English subtitles for clip: File:9-26-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
Afternoon, everybody.

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It's nice to see you all.

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For those of you who traveled
to New York, welcome back.

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For those of you who didn't,
it's nice to see you.

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Let me do a quick thing at the
top on an issue that I know that

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you're very interested in
-- the Affordable Care Act.

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There's some recent data that
I think merits some attention.

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And so to the extent that I can
lend some attention toward,

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I'll begin the briefing
by discussing it.

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The first is today's GDP report
shows that health care prices --

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the costs that matter
the most to consumers --

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continue to grow at
historically slow rates.

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Prices of health care services
increased at a rate of only

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1.8 percent annually in the
second quarter of 2014.

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This slow rate follows four
years in which we have seen the

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slowest growth in the prices of
health care goods and services

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in nearly the last 50 years.

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You'll recall that one of
the principal goals of the

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Affordable Care Act was
to bend the cost curve

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as it relates to health care.

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And there is early evidence
to indicate that there

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is very strong success
in doing that.

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The second thing
is, also this week,

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HHS released a report showing
that thanks to the Affordable

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Care Act, hospitals will save
$5.7 billion just this year --

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that's billion with a B --
because of fewer unpaid bills,

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with about 74 percent of
the total savings going

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to states that have
smartly expanded Medicaid.

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So that is again an additional
data point as it relates to cost

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savings, again thanks to
the Affordable Care Act.

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The third one -- I know it seems
like there were a lot of reports

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this week -- the third report
released this week shows that

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consumers will have even
greater competition and choice

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in the health insurance
marketplace next year,

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with 77 new health
insurers participating

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in the marketplace in 2015.

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That's a 25 percent increase.

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And again, this is another
underlying principle of the

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Affordable Care Act getting
-- expanding choices that

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are available to consumers,
and using competition

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in the marketplace
to drive down costs.

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So we certainly
welcomed that news.

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And then, finally, a recent
survey shows that the average

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premium for employer-provided
family health care coverage

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only went up 3
percent this year.

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That's tied for the lowest
increase since they began

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conducting the
survey back in 1999.

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So again, this is for
individuals who largely already

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had health insurance when the
Affordable Care Act was passed,

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but yet it has -- this
law has had an effect

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of restraining growth in
their costs as well.

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This is also a cost that
is borne by businesses.

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Another thing that we saw a lot
in advance of the Affordable

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Care Act were businesses that
sought to provide health care

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benefits to their employers
-- to their employees,

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but were either
reluctant to do so,

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or were unable to do so because
of the fast-growing costs.

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But again, thanks to the
Affordable Care Act,

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that cost was lower than
it's ever been last year.

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So with all of that, we
certainly can provide you some

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additional information about
each of these individual reports

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and the impact that it's having
on families and businesses

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all across the country.

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Just follow up and let me
know if you would like it.

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So with that one
lined up, Nedra,

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let's kick off this
Friday's briefing.

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The Press: Great,
thanks, Josh.

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Lawmakers across Europe are
voting to join the airstrike

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campaign against
the Islamic State.

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Why is it that a
place like Britain,

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where that was very
contentious issue last year,

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can get support from lawmakers
and yet that's not happening

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here in the United States?

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Does that make anyone here
think that maybe that's

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the way that it should be
done, with lawmaker support?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, let me start
by saying that we certainly

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welcome the recent vote that
occurred in the British

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parliament indicating their
strong support for the plan that

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the President has put forward
for dealing with the threat

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that's posed by ISIL.

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The United States and the
United Kingdom have a special

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relationship, and we are pleased
to see the strong support from

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members of parliament for
members of the British military

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working alongside U.S.
servicemen and women

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in pursuit of this
goal that benefits countries

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all around the globe,
including the United States

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and the U.K.

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Also this week, we saw that the
parliament of Belgium approved

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sending six F-16s to join the
growing international coalition.

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Again, that is another
welcome development,

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and one that is indicative of
the growing support that we're

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seeing across the globe for
this international coalition

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that the President has
vowed to build and lead.

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There are other countries that
made important announcements

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in recent days.

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Just earlier today -- I believe
it was just today -- we saw

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that Denmark indicated their
willingness to contribute

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fighter jets to participate in
airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.

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That follows upon the
announcements of Denmark

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to do the same thing, to
dedicate fighter jets

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to this effort.

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We've already seen the French
take airstrikes against

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ISIL in Iraq.

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So there's a strong,
growing coalition among our

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European allies and
partners for this effort.

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That builds upon the partnership
that the United States has

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already worked to build with
Muslim countries in the region,

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who worked alongside American
pilots to hit targets

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in Syria earlier this week.

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So there is a broad effort
underway to build this

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international coalition,
and we are pleased with

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the pace of this
coalition's growth.

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And we're pleased with the
strong ties between

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the United States -- or among the United States and countries

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around the world as we
confront this threat.

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The Press: But that they
are having support for that

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coalition, Europe,
among lawmakers,

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does that make anyone here at
the White House look at that

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and say, we'd like to have
that too; that's the way

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that it should be done?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, we certainly
welcome any indication from

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Congress of their
support for the strategy

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that the President has put
in place.

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I talked just last week or the
week before -- lost track --

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about Congress taking the step
to give the administration

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the needed authority to
ramp up our training

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and assistance program to
Syrian opposition fighters.

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That was a pretty clear
indication of Democrats

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and Republicans in Congress
being willing to put aside

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their partisan labels and
focus on the policy that

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they believe was in the
best interests

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of American
national security.

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So we certainly
welcome that step.

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And that was a clear sign of
support from a majority

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of Democrats and Republicans
in both houses of Congress.

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But if there are additional
steps that Congress chooses to

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take to indicate their support
for the President's strategy,

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we would welcome it.

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The Press: Following up on the
Attorney General's resignation

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yesterday, I know you said on
the plane that you didn't

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have an update on timing.

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But since then some -- including
Ted Cruz -- have said that

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the President shouldn't make
this nomination until our

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new Senate is in place.

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Does he think that's
too long to wait?

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And does he intend to make
the nomination this year?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't
have an update for you

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in terms of timing.

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The President will obviously
consider a range of candidates

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and will put forward the
individual he believes

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is best positioned to
lead the department.

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I feel confident
predicting for you now,

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without knowing who
that candidate is,

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that that is somebody who will
have the kinds of skills

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and credentials that
will merit a prompt

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and bipartisan
confirmation vote.

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That's certainly what we
would anticipate will happen.

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But in terms of timing, I don't
have an update at this point.

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The Press: Not whether it will
be this year or you'll wait for

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the new Senate -- you haven't
made the decision on that yet?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't know
if a decision has been made.

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We certainly -- I don't have
one to announce from here.

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Since you brought it up, I guess
it is worth looking at some of

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the recent occasions in which
Congress has considered nominees

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in this context.

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Many of you will recall that
in the lead-up to the 2006

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election, Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld announced

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his resignation.

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And it was the day after
the election in 2006,

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the day after the
midterm elections,

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that President Bush
nominated Bob Gates

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to be the Secretary
of Defense.

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Now, you'll recall the
dynamic that was at play.

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There was a Republican majority
in the United States Senate.

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There was an election -- a
midterm election -- that

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resulted in a change in power
from a Republican majority

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to a Democratic majority.

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After that election occurred
and after it became clear that

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Democrats were going to take
power in the United States

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Senate, the Republican President
put forward a nominee -- and

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with the strong support of the
Republican Leader of the Senate,

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Mitch McConnell --
indicated that that nominee

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should be confirmed in the
lame-duck period;

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that they should not allow --
they should not wait until after

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the first of the year, they
should not allow the bipartisan

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-- they should not allow the
new senators in the Senate

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to evaluate the nominee, but
that this nominee should

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get a prompt vote.

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And in less than a
month, December 6th,

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Secretary Gates was
confirmed to his post with

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strong bipartisan support.

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So there is a precedent for
presidents making important

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Cabinet nominations and counting
on Congress to confirm them

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promptly, even in the context
of a lame-duck session,

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if necessary.

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The other relevant analogy
here I think also applies

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to Mr. Holder's predecessor,
Attorney General Mukasey.

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He was not appointed in the
context of a midterm election,

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but he was nominated for his
job on September 17, 2007.

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And he was confirmed by the
United States Senate in

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bipartisan fashion, again by a
vote of a Senate that was

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led by the opposition
party, within seven weeks.

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He was confirmed on
November 8, 2007.

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The other thing I think that's
notable about Mr. Mukasey,

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aside from the fact that
he got bipartisan support,

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is that he was somebody who
had been a federal judge,

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and served with
distinction in that role,

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and he was confirmed
by the Senate in 1988.

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So it had been nearly 20 years
before his candidacy had been

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considered by the United States
Senate for any sort of position.

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And yet, within seven weeks,
he was given a hearing

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and an up-or-down vote, and
was eventually confirmed

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with bipartisan support.

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So there is a pretty clear
precedent for Attorneys General

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and for other prominent Cabinet
officials to go through the

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process of being nominated
and confirmed quickly

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and with bipartisan support.

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So again, that is without
announcing any sort of decisions

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that have been made
internally about timelines,

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but I guess the point I'm trying
to make is that either way,

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whether or not a nominee is --
would need to be confirmed

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in a lame-duck session, or
would need to be confirmed

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by a new Senate, that in either case, we would anticipate

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that the Senate
would act promptly

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and in bipartisan fashion.

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The Press: You just happened
to have those handy,

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that information?

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: Mark, you
count on me to show

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up to these
briefings prepared.

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So at least in this one
case I was able to do so.

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So we'll see how -- we're
still on the first question,

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so who knows what
could happen from here.

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Roberta.

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The Press: I just want to go
back to airstrikes for a second.

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On the U.S. airstrikes,
there have been strikes

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on Islamic State targets

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and Khorasan targets.

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And I'm wondering whether
strikes on other al Qaeda-linked

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groups like al-Nusra
have been ruled out?

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Or are those possible too?

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Are other types of
extremist targets possible?

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00:11:54,346 --> 00:11:58,651
Mr. Earnest: Well, I have worked
hard in answering these kinds

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00:11:58,651 --> 00:12:01,820
of questions over the last few
weeks to be as candid and

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00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:05,024
transparent as possible, while
also protecting the need

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00:12:05,024 --> 00:12:07,226
to act strategically.

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And that has often meant not
previewing in much detail

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00:12:13,632 --> 00:12:15,800
anticipated military actions.

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So with that need for
discretion in mind,

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00:12:19,171 --> 00:12:24,110
let me just say generally that
the President has made clear

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that as a core principle that
he is willing and able to order

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military action, where required,
to deny a safe haven to those

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individuals and organizations
that are seeking to do harm

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00:12:37,890 --> 00:12:41,927
to the United States
or our homeland.

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00:12:41,927 --> 00:12:46,031
And that applies to the wide
array of extremist threats

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00:12:46,031 --> 00:12:49,834
that are currently emanating
from Syria at this point.

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00:12:49,835 --> 00:12:52,738
The Press: Since our
last briefing on Monday,

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00:12:52,738 --> 00:12:55,541
new fences have gone up
around the fence outside.

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00:12:55,541 --> 00:12:58,978
And I'm just wondering what
stage the Secret Service review

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00:12:58,978 --> 00:13:02,381
is at about what went wrong a
week ago and how to prevent

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other security incidents here?

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00:13:05,518 --> 00:13:06,652
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
tell you that that review

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00:13:06,652 --> 00:13:08,154
is well under way.

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00:13:08,154 --> 00:13:11,724
Action on that review began on
the night of the incident one

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00:13:11,724 --> 00:13:15,294
week ago today, so I can tell
you that they have been making

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00:13:15,294 --> 00:13:16,295
progress on that review.

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For a more detailed
status update,

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I'd refer you to the Secret
Service who is conducting

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00:13:21,066 --> 00:13:22,968
that review right now.

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00:13:22,968 --> 00:13:24,969
The Press: And does the White
House have a timeline for

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00:13:24,970 --> 00:13:26,906
when it will get the
results of this review,

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00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:29,541
which I'm sure the White
House cares about very much?

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Mr. Earnest: The White House
does care about the review

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00:13:31,177 --> 00:13:33,712
that's being conducted
by the Secret Service.

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I can tell you that the
President was briefed just last

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00:13:37,016 --> 00:13:40,718
night by the Director of the
Secret Service, Julia Pierson,

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00:13:40,719 --> 00:13:43,722
where she was able to give him
an update of their review,

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00:13:47,092 --> 00:13:51,764
and their initial assessment
of what occurred last week.

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00:13:51,764 --> 00:13:54,133
But in terms of the
timing of that review,

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I don't have an update.

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00:13:55,134 --> 00:13:57,636
The Press: What was his reaction
to what she had to say to him?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I can tell
you that the President -- as he

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00:14:00,873 --> 00:14:04,777
has since he took office -- has
full confidence in the ability

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of the Secret Service, including
the leadership of the Secret

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00:14:07,179 --> 00:14:11,250
Service, to perform their very
important job of protecting

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00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:14,086
him and his family, and the
White House more generally.

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00:14:14,086 --> 00:14:16,555
He recognizes that they have to
balance some competing interests

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00:14:16,555 --> 00:14:19,592
-- the need preserve public
access to the White House,

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00:14:19,592 --> 00:14:23,662
to ensure that it retains
the image as People's House,

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00:14:23,662 --> 00:14:28,133
but also to ensure that the
people who work here on a daily

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00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:31,003
basis, from all of you to
members of the White House staff

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00:14:31,003 --> 00:14:33,372
to the President, can do
their job here safely.

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00:14:33,372 --> 00:14:35,373
So there are a lot of
competing interests,

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00:14:35,374 --> 00:14:37,376
and the President has full
confidence in the ability

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00:14:37,376 --> 00:14:39,345
of the men and women of
the Secret Service,

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00:14:39,345 --> 00:14:41,347
including those in leadership
positions, like the Director,

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00:14:41,347 --> 00:14:43,983
to perform their
responsibilities

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00:14:43,983 --> 00:14:45,117
effectively and
professionally.

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The Press: Follow up?

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00:14:46,385 --> 00:14:47,386
Mr. Earnest: Go ahead, Mark.

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00:14:47,386 --> 00:14:50,356
The Press: Was Julia Pierson
here at the White House?

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00:14:50,356 --> 00:14:52,358
Mr. Earnest: She was, yes.

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00:14:52,358 --> 00:14:55,294
The Press: Did Mrs. Obama
take part in that briefing?

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00:14:55,294 --> 00:14:57,396
Mr. Earnest: I don't know,
to be honest with you.

305
00:14:57,396 --> 00:14:58,830
You can check with the First
Lady's Office on that.

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00:14:58,831 --> 00:15:00,766
I don't believe that she
did, but check with them

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00:15:00,766 --> 00:15:01,800
to confirm that.

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00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:02,901
The Press: In the
Oval Office was it?

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00:15:02,901 --> 00:15:04,136
Mr. Earnest: That's
where it took place, yes.

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00:15:04,136 --> 00:15:05,471
The Press: About what time?

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00:15:05,471 --> 00:15:06,772
Mr. Earnest: It was after
the President returned

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00:15:06,772 --> 00:15:07,339
from New York.

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00:15:07,339 --> 00:15:08,307
I don't know exactly when.

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00:15:08,307 --> 00:15:10,943
So it would have been late in
the afternoon, early evening.

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00:15:10,943 --> 00:15:11,977
The Press: Thanks.

316
00:15:11,977 --> 00:15:13,178
Mr. Earnest: Justin.

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00:15:13,178 --> 00:15:16,148
The Press: I wanted to ask
first about the replacement

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00:15:16,148 --> 00:15:18,417
for Attorney General Holder.

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00:15:18,417 --> 00:15:21,520
Some of the high-profile names
that have certainly been kind

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00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,757
of floating around -- there was
Deval Patrick or Kamala Harris

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00:15:24,757 --> 00:15:27,191
or Senator Whitehouse --
all said that they weren't

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00:15:27,192 --> 00:15:29,495
interested in the position.

323
00:15:29,495 --> 00:15:32,498
And so I'm wondering if that's
a reflection of a struggle

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00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:35,668
that you guys are facing with
filling this position

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00:15:35,668 --> 00:15:38,470
at the end of the last two
years of the presidency,

326
00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:41,006
or if there's any concern
within the White House that

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00:15:41,006 --> 00:15:43,909
you'll be able to find a
top-tier candidate to kind

328
00:15:43,909 --> 00:15:45,277
of replace Eric Holder.

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00:15:45,277 --> 00:15:46,779
Mr. Earnest: I have no concerns
about that whatsoever.

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00:15:46,779 --> 00:15:48,447
I am confident that the
individual that the President

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00:15:48,447 --> 00:15:52,618
nominates will have all of the
skills and experience necessary

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00:15:52,618 --> 00:15:55,654
to carry out the functions of
the nation's top law enforcement

333
00:15:55,654 --> 00:15:57,356
official very effectively.

334
00:15:57,356 --> 00:15:59,591
The Press: And then on the
Secret Service review,

335
00:15:59,591 --> 00:16:03,262
I'm wondering, especially as it
pertains to the potential

336
00:16:03,262 --> 00:16:06,364
of making permanent the fence
outside the White House with

337
00:16:06,365 --> 00:16:08,901
the additional fence, is that a
decision that the President

338
00:16:08,901 --> 00:16:11,870
will make after getting the
results of the review?

339
00:16:11,870 --> 00:16:13,806
Or is that a decision that the
Secret Service would make

340
00:16:13,806 --> 00:16:15,708
on their own and then tell
the President about?

341
00:16:15,708 --> 00:16:18,810
Mr. Earnest: Well, as
Roberta alluded to,

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00:16:18,811 --> 00:16:22,247
I would anticipate and
expect that the White House,

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00:16:22,247 --> 00:16:27,652
including the President, will
review the results of the

344
00:16:27,653 --> 00:16:32,057
reforms that the Secret Service
is considering in this case.

345
00:16:32,057 --> 00:16:34,526
I would expect that the
President and other members

346
00:16:34,526 --> 00:16:38,363
of the White House will
grant significant discretion

347
00:16:38,364 --> 00:16:40,432
to the law enforcement
professionals who

348
00:16:40,432 --> 00:16:42,434
are responsible for conducting
the review, but are also

349
00:16:42,434 --> 00:16:44,502
responsible for protecting
the White House.

350
00:16:44,503 --> 00:16:48,307
So, yes, the White House will
be aware of those decisions

351
00:16:48,307 --> 00:16:49,308
as they're being made.

352
00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:53,312
But ultimately, those are
important law enforcement

353
00:16:53,312 --> 00:16:55,481
decisions and assessments --
I guess I should say it --

354
00:16:55,481 --> 00:16:57,483
let me just say it this way
-- those are the kinds

355
00:16:57,483 --> 00:16:59,685
of conclusions that law
enforcement should draw.

356
00:16:59,685 --> 00:17:02,988
And I'm confident that the White
House will have some input

357
00:17:02,988 --> 00:17:07,359
into those as they relate to
balancing the competing

358
00:17:07,358 --> 00:17:09,360
priorities here at
the White House.

359
00:17:09,361 --> 00:17:11,363
So again, the White House
is the People's House.

360
00:17:11,363 --> 00:17:14,366
Thousands of tourists tour the
White House on a daily basis.

361
00:17:14,366 --> 00:17:16,868
There are hundreds of us who
work here on a regular basis.

362
00:17:16,868 --> 00:17:21,673
There's also a priority placed
on protecting the White House

363
00:17:21,673 --> 00:17:22,674
and the First Family.

364
00:17:22,674 --> 00:17:25,277
So there are competing
interests here.

365
00:17:25,277 --> 00:17:27,746
The President does have
confidence in the Secret Service

366
00:17:27,746 --> 00:17:31,550
to make the kinds of assessments
about how to balance those

367
00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:36,588
competing interests, and the
White House will be aware

368
00:17:36,588 --> 00:17:39,091
and part of those decisions.

369
00:17:39,091 --> 00:17:40,324
The Press: One of those
competing interests

370
00:17:40,325 --> 00:17:42,127
is D.C. residents.

371
00:17:42,127 --> 00:17:45,230
We've heard Eleanor Holmes
Norton ask to meet with

372
00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:48,867
the Secret Service or the
administration on whatever

373
00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:51,136
would happen that would
affect D.C. residents.

374
00:17:51,136 --> 00:17:54,773
Obviously, this has been kind
of an issue that's been

375
00:17:54,773 --> 00:17:56,942
a hot-button issue in
D.C. politics for

376
00:17:56,942 --> 00:17:58,343
the last decade or so.

377
00:17:58,343 --> 00:18:01,213
And so I'm wondering if part of
the review process -- whether

378
00:18:01,213 --> 00:18:03,514
within the White House or at the
Secret Service -- will include

379
00:18:03,515 --> 00:18:06,885
soliciting feedback or
have any discussion with

380
00:18:06,885 --> 00:18:08,887
D.C. local leaders?

381
00:18:08,887 --> 00:18:11,356
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, for
questions about the review I'd

382
00:18:11,356 --> 00:18:12,057
refer you to the Secret Service.

383
00:18:12,057 --> 00:18:16,261
I do feel confident saying
from here that the review will

384
00:18:16,261 --> 00:18:19,331
consider the impact that any
changes would have on all

385
00:18:19,331 --> 00:18:21,332
of the various stakeholders
that are involved here,

386
00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:23,702
and that certainly
would include residents

387
00:18:23,702 --> 00:18:25,537
of the District of Columbia.

388
00:18:25,537 --> 00:18:28,407
But again, there are a lot of
priorities and equities that

389
00:18:28,407 --> 00:18:29,875
have to be balanced here.

390
00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:33,178
And the President and the White
House staff have full confidence

391
00:18:33,178 --> 00:18:37,149
in the ability of the Secret
Service to make those decisions.

392
00:18:37,149 --> 00:18:38,750
Move around a little bit.

393
00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:39,785
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

394
00:18:39,785 --> 00:18:42,654
Yesterday, the President and
Vice President Biden spoke with

395
00:18:42,654 --> 00:18:46,325
President of Turkey to discuss
the threat of terrorist

396
00:18:46,325 --> 00:18:49,094
groups and Syrian crisis.

397
00:18:49,094 --> 00:18:51,763
During those conversations,
I assume, U.S.

398
00:18:51,763 --> 00:18:55,501
is taking -- asking Turkey
to take concrete steps

399
00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:57,336
to fight against ISIL.

400
00:18:57,336 --> 00:19:01,006
But some Turkish officials said
during those conversations

401
00:19:01,006 --> 00:19:05,344
Turkish President set three
preconditions for joining

402
00:19:05,344 --> 00:19:07,145
coalition militarily.

403
00:19:07,145 --> 00:19:11,917
One is first to establish
no-fly zone over Syria;

404
00:19:11,917 --> 00:19:15,954
second is -- which is very
difficult task for U.S.

405
00:19:15,954 --> 00:19:18,524
-- that U.S. must make removing Assad as high as --

406
00:19:18,524 --> 00:19:23,896
as high priority as fighting ISIL; third is U.S.

407
00:19:23,896 --> 00:19:28,033
must show who support the
moderate Syrian opposition.

408
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:32,437
So it seems to me now,
ball is in U.S. court.

409
00:19:32,437 --> 00:19:36,341
What is your view on
these preconditions?

410
00:19:36,341 --> 00:19:40,478
Mr. Earnest: Well, the first
thing that I think is important

411
00:19:40,479 --> 00:19:44,983
is to acknowledge that what
the United States is doing

412
00:19:44,983 --> 00:19:47,686
is building a broader
international coalition.

413
00:19:47,686 --> 00:19:53,425
So you have talked about steps
that you -- that the government

414
00:19:53,425 --> 00:19:56,161
of Turkey has indicated
they would like to see.

415
00:19:56,161 --> 00:20:00,766
Several of those things are --
include mitigating the threat

416
00:20:00,766 --> 00:20:05,170
to ISIL, or mitigating the
ISIL threat to countries

417
00:20:05,170 --> 00:20:06,505
in the region.

418
00:20:06,505 --> 00:20:09,541
They also include trying to meet
the humanitarian needs of those

419
00:20:09,541 --> 00:20:12,043
individuals inside Syria that
have been displaced to other

420
00:20:12,044 --> 00:20:13,345
countries in the region.

421
00:20:13,345 --> 00:20:17,482
Turkey has certainly borne a
pretty significant weight when

422
00:20:17,482 --> 00:20:19,885
it comes to trying to meet
the basic humanitarian needs

423
00:20:19,885 --> 00:20:24,156
of those individuals in Syria
who fled to Turkey ahead

424
00:20:24,156 --> 00:20:26,425
of violence in their
communities back home.

425
00:20:28,460 --> 00:20:33,765
So it is clear that the
incentives and interests of the

426
00:20:33,765 --> 00:20:36,868
people of Turkey are pretty
closely aligned with the

427
00:20:36,868 --> 00:20:39,671
incentives of the United States
and other members of the

428
00:20:39,671 --> 00:20:46,311
coalition that has been formed
to counter the threat from ISIL.

429
00:20:46,311 --> 00:20:49,014
The President had the
opportunity to speak with

430
00:20:49,014 --> 00:20:55,987
President Erdogan yesterday
prior to his meeting

431
00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:58,790
with Vice President Biden.

432
00:20:58,790 --> 00:21:01,126
So there has been -- there is
an open line of communication

433
00:21:01,126 --> 00:21:03,128
between senior government
officials here

434
00:21:03,128 --> 00:21:05,464
in the United States and
the leadership of Turkey.

435
00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:10,802
We've also talked about how
it is not in the interest

436
00:21:10,802 --> 00:21:13,405
of any country in the region,
particularly Turkey,

437
00:21:13,405 --> 00:21:17,075
for there to be the kind of
instability and violence that

438
00:21:17,075 --> 00:21:22,514
ISIL is promoting right on
Turkey's doorstep that is --

439
00:21:22,514 --> 00:21:25,250
that poses a significant threat
to the stability of Turkey.

440
00:21:25,250 --> 00:21:27,285
I know that's something that
President Erdogan himself has

441
00:21:27,285 --> 00:21:30,155
indicated he's concerned about,
and that's precisely why the

442
00:21:30,155 --> 00:21:34,593
President -- because the
President shares his concerns,

443
00:21:34,593 --> 00:21:36,795
the President is building this
broader international coalition

444
00:21:36,795 --> 00:21:40,899
to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

445
00:21:40,899 --> 00:21:44,902
We would anticipate that we will
get cooperation from Turkey

446
00:21:44,903 --> 00:21:49,374
because -- not, if you will,
as a favor necessarily to the

447
00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:52,644
United States, but because it is
so clearly in Turkey's national

448
00:21:52,644 --> 00:21:56,515
security interest for them to be
part of this broader coalition

449
00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:59,017
to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

450
00:21:59,017 --> 00:22:01,386
So the lines of communication
between the United States

451
00:22:01,386 --> 00:22:04,255
and other coalition members
with Turkey will remain open.

452
00:22:04,256 --> 00:22:08,560
We value the strong working
relationship that we have with

453
00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:10,896
President Erdogan and other
members of the government there

454
00:22:10,896 --> 00:22:14,299
in Turkey, and we would
anticipate that that open

455
00:22:14,299 --> 00:22:17,569
dialogue and strong working
relationship will continue

456
00:22:17,569 --> 00:22:22,841
even as we work to meet
the ISIL threat.

457
00:22:22,841 --> 00:22:23,641
Jon.

458
00:22:23,642 --> 00:22:24,810
The Press: Just a
couple quick ones.

459
00:22:24,810 --> 00:22:28,647
First, you have a private dinner
with the Prime Minister of India

460
00:22:28,647 --> 00:22:31,616
here on Monday, and he's
going to be fasting.

461
00:22:31,616 --> 00:22:34,219
I'm wondering how does the White
House hold a dinner for

462
00:22:34,219 --> 00:22:35,587
somebody who is fasting?

463
00:22:35,587 --> 00:22:36,722
What's the plan?

464
00:22:36,722 --> 00:22:40,392
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, we
obviously tried to meet the --

465
00:22:40,392 --> 00:22:43,929
to be respectful of the needs of
all of the high-profile visitors

466
00:22:43,929 --> 00:22:45,931
that come to the White
House, and to be respectful

467
00:22:45,931 --> 00:22:47,966
of their observances.

468
00:22:47,966 --> 00:22:50,534
It's my understanding that we're
talking about a working dinner

469
00:22:50,535 --> 00:22:55,741
with a substantial number
of people around the table.

470
00:22:55,741 --> 00:22:59,244
If Prime Minister Modi or other
members who are participating

471
00:22:59,244 --> 00:23:03,081
in that working dinner choose
not to eat based on their

472
00:23:03,081 --> 00:23:05,117
own religious or
cultural observance,

473
00:23:05,117 --> 00:23:07,351
then we'll certainly work
to accommodate their needs

474
00:23:07,352 --> 00:23:08,353
as best we can.

475
00:23:08,353 --> 00:23:09,921
The Press: So there will
be food at the table,

476
00:23:09,921 --> 00:23:12,991
but he just won't
partake, basically?

477
00:23:12,991 --> 00:23:15,627
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think that
he has indicated that is what

478
00:23:15,627 --> 00:23:19,364
his plan is, but I'll let
his spokesman speak for him.

479
00:23:19,364 --> 00:23:24,002
The Press: And I wanted
to ask you, first of all,

480
00:23:24,002 --> 00:23:27,072
going back to the U.N., was
there any contact at all with

481
00:23:27,072 --> 00:23:30,242
the President and the
Iranian delegation?

482
00:23:30,242 --> 00:23:32,944
Mr. Earnest: No, I'm not
aware of any contact that

483
00:23:32,944 --> 00:23:35,447
the President personally had
with the Iranian delegation.

484
00:23:35,447 --> 00:23:37,448
You will recall -- or I think
you're aware that there were

485
00:23:37,449 --> 00:23:41,219
a number of meetings between
American officials and members

486
00:23:41,219 --> 00:23:43,188
of the Iranian delegation,
going all the way

487
00:23:43,188 --> 00:23:46,858
up to Secretary of State John
Kerry and his counterpart,

488
00:23:46,858 --> 00:23:49,494
Foreign Minister Zarif; that
there were conversations that

489
00:23:49,494 --> 00:23:53,264
they had, principally focused
on the P5-plus-1 negotiations.

490
00:23:53,265 --> 00:23:56,034
There were some conversations on
the side about some other

491
00:23:56,034 --> 00:23:59,738
issue related to this broader
international coalition

492
00:23:59,738 --> 00:24:01,006
against ISIL.

493
00:24:01,006 --> 00:24:04,676
But there was no specific
presidential communication

494
00:24:04,676 --> 00:24:05,644
that I'm aware of.

495
00:24:05,644 --> 00:24:09,514
The Press: And there's some
reporting that the White House,

496
00:24:09,514 --> 00:24:11,582
the administration is
considering a new approach with

497
00:24:11,583 --> 00:24:14,219
the nuclear talks that would
basically allow the Iranians

498
00:24:14,219 --> 00:24:18,490
to keep about half of the
centrifuges they have and then

499
00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:23,728
more dramatically reduce their
stockpile of nuclear fuel

500
00:24:23,728 --> 00:24:25,230
that they have.

501
00:24:25,230 --> 00:24:27,699
Is there anything to these
reports that you would actually

502
00:24:27,699 --> 00:24:30,368
strike a deal with the Iranians,
would let them keep half

503
00:24:30,368 --> 00:24:31,369
of their centrifuges?

504
00:24:31,369 --> 00:24:35,506
Mr. Earnest: I won't be in a
position to explain what our

505
00:24:35,507 --> 00:24:40,078
current negotiating position
is or to try to describe or

506
00:24:40,078 --> 00:24:42,113
characterize the accuracy of
reports that are attempting

507
00:24:42,113 --> 00:24:44,115
to describe our current
negotiating position.

508
00:24:44,115 --> 00:24:47,886
These are conversations
that have been going

509
00:24:47,886 --> 00:24:49,454
on for quite some time.

510
00:24:49,454 --> 00:24:52,624
This is the United States acting
in concert with our P5-plus-1

511
00:24:52,624 --> 00:24:55,760
partners to reach an agreement
with Iran that would mitigate

512
00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,163
the broader international
community's concern about

513
00:24:58,163 --> 00:24:59,297
Iran's nuclear program.

514
00:24:59,297 --> 00:25:05,804
And we do believe that it is a
-- it's critically important

515
00:25:05,804 --> 00:25:10,876
for Iran in a verifiable,
demonstrable way to come into

516
00:25:10,876 --> 00:25:15,780
compliance with generally
accepted international standards

517
00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:19,283
as it relates to their nuclear
program; to essentially ensure,

518
00:25:19,284 --> 00:25:22,454
again, in a verifiable,
transparent way that their

519
00:25:22,454 --> 00:25:26,291
nuclear program exists solely
for peaceful purposes.

520
00:25:26,291 --> 00:25:27,859
And that is a priority.

521
00:25:27,859 --> 00:25:32,364
That is something that
the Iranian regime says

522
00:25:32,364 --> 00:25:34,399
that they aim to do.

523
00:25:34,399 --> 00:25:36,434
But again, these are very
difficult negotiations.

524
00:25:36,434 --> 00:25:38,436
And as much as I
would like to, Jon,

525
00:25:38,436 --> 00:25:40,437
I'm not going to be in
a position to negotiate

526
00:25:40,438 --> 00:25:42,340
a nuclear agreement with Iran
just between you and me.

527
00:25:42,340 --> 00:25:42,741
The Press: Right here.

528
00:25:42,741 --> 00:25:43,074
But --

529
00:25:43,074 --> 00:25:44,376
Mr. Earnest: We
might have more success.

530
00:25:44,376 --> 00:25:45,110
The Press: We probably would.

531
00:25:45,110 --> 00:25:45,843
But --

532
00:25:45,844 --> 00:25:47,112
Mr. Earnest: But that's
them -- they're hard

533
00:25:47,112 --> 00:25:48,046
at work behind closed doors.

534
00:25:48,046 --> 00:25:49,881
The Press: The
deadline is November.

535
00:25:49,881 --> 00:25:52,784
Obviously, we'd had a
previous deadline of June

536
00:25:52,784 --> 00:25:53,752
that was extended.

537
00:25:53,752 --> 00:25:56,154
Is this November
deadline a real deadline?

538
00:25:56,154 --> 00:25:59,624
Or is the White House open
to extending it again?

539
00:25:59,624 --> 00:26:01,626
Mr. Earnest: Well, at this point
the negotiations are ongoing,

540
00:26:01,626 --> 00:26:03,995
so I wouldn't want to get
ahead of those negotiations

541
00:26:03,995 --> 00:26:07,698
by signaling a willingness
to extend the deadline.

542
00:26:07,699 --> 00:26:09,034
The previous deadline
was real.

543
00:26:09,034 --> 00:26:11,903
In the aftermath of
the previous deadline,

544
00:26:11,903 --> 00:26:14,706
you'll recall that a subsequent
agreement was reached

545
00:26:14,706 --> 00:26:18,443
that actually prompted Iran
to further roll back

546
00:26:18,443 --> 00:26:19,577
their nuclear program.

547
00:26:19,577 --> 00:26:23,214
So this is not a situation
where the United States is just

548
00:26:23,214 --> 00:26:27,686
running out the clock in a way
that gives cover to Iran

549
00:26:27,686 --> 00:26:29,687
to make advances to their
nuclear program.

550
00:26:29,688 --> 00:26:37,295
That was evident in earlier
rounds of negotiations.

551
00:26:37,295 --> 00:26:38,129
There was concern that
Iran would just use these

552
00:26:38,129 --> 00:26:41,433
negotiations as cover to
make additional progress

553
00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:42,634
on their nuclear program.

554
00:26:42,634 --> 00:26:44,636
The opposite is actually
taking place here.

555
00:26:44,636 --> 00:26:48,440
As these conversations continue,
Iran's nuclear program

556
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:49,841
is further rolled back.

557
00:26:49,841 --> 00:26:57,716
But these negotiations continue,
and there are senior officials

558
00:26:57,716 --> 00:27:00,418
in the administration who
are very hard at work

559
00:27:00,418 --> 00:27:02,486
on this important national
security priority.

560
00:27:02,487 --> 00:27:02,721
The Press: Okay.

561
00:27:02,721 --> 00:27:06,024
Then I've got one other, which
is -- in light of -- now that

562
00:27:06,024 --> 00:27:08,426
we all know about this group
Khorasan -- obviously,

563
00:27:08,426 --> 00:27:15,265
the United States has bombed --
is made up in part by al Qaeda

564
00:27:15,266 --> 00:27:19,671
-- members of al Qaeda who came
from Afghanistan, Pakistan.

565
00:27:19,671 --> 00:27:22,207
I'm wondering that in the light
of this major military operation

566
00:27:22,207 --> 00:27:25,377
against a group that was
planning an imminent attack

567
00:27:25,377 --> 00:27:30,281
on the United States, is it time
to kind of revise and extend

568
00:27:30,281 --> 00:27:32,984
what the White House has
said over and over again,

569
00:27:32,984 --> 00:27:36,855
claiming that core al
Qaeda has been decimated?

570
00:27:36,855 --> 00:27:39,491
Is it clear now that that was
simply an incorrect statement?

571
00:27:39,491 --> 00:27:41,893
Mr. Earnest: No, it continues to
be clear to this day that core

572
00:27:41,893 --> 00:27:44,329
al Qaeda has been
decimated, that in --

573
00:27:44,329 --> 00:27:47,966
The Press: But we just had to
bomb a group that represents

574
00:27:47,966 --> 00:27:50,301
remnants of al Qaeda in
Afghanistan and Pakistan

575
00:27:50,301 --> 00:27:52,303
that posed such a
threat that we had

576
00:27:52,303 --> 00:27:55,840
to do a major military
operation to hit them in Syria.

577
00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:57,841
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think one
thing that should be clear is

578
00:27:57,842 --> 00:28:01,646
that these individuals and this
organization in Pakistan

579
00:28:01,646 --> 00:28:04,816
and Afghanistan was so
decimated that they had to flee

580
00:28:04,816 --> 00:28:07,419
to another country to try to
find another safe haven,

581
00:28:07,419 --> 00:28:09,421
to try to get into a position
where they could carry out

582
00:28:09,421 --> 00:28:10,722
attacks against the West.

583
00:28:10,722 --> 00:28:13,158
That's an indication of the
constant pressure that

584
00:28:13,158 --> 00:28:14,692
they're under right now.

585
00:28:14,692 --> 00:28:17,195
It also is an indication that
the United States needs to

586
00:28:17,195 --> 00:28:20,932
continue to be, and is
continuing to be vigilant about

587
00:28:20,932 --> 00:28:23,301
the threat that is posed
by remnants of al Qaeda,

588
00:28:23,301 --> 00:28:25,570
that there are affiliates around
the globe that do continue

589
00:28:25,570 --> 00:28:27,639
to pose a threat to
Western interests.

590
00:28:27,639 --> 00:28:31,943
And whether it's Somalia or
Yemen or, yes, even in Syria,

591
00:28:31,943 --> 00:28:34,245
the administration will put
in place a counterterrorism

592
00:28:34,245 --> 00:28:37,014
strategy to deny
them a safe haven,

593
00:28:37,015 --> 00:28:39,017
to mitigate the
threat that they pose,

594
00:28:39,017 --> 00:28:43,555
and where necessary use military
force to degrade their ability

595
00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:45,924
to strike the
West or to strike

596
00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:47,025
the U.S. homeland.

597
00:28:47,025 --> 00:28:48,226
So we remain vigilant.

598
00:28:48,226 --> 00:28:51,196
But there's no denying the
significant success that

599
00:28:51,196 --> 00:28:54,299
we have had in decimating
and destroying core al Qaeda

600
00:28:54,299 --> 00:28:55,733
in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

601
00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:57,168
The Press: But they're still
able to pose a threat and plan

602
00:28:57,168 --> 00:28:59,103
an imminent attack that you were
so concerned about that

603
00:28:59,104 --> 00:29:01,106
you've launched a military
campaign against them.

604
00:29:01,106 --> 00:29:02,640
How can you call
that decimated?

605
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,642
I mean the fact that
they moved to Syria,

606
00:29:04,642 --> 00:29:07,345
where they had access to more
resources and actually were

607
00:29:07,345 --> 00:29:11,516
closer, I mean, I don't
understand how we can say this

608
00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:12,684
group has been decimated?

609
00:29:12,684 --> 00:29:13,184
Mr. Earnest: Because --

610
00:29:13,184 --> 00:29:13,952
The Press: -- when
we're engaged

611
00:29:13,952 --> 00:29:14,552
in a military campaign --

612
00:29:14,552 --> 00:29:15,620
Mr. Earnest: Because
what's clear -- because

613
00:29:15,620 --> 00:29:20,792
of the bravery of our
American military personnel,

614
00:29:20,792 --> 00:29:22,793
the courage of our
intelligence officials and the

615
00:29:22,794 --> 00:29:25,063
effective work of our diplomats,
that network previously was

616
00:29:25,063 --> 00:29:27,665
entrenched in the border
region between Afghanistan and

617
00:29:27,665 --> 00:29:30,935
Pakistan, and was so entrenched
there that they could launch

618
00:29:30,935 --> 00:29:33,705
a worldwide conspiracy that
allowed them to conduct

619
00:29:33,705 --> 00:29:36,206
a large-scale attack on
the American homeland,

620
00:29:36,207 --> 00:29:37,275
no longer exists.

621
00:29:37,275 --> 00:29:39,244
That network is gone.

622
00:29:39,244 --> 00:29:40,043
The Press: They're closer.

623
00:29:40,044 --> 00:29:41,613
They have more resources.

624
00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:42,547
Mr. Earnest: What
they have done,

625
00:29:42,547 --> 00:29:46,985
like other al Qaeda affiliates,
is fled to other places,

626
00:29:46,985 --> 00:29:49,320
hoping to hide from the United
States -- because of the

627
00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,491
pressure that they're under --
and tried to organize and plot

628
00:29:53,491 --> 00:29:56,261
against Western interests and
possibly the Western homeland.

629
00:29:56,261 --> 00:30:00,064
We need to be vigilant
against these threats,

630
00:30:00,064 --> 00:30:01,132
and we continue to be.

631
00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:04,569
But there's no denying that the
network that existed before

632
00:30:04,569 --> 00:30:07,739
9/11 has been decimated
and destroyed.

633
00:30:07,739 --> NaN:NaN:NaN,NaN
Jim.

634
00:30:07,672 --> 00:30:10,975
The Press: To follow
up on Khorasan,

635
00:30:10,975 --> 00:30:13,578
why is it that the American
people are just learning about

636
00:30:13,578 --> 00:30:15,013
this group now?

637
00:30:15,013 --> 00:30:18,550
When we woke up to find out
about these airstrikes on

638
00:30:18,550 --> 00:30:20,952
that group, a lot of Americans
had never even heard

639
00:30:20,952 --> 00:30:22,620
of this group before.

640
00:30:22,620 --> 00:30:25,590
Should this administration
have been warning the public,

641
00:30:25,590 --> 00:30:29,928
talking about this group in more
detail prior to those strikes

642
00:30:29,928 --> 00:30:30,929
occurring?

643
00:30:30,929 --> 00:30:38,136
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, our
intelligence services and our

644
00:30:38,136 --> 00:30:41,639
national security officials
have been closely watching

645
00:30:41,639 --> 00:30:43,640
the activities of this
particular organization

646
00:30:43,641 --> 00:30:46,911
for quite a while now.

647
00:30:46,911 --> 00:30:50,548
And in order to do
that effectively,

648
00:30:50,548 --> 00:30:56,387
it does require us to be less
than transparent in terms

649
00:30:56,387 --> 00:30:59,023
of the activities that we're
engaged in to mitigate

650
00:30:59,023 --> 00:31:00,992
the threat that they pose.

651
00:31:00,992 --> 00:31:05,163
And what we have
done since then,

652
00:31:05,163 --> 00:31:06,864
since this group
has been identified,

653
00:31:06,864 --> 00:31:10,435
is to try to communicate as
clearly as we can why military

654
00:31:10,435 --> 00:31:12,736
action was necessary.

655
00:31:12,737 --> 00:31:15,039
The military operation that was
conducted earlier this week

656
00:31:15,039 --> 00:31:20,511
is still being reviewed in
terms of what impact it had.

657
00:31:20,511 --> 00:31:23,915
The early indications are
that the operation was

658
00:31:23,915 --> 00:31:25,350
effective and impactful.

659
00:31:25,350 --> 00:31:30,021
But we -- and by "we," I mean
the Department of Defense --

660
00:31:30,021 --> 00:31:34,524
is still conducting an
assessment of what the results

661
00:31:34,525 --> 00:31:35,526
were from the strike.

662
00:31:35,526 --> 00:31:38,429
The Press: And the FBI director
said yesterday that Khorasan

663
00:31:38,429 --> 00:31:41,633
is at the top of the
list of threats that

664
00:31:41,633 --> 00:31:42,166
he's concerned about.

665
00:31:42,166 --> 00:31:44,601
Does the President
also share that view?

666
00:31:44,602 --> 00:31:47,071
Mr. Earnest: The President is
concerned about the threat

667
00:31:47,071 --> 00:31:50,174
that is emanating from
extremist groups in the region,

668
00:31:50,174 --> 00:31:53,244
including in Syria and
including the Khorasan group.

669
00:31:53,244 --> 00:31:55,812
But the fact is there are al
Qaeda affiliates around

670
00:31:55,813 --> 00:31:59,884
the globe that we are --
remain vigilant about.

671
00:31:59,884 --> 00:32:02,654
And that means that we are
focused on implementing

672
00:32:02,654 --> 00:32:05,456
a counterterrorism strategy
that applies continual pressure

673
00:32:05,456 --> 00:32:09,060
to them and mitigates the
threat that they can pose

674
00:32:09,060 --> 00:32:11,062
to the United States, our
interests and our homeland.

675
00:32:11,062 --> 00:32:13,097
The Press: And on Prime Minister
Abadi -- yesterday he told

676
00:32:13,097 --> 00:32:17,668
a group of reporters about this
alleged subway plot in the U.S.

677
00:32:17,669 --> 00:32:20,705
and in France, and it seemed as
if later in the day the Iraqis

678
00:32:20,705 --> 00:32:22,506
were sort of walking
back those comments.

679
00:32:22,507 --> 00:32:24,175
What's the latest assessment?

680
00:32:24,175 --> 00:32:28,178
Did the Iraqi Prime Minister
just botch that one?

681
00:32:28,179 --> 00:32:29,180
What happened there?

682
00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:31,816
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
you'd have to speak to the

683
00:32:31,816 --> 00:32:34,185
spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime
Minister in terms of what

684
00:32:34,185 --> 00:32:35,953
he actually meant.

685
00:32:35,953 --> 00:32:38,256
You saw from State Department
officials that they followed

686
00:32:38,256 --> 00:32:42,894
up with their Iraqi counterparts
and determined that

687
00:32:42,894 --> 00:32:45,863
what Prime Minister Abadi was
referring to is the threat

688
00:32:45,863 --> 00:32:47,999
that is posed by foreign
terrorist fighters.

689
00:32:47,999 --> 00:32:50,501
We've talked about that on a
number of occasions in this

690
00:32:50,501 --> 00:32:53,338
room, that there are individuals
in the West and from countries

691
00:32:53,338 --> 00:32:55,840
around the world who have
traveled to the region to take

692
00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:57,975
up arms alongside ISIL.

693
00:32:57,975 --> 00:33:00,011
And the concern is that they
could use their training and

694
00:33:00,011 --> 00:33:03,481
equipment and their willingness
to die for their cause to return

695
00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:07,318
home and launch violent
attacks on their own homeland,

696
00:33:07,318 --> 00:33:08,485
wherever they're from.

697
00:33:08,486 --> 00:33:10,455
Some of those individuals
are from the United States.

698
00:33:10,455 --> 00:33:11,589
The Press: They seemed to
be speaking about something

699
00:33:11,589 --> 00:33:15,059
specific, and it really sort of
launched this administration --

700
00:33:15,059 --> 00:33:18,262
parts of the administration
into coming out and saying,

701
00:33:18,262 --> 00:33:19,629
we've looked at this,
we've assessed this --

702
00:33:19,630 --> 00:33:21,032
the mayor of New York
had to come out.

703
00:33:21,032 --> 00:33:23,735
I mean, it really sort of had
everybody on edge there

704
00:33:23,735 --> 00:33:26,036
for several hours yesterday,
including a lot of New Yorkers.

705
00:33:26,037 --> 00:33:29,774
Mr. Earnest: We value the strong
working relationship that

706
00:33:29,774 --> 00:33:32,843
we have with Prime Minister
Abadi and his government.

707
00:33:32,844 --> 00:33:36,614
We're obviously working very
closely with them to counter

708
00:33:36,614 --> 00:33:39,884
ISIL both on the ground in Iraq,
but also to counter the broader

709
00:33:39,884 --> 00:33:42,787
threat that they pose
to Western interests.

710
00:33:42,787 --> 00:33:46,758
So that is -- what that
means, because we value that

711
00:33:46,758 --> 00:33:48,626
relationship and we have
confidence in that relationship,

712
00:33:48,626 --> 00:33:50,328
it means that we are --
that we have open lines

713
00:33:50,328 --> 00:33:51,629
of communication.

714
00:33:51,629 --> 00:33:53,331
And as they assess threats, we
want to be in close touch

715
00:33:53,331 --> 00:33:54,197
with them about that.

716
00:33:54,198 --> 00:33:55,767
That's exactly what
occurred yesterday,

717
00:33:55,767 --> 00:33:59,470
and that is what allowed us to
clarify that apparently

718
00:33:59,470 --> 00:34:01,305
Prime Minister Abadi was not
referring to a specific threat,

719
00:34:01,305 --> 00:34:04,609
but was referring more broadly
to the threat that is posed

720
00:34:04,609 --> 00:34:06,476
by foreign terrorist fighters
that are fighting

721
00:34:06,477 --> 00:34:10,148
alongside ISIL in his
country and in Syria.

722
00:34:10,148 --> 00:34:11,082
The Press: And can I just ask
you very quickly about

723
00:34:11,081 --> 00:34:12,884
the President's speech to
the United Nations?

724
00:34:12,884 --> 00:34:13,418
Mr. Earnest: Sure.

725
00:34:13,418 --> 00:34:17,722
The Press: It seemed as if the
talk about the only language

726
00:34:17,722 --> 00:34:20,792
that these terrorists
understand is force,

727
00:34:20,792 --> 00:34:24,594
and any of these fighters better
clear off the battlefield.

728
00:34:24,594 --> 00:34:27,397
I mean, this seemed to be a
departure for the President

729
00:34:27,398 --> 00:34:30,568
in terms of the toughness that
he put into the speech,

730
00:34:30,568 --> 00:34:32,637
and I'm just wondering, has he
had a moment of clarity

731
00:34:32,637 --> 00:34:34,539
about all of this?

732
00:34:34,539 --> 00:34:37,942
Why has he sort of left maybe
more of these mixed messages

733
00:34:37,942 --> 00:34:41,078
behind that we've heard from him
in recent weeks about maybe not

734
00:34:41,078 --> 00:34:44,482
having a strategy, and managing
versus degrading and destroying

735
00:34:44,482 --> 00:34:47,317
and -- I know you may challenge
some of those assertions

736
00:34:47,318 --> 00:34:48,586
that I just made there
in that question.

737
00:34:48,585 --> 00:34:50,087
(laughter)

738
00:34:50,087 --> 00:34:56,460
But it did seem
not too unreasonable for

739
00:34:56,460 --> 00:34:58,462
The Economist to put the
President in George W.

740
00:34:58,463 --> 00:35:01,666
Bush's flight suit on the cover
of their magazine this week.

741
00:35:01,666 --> 00:35:04,068
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, you're
right -- I strongly disagree

742
00:35:04,068 --> 00:35:05,069
with that assessment.

743
00:35:05,069 --> 00:35:06,070
(laughter)

744
00:35:06,070 --> 00:35:07,939
You are --
The Press: I tried.

745
00:35:07,939 --> 00:35:09,307
Mr. Earnest: You did.

746
00:35:09,307 --> 00:35:11,375
And you're more than
entitled to your opinion.

747
00:35:11,375 --> 00:35:13,277
You're somebody who's
been following this --

748
00:35:13,277 --> 00:35:14,345
The Press: Is that a rational
point of view, though,

749
00:35:14,345 --> 00:35:15,680
that people have been
expressing this week?

750
00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:19,049
That he just sort of --
that there was a different

751
00:35:19,050 --> 00:35:22,453
President Obama at the
United Nations on Wednesday?

752
00:35:22,453 --> 00:35:23,721
Is that a fair or
unfair statement?

753
00:35:23,721 --> 00:35:25,723
Mr. Earnest: I think
it's an unfair statement,

754
00:35:25,723 --> 00:35:27,725
because I do think that a
careful scrutiny of the

755
00:35:27,725 --> 00:35:30,761
President's record indicates
that he is somebody who has been

756
00:35:30,761 --> 00:35:35,299
very strong about the need
to act decisively to counter

757
00:35:35,299 --> 00:35:37,335
threats from extremist groups
emanating from anywhere

758
00:35:37,335 --> 00:35:38,803
in the world.

759
00:35:38,803 --> 00:35:40,805
This goes all the way back to
a speech that the President

760
00:35:40,805 --> 00:35:43,975
delivered on August 1st of 2007
-- so this is even before

761
00:35:43,975 --> 00:35:46,743
he won the Democratic nomination
-- and in that speech,

762
00:35:46,744 --> 00:35:50,715
the President signaled his
willingness to go into Pakistan

763
00:35:50,715 --> 00:35:53,851
if necessary, without the
permission of that government,

764
00:35:53,851 --> 00:35:56,454
to get Osama bin Laden if
he thought he could do it.

765
00:35:56,454 --> 00:35:59,824
That was, at the time,
regarded as a very bold

766
00:35:59,824 --> 00:36:01,792
and provocative statement.

767
00:36:01,792 --> 00:36:03,194
It was.

768
00:36:03,194 --> 00:36:07,965
And it was a signal of how
determined this President at

769
00:36:07,965 --> 00:36:12,336
that point would be, and how
this President has been,

770
00:36:12,336 --> 00:36:17,008
in terms of taking the force --
using the force that's necessary

771
00:36:17,008 --> 00:36:19,710
to protect the American people
and the American homeland,

772
00:36:19,710 --> 00:36:21,712
and our interests
around the globe.

773
00:36:21,712 --> 00:36:23,881
The President followed through
on that promise to go after

774
00:36:23,881 --> 00:36:27,384
Osama bin Laden where necessary.

775
00:36:27,385 --> 00:36:30,655
The President has ordered
counterterrorism missions in

776
00:36:30,655 --> 00:36:34,525
locations around the globe where
we have succeeded in working

777
00:36:34,525 --> 00:36:37,862
with our local partners to
mitigate the threat that's

778
00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:41,666
posed by organizations like
AQAP, like al Shabaab.

779
00:36:41,666 --> 00:36:43,668
You'll recall that just
a couple of weeks ago,

780
00:36:43,668 --> 00:36:45,436
as a result of a military
strike in Somalia,

781
00:36:45,436 --> 00:36:49,440
the leader of al
Shabaab was killed.

782
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,276
In just the last month or so, as
a result of actions ordered

783
00:36:52,276 --> 00:36:57,080
by this Commander-in-Chief, more
than 170 military airstrikes

784
00:36:57,081 --> 00:37:00,685
have been conducted against ISIL
by American military aircraft

785
00:37:00,685 --> 00:37:02,486
in Iraq alone.

786
00:37:02,486 --> 00:37:05,156
So I think there's a variety of
evidence to indicate that the

787
00:37:05,156 --> 00:37:09,860
President, since he first
arrived on the national stage,

788
00:37:09,860 --> 00:37:13,364
has demonstrated not just an
openness to but a commitment to

789
00:37:13,364 --> 00:37:16,534
acting decisively and forcefully
to protect American interests

790
00:37:16,534 --> 00:37:18,536
all around the world.

791
00:37:18,536 --> 00:37:19,170
Yes, Bill.

792
00:37:19,170 --> 00:37:21,606
The Press: Josh, how would you
square that with the widespread

793
00:37:21,606 --> 00:37:25,509
assumption that the President
has been very accommodating,

794
00:37:25,509 --> 00:37:28,512
has sought to play down
American exceptionalism,

795
00:37:28,512 --> 00:37:31,415
beginning with his
Cairo speech in 2009,

796
00:37:31,415 --> 00:37:34,085
where he reached out and
embraced the rest of the world

797
00:37:34,085 --> 00:37:38,856
and seemed to play down the more
militaristic aspects of the

798
00:37:38,856 --> 00:37:42,226
American experience in the
previous administration?

799
00:37:42,226 --> 00:37:44,028
That's the impression that
we're talking about here.

800
00:37:44,028 --> 00:37:46,029
Mr. Earnest: I don't think
that's an impression that's

801
00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:47,031
rooted in the facts.

802
00:37:47,031 --> 00:37:48,666
I'll just be blunt about it.

803
00:37:48,666 --> 00:37:50,801
I think that what the President
has done time and time again is

804
00:37:50,801 --> 00:37:53,671
signaled a willingness to engage
with the international community

805
00:37:53,671 --> 00:37:57,642
to try to find those situations
in which our interests align,

806
00:37:57,642 --> 00:38:01,011
and to partner closely with them
to advance our mutual interests.

807
00:38:01,012 --> 00:38:03,714
At the same time, the President
is not willing to do that to the

808
00:38:03,714 --> 00:38:05,716
exclusion of American interests.

809
00:38:05,716 --> 00:38:09,153
Where necessary, he's willing to
act unilaterally and forcefully

810
00:38:09,153 --> 00:38:11,689
to protect the American people.

811
00:38:11,689 --> 00:38:14,759
He believes, however, that
that use of force can be more

812
00:38:14,759 --> 00:38:17,795
effective if it is done
alongside partners all around

813
00:38:17,795 --> 00:38:19,764
the globe, and that's what we
have done in places like Yemen

814
00:38:19,764 --> 00:38:22,133
and Somalia, to mitigate
the threats from extremist

815
00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:24,134
organizations in
those countries.

816
00:38:24,135 --> 00:38:26,137
But the best example is the
coalition that's being built

817
00:38:26,137 --> 00:38:27,104
right now, where we
have --

818
00:38:27,104 --> 00:38:29,140
The Press: Yes, but the sentiment was that he hasn't

819
00:38:29,140 --> 00:38:30,141
done that until now.

820
00:38:30,141 --> 00:38:32,576
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, the
situations that I cited here

821
00:38:32,576 --> 00:38:36,514
with Jim are indications that
the President has been willing

822
00:38:36,514 --> 00:38:40,751
to decide to take forceful
action where necessary to

823
00:38:40,751 --> 00:38:42,753
protect the American people
and American interests.

824
00:38:42,753 --> 00:38:46,123
And whether it's killing Osama
bin Laden or killing the leader

825
00:38:46,123 --> 00:38:50,261
of al Shabaab, the United States
is going to work either alone

826
00:38:50,261 --> 00:38:52,529
or in partnership with
local forces to protect

827
00:38:52,530 --> 00:38:53,531
American interests.

828
00:38:53,531 --> 00:38:57,601
And the President has not
done anything to indicate

829
00:38:57,601 --> 00:39:01,272
a hesitation to do
exactly that -- in fact,

830
00:39:01,272 --> 00:39:04,975
he has acted very forcefully,
sometimes in a way that has

831
00:39:04,975 --> 00:39:09,046
prompted criticism from even
members of his own party because

832
00:39:09,046 --> 00:39:12,817
of his willingness to order
bold action to protect

833
00:39:12,817 --> 00:39:13,818
the American people.

834
00:39:13,818 --> 00:39:15,820
But that's not something the
President apologizes for.

835
00:39:15,820 --> 00:39:17,822
The Press: I want to go to what
you mean exactly when you say

836
00:39:17,822 --> 00:39:24,161
that the power of Khorasan and
al Qaeda has been decimated.

837
00:39:24,161 --> 00:39:28,399
You're literally saying we've
taken out every tenth man?

838
00:39:28,399 --> 00:39:31,935
Mr. Earnest: What I'm suggesting
is that the network that

839
00:39:31,936 --> 00:39:35,005
previously existed between
Afghanistan and Pakistan -- this

840
00:39:35,005 --> 00:39:38,976
is a network that was so potent
and so deeply entrenched that

841
00:39:38,976 --> 00:39:41,846
they could carry out a global
conspiracy that took years

842
00:39:41,846 --> 00:39:45,716
to enact that allowed
them to strike the U.S.

843
00:39:45,716 --> 00:39:48,752
homeland in a catastrophic
way that caused thousands

844
00:39:48,753 --> 00:39:52,189
of Americans to lose their
lives on a very tragic day.

845
00:39:52,189 --> 00:39:52,723
The Press: How many are left?

846
00:39:52,723 --> 00:39:55,526
Mr. Earnest: As a result of
this President's policies,

847
00:39:55,526 --> 00:40:00,163
as a result primarily of the
courageous service of our men

848
00:40:00,164 --> 00:40:04,335
and women in uniform and the
dedication of our intelligence

849
00:40:04,335 --> 00:40:08,205
professionals, that
network has been decimated.

850
00:40:08,205 --> 00:40:11,275
Now, there continues to be a
threat from al Qaeda affiliates

851
00:40:11,275 --> 00:40:12,777
and other extremists
around the globe,

852
00:40:12,777 --> 00:40:15,613
but the President is just going
to -- going to be just as

853
00:40:15,613 --> 00:40:18,482
determined and just as
persistent in countering

854
00:40:18,482 --> 00:40:20,484
and rooting out that
threat as well.

855
00:40:20,484 --> 00:40:22,453
The Press: How many
Khorasan fighters are left?

856
00:40:22,453 --> 00:40:25,556
Mr. Earnest: I don't have a
detailed intelligence assessment

857
00:40:25,556 --> 00:40:26,524
on the Khorasan.

858
00:40:26,524 --> 00:40:27,625
The Press: There's been a
suggestion out there that

859
00:40:27,625 --> 00:40:29,059
it's only a handful, actually.

860
00:40:29,059 --> 00:40:31,562
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
don't have an intelligence

861
00:40:31,562 --> 00:40:33,564
assessment on the Khorasan
group to share from here.

862
00:40:33,564 --> 00:40:35,566
But you can check with the
intelligence community.

863
00:40:35,566 --> 00:40:36,533
They may be able
to provide you --

864
00:40:36,534 --> 00:40:37,101
The Press: They're very helpful.

865
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:37,935
(laughter)

866
00:40:37,935 --> 00:40:38,636
Mr. Earnest: -- a
better understanding

867
00:40:38,636 --> 00:40:40,704
than I have.

868
00:40:40,704 --> 00:40:45,643
I think for obvious reasons
that I alluded to with Jim,

869
00:40:45,643 --> 00:40:48,846
there are certain aspects of
this that prevent them from

870
00:40:48,846 --> 00:40:49,847
being fully transparent.

871
00:40:49,847 --> 00:40:52,416
But it's possible they may
be able to at least guide

872
00:40:52,416 --> 00:40:55,486
you in the direction of
getting a better understanding

873
00:40:55,486 --> 00:40:57,254
of that group.

874
00:40:57,254 --> 00:40:58,055
Yes, Ed.

875
00:40:58,055 --> 00:40:59,056
The Press: In answer to
Bill's question, though,

876
00:40:59,056 --> 00:41:00,891
in terms of decisive
action by the President,

877
00:41:00,891 --> 00:41:04,195
how can you cite
as a success Yemen,

878
00:41:04,195 --> 00:41:06,197
when the country
is falling apart?

879
00:41:06,197 --> 00:41:08,632
Mr. Earnest: Because, Ed, what
we have seen is we have seen

880
00:41:08,632 --> 00:41:12,903
the effective deployment of a
counterterrorism strategy

881
00:41:12,903 --> 00:41:16,106
that involves building up the
capacity of local forces

882
00:41:16,106 --> 00:41:19,343
on occasion backed by
American military forces,

883
00:41:19,343 --> 00:41:21,444
to counter extremist
threats that are emanating

884
00:41:21,445 --> 00:41:22,446
from that country.

885
00:41:22,446 --> 00:41:24,448
The Press: So if it's
been so successful,

886
00:41:24,448 --> 00:41:26,450
why are we pulling our embassy
personnel out of there?

887
00:41:26,450 --> 00:41:28,785
Mr. Earnest: Ed, what we have
been focused on is mitigating

888
00:41:28,786 --> 00:41:32,823
the threat from extremists and
denying them the kind of safe

889
00:41:32,823 --> 00:41:34,391
haven that would
allow them to plot --

890
00:41:34,391 --> 00:41:36,827
The Press: They have a safe
haven because we're pulling

891
00:41:36,827 --> 00:41:38,829
out, we have to get our
people out of there.

892
00:41:38,829 --> 00:41:40,831
Mr. Earnest: Ed, what we have
seen in Yemen is the effective

893
00:41:40,831 --> 00:41:44,268
deployment of a counterterrorism
strategy to put continual

894
00:41:44,268 --> 00:41:46,804
pressure on extremist groups
that seek to do harm

895
00:41:46,804 --> 00:41:47,805
to the United States.

896
00:41:47,805 --> 00:41:49,807
The Press: But if they're
under so much pressure,

897
00:41:49,807 --> 00:41:50,808
why are we leaving?

898
00:41:50,808 --> 00:41:52,810
Mr. Earnest: And what that has
done is it has prevented those

899
00:41:52,810 --> 00:41:55,279
extremist groups from being able
to plot and plan and carry

900
00:41:55,279 --> 00:41:59,116
out successfully attacks
against the U.S. homeland.

901
00:41:59,116 --> 00:42:00,351
That requires vigilance.

902
00:42:00,351 --> 00:42:02,887
If we take a day off, they could
build up a capacity in such

903
00:42:02,887 --> 00:42:05,022
a way that could be very
dangerous to the U.S.

904
00:42:05,022 --> 00:42:07,024
or our interests
around the globe.

905
00:42:07,024 --> 00:42:09,292
So I don't want to signal to you
that this is a mission that has

906
00:42:09,293 --> 00:42:12,997
been accomplished, but it has
been a strategy effectively

907
00:42:12,997 --> 00:42:15,598
implemented in a way that has
mitigated the threat from

908
00:42:15,599 --> 00:42:17,801
extremist organizations
that are dangerous,

909
00:42:17,801 --> 00:42:19,803
and that seek to do harm
to the United States.

910
00:42:19,803 --> 00:42:21,805
The Press: You just used the
"mission accomplished" phrase

911
00:42:21,805 --> 00:42:23,973
from the Bush administration.

912
00:42:23,974 --> 00:42:26,310
In The Economist cover, it was
mentioned -- they have

913
00:42:26,310 --> 00:42:28,612
the President in a flight
suit, and they changed

914
00:42:28,612 --> 00:42:30,514
it to "Mission Re-launched."

915
00:42:30,514 --> 00:42:32,049
How do you respond to that?

916
00:42:32,049 --> 00:42:34,151
You've gotten a couple
different versions of this,

917
00:42:34,151 --> 00:42:36,787
but that basically -- the
President just sort of

918
00:42:36,787 --> 00:42:38,788
re-launched the
Bush War on Terror.

919
00:42:38,789 --> 00:42:40,791
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll start by
saying I didn't realize there

920
00:42:40,791 --> 00:42:42,026
were so many Economist
readers in this room.

921
00:42:42,026 --> 00:42:43,160
(laughter)

922
00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:44,627
The Press: It's
kind of a provocative cover.

923
00:42:44,628 --> 00:42:45,462
The Press: Just the cover.

924
00:42:45,462 --> 00:42:45,963
Mr. Earnest: Just the cover?

925
00:42:45,963 --> 00:42:46,730
(laughter)

926
00:42:46,730 --> 00:42:48,532
I see.

927
00:42:50,601 --> 00:42:51,468
The Press: I can give you
details of the story.

928
00:42:51,468 --> 00:42:53,002
Mr. Earnest: So unlike some
of the other magazines,

929
00:42:53,003 --> 00:42:55,739
you read it for the pictures
as opposed to the articles.

930
00:42:55,739 --> 00:42:57,007
(laughter)

931
00:42:57,007 --> 00:42:57,841
The Press:
Talking about me?

932
00:42:57,841 --> 00:42:58,542
Mr. Earnest: No, no.

933
00:42:58,542 --> 00:43:00,277
(laughter)

934
00:43:01,312 --> 00:43:03,514
I couldn't
resist that one.

935
00:43:03,514 --> 00:43:05,649
But you asked a
serious question,

936
00:43:05,649 --> 00:43:08,986
I'm going to stop
joking around now.

937
00:43:08,986 --> 00:43:11,689
What is clear based on the
strategy that the President has

938
00:43:11,689 --> 00:43:14,124
laid out, what he is pursuing is
a strategy that's very different

939
00:43:14,124 --> 00:43:16,093
than the strategy
that was pursued

940
00:43:16,093 --> 00:43:17,294
by the previous
administration.

941
00:43:17,294 --> 00:43:20,631
The previous administration
undertook an effort to deploy

942
00:43:20,631 --> 00:43:25,169
more than 100,000 American
military personnel to Iraq

943
00:43:25,169 --> 00:43:29,106
to occupy that land, and
to try to put in place

944
00:43:29,106 --> 00:43:32,176
a democracy in Iraq.

945
00:43:32,176 --> 00:43:36,246
Our military men and
women served this country

946
00:43:36,246 --> 00:43:38,882
bravely in Iraq.

947
00:43:38,882 --> 00:43:43,220
Many of them paid a significant
sacrifice for doing so.

948
00:43:43,220 --> 00:43:48,826
It did create an opportunity for
the Iraqi people to try to seize

949
00:43:48,826 --> 00:43:52,329
some stability and greater
control over their country.

950
00:43:52,329 --> 00:43:58,168
But what we've found is that the
Iraqi people did not succeed

951
00:43:58,168 --> 00:44:00,437
in taking advantage of
that opportunity.

952
00:44:00,437 --> 00:44:04,308
And the conclusion that this
President drew is that these

953
00:44:04,308 --> 00:44:08,245
kinds of fights -- that securing
the Iraqi countryside for the

954
00:44:08,245 --> 00:44:10,814
Iraqi people -- is not an
effective strategy because

955
00:44:10,814 --> 00:44:13,384
it doesn't lead to an
enduring solution.

956
00:44:13,384 --> 00:44:16,387
What we need instead is a
strategy that puts the Iraqi

957
00:44:16,387 --> 00:44:19,089
people, the Iraqi government and
the Iraqi security forces

958
00:44:19,089 --> 00:44:22,292
on point for fighting
for their own country.

959
00:44:22,292 --> 00:44:26,096
They can count on the support of
the United States of America

960
00:44:26,096 --> 00:44:28,465
and a broader international
coalition as they take the fight

961
00:44:28,465 --> 00:44:33,303
to ISIL, but ultimately, that
is a fight that they --

962
00:44:33,303 --> 00:44:34,971
that we cannot wage for them.

963
00:44:34,972 --> 00:44:38,375
We can support them, and that is
what distinguishes the strategy

964
00:44:38,375 --> 00:44:41,011
that is being pursued by
this administration from

965
00:44:41,011 --> 00:44:43,013
the strategy that was pursued
by the previous one.

966
00:44:43,013 --> 00:44:45,015
The Press: Very last one on
Holder -- when you said at the

967
00:44:45,015 --> 00:44:47,317
top that the -- you used the
example of Bob Gates after

968
00:44:47,317 --> 00:44:49,520
the 2006 midterms, I believe.

969
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:50,120
Mr. Earnest: That's right.

970
00:44:50,120 --> 00:44:51,888
The Press: My recollection is,
President Bush made the case

971
00:44:51,889 --> 00:44:54,992
that we were in the middle
of two wars at that time,

972
00:44:54,992 --> 00:44:57,528
and so you had to move quickly
on a Defense Secretary.

973
00:44:57,528 --> 00:44:59,796
That would be another factor
that you didn't mention,

974
00:44:59,797 --> 00:45:00,864
about speed.

975
00:45:00,864 --> 00:45:03,067
And so I wonder if
you'd acknowledge that,

976
00:45:03,067 --> 00:45:05,502
but also -- does the
President, this President,

977
00:45:05,502 --> 00:45:08,337
plan to make a case that the
Attorney General is in the

978
00:45:08,338 --> 00:45:12,009
middle of so much important work
right now that you do have

979
00:45:12,009 --> 00:45:14,578
to move forward on it right
after the midterms?

980
00:45:14,578 --> 00:45:17,147
Mr. Earnest: I do feel confident
the President will make the case

981
00:45:17,147 --> 00:45:20,517
that the work of the Attorney
General is so important that the

982
00:45:20,517 --> 00:45:23,053
United States Senate should
act promptly and in bipartisan

983
00:45:23,053 --> 00:45:25,589
fashion to confirm his nominee.

984
00:45:25,589 --> 00:45:29,893
That is a case that I think is
easily made by this President

985
00:45:29,893 --> 00:45:33,497
in the same way that it was made
by not just his immediate

986
00:45:33,497 --> 00:45:36,600
predecessor but by many
of his predecessors.

987
00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:37,334
Chris.

988
00:45:37,334 --> 00:45:38,102
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

989
00:45:38,102 --> 00:45:41,138
Given the fact that -- of
everything that's been said over

990
00:45:41,138 --> 00:45:43,906
the last week about the
threat posed by Khorasan,

991
00:45:43,907 --> 00:45:47,578
and what is then said previously
about how effective the

992
00:45:47,578 --> 00:45:51,181
administration felt the fight
against al Qaeda has been,

993
00:45:51,181 --> 00:45:53,584
can you sort of jive
those two things?

994
00:45:53,584 --> 00:45:56,553
Can you give us an assessment of
where the White House stands now

995
00:45:56,553 --> 00:46:02,092
on where they think the threat
is by both al Qaeda and its

996
00:46:02,092 --> 00:46:04,595
members that are still left?

997
00:46:04,595 --> 00:46:06,730
Mr. Earnest: You mean
specifically as it relates

998
00:46:06,730 --> 00:46:07,831
to the Khorasan group?

999
00:46:07,831 --> 00:46:10,067
The Press: I would say in
general -- what kind of threat

1000
00:46:10,067 --> 00:46:11,068
does al Qaeda pose?

1001
00:46:11,068 --> 00:46:14,271
Because there has
been an indication,

1002
00:46:14,271 --> 00:46:17,241
especially in the
post-bin Laden era,

1003
00:46:17,241 --> 00:46:20,511
that al Qaeda did not pose a
significant threat anymore.

1004
00:46:20,511 --> 00:46:22,546
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I think, Chris,

1005
00:46:22,546 --> 00:46:25,182
that it's important for
people to understand

1006
00:46:25,182 --> 00:46:26,884
this complicated situation.

1007
00:46:26,884 --> 00:46:29,953
The threat that has been
decimated is the threat that

1008
00:46:29,953 --> 00:46:31,822
was posed by core al Qaeda.

1009
00:46:31,822 --> 00:46:34,191
This is a network that
was based along

1010
00:46:34,191 --> 00:46:36,727
the Afghanistan-Pakistan
border.

1011
00:46:36,727 --> 00:46:39,129
That threat has been decimated,
because that network

1012
00:46:39,129 --> 00:46:41,331
in that region of the world
has been decimated.

1013
00:46:41,331 --> 00:46:43,567
And again, that is a
testament to the courage,

1014
00:46:43,567 --> 00:46:46,336
skill and professionalism of
our intelligence officials

1015
00:46:46,336 --> 00:46:48,071
and the United
States military.

1016
00:46:48,071 --> 00:46:50,073
What continues to
persist, however,

1017
00:46:50,073 --> 00:46:53,877
is a threat that emanates from
al Qaeda affiliates in countries

1018
00:46:53,877 --> 00:46:56,980
around the globe; that there are
al Qaeda affiliates that are

1019
00:46:56,980 --> 00:47:00,384
active Yemen, there's a threat
that is posed by al Qaeda

1020
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:01,985
affiliates in Somalia.

1021
00:47:01,985 --> 00:47:07,658
There is an al Qaeda affiliate
in North Africa, AQIM.

1022
00:47:07,658 --> 00:47:09,926
That is something that we
have been closely watching

1023
00:47:09,927 --> 00:47:13,130
and that has been effectively
countered, again,

1024
00:47:13,130 --> 00:47:16,567
by the strategy that this
administration has put in place.

1025
00:47:16,567 --> 00:47:19,436
There is also this threat that
emanates from extremist groups

1026
00:47:19,436 --> 00:47:22,873
in Syria, most notably
the Khorasan group.

1027
00:47:22,873 --> 00:47:27,945
And what this indicates is, it
means that the -- while we have

1028
00:47:27,945 --> 00:47:31,815
made tremendous gains in terms
of decimating core al Qaeda,

1029
00:47:31,815 --> 00:47:34,885
the threat from these other
affiliated organizations that

1030
00:47:34,885 --> 00:47:37,521
have spread out to other
countries is significant,

1031
00:47:37,521 --> 00:47:42,759
but it's very different; that
when we're talking about,

1032
00:47:42,759 --> 00:47:45,796
for example, AQIM, we're
not talking about a

1033
00:47:45,796 --> 00:47:50,567
years-in-the-making global
conspiracy that would result

1034
00:47:50,567 --> 00:47:53,303
in a catastrophic attack
on the homeland.

1035
00:47:53,303 --> 00:47:55,906
The nature of the
threat is different.

1036
00:47:55,906 --> 00:47:59,076
One reason that the nature of
that threat is different is that

1037
00:47:59,076 --> 00:48:02,779
previously, core al Qaeda
in Afghanistan and Pakistan

1038
00:48:02,779 --> 00:48:04,948
operated in a
virtual safe haven;

1039
00:48:04,948 --> 00:48:08,452
that there was not a willingness
or a capability by local

1040
00:48:08,452 --> 00:48:11,421
governments to root them out.

1041
00:48:11,421 --> 00:48:14,625
And that is why you have seen
this administration implement a

1042
00:48:14,625 --> 00:48:17,694
strategy that is focused on
working with our international

1043
00:48:17,694 --> 00:48:20,897
partners to support local
governments and local forces

1044
00:48:20,897 --> 00:48:22,899
to take the fight to
these extremist groups

1045
00:48:22,899 --> 00:48:24,401
in their own country.

1046
00:48:24,401 --> 00:48:28,238
And by applying sustained
pressure to these organizations,

1047
00:48:28,238 --> 00:48:30,374
it's mitigated the threat that
they pose to the West -- it

1048
00:48:30,374 --> 00:48:31,875
hasn't eliminated it yet.

1049
00:48:31,875 --> 00:48:34,244
But in many of these situations,
you have leaders of these

1050
00:48:34,244 --> 00:48:37,347
organizations that are so
concerned with their own safety

1051
00:48:37,347 --> 00:48:39,883
that it's inhibiting their
ability to threaten ours.

1052
00:48:39,883 --> 00:48:41,884
And that's a core
component of our strategy.

1053
00:48:41,885 --> 00:48:45,656
And that is why the threat
that we face now is different,

1054
00:48:45,656 --> 00:48:47,791
but it is one that we continue
to be vigilant about.

1055
00:48:47,791 --> 00:48:49,426
The Press: But equal?

1056
00:48:49,426 --> 00:48:52,261
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
the capabilities

1057
00:48:52,262 --> 00:48:53,263
are quite different.

1058
00:48:53,263 --> 00:48:55,265
The capability
that core al Qaeda,

1059
00:48:55,265 --> 00:48:57,667
that the network of core al
Qaeda retained in advance

1060
00:48:57,668 --> 00:49:00,037
of 9/11 was dramatic.

1061
00:49:00,037 --> 00:49:02,038
We're talking about a global
conspiracy where they had

1062
00:49:02,039 --> 00:49:04,441
individuals in multiple
countries who were all closely

1063
00:49:04,441 --> 00:49:08,544
linked, they were all funded,
and they spent years plotting

1064
00:49:08,545 --> 00:49:11,615
this catastrophic
attack on the U.S. homeland.

1065
00:49:11,615 --> 00:49:20,022
That kind of freedom to plan and
execute a large-scale plot

1066
00:49:20,023 --> NaN:NaN:NaN,NaN
no longer exists.

1067
00:49:19,656 --> 00:49:24,695
They pose a threat, and we
are concerned about that,

1068
00:49:24,695 --> 00:49:26,697
and we work every day to
mitigate that threat.

1069
00:49:26,697 --> 00:49:28,799
And we do so by working
with our local partners,

1070
00:49:28,799 --> 00:49:31,201
and by working with the
international community.

1071
00:49:31,201 --> 00:49:34,604
But the threat that they
pose is quite different.

1072
00:49:34,604 --> 00:49:36,106
The Press: And can I make a
dramatic turn and ask you

1073
00:49:36,106 --> 00:49:38,975
if the President saw or has
commented on the final moments

1074
00:49:38,975 --> 00:49:41,278
of the Yankees game last
night and Derek Jeter?

1075
00:49:41,278 --> 00:49:43,946
Mr. Earnest: I did not talk
to him about the final

1076
00:49:43,947 --> 00:49:48,652
home game in Mr. Jeter's
illustrious career.

1077
00:49:48,652 --> 00:49:52,622
But it certainly was a storybook
ending to a remarkable career.

1078
00:49:52,622 --> 00:49:53,522
The Press: Even
for a Royals fan?

1079
00:49:53,523 --> 00:49:54,791
Mr. Earnest: Even
for a Royals fan.

1080
00:49:54,791 --> 00:49:55,359
Roger.

1081
00:49:55,359 --> 00:49:56,159
The Press: Thank you.

1082
00:49:56,159 --> 00:49:59,096
Want to switch topics
to North Korea.

1083
00:49:59,096 --> 00:50:02,699
The leader there, Kim Jong-un,
has not been seen in public

1084
00:50:02,699 --> 00:50:04,801
for about three weeks.

1085
00:50:05,736 --> 00:50:08,071
North Korean television
is saying he has some

1086
00:50:08,071 --> 00:50:10,406
sort of "discomfort."

1087
00:50:10,407 --> 00:50:13,577
Have you heard any talk
around the West Wing here,

1088
00:50:13,577 --> 00:50:15,979
what's going on and
where is he?

1089
00:50:15,979 --> 00:50:18,115
Is there some
revolution going on?

1090
00:50:18,115 --> 00:50:20,116
Mr. Earnest: Roger,
I'll have to admit,

1091
00:50:20,117 --> 00:50:25,122
I have not seen those reports
about Kim Jong-un's schedule.

1092
00:50:25,122 --> 00:50:26,923
But I'd refer you to
the State Department,

1093
00:50:26,923 --> 00:50:29,558
who may have some more
information about his comfort.

1094
00:50:29,559 --> 00:50:30,994
The Press: Could you
take the question?

1095
00:50:30,994 --> 00:50:32,763
Mr. Earnest: Well, I actually
would just recommend that you

1096
00:50:32,763 --> 00:50:34,029
contact the State Department.

1097
00:50:34,030 --> 00:50:35,165
If I'm able to get
something, I'll come back

1098
00:50:35,165 --> 00:50:36,600
to you on it, though.

1099
00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:37,167
April.

1100
00:50:37,167 --> 00:50:39,870
The Press: Josh, I want to
talk -- get you to talk about

1101
00:50:39,870 --> 00:50:44,040
the estimates of these
airstrikes by 2016.

1102
00:50:44,040 --> 00:50:47,244
Listening to the
Pentagon briefing,

1103
00:50:47,244 --> 00:50:50,714
the cost estimate was $7
million to $10 million a day,

1104
00:50:50,714 --> 00:50:55,352
and hearing from Hank Johnson
-- Congressman Hank Johnson,

1105
00:50:55,352 --> 00:50:57,453
who sits on the House
Armed Services Committee,

1106
00:50:57,454 --> 00:51:01,792
he says that it's not out of the
realm of possibility that

1107
00:51:01,792 --> 00:51:04,795
you could hit hundreds of
millions of dollars

1108
00:51:04,795 --> 00:51:05,862
with these airstrikes.

1109
00:51:05,862 --> 00:51:09,032
Exactly what is the
White House estimate

1110
00:51:09,032 --> 00:51:11,535
as the Department of Defense
is looking for more money

1111
00:51:11,535 --> 00:51:12,469
to fund this?

1112
00:51:12,469 --> 00:51:14,805
Mr. Earnest: April, the
Department of Defense is the one

1113
00:51:14,805 --> 00:51:17,040
that's responsible for carrying
out these military operations,

1114
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,643
and they're in the best position
to give you an assessment of

1115
00:51:19,643 --> 00:51:23,713
what the running total is in
terms of the costs that

1116
00:51:23,713 --> 00:51:25,715
they're incurring as
they carry them out.

1117
00:51:25,715 --> 00:51:29,953
The Press: So as they brief you
and the President and others

1118
00:51:29,953 --> 00:51:33,023
here at the White House, and
tell you about the 43 airstrikes

1119
00:51:33,023 --> 00:51:36,560
that we've conducted so far, and
the ones that they want to --

1120
00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:40,397
they hope to do in the future,
they have not given you any kind

1121
00:51:40,397 --> 00:51:45,502
of cost estimates as you look
to possibly deal with the next

1122
00:51:45,502 --> 00:51:46,870
budget year and
things of that nature?

1123
00:51:46,870 --> 00:51:49,772
Mr. Earnest: I think they've
carried out substantially more

1124
00:51:49,773 --> 00:51:53,276
than just 43 airstrikes; I think
they're up to 170 or so in Iraq.

1125
00:51:53,276 --> 00:51:55,444
The Press: No, but they're
talking about Syria.

1126
00:51:55,445 --> 00:51:56,513
They were just talking
about -- just now,

1127
00:51:56,513 --> 00:51:58,081
in the Pentagon briefing.

1128
00:51:58,081 --> 00:51:59,783
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

1129
00:51:59,783 --> 00:52:03,787
I have not -- we're obviously
aware that they have estimated

1130
00:52:03,787 --> 00:52:06,890
that so far, the average cost of
carrying out this mission has

1131
00:52:06,890 --> 00:52:09,058
been about $7 million
to $10 million a day.

1132
00:52:09,059 --> 00:52:11,261
That's based on their estimates.

1133
00:52:11,261 --> 00:52:14,998
That's obviously a
pretty significant gap,

1134
00:52:14,998 --> 00:52:18,068
or at least window
there, of an estimate.

1135
00:52:18,068 --> 00:52:21,404
So they're constantly refining
and mindful of the need,

1136
00:52:21,404 --> 00:52:23,406
and certainly the
Commander-in-Chief is mindful

1137
00:52:23,406 --> 00:52:25,741
of the need that they have to
have the necessary resources

1138
00:52:25,742 --> 00:52:27,744
to carry out this very
important operation.

1139
00:52:27,744 --> 00:52:30,213
So we'll certainly make whatever
decisions are necessary.

1140
00:52:30,213 --> 00:52:32,949
We certainly are interested in
working with Congress to ensure

1141
00:52:32,949 --> 00:52:35,318
that they have the necessary
resources to fulfill this

1142
00:52:35,318 --> 00:52:36,820
mission and carry
it out successfully.

1143
00:52:36,820 --> 00:52:39,389
The Press: And is the U.S. bearing the largest portion

1144
00:52:39,389 --> 00:52:43,260
of the financial burden as
it relates to airstrikes?

1145
00:52:43,260 --> 00:52:45,695
Mr. Earnest: The United
States -- well, again,

1146
00:52:45,695 --> 00:52:47,831
I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense.

1147
00:52:47,831 --> 00:52:50,267
It's my understanding that the
United States has taken more

1148
00:52:50,267 --> 00:52:54,937
airstrikes in Syria than
any of the other partners.

1149
00:52:54,938 --> 00:52:57,173
I don't know, however, whether
or not that constitutes

1150
00:52:57,173 --> 00:52:59,776
a majority of the
airstrikes in Syria,

1151
00:52:59,776 --> 00:53:02,279
so I'd encourage you to
check with them on that.

1152
00:53:02,279 --> 00:53:03,346
J.C.

1153
00:53:03,346 --> 00:53:05,715
The Press: There's been reports
that Russia has reached out

1154
00:53:05,715 --> 00:53:10,787
to Iraq saying initially
that they would be helpful

1155
00:53:10,787 --> 00:53:14,256
in supporting their fight
against terror, especially ISIL.

1156
00:53:14,257 --> 00:53:18,728
Considering how much is at stake
for Mr. Putin and for Russia,

1157
00:53:18,728 --> 00:53:21,698
especially in their borders
where they border Chechnya,

1158
00:53:21,698 --> 00:53:23,567
where these insurgents
are as well,

1159
00:53:23,567 --> 00:53:27,637
might the President make
another overture to Mr. Putin

1160
00:53:27,637 --> 00:53:30,840
and get some kind of a firm
commitment for his support,

1161
00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:33,443
as he has from the
other leaders in Europe?

1162
00:53:33,443 --> 00:53:35,979
Mr. Earnest: Well, J.C., we've
seen public comments from

1163
00:53:35,979 --> 00:53:39,515
President Putin indicating his
concern about the threat

1164
00:53:39,516 --> 00:53:42,852
that foreign fighters
pose to Russia.

1165
00:53:42,852 --> 00:53:46,890
There is some evidence to
indicate that there are

1166
00:53:46,890 --> 00:53:50,160
individuals who have traveled
from Russia or countries

1167
00:53:50,160 --> 00:53:53,395
bordering Russia -- that
have traveled to take

1168
00:53:53,396 --> 00:53:55,632
up arms alongside ISIL.

1169
00:53:55,632 --> 00:53:59,703
And like the dozens of other
countries around the globe,

1170
00:53:59,703 --> 00:54:02,272
they are concerned about the
threat that is posed by those

1171
00:54:02,272 --> 00:54:06,176
individuals returning back
home and carrying out acts

1172
00:54:06,176 --> 00:54:07,711
of violence back home.

1173
00:54:07,711 --> 00:54:10,714
So there is a clear, vested
interest that Russia has in

1174
00:54:10,714 --> 00:54:17,420
mitigating this threat and
ultimately supporting the

1175
00:54:17,420 --> 00:54:20,390
broader effort to degrade
and ultimately destroy ISIL.

1176
00:54:22,959 --> 00:54:26,129
Earlier this week, the President
convened a United Nations

1177
00:54:26,129 --> 00:54:30,533
Security Council meeting where
they passed a resolution with

1178
00:54:30,533 --> 00:54:32,836
unanimous support on
the Security Council,

1179
00:54:32,836 --> 00:54:39,142
including Russia, for putting in
place broad standards across

1180
00:54:39,142 --> 00:54:43,078
the globe to keep eyes on
and mitigate the threat

1181
00:54:43,079 --> 00:54:45,081
that's posed by foreign terrorist fighters.

1182
00:54:45,081 --> 00:54:47,083
That's an indication
that Russia,

1183
00:54:47,083 --> 00:54:49,986
at least in that instance, is
working cooperatively with the

1184
00:54:49,986 --> 00:54:53,857
broader international community
to confront this threat.

1185
00:54:53,857 --> 00:54:57,594
And that certainly is an
indication that despite our

1186
00:54:57,594 --> 00:55:00,163
differences with Russia as it
relates to the situation in

1187
00:55:00,163 --> 00:55:03,767
Ukraine, that we do have the
ability to cooperate with

1188
00:55:03,767 --> 00:55:06,269
them in other areas of
mutual interest.

1189
00:55:06,269 --> 00:55:10,372
I read with interest that an
American astronaut was sent

1190
00:55:10,373 --> 00:55:13,977
into space alongside two
Russian cosmonauts;

1191
00:55:13,977 --> 00:55:15,979
that they're staffing
the international space

1192
00:55:15,979 --> 00:55:16,980
station up there.

1193
00:55:16,980 --> 00:55:20,083
And again, that's another piece
of evidence to indicate that,

1194
00:55:20,083 --> 00:55:22,952
again, despite our differences,
there are opportunities where

1195
00:55:22,952 --> 00:55:25,822
we can successfully
collaborate with Russia.

1196
00:55:25,822 --> 00:55:27,424
The Press: And
possibly militarily.

1197
00:55:27,424 --> 00:55:30,493
Mr. Earnest: Well, I wouldn't
want to speculate about

1198
00:55:30,493 --> 00:55:33,563
what sort of collaboration
we might see.

1199
00:55:33,563 --> 00:55:34,564
Jared.

1200
00:55:34,564 --> 00:55:36,566
The Press: Josh, to Nedra's
question -- you said that you

1201
00:55:36,566 --> 00:55:39,535
welcomed votes in allied
Democratic parliaments

1202
00:55:39,536 --> 00:55:42,272
authorizing participation
in the anti-ISIS effort.

1203
00:55:42,272 --> 00:55:46,042
Does the President regret not
asking Congress to stay

1204
00:55:46,042 --> 00:55:48,712
or congressional leaderships
to stay and take a vote,

1205
00:55:48,712 --> 00:55:52,849
or to change the AUMF status, or
in any way otherwise mirror

1206
00:55:52,849 --> 00:55:55,652
the votes that we're now
seeing in Europe?

1207
00:55:55,652 --> 00:55:58,254
Mr. Earnest: Jared, as we've
said on a number of occasions,

1208
00:55:58,254 --> 00:56:01,391
the President does believe that
he has the statutory legal

1209
00:56:01,391 --> 00:56:04,661
authority that's necessary to
launch the military actions

1210
00:56:04,661 --> 00:56:06,329
that he has already ordered.

1211
00:56:06,329 --> 00:56:12,569
If members of Congress decide
that they would like to pass

1212
00:56:12,569 --> 00:56:18,441
additional legislation or some
other way signal their support

1213
00:56:18,441 --> 00:56:22,544
for the President's strategy,
then we'd welcome them doing so.

1214
00:56:22,545 --> 00:56:28,351
That indication of support would
send a very powerful message

1215
00:56:28,351 --> 00:56:30,353
to the American people,
to our allies,

1216
00:56:30,353 --> 00:56:34,157
and even to our enemies that
across party lines and even

1217
00:56:34,157 --> 00:56:37,727
across branches of government,
that the American people are

1218
00:56:37,727 --> 00:56:40,797
united in our determination to
pursue a strategy that will

1219
00:56:40,797 --> 00:56:42,866
degrade and ultimately
destroy ISIL.

1220
00:56:42,866 --> 00:56:44,801
The Press: Do you think there's
any reason that Congress

1221
00:56:44,801 --> 00:56:47,537
didn't take those votes
other than political

1222
00:56:47,537 --> 00:56:49,872
or campaign cycle considerations?

1223
00:56:49,873 --> 00:56:53,076
Mr. Earnest: I think you'd
have to ask them what sort

1224
00:56:53,076 --> 00:56:55,044
of decisions they're
making about their --

1225
00:56:55,044 --> 00:56:57,513
about what pieces of -- about
what things to vote on and how

1226
00:56:57,514 --> 00:56:58,515
to vote on them.

1227
00:56:58,515 --> 00:56:59,749
The Press: And aside from that
and the reason that

1228
00:56:59,749 --> 00:57:01,651
the White House doesn't
think it's necessary

1229
00:57:01,651 --> 00:57:04,287
that our legislature make that vote, is there any

1230
00:57:04,287 --> 00:57:06,489
reason the White House
didn't ask for it?

1231
00:57:06,489 --> 00:57:08,091
Mr. Earnest: About
why we didn't --

1232
00:57:08,091 --> 00:57:12,060
The Press: Ask for any kind of vote that would mirror what

1233
00:57:12,061 --> 00:57:13,630
we're seeing now in Europe?

1234
00:57:13,630 --> 00:57:16,466
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, Jared,
because the President believes

1235
00:57:16,466 --> 00:57:19,102
and because his national
security team believes that

1236
00:57:19,102 --> 00:57:23,906
he has all of the statutory
authority that's required to

1237
00:57:23,907 --> 00:57:29,679
order the military action that's
being carried out right now.

1238
00:57:29,679 --> 00:57:33,917
We're confident in the position
that the President has.

1239
00:57:33,917 --> 00:57:37,787
But again, if Congress chooses
to signal -- send a signal

1240
00:57:37,787 --> 00:57:41,658
of their support for what's
taking place right now,

1241
00:57:41,658 --> 00:57:43,026
we'd welcome them doing so.

1242
00:57:43,026 --> 00:57:45,194
The Press: So it's nice that our
allied democracies are doing

1243
00:57:45,195 --> 00:57:47,864
this but it's not
necessary here.

1244
00:57:47,864 --> 00:57:50,934
Mr. Earnest: Well, certainly
these legislatures around the

1245
00:57:50,934 --> 00:57:53,970
globe aren't taking votes
related to the President's

1246
00:57:53,970 --> 00:57:55,705
authority, if that's
what you're asking.

1247
00:57:55,705 --> 00:57:59,275
They obviously are making
decisions about their own

1248
00:57:59,275 --> 00:58:02,078
country's resources and about
their own country's involvement

1249
00:58:02,078 --> 00:58:03,880
in this broader coalition.

1250
00:58:03,880 --> 00:58:06,249
That said, we welcome the show
of support that we're seeing

1251
00:58:06,249 --> 00:58:10,118
from other countries for the
President's strategy and for

1252
00:58:10,119 --> 00:58:11,688
the broader coalition.

1253
00:58:11,688 --> 00:58:16,092
And in the same way we welcome
their participation in this

1254
00:58:16,092 --> 00:58:18,695
debate, we would welcome
additional signals from

1255
00:58:18,695 --> 00:58:22,632
Congress for -- that support
the President's position.

1256
00:58:22,632 --> 00:58:24,100
Kathleen, I'll give
you the last one.

1257
00:58:24,100 --> 00:58:26,269
The Press: I have
two, if I could.

1258
00:58:26,269 --> 00:58:27,035
Mr. Earnest: The last two.

1259
00:58:27,036 --> 00:58:27,503
The Press: Yes, sorry.

1260
00:58:27,503 --> 00:58:29,172
(laughter)

1261
00:58:29,172 --> 00:58:30,607
Now that there's an
official President-elect in

1262
00:58:30,607 --> 00:58:32,775
Afghanistan -- maybe you've said
this before -- but how quickly

1263
00:58:32,775 --> 00:58:35,745
do you expect him to sign the
status of forces agreement?

1264
00:58:35,745 --> 00:58:37,981
Mr. Earnest: I believe the
inauguration is taking place

1265
00:58:37,981 --> 00:58:41,017
on Monday, and we would
anticipate that he would sign

1266
00:58:41,017 --> 00:58:43,285
the bilateral security
agreement promptly after that.

1267
00:58:43,286 --> 00:58:46,556
I don't know exactly
whether he said which day.

1268
00:58:46,556 --> 00:58:47,223
The Press: So days?

1269
00:58:47,223 --> 00:58:51,594
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, it's
ironic that I speak for the

1270
00:58:51,594 --> 00:58:53,429
President of the United States,
but I've asked -- been asked to

1271
00:58:53,429 --> 00:58:55,098
speak on behalf of like three or
four different world leaders

1272
00:58:55,098 --> 00:58:56,699
in the context of this
news conference.

1273
00:58:56,699 --> 00:58:58,601
The Press: When do
you expect him to?

1274
00:58:58,601 --> 00:58:59,969
The Press: North Korea --

1275
00:58:59,969 --> 00:59:00,904
Mr. Earnest: I know, right?

1276
00:59:00,904 --> 00:59:03,106
Just all kinds of things.

1277
00:59:03,106 --> 00:59:04,941
No, you're asking a
legitimate question,

1278
00:59:04,941 --> 00:59:08,912
and what President-elect Ghani
has said is that he would sign

1279
00:59:08,912 --> 00:59:13,716
the bilateral security agreement
promptly after taking the --

1280
00:59:13,716 --> 00:59:15,618
after being inaugurated
into office.

1281
00:59:15,618 --> 00:59:18,988
So we would anticipate that
he'll act promptly on that.

1282
00:59:18,988 --> 00:59:21,957
He's a man of his word,
and I expect he'll keep it.

1283
00:59:21,958 --> 00:59:23,793
And again, the reason
that he'll do that, again,

1284
00:59:23,793 --> 00:59:25,929
is not as a favor to
the United States.

1285
00:59:25,929 --> 00:59:27,830
It is clearly in the interest
of the Afghan people,

1286
00:59:27,830 --> 00:59:30,366
and it's in the interest of
the American people for this

1287
00:59:30,366 --> 00:59:31,534
agreement to be signed.

1288
00:59:31,534 --> 00:59:36,506
And we look forward to his
signing it so that we can

1289
00:59:36,506 --> 00:59:38,741
sign it and move forward
with this agreement.

1290
00:59:38,741 --> 00:59:39,809
The Press: Josh,
follow on India?

1291
00:59:39,809 --> 00:59:41,678
The Press: Oh, can I
have one more on Holder?

1292
00:59:41,678 --> 00:59:44,147
This is another timing thing,
but you keep stressing that you

1293
00:59:44,147 --> 00:59:49,152
expect the Senate to take
this up and to act quickly.

1294
00:59:49,152 --> 00:59:51,321
And so I'm wondering, if
speed is such an issue,

1295
00:59:51,321 --> 00:59:54,824
why the President hasn't yet
announced another nominee,

1296
00:59:54,824 --> 00:59:57,427
or didn't do it today.

1297
00:59:57,427 --> 01:00:00,096
Should we take from that that
you will make a decision quickly

1298
01:00:00,096 --> 01:00:02,065
-- or that he will make
a decision quickly?

1299
01:00:02,065 --> 01:00:03,066
Next week?

1300
01:00:03,066 --> 01:00:05,968
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have
any guidance on the timing

1301
01:00:05,969 --> 01:00:06,869
to share with you.

1302
01:00:06,869 --> 01:00:10,807
But this is -- I mentioned
this yesterday --

1303
01:00:10,807 --> 01:00:12,774
this is a high-priority position.

1304
01:00:12,775 --> 01:00:15,078
We certainly are pleased that
Attorney General Holder has

1305
01:00:15,078 --> 01:00:17,981
indicated a willingness
to remain until his

1306
01:00:17,981 --> 01:00:19,782
successor is confirmed.

1307
01:00:19,782 --> 01:00:22,452
But this is a priority.

1308
01:00:22,452 --> 01:00:25,455
This is something that my White
House colleagues are already

1309
01:00:25,455 --> 01:00:27,090
hard at work on.

1310
01:00:27,090 --> 01:00:29,625
And when we have an announcement
I'll definitely let you know,

1311
01:00:29,625 --> 01:00:32,962
and we would hope that
members of Congress will

1312
01:00:32,962 --> 01:00:37,533
act with the same sense
of urgency to confirm

1313
01:00:37,533 --> 01:00:40,136
Attorney General
Holder's replacement.

1314
01:00:40,136 --> 01:00:42,705
All right, Goyal, I'll
give you one here.

1315
01:00:42,705 --> 01:00:44,907
But only one, and then I'm
going to do the week ahead.

1316
01:00:44,907 --> 01:00:45,908
The Press: Thank you.

1317
01:00:45,908 --> 01:00:50,813
Josh, as far as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's first official

1318
01:00:50,813 --> 01:00:55,885
visit to U.S. -- in the past, many anti-U.S.-India elements

1319
01:00:55,885 --> 01:01:01,324
were against the relations between the two countries.

1320
01:01:01,324 --> 01:01:06,229
Now, same group had a White
House petition online against

1321
01:01:06,229 --> 01:01:09,732
Mr. Modi to arrest him about
his alleged crimes in India.

1322
01:01:09,732 --> 01:01:13,436
Now, in New York, American
Justice Center has filed a

1323
01:01:13,436 --> 01:01:18,908
lawsuit, and judge has ordered a
summons against Mr. Modi while

1324
01:01:18,908 --> 01:01:20,843
he's in New York.

1325
01:01:20,843 --> 01:01:21,978
So any comments on this?

1326
01:01:21,978 --> 01:01:25,248
And also, how it will affect
his meetings here in the White

1327
01:01:25,248 --> 01:01:28,017
House, starting from
Monday with the President.

1328
01:01:28,017 --> 01:01:30,953
Mr. Earnest: Let me say
two things about that.

1329
01:01:30,953 --> 01:01:33,456
The first is, as a
general legal principle,

1330
01:01:33,456 --> 01:01:37,160
let me say that sitting heads of
government enjoy immunity from

1331
01:01:37,160 --> 01:01:39,928
lawsuits in American courts
while in the United States.

1332
01:01:39,929 --> 01:01:42,598
Sitting heads of government also
enjoy personal inviolability

1333
01:01:42,598 --> 01:01:44,933
while in the United States,
which means they cannot be

1334
01:01:44,934 --> 01:01:47,937
personally handed or delivered
papers to begin the process

1335
01:01:47,937 --> 01:01:49,105
of a lawsuit.

1336
01:01:49,105 --> 01:01:51,074
In addition, as a
matter of treaty,

1337
01:01:51,074 --> 01:01:53,076
the heads of
delegations to the U.N.

1338
01:01:53,076 --> 01:01:55,078
General Assembly enjoy
immunity while in New York

1339
01:01:55,078 --> 01:01:56,079
to attend U.N. events.

1340
01:01:56,079 --> 01:01:58,147
So this means I don't anticipate
that it's going to have any

1341
01:01:58,147 --> 01:02:01,417
impact on his very important
visit here to the U.S.

1342
01:02:01,417 --> 01:02:02,752
and to the White House.

1343
01:02:02,752 --> 01:02:06,489
I can tell you that the visit
is an opportunity to discuss

1344
01:02:06,489 --> 01:02:10,026
a range of issues of mutual
interest in order to expand

1345
01:02:10,026 --> 01:02:12,694
and deepen the U.S.-India
strategy partnership.

1346
01:02:12,695 --> 01:02:15,398
It is a partnership that is
highly valued by this country

1347
01:02:15,398 --> 01:02:16,766
and by this White House.

1348
01:02:16,766 --> 01:02:19,569
We will discuss ways to
accelerate economic growth,

1349
01:02:19,569 --> 01:02:22,538
bolster security cooperation,
and collaborate in activities

1350
01:02:22,538 --> 01:02:26,109
that bring long-term benefits to
both countries and the world.

1351
01:02:26,109 --> 01:02:28,411
We'll focus on regional issues,
including current developments

1352
01:02:28,411 --> 01:02:30,913
in Afghanistan, Syria
and Iraq, where India

1353
01:02:30,913 --> 01:02:32,915
and the United States
can work together

1354
01:02:32,915 --> 01:02:35,183
with partners toward
a positive outcome.

1355
01:02:35,184 --> 01:02:38,020
The President himself looks
forward to working with the

1356
01:02:38,020 --> 01:02:40,256
Prime Minister to fulfill the
promise of the U.S.-India

1357
01:02:40,256 --> 01:02:43,759
strategy partnership for
the benefit of citizens

1358
01:02:43,759 --> 01:02:45,094
in both our countries.

1359
01:02:45,094 --> 01:02:47,063
The Press: Josh, is the
President aware of this lawsuit?

1360
01:02:47,063 --> 01:02:48,397
Mr. Earnest: I'll
do the week ahead,

1361
01:02:48,397 --> 01:02:49,932
and if you have another one
on Monday maybe we'll give

1362
01:02:49,932 --> 01:02:53,935
you a chance the day before.

1363
01:02:53,936 --> 01:02:56,572
On Monday, the President
will attend a DNC event

1364
01:02:56,572 --> 01:02:58,741
in Washington, D.C.
In the evening,

1365
01:02:58,741 --> 01:03:00,776
the President will host
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

1366
01:03:00,776 --> 01:03:04,180
of India for a private
dinner at the White House.

1367
01:03:04,180 --> 01:03:06,348
The Vice President
will also attend.

1368
01:03:06,349 --> 01:03:09,152
On Tuesday, the President will
host Prime Minister Modi

1369
01:03:09,152 --> 01:03:10,453
of India at the White House.

1370
01:03:10,453 --> 01:03:12,455
The two leaders, as
I mentioned earlier,

1371
01:03:12,455 --> 01:03:14,524
will discuss a wide range of
issues of mutual interest in

1372
01:03:14,524 --> 01:03:19,562
order to expand and deepen the
U.S.-India strategy partnership.

1373
01:03:19,562 --> 01:03:21,964
On Wednesday, the President will
host Israeli Prime Minister

1374
01:03:21,964 --> 01:03:24,901
Benjamin Netanyahu
at the White House.

1375
01:03:24,901 --> 01:03:26,903
The President looks forward
to discussing with the Prime

1376
01:03:26,903 --> 01:03:29,138
Minister Israel's relations
with Palestinians,

1377
01:03:29,138 --> 01:03:32,575
including the situation in Gaza,
developments related to Iran,

1378
01:03:32,575 --> 01:03:35,077
and the international
effort to combat ISIL.

1379
01:03:35,077 --> 01:03:38,614
Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit
is a demonstration of the deep

1380
01:03:38,614 --> 01:03:41,117
and enduring bonds between
the United States and Israel,

1381
01:03:41,117 --> 01:03:44,187
and our close consultations
on a range of regional issues.

1382
01:03:44,187 --> 01:03:46,189
The Vice President will
participate in those

1383
01:03:46,189 --> 01:03:47,690
meetings as well.

1384
01:03:47,690 --> 01:03:49,692
In the afternoon, the President
will welcome Sporting

1385
01:03:49,692 --> 01:03:53,196
Kansas City to honor their
2014 MLS championship.

1386
01:03:53,196 --> 01:03:55,198
I'm looking forward
to their visit.

1387
01:03:55,198 --> 01:03:57,333
In the evening, the President
will travel to Chicago,

1388
01:03:57,333 --> 01:03:59,635
Illinois where he
will spend the night.

1389
01:03:59,635 --> 01:04:01,637
We'll have some additional
details about the President's

1390
01:04:01,637 --> 01:04:04,807
travel to Chicago in
the next couple of days.

1391
01:04:04,807 --> 01:04:07,877
On Thursday, after a couple
of events in Chicago,

1392
01:04:07,877 --> 01:04:10,712
the President will return
back here to the White House.

1393
01:04:10,713 --> 01:04:12,715
That evening, the President
will deliver remarks at the

1394
01:04:12,715 --> 01:04:16,252
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Institutes Annual Awards Gala

1395
01:04:16,252 --> 01:04:17,253
at the Walter E.

1396
01:04:17,253 --> 01:04:18,854
Washington Convention Center.

1397
01:04:18,854 --> 01:04:20,489
And then on Friday, the
President will participate

1398
01:04:20,489 --> 01:04:22,425
in a range of meetings here
at the White House.

1399
01:04:22,425 --> 01:04:25,595
So we'll have more details on
that Chicago trip hopefully

1400
01:04:25,595 --> 01:04:26,962
in the next couple of days.

1401
01:04:26,963 --> 01:04:28,364
The Press: Josh, just
for planning on Tuesday,

1402
01:04:28,364 --> 01:04:29,966
what do you expect with
the Prime Minister?

1403
01:04:29,966 --> 01:04:33,935
Will there be a pool spray or
an event, press conference?

1404
01:04:33,936 --> 01:04:34,503
The Press: Presser?

1405
01:04:34,503 --> 01:04:36,505
Mr. Earnest: I haven't gotten
the rundown on the visit,

1406
01:04:36,505 --> 01:04:38,274
but hopefully before the end
of the day we can track

1407
01:04:38,274 --> 01:04:40,142
that down for you.

1408
01:04:40,142 --> 01:04:40,743
All right, thanks, guys.

1409
01:04:40,743 --> 01:04:43,712
The Press: Josh, is the Chicago
visit political or official?

1410
01:04:43,713 --> 01:04:44,380
Mr. Earnest: It's
my understanding

1411
01:04:44,380 --> 01:04:45,681
it's a little of both.

1412
01:04:45,681 --> 01:04:48,150
We'll have some more
details on that.

1413
01:04:48,150 --> 01:04:48,851
Thanks, everybody.