English subtitles for clip: File:3-12-12- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.

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Thanks for coming today.

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As you can see, I
have guests with me.

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I'm proud and happy to
have with me, on my left,

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the Secretary of the Interior,
Ken Salazar; and on my right,

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Heather Zichal, Deputy
Assistant to the President

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and a top advisor on energy
policy to the President.

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They're here to talk about the
Blueprint for a Secure Energy

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Future, the one-year progress
report that was provided to

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the President today.

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What I'd like to do, as you know
when I have visitors like this,

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is have them speak to you for a
few moments at the top for you

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to address the questions you
have on their issues at the top,

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and then we can allow them to
exit and I'll take questions

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on other subjects.

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And with that I think I'll
turn it over to Heather and

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we'll get started.

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Ms. Zichal:
Thank you.

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As Jay said, the President today
received a new progress report

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showcasing the administration's
historic achievements in

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securing our energy future.

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The accomplishments
in the report,

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which represent the efforts
of six federal agencies,

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underscore the administration's
commitment over the past three

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years promoting an
all-hands-on-deck,

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all-of-the-above approach to
American energy and building

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a more secure energy future.

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I want to discuss a
couple of the highlights.

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A year ago, the President set
a bold but achievable goal of

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reducing oil imports by a
third in little over a decade.

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Thanks to booming U.S.

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oil and gas production, more
efficient cars and trucks,

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and a world-class
refining sector,

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we've already cut net imports by
10% or 1 million barrels a day

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in the last year alone.

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And with the new fuel economy
standards the President

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announced last year, we're on
pace to meet our goal by the

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end of the decade.

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Speaking of those fuel
economy standards,

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the Obama administration has
put in place the first-ever

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efficiency standards
for heavy-duty trucks.

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And as many of you know, we
proposed the toughest fuel

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economy standards for
passenger vehicles in U.S.

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history, requiring an average
performance of 55 miles per

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gallon by 2025.

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Over time, these new standards
will save consumers more than

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$8,000 over the
life of the program.

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We've also doubled
renewable energy generation,

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developed advanced
alternative fuels,

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and supported cutting-edge
research and development in

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clean energy technologies.

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To speak a little bit more about
our role in expanding domestic

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oil and gas production
is Secretary Salazar.

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Secretary Salazar:
Thank you very much, Heather.

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I think it's important for all
of us to note that the domestic

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oil production is at an
8-year high in the United

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States of America.

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Domestic gas production is at
the highest level that we have

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seen in recent memory.

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And as Heather just said, we are
importing the lowest amount of

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oil that we have in 16 years to
the United States of America.

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For me, from my time as a U.S.
senator and watching this debate

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now over the last 30 years,
remembering back in 2008 when

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we were importing 57% of our
oil from foreign countries to

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today when, in 2011,
we're importing only 45%,

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is a dramatic achievement and
one that we are very proud of.

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On the level of activity that
we have underway in the United

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States, we had a 55% increase
in the number of rigs that we're

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operating onshore
for both oil and gas,

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as well as a significant
number operating in the Outer

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Continental Shelf, including
in the Gulf of Mexico,

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where the Gulf of Mexico is
back to work again and oil

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and gas production is
taking place there.

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On federal lands and water, we
have moved forward in the last

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three years with a 13% increase
in oil and gas production.

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Just from the federal
lands themselves,

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gas production in 2011 was one
of the best years that we've

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had in the last decade.

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And the acreage that is being
allowed to be developed by

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industry now includes
about 72 million acres,

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both on the land and in the
sea, where they currently

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are not developing.

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That is 72 million acres that
have been leased to oil and

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gas companies where they
currently are not developing.

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We have moved forward
to continue the robust,

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all-of-the-above energy strategy
which the President directed us

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to do so, by continuing to lease
in the Outer Continental Shelf

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as well as onshore.

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In 2010, we leased over 34
million acres of oil and --

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we offered to lease 34
million acres of area in

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the Outer Continental Shelf.

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Oil and gas companies only
leased 2.4 million acres of

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those offered acres.

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In 2011, at a lease sale that
I conducted in New Orleans,

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we offered to lease
21 million acres.

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It was a highly productive lease
sale in terms of the amount of

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money that came in to
the American taxpayer.

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At the end of the day, about a
million acres were leased by the

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oil and gas companies.

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And in 2012, this summer, we
plan on moving forward with

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the additional lease sale
of over 30 million acres.

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Onshore -- just to make a quick
comment about our continued

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efforts to lease out the
millions of acres of the

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public estate for oil and
gas production -- oil and

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gas companies today
are sitting on 7,000

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permits that have been
issued to oil and gas companies

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where they could move forward
immediately and start producing

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those leases.

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Just a quick word on the
renewable energy program,

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which Heather spoke
about for just a minute.

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This President has really led
a renewable energy revolution,

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which we are very proud of.

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The amount of renewable energy
that has been produced here in

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the United States has now
doubled in the last three years.

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We're proud that in the
Department of the Interior

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and through the public
lands of America,

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that we have permitted 29 solar,
geothermal and wind projects in

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the last three years.

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We are on target to meet the
President's direction that we

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get to 10,000
megawatts of power,

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which will power over 3 million
homes by the end of the year.

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And with that I'll turn
it back over to Jay.

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Mr. Carney:
So what I'll do,
I'll call on folks.

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And again, if you have
questions for Secretary Salazar,

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Heather Zichal,
let's do those now,

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and then I'll stick
around for other subjects.

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Alister.

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The Press:
Secretary Salazar, you've
said that all options are

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on the table in tackling
the high gasoline prices.

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Could you discuss the conditions
under which you'd consider a

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release from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve?

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Secretary Salazar:
I will just say that
when you look at the

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history of the SPR, it was first
used by President George H. Bush

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in the Gulf War I; again used
by President George W. Bush

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during Katrina.

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And so I think when you look
at these issues -- and Jay

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can speak more to this -- but
I think all options are on the

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table because the President
obviously feels the pain that

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the American people are facing
with respect to gas prices.

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But I would say again -- this
is probably the most important

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point, Alister -- when you look
back from the formation to OPEC

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and even before then, you've had
price shocks that have occurred

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in this country now
over a dozen times.

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And every time you have oil
and gas price shocks occurring,

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you have all the political
rhetoric and the country rising

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to the highest volume
that it could be raised.

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What this President has done
from day one is to move forward

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with a kind of energy policy
and strategy that includes the

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all-of-the-above energy program
that we're implementing because

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that's the only way that we're
going to get to a point where we

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stop having the kinds of price
shocks and disruptions that

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we've been seeing since the
formation of OPEC and, in fact,

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even before the
formation of OPEC.

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The Press:
So does a rise in price meet
the strategic threshold for

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release from the SPRO?

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Secretary Salazar:
I'm going to have Jay
answer the question

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because he has been working
more specifically on that issue.

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Want to take it?

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Mr. Carney:
Yes. Alister, as you know, the
President has said -- as the

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Secretary just said -- that he
looks at all options and all

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options remain on the table in
terms of a strategy to deal with

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the near-term issue
of high gas prices.

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But we're not going
to talk about the SPR

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with any specificity.

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And I would simply note that the
President is very cognizant of

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the impact that the high prices
at the pump are having on

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American families as they
struggle to make ends meet.

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It's a reminder of why it was so
important to extend the payroll

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tax cut, which, by putting an
average of $1,000 extra in the

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paychecks of the average
American family is helping

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those families -- 160 million
Americans -- helping them deal

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with higher oil and gas prices.

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He is also making sure that
the Department of Justice has

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reconstituted the working group
that's going to make sure that

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no fraud, speculation, price
gouging is taking place in the

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country as a result of
these higher oil prices.

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And he will continue to
review other options.

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He has also said, because
it is a simple fact,

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that any politician who pledges
to the American people that he

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or she has a 3-point plan to cut
the price of gasoline to $2 or

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$2.50 is not on the level.

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You guys know it.

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Such a plan does not exist, at
least not such a plausible plan.

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The global price of oil is
affected by a variety of

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factors, some of which are
well beyond the control of any

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administration, and they include
growth in emerging countries

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like China and India, Brazil,
as well as unrest in the Middle

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East and other
areas of the world.

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That's why the President is
focused on the things that we

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can control, the things that
Secretary Salazar and Heather

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were talking about in
terms of an all-of-the-above

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energy approach.

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Next question.

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Ed.

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The Press:
Mr. Secretary, you said
oil production is up,

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including on federal land.

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The Republican line continues to
be that it's up on private lands

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but not on public lands that
you control, or public waters.

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Are you putting those stats
together to get production

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is up, or do you have
stats they don't have?

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We're trying to sort
out who's right,

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because Republicans keep saying
production is not up on federal

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land, it's up on private land.

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And then just more broadly,
how do you answer -- they say

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repeatedly that these are Bush
administration policies that

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increased drilling.

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Jay has previously said --
acknowledged that's the case

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but also that this President
has increased drilling as well.

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How do you sort all that out?

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Secretary Salazar:
Ed, I would say that those
attacks are simply wrong.

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The fact of the matter is that
we are producing more from

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public lands, both oil and
gas, both onshore as well as

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offshore, than at any
time in recent memory.

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And when you look back at
the year of 2009, 2010, 2011,

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we've continued to make millions
and millions of acres of the

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public estate available both on
the land as well as on the sea.

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Even after having dealt with the
national crisis of the Deepwater

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Horizon, the President and his
administration have stood up a

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safe and robust program to
continue to explore and develop

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the sweet spot of America,
and that's the Gulf of Mexico,

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where about a third of
our oil and natural gas

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come from every year.

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And today, when you
go out to the Gulf,

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you will find that there are
more rigs working there than

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at any recent time in memory.

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And the fact of the matter is,
just in the last 12 months we've

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issued over 61 permits just
to drill in the deepwater,

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about 100 to drill
in the shallow water.

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So we have more of that coming.

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When you think about Alaska,
where the National Petroleum

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Reserve had essentially been off
limits because of bureaucracies

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that have happened during
Republican and Democratic

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administrations of the past,
this administration has

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essentially solved the problems
so that we're going to be seeing

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development in the NPRA for
the first time in history.

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So, for those who say that this
President and his administration

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00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:55,433
have turned back the clock
on allowing our public lands

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00:11:55,433 --> 00:11:58,333
to be used for oil and
natural gas production,

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00:11:58,333 --> 00:12:00,567
they simply are wrong.

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00:12:00,567 --> 00:12:03,667
Ms. Zichal:
I think I might just add to
that by stating that the numbers

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00:12:03,667 --> 00:12:06,600
speak for themselves in terms of
oil and gas production going up

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00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,734
every year since the
President has been in office.

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00:12:08,734 --> 00:12:11,266
But as the President
has also acknowledged,

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00:12:11,266 --> 00:12:13,467
we're not at a point where
we can drill our way out

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00:12:13,467 --> 00:12:14,567
of this problem.

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00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,100
That's why the report and
all of the policies that this

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00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:20,400
administration have been working
on since day one -- from energy

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00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,000
efficiency to alternative fuels
-- have been a top priority,

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00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,600
administration wide.

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00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:27,700
Mr. Carney:
Mara.

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00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:29,533
The Press:
The President often says
there's no silver bullet

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00:12:29,533 --> 00:12:32,500
to bring gas prices
down in the short term,

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00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:35,767
but he has called on Congress
to get -- do away with subsidies

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00:12:35,767 --> 00:12:36,967
for oil and gas companies.

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00:12:36,967 --> 00:12:40,467
Do you guys have some
kind of estimate of how,

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00:12:40,467 --> 00:12:43,500
if those subsidies were gone, it
would affect prices at the pump?

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00:12:43,500 --> 00:12:46,767
Or is it just a fairness issue?

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00:12:46,767 --> 00:12:49,934
Ms. Zichal:
I think, from our perspective,
it's a fairness issue.

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00:12:49,934 --> 00:12:52,867
At this point in time, when
we're making difficult decisions

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00:12:52,867 --> 00:12:55,834
about the budget and where to
make investments and where to

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00:12:55,834 --> 00:12:59,566
cut, the fact that oil and gas
companies are bringing in record

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00:12:59,567 --> 00:13:03,233
profits and at the same time
getting $4 billion in subsidies

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00:13:03,233 --> 00:13:06,000
annually, those subsidies
should be repealed.

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00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000
And the President has called
for that and I believe the

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00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,133
Senate will be acting soon to
vote on this issue as well.

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00:13:12,133 --> 00:13:14,133
The Press:
And he's not arguing
that people would --

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00:13:14,133 --> 00:13:16,467
there would be some kind of
a connection between that

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00:13:16,467 --> 00:13:17,467
and prices going down?

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00:13:17,467 --> 00:13:19,567
Ms. Zichal:
Correct.

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00:13:19,567 --> 00:13:21,900
Mr. Carney:
Any more for -- yes, Steve.

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00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:24,033
The Press:
If production is
going up every year,

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00:13:24,033 --> 00:13:27,133
why is gas heading
toward $5 or $6 a gallon?

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00:13:27,133 --> 00:13:31,767
I mean, do -- the laws of supply
and demand don't apply anymore?

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00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:35,266
Secretary Salazar:
Here is the reality, and I
think all of you in this room

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00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:40,065
are smart students of history,
and so I think when you look

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00:13:40,066 --> 00:13:44,467
back at history, back to
-- all the way back to 1857,

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00:13:44,467 --> 00:13:46,967
but bring it into the
post-World War II era,

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00:13:46,967 --> 00:13:50,033
you see the price shocks for
both oil and gas that have

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00:13:50,033 --> 00:13:51,834
occurred in this country
and the different responses

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00:13:51,834 --> 00:13:52,834
that are made.

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00:13:52,834 --> 00:13:56,934
And those responses have been
going on since the formation of

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00:13:56,934 --> 00:14:00,333
OPEC, the Gulf War I, and a
whole host of other things

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00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:01,500
that have happened.

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00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:06,367
And what the reality is, is
that the oil prices and the

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00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:09,000
gas prices that we pay here
in the United States are set

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00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,266
on the global market.

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00:14:10,266 --> 00:14:12,567
We don't set them and
we don't control them.

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00:14:12,567 --> 00:14:15,300
This President and this Congress
can't control those prices

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00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:17,599
because they're set
on the global market.

290
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,967
But what has failed for the last
four years is that no one until

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00:14:22,967 --> 00:14:25,533
President Obama came into
office has really embarked

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00:14:25,533 --> 00:14:27,967
on an all-of-the-above
energy strategy,

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00:14:27,967 --> 00:14:31,165
because that's ultimately what
will be the insulation against

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00:14:31,166 --> 00:14:33,834
these ups and downs
and these price shocks.

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00:14:33,834 --> 00:14:36,199
So when we talk about an
all-of-the-above energy

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00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,633
strategy, what we're
talking about is, yes,

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00:14:38,633 --> 00:14:40,200
we will produce
more domestically,

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00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,700
as we have shown we have done
in the last three years; but,

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00:14:42,700 --> 00:14:45,767
yes, we will use less, in the
way that we've done with the

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00:14:45,767 --> 00:14:50,300
President's action in creating
a much more fuel-efficient fleet

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00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:53,467
system here in the United
States of America; and, yes,

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00:14:53,467 --> 00:14:55,567
we will move forward with
alternative energies and

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00:14:55,567 --> 00:14:59,667
alternative fuels like
bio-refineries or the powering

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00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:03,100
of much of our electrical
needs in the United States;

305
00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:04,934
with what we're
doing with solar,

306
00:15:04,934 --> 00:15:08,467
geothermal and other
forms of renewable energy.

307
00:15:08,467 --> 00:15:12,165
And it's the commitment
to sustain over time the

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00:15:12,166 --> 00:15:15,333
all-of-the-above energy strategy
that ultimately will help us

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00:15:15,333 --> 00:15:17,900
deal with this issue, which
otherwise is outside of the

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00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:20,266
control of the United States.

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00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:21,400
Mr. Carney:
Dave and then Alexis.

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00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:22,934
The Press:
The President has been
talking about this sort

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00:15:22,934 --> 00:15:24,699
of more patient or
longer-term approach,

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00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:27,433
all-of-the-above
strategy for a while now,

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00:15:27,433 --> 00:15:30,633
but the new poll out today from
The Washington Post and ABC News

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00:15:30,633 --> 00:15:33,166
shows that two-thirds of the
public disapproves with the

317
00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:36,934
President's handling of the gas
issue -- gas price issue and

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00:15:36,934 --> 00:15:39,666
that only 26% approve of
the way he's handled this.

319
00:15:39,667 --> 00:15:41,467
Is there -- you guys continue
to say all options are on the

320
00:15:41,467 --> 00:15:43,934
table, but doesn't this say
that people want more immediate

321
00:15:43,934 --> 00:15:45,967
action, and what do
you tell those folks?

322
00:15:45,967 --> 00:15:49,967
Mr. Carney:
Dave, if I could, I think
the fact of the matter is the

323
00:15:49,967 --> 00:15:52,867
President, the administration
is not focused on polling data.

324
00:15:52,867 --> 00:15:56,800
We are obviously aware that
Americans are paying a very high

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00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,165
price when they fill
up their gas tanks.

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00:16:00,166 --> 00:16:03,834
And the President is focused on
that and concerned about it and

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00:16:03,834 --> 00:16:07,300
understands the kind of impact
that has on hardworking American

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00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:09,165
families who are trying
to make ends meet.

329
00:16:09,166 --> 00:16:14,900
That's why he is focused on a
broadly cast economic policy

330
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:19,867
that includes a payroll tax cut
to 160 million Americans that

331
00:16:19,867 --> 00:16:24,099
gives them extra money in their
pockets to help make ends meet;

332
00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:27,533
a jobs-focused policy
that increases employment,

333
00:16:27,533 --> 00:16:32,133
increases economic growth;
and is looking at specific

334
00:16:32,133 --> 00:16:36,967
alternatives and approaches to
deal with both our short-term

335
00:16:36,967 --> 00:16:39,867
and our long-term
energy situation.

336
00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:42,333
But it is a fact -- and this
goes to the question that Steve

337
00:16:42,333 --> 00:16:48,567
had about why the price of oil
is up -- that if drilling were

338
00:16:48,567 --> 00:16:51,633
the answer, if increasing
drilling were the answer in the

339
00:16:51,633 --> 00:16:56,166
United States to lowering
prices at the pump,

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00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:59,100
we would be seeing lower
prices at the pump,

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00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:02,700
because under President Obama,
we have increased significantly

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00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,400
domestic oil and gas production.

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00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,567
That is a fact.

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00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:10,500
What also effects, obviously,
the international price of oil

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00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:15,433
is economic growth in
China, India, Brazil,

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00:17:15,433 --> 00:17:18,165
other emerging countries,
economic growth around

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00:17:18,165 --> 00:17:19,165
the world.

348
00:17:19,165 --> 00:17:22,934
The fact is, the United
States is growing,

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00:17:22,934 --> 00:17:24,233
other parts of the
world are growing;

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00:17:24,233 --> 00:17:26,934
that increases the demand
for oil around the world,

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00:17:26,934 --> 00:17:30,100
and that has an impact
on the price globally.

352
00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:34,399
Of course, also unrest and
uncertainty in the Middle East,

353
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:39,834
whether it's Iran or Syria or
Libya last year, has an effect,

354
00:17:39,834 --> 00:17:43,767
and these are all factors that
we have to take into account as

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00:17:43,767 --> 00:17:48,800
we make policy, and only
reinforces the imperative

356
00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,934
that we do everything we can to
reduce our reliance on foreign

357
00:17:51,934 --> 00:17:55,000
sources of energy, which is why
this President is focused on an

358
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,433
all-of-the-above approach.

359
00:17:56,433 --> 00:17:57,500
Let's take two more here.

360
00:17:57,500 --> 00:17:58,500
Alexis.

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00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,600
The Press:
Mr. Secretary, you just said
that the administration was

362
00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,699
successful in solving some
of the problems so that oil

363
00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:06,233
production can
take place in Alaska.

364
00:18:06,233 --> 00:18:08,100
And my question is, do you
feel confident that the

365
00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:12,300
administration could resolve
similar problems and impediments

366
00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:15,867
so that Keystone could
take place under this

367
00:18:15,867 --> 00:18:18,533
administration's watch?

368
00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:20,766
Secretary Salazar:
Let me just say something
about Alaska first.

369
00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:24,333
I think the NPRA has basically
been off limits for a long time.

370
00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:26,767
But because we've been
able to move forward,

371
00:18:26,767 --> 00:18:30,533
we expect ConocoPhillips
actually to start a play there

372
00:18:30,533 --> 00:18:34,332
in the not too distance future
in terms developing the NPRA.

373
00:18:34,333 --> 00:18:35,800
And also I think in
the months ahead,

374
00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,166
we're in the midst of reviewing
what will happen up in the

375
00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:42,133
Arctic Seas, as well; have not
made the final decisions there.

376
00:18:42,133 --> 00:18:44,166
But those have been debated
for a very long time,

377
00:18:44,166 --> 00:18:48,066
but I think they are indicators
that the administration has

378
00:18:48,066 --> 00:18:50,967
tried to look for oil and
gas production for a lot of

379
00:18:50,967 --> 00:18:54,500
different specifics related
to the country and its energy

380
00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:59,066
needs, but also to Alaska
and the TransAlaska Pipeline.

381
00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:01,767
On the Keystone pipeline,
I would just say this.

382
00:19:01,767 --> 00:19:06,667
The President never reached a
judgment on the merits because

383
00:19:06,667 --> 00:19:07,332
it didn't come here.

384
00:19:07,333 --> 00:19:08,900
It was at the State Department
and they never reached a

385
00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:10,266
judgment on the merits.

386
00:19:10,266 --> 00:19:13,066
You had a Republican governor
who I know who was very opposed

387
00:19:13,066 --> 00:19:15,900
to the initial configuration
of that pipeline,

388
00:19:15,900 --> 00:19:18,967
and we're still waiting to
receive the application on

389
00:19:18,967 --> 00:19:20,633
the new pipeline.

390
00:19:20,633 --> 00:19:24,133
And so I think if people
were to put politics aside,

391
00:19:24,133 --> 00:19:26,967
what they would say is
TransCanada should come forward,

392
00:19:26,967 --> 00:19:31,133
put its proposed pipeline
out on the table,

393
00:19:31,133 --> 00:19:33,867
and then have the process
engaged so that it can be

394
00:19:33,867 --> 00:19:36,600
formally evaluated and
a decision can be made

395
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:37,632
on the merits.

396
00:19:37,633 --> 00:19:41,567
Ms. Zichal:
And I would just add to
that, one of the things

397
00:19:41,567 --> 00:19:44,066
we were encouraged by is
the fact that the Cushing,

398
00:19:44,066 --> 00:19:48,567
Oklahoma to Port Arthur
section of the pipeline

399
00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:49,967
will be going forward.

400
00:19:49,967 --> 00:19:52,333
And from our perspective, that's
certainly an opportunity to

401
00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:54,834
create jobs but also to
address an energy challenge.

402
00:19:54,834 --> 00:19:56,700
In Cushing, we
have a glut of oil.

403
00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:58,567
We'll be able to move
that oil more efficiently

404
00:19:58,567 --> 00:19:59,700
and effectively.

405
00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:02,633
And that's a portion of
the pipeline that's not

406
00:20:02,633 --> 00:20:04,467
controversial that
we can get started.

407
00:20:04,467 --> 00:20:07,500
The President has asked -- or
the federal government has a

408
00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:10,800
rule that we expedite the work
that we have to do and we're

409
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,200
committed to doing that.

410
00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:17,567
But again, that is one pipeline,
and this administration has

411
00:20:17,567 --> 00:20:20,667
actually approved a number
of oil and gas pipelines,

412
00:20:20,667 --> 00:20:22,867
including one from Canada.

413
00:20:22,867 --> 00:20:26,934
So whether it's oil and gas, or
what we've done in the renewable

414
00:20:26,934 --> 00:20:30,500
sector, or with
our infrastructure,

415
00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:34,066
this administration has
a record of success.

416
00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:37,567
Mr. Carney:
Yes, sir, distinguished
gentleman in the back.

417
00:20:37,567 --> 00:20:45,400
The Press:
Yes, I was wondering what the
administration calculates --

418
00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,900
uncertainty in the Middle East
to be in the price of a barrel

419
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:49,233
of oil today?

420
00:20:49,233 --> 00:20:51,600
The API says it's 15%.

421
00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,033
I hear it's much higher.

422
00:20:54,033 --> 00:20:57,500
Ms. Zichal:
I don't think I can
tell you specifically

423
00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:00,166
what that number is.

424
00:21:00,166 --> 00:21:03,367
But as Jay has mentioned,
what we're seeing today --

425
00:21:03,367 --> 00:21:06,834
and certainly the President
recognizes the pain that

426
00:21:06,834 --> 00:21:10,133
families are seeing at the pump
when they're already struggling

427
00:21:10,133 --> 00:21:13,934
to make ends meet -- that
those outside forces,

428
00:21:13,934 --> 00:21:17,300
including what we're seeing in
terms of growth and demand from

429
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:20,100
emerging economies -- China and
India -- with millions of new

430
00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:23,367
drivers on the road, as well
as the increased tensions in

431
00:21:23,367 --> 00:21:25,433
the Middle East -- we know
those are driving up prices,

432
00:21:25,433 --> 00:21:28,200
and we know that's having an
impact on American consumers.

433
00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:32,100
And that's why the President has
directed his Cabinet to take all

434
00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:35,399
actions available to help
address these challenges

435
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,133
in the near term.

436
00:21:38,133 --> 00:21:40,734
Mr. Carney:
Thank you, all. Thanks very
much, sir. Thank you, Heather.

437
00:21:46,667 --> 00:21:53,367
Okay, with that, we can move
on to other subjects or even

438
00:21:53,367 --> 00:21:55,399
stay on this subject.

439
00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:56,467
Ben, do you have a question?

440
00:21:56,467 --> 00:21:58,567
The Press:
Yes, a couple about
the civilians in

441
00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:01,233
Afghanistan who were killed
by the American soldier.

442
00:22:01,233 --> 00:22:03,667
Did you have a statement on
that that you wanted to read,

443
00:22:03,667 --> 00:22:04,833
or should I just jump in?

444
00:22:04,834 --> 00:22:05,800
Mr. Carney:
No, go ahead.

445
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:12,800
The Press:
Okay. So, first of all, is this
incident one that the President

446
00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:18,367
fears puts Americans
in jeopardy there?

447
00:22:18,367 --> 00:22:23,767
Mr. Carney:
Well, the President is always
concerned about the well-being

448
00:22:23,767 --> 00:22:26,867
and welfare of Americans
stationed overseas,

449
00:22:26,867 --> 00:22:29,667
especially in a place like
Afghanistan -- both men and

450
00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:32,332
women in uniform, as well
as our civilian personnel.

451
00:22:32,333 --> 00:22:35,233
And that is certainly
the case in Afghanistan.

452
00:22:35,233 --> 00:22:41,567
For specifics about what
actions may be being taken

453
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:45,367
by the military or by the
civilian presence there,

454
00:22:45,367 --> 00:22:47,834
I would refer you to the State
Department or the Defense

455
00:22:47,834 --> 00:22:50,100
Department specifically with
regards to the aftermath of

456
00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:51,265
this incident.

457
00:22:51,266 --> 00:22:53,700
But you can be sure that the
President remains very concerned

458
00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:58,834
about that and will
continue to be so.

459
00:22:58,834 --> 00:23:01,433
The Press:
Does this incident affect
the President's thinking

460
00:23:01,433 --> 00:23:05,066
at all about the pace of
withdrawal of American troops?

461
00:23:05,066 --> 00:23:06,800
Mr. Carney:
I think it's important to
remember, Ben, that the

462
00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:11,332
President's policy in
Afghanistan -- which was

463
00:23:11,333 --> 00:23:17,500
announced after a very careful
and thorough review of a war

464
00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:19,633
there that had, under the
previous administration,

465
00:23:19,633 --> 00:23:26,033
begun to drift, that lacked a
coherent set of priorities and

466
00:23:26,033 --> 00:23:30,567
goals -- has been to focus
on our number-one priority,

467
00:23:30,567 --> 00:23:35,233
which is to disrupt,
dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda,

468
00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:37,466
and in service of
that objective,

469
00:23:37,467 --> 00:23:42,100
to help stabilize Afghanistan to
the point where Afghan security

470
00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:46,833
forces can begin to take over
responsibility for the safety

471
00:23:46,834 --> 00:23:50,100
and security of the country.

472
00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:53,233
Because, after all, there is
one reason why U.S. forces were

473
00:23:53,233 --> 00:23:55,934
sent to Afghanistan, and
that is because the United

474
00:23:55,934 --> 00:23:59,800
States was attacked on
September 11th -- September 11,

475
00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:04,066
2001 -- in a plot that was
hashed in Afghanistan by

476
00:24:04,066 --> 00:24:05,333
al Qaeda leaders.

477
00:24:05,333 --> 00:24:08,800
That remains his objective,
and that has not changed.

478
00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:14,567
And it is important to remember
that as part of that strategy,

479
00:24:14,567 --> 00:24:18,133
the President has been, and ISAF
forces have been drawing down

480
00:24:18,133 --> 00:24:22,800
already -- after the surge in
forces, have been drawing down,

481
00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:24,600
as announced previously.

482
00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:30,567
And that will continue, as will
be discussed in Chicago when

483
00:24:30,567 --> 00:24:34,400
NATO ministers meet and NATO
heads of state meet -- that

484
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,467
process will continue, so that
in accordance with NATO policy

485
00:24:37,467 --> 00:24:41,467
set in Lisbon, the Afghans
will take over control for

486
00:24:41,467 --> 00:24:44,300
the security of their
country by the end of 2014.

487
00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:48,300
The pace of that withdrawal will
depend on a variety of factors

488
00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:52,800
that will certainly be discussed
in Chicago at the NATO meeting,

489
00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,767
and will be discussed running up
to Chicago and in the aftermath

490
00:24:55,767 --> 00:24:56,967
of Chicago.

491
00:24:56,967 --> 00:25:00,300
And it will be determined by a
variety of factors related to

492
00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:02,000
the situation on the ground.

493
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,867
But it is important in the
aftermath of this terrible

494
00:25:05,867 --> 00:25:08,899
and tragic incident to
remember why we are there

495
00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:10,967
and what our objectives
are in terms of the United

496
00:25:10,967 --> 00:25:12,500
States' national security.

497
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:14,600
The Press:
You keep drawing it back
to that broader objective,

498
00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:15,667
which I understand.

499
00:25:15,667 --> 00:25:19,332
But in the meantime, you have
the Koran burning incident --

500
00:25:19,333 --> 00:25:23,133
the aftermath of that, Americans
killed by the Afghans they were

501
00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:23,900
serving with.

502
00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:27,166
Now you have this tragedy of
the American killing children

503
00:25:27,166 --> 00:25:29,100
in their sleep.

504
00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:32,132
When you say there are many
factors that could affect when

505
00:25:32,133 --> 00:25:34,533
we pull out, can you tell
us whether something like

506
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:37,899
this would affect the
President's thinking?

507
00:25:37,900 --> 00:25:42,266
Mr. Carney:
We have been in Afghanistan
for more than a decade.

508
00:25:42,266 --> 00:25:47,433
Thanks to the President's focus
of our policy and strategy on

509
00:25:47,433 --> 00:25:52,767
eliminating al Qaeda, we are in
the process of withdrawing our

510
00:25:52,767 --> 00:25:57,467
forces as we turn over
responsibility for security

511
00:25:57,467 --> 00:26:00,100
to the Afghan security forces.

512
00:26:00,100 --> 00:26:02,300
We have seen difficult
challenges in Afghanistan

513
00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:04,567
before, during the
course of these 10 years,

514
00:26:04,567 --> 00:26:08,934
and as recently as in the wake
of the inadvertent burning of

515
00:26:08,934 --> 00:26:11,600
the Koran not long ago.

516
00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,632
And the fact is that even
in the aftermath of that,

517
00:26:15,633 --> 00:26:17,467
in our negotiations and
consultations with the

518
00:26:17,467 --> 00:26:19,800
Afghanistan government,
we resumed our work on

519
00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,834
the Strategic Partnership,
and resolved difficult,

520
00:26:22,834 --> 00:26:26,667
long-negotiated detention issues
to sign an extremely important

521
00:26:26,667 --> 00:26:30,265
memo of understanding just last
Friday with regards to transfer

522
00:26:30,266 --> 00:26:33,600
of control of detention
facilities over to the Afghans.

523
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,734
And I bring that up only to
point out that we will continue

524
00:26:36,734 --> 00:26:40,867
to have very direct and
important negotiations with

525
00:26:40,867 --> 00:26:44,399
the Afghan government as we
pursue a strategy that is

526
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,900
designed to bring our
troops home as we achieve

527
00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:53,867
our objectives, and to turn over
increasingly responsibility for

528
00:26:53,867 --> 00:26:55,734
security in Afghanistan
to the Afghans.

529
00:26:57,667 --> 00:26:59,265
Yes, and then Jake.

530
00:26:59,266 --> 00:27:01,467
The Press:
Jay, thanks.

531
00:27:01,467 --> 00:27:05,967
Just to be clear, will there be
any review of U.S.-Afghan policy

532
00:27:05,967 --> 00:27:09,500
in light of the killings
on Sunday in Afghanistan?

533
00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:13,000
Mr. Carney:
There is an investigation
underway already into the

534
00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,934
events that happened,
and the tragic killings

535
00:27:17,934 --> 00:27:19,800
of Afghan civilians.

536
00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,033
And I would refer you to the
Defense Department and ISAF

537
00:27:22,033 --> 00:27:23,300
for more details about that.

538
00:27:26,333 --> 00:27:33,367
As tragic as these events are,
the strategy is focused on

539
00:27:33,367 --> 00:27:35,700
disrupting, dismantling,
and defeating al Qaeda;

540
00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:42,266
stabilizing Afghanistan so that
Afghan security forces can take

541
00:27:42,266 --> 00:27:44,500
responsibility for the
security of their own country,

542
00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:48,133
which would allow us to continue
to draw down our forces.

543
00:27:48,133 --> 00:27:50,600
And that is the strategy and
the policy that the President

544
00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:51,766
is implementing.

545
00:27:51,767 --> 00:27:56,934
I'm sure there will be
discussions ongoing between

546
00:27:56,934 --> 00:28:00,899
U.S. military leaders as well as
civilian leaders in Afghanistan

547
00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:02,834
and the Afghan government in
the wake of this incident.

548
00:28:04,066 --> 00:28:07,033
But our strategic objectives
have not changed and they

549
00:28:07,033 --> 00:28:09,000
will not change.

550
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,033
And we will continue to discuss
with our Afghan counterparts the

551
00:28:15,667 --> 00:28:19,800
need to implement our strategy
and develop that Strategic

552
00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:24,066
Partnership that will allow
us ultimately to turn over

553
00:28:24,066 --> 00:28:26,033
responsibility to the Afghans.

554
00:28:26,033 --> 00:28:29,899
The Press:
Is the President worried
that the incident could

555
00:28:32,533 --> 00:28:35,233
harm his own standing with the
American people who are worried

556
00:28:35,233 --> 00:28:38,100
about America's
role in Afghanistan?

557
00:28:38,100 --> 00:28:40,833
Mr. Carney:
The President is focused
on the national security

558
00:28:40,834 --> 00:28:43,867
interests of this country.

559
00:28:43,867 --> 00:28:48,500
And when he was campaigning for
this office he made clear that

560
00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:53,533
if elected President he would
refocus attention on our efforts

561
00:28:53,533 --> 00:28:57,667
in Afghanistan -- attention
which had flagged because of the

562
00:28:57,667 --> 00:29:01,567
focus on Iraq under the previous
administration -- because he

563
00:29:01,567 --> 00:29:04,567
felt that our number-one
objective in the wake of 9/11

564
00:29:04,567 --> 00:29:08,934
should be to eliminate al Qaeda.

565
00:29:08,934 --> 00:29:13,233
The development and
implementation of his

566
00:29:13,233 --> 00:29:17,000
Afghanistan strategy was meant
to do just that: refocus our

567
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,834
priorities, make clear what
we are in Afghanistan to do,

568
00:29:22,467 --> 00:29:27,867
and make clear that we are not
there to do more than that.

569
00:29:27,867 --> 00:29:31,700
He has focused very clearly
on the implementation of that

570
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:34,100
strategy, and it has, I
think by any standards,

571
00:29:34,100 --> 00:29:41,332
met with some success with
regards to diminishing al Qaeda.

572
00:29:41,333 --> 00:29:43,700
But that fight continues.

573
00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:49,600
And this President is committed
to fulfilling his responsibility

574
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,199
as Commander-in-Chief to ensure
that al Qaeda does not pose a

575
00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:57,633
threat to the United
States or its citizens.

576
00:29:57,633 --> 00:29:59,633
Jake, and then Alexis.

577
00:29:59,633 --> 00:30:01,900
The Press:
A couple weeks ago I asked
you if you had any idea how

578
00:30:01,900 --> 00:30:07,066
many al Qaeda members
there were in Afghanistan.

579
00:30:07,066 --> 00:30:10,667
It had been under a hundred
a couple of years ago when

580
00:30:10,667 --> 00:30:12,332
then-CIA Director Panetta said.

581
00:30:12,333 --> 00:30:13,667
Do you have an updated number?

582
00:30:13,667 --> 00:30:14,667
Mr. Carney:
I don't.

583
00:30:14,667 --> 00:30:18,166
That's probably an intelligence
assessment that if I did have it

584
00:30:18,166 --> 00:30:19,567
I might not be able
to share with you.

585
00:30:19,567 --> 00:30:25,100
But what I think was true
then remains true now,

586
00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:29,632
which is that the region
between Afghanistan and

587
00:30:29,633 --> 00:30:32,567
Pakistan has been a focal
point
of our efforts,

588
00:30:32,567 --> 00:30:40,667
and that the goal of the
Afghanistan strategy has

589
00:30:40,667 --> 00:30:46,000
been to both go after and remove
from the battlefield leaders of

590
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:50,734
al Qaeda, but also to create a
situation in Afghanistan that

591
00:30:50,734 --> 00:30:53,667
makes it inhospitable to
the hosting of al Qaeda

592
00:30:53,667 --> 00:30:55,100
in the future.

593
00:30:55,100 --> 00:30:57,399
And that effort continues.

594
00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,300
The Press:
Well, here's the
larger question.

595
00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:01,367
Even though the tens
of thousands of U.S.

596
00:31:01,367 --> 00:31:05,265
troops who were there are
brave and heroic and doing what

597
00:31:05,266 --> 00:31:09,967
they're asked to do, do you
think that the presence of U.S.

598
00:31:09,967 --> 00:31:14,600
troops in Afghanistan right
now is actually making it

599
00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:21,265
more stable and less
hospitable for al Qaeda,

600
00:31:21,266 --> 00:31:23,934
or is it doing the
exact opposite?

601
00:31:23,934 --> 00:31:25,633
Mr. Carney:
I don't think there's
any doubt that we have

602
00:31:25,633 --> 00:31:27,467
had success in the
implementation of this

603
00:31:27,467 --> 00:31:33,133
strategy and making life
a lot harder for al Qaeda.

604
00:31:33,133 --> 00:31:35,567
And that has been a direct
result of the President's

605
00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:37,934
approach in Afghanistan
and Pakistan.

606
00:31:37,934 --> 00:31:43,899
I really don't think
anybody could doubt that.

607
00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:45,266
There is no question
that this is hard,

608
00:31:45,266 --> 00:31:52,700
that the situation in
Afghanistan has been and

609
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:54,033
remains difficult.

610
00:31:54,033 --> 00:31:58,399
And the challenges that our men
and women face are significant.

611
00:32:00,533 --> 00:32:07,399
But it is important to remember
that it is all done in the name

612
00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:10,400
of, and with a focus on
the number-one priority,

613
00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:15,500
which is to enhance American
national security interests by

614
00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:18,500
disrupting, dismantling and
ultimately defeating al Qaeda.

615
00:32:18,500 --> 00:32:22,367
And the stabilization of
Afghanistan -- of its government

616
00:32:22,367 --> 00:32:24,667
and the building up of its
security forces -- is done

617
00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:25,699
in service of that goal.

618
00:32:25,700 --> 00:32:29,800
And that's why the
mission is so important.

619
00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,300
It is not the case -- and this
was debated at the time -- that

620
00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:39,133
our policy is or should be about
trying to create a Jeffersonian

621
00:32:39,133 --> 00:32:40,967
ideal in Afghanistan.

622
00:32:40,967 --> 00:32:41,967
That's not going to happen.

623
00:32:41,967 --> 00:32:43,000
And I know that's not
what you're saying,

624
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,066
but I'm just -- I'm making this
point in the context of why the

625
00:32:46,066 --> 00:32:48,433
focus of the mission
is so important.

626
00:32:48,433 --> 00:32:51,233
The Press:
One national security
expert said to me,

627
00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:55,100
"We've reached our
sell-by date there."

628
00:32:55,100 --> 00:32:57,033
Mr. Carney:
We've been there a long time.

629
00:32:57,033 --> 00:33:00,265
And the President has made
clear that his policy is

630
00:33:00,266 --> 00:33:04,533
designed to allow us to
draw U.S. forces down as

631
00:33:04,533 --> 00:33:06,233
we accomplish our goals there.

632
00:33:06,233 --> 00:33:09,000
And it is a very specific plan.

633
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,834
It has a timetable
attached to it,

634
00:33:10,834 --> 00:33:16,367
which some take issue with --
although you have to wonder why

635
00:33:16,367 --> 00:33:21,633
-- because he understands the
impact that more than a decade

636
00:33:21,633 --> 00:33:26,967
of war has had on our armed
forces and on the families of

637
00:33:26,967 --> 00:33:32,033
those who have sent men and
women to Iraq and Afghanistan,

638
00:33:32,033 --> 00:33:34,567
on our economy.

639
00:33:34,567 --> 00:33:36,266
And that is why it was so
important to him when he was

640
00:33:36,266 --> 00:33:39,266
developing in that
-- that you remember,

641
00:33:39,266 --> 00:33:42,066
an Afghanistan strategy, that we
get it right -- that we have the

642
00:33:42,066 --> 00:33:45,266
right priorities
and the right focus,

643
00:33:45,266 --> 00:33:49,166
and a process in place by which
to achieve our goals and draw

644
00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:49,966
down forces.

645
00:33:49,967 --> 00:33:51,133
And that is the
President's plan.

646
00:33:51,133 --> 00:33:53,433
The Press:
Right. But at this point, no
concern from the White House

647
00:33:53,433 --> 00:33:55,900
that we -- that the
presence of U.S. troops,

648
00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:58,100
even though most of
them, almost all of them,

649
00:33:58,100 --> 00:33:59,934
are doing what
they're asked to do,

650
00:33:59,934 --> 00:34:03,332
is not doing more harm
than good right now?

651
00:34:03,333 --> 00:34:05,033
Mr. Carney:
I'm confident that
we believe that our

652
00:34:05,033 --> 00:34:09,333
presence there is having
the desired effect in the

653
00:34:09,333 --> 00:34:13,433
implementation and
achievement of our objectives,

654
00:34:13,433 --> 00:34:15,132
the implementation of the
plan and the achievement

655
00:34:15,132 --> 00:34:16,132
of the objectives.

656
00:34:16,132 --> 00:34:18,533
There are, obviously, difficult
challenges that we face in

657
00:34:18,533 --> 00:34:24,065
Afghanistan and incidents like
this do not make it any easier.

658
00:34:24,065 --> 00:34:25,600
No question.

659
00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:26,900
I think I said Alexis, right?

660
00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:28,066
And then I'll go to Dan.

661
00:34:28,065 --> 00:34:33,165
The Press:
What role does the President
want the Afghanistan and our --

662
00:34:33,166 --> 00:34:34,567
the government of
Afghanistan, the people,

663
00:34:34,567 --> 00:34:38,132
to play in the investigation and
then the meting out of justice

664
00:34:38,132 --> 00:34:39,667
related to this event?

665
00:34:39,667 --> 00:34:41,967
Mr. Carney:
For the investigation
and the specifics of that,

666
00:34:41,967 --> 00:34:47,400
I would refer you to the
Defense Department and ISAF.

667
00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:55,333
The President is confident that,
and believes it is important

668
00:34:55,333 --> 00:34:58,934
that there be accountability
for what happened.

669
00:34:58,934 --> 00:35:03,567
And the Defense Department
is clearly investigating this

670
00:35:03,567 --> 00:35:06,734
matter and I refer you
to them for details.

671
00:35:06,734 --> 00:35:09,633
The Press:
-- about the role that
he wants Afghanistan to

672
00:35:09,633 --> 00:35:10,700
be able to play?

673
00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:12,533
Mr. Carney:
I have not.

674
00:35:12,533 --> 00:35:16,767
And I think that the United
States military is investigating

675
00:35:16,767 --> 00:35:20,633
this matter and we have
confidence in the Defense

676
00:35:20,633 --> 00:35:22,799
Department to handle it.

677
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:23,600
Yes, Dan.

678
00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:28,967
The Press:
So, just to clarify again --
this shooting will not impact

679
00:35:28,967 --> 00:35:34,333
the timetable for withdrawal of
U.S. troops from Afghanistan?

680
00:35:34,333 --> 00:35:40,100
Mr. Carney:
No, it will not, Dan, because
the strategy is focused on the

681
00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:43,866
objectives that I have laid
out a couple of times today

682
00:35:43,867 --> 00:35:45,033
and certainly previous to today.

683
00:35:45,033 --> 00:35:48,366
And those objectives
haven't changed.

684
00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:54,165
We will continue to work
with the Afghan government,

685
00:35:54,166 --> 00:35:58,300
with Afghan forces in the
implementation of our strategy.

686
00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:04,333
We will investigate this tragic
incident and make sure that

687
00:36:04,333 --> 00:36:08,934
there is accountability, and
we will continue to pursue our

688
00:36:08,934 --> 00:36:11,533
strategic objectives
in Afghanistan,

689
00:36:11,533 --> 00:36:15,734
which are about the U.S.
national security interest

690
00:36:15,734 --> 00:36:20,734
and the protection of the
United States, our personnel

691
00:36:20,734 --> 00:36:22,433
and our allies.

692
00:36:22,433 --> 00:36:26,700
The Press:
A lot has been said over the
past about the trust between

693
00:36:26,700 --> 00:36:29,433
the U.S. forces there
and the Afghan forces.

694
00:36:29,433 --> 00:36:33,600
Is there concern at all that
this could further impact it --

695
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:39,866
the skepticism between
the U.S. and Afghanistan?

696
00:36:39,867 --> 00:36:43,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would probably
suggest that the best

697
00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:46,533
people to answer that question
are at the Defense Department or

698
00:36:46,533 --> 00:36:50,767
in Afghanistan, both
military and civilian.

699
00:36:50,767 --> 00:36:52,466
This is a challenging
time, there is no question.

700
00:36:55,066 --> 00:37:01,399
The focus of our policy is
designed to hand over greater

701
00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:03,734
authority to, and
responsibility to,

702
00:37:03,734 --> 00:37:05,866
Afghan security forces
and the Afghan government.

703
00:37:05,867 --> 00:37:11,734
I think that demonstrates that
our interest is in -- is not in

704
00:37:11,734 --> 00:37:14,600
staying any longer
than we have to.

705
00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:21,734
It is a strategy that fully
respects the sovereignty of

706
00:37:21,734 --> 00:37:24,866
the Afghan nation and
the Afghan people,

707
00:37:24,867 --> 00:37:30,700
and we will continue to focus
on the implementation of that

708
00:37:30,700 --> 00:37:34,165
strategy, on the -- to continue
to focus on taking the fight to

709
00:37:34,166 --> 00:37:35,367
al Qaeda.

710
00:37:35,367 --> 00:37:37,867
There is a reconciliation
process, Afghan-led,

711
00:37:37,867 --> 00:37:43,467
that is an important element as
we move forward and all of these

712
00:37:43,467 --> 00:37:44,767
aspects will continue.

713
00:37:44,767 --> 00:37:50,834
The Press:
Another matter here -- five
counties in southern Illinois,

714
00:37:50,834 --> 00:37:54,966
I'm told, were denied
disaster aid from FEMA

715
00:37:54,967 --> 00:37:56,967
and I'm wondering why.

716
00:37:56,967 --> 00:37:58,100
Mr. Carney:
From Illinois?

717
00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:01,366
The Press:
From Illinois, yes, because
of tornadoes and other storm

718
00:38:01,367 --> 00:38:02,600
damage there.

719
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,165
They have requested
disaster aid.

720
00:38:04,166 --> 00:38:05,800
It's been denied, and
I'm wondering if you

721
00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:06,800
could tell us why.

722
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:10,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, Dan, as you know, the
process by which FEMA evaluates

723
00:38:10,834 --> 00:38:13,966
requests for disaster
declarations is the same

724
00:38:13,967 --> 00:38:18,867
no matter which state
makes the request,

725
00:38:18,867 --> 00:38:25,266
and the criteria that
allow for the approval

726
00:38:25,266 --> 00:38:27,767
of a declaration for
Kentucky, for example,

727
00:38:27,767 --> 00:38:32,100
are the same criteria that
may result in a denial,

728
00:38:32,100 --> 00:38:34,299
at least for now,
to another state,

729
00:38:34,300 --> 00:38:37,367
because they haven't been
met, and it is judged,

730
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:40,066
based on those
objective criteria,

731
00:38:40,066 --> 00:38:45,299
that the state in question has
the wherewithal to handle storm

732
00:38:45,300 --> 00:38:46,800
recovery on its own.

733
00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:49,834
But FEMA has a lot
of regional offices,

734
00:38:49,834 --> 00:38:54,066
a lot of presence on the ground
in these effected states,

735
00:38:54,066 --> 00:38:58,033
and the evaluation process
continues and our efforts at

736
00:38:58,033 --> 00:39:00,767
the federal level to assist
those states that have been

737
00:39:00,767 --> 00:39:03,734
affected by these
storms will continue.

738
00:39:03,734 --> 00:39:04,567
Yes, Mara.

739
00:39:04,567 --> 00:39:06,133
The Press:
Quick question.

740
00:39:06,133 --> 00:39:08,165
Is the President still planning
on going to watch the basketball

741
00:39:08,166 --> 00:39:10,300
game tomorrow?

742
00:39:10,300 --> 00:39:11,767
Mr. Carney:
His schedule has not changed.

743
00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:16,366
The Press:
Okay. And just to follow up on
the Afghan questions because you

744
00:39:16,367 --> 00:39:17,900
seem to be saying two
different things -- I just

745
00:39:17,900 --> 00:39:18,834
want to get this clear.

746
00:39:18,834 --> 00:39:20,933
First, you said today, it will
not have any impact on the

747
00:39:20,934 --> 00:39:23,767
timetable, but earlier you said,
the pace of the withdrawal will

748
00:39:23,767 --> 00:39:26,799
be determined by a
variety of factors.

749
00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:29,000
We have to assume that this is
one of the factors that the NATO

750
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:30,767
ministers will discuss --

751
00:39:30,767 --> 00:39:31,933
Mr. Carney:
Well, a couple of points.

752
00:39:31,934 --> 00:39:34,900
I think you're finding a
distinction that doesn't exist.

753
00:39:34,900 --> 00:39:37,734
The focus of our overall
strategy is not in reaction

754
00:39:37,734 --> 00:39:46,866
to a single event -- any more
than it was two months ago.

755
00:39:48,567 --> 00:39:52,367
The evaluations of the pace of
the drawdown will continue based

756
00:39:52,367 --> 00:39:56,734
on a variety of assessments made
by U.S. military leaders as well

757
00:39:56,734 --> 00:40:00,900
as leaders of our ISAF partners.

758
00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:03,867
And I think my point to Dan
was that this incident does

759
00:40:03,867 --> 00:40:08,934
not change the strategic
imperative that is embodied

760
00:40:08,934 --> 00:40:10,633
in the President's strategy.

761
00:40:10,633 --> 00:40:12,133
The Press:
Yes, but you said he
wouldn't change the timetable,

762
00:40:12,133 --> 00:40:13,232
which is quite different
than the goals --

763
00:40:13,233 --> 00:40:14,367
Mr. Carney:
Let me be clear.

764
00:40:14,367 --> 00:40:17,133
I do not believe that this
incident will change the

765
00:40:17,133 --> 00:40:24,633
timetable of a strategy that
was designed and is being

766
00:40:24,633 --> 00:40:27,133
implemented in a way to allow
for the withdrawal of U.S.

767
00:40:27,133 --> 00:40:34,500
forces, to allow for the
transfer of lead security

768
00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:38,567
authority over to the Afghans,
and which -- a process that will

769
00:40:38,567 --> 00:40:41,467
be completed no later
than the end of 2014.

770
00:40:41,467 --> 00:40:45,333
And the discussions about the
pace of that drawdown have been

771
00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:50,567
ongoing, as I think Secretary
Panetta discussed not long ago,

772
00:40:50,567 --> 00:40:53,600
and as he was having discussions
with fellow defense ministers,

773
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:58,767
and will certainly be a subject
of discussion among heads of

774
00:40:58,767 --> 00:41:01,399
state in Chicago at the
NATO meeting there in May.

775
00:41:03,467 --> 00:41:05,900
Kristen, and then I want to
move around a little bit. Yes.

776
00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:06,767
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

777
00:41:06,767 --> 00:41:10,433
Turning to Syria, you have said
repeatedly that Assad's fall is

778
00:41:10,433 --> 00:41:14,166
imminent, and yet, according
to recent reports, U.S. senior

779
00:41:14,166 --> 00:41:16,433
intelligence officials have
said that Assad actually

780
00:41:16,433 --> 00:41:18,767
holds a strong
position in Syria.

781
00:41:18,767 --> 00:41:21,500
So do you continue to argue
that his fall is imminent,

782
00:41:21,500 --> 00:41:22,567
and if so, how?

783
00:41:22,567 --> 00:41:23,200
What's the --

784
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,433
Mr. Carney:
So recent reports of citing
anonymous sources are saying

785
00:41:27,433 --> 00:41:28,700
whatever they're saying?

786
00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:29,533
Look, we believe --

787
00:41:29,533 --> 00:41:32,633
The Press:
Well, and also we've seen
the uptick in violence.

788
00:41:32,633 --> 00:41:34,734
Mr. Carney:
Well, there's no question
that Assad continues his

789
00:41:34,734 --> 00:41:37,500
brutal assault
on his own people.

790
00:41:37,500 --> 00:41:39,133
There is no doubt about that.

791
00:41:39,133 --> 00:41:43,399
We continue to believe that it
is not a matter of if, but when,

792
00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:49,400
Assad will be removed, will
remove himself from power.

793
00:41:52,133 --> 00:41:57,966
His legitimacy has certainly
long since been lost.

794
00:41:57,967 --> 00:42:05,633
And we are working with a broad
coalition of partners around the

795
00:42:05,633 --> 00:42:10,399
globe who believe, as the
United Nations Security Council

796
00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:17,000
resolution made clear,
that there needs to be

797
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:20,100
a transition in Syria.

798
00:42:20,100 --> 00:42:24,533
There needs to be, first, a
cessation of the brutal assault

799
00:42:24,533 --> 00:42:28,567
on the Syrian people, and then
a transition that allows for the

800
00:42:28,567 --> 00:42:30,967
greater fulfillment of
the aspirations of the

801
00:42:30,967 --> 00:42:32,133
Syrian people.

802
00:42:32,133 --> 00:42:35,066
That continues to be our policy.

803
00:42:35,066 --> 00:42:40,000
We're not going to put a time
by which that will happen.

804
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:42,233
We will simply continue to work
with our international partners

805
00:42:42,233 --> 00:42:46,300
to pressure Assad,
to isolate him,

806
00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:55,166
to make the cost of his
assault increasingly higher,

807
00:42:55,166 --> 00:43:02,200
and work in any way that we can
to assist the Syrian people who

808
00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:07,033
are suffering greatly
under his brutality.

809
00:43:07,033 --> 00:43:09,066
The Press:
And according to a
Washington Post report,

810
00:43:09,066 --> 00:43:12,567
there have been more discussions
about possible military

811
00:43:12,567 --> 00:43:15,767
intervention, possibly arming
the opposition forces there.

812
00:43:15,767 --> 00:43:17,899
Can you confirm those reports?

813
00:43:17,900 --> 00:43:19,533
Mr. Carney:
Again, I think these
are reports that were

814
00:43:19,533 --> 00:43:24,200
specific to the fact that, as
is almost always the case in a

815
00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:26,633
situation like this when there
are international crises or

816
00:43:26,633 --> 00:43:31,232
events, the Pentagon
develops contingency plans.

817
00:43:31,233 --> 00:43:34,233
That is not the same
as a policy decision.

818
00:43:34,233 --> 00:43:37,033
Our policy remains
absolutely what it was,

819
00:43:37,033 --> 00:43:40,232
which is our belief that
contributing to the further

820
00:43:40,233 --> 00:43:45,100
militarization of Syria is not a
wise course of action right now.

821
00:43:45,100 --> 00:43:50,567
It could potentially lead
down a dangerous road.

822
00:43:50,567 --> 00:43:54,633
And we are focused instead on
what I just described to you,

823
00:43:54,633 --> 00:43:57,466
which is working with our
international partners to, A,

824
00:43:57,467 --> 00:44:00,433
help provide whatever assistance
-- humanitarian assistance we

825
00:44:00,433 --> 00:44:03,133
can to the Syrian people, as
well as continuing to pressure

826
00:44:03,133 --> 00:44:04,667
and isolate Assad.

827
00:44:04,667 --> 00:44:09,133
Let me just -- I don't know
if Terri Gruca is here.

828
00:44:09,133 --> 00:44:10,667
Yes, Terri, did you
have a question?

829
00:44:10,667 --> 00:44:11,366
The Press:
I do.

830
00:44:11,367 --> 00:44:12,200
Mr. Carney:
From Austin, Texas.

831
00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:13,700
The Press:
Back to your energy policy talk.

832
00:44:13,700 --> 00:44:15,399
I know last week there were some
congressional hearings about

833
00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,567
alternatives, and one gentleman
in the crowd had talked about

834
00:44:18,567 --> 00:44:20,533
how alternatives
are great in theory,

835
00:44:20,533 --> 00:44:22,767
but it's difficult to get
Americans to buy them,

836
00:44:22,767 --> 00:44:25,834
in part because they're
so expensive right now.

837
00:44:25,834 --> 00:44:27,366
How do you fix that?

838
00:44:27,367 --> 00:44:32,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, the President's approach
in his all-of-the-above energy

839
00:44:32,834 --> 00:44:40,165
policy is to invest in clean
energy technologies so that they

840
00:44:40,166 --> 00:44:43,734
become industries that
create jobs in this country,

841
00:44:43,734 --> 00:44:48,133
not just overseas, and in
ways that help reduce the

842
00:44:48,133 --> 00:44:49,466
price of alternative energy.

843
00:44:49,467 --> 00:44:53,734
A good example is our increasing
share of the international

844
00:44:53,734 --> 00:44:56,834
market in advanced
battery technology.

845
00:44:56,834 --> 00:45:01,133
As greater breakthroughs
are made in advance battery

846
00:45:01,133 --> 00:45:06,399
technologies, the cost of
those batteries declines,

847
00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:10,367
which results in a reduced price
for the vehicles that use those

848
00:45:10,367 --> 00:45:13,433
batteries, and obviously,
that savings is passed on

849
00:45:13,433 --> 00:45:14,467
to the consumer.

850
00:45:14,467 --> 00:45:21,233
It is simply a fact in the world
that we live in that someone

851
00:45:21,233 --> 00:45:27,333
will dominate the alternative
energy markets -- alternative

852
00:45:27,333 --> 00:45:34,033
energy industries like
wind, solar, biofuels,

853
00:45:34,033 --> 00:45:35,933
advanced batteries.

854
00:45:35,934 --> 00:45:38,967
The President believes that
those are quality industries

855
00:45:38,967 --> 00:45:44,333
that create well-paid jobs, and
he believes they should be here

856
00:45:44,333 --> 00:45:47,633
in the United States; that we
should not be -- we should not

857
00:45:47,633 --> 00:45:53,600
change our reliance on foreign
sources of oil to a reliance on

858
00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:57,100
foreign sources of
alternative energy.

859
00:45:57,100 --> 00:46:02,834
And moreover, we create those
jobs here and we reduce our

860
00:46:02,834 --> 00:46:04,033
dependence on foreign sources.

861
00:46:04,033 --> 00:46:05,834
So it's a win-win.

862
00:46:05,834 --> 00:46:07,633
That's why we have to have
this long-term strategy,

863
00:46:07,633 --> 00:46:10,834
because as he and
others have said,

864
00:46:10,834 --> 00:46:13,100
we have 2% of the
world's oil reserves,

865
00:46:13,100 --> 00:46:15,667
we consume 20% of
the world's oil.

866
00:46:15,667 --> 00:46:18,767
There is no way with those two
facts in front of you that you

867
00:46:18,767 --> 00:46:21,667
can drill your way out of
the problem that we have.

868
00:46:21,667 --> 00:46:23,066
You have to do more
than just drill.

869
00:46:23,066 --> 00:46:24,332
You have to drill.

870
00:46:24,333 --> 00:46:26,667
You have to increase drilling,
you have to increase production;

871
00:46:26,667 --> 00:46:28,433
the President is
committed to that.

872
00:46:28,433 --> 00:46:29,967
But you have to do
everything else as well.

873
00:46:29,967 --> 00:46:32,600
And that includes not just
advanced batteries or biofuels

874
00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:33,567
or wind and solar.

875
00:46:33,567 --> 00:46:36,934
It means granting the first
permit to build a new nuclear

876
00:46:36,934 --> 00:46:38,934
power plant in the United
States in 30 years,

877
00:46:38,934 --> 00:46:40,533
which this
administration has done.

878
00:46:40,533 --> 00:46:42,533
It's an all-of-the-above approach.

879
00:46:42,533 --> 00:46:45,333
The Press:
Some people argue that's
why gas prices will not --

880
00:46:45,333 --> 00:46:48,200
there's not really a push to
lower gas prices because you

881
00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:50,500
need gas prices to be high in
order to get people to buy --

882
00:46:50,500 --> 00:46:52,967
Mr. Carney:
That is categorically false.

883
00:46:52,967 --> 00:46:56,133
This President is absolutely
committed to reducing -- to

884
00:46:56,133 --> 00:46:59,933
doing everything we can to
mitigate the effect of higher

885
00:46:59,934 --> 00:47:04,600
gas prices on American families
and to lower gas prices.

886
00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:08,266
What he is not willing to do is
to look the American people in

887
00:47:08,266 --> 00:47:10,900
the eye and claim that there
is a strategy by which he can

888
00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:15,567
guarantee the price of gas
will be $2.50 at the pump.

889
00:47:15,567 --> 00:47:19,166
Any politician who
does that is lying,

890
00:47:19,166 --> 00:47:22,066
because it just -- that
strategy does not exist.

891
00:47:22,066 --> 00:47:27,299
It is a simple fact that
there is no such plan that

892
00:47:27,300 --> 00:47:31,066
can guarantee the price of
oil or the price at the pump.

893
00:47:31,066 --> 00:47:33,000
You have to have an
all-of-the-above approach,

894
00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:36,433
and that all-of-the-above
approach can limit the effects

895
00:47:36,433 --> 00:47:39,266
or reduce the effects of
high gas prices on Americans.

896
00:47:39,266 --> 00:47:42,233
It can also, importantly, reduce
our dependence on foreign oil so

897
00:47:42,233 --> 00:47:45,734
that when there are
fluctuations in the

898
00:47:45,734 --> 00:47:50,700
price of oil internationally,
we are more insulated from the

899
00:47:50,700 --> 00:47:53,600
effect of that.

900
00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:54,600
Yes, Roger.

901
00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:55,734
The Press:
Thank you.

902
00:47:55,734 --> 00:47:59,100
Pat Roberts -- the highway bill
in the Senate -- Pat Roberts has

903
00:47:59,100 --> 00:48:02,366
introduced a package of
amendments that basically

904
00:48:02,367 --> 00:48:06,233
revisits that package that was
defeated last week -- that was

905
00:48:06,233 --> 00:48:07,600
defeated last week.

906
00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:10,567
The President was making
calls last week to make

907
00:48:10,567 --> 00:48:11,900
sure it was defeated.

908
00:48:11,900 --> 00:48:14,400
I was wondering if he's
making calls again on this.

909
00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,400
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any
additional calls to report.

910
00:48:17,400 --> 00:48:20,233
I would say, as I said then
when that report emerged,

911
00:48:20,233 --> 00:48:22,800
that the President has
conversations with members

912
00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:26,133
of Congress with some
frequency, and we don't

913
00:48:26,133 --> 00:48:30,265
read all of them out.

914
00:48:30,266 --> 00:48:32,567
Let me give others a chance.

915
00:48:32,567 --> 00:48:33,333
Mr. Knoller.

916
00:48:33,333 --> 00:48:36,200
The Press:
Jay, what was the reason
for the President's meeting

917
00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:38,500
with Mayor Bloomberg
a few weeks ago?

918
00:48:38,500 --> 00:48:39,900
Mr. Carney:
They speak from time to time.

919
00:48:39,900 --> 00:48:44,800
The President appreciates
the Mayor's insights into

920
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:45,800
matters of policy.

921
00:48:45,800 --> 00:48:48,367
He appreciates the Mayor's
leadership on issues like

922
00:48:48,367 --> 00:48:51,567
immigration, the economy,
and other issues.

923
00:48:51,567 --> 00:48:54,767
And he enjoyed the lunch
that they had here.

924
00:48:54,767 --> 00:48:56,834
The Press:
A job interview, perhaps,
for a second term?

925
00:48:56,834 --> 00:48:57,734
Mr. Carney:
It was not a job interview.

926
00:48:57,734 --> 00:48:58,400
(laughter)

927
00:48:58,400 --> 00:48:59,100
Absolutely not.

928
00:48:59,100 --> 00:49:02,133
No, they were focused
on policy matters.

929
00:49:02,133 --> 00:49:04,834
The Press:
And what is the reason
the President is taking

930
00:49:04,834 --> 00:49:08,299
Prime Minister Cameron
to a basketball game?

931
00:49:08,300 --> 00:49:10,734
Mr. Carney:
Well, because I think
it's an opportunity for

932
00:49:10,734 --> 00:49:12,400
the President and the Prime
Minister to spend some time

933
00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:15,567
together outside of the official
trappings of Washington and the

934
00:49:15,567 --> 00:49:20,967
White House, and an opportunity
for the President to show the

935
00:49:20,967 --> 00:49:23,400
Prime Minister a slice
of American life.

936
00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:25,767
March Madness is
just getting started.

937
00:49:25,767 --> 00:49:29,066
Some of us enjoy it quite a bit,
many Americans do around the

938
00:49:29,066 --> 00:49:32,533
country, and he certainly looks
forward to sharing that with

939
00:49:32,533 --> 00:49:33,799
Prime Minister Cameron.

940
00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:36,066
And I'll be happy to attend
that event with them just to

941
00:49:36,066 --> 00:49:36,966
make sure everything goes --

942
00:49:36,967 --> 00:49:38,200
(laughter)

943
00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:40,433
-- according to plan.

944
00:49:40,433 --> 00:49:42,400
George, and then Jared.

945
00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:44,066
The Press:
Yes, two questions
on Afghanistan.

946
00:49:44,066 --> 00:49:47,933
I wondered if you had any
response to House Armed Services

947
00:49:47,934 --> 00:49:51,500
Chairman Buck McKeon, who
said in a speech, he said,

948
00:49:51,500 --> 00:49:54,133
"President Bush gave over
40 speeches about Iraq,

949
00:49:54,133 --> 00:49:56,433
trying to educate the
country to understand

950
00:49:56,433 --> 00:49:57,500
what we're engaged in.

951
00:49:57,500 --> 00:50:00,667
President Obama has given three
speeches about Afghanistan and

952
00:50:00,667 --> 00:50:05,165
he hasn't done anything to
educate and bring people along."

953
00:50:05,166 --> 00:50:07,633
Mr. Carney:
The President has spoken a
great deal about Afghanistan

954
00:50:07,633 --> 00:50:11,466
and his policy in Afghanistan.

955
00:50:11,467 --> 00:50:14,700
I will leave the irony of
the comparative there to

956
00:50:14,700 --> 00:50:16,133
others to assess.

957
00:50:16,133 --> 00:50:17,933
I would simply say that the
President is focused on a

958
00:50:17,934 --> 00:50:21,400
strategy that's effective,
that's in the national security

959
00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:25,734
interests of the United States,
and that ensures that every bit

960
00:50:25,734 --> 00:50:31,333
of effort expended by American
men and women in uniform and our

961
00:50:31,333 --> 00:50:36,100
civilian personnel over there is
aimed at our strategic objective

962
00:50:36,100 --> 00:50:38,700
-- which is to disrupt,
dismantle and ultimately

963
00:50:38,700 --> 00:50:40,366
defeat al Qaeda.

964
00:50:40,367 --> 00:50:42,734
It was because of al Qaeda,
because of the assaults on

965
00:50:42,734 --> 00:50:46,433
the United States on 9/11,
that we sent U.S. forces to

966
00:50:46,433 --> 00:50:48,800
Afghanistan more than 10
years ago to begin with.

967
00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:51,567
And it is thanks to President
Obama that we refocused our

968
00:50:51,567 --> 00:50:54,734
strategy on the reason why
we were there to begin with.

969
00:50:54,734 --> 00:50:57,000
And it is because of that, that
we are in the process of drawing

970
00:50:57,000 --> 00:51:01,033
down forces in Afghanistan,
in a process of transferring

971
00:51:01,033 --> 00:51:04,667
responsibility for security
to Afghan security forces,

972
00:51:04,667 --> 00:51:11,366
and in the process of supporting
an Afghan-led process of

973
00:51:11,367 --> 00:51:12,767
reconciliation which
has the hope of,

974
00:51:12,767 --> 00:51:14,734
or creates the hope of a
political resolution in

975
00:51:14,734 --> 00:51:17,834
Afghanistan, which is absolutely
required for the long-term

976
00:51:17,834 --> 00:51:19,299
stability of that country.

977
00:51:19,300 --> 00:51:22,100
The Press:
And also, a less substantive
question -- how did it come

978
00:51:22,100 --> 00:51:24,567
about that the President was
in the car when he had the

979
00:51:24,567 --> 00:51:27,000
conversation with Karzai?

980
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:29,567
Is that just when the
call was returned?

981
00:51:29,567 --> 00:51:30,500
Mr. Carney:
I'll have to check
on that, but that,

982
00:51:30,500 --> 00:51:31,934
I think, often is the case.

983
00:51:31,934 --> 00:51:33,567
Again, I don't know
the specifics of this,

984
00:51:33,567 --> 00:51:38,033
but it often can be the case
that in setting up a call with a

985
00:51:38,033 --> 00:51:40,366
foreign leader, especially when
there's a great time difference,

986
00:51:40,367 --> 00:51:44,700
that when it goes through you
want to make sure you get the

987
00:51:44,700 --> 00:51:47,033
call and you have the call,
if it works for both leaders.

988
00:51:47,033 --> 00:51:49,900
That's why he sometimes has
those conversations on Air

989
00:51:49,900 --> 00:51:53,834
Force One, and sometimes
when he's in the car.

990
00:51:53,834 --> 00:51:56,600
Is Greg Warmoth here?

991
00:51:56,600 --> 00:51:59,366
No? Okay. Last one, Victoria.

992
00:51:59,367 --> 00:52:01,400
The Press:
Yes, actually, I think --

993
00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:02,700
Mr. Carney:
Oh, sorry, Jared. Then you.

994
00:52:02,700 --> 00:52:03,667
Yes, go ahead.

995
00:52:03,667 --> 00:52:06,000
Victoria, then Jared,
then I'm out of here.

996
00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:09,600
The Press:
The killings in Afghanistan
happened a few days after a

997
00:52:09,600 --> 00:52:12,933
coalition helicopter
killed several civilians.

998
00:52:12,934 --> 00:52:18,300
And Karzai is holding out on
the partnership agreement for

999
00:52:18,300 --> 00:52:20,433
the end of night raids.

1000
00:52:20,433 --> 00:52:24,867
Particularly in light of this
recent killing and Karzai saying

1001
00:52:24,867 --> 00:52:28,667
that this is unforgivable
and possible intransigence in

1002
00:52:28,667 --> 00:52:32,200
negotiations, are you willing
to move on night raids?

1003
00:52:32,200 --> 00:52:35,433
Mr. Carney:
I would refer that question
to the Defense Department,

1004
00:52:35,433 --> 00:52:38,934
to ISAF, perhaps to
the State Department.

1005
00:52:38,934 --> 00:52:45,233
We're focused on implementing
our strategy and doing so in a

1006
00:52:45,233 --> 00:52:51,600
way that ensures the success of
that strategy and the safety and

1007
00:52:51,600 --> 00:52:54,933
security of American personnel
both in Afghanistan and around

1008
00:52:54,934 --> 00:52:56,400
the world.

1009
00:52:56,400 --> 00:52:58,367
The specifics of the
negotiations with the

1010
00:52:58,367 --> 00:53:00,934
Afghans I'll leave to
the Defense Department

1011
00:53:00,934 --> 00:53:02,400
and the State Department.

1012
00:53:02,400 --> 00:53:03,433
Jared, I promised you. Yes.

1013
00:53:03,433 --> 00:53:05,734
The Press:
Jay, one on Afghanistan.

1014
00:53:05,734 --> 00:53:10,667
You gave the answer just now to
George the mantra of "disrupt,

1015
00:53:10,667 --> 00:53:14,033
dismantle, defeat" -- where
in the priorities list is

1016
00:53:14,033 --> 00:53:17,266
"do no harm"?

1017
00:53:17,266 --> 00:53:22,500
Mr. Carney:
We are in Afghanistan for a
reason, and I have I think made

1018
00:53:22,500 --> 00:53:25,567
clear what that reason is.

1019
00:53:25,567 --> 00:53:27,834
If you're suggesting,
as I think you might be,

1020
00:53:27,834 --> 00:53:32,734
that the actions that happened
yesterday were harmful,

1021
00:53:32,734 --> 00:53:34,133
certainly they were.

1022
00:53:34,133 --> 00:53:37,100
That's why we have made clear
that that's a terrible and

1023
00:53:37,100 --> 00:53:42,232
tragic incident, which will be
fully investigated and there

1024
00:53:42,233 --> 00:53:44,500
will be accountability for it.

1025
00:53:44,500 --> 00:53:47,567
But that is not -- as the
President made clear in his

1026
00:53:47,567 --> 00:53:49,834
statement, it does not reflect
-- the actions that seem to have

1027
00:53:49,834 --> 00:53:53,332
taken place yesterday do
not reflect the mission;

1028
00:53:53,333 --> 00:53:56,767
they do not reflect the values
or the professionalism of the

1029
00:53:56,767 --> 00:54:01,033
American military men and
women who are in Afghanistan,

1030
00:54:01,033 --> 00:54:05,700
and they are tragic
and unfortunate.

1031
00:54:05,700 --> 00:54:07,433
The Press:
And I guess on --
one on basketball,

1032
00:54:07,433 --> 00:54:08,433
a little bit lighter.

1033
00:54:08,433 --> 00:54:10,467
I know that the President is
going with the Prime Minister

1034
00:54:10,467 --> 00:54:11,533
to this game.

1035
00:54:11,533 --> 00:54:14,834
It's not the best game
in the NCAA brackets.

1036
00:54:14,834 --> 00:54:16,000
(laughter)

1037
00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:17,133
Wouldn't he rather --

1038
00:54:17,133 --> 00:54:19,966
Mr. Carney:
Are you saying that Sirius
might pay for a trip if we

1039
00:54:19,967 --> 00:54:21,734
go to the Final
Four or something?

1040
00:54:21,734 --> 00:54:23,500
The Press:
I'm just saying there
are a lot of -- Jay,

1041
00:54:23,500 --> 00:54:25,400
if you want to talk about
cross-promotional Sirius XM

1042
00:54:25,400 --> 00:54:26,533
opportunities, I'd be happy to --

1043
00:54:26,533 --> 00:54:28,667
(laughter)

1044
00:54:28,667 --> 00:54:29,667
Mr. Carney:
Okay.

1045
00:54:29,667 --> 00:54:30,700
The Press:
I don't know why the
President isn't taking

1046
00:54:30,700 --> 00:54:32,332
our Blackberry app
with him golfing.

1047
00:54:32,333 --> 00:54:34,066
(laughter)

1048
00:54:34,066 --> 00:54:37,866
No, but seriously, why isn't he
instead catching a little bit

1049
00:54:37,867 --> 00:54:39,633
of, like, Bulls-Heat
Wednesday night,

1050
00:54:39,633 --> 00:54:41,500
skipping out a little
bit early on the dinner.

1051
00:54:41,500 --> 00:54:43,700
That would be much more fun
for everybody, wouldn't it?

1052
00:54:43,700 --> 00:54:45,033
(laughter)

1053
00:54:45,033 --> 00:54:46,366
Mr. Carney:
Well, we'll look at that option.

1054
00:54:46,367 --> 00:54:47,667
But the --

1055
00:54:47,667 --> 00:54:50,200
The Press:
All options are on the table.

1056
00:54:50,200 --> 00:54:55,133
Mr. Carney:
Look, this is -- Prime
Minister Cameron is here

1057
00:54:55,133 --> 00:54:56,734
tomorrow and Wednesday.

1058
00:54:56,734 --> 00:54:59,633
This is the opportunity
that presented itself.

1059
00:54:59,633 --> 00:55:04,466
March Madness is a wonderful
tradition in American sports

1060
00:55:04,467 --> 00:55:07,400
and American culture, and the
President very much looks

1061
00:55:07,400 --> 00:55:11,333
forward to having the Prime
Minister join him for this game.

1062
00:55:11,333 --> 00:55:13,066
The Press:
So you're saying the President
would rather watch this game

1063
00:55:13,066 --> 00:55:14,133
than Bulls-Heat?

1064
00:55:14,133 --> 00:55:15,332
Mr. Carney:
I didn't say that, no.

1065
00:55:15,333 --> 00:55:15,967
The Press:
Okay.

1066
00:55:15,967 --> 00:55:17,066
The Press:
Do you have anything on
Wednesday's schedule about

1067
00:55:17,066 --> 00:55:17,933
what they're going to do?

1068
00:55:17,934 --> 00:55:18,800
Is there a news conference?

1069
00:55:18,800 --> 00:55:19,433
Is there --

1070
00:55:19,433 --> 00:55:20,700
Mr. Carney:
We'll have to provide
details for you.

1071
00:55:20,700 --> 00:55:24,834
I'm sure there will be the
traditional interaction with

1072
00:55:24,834 --> 00:55:26,399
the press with
the Prime Minister.

1073
00:55:26,400 --> 00:55:30,300
There's a state dinner, of
course, and bilateral meetings.

1074
00:55:30,300 --> 00:55:30,967
Thanks.