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Mr. Earnest: Happy
Monday, everybody.
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Hopefully, the rest of the
briefing will be characterized
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by more effective communication
between the White House
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and the Press Corps than the
two-minute warning was.
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Julie, why don't you go ahead
and get us started today?
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The Press: Sounds good.
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Thanks.
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I had a couple questions on the
administration's response
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to Islamic State, starting with
the conversations you're
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having on the Hill on the
Title 10 authority.
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First of all, if you could
read out any conversations
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the President might be having with
lawmakers over the weekend.
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Last week, there were a lot
of briefings for the Hill.
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Are there more of those?
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And do you feel like you're
making progress in getting
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the Hill to include
Title 10 in the CR?
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Mr. Earnest: I think the best
way to evaluate this actually
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may be to review the public
statements from members
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of Congress as it relates to
this Title 10 authority.
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We've seen public statements
from Democrats and Republicans
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in senior positions, both
in the House and the Senate,
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indicate that they support
giving the administration
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the necessary authority to
ramp up our assistance
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to the Syrian opposition by
training and equipping them.
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So we're gratified by that show
of bipartisan public support
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for this urgent priority.
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There have been a number
of conversations between
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senior administration
officials, Cabinet officials,
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senior White House officials
and members of Congress
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on this issue.
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The President has made a number
of phone calls on this over the
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course of the last week, and I
would anticipate that he'll
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be in touch with additional
members of Congress in advance
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of the votes this week.
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What I will -- I don't know of
any additional briefings that
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have been scheduled, but there
were all-member briefings that
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were scheduled last week.
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So every member, even if
they're not on the docket
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for a briefing this week, has
received one in the last week.
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And I'm confident that if
there are members of Congress
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that do have questions about the kind of authority or what this
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program would entail,
that there would
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be a senior administration
official that would be happy
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to discuss with them.
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As I mentioned, we believe
that this is a priority --
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or I should restate that we believe this is a priority
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because what we have seen from our partners in the region
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is a willingness to join
with us in this effort.
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And the President believes
it's important to strike while
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the iron is hot here and begin
to ramp up this program as soon
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as possible, particularly now
that we have willing commitments
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from regional governments whose
cooperation is essential
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to this program's success.
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The Press: Can you give us a
sense of what the Title 10
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authority would include,
and some more specifics?
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What type of weaponry
you're looking to give
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to the Syrian rebels?
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How many U.S. personnel
would be involved in this
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training mission in
Saudi Arabia?
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Mr. Earnest: I don't have a lot
of those details in front of me.
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The Department of Defense may
be able to provide you some
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additional information.
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The goal here is to ensure
that we have -- or that there
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is a fighting force on the
ground in Syria that can take
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the fight to ISIL in Syria.
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The President has ruled out the
use of American combat troops
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for that purpose.
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So the alternative is to enhance
the capacity and capability of
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Syrian opposition fighters so
that they can take the fight
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to ISIL in their own country.
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And we do have willing partners.
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Saudi Arabia, as you know, has
already announced a willingness
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to host some of these training
operations, at least.
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And this administration wants
to work closely with regional
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governments and other allies
who have made commitments
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to assist in this effort.
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And so we're eager to get
this program up and running,
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and that's why we are hoping
and pleased to see bipartisan
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support for giving the
administration this authority
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before the end of the week.
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The Press: And if I can
move on to the efforts
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to form a coalition.
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There have been certainly
statements of support from
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countries in Europe and in the
Middle East for a broad effort,
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but very few details about
what these countries
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are willing to commit.
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U.S. officials talk
vaguely about this,
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but we don't really
have any specifics.
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Do you have specific commitments
from countries for action,
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not just a broad statement,
of support for what
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the U.S. is going to do?
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Mr. Earnest: Julie, there have
been intensive diplomatic
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conversations between senior
administration officials
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and our counterparts
in the region but also
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across the globe.
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The President was gratified,
as he reported at the end
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of the NATO Summit, by the
response that he got from
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the leaders of Allied nations
signaling their willingness
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and support for the
effort to combat ISIL.
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Since then, Secretary Kerry has
been traveling in the region,
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and was just in Paris over
the weekend meeting with his
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counterparts from some of these
regional partners and allies to
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discuss commitments that they're
prepared to make to this effort.
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The thing that's important to
understand is that we want
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to try and do this in
an integrated way that
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is as efficient as possible; that we don't just sort
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of want people to announce
one-off commitments without
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making sure that they are
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announcing those commitments
in a coordinated way --
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that we want to make sure that
we have all the boxes checked
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in terms of what our needs are.
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And part of what the United
States is doing in terms
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of leading this coalition
is assessing what
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contributions are necessary.
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And then this will be a role
for General Allen to play,
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is to match up those needs with
the capacity and willingness
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of partners to fill those needs.
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So this isn't just a matter of
getting people to issue a news
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release or make some other
kind of public commitment
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to do something.
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We want to make sure that their
commitment matches what's
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actually needed and that we're
not duplicating efforts,
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and that the country that is in
the best position to fulfill
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a specific need is the one that
actually follows through
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and fills that need.
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So a lot of this
is de-conflicting,
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making sure that we're not
doubling up on specific requests
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and letting some
requests go unfilled.
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So we're trying to do this in
a systematic, integrated way.
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This will be the responsibility
of General Allen,
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who's meeting with the
President tomorrow to update
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him on this process.
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So there are no specific public
commitments for me to make
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from here right now, but I do
anticipate that based
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on the favorable response that
Secretary Kerry and others
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are receiving from our allies
in these discussions,
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that we will at some point be
able to announce important
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commitments from our allies and
from regional governments who,
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as we've said before, in some
ways have an even greater
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stake in the outcome of
this conflict than we do.
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The Press: I asked
you this last week,
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and I'm wondering if now that
Secretary Kerry and others have
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had conversations over
the last couple days,
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if you can say more
definitively -- will the U.S.
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be launching airstrikes alone,
or are there other countries
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who will be launching airstrikes
alongside the U.S.?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, when we are in a position to be more
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specific about the commitments that we've received from
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our allies and other interested
regional governments,
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then we will do that.
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The Press: But you can't
even say broadly that, yes,
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there are other countries
who will launch airstrikes
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alongside the U.S.?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the natural follow-up
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to that question would
be, well, tell me who.
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And so we want to make --
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The Press: -- the first one --
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Mr. Earnest: And so my point
is that we're not going
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to be in a position
of making these kinds
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of commitments for people.
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It will be much more -- it will
carry much more weight if you
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have a senior official from
another country saying what
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their country is prepared to
do in support of this allied
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effort, as opposed to me
speaking for other countries.
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I'm just not going to put
myself in that position.
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And frankly, it will have
greater credibility when
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it is announced by that
country for you to get
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a sense of what kinds
of contributions we're
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getting from other
interested parties here.
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So we are pleased with the
progress that's been made so far
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in terms of the reaction
we've gotten in the context
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of these conversations.
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General Allen is somebody who
will draw upon his military
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expertise, but in this case is
fulfilling a strictly diplomatic
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function in terms of
coordinating with governments
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in the region and around the
world to assess how they can
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contribute militarily
to this broader effort.
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And he is hard at
work on this already;
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he will brief the
President on the status
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of these efforts tomorrow.
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And I know others have
talked about the importance
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of the upcoming United Nations
General Assembly meeting
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as an appropriate venue
for us to have additional
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discussions on these topics.
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So stay tuned.
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Jeff.
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The Press: Josh, ahead of the
President's trip tomorrow,
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can you tell us a little bit
more about the administration's
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plan to fight Ebola, and to
what extent the President is
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concerned about that becoming
a crisis in this country?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff, the
President's visit to the CDC
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tomorrow underscores just how
extraordinarily serious
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the administration
believes this issue is.
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The President has identified
it as a top national security
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priority, and he looks forward
to receiving an update from
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the experts at the CDC about
the success of their
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efforts so far to try to
confront this problem.
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As you know, this is one of
the worst, if not the worst,
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outbreak of Ebola
that we've ever seen.
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The CDC has responded
commensurate with the
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seriousness of the situation.
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They have already deployed
a number of personnel
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to the region.
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I think it's -- I'm looking
through my notes here --
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about 100 of its
workers to the region.
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This is if not the largest,
among the largest deployments
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of CDC personnel ever.
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The administration has already
committed more than $100 million
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to address the Ebola outbreak,
and this has taken a variety
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of forms, but includes
commitments from USAID,
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from the CDC and others to try
to meet some of these needs.
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We've also seen the Department
of Defense step forward and make
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some commitments as it relates
to the expertise they have
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when it comes to logistics.
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And this is all part of the
whole-of-government approach
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that the President has directed
in response to this situation.
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I'd point out that while this
story has -- rightly so --
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entered the headlines over the
course of the last four or six
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weeks, the fact is this outbreak
first started back in March,
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and the CDC and other government
agencies were closely working
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with our international
partners to confront that
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threat even back then.
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So this is something
that we've been focused
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on for quite some time.
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The President is looking forward
to the briefing that he'll
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receive tomorrow, and I would
anticipate the announcement
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of additional efforts that
will be underway or that
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the United States can deploy
to address this situation
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in the context of the
President's visit tomorrow.
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But I don't have anything new in
terms of specific announcements
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to offer up from here today.
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The Press: To what extent does
he view Ebola as being a threat
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to the United States?
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Mr. Earnest: The President
talked about this in the "Meet
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the Press" interview that
he did 10 days or so ago.
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He identified it as a top
national security priority.
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And his concern is that making
an investment here early is
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critical to trying to snuff out
this problem before it becomes
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a much more widespread problem.
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And that is the strategy that
we're implementing here,
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is to try to invest early
to prevent this from
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becoming much more serious.
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00:11:26,619 --> 00:11:30,322
There are some -- there's always
sort of the geopolitical concern
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that an outbreak of a disease
could create some instability
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00:11:33,726 --> 00:11:38,330
in some of these regions
where the central governments
246
00:11:38,330 --> 00:11:41,634
of some of these
countries isn't as strong
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00:11:41,634 --> 00:11:45,004
as the central government that we have here in this country.
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So that's one source
of some concern.
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00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:50,376
The other concern that the
President articulated
250
00:11:50,376 --> 00:11:53,279
in the context of his interview was that the more that
251
00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:57,583
this virus has spread from person to person, the greater
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00:11:57,583 --> 00:12:02,387
likelihood, the greater --
the more likely it is that
253
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the virus could mutate
in a way that makes
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it even more dangerous.
255
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So that is why -- those are
just a couple of reasons
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00:12:08,661 --> 00:12:12,564
why the President is
directing the U.S. government
257
00:12:12,565 --> 00:12:15,101
to make the kind of early
investment that could
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00:12:15,101 --> 00:12:18,137
prevent much more serious
problems down the line.
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00:12:18,137 --> 00:12:19,137
The Press: And on
one other topic,
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00:12:19,138 --> 00:12:21,140
there's a vote coming up in
a couple days in Scotland.
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00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:25,077
The President has talked
about this before.
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00:12:25,077 --> 00:12:29,782
With the vote nearing
and the polls very close,
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00:12:29,782 --> 00:12:31,417
how concerned is
the White House,
264
00:12:31,417 --> 00:12:33,185
how concerned is the
President about a potential
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00:12:33,185 --> 00:12:35,787
breakup of one of
its closest allies?
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00:12:37,156 --> 00:12:38,123
Mr. Earnest: Jeff, you
have a good memory.
267
00:12:38,124 --> 00:12:40,359
The President was asked
about this when he attended
268
00:12:40,359 --> 00:12:42,261
I believe the G7 meeting --
269
00:12:42,261 --> 00:12:42,661
The Press: In Brussels.
270
00:12:42,661 --> 00:12:43,161
Mr. Earnest: -- in
Brussels, exactly.
271
00:12:43,162 --> 00:12:46,565
He was standing alongside David
Cameron at a podium not unlike
272
00:12:46,565 --> 00:12:48,934
this one where he was asked.
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00:12:48,934 --> 00:12:51,002
You'll recall that what the
President said was he said that
274
00:12:51,003 --> 00:12:56,308
from the outside, the United
States has a deep interest in
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00:12:56,308 --> 00:12:59,612
ensuring that one of the closest
allies that we'll ever have
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00:12:59,612 --> 00:13:04,183
remains strong, robust, united,
and an effective partner
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00:13:04,183 --> 00:13:05,217
with the United States.
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00:13:05,217 --> 00:13:09,088
So this is a decision for the
people of Scotland to make.
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00:13:09,088 --> 00:13:12,757
We certainly respect the right
of individual Scots to make
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00:13:12,758 --> 00:13:18,130
a decision about the
-- along these lines.
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00:13:18,130 --> 00:13:21,000
But as the President
himself said,
282
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we have an interest in seeing
the United Kingdom remain
283
00:13:24,737 --> 00:13:27,939
strong, robust, united
and an effective partner.
284
00:13:27,940 --> 00:13:30,209
The Press: And "united"
means together,
285
00:13:30,209 --> 00:13:34,780
as in not leaving the
U.K.? Mr. Earnest: Well,
286
00:13:34,780 --> 00:13:38,384
this is a question before the
people of Scotland on Thursday,
287
00:13:38,384 --> 00:13:40,953
and they'll cast a ballot
in a way that they believe
288
00:13:40,953 --> 00:13:44,223
is in the best interests of
communities in Scotland.
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00:13:44,223 --> 00:13:48,493
And I will certainly respect
their right to cast their own
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00:13:48,494 --> 00:13:51,197
ballot without interference
from people on the outside.
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00:13:51,197 --> 00:13:52,198
Christi.
292
00:13:52,198 --> 00:13:53,199
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
293
00:13:53,199 --> 00:13:55,200
Can you talk about the Tampa
part of the President's trip?
294
00:13:55,201 --> 00:13:57,002
That looks like it's about
building public support
295
00:13:57,002 --> 00:13:59,204
for his strategy
for fighting ISIL.
296
00:13:59,205 --> 00:14:00,539
Is that the plan?
297
00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:03,242
Mr. Earnest: Well, at
a very specific level,
298
00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:08,380
the President's visit to Tampa
will be an opportunity for him
299
00:14:08,380 --> 00:14:12,184
to visit the Central Command,
which is located in Tampa.
300
00:14:12,184 --> 00:14:14,453
While he's there, he will spend
some time getting a briefing
301
00:14:14,453 --> 00:14:17,656
from senior military leaders in
CENTCOM about responsibility
302
00:14:17,656 --> 00:14:23,795
for leading the military
effort against ISIL.
303
00:14:23,796 --> 00:14:25,965
And I'm confident that the
President, while he's there,
304
00:14:25,965 --> 00:14:28,000
will also have the
opportunity to talk with some
305
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,203
of the servicemen and women who
will be responsible for carrying
306
00:14:31,203 --> 00:14:36,007
out some of the functions
that the President orders.
307
00:14:36,008 --> 00:14:41,180
But we'll have more details on
the trip probably tomorrow.
308
00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:42,814
Let's move around a little bit.
309
00:14:42,815 --> 00:14:43,716
Jackie.
310
00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:46,085
The Press: Just to go back to
Ebola -- an administration
311
00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:48,087
official was quoted as saying
that there will be a more
312
00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:49,121
upscale response.
313
00:14:49,121 --> 00:14:51,122
Can you give some details
of what that will be?
314
00:14:51,123 --> 00:14:53,225
Mr. Earnest: The President is
looking forward to his trip.
315
00:14:53,225 --> 00:14:55,394
He is going to get a briefing
from some of the experts
316
00:14:55,394 --> 00:14:58,697
at the CDC.
317
00:14:58,697 --> 00:15:00,699
In terms of announcements
that the President may make
318
00:15:00,699 --> 00:15:02,700
in the context of the trip,
I'll let him make those
319
00:15:02,701 --> 00:15:03,702
announcements on Tuesday.
320
00:15:03,702 --> 00:15:05,704
I don't have anything
new from here.
321
00:15:05,704 --> 00:15:07,705
But you're right -- there will
be some additional announcements
322
00:15:07,706 --> 00:15:09,708
that will be announced by the
administration that represents
323
00:15:09,708 --> 00:15:11,709
the kind of whole-of-government
approach the President believes
324
00:15:11,710 --> 00:15:14,413
is necessary to confront the
threat that's posed by --
325
00:15:14,413 --> 00:15:18,317
the threat of Ebola.
326
00:15:18,317 --> 00:15:19,718
Justin.
327
00:15:19,718 --> 00:15:20,786
The Press: You almost said ISIL.
328
00:15:20,786 --> 00:15:21,286
Mr. Earnest: I did, I did.
329
00:15:21,287 --> 00:15:22,721
(laughter)
330
00:15:22,721 --> 00:15:23,722
The Press: Well, I
wanted to follow
331
00:15:23,722 --> 00:15:24,656
a little on Ebola.
332
00:15:24,657 --> 00:15:27,860
We've kind of heard from
public health experts,
333
00:15:27,860 --> 00:15:31,330
especially people in Africa, a
lot of complaints actually
334
00:15:31,330 --> 00:15:33,666
about the administration's
response so far.
335
00:15:33,666 --> 00:15:36,969
There's a professor from Brown
University in The Times this
336
00:15:36,969 --> 00:15:41,507
weekend who said the 25-bed
hospital that the U.S.
337
00:15:41,507 --> 00:15:44,843
is setting up is like a drop in
the bucket of what they need.
338
00:15:44,843 --> 00:15:46,679
So I'm wondering if you could
just respond in some way
339
00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:48,847
to the criticism that's
being levied by them,
340
00:15:48,847 --> 00:15:52,084
by Doctors Without Borders about
the lack of kind of a unified
341
00:15:52,084 --> 00:15:55,286
response coming from the
U.S. and United Nations
342
00:15:55,287 --> 00:15:57,990
and WHO and other places.
343
00:15:57,990 --> 00:15:59,525
Mr. Earnest: Justin, the
President referenced
344
00:15:59,525 --> 00:16:01,694
in the remarks that he delivered
to the nation on Wednesday
345
00:16:01,694 --> 00:16:04,430
night that the United States
has unique capabilities
346
00:16:04,430 --> 00:16:06,397
in a wide range of areas.
347
00:16:06,398 --> 00:16:08,400
And that means that the
United States has a unique
348
00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,703
responsibility to
step up in the midst
349
00:16:10,703 --> 00:16:11,870
of an international crisis.
350
00:16:11,870 --> 00:16:16,975
And the President has directed
the United States government to
351
00:16:16,975 --> 00:16:19,912
step up in the midst of this
international crisis as it
352
00:16:19,912 --> 00:16:23,115
relates to Ebola; that our
doctors and scientists are some
353
00:16:23,115 --> 00:16:25,617
of the best in the world, and
we're going to deploy their
354
00:16:25,617 --> 00:16:29,387
knowledge and resources to try
to help some of the governments
355
00:16:29,388 --> 00:16:34,460
in Africa meet the needs of
their people and confront
356
00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:35,894
this very difficult challenge.
357
00:16:35,894 --> 00:16:38,497
The United States also has
tremendous resources when it
358
00:16:38,497 --> 00:16:41,934
comes to our logistical capacity
and when it comes to the kinds
359
00:16:41,934 --> 00:16:45,536
of supplies that health care
workers may need to respond
360
00:16:45,537 --> 00:16:46,939
to this situation.
361
00:16:46,939 --> 00:16:49,308
So there are a number of
unique capabilities that
362
00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:51,310
the United States
can bring to this.
363
00:16:51,310 --> 00:16:54,146
And I think it is a
testament to our country,
364
00:16:54,146 --> 00:16:58,584
where our -- where we have an
interest but our interest is not
365
00:16:58,584 --> 00:17:02,154
as direct in this situation,
but yet the President,
366
00:17:02,154 --> 00:17:04,156
with the strong backing
of the American people,
367
00:17:04,156 --> 00:17:06,791
is going to respond
in a robust fashion.
368
00:17:06,791 --> 00:17:09,895
As I mentioned to Jeff, the
United States responded pretty
369
00:17:09,895 --> 00:17:12,498
aggressively to this back in
March when this outbreak
370
00:17:12,498 --> 00:17:13,999
was first reported.
371
00:17:13,999 --> 00:17:16,802
And since that time,
our assistance has been
372
00:17:16,801 --> 00:17:19,170
steadily ramping up.
373
00:17:19,171 --> 00:17:22,374
And when the President travels
to Atlanta tomorrow in the
374
00:17:22,374 --> 00:17:25,077
context of his trip, I do
anticipate that we'll have some
375
00:17:25,077 --> 00:17:27,279
additional announcements to make
about additional commitments
376
00:17:27,279 --> 00:17:31,250
that we're making in terms of
resources that can be used
377
00:17:31,250 --> 00:17:32,284
to address this problem.
378
00:17:32,284 --> 00:17:35,988
The Press: Just on the CR
quickly -- I know this may be a
379
00:17:35,988 --> 00:17:38,957
long shot, but can you kind of
give an update of where you
380
00:17:38,957 --> 00:17:41,827
guys think or how you think
this vote is going to go?
381
00:17:41,827 --> 00:17:45,831
Do you expect that the
Title 10 authorization will
382
00:17:45,831 --> 00:17:49,635
be at this point separated
out in the House from a vote
383
00:17:49,635 --> 00:17:51,637
on the CR and then brought
back together?
384
00:17:51,637 --> 00:17:52,070
Is that where you're at?
385
00:17:52,070 --> 00:17:54,406
Mr. Earnest: Well, that will
be a decision that's made
386
00:17:54,406 --> 00:17:55,774
by the Speaker of
the House.
387
00:17:55,774 --> 00:17:59,678
Our interest here is seeing this
Title 10 authority be given
388
00:17:59,678 --> 00:18:02,347
to the administration before
the end of this week.
389
00:18:02,347 --> 00:18:04,550
Adding it to the CR is
the most logical way.
390
00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,952
As a layman -- I'm not an expert
in House procedure by any
391
00:18:06,952 --> 00:18:09,121
stretch of the imagination
-- but as a layman,
392
00:18:09,121 --> 00:18:12,257
it does seem obvious that
that's the easiest way
393
00:18:12,257 --> 00:18:13,258
to get this done.
394
00:18:13,258 --> 00:18:15,260
That will be a
decision that's made
395
00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:16,261
by the Speaker of the House.
396
00:18:16,261 --> 00:18:19,197
And this administration will be
doing everything that we can,
397
00:18:19,198 --> 00:18:21,400
including being in close touch
with members of Congress in both
398
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,170
parties, to convince them
that this is an important
399
00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:27,473
national security priority.
400
00:18:27,473 --> 00:18:30,943
And if they have open questions
about what this authority would
401
00:18:30,943 --> 00:18:34,079
grant or what these kinds of
training operations would
402
00:18:34,079 --> 00:18:36,081
entail, we'll do our best
to answer those questions.
403
00:18:36,081 --> 00:18:38,750
But this is something that we're
going to work really hard,
404
00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:40,986
and the President believes
this is a top priority.
405
00:18:40,986 --> 00:18:41,687
The Press: And in
terms of language,
406
00:18:41,687 --> 00:18:44,055
are you happy with what you've
heard from House leadership
407
00:18:44,056 --> 00:18:46,358
about what will come
up at some point?
408
00:18:46,358 --> 00:18:49,328
Is your request going to be
something that you think
409
00:18:49,328 --> 00:18:50,529
is going to get a vote?
410
00:18:50,529 --> 00:18:52,030
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that
there has been a constructive
411
00:18:52,030 --> 00:18:55,868
conversation between staff in
the Speaker's office on this
412
00:18:55,868 --> 00:18:59,004
topic and senior officials
here in the administration.
413
00:18:59,004 --> 00:19:01,005
So those conversations are
ongoing and I anticipate they
414
00:19:01,006 --> 00:19:04,576
will be ongoing probably
right up until the vote.
415
00:19:04,576 --> 00:19:06,545
Stephen.
416
00:19:06,545 --> 00:19:07,579
The Press: Back to
the Scotland thing.
417
00:19:07,579 --> 00:19:11,183
So are you saying that if
Scotland goes it alone
418
00:19:11,183 --> 00:19:14,319
on Thursday, what is
left will no longer
419
00:19:14,319 --> 00:19:16,522
be a strong and robust ally?
420
00:19:16,522 --> 00:19:17,789
(laughter)
421
00:19:17,789 --> 00:19:19,091
Mr. Earnest:
That's a clever question.
422
00:19:19,091 --> 00:19:21,526
(laughter)
423
00:19:21,527 --> 00:19:23,729
Attempting to answer
it might be interpreted by some
424
00:19:23,729 --> 00:19:27,332
as unnecessarily or maybe
even improperly interfering
425
00:19:27,332 --> 00:19:29,535
with a decision that
should rightly be made
426
00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:30,669
by the voters of Scotland.
427
00:19:30,669 --> 00:19:33,805
So I don't think I'll elaborate
any further on what the
428
00:19:33,805 --> 00:19:36,842
President himself said in terms
of articulating what America's
429
00:19:36,842 --> 00:19:39,811
interest was in the outcome
of this election that, again,
430
00:19:39,811 --> 00:19:42,781
will be decided by no one other
than the Scottish people.
431
00:19:42,781 --> 00:19:45,684
The Press: But is there any
concern or is has there been any
432
00:19:45,684 --> 00:19:49,588
sort of thinking about what
would happen if the U.K.
433
00:19:49,588 --> 00:19:55,827
was weaker in NATO, if your
close ally lost some weight
434
00:19:55,827 --> 00:19:57,095
in the Security Council?
435
00:19:57,095 --> 00:19:58,630
There must be
implications for
436
00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:01,533
U.S. policy in that.
437
00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:03,135
Mr. Earnest: I suspect
that there is somebody
438
00:20:03,135 --> 00:20:04,403
in the administration who
has been thinking about
439
00:20:04,403 --> 00:20:05,637
that at some level.
440
00:20:05,637 --> 00:20:07,906
I don't know to what level it
has risen -- it certainly
441
00:20:07,906 --> 00:20:09,206
hasn't risen to my level.
442
00:20:09,207 --> 00:20:09,942
(laughter)
443
00:20:09,942 --> 00:20:12,210
Or maybe it hasn't
sunk to my level -- I'll let
444
00:20:12,210 --> 00:20:14,212
you interpret that for yourself.
445
00:20:14,212 --> 00:20:16,214
I haven't been a part
of those conversations.
446
00:20:16,214 --> 00:20:18,783
We are confident that ultimately
the people of Scotland will make
447
00:20:18,784 --> 00:20:20,786
a decision that they believe
is in their best interest.
448
00:20:20,786 --> 00:20:24,489
And the President himself
articulated what he believed
449
00:20:24,489 --> 00:20:27,693
was important about our
partners over there
450
00:20:27,693 --> 00:20:28,694
at the United Kingdom.
451
00:20:28,694 --> 00:20:29,695
Kristen.
452
00:20:29,695 --> 00:20:30,696
The Press: Josh, thank you.
453
00:20:30,696 --> 00:20:33,130
In the wake of learning
about the brutal execution
454
00:20:33,131 --> 00:20:36,268
of British aid worker, David
Haines, over the weekend,
455
00:20:36,268 --> 00:20:39,271
Prime Minister David Cameron
came out and he had very strong
456
00:20:39,271 --> 00:20:44,042
language that seemed to indicate
that he was at least considering
457
00:20:44,042 --> 00:20:46,477
stronger military action.
458
00:20:46,478 --> 00:20:48,747
Can you update us on that?
459
00:20:48,747 --> 00:20:51,683
Is there any indication the
U.K. is going to join the U.S.
460
00:20:51,683 --> 00:20:54,620
when it comes to launching
airstrikes in Syria?
461
00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:56,154
Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
update on those conversations.
462
00:20:56,154 --> 00:21:00,325
We are in close touch with
our allies in the U.K.
463
00:21:00,325 --> 00:21:02,694
on a range of issues,
including this one.
464
00:21:02,694 --> 00:21:05,530
But any announcements that they
have to make about commitments
465
00:21:05,530 --> 00:21:08,533
they're prepared to make to
take the fight to ISIL will
466
00:21:08,533 --> 00:21:10,235
be made by them.
467
00:21:10,235 --> 00:21:12,070
The Press: Well, can you
characterize how this --
468
00:21:12,070 --> 00:21:13,504
how you see this moment?
469
00:21:13,505 --> 00:21:15,807
I mean, there's obviously
increased pressure
470
00:21:15,807 --> 00:21:19,077
on Prime Minister Cameron in
the wake of this.
471
00:21:19,077 --> 00:21:24,516
So are there discussions ongoing
about more coordination,
472
00:21:24,516 --> 00:21:24,850
since this is our closest ally?
473
00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:27,418
Mr. Earnest: The United
States is in close touch
474
00:21:27,419 --> 00:21:28,420
with the United Kingdom.
475
00:21:28,420 --> 00:21:31,056
As you know, we have a special
relationship with them.
476
00:21:31,056 --> 00:21:33,492
They also have very unique
military capabilities
477
00:21:33,492 --> 00:21:34,493
that can be --
478
00:21:34,493 --> 00:21:36,495
The Press: But don't
you expect them to join
479
00:21:36,495 --> 00:21:38,463
the United States in launching
airstrikes, given that?
480
00:21:38,463 --> 00:21:41,633
Mr. Earnest: We need to -- have
had the kinds of constructive
481
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:46,004
conversations that you would
expect from a close ally like
482
00:21:46,004 --> 00:21:48,774
the United Kingdom, and we do
anticipate that they will
483
00:21:48,774 --> 00:21:51,709
play an important role
in this coalition.
484
00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:55,180
In terms of what role
they're going to play,
485
00:21:55,180 --> 00:21:58,083
we'll give them the opportunity
to make an announcement about
486
00:21:58,083 --> 00:22:00,118
anything they might be
contemplating contributing
487
00:22:00,118 --> 00:22:01,119
to this effort.
488
00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:02,120
Let me point out one thing.
489
00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,822
They have contributed already
to some of the humanitarian
490
00:22:04,823 --> 00:22:07,426
military efforts that
the President ordered
491
00:22:07,426 --> 00:22:09,127
last month in Iraq.
492
00:22:09,127 --> 00:22:11,697
I believe they dropped some
humanitarian supplies near Mount
493
00:22:11,697 --> 00:22:15,867
Sinjar that brought some relief
to those individuals who
494
00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:17,469
were being persecuted there.
495
00:22:17,469 --> 00:22:19,938
So they've already played
an important role here.
496
00:22:19,938 --> 00:22:22,307
But they obviously have the
capacity to do significantly
497
00:22:22,307 --> 00:22:25,210
more, and we're having
close conversations with
498
00:22:25,210 --> 00:22:26,211
them about that.
499
00:22:26,211 --> 00:22:27,612
The Press: And I want to
just follow up on Julie's
500
00:22:27,612 --> 00:22:28,814
line of questioning.
501
00:22:28,814 --> 00:22:31,616
Over the weekend, several senior
administration officials
502
00:22:31,616 --> 00:22:35,887
said that the U.S. had gotten some assurances from several
503
00:22:35,887 --> 00:22:38,724
Arab countries that they would
join in an air campaign.
504
00:22:38,724 --> 00:22:40,859
Is that still the case?
505
00:22:40,859 --> 00:22:42,226
Mr. Earnest: I've
seen those reports.
506
00:22:42,227 --> 00:22:45,864
I saw that many of those
individuals were talking
507
00:22:45,864 --> 00:22:49,601
privately because they
didn't want to make any sort
508
00:22:49,601 --> 00:22:53,605
of announcements that should
be properly made by those
509
00:22:53,605 --> 00:22:54,706
governments who are
contemplating making
510
00:22:54,706 --> 00:22:56,707
a contribution to
the coalition.
511
00:22:56,708 --> 00:22:58,677
So I don't want to speak
publicly about those
512
00:22:58,677 --> 00:22:59,678
conversations either.
513
00:22:59,678 --> 00:23:00,212
The Press: Well, I understand
you can't name them
514
00:23:00,212 --> 00:23:02,481
specifically, but is it
still the case that several
515
00:23:02,481 --> 00:23:04,649
Arab countries have said
that they are going to join
516
00:23:04,649 --> 00:23:05,783
in an air campaign?
517
00:23:05,784 --> 00:23:07,419
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, in
line with Julie's question,
518
00:23:07,419 --> 00:23:09,421
as soon as I say yes, you're
going to ask me which countries
519
00:23:09,421 --> 00:23:10,789
-- and understandably so.
520
00:23:10,789 --> 00:23:13,425
That is a totally legitimate
line of questioning.
521
00:23:13,425 --> 00:23:14,860
But I just don't want
to go down that path,
522
00:23:14,860 --> 00:23:17,027
because I'm not prepared
to be in a position to make
523
00:23:17,028 --> 00:23:19,064
announcements for these
countries that may be
524
00:23:19,064 --> 00:23:20,298
contemplating commitments.
525
00:23:20,298 --> 00:23:22,834
If the shoe were on the other
foot -- and somewhere there
526
00:23:22,834 --> 00:23:26,838
probably is the press secretary
for an Arab government being
527
00:23:26,838 --> 00:23:28,072
asked what the United
States is actually
528
00:23:28,073 --> 00:23:29,508
prepared to do.
529
00:23:29,508 --> 00:23:30,542
And I would be --
530
00:23:30,542 --> 00:23:31,143
The Press: Which one?
531
00:23:31,143 --> 00:23:32,177
(laughter)
532
00:23:32,177 --> 00:23:34,178
Mr. Earnest: And I would
take umbrage if that
533
00:23:34,179 --> 00:23:36,181
individual were to make
commitments on behalf
534
00:23:36,181 --> 00:23:38,183
of the United States, so I'm
certainly not going to make
535
00:23:38,183 --> 00:23:40,185
commitments on behalf of
these other countries.
536
00:23:40,185 --> 00:23:42,187
We're pleased with the progress
of the conversations we've
537
00:23:42,187 --> 00:23:44,188
been having with them, and those
conversations continue.
538
00:23:44,189 --> 00:23:46,191
The Secretary of State
has been principally
539
00:23:46,191 --> 00:23:47,192
responsible for them.
540
00:23:47,192 --> 00:23:49,194
I would anticipate that General
Allen will continue to have
541
00:23:49,194 --> 00:23:51,196
those kinds of
conversations as well.
542
00:23:51,196 --> 00:23:54,099
But I'm not -- at this point,
I'm not in a position to
543
00:23:54,099 --> 00:23:55,100
announce specific commitments.
544
00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:57,435
The Press: And just, finally,
does McDonough seem to indicate
545
00:23:57,435 --> 00:24:01,572
that you had also gotten some
assurances from some countries
546
00:24:01,573 --> 00:24:05,343
that they would send ground
troops into the region?
547
00:24:05,343 --> 00:24:07,646
And I guess my question
is, how can the U.S. expect
548
00:24:07,646 --> 00:24:10,682
other countries to send
in combat forces when
549
00:24:10,682 --> 00:24:12,984
the U.S. is not
prepared to do that?
550
00:24:12,984 --> 00:24:13,918
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I don't want this to be
551
00:24:13,919 --> 00:24:16,588
interpreted as me implicitly
confirming a commitment
552
00:24:16,588 --> 00:24:17,689
from some other country.
553
00:24:17,689 --> 00:24:18,857
I'm not doing that.
554
00:24:18,857 --> 00:24:25,463
But suffice it to say, there are
countries in the region that
555
00:24:25,463 --> 00:24:28,700
arguably -- at least arguably --
have as much of a stake
556
00:24:28,700 --> 00:24:33,171
in the outcome of this fight
with ISIL as anybody else;
557
00:24:33,171 --> 00:24:38,109
that this violence and havoc
that ISIL is wreaking in this
558
00:24:38,109 --> 00:24:40,779
neighborhood is having
a negative impact
559
00:24:40,779 --> 00:24:41,913
on the broader region.
560
00:24:41,913 --> 00:24:45,450
In some cases, these acts of
violence are being perpetrated
561
00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:48,186
not far from the border
of other countries.
562
00:24:48,186 --> 00:24:50,589
To make matters even worse,
these acts are being
563
00:24:50,589 --> 00:24:53,925
committed in the name of
the Sunni-Muslim religion.
564
00:24:56,261 --> 00:25:02,434
It is incredibly important for
moderate voices to step forward.
565
00:25:02,434 --> 00:25:05,803
And the President himself made
the case that many of these
566
00:25:05,804 --> 00:25:08,473
Muslim -- I'm sorry, these
Sunni-led governments in the
567
00:25:08,473 --> 00:25:12,277
region have for a long time,
based on sectarian divisions,
568
00:25:12,277 --> 00:25:18,049
considered Shia-led governments,
or Shia-led interests
569
00:25:18,049 --> 00:25:20,852
to be the greatest threat
to their country.
570
00:25:20,852 --> 00:25:25,991
The President posited, I think
with some -- in a way that's
571
00:25:25,991 --> 00:25:29,995
entirely reasonable, that these
extremist elements of the Sunni
572
00:25:29,995 --> 00:25:33,965
sect actually pose a greater
threat to these Sunni countries
573
00:25:33,965 --> 00:25:36,801
than the Shia sect does because
of these terrible acts of
574
00:25:36,801 --> 00:25:41,673
violence that are all being
committed in the name of this
575
00:25:41,673 --> 00:25:44,175
religion, setting aside the
fact that many of the victims
576
00:25:44,175 --> 00:25:46,278
of this terrible violence
are themselves Muslim.
577
00:25:46,278 --> 00:25:48,480
So this is a very
difficult situation,
578
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:54,386
but the interest that many of
these governments in the region
579
00:25:54,386 --> 00:25:56,922
[have] is even more
substantial than the interest
580
00:25:56,922 --> 00:25:57,923
of the U.S. government.
581
00:25:57,923 --> 00:26:00,992
But that is why it is so
critically important for
582
00:26:00,992 --> 00:26:03,395
this international
coalition to be built,
583
00:26:03,395 --> 00:26:06,131
and it's why it's important for
people all around the world to
584
00:26:06,131 --> 00:26:10,135
understand that this is not
a case of ISIL being dug in
585
00:26:10,135 --> 00:26:12,304
in a fight against
the United States.
586
00:26:12,304 --> 00:26:14,673
The international community is
mobilizing to take the fight
587
00:26:14,673 --> 00:26:19,577
to ISIL because of the
terrible nature of their acts
588
00:26:19,577 --> 00:26:22,681
and because of their
nihilistic vision.
589
00:26:22,681 --> 00:26:22,948
Ed.
590
00:26:22,948 --> 00:26:26,318
The Press: What then is holding
these Sunni nations back?
591
00:26:26,318 --> 00:26:28,320
Given the stakes
you just laid out,
592
00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:29,321
why haven't they come forward?
593
00:26:29,321 --> 00:26:32,057
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, again,
I don't think that there's
594
00:26:32,057 --> 00:26:33,058
anything holding them back.
595
00:26:33,058 --> 00:26:34,159
I think that what
we're seeing is --
596
00:26:34,159 --> 00:26:34,726
The Press: They remain
anonymous.
597
00:26:34,726 --> 00:26:35,994
You won't give us their names.
598
00:26:35,994 --> 00:26:37,095
That's holding back.
599
00:26:37,095 --> 00:26:41,066
Mr. Earnest: I think what we're
seeing is we're seeing very
600
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:43,068
constructive engagement
from regional governments
601
00:26:43,068 --> 00:26:45,070
that do have a significant
stake in this outcome.
602
00:26:45,070 --> 00:26:46,771
We're pleased with the level of
conversations that we're having
603
00:26:46,771 --> 00:26:49,908
with these governments, and
their willingness to contribute
604
00:26:49,908 --> 00:26:52,811
in a tangible, important
way to this broader effort.
605
00:26:52,811 --> 00:26:56,047
We'll have some announcements to
make in terms of what sort
606
00:26:56,047 --> 00:26:59,150
of cooperation and involvement
and commitment that
607
00:26:59,150 --> 00:27:01,152
we have from the
international community.
608
00:27:01,152 --> 00:27:03,621
And based on the tenor and
tone of the kinds of private
609
00:27:03,621 --> 00:27:05,623
conversations that are
underway right now,
610
00:27:05,623 --> 00:27:07,625
we expect those commitments
to be substantial.
611
00:27:07,625 --> 00:27:09,627
The Press: But didn't the
President sort of lay out a call
612
00:27:09,627 --> 00:27:10,628
to action last Wednesday night?
613
00:27:10,628 --> 00:27:12,629
I didn't think he was
saying to the world,
614
00:27:12,630 --> 00:27:13,932
let's have some conversations.
615
00:27:13,932 --> 00:27:14,933
I mean, five days have passed.
616
00:27:14,933 --> 00:27:16,935
I understand that might not
seem like a lot of time,
617
00:27:16,935 --> 00:27:19,169
but ISIS -- the threat is there.
618
00:27:19,170 --> 00:27:22,574
The President himself laid out
the stakes last Wednesday night.
619
00:27:22,574 --> 00:27:26,778
So is this not a failure for
Secretary Kerry to not get
620
00:27:26,778 --> 00:27:27,946
this coalition together?
621
00:27:27,946 --> 00:27:31,182
Mr. Earnest: Ed, based on the
very strong statements that
622
00:27:31,182 --> 00:27:33,585
we're seeing from public
officials representing these
623
00:27:33,585 --> 00:27:36,788
other governments, there is
a clear indication that
624
00:27:36,788 --> 00:27:39,224
this coalition is coming
together very nicely.
625
00:27:39,224 --> 00:27:40,859
The Press: But you won't even
give us the names of the
626
00:27:40,859 --> 00:27:42,526
countries in this room as to
which Arab nations are going
627
00:27:42,527 --> 00:27:43,628
to help with airstrikes.
628
00:27:43,628 --> 00:27:45,597
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, because
they will make those sorts
629
00:27:45,597 --> 00:27:46,865
of announcements when
they have them.
630
00:27:46,865 --> 00:27:48,233
We have seen very
clear statements.
631
00:27:48,233 --> 00:27:50,135
And we talked about this
a little bit last week,
632
00:27:50,135 --> 00:27:52,337
that we saw -- we've
seen this statement,
633
00:27:52,337 --> 00:27:54,806
the Jeddah communiqué, from
ministers representing states
634
00:27:54,806 --> 00:27:57,876
of the Gulf Cooperation Council,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
635
00:27:57,876 --> 00:27:59,310
Lebanon and the United States.
636
00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:02,981
And all of them promised --
"agreed to do their share
637
00:28:02,981 --> 00:28:05,250
in the comprehensive
fight against ISIL,"
638
00:28:05,250 --> 00:28:08,420
including a wide range of
things and "as appropriate,
639
00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:11,156
joining in the many aspects
of a coordinated military
640
00:28:11,156 --> 00:28:12,823
campaign against ISIL."
641
00:28:12,824 --> 00:28:19,564
So we have seen clear public
commitments from a broad range
642
00:28:19,564 --> 00:28:23,134
of nations to joining
the broader military and
643
00:28:23,134 --> 00:28:26,037
international effort
to combat ISIL.
644
00:28:26,037 --> 00:28:28,807
Now, the other thing we
should point out is there are
645
00:28:28,807 --> 00:28:31,709
a variety of ways to participate
in a military effort,
646
00:28:31,709 --> 00:28:33,878
aside from just carrying out
airstrikes -- that there
647
00:28:33,878 --> 00:28:35,813
are training and equipping
that can be done;
648
00:28:35,814 --> 00:28:38,083
that there's logistical
support that can be offered,
649
00:28:38,083 --> 00:28:41,419
and even things like
refueling aircraft.
650
00:28:41,419 --> 00:28:43,121
So there are a variety of
ways that these nations
651
00:28:43,121 --> 00:28:44,756
can contribute to the
overall effort,
652
00:28:44,756 --> 00:28:47,492
and I would anticipate that
as we get closer to the U.N.
653
00:28:47,492 --> 00:28:50,028
General Assembly, we'll have
some more details about the
654
00:28:50,028 --> 00:28:51,129
commitments that are being made.
655
00:28:51,129 --> 00:28:52,230
The Press: So that's
more of the timetable?
656
00:28:52,230 --> 00:28:54,032
Later this month, then,
because that's obviously
657
00:28:54,032 --> 00:28:55,733
a week or so away.
658
00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:57,402
Mr. Earnest: Well, yes, I would
anticipate that next week
659
00:28:57,402 --> 00:29:00,271
that there will be discussions
about this question
660
00:29:00,271 --> 00:29:00,605
that you're asking.
661
00:29:00,605 --> 00:29:00,972
The Press: And one
other quick thing.
662
00:29:00,972 --> 00:29:03,575
Secretary Kerry was talking
yesterday on CBS about when
663
00:29:03,575 --> 00:29:06,077
it comes to U.S. airstrikes
in Syria, the U.S.
664
00:29:06,077 --> 00:29:09,581
can "de-conflict" such attacks
with the Syrian government."
665
00:29:09,581 --> 00:29:11,716
He said, "We will certainly want
to de-conflict to make certain
666
00:29:11,716 --> 00:29:14,017
that they're not about
to do something that
667
00:29:14,018 --> 00:29:15,220
they might regret."
668
00:29:15,220 --> 00:29:19,324
Can you explain to the American
people what he is saying there?
669
00:29:19,324 --> 00:29:21,926
Because it's obviously a very --
a much different situation
670
00:29:21,926 --> 00:29:26,331
from Iraq, where we have been
invited in to attack ISIS.
671
00:29:26,331 --> 00:29:30,935
In the case of Syria,
President Assad may respond.
672
00:29:30,935 --> 00:29:33,104
Mr. Earnest: Well, just
to be real clear, Ed,
673
00:29:33,104 --> 00:29:35,773
the United States is not
coordinating with the Assad
674
00:29:35,773 --> 00:29:38,842
regime regarding any contingency
plans that the United States
675
00:29:38,843 --> 00:29:41,179
military is developing.
676
00:29:41,179 --> 00:29:43,715
As we've made very clear, the
United States will take
677
00:29:43,715 --> 00:29:46,016
lawful action when our
people are threatened,
678
00:29:46,017 --> 00:29:48,353
regardless of any
geographic boundaries.
679
00:29:48,353 --> 00:29:53,491
We have seen that ISIL has
disregarded the vanishing
680
00:29:53,491 --> 00:29:57,428
boundary between Iraq and Syria,
and we're not going to be --
681
00:29:57,428 --> 00:29:59,430
the United States is not
going to place ourselves
682
00:29:59,430 --> 00:30:01,866
at a strategic disadvantage by honoring a boundary that
683
00:30:01,866 --> 00:30:03,434
our enemies don't.
684
00:30:03,434 --> 00:30:06,004
So beyond that, I'm not in a
position to telegraph in advance
685
00:30:06,004 --> 00:30:07,071
what our plans may be.
686
00:30:07,071 --> 00:30:08,773
The Press: But when Secretary
Kerry says -- I want to make
687
00:30:08,773 --> 00:30:10,308
certain -- "they're not about"
-- he is talking about Assad --
688
00:30:10,308 --> 00:30:13,144
"they're not about to do
something they might regret,"
689
00:30:13,144 --> 00:30:17,482
is the President prepared, if
Syrian defense forces respond
690
00:30:17,482 --> 00:30:21,019
to U.S. war planes going and launching airstrikes in Syria,
691
00:30:21,019 --> 00:30:25,890
is the President prepared to
take out Assad's defense forces?
692
00:30:25,890 --> 00:30:28,092
Mr. Earnest: Well, let
me say it this way, Ed.
693
00:30:28,092 --> 00:30:30,328
There are a couple of ways
I think to deal with this.
694
00:30:30,328 --> 00:30:34,465
The first is there are rules of
engagement any time that our men
695
00:30:34,465 --> 00:30:37,368
and women in uniform
are put into harm's way.
696
00:30:37,368 --> 00:30:39,870
And so there will be rules of
engagement that are related to
697
00:30:39,871 --> 00:30:43,675
any military orders that the
President directs -- military
698
00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:45,677
actions that the
President directs.
699
00:30:45,677 --> 00:30:47,678
So I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense for
700
00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:48,680
a detailed assessment of that.
701
00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:50,682
But it won't surprise you
to know that there are
702
00:30:50,682 --> 00:30:53,218
contingencies related to
self-defense when it comes
703
00:30:53,218 --> 00:30:56,521
to these sorts of
rules of engagement.
704
00:30:56,521 --> 00:30:59,490
The other point that I'd make
as it relates to Syria is,
705
00:30:59,490 --> 00:31:02,227
as you all know and as has been
publicly reported earlier this
706
00:31:02,227 --> 00:31:04,996
summer, the President did
authorize a military mission
707
00:31:04,996 --> 00:31:08,533
that put American boots on the
ground into Syria to try
708
00:31:08,533 --> 00:31:11,869
to rescue American hostages
that were being held by ISIL.
709
00:31:11,869 --> 00:31:14,472
That mission was a
high-risk mission;
710
00:31:14,472 --> 00:31:16,874
there were a substantial
number of American servicemen
711
00:31:16,874 --> 00:31:18,876
and women that
were involved.
712
00:31:18,876 --> 00:31:21,913
That mission was
executed flawlessly,
713
00:31:21,913 --> 00:31:24,616
but it unfortunately did
not result in the safe
714
00:31:24,616 --> 00:31:27,185
rescue and return of
American hostages.
715
00:31:27,185 --> 00:31:31,188
But I can say that while I think
it is evident to anybody who is
716
00:31:31,189 --> 00:31:33,825
paying attention here that that
is -- indicates the President's
717
00:31:33,825 --> 00:31:36,995
willingness to order the kind of
military action that's required
718
00:31:36,995 --> 00:31:39,731
to protect the lives of military
-- of American citizens,
719
00:31:39,731 --> 00:31:41,933
even if it means sending
our military into Syria.
720
00:31:41,933 --> 00:31:45,770
The Press: Thank you, Josh.
721
00:31:45,770 --> 00:31:51,542
Iran -- they said they rejected
an offer or an invitation from
722
00:31:51,542 --> 00:31:55,178
the United States to join
the fight against ISIL.
723
00:31:55,179 --> 00:31:58,583
What did you exactly
want Iran to do?
724
00:31:58,583 --> 00:32:02,720
And weren't you concerned that
Iran joining this coalition
725
00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:09,560
would further discourage Sunni
nations of joining the fight?
726
00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,931
Mr. Earnest: The thing that we
have been really clear about
727
00:32:13,931 --> 00:32:18,169
is that the United States does
not coordinate military action
728
00:32:18,169 --> 00:32:20,905
or share intelligence with
Iran, and we don't have
729
00:32:20,905 --> 00:32:22,507
any plans to do so.
730
00:32:22,507 --> 00:32:24,509
There have been a couple
of conversations that have
731
00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:29,714
occurred, most notably along the
sidelines of the P5-plus-1 talks
732
00:32:29,714 --> 00:32:32,649
between U.S. officials and
their Iranian counterparts.
733
00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:37,855
This was an effort to
communicate with them about our
734
00:32:37,855 --> 00:32:42,727
interests and our plans, but it
did not reflect any change in
735
00:32:42,727 --> 00:32:45,596
our position that we're not
going to coordinate military
736
00:32:45,596 --> 00:32:49,500
action or share intelligence
with the Iranians.
737
00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:51,502
I'll repeat a point that I've
made here a couple of times,
738
00:32:51,502 --> 00:32:56,841
which is that it is not in the
interest of the nation of Iran
739
00:32:56,841 --> 00:33:02,847
for ISIL to make continued
inroads as it relates to taking
740
00:33:10,321 --> 00:33:14,391
over ground in Iraq; that this
kind of instability is not
741
00:33:14,392 --> 00:33:16,394
in the interest of any
government in that region
742
00:33:16,394 --> 00:33:18,830
and it's certainly not in
the interest of Iran.
743
00:33:18,830 --> 00:33:22,033
So it's understandable that Iran
may be talking about and maybe
744
00:33:22,033 --> 00:33:25,002
even taking actions
to counter ISIL,
745
00:33:25,002 --> 00:33:27,672
but those will not be military
actions that are coordinated
746
00:33:27,672 --> 00:33:28,906
with the United States because
the United States does not
747
00:33:28,906 --> 00:33:31,042
coordinate our military
action or share intelligence
748
00:33:31,042 --> 00:33:32,843
with the nation of Iran.
749
00:33:32,844 --> 00:33:34,345
Carol.
750
00:33:34,345 --> 00:33:35,613
The Press: Sort of
following on that,
751
00:33:35,613 --> 00:33:39,350
a year ago the President
was pursuing an informal
752
00:33:39,350 --> 00:33:41,017
meeting or handshake
on the sidelines
753
00:33:41,018 --> 00:33:43,955
of the U.N. General Assembly
with President Rouhani.
754
00:33:43,955 --> 00:33:47,225
Is that something that
he is looking to pursue
755
00:33:47,225 --> 00:33:49,694
next week when the two of them
are in New York again for
756
00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:51,763
the U.N. General Assembly?
757
00:33:51,763 --> 00:33:57,935
Mr. Earnest: I don't know of any
planned communication between
758
00:33:57,935 --> 00:33:59,937
President Obama and President
Rouhani that's scheduled
759
00:33:59,937 --> 00:34:00,937
for the U.N.
760
00:34:00,938 --> 00:34:02,940
If that changes,
we'll let you know.
761
00:34:05,076 --> 00:34:09,847
But the nature of our
conversations with Iran right
762
00:34:09,847 --> 00:34:12,750
now is principally focused on
resolving the nuclear issue.
763
00:34:12,750 --> 00:34:15,652
And there are senior level
administration officials that
764
00:34:15,652 --> 00:34:17,988
have been directed by this
President to engage with their
765
00:34:17,989 --> 00:34:21,359
Iranian counterparts to
try to reach -- resolve
766
00:34:21,359 --> 00:34:23,795
the international community's
concerns about
767
00:34:23,795 --> 00:34:25,196
Iran's nuclear program.
768
00:34:25,196 --> 00:34:27,732
But that's the focal point
of those conversations,
769
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:31,936
and I don't know what the nature
of conversations will be in New
770
00:34:31,936 --> 00:34:33,137
York, if any occur.
771
00:34:33,137 --> 00:34:35,640
The Press: Last year when you
guys were asked this same
772
00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:38,342
question, you were very clear
that it was possible that there
773
00:34:38,342 --> 00:34:40,344
would be some sort of
meeting, indicating that
774
00:34:40,344 --> 00:34:41,412
you were open to it.
775
00:34:41,411 --> 00:34:44,047
That doesn't seem to be what
you're saying here now.
776
00:34:44,047 --> 00:34:46,817
Or is it fair to say that
you're not interested
777
00:34:46,818 --> 00:34:50,154
in having a similar
informal kind of meeting?
778
00:34:50,154 --> 00:34:53,724
Or are you saying that it
is possible that this
779
00:34:53,724 --> 00:34:55,560
could happen next week?
780
00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:56,893
Mr. Earnest: I think what I'm
trying to convey -- the reason
781
00:34:56,893 --> 00:35:00,865
that it was trickier then is
that it was a pretty --
782
00:35:00,865 --> 00:35:03,533
the conversation that occurred
between President Obama
783
00:35:03,534 --> 00:35:06,571
and President Rouhani last year
was historic because it was
784
00:35:06,571 --> 00:35:08,806
the first conversation
between the Iranian President
785
00:35:08,806 --> 00:35:11,776
and the American President
in 30 or 40 years.
786
00:35:11,776 --> 00:35:17,615
So now that -- the historical
significance of a conversation
787
00:35:17,615 --> 00:35:19,683
this year would be
somewhat different.
788
00:35:19,684 --> 00:35:20,718
The Press: Well, it would
still be historical.
789
00:35:20,718 --> 00:35:21,685
Mr. Earnest: It
would be interesting.
790
00:35:21,686 --> 00:35:23,187
The Press: Well, it would
still be historical -- I mean,
791
00:35:23,187 --> 00:35:24,221
it would definitely be
historical if they met
792
00:35:24,222 --> 00:35:25,623
in person or shook hands.
793
00:35:25,623 --> 00:35:26,424
Mr. Earnest: It
would be interesting.
794
00:35:26,424 --> 00:35:27,024
It would be interesting.
795
00:35:27,024 --> 00:35:27,491
The Press: I don't think
you would dispute that.
796
00:35:27,492 --> 00:35:28,459
Mr. Earnest: It
would be interesting.
797
00:35:28,459 --> 00:35:29,961
I think what I'm trying to
convey is I don't know
798
00:35:29,961 --> 00:35:32,263
of a specific plan for that
to occur at this time.
799
00:35:32,263 --> 00:35:33,898
But if it does, if something
like that is added
800
00:35:33,898 --> 00:35:35,433
to the President's schedule,
then we'll, of course,
801
00:35:35,433 --> 00:35:36,267
let you know.
802
00:35:36,267 --> 00:35:37,535
The Press: Is that
a possibility?
803
00:35:37,535 --> 00:35:39,770
Mr. Earnest: Right now, there
are no plans to do that.
804
00:35:39,770 --> 00:35:42,006
But if it changes,
we'll let you know.
805
00:35:42,006 --> 00:35:52,316
J.C.
806
00:35:52,316 --> 00:35:54,317
The Press: To follow up
a bit on Ed's question,
807
00:35:54,318 --> 00:35:56,320
take it another step,
U.S.-Russian relations has seen
808
00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:57,321
better times, needless to say.
809
00:35:57,321 --> 00:35:59,323
However, would the President
enlist -- Mr. Earnest: I mean,
810
00:35:59,323 --> 00:36:01,325
I think you could say that
Russia's relationship with
811
00:36:01,325 --> 00:36:03,294
the Western world has
seen better times.
812
00:36:03,294 --> 00:36:05,296
They're probably at their
low point since the end
813
00:36:05,296 --> 00:36:06,297
of the Cold War.
814
00:36:06,297 --> 00:36:08,299
Russia's actions that are
destabilizing in Ukraine have
815
00:36:08,299 --> 00:36:10,301
isolated them from much of
Europe and the world because
816
00:36:10,301 --> 00:36:12,303
they've refused to sort of
contribute to the situation
817
00:36:12,303 --> 00:36:13,304
in a positive way.
818
00:36:13,304 --> 00:36:15,306
But, yes, that includes
the United States.
819
00:36:15,306 --> 00:36:17,308
The Press: Then my question
may be even more poignant.
820
00:36:17,308 --> 00:36:18,309
Mr. Earnest: Okay.
821
00:36:18,309 --> 00:36:19,310
The Press: Thank you.
822
00:36:19,310 --> 00:36:20,311
(laughter)
823
00:36:20,311 --> 00:36:21,312
The Press:
Pointed, poignant?
824
00:36:21,312 --> 00:36:23,314
The Press: Poignant,
pungent, whatever.
825
00:36:23,314 --> 00:36:24,315
(laughter)
826
00:36:24,315 --> 00:36:26,317
I'll ask --
however, I will ask it.
827
00:36:26,317 --> 00:36:29,487
Would the President consider
reaching out to President Putin
828
00:36:29,487 --> 00:36:35,526
on behalf of his and the Western
allies and regional allies
829
00:36:35,526 --> 00:36:40,531
to denigrate ISIL, especially
considering, as Ed was saying,
830
00:36:40,531 --> 00:36:42,166
Syria, that issue?
831
00:36:42,166 --> 00:36:44,569
Is there a strong relationship
with Syria and President Assad?
832
00:36:44,569 --> 00:36:47,505
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
a couple things about that.
833
00:36:47,505 --> 00:36:50,708
The first is the President is
looking forward to the meeting
834
00:36:50,708 --> 00:36:53,644
that he's having with President
Poroshenko here at the White
835
00:36:53,644 --> 00:36:57,147
House later this week, and that
will be an opportunity for him
836
00:36:57,148 --> 00:37:01,485
to discuss the latest as it
relates to their efforts to lock
837
00:37:01,485 --> 00:37:05,556
down the cease-fire, get
both sides to agree to it.
838
00:37:05,556 --> 00:37:07,558
And that will be a very
important meeting,
839
00:37:07,558 --> 00:37:09,560
and one the President
looks forward to.
840
00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:11,562
As it relates to
President Putin,
841
00:37:11,562 --> 00:37:13,564
I don't have any meetings
with President Putin
842
00:37:13,564 --> 00:37:15,165
to announce at this point.
843
00:37:15,166 --> 00:37:17,168
It could be added
to the schedule,
844
00:37:17,168 --> 00:37:21,372
but I don't have anything like
that to announce at this point.
845
00:37:21,372 --> 00:37:26,978
Clearly, Russia, like much
of the developed world,
846
00:37:26,978 --> 00:37:32,984
the civilized world is
rightly concerned about ISIL.
847
00:37:35,319 --> 00:37:37,989
They are concerned because of
the destabilizing impact
848
00:37:37,989 --> 00:37:42,460
that this terrible group
is having on the region.
849
00:37:42,460 --> 00:37:45,196
They're rightly concerned about
this issue of foreign fighters,
850
00:37:45,196 --> 00:37:47,198
something that we've
talked about from here.
851
00:37:47,198 --> 00:37:49,200
These are individuals with
foreign passports that have
852
00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:53,671
traveled to the region to take
up the fight alongside ISIL.
853
00:37:53,671 --> 00:37:55,673
And there is the concern
that these individuals,
854
00:37:55,673 --> 00:37:59,243
after getting some training and
equipment and becoming further
855
00:37:59,243 --> 00:38:01,712
radicalized, could return back
to the country from which they
856
00:38:01,712 --> 00:38:06,050
originated and carry
out acts of violence.
857
00:38:06,050 --> 00:38:09,520
So I think President Putin -- at
least I've heard him publicly
858
00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:12,623
articulate a concern about this.
859
00:38:12,623 --> 00:38:17,094
And in the same way that we
have sought to try to work
860
00:38:17,094 --> 00:38:19,230
constructively with the
Russians where possible,
861
00:38:19,230 --> 00:38:24,135
where our interests align,
notwithstanding our differences,
862
00:38:24,135 --> 00:38:26,570
I would anticipate that there
may be an opportunity for
863
00:38:26,570 --> 00:38:28,939
us to find a constructive way
to work with the Russians
864
00:38:28,939 --> 00:38:30,241
on this too.
865
00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:33,044
It was just a year ago that
the United States embarked
866
00:38:33,044 --> 00:38:35,346
on an effort, working
closely with the Russians,
867
00:38:35,346 --> 00:38:38,382
to destroy Syria's declared
chemical weapons stockpile.
868
00:38:38,382 --> 00:38:41,152
That was an effort that was
successfully completed
869
00:38:41,152 --> 00:38:42,586
earlier this year.
870
00:38:42,586 --> 00:38:44,587
That effort would not have
been successful without
871
00:38:44,588 --> 00:38:46,657
the cooperation and
coordination with the Russians.
872
00:38:46,657 --> 00:38:49,660
That's evidence of our
ability to coordinate
873
00:38:49,660 --> 00:38:54,098
on high-priority issues in
this region of the world.
874
00:38:54,098 --> 00:38:56,100
And if there's an opportunity
for us to do that as it relates
875
00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:58,536
to ISIL, I'm sure that we'll
take advantage
876
00:38:58,536 --> 00:38:59,270
of that opportunity.
877
00:38:59,270 --> 00:38:59,603
The Press: Thank you.
878
00:38:59,603 --> 00:39:00,237
Mr. Earnest: Mike.
879
00:39:00,237 --> 00:39:01,472
The Press: But that could
go on for ages, Josh.
880
00:39:01,472 --> 00:39:02,106
Mr. Earnest: Mike, go ahead.
881
00:39:02,106 --> 00:39:03,674
The Press: Just to get
back to Ebola real quick.
882
00:39:03,674 --> 00:39:07,578
You mentioned the part of the
President's interview where
883
00:39:07,578 --> 00:39:11,916
he talked about the
fear of it mutating.
884
00:39:11,916 --> 00:39:16,287
Is that a sort of a hypothetical
musing on his part or is it
885
00:39:16,287 --> 00:39:20,890
accurate to describe the
government of the United States
886
00:39:20,891 --> 00:39:24,328
worried about the
likelihood of that mutation?
887
00:39:24,328 --> 00:39:27,631
And is he reflecting a kind of
sense of the medical community
888
00:39:27,631 --> 00:39:31,202
that this is a real danger
and a real possibility?
889
00:39:31,202 --> 00:39:32,303
Mr. Earnest: I think what
the President was trying
890
00:39:32,303 --> 00:39:35,873
to articulate is the risk
associated with failing
891
00:39:35,873 --> 00:39:39,310
to aggressively respond
to the situation.
892
00:39:39,310 --> 00:39:42,246
I think it is -- I'm
certainly not a scientist,
893
00:39:42,246 --> 00:39:44,281
and I don't have any
special knowledge of Ebola.
894
00:39:44,281 --> 00:39:46,283
But my understanding based
on public reports is that
895
00:39:46,283 --> 00:39:48,853
if the disease is contained
relatively soon,
896
00:39:48,853 --> 00:39:52,523
that the risk of a mutation
like this is pretty low.
897
00:39:52,523 --> 00:39:55,259
I think what the President was
illustrating is that if we
898
00:39:55,259 --> 00:39:58,596
didn't respond aggressively, and
as the only nation in the world
899
00:39:58,596 --> 00:40:01,966
-- the world's indispensable
nation -- we have unique
900
00:40:01,966 --> 00:40:04,067
capabilities to
respond to this.
901
00:40:04,068 --> 00:40:06,070
That's why it's in
our interest to do so;
902
00:40:06,070 --> 00:40:08,172
that if we fail to respond to
this and we allow the virus
903
00:40:08,172 --> 00:40:10,875
to spiral out of control, there
is the potential that it could
904
00:40:10,875 --> 00:40:13,878
mutate in a way that could end
up being dangerous for people
905
00:40:13,878 --> 00:40:15,546
back here in the U.S.
906
00:40:15,546 --> 00:40:18,381
Right now, the risk of an Ebola
outbreak in the United States
907
00:40:18,382 --> 00:40:21,051
is very low.
908
00:40:21,051 --> 00:40:24,188
But that risk would only
increase if there were not
909
00:40:24,188 --> 00:40:26,323
a robust response on the
part of the United States.
910
00:40:26,323 --> 00:40:29,292
And that's why the President --
among other things -- that's one
911
00:40:29,293 --> 00:40:31,996
of the things that's motivating
the President to direct
912
00:40:31,996 --> 00:40:32,997
an aggressive response.
913
00:40:32,997 --> 00:40:36,167
The Press: But to the specific
question of the mutation,
914
00:40:36,167 --> 00:40:38,669
of the possibility
of the mutation,
915
00:40:38,669 --> 00:40:42,373
he's -- by raising that, he's
not suggesting that there is
916
00:40:42,373 --> 00:40:45,376
some concern on the part of the
medical community in the United
917
00:40:45,376 --> 00:40:49,513
States that that possibility is
that there's some likelihood
918
00:40:49,513 --> 00:40:52,883
of that mutation happening,
and that there is some
919
00:40:52,883 --> 00:40:55,653
increased level of
concern that you know of?
920
00:40:55,653 --> 00:40:58,555
Mr. Earnest: I think what the
President was trying to describe
921
00:40:58,556 --> 00:41:03,360
is that that likelihood
remains very low right now,
922
00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:09,099
but it only increases the
further that this virus is
923
00:41:09,099 --> 00:41:12,903
allowed to spread, and that is
what's -- that is an important
924
00:41:12,903 --> 00:41:15,506
part of what's motivating the
President to direct such a
925
00:41:15,506 --> 00:41:19,042
robust response to the situation
that right now does not pose
926
00:41:19,043 --> 00:41:21,879
a significant threat
to the United States.
927
00:41:21,879 --> 00:41:22,880
Jim.
928
00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:24,882
The Press: Has the President
authorized the Pentagon
929
00:41:24,882 --> 00:41:28,586
to target individual leaders
of ISIS in Syria or Iraq?
930
00:41:28,586 --> 00:41:32,423
And I know in the past the
White House has said that
931
00:41:32,423 --> 00:41:35,692
senior leaders of al Qaeda
have been decimated.
932
00:41:35,693 --> 00:41:38,262
Do you want to see the same
thing happen with ISIS?
933
00:41:38,262 --> 00:41:40,631
Do you want to take
those leaders out?
934
00:41:40,631 --> 00:41:43,000
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I
will say that the President
935
00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:52,509
is still reviewing the
plans and proposals that
936
00:41:52,509 --> 00:41:55,212
the Department of Defense has
been hard at work developing.
937
00:41:56,113 --> 00:42:03,821
When this situation first
cropped up -- I'm specifically
938
00:42:03,821 --> 00:42:07,625
referring to the significant
advance that ISIL made across
939
00:42:07,625 --> 00:42:11,161
western and northern Iraq
back in June -- the President
940
00:42:11,161 --> 00:42:15,399
immediately directed the United
States military to increase
941
00:42:15,399 --> 00:42:17,634
significantly the
amount of intelligence,
942
00:42:17,635 --> 00:42:21,906
surveillance and reconnaissance
missions that were conducted
943
00:42:21,906 --> 00:42:23,407
in that region of the world.
944
00:42:23,407 --> 00:42:27,778
And that has been part and
parcel of an effort to improve
945
00:42:27,778 --> 00:42:30,113
our knowledge about the
situation on the ground.
946
00:42:30,114 --> 00:42:33,050
Pentagon planners, in turn, have
used that knowledge to develop
947
00:42:33,050 --> 00:42:36,553
some plans and target lists and
other things for the President
948
00:42:36,553 --> 00:42:44,060
to consider as he puts
together a military strategy
949
00:42:44,061 --> 00:42:46,463
for confronting ISIL.
950
00:42:46,463 --> 00:42:48,465
This is a strategy
that involves,
951
00:42:48,465 --> 00:42:50,701
as we've talked about
here a little bit already,
952
00:42:50,701 --> 00:42:52,703
training and equipping
soldiers on the ground.
953
00:42:52,703 --> 00:42:55,306
In Iraq, that means Iraqi
and Kurdish security forces.
954
00:42:55,306 --> 00:42:58,309
In Syria, that means ramping up
our assistance to the Syrian
955
00:42:58,309 --> 00:43:01,278
opposition fighters to take the
fight to ISIL on the ground.
956
00:43:01,278 --> 00:43:04,515
And they can be backed up with
American military airpower.
957
00:43:04,515 --> 00:43:11,254
But those plans are still being
reviewed by the President,
958
00:43:11,255 --> 00:43:13,757
and -- The Press: So in terms
of authorizing airstrikes,
959
00:43:13,757 --> 00:43:14,758
you're not there yet?
960
00:43:14,758 --> 00:43:16,759
You're not ready to
announce that yet?
961
00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:18,896
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are --
The Press: I mean strikes
962
00:43:18,896 --> 00:43:19,897
on individual leaders.
963
00:43:19,897 --> 00:43:22,099
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
airstrikes that the President
964
00:43:22,099 --> 00:43:25,235
has already ordered in Iraq, and
some 150 or so have already
965
00:43:25,235 --> 00:43:27,538
been carried out.
966
00:43:27,538 --> 00:43:31,575
But as it relates to the
specific plans that the
967
00:43:31,575 --> 00:43:33,810
President is reviewing, I don't
have additional insight to share
968
00:43:33,811 --> 00:43:34,812
with you about them right now.
969
00:43:34,812 --> 00:43:37,214
The Press: When you said
degrade or destroy ISIS,
970
00:43:37,214 --> 00:43:40,017
that should mean take out their
leadership -- isn't that right?
971
00:43:40,017 --> 00:43:45,356
Mr. Earnest: Well, depriving
these organizations of leaders,
972
00:43:45,356 --> 00:43:48,025
either on the battlefield or in
command and control centers,
973
00:43:48,025 --> 00:43:50,527
certainly would have the effect
of degrading and possibly
974
00:43:50,527 --> 00:43:51,962
ultimately destroying them.
975
00:43:51,962 --> 00:43:58,535
But I don't want to get ahead
of any decision-making at the
976
00:43:58,535 --> 00:44:00,537
presidential level that
still needs to be done.
977
00:44:00,537 --> 00:44:03,941
The Press: And getting back to
the coalition that the President
978
00:44:03,941 --> 00:44:07,176
is building and that the
Secretary of State is building,
979
00:44:07,177 --> 00:44:08,846
I know you don't want to talk
about which states are doing
980
00:44:08,846 --> 00:44:11,448
what, or who is going to
be involved and so forth,
981
00:44:11,448 --> 00:44:16,920
but it is the goal of this White
House to have a coalition that
982
00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:21,392
extends beyond the United States
that will engage in these
983
00:44:21,392 --> 00:44:23,594
military actions, these
kinetic military actions
984
00:44:23,594 --> 00:44:24,595
in Iraq and Syria.
985
00:44:24,595 --> 00:44:27,064
It wouldn't be a
success, would it,
986
00:44:27,064 --> 00:44:29,899
if you had a coalition that
did not have other countries
987
00:44:29,900 --> 00:44:32,069
participating in
airstrikes, would it?
988
00:44:32,069 --> 00:44:35,639
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, what
we are seeking is the robust
989
00:44:35,639 --> 00:44:39,610
contribution of nations in the
region and around the world
990
00:44:39,610 --> 00:44:42,046
to this allied effort.
991
00:44:42,046 --> 00:44:46,582
And we would anticipate that we
will have countries that have
992
00:44:46,583 --> 00:44:49,119
significant military
capabilities contributing
993
00:44:49,119 --> 00:44:50,320
to this broader effort.
994
00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:52,656
Now, as I mentioned -- or I
guess as I sort of alluded to
995
00:44:52,656 --> 00:44:56,125
with Ed, there are a variety of
ways in which member countries
996
00:44:56,126 --> 00:44:58,128
can contribute militarily
to this effort.
997
00:44:58,128 --> 00:45:00,931
It doesn't just mean carrying
out airstrikes themselves.
998
00:45:00,931 --> 00:45:03,834
It could include providing
some logistical support.
999
00:45:03,834 --> 00:45:07,270
It could include refueling.
1000
00:45:07,271 --> 00:45:11,475
There are other surveillance
efforts that other nations could
1001
00:45:11,475 --> 00:45:14,978
undertake that would contribute
to broader military success.
1002
00:45:14,978 --> 00:45:17,014
There are a lot of different
ways to contribute militarily
1003
00:45:17,014 --> 00:45:18,315
to this coalition.
1004
00:45:18,315 --> 00:45:20,851
So I don't want to
get ahead, again,
1005
00:45:20,851 --> 00:45:24,154
of any specific commitments
that have been made by members
1006
00:45:24,154 --> 00:45:25,155
of this coalition.
1007
00:45:25,155 --> 00:45:27,257
The Press: And just to go back
to what Denis McDonough said
1008
00:45:27,257 --> 00:45:30,561
yesterday, he was asked on a
number of occasions about boots
1009
00:45:30,561 --> 00:45:33,564
on the ground, and he reiterated
that you're really looking
1010
00:45:33,564 --> 00:45:36,600
at Iraqi and Syrian
boots on the ground,
1011
00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:40,069
and potentially some other
partners that may come
1012
00:45:40,070 --> 00:45:40,671
into the mix.
1013
00:45:40,671 --> 00:45:44,174
But you've heard some critics up
on Capitol Hill say that
1014
00:45:44,174 --> 00:45:47,277
that's just too limiting.
1015
00:45:47,277 --> 00:45:52,015
Any second thoughts about just
taking that completely
1016
00:45:52,015 --> 00:45:53,450
off the table?
1017
00:45:53,450 --> 00:45:56,053
Are you saying that
that will never occur,
1018
00:45:56,053 --> 00:45:57,354
U.S. combat boots on
the ground?
1019
00:45:57,354 --> 00:46:00,790
What if this escalates
and becomes a longer,
1020
00:46:00,791 --> 00:46:04,061
more protracted battle
than you anticipated?
1021
00:46:06,463 --> 00:46:08,265
Mr. Earnest: Jim, I can say
definitively that the President
1022
00:46:08,265 --> 00:46:11,535
has ruled out sending
American boots on the ground
1023
00:46:11,535 --> 00:46:15,471
to be engaged in a combat
role in Iraq and in Syria.
1024
00:46:15,472 --> 00:46:18,308
The strategy that the President
has put forward to deal with the
1025
00:46:18,308 --> 00:46:21,845
threat posed by ISIL in Iraq
and Syria is substantially
1026
00:46:21,845 --> 00:46:23,846
different from the strategy
that was put in place
1027
00:46:23,847 --> 00:46:27,818
in advance of the last
conflict in Iraq.
1028
00:46:27,818 --> 00:46:30,621
What we're considering here
is more akin to the kinds
1029
00:46:30,621 --> 00:46:33,357
of counterterrorism operations
that have been successfully
1030
00:46:33,357 --> 00:46:35,625
implemented in some other
regions of the world.
1031
00:46:35,626 --> 00:46:41,565
And those other countries, using
some of our military capability,
1032
00:46:41,565 --> 00:46:45,269
using our support for local
fighters on the ground who could
1033
00:46:45,269 --> 00:46:48,138
take the fight in their own
country to the extremist
1034
00:46:48,138 --> 00:46:50,374
organizations that
are operating there,
1035
00:46:50,374 --> 00:46:52,576
and building up the local
government structures of some
1036
00:46:52,576 --> 00:46:55,579
of these other nations -- that
that has been a successful
1037
00:46:55,579 --> 00:46:59,316
strategy for mitigating
the threat, and even
1038
00:46:59,316 --> 00:47:01,551
degrading the threat
that is posed by --
1039
00:47:01,552 --> 00:47:02,619
The Press: Where has that
strategy been successful?
1040
00:47:02,619 --> 00:47:03,687
Mr. Earnest: Well,
they're places like --
1041
00:47:03,687 --> 00:47:04,721
The Press: Not
Somalia or Yemen.
1042
00:47:04,721 --> 00:47:06,323
Mr. Earnest: Well, those are
actually two of the countries
1043
00:47:06,323 --> 00:47:07,558
that I was just going to cite.
1044
00:47:07,558 --> 00:47:10,194
There is no doubt that in these
two places the United States
1045
00:47:10,194 --> 00:47:10,894
has deployed --
1046
00:47:10,894 --> 00:47:11,461
The Press: Somalia --
1047
00:47:11,461 --> 00:47:13,096
Mr. Earnest: Let me finish.
1048
00:47:13,096 --> 00:47:18,268
That when the United States
has deployed a strategy,
1049
00:47:18,268 --> 00:47:20,270
that strategy has been
specifically to work with local
1050
00:47:20,270 --> 00:47:22,272
governments to build up the
capacity of those central
1051
00:47:22,272 --> 00:47:24,274
governments, to work with local
fighters to make sure that we're
1052
00:47:24,274 --> 00:47:26,276
increasing their capacity so
that they can take the fight
1053
00:47:26,276 --> 00:47:28,278
on the ground to these
extremist organizations,
1054
00:47:28,278 --> 00:47:30,680
and, where necessary, American
military might can be deployed
1055
00:47:30,681 --> 00:47:35,052
in support of those fighters
on the ground to degrade
1056
00:47:35,052 --> 00:47:37,154
the capacity of those
individual organizations.
1057
00:47:37,154 --> 00:47:42,960
And just a couple of weeks ago,
we saw an effort in Somalia,
1058
00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:46,196
led by Somalian fighters,
to take out the leader
1059
00:47:46,196 --> 00:47:47,798
of al-Shabaab in that country.
1060
00:47:47,798 --> 00:47:51,667
That will have the effect
of degrading and ultimately
1061
00:47:51,668 --> 00:47:52,869
defeating al-Shabaab.
1062
00:47:52,869 --> 00:47:54,238
Is that mission completed?
1063
00:47:54,238 --> 00:47:55,239
Of course not.
1064
00:47:55,239 --> 00:47:59,109
They continue to
serve as a threat.
1065
00:47:59,109 --> 00:48:02,479
But there is no doubt that this
strategy has been successful.
1066
00:48:02,479 --> 00:48:03,247
The Press: You're holding up
those countries
1067
00:48:03,247 --> 00:48:04,548
as success stories, though.
1068
00:48:04,548 --> 00:48:06,683
Mr. Earnest: What I'm holding
them up as -- as a place --
1069
00:48:06,683 --> 00:48:07,684
The Press: You've had some
successes here and there,
1070
00:48:07,684 --> 00:48:09,219
but you wouldn't hold them
up as success stories.
1071
00:48:09,219 --> 00:48:11,555
Mr. Earnest: They are a
place where the American
1072
00:48:11,555 --> 00:48:13,857
counterterrorism strategy
that has been put in place by
1073
00:48:13,857 --> 00:48:17,227
President Obama has succeeded in
degrading the threat that
1074
00:48:17,227 --> 00:48:19,229
those organizations pay
to the United States.
1075
00:48:19,229 --> 00:48:25,301
And we intend to implement an
analogous strategy against ISIL.
1076
00:48:25,302 --> 00:48:26,837
Go ahead, Sam.
1077
00:48:28,005 --> 00:48:28,805
The Press: In light
of what you just said,
1078
00:48:28,805 --> 00:48:31,808
there were reports this
weekend that ISIL has struck
1079
00:48:31,808 --> 00:48:35,279
a non-aggression pact with some
of the moderate Syrian rebels.
1080
00:48:35,279 --> 00:48:38,115
In light of what you just said
about arming people on the
1081
00:48:38,115 --> 00:48:41,051
ground to take the fight for
the U.S., are you troubled
1082
00:48:41,051 --> 00:48:42,052
by these reports?
1083
00:48:42,052 --> 00:48:43,053
What should we make of them?
1084
00:48:43,053 --> 00:48:44,054
Mr. Earnest: I'm not.
1085
00:48:44,054 --> 00:48:46,790
I'm just looking this up because
there is a -- I know that there
1086
00:48:46,790 --> 00:48:50,093
was a statement from this
moderate opposition group to
1087
00:48:50,093 --> 00:48:56,133
indicate that those reports
of a cease-fire were not true.
1088
00:48:56,133 --> 00:48:59,903
This is the Syrian
Revolutionaries Front,
1089
00:48:59,903 --> 00:49:02,205
and that's the group that's
mentioned in the story
1090
00:49:02,205 --> 00:49:03,373
that you're referencing.
1091
00:49:03,373 --> 00:49:05,976
They've issued a statement
indicating that they never
1092
00:49:05,976 --> 00:49:09,946
ceased hostilities with ISIL and
will continue to fight ISIL
1093
00:49:09,946 --> 00:49:10,947
and the regime.
1094
00:49:10,947 --> 00:49:13,517
In fact, I understand that
right now, as we speak,
1095
00:49:13,517 --> 00:49:17,654
that the SRF and ISIL are
currently fighting in a suburb
1096
00:49:17,654 --> 00:49:21,191
in Syria and in the suburb
that's referenced in the article
1097
00:49:21,191 --> 00:49:24,026
-- they actually continue to
fight one another -- and that
1098
00:49:24,027 --> 00:49:27,064
the SRF and other elements of
the moderate opposition
1099
00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:29,598
have joined forces over the
last couple of months
1100
00:49:29,599 --> 00:49:33,070
to try to push ISIL
out of the region.
1101
00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:37,441
Now, I know that there are some
claims that suggest that one
1102
00:49:37,441 --> 00:49:43,113
local brigade of the Syrian
Revolutionaries Front reached
1103
00:49:43,113 --> 00:49:47,250
a 24-hour agreement with ISIL
that quickly broke down,
1104
00:49:47,250 --> 00:49:49,486
but it was intended to allow
both sides to retrieve the
1105
00:49:49,486 --> 00:49:51,654
bodies of their fighters
who had been killed
1106
00:49:51,655 --> 00:49:53,390
in the ongoing conflict there.
1107
00:49:53,390 --> 00:49:54,024
But I --
1108
00:49:54,024 --> 00:49:56,026
The Press: You're
confident that U.S. diplomacy
1109
00:49:56,026 --> 00:49:57,493
to these moderate
Syrians will outweigh ISIS's
1110
00:49:57,494 --> 00:49:58,662
diplomacy plan?
1111
00:49:58,662 --> 00:49:59,796
That they -- sorry --
1112
00:49:59,796 --> 00:50:04,234
(laughter)
1113
00:50:04,234 --> 00:50:06,536
-- that they -- my train
1114
00:50:06,536 --> 00:50:09,639
of thought is still lost -- that
they won't end up being much
1115
00:50:09,639 --> 00:50:11,241
more persuasive than we are?
1116
00:50:11,241 --> 00:50:14,009
I mean, they're fighting
right there alongside them.
1117
00:50:14,010 --> 00:50:14,444
Also --
1118
00:50:14,444 --> 00:50:15,612
Mr. Earnest: Well, they're
not fighting alongside them.
1119
00:50:15,612 --> 00:50:16,847
They're actually fighting them.
1120
00:50:16,847 --> 00:50:18,248
And they have been
for three years.
1121
00:50:18,248 --> 00:50:20,617
The Press: But related to that,
the German ambassador was quoted
1122
00:50:20,617 --> 00:50:23,053
in the New York Times saying
that the reason Germany won't
1123
00:50:23,053 --> 00:50:25,489
provide weapons to the moderate
Syrian rebels is that they have
1124
00:50:25,489 --> 00:50:28,492
no confidence where those
weapons will end up.
1125
00:50:28,492 --> 00:50:30,994
Why are we so much more
confident about the final
1126
00:50:30,994 --> 00:50:33,697
destination of the weapons
than the Germans are?
1127
00:50:33,697 --> 00:50:36,199
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say
that we do have more confidence
1128
00:50:36,199 --> 00:50:39,870
in the kinds of relationships
that the international community
1129
00:50:39,870 --> 00:50:43,272
has with the opposition fighters
because the opposition fighters
1130
00:50:43,273 --> 00:50:45,275
are not fighting the
international community --
1131
00:50:45,275 --> 00:50:46,443
they're fighting ISIL.
1132
00:50:46,443 --> 00:50:49,279
So I'm skeptical that ISIL is
going to have a whole lot of
1133
00:50:49,279 --> 00:50:53,850
success approaching them
and achieving a diplomatic
1134
00:50:53,850 --> 00:50:55,252
breakthrough.
1135
00:50:55,252 --> 00:50:58,388
Secondly, as it relates to our
efforts to build relationships
1136
00:50:58,388 --> 00:51:01,091
with these opposition fighters,
over the course of the last
1137
00:51:01,091 --> 00:51:04,528
three years, the administration
has been seeking to build
1138
00:51:04,528 --> 00:51:07,531
relationships and get greater
understanding into who these
1139
00:51:07,531 --> 00:51:11,034
individuals are and what
cause they represent.
1140
00:51:11,034 --> 00:51:16,840
And that does give us greater
confidence in our ability to
1141
00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:20,777
provide support and training and
equipment to those individuals
1142
00:51:20,777 --> 00:51:23,079
who will use that support,
training and equipment in a way
1143
00:51:23,079 --> 00:51:24,414
that's consistent with U.S.
1144
00:51:24,414 --> 00:51:25,715
interests.
1145
00:51:25,715 --> 00:51:26,716
Major.
1146
00:51:26,716 --> 00:51:28,952
The Press: So what's more
likely: A meeting with President
1147
00:51:28,952 --> 00:51:32,289
Rouhani or meeting with
President Putin at UNGA?
1148
00:51:32,289 --> 00:51:32,823
(laughter)
1149
00:51:32,823 --> 00:51:33,290
Mr. Earnest: I
welcome your interest in the
1150
00:51:33,290 --> 00:51:35,492
President's schedule at the
United Nations General Assembly.
1151
00:51:35,492 --> 00:51:38,662
It will be -- The Press: Which
would be more beneficial?
1152
00:51:38,662 --> 00:51:41,430
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't know
that either of those individuals
1153
00:51:41,431 --> 00:51:43,934
will appear on the President's
dance card next week.
1154
00:51:43,934 --> 00:51:46,369
So when we have the
President's schedule laid out,
1155
00:51:46,369 --> 00:51:47,370
we can discuss it.
1156
00:51:47,370 --> 00:51:49,372
The Press: When you said that
Russia is rightly concerned
1157
00:51:49,372 --> 00:51:51,774
about ISIL, it sounded to me
as if you were indicating that
1158
00:51:51,775 --> 00:51:54,978
there might be something that
we're discussing with them that
1159
00:51:54,978 --> 00:51:58,181
is indicating to this
administration Russia might be
1160
00:51:58,181 --> 00:52:00,083
willing to play a role.
1161
00:52:00,083 --> 00:52:01,184
Are you trying to do that?
1162
00:52:01,184 --> 00:52:03,053
Mr. Earnest: I did not mean to
leave you with that impression.
1163
00:52:03,053 --> 00:52:04,587
There may be conversations
that are going on.
1164
00:52:04,588 --> 00:52:06,656
I don't happen to know
of them if there are.
1165
00:52:06,656 --> 00:52:09,692
I was merely trying to highlight
something that I think even
1166
00:52:09,693 --> 00:52:11,394
President Putin himself
has acknowledged,
1167
00:52:11,394 --> 00:52:15,564
which is that he has a similar
concern to the one that has been
1168
00:52:15,565 --> 00:52:18,335
expressed by leaders of
countries throughout Europe,
1169
00:52:18,335 --> 00:52:21,605
which is that there are
individuals who have traveled
1170
00:52:21,605 --> 00:52:24,641
to the region and taken up arms
alongside ISIL who pose a threat
1171
00:52:24,641 --> 00:52:25,809
to their home countries.
1172
00:52:25,809 --> 00:52:26,943
The Press: Would we
welcome their help?
1173
00:52:26,943 --> 00:52:28,011
And are we soliciting it?
1174
00:52:28,011 --> 00:52:30,947
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
don't know of any conversations
1175
00:52:30,947 --> 00:52:33,450
between U.S. officials
and Russian officials
1176
00:52:33,450 --> 00:52:35,218
on this specific topic.
1177
00:52:35,218 --> 00:52:38,587
I will just merely observe that
there have been areas where the
1178
00:52:38,588 --> 00:52:42,826
United States has been able to
work in a coordinated fashion
1179
00:52:42,826 --> 00:52:47,931
and a mutually beneficial
fashion to advance our interests
1180
00:52:47,931 --> 00:52:50,133
and advance the interests
of Russians as well.
1181
00:52:50,133 --> 00:52:52,602
So I certainly wouldn't rule out
those kinds of conversations,
1182
00:52:52,602 --> 00:52:54,971
and I certainly wouldn't rule
out that kind of coordination.
1183
00:52:54,971 --> 00:52:56,973
I just don't know if those
conversations have taken place
1184
00:52:56,973 --> 00:52:57,674
at this point.
1185
00:52:57,674 --> 00:52:59,643
The Press: It also seems to
me that today you're
1186
00:52:59,643 --> 00:53:01,444
kind of suggesting a
sequencing we should
1187
00:53:01,444 --> 00:53:02,779
familiarize ourselves with.
1188
00:53:02,779 --> 00:53:05,882
At UNGA next week, that's really
where the President is going
1189
00:53:05,882 --> 00:53:08,351
to try to lay down these
commitments or advise the Arab
1190
00:53:08,351 --> 00:53:11,421
nations to make public what
they've privately committed,
1191
00:53:11,421 --> 00:53:15,357
and that in the context of
a Security Council
1192
00:53:15,358 --> 00:53:17,561
and General Assembly
resolution, this will all
1193
00:53:17,561 --> 00:53:19,996
sort of carry with it
a greater degree
1194
00:53:19,996 --> 00:53:22,232
of international
legitimacy, and that's when
1195
00:53:22,232 --> 00:53:25,769
the expansion of this military
campaign will follow.
1196
00:53:25,769 --> 00:53:29,071
Is that a sequence that
you're trying to suggest
1197
00:53:29,072 --> 00:53:30,307
we get used to?
1198
00:53:30,307 --> 00:53:32,676
Mr. Earnest: Well, I wouldn't
say it quite that specifically.
1199
00:53:32,676 --> 00:53:35,412
Let's take one step
back from this,
1200
00:53:35,412 --> 00:53:39,816
which is that the
President has appointed --
1201
00:53:39,816 --> 00:53:42,886
or the Secretary of State has
appointed General John Allen
1202
00:53:42,886 --> 00:53:46,489
to take the lead in coordinating
the contributions of countries
1203
00:53:46,489 --> 00:53:50,327
who are going to be part
of this broader coalition.
1204
00:53:50,327 --> 00:53:52,996
General Allen is already
hard at work on that task,
1205
00:53:52,996 --> 00:53:54,998
and he'll be meeting with the
President tomorrow to give him
1206
00:53:54,998 --> 00:53:57,801
an update in terms of the
status of those commitments.
1207
00:53:57,801 --> 00:53:59,803
What the United States
is seeking to do,
1208
00:53:59,803 --> 00:54:02,839
however -- prior to announcing
public commitments from
1209
00:54:02,839 --> 00:54:07,844
countries or members of the
coalition -- is to put together
1210
00:54:07,844 --> 00:54:11,214
a list of essentially the
needs of the coalition.
1211
00:54:11,214 --> 00:54:15,250
We want to walk through a
checklist of all the needed
1212
00:54:15,251 --> 00:54:18,355
commitments, and then we'll go
back to individual countries
1213
00:54:18,355 --> 00:54:20,657
and ask them to fulfill
these individual --
1214
00:54:20,657 --> 00:54:22,058
these specific needs.
1215
00:54:22,058 --> 00:54:24,060
So there is some coordination
and integration that
1216
00:54:24,060 --> 00:54:25,061
needs to go on here.
1217
00:54:25,061 --> 00:54:31,401
Frankly, it is not -- it would
not be most effective for
1218
00:54:31,401 --> 00:54:34,004
countries around the world to be
issuing news releases about what
1219
00:54:34,004 --> 00:54:36,006
sort of commitments
they're willing to make
1220
00:54:36,006 --> 00:54:37,007
in a haphazard fashion.
1221
00:54:37,007 --> 00:54:39,576
Rather, what we're seeking to do
is to integrate and coordinate
1222
00:54:39,576 --> 00:54:43,613
those commitments in a way so
as to make sure that we have
1223
00:54:43,613 --> 00:54:47,082
an organized coalition
to support those who are
1224
00:54:47,083 --> 00:54:49,085
on the ground who are taking
the fight to ISIL.
1225
00:54:49,085 --> 00:54:51,087
The Press: Logically, that
work would culminate
1226
00:54:51,087 --> 00:54:53,056
at the General Assembly meeting so you would have
1227
00:54:53,056 --> 00:54:56,359
maximized, A, visibility,
and B, a sort of echo effect
1228
00:54:56,359 --> 00:55:00,397
in that assembly of the
world's greatest leaders.
1229
00:55:00,397 --> 00:55:02,599
Mr. Earnest: Well, I would
anticipate that conversations
1230
00:55:02,599 --> 00:55:05,001
with members of the coalition
will occur throughout this week.
1231
00:55:05,001 --> 00:55:08,571
And I would anticipate that some
face-to-face conversations
1232
00:55:08,571 --> 00:55:12,575
will also occur at the U.N. General Assembly next week.
1233
00:55:12,575 --> 00:55:15,979
So I'm not here to set
up a specific deadline,
1234
00:55:15,979 --> 00:55:19,214
but I can give you some
insight into the plan that
1235
00:55:19,215 --> 00:55:20,550
we're pursuing right now.
1236
00:55:20,550 --> 00:55:24,220
The Press: Quickly, on Ebola --
you said, as what we all know,
1237
00:55:24,220 --> 00:55:26,221
that the United States has
unique logistical capacity.
1238
00:55:26,222 --> 00:55:29,459
Is the United States doing
everything it can with
1239
00:55:29,459 --> 00:55:32,294
its logistical capacity
to address Ebola?
1240
00:55:32,295 --> 00:55:35,732
Mr. Earnest: Well, the President
will have more to say about this
1241
00:55:35,732 --> 00:55:39,703
tomorrow, and I would anticipate
that you'll see an announcement
1242
00:55:39,703 --> 00:55:41,738
related to ramping up
the kind of assistance
1243
00:55:41,738 --> 00:55:44,406
the United States can provide
to try to meet this need.
1244
00:55:44,407 --> 00:55:47,177
The Press: But there are,
besides beds and mobile
1245
00:55:47,177 --> 00:55:51,014
hospitals, there are two
enormous Navy ships that many
1246
00:55:51,014 --> 00:55:54,284
have argued would be perfect
for doing the kind of medicine
1247
00:55:54,284 --> 00:55:58,455
that's required to isolate and
treat victims of this disease
1248
00:55:58,455 --> 00:56:01,591
in Africa, and they're not,
so far as I understand,
1249
00:56:01,591 --> 00:56:03,093
even being considered.
1250
00:56:03,093 --> 00:56:05,095
And that's why I ask --
is the United States,
1251
00:56:05,095 --> 00:56:08,363
with its unique logistical
capacity and unique
1252
00:56:08,364 --> 00:56:13,002
capabilities, doing everything
it can to address this epidemic?
1253
00:56:13,002 --> 00:56:16,439
Mr. Earnest: I will reserve
further comment on this until
1254
00:56:16,439 --> 00:56:18,174
the President's
announcements tomorrow.
1255
00:56:18,174 --> 00:56:19,008
Jon.
1256
00:56:19,008 --> 00:56:22,578
The Press: Josh, I just want to
follow up on -- Jim asked you
1257
00:56:22,579 --> 00:56:24,447
about whether or not the
Pentagon has been given
1258
00:56:24,447 --> 00:56:29,586
the authority to go after
specific leaders of ISIL.
1259
00:56:29,586 --> 00:56:32,555
You said the President is still
reviewing options that have
1260
00:56:32,555 --> 00:56:34,022
been presented to him.
1261
00:56:34,023 --> 00:56:37,727
So are you saying that the
military right now does not
1262
00:56:37,727 --> 00:56:40,230
have the authority to conduct
airstrikes specifically
1263
00:56:40,230 --> 00:56:42,699
targeting leaders of ISIL?
1264
00:56:42,699 --> 00:56:45,902
That they can't specifically
target Baghdadi,
1265
00:56:45,902 --> 00:56:49,172
the leader of the group, or they
couldn't specifically target
1266
00:56:49,172 --> 00:56:51,141
the executioner we've
seen in those videos,
1267
00:56:51,141 --> 00:56:53,009
if we had intelligence
on where they were?
1268
00:56:53,009 --> 00:56:55,278
Will the military now have
the authority to do that
1269
00:56:55,278 --> 00:56:56,145
kind of an airstrike?
1270
00:56:56,146 --> 00:56:58,047
Mr. Earnest: Well,
let's separate a couple
1271
00:56:58,047 --> 00:56:58,615
of things here.
1272
00:56:58,615 --> 00:57:00,683
The first is, the
President has given orders
1273
00:57:00,683 --> 00:57:04,120
to the Department of Defense
as it relates to airstrikes
1274
00:57:04,120 --> 00:57:08,024
that they're already carrying
out in Iraq against ISIL.
1275
00:57:08,024 --> 00:57:10,627
As I think I've
been asked before,
1276
00:57:10,627 --> 00:57:13,496
the President is not required
to sign off on each of those
1277
00:57:13,496 --> 00:57:16,800
strikes, that they have a --
they have broad guidance that
1278
00:57:16,800 --> 00:57:18,635
the President has given them.
1279
00:57:18,635 --> 00:57:20,837
And they have carried out --
1280
00:57:20,837 --> 00:57:21,671
The Press: But the guidance hasn't --
1281
00:57:21,671 --> 00:57:22,739
Mr. Earnest: --
a large number of missions
1282
00:57:22,739 --> 00:57:24,240
under that guidance.
1283
00:57:24,240 --> 00:57:25,707
The Press: But the guidance
still has not included
1284
00:57:25,708 --> 00:57:27,477
individual leaders, which
is I think why Jim asked
1285
00:57:27,477 --> 00:57:28,611
you that question.
1286
00:57:28,611 --> 00:57:30,446
Are they now -- do they
now have a green light
1287
00:57:30,446 --> 00:57:32,015
to go after
individual leaders?
1288
00:57:32,015 --> 00:57:33,716
Mr. Earnest: Well, there has
been very specific guidance
1289
00:57:33,716 --> 00:57:35,518
that's been provided to the
Department of Defense about
1290
00:57:35,518 --> 00:57:40,190
what their -- what sort of
orders they've been given
1291
00:57:40,190 --> 00:57:41,391
by the Commander-in-Chief.
1292
00:57:41,391 --> 00:57:43,359
I'm not in a position to get
into the details of what
1293
00:57:43,359 --> 00:57:44,761
those communications are.
1294
00:57:44,761 --> 00:57:47,864
But, however, when it comes
to the individual that you
1295
00:57:47,864 --> 00:57:51,301
referenced, the person that we
know is culpable for the killing
1296
00:57:51,301 --> 00:57:56,506
of Mr. Foley and Mr. Sotloff,
that individual is someone
1297
00:57:56,506 --> 00:57:58,908
who, as the President
himself has said,
1298
00:57:58,908 --> 00:58:01,711
will face justice
for what he has done.
1299
00:58:01,711 --> 00:58:06,149
And we will -- and the President
has already articulated that
1300
00:58:06,149 --> 00:58:08,151
we will expend significant
resources to bring that
1301
00:58:08,151 --> 00:58:09,152
individual to justice.
1302
00:58:09,152 --> 00:58:11,354
The Press: Have you identified
who that person is yet?
1303
00:58:11,354 --> 00:58:13,356
Mr. Earnest: As we've said
for a couple of weeks now,
1304
00:58:13,356 --> 00:58:17,193
the United States is working
closely with our special
1305
00:58:17,193 --> 00:58:20,396
partners -- or our allies at
the -- in the United Kingdom
1306
00:58:20,396 --> 00:58:25,235
and other nations that have
intelligence and knowledge
1307
00:58:25,235 --> 00:58:28,104
of this specific region
of the world to try
1308
00:58:28,104 --> 00:58:30,106
to determine the identity of
that individual.
1309
00:58:30,106 --> 00:58:31,741
I don't have an update on
that process at this point.
1310
00:58:31,741 --> 00:58:32,575
The Press: And if I can
ask for a clarification
1311
00:58:32,575 --> 00:58:34,009
on what you said
about Iran.
1312
00:58:34,010 --> 00:58:34,711
Mr. Earnest: Sure.
1313
00:58:34,711 --> 00:58:36,578
The Press: You made it clear
that the United States will
1314
00:58:36,579 --> 00:58:39,215
not coordinate militarily or
in terms of intelligence
1315
00:58:39,215 --> 00:58:41,217
with the Iranians.
1316
00:58:41,217 --> 00:58:46,789
So I'm just wondering, what --
the Supreme Leader of Iran said
1317
00:58:46,789 --> 00:58:50,927
that the Iranian government has
turned down a request from
1318
00:58:50,927 --> 00:58:56,165
the United States for support
in the battle against ISIL.
1319
00:58:56,165 --> 00:59:00,236
So was there any request that
was made through back-channels
1320
00:59:00,236 --> 00:59:01,237
to the Iranians?
1321
00:59:01,237 --> 00:59:03,239
You've ruled out
military or intelligence.
1322
00:59:03,239 --> 00:59:05,408
Was there any other kind of a
request that was made by the
1323
00:59:05,408 --> 00:59:09,578
Iranians for cooperation in this
fight that he's now announcing
1324
00:59:09,579 --> 00:59:11,047
that they're turning down?
1325
00:59:11,047 --> 00:59:13,683
Mr. Earnest: Certainly
none that I'm aware of.
1326
00:59:13,683 --> 00:59:15,985
Like I said, the United States
does not coordinate military
1327
00:59:15,985 --> 00:59:18,254
action or share intelligence
with the Iranians.
1328
00:59:18,254 --> 00:59:20,522
And there have been a couple of
back-channel conversations that
1329
00:59:20,523 --> 00:59:23,126
have occurred, principally
through -- in the context
1330
00:59:23,126 --> 00:59:24,727
of the P5-plus-1 talks.
1331
00:59:24,727 --> 00:59:25,028
I know --
1332
00:59:25,028 --> 00:59:25,794
The Press: Back-channel
conversations about
1333
00:59:25,795 --> 00:59:26,996
Iraq and about ISIL?
1334
00:59:26,996 --> 00:59:28,097
Mr. Earnest: Well, those
conversations, yes,
1335
00:59:28,097 --> 00:59:29,966
were about this topic because
there is a shared interest
1336
00:59:29,966 --> 00:59:34,404
between our two countries.
1337
00:59:34,404 --> 00:59:36,406
There's so much that the
U.S. and Iran disagrees
1338
00:59:36,406 --> 00:59:38,408
on, but there is a shared
interest that we have here.
1339
00:59:38,408 --> 00:59:40,710
It is not in the interest of
Iran for this extremist group
1340
00:59:40,710 --> 00:59:45,214
to be wreaking havoc across
their -- the open territory
1341
00:59:45,214 --> 00:59:46,082
of their neighbor.
1342
00:59:46,082 --> 00:59:50,019
So we will -- I would anticipate
that there will continue
1343
00:59:50,019 --> 00:59:53,488
to be back-channel --
the occasional back-channel
1344
00:59:53,489 --> 00:59:56,259
conversation on this topic between the United States
1345
00:59:56,259 --> 00:59:58,261
and other members of the
international community
1346
00:59:58,261 --> 00:59:59,529
and the Iranians.
1347
00:59:59,529 --> 01:00:02,598
But our posture, as it relates
to not coordinating military
1348
01:00:02,598 --> 01:00:04,701
actions or sharing intelligence
with the Iranians,
1349
01:00:04,701 --> 01:00:06,436
hasn't changed and we don't
have a plan to change
1350
01:00:06,436 --> 01:00:07,470
that posture right now.
1351
01:00:07,470 --> 01:00:08,671
The Press: Okay, but I'm
asking -- just to clarify,
1352
01:00:08,671 --> 01:00:09,839
I'm asking a little
more broadly,
1353
01:00:09,839 --> 01:00:11,874
because the Supreme Leader
has come out and he said
1354
01:00:11,874 --> 01:00:14,509
that the Iranian government
is rejecting a request
1355
01:00:14,510 --> 01:00:16,145
from the United States
for cooperation.
1356
01:00:16,145 --> 01:00:18,247
And what you're saying is there
has been no -- there's been
1357
01:00:18,247 --> 01:00:20,249
meetings, there have
been discussions,
1358
01:00:20,249 --> 01:00:22,185
but there has been no request
from the United States
1359
01:00:22,185 --> 01:00:26,756
for cooperation of any kind
with the Iranians in this
1360
01:00:26,756 --> 01:00:28,524
battle against ISIL?
1361
01:00:28,524 --> 01:00:30,759
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, our
posture here is that we are
1362
01:00:30,760 --> 01:00:32,895
not going to coordinate our
military actions or our
1363
01:00:32,895 --> 01:00:37,333
intelligence-sharing
activities with the Iranians.
1364
01:00:37,333 --> 01:00:41,037
And I did not see the direct
quote from the Supreme Leader
1365
01:00:41,037 --> 01:00:45,841
so I'm not exactly sure
which aspect of -- what his
1366
01:00:45,842 --> 01:00:48,845
eventual point was, or
what he was alluding to.
1367
01:00:48,845 --> 01:00:53,883
But outside of a couple of
back-channel conversations in
1368
01:00:53,883 --> 01:00:56,185
which we talked about our shared
interests in confronting this
1369
01:00:56,185 --> 01:01:03,692
problem, our plans to not
coordinate our military actions
1370
01:01:03,693 --> 01:01:05,028
with Iran haven't changed.
1371
01:01:05,028 --> 01:01:05,962
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
1372
01:01:05,962 --> 01:01:06,729
Mr. Earnest: Alexis.
1373
01:01:06,729 --> 01:01:08,231
The Press: Josh, I have
two quick questions.
1374
01:01:08,231 --> 01:01:11,601
Just to follow up -- when you
were talking about Iran earlier,
1375
01:01:11,601 --> 01:01:15,471
you said those back-channel
conversations talked about
1376
01:01:15,471 --> 01:01:18,241
shared interests and plans.
1377
01:01:18,241 --> 01:01:21,411
So can you describe what you
mean when you say there's
1378
01:01:21,411 --> 01:01:23,513
been no coordination?
1379
01:01:23,513 --> 01:01:25,415
What's the definition of
coordination if we've
1380
01:01:25,415 --> 01:01:27,383
discussed plans?
1381
01:01:27,383 --> 01:01:28,984
Mr. Earnest: A lot of questions
about definitions the last
1382
01:01:28,985 --> 01:01:30,019
couple of briefings.
1383
01:01:30,019 --> 01:01:32,154
The Press: Well,
there's good reason.
1384
01:01:32,155 --> 01:01:33,656
Mr. Earnest: For good
reason, that's right.
1385
01:01:33,656 --> 01:01:36,959
I think what I'm trying to
convey to you is that there
1386
01:01:36,959 --> 01:01:40,430
is a reason for us to have
conversations with Iran on this
1387
01:01:40,430 --> 01:01:43,899
topic because we do have a
shared interest in degrading
1388
01:01:43,900 --> 01:01:46,602
and ultimately destroying ISIL.
1389
01:01:46,602 --> 01:01:49,772
It is not in the interest of
Iran for this extremist group
1390
01:01:49,772 --> 01:01:51,874
to be wreaking havoc
within the boundaries
1391
01:01:51,874 --> 01:01:53,709
of its neighboring country.
1392
01:01:53,709 --> 01:01:56,312
So we do have a shared interest,
and that shared interest
1393
01:01:56,312 --> 01:01:57,313
has been discussed.
1394
01:01:57,313 --> 01:02:02,218
The President has already
ordered military action in
1395
01:02:02,218 --> 01:02:05,888
pursuit of protecting
American citizens in Iraq.
1396
01:02:05,888 --> 01:02:08,290
And the President has indicated
that he's ready to order
1397
01:02:08,291 --> 01:02:11,427
additional military action to
accomplish our goal of degrading
1398
01:02:11,427 --> 01:02:13,463
and ultimately destroying ISIL.
1399
01:02:13,463 --> 01:02:15,465
I think the reasonable
question that people have
1400
01:02:15,465 --> 01:02:20,736
is, given Iran's significant
military capability and given
1401
01:02:20,736 --> 01:02:23,138
their significant interest
in the outcome here,
1402
01:02:23,139 --> 01:02:26,476
is the United States going
to coordinate with Iran
1403
01:02:26,476 --> 01:02:29,612
as we move forward on
this military strategy.
1404
01:02:29,612 --> 01:02:31,614
The answer to that
is, no, we are not.
1405
01:02:31,614 --> 01:02:35,151
The Press: So a separate
question -- because
1406
01:02:35,151 --> 01:02:38,587
the President dealt with
Congress last year slightly
1407
01:02:38,588 --> 01:02:40,756
differently than the way he's
dealing with them now --
1408
01:02:40,756 --> 01:02:42,692
this is the texture of
my question.
1409
01:02:42,692 --> 01:02:46,929
And because of the language
for the training and arming,
1410
01:02:46,929 --> 01:02:49,932
the expansiveness of the
language presented to Congress,
1411
01:02:49,932 --> 01:02:52,468
I wanted to clarify, does
the President believe it's
1412
01:02:52,468 --> 01:02:56,806
responsible to ask Congress to
vote on this without knowing
1413
01:02:56,806 --> 01:02:58,708
about the broader coalition?
1414
01:02:58,708 --> 01:03:01,477
The sequencing is, approve it
now and we'll tell you about
1415
01:03:01,477 --> 01:03:03,145
the coalition later.
1416
01:03:03,146 --> 01:03:05,348
Is that responsible?
1417
01:03:05,348 --> 01:03:07,283
Mr. Earnest: Yes, it is.
1418
01:03:07,283 --> 01:03:09,285
The reason is simply that
the President believes
1419
01:03:09,285 --> 01:03:13,221
it is a priority for the
administration to be given
1420
01:03:13,222 --> 01:03:16,192
the authority it needs to
begin training and equipping,
1421
01:03:16,192 --> 01:03:20,062
ramping up our assistance to
Syrian opposition fighters.
1422
01:03:20,062 --> 01:03:24,100
We're doing that principally
because the President believes
1423
01:03:24,100 --> 01:03:29,071
we need boots on the ground to
take the fight to ISIL in Syria.
1424
01:03:29,071 --> 01:03:31,641
The President is determined that
those boots will not be American
1425
01:03:31,641 --> 01:03:33,009
boots that are on the ground.
1426
01:03:33,009 --> 01:03:38,748
So we need to make sure that we
are improving the ability and
1427
01:03:38,748 --> 01:03:41,951
expanding the capacity of Syrian
fighters to take the fight
1428
01:03:41,951 --> 01:03:44,353
to ISIL in their own country.
1429
01:03:44,353 --> 01:03:46,355
We have already
secured commitments
1430
01:03:46,355 --> 01:03:47,356
from regional governments.
1431
01:03:47,356 --> 01:03:49,358
Some of those commitments
have been discussed publicly;
1432
01:03:49,358 --> 01:03:53,729
the Saudis, for instance, have
acknowledged their willingness
1433
01:03:53,729 --> 01:03:55,830
to host some of those
training activities.
1434
01:03:55,831 --> 01:03:59,335
But as I mentioned earlier, if
there are specific members
1435
01:03:59,335 --> 01:04:01,804
of Congress that have questions
about what this Title 10
1436
01:04:01,804 --> 01:04:05,641
authority would entail or what
this program would include,
1437
01:04:05,641 --> 01:04:07,643
we're happy to have
conversations with them about
1438
01:04:07,643 --> 01:04:09,779
that because the President
believes this is really
1439
01:04:09,779 --> 01:04:11,681
a top priority.
1440
01:04:11,681 --> 01:04:12,815
Yes, I'll give you
the last one, ma'am.
1441
01:04:12,815 --> 01:04:13,916
The Press: Thank
you very much, Josh.
1442
01:04:13,916 --> 01:04:14,350
Mr. Earnest: You're welcome.
1443
01:04:14,350 --> 01:04:16,118
The Press: I have two
questions, quick questions.
1444
01:04:16,118 --> 01:04:20,923
One, first, did the United
States ask South Korea
1445
01:04:20,923 --> 01:04:27,363
for any financial support
to use against IS?
1446
01:04:27,363 --> 01:04:32,935
The second question is, National
Security Advisor Susan Rice
1447
01:04:32,935 --> 01:04:36,138
have a meeting with South
Korean National Security
1448
01:04:36,138 --> 01:04:38,241
Advisor Kim Kwan-jin.
1449
01:04:38,241 --> 01:04:41,911
Do you have any
readout of the meeting?
1450
01:04:41,911 --> 01:04:43,946
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any readout of that meeting.
1451
01:04:43,946 --> 01:04:45,281
I know that it's
occurring today.
1452
01:04:45,281 --> 01:04:46,716
I'd encourage you
to consult with
1453
01:04:46,716 --> 01:04:48,817
my National Security Council colleagues who may be able
1454
01:04:48,818 --> 01:04:52,121
to provide you some more information about that meeting.
1455
01:04:52,121 --> 01:04:56,092
As it relates to South Korea and
their contribution to the effort
1456
01:04:56,092 --> 01:04:59,262
against ISIL, I'm not aware
of any conversations that are
1457
01:04:59,262 --> 01:05:02,098
occurring, but you should ask
my National Security Council
1458
01:05:02,098 --> 01:05:05,067
colleagues about whether or not
that came up in the context
1459
01:05:05,067 --> 01:05:08,237
of the meeting that the National
Security Advisor is having
1460
01:05:08,237 --> 01:05:11,274
today with her South
Korean counterpart.
1461
01:05:11,274 --> 01:05:12,808
Thanks very much, everybody.
1462
01:05:12,808 --> 01:05:13,409
Have a good one.
