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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 8, 2001
Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
12:40 P.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. The President this morning spoke to New
Zealand Prime Minister Clark, Korean President Kim and Chinese President
Jiang. The President discussed the military operations in Afghanistan, as
well as other fronts in the war against terrorism.
The leaders reiterated their support and discussed with the President ways to
cooperate. And they all said they were looking forward to seeing each other at
the upcoming APEC meeting in Shanghai.
The President also convened a meeting of his National Security Council
earlier this morning. He attended the swearing-in of the new Director of the
Office of Homeland Security, Governor Tom Ridge. And later this afternoon
he will participate in the signing ceremony of a proclamation in honor of
Christopher Columbus.
Before I take your questions, one note on upcoming briefings. At 1:00 p.m.,
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and General Myers will brief at the Pentagon.
At 1:30 p.m., Attorney General Ashcroft will brief. And then there is a
background briefing I referred to earlier, at 1:45 p.m., later today.
Q Ari, the United Nations has been informed that this is going to be a broader
campaign than just Afghanistan. Where else is the United States prepared to
attack?
MR. FLEISCHER: What you're referring to is a letter that was sent to the
President of the United Nations in accordance with a -- United Nations Security
Council, in accordance with Article 51, the charter that always give the nations
a right to self-defense. That's a communication required at the time of a nation
like the United States acted in its self-defense.
The letter states what the President has been saying very publicly all along,
that the United States reserves the right to defend itself wherever it is
necessary. That's what that letter is a reference to.
Q That's a pro forma communication and does not indicate plans to broaden the
attack beyond Afghanistan?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's a required communication in accordance with invoking United
Nations rights that all members have. That's what that is.
Q And so we are putting the United Nations and Secretary General on notice that
this campaign could, down the line, as the President has said, include other
states which harbor terrorists?
MR. FLEISCHER: The letter from Ambassador Negroponte made the same points that
the President has made in multiple speeches about the United States reserves the
right to take any action as it sees fit in our self-defense.
And the first paragraph of the letter cites explicitly Article 51, which is the
self-defense part of the charter that all nations have as part of the United
Nations. That's what that letter is.
Q Does it also reserve the right to present evidence before it attacks another
country?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'll have to read the letter in its entirety, Helen, to see if
there is any reference to that.
Q Ari, what sort of end game does the President have in mind for the government
of Afghanistan? The United States has been reluctant to engage in
nation-building. But what do you do after the Taliban is gone? And, secondly,
can the Taliban bring the attacks to a halt if they still hand over bin Laden
and meet those demands?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think that judging from the statements made by the
Taliban, it's very hard to tell what they want, what they're going to do, or
what they say, because they contradict themselves so often. But suffice it to
say, the United States will work with those who want to create a peaceful
Afghanistan, an economically developing Afghanistan, and an Afghanistan that is
free from terrorism.
Q But do you have a plan to reconstitute the government of Afghanistan after
this is over?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's not the job of the United States to engage in
nation-building of that manner.
Q So do you just walk away, or what?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, that's not what I said. I just indicated to you, and this has
been something that has been handed out to you previously, in the declaratory
policy, which you have a copy of. Let me read from it:
"We do not want to choose who rules Afghanistan, though we will assist those who
seek a peaceful, economically developing Afghanistan, free of terrorism."
Q Ari, if I could just come back to the Negroponte letter for a second, what
other nations has the White House identified as sponsors of state terrorism that
would be included under the Negroponte letter?
MR. FLEISCHER: The Negroponte letter speaks for itself when it talks about the
right of the United States to take other actions in accordance with our self
defense. And if you're asking me to provide a list of any nations that it may or
may or not apply to, I decline to do so.
Q On that point, this letter is in reference to the Security Council resolution
passed the day after the attack. So I want to make sure I understand this
correctly. The United States is notifying the Security Council it may seek other
targets if they are thought to have been involved in the September 11th attacks,
not a part of this larger campaign against global terrorism, is that correct?
MR. FLEISCHER: The letter is a reference to our collective self defense,
following armed attacks that were carried out against the United States on
September 11th.
Q Can I follow up?
MR. FLEISCHER: Please. Could I stop you if I tried? (Laughter.)
Q It would be an interesting contest to see -- (laughter.) There apparently is
some concern being expressed in some quarters of the administration that Al Jazeera
is rebroadcasting on a rather regular basis the Osama bin Laden tape.
The President, as you mentioned earlier this morning, saw it. A, does he have
any concern about this being rebroadcast to a particular audience in that part
of the world? And, coupled with that, is there any concern that there has not
been any strong or even modest support given from other Arab nations about what
the joint coalition has undertaken?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President has been gratified by the support he is
receiving around the world, including nations in the Middle East. And that
continues to be the case. That is the message that the President and the Vice
President and the Secretary of State have been hearing in the phone calls that
they have been making.
Q They've been hearing that privately?
MR. FLEISCHER: They have been receiving that message, yes.
Q That has not been expressed publicly?
MR. FLEISCHER: There is no concern about that.
Q How about the repeating of the Osama bin Laden --
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm sorry?
Q How about the continuous playing of the Osama bin Laden tape? It is a rather
inflammatory tape. It makes some very direct references to people in the Muslim
world. Is there any concern that the President has about that message getting
out repeatedly?
MR. FLEISCHER: No. There is nothing I have heard the President express about
that. You know, the President saw the tape yesterday and his reaction to it is
mostly that this is really not about Osama bin Laden; this is much broader than
that. If Osama bin Laden was gone tomorrow, the war would continue beyond
tomorrow.
So that one person, that one tape, is not what this is about. This is an entire
network of terrorists that has global reach and those who continue to harbor
those terrorists who have carried out an attack on our country. And any
statements made by one person, Osama bin Laden or otherwise, are not what the
President is focused on. He's focusing on a multiple front effort that involves
a series of actions to win this war on terrorism.
Q You're not concerned at all about the protests, the kind of things that are
erupting on the streets, when maybe you are hearing from the leaders privately,
but you aren't concerned about the control they may be maintaining in their own
country?
MR. FLEISCHER: Campbell, there were protests prior to the action the United
States took. There have been protests before and I anticipate there will be
protests in the future. That's the reality. The United States will continue to
work with our ally nations in a way that promotes stability and security and
cognizant of the different needs that different coalition partners or different
governments have.
Q How are you working with them, specifically, in the countries where --
MR. FLEISCHER: On diplomatic fronts, on political fronts, on a host of fronts.
Q This morning you said that the President believes bin Laden "virtually" took
responsibility for the attacks in his speech which was aired yesterday. Why, if
he believes that, are you all of a sudden down playing Osama bin Laden's role in
this and saying it's about much more?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm repeating what the President has said from the very
beginning, that this is not just about one man. And I don't think that surprises
anybody. This is about an entire network that has people in place in some 60
countries that presents a threat to the United States, that presents a threat to
other nations around the world.
You've heard it said from the Vice President, from many people. And I said it
just moments ago and I'll say it again: if Osama bin Laden is gone today, this
effort will continue tomorrow. It's much bigger than any one person.
Q And can you elaborate on why the President thinks Osama bin Laden virtually
took responsibility for it in his speech yesterday?
MR. FLEISCHER: I did not bring my translated copy of his statement here to the
podium with me, but it's clear in the statements that Osama bin Laden made.
Q Ari, the President has said a number of times I believe that this campaign is
about justice, not revenge. What is the difference?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think the American people know what that difference is, and
it's one of the reasons the United States has been such a beacon of liberty
around the world throughout our history. Our nation was attacked, innocent
civilians were killed. It is the right, under international law, under the
United Nations charter and under everything that makes us a good country, to
take actions to defend our people, and to do so because we were attacked and
because others are at risk.
And as the President has said repeatedly, through his tears, he sees an
opportunity to do something for the next generation so they will not have to
endure what our generation has gone through -- not only in what took place in
New York on September 11th, but in a previous bombing in the World Trade Center,
around the world in other terrorist acts.
And that's justice, to put an end to that so others can live in a more peaceful
world. And that's the goals of the President.
Q With the explosions and anti-aircraft artillery going off again right now in
Kabul, can you confirm a second wave of attacks in underway now?
MR. FLEISCHER: As I indicated at the top of my briefing, Secretary Rumsfeld is
going to brief at 1:00 p.m. And such announcements, or anything to say about
things military will be made by the Secretary.
Q But you were the one who yesterday announced that the President had a
statement. Can you not just confirm that a second --
MR. FLEISCHER: Ann, it's a discipline that I'm going to begin to exercise and I
think many of you have heard me say this privately. All operational details
describing events will come from the Pentagon, not the White House.
Q Ari, last week, Secretary Thompson from that podium said that the case of
anthrax in Palm Beach County, Florida, was an isolated case. It turns out that
that is not the situation. What more can you tell us about further cases and the
investigatory avenues?
MR. FLEISCHER: What the Secretary said on Thursday last week was it did not
appear be -- he said it appeared to be an isolated case, based on all the
information that was available when he made his statement on Thursday last week.
The Center for Disease Control and the FBI are investigating the situation in
Florida, and are working very closely with local Florida officials in the health
department about the status of any potential anthrax episodes in the building
where the first person worked, who the Secretary referenced last week.
So the FBI is investigating now.
Q It is a cause of great concern that anthrax, either bacteria or spores have
shown up inside a building?
MR. FLEISCHER: It is a source of concern and that's why the FBI is
investigating, along with the CDC.
Q Is it now a criminal investigation as opposed to a health matter?
MR. FLEISCHER: You'd have to address that to the FBI to see if they've given it
that definition; I can't tell you that. I don't know the answer to that.
Q Going back to your repeated comment that the war is more about Osama bin
Laden, is he still, is the President
still --
MR. FLEISCHER: Not about
Q Not about Osama bin Laden, I'm sorry. Is he still, as the President put it,
only recently on a wanted dead or alive list?
MR. FLEISCHER: There has been no change in how the President thinks about that
matter.
Q So he still feels that he is wanted dead or alive?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President believes that on multiple fronts it is imperative
for the United States and other nations around the world to take action, not
only against one person, but against the entire network of terrorists. And that
way we can help protect the world so these type of attacks don't happen again.
Q But, previously, he went out of his way to single this guy out.
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm shared with you the President's thinking.
Q Ari, in regard to the protests, apparently the Palestinian Authority to keep
the protests under control actually opened fire today. Do you have any response?
MR. FLEISCHER: I have no immediate response to that. I think, again, it's a
reflection of the volatility in that region of the world that still has ties to
the overall peace efforts in the Middle East, and another reminder, even in this
new fashion, of the importance of developing political peace talks, security
peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, even though in this case it did
not appear to be directly related to any events in Israel.
Q Ari, going back to the same question, it seems like the White House is taking
the onus off of Osama bin Laden by saying this is not really about one person.
How can you say that when he is the head of this network, and how can you say
that when this man has been on television saying what he will do if there is not
peace in his country, there will not be peace here?
MR. FLEISCHER: Because, April, if it wasn't this one man who was on television,
he will be followed by another one man and another one man who is on television.
It's just not about any one person.
Q But it also leaves some people to wonder, and some critics are saying, well,
if you're not looking at Osama bin Laden, it's okay not to get him, but to get
everybody else. Is he still -- yes, because it's taking -- first it was Osama
bin Laden was the prime suspect. Now it's pulled back.
MR. FLEISCHER: The statements have been consistent from day one. Osama bin Laden
is the prime suspect in the al Qaeda organization. That's always been said.
Q Is it clear that you want to have Osama bin Laden in custody, as well?
MR. FLEISCHER: Nothing has changed since I answered the question two minutes
ago.
Q Ari, you have a National Security Advisor, you have a National Security
Council. Now you have an Office of Homeland Security and a Homeland Security
Advisor. Is there any overlap?
MR. FLEISCHER: There is overlap by definition and by design. Just as the
National Security Council, which has successfully operated since 1947, has
obvious overlap with the Department of Defense, with the Central Intelligence
Agency, with the National Security Agency and others.
It is done to overlap on purpose. That way it can fulfill its coordinating
function. The President announced Governor Ridge today to a post of Director of
Homeland Security for the purpose of coordinating the some 46 agencies that have
jurisdiction over what is called homeland defense.
Q The impression is that national security deals more with foreign issues and
this will deal more with national issues. Is that the basic assumption?
MR. FLEISCHER: There can be other overlapping interests, because there will be
other components to both jobs that can overlap domestically or internationally.
But I will refer you to the handout which you have describing the functions and
the executive order defining the mission of the Office of Homeland Security.
Q Basically, Condoleezza Rice practically has unlimited access to the President.
Will Tom Ridge have the same type of --
MR. FLEISCHER: I think anybody who knows the President's relationship with
Governor Ridge knows how much access he will have. He will play a very central
and important role in protecting the United States from terrorist attacks.
Q A follow-up on Randy's question. The bombing in Afghanistan is causing great
fear and chaos there quite naturally among the civilian population. There have
been reports of revolts in towns along the Iranian border; warlords returning,
claiming their piece of the Afghani pie. Doesn't the United States have an
obligation to prepare for the restoration of civil order to protect the innocent
civilians?
MR. FLEISCHER: The United States is working as we speak to protect the innocent
civilians. And that is why, as part of this effort, the United States has been
getting food into the Afghani people.
Q I am talking about the restoration of some form of civil order, as this chaos
descends on that country.
MR. FLEISCHER: Terry, I can read it to you again. But you heard many times what
the position is, that we will work with those who seek to create an Afghanistan
that is peaceful, that does not sponsor terrorism, and that is developing,
economically developing.
Q And I guess I'm asking, what does that mean?
MR. FLEISCHER: It means just that, we are going to continue to work with those
groups.
Q Ari, I am going to follow up on Terry and ask another one. Do you see a need
for an interim sort of international administration of a post-attack
Afghanistan?
MR. FLEISCHER: My answer stands. No change in the answer.
Q Secondly, in bin Laden's statement yesterday, there was language urging his
supporters to act swiftly and so forth. Did you view that as a general
statement, or did you see any kind of cues for specific actions that he was
trying to broadcast?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, he has made and the Taliban have made so many different
statements, that -- separate and apart from anything they do or say -- it
remains important for Americans to remember that this is a time of war, and that
people need to keep that in mind. And that is why security has been beefed up
across the country and all government agencies are on a heightened state of
alert.
Q Ari, in the past, Presidents have tried to kind of smooth the way between the
FBI and the CIA, to make them work closely together, to overcome all the turf
battles that exist there. And I don't know a President who, I would say, was
successful at that. What makes this President think that by handing -- by giving
his imprimatur that Tom Ridge can succeed in doing what no one has ever
succeeded in doing before?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, let me offer you two reasons. One is, our nation is at war.
And wartime has the ability to bring people together in different agencies and
in different parts of the government in a way that peacetime does not allow
itself to.
And at times everybody understands in their different missions, at their
different agencies, that this is the time to work together and to put the
national interests first. As was said earlier in the East Room today -- I think
Governor Ridge said it -- the only turf is the turf you stand on, and that turf
is America's soil. And that's why he was reminding everybody that their mission
is to serve the nation.
Secondly -- and I do think this is fair to say -- the President has a strong
track record of bringing people together to build strong teams that work well
together. And I think you see that every day in this administration. And that
will be the spirit that is brought to the effort that Governor Ridge is leading.
Q You've talked a lot about how different this war is. One of the most unusual
things about it, it seems, is that we're dropping bombs and food on the same
nation. Can you share with us some of the thinking that went into that, other
than the obvious point that we're striking into terrorists and not trying to
strike the Afghan people?
MR. FLEISCHER: It's a very interesting notion because this does illustrate what
a different war this is, not only in the conventional military side, but on so
many other sides. But there's no question about it -- the United States is
demonstrating to the people of Afghanistan, as we have even before today,
because of all the food aid the United States has provided to the Afghani
people, that our commitment to them remains a humanitarian one. This war is not
against the Afghani people, this war is against the oppressive Taliban regime
and those who practice terrorism.
But it goes so much beyond that. And I cannot stress to you how important this
is, as you cover this war and you focus on it, to think about this war in a
different way than you viewed World War II or previous wars our nation has
fought, even more recent ones. In so many ways, a person sitting at a computer
terminal wearing a suit, who was able to shut down and dry up terrorist money
plays just as valuable a role on the financial front as people do on the
military front. And that is the President's focus. That's how the President
approaches this. And that's why it's perfectly understandable that in the wake
of yesterday's action, there's a focus on things military.
But the President is focused far beyond that. And that's why these other
actions, helping people to have food, helping people -- the work being done by
the Treasury Department, to dry up money, to take it away from the terrorists so
it can't be used to finance their actions, efforts around the world to arrest
terrorists through domestic systems of justice, all of those are the multiple
fronts on which this war will be fought, unlike previous wars. And I can't
stress to you how important it is to have that mind set as you approach this.
Q We're also dropping leaflets over there, that I believe say -- offer to
protect and reward people who help us. Is that meant literally, in the case of
the people who lead us to bin Laden? Is there any type of reward being offered?
MR. FLEISCHER: I believe there already has been a reward offered on that case,
on that matter. The FBI has had a standing $5 million reward for quite a period
of time.
Q Ari, following up on the multiple fronts, could you talk a little bit about
the message campaign in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, that this is not
an attack on Muslims? Can you tell us, if you can, what are the messages going
out through the commando solo plane that's above Afghanistan? Give us a little
fill on how you're doing that and who else is involved.
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me give you what I can from the White House. A lot of this
deals with the State Department and others involving the Voice of America. But
the United States is going to use all channels available, including the Voice of
America, to reach audiences in Afghanistan and beyond. We do have broadcasting
capabilities to get messages to the people of Afghanistan.
And as you can see from the reactions of the people of Afghanistan, there is a
serious question about how much support the Taliban has from the people it
purports to represent. And the United States will continue to work to get
information to those, so they can have full knowledge about what is happening in
Afghanistan from a source other than a repressive Taliban regime that has not
shared all the information with the people that it seeks to represent.
Q Ari, the declaratory policy, as you said, suggests that the United States
would support anyone who will build a peaceful and economically viable
government to replace the Taliban. What if no one capable of doing that steps
forward after the --
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, again, I just think you're getting way ahead of where
events are. The actions are going to continue. They began with the financial
actions the President took in the Rose Garden. And you can keep asking the
question any number of ways, but the answer remains the same.
Q -- the declaratory policy of the United States is confident in that?
Q You just mentioned the front on the financial end of this. Are there new
accounts that have been frozen? Is there any Treasury Department activity that
you can tell us that is updated from the announcement the President made in the
Rose Garden? There has been some hints from Treasury that more accounts have
been found, more things have been frozen. Can you update us on that?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't have any updates for you today from this podium, but
there very well could be. But that's going to mostly come from Treasury, unless
--
Q Is this going to be an ongoing and daily effort, and you're not going to
necessarily notify us every day about that?
MR. FLEISCHER: Absolutely. Well, I -- on the notification, we'll notify as often
as is possible. But that is the action being taken by the Department of
Treasury. I don't have any updates for you today.
Q Can you tell us concretely what Governor Ridge is doing today, give us some
idea of why this is not just a new layer of bureaucracy?
MR. FLEISCHER: Sure, the Governor began his day -- he met with the senior staff.
He met with the President. He's a part of the senior staff. He participated in
the President's FBI briefing. He will be part of the National Security Council
briefings as required, when his issues come before them. He will -- I think I
indicated he met with the President earlier. And today is his first day. We'll
have information for you at the appropriate time, when the first meeting of the
Homeland Security Council will take place, which is going to be chaired by the
President.
But his job is going to be akin to the NSC job, focused on terrorism, as the NSC
has a broader mandate to focus much more broadly on all matters of security.
Q He does not have a permanent seat on the National Security Council or in the
intelligence briefings that the President gets?
MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.
Q Ari, just to follow up on that, you made a reference to the $5 million reward.
I believe when that was posted, it was for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of bin Laden. Do you know, have those restrictions changed?
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me see if I can't get you any additional information on that.
I saw that when I was over at the FBI last week. And that could be something you
might want to take up at 1:30 when General Ashcroft briefs.
Q You say you are not interested in nation building in Afghanistan, or anywhere
else for that matter. You say that you are willing to work with all those
elements in Afghanistan that are interested in security. What is the functional
difference between that and nation-building?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, you've tried multiple ways to get me to give you a
different answer, but I am going to refer you right back to the Afghanistan
declaratory statement. That is the answer.
Q What are the boundaries here? What will you not do because you are not
interested in nation-building?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think I have answered the question as well as it can be
answered.
Q The President has said repeatedly that this is obviously going to take a very
long time. Is he, in a sense, trying to prepare people for turning on their
television sets even months from now and seeing bombing campaigns still going on
in Afghanistan or even other places?
MR. FLEISCHER: He is trying to prepare the American people and, frankly, I think
the American people are prepared, I think they do understand it, that this can
last months if not years. But you refer again back to the bombing campaign. It
will be on so many other fronts than that. It can include that, it may be beyond
that, it may be other things that the American people don't see that are
military.
But on a host of fronts, the war against terrorism is going to last a long time.
And I think the American people have come to understand that. In fact, I think
they understood it rather quickly. The President has been very up front about
saying that, yes, this can last months if not years.
Q What do you do when, in a sense, it becomes routine, that we get so used to
seeing all this, how do you maintain the level of support that the President is
enjoying now?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think because the American people have a very firm
understanding about what's happened to us. This was not any ordinary terrorist
incident. This was a willful and deliberate, well-planned and well-coordinated
attack on the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon by people who have
abilities throughout the world to inflict further harm on the United States and
on our friends and on our allies. And they understand that we're talking about
people who, as the President has put it, live in the shadows, who live in caves.
And this a matter that is going to take some considerable time to address.
But from all indications, the American people understand that. And I think this
will be a case where the United States, based on the plans the President has
made, has reacted in a measured fashion, will continue to react in a fashion
that targets action where action needs to be targeted, and was done in a
methodical, well-planned fashion, and I think that is how you always keep the
support of the American people.
Q Ari, how much longer does the White House plan on taking these extra steps to
preserve the line of succession by keeping the Vice President away from the
White House?
MR. FLEISCHER: We'll keep you informed. If there are changes to that, you will
know.
Q Ari, on his first full day as a wartime President, at least in the military
sense, can you share with us a little bit about his temperament? I mean, we see
him in public, you see him in private. What's his mood? Is he doing something
different in his routine? Can you share a little behind-the-scenes color?
MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I was asked this yesterday, how the President, what
mood the President was when I talked to him in the Oval Office prior to the
action beginning. And I can only tell you that from everything I see, he is
resolute and he is determined.
I think he is steeled by the fact that he has such a clear understanding about
what this is about. He's described it as the first war of the 21st century, and
a very different type of war. I think he's understood that from the beginning,
that the war on terrorism is totally different than the previous conventional
wars our nation has fought. And I think when you see him meet with the victims
and the families of people, the families of the victims in New York or
Pennsylvania who came down to the White House, he takes a lot of strength
through that.
And as I indicated, through his tears, he sees an opportunity. And I can only
tell you, that's what I see in private. I see somebody who is --
Q But since last night when the bombs first started falling, any change at all,
anything noteworthy?
MR. FLEISCHER: I can't report that there is. It's the same resolution, it's the
same determination that I think has carried him forward since September 11th.
Q What is he doing this afternoon -- I mean, aside from his public events, but
behind the scenes this afternoon, is he have any special meetings or any sense
of what he's --
MR. FLEISCHER: He's always receiving briefings and information and updates,
could be making phone calls or other meetings.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
1:10 P.M. EDT