR. CARROLL:  I'm sorry, I couldn't hear --   MS. PERINO:  Tomorrow morning's embassy greeting, is it open press or pool?   MR. CARROLL:  It's open press.   MS. PERINO:  It's open press.  " title=" Q	Even the embassy reception is closed?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-06-12#entryid_270095" rowid="41996801" side="usa" srcid="270095" text=" Q	Follow up.  Assuming they reject it ,s they signaled they would, when do you expect to see the next diplomatic steps?  I mean, will there be an additional meeting of the P5-plus-1?  Will there be a Security Council resolution?  I mean, what and how soon do you expect to see --  &lt;p&gt; MR. HADLEY:  Well, we'll see.  I mean, look, what we ought to do is we ought to -- you know, one of the things we want to make clear is that this is a genuine offer and we hope the Iranians accept it.  So the more we're very visible about, well, we're going to get ready for this meeting and talk about moving forward on sanctions, I think our concern is that it would suggest to some -- Iranian people, for example -- that this was not a genuine offer and was not a genuine effort to resolve this issue in a positive way for both the Iranian people and for the international community.  &lt;p /&gt; It is a serious effort, and that's one of the reasons we have refreshed the offer.  That's one of the reasons we want Solana to go, notwithstanding the comments that we've heard from President Ahmadinejad.  Let him speak directly to the leaders of Iraq.  He will have an opportunity to speak to the Majlis.  Hopefully he will have opportunities to speak to the Iranian people.  And let's see what impact that has.  Let's let him go.  Let's let him come back.	We'll have an opportunity to see what he learns on that trip and to see what the response of the Iranian government is.  &lt;p /&gt; But at this point we want to make it clear to the Iranian people this is a genuine offer and a genuine way out for them that will provide a better life for the Iranian people if their regime will only let them take it.  " title=" Q	Follow up.  Assuming they reject it ,s they signaled they would, when do you expect to see the ne" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-11#entryid_222231" rowid="41995476" side="usa" srcid="222231" text=" MR. STANZEL:  I believe so, yes.  " title=" Q	Follow-up.  Will Cheney's tax returns be coming out today, too?  " />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.thewhitehousesays.com/history/2008-04-11#entryid_222239" rowid="41995484" side="usa" srcid="222239" text=" MR. STANZEL:  You know, I would refer you to the First Lady's Office for all th