English subtitles for clip: File:7-15-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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I do not have any
announcements to make at

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the top, so we can
go directly to your questions.

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Darlene, would
you like to start?

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The Press: Thank you.

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A couple of questions
about Nice.

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In the statement the
President issued last

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night, he said that what
happened there appeared to

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be a terrorist attack.

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And I was wondering if
that's still the working

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theory -- the United
States government theory

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that it is a
terrorist attack.

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Mr. Earnest: That is
still the working theory.

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President Hollande issued
a statement last night --

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he delivered a statement
last night, indicating

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that French investigators
who have the lead in

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investigating this
incident, that they've

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concluded that it's
a terrorist attack.

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And President Obama had an
opportunity earlier today

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to telephone President
Hollande and relay his

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condolences to the people
of France on behalf of the

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American people.

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France is, after all, our
oldest ally, so it should

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be no surprise that
President Obama didn't

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just offer condolences,
he offered significant

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security cooperation and
any assistance that they

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need to conduct their
investigation and to take

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steps to try to prevent
something like this from

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happening again.

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The President's top
counterterrorism advisor,

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Lisa Monaco, had an
opportunity to telephone

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her counterpart today.

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I know Secretary of
Defense Ash Carter has

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been in touch with his
French counterpart today.

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Secretary of Homeland
Security Jeh Johnson has

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been in touch with the
French ambassador to the

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United States today.

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And I can tell you
that a range of U.S.

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officials in law
enforcement and the

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intelligence community and
at a variety of homeland

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security agencies have
been in touch with their

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French counterparts to
discuss the situation and

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to pledge cooperation.

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So this is obviously
something that the U.S.

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government will be
monitoring closely in

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the days ahead.

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And we'll be offering our
strongest support to the

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people of France in this
very difficult time.

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The Press: What about the
method that was used, the

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truck that was used
to mow people down?

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That's not something that
we've seen before, or at

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least in the terrorist
attacks around the world.

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What kind of clues does
that method -- what does

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it say about --

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Mr. Earnest: Well, there's
still a lot -- there's

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still much more that needs
to be learned about this

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particular situation.

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There's more about this
individual that French

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authorities have
identified as the perpetrator.

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There's more that needs
to be learned about his

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background, about other
people that he may have

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associated with, anything
that would provide some

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insight into how the
attack was planned, how it

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was carried out, and
whether or not he received

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any instruction or
direction about doing so.

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So we're in the
early stages of

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the investigation.

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But as French authorities
begin to collect the

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information that could
help answer those

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questions, they'll be able
to rely on the strong

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support and the
capabilities of the United

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States government.

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The Press: The message
of the guidance from the

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President and the U.S.

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government after other
terrorist attacks has been

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that people shouldn't give
in to terrorists, they

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should go about their
business, not make any

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changes in their lives.

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There seems to be an
attack every week or every

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10 days or so.

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So can that still continue
to be the guidance or the

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message that's coming from
the government when people

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are seeing things like
this happen on such a

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regular basis?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
answer that question two

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different ways.

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I think the first thing
is the kind of advisories

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that are issued by the
federal government are

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consistent with the
advisories that the

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federal government is
offering to federal

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employees,
particularly U.S.

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citizens who are working
at diplomatic facilities

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around the globe.

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And we believe that it's
good practice to ensure

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that the information
that's being shared with

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federal employees to
ensure their safety and

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security, it's important
that we share that

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information with U.S.

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citizens as well so they
can take

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appropriate precautions.

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Those advisories regularly
encourage people to be

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vigilant, to be aware
of their surroundings.

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And we certainly would
encourage people to

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follow that advice.

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What's also true is
that the United States

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government, in an effort
to protect the American

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people and to protect the
interests of our allies

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around the world, expends
significant resources in

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countering extremists,
fighting terrorism, and

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protecting the
American people.

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And one element of that
strategy is deepening our

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coordination with our
allies, including our

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allies in France.

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So the President is
determined to continue to

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do that work, and in the
days ahead we'll see more of it.

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The Press: Lastly, on
a different subject.

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Do you have anything at
all to say about Donald

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Trump's choice of Indiana
Governor Mike Pence to be

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his running mate?

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He made it official today.

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Mr. Earnest: You mean
the TPP-supporting,

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Medicaid-expanding
Mike Pence?

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(laughter)

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The Press: If that's what
you want to call him.

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Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
have any comment on it.

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(laughter)

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Roberta.

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The Press: Is there any
information thus far that

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shows that the Islamic
State is responsible

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for the attack?

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Mr. Earnest: French
investigators are still

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looking very closely at
what sort of connections

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this individual may
have to extremist organizations.

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There have been no claims
of responsibility that we

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have seen thus far, but
we'll obviously look to

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that as a potential clue
about what may have

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contributed to this
particular terrorist attack.

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But at this point, it's
too early to draw any firm

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conclusions about who may
-- whether or not this

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individual had ties to a
broader terrorist network

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or was part of a broader
terrorist conspiracy.

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The Press: The President
is going to be speaking

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this afternoon.

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Can you tell us a little
bit about what he hopes to

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get across?

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Mr. Earnest: The President
had previously planned a

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primarily social gathering
with diplomats from around

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the world who are based
here in Washington, D.C.

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This is something that the
President and First Lady

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have hosted here at the
White House in the past.

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And I think it's an
appropriate time for the

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President to speak to
those diplomats about the

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resolve of the United
States, working together

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with the rest of the
international community,

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to fight terrorism and
to fight extremism.

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This is not something that
the United States will be

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able to do alone.

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And in fact, we benefit
significantly and our

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national security is
greatly enhanced by our

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ability to cooperate and
coordinate with our allies

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and partners
around the world.

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That's certainly what
we've seen in the context

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of our counter-ISIL
campaign -- 66 nations

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that are working together
to degrade and ultimately

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destroy that terrorist
organization.

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But our efforts to
cooperate with the

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international community
have benefitted the United

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States in a
variety of ways.

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That includes our efforts
to reach an international

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agreement to prevent Iran
from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

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That includes our efforts
to confront what our

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officials at the
Department of Defense

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describe as a significant
national security problem,

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which is climate change.

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And the United States did
reach an agreement last

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December with 193 nations
to take a coordinated

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approach to fighting
carbon pollution and

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addressing climate change.

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These are all good
examples of the way the

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national security of the
United States and the

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day-to-day lives of the
American people are

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enhanced by the strength
of our alliances and

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partnerships
around the world.

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The Press: During the
Paris attack last year and

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the Brussels attack
earlier this year, the

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President and other White
House officials talked

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about a need for better
information-sharing and

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intelligence-sharing
in Europe.

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And I'm wondering how
satisfied the White House

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is that
intelligence-sharing has

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improved, and whether
more needs to be done.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, there
certainly is more that

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needs to be done.

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But why don't we talk
first about what progress

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we have made just
since November.

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And the United States and
France have made important

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progress in enhancing our
security relationship.

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Shortly after the
terrorist attacks in Paris

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in November, the Secretary
of Defense and the Office

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of the Director of
National Intelligence did

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succeed in working with
the French to reach a new

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or enhanced

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information-sharing relationship.

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The sharing of that
information does enhance

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our national security and
it certainly enhances the

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ability of our military
and our intelligence

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community to take steps
to protect the American people.

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Earlier this year,
the President's top

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counterterrorism advisor,
Lisa Monaco, traveled to

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France and completed an
arrangement with her

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French counterpart to
further enhance our

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security and intelligence
cooperation and

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information-sharing
with the French.

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This information could
be used for a variety of

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purposes, including
mitigating the flow of

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foreign terrorist
fighters, disrupting

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potential terror plots and
even preventing future

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terrorist attacks.

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This is also part of the
regular dialogue that

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Secretary Johnson has with
his French counterpart.

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Homeland security is
obviously something that

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has been at the forefront
of the agenda for French

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policymakers, given the
attacks that have occurred

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on French soil over
the last 18 months.

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There is certain expertise
that the United States

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has, and Secretary Johnson
has worked to try to share

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that information and to
share those best practices

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in a way that could
enhance border security

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in France.

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We also have sought to
enhance law enforcement

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cooperation so that our
investigative efforts on a

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law enforcement level
can be more effectively

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integrated and
coordinated.

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That's a testament to
the work that Secretary

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Johnson has done.

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And again, that is
something that would

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enhance the national
security of both the

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United States and France.

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So those are just a few
examples of the important

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progress that we've made,
because this is something

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that we did identify at
the end of last year,

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Roberta, after the Paris
attacks, that there is

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more that the United
States and France should

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be able to do to more
effectively integrate and

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coordinate on
security issues.

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So we've made
some progress.

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There are additional
steps that we believe our

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European allies can
and should take.

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The best example I think
that I can point to is we

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do believe that
information-sharing among

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European countries
needs to be enhanced.

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And there's some difficult
work that needs to be done

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among European allies to
ensure they're effectively

254
00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:48,110
sharing information.

255
00:11:48,107 --> 00:11:50,107
If those European
countries can knock down

256
00:11:50,109 --> 00:11:52,609
some of the barriers that
prevent that efficient

257
00:11:52,611 --> 00:11:54,681
sharing of information,
that's only going to

258
00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:56,850
improve the information
that the United States

259
00:11:56,849 --> 00:11:58,449
has access to.

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00:11:58,451 --> 00:12:05,921
So this is the subject of
ongoing conversation with

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00:12:05,925 --> 00:12:07,765
our French allies.

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00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,900
And the kinds of things
that I was highlighting

263
00:12:09,895 --> 00:12:11,865
here earlier in terms
of the work that the

264
00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:13,864
Secretary of Defense,
the President's

265
00:12:13,866 --> 00:12:15,866
counterterrorism advisor,
and the Secretary of

266
00:12:15,868 --> 00:12:17,868
Homeland Security to
deepen our security

267
00:12:17,870 --> 00:12:19,870
relationship with France,
these aren't the kinds of

268
00:12:19,872 --> 00:12:20,872
things that
generate headlines.

269
00:12:20,873 --> 00:12:23,013
These aren't the kinds of
things that are covered

270
00:12:23,008 --> 00:12:24,248
closely by the public.

271
00:12:24,243 --> 00:12:25,243
That's understandable.

272
00:12:25,244 --> 00:12:29,914
But it should be an
indication to the American

273
00:12:29,915 --> 00:12:32,515
people that the safety and
security of the American

274
00:12:32,518 --> 00:12:35,258
people is the President's
top priority.

275
00:12:35,254 --> 00:12:37,754
And he has given specific
direction to his team that

276
00:12:37,756 --> 00:12:39,626
this must be our
top priority.

277
00:12:39,625 --> 00:12:44,535
And it's why you see these
national security agencies

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00:12:44,530 --> 00:12:48,870
deeply engage on these
issues even when it may

279
00:12:48,868 --> 00:12:50,868
not be work that
generates headlines.

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00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:54,340
It is work that makes
the country safer.

281
00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:55,810
Suzanne.

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00:12:55,808 --> 00:12:57,548
The Press: The French
President, François

283
00:12:57,543 --> 00:12:59,713
Hollande, said to his
people that they have to

284
00:12:59,712 --> 00:13:03,182
accept, they have to live
with terrorism, with terror.

285
00:13:03,182 --> 00:13:06,322
And at the same time, the
presidential hopefuls,

286
00:13:06,318 --> 00:13:09,258
Hillary and Donald Trump,
said that we are "at war."

287
00:13:09,255 --> 00:13:13,095
How does the President
feel Americans should

288
00:13:13,092 --> 00:13:16,992
think about where we are
in terms of at war with

289
00:13:16,996 --> 00:13:20,566
terrorism and living and
accepting there will be

290
00:13:20,566 --> 00:13:21,636
acts of terror?

291
00:13:21,634 --> 00:13:23,774
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President has said on a

292
00:13:23,769 --> 00:13:28,709
number of occasions that
terrorists in al Qaeda

293
00:13:28,707 --> 00:13:31,007
declared war on the United
States on 9/11, and we've

294
00:13:31,010 --> 00:13:33,010
been at war with
them ever since.

295
00:13:33,012 --> 00:13:36,152
And we've made important
progress in that war.

296
00:13:36,148 --> 00:13:39,748
Core al Qaeda, that
previously used to operate

297
00:13:39,752 --> 00:13:43,092
and live with impunity in
the Afghanistan-Pakistan

298
00:13:43,088 --> 00:13:45,528
region, has
been decimated.

299
00:13:45,524 --> 00:13:47,964
There are al Qaeda
affiliates in other parts

300
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,560
of the world that are the
source of ongoing concern.

301
00:13:51,564 --> 00:13:54,434
There are also
organizations like ISIL

302
00:13:54,433 --> 00:13:57,133
that trace their roots
back to al Qaeda.

303
00:13:57,136 --> 00:14:00,076
And obviously those are
-- that's one extremist

304
00:14:00,072 --> 00:14:03,642
organization that does
pose a threat and has

305
00:14:03,642 --> 00:14:09,212
attracted the intense
attention of the United

306
00:14:09,215 --> 00:14:11,215
States and the
international coalition

307
00:14:11,217 --> 00:14:12,217
that we lead.

308
00:14:12,218 --> 00:14:14,218
The President has been
pretty unequivocal about

309
00:14:14,220 --> 00:14:15,350
all of that.

310
00:14:15,354 --> 00:14:18,424
We've also been quite
unequivocal about the fact

311
00:14:18,424 --> 00:14:24,264
that we're still waiting
on Congress to pass an

312
00:14:24,263 --> 00:14:26,763
authorization to use
military force against ISIL.

313
00:14:26,765 --> 00:14:28,765
I know that there are
some critics of the

314
00:14:28,767 --> 00:14:31,907
administration who like
to talk tough and suggest

315
00:14:31,904 --> 00:14:36,844
that somehow we need to
declare war on ISIL.

316
00:14:36,842 --> 00:14:40,482
I would encourage those
individuals to consult the

317
00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:42,649
copy of the United States
Constitution that many of

318
00:14:42,648 --> 00:14:45,488
them carry around in
their suit pocket.

319
00:14:45,484 --> 00:14:48,984
They often wield that
as evidence of their patriotism.

320
00:14:48,988 --> 00:14:53,358
I would encourage them to
consider that document

321
00:14:53,359 --> 00:14:55,359
carefully and actually
remind themselves that

322
00:14:55,361 --> 00:14:59,561
it's Congress who has the
authority to declare war.

323
00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:03,905
And it's now been almost
a year and a half since

324
00:15:03,902 --> 00:15:06,902
President Obama sent up
legislative language for

325
00:15:06,905 --> 00:15:09,705
an authorization to use
military force that we

326
00:15:09,708 --> 00:15:11,708
believe that Congress
should pass.

327
00:15:11,710 --> 00:15:13,710
And passing that
authorization to use

328
00:15:13,712 --> 00:15:15,712
military force would send
a clear signal to the

329
00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:17,854
American people, to our
allies, and yes, to our

330
00:15:17,850 --> 00:15:22,290
enemies, that the United
States is united behind

331
00:15:22,288 --> 00:15:24,288
the President's strategy
to degrade and ultimately

332
00:15:24,290 --> 00:15:25,690
destroy ISIL.

333
00:15:25,691 --> 00:15:27,961
The truth of the matter
is, our men and women in

334
00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,600
the intelligence community
and our men and women in

335
00:15:30,596 --> 00:15:35,836
the military are doing
their part to take the

336
00:15:35,834 --> 00:15:36,834
fight to ISIL.

337
00:15:36,835 --> 00:15:39,735
And it's time for members
of Congress to do their job.

338
00:15:39,738 --> 00:15:43,138
The Press: Newt Gingrich
responded, saying that he

339
00:15:43,142 --> 00:15:45,912
felt that all Muslims in
this country should be

340
00:15:45,911 --> 00:15:47,381
checked to see if they
subscribe to Sharia law,

341
00:15:47,379 --> 00:15:49,649
and if so, they should be
kicked out of the country.

342
00:15:49,648 --> 00:15:53,318
Does the administration
have any response to that?

343
00:15:53,319 --> 00:15:55,319
Mr. Earnest: It sounds
like he might need to

344
00:15:55,321 --> 00:16:02,131
consult his copy of the
pocket Constitution as well.

345
00:16:02,127 --> 00:16:05,427
Our nation was founded on
the principle that this is

346
00:16:05,431 --> 00:16:11,671
a country where people
could choose to worship as

347
00:16:11,670 --> 00:16:17,180
they please, without
harassment from the government.

348
00:16:17,176 --> 00:16:21,076
And that is a principle
that is enshrined in our

349
00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,720
Constitution, and one that
the President believes is

350
00:16:23,716 --> 00:16:26,556
worth protecting.

351
00:16:26,552 --> 00:16:30,452
So observations like that,
or proposals like that,

352
00:16:30,456 --> 00:16:34,796
rhetoric like that, is
un-American by its

353
00:16:34,793 --> 00:16:37,193
very definition.

354
00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:42,366
This is also the worst
possible time for leaders

355
00:16:42,368 --> 00:16:45,538
or aspiring leaders to
suggest that somehow

356
00:16:45,537 --> 00:16:48,177
Americans should start
turning on one another.

357
00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:53,483
That's exactly what the
terrorists want us to do.

358
00:16:53,479 --> 00:16:56,979
I think the American
people would expect their

359
00:16:56,982 --> 00:17:01,322
leaders to stand up and
seek to unify this country

360
00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,690
in these trying times.

361
00:17:03,689 --> 00:17:07,229
That certainly is going
to make us safer, and it

362
00:17:07,226 --> 00:17:19,106
certainly is a way that we
live up to the values that

363
00:17:19,104 --> 00:17:20,074
Mark.

364
00:17:20,072 --> 00:17:22,342
The Press: Speaking of
9/11, Josh, I know we've

365
00:17:22,341 --> 00:17:24,511
talked about this earlier
in the week -- the 28

366
00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:26,410
pages -- the congressional
report that it's been

367
00:17:26,412 --> 00:17:31,522
cleared -- Congresswoman
Pelosi said that the

368
00:17:31,517 --> 00:17:32,887
release is imminent.

369
00:17:32,885 --> 00:17:35,625
Without actually having
seen the 28 pages yet

370
00:17:35,621 --> 00:17:38,991
ourselves, can you just
summarize, does the

371
00:17:38,991 --> 00:17:41,731
administration think
these 28 pages shed any

372
00:17:41,727 --> 00:17:45,327
important new light on the
Saudi role in the

373
00:17:45,330 --> 00:17:45,830
attacks on 9/11?

374
00:17:45,831 --> 00:17:47,931
Mr. Earnest: We
do not, Mark.

375
00:17:47,933 --> 00:17:53,243
And the Office of the
Director of National

376
00:17:53,238 --> 00:17:56,808
Intelligence has
completed the process for

377
00:17:56,809 --> 00:17:59,879
declassifying as much of
that material as possible.

378
00:17:59,878 --> 00:18:01,878
This material was actually
all included in a

379
00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:03,280
congressional document.

380
00:18:03,282 --> 00:18:07,182
And that's the reason that
the DNI conducted this

381
00:18:07,186 --> 00:18:11,786
review, declassified as
much of it as they could,

382
00:18:11,790 --> 00:18:14,330
and then handed it
off to Congress.

383
00:18:14,326 --> 00:18:17,126
And now it will be up to
Congress to decide how and

384
00:18:17,129 --> 00:18:19,129
when to release
this information.

385
00:18:19,131 --> 00:18:23,201
But what you'll find once
you do have an opportunity

386
00:18:23,202 --> 00:18:25,202
to take a look at what has
been redacted -- and the

387
00:18:25,204 --> 00:18:29,974
vast majority of the
document has been made

388
00:18:29,975 --> 00:18:36,445
available for public
review, declassified --

389
00:18:36,448 --> 00:18:38,448
what you'll find when
you take a look at the

390
00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:41,450
document is that it will
confirm what we have been

391
00:18:41,453 --> 00:18:43,853
saying for quite some
time, which is that this

392
00:18:43,856 --> 00:18:50,366
material was investigative
material that was reviewed

393
00:18:50,362 --> 00:18:54,202
and follow up on by
the independent 9/11

394
00:18:54,199 --> 00:18:56,569
Commission that was formed
outside of the U.S.

395
00:18:56,568 --> 00:19:00,008
government to take a look
at the attacks of 9/11.

396
00:19:00,005 --> 00:19:06,275
And the conclusion of the
9/11 Commission is -- or

397
00:19:06,278 --> 00:19:11,118
was, as they wrote -- they
found "no evidence that

398
00:19:11,116 --> 00:19:13,286
the Saudi government as
an institution, or senior

399
00:19:13,285 --> 00:19:16,825
Saudi officials
individually funded al

400
00:19:16,822 --> 00:19:20,792
Qaeda." The other thing
that I would point you to

401
00:19:20,792 --> 00:19:29,372
is, in 2014, the FBI
conducted some work as a

402
00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:32,138
part of the 9/11 Review
Commission, and they

403
00:19:32,137 --> 00:19:34,537
concluded that there was
no new evidence that

404
00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:36,680
"would change the 9/11
Commission's findings

405
00:19:36,675 --> 00:19:41,945
regarding responsibility
for the 9/11 attacks."

406
00:19:41,947 --> 00:19:43,947
So the decision that
was made by the DNI to

407
00:19:43,949 --> 00:19:46,419
declassify this material
is consistent with the

408
00:19:46,418 --> 00:19:48,558
commitment to transparency
that you've seen this

409
00:19:48,554 --> 00:19:52,594
administration impose
on other areas of our

410
00:19:52,591 --> 00:19:55,731
national security policy
that had previously been secret.

411
00:19:55,727 --> 00:19:59,197
It was just a couple of
weeks ago that we released

412
00:19:59,197 --> 00:20:01,867
the updated accounting
-- well, I guess that we

413
00:20:01,867 --> 00:20:08,777
released the accounting
for first time of

414
00:20:08,774 --> 00:20:15,584
civilians who were harmed
in counterterrorism strikes.

415
00:20:15,581 --> 00:20:18,951
The administration also
worked diligently with the

416
00:20:18,951 --> 00:20:22,821
United States Senate to
declassify significant

417
00:20:22,821 --> 00:20:26,021
portions of the report
that they wrote on the CIA

418
00:20:26,024 --> 00:20:27,424
interrogation program.

419
00:20:27,426 --> 00:20:32,096
That was a subject of
some controversy in the

420
00:20:32,097 --> 00:20:33,737
national security
community.

421
00:20:33,732 --> 00:20:36,472
But the administration
concluded that it was

422
00:20:36,468 --> 00:20:37,908
important to be as
transparent as possible

423
00:20:37,903 --> 00:20:39,773
about that report.

424
00:20:39,771 --> 00:20:44,441
And so these pages, while
they don't shed any new

425
00:20:44,443 --> 00:20:48,543
light or change any of
the conclusions about

426
00:20:48,547 --> 00:20:51,447
responsibility for the
9/11 attacks, they are

427
00:20:51,450 --> 00:20:53,650
consistent with the
commitment to transparency

428
00:20:53,652 --> 00:20:56,822
that the administration
has tried to apply to even

429
00:20:56,822 --> 00:20:58,822
sensitive national
security issues.

430
00:20:58,824 --> 00:21:00,824
The Press: They don't
really change anything.

431
00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:03,396
Why did it take so
long to go through the

432
00:21:03,395 --> 00:21:04,895
declassification process?

433
00:21:04,896 --> 00:21:07,236
I mean, I realize that it
was declassified -- it was

434
00:21:07,232 --> 00:21:09,972
classified originally in
the prior administration.

435
00:21:09,968 --> 00:21:12,108
But still, even on
President Obama's watch,

436
00:21:12,104 --> 00:21:13,204
why did it take so long?

437
00:21:13,205 --> 00:21:16,275
And is it, as some people
think, deference to the

438
00:21:16,274 --> 00:21:17,574
Saudi royal family?

439
00:21:17,576 --> 00:21:19,616
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mark,
I know that there were a

440
00:21:19,611 --> 00:21:25,251
variety of considerations
that were factored into

441
00:21:25,250 --> 00:21:29,190
the decision to declassify
these 28 pages.

442
00:21:29,187 --> 00:21:34,857
I would acknowledge that
it did take quite some

443
00:21:34,860 --> 00:21:39,670
time for the decisions to
be made to declassify

444
00:21:39,665 --> 00:21:42,435
this material.

445
00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:45,574
I'm not in a position to
discuss what may have

446
00:21:45,570 --> 00:21:46,910
factored into
those decisions.

447
00:21:46,905 --> 00:21:51,075
But the President is
certainly satisfied that

448
00:21:51,076 --> 00:21:54,076
so much of this material,
even after a long wait,

449
00:21:54,079 --> 00:21:56,449
has now been declassified
and will be available for

450
00:21:56,448 --> 00:21:57,618
review by the public.

451
00:21:57,616 --> 00:22:00,616
The Press: I'm going to
restate the question in

452
00:22:00,619 --> 00:22:01,349
the simplest form.

453
00:22:01,353 --> 00:22:03,993
Was it out of deference
to Saudi sensibility?

454
00:22:03,989 --> 00:22:07,459
Mr. Earnest: I can't speak
to what factors may have

455
00:22:07,459 --> 00:22:10,599
factored into the length
of time that it took to

456
00:22:10,595 --> 00:22:13,665
complete the review.

457
00:22:13,665 --> 00:22:16,265
The Press: Given the
attack in Nice, is

458
00:22:16,268 --> 00:22:19,268
Homeland Security
suggesting any

459
00:22:19,271 --> 00:22:20,271
enhancements to U.S.

460
00:22:20,272 --> 00:22:23,872
security given the nature
of that attack -- a truck?

461
00:22:23,875 --> 00:22:30,785
Or is the feeling that at
this point we're protected

462
00:22:30,782 --> 00:22:31,112
by enough, that --

463
00:22:31,116 --> 00:22:33,116
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Ron, this is certainly

464
00:22:33,118 --> 00:22:35,118
something that our
Homeland Security

465
00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,120
professionals are
already considering.

466
00:22:37,122 --> 00:22:40,092
As you've heard me say
on many occasions, our

467
00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:42,092
Homeland Security
professionals are

468
00:22:42,094 --> 00:22:44,094
constantly updating the
procedures that are in

469
00:22:44,096 --> 00:22:46,096
place to protect the
American people and to

470
00:22:46,098 --> 00:22:47,738
defend our homeland.

471
00:22:47,733 --> 00:22:50,673
So as new information
emerges, that could

472
00:22:50,669 --> 00:22:54,439
potentially expose a new
threat to the United

473
00:22:54,439 --> 00:22:55,879
States or to the
American people.

474
00:22:55,874 --> 00:22:57,874
That will be thoroughly
evaluated by our Homeland

475
00:22:57,876 --> 00:22:58,876
Security professionals.

476
00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:01,847
And if they determine that
it's necessary to make

477
00:23:01,847 --> 00:23:03,917
some changes to our
security posture, then

478
00:23:03,915 --> 00:23:04,915
they will do that.

479
00:23:04,916 --> 00:23:06,916
But they will be the
ones to announce it.

480
00:23:06,918 --> 00:23:09,188
The Press: But nothing has
happened in the last hours

481
00:23:09,187 --> 00:23:09,917
since all this happened?

482
00:23:09,921 --> 00:23:11,921
Mr. Earnest: Nothing has
happened in the last 18

483
00:23:11,923 --> 00:23:12,923
hours since this happened.

484
00:23:12,924 --> 00:23:14,894
But I guess the other
thing I'd point out is,

485
00:23:14,893 --> 00:23:16,893
this only happened
18 hours ago.

486
00:23:16,895 --> 00:23:18,895
So as they learn more
about this situation, and

487
00:23:18,897 --> 00:23:20,897
as they conduct a further
investigation, it may

488
00:23:20,899 --> 00:23:23,639
reveal more information
that does prompt Homeland

489
00:23:23,635 --> 00:23:25,605
Security officials to make
a change in our

490
00:23:25,604 --> 00:23:26,604
security posture.

491
00:23:26,605 --> 00:23:27,605
But at this
point, it hasn't.

492
00:23:27,606 --> 00:23:29,946
The Press: You
mentioned in terms of

493
00:23:29,941 --> 00:23:31,781
intelligence-sharing the
problem of our European

494
00:23:31,777 --> 00:23:34,617
allies sharing information
amongst themselves and

495
00:23:34,613 --> 00:23:36,753
then with the
United States.

496
00:23:36,748 --> 00:23:40,718
What is the deficit there
as a result of that?

497
00:23:40,719 --> 00:23:44,889
Does it mostly have
to do with the U.S.

498
00:23:44,890 --> 00:23:47,160
knowledge of foreign
fighters crossing?

499
00:23:47,159 --> 00:23:50,159
Does it have to do with --
I'm trying to understand

500
00:23:50,162 --> 00:23:53,262
what's missing in terms of
what we would like to know

501
00:23:53,265 --> 00:23:56,735
that we don't know as a
result of this problem

502
00:23:56,735 --> 00:23:57,735
that you identify.

503
00:23:57,736 --> 00:23:58,936
Mr. Earnest: Well, you're
obviously asking about

504
00:23:58,937 --> 00:24:00,937
information that's
classified, and sensitive

505
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:01,939
intelligence material.

506
00:24:01,940 --> 00:24:02,970
So it's hard for me to
talk about it in a

507
00:24:02,974 --> 00:24:03,674
lot of detail.

508
00:24:03,675 --> 00:24:05,675
But let me try to answer
your question by drawing

509
00:24:05,677 --> 00:24:08,717
an analogy.

510
00:24:08,713 --> 00:24:12,683
There were conclusions
after 9/11 about the

511
00:24:12,684 --> 00:24:14,924
intelligence collection
and intelligence-sharing

512
00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,390
process inside
the United States.

513
00:24:17,389 --> 00:24:20,029
And one of the things out
of the 9/11 review was

514
00:24:20,025 --> 00:24:23,295
identifying what they
described as stove pipes

515
00:24:23,295 --> 00:24:25,295
-- information that was
collected by the U.S.

516
00:24:25,297 --> 00:24:27,297
government in one agency
but not shared with all

517
00:24:27,299 --> 00:24:30,099
the others, including
other agencies that could

518
00:24:30,101 --> 00:24:32,101
act on that information in
a way that would enhance

519
00:24:32,103 --> 00:24:33,103
our national security.

520
00:24:33,104 --> 00:24:35,304
The Press: I think the
situation in Europe is

521
00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:37,707
essentially analogous to
that; that there may be

522
00:24:37,709 --> 00:24:40,549
certain European allies
that have access to a

523
00:24:40,545 --> 00:24:42,845
particular piece of
information that may or

524
00:24:42,848 --> 00:24:45,288
may not be significant to
their national security.

525
00:24:45,283 --> 00:24:47,283
But we need to make sure
that there's a mechanism,

526
00:24:47,285 --> 00:24:49,255
and Europeans need to
make sure that there's a

527
00:24:49,254 --> 00:24:51,254
mechanism in place so
that they can share that

528
00:24:51,256 --> 00:24:53,256
information with other
countries who may need to

529
00:24:53,258 --> 00:24:55,258
act on that information
to ensure that safety and

530
00:24:55,260 --> 00:24:56,260
security of their
own citizens.

531
00:24:56,261 --> 00:24:59,231
So ultimately that's what
we want our European

532
00:24:59,231 --> 00:25:02,531
allies to do
more to address.

533
00:25:02,534 --> 00:25:05,304
Quite frankly, just to
speak bluntly about this,

534
00:25:05,303 --> 00:25:09,813
the previous attacks in
Paris, in November, I

535
00:25:09,808 --> 00:25:15,278
think illustrated this
vulnerability best --

536
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,850
The Press: Because there
was information that was

537
00:25:18,850 --> 00:25:21,190
available, was out there
somewhere that might have

538
00:25:21,186 --> 00:25:23,056
been used to stop it?

539
00:25:23,054 --> 00:25:24,394
Mr. Earnest: Because
the evidence right now

540
00:25:24,389 --> 00:25:27,659
indicates that the
plotters of that attack

541
00:25:27,659 --> 00:25:28,189
were in Belgium, but the
attack that took place

542
00:25:28,193 --> 00:25:29,193
was in France.

543
00:25:29,194 --> 00:25:31,194
So it indicates the
cross-border nature of

544
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:38,236
this threat, and it's why
we have placed a premium

545
00:25:38,236 --> 00:25:41,376
on the ability of our
allies to share that

546
00:25:41,373 --> 00:25:43,373
information effectively
and efficiently even

547
00:25:43,375 --> 00:25:44,445
across borders.

548
00:25:44,442 --> 00:25:46,442
Ultimately, that will
improve the quality of

549
00:25:46,444 --> 00:25:48,184
information that the
United States receives.

550
00:25:48,179 --> 00:25:49,749
The Press: Let me ask
you a broader question.

551
00:25:49,748 --> 00:25:52,448
After the various attacks
we often hear the

552
00:25:52,450 --> 00:25:53,180
administration say we're
going to intensify our

553
00:25:53,184 --> 00:25:56,454
campaign against ISIS on
all fronts -- cut off

554
00:25:56,454 --> 00:25:59,994
their finances, their air
attacks, so on and so forth.

555
00:25:59,991 --> 00:26:02,161
But obviously this is
going on now -- we've had

556
00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:03,830
a series of these.

557
00:26:03,828 --> 00:26:08,468
So, again, is there going
to be some stepping-up of

558
00:26:08,466 --> 00:26:12,266
the administration's
attack efforts against ISIS?

559
00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:15,770
And why do we always
do this incrementally?

560
00:26:15,774 --> 00:26:18,444
Why isn't there -- it
seems like there's always

561
00:26:18,443 --> 00:26:19,983
an incremental
approach to this.

562
00:26:19,978 --> 00:26:22,118
And after the next
attack we'll have more

563
00:26:22,113 --> 00:26:23,953
intensifying, and then
again, and again.

564
00:26:23,949 --> 00:26:28,449
Are you -- can you tell
the American people that

565
00:26:28,453 --> 00:26:30,293
you are -- that the
administration is really

566
00:26:30,288 --> 00:26:33,858
doing everything possible
now, not after the next attack?

567
00:26:33,858 --> 00:26:36,928
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ron, we
often make announcements

568
00:26:36,928 --> 00:26:41,338
about the intensification
of our efforts even when

569
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,333
it doesn't come on the
heels of another attack.

570
00:26:43,335 --> 00:26:47,705
In fact, it was just --
the last couple weeks have

571
00:26:47,706 --> 00:26:53,516
been -- I guess it was
earlier this week, the

572
00:26:53,511 --> 00:26:55,511
Secretary of Defense
traveled to Iraq and

573
00:26:55,513 --> 00:26:57,513
announced the
intensification of our

574
00:26:57,515 --> 00:27:01,085
efforts against ISIL in
Iraq by committing another

575
00:27:01,086 --> 00:27:03,156
400 or so U.S.

576
00:27:03,154 --> 00:27:07,624
military personnel
to staff up and

577
00:27:07,625 --> 00:27:10,765
operationalize a key
military airfield that

578
00:27:10,762 --> 00:27:12,762
Iraqi forces had
taken back from ISIL.

579
00:27:12,764 --> 00:27:14,834
I think that is a good
example of how we are

580
00:27:14,833 --> 00:27:17,703
always looking for ways
to intensify our efforts.

581
00:27:17,702 --> 00:27:20,302
And if there is one aspect
of our strategy that has

582
00:27:20,305 --> 00:27:22,305
yielded some progress,
then the President has

583
00:27:22,307 --> 00:27:24,307
said let's look for
ways to intensify it.

584
00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:26,309
One of the challenges we
know that Iraqi security

585
00:27:26,311 --> 00:27:30,181
forces are facing is
dealing with long supply lines.

586
00:27:30,181 --> 00:27:32,251
And so by establishing
this base and getting it

587
00:27:32,250 --> 00:27:34,250
up and running, it
can essentially be a

588
00:27:34,252 --> 00:27:37,292
logistical hub for one
part of the country that

589
00:27:37,288 --> 00:27:40,928
is closer to Mosul, which
we know is a top objective

590
00:27:40,925 --> 00:27:42,065
of Iraqi security forces.

591
00:27:42,060 --> 00:27:45,000
So that's an example of
how the United States and

592
00:27:44,996 --> 00:27:47,036
our coalition partners are
constantly looking for

593
00:27:47,032 --> 00:27:48,362
ways to intensify
our efforts.

594
00:27:48,366 --> 00:27:53,036
And the President makes
important decisions --

595
00:27:53,038 --> 00:27:57,878
measurable decisions to
intensify our efforts even

596
00:27:57,876 --> 00:28:00,946
when an attack has
not just occurred.

597
00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:03,885
I think that's an
indication of the rapid

598
00:28:03,882 --> 00:28:05,112
pace of our efforts there.

599
00:28:05,116 --> 00:28:07,856
The Press: What is the
assessment of whether ISIS

600
00:28:07,852 --> 00:28:11,222
is still capable of
coordinating attacks from

601
00:28:11,222 --> 00:28:14,092
Raqqa and elsewhere, given
the effort to degrade

602
00:28:14,092 --> 00:28:15,862
and destroy?

603
00:28:15,860 --> 00:28:18,030
They can still coordinate
-- even though we don't

604
00:28:18,029 --> 00:28:20,869
know what happened in
Nice, they can still --

605
00:28:20,865 --> 00:28:22,865
they're still operational,
they still have the

606
00:28:22,867 --> 00:28:23,867
ability to do this.

607
00:28:23,868 --> 00:28:26,408
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
seen a detailed updated

608
00:28:26,404 --> 00:28:33,244
assessment of this, but I
think it is fair to say

609
00:28:33,244 --> 00:28:35,244
that the United States and
our coalition partners

610
00:28:35,246 --> 00:28:39,346
continue to be concerned
about the ability of ISIL

611
00:28:39,350 --> 00:28:43,190
to direct attacks from
Iraq and in Syria.

612
00:28:43,188 --> 00:28:46,588
What's also true is
that capacity has been degraded.

613
00:28:46,591 --> 00:28:49,391
We have applied
significant pressure on

614
00:28:49,394 --> 00:28:52,634
ISIL leaders in Iraq and
in Syria, including in

615
00:28:52,630 --> 00:28:55,130
Raqqa and Mosul -- in such
a way that we know that

616
00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:57,133
many of these leaders are
quite concerned about

617
00:28:57,135 --> 00:28:58,135
their own personal
security.

618
00:28:58,136 --> 00:29:00,136
And if they're taking
steps to protect

619
00:29:00,138 --> 00:29:03,108
themselves that is time
they are not spending in

620
00:29:03,108 --> 00:29:05,708
recruiting and directing
terrorists overseas.

621
00:29:05,710 --> 00:29:09,980
Another key area of
progress has been closing

622
00:29:09,981 --> 00:29:12,881
the border between
Syria and Turkey.

623
00:29:12,884 --> 00:29:15,084
We know that was the route
that previous terrorists

624
00:29:15,086 --> 00:29:19,756
have used to infiltrate
Europe and carry out attacks.

625
00:29:19,757 --> 00:29:22,897
That's much harder now
than it was in the past

626
00:29:22,894 --> 00:29:24,894
because of efforts that
have been taken on both

627
00:29:24,896 --> 00:29:26,936
sides of the
Turkey-Syria border.

628
00:29:26,931 --> 00:29:28,931
But there's more work that
needs to be done in that

629
00:29:28,933 --> 00:29:29,763
regard, as well.

630
00:29:29,767 --> 00:29:31,037
The Press: And does the
administration see a

631
00:29:31,035 --> 00:29:34,275
connection between -- on
the one hand, you talk

632
00:29:34,272 --> 00:29:36,042
about how much territory
you've recaptured, the

633
00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,810
coalition has recaptured,
yet ISIS is more diffuse

634
00:29:38,810 --> 00:29:42,550
now and they're more --
they're in various other

635
00:29:42,547 --> 00:29:43,887
places -- Libya,
especially;

636
00:29:43,882 --> 00:29:46,282
Afghanistan; elsewhere.

637
00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:48,654
Does the administration
see a connection between

638
00:29:48,653 --> 00:29:51,423
that and the recent
attacks that have happened

639
00:29:51,422 --> 00:29:54,792
in -- not Nice, but in
Baghdad and

640
00:29:54,792 --> 00:29:57,032
Bangladesh, Istanbul?

641
00:29:57,028 --> 00:30:00,128
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
is some speculation among

642
00:30:00,131 --> 00:30:03,601
some analysts that ISIL
may focus more of their

643
00:30:03,601 --> 00:30:05,801
time and attention on
carrying out attacks

644
00:30:05,803 --> 00:30:10,413
outside of Iraq and in
Syria as their claim to

645
00:30:10,408 --> 00:30:14,848
establish a caliphate is
exposed for the fantasy

646
00:30:14,846 --> 00:30:15,416
that it is.

647
00:30:15,413 --> 00:30:16,383
The Press: What do
you do about that?

648
00:30:16,381 --> 00:30:18,981
Now you have this diffuse
organization that is --

649
00:30:18,983 --> 00:30:22,653
Mr. Earnest: Well, I will
say this is not a new

650
00:30:22,654 --> 00:30:23,924
threat, though.

651
00:30:23,922 --> 00:30:25,722
It is one that is
potentially enhanced by

652
00:30:25,723 --> 00:30:27,023
the fact that we're
actually making progress

653
00:30:27,025 --> 00:30:31,325
against their efforts
to form a caliphate.

654
00:30:31,329 --> 00:30:33,329
But it goes back to many
of the things that we were

655
00:30:33,331 --> 00:30:35,731
saying before -- that
we've talked about before

656
00:30:35,733 --> 00:30:36,503
in this room.

657
00:30:36,501 --> 00:30:41,871
That includes our efforts
to shut down ISIL's financing.

658
00:30:41,873 --> 00:30:45,273
We know that they rely on
money from the sale of oil

659
00:30:45,276 --> 00:30:49,176
on the black market, from
hostage taking, and from

660
00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:51,180
other nefarious activities
to fund their activities,

661
00:30:51,182 --> 00:30:53,182
to fund their operations
not just in Iraq and in

662
00:30:53,184 --> 00:30:54,484
Syria, but
around the world.

663
00:30:54,485 --> 00:30:56,485
So we've made great
strides in shutting down

664
00:30:56,487 --> 00:30:58,257
their financing system.

665
00:30:58,256 --> 00:31:00,256
There's more that
we need to do.

666
00:31:00,258 --> 00:31:02,598
We've obviously made
countering violent

667
00:31:02,594 --> 00:31:04,634
extremism and their
efforts to radicalize

668
00:31:04,629 --> 00:31:06,969
people using social
media a top priority.

669
00:31:06,965 --> 00:31:08,965
And we've worked
effectively with countries

670
00:31:08,967 --> 00:31:11,367
around the world,
including nations like the

671
00:31:11,369 --> 00:31:15,739
United Arab Emirates and
Malaysia, to establish

672
00:31:15,740 --> 00:31:17,840
fusion centers where we
can organize our efforts

673
00:31:17,842 --> 00:31:21,412
to counter them online.

674
00:31:21,412 --> 00:31:24,412
More intelligence-sharing
to track the flow of

675
00:31:24,415 --> 00:31:26,755
foreign fighters or other
individuals that could be

676
00:31:26,751 --> 00:31:29,221
the source of some
concern, and coordinating

677
00:31:29,220 --> 00:31:31,520
our efforts on that
front is important, too.

678
00:31:31,522 --> 00:31:37,962
So this is an effort that
we have been working to

679
00:31:37,962 --> 00:31:40,302
counter all along, and
we've made some progress.

680
00:31:40,298 --> 00:31:46,608
But it's more of a
significant threat now,

681
00:31:46,604 --> 00:31:50,104
according to some
analysts, because of the

682
00:31:50,108 --> 00:31:54,678
important progress that we
have made in undercutting

683
00:31:54,679 --> 00:31:59,489
the fantasy of a caliphate
in Iraq and in Syria

684
00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:00,954
established by ISIL.

685
00:32:00,952 --> 00:32:01,982
Jon.

686
00:32:01,986 --> 00:32:03,486
The Press: Let me see
if I got that correct.

687
00:32:03,488 --> 00:32:06,528
So the theory is that
we're seeing more

688
00:32:06,524 --> 00:32:08,764
terrorist attacks because
we're making progress

689
00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:11,460
against the core
terrorist organization?

690
00:32:11,462 --> 00:32:12,802
Mr. Earnest: This is
what some analysts

691
00:32:12,797 --> 00:32:13,467
have concluded.

692
00:32:13,464 --> 00:32:14,604
This is something that
we're obviously watching

693
00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:18,269
carefully, and we want
to be mindful of this

694
00:32:18,269 --> 00:32:19,139
potential risk.

695
00:32:19,137 --> 00:32:21,677
The Press: What does the
White House see is behind

696
00:32:21,673 --> 00:32:25,073
what seems to be a
stepped-up pace of attacks

697
00:32:25,076 --> 00:32:25,876
around the world?

698
00:32:25,877 --> 00:32:28,147
I mean, today, this
morning, Secretary Kerry

699
00:32:28,146 --> 00:32:31,116
said that it's virtually
every week that world

700
00:32:31,115 --> 00:32:32,785
leaders have to come out
and denounce another

701
00:32:32,784 --> 00:32:33,614
terrorist attack.

702
00:32:33,618 --> 00:32:36,658
Why are we seeing more
attacks around the world?

703
00:32:36,654 --> 00:32:39,724
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think this is --

704
00:32:39,724 --> 00:32:41,364
The Press: What does
the White House think?

705
00:32:41,359 --> 00:32:47,069
Mr. Earnest: There are
some who are concerned --

706
00:32:47,065 --> 00:32:51,065
or who are aware of the
risk associated with the

707
00:32:51,069 --> 00:32:54,769
progress that we're making
against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

708
00:32:54,772 --> 00:32:55,772
Let me give you
one example.

709
00:32:55,773 --> 00:32:59,573
We know that in at least
one case, some of ISIL's

710
00:32:59,577 --> 00:33:02,677
recruitment efforts to
foreign fighters has

711
00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:06,380
changed from "come travel
to Syria and join the

712
00:33:06,384 --> 00:33:11,824
fight" to "go to Libya and
pick up the fight there,"

713
00:33:11,823 --> 00:33:16,223
or "consider launching
attacks in your home country."

714
00:33:16,227 --> 00:33:19,127
So we know that there is
some evolution in the

715
00:33:19,130 --> 00:33:23,230
direction that ISIL is
giving to potential recruits.

716
00:33:23,234 --> 00:33:25,234
That's something that
we continue to be very

717
00:33:25,236 --> 00:33:27,236
mindful of, and we're
taking the steps I just

718
00:33:27,238 --> 00:33:29,338
outlined to Ron to
try to counter that.

719
00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:33,210
But, look, this is an
organization that still

720
00:33:33,211 --> 00:33:36,111
has a substantial number
of fighters under their

721
00:33:36,114 --> 00:33:38,754
command, and they still
have the ability to use

722
00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:46,720
social media to
add to their ranks.

723
00:33:46,724 --> 00:33:49,124
And we're mindful of that
potential and we want to

724
00:33:49,127 --> 00:33:53,397
make sure that we continue
to be vigilant about

725
00:33:53,398 --> 00:33:55,398
countering that effort and
about taking the steps

726
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,400
that are necessary to
protect the American people.

727
00:33:57,402 --> 00:33:59,202
The Press: So you ticked
through a whole bunch of things.

728
00:33:59,203 --> 00:34:00,373
I mean, you mentioned
earlier decimating al

729
00:34:00,371 --> 00:34:03,171
Qaeda, the increased
intelligence-sharing,

730
00:34:03,174 --> 00:34:05,714
these fusion centers,
countering violent

731
00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:10,420
extremism efforts, closing
the border between Syria

732
00:34:10,415 --> 00:34:20,225
and Turkey, taking away
territory from ISIS in Iraq.

733
00:34:20,224 --> 00:34:23,524
If it's all adding up
to more attacks, is it

734
00:34:23,528 --> 00:34:27,668
possible this just isn't
working for all the --

735
00:34:27,665 --> 00:34:29,865
you're citing progress
in individual, specific

736
00:34:29,867 --> 00:34:35,077
areas, and yet we're
seeing more violence.

737
00:34:35,072 --> 00:34:41,042
We're seeing widespread
attacks that are taking

738
00:34:41,045 --> 00:34:43,415
more -- not only are there
more of them, but they

739
00:34:43,414 --> 00:34:44,984
appear to be deadlier.

740
00:34:44,982 --> 00:34:47,582
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon,
the concern that we have

741
00:34:47,585 --> 00:34:51,625
-- when you think back to
the summer of 2014, when

742
00:34:51,622 --> 00:34:55,192
ISIL made this rapid
advance across large

743
00:34:55,193 --> 00:34:57,733
portions of Iraq, there
was this concern that

744
00:34:57,728 --> 00:34:59,568
there would be a large
base of operations that

745
00:34:59,564 --> 00:35:04,474
ISIL would be able to
establish in Syria and

746
00:35:04,469 --> 00:35:11,379
Iraq that would give them
the capacity to carry out

747
00:35:11,375 --> 00:35:17,345
much broader, much more
deadly terrorist attacks

748
00:35:17,348 --> 00:35:19,688
on the scale that
we saw on 9/11.

749
00:35:19,684 --> 00:35:24,824
And what we're seeing now
is different than that.

750
00:35:24,822 --> 00:35:30,562
What we're seeing now more
often are essentially lone

751
00:35:30,561 --> 00:35:36,301
wolf attacks; individuals
who, in some cases -- and

752
00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:38,300
I can't speak to the Nice
case because we just don't

753
00:35:38,302 --> 00:35:40,302
know yet -- but in some
cases, aren't even

754
00:35:40,304 --> 00:35:42,944
directed by ISIL but
rather are radicalized by

755
00:35:42,940 --> 00:35:45,210
hearing their
propaganda online.

756
00:35:45,209 --> 00:35:47,209
And the President has said
for a long time that it's

757
00:35:47,211 --> 00:35:52,851
very difficult to prevent
those attacks from taking

758
00:35:52,850 --> 00:35:54,850
place because they're not
conspiring with other

759
00:35:54,852 --> 00:35:57,852
people so it's
harder to catch them.

760
00:35:57,855 --> 00:36:00,225
But it's why we need to
be very focused on things

761
00:36:00,224 --> 00:36:02,564
like countering
violent extremism.

762
00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:06,300
That's why we need to
work effectively with, in

763
00:36:06,297 --> 00:36:08,297
particular, the
Muslim community.

764
00:36:08,299 --> 00:36:11,039
We know that some parts of
the Muslim community are

765
00:36:11,035 --> 00:36:15,375
particularly vulnerable to
the radicalizing strategy

766
00:36:15,373 --> 00:36:18,573
and messaging that
ISIL has undertaken.

767
00:36:18,576 --> 00:36:24,246
So the threat that we're
facing now is different --

768
00:36:24,248 --> 00:36:26,248
certainly different than
the threat that was posed

769
00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:28,250
by core al Qaeda, and
different than the threat

770
00:36:28,252 --> 00:36:31,292
that precipitated the
terrible attacks on 9/11.

771
00:36:31,289 --> 00:36:35,329
But as you point out --
and I certainly wouldn't

772
00:36:35,326 --> 00:36:37,766
disagree -- they're
dangerous, they're

773
00:36:37,762 --> 00:36:40,162
violent, and we need to
dedicate significant

774
00:36:40,164 --> 00:36:43,764
resources to
preventing them.

775
00:36:43,768 --> 00:36:45,768
And that's exactly
what we're doing.

776
00:36:45,770 --> 00:36:47,770
The Press: I understand,
you're a hundred percent

777
00:36:47,772 --> 00:36:49,972
correct -- last question
-- that it's Congress that

778
00:36:49,974 --> 00:36:52,374
declares wars, not the
President who declares war.

779
00:36:52,376 --> 00:36:56,276
But on the substance, do
you agree -- does the

780
00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:57,950
White House agree with
Donald Trump that we are

781
00:36:57,949 --> 00:37:00,189
effectively engaged in a
-- or need to be engaged

782
00:37:00,184 --> 00:37:04,454
in a world war right now,
and that we should declare

783
00:37:04,455 --> 00:37:07,925
war on ISIS?

784
00:37:07,925 --> 00:37:11,265
I know it's not the White
House to do, but does the

785
00:37:11,262 --> 00:37:13,162
White House think that
would be a good idea or a

786
00:37:13,164 --> 00:37:14,164
bad idea?

787
00:37:14,165 --> 00:37:15,905
And this is different
obviously from

788
00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:17,030
authorizing force.

789
00:37:17,034 --> 00:37:17,934
Mr. Earnest: Yes, it is.

790
00:37:17,935 --> 00:37:19,335
The Press: -- a
declaration of war against

791
00:37:19,337 --> 00:37:21,807
a terrorist organization.

792
00:37:21,806 --> 00:37:23,806
Mr. Earnest: The
President, on a number of

793
00:37:23,808 --> 00:37:25,808
occasions, has
acknowledged -- had

794
00:37:25,810 --> 00:37:28,250
essentially declared that
the United States is at

795
00:37:28,245 --> 00:37:32,455
war with terrorist
organizations like ISIL.

796
00:37:32,450 --> 00:37:34,420
The best example of this
-- I was just pulling up

797
00:37:34,418 --> 00:37:36,658
here -- December 6,
2015, you'll recall the

798
00:37:36,654 --> 00:37:39,394
President gave an address
in the Oval Office.

799
00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:41,530
And included in that
address he said, "Our

800
00:37:41,525 --> 00:37:43,795
nation has been at war
with terrorists since al

801
00:37:43,794 --> 00:37:46,594
Qaeda killed nearly 3,000
Americans on 9/11."

802
00:37:46,597 --> 00:37:53,607
The President has not been
reluctant to apply the

803
00:37:53,604 --> 00:37:57,804
definition of war against
the terrorists that have

804
00:37:57,808 --> 00:37:59,308
attacked us.

805
00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:02,850
And, frankly, that's
why he believes it's so

806
00:38:02,847 --> 00:38:04,847
important for Congress
to fulfill their

807
00:38:04,849 --> 00:38:07,249
responsibility to pass
an authorization to use

808
00:38:07,251 --> 00:38:09,851
military force that would
send a clear signal to the

809
00:38:09,854 --> 00:38:13,124
country, to our allies,
and to our enemies that

810
00:38:13,124 --> 00:38:16,964
the country is united in
this effort against ISIL.

811
00:38:16,961 --> 00:38:19,031
I think the thing the
President has also taken

812
00:38:19,030 --> 00:38:22,630
pains to point out is that
we are not at war with

813
00:38:22,633 --> 00:38:26,373
Islam, we are at war with
a terrorist organization

814
00:38:26,370 --> 00:38:29,510
that attacked us, that
perverts Islam to try to

815
00:38:29,507 --> 00:38:31,807
recruit people
to their cause.

816
00:38:31,809 --> 00:38:33,079
Angela.

817
00:38:33,077 --> 00:38:35,047
The Press: The means of
this attack, of course,

818
00:38:35,046 --> 00:38:35,946
was a truck.

819
00:38:35,946 --> 00:38:37,786
When airplanes were
used to attack the U.S.

820
00:38:37,782 --> 00:38:39,822
it was pretty immediate
-- in terms of airport

821
00:38:39,817 --> 00:38:42,717
security and procedures.

822
00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,320
Trucks are a lot more
ubiquitous, of course,

823
00:38:44,321 --> 00:38:47,991
than airplanes, but they
can be a threat anywhere

824
00:38:47,992 --> 00:38:49,062
there could be a truck.

825
00:38:49,060 --> 00:38:51,100
Are there any thoughts or
discussions going on at

826
00:38:51,095 --> 00:38:53,595
this point, any sort of
security changes in the

827
00:38:53,597 --> 00:38:55,837
United States
involving trucks?

828
00:38:55,833 --> 00:38:58,203
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any changes like that

829
00:38:58,202 --> 00:38:59,472
that are being
contemplated right now.

830
00:38:59,470 --> 00:39:01,440
But as I mentioned to Ron,
there's a whole lot more

831
00:39:01,439 --> 00:39:03,379
that we need to learn
about this particular incident.

832
00:39:03,374 --> 00:39:06,274
And if there are some
steps that our homeland

833
00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,277
security professionals
conclude that we could

834
00:39:08,279 --> 00:39:11,049
take that would enhance
our security in this

835
00:39:11,048 --> 00:39:12,848
country given what
happened in Nice last

836
00:39:12,850 --> 00:39:16,390
night, then I'm confident
they'll move forward with

837
00:39:16,387 --> 00:39:18,527
implementing those
security measures.

838
00:39:18,522 --> 00:39:20,822
The Press: How
concerning is it to the

839
00:39:20,825 --> 00:39:23,525
administration that this
individual was apparently

840
00:39:23,527 --> 00:39:25,227
not on any terrorist
watch list?

841
00:39:25,229 --> 00:39:27,229
Many of the perpetrators
of recent attacks have

842
00:39:27,231 --> 00:39:29,731
been known to at least
some intelligence

843
00:39:29,734 --> 00:39:31,904
services, and this person
seems to have been much

844
00:39:31,902 --> 00:39:33,342
more under the radar.

845
00:39:33,337 --> 00:39:36,307
How concerning is that
that there wasn't any

846
00:39:36,307 --> 00:39:38,007
intelligence of it?

847
00:39:38,008 --> 00:39:39,378
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
this actually goes to I

848
00:39:39,376 --> 00:39:43,016
think Jon's question,
which is, we're mindful of

849
00:39:43,013 --> 00:39:48,353
the risk that is posed by
a so-called lone wolf.

850
00:39:48,352 --> 00:39:51,752
This is an individual that
doesn't have immediate or

851
00:39:51,756 --> 00:39:57,196
necessarily even any
direct ties to a terrorist

852
00:39:57,194 --> 00:40:00,034
organization or a broader
terrorist network or conspiracy.

853
00:40:00,030 --> 00:40:04,500
These are individuals who
are radicalized based on

854
00:40:04,502 --> 00:40:06,242
propaganda that
they view online.

855
00:40:06,237 --> 00:40:12,907
And that propaganda
prompts them to carry out

856
00:40:12,910 --> 00:40:14,150
these violent attacks.

857
00:40:14,145 --> 00:40:43,405
And we're quite
concerned about it.

858
00:40:43,407 --> 00:40:45,407
And these are -- it's very
difficult to interrupt,

859
00:40:45,409 --> 00:40:47,409
disrupt attacks that are
plotted and planned just

860
00:40:47,411 --> 00:40:48,411
by one person.

861
00:40:48,412 --> 00:40:50,412
That said, the Department
of Justice, on a regular

862
00:40:50,414 --> 00:40:52,414
basis, issues news
releases of individuals

863
00:40:52,416 --> 00:40:54,416
being apprehended based
on investigations that

864
00:40:54,418 --> 00:40:56,418
they've conducted, and
based on what they have

865
00:40:56,420 --> 00:40:58,420
concluded is solid
evidence that these

866
00:40:58,422 --> 00:41:00,422
individuals were preparing
to carry out a lone wolf attack.

867
00:41:00,424 --> 00:41:02,424
So we do have mechanisms
in place to disrupt those

868
00:41:02,426 --> 00:41:03,426
kinds of plots.

869
00:41:03,427 --> 00:41:05,397
The Department of Justice
and our men and women at

870
00:41:05,396 --> 00:41:07,396
the FBI are quite
skilled at doing so.

871
00:41:07,398 --> 00:41:08,398
And that's very
difficult work.

872
00:41:08,399 --> 00:41:10,399
Director Comey, when
talking about an attack

873
00:41:10,401 --> 00:41:12,401
here in the United States,
described this as a

874
00:41:12,403 --> 00:41:14,403
situation of looking for
not just a needle in a

875
00:41:14,405 --> 00:41:18,075
haystack, but looking for
pieces of hay that turn

876
00:41:18,075 --> 00:41:20,075
into needles.

877
00:41:20,077 --> 00:41:23,577
And that's a particularly
challenging task.

878
00:41:23,581 --> 00:41:25,581
It's one that the FBI and
the Department of Justice

879
00:41:25,583 --> 00:41:29,983
is quite good at, but
it's very difficult nonetheless.

880
00:41:29,987 --> 00:41:35,157
And that's something that
-- this is not a threat

881
00:41:35,159 --> 00:41:37,159
that just the United
States faces.

882
00:41:37,161 --> 00:41:39,161
Countries around the
world, including France,

883
00:41:39,163 --> 00:41:41,933
have to counter this
threat as well.

884
00:41:41,932 --> 00:41:42,932
Cheryl.

885
00:41:42,933 --> 00:41:43,763
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

886
00:41:43,767 --> 00:41:44,707
I have two questions.

887
00:41:44,702 --> 00:41:47,542
One, I'm seeing comments
by Speaker Ryan that he's

888
00:41:47,538 --> 00:41:49,738
leaving open the
possibility of a TPP vote

889
00:41:49,740 --> 00:41:51,180
this year.

890
00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:52,845
Do you have any updates on
when the President might

891
00:41:52,843 --> 00:41:54,213
move forward on TPP?

892
00:41:54,211 --> 00:41:57,781
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any updates at this point.

893
00:41:57,781 --> 00:42:02,491
The White House is
committed to working with

894
00:42:02,486 --> 00:42:07,426
Speaker Ryan and Leader
McConnell to try to get

895
00:42:07,424 --> 00:42:09,694
TPP ratified.

896
00:42:09,693 --> 00:42:15,003
We've acknowledged that
our ability to succeed in

897
00:42:14,999 --> 00:42:17,539
that effort is going
to require working in

898
00:42:17,534 --> 00:42:18,534
bipartisan fashion.

899
00:42:18,535 --> 00:42:21,705
And I don't just mean
the Democratic President

900
00:42:21,705 --> 00:42:24,005
working with the
Republican leaders in the

901
00:42:24,008 --> 00:42:25,208
House and Senate.

902
00:42:25,209 --> 00:42:27,209
I also mean that the
Republican leaders in the

903
00:42:27,211 --> 00:42:29,211
House and Senate are going
to have to coordinate with

904
00:42:29,213 --> 00:42:32,653
not just the members
of their Republican

905
00:42:32,650 --> 00:42:34,650
conference, but they're
also going to have to work

906
00:42:34,652 --> 00:42:36,652
with Democrats on Capitol
Hill to build a bipartisan

907
00:42:36,654 --> 00:42:41,354
majority that's
necessary to ratify TPP.

908
00:42:41,358 --> 00:42:43,358
The President also,
obviously, believes

909
00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:46,530
strongly that Congress
should ratify the TPP as

910
00:42:46,530 --> 00:42:49,370
soon as possible.

911
00:42:49,366 --> 00:42:51,436
He believes that it
includes significant

912
00:42:51,435 --> 00:42:53,735
benefits for the American
economy, for American

913
00:42:53,737 --> 00:42:55,807
workers, and for
American businesses.

914
00:42:55,806 --> 00:42:59,646
This is an agreement that
includes the highest ever

915
00:42:59,643 --> 00:43:03,113
standards as it relates
to the environment and to

916
00:43:03,113 --> 00:43:05,153
labor conditions, human
rights, protecting

917
00:43:05,149 --> 00:43:06,919
intellectual property.

918
00:43:06,917 --> 00:43:10,157
And what's notable is that
those higher standards are

919
00:43:10,154 --> 00:43:12,754
enforceable right
inside the agreement.

920
00:43:12,756 --> 00:43:17,066
So the President believes
this is an effective

921
00:43:17,061 --> 00:43:19,861
strategy not just in terms
of looking out for the

922
00:43:19,863 --> 00:43:22,633
United States economy, but
also in countering the

923
00:43:22,633 --> 00:43:25,133
growing influence of China
in that region of the world.

924
00:43:25,135 --> 00:43:28,435
If the United States shies
away from trying to raise

925
00:43:28,439 --> 00:43:30,739
these standards we know
that China will not

926
00:43:30,741 --> 00:43:35,181
hesitate to step into that
breach and write standards

927
00:43:35,179 --> 00:43:37,719
that put American
businesses and American

928
00:43:37,715 --> 00:43:39,985
workers at an even
further disadvantage.

929
00:43:39,984 --> 00:43:42,584
So when it comes to a
strategy of preparing the

930
00:43:42,586 --> 00:43:44,586
country to counter
globalization and to

931
00:43:44,588 --> 00:43:48,288
counter China, the
TPP is our best bet.

932
00:43:48,292 --> 00:43:50,562
The Press: And on a
different subject, on

933
00:43:50,561 --> 00:43:51,791
Zika funding.

934
00:43:51,795 --> 00:43:54,865
Yesterday, House and
Senate appropriators sent

935
00:43:54,865 --> 00:43:58,105
the White House a letter
asking if the HHS

936
00:43:58,102 --> 00:44:01,172
Secretary could reprogram
funds and maybe provide

937
00:44:01,171 --> 00:44:02,941
more funds for
Zika that way.

938
00:44:02,940 --> 00:44:04,110
Any interest
in doing that?

939
00:44:04,108 --> 00:44:06,108
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have any announcements

940
00:44:06,110 --> 00:44:07,110
like that.

941
00:44:07,111 --> 00:44:09,111
You know that the
Department of Health and

942
00:44:09,113 --> 00:44:11,853
Human Services has already
reprogrammed several

943
00:44:11,849 --> 00:44:14,749
hundred million dollars
in funds for this effort.

944
00:44:14,752 --> 00:44:16,792
We did so even though
we continue to be quite

945
00:44:16,787 --> 00:44:24,397
concerned about the
potential of the risk

946
00:44:24,395 --> 00:44:28,535
that's posed by Ebola.

947
00:44:28,532 --> 00:44:32,272
So to further take away
funding from that effort

948
00:44:32,269 --> 00:44:35,809
in order to fight Zika
could potentially

949
00:44:35,806 --> 00:44:37,176
be counterproductive.

950
00:44:37,174 --> 00:44:39,174
So it's something that
we're quite reticent to do.

951
00:44:39,176 --> 00:44:42,846
I think what we'd simply
like to see is Congress

952
00:44:42,846 --> 00:44:45,886
respond to the request
from Democratic and

953
00:44:45,883 --> 00:44:47,883
Republican governors
across the country, and

954
00:44:47,885 --> 00:44:50,085
from our public health
professionals who laid out

955
00:44:50,087 --> 00:44:53,487
exactly what resources
they need to do everything

956
00:44:53,490 --> 00:44:55,490
possible to protect the
American people from the

957
00:44:55,492 --> 00:44:56,492
Zika virus.

958
00:44:56,493 --> 00:44:58,493
And the President put
forward that legislation

959
00:44:58,495 --> 00:44:59,465
back in February.

960
00:44:59,463 --> 00:45:01,933
And here we are almost
five months later, and

961
00:45:01,932 --> 00:45:06,272
Congress hasn't
approved that request.

962
00:45:06,270 --> 00:45:08,270
And that's a source of
deep disappointment to

963
00:45:08,272 --> 00:45:09,272
the President.

964
00:45:09,273 --> 00:45:15,013
It's also something that
means that we're right now

965
00:45:15,012 --> 00:45:17,012
not doing everything
possible to protect the

966
00:45:17,014 --> 00:45:20,454
American people
from the Zika virus.

967
00:45:20,451 --> 00:45:24,921
And that's something that
Republicans in Congress

968
00:45:24,922 --> 00:45:26,092
have to account for.

969
00:45:26,090 --> 00:45:26,990
Philip.

970
00:45:26,990 --> 00:45:28,790
The Press: The French
authorities released the

971
00:45:28,792 --> 00:45:30,632
name of the driver of this
truck, the man who was

972
00:45:30,627 --> 00:45:31,897
shot by police.

973
00:45:31,895 --> 00:45:34,535
Can you confirm at this
point that that name was

974
00:45:34,531 --> 00:45:35,801
not known by any

975
00:45:35,799 --> 00:45:37,569
U.S. authorities?

976
00:45:37,568 --> 00:45:39,568
Mr. Earnest: Philip, I
think you have to check

977
00:45:39,570 --> 00:45:41,740
with the intelligence
community for any

978
00:45:41,738 --> 00:45:43,738
information that they
may have had about

979
00:45:43,740 --> 00:45:45,680
this individual.

980
00:45:45,676 --> 00:45:48,076
I know that what French
authorities have indicated

981
00:45:48,078 --> 00:45:52,518
is that he was not
somebody who was

982
00:45:52,516 --> 00:45:54,486
considered a terrorism
suspect there.

983
00:45:54,485 --> 00:45:56,485
He was someone whose
interaction with law

984
00:45:56,487 --> 00:46:00,057
enforcement had been
limited to him committing

985
00:46:00,057 --> 00:46:03,397
some relatively
low-level crimes.

986
00:46:03,393 --> 00:46:10,003
Again, it underscores the
lone wolf attack threat

987
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:14,240
that is particularly
hard to disrupt.

988
00:46:14,238 --> 00:46:16,708
The Press: You've
described this as a

989
00:46:16,707 --> 00:46:18,147
terrorist attack, as
have French authorities.

990
00:46:18,142 --> 00:46:21,512
What if it is confirmed
there are no ties at all

991
00:46:21,512 --> 00:46:24,152
to any terrorist
groups for this man?

992
00:46:24,148 --> 00:46:27,018
There appeared to be first
indications that what all

993
00:46:27,017 --> 00:46:31,357
of this might have been a
bad personal situation for

994
00:46:31,355 --> 00:46:33,525
him, a case of depression,
a divorce he was going

995
00:46:33,524 --> 00:46:36,224
through, nothing to do
at all with terrorism.

996
00:46:36,226 --> 00:46:38,526
Would you still stick with
that definition if that

997
00:46:38,529 --> 00:46:39,729
was the case?

998
00:46:39,730 --> 00:46:43,030
Mr. Earnest: Well, as I
noted at the beginning, we

999
00:46:43,033 --> 00:46:45,003
still need to learn more
about this individual,

1000
00:46:45,002 --> 00:46:47,802
about his potential
motivation for carrying

1001
00:46:47,804 --> 00:46:54,474
out this terrible attack,
and his potential links to

1002
00:46:54,478 --> 00:46:55,748
any other organization.

1003
00:46:55,746 --> 00:46:59,646
So we'll certainly take
a close look at the

1004
00:46:59,650 --> 00:47:01,990
situation and we're going
to support the French

1005
00:47:01,985 --> 00:47:03,485
investigators who are
obviously leading

1006
00:47:03,487 --> 00:47:05,057
the investigation.

1007
00:47:05,055 --> 00:47:08,195
There are significant
capabilities that we have

1008
00:47:08,192 --> 00:47:11,632
to assist them, and we
won't hesitate to use them.

1009
00:47:11,628 --> 00:47:13,298
The Press: Finally, the
Secretary of Homeland

1010
00:47:13,297 --> 00:47:15,567
Security traveled to the
French Embassy here in

1011
00:47:15,566 --> 00:47:18,136
Washington I believe
to sign a book of condolences.

1012
00:47:18,135 --> 00:47:20,905
Are there any plans for
the President to do

1013
00:47:20,904 --> 00:47:22,444
something like that
in the coming days?

1014
00:47:22,439 --> 00:47:25,379
Mr. Earnest: We'll keep
you posted if something

1015
00:47:25,375 --> 00:47:26,475
like that happens.

1016
00:47:26,476 --> 00:47:29,476
I believe Secretary
Johnson did sign the

1017
00:47:29,479 --> 00:47:31,479
condolence book, but also
had an opportunity to

1018
00:47:31,481 --> 00:47:34,281
spend some time with the
French ambassador to the

1019
00:47:34,284 --> 00:47:35,284
United States.

1020
00:47:35,285 --> 00:47:39,455
But we certainly intend to
continue those kinds of

1021
00:47:39,456 --> 00:47:41,296
consultations in
the days ahead.

1022
00:47:41,291 --> 00:47:42,861
Margaret.

1023
00:47:42,859 --> 00:47:45,399
The Press: Josh, can you
explain the thinking when

1024
00:47:45,395 --> 00:47:48,435
you use the word
"terrorism" on this?

1025
00:47:48,432 --> 00:47:52,102
Because when you look at
something like -- we're

1026
00:47:52,102 --> 00:47:53,702
not sure what happened in
Nice -- but something like

1027
00:47:53,704 --> 00:47:55,944
what happened Orlando
versus a centralized,

1028
00:47:55,939 --> 00:48:01,079
developed conspiracy plot
that was centrally planned

1029
00:48:01,078 --> 00:48:04,718
and executed, the terms
used by the White House

1030
00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:07,285
are the same, but the
situations seem to be different.

1031
00:48:07,284 --> 00:48:12,054
Can you explain how you
see -- and the though in

1032
00:48:12,055 --> 00:48:14,095
using that term?

1033
00:48:14,091 --> 00:48:15,161
Mr. Earnest: In this case,
we're using that term

1034
00:48:15,158 --> 00:48:16,698
because French
officials have.

1035
00:48:16,693 --> 00:48:17,933
French officials
are the ones --

1036
00:48:17,928 --> 00:48:19,028
The Press: --
it's not the U.S.

1037
00:48:19,029 --> 00:48:21,069
position that it's an act
of terrorism, it still

1038
00:48:21,064 --> 00:48:22,304
appears to be terrorism.

1039
00:48:22,299 --> 00:48:23,899
Mr. Earnest: Well, no,
our view is that it's

1040
00:48:23,900 --> 00:48:26,940
terrorism because that's
what our oldest allies in

1041
00:48:26,937 --> 00:48:28,407
France have concluded.

1042
00:48:28,405 --> 00:48:30,405
They're the ones who
are conducting

1043
00:48:30,407 --> 00:48:31,407
this investigation.

1044
00:48:31,408 --> 00:48:33,408
As they learn more about
this investigation and as

1045
00:48:33,410 --> 00:48:35,410
they need to update
their assessment -- I'm

1046
00:48:35,412 --> 00:48:37,412
confident that they will
-- we'll work with them on

1047
00:48:37,414 --> 00:48:38,614
that investigation.

1048
00:48:38,615 --> 00:48:41,485
And if they update their
assessment, we'll do the same.

1049
00:48:41,485 --> 00:48:45,155
But as the President said
last night, this appears

1050
00:48:45,155 --> 00:48:46,595
to be terrorism.

1051
00:48:46,590 --> 00:48:48,660
That appearance was
confirmed by the French

1052
00:48:48,659 --> 00:48:51,699
President whose government
is leading this investigation.

1053
00:48:51,695 --> 00:48:54,395
And obviously the people
of the United States stand

1054
00:48:54,398 --> 00:48:56,398
shoulder to shoulder with
our oldest allies in

1055
00:48:56,400 --> 00:48:58,940
France as they confront
terrorism in a variety of forms.

1056
00:48:58,935 --> 00:49:01,475
The Press: Because, I
mean, it seems these days,

1057
00:49:01,471 --> 00:49:05,211
regrettably -- I mean, the
flag is at half-staff more

1058
00:49:05,208 --> 00:49:06,348
often than not.

1059
00:49:06,343 --> 00:49:08,043
The President is making
comments like this.

1060
00:49:08,045 --> 00:49:10,245
I mean, there's a litany
of attacks to read off.

1061
00:49:10,247 --> 00:49:11,817
I'm not going to.

1062
00:49:11,815 --> 00:49:17,025
But it's becoming almost
a memory, a recitation of

1063
00:49:17,020 --> 00:49:20,020
what we do each time
these attacks happen.

1064
00:49:20,023 --> 00:49:23,293
I mean, is this just going
to be not the new normal

1065
00:49:23,293 --> 00:49:25,093
for the world, but the
new normal of just what

1066
00:49:25,095 --> 00:49:28,365
happens every time there's
an attack, it's assumed

1067
00:49:28,365 --> 00:49:32,565
and just explained as this
is part of us winning on

1068
00:49:32,569 --> 00:49:35,439
the battlefield, that this
kind of lashing out is

1069
00:49:35,439 --> 00:49:36,269
going to happen?

1070
00:49:36,273 --> 00:49:39,313
I mean, the public would
look at that and say, in

1071
00:49:39,309 --> 00:49:42,749
some ways it's that much
more terrifying that it's

1072
00:49:42,746 --> 00:49:46,216
unanticipated, that it's
just in the streets,

1073
00:49:46,216 --> 00:49:50,016
people are celebrating,
rather than a centralized plot.

1074
00:49:50,020 --> 00:49:52,720
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think you're drawing an

1075
00:49:52,723 --> 00:49:54,723
important distinction,
because there are

1076
00:49:54,725 --> 00:49:57,965
differences between a
large-scale terrorist

1077
00:49:57,961 --> 00:50:02,671
conspiracy and the kind of
lone wolf attacks that we

1078
00:50:02,666 --> 00:50:05,936
have seen.

1079
00:50:05,936 --> 00:50:08,776
Those large-scale
terrorist conspiracies

1080
00:50:08,772 --> 00:50:11,742
have the potential to be
much more bloody, to be

1081
00:50:11,742 --> 00:50:15,012
much more violent, to
claim many more deaths

1082
00:50:15,011 --> 00:50:18,181
than the kind of lone wolf
attacks that we've seen in

1083
00:50:18,181 --> 00:50:20,381
the last few weeks.

1084
00:50:20,384 --> 00:50:22,784
We certainly grieve for
those who have been lost

1085
00:50:22,786 --> 00:50:24,386
in these lone
wolf attacks.

1086
00:50:24,388 --> 00:50:27,728
We certainly expend
significant resources and

1087
00:50:27,724 --> 00:50:30,194
are vigilant about trying
to prevent those lone

1088
00:50:30,193 --> 00:50:31,193
wolf attacks.

1089
00:50:31,194 --> 00:50:37,564
But they are
materially different.

1090
00:50:37,567 --> 00:50:40,267
And they require a
different strategy, but a

1091
00:50:40,270 --> 00:50:43,140
strategy that we are
just as committed to

1092
00:50:43,140 --> 00:50:46,380
implementing in order to
protect the safety and

1093
00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:48,946
security of the American
people and of our allies.

1094
00:50:48,945 --> 00:50:53,115
The Press: You have on the
calendar I think next week

1095
00:50:53,116 --> 00:50:56,786
this anti-ISIS coalition
meeting happening in Washington.

1096
00:50:56,787 --> 00:50:58,727
Is that going to
change in any way?

1097
00:50:58,722 --> 00:51:01,262
Is the White House going
to be more involved in that?

1098
00:51:01,258 --> 00:51:04,928
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
a meeting that Secretary

1099
00:51:04,928 --> 00:51:07,968
Carter is convening with
his counterparts who are

1100
00:51:07,964 --> 00:51:09,964
making a substantial
military contribution to

1101
00:51:09,966 --> 00:51:11,906
our counter-ISIL efforts.

1102
00:51:11,902 --> 00:51:13,542
He's organized
that meeting.

1103
00:51:13,537 --> 00:51:16,807
It had been previously
scheduled for the end of

1104
00:51:16,807 --> 00:51:19,207
next week, I believe at
Andrews Air Force Base.

1105
00:51:19,209 --> 00:51:21,209
I don't have any updates
to agenda at this point.

1106
00:51:21,211 --> 00:51:26,181
But if anything like
that -- if there are any

1107
00:51:26,183 --> 00:51:28,523
updates to that agenda,
we'll definitely let you know.

1108
00:51:28,518 --> 00:51:30,858
The Press: And finally,
Secretary Kerry said today

1109
00:51:30,854 --> 00:51:34,054
when he was in Moscow that
-- when he was talking

1110
00:51:34,057 --> 00:51:36,427
about Nice, these things
happen on a weekly basis now.

1111
00:51:36,426 --> 00:51:38,226
And he called Syria the
single greatest incubator

1112
00:51:38,228 --> 00:51:40,368
for terrorism in
the world right now.

1113
00:51:40,363 --> 00:51:42,263
Does the White House
agree with that?

1114
00:51:42,265 --> 00:51:47,105
And in some ways, doesn't
that raise questions if

1115
00:51:47,103 --> 00:51:50,603
the plan for the past
five years not to use

1116
00:51:50,607 --> 00:51:52,107
large-scale military force
should be revisited?

1117
00:51:52,108 --> 00:51:53,778
I mean, is that an
acknowledgement that there

1118
00:51:53,777 --> 00:51:58,987
was some overestimation
of this being contained?

1119
00:51:58,982 --> 00:52:03,052
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
what I would say is simply

1120
00:52:03,053 --> 00:52:08,793
that we have been
concerned about the

1121
00:52:08,792 --> 00:52:13,902
potential terrorist threat
from ISIL for more than

1122
00:52:13,897 --> 00:52:15,267
two years now.

1123
00:52:15,265 --> 00:52:17,865
And the President formed
an international coalition

1124
00:52:17,868 --> 00:52:20,338
of more than 66 nations to
counter it -- not just to

1125
00:52:20,337 --> 00:52:23,177
counter it, but to degrade
and ultimately destroy it,

1126
00:52:23,173 --> 00:52:25,043
because we're mindful of
the terrorist threat that

1127
00:52:25,041 --> 00:52:27,381
emanates from there.

1128
00:52:27,377 --> 00:52:31,117
I think what the President
would argue is also true

1129
00:52:31,114 --> 00:52:35,624
-- and we're happy to have
this argument -- is that

1130
00:52:35,619 --> 00:52:43,259
as difficult and violent
and complex as this

1131
00:52:43,260 --> 00:52:50,570
problem is, the ultimate
solution is not a military one.

1132
00:52:50,567 --> 00:52:52,567
We can certainly apply
significant military

1133
00:52:52,569 --> 00:52:55,239
pressure and devote
significant resources --

1134
00:52:55,238 --> 00:52:57,238
and we have; the
Commander-in-Chief has

1135
00:52:57,240 --> 00:53:00,680
ordered it -- against
ISIL, to counter them, to

1136
00:53:00,677 --> 00:53:05,487
degrade them, and to
ultimately destroy them.

1137
00:53:05,482 --> 00:53:08,652
But the root cause of
all of this has been the

1138
00:53:08,652 --> 00:53:10,252
failed political
leadership of Bashar

1139
00:53:10,253 --> 00:53:11,623
al-Assad, that --

1140
00:53:11,621 --> 00:53:13,661
The Press: But in terms
of the estimation of this

1141
00:53:13,657 --> 00:53:16,897
being a massive, as
Kerry said, the biggest

1142
00:53:16,893 --> 00:53:19,963
incubator of terrorism
in the world, was that

1143
00:53:19,963 --> 00:53:21,503
underestimated by
the White House?

1144
00:53:21,498 --> 00:53:23,498
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
based on the fact that

1145
00:53:23,500 --> 00:53:25,940
we've built a coalition
of 66 nations and dropped

1146
00:53:25,936 --> 00:53:29,106
13,000 airstrikes --
or conducted 13,000

1147
00:53:29,105 --> 00:53:32,905
airstrikes against them,
based on the significant

1148
00:53:32,909 --> 00:53:34,909
commitment of resources
not just in the military

1149
00:53:34,911 --> 00:53:37,311
effort, but to organize
our diplomatic efforts to

1150
00:53:37,314 --> 00:53:39,384
counter their financing,
to try to prevent them

1151
00:53:39,382 --> 00:53:41,782
from recruiting foreign
fighters from all around

1152
00:53:41,785 --> 00:53:43,955
the world, I think the
strategy that we have

1153
00:53:43,954 --> 00:53:48,894
implemented against them
has yielded important progress.

1154
00:53:48,892 --> 00:53:51,132
But the President
acknowledged at the

1155
00:53:51,127 --> 00:53:53,967
beginning that this was a
long-term proposition and

1156
00:53:53,964 --> 00:53:55,934
it's going to require
some tenacity and some

1157
00:53:55,932 --> 00:53:58,002
follow-through; that we
wouldn't be able to chart

1158
00:53:58,001 --> 00:54:00,141
our progress in a straight
line; that there would be

1159
00:54:00,136 --> 00:54:03,276
some days where we'd
feel like we were making

1160
00:54:03,273 --> 00:54:06,713
progress, and occasionally
we would suffer a setback.

1161
00:54:06,710 --> 00:54:10,280
And anytime you see the
loss of so many innocent

1162
00:54:10,280 --> 00:54:13,520
people in an allied
nation, that certainly is

1163
00:54:13,516 --> 00:54:18,256
a day where it's hard to
feel like you're making a

1164
00:54:18,254 --> 00:54:19,994
lot of progress.

1165
00:54:19,990 --> 00:54:23,160
And that's why we mourn
with our French allies.

1166
00:54:23,159 --> 00:54:25,729
But it certainly is not
going to diminish

1167
00:54:25,729 --> 00:54:27,159
our commitment.

1168
00:54:27,163 --> 00:54:29,863
If anything, it's only
going to further energize

1169
00:54:29,866 --> 00:54:32,766
our multilateral,
multinational effort to

1170
00:54:32,769 --> 00:54:35,169
degrade and ultimately
destroy ISIL.

1171
00:54:35,171 --> 00:54:38,941
Again, I say all of that,
even before we understand

1172
00:54:38,942 --> 00:54:41,812
what the true motivations
were of this individual.

1173
00:54:41,811 --> 00:54:43,981
But whether or not this
person had ties to ISIL,

1174
00:54:43,980 --> 00:54:48,520
the President is committed
to making sure that we do

1175
00:54:48,518 --> 00:54:51,388
everything possible to
protect the American people.

1176
00:54:51,388 --> 00:54:52,088
Kevin.

1177
00:54:52,088 --> 00:54:52,858
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1178
00:54:52,856 --> 00:54:55,326
As expected, the
Intelligence Committee has

1179
00:54:55,325 --> 00:54:58,125
published the previously
classified 28 pages.

1180
00:54:58,128 --> 00:55:01,128
For the people who are not
awash in this on a daily

1181
00:55:01,131 --> 00:55:03,831
basis, what does the White
House want the American

1182
00:55:03,833 --> 00:55:07,033
people to take away from
the fact that these pages

1183
00:55:07,037 --> 00:55:09,007
are now public,
they're now available?

1184
00:55:09,005 --> 00:55:12,045
And what's the White
House's perspective on --

1185
00:55:12,042 --> 00:55:15,012
now that they are out
there, how the White House

1186
00:55:15,011 --> 00:55:16,551
feels about that?

1187
00:55:16,546 --> 00:55:19,046
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the number-one takeaway

1188
00:55:19,049 --> 00:55:21,119
for people should be that
this administration is

1189
00:55:21,117 --> 00:55:24,987
committed to transparency
even when it comes to

1190
00:55:24,988 --> 00:55:26,988
sensitive information
related to our

1191
00:55:26,990 --> 00:55:28,290
national security.

1192
00:55:28,291 --> 00:55:30,391
Just within the last
couple of weeks, the

1193
00:55:30,393 --> 00:55:33,663
administration published
for the first time the

1194
00:55:33,663 --> 00:55:41,233
numbers of people who --
of civilians who were

1195
00:55:41,237 --> 00:55:45,007
casualties from U.S.

1196
00:55:45,008 --> 00:55:46,478
counterterrorism
operations.

1197
00:55:46,476 --> 00:55:50,046
The administration worked
to declassify key elements

1198
00:55:50,046 --> 00:55:57,686
of the CIA interrogation
report that was written by

1199
00:55:57,687 --> 00:55:59,927
the United States Senate
Intelligence Committee.

1200
00:55:59,923 --> 00:56:05,133
And today's announcement
was part of an effort to

1201
00:56:05,128 --> 00:56:08,398
try and be as transparent
as possible about

1202
00:56:08,398 --> 00:56:11,238
investigative material
that was collected in the

1203
00:56:11,234 --> 00:56:17,344
context of investigating
the terror attacks of 9/11.

1204
00:56:17,340 --> 00:56:19,610
This information, even
as it's now publicly

1205
00:56:19,609 --> 00:56:24,679
available, does not change
the assessment of the U.S.

1206
00:56:24,681 --> 00:56:29,851
government that there's no
evidence that the Saudi

1207
00:56:29,853 --> 00:56:31,993
government as an
institution, or senior

1208
00:56:31,988 --> 00:56:34,428
Saudi officials
individually funded al Qaeda.

1209
00:56:34,424 --> 00:56:36,824
I'm reading that language
because that's the

1210
00:56:36,826 --> 00:56:41,436
language that was included
in the 9/11 Commission Report.

1211
00:56:41,431 --> 00:56:44,101
And the 9/11 Commission
was able to draw on the

1212
00:56:44,100 --> 00:56:46,600
information that's been
declassified today as they

1213
00:56:46,603 --> 00:56:47,603
wrote their report.

1214
00:56:47,604 --> 00:56:49,674
They were able to do
follow-up interviews and

1215
00:56:49,672 --> 00:56:52,172
to further investigate
those leads.

1216
00:56:52,175 --> 00:56:54,145
Those leads didn't really
turn up anything as it

1217
00:56:54,144 --> 00:56:56,344
relates to specific
evidence about the Saudi

1218
00:56:56,346 --> 00:56:58,346
government as an
institution or senior

1219
00:56:58,348 --> 00:57:00,648
Saudi officials
individually funding al Qaeda.

1220
00:57:00,650 --> 00:57:03,120
The Press: Interesting how
they use the expression

1221
00:57:03,119 --> 00:57:05,789
"senior Saudi officials."

1222
00:57:05,789 --> 00:57:08,859
Does that mean to suggest
that maybe there were some

1223
00:57:08,858 --> 00:57:12,528
lower-level Saudi
individual government

1224
00:57:12,529 --> 00:57:14,829
officials that may have
been involved in providing

1225
00:57:14,831 --> 00:57:17,601
material support for those
who were at least alleged

1226
00:57:17,600 --> 00:57:19,700
to have been
co-conspirators to the

1227
00:57:19,702 --> 00:57:20,872
9/11 attacks?

1228
00:57:20,870 --> 00:57:22,870
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
looked lately at the 9/11

1229
00:57:22,872 --> 00:57:24,872
Commission Report, but
certainly that is a

1230
00:57:24,874 --> 00:57:28,844
comprehensive document
that was written to

1231
00:57:28,845 --> 00:57:30,915
provide as much
information as possible

1232
00:57:30,914 --> 00:57:33,684
about what contributed
to the attacks on 9/11.

1233
00:57:33,683 --> 00:57:36,023
The Press: You've also
said on a previous

1234
00:57:36,019 --> 00:57:39,359
occasion that the White
House was against JASTA.

1235
00:57:39,355 --> 00:57:42,655
And I'm just wondering why
there would seem to be

1236
00:57:42,659 --> 00:57:45,299
this disconnect between
the White House's view of

1237
00:57:45,295 --> 00:57:48,095
JASTA when there are so
many in the United States

1238
00:57:48,097 --> 00:57:50,637
Senate, overwhelmingly so,
who feel like this may be

1239
00:57:50,633 --> 00:57:52,273
a very good idea?

1240
00:57:52,268 --> 00:57:54,268
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
this just goes back to a

1241
00:57:54,270 --> 00:57:56,640
long-held principle here
about the risk that this

1242
00:57:56,639 --> 00:57:59,179
legislation
would pose to --

1243
00:57:59,175 --> 00:58:00,975
The Press: It's pretty
narrow, wouldn't you agree?

1244
00:58:00,977 --> 00:58:02,977
At least the way
it's currently --

1245
00:58:02,979 --> 00:58:04,979
Mr. Earnest: Again, based
on the analysis that's

1246
00:58:04,981 --> 00:58:06,981
been conducted by our
lawyers here in the U.S.

1247
00:58:06,983 --> 00:58:09,623
government, the way that
this law is written could

1248
00:58:09,619 --> 00:58:11,659
open up U.S.

1249
00:58:11,654 --> 00:58:13,794
companies and even
potentially U.S.

1250
00:58:13,790 --> 00:58:18,330
personnel to
vulnerabilities when

1251
00:58:18,328 --> 00:58:22,228
they're engaged in actions
or doing business or

1252
00:58:22,232 --> 00:58:26,102
conducting official
government work overseas.

1253
00:58:26,102 --> 00:58:30,672
There is an important
principle related to

1254
00:58:30,673 --> 00:58:32,113
sovereign immunity.

1255
00:58:32,108 --> 00:58:34,108
And when you're the most
powerful country in the

1256
00:58:34,110 --> 00:58:36,680
world, you're invested
in the idea of sovereign

1257
00:58:36,679 --> 00:58:39,379
immunity, given how deeply
the United States is

1258
00:58:39,382 --> 00:58:41,382
involved in so many
other countries.

1259
00:58:41,384 --> 00:58:44,084
So we believe that's
a principle worth protecting.

1260
00:58:44,087 --> 00:58:48,327
And that is the concern
that we have with this

1261
00:58:48,324 --> 00:58:51,194
legislation, at least the
way that the most recent

1262
00:58:51,194 --> 00:58:53,794
draft was put forward.

1263
00:58:53,796 --> 00:58:57,096
Doesn't have to do with
any specific country, but

1264
00:58:57,100 --> 00:58:59,240
rather has to do with our
concern about a specific

1265
00:58:59,235 --> 00:59:03,235
principle that benefits
the United States and

1266
00:59:03,239 --> 00:59:04,239
private U.S.

1267
00:59:04,240 --> 00:59:06,240
interests in countries
all around the globe.

1268
00:59:06,242 --> 00:59:08,242
The Press: Were there some
instances, just broadly

1269
00:59:08,244 --> 00:59:10,544
speaking, as a general
matter, that the White

1270
00:59:10,546 --> 00:59:14,046
House found concerning
in the review of some of

1271
00:59:14,050 --> 00:59:16,320
those 28 pages?

1272
00:59:16,319 --> 00:59:20,319
Specifically, there seems
to be a suggestion that

1273
00:59:20,323 --> 00:59:23,163
there may have been
material support provided

1274
00:59:23,159 --> 00:59:25,099
to one of the so-called
co-conspirators --

1275
00:59:25,094 --> 00:59:26,834
possible co-conspirators.

1276
00:59:26,829 --> 00:59:30,269
And yet, while you've said
there's no specific proof,

1277
00:59:30,266 --> 00:59:32,266
were there areas where the
White House or White House

1278
00:59:32,268 --> 00:59:35,068
Counsel or others were
concerned some things

1279
00:59:35,071 --> 00:59:38,371
didn't exactly pass this
so-called smell test?

1280
00:59:38,374 --> 00:59:40,374
They look suspicious,
to be blunt.

1281
00:59:40,376 --> 00:59:42,376
Mr. Earnest: The White
House has not conducted an

1282
00:59:42,378 --> 00:59:43,348
investigation
into this matter.

1283
00:59:43,346 --> 00:59:45,346
And the reason we didn't
have to do that is that

1284
00:59:45,348 --> 00:59:47,348
there was a 9/11
Commission that was formed

1285
00:59:47,350 --> 00:59:49,350
that looked at all
of this evidence.

1286
00:59:49,352 --> 00:59:51,352
They were able to follow
up on this information.

1287
00:59:51,354 --> 00:59:53,354
They were able to follow
these investigative leads.

1288
00:59:53,356 --> 00:59:55,356
I know that they did
interviews in a variety of

1289
00:59:55,358 --> 00:59:57,358
other countries to
pursue those leads.

1290
00:59:57,360 --> 00:59:59,500
And despite all of that
investigative work, they

1291
00:59:59,495 --> 01:00:01,495
didn't find any evidence
that the Saudi government

1292
01:00:01,497 --> 01:00:03,497
as an institution, or
senior Saudi officials

1293
01:00:03,499 --> 01:00:05,539
individually
funded al Qaeda.

1294
01:00:05,535 --> 01:00:09,605
That's the definitive word
of the outside experts who

1295
01:00:09,605 --> 01:00:11,645
took an unvarnished
look at this

1296
01:00:11,641 --> 01:00:12,511
particular situation.

1297
01:00:12,508 --> 01:00:20,448
And that conclusion is
unchanged by the release

1298
01:00:20,450 --> 01:00:22,090
of these 28 pages today.

1299
01:00:22,085 --> 01:00:22,885
The Press: Okay.

1300
01:00:22,885 --> 01:00:24,985
Last -- it is Friday;
figured I'd throw a little

1301
01:00:24,988 --> 01:00:25,988
sports your way.

1302
01:00:25,989 --> 01:00:28,459
Deflategate is
apparently over.

1303
01:00:28,458 --> 01:00:30,328
Tom Brady says he's no
longer going to push it;

1304
01:00:30,326 --> 01:00:32,896
he's going to be out of
four games to start the

1305
01:00:32,895 --> 01:00:35,235
NFL season.

1306
01:00:35,231 --> 01:00:36,161
Big reaction from
the White House?

1307
01:00:36,165 --> 01:00:37,565
I know the President
is a big football fan.

1308
01:00:37,567 --> 01:00:38,897
(laughter)

1309
01:00:38,901 --> 01:00:40,441
Mr. Earnest: Well, it
certainly is Jimmy

1310
01:00:40,436 --> 01:00:42,336
Garoppolo's big
opportunity here.

1311
01:00:42,338 --> 01:00:43,068
The Press: That it is.

1312
01:00:43,072 --> 01:00:44,612
Mr. Earnest: We'll see if
he makes the most of it.

1313
01:00:44,607 --> 01:00:45,577
Connie.

1314
01:00:45,575 --> 01:00:48,415
The Press: Are you
concerned about the

1315
01:00:48,411 --> 01:00:50,711
open-carry laws in Ohio,
especially with the

1316
01:00:50,713 --> 01:00:57,823
convention
starting next week?

1317
01:00:57,820 --> 01:01:01,290
Mr. Earnest: Well, Connie,
as you know, the Secretary

1318
01:01:01,290 --> 01:01:05,660
of Homeland Security and
the head of the United

1319
01:01:05,661 --> 01:01:08,161
States Secret Service have
been focused for more than

1320
01:01:08,164 --> 01:01:12,734
a year -- about providing
security for the

1321
01:01:12,735 --> 01:01:14,805
Democratic and Republican
conventions in

1322
01:01:14,804 --> 01:01:18,374
Philadelphia and
Cleveland, respectively.

1323
01:01:18,374 --> 01:01:20,374
Homeland security
officials have been in

1324
01:01:20,376 --> 01:01:25,386
close touch with local law
enforcement in Ohio and

1325
01:01:25,381 --> 01:01:28,081
Pennsylvania to ensure the
safety and security of not

1326
01:01:28,084 --> 01:01:32,324
just the party nominees
but the convention

1327
01:01:32,321 --> 01:01:34,321
delegates and the
reporters who will

1328
01:01:34,323 --> 01:01:35,363
be in attendance.

1329
01:01:35,358 --> 01:01:37,358
I know that their efforts
are focused on also

1330
01:01:37,360 --> 01:01:39,360
protecting the First
Amendment rights of people

1331
01:01:39,362 --> 01:01:42,232
who may want to register
a protest at the conventions.

1332
01:01:42,231 --> 01:01:45,101
And those rights will
certainly be protected.

1333
01:01:45,101 --> 01:01:49,041
But the President's
expectation is that people

1334
01:01:49,038 --> 01:01:51,708
who are protesting
should do so peacefully.

1335
01:01:51,707 --> 01:01:53,807
And law enforcement
officials will certainly

1336
01:01:53,810 --> 01:01:56,550
be in place to ensure
that those rights are protected.

1337
01:01:56,546 --> 01:01:59,146
The Press: There will be
a lot of people carrying guns.

1338
01:01:59,148 --> 01:02:01,618
Mr. Earnest: I know that
there are some limitations

1339
01:02:01,617 --> 01:02:04,357
about their ability to do
that in the context of the

1340
01:02:04,353 --> 01:02:06,353
conventions, but I'll let
the Department of Homeland

1341
01:02:06,355 --> 01:02:07,495
Security speak to that.

1342
01:02:07,490 --> 01:02:08,590
The Press: On a different
matter, the reception

1343
01:02:08,591 --> 01:02:09,321
this afternoon.

1344
01:02:09,325 --> 01:02:11,365
Will the President try
to get any antagonistic

1345
01:02:11,360 --> 01:02:14,560
ambassadors together, such
as Israel and some of the

1346
01:02:14,564 --> 01:02:16,464
Arab countries?

1347
01:02:16,466 --> 01:02:17,436
Mr. Earnest: I don't
think the President would

1348
01:02:17,433 --> 01:02:20,373
consider those
ambassadors antagonistic.

1349
01:02:20,369 --> 01:02:22,039
The Press: -- try to
get them together?

1350
01:02:22,038 --> 01:02:23,708
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
of any specific meetings

1351
01:02:23,706 --> 01:02:24,706
that the President
is planning.

1352
01:02:24,707 --> 01:02:28,177
I think this is largely a
social event, but I think

1353
01:02:28,177 --> 01:02:30,177
it will have a more
serious tone in light of

1354
01:02:30,179 --> 01:02:32,219
the terrorist attacks
in Nice last night.

1355
01:02:32,215 --> 01:02:33,285
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

1356
01:02:33,282 --> 01:02:34,552
Mr. Earnest: John.

1357
01:02:34,550 --> 01:02:35,250
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1358
01:02:35,251 --> 01:02:36,991
Your decision not to weigh
in on Donald Trump's

1359
01:02:36,986 --> 01:02:41,256
choice for his vice
presidential pick, is it

1360
01:02:41,257 --> 01:02:42,057
just a today thing?

1361
01:02:42,058 --> 01:02:45,898
Do you plan on weighing
in as the process moves forward?

1362
01:02:45,895 --> 01:02:48,435
Mr. Earnest: No, at this
point I don't anticipate

1363
01:02:48,431 --> 01:02:52,131
having much of a reaction
to his selection of a

1364
01:02:52,135 --> 01:02:53,135
running mate.

1365
01:02:53,136 --> 01:02:55,276
The Press: "At this
point," meaning as the

1366
01:02:55,271 --> 01:02:57,371
process moves forward you
may indeed weigh in on

1367
01:02:57,373 --> 01:02:58,913
this ticket?

1368
01:02:58,908 --> 01:03:00,548
Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't
entirely rule it out, but

1369
01:03:00,543 --> 01:03:03,213
I don't have any plan in
the back of my mind to

1370
01:03:03,212 --> 01:03:05,282
weigh in on this.

1371
01:03:05,281 --> 01:03:08,021
The Press: And on Nice,
with what happened in

1372
01:03:08,017 --> 01:03:13,527
Nice, in your view, in the
President's view, was this

1373
01:03:13,523 --> 01:03:15,623
unique to France?

1374
01:03:15,625 --> 01:03:18,425
Could something like what
happened in Nice happen

1375
01:03:18,427 --> 01:03:21,097
right here in the
United States?

1376
01:03:21,097 --> 01:03:24,097
Mr. Earnest: Well, as I
mentioned in response to a

1377
01:03:24,100 --> 01:03:28,300
couple of other questions,
the President is deeply

1378
01:03:28,304 --> 01:03:31,604
concerned about the
threat posed by lone

1379
01:03:31,607 --> 01:03:33,277
wolf attacks.

1380
01:03:33,276 --> 01:03:38,586
And it takes a
variety of forms.

1381
01:03:38,581 --> 01:03:44,591
We're coming up on the
anniversary of the

1382
01:03:44,587 --> 01:03:47,257
shooting at military
recruitment installations

1383
01:03:47,256 --> 01:03:49,926
in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1384
01:03:49,926 --> 01:03:51,896
I think there are
some aspects to that

1385
01:03:51,894 --> 01:03:53,894
investigation that are
still ongoing, but many

1386
01:03:53,896 --> 01:03:55,896
people could describe and
I think have described

1387
01:03:55,898 --> 01:03:57,738
that as a lone
wolf attack.

1388
01:03:57,733 --> 01:03:59,733
Obviously, we saw
the situation in San

1389
01:03:59,735 --> 01:04:02,635
Bernardino, where a
husband and wife carried

1390
01:04:02,638 --> 01:04:03,638
out an attack.

1391
01:04:03,639 --> 01:04:07,949
Again, they were not
directly connected to a

1392
01:04:07,944 --> 01:04:12,414
broader conspiracy or
terror plot, but at least

1393
01:04:12,415 --> 01:04:15,115
there is no evidence
of it at this point.

1394
01:04:15,117 --> 01:04:17,287
But they were able to just
coordinate among the two

1395
01:04:17,286 --> 01:04:21,656
of them, and it was very
difficult to disrupt that plot.

1396
01:04:21,657 --> 01:04:24,197
We saw a similar
dynamic in Orlando.

1397
01:04:24,193 --> 01:04:27,263
So we understand that this
is a threat that needs to

1398
01:04:27,263 --> 01:04:29,503
be countered
and confronted.

1399
01:04:29,498 --> 01:04:31,538
And it is a different
threat than the one that

1400
01:04:31,534 --> 01:04:34,404
was posed by the 9/11
co-conspirators, for

1401
01:04:34,403 --> 01:04:37,373
example, that killed more
than 3,000 Americans on

1402
01:04:37,373 --> 01:04:39,073
one day.

1403
01:04:39,075 --> 01:04:40,645
So this threat
is different.

1404
01:04:40,643 --> 01:04:42,443
It's of a different scale.

1405
01:04:42,445 --> 01:04:44,015
But it's one that's
still dangerous.

1406
01:04:44,013 --> 01:04:46,753
It's one that the
President and the rest of

1407
01:04:46,749 --> 01:04:49,689
his national security team
is determined to prevent.

1408
01:04:49,685 --> 01:04:52,425
The Press: Is there
anything that you can say

1409
01:04:52,421 --> 01:04:57,631
to lessen the level of
anxiety that people may

1410
01:04:57,627 --> 01:05:01,067
feel after seeing the
horrific video they saw in

1411
01:05:01,063 --> 01:05:03,663
Nice, France?

1412
01:05:03,666 --> 01:05:06,036
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
there are a couple of things.

1413
01:05:06,035 --> 01:05:09,505
I think the first is that
it's important for the

1414
01:05:09,505 --> 01:05:12,245
American people to
understand just how

1415
01:05:12,241 --> 01:05:18,011
rigorously their
government is focused on

1416
01:05:18,014 --> 01:05:20,814
preventing that kind of
violence in the United States.

1417
01:05:20,816 --> 01:05:24,816
That's why we have worked
so hard to degrade and

1418
01:05:24,820 --> 01:05:26,460
ultimately destroy ISIL.

1419
01:05:26,455 --> 01:05:29,425
It's why the President,
when he first took office,

1420
01:05:29,425 --> 01:05:32,625
had identified decimating
core al Qaeda in

1421
01:05:32,628 --> 01:05:35,328
Afghanistan and Pakistan
as a top priority.

1422
01:05:35,331 --> 01:05:38,731
It's why the United States
works so closely with our

1423
01:05:38,734 --> 01:05:42,204
partners around the world,
because by cooperating we

1424
01:05:42,204 --> 01:05:44,574
know we can be more
effective in countering

1425
01:05:44,573 --> 01:05:46,173
this threat.

1426
01:05:46,175 --> 01:05:50,615
So the American people
should take some solace in

1427
01:05:50,613 --> 01:05:52,813
knowing that this is the
highest priority of the

1428
01:05:52,815 --> 01:05:55,615
Commander-in-Chief of the
greatest country in the world.

1429
01:05:55,618 --> 01:05:59,218
And we've enjoyed
important successes in

1430
01:05:59,221 --> 01:06:00,621
limiting that threat.

1431
01:06:00,623 --> 01:06:03,223
It's not uncommon for the
Department of Justice to

1432
01:06:03,225 --> 01:06:05,225
make announcements about
these kinds of plots being

1433
01:06:05,227 --> 01:06:07,927
disrupted, even though we
know how difficult it is

1434
01:06:07,930 --> 01:06:09,470
to disrupt these plots.

1435
01:06:09,465 --> 01:06:11,465
We've been able to chart
the progress that we've

1436
01:06:11,467 --> 01:06:13,907
made against ISIL in
Iraq and in Syria.

1437
01:06:13,903 --> 01:06:16,143
Iraqi forces, with the
support of our coalition,

1438
01:06:16,138 --> 01:06:19,278
have taken more than 45
percent of the land inside

1439
01:06:19,275 --> 01:06:22,145
of Iraq that ISIL
previously controlled, and

1440
01:06:22,144 --> 01:06:24,144
we've enjoyed some
important strategic

1441
01:06:24,146 --> 01:06:27,316
victories in Fallujah and
at this military airbase

1442
01:06:27,316 --> 01:06:33,226
in Qayyarah to -- that's
evidence that we continue

1443
01:06:33,222 --> 01:06:35,762
to make progress
against ISIL.

1444
01:06:35,758 --> 01:06:37,758
And the President
continues to be mindful of

1445
01:06:37,760 --> 01:06:39,760
the other threats
that are out there.

1446
01:06:39,762 --> 01:06:41,762
The President continues to
be mindful of the al Qaeda

1447
01:06:41,764 --> 01:06:45,234
threat that we know is
present inside of Syria in

1448
01:06:45,234 --> 01:06:46,634
the form of Nusra.

1449
01:06:46,635 --> 01:06:50,505
We're certainly aware of
the threat that is posed

1450
01:06:50,506 --> 01:06:54,006
by ISIL in places like
Libya, where they're also

1451
01:06:54,009 --> 01:06:56,279
trying to capitalize
on the chaos there.

1452
01:06:56,278 --> 01:06:58,718
We're also aware of the
threat that emanates from

1453
01:06:58,714 --> 01:07:00,984
al Qaeda affiliates
in North Africa.

1454
01:07:00,983 --> 01:07:02,983
And this is actually
something that our French

1455
01:07:02,985 --> 01:07:05,355
allies deserve a
lot of credit on.

1456
01:07:05,354 --> 01:07:07,354
We have relied
significantly on the

1457
01:07:07,356 --> 01:07:10,396
French to use their
expertise and their

1458
01:07:10,393 --> 01:07:13,333
history in that part of
the world to counter al

1459
01:07:13,329 --> 01:07:16,169
Qaeda extremists in
places like Mali.

1460
01:07:16,165 --> 01:07:18,165
They've made a lot of
important progress in the

1461
01:07:18,167 --> 01:07:20,167
world, and the United
States is safer as a

1462
01:07:20,169 --> 01:07:21,169
result of their efforts.

1463
01:07:21,170 --> 01:07:24,670
It's an indication of
how we benefit from the

1464
01:07:24,673 --> 01:07:28,813
capacity and determination
of our allies in France.

1465
01:07:28,811 --> 01:07:31,851
That's also why we're
going to stand with them,

1466
01:07:31,847 --> 01:07:34,687
even in this difficult
time for their country.

1467
01:07:34,683 --> 01:07:36,683
Janet, I'll give
you the last one.

1468
01:07:36,685 --> 01:07:37,725
I saw you had your
hand up back there.

1469
01:07:37,720 --> 01:07:38,390
The Press: Thank you.

1470
01:07:38,387 --> 01:07:40,057
Yesterday the guidance
announced that President

1471
01:07:40,055 --> 01:07:41,895
Peña Nieto will be
here next Friday.

1472
01:07:41,891 --> 01:07:43,931
Do you have any more
to share on that?

1473
01:07:43,926 --> 01:07:46,296
Why does this meeting
come about now?

1474
01:07:46,295 --> 01:07:49,695
And anything that you can
give us on what the two of

1475
01:07:49,698 --> 01:07:51,138
them will be
talking about?

1476
01:07:51,133 --> 01:07:53,133
Mr. Earnest: Well, Janet,
it will be an opportunity

1477
01:07:53,135 --> 01:07:55,205
for President Obama and
President Peña Nieto to

1478
01:07:55,204 --> 01:07:57,204
continue the conversation
that they had in Ottawa,

1479
01:07:57,206 --> 01:07:59,246
Canada just a
couple of weeks ago.

1480
01:07:59,241 --> 01:08:01,241
The two of them had an
opportunity to have a

1481
01:08:01,243 --> 01:08:03,243
bilateral meeting there in
the context of the North

1482
01:08:03,245 --> 01:08:04,785
American Leaders Summit.

1483
01:08:04,780 --> 01:08:06,780
And I would anticipate
that they'll continue

1484
01:08:06,782 --> 01:08:08,782
their conversations
on a range of topics.

1485
01:08:08,784 --> 01:08:11,284
Obviously, our security
coordination with Mexico

1486
01:08:11,287 --> 01:08:14,087
is important to
both our countries.

1487
01:08:14,089 --> 01:08:16,589
I'm confident that will
be a prominent aspect of

1488
01:08:16,592 --> 01:08:18,262
their conversation.

1489
01:08:18,260 --> 01:08:22,700
Mexico is a part of the
TPP agreement, and I'm

1490
01:08:22,698 --> 01:08:25,298
confident we'll have an
opportunity to talk about

1491
01:08:25,301 --> 01:08:29,341
ways that we can deepen
our relationship -- our

1492
01:08:29,338 --> 01:08:31,408
economic relationship
in a way that will have

1493
01:08:31,407 --> 01:08:35,447
benefits for both our
economies and workers in

1494
01:08:35,444 --> 01:08:37,114
both our countries.

1495
01:08:37,112 --> 01:08:40,912
The President is
optimistic that we can

1496
01:08:40,916 --> 01:08:42,916
substantially transform
our economic relationship

1497
01:08:42,918 --> 01:08:46,358
with Mexico, because by
signing on to the TPP

1498
01:08:46,355 --> 01:08:49,555
agreement, Mexico is
signing on to higher labor

1499
01:08:49,558 --> 01:08:51,728
and environmental
standards that will allow U.S.

1500
01:08:51,727 --> 01:08:54,297
businesses to compete on a
more level playing field.

1501
01:08:54,296 --> 01:08:56,366
When President Obama ran
for office in 2008, he

1502
01:08:56,365 --> 01:08:57,765
promised to
renegotiate NAFTA.

1503
01:08:57,766 --> 01:09:02,676
That's exactly what he did
in the context of TPP.

1504
01:09:02,671 --> 01:09:04,671
Obviously, Mexico wouldn't
be enthusiastic about

1505
01:09:04,673 --> 01:09:06,813
signing it if they didn't
also believe that the

1506
01:09:06,809 --> 01:09:09,879
greater economic
opportunity that would be

1507
01:09:09,879 --> 01:09:13,019
created by these deeper
economic ties would also

1508
01:09:13,015 --> 01:09:14,585
be good for their
economy, too.

1509
01:09:14,583 --> 01:09:17,453
So this is a win-win, and
we certainly believe that

1510
01:09:17,453 --> 01:09:19,453
Congress should
act to approve it.

1511
01:09:19,455 --> 01:09:21,455
And that will be the
subject of some ongoing

1512
01:09:21,457 --> 01:09:23,457
discussion between the
two leaders as well.

1513
01:09:23,459 --> 01:09:25,899
But we'll have more next
week to preview their meeting.

1514
01:09:25,895 --> 01:09:28,265
The Press: Any ideas if el
Chapo or immigration will

1515
01:09:28,264 --> 01:09:30,334
be coming up in
those meetings?

1516
01:09:30,332 --> 01:09:32,472
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
there will be a discussion

1517
01:09:32,468 --> 01:09:35,308
about immigration.

1518
01:09:35,304 --> 01:09:37,304
President Peña Nieto
is obviously aware of

1519
01:09:37,306 --> 01:09:44,616
President Obama's tireless
work to try to fix the

1520
01:09:44,613 --> 01:09:45,913
many aspects of the U.S.

1521
01:09:45,915 --> 01:09:49,485
immigration system
that's broken.

1522
01:09:49,485 --> 01:09:52,125
Implementing those reforms
and repairing those

1523
01:09:52,121 --> 01:09:54,561
problems would only
strengthen the

1524
01:09:54,557 --> 01:09:56,557
relationship between
our two countries.

1525
01:09:56,559 --> 01:09:58,559
That's part of the reason
that the President has

1526
01:09:58,561 --> 01:10:00,561
made that a priority, and
I'm sure that will be the

1527
01:10:00,563 --> 01:10:01,563
subject of some
discussion too.

1528
01:10:01,564 --> 01:10:03,564
I don't know what to -- I
don't know to what extent

1529
01:10:03,566 --> 01:10:09,176
they will discuss the
status of Mr. Guzman.

1530
01:10:09,171 --> 01:10:11,171
Obviously this is
something that the United

1531
01:10:11,173 --> 01:10:13,173
States Department of
Justice is looking at.

1532
01:10:13,175 --> 01:10:15,175
And we have a tradition in
the United States where we

1533
01:10:15,177 --> 01:10:17,177
separate those law
enforcement activities

1534
01:10:17,179 --> 01:10:19,519
from political
interference, and so I

1535
01:10:19,515 --> 01:10:20,915
don't know to what extent
the President will be able

1536
01:10:20,916 --> 01:10:22,656
to discuss it.

1537
01:10:22,651 --> 01:10:25,021
With that, let me do what
I find to be a personally

1538
01:10:25,020 --> 01:10:26,290
rather exciting
week ahead.

1539
01:10:26,288 --> 01:10:28,158
(laughter)

1540
01:10:28,157 --> 01:10:30,797
We'll get to why in a
couple of days here.

1541
01:10:30,793 --> 01:10:33,263
On Monday, the President
will award Lieutenant

1542
01:10:33,262 --> 01:10:35,402
Colonel Charles
Kettles of U.S.

1543
01:10:35,397 --> 01:10:38,267
Army the Medal of Honor
for conspicuous gallantry.

1544
01:10:38,267 --> 01:10:40,537
Then-Major Kettles
distinguished himself in

1545
01:10:40,536 --> 01:10:44,076
combat operation in
Vietnam on May 15, 1967,

1546
01:10:44,073 --> 01:10:46,673
and is credited with
saving the lives of 40

1547
01:10:46,675 --> 01:10:49,075
soldiers and four of
his own crew members.

1548
01:10:49,078 --> 01:10:52,048
A rather remarkable story,
so if you haven't had a

1549
01:10:52,047 --> 01:10:53,987
chance to take a look at
it I would encourage you

1550
01:10:53,983 --> 01:10:55,253
to do so.

1551
01:10:55,250 --> 01:10:57,090
But should make for a
moving ceremony here at

1552
01:10:57,086 --> 01:10:58,686
the White House on Monday.

1553
01:10:58,687 --> 01:11:00,727
On Tuesday, the President
will attend meetings at

1554
01:11:00,723 --> 01:11:02,323
the White House.

1555
01:11:02,324 --> 01:11:04,064
On Wednesday, the
President will host the

1556
01:11:04,059 --> 01:11:05,829
White House Summit on
Global Development at the

1557
01:11:05,828 --> 01:11:07,398
Ronald Reagan building.

1558
01:11:07,396 --> 01:11:08,866
The President will bring
together development

1559
01:11:08,864 --> 01:11:10,664
leaders, public and
private sector financing

1560
01:11:10,666 --> 01:11:13,566
partners, civil
society, diplomats and

1561
01:11:13,569 --> 01:11:16,439
entrepreneurs to mark
our global progress and

1562
01:11:16,438 --> 01:11:17,978
catalyze further
developments.

1563
01:11:17,973 --> 01:11:21,813
On Thursday, a day
we've long awaited, the

1564
01:11:21,810 --> 01:11:24,510
President will welcome the
Kansas City Royals to the

1565
01:11:24,513 --> 01:11:25,853
White House to honor the
team and their 2015 World

1566
01:11:25,848 --> 01:11:27,788
Series victory.

1567
01:11:27,783 --> 01:11:29,953
I'm very much looking
forward to Thursday.

1568
01:11:29,952 --> 01:11:31,522
That afternoon, the
President will deliver

1569
01:11:31,520 --> 01:11:33,660
remarks at an Eid
reception here at

1570
01:11:33,656 --> 01:11:34,526
the White House.

1571
01:11:34,523 --> 01:11:35,993
And then on Friday, the
President will welcome

1572
01:11:35,991 --> 01:11:38,561
President Enrique Peña
Nieto of Mexico to the

1573
01:11:38,560 --> 01:11:39,560
White House.

1574
01:11:39,561 --> 01:11:41,661
The visit follows the two
Presidents' meeting during

1575
01:11:41,664 --> 01:11:43,634
the North American Leaders
Summit in Ottawa on June

1576
01:11:43,632 --> 01:11:45,772
29th, as well as the
meeting at the White House

1577
01:11:45,768 --> 01:11:47,268
in January of 2015.

1578
01:11:47,269 --> 01:11:48,809
The President looks
forward to hosting

1579
01:11:48,804 --> 01:11:50,774
President Peña Nieto in
Washington to build upon

1580
01:11:50,773 --> 01:11:52,743
the significant progress
made at the North American

1581
01:11:52,741 --> 01:11:54,881
Leaders Summit, and to
reaffirm and deepen our

1582
01:11:54,877 --> 01:11:57,877
bilateral partnership
on a range of issues.

1583
01:11:57,880 --> 01:11:59,420
And we will obviously have
more to say about that

1584
01:11:59,415 --> 01:12:02,415
important bilateral
meeting next week.

1585
01:12:02,418 --> 01:12:03,888
The Press: --
press conference?

1586
01:12:03,886 --> 01:12:04,856
Mr. Earnest: I would
anticipate that there will

1587
01:12:04,853 --> 01:12:05,993
be a news conference
associated with that

1588
01:12:05,988 --> 01:12:07,218
bilateral meeting.

1589
01:12:07,222 --> 01:12:09,262
So stay tuned for
the details on that.

1590
01:12:09,258 --> 01:12:10,588
Have a good
weekend, everybody.