*EPF303 11/17/2004
White House Report, November 17: Russia, CIA, CARE worker, bin Laden, Cabinet
(White House acknowledges Russian nuclear modernization, lauds close friendship) (900)

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR ARSENAL MODERNIZATION

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that it was modernizing the nuclear component of its military is "not something that we look at as new" and that Russia is a valued ally as the two countries address terrorism and nuclear arms reductions.

"We are very well aware of their long-standing modernization efforts for their military," McClellan told reporters at a November 17 press conference.

According to news reports, Putin announced November 17 Russia's intention to develop and deploy new nuclear rocket systems.

"[I]t is something that they have talked about before," he said, stressing that the news came as no surprise. "We are allies now in the global war on terrorism."

McClellan lauded the close relationship between President Bush and President Putin that has allowed them, he says, "to move beyond some of the issues of the past" and to work constructively together on joint agreements to "significantly reduce" the two countries' nuclear arsenals.

"Understand we have a very different relationship than we did during the Cold War ... We both recognize the need to no longer have that size of a nuclear arsenal, and that's what we're working together on to reduce," McClellan said.

This revitalized relationship with Russia, McClellan said, enables the United States "to speak very directly to our Russian friends about those issues" relating to nuclear arms reductions.

CIA REFORMS NOT POLITICAL, SAYS MCCLELLAN
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Press Secretary McClellan, denying reports that CIA Director Porter Goss is politicizing the agency, said the role of the CIA is to provide "unvarnished facts" and "objective analysis" to U.S. policymakers so they can "make decisions that are in the best interests of the American people."
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The agency's role, he said is "not to set policy," and likewise, the role of the policymakers is "not to get involved in the intelligence side of things."
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According to press reports, the CIA director sent a November 15 e-mail to his employees warning them not to "identify with, support or champion opposition" to the Bush administration, leading some to accuse Goss of asking CIA employees to back administration policies.
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However, McClellan said that in the e-mail the Goss added, "we do not make policy, though we do inform those who make it. We avoid political involvement, especially political partisanship."
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The press secretary said that following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, "we saw some areas where reforms were needed," and that CIA Director Goss is continuing to build upon those post-September 11 reforms. "One area of high importance is the intelligence capabilities area," McClellan said.
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In Goss, "you have a director in place who is committed to intelligence reform and committed to making sure we're doing everything we can to strengthen and improve our intelligence-gathering capabilities," McClellan said.
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The press secretary also said President Bush is meeting with an independent intelligence reform commission November 17.
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He also said that earlier in the day the president met with congressional leaders and urged passage of intelligence reform legislation "as quickly as possible."

MURDER OF AID WORKER IN IRAQ CONDEMNED

The White House joined the international community in condemning the reported killing of British humanitarian aid worker Margaret Hassan.

"[T]he international community joins together in condemning that barbaricact in the strongest possible terms. It showed the true nature of the terrorists," McClellan stated. "They have no regard for innocent civilian life."

Hassan, a British and Iraqi citizen, was director of the humanitarian organization CARE, and was praised by McClellan as a woman who "dedicated her life to helping the Iraqi people, helping those in need in that country."

U.S. COMMITTED TO CAPTURING BIN LADEN

The White House will continue to track Osama bin Laden and dismantle al-Qaeda terrorist networks, in its efforts to win the War on Terror, McClellan said.

The United States is working to dismantle and destroy the al-Qaeda network, and is continuing to pursue bin Laden, McClellan said, adding, Bin Laden will be "brought to justice."

"We have made great progress over the course of the last few years, but there is more to do. [W]e continue to stay on the offensive ... [and] to work to advance freedom in the world because that's the way you ultimately defeat the ideology of hatred that leads to terrorism," he said.

EDUCATION SECRETARY, COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT NOMINATED

President Bush announced his intention to nominate Margaret Spellings to be Secretary of Education. Spellings would replace Rod Paige, who announced his departure on November 15.

Spellings, who serves as assistant to the president for domestic policy, was praised by President Bush as a woman with knowledge and experience and in whom "America's children, teachers and parents will have a principled, determined ally."

President Bush also announced the nomination of Harriet Miers to be counsel to the president. She would succeed Alberto Gonzales, who accepted the president's nomination to attorney general.

"I have deep respect for Harriet [Miers] and look forward to her continued counsel in this new role," President Bush said.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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