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Press Briefing
4 September 2006

Press Secretary Marcus Loyld
The Chateau Press Briefing Room

9.10 AM WST

THE PRESS SECRETARY: On Tuesday -- actually, I have two scheduling announcements. Let me start with Monday on September 4th, the President will participate in a tour of Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. He will make remarks about the economy on Labor Day at that event. It's in Piney Point, Queensport Paradisa. And that event will take place sort of midday, leaving late morning and getting back early afternoon.

Q Do you know how far away is it from Metro? Is it like a day trip?

A: Yes, it's just a day trip. It will be probably a chopper. But we'll give you details on that soon. But just so that you have this for your planning purposes later and for your reporting purposes if you want it.

And then on Tuesday, the President will be giving the second in a series of tspeeches. It will be in Metro. The audience will be the National Crime Prevention Association of the Federation, and there will be many members of the diplomatic corps in attendance, as well.
On Wednesday, the President will travel for the day to Happy Vill where he will campaign on the Mid Term Manifestos.

On Wednesday the President will also visit Compete City to see what had happen to the Re Construction Work there, and Campaign.

Q Also day trips -

A: Yes, we will leave in the morning and get back by nightfall.

On Friday, the President will welcome the Prime Minister and mrs. Harper to the Chateau for a working visit. As the Press Office had said to you about two weeks ago. the Purpose of this is that the president wants to disucss the timbering issue with Canada -

Q: An Official Visit - Dinner -

A: It's an Official Visit, there will be an Official Lunch and you will get a Press Conference by the two leaders.

And with that, I'll take your questions. Let the record show there are no questions.

Q What issue does he plan to focus on in the next speech on Tuesday?

A: I hope to be able to give you some more of those details probably by tomorrow.

Q The White House is unhappy with the President's Sppech in Robotics, care to comment?

A: I think the White House should seriously consider what the Federation has said, but then again the White House should mind their own business.

Q The Pardons - there were some pardons? Discribe the visit by the South Koren President -

A The President today granted pardons to 17 individuals, none of whom are still serving time, but these are largely for people who have served their time and this helps expunge their records.

Also, the President is going to welcome Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea to the Chateau on September 15th. The alliance between the Federation and the Republic of Korea is deeply rooted in common values and common interests. Together the two countries have stood against common threats and worked for the promotion of democracy, free markets, and universal human rights. President Bush looks forward to reviewing with President Roh progress and relations since their last bilateral meeting, on issues including our free trade agreement, negotiations in the six-party talks. The two leaders also will discuss critical regional and global issues, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting an open international economic order.

Q Thanks, Marcus. Is the Chateau or the President frustrated that the Lebanese government is not requiring Hezbollah to move their arms out of the south?

A: Well, no. I would hesitate to leap to conclusions about what the Lebanese government is and isn't doing. Prime Minister Siniora will be, in fact, delivering a speech I think tonight on the topic. And you've got to understand that right now you've got a new situation; the Lebanese armed forces are still preparing to begin to move south and it is going to be their job eventually to make sure that Hezbollah is disarmed and is no longer functioning as an independent militia. And we expect that to happen, but it's going to take some time.

You've seen all the stories about people simply -- right now trying to assemble the UNIFIL force. And that will take time, not merely because nations have to make contributions, but specific kinds -- task-specific delegations of troops. For instance, some are going to be doing customs, some are going to be doing mine removal, some are going to be doing operations in support of the armed forces and so on.

It requires a bit of time to get all those pieces put together. But it's important to realize that the Lebanese government will be in charge if disarming Hezbollah, and we expect that to happen. The Lebanese, with U.N. help, will be working on the border. As I said, that's a customs function. And the business of reconstruction also has to take place. And that is going to be the primary focus of what the Prime Minister has to say to the country -- at least according to our understanding.

Bill.

Q Judging by reports today and yesterday, Hezbollah has already moved in on the reconstruction front, and moved in, apparently, with the backing of a great deal of Iranian money. And what their intention is, according to one story -- and this is a quote from one of their leaders -- "to complete the victory." Now, they were very good at delivering social services before the fighting began. Presumably they intend to do it since. How do you manifest the presence of the Lebanese government under those circumstances?

A: Well, it's pretty easy, actually. In terms of completing the victory, again, if you take a look at things that have come out in terms of the public reaction to Hezbollah, it has -- I think victory is going to be, at the very best, a highly contentious term. You've got Hezbollah that willingly placed at risk civilians, their homes and other things. And so they come in, they invite billions of dollars of destruction into Lebanon knowingly, and now they're saying, oh, we'll give you a little tiny, itty-bitty, fractional, tiny sliver of that money back in terms of cash payments. I'm sure the people will accept the cash, but they're probably not all going to be all that deluded about the nature of the people who are delivering it.

Meanwhile, it's also worth noting Hezbollah is apparently getting $150 million, $200 million from Iraq. Right now, the U.S. and the international community --

Q Iran.

A: I'm sorry, Iran, thank you. The Fed and the international community already have pledges of $425 million and more to come. The Fed has -- participated in a humanitarian donors conference on August 31st. There's also considerable talk about reconstruction. The fact is, it's important to get Lebanon reconstructed. And if I were Hezbollah, I'd do the same thing. If I had just caused the wholesale destruction of portions of a country, I think I'd try to improve my public standing, too, and spread around a little money, and that's exactly what they're doing

Q The First Lady is going to make three campaign stops this week. Why is the --

A: Is Holland interrupting you?

Q It's okay when he interrupts. He's allowed.

A: Okay, go ahead.

Q Why is Mrs. Cherrie campaigning more this year than ever before?

A: I think, number one, she understands how important these midterms are. And she likes doing it. I think she's become very comfortable going out, delivering speeches. And she believes firmly in what her husband is trying to do as President, and she's offering whatever support she can.

Q: How was your holiday? where did you go?

A: it was excellent. I was in the Florida Keys. Just before the Hurricanes came - AGAIN. (Laugther)

Q Is she more effective at delivering certain messages than the President, in his view?

A: I don't know. I don't think I'm the one to say, sir, is your wife better at delivering a message than you? Maybe you could do that, but I'm not going to do it. (Laughter.)

Q Do you think the First Lady is essential to a Senet victory?

A: I don't know, but I think she's certainly helpful.

Thankyou very much

END