English subtitles for clip: File:4-19-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Nice to see you all.

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I do not have any statements
at the top, so we can go

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straight to your questions.

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Josh, would you
like to start?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thanks, Josh.

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Ahead of this trip to Saudi
Arabia, I wanted to start

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with this 9/11 legislation
that's brought so

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much attention.

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You described yesterday the
White House's opposition, or

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at least strong concerns
about this and the context

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of this, the whole notion of
sovereign immunity being

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at stake.

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But the backers of this bill
say that that is really

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narrowly tailored to
situations where there's a

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terrorist attack that kills
an American on American soil.

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So isn't it a strawman to
say that by supporting this

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legislation you're risking
the whole system of immunity

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for governments?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh,
what you just described is a

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scenario where Congress
would open up a loophole

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that would allow individual
Americans, no matter how

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justified they are in having
sustained harm, being given

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an opportunity to
sue another country.

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And it certainly is
plausible, Josh, that other

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countries, when they're
implementing these laws,

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would not tailor
them so specifically.

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And that does open up the
United States to a unique

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degree of risk.

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And putting our country,
our taxpayers, our

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servicemembers and our
diplomats in legal jeopardy

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in that way is contrary
to our interests.

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It's unwise, particularly
when there is an alternative

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mechanism for us to resolve
these kinds of issues with

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other countries.

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That's the essence
of diplomacy.

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And I spent a little time
talking yesterday about the

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U.S. relationship with
Saudi Arabia.

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It is a relationship that is
characterized by extensive

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counterterrorism
cooperation.

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That cooperation enhances
our national security and

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makes the American
people safer.

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The Saudi government happens
to think that it enhances

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the national security of
their country as well and

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makes the Saudi
people safer as well.

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That's why we're
able to cooperate.

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It does not mean that there
are not differences between

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our two countries.

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There are substantial
differences between our

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two countries.

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And the President does
not hesitate to raise his

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concerns about those
differences as well.

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I'm confident he'll do
that in the context of the

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meetings that he's preparing
for later this week.

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I think that is the point.

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That is the essence of our
concern and that is the

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essence of our proposal
for how these kinds of

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situations can be
resolved moving forward.

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I was gratified to have
someone tell me shortly

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before I walked out here
that Speaker Ryan indicated

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that he at least had some
more concerns with the way

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that this bill is structured
because of the consequences

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it could have for the U.S.

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relationship not just with
Saudi Arabia but with

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countries around the world.

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The Press: But the
consequence that you're

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concerned about as you
describe is that other

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countries could pass
legislation that's even

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broader than this bill in
allowing these kinds of suits.

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Couldn't another country do
that anyway regardless of

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what we pass here in the
U.S.? How does the U.S.

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passing this narrowly
tailored law open the

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floodgates to that kind of
thing happening overseas?

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Mr. Earnest: Because, Josh,
people follow the United

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States because of the
example that we set.

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And that example that we
set applies in a variety

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of contexts.

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It certainly applies when
it relates to our values.

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People follow our example
when it comes to the

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economic decisions that we
make because we have such a

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strong economy that has
yielded great benefits for

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our people.

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Other countries also follow
our example when it comes to

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setting up legal structures.

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So, again, I think this is
the point -- that taking a

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step like this would
significantly enhance the

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risk to the United States
not in the context of our

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relationship with Saudi
Arabia necessarily, but the

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concern that we have is
much broader than that.

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Our concern is with our
ability to do business in

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countries around the world.

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And sometimes it's not
just related to economic

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business, but actually to
the business of our national

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security, to the business of
the functioning of the state

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-- whether that relates
to national security

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operations, or in some
cases, even

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humanitarian operations.

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The Press: You said that we
don't need to create this

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mechanism because we already
have a mechanism to deal

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with this, mainly diplomacy.

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There's a group of 9/11
widows and widowers who

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support this legislation.

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They're very concerned.

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They've written to the White
House asking to meet with

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the President.

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Do you think that those
families of victims who have

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been waiting for a
resolution to this for more

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than 15 years should feel
that that diplomatic track

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that you described has
served them well, has

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allowed them to pursue these
claims the way that

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they should?

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And will the President agree
to that request to meet

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with them?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have any presidential

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meetings to announce
at this point.

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If a meeting like that
occurs, we'll let you know.

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Let me just say, as I did
yesterday, that there is no

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minimizing the profound pain
that those Americans who

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lost loved ones on
9/11 have endured.

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And that's why this
administration has been so

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committed to fighting for
them, both when it comes to

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compensation for their loss,
but also when it comes to

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fighting for health care
benefits for those who risk

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their lives to try to rescue
people who were victims of

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the 9/11 attacks or were
engaged in the years-long

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effort to rebuild in the
aftermath of those attacks.

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The Obama administration has
been a leader in both of

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those efforts to advocate
for those who lost so much

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on 9/11 and those who have
been responsible for either

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rescuing people on 9/11
or leading the

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rebuilding process.

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I think what is also true,
Josh -- and this is the

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conclusion of the 9/11
Commission, the outside blue

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ribbon panel that was tasked
with taking an unvarnished

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look at exactly what
happened on 9/11 -- their

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report indicates -- this
is a report that was made

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public years ago -- their
report indicates that

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there's no evidence that
the Saudi government has an

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institution or that senior
Saudi government officials

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knowingly supported
the 9/11 plotters.

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That's just a fact.

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But, presumably -- and I
think we've heard a lot from

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the 9/11 families about what
their significant policy

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concerns are -- certainly at
the top of their list is our

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national security and
protecting the American

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homeland and preventing the
great tragedy that they have

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endured from afflicting
other families.

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And this President has
worked aggressively to

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enhance our national
security, to make our

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homeland safer.

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And part of that has
been through ramped-up

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cooperation with the
Saudi government.

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That's the essence of
diplomacy in terms of

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looking for ways to work
with other countries to find

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common ground to advance
our shared interests.

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And when it comes to the
national security of the

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United States and the
safety of our homeland, the

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President has been able
to work effectively with

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countries around the globe,
including the Kingdom of

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Saudi Arabia, in
pursuit of that goal.

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The Press: And the Vice
President, in his speech to

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J Street last night, had
some pretty harsh rebuke of

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the Israeli government, and
he said sometimes we're

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outrageously frustrated by
the Israeli government's

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policies leading Israel
in the wrong direction.

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Does the President agree
with those comments that the

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Vice President made?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the way that I would

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describe the situation is
consistent with what the

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Vice President said, which
is that the nation of Israel

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is the strongest ally that
the United States has in the

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Middle East and we stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with

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them when it comes to the
national security interests

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of our two countries.

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The United States provides
tremendous assistance to the

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nation of Israel to
ensure their security.

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And our commitment to that
level of cooperation and

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that level of assistance has
not wavered at all, despite

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what have been some obvious
policy differences between

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our two governments.

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That has been the
President's approach to this

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critically important
relationship.

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And I would just note that
that is a longstanding

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tradition in American
politics -- that Democratic

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and Republican Presidents
alike have worked to ensure

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that the relationship
between our two countries

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does not get mired in
partisan politics.

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It's not a relationship that
is somehow dependent on the

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political affiliation or
political ideology of the

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leaders in either country,
that the importance of our

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alliance transcends
those narrower concerns.

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And President Obama hasn't
just subscribed to that

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theory, he has put
it into practice.

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And I think this is
something that even Prime

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Minister Netanyahu --
again, despite some of our

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differences -- has, himself,
acknowledged when he said

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that security cooperation
between the United States

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and Israel under President
Obama's leadership

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is unprecedented.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Josh, what does
the White House believe are

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the prospects of restarting
diplomatic talks over the

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Syria crisis?

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And with those talks now
having broken down, what are

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other options?

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Did the United States put
all of its eggs in the

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diplomacy basket,
as it were?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff,
obviously our approach to

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countering ISIL has included
a multifaceted strategy that

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has included the not
insignificant use of

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military force.

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But we have acknowledged all
along that if our efforts

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were focused solely on
military action that we

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would not be effectively
pursuing our interests or

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achieving our
goals anytime soon.

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What continues to be true is
that the terrible situation

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that we see right now inside
of Syria is a result of the

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failed leadership of
President Bashar al-Assad.

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And that's why this
administration has asserted

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for years that President
Assad must go.

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And the kind of political
transition that we'd like to

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see inside of Syria is long
overdue, and we're going to

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continue to push both sides
to engage constructively in

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a U.N.-led process to
bring about that

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political transition.

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In fact, President Obama had
a protracted conversation

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with President Putin
yesterday about this

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precise topic.

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There's an opportunity for
the Russians to use the

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influence that they have
with the Assad regime to

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compel them to live up to
the commitments that they've

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made in the context of the
Cessation of Hostilities and

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continue to constructively
participate in the U.N.-led

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political talks.

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So this is something that
the President is very

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focused on.

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The U.N. would point

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out it has not
described the situation

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as breaking down.

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They have acknowledged
that the talks have

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been postponed.

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But there still is a
framework in place, and I

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believe that there are still
technical discussions that

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are taking place in
Geneva even as we speak.

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So there still is a
path forward here.

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And it's understandable that
there is a frustration, to

248
00:11:54,246 --> 00:11:57,986
put it mildly, on the part
of the opposition about the

249
00:11:57,983 --> 00:12:03,323
ongoing talks when we see
repeated violations of the

250
00:12:03,322 --> 00:12:06,262
Cessation of Hostilities by
the regime and

251
00:12:06,258 --> 00:12:07,828
supporting forces.

252
00:12:07,827 --> 00:12:10,227
We also see a continued
tendency on the part of the

253
00:12:10,229 --> 00:12:15,839
regime to deprive some
Syrians of badly needed

254
00:12:15,835 --> 00:12:17,935
humanitarian assistance.

255
00:12:17,937 --> 00:12:20,577
Part of the goal of the
Cessation of Hostilities was

256
00:12:20,573 --> 00:12:22,573
to create space for
humanitarian aid

257
00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:27,215
organizations to provide
food, water and medicine to

258
00:12:27,213 --> 00:12:30,213
communities inside of Syria
that have been deprived of

259
00:12:30,216 --> 00:12:34,456
those basic supplies
for a long time.

260
00:12:34,453 --> 00:12:38,153
And we've seen the regime in
too many instances either

261
00:12:38,157 --> 00:12:46,337
block those shipments or, in
some cases, even prevent all

262
00:12:46,332 --> 00:12:49,072
of the material, all of the
needed supplies from

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00:12:49,068 --> 00:12:50,868
getting through.

264
00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:56,580
So certainly the position
of the opposition groups is

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00:12:56,575 --> 00:13:01,345
understandable, given the
refusal of the Assad regime

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00:13:01,347 --> 00:13:04,587
to steadfastly live up to
the commitments that they

267
00:13:04,583 --> 00:13:06,583
made in the context of
Cessation of Hostilities.

268
00:13:06,585 --> 00:13:10,525
And that's why we're going
to continue to make the case

269
00:13:10,523 --> 00:13:12,523
to the opposition that they
should participate in the

270
00:13:12,525 --> 00:13:16,165
talks, that that is the path
that will resolve the core

271
00:13:16,162 --> 00:13:17,162
of this issue.

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00:13:17,163 --> 00:13:19,863
We're also going to continue
to make the case to the

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00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:21,865
Russians that they should
use the influence they have

274
00:13:21,867 --> 00:13:24,637
with the Assad regime to
compel them to live up to

275
00:13:24,637 --> 00:13:26,637
the commitments that they
made in the context of the

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00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:29,179
cessation of hostilities and
get back to the negotiating

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00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:31,515
table in a constructive way.

278
00:13:31,510 --> 00:13:33,850
The Press: I think the
opposition would dispute the

279
00:13:33,846 --> 00:13:35,446
characterization the U.N.

280
00:13:35,447 --> 00:13:38,947
apparently is making that
there is still a path

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00:13:38,951 --> 00:13:40,051
forward through diplomacy.

282
00:13:40,052 --> 00:13:42,992
If you are unsuccessful in
encouraging them to get back

283
00:13:42,988 --> 00:13:47,088
to the table, what
is the other option?

284
00:13:47,092 --> 00:13:50,062
Mr. Earnest: Well, right
now, this is the option that

285
00:13:50,062 --> 00:13:52,762
we are pursuing because this
is the option that addresses

286
00:13:52,765 --> 00:13:54,965
the core of the problem.

287
00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:56,367
It is --

288
00:13:56,368 --> 00:13:57,038
The Press: But if the
talks don't continue?

289
00:13:57,036 --> 00:13:58,776
If they don't come back?

290
00:13:58,771 --> 00:13:59,801
Mr. Earnest: This is why
we're going to continue to

291
00:13:59,805 --> 00:14:01,945
make the case
that they should.

292
00:14:01,941 --> 00:14:04,881
And there are ongoing
technical discussions that

293
00:14:04,877 --> 00:14:07,917
are underway even as we
speak in Geneva, led by the

294
00:14:07,913 --> 00:14:09,613
U.N., by many
of the parties.

295
00:14:09,615 --> 00:14:12,415
But there's more work
that needs to be done.

296
00:14:12,418 --> 00:14:16,158
I'm not papering over the
fact that there needs to be

297
00:14:16,155 --> 00:14:20,695
a recommitment to this
process, but it certainly is

298
00:14:20,693 --> 00:14:22,833
understandable that the
opposition would like to see

299
00:14:22,828 --> 00:14:24,828
a recommitment on the part
of the Assad regime to the

300
00:14:24,830 --> 00:14:30,200
cessation of hostilities to
pave the way for successful

301
00:14:30,202 --> 00:14:31,502
negotiations to continue.

302
00:14:31,503 --> 00:14:33,073
The Press: And where --
aside from encouraging the

303
00:14:33,072 --> 00:14:37,612
rebels, what is the U.S.

304
00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:40,180
role at this point
going forward?

305
00:14:40,179 --> 00:14:44,579
Mr. Earnest: Our role will
continue to be to encourage

306
00:14:44,583 --> 00:14:46,583
all parties to live
up to the cessation

307
00:14:46,585 --> 00:14:47,585
of hostilities.

308
00:14:47,586 --> 00:14:51,856
Unfortunately, we have seen
just in recent days that

309
00:14:51,857 --> 00:14:58,367
that situation has
frayed more rapidly.

310
00:14:58,364 --> 00:15:00,634
And that's a source
of ongoing concern,

311
00:15:00,633 --> 00:15:02,633
particularly because it
interferes with our ability

312
00:15:02,635 --> 00:15:05,805
to make progress in
the political talks.

313
00:15:05,804 --> 00:15:08,104
We'll continue to engage the
Russians, we'll continue to

314
00:15:08,107 --> 00:15:10,147
engage all parties to use
whatever influence they

315
00:15:10,142 --> 00:15:12,642
have, either with the regime
or the opposition, to

316
00:15:12,645 --> 00:15:16,015
encourage both sides to come
together and to participate

317
00:15:16,015 --> 00:15:19,585
in these U.N.-led
conversations.

318
00:15:19,585 --> 00:15:21,585
But there are other things
that we can do, too.

319
00:15:21,587 --> 00:15:23,587
We can continue to work with
the international community

320
00:15:23,589 --> 00:15:29,099
to apply even more
pressure to ISIL.

321
00:15:29,094 --> 00:15:31,864
And Secretary Carter talked
about some ideas the

322
00:15:31,864 --> 00:15:33,964
President had recently
approved to step up that

323
00:15:33,966 --> 00:15:40,076
pressure inside of Iraq and
certainly wouldn't rule out

324
00:15:40,072 --> 00:15:43,872
additional steps to ramp up
the pressure against ISIL

325
00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:44,876
inside of Syria.

326
00:15:44,877 --> 00:15:46,877
As I mentioned, the
President is always looking

327
00:15:46,879 --> 00:15:53,719
for suggestions from his
national security team to

328
00:15:53,719 --> 00:15:56,589
increase the pressure on
ISIL and the President is

329
00:15:56,588 --> 00:15:57,728
always looking
for those ideas.

330
00:15:57,723 --> 00:16:01,823
And the President convened a
meeting at the CIA just last

331
00:16:01,827 --> 00:16:04,297
week to discuss different
elements of our proposal,

332
00:16:04,296 --> 00:16:06,896
and that is something that
is happening on an

333
00:16:06,899 --> 00:16:07,599
ongoing basis.

334
00:16:07,599 --> 00:16:08,939
Jim.

335
00:16:08,934 --> 00:16:09,834
Nice to see you today.

336
00:16:09,835 --> 00:16:10,565
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

337
00:16:10,569 --> 00:16:11,499
Good to be here.

338
00:16:11,503 --> 00:16:13,403
Couple questions on the
immigration hearing

339
00:16:13,405 --> 00:16:15,045
yesterday before
the Supreme Court.

340
00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,440
It seems as though both the
justices and even the state

341
00:16:18,444 --> 00:16:23,684
of Texas conceded that, to
your point of view, the

342
00:16:23,682 --> 00:16:26,022
White House point of view,
that there's not enough

343
00:16:26,018 --> 00:16:28,718
money for the White House
to deport all 11 million

344
00:16:28,721 --> 00:16:32,561
immigrants who are here,
undocumented immigrants.

345
00:16:32,558 --> 00:16:38,768
But where it seemed to break
down was that since they're

346
00:16:38,764 --> 00:16:42,634
already low priority, the
ones among the 4 million

347
00:16:42,634 --> 00:16:45,474
that would be covered by
the President's executive

348
00:16:45,471 --> 00:16:47,971
actions -- since they're
already low priority for

349
00:16:47,973 --> 00:16:52,343
deportation, why do they
need a special legal status,

350
00:16:52,344 --> 00:16:54,144
was -- seemed to be the
question both from the bench

351
00:16:54,146 --> 00:16:55,816
and from Texans.

352
00:16:55,814 --> 00:16:57,954
Why are you
pushing for that?

353
00:16:57,950 --> 00:17:00,320
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the argument that we have

354
00:17:00,319 --> 00:17:02,319
made is actually one that
many of our political

355
00:17:02,321 --> 00:17:06,721
opponents should
actually be warm to.

356
00:17:06,725 --> 00:17:08,725
The argument that we have
made is essentially that

357
00:17:08,727 --> 00:17:12,167
these individuals who are
individuals that already

358
00:17:12,164 --> 00:17:14,564
have deep ties to this
country -- in most cases,

359
00:17:14,566 --> 00:17:16,566
we're talking about
individuals that are the

360
00:17:16,568 --> 00:17:21,978
parents of American citizens
or are legal permanent

361
00:17:21,974 --> 00:17:24,314
residents to the United
States, so these are people

362
00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:26,309
with deep ties and with deep
family connections to the

363
00:17:26,311 --> 00:17:27,311
United States.

364
00:17:27,312 --> 00:17:29,312
That's why they're
low priority.

365
00:17:29,314 --> 00:17:31,284
They're also individuals
that have been here for

366
00:17:31,283 --> 00:17:32,583
several years already.

367
00:17:32,584 --> 00:17:35,884
But the case that the Obama
administration has made is

368
00:17:35,888 --> 00:17:37,888
we should bring them
out of the shadows.

369
00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:41,230
The benefits of doing that
are we can submit them to a

370
00:17:41,226 --> 00:17:43,226
background check, make sure
that they're not

371
00:17:43,228 --> 00:17:44,228
dangerous criminals.

372
00:17:44,229 --> 00:17:46,529
If they are, then we
can expedite them for

373
00:17:46,532 --> 00:17:48,002
deportation.

374
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,540
We also can put them in a
situation in which they're

375
00:17:51,537 --> 00:17:52,767
paying taxes.

376
00:17:52,771 --> 00:17:54,771
That also is good
for our economy.

377
00:17:54,773 --> 00:17:57,113
It's good for
reducing the deficit.

378
00:17:57,109 --> 00:17:59,309
When we talk about bringing
much-needed accountability

379
00:17:59,311 --> 00:18:01,911
to our broken immigration
system, right now you have

380
00:18:01,914 --> 00:18:07,454
individuals who are
low-priority candidates

381
00:18:07,453 --> 00:18:08,453
for deportation.

382
00:18:08,454 --> 00:18:11,794
In many cases, they haven't
been subject to a

383
00:18:11,790 --> 00:18:13,290
background check.

384
00:18:13,292 --> 00:18:15,932
In many cases, they're not
paying taxes right now.

385
00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:19,198
So let's add some
accountability to the system.

386
00:18:19,198 --> 00:18:21,198
Let's bring them
out of the shadows.

387
00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:22,200
Let's make them pay taxes.

388
00:18:22,201 --> 00:18:25,501
Let's make them subject --
let's subject them to a

389
00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:26,504
background check.

390
00:18:26,505 --> 00:18:28,505
That will enhance the
security of our country.

391
00:18:28,507 --> 00:18:29,577
It will improve our economy.

392
00:18:29,575 --> 00:18:31,645
It will improve our
fiscal situation.

393
00:18:31,643 --> 00:18:34,783
It also will give them the
peace of mind to come out of

394
00:18:34,780 --> 00:18:35,880
the shadows.

395
00:18:35,881 --> 00:18:37,881
That also will send a
clear signal to our law

396
00:18:37,883 --> 00:18:41,283
enforcement that we need to
be focusing our efforts not

397
00:18:41,286 --> 00:18:45,326
just -- not on
families, but on felons.

398
00:18:45,324 --> 00:18:48,394
And that is the rationale
that we have put together,

399
00:18:48,393 --> 00:18:53,703
and that's why the proposal
that we have put forward

400
00:18:53,699 --> 00:18:55,499
makes so much policy sense.

401
00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:57,971
It's good for our security;
it's good for our economy;

402
00:18:57,970 --> 00:19:02,370
and it's good for having a
system that's in mind with

403
00:19:02,374 --> 00:19:05,014
our values, both in terms of
following the law, but also

404
00:19:05,010 --> 00:19:07,450
acknowledging that our
heritage in this country is

405
00:19:07,446 --> 00:19:08,446
as a nation of immigrants.

406
00:19:08,447 --> 00:19:11,817
All of this policy is
structured in that direction.

407
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:14,687
It's why, frankly, the
critics of this law have a

408
00:19:14,686 --> 00:19:15,926
really tough case to make.

409
00:19:15,921 --> 00:19:18,291
And it's why even people
like Senator Rubio have

410
00:19:18,290 --> 00:19:21,160
described the current system
that we have in place that

411
00:19:21,159 --> 00:19:24,029
doesn't require undocumented
immigrants to pay taxes, it

412
00:19:24,029 --> 00:19:27,099
doesn't require them to
submit to a background check.

413
00:19:27,099 --> 00:19:29,269
That's why Senator Rubio
described the current system

414
00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:32,308
as the closest thing
that we have to amnesty.

415
00:19:32,304 --> 00:19:34,474
And that's the argument that
we've made, and that's why

416
00:19:34,473 --> 00:19:37,113
as a policy matter we
believe this argument is

417
00:19:37,109 --> 00:19:38,339
quite potent.

418
00:19:38,343 --> 00:19:40,613
I understand that a
different kind of argument

419
00:19:40,612 --> 00:19:41,612
is being made
before the Court.

420
00:19:41,613 --> 00:19:43,583
It's one that's rooted
in the President's legal

421
00:19:43,582 --> 00:19:46,582
authority to
order this action.

422
00:19:46,585 --> 00:19:48,755
We feel we can have that
argument on quite strong

423
00:19:48,754 --> 00:19:49,754
grounds as well.

424
00:19:49,755 --> 00:19:53,755
The Press: Is what the
President wants to do,

425
00:19:53,759 --> 00:19:56,599
though, an unfair burden
on states like Texas and,

426
00:19:56,595 --> 00:19:59,835
apparently, the other 25 who
are complaining, in that --

427
00:19:59,831 --> 00:20:02,631
in the case of Texas, what
they're saying is that

428
00:20:02,634 --> 00:20:06,134
they'll have 400,000 people
that they're going to have

429
00:20:06,138 --> 00:20:09,538
to give driver's licenses
to, and that that's going to

430
00:20:09,541 --> 00:20:11,081
cost them more money,
they're going to have to

431
00:20:11,076 --> 00:20:12,006
bring in more people.

432
00:20:12,010 --> 00:20:14,010
Isn't that something that
the federal government

433
00:20:14,012 --> 00:20:15,282
should be considering?

434
00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,420
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
say -- I'll say two things

435
00:20:17,416 --> 00:20:18,346
about that.

436
00:20:18,350 --> 00:20:22,820
The first is the chief law
enforcement officials in the

437
00:20:22,821 --> 00:20:24,921
state of Texas don't agree
with the Attorney General

438
00:20:24,923 --> 00:20:25,993
of Texas.

439
00:20:25,991 --> 00:20:27,191
They happen to take the same
position that the Obama

440
00:20:27,192 --> 00:20:29,992
administration does.

441
00:20:29,995 --> 00:20:31,365
These are law enforcement
officials in the largest

442
00:20:31,363 --> 00:20:36,003
counties in the state --
Dallas County, Austin,

443
00:20:36,001 --> 00:20:40,401
Texas, which is in Travis
County, Dallas County -- all

444
00:20:40,405 --> 00:20:44,105
agree that this actually --
that the policies that the

445
00:20:44,109 --> 00:20:46,109
President has put forward
would make their

446
00:20:46,111 --> 00:20:47,111
communities safer.

447
00:20:47,112 --> 00:20:49,112
They are strongly supportive
of the system that would

448
00:20:49,114 --> 00:20:51,114
bring undocumented
immigrants out of the

449
00:20:51,116 --> 00:20:53,816
shadows and submit them
to a background check.

450
00:20:53,819 --> 00:20:55,819
These law enforcement
officials who are

451
00:20:55,821 --> 00:20:57,821
responsible for the safety
of their communities

452
00:20:57,823 --> 00:20:59,823
understand that would make
their communities safer.

453
00:20:59,825 --> 00:21:00,825
That's a good thing.

454
00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:03,126
The other thing is I also
happen to know about Texas

455
00:21:03,128 --> 00:21:07,698
-- Texas is a state that
relies on income taxes and

456
00:21:07,699 --> 00:21:12,069
on sales taxes for its --
let me take it back, not on

457
00:21:12,070 --> 00:21:15,570
income taxes, but on sales
taxes and on business taxes

458
00:21:15,574 --> 00:21:18,874
for their revenue base.

459
00:21:18,877 --> 00:21:21,717
Their revenue base would
be enhanced if you had

460
00:21:24,016 --> 00:21:27,756
undocumented immigrants as
a part of the system and

461
00:21:27,753 --> 00:21:28,783
paying taxes.

462
00:21:28,787 --> 00:21:30,787
It certainly would be good
for the federal government,

463
00:21:30,789 --> 00:21:33,229
but there would be cascading
benefits for states as well.

464
00:21:33,225 --> 00:21:40,635
And that's the argument that
we have made, particularly

465
00:21:40,632 --> 00:21:42,632
when it comes to these
questions about public

466
00:21:42,634 --> 00:21:46,604
safety -- leading public
safety professionals, law

467
00:21:46,605 --> 00:21:49,845
enforcement officials in the
state of Texas do not agree

468
00:21:49,841 --> 00:21:51,841
with the Texas
Attorney General.

469
00:21:51,843 --> 00:21:53,983
They do agree with the
Secretary of Homeland

470
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:56,119
Security and President
Obama, who believe that

471
00:21:56,114 --> 00:21:58,084
these undocumented
immigrants should be

472
00:21:58,083 --> 00:22:00,083
subjected to a
background check.

473
00:22:00,085 --> 00:22:02,085
The Press: Just one more on
a different subject, and

474
00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:04,727
that is on this trip that
the President is on.

475
00:22:04,723 --> 00:22:06,463
It was announced yesterday
that he would visit not only

476
00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:09,098
the head of state of
Britain, the Queen, which

477
00:22:09,094 --> 00:22:12,634
seems like that's
justifiable, but that the

478
00:22:12,631 --> 00:22:15,531
President and Mrs. Obama
would also have a lunch with

479
00:22:15,534 --> 00:22:18,074
Prince William and his wife.

480
00:22:18,070 --> 00:22:20,010
What's the
justification for that?

481
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:22,075
Is that something American
taxpayers should be paying for?

482
00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:24,944
Is this just a
celebrity get-together?

483
00:22:24,943 --> 00:22:27,913
Mr. Earnest: Look, the
President is traveling to

484
00:22:27,913 --> 00:22:30,653
London and will spend a
couple of days in the United

485
00:22:30,649 --> 00:22:33,489
Kingdom doing some important
work, meeting with one of

486
00:22:36,088 --> 00:22:38,088
our closest allies, a
country with whom we have a

487
00:22:38,090 --> 00:22:40,460
special relationship,
to advance our national

488
00:22:40,459 --> 00:22:41,459
security interests.

489
00:22:41,460 --> 00:22:44,560
And in the President's
extensive conversations with

490
00:22:44,563 --> 00:22:47,663
Prime Minister Cameron,
they'll be focused on a

491
00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:49,836
range of issues related to
the global economy, related

492
00:22:49,835 --> 00:22:52,905
to climate change, and
certainly related to

493
00:22:52,904 --> 00:22:54,904
counterterrorism and
homeland security that are

494
00:22:54,906 --> 00:22:57,276
critical to our
national interests.

495
00:22:57,275 --> 00:23:00,545
President Obama has found
Prime Minister Cameron to be

496
00:23:00,545 --> 00:23:03,615
an effective interlocutor
and an effective partner in

497
00:23:03,615 --> 00:23:06,555
accomplishing goals that
have been prioritized by

498
00:23:06,551 --> 00:23:07,551
both our countries.

499
00:23:07,552 --> 00:23:09,552
So this is an
important trip.

500
00:23:09,554 --> 00:23:11,694
What's also important was
the President also spend

501
00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:15,460
some time meeting with
other leaders in the

502
00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:17,230
United Kingdom.

503
00:23:17,229 --> 00:23:19,369
And the President is looking
forward to the opportunity

504
00:23:19,364 --> 00:23:22,704
that he'll have to have
lunch with the Queen, but

505
00:23:22,701 --> 00:23:25,501
also to have a nice dinner
with the Duke and Duchess

506
00:23:25,504 --> 00:23:27,144
of Cambridge.

507
00:23:27,139 --> 00:23:31,209
It certainly is an important
part of public diplomacy,

508
00:23:31,209 --> 00:23:35,409
but I think it will be one
of the more pleasant aspects

509
00:23:35,413 --> 00:23:36,853
of the trip that the
President is certainly

510
00:23:36,848 --> 00:23:38,148
looking forward to.

511
00:23:38,150 --> 00:23:38,650
The Press: Can I
follow up on that?

512
00:23:38,650 --> 00:23:39,650
Mr. Earnest: I'll
come back to you.

513
00:23:39,651 --> 00:23:40,681
Chip.

514
00:23:40,685 --> 00:23:42,185
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

515
00:23:42,187 --> 00:23:46,057
Yesterday, you talked about
the 28 pages and the fact

516
00:23:46,057 --> 00:23:48,497
that the President has
basically said that it's in

517
00:23:48,493 --> 00:23:50,093
the hands of DNI
Clapper right now.

518
00:23:50,095 --> 00:23:54,535
But after the briefing
yesterday, Charlie Rose

519
00:23:54,533 --> 00:23:56,533
interviewed the President
and he asked him if had read

520
00:23:56,535 --> 00:23:59,305
the 28 pages and he said, "I
have a sense of what's

521
00:23:59,304 --> 00:24:00,574
in there."

522
00:24:00,572 --> 00:24:02,612
I think it's safe to assume
that means he hasn't read

523
00:24:02,607 --> 00:24:03,647
them yet.

524
00:24:03,642 --> 00:24:05,682
And if I said why hasn't
he read them, I'm sure you

525
00:24:05,677 --> 00:24:08,177
would tell me, because it's
in the hands of Clapper.

526
00:24:08,180 --> 00:24:12,120
But will he eventually
read these 28 pages?

527
00:24:12,117 --> 00:24:14,717
And there's a sense coming
out of just in some of the

528
00:24:14,719 --> 00:24:17,519
chatter around Washington
and online, there's a sense

529
00:24:17,522 --> 00:24:20,722
that the White House is
downplaying these 28 pages

530
00:24:20,725 --> 00:24:22,695
-- number one, by the
President saying, "I have a

531
00:24:22,694 --> 00:24:26,464
sense of what's in there" --
and also the President said

532
00:24:26,464 --> 00:24:30,574
to Charlie Rose, "I try not
to personally get engaged in

533
00:24:30,569 --> 00:24:33,009
each and every decision
that's being made

534
00:24:33,004 --> 00:24:34,874
on classification."

535
00:24:34,873 --> 00:24:36,673
Well, this isn't just
each and every decision.

536
00:24:36,675 --> 00:24:39,415
As we discussed yesterday,
this is a pretty important

537
00:24:39,411 --> 00:24:41,851
declassification decision.

538
00:24:41,847 --> 00:24:42,747
Is the White House
downplaying it?

539
00:24:42,747 --> 00:24:44,347
Is he going to read
them eventually?

540
00:24:44,349 --> 00:24:47,289
And will this be his
decision in the end, or will

541
00:24:47,285 --> 00:24:49,225
he simply follow
Clapper's advice?

542
00:24:49,221 --> 00:24:51,561
Mr. Earnest: I think what
the President was referring

543
00:24:51,556 --> 00:24:53,826
to in his conversation with
Charlie Rose is the fact

544
00:24:53,825 --> 00:24:55,925
that he's been briefed about
the contents of those 28

545
00:24:55,927 --> 00:25:00,237
pages, and the President
noted, as I did yesterday,

546
00:25:00,232 --> 00:25:02,232
that there's a
well-established process for

547
00:25:02,234 --> 00:25:04,534
the intelligence community
to do a careful review to

548
00:25:04,536 --> 00:25:09,276
determine which, if any, of
those pages can be released

549
00:25:09,274 --> 00:25:12,874
to the public without
damaging our national security.

550
00:25:12,878 --> 00:25:15,378
There's a well-established
process for considering what

551
00:25:15,380 --> 00:25:18,220
I would acknowledge are
important questions.

552
00:25:18,216 --> 00:25:21,286
I don't think there's been
an attempt by anybody at the

553
00:25:21,286 --> 00:25:23,286
White House to
downplay this effort.

554
00:25:23,288 --> 00:25:25,758
In fact, I think there's
been a concerted attempt by

555
00:25:25,757 --> 00:25:28,957
everybody at the White House
to make sure that this

556
00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:30,900
follows the
standard process.

557
00:25:30,896 --> 00:25:32,896
I think that is what the
American people would expect

558
00:25:32,898 --> 00:25:36,568
when we're talking about
something as significant as

559
00:25:36,568 --> 00:25:41,378
information related to the
terror attacks of 9/11.

560
00:25:41,373 --> 00:25:44,073
So I think the President is
reiterating the position

561
00:25:44,075 --> 00:25:46,775
that I tried to articulate
yesterday, which is that

562
00:25:46,778 --> 00:25:48,778
there's a well-established
process for considering

563
00:25:48,780 --> 00:25:50,780
these questions, and that's
the process that

564
00:25:50,782 --> 00:25:51,782
we're following.

565
00:25:51,783 --> 00:25:53,783
At this point, I think it's
too early to say whether or

566
00:25:53,785 --> 00:25:55,755
not the President would
weigh in on that process.

567
00:25:55,754 --> 00:25:57,954
I think he told Charlie that
he was reluctant to because

568
00:25:57,956 --> 00:25:59,956
there is such a
well-established process for

569
00:25:59,958 --> 00:26:01,158
considering these questions.

570
00:26:01,159 --> 00:26:04,329
Our intelligence community
understands what's necessary

571
00:26:04,329 --> 00:26:07,429
to protect the
American public.

572
00:26:07,432 --> 00:26:12,502
They also understand that
there is a legitimate public

573
00:26:12,504 --> 00:26:14,544
interest in more of this
information being made

574
00:26:14,539 --> 00:26:16,309
public if it can be.

575
00:26:16,308 --> 00:26:18,848
And that's the question that
they're working through

576
00:26:18,843 --> 00:26:21,243
right now as it relates
to these materials.

577
00:26:21,246 --> 00:26:25,786
I'll just reiterate that
there is already extensive

578
00:26:25,784 --> 00:26:30,354
public material that has
been made public by the 9/11

579
00:26:30,355 --> 00:26:32,325
Commission -- that is
a separate body but an

580
00:26:32,324 --> 00:26:36,024
outside, blue ribbon entity
-- that took a close look at

581
00:26:36,027 --> 00:26:39,227
what happened in the run-up
to 9/11, laid out a whole

582
00:26:39,230 --> 00:26:41,600
series of reforms that
should be implemented to

583
00:26:41,599 --> 00:26:44,899
ensure that something like
that never happens again.

584
00:26:44,903 --> 00:26:51,213
And that report was quite
clear about the evidence

585
00:26:51,209 --> 00:26:55,049
that they found and didn't
find about what led to the

586
00:26:55,046 --> 00:26:56,346
terror attacks of 9/11.

587
00:26:56,348 --> 00:27:01,018
And what they concluded I
think merits repeating,

588
00:27:01,019 --> 00:27:04,159
which is that they found
no evidence that the Saudi

589
00:27:04,155 --> 00:27:06,525
government as an institution
or that senior Saudi

590
00:27:06,524 --> 00:27:08,494
government officials
knowingly supported the

591
00:27:08,493 --> 00:27:09,523
9/11 plotters.

592
00:27:09,527 --> 00:27:11,697
That is an important fact.

593
00:27:11,696 --> 00:27:13,496
And there certainly
is public interest in

594
00:27:13,498 --> 00:27:15,298
understanding that fact.

595
00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:19,100
That report has been
available for years now.

596
00:27:19,104 --> 00:27:21,244
The Press: Just one more
follow-up from that interview.

597
00:27:21,239 --> 00:27:23,239
The President at one point
said, "The single most

598
00:27:23,241 --> 00:27:26,781
important question I'm asked
these days from other world

599
00:27:26,778 --> 00:27:29,148
leaders is 'What's going
on with your elections?'

600
00:27:29,147 --> 00:27:32,617
" Have you been present when
the President has explained

601
00:27:32,617 --> 00:27:34,617
what's going on with our
elections to other leaders?

602
00:27:34,619 --> 00:27:36,819
Or do you know from talking
to others -- what is the

603
00:27:36,821 --> 00:27:39,161
President's answer to that
question when he's talking

604
00:27:39,157 --> 00:27:40,187
to foreign leaders?

605
00:27:40,191 --> 00:27:44,661
Mr. Earnest: The kind of
question that the President

606
00:27:44,662 --> 00:27:47,502
gives in those settings is
the same kind of answer that

607
00:27:47,499 --> 00:27:49,669
he's given publicly when
asked that question.

608
00:27:49,667 --> 00:27:52,367
Look, it's not just -- and
I think the President makes

609
00:27:52,370 --> 00:27:54,370
this point in the interview
as well -- the President

610
00:27:54,372 --> 00:27:57,072
doesn't just get this
question from people overseas.

611
00:27:57,075 --> 00:27:59,045
This is the kind of question
that's on the mind of

612
00:27:59,044 --> 00:28:01,314
Americans across the
country right now as well.

613
00:28:01,312 --> 00:28:04,982
And I don't think there are
any easy answers to it.

614
00:28:04,983 --> 00:28:06,983
The reason that the
President raised it in the

615
00:28:06,985 --> 00:28:10,525
context of this interview is
he was asked, given all of

616
00:28:10,522 --> 00:28:12,692
the built-in advantages that
we have as a country --

617
00:28:12,690 --> 00:28:16,690
we've got an economy that's
the envy of the world, we've

618
00:28:16,694 --> 00:28:22,904
got a military that is
stronger than any other

619
00:28:22,901 --> 00:28:29,841
military in the history
of the planet, we have a

620
00:28:29,841 --> 00:28:36,611
society and a culture that
other countries and other

621
00:28:36,614 --> 00:28:39,914
cultures and other
populations find remarkably

622
00:28:39,918 --> 00:28:42,858
attractive -- that gives us
a lot of influence around

623
00:28:42,854 --> 00:28:44,124
the world.

624
00:28:44,122 --> 00:28:45,422
All those are good things.

625
00:28:45,423 --> 00:28:49,193
And the question is, where
is the source of our

626
00:28:49,194 --> 00:28:51,064
potential downfall?

627
00:28:51,062 --> 00:28:54,932
And the argument that the
President has made on a

628
00:28:54,933 --> 00:28:57,233
number of occasions,
publicly and privately, both

629
00:28:57,235 --> 00:29:02,645
at home and overseas, is
that our greatest risk -- or

630
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:08,150
the significant risk here,
given that dynamic, lies

631
00:29:08,146 --> 00:29:10,816
within the dysfunction
of our politics.

632
00:29:10,815 --> 00:29:13,685
We need to continue to
demonstrate an ability to

633
00:29:13,685 --> 00:29:16,455
manage all those advantages
and preserve that edge.

634
00:29:16,454 --> 00:29:17,654
The Press: Does that
apply to both parties?

635
00:29:17,655 --> 00:29:19,095
Mr. Earnest: The President
acknowledged that that was

636
00:29:19,090 --> 00:29:20,590
the case.

637
00:29:20,592 --> 00:29:22,892
I think the best example
of this is -- there is a

638
00:29:22,894 --> 00:29:25,634
tendency, particularly when
the United States has so

639
00:29:25,630 --> 00:29:28,300
many built-in advantages
over other countries, which

640
00:29:28,299 --> 00:29:31,269
is to turn inward and to
suggest that we should try

641
00:29:31,269 --> 00:29:33,239
to keep people out, or that
we should build walls, or

642
00:29:33,238 --> 00:29:36,138
that we should not seek to
engage countries around

643
00:29:36,141 --> 00:29:37,141
the world.

644
00:29:37,142 --> 00:29:39,142
That is exactly the wrong
response -- that if we want

645
00:29:39,144 --> 00:29:41,184
to continue to cultivate all
of the advantages that we

646
00:29:41,179 --> 00:29:43,549
have, we need to look for
opportunities to more deeply

647
00:29:43,548 --> 00:29:44,548
engage around the world.

648
00:29:44,549 --> 00:29:46,549
That will enhance our
national security.

649
00:29:46,551 --> 00:29:51,021
That will make our economy
even more vibrant and filled

650
00:29:51,022 --> 00:29:53,022
with opportunity
than it already is.

651
00:29:55,226 --> 00:29:57,226
There is no doubt that
there's a strain of that

652
00:29:57,228 --> 00:30:02,898
argument that's being
advanced by politicians in

653
00:30:02,901 --> 00:30:04,901
both the Democratic
and Republican Party.

654
00:30:04,903 --> 00:30:07,643
And the President has
advocated a different

655
00:30:07,639 --> 00:30:10,179
approach, and at least
in the context of our

656
00:30:10,175 --> 00:30:13,015
elections, the President
will have numerous

657
00:30:13,011 --> 00:30:15,881
opportunities, I expect,
to make an argument to the

658
00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,250
voters about the path that
he has chosen to pursue,

659
00:30:19,250 --> 00:30:22,920
which is to more deeply
engage the world and

660
00:30:22,921 --> 00:30:25,521
continue to build the
kind of multilateral

661
00:30:25,523 --> 00:30:27,663
relationships that are
critical to the continued

662
00:30:27,659 --> 00:30:30,659
strength of our economy and
that are surely critical to

663
00:30:30,662 --> 00:30:33,032
our ongoing efforts to
advance our interests around

664
00:30:33,031 --> 00:30:35,031
the world, to protect our
national security and to

665
00:30:35,033 --> 00:30:37,533
protect our homeland.

666
00:30:37,535 --> 00:30:39,475
Gregory.

667
00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:40,370
The Press: Thank you.

668
00:30:40,371 --> 00:30:42,371
Lisa Monaco gave a speech
last month in which she

669
00:30:42,373 --> 00:30:45,573
promised more transparency
on civilian casualties for

670
00:30:45,577 --> 00:30:46,807
U.S. airstrikes.

671
00:30:46,811 --> 00:30:48,181
Can you give us an
update on where that is?

672
00:30:48,179 --> 00:30:49,519
She said it would be coming
in upcoming weeks, but that

673
00:30:49,514 --> 00:30:51,084
was six weeks ago.

674
00:30:51,082 --> 00:30:52,112
Mr. Earnest: This is
something that the

675
00:30:52,116 --> 00:30:55,116
administration is
still working on.

676
00:30:55,119 --> 00:30:57,989
And it has been a few weeks
since she's given her

677
00:30:57,989 --> 00:31:00,459
speech, but I don't have an
update for you in terms of

678
00:31:00,458 --> 00:31:02,628
the time frame, when
something like that might

679
00:31:02,627 --> 00:31:03,627
be released.

680
00:31:03,628 --> 00:31:05,628
But we'll certainly
keep you posted.

681
00:31:05,630 --> 00:31:07,630
The Press: Pentagon
officials are telling us

682
00:31:07,632 --> 00:31:09,272
that there have been some
rules -- changes in the

683
00:31:09,267 --> 00:31:10,737
rules of engagement against
the Islamic State that give

684
00:31:10,735 --> 00:31:14,705
the authorization for
airstrikes to commanders

685
00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:17,346
closer to the field, and
that there's now sort of a

686
00:31:17,342 --> 00:31:19,912
sliding scale on how many
civilian casualties are

687
00:31:19,911 --> 00:31:24,881
acceptable -- up to 10,
depending on the value of

688
00:31:24,882 --> 00:31:28,382
the target, the imminent
threat posed by that target,

689
00:31:28,386 --> 00:31:29,386
et cetera.

690
00:31:29,387 --> 00:31:33,057
Did the President authorize
these changes to the rules

691
00:31:33,057 --> 00:31:33,887
of engagement?

692
00:31:33,891 --> 00:31:38,201
And how do you square those
with his attempts to sort of

693
00:31:38,196 --> 00:31:40,166
balance prosecution of the
war against the Islamic

694
00:31:40,164 --> 00:31:43,264
State with upholding the
American values he

695
00:31:43,268 --> 00:31:44,298
talks about?

696
00:31:44,302 --> 00:31:50,072
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have a detailed assessment

697
00:31:50,074 --> 00:31:52,544
of the rules of engagement
to share with you right now.

698
00:31:52,543 --> 00:31:54,643
The Department of Defense
can most effectively talk

699
00:31:54,646 --> 00:31:55,816
about that.

700
00:31:55,813 --> 00:31:58,053
What I can tell you is that
there has been a principle

701
00:31:58,049 --> 00:32:02,119
that our country has long
subscribed to that the

702
00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:08,130
President believes is a
priority, which is that a

703
00:32:11,562 --> 00:32:17,002
blunt assessment of both
moral questions and

704
00:32:17,001 --> 00:32:21,971
strategic questions lead
to the conclusion that the

705
00:32:21,973 --> 00:32:25,613
Department of Defense of the
United States of America

706
00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:28,510
goes to great lengths to
avoid civilian casualties.

707
00:32:30,748 --> 00:32:33,618
Again, I think the moral
questions that are inherent

708
00:32:33,618 --> 00:32:37,218
there are obvious
and important.

709
00:32:37,221 --> 00:32:44,931
But what's also true is that
the United States military

710
00:32:44,929 --> 00:32:48,599
undertaking operations in
the Middle East that result

711
00:32:48,599 --> 00:32:54,909
in the death of innocent
civilians only makes it

712
00:32:54,906 --> 00:32:56,546
harder to accomplish
our goals.

713
00:32:56,541 --> 00:33:00,981
And that's why you've seen
our national security

714
00:33:00,978 --> 00:33:03,878
officials be justifiably
proud of the great lengths

715
00:33:03,881 --> 00:33:06,481
that we've gone to to avoid
those civilian casualties,

716
00:33:06,484 --> 00:33:11,694
certainly to greater lengths
than our adversaries in

717
00:33:11,689 --> 00:33:12,859
this conflict.

718
00:33:12,857 --> 00:33:18,867
And it's why the
administration continues to

719
00:33:18,863 --> 00:33:26,133
look for ways to be more
transparent about those efforts.

720
00:33:26,137 --> 00:33:28,507
There is a regular process,
Gregory, that I know you've

721
00:33:28,506 --> 00:33:32,776
taken note of, where the
Department of Defense makes

722
00:33:32,777 --> 00:33:37,987
regular public declarations
about the results of

723
00:33:37,982 --> 00:33:40,382
specific operations.

724
00:33:40,385 --> 00:33:46,055
And those results include
an accounting of potential

725
00:33:46,057 --> 00:33:48,297
impacts on noncombatants.

726
00:33:48,292 --> 00:33:53,162
And this kind of
accountability and

727
00:33:53,164 --> 00:33:54,864
transparency is something
that the President believes

728
00:33:54,866 --> 00:33:59,506
is consistent with our
values and is important.

729
00:33:59,504 --> 00:34:01,644
It's something the
Department of Defense

730
00:34:01,639 --> 00:34:03,639
continues to do, and
something that the President

731
00:34:03,641 --> 00:34:06,311
is seeking to expand upon.

732
00:34:06,310 --> 00:34:10,420
And it's an important part,
as I was mentioning to Chip,

733
00:34:10,415 --> 00:34:15,425
of why the United States and
our values continue to give

734
00:34:15,420 --> 00:34:18,260
us important credibility
around the world.

735
00:34:18,256 --> 00:34:21,656
And when we undertake
operations or engage in

736
00:34:21,659 --> 00:34:24,159
tactics that undermine our
values, that undermines our

737
00:34:24,162 --> 00:34:25,592
national security.

738
00:34:25,596 --> 00:34:28,166
That's exactly why the
President, for example,

739
00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:32,406
outlawed the use of torture
during his first week in

740
00:34:32,403 --> 00:34:38,373
office, because of the
impact that has on both

741
00:34:40,678 --> 00:34:44,278
moral questions, but also on
broader national security

742
00:34:44,282 --> 00:34:47,122
considerations about living
up to the high values that

743
00:34:47,118 --> 00:34:49,558
we've established
for ourselves.

744
00:34:49,554 --> 00:34:51,124
Suzanne.

745
00:34:51,122 --> 00:34:52,022
The Press: I want to go back
to the Vice President's

746
00:34:52,023 --> 00:34:54,523
comments yesterday in
criticizing Benjamin

747
00:34:54,525 --> 00:34:56,395
Netanyahu, the Prime
Minister there.

748
00:34:56,394 --> 00:34:59,494
He said, "the present course
Israel is on is not one that

749
00:34:59,497 --> 00:35:01,837
is likely to secure its
existence as a Jewish

750
00:35:01,833 --> 00:35:02,803
democratic state.

751
00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:04,170
We have to make
sure that happens."

752
00:35:04,168 --> 00:35:07,108
And then he goes on to say
that it is -- he expresses

753
00:35:07,104 --> 00:35:08,904
overwhelming frustration.

754
00:35:08,906 --> 00:35:10,506
You talked about the
unshakeable

755
00:35:10,508 --> 00:35:11,978
bond between the U.S.

756
00:35:11,976 --> 00:35:13,176
and Israel, but can you talk
about whether or not the

757
00:35:13,177 --> 00:35:16,547
President shares the Vice
President's sentiments, the

758
00:35:16,547 --> 00:35:19,787
feelings of overwhelming
frustration on the Israeli

759
00:35:19,784 --> 00:35:22,324
part of the government that
has not promoted this

760
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,390
peace accord?

761
00:35:24,388 --> 00:35:26,358
Mr. Earnest: Well, Suzanne,
I think what is true is that

762
00:35:26,357 --> 00:35:30,357
this administration,
particularly Secretary Kerry

763
00:35:30,361 --> 00:35:33,201
and Vice President Biden and
President Obama, have all

764
00:35:33,197 --> 00:35:37,907
expended significant time
and energy and resources to

765
00:35:37,902 --> 00:35:40,402
facilitating conversations
between the Israelis and

766
00:35:40,404 --> 00:35:43,404
Palestinians to find
a two-state solution.

767
00:35:43,407 --> 00:35:50,017
That is a policy that
American Presidents in both

768
00:35:50,014 --> 00:35:57,024
parties have pursued, and
none have pursued it more

769
00:35:57,021 --> 00:35:59,191
aggressively than
this administration.

770
00:35:59,190 --> 00:36:01,430
You'll recall a couple of
years ago that -- as my

771
00:36:01,425 --> 00:36:03,725
colleague, Jen Psaki, can
attest, when she worked with

772
00:36:03,728 --> 00:36:07,528
the State Department --
that Secretary Kerry was a

773
00:36:07,532 --> 00:36:10,632
frequent visitor to that
region in trying to bring

774
00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:15,105
all sides, particularly the
Israelis and Palestinians,

775
00:36:15,106 --> 00:36:17,476
to the negotiating table in
a constructive fashion that

776
00:36:17,475 --> 00:36:21,375
could yield a
constructive result.

777
00:36:21,379 --> 00:36:24,549
Unfortunately, that progress
didn't materialize.

778
00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:29,559
And that is a source of
significant frustration.

779
00:36:29,554 --> 00:36:33,224
There certainly is
frustration with both sides

780
00:36:33,224 --> 00:36:35,224
that we have encountered.

781
00:36:35,226 --> 00:36:39,796
But we've also been clear
that -- and this is what

782
00:36:39,797 --> 00:36:41,867
Vice President Biden I think
is ultimately talking about

783
00:36:41,866 --> 00:36:48,136
here -- the United States
has long supported the idea

784
00:36:48,139 --> 00:36:50,979
of a two-state solution
because it has a potential

785
00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:56,145
to resolve one of the most
combustible flashpoints in

786
00:36:56,147 --> 00:36:59,887
an already volatile
region of the world.

787
00:36:59,884 --> 00:37:03,454
But it also happens to be in
the clear strategic interest

788
00:37:03,454 --> 00:37:05,454
of our closest ally in
the Middle East, Israel.

789
00:37:07,925 --> 00:37:15,535
So resolving this question
is not just a wished-for

790
00:37:15,533 --> 00:37:17,533
legacy item of the
administration.

791
00:37:17,535 --> 00:37:20,935
It is a position that we
take and advocate for

792
00:37:20,938 --> 00:37:25,348
because of our sincere
concern for the national

793
00:37:25,343 --> 00:37:28,743
security of our closest ally
in the Middle East, Israel.

794
00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:30,986
That's what
we're focused on.

795
00:37:30,982 --> 00:37:35,522
And the inability to
make that progress

796
00:37:35,519 --> 00:37:36,519
is frustrating.

797
00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:39,160
And that's what Vice
President Biden was giving

798
00:37:39,156 --> 00:37:40,826
voice to yesterday.

799
00:37:40,825 --> 00:37:41,725
The Press: In light of
that frustration, is the

800
00:37:41,726 --> 00:37:44,726
President resigned that a
two-state solution or peace

801
00:37:44,729 --> 00:37:47,099
between the Israelis and
Palestinians will not happen

802
00:37:47,098 --> 00:37:48,798
under his administration?

803
00:37:48,799 --> 00:37:50,269
Mr. Earnest: It is, and
that's something that we've

804
00:37:50,267 --> 00:37:53,037
expressed in the past, that
this is not something that's

805
00:37:53,037 --> 00:37:54,107
likely to happen while
President Obama remains

806
00:37:54,105 --> 00:37:55,905
in office.

807
00:37:55,906 --> 00:38:00,446
The extent of the
differences between the two

808
00:38:00,444 --> 00:38:02,614
sides are significant enough
that it's not something

809
00:38:02,613 --> 00:38:04,783
that's going to get resolved
in the next nine months.

810
00:38:04,782 --> 00:38:05,512
The Press: And on the
legislation, the 9/11

811
00:38:05,516 --> 00:38:08,586
legislation, both Democratic
candidates who are fighting

812
00:38:08,586 --> 00:38:11,386
for the presidency, the
nomination, Hillary Clinton

813
00:38:11,389 --> 00:38:15,259
and Bernie Sanders, support
the legislation that would

814
00:38:15,259 --> 00:38:18,429
allow those victims of 9/11
to sue foreign governments,

815
00:38:18,429 --> 00:38:21,229
including Saudi Arabia if
they were, in fact, involved

816
00:38:21,232 --> 00:38:22,402
in those attacks.

817
00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,040
In light of the fact that
you said the President and

818
00:38:25,036 --> 00:38:27,476
the administration feel
that that's a dangerous

819
00:38:27,471 --> 00:38:30,211
precedent, is the President
concerned at all that they

820
00:38:30,207 --> 00:38:33,977
-- if they were in office
would go ahead and support

821
00:38:33,978 --> 00:38:36,918
that legislation that you
say is so dangerous to the

822
00:38:36,914 --> 00:38:39,054
administration and its
relationship with other

823
00:38:39,050 --> 00:38:40,920
foreign countries?

824
00:38:40,918 --> 00:38:42,788
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll let
the individual candidates

825
00:38:42,787 --> 00:38:45,027
explain the position
that they have on

826
00:38:45,022 --> 00:38:47,192
this legislation.

827
00:38:47,191 --> 00:38:50,691
Obviously, we've had an
opportunity in here, for

828
00:38:50,695 --> 00:38:53,065
better or worse, to discuss
our position on this

829
00:38:53,064 --> 00:38:55,364
legislation extensively.

830
00:38:55,366 --> 00:38:59,806
As I noted, I was gratified
to see Speaker Ryan indicate

831
00:38:59,804 --> 00:39:03,704
his shared concern about
the potential unintended

832
00:39:03,708 --> 00:39:06,908
consequences of this bill.

833
00:39:06,911 --> 00:39:09,811
So we're going to continue
to make our case to members

834
00:39:09,814 --> 00:39:15,524
of Congress and help people
understand that what some

835
00:39:15,519 --> 00:39:21,529
might view as a way to offer
support and well-deserved

836
00:39:25,329 --> 00:39:29,329
assistance to those families
who lost so much on 9/11,

837
00:39:29,333 --> 00:39:32,833
there are significant,
serious, unintended

838
00:39:32,837 --> 00:39:38,307
consequences that would
endanger principles that the

839
00:39:38,309 --> 00:39:40,309
United States significantly
benefits from.

840
00:39:40,311 --> 00:39:42,711
The Press: So why would
there be daylight between

841
00:39:42,713 --> 00:39:45,353
the President and his former
Secretary of State regarding

842
00:39:45,349 --> 00:39:46,519
something that's so critical
to the United States'

843
00:39:46,517 --> 00:39:50,487
relationships with other
foreign leaders on this issue?

844
00:39:50,488 --> 00:39:52,058
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think I've gone to great

845
00:39:52,056 --> 00:39:53,856
lengths to try to help you
understand exactly what our

846
00:39:53,858 --> 00:39:54,658
position is.

847
00:39:54,658 --> 00:39:56,498
I would encourage you
to check with Secretary

848
00:39:56,494 --> 00:39:58,194
Clinton's team for an
explanation of why she's

849
00:39:58,195 --> 00:39:59,565
taken the position
that she has.

850
00:39:59,563 --> 00:40:01,063
The Press: It's different
than the administration.

851
00:40:01,065 --> 00:40:03,235
Is there any concern from
the President that if you

852
00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:05,234
had a Democratic President
following him, that

853
00:40:05,236 --> 00:40:09,906
something as important and
potentially damaging to U.S.

854
00:40:09,907 --> 00:40:11,707
relations, as you say, with
other leaders would

855
00:40:11,709 --> 00:40:14,979
move forward?

856
00:40:14,979 --> 00:40:17,319
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think that's a hypothetical.

857
00:40:17,314 --> 00:40:19,314
This is something that's
still being debated in

858
00:40:19,316 --> 00:40:22,116
Congress, and the
presidential election is

859
00:40:22,119 --> 00:40:26,489
still something that's the
subject of intense debate on

860
00:40:26,490 --> 00:40:28,130
the campaign trail as well.

861
00:40:28,125 --> 00:40:30,095
What we're focused on right
now is continuing to make

862
00:40:30,094 --> 00:40:32,764
the case to the public
and to Congress what our

863
00:40:32,763 --> 00:40:36,103
concerns with this
legislation are.

864
00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:37,700
Jordan.

865
00:40:37,701 --> 00:40:38,671
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

866
00:40:38,669 --> 00:40:39,869
In addition to Speaker
Ryan's concerns about the

867
00:40:39,870 --> 00:40:43,740
bill, Senator Graham has
blocked the legislation in

868
00:40:43,741 --> 00:40:45,111
the Senate by
placing a hold on it.

869
00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:47,949
Is the White House
encouraged that there maybe

870
00:40:47,945 --> 00:40:51,485
seems to be some momentum
behind blocking this bill

871
00:40:51,482 --> 00:40:52,752
in Congress?

872
00:40:52,750 --> 00:40:55,190
And what is the White House
doing to try to cultivate

873
00:40:55,186 --> 00:40:58,486
some more support to try
to stop the bill from happening?

874
00:40:58,489 --> 00:41:00,489
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I'm not aware of any

875
00:41:00,491 --> 00:41:02,491
presidential-level
conversations about this

876
00:41:02,493 --> 00:41:05,433
legislation that have come
up with members of Congress,

877
00:41:05,429 --> 00:41:07,429
but I know that there have
been senior members of the

878
00:41:07,431 --> 00:41:09,431
administration, including
White House officials, who

879
00:41:09,433 --> 00:41:11,503
have been in touch with
senior officials on Capitol

880
00:41:11,502 --> 00:41:13,702
Hill about our concerns.

881
00:41:13,704 --> 00:41:18,914
We certainly are interested
in a dialogue on this issue.

882
00:41:18,909 --> 00:41:23,749
And, look, in the current
political climate,

883
00:41:23,747 --> 00:41:26,887
bipartisan support is rare.

884
00:41:26,884 --> 00:41:32,354
But I think in this
instance, it's an indication

885
00:41:32,356 --> 00:41:35,096
of just how significant
these questions are.

886
00:41:35,092 --> 00:41:38,332
And we're obviously
gratified that there are

887
00:41:38,329 --> 00:41:43,999
other Republicans who have
taken a close look at this

888
00:41:44,001 --> 00:41:47,771
legislation and recognized
the serious, unintended

889
00:41:47,771 --> 00:41:51,611
consequences that could
result from its passage.

890
00:41:51,609 --> 00:41:52,609
JC.

891
00:41:52,610 --> 00:41:53,610
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

892
00:41:53,611 --> 00:41:56,811
As the President and First
Lady lunch with Her Majesty,

893
00:41:56,814 --> 00:42:01,454
Queen Elizabeth II, and His
Royal Highness the Duke of

894
00:42:01,452 --> 00:42:05,392
Edinburgh on Friday at
Windsor Castle, it is the

895
00:42:05,389 --> 00:42:09,489
day after the Queen's
90th birthday, now the

896
00:42:09,493 --> 00:42:12,233
longest-reigning monarch
in British history.

897
00:42:12,229 --> 00:42:16,399
What special birthday wish
might the President be

898
00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:21,640
giving the Queen from the
American people as a special

899
00:42:21,639 --> 00:42:24,039
tribute to this
very historic day?

900
00:42:24,041 --> 00:42:26,741
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President will have an

901
00:42:26,744 --> 00:42:30,244
opportunity to speak to all
of you during his visit

902
00:42:30,247 --> 00:42:31,247
to London.

903
00:42:31,248 --> 00:42:33,248
He'll do a news conference
with Prime Minister Cameron

904
00:42:33,250 --> 00:42:35,250
at the conclusion of their
meeting, and I suspect the

905
00:42:35,252 --> 00:42:37,492
President will be given an
opportunity to offer his

906
00:42:37,488 --> 00:42:41,388
public birthday wishes in
the context of that

907
00:42:41,392 --> 00:42:42,392
news conference.

908
00:42:42,393 --> 00:42:46,693
So I don't want to speak for
him too extensively, but the

909
00:42:46,697 --> 00:42:49,867
President has had an
opportunity to spend time

910
00:42:49,867 --> 00:42:52,907
with Queen Elizabeth on a
variety of occasions, and

911
00:42:52,903 --> 00:42:57,413
each time the President
has come away with an even

912
00:42:57,408 --> 00:43:00,548
deeper personal
affection for her.

913
00:43:00,544 --> 00:43:03,984
She is an important symbol
of a country with whom the

914
00:43:03,981 --> 00:43:08,051
United States has a
special relationship.

915
00:43:08,052 --> 00:43:15,092
But she also is a human
being whose charisma and a

916
00:43:15,092 --> 00:43:19,332
sense of nobility and honor
that is something that I

917
00:43:19,330 --> 00:43:22,100
think people around the
world are attracted to.

918
00:43:22,099 --> 00:43:25,599
And that is something that
she conveys not just on the

919
00:43:25,602 --> 00:43:28,702
broad public stage but it's
also something that is

920
00:43:28,706 --> 00:43:32,206
evident in the President's
personal interactions with her.

921
00:43:32,209 --> 00:43:35,449
And I think that's an
important part of why the

922
00:43:35,446 --> 00:43:37,686
President has enjoyed every
opportunity that he has had

923
00:43:37,681 --> 00:43:39,681
to spend some time with
her in private, and it's

924
00:43:39,683 --> 00:43:41,883
certainly why he's looking
forward to his Friday

925
00:43:41,885 --> 00:43:42,855
afternoon lunch.

926
00:43:42,853 --> 00:43:44,653
The Press: Certainly a lot
to learn from someone who's

927
00:43:44,655 --> 00:43:47,155
been around for so long
and through so much.

928
00:43:47,157 --> 00:43:52,197
Mr. Earnest: She certainly
has seen as much human

929
00:43:52,196 --> 00:43:55,936
history from a rather unique
perspective as anyone else.

930
00:43:55,933 --> 00:44:00,133
The Press: Another question
about the Vice President's

931
00:44:00,137 --> 00:44:02,777
remarks about J Street last
night, very critical of

932
00:44:02,773 --> 00:44:04,473
Prime Minister Netanyahu.

933
00:44:04,475 --> 00:44:06,945
What good does it do anybody
for the Vice President to

934
00:44:06,944 --> 00:44:11,184
make Israel, our
ally, into a villain?

935
00:44:11,181 --> 00:44:14,581
Mr. Earnest: Well, I would
vigorously disagree with

936
00:44:14,585 --> 00:44:17,055
that description of what
Vice President Biden said.

937
00:44:17,054 --> 00:44:21,894
I think Vice President
Biden himself, just having

938
00:44:21,892 --> 00:44:23,932
completed a trip to Israel
just within the last four or

939
00:44:23,927 --> 00:44:26,327
six weeks here, is somebody
who understands the

940
00:44:26,330 --> 00:44:28,330
importance of the
relationship between our

941
00:44:28,332 --> 00:44:29,332
two countries.

942
00:44:29,333 --> 00:44:31,333
In fact, it was on a trip
that Vice President Biden

943
00:44:31,335 --> 00:44:34,675
took to Israel in the first
term that Prime Minister

944
00:44:34,671 --> 00:44:37,811
Netanyahu indicated that the
security cooperation between

945
00:44:37,808 --> 00:44:39,808
the United States and Israel
under President Obama's

946
00:44:39,810 --> 00:44:41,750
leadership was
unprecedented.

947
00:44:41,745 --> 00:44:45,085
So I think what is also true
is that when you have a

948
00:44:45,082 --> 00:44:48,022
strong relationship with
your allies, you can also

949
00:44:48,018 --> 00:44:49,918
comfortably
disagree in public.

950
00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:53,320
And there are areas of
disagreement as a matter of

951
00:44:53,323 --> 00:44:55,323
policy between
our two countries.

952
00:44:55,325 --> 00:44:57,865
And we certainly have gone
to great lengths to try to

953
00:44:57,861 --> 00:45:00,261
resolve those differences.

954
00:45:00,264 --> 00:45:02,834
Prime Minister Netanyahu
himself has not hesitated to

955
00:45:02,833 --> 00:45:04,903
make his own differences
with the Obama

956
00:45:04,902 --> 00:45:08,172
administration public on, in
some ways, the largest stage

957
00:45:08,172 --> 00:45:10,172
imaginable, which is by
addressing a joint session

958
00:45:10,174 --> 00:45:11,574
of Congress.

959
00:45:11,575 --> 00:45:15,545
So I think that's an
indication of the fact that

960
00:45:15,546 --> 00:45:18,546
our two nations and even the
leaders of our nations can

961
00:45:18,549 --> 00:45:21,419
disagree on some critically
important policy issues in a

962
00:45:21,418 --> 00:45:25,088
way that doesn't undermine
the fundamentals of our

963
00:45:25,089 --> 00:45:28,189
alliance and the importance
of our security cooperation.

964
00:45:28,192 --> 00:45:29,122
The Press: What about
the timing, though?

965
00:45:29,126 --> 00:45:32,466
Because the Vice President's
criticism came just a couple

966
00:45:32,463 --> 00:45:36,463
hours after a bus bombing
in Israel, two dozen people

967
00:45:36,467 --> 00:45:37,467
were injured.

968
00:45:37,468 --> 00:45:40,138
How would the White House
like it if just hours after

969
00:45:40,137 --> 00:45:42,637
a terrorist attack here,
Israeli officials came out

970
00:45:42,639 --> 00:45:46,409
and had some not so nice
things to say about you guys?

971
00:45:46,410 --> 00:45:47,780
Mr. Earnest: Well, this
particular incident -- by

972
00:45:47,778 --> 00:45:49,548
"you guys," I assume you
mean all Americans --

973
00:45:49,546 --> 00:45:51,016
The Press: White
House officials.

974
00:45:51,014 --> 00:45:57,024
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the point here is that Vice

975
00:45:57,020 --> 00:46:00,790
President Biden is somebody
who has dedicated his career

976
00:46:00,791 --> 00:46:02,791
to strengthening the
alliance between our

977
00:46:02,793 --> 00:46:03,863
two countries.

978
00:46:03,861 --> 00:46:06,061
And he certainly has
succeeded in doing that.

979
00:46:06,063 --> 00:46:10,333
He did that in his visit to
that country just a month or

980
00:46:10,334 --> 00:46:11,334
so ago.

981
00:46:11,335 --> 00:46:17,105
And our policy differences
do not in any way overshadow

982
00:46:17,107 --> 00:46:22,547
our ongoing commitment to an
unbreakable alliance and a

983
00:46:22,546 --> 00:46:25,386
security relationship
that is unwavering.

984
00:46:25,382 --> 00:46:27,022
The Press: And
last question.

985
00:46:27,017 --> 00:46:30,317
On Friday, the Paris climate
agreement is going to be signed.

986
00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:33,590
What should American
citizens expect to see

987
00:46:33,590 --> 00:46:36,330
different on Saturday after
this thing has been signed?

988
00:46:36,326 --> 00:46:39,396
Is there going to be a
tangible benefit to everyday

989
00:46:39,396 --> 00:46:40,226
Americans that
they're going to see?

990
00:46:40,230 --> 00:46:43,830
Or is this more just a step
toward making us look good

991
00:46:43,834 --> 00:46:45,104
in front of the
rest of the world?

992
00:46:45,102 --> 00:46:47,272
Mr. Earnest: I think what
this is is this is another

993
00:46:47,271 --> 00:46:50,571
example of American
leadership; that there will

994
00:46:50,574 --> 00:46:53,144
be a substantial number of
countries, including some

995
00:46:53,143 --> 00:46:55,743
with large economies,
joining the United States in

996
00:46:55,746 --> 00:46:58,386
making a serious
international commitment to

997
00:46:58,382 --> 00:47:00,382
fighting climate change
and to fighting

998
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:01,384
carbon pollution.

999
00:47:01,385 --> 00:47:04,625
And this has long-term
benefits for future

1000
00:47:04,621 --> 00:47:06,121
generations of Americans.

1001
00:47:06,123 --> 00:47:08,923
It also has shorter-term
benefits for significant

1002
00:47:08,926 --> 00:47:10,926
economic policy decisions
that have been made in

1003
00:47:10,928 --> 00:47:11,928
this country.

1004
00:47:11,929 --> 00:47:14,399
This is going to open up a
global market for the kind

1005
00:47:14,398 --> 00:47:18,798
of renewable energy
technology that is -- that

1006
00:47:18,802 --> 00:47:22,442
U.S. companies are at
the cutting edge of.

1007
00:47:22,439 --> 00:47:25,209
This will open up a market
for energy efficiency

1008
00:47:25,209 --> 00:47:26,949
innovation that U.S.

1009
00:47:26,944 --> 00:47:28,984
companies have pioneered.

1010
00:47:28,979 --> 00:47:31,349
And no longer will they be
in a position of essentially

1011
00:47:31,348 --> 00:47:36,358
being a small sliver
of the energy market.

1012
00:47:36,353 --> 00:47:38,653
We know that now countries
around the world, because of

1013
00:47:38,655 --> 00:47:40,655
the policy commitments that
they have made, are going to

1014
00:47:40,657 --> 00:47:42,657
be looking to invest in
that kind of technology.

1015
00:47:42,659 --> 00:47:44,759
And that's why it has
significant growth potential

1016
00:47:44,761 --> 00:47:46,861
for our economy
back here at home.

1017
00:47:46,863 --> 00:47:49,403
It has the potential to
create jobs in a brand

1018
00:47:49,399 --> 00:47:50,539
new industry.

1019
00:47:50,534 --> 00:47:52,534
And it certainly is
something that the President

1020
00:47:52,536 --> 00:47:54,506
is quite enthusiastic
about, both in terms of its

1021
00:47:54,504 --> 00:47:57,744
long-term impact on our
planet, but also its more

1022
00:47:57,741 --> 00:47:59,681
medium-term impact
on our economy.

1023
00:47:59,676 --> 00:48:01,216
Jim.

1024
00:48:01,211 --> 00:48:03,251
The Press: I'd like to go
back to the President's

1025
00:48:03,247 --> 00:48:07,617
decision to deploy -- or
approval to deploy the 217

1026
00:48:07,618 --> 00:48:11,858
Special Operations Forces
there in Iraq in an attempt

1027
00:48:11,855 --> 00:48:16,325
to accelerate the offensive
against ISIS there.

1028
00:48:16,326 --> 00:48:21,536
For the first
time, these U.S.

1029
00:48:21,531 --> 00:48:24,931
Special Forces will be
permitted to embed at the

1030
00:48:24,935 --> 00:48:29,175
battalion level, which means
they will not be behind the

1031
00:48:29,172 --> 00:48:35,142
fences and the defenses of
an encampment somewhere, but

1032
00:48:35,145 --> 00:48:39,015
they will be much closer
to the front lines.

1033
00:48:39,016 --> 00:48:42,256
And yesterday, in his
interview with Charlie Rose,

1034
00:48:42,252 --> 00:48:45,392
the President even
said that those U.S.

1035
00:48:45,389 --> 00:48:49,229
Special Operations Forces
would be backing up the

1036
00:48:49,226 --> 00:48:50,896
Iraqi forces.

1037
00:48:50,894 --> 00:48:53,464
And it's somewhat
unrealistic to believe that

1038
00:48:53,463 --> 00:48:57,063
when the shooting starts,
the Special Operations

1039
00:48:57,067 --> 00:48:59,607
Forces are just going to
retreat and watch it happen.

1040
00:48:59,603 --> 00:49:03,303
And one of the real
concerning issues about this

1041
00:49:03,307 --> 00:49:08,717
is the American people would
not even know that the U.S.

1042
00:49:08,712 --> 00:49:11,782
Special Operations Forces
would be engaged in combat

1043
00:49:11,782 --> 00:49:15,622
unless they're wounded or
killed, because the military

1044
00:49:15,619 --> 00:49:19,659
is not going to
announce that.

1045
00:49:19,656 --> 00:49:22,096
Is this a little
bit of fudging?

1046
00:49:22,092 --> 00:49:24,262
The U.S. military is not going to

1047
00:49:24,261 --> 00:49:26,361
be involved in combat?

1048
00:49:26,363 --> 00:49:30,463
Because all the earmarks and
recent experiences indicate

1049
00:49:30,467 --> 00:49:32,307
that they will likely be.

1050
00:49:32,302 --> 00:49:35,572
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
we've gone to -- I think we

1051
00:49:35,572 --> 00:49:39,012
have been pretty blunt about
the significant risks that

1052
00:49:39,009 --> 00:49:43,079
our servicemen and women in
Iraq are taking to protect

1053
00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:44,510
our national security.

1054
00:49:44,514 --> 00:49:46,514
And there's not been an
attempt at any point to

1055
00:49:46,516 --> 00:49:49,816
downplay the significant of
the operations that

1056
00:49:49,820 --> 00:49:50,950
they're undertaking.

1057
00:49:50,954 --> 00:49:53,524
That's true if you're
talking about our military

1058
00:49:53,523 --> 00:49:55,523
pilots who are flying
combat operations.

1059
00:49:55,525 --> 00:49:58,295
There are some 10,000 or
11,000 airstrikes that have

1060
00:49:58,295 --> 00:50:01,265
now been taken against ISIL
targets in Iraq and in Syria.

1061
00:50:01,264 --> 00:50:05,264
This is true of Special
Operators who have been

1062
00:50:05,268 --> 00:50:08,808
formed and stationed
throughout Iraq to carry out

1063
00:50:08,805 --> 00:50:11,405
raids when an opportunity
presents itself to try to

1064
00:50:11,408 --> 00:50:16,418
take out a senior ISIL
figure or to capitalize on a

1065
00:50:16,413 --> 00:50:18,613
treasure trove of
intelligence that may be

1066
00:50:18,615 --> 00:50:20,185
there for the taking.

1067
00:50:20,183 --> 00:50:22,823
This is also true when you
talk about our military

1068
00:50:22,819 --> 00:50:26,559
servicemembers who are
engaged in training efforts.

1069
00:50:26,556 --> 00:50:32,526
In some cases, particularly
earlier in our efforts,

1070
00:50:32,529 --> 00:50:34,369
you have U.S. military

1071
00:50:34,364 --> 00:50:38,634
members who were in
dangerous parts of Iraq who

1072
00:50:38,635 --> 00:50:43,905
were working to try to train
fellow Iraqis to make them

1073
00:50:43,907 --> 00:50:46,847
more effective on the
battlefield against ISIL.

1074
00:50:46,843 --> 00:50:52,483
We have not at all tried to
downplay the significance of

1075
00:50:52,482 --> 00:50:55,722
those operations, or the
risks that those individual

1076
00:50:55,719 --> 00:50:58,589
members are taking, or of
the bravery that they are

1077
00:50:58,588 --> 00:51:01,958
displaying when carrying
out their mission.

1078
00:51:01,958 --> 00:51:07,528
What is true is that when
these kinds of operations

1079
00:51:07,531 --> 00:51:10,571
are undertaken, the
decisions to commence the

1080
00:51:10,567 --> 00:51:15,707
operations are made by the
Iraqi government and leaders

1081
00:51:15,705 --> 00:51:18,775
in the Iraqi military, that
the operations are focused

1082
00:51:18,775 --> 00:51:22,575
on being carried
out by Iraqi forces.

1083
00:51:22,579 --> 00:51:26,479
Those forces, though, are
supported by the United

1084
00:51:26,483 --> 00:51:27,453
States military.

1085
00:51:27,451 --> 00:51:29,851
In some cases, that
is supported by U.S.

1086
00:51:29,853 --> 00:51:33,293
military pilots that are
conducting airstrikes in

1087
00:51:33,290 --> 00:51:35,190
support of their operations.

1088
00:51:35,192 --> 00:51:38,392
In other cases, that is
Special Operators who are in

1089
00:51:38,395 --> 00:51:42,165
proximity who can offer
advice about specific

1090
00:51:42,165 --> 00:51:45,835
tactics that can be employed
on the battlefield to make

1091
00:51:45,836 --> 00:51:48,336
the completion of their
operation more likely

1092
00:51:48,338 --> 00:51:49,338
to be successful.

1093
00:51:49,339 --> 00:51:51,339
So there is an
important role for U.S.

1094
00:51:51,341 --> 00:51:58,551
servicemembers to carry
out, and it is a role that

1095
00:51:58,548 --> 00:52:00,448
requires bravery.

1096
00:52:00,450 --> 00:52:05,260
It is a role that requires a
willingness to assume some risk.

1097
00:52:05,255 --> 00:52:09,895
But it is different than the
kind of combat mission that

1098
00:52:09,893 --> 00:52:11,633
previous U.S. military

1099
00:52:11,628 --> 00:52:14,468
servicemembers were
asked to undertake in the

1100
00:52:14,464 --> 00:52:16,434
invasion of Iraq
back in 2003.

1101
00:52:16,433 --> 00:52:18,833
The Press: But you would
acknowledge then that it's

1102
00:52:18,835 --> 00:52:24,275
likely or very possible that
those forces could indeed be

1103
00:52:24,274 --> 00:52:27,214
involved in ground combat
even though that's not their

1104
00:52:27,210 --> 00:52:28,480
primary mission?

1105
00:52:28,478 --> 00:52:30,748
Mr. Earnest: Well, the way
that we have described the

1106
00:52:30,747 --> 00:52:33,547
situation is that they are
engaged in missions that can

1107
00:52:33,550 --> 00:52:36,150
be described as offering
advice, assistance, and in

1108
00:52:36,152 --> 00:52:39,152
some cases, training
to Iraqi forces.

1109
00:52:39,155 --> 00:52:42,495
That is different from a
mission that is exclusively

1110
00:52:42,492 --> 00:52:44,332
focused on combat.

1111
00:52:44,327 --> 00:52:46,467
But we have never -- and I
certainly am not going to

1112
00:52:46,463 --> 00:52:50,833
start from here -- seek to
downplay how dangerous and

1113
00:52:50,834 --> 00:52:53,734
how much bravery is required
to carry out the kind of

1114
00:52:53,737 --> 00:52:56,537
advice and assistance
missions that our

1115
00:52:56,540 --> 00:52:58,540
servicemembers are
undertaking on a daily basis

1116
00:52:58,542 --> 00:52:59,542
in Iraq right now.

1117
00:52:59,543 --> 00:53:01,583
The Press: Also, in his
interview with Charlie Rose,

1118
00:53:01,578 --> 00:53:06,148
his remarks are being
widely interpreted that the

1119
00:53:06,149 --> 00:53:11,419
President meant to say that,
given this acceleration of

1120
00:53:11,421 --> 00:53:17,761
U.S. participation in assisting
the Iraqi forces, that Mosul

1121
00:53:17,761 --> 00:53:19,961
would fall by the
end of the year.

1122
00:53:19,963 --> 00:53:21,963
Did the President
mean to say that?

1123
00:53:21,965 --> 00:53:24,105
And does he believe that?

1124
00:53:24,100 --> 00:53:25,070
Mr. Earnest: I looked
at this portion of the

1125
00:53:25,068 --> 00:53:26,038
transcript, too.

1126
00:53:26,036 --> 00:53:28,406
I think what the President
was trying to make the case

1127
00:53:28,405 --> 00:53:34,615
for is to set expectations
that we're hopeful that the

1128
00:53:34,611 --> 00:53:37,711
conditions could be created
where Mosul could fall

1129
00:53:37,714 --> 00:53:39,914
this year.

1130
00:53:39,916 --> 00:53:45,186
But what the Iraqi forces
have been engaged in for

1131
00:53:45,188 --> 00:53:51,728
some time now is essentially
undertaking operations in

1132
00:53:51,728 --> 00:53:54,228
the area around Mosul to
sort of lay the groundwork

1133
00:53:54,230 --> 00:53:57,270
for a more significant
operation.

1134
00:53:57,267 --> 00:54:00,107
And those kinds of shaping
missions have been underway

1135
00:54:00,103 --> 00:54:01,403
for quite some time.

1136
00:54:01,404 --> 00:54:03,744
They are at work trying to
create the conditions where

1137
00:54:03,740 --> 00:54:05,380
Mosul could fall.

1138
00:54:05,375 --> 00:54:08,445
And that work to create
those conditions is work

1139
00:54:08,445 --> 00:54:11,185
that continues.

1140
00:54:11,181 --> 00:54:13,181
Obviously this is
significant because Mosul is

1141
00:54:13,183 --> 00:54:19,323
one of the two areas where
ISIL has concentrated their

1142
00:54:19,322 --> 00:54:23,492
fighters and concentrated a
bunch of their organization

1143
00:54:23,493 --> 00:54:26,333
in a way that allows them
to project some power and

1144
00:54:26,329 --> 00:54:29,169
violence that poses a
longer-term threat and a

1145
00:54:29,165 --> 00:54:31,565
broader threat to the United
States and our interests

1146
00:54:31,568 --> 00:54:32,298
around the globe.

1147
00:54:32,302 --> 00:54:33,432
Pam.

1148
00:54:33,436 --> 00:54:34,206
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1149
00:54:34,204 --> 00:54:36,404
Could I just
clarify something?

1150
00:54:36,406 --> 00:54:40,076
You said at least three
times that I've heard,

1151
00:54:40,076 --> 00:54:42,846
quoting from the 9/11
Commission Report, the line

1152
00:54:42,846 --> 00:54:45,316
about how there's no
evidence that the Saudi

1153
00:54:45,315 --> 00:54:47,885
government or high-level
officials supported

1154
00:54:47,884 --> 00:54:49,084
al Qaeda.

1155
00:54:49,085 --> 00:54:53,855
And Senator Bob Kerry, who
was on that commission, said

1156
00:54:53,857 --> 00:54:56,457
flatly, "We did not
exonerate the Saudis."

1157
00:54:56,459 --> 00:54:59,659
When you quote that line are
you saying that the White

1158
00:54:59,663 --> 00:55:02,863
House believes that the
Saudis were exonerated?

1159
00:55:02,866 --> 00:55:06,836
Mr. Earnest: No, Pam, what
I'm merely doing is -- let's

1160
00:55:06,836 --> 00:55:09,206
back up.

1161
00:55:09,205 --> 00:55:10,845
The reason I have quoted
that line frequently is

1162
00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:14,580
because the suggestion has
been raised that by refusing

1163
00:55:14,577 --> 00:55:18,947
to release 28 pages of
classified material that

1164
00:55:18,948 --> 00:55:25,058
your network has been
talking about is somehow a

1165
00:55:25,055 --> 00:55:34,095
secret attempt to cover
up verified, damaging

1166
00:55:34,097 --> 00:55:37,467
information about the
complicity of the Saudi

1167
00:55:37,467 --> 00:55:42,707
government in
the 9/11 attacks.

1168
00:55:42,706 --> 00:55:48,846
And what I have been trying
to do is to point you to the

1169
00:55:48,845 --> 00:55:51,515
conclusion that was reached
by this independent, blue

1170
00:55:51,514 --> 00:55:55,754
ribbon panel that took an
unvarnished look at what

1171
00:55:55,752 --> 00:55:57,852
happened in the lead-up to
9/11 and what steps should

1172
00:55:57,854 --> 00:55:59,854
be implemented in the
aftermath of 9/11 to make

1173
00:55:59,856 --> 00:56:01,856
sure that it would
never happen again.

1174
00:56:01,858 --> 00:56:03,858
And so pointing to their
conclusion that was made

1175
00:56:03,860 --> 00:56:05,860
public years ago and
continues to be available

1176
00:56:05,862 --> 00:56:09,632
for public review I think
is relevant to a discussion

1177
00:56:09,632 --> 00:56:15,642
about whether or not there's
an ulterior motive to this

1178
00:56:18,007 --> 00:56:19,947
question about the 28 pages.

1179
00:56:19,943 --> 00:56:22,443
The Press: But what do you
think that phrase means?

1180
00:56:22,445 --> 00:56:24,885
What does that mean to you?

1181
00:56:24,881 --> 00:56:27,551
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think people can take a look

1182
00:56:27,550 --> 00:56:32,390
at the report and draw their
own conclusions, based on

1183
00:56:32,388 --> 00:56:37,698
people who looked at
reams of evidence.

1184
00:56:37,694 --> 00:56:42,034
The 9/11 Commission was
given extensive access to

1185
00:56:42,031 --> 00:56:45,831
information and materials
that were relevant to

1186
00:56:45,835 --> 00:56:47,175
their investigation.

1187
00:56:47,170 --> 00:56:50,010
These were individuals that
had expertise in national

1188
00:56:50,006 --> 00:56:52,006
security and
intelligence matters.

1189
00:56:52,008 --> 00:56:55,178
They were in a position
to evaluate the evidence.

1190
00:56:55,178 --> 00:56:57,648
They were in a position
to examine the evidence.

1191
00:56:57,647 --> 00:57:00,487
They were in a position to
consider where they should

1192
00:57:00,483 --> 00:57:01,783
look to find evidence.

1193
00:57:01,785 --> 00:57:06,025
And they wrote a report that
was made public so that

1194
00:57:06,022 --> 00:57:08,662
everybody could see it and
draw their own conclusions.

1195
00:57:08,658 --> 00:57:13,328
And so what I have done is
tried to point you to their

1196
00:57:13,329 --> 00:57:15,929
conclusions because I think
they're relevant to the

1197
00:57:15,932 --> 00:57:17,932
question about whether or
not these 28 pages are going

1198
00:57:17,934 --> 00:57:18,964
to be declassified.

1199
00:57:18,968 --> 00:57:22,408
But I obviously haven't done
the kind of investigation

1200
00:57:22,405 --> 00:57:26,005
that they did, so I think
what I would encourage

1201
00:57:26,009 --> 00:57:27,809
people to do is if you have
questions about whether or

1202
00:57:27,811 --> 00:57:37,921
not the Saudi government as
an institution or senior

1203
00:57:37,921 --> 00:57:43,161
officials in the Saudi
government were complicit in

1204
00:57:43,159 --> 00:57:47,729
knowingly assisting the
9/11 plotters, one piece of

1205
00:57:47,730 --> 00:57:51,330
evidence that they should
know is that the blue ribbon

1206
00:57:51,334 --> 00:57:54,274
panel that took a close look
at this did not find any

1207
00:57:54,270 --> 00:57:58,070
evidence to indicate
that that was the case.

1208
00:57:58,074 --> 00:57:59,514
And that's their conclusion.

1209
00:57:59,509 --> 00:58:01,509
They certainly have the
standing to make

1210
00:58:01,511 --> 00:58:02,511
that conclusion.

1211
00:58:02,512 --> 00:58:05,052
If there are people that
want to ask different

1212
00:58:05,048 --> 00:58:06,478
questions or seek additional
evidence, they certainly are

1213
00:58:06,482 --> 00:58:09,322
entitled to do that, but
the conclusion of this

1214
00:58:09,319 --> 00:58:11,319
particular commission I
think is relevant to

1215
00:58:11,321 --> 00:58:12,321
the questions.

1216
00:58:12,322 --> 00:58:14,992
The Press: As far as the
suggestion that there's some

1217
00:58:14,991 --> 00:58:20,001
damaging information in the
28 pages, former Senator Bob

1218
00:58:19,996 --> 00:58:24,436
Graham was asked, what do
you believe -- who in Saudi

1219
00:58:24,434 --> 00:58:27,334
Arabia is responsible,
government, charities,

1220
00:58:27,337 --> 00:58:28,337
wealthy Saudis?

1221
00:58:28,338 --> 00:58:30,338
And he said, "All
of the above."

1222
00:58:30,340 --> 00:58:32,740
So he clearly believes that
there was some involvement

1223
00:58:32,742 --> 00:58:36,882
by the Saudi government and
that the 28 pages points

1224
00:58:36,880 --> 00:58:37,880
to that.

1225
00:58:37,881 --> 00:58:39,881
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
haven't read the 28 pages,

1226
00:58:39,883 --> 00:58:43,083
so -- and even if I had I
wouldn't be in a position to

1227
00:58:43,086 --> 00:58:45,056
talk about them because
they're currently classified.

1228
00:58:45,054 --> 00:58:48,094
But we don't have to go
over this territory again.

1229
00:58:48,091 --> 00:58:50,191
I think what is relevant is
that there was this blue

1230
00:58:50,193 --> 00:58:52,233
ribbon commission, the 9/11
Commission, that did take a

1231
00:58:52,228 --> 00:58:56,498
look at it and they've made
public their conclusions.

1232
00:58:56,499 --> 00:59:00,599
So people can certainly
evaluate those opinions and

1233
00:59:00,603 --> 00:59:03,503
those conclusions and draw
their own

1234
00:59:03,506 --> 00:59:05,506
conclusions accordingly.

1235
00:59:05,508 --> 00:59:07,508
Let me just say something
else that also happens

1236
00:59:07,510 --> 00:59:09,010
to be true.

1237
00:59:09,012 --> 00:59:14,282
It's undeniable that since
9/11 we have seen the Saudi

1238
00:59:14,284 --> 00:59:21,124
government focus more
intently on combating and

1239
00:59:21,124 --> 00:59:25,094
countering those who
propagate extremist ideology.

1240
00:59:27,263 --> 00:59:29,363
If it wasn't clear to them
before, it is certainly

1241
00:59:29,365 --> 00:59:33,005
clear to them in the
aftermath of 9/11 how

1242
00:59:33,002 --> 00:59:35,202
dangerous that is.

1243
00:59:35,204 --> 00:59:38,804
And we certainly have
welcomed the efforts of the

1244
00:59:38,808 --> 00:59:42,478
Saudi government to counter
the propagation of

1245
00:59:42,478 --> 00:59:44,418
that ideology.

1246
00:59:44,414 --> 00:59:52,354
And that is just one sign
of the improved security

1247
00:59:52,355 --> 00:59:56,295
cooperation between the
United States and Saudi

1248
00:59:56,292 --> 00:59:58,962
Arabia since 9/11.

1249
00:59:58,962 --> 01:00:02,932
It certainly does not
eliminate all of the

1250
01:00:02,932 --> 01:00:05,832
disagreements that we have
between our two countries,

1251
01:00:05,835 --> 01:00:09,605
but it is an indication
that since 9/11, because of

1252
01:00:09,605 --> 01:00:11,805
important work that was
done both by the Bush

1253
01:00:11,808 --> 01:00:13,808
administration and
by national security

1254
01:00:13,810 --> 01:00:16,210
professionals in this
administration, that the

1255
01:00:16,212 --> 01:00:18,912
relationship between our two
countries has been enhanced

1256
01:00:18,915 --> 01:00:21,555
in a way that has had
important benefits for our

1257
01:00:21,551 --> 01:00:22,551
national security.

1258
01:00:22,552 --> 01:00:25,552
The Press: And if the 9/11
families cannot sue the

1259
01:00:25,555 --> 01:00:29,395
Saudi government, what other
recourse do they have?

1260
01:00:29,392 --> 01:00:34,062
Is diplomacy -- can that do
something to satisfy what

1261
01:00:34,063 --> 01:00:36,163
they would like
to see happen?

1262
01:00:36,165 --> 01:00:38,305
Mr. Earnest: Well, as I
mentioned, Pam, I'll let the

1263
01:00:38,301 --> 01:00:40,301
9/11 families speak
for themselves.

1264
01:00:40,303 --> 01:00:42,443
Obviously they can set their
own priorities in terms of

1265
01:00:42,438 --> 01:00:44,108
what they would like to see.

1266
01:00:44,107 --> 01:00:47,207
I know that just reading the
public comments of many of

1267
01:00:47,210 --> 01:00:50,980
those individuals, they're
quite concerned about

1268
01:00:50,980 --> 01:00:53,750
American national security,
about protecting the U.S.

1269
01:00:53,750 --> 01:00:56,550
homeland and making sure
that a tragedy on the scale

1270
01:00:56,552 --> 01:00:58,792
of 9/11 never happens again.

1271
01:00:58,788 --> 01:01:02,688
And what is true is that by
using diplomacy -- not just

1272
01:01:02,692 --> 01:01:05,732
with Saudi Arabia but with
countries around the world

1273
01:01:05,728 --> 01:01:08,098
-- the United States is
safer than we were on 9/11;

1274
01:01:08,097 --> 01:01:10,837
that we have made progress.

1275
01:01:10,833 --> 01:01:13,833
Osama bin Laden no longer
threatens the American people.

1276
01:01:13,836 --> 01:01:16,776
Core al Qaeda has
been decimated.

1277
01:01:16,773 --> 01:01:18,973
We have made progress
in applying significant

1278
01:01:18,975 --> 01:01:21,415
pressure to al Qaeda
affiliates around the globe.

1279
01:01:21,411 --> 01:01:23,681
We have deepened our
security cooperation and our

1280
01:01:23,679 --> 01:01:26,319
counterterrorism cooperation
with countries around the

1281
01:01:26,315 --> 01:01:28,715
globe -- not just in the
Middle East, but also in

1282
01:01:28,718 --> 01:01:31,458
places like Africa
and Southeast Asia.

1283
01:01:31,454 --> 01:01:33,454
I'm not seeking to
downplay the risks.

1284
01:01:33,456 --> 01:01:36,626
It's precisely because
these risks exist that the

1285
01:01:36,626 --> 01:01:42,396
administration has been so
vigorous in countering them.

1286
01:01:42,398 --> 01:01:46,068
And I think that is a policy
priority and a set of policy

1287
01:01:46,069 --> 01:01:51,939
accomplishments that anybody
who is concerned about U.S.

1288
01:01:51,941 --> 01:01:54,881
national security
would be pleased about.

1289
01:01:54,877 --> 01:01:56,877
Toluse.

1290
01:01:56,879 --> 01:01:57,779
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1291
01:01:57,780 --> 01:02:01,750
Secretary Carter is in the
UAE today in advance to the

1292
01:02:01,751 --> 01:02:03,321
President's trip
to that region.

1293
01:02:03,319 --> 01:02:05,919
I'm wondering if we should
expect any announcements at

1294
01:02:05,922 --> 01:02:10,522
the GCC summit about future,
further commitments by GCC

1295
01:02:10,526 --> 01:02:13,426
countries in the
counter-ISIS efforts.

1296
01:02:13,429 --> 01:02:15,499
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
don't know whether or not

1297
01:02:15,498 --> 01:02:17,798
Secretary Carter is prepared
to make any

1298
01:02:17,800 --> 01:02:19,270
announcements today.

1299
01:02:19,268 --> 01:02:24,338
Obviously the leaders
of those countries and

1300
01:02:24,340 --> 01:02:27,480
President Obama will have
an opportunity to meet in

1301
01:02:27,477 --> 01:02:30,377
Riyadh, starting tomorrow.

1302
01:02:30,379 --> 01:02:32,379
And that will be --
actually, starting

1303
01:02:32,381 --> 01:02:33,381
on Thursday.

1304
01:02:33,382 --> 01:02:36,452
My days -- this overnight
flight thing has really got

1305
01:02:36,452 --> 01:02:37,922
me confused.

1306
01:02:37,920 --> 01:02:39,920
President Obama will
arrive in Saudi Arabia

1307
01:02:39,922 --> 01:02:40,922
on Wednesday.

1308
01:02:40,923 --> 01:02:43,463
On Thursday, he will convene
a series of meetings with

1309
01:02:43,459 --> 01:02:46,999
GCC leaders, including the
leader of Saudi Arabia, to

1310
01:02:46,996 --> 01:02:49,396
talk about a range of
important national

1311
01:02:49,398 --> 01:02:51,698
security priorities.

1312
01:02:51,701 --> 01:02:53,701
And you all will have an
opportunity to hear from

1313
01:02:53,703 --> 01:02:55,703
President Obama at the
conclusion of those

1314
01:02:55,705 --> 01:02:58,075
meetings, and he'll be in
a position to talk to you

1315
01:02:58,074 --> 01:03:01,574
about any progress that
we've made in the context of

1316
01:03:01,577 --> 01:03:03,217
those negotiations.

1317
01:03:03,212 --> 01:03:05,012
The Press: I wanted to
ask about Afghanistan.

1318
01:03:05,014 --> 01:03:06,814
There was a car bomb that
killed several dozens of

1319
01:03:06,816 --> 01:03:08,686
people and injured
hundreds in Kabul.

1320
01:03:08,684 --> 01:03:13,324
And the Taliban has said
that that's a sign of a new

1321
01:03:13,322 --> 01:03:15,662
fighting season where there
will be more and more of

1322
01:03:15,658 --> 01:03:16,458
these attacks.

1323
01:03:16,459 --> 01:03:18,799
I'm wondering, first, what
the response is from the

1324
01:03:18,794 --> 01:03:19,594
White House?

1325
01:03:19,595 --> 01:03:21,865
And whether or not
that factored into the

1326
01:03:21,864 --> 01:03:25,204
President's decision on
whether to draw down the

1327
01:03:25,201 --> 01:03:27,601
troops at the same time
schedule that he put out

1328
01:03:27,603 --> 01:03:31,473
last year by going down to
5,500 by the end of this year.

1329
01:03:31,474 --> 01:03:33,374
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
start by saying that the

1330
01:03:33,376 --> 01:03:36,046
United States strongly
condemns the cowardly attack

1331
01:03:36,045 --> 01:03:38,415
on Afghan forces and
civilians in Kabul this

1332
01:03:38,414 --> 01:03:41,954
morning that killed dozens
and wounded hundreds.

1333
01:03:41,951 --> 01:03:43,951
Our thoughts and prayers
are with the victims, their

1334
01:03:43,953 --> 01:03:45,423
families and
their loved ones.

1335
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:47,791
At the outset of this year's
fighting season, we remain

1336
01:03:47,790 --> 01:03:50,290
committed to support the
Afghan people and

1337
01:03:50,293 --> 01:03:51,323
their government.

1338
01:03:51,327 --> 01:03:54,597
We also call on the Taliban
to pursue a pathway of peace

1339
01:03:54,597 --> 01:03:56,597
instead of continuing
a military campaign

1340
01:03:56,599 --> 01:03:59,099
responsible for the
senseless deaths of

1341
01:03:59,101 --> 01:04:01,101
Afghan civilians.

1342
01:04:01,103 --> 01:04:03,773
We remain steadfast partners
with Afghan security forces

1343
01:04:03,773 --> 01:04:06,073
as we work to promote peace
and stability in the region

1344
01:04:06,075 --> 01:04:09,045
and as we counter the threat
of terrorism that affects

1345
01:04:09,045 --> 01:04:10,585
all of us.

1346
01:04:10,580 --> 01:04:16,420
I don't have an updated
assessment in terms of what

1347
01:04:16,419 --> 01:04:21,759
if any impact this attack
would have on our military

1348
01:04:21,757 --> 01:04:22,797
posture going forward.

1349
01:04:22,792 --> 01:04:24,992
Obviously the President had
an opportunity to talk about

1350
01:04:24,994 --> 01:04:27,334
this at the end
of last year.

1351
01:04:27,330 --> 01:04:32,400
And this will be among the
important policy decisions

1352
01:04:32,401 --> 01:04:38,341
that the incoming President,
President Obama's successor,

1353
01:04:38,341 --> 01:04:40,241
will have to make.

1354
01:04:40,243 --> 01:04:42,413
When President Obama took
office, you'll recall, in

1355
01:04:42,411 --> 01:04:47,751
2009, he did so vowing to
follow through on a campaign

1356
01:04:47,750 --> 01:04:52,090
promise to ensure that we
were -- that the United

1357
01:04:52,088 --> 01:04:54,788
States and the international
community was focused on the

1358
01:04:54,790 --> 01:04:56,990
terror threat that was
emanating from this region

1359
01:04:56,993 --> 01:04:58,023
of the world.

1360
01:04:58,027 --> 01:05:03,167
And the sense was -- not
just the sense of President

1361
01:05:03,165 --> 01:05:05,305
Obama, but also the sense of
the American people -- was

1362
01:05:05,301 --> 01:05:07,901
that our attention had
drifted from Afghanistan and

1363
01:05:07,903 --> 01:05:10,673
been diverted to the
situation in Iraq.

1364
01:05:10,673 --> 01:05:13,413
President Obama vowed to
recalibrate that situation

1365
01:05:13,409 --> 01:05:18,079
and to ensure that we were
reinforcing our efforts in

1366
01:05:18,080 --> 01:05:22,020
Afghanistan and in that
region of the world where we

1367
01:05:22,018 --> 01:05:25,918
know the al Qaeda
leadership, under the

1368
01:05:25,921 --> 01:05:29,761
protection of the Taliban,
had carried out the 9/11

1369
01:05:29,759 --> 01:05:31,799
attacks against
the United States.

1370
01:05:31,794 --> 01:05:35,394
President Obama has executed
a military and diplomatic

1371
01:05:35,398 --> 01:05:39,498
strategy that has decimated
core al Qaeda, that took

1372
01:05:39,502 --> 01:05:42,302
Osama bin Laden off the
battlefield, and that has

1373
01:05:42,305 --> 01:05:47,545
supported an Afghan
government that is committed

1374
01:05:47,543 --> 01:05:50,543
to the kind of security
approach that

1375
01:05:50,546 --> 01:05:51,786
we're supporting.

1376
01:05:51,781 --> 01:05:55,751
So there's no denying that
tremendous progress that we

1377
01:05:55,751 --> 01:06:00,491
have made in Afghanistan,
it has made America safer.

1378
01:06:00,489 --> 01:06:05,059
But there is -- there are
years of work, decades of

1379
01:06:05,061 --> 01:06:08,761
work that still needs to be
done in that region of the

1380
01:06:08,764 --> 01:06:14,774
world to continue to advance
our national security interests.

1381
01:06:17,206 --> 01:06:19,306
The Press: One more
quickly on the $10 bill.

1382
01:06:19,308 --> 01:06:21,078
I'm wondering -- there are
reports that the Treasury

1383
01:06:21,077 --> 01:06:25,377
Secretary will be making
an announcement, and I'm

1384
01:06:25,381 --> 01:06:28,081
wondering has the White
House, has the President

1385
01:06:28,084 --> 01:06:28,814
been briefed?

1386
01:06:28,818 --> 01:06:30,188
Have you seen a mock-up of
what the new bill might

1387
01:06:30,186 --> 01:06:31,086
look like?

1388
01:06:31,087 --> 01:06:33,387
Should we be expecting an
announcement on that soon?

1389
01:06:33,389 --> 01:06:36,389
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is a
policy decision that's made

1390
01:06:36,392 --> 01:06:37,422
by the Treasury Department.

1391
01:06:37,426 --> 01:06:39,796
It, of course, is not at all
uncommon for the Treasury

1392
01:06:39,795 --> 01:06:41,765
Department to consult with
the White House where

1393
01:06:41,764 --> 01:06:44,634
appropriate when making
important policy decisions.

1394
01:06:44,633 --> 01:06:47,073
But I don't have any news to
make on Treasury's behalf,

1395
01:06:47,069 --> 01:06:49,069
at least not today.

1396
01:06:49,071 --> 01:06:50,471
Byron.

1397
01:06:50,473 --> 01:06:51,503
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1398
01:06:51,507 --> 01:06:53,577
New York voters head
to the polls today.

1399
01:06:53,576 --> 01:06:55,616
You've said in the past the
debate happening within the

1400
01:06:55,611 --> 01:06:57,851
Democratic Party, about the
direction and the future of

1401
01:06:57,847 --> 01:07:00,687
the party is a healthy one,
but it's now April 19th;

1402
01:07:00,683 --> 01:07:03,283
Senator Sanders trails
pretty badly in the delegate

1403
01:07:03,285 --> 01:07:05,855
count, and you've seen the
tone of the last debate and

1404
01:07:05,855 --> 01:07:09,095
some of the rhetoric on the
campaign trail get heated.

1405
01:07:09,091 --> 01:07:11,261
Does the President still
feel that this is a

1406
01:07:11,260 --> 01:07:13,160
constructive campaign
and conversation

1407
01:07:13,162 --> 01:07:14,192
that's happening?

1408
01:07:14,196 --> 01:07:17,436
Mr. Earnest: Well, Byron,
there's no denying that when

1409
01:07:17,433 --> 01:07:19,433
you compare the campaign
that's been waged by the

1410
01:07:19,435 --> 01:07:24,275
Democratic candidates, that
it has been much healthier

1411
01:07:24,273 --> 01:07:27,773
and more productive than the
campaign that we've seen be

1412
01:07:27,777 --> 01:07:30,417
waged by the other side.

1413
01:07:30,413 --> 01:07:35,423
And the President has
obviously been pleased to

1414
01:07:35,418 --> 01:07:43,388
see Democratic candidates
who are giving voice and

1415
01:07:43,392 --> 01:07:46,362
prioritizing the kinds of
values that he's spent his

1416
01:07:46,362 --> 01:07:47,362
career fighting for.

1417
01:07:47,363 --> 01:07:51,503
That's been a good thing,
and the President has

1418
01:07:51,500 --> 01:07:54,700
obviously been
pleased by that.

1419
01:07:54,703 --> 01:07:58,003
But, ultimately, the
individual candidates are

1420
01:07:58,007 --> 01:08:02,817
going to have to decide for
themselves how this campaign

1421
01:08:02,812 --> 01:08:05,452
will play out here in the
remaining weeks of the

1422
01:08:05,448 --> 01:08:11,958
Democratic contest.

1423
01:08:11,954 --> 01:08:14,394
In 2008 -- I've talked about
this a couple of times -- in

1424
01:08:14,390 --> 01:08:20,700
2008, there was a vigorous
contest between then-Senator

1425
01:08:20,696 --> 01:08:23,366
Clinton and then-Senator
Obama that dragged on longer

1426
01:08:23,365 --> 01:08:25,405
than people expected -- I
think longer than

1427
01:08:25,401 --> 01:08:26,401
anybody expected.

1428
01:08:26,402 --> 01:08:32,472
But with some departures,
it was primarily focused on

1429
01:08:32,475 --> 01:08:35,575
policy and articulating a
vision for the country.

1430
01:08:35,578 --> 01:08:37,348
And that
longer-than-expected

1431
01:08:37,346 --> 01:08:42,516
Democratic primary had
positive benefits for the

1432
01:08:42,518 --> 01:08:44,518
party as a whole, and it
certainly improved the

1433
01:08:44,520 --> 01:08:48,020
performance of the
Democratic nominee in the

1434
01:08:48,023 --> 01:08:50,993
general election, and it
certainly resulted in a

1435
01:08:50,993 --> 01:08:54,733
Democratic campaign
organization being stronger

1436
01:08:54,730 --> 01:08:57,230
in states that Democrats had
not recently competed in.

1437
01:08:57,233 --> 01:09:00,203
I often cite the example of
Indiana, a state that had a

1438
01:09:00,202 --> 01:09:05,612
primary in May, that had
rarely not been -- that had

1439
01:09:05,608 --> 01:09:08,578
rarely been contested by
Democratic

1440
01:09:08,577 --> 01:09:09,577
presidential candidates.

1441
01:09:09,578 --> 01:09:12,918
But there was a vigorous
contest in May of 2008

1442
01:09:12,915 --> 01:09:15,485
between then-Senator Clinton
and then-Senator Obama

1443
01:09:15,484 --> 01:09:17,054
in Indiana.

1444
01:09:17,052 --> 01:09:19,792
And there were some who
concluded that that would be

1445
01:09:19,788 --> 01:09:23,028
a bad thing for the
Democratic Party.

1446
01:09:23,025 --> 01:09:26,365
Instead, what resulted
was a Democratic Party

1447
01:09:26,362 --> 01:09:29,162
infrastructure being built
in Indiana to support both

1448
01:09:29,164 --> 01:09:33,134
candidates, each individual
candidate, that then went on

1449
01:09:33,135 --> 01:09:36,475
to greatly contribute to
the Democratic candidate's

1450
01:09:36,472 --> 01:09:38,472
success in the
general election.

1451
01:09:38,474 --> 01:09:41,944
And that led to President
Obama winning the state of

1452
01:09:41,944 --> 01:09:44,714
Indiana in the general
election in 2008, something

1453
01:09:44,713 --> 01:09:47,283
a Democratic presidential
candidate hadn't done

1454
01:09:47,283 --> 01:09:49,083
in decades.

1455
01:09:49,084 --> 01:09:51,384
So that's just one
illustration of how a

1456
01:09:51,387 --> 01:09:57,227
longer-than-expected primary
contest can yield some

1457
01:09:57,226 --> 01:09:59,796
positive results for the
party and for the

1458
01:09:59,795 --> 01:10:01,265
party's nominee.

1459
01:10:01,263 --> 01:10:03,263
Is that going to happen
this time around?

1460
01:10:03,265 --> 01:10:04,265
I think it's too
early to tell.

1461
01:10:04,266 --> 01:10:07,066
Hopefully it will.

1462
01:10:07,069 --> 01:10:08,069
But we'll see.

1463
01:10:08,070 --> 01:10:10,070
The Press: We've asked you
sort of piecemeal about

1464
01:10:10,072 --> 01:10:12,072
whether the President has
watched individual debates

1465
01:10:12,074 --> 01:10:13,574
or election night returns.

1466
01:10:13,576 --> 01:10:15,746
But broadly speaking, how
closely is the President

1467
01:10:15,744 --> 01:10:18,814
following campaign news
and the campaign trail?

1468
01:10:18,814 --> 01:10:21,454
Is he watching sort of
live election returns

1469
01:10:21,450 --> 01:10:22,280
some nights?

1470
01:10:22,284 --> 01:10:24,284
Is he reading about this
online and in the newspaper?

1471
01:10:24,286 --> 01:10:27,686
How does he sort of
follow the campaign?

1472
01:10:27,690 --> 01:10:29,090
Mr. Earnest: I think it's
fair to say the President is

1473
01:10:29,091 --> 01:10:31,131
following the election
pretty closely.

1474
01:10:31,126 --> 01:10:36,466
He obviously has a stake
in who will succeed him

1475
01:10:36,465 --> 01:10:38,935
in office.

1476
01:10:38,934 --> 01:10:42,374
I do not believe that the
President has spent much if

1477
01:10:42,371 --> 01:10:44,741
any time watching live
election returns.

1478
01:10:44,740 --> 01:10:49,410
I know that he has not spent
much time watching the debates.

1479
01:10:49,411 --> 01:10:52,211
But he certainly is
following the course of the

1480
01:10:52,214 --> 01:10:54,854
broader debate that's
taking place on both

1481
01:10:54,850 --> 01:10:56,290
sides, frankly.

1482
01:10:56,285 --> 01:11:00,185
And at some point, the
President will have an

1483
01:11:00,189 --> 01:11:02,259
opportunity to be a much
more active participant in

1484
01:11:02,257 --> 01:11:03,257
that debate.

1485
01:11:03,259 --> 01:11:05,559
But that will be when
we shift to the

1486
01:11:05,561 --> 01:11:06,561
general election.

1487
01:11:06,562 --> 01:11:07,562
The Press: Does he miss it?

1488
01:11:07,563 --> 01:11:10,203
Mr. Earnest: I don't think
that -- I don't think he does.

1489
01:11:10,199 --> 01:11:11,699
Gardiner, I'm going to give
you the last one and then

1490
01:11:11,700 --> 01:11:12,970
I'm going to get ready for
my overnight flight here.

1491
01:11:12,968 --> 01:11:13,738
The Press: Okay.

1492
01:11:13,736 --> 01:11:18,176
Do you have any sense about
if the Saudis follow through

1493
01:11:18,173 --> 01:11:21,043
on their threat to sell
$750 billion in U.S.

1494
01:11:21,043 --> 01:11:25,213
assets, what kind of damage
that would do to the U.S.

1495
01:11:25,214 --> 01:11:28,884
economy and to the
United States generally?

1496
01:11:28,884 --> 01:11:32,884
Mr. Earnest: Well, Gardiner,
at the New York Times, you

1497
01:11:32,888 --> 01:11:35,928
certainly have access to
more sophisticated analysts

1498
01:11:35,924 --> 01:11:38,294
of global financial markets
than me, thank goodness.

1499
01:11:38,293 --> 01:11:41,833
That is welcome news to the
readers of your business

1500
01:11:41,830 --> 01:11:43,600
pages, I'm sure.

1501
01:11:43,599 --> 01:11:48,909
What I'll just say in
general is our concern is

1502
01:11:48,904 --> 01:11:58,384
that a hypothetical
transaction or series of

1503
01:11:58,380 --> 01:12:02,480
transactions like this would
destabilize the global

1504
01:12:02,484 --> 01:12:03,554
financial markets.

1505
01:12:03,552 --> 01:12:09,562
And that kind of instability
and that kind of volatility

1506
01:12:12,094 --> 01:12:15,564
is not in the interest
of any of the advanced

1507
01:12:15,564 --> 01:12:17,564
economies around the world.

1508
01:12:18,901 --> 01:12:21,471
Both the United States and
Saudi Arabia would be in the

1509
01:12:21,470 --> 01:12:23,470
category of advanced
economies that would not

1510
01:12:23,472 --> 01:12:25,472
benefit from a
situation like that.

1511
01:12:25,474 --> 01:12:27,774
That's the observation
that I have made.

1512
01:12:27,776 --> 01:12:40,786
I know that the suggestion
was raised in a story in

1513
01:12:40,789 --> 01:12:42,789
your newspaper that that
could be a potential

1514
01:12:42,791 --> 01:12:49,831
response, and I don't know
-- as I recall, that wasn't

1515
01:12:49,832 --> 01:12:53,102
an on-the-record statement
from a Saudi official.

1516
01:12:53,102 --> 01:12:59,972
So I think it's hard to
assess exactly how seriously

1517
01:12:59,975 --> 01:13:03,475
something like that is
being considered there.

1518
01:13:03,479 --> 01:13:09,289
Given our shared interest in
protecting the stability of

1519
01:13:09,284 --> 01:13:16,254
the global financial system,
I suspect it's not something

1520
01:13:16,258 --> 01:13:18,258
that would be
considered for long.

1521
01:13:18,260 --> 01:13:20,930
The Press: I think there's
increasing concern on the

1522
01:13:20,929 --> 01:13:24,699
Saudi side that Washington
has become far less

1523
01:13:24,700 --> 01:13:28,170
hospitable a place for them
sort of from a policy and

1524
01:13:28,170 --> 01:13:30,910
also from a diplomatic
perspective.

1525
01:13:30,906 --> 01:13:33,206
They see the Obama
administration has far less

1526
01:13:33,208 --> 01:13:37,748
warm to them as the previous
administration had been.

1527
01:13:37,746 --> 01:13:40,916
They see this legislation on
Capitol Hill as arising from

1528
01:13:40,916 --> 01:13:43,386
what they worry is a sort
of a growing

1529
01:13:43,385 --> 01:13:45,785
anti-Saudi sentiment.

1530
01:13:45,788 --> 01:13:49,588
Do they have reason to
feel worried about this?

1531
01:13:49,591 --> 01:13:52,891
This is President Obama's
third trip to Saudi Arabia,

1532
01:13:52,895 --> 01:13:57,365
this week, but the Saudis
themselves and even some GCC

1533
01:13:57,366 --> 01:14:02,476
members generally feel that
they have seen their place

1534
01:14:02,471 --> 01:14:05,041
in Washington decline
substantially over the last

1535
01:14:05,040 --> 01:14:06,480
several years.

1536
01:14:06,475 --> 01:14:08,745
Is that -- are those
worries justified?

1537
01:14:08,744 --> 01:14:10,914
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what I would encourage

1538
01:14:10,913 --> 01:14:18,483
people who harbor that
concern to do is to take a

1539
01:14:18,487 --> 01:14:20,957
close look at President
Obama's record.

1540
01:14:20,956 --> 01:14:22,956
Just last year, the
President convened the

1541
01:14:22,958 --> 01:14:25,528
first-ever GCC-U.S.

1542
01:14:25,527 --> 01:14:29,327
Summit at Camp David.

1543
01:14:29,331 --> 01:14:33,841
That is a location that
many world leaders are not

1544
01:14:33,836 --> 01:14:41,006
invited to enjoy, but it
is an indication of how

1545
01:14:41,009 --> 01:14:44,709
important the President
considers the relationship

1546
01:14:44,713 --> 01:14:46,713
between the United States
and our partners in that

1547
01:14:46,715 --> 01:14:47,745
region of the world.

1548
01:14:47,749 --> 01:14:49,749
The fact that he is
following through with a

1549
01:14:49,751 --> 01:14:51,921
second summit less than a
year later I think is an

1550
01:14:51,920 --> 01:14:54,290
indication that he's
committed to following

1551
01:14:54,289 --> 01:14:57,629
through on the discussions
that were convened at Camp

1552
01:14:57,626 --> 01:14:59,626
David last year.

1553
01:15:03,365 --> 01:15:07,205
The President has talked
about the impact of the

1554
01:15:07,202 --> 01:15:09,202
international agreement to
prevent Iran from obtaining

1555
01:15:09,204 --> 01:15:11,374
a nuclear weapon.

1556
01:15:11,373 --> 01:15:15,543
Part of the case that we
made to our partners in the

1557
01:15:15,544 --> 01:15:18,814
region who were initially
skeptical of the wisdom of

1558
01:15:18,814 --> 01:15:21,814
this diplomatic approach
is that it would yield

1559
01:15:21,817 --> 01:15:24,757
important national security
benefits for them.

1560
01:15:24,753 --> 01:15:27,753
And that's proved
to be true.

1561
01:15:27,756 --> 01:15:32,056
The national security
position of Saudi Arabia is

1562
01:15:32,060 --> 01:15:35,000
strengthened if they know
that one of their chief

1563
01:15:34,997 --> 01:15:41,007
rivals in the region is
verifiably not in pursuit of

1564
01:15:43,605 --> 01:15:45,005
a nuclear weapon.

1565
01:15:45,007 --> 01:15:47,007
That's a good thing
for Saudi Arabia.

1566
01:15:47,009 --> 01:15:48,209
That enhances
their security.

1567
01:15:48,210 --> 01:15:52,010
And that advancement would
not have been possible

1568
01:15:52,014 --> 01:15:54,014
without the United States
leading the diplomatic

1569
01:15:54,016 --> 01:15:56,056
effort to prevent Iran from
obtaining a nuclear weapon.

1570
01:15:56,051 --> 01:15:59,691
Let me give you
another example.

1571
01:15:59,688 --> 01:16:01,958
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
has been justifiably

1572
01:16:01,957 --> 01:16:05,857
concerned about the security
situation in Yemen.

1573
01:16:05,861 --> 01:16:09,801
They share a long
border with Yemen.

1574
01:16:09,798 --> 01:16:16,208
The United States has
offered them the kind of

1575
01:16:16,204 --> 01:16:19,804
logistical support that
has been critical to their

1576
01:16:19,808 --> 01:16:25,548
ability to apply military
pressure to rebels and

1577
01:16:25,547 --> 01:16:27,647
extremists in Yemen.

1578
01:16:27,649 --> 01:16:31,549
The United States and Saudi
Arabia have worked together

1579
01:16:31,553 --> 01:16:37,523
to apply pressure to al
Qaeda plotters in Yemen.

1580
01:16:37,526 --> 01:16:41,266
These are dangerous
extremists that have designs

1581
01:16:41,263 --> 01:16:45,563
not just on carrying out
attacks against shared

1582
01:16:45,567 --> 01:16:49,707
U.S.-Saudi interests in the
region, they have designs on

1583
01:16:49,705 --> 01:16:51,705
carrying out
attacks against U.S.

1584
01:16:51,707 --> 01:16:52,707
interests around the world.

1585
01:16:52,708 --> 01:16:55,278
We're mindful of that
threat, and we have worked

1586
01:16:55,277 --> 01:16:59,377
effectively with the
Saudis to counter it.

1587
01:16:59,381 --> 01:17:01,681
We have also worked
effectively with Saudi

1588
01:17:01,683 --> 01:17:07,393
Arabia and other GCC
partners to add important

1589
01:17:07,389 --> 01:17:09,959
resources to our
counter-ISIL campaign.

1590
01:17:09,958 --> 01:17:13,098
That includes not just
important military

1591
01:17:13,095 --> 01:17:18,205
contributions both in the
form of military actions,

1592
01:17:18,200 --> 01:17:22,000
but also in the form of
military assistance to

1593
01:17:22,004 --> 01:17:24,704
fighting forces on the
ground, we've also obtained

1594
01:17:24,706 --> 01:17:30,716
important Saudi assistance
in countering ISIL's efforts

1595
01:17:33,749 --> 01:17:36,619
to radicalize people online.

1596
01:17:36,618 --> 01:17:39,018
We have worked closely with
the Saudis and the Emiratis

1597
01:17:39,021 --> 01:17:42,621
and other GCC partners to
shut down ISIL's efforts to

1598
01:17:42,624 --> 01:17:44,994
finance their operations.

1599
01:17:44,993 --> 01:17:47,163
We're talking -- some of the
countries that the President

1600
01:17:47,162 --> 01:17:50,862
will be meeting with have
capitals who are a regional

1601
01:17:50,866 --> 01:17:54,166
financial center, and
by blocking or at least

1602
01:17:54,169 --> 01:17:58,639
countering ISIL's ability
to access the services

1603
01:17:58,640 --> 01:18:02,440
available in those capitals
is important to our

1604
01:18:02,444 --> 01:18:04,884
longer-term success.

1605
01:18:04,880 --> 01:18:08,480
And we have made progress in
that effort because of their

1606
01:18:08,483 --> 01:18:10,553
cooperation with the United
States and because of their

1607
01:18:10,552 --> 01:18:12,422
support for our coalition.

1608
01:18:12,421 --> 01:18:14,691
So there are a variety
of ways in which the

1609
01:18:14,689 --> 01:18:18,229
partnership between the
United States and Saudi

1610
01:18:18,226 --> 01:18:22,296
Arabia has been enhanced
under President Obama's

1611
01:18:22,297 --> 01:18:24,637
leadership in a way that is
good for the United States,

1612
01:18:24,633 --> 01:18:27,273
that is good for our
national security, and

1613
01:18:27,269 --> 01:18:29,269
that's good for our
homeland security.

1614
01:18:29,271 --> 01:18:31,271
And that's always what the
President is focused on when

1615
01:18:31,273 --> 01:18:33,273
he's making these kinds of
decisions and when he's

1616
01:18:33,275 --> 01:18:35,275
engaged in this
kind of diplomacy.

1617
01:18:35,277 --> 01:18:41,647
And this is a good example
of the President focused on

1618
01:18:41,650 --> 01:18:45,990
the right goal in pursuit of
the kind of common ground

1619
01:18:45,987 --> 01:18:48,627
that benefits the citizens
of both the United States

1620
01:18:48,623 --> 01:18:50,563
and Saudi Arabia.

1621
01:18:50,559 --> 01:18:51,559
Thanks, everybody.

1622
01:18:51,560 --> 01:18:52,560
We'll see you next week.