*EPF501 10/22/2004
Transcript: White House Daily Briefing, October 22
(Terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan, President's schedule) (3490)

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan briefed reporters on Air Force One October 22 as they accompanied President Bush on a campaign trips to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Canton, Ohio.

Following are the transcripts of the White House briefings:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)

For Immediate Release
October 22, 2004

PRESS GAGGLE BY SCOTT McCLELLAN

Aboard Air Force One En Route Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

9:42 A.M. EDT

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, we'll dispense with the niceties. The President taped his radio address this morning. It will focus on the war on terrorism and intelligence reform. Then he had his briefings. And we go to Wilkes-Barre first, where we make remarks. I'm going to come back to that in just a second. Then he'll participate in a Focus on Medical Liability Reform and Health Care in Canton, Ohio. And then we have the Victory 2004 dinner in St. Petersburg, and we'll overnight in St. Pete Beach.

Let's see, today on the Wilkes-Barre speech, the President will have a new speech. Today's remarks are part of contrasting and clarifying the choices as election day approaches. The President will outline the way families will be looking at issues and making their choice on election day. He will talk about the choices in a way many moms and dads across America will make their final decision. And he will talk about the five commitments to families.

And those are, one, first and foremost on the minds of families, is their security. Without security, families cannot do the many other things they want to achieve. And so that's where he'll talk about the differences and the clear choice on the war on terrorism. He has a comprehensive strategy for winning the war. Senator Kerry has a narrow view of the war on terrorism.

And secondly, he'll talk about family budgets. It's important that we continue pro-growth policies that have put us on a path to greater prosperity. And the President, I expect, will talk about the importance of tax relief to help create an environment for strong job growth, and contrast that with Senator Kerry, as well.

Third, he'll talk about quality of life issues for our families, and the importance of improving the quality of life for our families. That's where the President will focus on health care and education, and contrast his approaches with Senator Kerry. Senator Kerry's view is based on a philosophy of bigger, more intrusive government, it's based on a status-quo approach. The President will talk about his reform approach and his approach that believe -- that is based on a philosophy of giving people more control over their lives. It's a philosophy based on trusting people.

And fourth, he'll talk about retirement, Social Security and Medicare. He'll touch on Social Security and Medicare in that portion of the remarks, and he'll talk about what we've done to strengthen and improve Medicare. And then he'll talk about the importance of saving and strengthening Social Security. I think you can expect that he'll talk about how grandparents want to make sure that their grandchildren are able to build a nest egg for their future, and have the same kind of benefits that they have today.

And fifth, he'll talk about values, the values of families. And I think he'll draw some sharp contrasts here, and he'll talk about how Senator Kerry's views are out of the mainstream when it comes to issues like marriage and partial birth abortion. Senator Kerry opposed the Defense of Marriage Act, for instance, and he opposed banning partial birth abortion. And Senator Kerry has talked about how Hollywood represents the heart and soul of America, and the President believes the heart and soul of America is found in our families and our communities and our religious institutions. And the values of families tend to be undermined by Hollywood, the values that they try to instill in their kids as they're raising them.

Q He doesn't like Hollywood?

MR. McCLELLAN: This is a new speech, a new construct. I don't know if I'd necessarily look at it that way. I'd look at it more as the differences when it comes to the kind of values that the candidates share.

Q It doesn't sound like new themes. Is there a different tone to this speech, or is this a speech he's going to ride to the end of the election?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I expect there will be some other speeches. That's why I described it as part of clarifying the choices that voters face as we get closer to election day. And, obviously, we have some very clear choices on those five areas that I talked about. And that's what the President will contrast with Senator Kerry. So it is a new speech, with a new structure to it.

Q Scott, this morning Senator McCain said that he disagreed with the things that President Bush has said about Senator Kerry misunderstanding the war on terror. What do you guys have to say to that?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think what Senator McCain said was that he believes that the President is the best one to lead us forward in the war on terrorism. He spoke about how the President is leading with moral clarity and strength, and that's what we need as we move forward in the war on terrorism. There's a clear choice on how we approach the war on terrorism and how we lead going forward. And Senator McCain -- that's what Senator McCain talked about. I saw what he said earlier.

Q He did say what you're saying he said, but he also said he disagreed with the characterization of Senator Kerry, so I wanted your reaction to that part of what he said.

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know if those were his exact words. I think what he focused on -- what he focused on was the President's leadership, and how important his leadership is to prevailing in the war on terrorism. And that's what this election is about; it's about who can lead us forward to prevail in the war on terrorism. Senator Kerry has the wrong approach. The reality is we live in dangerous times, and the President has a comprehensive strategy for winning the war on terrorism, and we appreciate Senator McCain's strong support for the strategy that the President is pursuing.

Q But he did say he disagreed with how the President is characterizing Senator Kerry. So can you guys react to that at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the choice is very clear for the American people. The President is -- he'll talk about it again, today, in his remarks. If you look at what Senator Kerry's -- if you look at Senator Kerry's record, and look at his views, it is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the war on terrorism. He has a record of weakness when it comes to national security issues. He is someone who has voted to significantly cut intelligence funding, right in the aftermath of the 1993 World Trade Center attacks. He has a view of retreat when it comes to Iraq. It's important that we succeed in Iraq. Senator McCain talked about that this morning, as well, because Iraq is a central commitment to prevailing in the war on terrorism.

Q Can you document the administration's claim that we've captured or killed three-quarters of the al Qaeda leaders?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we can. And the CIA, as a matter of fact, keeps track of the high value targets and the other associates, both --

Q Can they produce the list?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- both the leaders of al Qaeda, as well as associates like Hambali, for instance, who is in the Indonesia area, Jemaah Islamiya.

Q Can you get an actual list and --

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me see what I can do on that. But many of the leaders you are well aware of who have been captured or otherwise dealt with, brought to justice.

Q But that doesn't get us up to three-quarters.

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me go back and check on that.

Q And what the definitive number is based on.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's based on some of the high-value targets, the al Qaeda leaders that have been captured or brought to justice in other ways, and their associates, as well. And like I said, many of those you all are well aware of, from Khalid Shaykh Mohammed to others.

Q -- does it only go up to a certain date, or when does it -- what's the window of time where you're accounting for these numbers?

MR. McCLELLAN: Window of time?

Q Starting from when to when were they captured or killed?

MR. McCLELLAN: From early on in the war on terrorism, when the war on terrorism began, up to the more present times.

Q From early on being --

Q October 2001?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I believe so. Let me double check that. I'll be glad to get that information.

Q And what about the Post story today that gave some pretty good examples of assets that were shifted from the war on terrorism in Afghanistan to Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think the Post article -- I disagree with that characterization. I think the Post article missed some key points. First of all, remember that the purpose of the CIA going into Afghanistan back in October 2001 was really to prepare the battlefield for the war in Afghanistan. So they went in, used their specialized skills in different areas of Afghanistan to prepare the battlefield. And then you had the United States forces and other coalition forces coming in to Afghanistan shortly after that, as the war began, and the need for some of those specialized skills in a number of areas of Afghanistan lessened.

Now, there is still a high priority area along the Afghanistan -- along the Afghan border. So the CIA focused many of their resources in Afghanistan there on the border. Now on Iraq, yes, we also dedicated resources to Iraq. As I said, Iraq is a central commitment to winning the war on terrorism.

The other thing about that article, I think that it really missed and failed to give readers an accurate picture of what we're doing is, it talked a lot about the manhunt, how we're going out and bringing people to justice, but it failed to talk about the President's comprehensive strategy for prevailing in the war on terrorism. It is a comprehensive approach to winning on the war on terrorism, that stands in stark contrast to Senator Kerry.

And the President talked about the four commitments we have to prevail in the war on terrorism the other day in New Jersey. He outlined all those commitments. This article didn't get into those commitments. He talked about the commitment on homeland security and the importance of the Patriot Act and the importance of making sure that we have the best intelligence possible to protect the homeland.

And he talked about his comprehensive strategy that is based on staying on the offensive and taking the fight to the enemy overseas, so that we don't have to fight them at home. And he talked about the importance of working with our allies and leading with clarity to prevail in the war on terrorism. It's important that we lead the world with clarity as we move forward on the war on terrorism.

Fourthly, he talked about the importance of advancing freedom and democracy. And this article seemed to ignore that. I mean, the New York Times, I noticed the other day, talked about how the President has been talking about this for quite some time. Transforming the Middle East is key to defeating the ideology of hatred that has led to -- that has helped breed terrorists that hijack planes and fly them into buildings. So advancing freedom and democracy is key to changing that region of the world and making the world a safer place.

Q Well, on that point, did the official who said that rising anti-American sentiment in the Arab and Muslim world doesn't matter, does that reflect --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know -- you're citing an anonymous source -- I don't know which -- because what the President is doing is working to bring hope to a region that has for too long known -- been a breeding ground for terrorism. And the way to do that is to continue to fight to advance freedom and democracy in the world and support efforts where people yearn to be free.

Q Senator Levin is issuing a report saying that the Pentagon exaggerated the connection between Saddam and al Qaeda. Does that cast a shadow over the President's reason --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think, actually -- look, I found it interesting that that report came out 13 days before the election, and you're talking about a partisan, minority report that was contradicted by the unanimous, bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee.

Q Week ahead.

MR. McCLELLAN: Week ahead? Where were you the other day?

Q I know about Monday and Tuesday. .

MR. McCLELLAN: I said there are no more week aheads. I said there are announcements as we have them.

Josh, did you give me a week ahead? Josh didn't give me a week ahead. I can't believe it.

Q So far we have a two day week ahead. There's seven days in a week.

MR. McCLELLAN: Really? Does it start on Sunday or Monday? Does the week start on Sunday or Monday?

Q Monday.

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay. I gave you through Tuesday. We'll get you the other --

Q Can you at least what the overnights -- what days are overnights?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, let me try to see if we have more information by the end of the day, maybe. If not, I expect we will be able to do that tomorrow.

Q On this new speech, why the timing now? And also, is there any significance to doing it in Wilkes-Barre?

MR. McCLELLAN: Pennsylvania is a very close, competitive state right now. It's a very important state in the President's view, as is Ohio, where we're going later today. But the election is approaching, and moms and dads across America are going to be looking at issues that the President is talking about today, and coming to a final decision about how to vote. And that's what the President's doing here.

Q Are we going to get a new speech every day now?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I wouldn't necessarily look at it that way. I expect there will be others. But this is a time for choosing, and the President is going to continue to clarify that choice for the American people and for our families.

Q -- response to Kerry's middle-class squeeze?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. Thanks.

END 9:56 A.M. EDT

(end transcript)

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
(Canton, Ohio)

For Immediate Release
October 22, 2004

PRESS GAGGLE BY SCOTT McCLELLAN

Aboard Air Force One En Route Canton, Ohio

12:51 P.M. EDT

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, two quick things. One, I wanted to give you the partial week ahead. And secondly, I wanted to follow up on the question about the three-quarter number, on the high-value terrorist targets.

First, on the -- well, I'll start with the three-quarters number from the gaggle earlier today. The list is compiled and maintained by the intelligence community, and it includes high-value terrorist targets. It was developed within the intelligence community, soon after September the 11th, 2001. Let me just tell you a little bit about the criteria for being on that list.

In order to be included on the list, an individual terrorist must be part of the leadership or at some level have command and control responsibility and have the ability to communicate with top leadership. The criteria has remained unchanged, and continues to be controlled by the intelligence community. And as we have learned more about al Qaeda and its associates the past few years, names have been added to that list. But the number and the composition is classified.

Q That list is from 2001 until today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, that's correct.

Q Names have been added -- do you mean retroactively?

MR. McCLELLAN: Based on the criteria.

Q If you look at somebody and you get new information about who they are or --

MR. McCLELLAN: As you learn more about al Qaeda and as you learn more about its leadership, yes.

Q Is there just one list for all the different intelligence communities?

MR. McCLELLAN: The CIA is the one that keeps the list, so they can verify the number for you.

Q -- the list everything, that's on it --

MR. McCLELLAN: Verify the composition, yes. Obviously, you don't want to let terrorists know how much you know and who you may be looking for.

Q Any response, though, to the --

Q Why does it matter if you've already got that person?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in some instances you may not want them to know right away, because that person can provide you additional information. But I think it's more so, probably you don't want them to -- you know, you don't want to tip off the terrorists about how much you know about their organizations, their plans and their networks. And who you might be looking for.

Q How about the larger point of the story, which was the strategy of decapitation which is what the high-value target list is all about, neglects the importance of getting -- of stopping the recruitment of terrorists from below?

MR. McCLELLAN: I talked about this earlier in the first gaggle. You might want to read the first gaggle transcript. I said --

Q Which wasn't out before we took off.

MR. McCLELLAN: I talked at length about this in the first gaggle earlier today, when I talked about the President's four-point -- four commitments to prevailing in the war on terrorism, which he talked about in his New Jersey speech, and the article didn't give readers an accurate description of our strategy. It's a comprehensive strategy. Look back at the first gaggle transcript. I talked about that.

We go to the remainder of the week, or part of Wednesday and Thursday, at least, of next week. The President, on Wednesday, will make remarks at a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Victory 2004 Rally. Then he'll make remarks at a Youngstown, Ohio Victory 2004 Rally. Then he'll make remarks at a Lima, Ohio Victory 2004 Rally. And then remarks at a Detroit, Michigan Victory 2004 Rally. We will overnight in Detroit.

And on Thursday, the President will make remarks at a Saginaw, Michigan Victory 2004 Rally. Then remarks at a Dayton, Ohio, Victory 2004 rally. Then remarks at a Cleveland, Ohio Victory 2004 rally. Then he will make remarks at Bucks County, Pennsylvania Victory 2004 Rally. And we overnight on Thursday at the White House.

Q Can I ask about the tax bill, the signing of the corporate tax bill?

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure.

Q Why was there no signing ceremony? Normally these bills are signed with a bit of fanfare.

MR. McCLELLAN: He signs a lot of legislation, and he is continuing to sign -- I expect he may sign some additional bills later today. This is an important piece of legislation, because it will bring to an end the European sanctions on American exporters. This is legislation that is good for America's workers, because it will help create jobs here at home by promoting the competitiveness of our manufacturers and other job creators in the economy.

Q He's going to sign something later today? I couldn't hear you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he may sign some additional bills today. We've been putting out, every day, statements when he signs legislation. So he may well have some more today.

All right.

Q The Ohio location, I'm sorry?

MR. McCLELLAN: On Thursday? Dayton and Cleveland, the two stops on that day.

Q Are we to assume that Thursday night at the White House is the last one before the election?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me try to verify that for you. I think that may be the case, but let me try to double-check the rest of the schedule and make sure for your planning purposes. I think I would plan that way at this point, but let me double-check.

Q Also for planning purposes, do you know what time the President will be back in Crawford Sunday?

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, Sunday evening? We'll get you that. I think we're still finalizing that up. But I believe it's leave mid-afternoon, get back probably around in the 7:30 - 8:00 p.m. range. I believe that's correct, but we will have to double-check that one, too.

All right. Thanks.

END 12:57 P.M. EDT

(end transcript)

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