White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino 11/28/07 VIDEO PODCAST

Press Briefing by Dana Perino, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, White House Conference Center Briefing Room, Dana M. Perino Biography, 12:22 P.M. EDT.

MS. PERINO: Good afternoon. I have two statements. Today the President will release a statement regarding the Energy Information Administration's Final Report, which includes U.S. greenhouse gas emissions for 2006.

The President is pleased that the report shows that emissions declined 1.5 percent from the 2005 level, while our economy grew at 2.9 percent. That means greenhouse gas intensity decreased by 4.2 percent, and that is the largest improvement since 1985. This puts the United States well ahead of the President's 2002 goal to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012. And the administration looks forward to making more progress on this important issue at the upcoming U.N. meeting on climate change, which will take place in Bali, Indonesia in December.

In addition to that, today President Bush signed an executive order creating a presidential emergency board to investigate and make recommendations for a settlement of the disputes between Amtrak and unions representing Amtrak employees. This PEB, it's called, will be effective on December 1, 2007. The National Mediation Board has been working to resolve these disputes, but realized that the parties would not be able to reach a settlement, and so they released them. This began the 30-day cooling-off period, which ends on December 1st.

The National Mediation Board found that the disputes threatened to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree that would deprive a section of the country of essential transportation service. The President agreed with the finding, and that is why he decided to form the emergency board.

Questions.

Q Can you explain what today's Rose Garden ceremony is all about? Yesterday there was this launch of the peace negotiations, the handshakes. What happens today?

MS. PERINO: One of the things that was wonderful about yesterday was that we had a moment when the Israelis and the Palestinians were able to come together, agree on a statement to launch these negotiations. But one of the things the President said was really important is yesterday was important, but what happened the next day was even more important, which is the start of the negotiations. And the Israelis and the Palestinians are going to lay out times when they are going to be able to meet. Their first meeting will be December 12th.

Today's meetings are for the President to meet with them first individually, as he's just finished his meeting with President Abbas, and he will have his meeting with Prime Minister Olmert in about 30 minutes. And then he will meet with them together and encourage them, tell them -- one of the things that he told President Abbas, which I believe he'll tell Prime Minister Olmert, as well, is that when you're in one of these negotiations, it's really important to keep your eye on the big picture, that there are many issues that are going to have to be discussed -- and both leaders touched on some of them yesterday in their statements. These are difficult, emotional issues. It's going to be time-consuming as they work through them and there could be sticking points.

And what the President encouraged them to do was to work with their negotiators; that there would be days when it looks like things were really tough, but that if you keep your eye on the big picture, that you can help make sure that you'll have a successful negotiation.

Q That was yesterday, or today?

MS. PERINO: That was today, in today's meeting. This is after they decided to have the negotiations. That's why they were able to move forward today.

Q Okay. And then he's going to say the same thing to Olmert?

MS. PERINO: I would believe so. Obviously, they also have many issues to discuss outside of the Palestinian and Israeli dispute. So I'll see if I can get you more on that after the meeting, but given the time frame -- I had to come out here and brief, so I'm not going to be in that meeting beforehand. But then, in the Rose Garden, the President will provide them this hopeful beginning so that they can move forward.

Q Is there anything the President has learned in his meeting with President Abbas, or in the post-public part of yesterday that he will share with us in the Rose Garden, just any new perspective on this? And does he see himself as sort of the negotiating advisor?

MS. PERINO: I believe that the President's remarks will be relatively short. I don't expect him to take questions. This is a moment when he can work with these two men -- appear with these two men as they launch these negotiations, which is significant. One of the things President Bush asked President Abbas was what was the reaction in the region. And President Abbas said that he believed, and the President agrees, that people are ready for peace and that it was received favorably, but they know that they have a lot of work to do. There's apprehension, there's caution.

But I don't expect the President to spend a lot of time dwelling on that in the Rose Garden. This is more for an opportunity for them to get together and say, we're committed to this effort. The President reiterated his personal commitment to this effort. He reminded them that when Secretary Rice is there in the region, he speaks -- she speaks for him. There's no daylight between President Bush and Secretary Rice on this matter, or any other matter. And I think there was a feeling of optimism in the room, but also a realization that there's a lot of hard work ahead of them.

Q Do you know if they discussed the role of Hamas at all? Did Abbas express any concerns either way that they --

MS. PERINO: I'm not -- I won't go into detail, but, yes, it did come up in the meeting, and this is something that, obviously, President Abbas is thinking about. And he has been working ever since Hamas won the elections in 2006 to figure out a way -- first of all, try to work with them, and then decided it was not going to be possible. And then there was the coup of Gaza. And so there's a lot of issues that the Palestinians have to work out in that regard.

What the President said is that if President Abbas can continue to provide the Palestinians with this hopeful vision, a future, a horizon that they could see, something that's tangible, something that they could reach towards, that that type of leadership will be rewarded.

Q Does President Bush have his eye on, as you call it, the big picture if he refuses to deal with Hamas at this point?

MS. PERINO: Absolutely. The President is not going to do the negotiating for the Israelis and the Palestinians. He has said that Americans can be helpful, he will be there, he's only a phone call away. But they're going to have to do the hard work of talking to one another. And the two leaders pledged to do that yesterday. The issue of Hamas is one that President Olmert -- President Abbas -- excuse me -- is going to have to deal with.

Q And what did President Abbas tell President Bush about the demonstrations in Gaza yesterday?

MS. PERINO: That did not come up.

Q Did Iran come up, or will Iran come up today in any of the meetings?

MS. PERINO: It did not come up this morning. Obviously, Iran is one of the issues that, in the broader picture of the Middle East, is an issue. But this is a negotiation between the Palestinians and the Israelis about forming a democratic, viable Palestinian state, and it did not come up in this morning's meeting.

Q The fact that you have all these Arab leaders in town and it does make Iran look more isolated --

MS. PERINO: I think Iran has decided to isolate itself and -- by their words and their actions. They continue to, unfortunately for their own people, make themselves more isolated from the rest of the world.

And yesterday was a significant moment, not just because President Olmert and Prime Minister Abbas were able to forge an agreement about launching these negotiations, but because they were roundly supported by over 40 countries that had joined them, including Arab nations. And so that was important.

Q And Iraq did not come. Why, and why shouldn't --

MS. PERINO: Well, they certainly were invited. I think that, obviously, they have a lot of issues on their plate, but they decided not to come. It was unfortunate, but obviously they would have been invited.

Q Do you know the reason why they wouldn't?

MS. PERINO: I don't.

Q -- they have a lot of issues on their plate, but you would think that Mideast peace --

MS. PERINO: Beyond them being very busy, I don't know. I'd have to refer you to them.

Helen.

Q Thirty-five Iraqis, including women and children, were killed by Americans yesterday. Do you still consider that we're having a big success there?

MS. PERINO: I don't think that that number is correct, as far as I know. Obviously, we regret the loss of any innocent life. I know that our military takes great pains to make sure that they are protected in this war zone. I'd refer you to the Multinational Force In Iraq for more.

Q -- newspapers today --

MS. PERINO: I don't think that that number is what they said. That wasn't the number in the newspaper.

Go ahead.

Q To follow up on that, the President is going over to the Defense Department tomorrow. What's the purpose of that?

MS. PERINO: The purpose of that meeting is for the -- remember the President last went over to the Pentagon to the room that's called "the tank" -- this is where he meets with the Joint Chiefs. It's part of one of his regular visits. He goes there to hear from the Chiefs -- the uniform Chiefs of the military about a variety of issues, including long-term measures, the health of the force, budget issues. Of course, I'm sure Iraq and Afghanistan will come up -- but the overall strategic environment of our military and how it is operating worldwide is what the President expects to hear from them tomorrow.

Q And then we're going to have a statement afterwards?

MS. PERINO: Yes. That's the plan. We usually do a statement afterwards.

Paula.

Q The figures you gave on greenhouse gas emissions, that was measured in intensity, wasn't it?

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q -- reduction unit, in the context of economic growth.

MS. PERINO: I believe so.

Q Pardon?

MS. PERINO: I'm not sure -- the 1.5 percent is actual levels.

Q But in the context of the economic growth, what about a reduction -- the reduction figure that you gave for --

MS. PERINO: The reduction figure is 1.5 percent, but that means that greenhouse gas intensity decreased by 4.2 percent. Those are the two numbers.

Q So what would it be if it were measured the way major industrialized countries measure it, and they don't do it in intensity?

MS. PERINO: I just told you, the 1.5 percent is from actual levels.

Q I thought you told me that was an increase in the context of --

MS. PERINO: No, no -- I'm sorry -- well, I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding. It's 1.5 percent, which is from actual levels, but that is added into the intensity. The intensity figure comes from that. The Energy Information Administration are the statisticians. They can provide you a lot more information than I can.

Q It's measured in intensity, though, isn't that correct?

MS. PERINO: The 4.2 percent number is intensity; that's the decrease.

Victoria.

Q You said that the Israelis and the Palestinians are going to do the hard work of negotiating. If they specifically say, "President Bush, we need you to get involved with us" in order to break a logjam, or "we need you to be there at the table with us," will he, at that point, get involved?

MS. PERINO: I think that he's shown a willingness to do so. And Secretary Rice has been to the region nine times* between January and now, in order to help them get to this point. So we will be there to be able to help them. We are not going to make decisions for them, they're going to have to make them together. But I think that up to now, with these two leaders, and at this point in time, we've been able to show that we can help them come to an agreement. And now they'll have to launch their negotiations. And both of the leaders have said they'd like to finish this agreement before the end of the President's term, which we all know is about a little more than a year from now.

Q This morning, former Ambassador John Bolton said that he thinks that President Bush is actually skeptical about the possibility of the peace talks succeeding. What's your response to that?

MS. PERINO: I would tell you that the President today said that he feels optimistic about it. But he is also one that realizes how much hard work that this is going to take, and that these two leaders are going to have to continue to work very hard, and they're going to have to confront very difficult and emotional issues. And that is why he said that he is personally committed, and that he has committed the resources of the federal government -- the United States federal government -- and that Secretary Rice will be there in order to help them.

So I think that he actually has optimism about this working, because as he said yesterday, what the President said yesterday is that he believes this is the right time for several reasons, which he laid out yesterday.

Q Did Mahmoud Abbas tell the President about his mention of Israel as a Jewish state and what it means in regard to the right of return --

MS. PERINO: As I mentioned yesterday -- no, there was not discussion about that particular issue today. The right of return issue is a part of the road map and it's going to be one of the issues that the Israelis and the Palestinians have to talk about during these negotiations.

Go ahead, Les.

Q Dana, thank you very much. Two questions. London's Sunday Times and other media have reported that the Archbishop of Canterbury has denounced the United States for what he alleged is our "wielding power in a way that is worse than Britain in its imperial heyday." And my question: What was the President's reaction to this denunciation by the head of the world's Anglican --

MS. PERINO: The President has been busy, very busy, working to bring these two leaders together to talk about peace in the Middle East. And so I think that was a good use of his time. And I won't comment on the --

Q No comment? All right. On CNN, Governor Huckabee said that U.S. consumers are financing both sides in the war on terror, because every time we put our credit card in the gas pump we're paying so that the Saudis get obscenely rich, with the money funding madrassas that train the terrorists. And my question: Does the President believe that Governor Huckabee is wrong to say this and that we're enslaved to Saudi oil?

MS. PERINO: That's a clever way to try to get me to comment on what is now a matter that is a part of a presidential candidacy. The President is looking forward to working with Congress when they get back. We hope that we can get an agreement on an energy bill that will help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Q Dana, there's a report that the Chinese Foreign Minister told the President today the reason that a U.S. aircraft carrier was turned away from Hong Kong was due to a misunderstanding. First of all, can you confirm that? And secondly, is that an acceptable explanation?

MS. PERINO: The President met today with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang, this morning in the Oval Office. They discussed North Korea, Iran, and many other bilateral issues that we have with China. The President raised the issue about the recent aborted port call by the USS Kitty Hawk. Foreign Minister Yang announced that -- assured the President that it was a misunderstanding. I was not able to be there, but that's the readout that I have for you, that that's the explanation that was given to the President.

Q Is that an acceptable explanation to the President?

MS. PERINO: I don't have any more from -- I don't have a presidential reaction. I just know about the meeting.

Q What kind of misunderstanding? How do you have a misunderstanding that you turn an aircraft carrier around? Do you know what the explanation was?

MS. PERINO: I don't know what his explanation was. All I know was he told the President that it was a misunderstanding. I don't have details, but I'll see if I can get anything more for you.

Q Thank you.

* Secretary Rice has been to the region eight times.

END 12:35 P.M. EST

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 28, 2007

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President Bush Attends Annapolis Conference VIDEO

President Bush Attends Annapolis Conference, FULL STREAMING VIDEO (17:33). Memorial Hall, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Joint Understanding Read by President Bush at Annapolis Conference 11:04 A.M. EST PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you for coming. Prime Minister Olmert, President Abbas, Secretary General Ban, former Prime Minister Blair, distinguished guests: Welcome to one of the finest institutes we have in America, the United States Naval Academy. We appreciate you joining us in what I believe is an historic opportunity to encourage the expansion of freedom and peace in the Holy Land. PICTURE GALLERY

We meet to lay the foundation for the establishment of a new nation -- a democratic Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and security. We meet to help bring an end to the violence that has been the true enemy of the aspirations of both the Israelis and Palestinians.

We're off to a strong start. I'm about to read a statement that was agreed upon by our distinguished guests:

The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respective by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and President of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.

We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, as specified in previous agreements.

We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations, and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008. For this purpose, a steering committee, led jointly by the head of the delegation of each party, will meet continuously, as agreed. The steering committee will develop a joint work plan and establish and oversee the work of negotiations teams to address all issues, to be headed by one lead representative from each party. The first session of the steering committee will be held on 12 December 2007.

President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert will continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis to follow up the negotiations in order to offer all necessary assistance for their advancement.

The parties also commit to immediately implement their respective obligations under the performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, issued by the Quartet on 30 April 2003 -- this is called the road map -- and agree to form an American, Palestinian and Israeli mechanism, led by the United States, to follow up on the implementation of the road map.

The parties further commit to continue the implementation of the ongoing obligations of the road map until they reach a peace treaty. The United States will monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, implementation of the future peace treaty will be subject to the implementation of the road map, as judged by the United States.

Congratulations for your strong leadership. (Applause.)

The Palestinian people are blessed with many gifts and talents. They want the opportunity to use those gifts to better their own lives and build a better future for their children. They want the dignity that comes with sovereignty and independence. They want justice and equality under the rule of law. They want freedom from violence and fear.

The people of Israel have just aspirations, as well. They want their children to be able to ride a bus or to go to school without fear of suicide bombers. They want an end to rocket attacks and constant threats of assault. They want their nation to be recognized and welcomed in the region where they live.

Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is key to realizing their own aspirations -- and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state. Such a state will provide Palestinians with the chance to lead lives of freedom and purpose and dignity. Such a state will help provide the Israelis with something they have been seeking for generations: to live in peace with their neighbors.

Achieving this goal is not going to be easy -- if it were easy, it would have happened a long time ago. To achieve freedom and peace, both Israelis and Palestinians will have to make tough choices. Both sides are sober about the work ahead, but having spent time with their leaders, they are ready to take on the tough issues. As Prime Minister Olmert recently put it, "We will avoid none of [the historic questions], we will not run from discussing any of them." As President Abbas has said: "I believe that there is an opportunity not only for us but for the Israelis, too. We have a historic and important opportunity that we must benefit from." It is with that spirit that we concluded -- that they concluded this statement I just read.

Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it is to launch negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort -- and to give them the support they need to succeed.

In light of recent developments, some have suggested that now is not the right time to pursue peace. I disagree. I believe now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations -- for a number of reasons:

First, the time is right because Palestinians and Israelis have leaders who are determined to achieve peace. President Abbas seeks to fulfill his people's aspirations for statehood, dignity and security. President Abbas understands that a Palestinian state will not be born of terror, and that terrorism is the enemy standing in the way of a state. He and Prime Minister Fayyad have both declared, without hesitation, that they are opposed to terrorism and committed to peace. They're committed to turning these declarations into actions on the ground to combat terror.

The emergence of responsible Palestinian leaders has given Israeli leaders the confidence they need to reach out to the Palestinians in true partnership. Prime Minister Olmert has expressed his understanding of the suffering and indignities felt by the Palestinian people. He's made clear that the security of Israel will be enhanced by the establishment of a responsible, democratic Palestinian state. With leaders of courage and conviction on both sides, now is the time to come together and seek the peace that both sides desire.

Second, the time is right because a battle is underway for the future of the Middle East -- and we must not cede victory to the extremists. With their violent actions and contempt for human life, the extremists are seeking to impose a dark vision on the Palestinian people -- a vision that feeds on hopelessness and despair to sow chaos in the Holy Land. If this vision prevails, the future of the region will be endless terror, endless war, and endless suffering.

Standing against this dark vision are President Abbas and his government. They are offering the Palestinian people an alternative vision for the future -- a vision of peace, a homeland of their own, and a better life. If responsible Palestinian leaders can deliver on this vision, they will deal the forces of extremism a devastating blow. And when liberty takes root in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions across the Middle East who want their societies built on freedom and peace and hope.

By contrast, if Palestinian reformers cannot deliver on this hopeful vision, then the forces of extremism and terror will be strengthened, a generation of Palestinians could be lost to the extremists, and the Middle East will grow in despair. We cannot allow this to happen. Now is the time to show Palestinians that their dream of a free and independent state can be achieved at the table of peace -- and that the terror and violence preached by Palestinian extremists is the greatest obstacle to a Palestinian state.

Third, the time is right because the world understands the urgency of supporting these negotiations. We appreciate that representatives from so many governments and international institutions have come to join us here in Annapolis -- especially the Arab world. We're here because we recognize what is at stake. We are here because we each have a vital role to play in helping Palestinians forge the institutions of a free society. We're here because we understand that the success of these efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians will have an impact far beyond the Holy Land.

These are the reasons we've gathered here in Annapolis. And now we begin the difficult work of freedom and peace. The United States is proud to host this meeting -- and we reaffirm the path to peace set out in the road map. Yet in the end, the outcome of the negotiations they launch here depends on the Israelis and Palestinians themselves. America will do everything in our power to support their quest for peace, but we cannot achieve it for them. The success of these efforts will require that all parties show patience and flexibility -- and meet their responsibilities.

For these negotiations to succeed, the Palestinians must do their part. They must show the world they understand that while the borders of a Palestinian state are important, the nature of a Palestinian state is just as important. They must demonstrate that a Palestinian state will create opportunity for all its citizens, and govern justly, and dismantle the infrastructure of terror. They must show that a Palestinian state will accept its responsibility, and have the capability to be a source of stability and peace -- for its own citizens, for the people of Israel, and for the whole region.

The Israelis must do their part. They must show the world that they are ready to begin -- to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967 through a negotiated settlement. This settlement will establish Palestine as a Palestinian homeland, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people. Israel must demonstrate its support for the creation of a prosperous and successful Palestinian state by removing unauthorized outposts, ending settlement expansion, and finding other ways for the Palestinian Authority to exercise its responsibilities without compromising Israel's security.

Arab states also have a vital role to play. Relaunching the Arab League initiative and the Arab League's support for today's conference are positive steps. All Arab states should show their strong support for the government of President Abbas -- and provide needed assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Arab states should also reach out to Israel, work toward the normalization of relations, and demonstrate in both word and deed that they believe that Israel and its people have a permanent home in the Middle East. These are vital steps toward the comprehensive peace that we all seek.

Finally, the international community has important responsibilities. Prime Minister Fayyad is finalizing a plan to increase openness and transparency and accountability throughout Palestinian society -- and he needs the resources and support from the international community. With strong backing from those gathered here, the Palestinian government can build the free institutions that will support a free Palestinian state.

The United States will help Palestinian leaders build these free institutions -- and the United States will keep its commitment to the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people.

The United States strongly feels that these efforts will yield the peace that we want -- and that is why we will continue to support the Lebanese people. We believe democracy brings peace. And democracy in Lebanon is vital, as well, for the peace in the Middle East. Lebanese people are in the process of electing a president. That decision is for the Lebanese people to make -- and they must be able to do so free from outside interference and intimidation. As they embark on this process, the people of Lebanon can know that the American people stand with them -- and we look forward to the day when the people of Lebanon can enjoy the blessings of liberty without fear of violence or coercion.

The task begun here at Annapolis will be difficult. This is the beginning of the process, not the end of it -- and no doubt a lot of work remains to be done. Yet the parties can approach this work with confidence. The time is right. The cause is just. And with hard effort, I know they can succeed.

President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert, I pledge to devote my effort during my time as President to do all I can to help you achieve this ambitious goal. I give you my personal commitment to support your work with the resources and resolve of the American government. I believe a day is coming when freedom will yield the peace we desire. And the land that is holy to so many will see the light of peace.

The day is coming when Palestinians will enjoy the blessings that freedom brings -- and all Israelis will enjoy the security they deserve. That day is coming. The day is coming when the terrorists and extremists who threaten the Israeli and Palestinian people will be marginalized and eventually defeated. And when that day comes, future generations will look to the work we began here at Annapolis. They will give thanks to the leaders who gathered on the banks of the Chesapeake for their vision, their wisdom and courage to choose a future of freedom and peace.

Thanks for coming. May God bless their work. (Applause.)

END 11:22 A.M. EST

For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, November 27, 2007

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