Post by bot on Jun 1, 2004 0:55:27 GMT -5
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
3:02 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. I'd like to begin with a statement by the President.
"One year ago today, I signed into law the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief package to jump-start economic recovery and create jobs for American workers. With our economy growing at the fastest pace in nearly 20 years, and more than 1.1 million more Americans working since last August, it is clear the tax relief is working.
"Take-home pay for workers is up and disposable income for families is increased to record levels. The incentives in our plan for small businesses are producing results as more manufacturers have been reporting increased activity and new orders than at any time in 20 years. I'm encouraged to see that the unemployment rate has fallen in 47 of 50 states, because we want everyone who wants to work to be able to find a job.
"There is more to do. We must continue to build on this success by expanding growth and increasing prosperity for all Americans. I'll look forward to working with Congress to pass my six-point plan for economic growth, including making the tax cuts permanent, and to ensure our workers have the skills to compete in the changing world."
Also, this weekend, the President looks forward to participating in the dedication of the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the more than 400,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the millions of Americans who supported the war effort from home. The memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation, and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. The memorial will stand as an important symbol of America's national unity.
I expect in his remarks, the President will pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who fought and served, and all Americans who stood united in World War II. The President will talk about their important contributions to defending the ideals of freedom and peace. He will also talk about how Pearl Harbor changed America's view that we could live in isolation from the plots of aggressive powers, and the importance of opposing them.
He will express the gratitude of this nation for all who sacrificed for freedom and liberty. And the dedication ceremony tomorrow will mark the official presentation of the memorial to the nation. And the President looks forward to accepting that presentation on behalf of all Americans.
I would also point out that as we move into this Memorial Day weekend, this President has a strong record of achievement when it comes to making sure our nation is honoring our commitment to our veterans. And he will continue working to meet this high priority. The President has fought to significantly increase funding for veterans' health care. The President has worked to cut the backlog for veterans with disability claims. And we are on track to eliminate the long waiting list for medical care. We, as a nation, are forever indebted and forever grateful to all of our veterans. And the President is committed to honoring our commitment to all those veterans.
Q Is it your understanding that Iyad Allawi is the Prime Minister-designate of Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, Steve, I think you all are seeing that the process for naming the interim Iraqi government and having them in place so that we can transfer sovereignty by June 30th is moving forward. We are seeing important progress made, but I want to be respectful of that process and let Mr. Brahimi make those announcements when he is ready to do so.
I think we have all seen the news reports on Mr. Allawi, and he is certainly a fine and capable leader who appears to have broad support among the Iraqi people. But I want to be respectful of that process, and we'll wait until we hear more from Mr. Brahimi.
Q Scott, an administration official said just a few minutes ago that Brahimi and the United Nations isn't making the pick of Allawi, or whoever is going to be prime minister, president or whatever, that the choice is endorsed by the Governing Council, and that the Coalition Provisional Authority is the sovereign authority involved, but actually the question of who picks him is a legal issue. So if the U.N. is just recommending, the Governing Council is endorsing and the CPA is a sovereign authority involved, who's actually choosing these people?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Mr. Brahimi is the one who is working to put in place the people who will serve on the Iraqi interim government. Mr. Brahimi has been consulting widely with Iraqis throughout the country. He has talked to hundreds, if not thousands, of Iraqis during this process, and he has received a lot of ideas on who those people will be, and he is the one that is leading the effort and will put people in place. I don't know all the legalities, but there is a process in place. And he will be talking back to the Secretary General, as well, and making the announcement on who those individuals will be. But this will be a representative, interim government that we will be transferring sovereignty to by June 30th.
Q But if this administration official says that Brahimi actually doesn't make the pick, he just recommends, the Governing Council endorses, but it's a legal issue, I'm just trying to find out who eventually says, "Yes, these are the people"?
MR. McCLELLAN: John, the process that was put in place -- let me help you understand the process. Mr. Brahimi has been consulting widely with a number of Iraqis and receiving recommendations. He has been consulting with the CPA, as well. So he is the one who has been leading this process, he is the one who his overseeing this effort, and he is the one who will be naming these people after he has finished all of his consultations and he has everybody in place and he is ready to make those announcements.
He will do so on his time frame, and we fully expect -- because of the way the process was set up -- that those individuals will be the one who will be the Iraqi interim government.
Q Scott, this doesn't seem to have been done on Mr. Brahimi's time frame. This seems to have been done by the Iraqi Governing Council and Ambassador Bremer, who came out and said, we endorse Mr. Allawi. This --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think someone put some words in Mr. Bremer's mouth, or Ambassador Bremer's mouth. I don't know that he actually has said anything on this in the time frame or at this time. But, certainly, his spokesman has addressed the issue earlier today, so I would look back to those comments.
Q So this is not being foisted on Mr. Brahimi? Because that is the way it looks in one respect, that Ambassador Bremer goes to a meeting with the Governing Council, he says whatever he says, the Governing Council comes out and says "it's a done deal," Mr. Allawi is going to be the next prime minister.
MR. McCLELLAN: I would look at it as that this process is moving forward and the Iraqis are stepping forward and looking to their future. And they are working with Mr. Brahimi to help put in place the individuals who will serve on this interim government. That's the way I would look at it. You're seeing that we're making important progress toward naming the interim government and transferring sovereignty. That's what's unfolding here.
Q What role did the President have in names that may have been floated up by Mr. Brahimi, by the Governing Council, by the coalition? What role did the President have?
MR. McCLELLAN: The Iraqis are the ones who have had the lead role in this, consulting with Mr. Brahimi. Mr. Brahimi is overseeing this effort and he has been talking to a number of Iraqis and he has been consulting with the Coalition Provisional Authority, as well. We've been well aware of the process as it has moved forward. We think that he will be coming forward soon with names, and I want to respect that process and let him make those decisions and announcements on his time frame.
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
3:02 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. I'd like to begin with a statement by the President.
"One year ago today, I signed into law the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief package to jump-start economic recovery and create jobs for American workers. With our economy growing at the fastest pace in nearly 20 years, and more than 1.1 million more Americans working since last August, it is clear the tax relief is working.
"Take-home pay for workers is up and disposable income for families is increased to record levels. The incentives in our plan for small businesses are producing results as more manufacturers have been reporting increased activity and new orders than at any time in 20 years. I'm encouraged to see that the unemployment rate has fallen in 47 of 50 states, because we want everyone who wants to work to be able to find a job.
"There is more to do. We must continue to build on this success by expanding growth and increasing prosperity for all Americans. I'll look forward to working with Congress to pass my six-point plan for economic growth, including making the tax cuts permanent, and to ensure our workers have the skills to compete in the changing world."
Also, this weekend, the President looks forward to participating in the dedication of the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the more than 400,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the millions of Americans who supported the war effort from home. The memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation, and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. The memorial will stand as an important symbol of America's national unity.
I expect in his remarks, the President will pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who fought and served, and all Americans who stood united in World War II. The President will talk about their important contributions to defending the ideals of freedom and peace. He will also talk about how Pearl Harbor changed America's view that we could live in isolation from the plots of aggressive powers, and the importance of opposing them.
He will express the gratitude of this nation for all who sacrificed for freedom and liberty. And the dedication ceremony tomorrow will mark the official presentation of the memorial to the nation. And the President looks forward to accepting that presentation on behalf of all Americans.
I would also point out that as we move into this Memorial Day weekend, this President has a strong record of achievement when it comes to making sure our nation is honoring our commitment to our veterans. And he will continue working to meet this high priority. The President has fought to significantly increase funding for veterans' health care. The President has worked to cut the backlog for veterans with disability claims. And we are on track to eliminate the long waiting list for medical care. We, as a nation, are forever indebted and forever grateful to all of our veterans. And the President is committed to honoring our commitment to all those veterans.
Q Is it your understanding that Iyad Allawi is the Prime Minister-designate of Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, Steve, I think you all are seeing that the process for naming the interim Iraqi government and having them in place so that we can transfer sovereignty by June 30th is moving forward. We are seeing important progress made, but I want to be respectful of that process and let Mr. Brahimi make those announcements when he is ready to do so.
I think we have all seen the news reports on Mr. Allawi, and he is certainly a fine and capable leader who appears to have broad support among the Iraqi people. But I want to be respectful of that process, and we'll wait until we hear more from Mr. Brahimi.
Q Scott, an administration official said just a few minutes ago that Brahimi and the United Nations isn't making the pick of Allawi, or whoever is going to be prime minister, president or whatever, that the choice is endorsed by the Governing Council, and that the Coalition Provisional Authority is the sovereign authority involved, but actually the question of who picks him is a legal issue. So if the U.N. is just recommending, the Governing Council is endorsing and the CPA is a sovereign authority involved, who's actually choosing these people?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Mr. Brahimi is the one who is working to put in place the people who will serve on the Iraqi interim government. Mr. Brahimi has been consulting widely with Iraqis throughout the country. He has talked to hundreds, if not thousands, of Iraqis during this process, and he has received a lot of ideas on who those people will be, and he is the one that is leading the effort and will put people in place. I don't know all the legalities, but there is a process in place. And he will be talking back to the Secretary General, as well, and making the announcement on who those individuals will be. But this will be a representative, interim government that we will be transferring sovereignty to by June 30th.
Q But if this administration official says that Brahimi actually doesn't make the pick, he just recommends, the Governing Council endorses, but it's a legal issue, I'm just trying to find out who eventually says, "Yes, these are the people"?
MR. McCLELLAN: John, the process that was put in place -- let me help you understand the process. Mr. Brahimi has been consulting widely with a number of Iraqis and receiving recommendations. He has been consulting with the CPA, as well. So he is the one who has been leading this process, he is the one who his overseeing this effort, and he is the one who will be naming these people after he has finished all of his consultations and he has everybody in place and he is ready to make those announcements.
He will do so on his time frame, and we fully expect -- because of the way the process was set up -- that those individuals will be the one who will be the Iraqi interim government.
Q Scott, this doesn't seem to have been done on Mr. Brahimi's time frame. This seems to have been done by the Iraqi Governing Council and Ambassador Bremer, who came out and said, we endorse Mr. Allawi. This --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think someone put some words in Mr. Bremer's mouth, or Ambassador Bremer's mouth. I don't know that he actually has said anything on this in the time frame or at this time. But, certainly, his spokesman has addressed the issue earlier today, so I would look back to those comments.
Q So this is not being foisted on Mr. Brahimi? Because that is the way it looks in one respect, that Ambassador Bremer goes to a meeting with the Governing Council, he says whatever he says, the Governing Council comes out and says "it's a done deal," Mr. Allawi is going to be the next prime minister.
MR. McCLELLAN: I would look at it as that this process is moving forward and the Iraqis are stepping forward and looking to their future. And they are working with Mr. Brahimi to help put in place the individuals who will serve on this interim government. That's the way I would look at it. You're seeing that we're making important progress toward naming the interim government and transferring sovereignty. That's what's unfolding here.
Q What role did the President have in names that may have been floated up by Mr. Brahimi, by the Governing Council, by the coalition? What role did the President have?
MR. McCLELLAN: The Iraqis are the ones who have had the lead role in this, consulting with Mr. Brahimi. Mr. Brahimi is overseeing this effort and he has been talking to a number of Iraqis and he has been consulting with the Coalition Provisional Authority, as well. We've been well aware of the process as it has moved forward. We think that he will be coming forward soon with names, and I want to respect that process and let him make those decisions and announcements on his time frame.