*EPF501 03/15/2002
Transcript: White House Daily Briefing, March 15, 2002
(Freedom Corps volunteer, Bush schedule at Fort Bragg, aid to Colombia, Ramallah/the Middle East, Week ahead schedule: Camp David, St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago, visit to Missouri, leaves March 21 on visit to South America) (1710)

Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan briefed the press travelling with the President March 15 as he flew to North Carolina to make a speech to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg.

Following is the White House transcript:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Fayetteville, North Carolina)

March 15, 2002

PRESS GAGGLE WITH SCOTT MCCLELLAN

Aboard Air Force One En Route
Fayetteville, North Carolina

9:05 A.M. EST

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me go through the day, and then you can have a question, Steve. The President had his usual intelligence and FBI briefings, before departing the White House this morning. We will arrive here shortly, at the airport, where the President will meet a Freedom Corps volunteer, as he has been doing. Her name is Jane Davis. They will meet upon arrival and then take photos.

She is the spouse of Colonel Gary Matteson, who is the commander of the base hospital at Fort Bragg. And for the past six years, she's been an active volunteer with the American Red Cross; most recently, volunteering with the organization at Ground Zero in New York City. Currently, she is -- well, they've been stationed at Fort Bragg for over one and a half years; she's currently involved in a number of volunteer activities through Fort Bragg's volunteer services office.

QUESTION: How old is she?

MR. MCCLELLAN: How old is she? I do not have an age, sorry. She will also attend the rally. Again, this is part of the USA Freedom Corps service recognition that we started a couple weeks ago, where, at every stop, the President will recognize a local volunteer.

Then we go to the Cumberland County Coliseum, where the President will participate in an event with approximately 2,000 civilians there from the Fayetteville area, and an additional 2,000 military personnel from the Fayetteville area. It includes men and women in the military from Fort Bragg, as well as Pope Air Force Base. And there, the President will talk about -- well, it's another opportunity for the President to thank the men and women in the military.

The President will also talk about the great challenges that lie ahead in the war on terrorism, and reiterate his commitment to making sure that our men and women in the military have all the resources they need to defend freedom and win the war on terrorism. The President intends to highlight the defense budget, and he will urge Congress to pass the defense appropriations first.

From there, we will -- the President will view a tactical demonstration that includes Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, and Army Special Operations aviation personnel. And that will be pool coverage.

Q: -- just lunch?

MR. MCCLELLAN: He'll view it.

Q: What does it entail, do you know?

MR. MCCLELLAN: You'll see it. The pool will be there. Then he'll view some other operations at Fort Bragg after that.

Q: -- two hours of down time?

MR. MCCLELLAN: He's going to continue to get tour of Fort Bragg and view some additional training exercises.

Q: What is the subject of that very lengthy briefing at Fort Bragg, the two-hour briefing -- what is the subject of that?

MR. MCCLELLAN: That's continued, he'll continue to view some training exercises and get a tour -- again, get a tour of Fort Bragg. Again, I mean, this is --

Q: He's behind closed doors for a long time.

MR. MCCLELLAN: That's what I'm saying. He will continue -- the pool will be able to see the first tactical demonstration. And then the President will get a further tour and view some additional training exercises there.

Q: So he's not getting his briefing? He's not getting a military briefing?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I'll update you on anything that I can. But -- yes, he's going to be visiting with men and women in the military there and getting further viewings of training exercises and a tour of the base.

Q: But is he getting a briefing?

MR. MCCLELLAN: What do you mean by briefing?

Q: Something of a classified nature -- is this something --

MR. MCCLELLAN: After the tactical demonstration, that will be closed.

Q: Because it's something sensitive or classified nature, is that what you're trying to say?

MR. MCCLELLAN: This is Special Operations forces at Fort Bragg there, so, yes.

Following the tactical demonstration, then he will have lunch with the troops. And then you're pointing to the additional time there.

Q: Two hours.

MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, he's going to continue -- that time will be spent getting an additional tour of Fort Bragg and viewing some additional training exercises. And that's all I can say about it at this point.

Q: Will they discuss with the President their operations in Afghanistan?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Ron, if there's anything else that I can update you on later, I will do that. But what I just said is what he's doing with that remaining time, which is getting a tour of Fort Bragg and viewing some additional training exercises.

Q: Do you know who is going to be giving the President the tour, or is it the commander or some Special Forces officer, someone that you know of who's in charge of this?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let's see if I have information on the tactical demonstration. I'll see what I can get when we're there.

-- Per Scott, he will participate in a tour of classified parts of the base.

Let me go to the week ahead. Upon returning from North Carolina, the President will depart for Camp David. Tomorrow morning, he will attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago, Illinois. And from there he will return to Camp David for the remainder of the weekend.

No public events on Sunday.

Q: What time does he get back to Camp David?

MR. MCCLELLAN: When? Tomorrow? I can get that time. We'll get it for you.

Monday -- no public events on Sunday. Monday, the President will travel to O'Fallon, Missouri, to make remarks and participate in a roundtable with small business owners. So this is an opportunity -- we'll highlight small business and how small business is the backbone of the economy, and ways we can help encourage entrepreneurship.

That evening, the President will attend a Talent For Senate fundraising reception, before returning to Washington, D.C. Currently, there are no public events to announce on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thursday morning, as you all are aware, the President will depart for South America, where he will remain through Sunday evening.

Q: Can you tell us about Saturday?

Q: Trip briefing?

MR. MCCLELLAN: We'll do that, but we'll get you more information as we get closer to that, what kind of briefings we'll do.

Q: Do you anticipate --

MR. MCCLELLAN: I do anticipate -- well, as we get closer, we'll make those determinations and we'll let you know at that time.

Q: -- is he going to march in the parade, a car? In the parade on Saturday.

MR. MCCLELLAN: -- walking in the parade.

Q: Walking in the parade?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Yes. He's just participating in the parade, that's what he's doing.

Q: Any remarks or anything else --

MR. MCCLELLAN: No, no remarks. Walking and participating in the parade.

You had a Colombia question?

Q: Are you changing your -- are you going to be able to aid the Colombian government in their battle against the FARC?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me make a couple of points. One, there continue to be ongoing consultations with Congress about the situation in Colombia, as well as our desire to respond more fully to Colombian requests for support in defending democracy. And we are determined to seek new and more explicit legal authorities for State and Department of Defense assistance to Colombia, to support the Colombian government's unified campaign against narcotics trafficking and terrorist activities.

We will continue to adhere to the requirements of the Byrd and Leahy amendments. Those requirements limit -- put limits on U.S. civilian and military personnel in Colombia, and ensure that we're not assisting military units whose members violate human rights.

But terrorist attacks are a serious threat to Colombia's democratic institutions. And we'll continue the review requests from the Colombian government for counterterrorism support.

Q: -- how about the cap on troops?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I think we adhere to the Byrd and Leahy requirements, which put -- that's what I just said -- they put limits on U.S. civilian and military personnel in Colombia.

Q: Scott, what about the timing? Is this -- are we talking this coming week, perhaps, to have something more formal?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, that's what I said, they're ongoing consultations with Congress. When there's more announce, then we'll let you guys know.

Q: Were your talking points, we are determined to seek new and more explicit authority -- was that the word, "explicit"? Is that what you said?

MR. MCCLELLAN: I said, new and more explicit legal authorities. It will all be in the transcript. But for State, the Department of Defense to assist Colombia and support the Colombian government's campaign against narcotics trafficking and terrorist activities.

Q: Scott, is this request for these new authorities, is that considered part of the administration's global war on terrorism?

MR. MCCLELLAN: No.

Q: The FARC and the terrorist threat in Colombia is not a global threat?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Terrorism is a threat to the democratic institutions in Colombia. But, no, in response to that question.

Q: Will you seek more money, or is there money already in the pipeline, you would just divert it?

MR. MCCLELLAN: As I said, yes, there are ongoing consultations here with Congress.

Q: -- seek these new and explicit authorities from Congress, obviously, right?

MR. MCCLELLAN: Yes. That's what we're talking about. We're consulting with Congress now, ongoing consultations with -- and that we are determined to do that.

Q: And "authorities" is plural, right? MR. MCCLELLAN: -- consulting with Congress on it.

Q: What about the withdrawal from Ramallah, any reaction to that? The Israeli withdrawal --

MR. MCCLELLAN: I think the State Department addressed it and expressed the administration's view.

All right. Thanks.

END 9:16 A.M. EST

(end transcript)

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