For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 6, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
9:36 A.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: All right. He had his usual briefings
this
morning, and you've got the rest of the schedule for the day. We'll be
back at the White House tonight. And I'll go straight to your
questions.
Q You said yesterday Saddam had the intent and capability to
develop WMD. Report coming out today said
Saddam posed a diminishing
threat; WMD less advanced in '03 than '98.
MR. McCLELLAN: Are you taking quotes from the report?
Q From newspaper accounts of it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, okay. Let's clarify that. You said, the
report says.
Q Can I get my question out?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, but I wanted to clarify your question, because
I don't agree with it.
Q One, has the President seen the report; two, will he square
those two ideas?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, we need to let the report come out -- as
I said yesterday -- and we can talk about it further. But I think
that, yes, we have been briefed on the report. I think the report will
clearly show that Saddam Hussein was a threat we needed to take
seriously, and he was in clear defiance of the international community
and Resolution 1441. I think it will show that he retained the intent
and capability to produce weapons of mass destruction. I think it will
show he was working to undermine the sanctions that were in place,
through a number of different schemes.
So let's let the report come out, and I'll be glad to talk about it
more. But I disagree with the way you stated your question. I don't
think that's accurate. We have already heard from the Kay report, the
Butler report. And they pointed out that Saddam Hussein retained the
intent and capability and pointed out that he was trying to undermine
the sanctions that were in place. And it was a matter of time before
he would begin a -- pursuing a full-scale weapons of mass destruction
-- his weapons of mass destruction efforts, a full -- again, pursuing
those again.
Q Has the President seen the report?
MR. McCLELLAN: Been briefed on it. I'll double check to see if we
received the final, actual report.
Q What did he tell Cheney last night,
besides,
congratulations?
MR. McCLELLAN: It was a brief conversation. The President watched
the debate last night in the Residence, and he called the Vice
President afterwards, and told him he did an outstanding job. The Vice
President clearly contrasted the differences on the big priorities
facing the American people.
I think the President, today, will continue to draw a stark
contrast on our highest priorities -- the war on terrorism, the
economy, health care. There are very clear choices facing the American
people. This race is about the future, and the American people are
paying closer attention to the election. This is a time for choosing,
and it's important to clearly outline what the differences are for the
American people on those big issues.
I think the Vice President touched on several of those last night.
The President will continue to talk about those differences today. The
President has a record of accomplishment. Senator Kerry has a record
of supporting the failed policies of the past. And he will talk about
the differences when it comes to winning the war on terrorism and the
differences when it comes to strengthening our economy in his remarks.
Q On Zarqawi, the CIA's report is
saying that there is no clear
connection that can be drawn between him and al Qaeda. Can you address
that? And what --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we talked about this yesterday, and I think
Condi talked about it, as well. And they -- no, they're actually --
let's look at what we know, and I talked about this yesterday in -- at
the White House with you all.
But we know that Zarqawi was in and out of Baghdad prior to
September the 11th. We know that he had established a cell in Baghdad
prior to September 11th. We know that a couple of his -- a couple
members of his cells were arrested by the Iraqi intelligence service.
And we know that Saddam Hussein personally intervened to order the
release of at least one of those members of his cells. We know that
Zarqawi was in Baghdad when he ordered the murder of an American
diplomat, Laurence Foley, who was in Jordan. We know that he was in
Baghdad when he was in contact with Ansar al-Islam operatives in
northeastern Iraq. This is the network that had the poisons lab that
was trying to carry out attacks in Europe.
Q But in the past, you said that he was the -- he was clear
evidence of the connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Are
you still saying that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look back at what I said yesterday. Look back at
what -- well, first of all, the CIA assessment is still a work in
progress, as they pointed out. And they pointed this -- these arrests
and Saddam Hussein's intervention in having them released. And so the
ties between Iraq and al Qaeda were also documented by the 9/11
Commission. There were senior level contacts. And so that's -- those
are the facts. That's what we -- that's what we know. And Saddam --
Iraq was a state-sponsor of terrorism. They funded suicide bombers.
We've got to -- all right.
Q A top nuclear official says Iran has
converted a few tons of
raw uranium into gas needed for enrichment. Are you aware of that?
MR. McCLELLAN: We've made it very clear what Iran needs to do.
And Iran needs to come clean and fully comply with its international
obligations. Iran needs to stop its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They
agreed to suspend their enrichment and reprocessing. And they need to
abide by those rulings. They agreed to the additional protocol, and
they need to meet their commitments. And so the international
community is speaking very clearly to Iran that if they continue in the
direction that they are going, then we will have to look at what
additional action may need to be taken, including looking to the United
Nations Security Council.
Q Karzai's running mate, assassination attempt?
MR. McCLELLAN: I've seen the reports. I don't have any more
information on that, any more information on that at this point.
Q Have you got a travel update for us?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, but what is it? Monday, October 11th, he'll
make remarks at a Hobbs, New Mexico Rally,
then a remarks at a Coors
for Senate Luncheon in Denver, Colorado.
Q Name of the candidate?
MR. McCLELLAN: Coors.
Q Spell it.
MR. McCLELLAN: You've ever heard it, C-o-o-r-s?
Q Never drunk it. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, that's on the record. I'm going to go back
and check that.
Q No, I don't believe you.
Q What else have you got?
MR. McCLELLAN: Remarks at a Denver, Colorado
Victory 2004 Rally,
and then we'll overnight in Denver.
Thanks.
END 9:44 A.M. EDT
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