1
00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,934
Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.
2
00:00:01,934 --> 00:00:03,300
Thank you for being here.
3
00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:09,433
I know that I alone did not
draw this substantial crowd,
4
00:00:09,433 --> 00:00:12,700
which is why I will immediately
introduce and turn over the
5
00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:15,399
briefing to Tom Donilon,
the President's National
6
00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:16,967
Security Advisor.
7
00:00:16,967 --> 00:00:19,866
As you know, the United States
is hosting the G8 and NATO
8
00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:24,100
summits this year -- the G8
at Camp David, NATO in Chicago.
9
00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:29,867
And Tom is here to give you
a preview of those summits.
10
00:00:29,867 --> 00:00:33,467
As we've done in the past
with visitors to the briefing,
11
00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:36,967
he'll make some
comments to open,
12
00:00:36,967 --> 00:00:40,300
he'll take your questions
on related subjects,
13
00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:44,199
and then Tom will depart and
I'll remain to take questions
14
00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,033
on other matters.
15
00:00:46,033 --> 00:00:48,033
With that, I give
you Tom Donilon.
16
00:00:48,033 --> 00:00:50,500
Mr. Donilon:
Thank you, Jay.
17
00:00:50,500 --> 00:00:53,233
Appreciate the
opportunity to come by.
18
00:00:53,233 --> 00:00:55,065
I wanted to take a
few minutes today --
19
00:00:55,066 --> 00:00:56,834
and I'll just give a couple
of comments at the top,
20
00:00:56,834 --> 00:01:00,433
and then take a few minutes to
give you a perspective on the
21
00:01:00,433 --> 00:01:03,633
upcoming summits -- the G8
summit at Camp David and the
22
00:01:03,633 --> 00:01:06,934
NATO summit in Chicago --
and then I'll be glad to
23
00:01:06,934 --> 00:01:07,934
take questions.
24
00:01:07,934 --> 00:01:09,367
As I said, it's good to
see you all this afternoon.
25
00:01:09,367 --> 00:01:12,266
Thanks for coming out.
26
00:01:12,266 --> 00:01:17,367
The first thing I wanted to say
is that I've been reflecting on
27
00:01:17,367 --> 00:01:19,734
where we've come the last
three and a half years,
28
00:01:19,734 --> 00:01:25,866
and the initial summits that the
President attended in 2009 saw
29
00:01:25,867 --> 00:01:29,300
the global economy in free fall,
the momentum in Afghanistan had
30
00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:34,033
shifted to the Taliban, al Qaeda
was entrenched in a safe haven,
31
00:01:34,033 --> 00:01:37,133
and America's
alliances had frayed.
32
00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:39,265
Today, I think
it's fair to say --
33
00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:41,967
and we can discuss this in
any detail that you want --
34
00:01:41,967 --> 00:01:43,600
that we've made significant
progress on each of
35
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:44,600
these issues.
36
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,433
The U.S. economy is growing,
al Qaeda's leadership has been
37
00:01:47,433 --> 00:01:50,633
devastated, and we've put in
place a responsible plan to wind
38
00:01:50,633 --> 00:01:52,600
down the war in Afghanistan.
39
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,866
And meanwhile -- and this has
been a top priority for this
40
00:01:54,867 --> 00:01:57,166
administration from the outset
-- our alliances have never
41
00:01:57,166 --> 00:01:58,166
been stronger.
42
00:01:58,166 --> 00:01:59,834
And I'll talk about
that again in a second.
43
00:01:59,834 --> 00:02:02,767
Over the next several days,
the aim is to build on this
44
00:02:02,767 --> 00:02:05,333
progress, and we'll do so at
Camp David and in Chicago.
45
00:02:05,333 --> 00:02:08,834
And the two summits really do
underscore and are an embodiment
46
00:02:08,834 --> 00:02:12,467
of American leadership on a
range of global challenges:
47
00:02:12,467 --> 00:02:15,400
in advancing several
overarching U.S. interests,
48
00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,767
making the international
architecture work effectively in
49
00:02:17,767 --> 00:02:21,000
a transformational world;
second, revitalizing,
50
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,033
as I've said, our core
alliances; and three,
51
00:02:24,033 --> 00:02:26,700
really advancing our strategy to
end the war in Afghanistan in a
52
00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:28,466
responsible fashion.
53
00:02:28,467 --> 00:02:30,667
And as a result of our
engagement in bilateral,
54
00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:34,533
multilateral levels over the
course of the administration,
55
00:02:34,533 --> 00:02:35,767
we're leading in
both these forums,
56
00:02:35,767 --> 00:02:38,100
and I think we'll see during
the course of this weekend real
57
00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:40,600
progress made on the
goals I just talked about.
58
00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,066
So let me talk about what
we're going to be doing.
59
00:02:44,066 --> 00:02:46,166
The first meeting will
be the G8 meeting,
60
00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:49,799
beginning Friday
evening at Camp David.
61
00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,000
As a lot of you know, I like to
think historically about these
62
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,533
things, and I did a little
research on Camp David.
63
00:02:56,533 --> 00:03:00,266
It's always risky to do this
with the presidential historian,
64
00:03:00,266 --> 00:03:01,632
Mark Knoller, in the room,
but I'll do this anyway --
65
00:03:01,633 --> 00:03:03,567
(laughter)
66
00:03:03,567 --> 00:03:07,433
-- at the risk of being
corrected immediately.
67
00:03:07,433 --> 00:03:10,799
First, I want to talk about why
the President chose Camp David
68
00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,734
for this meeting.
69
00:03:12,734 --> 00:03:16,233
First, the G8 meeting will be
the largest gathering of leaders
70
00:03:16,233 --> 00:03:18,066
ever to stay at Camp David.
71
00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:20,633
In fact, this is the first time
that there will be more than two
72
00:03:20,633 --> 00:03:23,333
heads of state at Camp David.
73
00:03:23,333 --> 00:03:26,100
Camp David has hosted over 50
different heads of state in its
74
00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,500
70-year history, as well
as various retreats and
75
00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:29,834
critical meetings.
76
00:03:29,834 --> 00:03:33,734
But, again, there's only been
two summits held at Camp David:
77
00:03:33,734 --> 00:03:38,533
the Camp David Accords in 1978,
where President Carter hosted
78
00:03:38,533 --> 00:03:42,433
Prime Minister Begin and
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat,
79
00:03:42,433 --> 00:03:46,233
and the Middle East Peace Summit
in 2000 between Israeli Prime
80
00:03:46,233 --> 00:03:48,600
Minister Ehud Barak and
Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat,
81
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,600
hosted by President Clinton.
82
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,466
The summit is intended
to be small and intimate,
83
00:03:54,467 --> 00:03:58,333
and the President made a
conscious decision to host the
84
00:03:58,333 --> 00:04:00,800
G8 meeting at Camp
David for this reason.
85
00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,967
Each head of state or government
will have his or her own cabin
86
00:04:04,967 --> 00:04:06,800
and they'll have the
opportunity, obviously,
87
00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,900
to meet informally on the
margins of the meetings and to
88
00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:11,867
take full advantage of
the grounds at Camp David.
89
00:04:11,867 --> 00:04:14,466
The leader meetings themselves
will occur around the dining
90
00:04:14,467 --> 00:04:17,200
room table of the Laurel Cabin.
91
00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,632
And again, I think this is
consistent with the history and
92
00:04:19,632 --> 00:04:22,633
purpose of the G8 meetings.
93
00:04:22,633 --> 00:04:25,767
It really is a back-to-basics
approach, if you will.
94
00:04:25,767 --> 00:04:28,933
As you know, the meetings had
their origins in the 1970s when
95
00:04:28,934 --> 00:04:31,934
the United States hosted
informal meetings with financial
96
00:04:31,934 --> 00:04:34,867
officials from the major
developed economies.
97
00:04:34,867 --> 00:04:40,934
In 1975, President Giscard
d'Estaing invited heads of state
98
00:04:40,934 --> 00:04:44,367
and government from these
countries to Rambouillet,
99
00:04:44,367 --> 00:04:46,834
France, for a summit to
discuss the oil crisis and
100
00:04:46,834 --> 00:04:47,834
economic recovery.
101
00:04:47,834 --> 00:04:50,533
Since then, they've become
rather large gatherings,
102
00:04:50,533 --> 00:04:54,266
with infrastructure and
all kinds of support staff,
103
00:04:54,266 --> 00:04:55,867
and long communiqués.
104
00:04:55,867 --> 00:04:58,000
And the President wanted to pull
away from that and really get
105
00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,900
back to basics, really
get back to the intent,
106
00:04:59,900 --> 00:05:02,532
which is to have the leaders of
the developed economies in the
107
00:05:02,533 --> 00:05:06,066
world being able to talk
about, face-to-face,
108
00:05:06,066 --> 00:05:09,734
in intimate session,
the issues facing us.
109
00:05:09,734 --> 00:05:12,866
So that's what undergirds the
President's decision to have
110
00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:14,800
this at Camp David, and I wanted
to give you a little flavor of
111
00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,934
what it will be like up there.
112
00:05:18,934 --> 00:05:20,734
Let me then talk about
the meeting itself and the
113
00:05:20,734 --> 00:05:25,299
objectives for the G8 meeting.
114
00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:27,033
Obviously the -- and
I'll go through --
115
00:05:27,033 --> 00:05:28,800
maybe the best way to do this
would be to just go through the
116
00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,300
agenda and how it will
unfold during the course of
117
00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:34,266
the meetings.
118
00:05:34,266 --> 00:05:38,900
On Friday evening, there will be
a leaders dinner at Camp David.
119
00:05:38,900 --> 00:05:41,366
Prior to that, by the way, I
should mention that President
120
00:05:41,367 --> 00:05:44,233
Hollande will have his first
meeting with President Obama
121
00:05:44,233 --> 00:05:46,834
here at the White
House Friday morning.
122
00:05:46,834 --> 00:05:51,567
I think it's around
11:00 Friday morning.
123
00:05:51,567 --> 00:05:55,166
The President looks forward to
meeting with President Hollande
124
00:05:55,166 --> 00:05:56,367
and his team.
125
00:05:56,367 --> 00:05:59,266
That meeting with the President
will be followed by a lunch over
126
00:05:59,266 --> 00:06:01,734
at Blair House that Secretary
Clinton is hosting for President
127
00:06:01,734 --> 00:06:04,734
Hollande and his
delegation, again,
128
00:06:04,734 --> 00:06:09,265
to begin our relationship with
him and continue our work with
129
00:06:09,266 --> 00:06:12,033
an important ally, France.
130
00:06:12,033 --> 00:06:16,367
I can talk about that meeting
again in some detail if you'd
131
00:06:16,367 --> 00:06:17,734
like to do that.
132
00:06:17,734 --> 00:06:21,933
As I said, the schedule begins
on Friday evening with a working
133
00:06:21,934 --> 00:06:23,133
dinner for the leaders only.
134
00:06:23,133 --> 00:06:26,332
The topic for this dinner
will be regional and
135
00:06:26,333 --> 00:06:27,867
political issues.
136
00:06:27,867 --> 00:06:31,533
I expect the following
issues to come up --
137
00:06:31,533 --> 00:06:33,433
and, again, leaders will
raise other issues during the
138
00:06:33,433 --> 00:06:35,633
course of it.
139
00:06:35,633 --> 00:06:39,332
There will clearly be a
discussion about Iran.
140
00:06:39,333 --> 00:06:42,200
And we expect to be advancing
the international consensus
141
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,500
around the P5-plus-1 approach
to addressing the Iran
142
00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:47,000
nuclear issue.
143
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,266
And the theme I think will
be international unity,
144
00:06:50,266 --> 00:06:53,367
which has been a
hallmark of this project,
145
00:06:53,367 --> 00:06:59,700
as well as previewing our
expectations for the May 23
146
00:06:59,700 --> 00:07:02,533
second round of meetings
with the Iranians --
147
00:07:02,533 --> 00:07:05,800
I mean, between the Iranians and
the P5-plus-1 in Baghdad, Iraq.
148
00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,400
And that will be a point of
discussion on Friday evening.
149
00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,400
This has been a top priority
for this administration.
150
00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,967
As you all know, we've had a
multivariable intensive approach
151
00:07:15,967 --> 00:07:18,233
from the first days that
we came into office.
152
00:07:18,233 --> 00:07:21,333
This approach began with
offers for engagement.
153
00:07:21,333 --> 00:07:23,967
Those offers for engagement were
not met with a response from
154
00:07:23,967 --> 00:07:24,967
the Iranians.
155
00:07:24,967 --> 00:07:29,400
We proceeded then to, again,
a multiple-variant pressure
156
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,933
campaign, frankly, that
included a lot of elements,
157
00:07:32,934 --> 00:07:34,867
including sanctions.
158
00:07:34,867 --> 00:07:37,333
The unprecedented international
sanctions campaign that we've
159
00:07:37,333 --> 00:07:40,500
put in place I think has
resulted in the Iranians coming
160
00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:43,000
to the table.
161
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:49,100
Each member of the G8 is a core
member of this sanctions effort.
162
00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:52,633
Each member has been absolutely
essential to really putting in
163
00:07:52,633 --> 00:07:54,767
place what has been an
extraordinarily effective and,
164
00:07:54,767 --> 00:07:58,200
I think most people would
say, surprisingly effective
165
00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,433
sanctions effort.
166
00:08:01,433 --> 00:08:04,200
They'll also be pressing the
Iranians to take advantage of
167
00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,400
the diplomatic efforts
that we're putting forward.
168
00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,900
And really, the pressure will be
on the Iranians to demonstrate
169
00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:11,467
continued good faith
coming out of Istanbul,
170
00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:15,366
but also the willingness to
engage in concrete ways with the
171
00:08:15,367 --> 00:08:20,867
P5-plus-1 on addressing the
Iranian nuclear program.
172
00:08:20,867 --> 00:08:23,767
The message will be that
the Iranians should seize
173
00:08:23,767 --> 00:08:25,667
this opportunity.
174
00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:28,833
And while this goes
on, in parallel,
175
00:08:28,834 --> 00:08:31,100
the sanctions and pressure
effort will continue,
176
00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:33,933
led by the United States and the
others who will be at the table
177
00:08:33,933 --> 00:08:36,100
on Friday evening.
178
00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:39,767
We also expect that they will
-- that the leaders will discuss
179
00:08:39,767 --> 00:08:43,967
North Korea, discuss Burma.
180
00:08:43,967 --> 00:08:48,667
And you saw the announcement
today by Secretary Clinton with
181
00:08:48,667 --> 00:08:54,400
respect to our easing of
investment sanctions in Burma.
182
00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,367
There's been remarkable
progress in Burma,
183
00:08:56,367 --> 00:08:58,500
and the leaders will want
to engage on this I think on
184
00:08:58,500 --> 00:09:00,100
Friday evening.
185
00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:04,734
Burma is at the start of
a long but promising path
186
00:09:04,734 --> 00:09:06,200
towards democracy.
187
00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,300
And you should know the
President's made this a
188
00:09:08,300 --> 00:09:09,333
top priority.
189
00:09:09,333 --> 00:09:12,467
Again, we can talk about this
in any detail that you want.
190
00:09:12,467 --> 00:09:14,800
And I think you'll also see
a discussion on Syria at the
191
00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:16,099
meeting on Friday evening.
192
00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:18,200
And, again, leaders can bring
up whatever other issues
193
00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,467
that they want.
194
00:09:19,467 --> 00:09:20,467
But that's the focus.
195
00:09:20,467 --> 00:09:23,766
The focus will be the security
issues on Friday evening.
196
00:09:23,767 --> 00:09:27,166
The next morning, the focus
will turn to the economy,
197
00:09:27,166 --> 00:09:29,367
and of course the
global economy,
198
00:09:29,367 --> 00:09:32,333
especially the economic
situation in the eurozone,
199
00:09:32,333 --> 00:09:33,567
are going to be at
the top of the agenda.
200
00:09:33,567 --> 00:09:37,867
This is the first opportunity
for the leaders of the major
201
00:09:37,867 --> 00:09:42,300
developed economies to meet
face to face since President
202
00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:44,099
Hollande's election in
France and the political
203
00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:46,567
events in Greece.
204
00:09:46,567 --> 00:09:48,867
This, of course, also will be
the first G8 meeting for Prime
205
00:09:48,867 --> 00:09:52,733
Minister Monti of Italy, and
Prime Minister Noda of Japan.
206
00:09:52,734 --> 00:09:58,100
And obviously, this comes at a
very delicate time with respect
207
00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:00,834
to the European economy,
the eurozone economy.
208
00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:03,934
Let me just say a couple
of things about this.
209
00:10:03,934 --> 00:10:08,967
One, the United States welcomes
the evolving discussion and
210
00:10:08,967 --> 00:10:15,000
debate in Europe about the
imperative for jobs and growth.
211
00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,367
Two, the United States has an
extraordinarily significant
212
00:10:19,367 --> 00:10:23,900
stake in the outcome of the
economic discussions in Europe
213
00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:27,100
and the steps that
are taken in Europe.
214
00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:29,700
The European Union as
a whole, of course,
215
00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:32,867
is the largest trading
partner of the United States.
216
00:10:32,867 --> 00:10:38,199
And three, the President looks
forward to leading a discussion
217
00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,734
among the leaders
about the imperative --
218
00:10:40,734 --> 00:10:44,900
having a comprehensive approach
to manage the crisis and get on
219
00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:46,967
a sustainable path toward
recovery in Europe.
220
00:10:46,967 --> 00:10:49,500
And this obviously will be a key
part of the discussions up at
221
00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:50,734
Camp David.
222
00:10:50,734 --> 00:10:53,166
The other areas -- and I won't
go into as much detail on these
223
00:10:53,166 --> 00:10:55,300
others, I'll just list them for
you and you can obviously ask
224
00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:59,266
questions about them -- after
the discussion during the course
225
00:10:59,266 --> 00:11:02,867
of the morning on the global
economy, focusing, again,
226
00:11:02,867 --> 00:11:05,867
on Europe, there will be
separate sequential sessions,
227
00:11:05,867 --> 00:11:09,132
if you will, devoted to the
following topics: energy and
228
00:11:09,133 --> 00:11:11,934
climate, food security
-- and, as you know,
229
00:11:11,934 --> 00:11:15,467
the President will tomorrow
deliver a very important speech
230
00:11:15,467 --> 00:11:19,433
on a critical initiative that
he's had in place here that will
231
00:11:19,433 --> 00:11:22,867
make a real difference in the
lives of the people in Africa.
232
00:11:22,867 --> 00:11:29,533
And there will be at Camp David
a working lunch on food security
233
00:11:29,533 --> 00:11:33,266
attended by four African heads
of state from Benin, Tanzania,
234
00:11:33,266 --> 00:11:36,800
Ghana and Ethiopia.
235
00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,266
So energy and climate,
food security.
236
00:11:39,266 --> 00:11:43,934
The Afghan economic transition
will have its own session.
237
00:11:43,934 --> 00:11:47,666
This is obviously important as
we put together the non-security
238
00:11:47,667 --> 00:11:51,367
aspects of the follow-up
in Afghanistan post-2014 --
239
00:11:51,367 --> 00:11:54,099
that is, how is Afghanistan
going to come out of its war
240
00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:57,467
economy into a stable,
economic situation,
241
00:11:57,467 --> 00:11:59,834
and what are the needs that
it's going to have from the
242
00:11:59,834 --> 00:12:00,900
international community?
243
00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:05,033
This leads up to a Donors
Conference in Tokyo in July.
244
00:12:05,033 --> 00:12:08,467
And the last scheduled session
at Camp David would be on Middle
245
00:12:08,467 --> 00:12:10,300
East and North
Africa transition,
246
00:12:10,300 --> 00:12:13,834
following up on the Deauville
initiative and discussions at
247
00:12:13,834 --> 00:12:15,199
the last G8 meeting.
248
00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,166
That's essentially the
outline for the G8 meeting.
249
00:12:18,166 --> 00:12:20,633
NATO -- the NATO summit.
250
00:12:20,633 --> 00:12:23,800
The President will leave
Saturday evening and go to
251
00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,599
Chicago to host 62 nations
and several international
252
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:32,433
organizations for
the NATO summit.
253
00:12:32,433 --> 00:12:36,333
This is only the third time
since NATO's founding in 1949
254
00:12:36,333 --> 00:12:39,632
that the United States
will host a NATO summit,
255
00:12:39,633 --> 00:12:42,767
and it's only the first time
it's been hosted in a city other
256
00:12:42,767 --> 00:12:43,967
than Washington.
257
00:12:43,967 --> 00:12:46,467
The other two times that the
United States has hosted NATO
258
00:12:46,467 --> 00:12:50,165
summits were in 1978 and
1999, which, of course,
259
00:12:50,166 --> 00:12:54,934
was the 50th anniversary during
President Clinton's term.
260
00:12:54,934 --> 00:12:57,800
As I said, 61 countries,
as well as the EU,
261
00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,099
the United Nations and the World
Bank, will be in attendance.
262
00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:04,667
There will be different
groupings, if you will,
263
00:13:04,667 --> 00:13:06,734
of countries during
the course of the day.
264
00:13:06,734 --> 00:13:10,600
As I said, the President
will fly to Chicago on
265
00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,033
Saturday evening.
266
00:13:12,033 --> 00:13:14,066
The first meeting that he will
have on Sunday will be with
267
00:13:14,066 --> 00:13:16,934
President Karzai
of Afghanistan --
268
00:13:16,934 --> 00:13:19,967
obviously an important meeting
because a central focus of the
269
00:13:19,967 --> 00:13:22,867
NATO summit will be
on Afghanistan and
270
00:13:22,867 --> 00:13:24,567
Afghanistan's future.
271
00:13:24,567 --> 00:13:26,400
So the first meeting of
the day, appropriately,
272
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,533
is going to be with President
Karzai of Afghanistan.
273
00:13:28,533 --> 00:13:32,633
The President will then
move into various --
274
00:13:32,633 --> 00:13:34,433
a series of NATO meetings.
275
00:13:34,433 --> 00:13:40,700
There will be an initial meeting
with just the NATO allies at 28.
276
00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:43,934
That evening, on Sunday evening,
the NATO allies will meet at
277
00:13:43,934 --> 00:13:45,900
Soldier Field for
a working dinner,
278
00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:49,333
and that will be just
leaders plus one advisor.
279
00:13:49,333 --> 00:13:53,333
On Monday morning, the summit
will continue at McCormick Place
280
00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:54,800
with discussions on Afghanistan.
281
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,500
And this will be
a broader meeting;
282
00:13:56,500 --> 00:14:06,000
this will be the NATO
countries plus the 22 non-NATO
283
00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:10,300
troop-contributing
countries in Afghanistan.
284
00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:16,867
And the second formal meeting
on Monday will be a session with
285
00:14:16,867 --> 00:14:22,599
the key partners that we had
in various projects around the
286
00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:23,600
world with NATO.
287
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,066
I want to talk about NATO and
alliances for just a second,
288
00:14:26,066 --> 00:14:27,266
and then I want to
talk about Afghanistan,
289
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:29,632
and then I'll take
your questions.
290
00:14:29,633 --> 00:14:32,700
The United States and NATO --
NATO is a cornerstone alliance
291
00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:35,700
for the United States in terms
of its ability to advance its
292
00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:37,367
international interests.
293
00:14:37,367 --> 00:14:40,300
When we came into office
almost four years ago --
294
00:14:40,300 --> 00:14:44,532
now three and half years ago --
we asked ourselves where we were
295
00:14:44,533 --> 00:14:46,834
-- where we needed investment,
where we needed work that needed
296
00:14:46,834 --> 00:14:47,900
to be done.
297
00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:49,733
And our analysis
was that, in fact,
298
00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:52,400
alliances needed a tremendous
amount of attention by the
299
00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,934
President, that the
alliances were frayed --
300
00:14:54,934 --> 00:14:58,300
it had been an exhausting
period leading up to 2009.
301
00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:02,065
And the President set
about reinvigorating --
302
00:15:02,066 --> 00:15:04,333
indeed, one of the first sets of
instructions that we got during
303
00:15:04,333 --> 00:15:06,900
this transition at the beginning
of the administration was to set
304
00:15:06,900 --> 00:15:09,266
about really building
out and refurbishing,
305
00:15:09,266 --> 00:15:11,132
revitalizing our alliances.
306
00:15:11,133 --> 00:15:12,567
Why is that?
307
00:15:12,567 --> 00:15:17,500
There's a lot of talk among
foreign policy commentators on
308
00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:22,066
the issue of decline in
U.S. assets and liabilities.
309
00:15:22,066 --> 00:15:24,500
And I don't often see this,
but we really should see it --
310
00:15:24,500 --> 00:15:27,767
when you put together a list
of unique American assets --
311
00:15:27,767 --> 00:15:30,200
unique American assets
going into the future,
312
00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,066
things that are going to provide
for the future of the United
313
00:15:32,066 --> 00:15:34,633
States, you talk about
its innovative economy,
314
00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:38,467
the size of its economy,
its energy future,
315
00:15:38,467 --> 00:15:40,867
its demographic future, which
are all unique American assets
316
00:15:40,867 --> 00:15:44,699
and really do promise a bright
future for the United States.
317
00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:47,233
You should also put in
that list alliances.
318
00:15:47,233 --> 00:15:51,065
No other nation in the world has
the set of global alliances that
319
00:15:51,066 --> 00:15:52,567
the United States does.
320
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:55,767
No other nation in the world --
and this is built on bipartisan
321
00:15:55,767 --> 00:15:59,166
work since World War II -- has a
series of countries that it can
322
00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:02,600
go to around the world and
work with these countries.
323
00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,400
And alliances, I will
tell you from experience,
324
00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,300
are a wholly different
qualitative set of relationship
325
00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:10,199
than coalitions of the willing.
326
00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,333
Alliances are valued highly
by each of the members.
327
00:16:13,333 --> 00:16:15,266
You have habits of cooperation.
328
00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:17,132
You have shared
threat assessments.
329
00:16:17,133 --> 00:16:20,033
You have operational
capabilities that you practice
330
00:16:20,033 --> 00:16:22,300
and work on, and can call
on in a moment's notice.
331
00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:24,967
The Libya operation was a
good example of that on NATO.
332
00:16:24,967 --> 00:16:26,967
So from the outside of
this administration,
333
00:16:26,967 --> 00:16:29,800
this has been a strategic
priority for the United States,
334
00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,032
a strategic priority
to reinvigorate,
335
00:16:32,033 --> 00:16:35,800
undergird our security through
revitalizing and reinvigorating
336
00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:36,766
our alliances.
337
00:16:36,767 --> 00:16:39,200
And this effort at
NATO is part of that.
338
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,500
Now, I'll just talk about
Afghanistan for a minute and
339
00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:43,100
I'll take your questions.
340
00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:45,300
A focus of the NATO summit
will be Afghanistan.
341
00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:49,834
And as you all remember, at the
NATO summit in Lisbon in 2010,
342
00:16:49,834 --> 00:16:52,900
the United States, our
allies and our partners,
343
00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:56,632
really set forth the core
strategy and the way forward in
344
00:16:56,633 --> 00:16:59,867
Afghanistan, and that is that
we would begin transitioning in
345
00:16:59,867 --> 00:17:05,165
2011, that the lead for
Afghanistan having full
346
00:17:05,165 --> 00:17:08,666
responsibility for security
across the country would end at
347
00:17:08,666 --> 00:17:11,800
the end of 2014 -- would
be at the end of 2014,
348
00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,966
and that the ISAF military
mission would end at that point.
349
00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:19,233
And it was under the rubric of
"in together, out together."
350
00:17:19,233 --> 00:17:23,934
And again, I think that the
Lisbon summit was a really
351
00:17:23,934 --> 00:17:26,032
essential moment
in our effort here.
352
00:17:26,032 --> 00:17:30,332
Afghanistan, of course, had been
quite a hot issue between the
353
00:17:30,333 --> 00:17:32,967
United States and Europe and
partners around the world.
354
00:17:32,967 --> 00:17:34,133
There had been a
lot of disputes.
355
00:17:34,133 --> 00:17:36,934
There had been questions about
whether or not the group of
356
00:17:36,934 --> 00:17:39,466
countries in Afghanistan could
see this project through.
357
00:17:39,467 --> 00:17:42,900
And I think with the President's
leadership and the hard work of
358
00:17:42,900 --> 00:17:46,867
our allies and partners, we put
in place a multi-year effort to
359
00:17:46,867 --> 00:17:50,100
responsibly address the
goals that we had --
360
00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:52,966
defeating al Qaeda and ensuring
that Afghanistan would not be,
361
00:17:52,967 --> 00:17:56,600
in the future, a safe haven for
al Qaeda or associated groups
362
00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:58,399
that would strike
the United States,
363
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,600
and to do so together to have
the time to do it responsibly.
364
00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,166
And we're on a path to do that.
365
00:18:04,166 --> 00:18:09,934
What this summit is about is
the next step, if you will,
366
00:18:09,934 --> 00:18:13,233
on that transition project --
that transition until the end of
367
00:18:13,233 --> 00:18:15,000
2014 and then beyond.
368
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,867
And there are really three
elements that I'll mention and
369
00:18:16,867 --> 00:18:19,700
then I'll take your questions.
370
00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:22,967
The first is, with respect to
the next steps and transition,
371
00:18:22,967 --> 00:18:26,867
the next steps toward 2014, is
that the alliance will decide
372
00:18:26,867 --> 00:18:31,399
that in 2013 the mission
will shift for its forces --
373
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,133
that is that the mission will
shift from the ISAF forces,
374
00:18:35,133 --> 00:18:38,400
the United States forces as
part of ISAF being in the combat
375
00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,467
lead, to stepping back and
getting into principally a train
376
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:45,166
and advise mode with the Afghans
going into the combat lead all
377
00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:47,332
over the country.
378
00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:51,200
And that's essential if you
think about how you get to the
379
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,967
end of 2014 with full
Afghan responsibility for
380
00:18:53,967 --> 00:18:54,967
their security.
381
00:18:54,967 --> 00:18:56,633
You need to start that process.
382
00:18:56,633 --> 00:18:59,500
You need to get the Afghans out
front with the United States and
383
00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:02,200
its allies and partners
supporting them moving forward.
384
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,300
That's the first element of what
will be talked about and decided
385
00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:07,300
at Chicago.
386
00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:12,133
The second will be a discussion
of and an agreement on the
387
00:19:12,133 --> 00:19:16,467
structure and sustainability of
the Afghan national forces as
388
00:19:16,467 --> 00:19:18,433
you go past 2014.
389
00:19:18,433 --> 00:19:21,567
That is, what should
their size be?
390
00:19:21,567 --> 00:19:23,033
What should the mission be?
391
00:19:23,033 --> 00:19:24,500
And how will it be paid for?
392
00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:27,133
Sustainment, of course, is a
euphemism for how will this be
393
00:19:27,133 --> 00:19:29,734
paid for going after 2014.
394
00:19:29,734 --> 00:19:31,265
And we've made very
good progress on this.
395
00:19:31,266 --> 00:19:35,200
As you know, I think currently
we're at about 330,000
396
00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:36,633
Afghan forces.
397
00:19:36,633 --> 00:19:40,900
That will surge up to
352,000 Afghan forces.
398
00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:43,166
We will then, at some
point after 2014,
399
00:19:43,166 --> 00:19:45,166
start to go down to a
sustainable level --
400
00:19:45,166 --> 00:19:48,000
and we're working through
the modeling on that --
401
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,333
of Afghan forces that will be
the level that will be required,
402
00:19:51,333 --> 00:19:54,900
as assessed by our military in
conjunction with the Afghans
403
00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:56,767
going forward.
404
00:19:56,767 --> 00:19:57,834
Sustainment.
405
00:19:57,834 --> 00:19:59,500
The cost of this
will be around --
406
00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:02,367
in our judgment, around
$4 billion a year.
407
00:20:02,367 --> 00:20:04,166
And what the United States
has been doing, again,
408
00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:05,633
working with our
ISAF partners --
409
00:20:05,633 --> 00:20:08,934
and we've work with about 30
countries now to work through
410
00:20:08,934 --> 00:20:11,133
commitments -- and this is
two and a half years now --
411
00:20:11,133 --> 00:20:13,900
work through multi-year
commitments to pay
412
00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:14,967
for that force.
413
00:20:14,967 --> 00:20:16,967
And we've made enormous
progress on this.
414
00:20:16,967 --> 00:20:18,166
This is not a
pledging conference,
415
00:20:18,166 --> 00:20:19,667
this is not the end
of that project,
416
00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:23,766
but I can tell you at
this point that, again,
417
00:20:23,767 --> 00:20:25,567
we've had over 30
countries make commitments.
418
00:20:25,567 --> 00:20:27,300
Some of them will be -- have
announced them and you've seen
419
00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,100
leadership announcements coming
from the United Kingdom with
420
00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:33,667
$110 million a year; Australia
at $100 million a year;
421
00:20:33,667 --> 00:20:36,533
Germany at $195 million a year.
422
00:20:36,533 --> 00:20:37,567
These are leading countries.
423
00:20:37,567 --> 00:20:39,200
There are many others.
424
00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,166
Some of them will make
announcements during the course
425
00:20:41,166 --> 00:20:43,265
of the summit, again, but this
won't be the end of the work.
426
00:20:43,266 --> 00:20:47,033
But we have made really
substantial progress towards
427
00:20:47,033 --> 00:20:50,533
burden-sharing, towards
continuing support for Afghan
428
00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:52,934
security, but with the United
States not having to bear
429
00:20:52,934 --> 00:20:54,399
the whole load.
430
00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,133
The third thing that will be
discussed at Chicago will be the
431
00:20:58,133 --> 00:21:02,266
nature of the presence in
Afghanistan after 2014 --
432
00:21:02,266 --> 00:21:04,967
after the ISAF
combat mission ends,
433
00:21:04,967 --> 00:21:06,900
what are the plans for the NATO?
434
00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:10,500
And there will be a discussion
about essentially focusing on a
435
00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:13,567
much smaller-sized NATO training
and assisting and advising
436
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:15,700
mission in Afghanistan.
437
00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:20,467
So Chicago is a critical
milestone in the next step
438
00:21:20,467 --> 00:21:24,767
towards a responsible ending of
this war, towards our achieving,
439
00:21:24,767 --> 00:21:28,133
very importantly, our goals
in this effort in Afghanistan,
440
00:21:28,133 --> 00:21:31,400
and really kind of the executing
of the strategy that the
441
00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,033
President laid out in
his speech at Bagram.
442
00:21:34,033 --> 00:21:38,466
So with that, Jay -- I'm glad to
go on for another three or four
443
00:21:38,467 --> 00:21:40,166
hours or I can
take your questions.
444
00:21:40,166 --> 00:21:41,200
(laughter)
445
00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,300
Mr. Carney:
Why don't we start with Ben
and we'll have Tom answer a few
446
00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:47,834
questions and then let
him get back to work.
447
00:21:47,834 --> 00:21:49,133
Mr. Donilon:
Good afternoon, Ben.
448
00:21:49,133 --> 00:21:50,533
The Press:
Thanks, Tom.
449
00:21:50,533 --> 00:21:51,899
NATO question, G8 question.
450
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:55,166
On NATO, is President Obama
planning to meet with President
451
00:21:55,166 --> 00:21:58,033
Zardari either individually
or with Karzai?
452
00:21:58,033 --> 00:22:01,000
And anything you can tell
us about the state of that
453
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,166
supply route?
454
00:22:02,166 --> 00:22:04,066
Mr. Donilon:
Sure.
455
00:22:04,066 --> 00:22:05,900
The question was on President
Zardari's attendance at the
456
00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:06,967
NATO summit.
457
00:22:06,967 --> 00:22:11,000
As you know, President Zardari
was invited by NATO to attend
458
00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,100
the summit.
459
00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:13,833
President Zardari was invited
to attend the summit and
460
00:22:13,834 --> 00:22:14,900
he'll do so.
461
00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:16,400
He's coming with his foreign
minister and his foreign
462
00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,600
secretary, and he'll
participate in the meetings on
463
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,265
Sunday -- first point.
464
00:22:22,266 --> 00:22:24,867
The second is, we have made
real progress, I think,
465
00:22:24,867 --> 00:22:28,200
towards resolving the issue
around opening up the ground
466
00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,767
supply lines, which have been
closed since the November
467
00:22:30,767 --> 00:22:36,834
cross-border incident where 24
Pakistani soldiers were killed.
468
00:22:36,834 --> 00:22:42,767
The key government groups in
Islamabad have instructed their
469
00:22:42,767 --> 00:22:45,734
negotiators to move to
conclude these negotiations.
470
00:22:45,734 --> 00:22:49,600
We have our negotiators
out there as well,
471
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:50,867
and we're making
progress towards that.
472
00:22:50,867 --> 00:22:54,033
Whether that will be done in
the next few days or not I can't
473
00:22:54,033 --> 00:22:57,300
judge at this point, but it's
been a decision on both sides to
474
00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:01,800
reach a conclusion of
this going forward.
475
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,399
And that's important,
obviously, for us.
476
00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,533
At this point, as I said, there
are 61 countries going to be
477
00:23:06,533 --> 00:23:08,632
present there, and the President
is not going to have bilaterals
478
00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:09,633
with all of them.
479
00:23:09,633 --> 00:23:11,133
There's not a plan at this point
to have a separate bilateral
480
00:23:11,133 --> 00:23:13,133
meeting with President
Zardari, but he will see him,
481
00:23:13,133 --> 00:23:15,367
obviously -- the President will
see him during the course of the
482
00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:19,500
sessions that we
have in Chicago.
483
00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:21,567
The Press:
And the G8 question, you
mentioned that Syria will be one
484
00:23:21,567 --> 00:23:23,266
of the topics on Friday night.
485
00:23:23,266 --> 00:23:25,934
Can you just give us a sense of,
given the players that are going
486
00:23:25,934 --> 00:23:28,767
to be involved, what
expectations you have, if any,
487
00:23:28,767 --> 00:23:33,200
for any steps on what happens
if the Annan plan doesn't work?
488
00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,633
Will there be any
expectations for progress?
489
00:23:35,633 --> 00:23:41,467
Mr. Donilon:
I think this -- I think all
the countries present at the G8
490
00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:45,800
summit have real concerns, and
need to have real concerns,
491
00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,300
about the violence
level in Syria.
492
00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:52,500
I think that the death toll
right now is approaching maybe
493
00:23:52,500 --> 00:24:00,767
8,000, and the Assad regime has
undertaken a brutal response
494
00:24:00,767 --> 00:24:04,834
against its own people who are
trying to express their views.
495
00:24:04,834 --> 00:24:09,734
I think that there's a --
and there will be a general
496
00:24:09,734 --> 00:24:13,100
disapproval of that,
obviously -- number one.
497
00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:16,667
Number two is that each of the
members who will be present at
498
00:24:16,667 --> 00:24:21,667
the G8 meeting all
support the Annan plan --
499
00:24:21,667 --> 00:24:23,833
Kofi Annan, the former Secretary
General of the United Nations,
500
00:24:23,834 --> 00:24:28,934
who is the lead U.N. person
trying to advance a ceasefire in
501
00:24:28,934 --> 00:24:33,066
the political transition
effort in Syria.
502
00:24:33,066 --> 00:24:37,500
Number three, I think that
there will be a focus at the G8
503
00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:41,367
discussion on the need, yes, to
bring down the violence; yes,
504
00:24:41,367 --> 00:24:45,500
to see the monitors who are --
there's about 240 I think in
505
00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:48,734
Syria at this point -- see
the monitors have access,
506
00:24:48,734 --> 00:24:52,033
and to try to bring down the
violence through their efforts,
507
00:24:52,033 --> 00:24:55,934
but also to begin a political
discussion about a transition
508
00:24:55,934 --> 00:24:57,033
in Syria.
509
00:24:57,033 --> 00:25:01,667
I think that will be the basic
outlines of the discussion.
510
00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:02,533
Yes.
511
00:25:02,533 --> 00:25:03,833
Mr. Carney:
Helene, and then Jeff.
512
00:25:03,834 --> 00:25:04,867
Mr. Donilon:
Hi, Helene.
513
00:25:04,867 --> 00:25:06,100
The Press:
Hi.
514
00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:07,166
Two questions.
515
00:25:07,166 --> 00:25:09,767
One, you mentioned that NATO
would be very much about turning
516
00:25:09,767 --> 00:25:13,200
the country -- Afghanistan
-- over to Afghan lead.
517
00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,200
Can you -- given that, can you
give me a broad definition of
518
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:22,266
what sort of Afghanistan you
hope to leave behind in 2014?
519
00:25:22,266 --> 00:25:27,533
And then, separately on Iran,
Nicolas Sarkozy was long --
520
00:25:27,533 --> 00:25:30,033
has long been considered to be
one of the toughest voices for
521
00:25:30,033 --> 00:25:33,766
the Western sanctions
policy on Iran.
522
00:25:33,767 --> 00:25:37,166
Are you concerned at all that,
with the change in government in
523
00:25:37,166 --> 00:25:39,633
France, that you may lose sort
of the strong support you've
524
00:25:39,633 --> 00:25:43,433
been having from France
on Iran sanctions regime?
525
00:25:43,433 --> 00:25:45,400
Mr. Donilon:
Okay, I'd be glad to
take those questions,
526
00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,700
but I need to write down the
second one or I'll forget
527
00:25:47,700 --> 00:25:49,300
what it is.
528
00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:50,433
The Press:
I can repeat it.
529
00:25:50,433 --> 00:25:52,166
(laughter)
530
00:25:52,166 --> 00:25:56,500
Mr. Donilon:
With respect to
Afghanistan, Helene,
531
00:25:56,500 --> 00:25:59,567
the goal is to have
an Afghanistan, again,
532
00:25:59,567 --> 00:26:05,533
that has a degree of stability
such that forces like al Qaeda
533
00:26:05,533 --> 00:26:09,667
and associated groups cannot
have safe haven unimpeded,
534
00:26:09,667 --> 00:26:12,766
which could threaten the region
and threaten U.S. and other
535
00:26:12,767 --> 00:26:16,266
interests in the world,
number one; number two,
536
00:26:16,266 --> 00:26:21,967
an Afghanistan that has a set of
security assets that allow it to
537
00:26:21,967 --> 00:26:24,567
provide for that modicum of
stability and to be able to
538
00:26:24,567 --> 00:26:27,333
protect itself against
groups like that,
539
00:26:27,333 --> 00:26:32,066
and an Afghan National
Force of sufficient size and
540
00:26:32,066 --> 00:26:34,734
sustainability that these
goals can be achieved.
541
00:26:34,734 --> 00:26:38,667
And that will be a real focus
of the discussion in Chicago.
542
00:26:38,667 --> 00:26:43,233
But as I said, it's also
important for the United States,
543
00:26:43,233 --> 00:26:45,600
its partners, and its allies
around the world to also focus
544
00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,533
on the non-security
aspects of this -- that is,
545
00:26:49,533 --> 00:26:53,132
when you have a drop in
security expenditures,
546
00:26:53,133 --> 00:26:56,667
which will happen when ISAF
finishes its mission at the end
547
00:26:56,667 --> 00:27:01,100
of 2014, the goal is to
have a sustainable economy
548
00:27:01,100 --> 00:27:02,100
going forward.
549
00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:03,500
And that's an important
focus for us the next
550
00:27:03,500 --> 00:27:05,000
two-and-a-half years.
551
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,734
A couple things on this.
552
00:27:06,734 --> 00:27:08,233
We have a
comprehensive approach,
553
00:27:08,233 --> 00:27:11,533
and we are working on this now,
as evidenced by this discussion
554
00:27:11,533 --> 00:27:15,300
years in advance to try to put
in place the building blocks
555
00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:18,867
that can achieve the
goals that I laid out.
556
00:27:18,867 --> 00:27:23,133
By the way, we also want to have
a solid political transition
557
00:27:23,133 --> 00:27:24,433
in Afghanistan.
558
00:27:24,433 --> 00:27:28,934
There will be elections for
President in the middle of 2014,
559
00:27:28,934 --> 00:27:32,133
and it's important, obviously,
that the Afghans put in place a
560
00:27:32,133 --> 00:27:36,033
sustainable political process
as well, going forward.
561
00:27:36,033 --> 00:27:41,199
We also, region-wide, we also
want to get to a place where we
562
00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,200
achieve our core goal, and
our core goal is the strategic
563
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,967
defeat of al Qaeda -- the defeat
of al Qaeda such that it no
564
00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:52,700
longer presents a threat to
the United States, our allies,
565
00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:53,934
or our other interests.
566
00:27:53,934 --> 00:27:56,567
And as you know, this has been
a central part of the foreign
567
00:27:56,567 --> 00:28:00,800
policy of the United States,
especially I think in terms of
568
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:02,867
its focus since we
came into office.
569
00:28:02,867 --> 00:28:05,567
And again, this is a daily
effort that we pursue
570
00:28:05,567 --> 00:28:08,800
relentlessly against al Qaeda.
571
00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:14,734
With respect to Iran -- we fully
expect France to be a good ally
572
00:28:14,734 --> 00:28:16,166
going forward.
573
00:28:16,166 --> 00:28:18,934
Again, the government in France
has only been in place for a day
574
00:28:18,934 --> 00:28:23,300
or so, so we haven't had the
kind of detailed discussions
575
00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:25,800
that we will have with
them, beginning tomorrow,
576
00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:27,966
although we did have some of our
team go over at the end of last
577
00:28:27,967 --> 00:28:29,533
week and begin discussions.
578
00:28:29,533 --> 00:28:32,567
I expect that we'll have good
support from France on the
579
00:28:32,567 --> 00:28:33,567
Iran issue.
580
00:28:33,567 --> 00:28:35,667
I expect that we'll have good
support from France on the
581
00:28:35,667 --> 00:28:41,065
P5-plus-1 issues going forward,
as well as on a range of
582
00:28:41,066 --> 00:28:42,066
other issues.
583
00:28:42,066 --> 00:28:45,633
Now, we'll have to work
through other issues.
584
00:28:45,633 --> 00:28:48,333
The stances that President
Hollande took during the course
585
00:28:48,333 --> 00:28:52,400
of his campaign obviously he
intends to keep as President.
586
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:56,834
But I, at this point, frankly,
see a good relationship building
587
00:28:56,834 --> 00:28:58,867
between us already.
588
00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:00,265
Mr. Carney:
Jeff.
589
00:29:00,266 --> 00:29:01,266
The Press:
Tom, two questions.
590
00:29:01,266 --> 00:29:02,266
Mr. Donilon:
Hi.
591
00:29:02,266 --> 00:29:03,266
The Press:
Hi.
592
00:29:03,266 --> 00:29:04,266
Two questions on the G8.
593
00:29:04,266 --> 00:29:06,367
First of all, do you expect the
President to bring up the issue
594
00:29:06,367 --> 00:29:09,567
of oil reserves and
releasing oil reserves,
595
00:29:09,567 --> 00:29:12,700
and will that be reflected
in the G8 communiqué?
596
00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:16,734
And my second question
is about the EU leaders.
597
00:29:16,734 --> 00:29:20,233
Does the United States have
an interest in exploiting the
598
00:29:20,233 --> 00:29:25,066
difference between Mr. Hollande
and Mrs. Merkel on the austerity
599
00:29:25,066 --> 00:29:28,200
versus growth debate?
600
00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:33,266
Mr. Donilon:
The first question, with
respect to oil, as I said,
601
00:29:33,266 --> 00:29:36,333
one of the designated sessions
during the course of the G8 will
602
00:29:36,333 --> 00:29:39,667
be on energy and climate, and
there will be a broad discussion
603
00:29:39,667 --> 00:29:42,332
there, again, with the President
discussing his all-of-the-above
604
00:29:42,333 --> 00:29:44,800
strategy for energy development.
605
00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,066
And there will be discussions
on improving energy efficiency,
606
00:29:48,066 --> 00:29:50,133
energy security, while also
addressing climate change,
607
00:29:50,133 --> 00:29:51,567
as you would imagine.
608
00:29:51,567 --> 00:29:53,734
With respect to
the oil situation,
609
00:29:53,734 --> 00:29:56,000
the leaders will certainly -- I
don't have any announcement for
610
00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,867
you on that.
611
00:29:57,867 --> 00:30:00,734
The leaders will certainly
discuss that situation.
612
00:30:00,734 --> 00:30:05,000
The leaders -- and we have been
engaged in an ongoing way and
613
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,500
monitoring the
global oil situation,
614
00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:10,700
particularly in light of the
respective sanctions that we've
615
00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:13,533
had on Iran and its
effect on oil markets.
616
00:30:13,533 --> 00:30:15,100
We'll continue that monitoring.
617
00:30:15,100 --> 00:30:19,332
I'm sure that the leaders will
discuss the range of options
618
00:30:19,333 --> 00:30:20,900
that they might
have before them.
619
00:30:20,900 --> 00:30:23,400
So at this point, what I can
tell you is I don't have any
620
00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,867
announcements here, but
it will be, I'm certain,
621
00:30:26,867 --> 00:30:28,265
a topic of discussion.
622
00:30:28,266 --> 00:30:29,700
The Press:
Reserves?
623
00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,033
Mr. Donilon:
Well, the oil
markets, generally.
624
00:30:31,033 --> 00:30:33,100
I don't want to say anything
specific about what options
625
00:30:33,100 --> 00:30:34,699
might be discussed
and not discussed.
626
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:37,266
I think it is fair to say that
during the course of the energy
627
00:30:37,266 --> 00:30:39,734
and climate discussion that
there will be a discussion about
628
00:30:39,734 --> 00:30:42,466
oil markets, including
continuing to monitor the state
629
00:30:42,467 --> 00:30:44,800
of those markets, particularly
in light of the Iranian
630
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,834
sanctions effort.
631
00:30:47,834 --> 00:30:50,433
Now, with respect to your
question about exploiting
632
00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:54,633
differences -- that's not the
intention of the President or
633
00:30:54,633 --> 00:30:56,100
the United States here.
634
00:30:56,100 --> 00:31:00,899
And you saw that President
Hollande and Chancellor Merkel
635
00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:05,100
had their initial
meeting a day ago.
636
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:07,100
This will be a
discussion, as I said,
637
00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:11,533
about addressing the issue of
-- in a comprehensive way --
638
00:31:11,533 --> 00:31:15,000
of the current crisis,
and the ongoing need for
639
00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:16,767
growth and jobs.
640
00:31:16,767 --> 00:31:20,700
And I think that that is in the
interest of each of the European
641
00:31:20,700 --> 00:31:24,133
leaders and in the interest
of all the global leaders.
642
00:31:24,133 --> 00:31:25,600
There will be a
discussion, I believe,
643
00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:30,699
about specific steps that
might be taken to move forward.
644
00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:33,066
But I don't think that the
nature of these conversations
645
00:31:33,066 --> 00:31:35,967
are going to be anything like
taking one side or the other,
646
00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:36,967
trying to exploit.
647
00:31:36,967 --> 00:31:39,200
The nature of these
conversations will be about a
648
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:44,233
coherent and common goal of
having the crisis in Europe --
649
00:31:44,233 --> 00:31:46,966
current crisis managed well,
and getting on a path towards
650
00:31:46,967 --> 00:31:48,066
sustainable recovery.
651
00:31:48,066 --> 00:31:50,900
The Press:
There are some very clear
differences between the leaders
652
00:31:50,900 --> 00:31:53,567
who will be sitting
at that table.
653
00:31:53,567 --> 00:31:56,233
Mr. Donilon:
Well, let's let the leaders
speak for themselves at
654
00:31:56,233 --> 00:31:58,667
the table.
655
00:31:58,667 --> 00:32:00,899
But I do think, actually,
Jeff, it is important that the
656
00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:08,033
President will lead a discussion
here, and as the host,
657
00:32:08,033 --> 00:32:12,332
I think the participants expect
him to lead a discussion about
658
00:32:12,333 --> 00:32:13,867
how best to address
these issues.
659
00:32:13,867 --> 00:32:16,700
Now, this is not the first
discussion that President Obama
660
00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:19,734
has had with European leaders
about economic issues,
661
00:32:19,734 --> 00:32:23,166
and they have been constructive,
and I expect these will as well.
662
00:32:23,166 --> 00:32:24,000
Mr. Carney:
Margaret.
663
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:25,333
The Press:
Thanks.
664
00:32:25,333 --> 00:32:26,433
I'll try not to
be too repetitive.
665
00:32:26,433 --> 00:32:27,233
Mr. Donilon:
Hi, Margaret.
666
00:32:27,233 --> 00:32:28,066
The Press:
Hi, Tom.
667
00:32:28,066 --> 00:32:28,934
Mr. Donilon:
How are you?
668
00:32:28,934 --> 00:32:29,934
The Press:
I'm great, thank you.
669
00:32:29,934 --> 00:32:31,399
I want to revisit both of Jeff's
questions, though, slightly.
670
00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,633
On the SPR, without
previewing anything specific,
671
00:32:34,633 --> 00:32:37,967
can you tell us whether the
U.S. has benchmarks for any
672
00:32:37,967 --> 00:32:40,567
coordinated release of
strategic petroleum stocks?
673
00:32:40,567 --> 00:32:43,834
Will you sort of start
with something there?
674
00:32:43,834 --> 00:32:45,400
And then I'll tell you
my second question.
675
00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,633
Mr. Donilon:
I don't think it's useful for
me to comment any further on a
676
00:32:48,633 --> 00:32:50,734
potential SPR release, because
I don't have anything to --
677
00:32:50,734 --> 00:32:53,300
I don't have any
announcement to make on that.
678
00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:57,200
The Press:
And on the question of
Hollande versus Merkel,
679
00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,734
I'm wondering do you
see him, at this point,
680
00:32:59,734 --> 00:33:05,265
as more in line with the
President's instincts on how
681
00:33:05,266 --> 00:33:08,000
Europe should approach this?
682
00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,367
Do you see that he could
be your new go-to person,
683
00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:13,367
or serve kind of an even role
with Merkel as your go-to person
684
00:33:13,367 --> 00:33:14,966
in Europe?
685
00:33:14,967 --> 00:33:16,567
I mean, I'm not
trying to make --
686
00:33:16,567 --> 00:33:17,567
Mr. Donilon:
I understand.
687
00:33:17,567 --> 00:33:20,266
Let me say two
things in response.
688
00:33:20,266 --> 00:33:24,133
And the first, really, I think
it's important to say the United
689
00:33:24,133 --> 00:33:27,667
States has had a very good
relationship with President
690
00:33:27,667 --> 00:33:32,433
Sarkozy, and indeed President
Sarkozy was a very strong
691
00:33:32,433 --> 00:33:35,300
supporter of the
U.S.-France relationship,
692
00:33:35,300 --> 00:33:38,133
and it was an incredibly
productive and construction
693
00:33:38,133 --> 00:33:39,667
relationship -- number one.
694
00:33:39,667 --> 00:33:42,332
Number two, we will build the
same kind of relationship with
695
00:33:42,333 --> 00:33:44,734
President Hollande.
696
00:33:44,734 --> 00:33:46,667
The first meeting between
President Hollande and President
697
00:33:46,667 --> 00:33:49,033
Obama will be tomorrow
morning at 11:00.
698
00:33:49,033 --> 00:33:52,265
So it would be premature for
me to kind of speculate on the
699
00:33:52,266 --> 00:33:54,600
positions that he'll
be putting forward.
700
00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:58,233
But based on what we understand
the discussions were between
701
00:33:58,233 --> 00:34:00,466
President Hollande
and Chancellor Merkel,
702
00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:03,900
and based on what I can tell you
about the President's approach
703
00:34:03,900 --> 00:34:07,433
to these issues, I think you
can look forward to an open
704
00:34:07,433 --> 00:34:11,967
discussion and a discussion
where it's important for them to
705
00:34:11,967 --> 00:34:14,600
agree on the common
goal, which has to be --
706
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,567
it has to be to preserve the
foundations of the eurozone,
707
00:34:18,567 --> 00:34:22,600
to address the current
crisis facing Europe,
708
00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:26,567
particularly as a result of
the political events in Greece.
709
00:34:26,567 --> 00:34:29,567
And then, third -- and you now
see this discussed I think more
710
00:34:29,567 --> 00:34:32,500
broadly in Europe, which is why
I said at the outset that we
711
00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:35,699
welcomed the evolution of the
discussion in Europe towards
712
00:34:35,699 --> 00:34:39,100
growth and jobs -- but you see
that now being discussed much
713
00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:40,100
more broadly in Europe.
714
00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:42,266
And I think that will be on the
table for discussion during the
715
00:34:42,266 --> 00:34:43,200
course of the weekend.
716
00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:43,699
Okay.
717
00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:44,667
Mr. Carney:
Jake.
718
00:34:44,667 --> 00:34:45,533
Mr. Donilon:
Hi, Jake.
719
00:34:45,533 --> 00:34:46,266
How are you?
720
00:34:46,266 --> 00:34:47,066
The Press:
Thanks for doing this.
721
00:34:47,065 --> 00:34:47,899
I appreciate it.
722
00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:48,800
Two questions.
723
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,800
One, given, according
to Mr. Brennan,
724
00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,567
President Obama's desire for
there to be more transparency
725
00:34:53,567 --> 00:34:55,766
when it comes to
the drone program,
726
00:34:55,766 --> 00:34:59,232
I was wondering if you could
tell us what your concerns are
727
00:34:59,233 --> 00:35:03,333
given the lawsuit in Pakistan
about the drone program --
728
00:35:03,333 --> 00:35:05,600
specifically the members of the
Loya Jirga that were killed in
729
00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:10,866
2011 -- if you're afraid that
that is going to have an effect
730
00:35:10,867 --> 00:35:13,567
not only on the drone program
but on diplomatic relations
731
00:35:13,567 --> 00:35:15,066
with Pakistan.
732
00:35:15,066 --> 00:35:18,600
And my second question
having to do with --
733
00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,734
if you need a reminder of
the second question --
734
00:35:21,734 --> 00:35:23,400
Mr. Donilon:
Go ahead.
735
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:27,100
The Press:
The second question dealing with
the handover to Afghan security
736
00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:31,400
forces -- how concerned is
the administration at this point,
737
00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,900
when it comes to the
green-on-blue incidents,
738
00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:39,166
which seem to be keep --
which seem to keep happening?
739
00:35:39,166 --> 00:35:41,367
Are you still convinced --
is the administration still
740
00:35:41,367 --> 00:35:45,467
convinced, as it was weeks ago,
that there's no correlation
741
00:35:45,467 --> 00:35:47,867
between these incidents?
742
00:35:47,867 --> 00:35:50,233
And the fact that
they keep happening --
743
00:35:50,233 --> 00:35:51,367
I don't know the
percentage right now,
744
00:35:51,367 --> 00:35:54,567
but I think it might be roughly
a third of U.S. casualties this
745
00:35:54,567 --> 00:35:59,300
year are from
green-on-blue incidents.
746
00:35:59,300 --> 00:36:02,133
What does that say about the
condition of the Afghan forces
747
00:36:02,133 --> 00:36:07,066
when we hand over the country?
748
00:36:07,066 --> 00:36:11,533
Mr. Donilon:
On the first question, I really
can't comment on either a
749
00:36:11,533 --> 00:36:14,266
lawsuit or specific efforts.
750
00:36:14,266 --> 00:36:17,834
I can speak generally,
though, about it.
751
00:36:17,834 --> 00:36:21,133
We have undertaken,
as I said earlier,
752
00:36:21,133 --> 00:36:23,734
from the outset of this
administration a determined
753
00:36:23,734 --> 00:36:27,033
effort to -- and
a targeted effort,
754
00:36:27,033 --> 00:36:29,900
which was really critical
against al Qaeda and associated
755
00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:33,567
forces who intend to do
harm to the United States.
756
00:36:33,567 --> 00:36:36,300
And that effort has
been successful.
757
00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:39,300
And that effort has a
lot of elements to it.
758
00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:43,533
That effort is carefully
overseen by the White House,
759
00:36:43,533 --> 00:36:47,366
by the President, and by senior
members of the administration,
760
00:36:47,367 --> 00:36:51,834
and carried out consistent with,
as John's speech laid out at the
761
00:36:51,834 --> 00:36:54,933
Wilson Center, really consistent
with international law,
762
00:36:54,934 --> 00:36:59,000
domestic law,
ethics, rules of war.
763
00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,166
And those are the instructions
we have from the President,
764
00:37:01,166 --> 00:37:04,734
and that's what we do every day
with respect to these programs.
765
00:37:04,734 --> 00:37:11,299
So I really can't go any
further than that, Jake.
766
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:16,133
With respect to transition and
the so-called green-on-blue
767
00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:19,033
issues, I guess I'd say the
following things about that:
768
00:37:19,033 --> 00:37:24,000
Number one is, we have built
with the Afghans and our
769
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:28,266
partners a very large
Afghan national army --
770
00:37:28,266 --> 00:37:30,000
Afghan national force.
771
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,700
It's now, as I've
said -- I think,
772
00:37:31,700 --> 00:37:33,700
and Caitlin and others
can check the numbers --
773
00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:36,767
I think it's around -- it's over
a 330,000 force at this point,
774
00:37:36,767 --> 00:37:38,933
heading to 352,000.
775
00:37:38,934 --> 00:37:40,166
That's the first point.
776
00:37:40,166 --> 00:37:46,066
The second is, so the number
of instances that you raise are
777
00:37:46,066 --> 00:37:51,200
quite small, when you take
against the backdrop of building
778
00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,567
a very large force for
the ultimate security
779
00:37:54,567 --> 00:37:56,066
of Afghanistan.
780
00:37:56,066 --> 00:38:00,500
Third, the performance of the
Afghan national forces in some
781
00:38:00,500 --> 00:38:02,600
quite important
instances, as you know,
782
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:05,400
including the attacks in
Kabul recently and elsewhere,
783
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,166
have been very good
and I think reflects,
784
00:38:09,166 --> 00:38:11,266
with respect to the training
of those specific forces and I
785
00:38:11,266 --> 00:38:13,867
think more generally,
progress has been made.
786
00:38:13,867 --> 00:38:19,767
Number four, with respect to
the quality of the force going
787
00:38:19,767 --> 00:38:26,299
forward, as I've said, we are
two-and-a-half years out from an
788
00:38:26,300 --> 00:38:28,633
ultimate turnover
to full Afghan lead.
789
00:38:28,633 --> 00:38:31,533
although, we will decide
in Chicago, I believe --
790
00:38:31,533 --> 00:38:33,933
the leaders will decide in
Chicago that that transition
791
00:38:33,934 --> 00:38:37,000
should begin in the course
of 2013 -- that transition,
792
00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,133
meaning the transition from the
United States and ISAF forces
793
00:38:40,133 --> 00:38:42,966
being in the lead to
having us step back into an
794
00:38:42,967 --> 00:38:45,500
advise-and-assist role and
the Afghans being in the lead.
795
00:38:45,500 --> 00:38:52,567
Number five, there are stresses
and strains in a war zone and
796
00:38:52,567 --> 00:38:56,233
there are lots of reasons
for these instances,
797
00:38:56,233 --> 00:39:02,000
and we have to address
them seriously,
798
00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:06,600
come up with systems for
addressing what could be really
799
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:09,000
kind of very complex situations
-- and we're doing that --
800
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,700
General John Allen is
very focused on this --
801
00:39:11,700 --> 00:39:14,033
and again, putting in
place the kinds of systems,
802
00:39:14,033 --> 00:39:19,667
the kinds of screening that you
want to have in place to ensure
803
00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:21,366
that you minimize these
kinds of instances.
804
00:39:21,367 --> 00:39:24,333
But the overall point I would
make is that when taken against
805
00:39:24,333 --> 00:39:28,233
the backdrop of the scale of the
forces being built by the United
806
00:39:28,233 --> 00:39:31,333
States and ISAF, this is not
a large number of instances.
807
00:39:31,333 --> 00:39:34,000
That said, it has to be taken
very seriously, because,
808
00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:38,100
as you're saying, Jake, you
have to ask yourself, why;
809
00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:40,900
you have to ask yourself,
if this is a trend,
810
00:39:40,900 --> 00:39:44,367
why is that trend ongoing.
811
00:39:44,367 --> 00:39:47,300
You have to ask yourself then,
what can we do about that in
812
00:39:47,300 --> 00:39:51,300
order to ensure that we do our
very best to protect our forces,
813
00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:52,867
our men and women who are
serving in Afghanistan,
814
00:39:52,867 --> 00:39:54,400
and our allies and partners.
815
00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:57,066
The Press:
If I could do a quick follow-on
just because you didn't
816
00:39:57,066 --> 00:39:58,533
really answer --
817
00:39:58,533 --> 00:40:00,066
The Press:
I have a substitute question --
818
00:40:00,066 --> 00:40:00,966
(laughter)
819
00:40:00,967 --> 00:40:02,800
-- which is, given the
transparency that President
820
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:09,033
Obama has called for, can we
-- do we pay innocent civilians
821
00:40:09,033 --> 00:40:11,767
when they're killed by -- I know
that we do so, for instance,
822
00:40:11,767 --> 00:40:14,265
if there's an accident
in Afghanistan.
823
00:40:14,266 --> 00:40:19,567
Mr. Donilon:
If there's a civilian
casualty in Afghanistan,
824
00:40:19,567 --> 00:40:24,100
we obviously will investigate
it and put forth compensation,
825
00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:27,799
obviously, for the
loss of loved ones.
826
00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,066
The Press:
Well, what if it's
not in Afghanistan?
827
00:40:30,066 --> 00:40:32,100
What if it's in a different
country in which we're operating
828
00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:35,299
different techniques
of military operation,
829
00:40:35,300 --> 00:40:37,133
and innocent civilians
are killed --
830
00:40:37,133 --> 00:40:39,165
does the United States
do anything to compensate
831
00:40:39,166 --> 00:40:40,600
the families?
832
00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:44,533
Mr. Donilon:
Well, there are a lot of
possibilities in that question,
833
00:40:44,533 --> 00:40:47,533
including instances like
occurred in the cross-border
834
00:40:47,533 --> 00:40:51,600
incident at the end of November
in Pakistan, where it would be,
835
00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:54,433
I think, appropriate to talk
about compensation issues.
836
00:40:54,433 --> 00:40:56,400
I don't know if compensation was
ultimately paid in that case.
837
00:40:56,400 --> 00:41:00,200
That was Pakistani
soldiers who were killed.
838
00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:02,165
With respect to
other examples, Jake,
839
00:41:02,166 --> 00:41:04,400
I'm just not going to go there.
840
00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:09,033
Mr. Carney:
Let's do two more -- Jessica.
841
00:41:09,033 --> 00:41:11,165
The Press:
So in response to a
question Helene asked,
842
00:41:11,166 --> 00:41:14,567
you said that you were confident
that President Hollande will
843
00:41:14,567 --> 00:41:17,133
keep his campaign commitments.
844
00:41:17,133 --> 00:41:20,133
Does this mean that you -- or
how confident are you that the
845
00:41:20,133 --> 00:41:23,332
President will be able to
persuade him to give up his
846
00:41:23,333 --> 00:41:25,800
campaign pledge to withdraw
troops from Afghanistan
847
00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:26,967
by year's end?
848
00:41:26,967 --> 00:41:28,500
Mr. Donilon:
I'll tell you a couple
things about that,
849
00:41:28,500 --> 00:41:31,767
and I said that directly.
850
00:41:31,767 --> 00:41:34,000
Helene's question
was about Iran,
851
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:37,500
and I think that we look forward
to having France as a strong
852
00:41:37,500 --> 00:41:38,500
ally in Iran.
853
00:41:38,500 --> 00:41:39,500
But we look forward to
having France as a strong
854
00:41:39,500 --> 00:41:40,500
ally generally.
855
00:41:40,500 --> 00:41:43,166
Now, to go to your question
with respect to Afghanistan,
856
00:41:43,166 --> 00:41:44,700
what President Hollande said
during the course of his
857
00:41:44,700 --> 00:41:48,200
campaign was that he would
withdraw all combat troops from
858
00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:50,500
Afghanistan by the end of 2012.
859
00:41:50,500 --> 00:41:53,500
He'll have to make his national
decision with respect to that.
860
00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:57,166
What we would look to a country
to do as they make national
861
00:41:57,166 --> 00:41:59,633
decisions -- and indeed, we made
national decisions with respect
862
00:41:59,633 --> 00:42:01,500
to our withdrawal pace as well.
863
00:42:01,500 --> 00:42:04,800
We decided that we would
draw down our surge troops,
864
00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:08,467
the full 33,000 of the surge,
by the end of September of this
865
00:42:08,467 --> 00:42:09,900
year, and that's
what we're doing.
866
00:42:09,900 --> 00:42:13,600
But we would look to an ally
to make those decisions in the
867
00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,467
context of the overall
Lisbon framework.
868
00:42:17,467 --> 00:42:20,767
And that framework allows for
different kinds of contributions
869
00:42:20,767 --> 00:42:23,299
to be made by countries.
870
00:42:23,300 --> 00:42:27,233
Contributions can
include combat troops.
871
00:42:27,233 --> 00:42:29,633
I would point out that the
province with the French that's
872
00:42:29,633 --> 00:42:32,000
most prominent right now is the
province that's scheduled to
873
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:35,266
transition during the
course of this year.
874
00:42:35,266 --> 00:42:39,000
But we would look to allies to
make their national decisions in
875
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,934
the context of the
overall alliance approach,
876
00:42:41,934 --> 00:42:45,900
which has us in as ISAF
until the end of 2014.
877
00:42:45,900 --> 00:42:47,200
You can make all kinds
of contributions.
878
00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:49,600
You can make combat
troop contributions.
879
00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:51,834
You can make train-and-assist
kinds of contributions.
880
00:42:51,834 --> 00:42:53,366
You can make other
kinds of contributions.
881
00:42:53,367 --> 00:42:55,800
And we'll have a discussion with
the French about where they want
882
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:56,834
to go on this.
883
00:42:56,834 --> 00:43:00,265
But the key concept
here, though, is, again,
884
00:43:00,266 --> 00:43:03,100
despite the specific
nature of the contribution,
885
00:43:03,100 --> 00:43:05,866
and despite the national
decision you might make about
886
00:43:05,867 --> 00:43:08,133
pace of withdrawal or
timing of withdrawal,
887
00:43:08,133 --> 00:43:10,366
that you are a member of
the alliance, an all-in,
888
00:43:10,367 --> 00:43:14,000
kind in together and out
together as an alliance in a
889
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:15,000
general fashion.
890
00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:17,333
The Press:
So we should look for something
along the lines of what the U.S.
891
00:43:17,333 --> 00:43:20,467
has already done,
or the U.S. is --
892
00:43:20,467 --> 00:43:22,533
maybe they might withdraw
their combat troops,
893
00:43:22,533 --> 00:43:24,266
but leave in training missions?
894
00:43:24,266 --> 00:43:25,767
Mr. Donilon:
Can't speak for him, Jessica.
895
00:43:25,767 --> 00:43:28,265
But I'd say that I think
those would be the kinds of
896
00:43:28,266 --> 00:43:30,066
discussions that we
look forward to having.
897
00:43:30,066 --> 00:43:31,866
I'm being very
direct with you --
898
00:43:31,867 --> 00:43:35,000
the kind of discussions that we
would look forward to having is
899
00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:38,100
what exactly will be the French
contribution going forward,
900
00:43:38,100 --> 00:43:40,667
taking into account the
President Hollande ran for
901
00:43:40,667 --> 00:43:43,133
President of France,
he ran on a platform,
902
00:43:43,133 --> 00:43:46,899
I'm sure that he intends to
keep his campaign commitments,
903
00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:50,233
but also France is a
member of the alliance,
904
00:43:50,233 --> 00:43:52,867
is a member of ISAF, it's an
ally of the United States.
905
00:43:52,867 --> 00:43:55,700
So I think it's fully
appropriate for us to have a
906
00:43:55,700 --> 00:43:57,033
discussion about this.
907
00:43:57,033 --> 00:43:58,834
The Press:
And can I just ask another
Afghanistan question?
908
00:43:58,834 --> 00:44:02,100
Are the U.S. pledges to
Afghanistan unconditional,
909
00:44:02,100 --> 00:44:06,299
regardless of who wins the
presidential election in 2014?
910
00:44:06,300 --> 00:44:07,934
Mr. Donilon:
I don't --
911
00:44:07,934 --> 00:44:10,834
The Press:
Financial pledges --
912
00:44:10,834 --> 00:44:13,366
Mr. Donilon:
The Strategic Partnership
Agreement -- yes --
913
00:44:13,367 --> 00:44:16,533
that President Obama and
President Karzai signed?
914
00:44:16,533 --> 00:44:17,799
A couple things about that.
915
00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:20,100
First of all, that is an
agreement between the United
916
00:44:20,100 --> 00:44:23,533
States and Afghanistan, not an
agreement between individuals.
917
00:44:23,533 --> 00:44:25,866
It's a national agreement that
was entered into because it was
918
00:44:25,867 --> 00:44:27,133
in the interests of the United
States and the interests
919
00:44:27,133 --> 00:44:28,066
of Afghanistan.
920
00:44:28,066 --> 00:44:28,933
That's the first thing.
921
00:44:28,934 --> 00:44:32,900
The second thing is that it
has obligations on both sides,
922
00:44:32,900 --> 00:44:39,333
which we would seek
to being implemented.
923
00:44:39,333 --> 00:44:41,367
There's obligations on the U.S.
side; there's obligations on the
924
00:44:41,367 --> 00:44:43,533
Afghan side.
925
00:44:43,533 --> 00:44:45,500
Mr. Carney:
Okay, Stephen and
then we'll let Tom go.
926
00:44:45,500 --> 00:44:49,233
The Press:
On NATO, how concerned is the
U.S. that the continuing wave of
927
00:44:49,233 --> 00:44:52,066
budget cuts and austerity in
Europe could hamper NATO's
928
00:44:52,066 --> 00:44:56,966
capacity to act in the future
on an operation like Libya?
929
00:44:56,967 --> 00:45:00,967
And as the conversation moves
towards talk about growth in
930
00:45:00,967 --> 00:45:06,000
Europe, do you expect any
actions that could impact the
931
00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:08,066
economy -- the European
economy in the short term,
932
00:45:08,066 --> 00:45:11,366
and obviously with its knock-on
effect on the U.S. economy?
933
00:45:11,367 --> 00:45:13,500
Mr. Donilon:
Actions in what context?
934
00:45:13,500 --> 00:45:17,367
The Press:
Actual actions on growth, rather
than simply talking about how
935
00:45:17,367 --> 00:45:20,433
growth is an important factor.
936
00:45:20,433 --> 00:45:25,633
Mr. Donilon:
With respect to NATO and
a way forward, there --
937
00:45:25,633 --> 00:45:28,966
one of the sessions, indeed
the first alliance session,
938
00:45:28,967 --> 00:45:30,734
will be devoted to
NATO capabilities.
939
00:45:30,734 --> 00:45:36,900
And they have -- the NATO allies
have undertaken a study over the
940
00:45:36,900 --> 00:45:41,934
last two years focused on those
capabilities that it believes
941
00:45:41,934 --> 00:45:43,133
are essential into the future.
942
00:45:43,133 --> 00:45:47,066
And parts of that, of
course, are missile defense.
943
00:45:47,066 --> 00:45:50,667
And by the way, we'll hit a
milestone at this meeting where
944
00:45:50,667 --> 00:45:55,299
we'll declare that the NATO
missile defense system has
945
00:45:55,300 --> 00:45:57,300
achieved a level of
interim capability.
946
00:45:57,300 --> 00:45:59,200
And that means that the United
States at this point feels
947
00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:01,933
comfortable making real
contributions of assets,
948
00:46:01,934 --> 00:46:07,367
including the
radars in Turkey --
949
00:46:07,367 --> 00:46:10,767
surveillance where NATO has
agreed to put together an
950
00:46:10,767 --> 00:46:13,866
alliance ground
surveillance system.
951
00:46:13,867 --> 00:46:15,700
But that's the first point.
952
00:46:15,700 --> 00:46:17,966
The first point is, you need
to decide what capabilities you
953
00:46:17,967 --> 00:46:19,734
need, and I think
NATO has done that.
954
00:46:19,734 --> 00:46:23,667
And that will be
approved at Chicago.
955
00:46:23,667 --> 00:46:26,467
This allows, by the
way, for efficiencies.
956
00:46:26,467 --> 00:46:29,266
It allows for force multipliers.
957
00:46:29,266 --> 00:46:31,867
That was the case in Libya.
958
00:46:31,867 --> 00:46:36,000
I do think, though, it's a
fair point to consider, though,
959
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:37,633
that even if you do
get efficiencies,
960
00:46:37,633 --> 00:46:41,165
even if you do have force
multipliers through alliance
961
00:46:41,166 --> 00:46:46,700
work, even if you do have a
focus on those things you need
962
00:46:46,700 --> 00:46:50,100
to do and some of the things
you're not going to continue to
963
00:46:50,100 --> 00:46:53,933
do, it does take a level
of funding going forward.
964
00:46:53,934 --> 00:46:56,800
And Secretary Gates
gave a speech --
965
00:46:56,800 --> 00:46:59,000
it was a valedictory
speech to NATO --
966
00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:01,133
focused on this, and I
think he made fair points.
967
00:47:01,133 --> 00:47:03,767
And that is a discussion we have
on an ongoing basis with respect
968
00:47:03,767 --> 00:47:05,633
to NATO.
969
00:47:05,633 --> 00:47:08,066
I think it's a fair
point going forward,
970
00:47:08,066 --> 00:47:13,433
and one that needs
a consistent focus.
971
00:47:13,433 --> 00:47:17,100
With respect to actions
that could be taken,
972
00:47:17,100 --> 00:47:22,667
I don't want to comment on -- I
think this will be a discussion
973
00:47:22,667 --> 00:47:23,667
among the leaders.
974
00:47:23,667 --> 00:47:26,866
The leaders I think will focus
on specifics and specific
975
00:47:26,867 --> 00:47:29,467
concepts and ideas
for growth and jobs.
976
00:47:29,467 --> 00:47:32,100
But I would also point out that
the ultimate decisions on that
977
00:47:32,100 --> 00:47:33,900
would be decisions
taken in the eurozone.
978
00:47:33,900 --> 00:47:38,633
And in fact there's a European
summit meeting following almost
979
00:47:38,633 --> 00:47:43,000
immediately after the G8
summit and the NATO summit,
980
00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:45,600
on May 23rd in Europe.
981
00:47:45,600 --> 00:47:46,400
Anything else?
982
00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:47,233
Mr. Carney:
I want to thank Tom.
983
00:47:47,233 --> 00:47:48,166
I think it is
appropriate, though,
984
00:47:48,166 --> 00:47:50,166
since he mentioned Professor
Knoller at the start,
985
00:47:50,166 --> 00:47:52,233
that perhaps he get
the last question.
986
00:47:52,233 --> 00:47:56,033
Mr. Donilon:
Well, now, first of all,
taking the last question,
987
00:47:56,033 --> 00:48:00,366
one more question, of course
-- someone who started here 35
988
00:48:00,367 --> 00:48:01,834
years ago should
really know that,
989
00:48:01,834 --> 00:48:03,299
not to take one last question.
990
00:48:03,300 --> 00:48:04,300
And secondly --
991
00:48:04,300 --> 00:48:05,333
The Press:
So much pressure on me --
992
00:48:05,333 --> 00:48:07,834
(laughter)
993
00:48:07,834 --> 00:48:10,799
What can you tell
us about the --
994
00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:13,300
setting up Camp David
to accommodate eight
995
00:48:13,300 --> 00:48:15,200
heads of state?
996
00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:16,834
Not all the cabins
are equal there.
997
00:48:16,834 --> 00:48:18,899
Have you decided who
gets what cabins?
998
00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:19,967
(laughter)
999
00:48:19,967 --> 00:48:21,967
What are you doing with all of
the aides and assistants and
1000
00:48:21,967 --> 00:48:23,300
security details?
1001
00:48:23,300 --> 00:48:25,467
There's not room
for them up there.
1002
00:48:25,467 --> 00:48:27,500
How will you put this together?
1003
00:48:27,500 --> 00:48:32,633
Mr. Donilon:
Well, there are a couple
of points on that.
1004
00:48:32,633 --> 00:48:35,299
The allocation system, of
course, is classified --
1005
00:48:35,300 --> 00:48:38,900
(laughter)
1006
00:48:38,900 --> 00:48:41,900
-- I really can't go into that.
1007
00:48:41,900 --> 00:48:44,834
But there are a couple
of things to say.
1008
00:48:44,834 --> 00:48:47,966
One is, is that it's a complex
of buildings, Mark, as you know,
1009
00:48:47,967 --> 00:48:51,166
and there is adequate --
and during the planning,
1010
00:48:51,166 --> 00:48:55,567
before we made the decision, a
team led by Alyssa Mastromonaco
1011
00:48:55,567 --> 00:48:59,934
here and George Mulligan in the
White House Military Office went
1012
00:48:59,934 --> 00:49:01,567
through this in great detail.
1013
00:49:01,567 --> 00:49:04,400
And there are adequate
facilities there for each
1014
00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:07,033
delegation, each head of state
to have his or her cabin,
1015
00:49:07,033 --> 00:49:12,834
as I said, and for each to
be accompanied by a key staff
1016
00:49:12,834 --> 00:49:15,332
person and in some cases
two or three staff people.
1017
00:49:15,333 --> 00:49:18,633
Additionally, of course,
there are setups there for
1018
00:49:18,633 --> 00:49:22,500
communications and some of
my team and others up there.
1019
00:49:22,500 --> 00:49:23,467
But it's adequate.
1020
00:49:23,467 --> 00:49:25,133
It's a pretty
extensive facility.
1021
00:49:25,133 --> 00:49:28,433
And maybe we could get -- Ben
-- a deeper briefing on that --
1022
00:49:28,433 --> 00:49:30,200
seriously -- on this stuff.
1023
00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:31,133
(laughter)
1024
00:49:31,133 --> 00:49:32,265
I'm as interested
in it as you are.
1025
00:49:32,266 --> 00:49:34,967
The Press:
Isn't it kind of rustic
for heads of state?
1026
00:49:34,967 --> 00:49:36,333
Mr. Donilon:
Is it rustic for heads of state?
1027
00:49:36,333 --> 00:49:39,834
The Press:
Yes, isn't it kind of rustic
up there for heads of state?
1028
00:49:39,834 --> 00:49:41,700
Mr. Donilon:
I grew up in Providence,
Rhode Island.
1029
00:49:41,700 --> 00:49:44,700
I never had a lawn bigger
than three feet in front of
1030
00:49:44,700 --> 00:49:45,567
my house, so --
1031
00:49:45,567 --> 00:49:46,800
(laughter)
1032
00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:49,133
I'm not really the one
to comment on rustic.
1033
00:49:49,133 --> 00:49:51,366
(laughter)
1034
00:49:51,367 --> 00:49:52,333
Mr. Carney:
Thank you, Tom, very much.
1035
00:49:52,333 --> 00:49:52,967
Mr. Donilon:
Thank you, all.
1036
00:49:52,967 --> 00:49:53,633
Good to see you, guys.
1037
00:49:53,633 --> 00:49:54,767
Thank you.
1038
00:49:54,767 --> 00:49:55,933
The Press:
When is that briefing, Ben?
1039
00:49:55,934 --> 00:49:57,300
(laughter)
1040
00:49:57,300 --> 00:49:59,734
Mr. Rhodes:
I'll describe the press
surroundings at Camp David --
1041
00:49:59,734 --> 00:50:00,700
(laughter)
1042
00:50:00,700 --> 00:50:01,767
-- luxurious.
1043
00:50:01,767 --> 00:50:02,767
The Press:
Do you know the
bilats, by the way --
1044
00:50:02,767 --> 00:50:04,165
I don't know if you
have a schedule.
1045
00:50:04,166 --> 00:50:05,767
Are there other bilats
for this meeting?
1046
00:50:05,767 --> 00:50:06,767
Mr. Rhodes:
Not right now, but
we'll let you know.
1047
00:50:06,767 --> 00:50:11,399
Mr. Carney:
Yes, we'll have more details
as they become available.
1048
00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:16,767
You all may have had
your fill of briefing.
1049
00:50:16,767 --> 00:50:20,133
That would be fine with
me, but if you have --
1050
00:50:20,133 --> 00:50:23,000
Bill has, for sure -- if you
have any other questions,
1051
00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:25,567
I can take them
for a few minutes.
1052
00:50:25,567 --> 00:50:26,300
Yes, Ed.
1053
00:50:26,300 --> 00:50:28,400
The Press:
On Iran, I just -- since Mr.
Donilon was repeating the
1054
00:50:28,400 --> 00:50:29,767
general policy of
the administration,
1055
00:50:29,767 --> 00:50:33,299
which is to have international
unity, what's your reaction --
1056
00:50:33,300 --> 00:50:36,166
I didn't hear him react to
Senate Republicans blocking
1057
00:50:36,166 --> 00:50:39,367
Senator Reid from moving forward
on new sanctions against Iran --
1058
00:50:39,367 --> 00:50:41,066
since I assume you
wanted those --
1059
00:50:41,066 --> 00:50:43,700
you wanted that action to take
place before Camp David so you
1060
00:50:43,700 --> 00:50:47,000
could show some unity.
1061
00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:53,100
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think, Ed, we have
worked with Congress as we've
1062
00:50:53,100 --> 00:50:58,000
built the most significant
sanctions regime against Iran,
1063
00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:01,600
and we will continue to consult
with Congress on Iran sanctions,
1064
00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:06,232
and we will welcome additional
tools if Congress makes them
1065
00:51:06,233 --> 00:51:09,700
available to
pressure the regime.
1066
00:51:09,700 --> 00:51:11,933
I think, broadly speaking,
it can be said that we share
1067
00:51:11,934 --> 00:51:16,333
Congress's view on a range
of Iran-related matters,
1068
00:51:16,333 --> 00:51:19,000
and that was reflected in the
President's announcement of an
1069
00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:22,033
executive order targeting
entities that use technology to
1070
00:51:22,033 --> 00:51:25,266
help the Iranian and Syrian
regimes commit grave human
1071
00:51:25,266 --> 00:51:26,266
rights abuses.
1072
00:51:26,266 --> 00:51:30,667
So I don't have a specific
reaction to today's action on
1073
00:51:30,667 --> 00:51:39,066
the Hill, but we have viewed
this in a way that I think
1074
00:51:39,066 --> 00:51:42,966
demonstrates that we share
concern about Iran with
1075
00:51:42,967 --> 00:51:47,934
Congress, and we have worked
with Congress to, together,
1076
00:51:47,934 --> 00:51:52,834
build the kind of sanctions
regime that has, as you know,
1077
00:51:52,834 --> 00:51:55,866
put unprecedented
pressure on the regime,
1078
00:51:55,867 --> 00:52:00,467
isolated that regime to a degree
that it has never been isolated
1079
00:52:00,467 --> 00:52:07,200
before, and we believe
successfully led to a point
1080
00:52:07,200 --> 00:52:14,265
where now we are in P5-plus-1
negotiations that hopefully will
1081
00:52:14,266 --> 00:52:15,300
move forward.
1082
00:52:15,300 --> 00:52:17,233
The Press:
Quick one on the
Euro debt crisis.
1083
00:52:17,233 --> 00:52:20,967
Obviously, Tom was asked about
possible tensions between
1084
00:52:20,967 --> 00:52:22,033
Germany and France.
1085
00:52:22,033 --> 00:52:24,734
The British Prime Minister put
out a three-point plan today,
1086
00:52:24,734 --> 00:52:29,033
elements of that that Angela
Merkel does not support.
1087
00:52:29,033 --> 00:52:31,500
My question is, given
those divisions,
1088
00:52:31,500 --> 00:52:33,133
how does the President
approach this?
1089
00:52:33,133 --> 00:52:36,399
What is his goal to try to
bring the parties together?
1090
00:52:36,400 --> 00:52:38,567
I mean, there's all these
different plans floating around.
1091
00:52:38,567 --> 00:52:41,367
We've heard for months they're
going to turn the corner.
1092
00:52:41,367 --> 00:52:44,734
What do you hope to get out of
this, especially since the U.S.
1093
00:52:44,734 --> 00:52:46,467
has its own debt problems?
1094
00:52:46,467 --> 00:52:48,800
And how could that complicate
the President's hand when he's
1095
00:52:48,800 --> 00:52:52,233
got this fight going
on with Boehner?
1096
00:52:52,233 --> 00:52:53,300
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say a
couple of things.
1097
00:52:53,300 --> 00:52:58,166
First of all, I'd point you to
some of the comments that Tom
1098
00:52:58,166 --> 00:53:01,567
Donilon just made here, the
National Security Advisor.
1099
00:53:01,567 --> 00:53:08,433
He spoke clearly about the
fact that we do have a stake in
1100
00:53:08,433 --> 00:53:14,734
Europe's economic future, and
that fact is reflected in the
1101
00:53:14,734 --> 00:53:18,866
manner with which we've engaged
with our European counterparts
1102
00:53:18,867 --> 00:53:24,000
both at the level of the
President and at the level of
1103
00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:26,266
Secretary Geithner and
others in the Cabinet.
1104
00:53:26,266 --> 00:53:27,266
And we continue to do that.
1105
00:53:27,266 --> 00:53:28,834
In the meeting at
the G8 we'll --
1106
00:53:28,834 --> 00:53:35,332
present an opportunity for
President Obama to meet with
1107
00:53:35,333 --> 00:53:38,033
eurozone heads of state who
are members of the G8, too,
1108
00:53:38,033 --> 00:53:39,066
to further those discussions.
1109
00:53:39,066 --> 00:53:45,299
And as Tom said, the
President has long made clear,
1110
00:53:45,300 --> 00:53:48,166
and he certainly made
clear at the G20 in Cannes,
1111
00:53:48,166 --> 00:53:55,066
that he believes that an
approach that takes into account
1112
00:53:55,066 --> 00:53:58,399
the need for further
growth and job creation,
1113
00:53:58,400 --> 00:54:03,800
a balanced approach that
includes not just austerity but
1114
00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:06,433
growth and job creation,
is the right approach.
1115
00:54:06,433 --> 00:54:10,767
And it's something that we can,
when we discuss this with our
1116
00:54:10,767 --> 00:54:14,834
European allies, we can point
to some of our own experiences.
1117
00:54:14,834 --> 00:54:20,366
I think that, as you know, the
last several years of positive
1118
00:54:20,367 --> 00:54:22,100
GDP growth here in
the United States,
1119
00:54:22,100 --> 00:54:26,567
the last 26 months of positive
private sector job creation
1120
00:54:26,567 --> 00:54:31,867
point to the efficacy of taking
measures that help stimulate
1121
00:54:31,867 --> 00:54:33,967
growth and create jobs.
1122
00:54:33,967 --> 00:54:37,767
And the President's commitment,
as demonstrated by the laws he's
1123
00:54:37,767 --> 00:54:40,299
signed that have already
resulted in locking in
1124
00:54:40,300 --> 00:54:45,633
$2 trillion of spending cuts
and his commitment to do more
1125
00:54:45,633 --> 00:54:47,667
through his budget proposal,
demonstrates that you need to
1126
00:54:47,667 --> 00:54:53,600
have that balanced approach --
that facilitating growth and job
1127
00:54:53,600 --> 00:54:58,500
creation in the near term can be
joined with efforts to deal with
1128
00:54:58,500 --> 00:55:02,133
medium- and long-term fiscal
issues in a way that I think
1129
00:55:02,133 --> 00:55:04,633
serves the overall
interests very well.
1130
00:55:04,633 --> 00:55:06,899
And that's the approach
the President has taken.
1131
00:55:06,900 --> 00:55:11,967
That's I think the view that
he'll take into his meetings
1132
00:55:11,967 --> 00:55:14,367
this weekend.
1133
00:55:14,367 --> 00:55:15,367
Kristen.
1134
00:55:15,367 --> 00:55:18,166
The Press:
Jay, President Putin doesn't
plan to attend the G8 or NATO
1135
00:55:18,166 --> 00:55:19,433
summits this weekend.
1136
00:55:19,433 --> 00:55:22,500
Does President Obama see this
as a step back in the so-called
1137
00:55:22,500 --> 00:55:23,900
"reset" with Russia?
1138
00:55:23,900 --> 00:55:24,800
Mr. Carney:
No.
1139
00:55:24,800 --> 00:55:28,934
We addressed this at the time
when President Putin made clear
1140
00:55:28,934 --> 00:55:32,433
that because he was in the
process of building out his
1141
00:55:32,433 --> 00:55:35,967
government that he was not
going to be able to attend.
1142
00:55:35,967 --> 00:55:39,867
He'll send Prime Minister
Medvedev, as I understand it.
1143
00:55:39,867 --> 00:55:43,200
And President Obama will meet
with President Putin very soon
1144
00:55:43,200 --> 00:55:44,567
at the G20 in Mexico.
1145
00:55:44,567 --> 00:55:47,133
So they've had
conversations by phone.
1146
00:55:47,133 --> 00:55:53,366
And our approach to our
relationship with Russia is
1147
00:55:53,367 --> 00:55:58,066
today as it has been, which is
we have engaged with Russia,
1148
00:55:58,066 --> 00:56:03,700
we have worked with the Russian
government on shared interests
1149
00:56:03,700 --> 00:56:07,165
and goals in a cooperative
fashion that have produced I
1150
00:56:07,166 --> 00:56:09,266
think beneficial results
for both countries.
1151
00:56:09,266 --> 00:56:12,633
And we've been clear about
issues that we disagree on.
1152
00:56:12,633 --> 00:56:15,366
But the overall
mindset has been,
1153
00:56:15,367 --> 00:56:19,667
I think both here in
Washington and in Moscow,
1154
00:56:19,667 --> 00:56:25,165
that we should not let the fact
that we disagree on some issues
1155
00:56:25,166 --> 00:56:28,133
prevent us from making
progress on others.
1156
00:56:28,133 --> 00:56:30,633
Because we can continue to work
on those areas of disagreement
1157
00:56:30,633 --> 00:56:36,466
-- for example, with regards
to European missile defense --
1158
00:56:36,467 --> 00:56:40,367
and try to resolve
our disagreements.
1159
00:56:40,367 --> 00:56:42,767
And even as we do, continue to
make progress in other areas.
1160
00:56:42,767 --> 00:56:45,299
So the President looks forward
to meeting with President Putin
1161
00:56:45,300 --> 00:56:47,433
in about a month.
1162
00:56:47,433 --> 00:56:50,767
Jake and then Andrei.
1163
00:56:50,767 --> 00:56:56,433
The Press:
Jay, you joined the Obama team
long after President Obama had
1164
00:56:56,433 --> 00:56:58,266
cut off his ties
with Reverend Wright,
1165
00:56:58,266 --> 00:57:01,467
but his name has reemerged
in the news lately.
1166
00:57:01,467 --> 00:57:05,133
First of all, there was this
proposal for a super PAC that
1167
00:57:05,133 --> 00:57:08,600
The New York Times broke to run
an ad campaign that generally
1168
00:57:08,600 --> 00:57:11,567
talked a lot about the influence
of Reverend Wright on President
1169
00:57:11,567 --> 00:57:14,967
Obama, and then also Reverend
Wright himself gave some
1170
00:57:14,967 --> 00:57:17,934
interviews to a conservative
author in which he talked about
1171
00:57:17,934 --> 00:57:20,100
his conversation with
then-Senator Obama and made some
1172
00:57:20,100 --> 00:57:21,299
other allegations.
1173
00:57:21,300 --> 00:57:22,700
I was wondering what you
thought about, first of all,
1174
00:57:22,700 --> 00:57:24,366
the idea that this
was reemerging now,
1175
00:57:24,367 --> 00:57:26,533
and second of all, if the
administration had any response
1176
00:57:26,533 --> 00:57:28,433
to the things Reverend
Wright has been saying in
1177
00:57:28,433 --> 00:57:29,734
his interviews.
1178
00:57:29,734 --> 00:57:31,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, let me, on
the first issue --
1179
00:57:31,834 --> 00:57:35,933
I certainly did see the article
and I would point you to I think
1180
00:57:35,934 --> 00:57:39,767
a statement that the campaign
put out about this issue.
1181
00:57:39,767 --> 00:57:48,667
I mean, I'll echo that
and say that to launch a
1182
00:57:48,667 --> 00:57:54,500
multimillion-dollar, divisive
attack campaign is not what the
1183
00:57:54,500 --> 00:57:55,200
American people want.
1184
00:57:55,200 --> 00:57:58,133
And I think there are moments
when you have to stand up and
1185
00:57:58,133 --> 00:58:01,066
say that that's not
the right way to go.
1186
00:58:01,066 --> 00:58:05,866
And I would point to numerous
comments that echo that,
1187
00:58:05,867 --> 00:58:08,333
not just from Democrats
and political observers,
1188
00:58:08,333 --> 00:58:11,533
but by Republicans today.
1189
00:58:11,533 --> 00:58:23,000
Secondly, the book that is the
foundation for the other element
1190
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:26,567
of your question is not one that
I would read because I know that
1191
00:58:26,567 --> 00:58:28,367
the author lacks --
1192
00:58:28,367 --> 00:58:29,367
The Press:
I didn't bring up the book.
1193
00:58:29,367 --> 00:58:31,300
Mr. Carney:
But it is what's
given rise to this --
1194
00:58:31,300 --> 00:58:32,834
lacks a certain
amount of credibility.
1195
00:58:32,834 --> 00:58:38,299
And I haven't listened to the
interviews that you talk about.
1196
00:58:38,300 --> 00:58:43,200
I'm not a regular viewer of Sean
Hannity or reader of Ed Klein.
1197
00:58:43,200 --> 00:58:49,066
But I think what I can
say is simply that we --
1198
00:58:49,066 --> 00:58:52,734
some of these issues were
featured, as you mentioned,
1199
00:58:52,734 --> 00:58:55,000
in the 2008 campaign,
much discussed.
1200
00:58:55,000 --> 00:58:57,500
The President gave,
as a candidate,
1201
00:58:57,500 --> 00:59:03,133
a very memorable detailed
speech about his views,
1202
00:59:03,133 --> 00:59:04,734
in Philadelphia at the
Constitution Center.
1203
00:59:04,734 --> 00:59:09,700
And I think that was
a memorable moment.
1204
00:59:09,700 --> 00:59:14,799
And right now, in 2012, we're
focused on what the American
1205
00:59:14,800 --> 00:59:18,633
people are focused on
-- jobs, the economy,
1206
00:59:18,633 --> 00:59:24,066
issues of national security that
Tom Donilon just spoke about.
1207
00:59:24,066 --> 00:59:26,799
I did promise Andrei.
1208
00:59:26,800 --> 00:59:28,900
And then April.
1209
00:59:28,900 --> 00:59:31,867
The Press:
I just wanted to follow up
on the Russian question.
1210
00:59:31,867 --> 00:59:34,867
The Russian press reports that
there will be a meeting between
1211
00:59:34,867 --> 00:59:37,667
the President and the Russian
Prime Minister and it will be
1212
00:59:37,667 --> 00:59:38,767
slightly abridged.
1213
00:59:38,767 --> 00:59:40,600
So my question is, will
there be anything --
1214
00:59:40,600 --> 00:59:42,834
is it true that you are
saving some subjects,
1215
00:59:42,834 --> 00:59:46,633
including missile defense, for
the later meeting with Putin?
1216
00:59:46,633 --> 00:59:50,366
Mr. Carney:
Well, as I think Ben Rhodes
said as he was on his way out,
1217
00:59:50,367 --> 00:59:52,333
we don't have any announcements
to make about other bilateral
1218
00:59:52,333 --> 00:59:55,100
meetings that may or may
not take place at this time,
1219
00:59:55,100 --> 01:00:00,567
but we may have more information
for you between now and the
1220
01:00:00,567 --> 01:00:03,500
beginning of the G8
and the NATO summit.
1221
01:00:03,500 --> 01:00:08,600
And I don't have a schedule
for the agenda in Mexico.
1222
01:00:08,600 --> 01:00:11,333
We're focused on the
upcoming meetings.
1223
01:00:11,333 --> 01:00:12,266
April.
1224
01:00:12,266 --> 01:00:17,333
The Press:
Jay, I want to piggyback off
of what Jake had asked you.
1225
01:00:17,333 --> 01:00:21,700
Since this President came to the
Oval Office he has worked hard
1226
01:00:21,700 --> 01:00:23,834
to deal with policy -- as
well as his administration --
1227
01:00:23,834 --> 01:00:26,299
versus looking at
issues of race.
1228
01:00:26,300 --> 01:00:29,100
The issue of race is rearing
its head again with some of the
1229
01:00:29,100 --> 01:00:33,299
words -- "metrosexual,"
"black Abe Lincoln."
1230
01:00:33,300 --> 01:00:39,367
How does this White House thwart
those type of attacks as you try
1231
01:00:39,367 --> 01:00:44,166
not to bring race
into the issue?
1232
01:00:44,166 --> 01:00:46,867
Mr. Carney:
I think I would just
repeat what I said to Jake.
1233
01:00:46,867 --> 01:00:49,333
The campaign put out a statement
with regards to that specific
1234
01:00:49,333 --> 01:00:52,700
story and that
would-be campaign --
1235
01:00:52,700 --> 01:00:57,500
The Press:
-- you guys have tried to
walk away from that dealing
1236
01:00:57,500 --> 01:00:58,467
with policy.
1237
01:00:58,467 --> 01:00:59,633
Now it's coming back.
1238
01:00:59,633 --> 01:01:05,000
Mr. Carney:
I think some of these issues
were very clearly discussed and
1239
01:01:05,000 --> 01:01:15,400
addressed back in 2008, and the
President gave what became a
1240
01:01:15,400 --> 01:01:18,467
highly regarded speech in
Philadelphia during that
1241
01:01:18,467 --> 01:01:21,433
campaign that talked about
some of these issues.
1242
01:01:21,433 --> 01:01:28,200
His focus is not on that
issue or those issues.
1243
01:01:28,200 --> 01:01:32,299
His focus is on the work
he needs to do to help this
1244
01:01:32,300 --> 01:01:33,934
economy grow.
1245
01:01:33,934 --> 01:01:40,600
And I'm not just saying that
because that's the preferred
1246
01:01:40,600 --> 01:01:44,533
answer, I'm saying it
because I know it for a fact.
1247
01:01:44,533 --> 01:01:48,000
I know that that's the issue --
that the economy and jobs are
1248
01:01:48,000 --> 01:01:51,967
the issue that he spends the
vast majority of this time on,
1249
01:01:51,967 --> 01:01:54,700
and that's what he's going to
be talking about going forward.
1250
01:01:54,700 --> 01:01:58,033
Our views on this ad campaign
are reflected in the statement
1251
01:01:58,033 --> 01:02:02,433
by the campaign, which I echoed.
1252
01:02:02,433 --> 01:02:12,066
These kinds of divisive,
unfortunate approaches are not
1253
01:02:12,066 --> 01:02:13,767
what I think the American
people want to see.
1254
01:02:13,767 --> 01:02:20,066
And I think in a manner that's,
at least in this early stage in
1255
01:02:20,066 --> 01:02:23,500
the aftermath of that
article, somewhat reassuring,
1256
01:02:23,500 --> 01:02:27,800
I think you've seen a broad
array of people criticize or
1257
01:02:27,800 --> 01:02:29,934
condemn that approach.
1258
01:02:29,934 --> 01:02:32,266
I don't really have anything to
add to that because that's not
1259
01:02:32,266 --> 01:02:34,100
what we're spending our
time worrying about here at
1260
01:02:34,100 --> 01:02:35,133
the White House.
1261
01:02:35,133 --> 01:02:36,133
The Press:
Jay --
1262
01:02:36,133 --> 01:02:38,767
Mr. Carney:
You guys, we've been doing
this for more than an hour.
1263
01:02:38,767 --> 01:02:39,799
I'm going to leave it at that.
1264
01:02:39,800 --> 01:02:40,667
Thanks a lot.
1265
01:02:40,667 --> 01:02:41,467
Take care.
