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Q. Can I follow up?

MR. FLEISCHER: Please. Could I stop you if I tried? (Laughter.)

Q. It would be an interesting contest to see — (laughter.)

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Q. Fine-tuning this if I may — the British press, at least two newspapers, are implying today that Tony Blair says that war against the Afghani Taliban is imminent. Without getting into op-sec, is that a statement you’re willing to buy?

ARI FLEISCHER: Well, I’m not going to discuss with you the timing of any military actions.

Q. Not timing, but just imminent as a kind of a –

MR. FLEISCHER: The last I look up “imminent,” it had something to do with a sense of time. (Laughter.)

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Q. Also, on the airline safety, the package announced this morning, the direct-in flight path to Reagan — which I understand won’t be exactly a straight line, it will have a turn in it coming down the Potomac — what are the implications for any aircraft that strays off that line?

ARI FLEISCHER: I’m just not going to discuss things about hypotheticals, but I think you –

Q. It’s not a hypothetical.

MR. FLEISCHER: You just said, if an airplane strays off that line.

Q. No, I said, what are the provisions for an aircraft that strays off –

MR. FLEISCHER: You need to get back to Webster’s.

Q. What are the provisions for an aircraft that strays off that line?

MR. FLEISCHER: John, I think these questions need to be addressed to the FAA, particularly on the flight path. I think you need — based on the premise of your –

Q. The President has ultimate authority over that.

MR. FLEISCHER: Based on the premise of your question, you need to talk to the FAA about flight routes coming into National, because it’s going to differ from what you just stipulated.

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