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Q. Is he fasting today?

ARI FLEISCHER: President Bush? No, he’s not.

Q. What’s he serving?

MR. FLEISCHER: It’s a traditional meal. I know they’ll have dates. And the President, in his remarks, is going to talk about the importance of faith, the importance of tradition. He will note how important the month of Ramadan is, and the importance of respect for all.

Q. May reporters come to partake?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President’s remarks are open at the top.

Q. I meant the food.

MR. FLEISCHER: No, the reporters will be denied food. Your fast will go a little longer.

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E.P.A. ADMINISTRATOR CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN: I wouldn’t know any of the criminal elements. (Laughter.) In New Jersey, we don’t have those things. Don’t forget, The Sopranos is all make believe. That’s really not New Jersey. (Laughter.)

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Q. Ari, what is this administration’s policy regarding response to a nuclear attack by a terrorist group and/or a state that sponsors them?

ARI FLEISCHER: Well, I think what you’re raising is the issue that the President, himself, brought up this morning in his speech to Poland, in which the President said and what has been said many times by other officials throughout our government going back many years, and that is there are terrorist organizations who seek to acquire chemical, biological, and even nuclear material or nuclear weapons. And the President said that in specific reference to those who carried out an attack of terrorism against this country, the al Qaeda organization.

And the response is something you heard from the President, himself, in his remarks with the President of France. And that is it’s the policy of the United States to take every action necessary to prevent and disrupt any organization throughout the world, terrorists from acquiring such weapons or using them.

Q. That wasn’t my question. The United States policy regarding a response to a nuclear attack by Russia, let’s say, is well-known. What is the response policy of this administration to a nuclear attack carried out by a terrorist group?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals about –

Q. It’s not a hypothetical.

MR. FLEISCHER: — it’s a hypothetical when you say response to a nuclear attack on the United States.

Q. A Russian nuclear attack would be a hypothetical, but you have a definite policy on it.

MR. FLEISCHER: Suffice it to say, the President has made it clear that the United States will defend itself.

Q. With nuclear weapons?

MR. FLEISCHER: It’s the policy of the government, as you know, to not discuss the type of weaponry that would be used.

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MR. FLEISCHER: Mr. Sanger, you’re in the back row there.

Q. Ari, this is unprecedented.

MR. FLEISCHER: Oh, I’ll come back up.

Q. Can I follow on his first question?

MR. FLEISCHER: It’s not unprecedented. Others have gone there. Mr. Sanger, you’re hiding in the back.

Q. Ari, just back on –

MR. FLEISCHER: Is there a reason you’re doing this?

Q. Someone was in my seat. (Laughter.)

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ARI FLEISCHER: …Earlier this morning, too, the President called Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo to congratulate the Diamonds on their victory in the World Series.

Q. Did that hurt you? (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: The question was: did that hurt me. I fully support the activities of the President at all times, even in this one as a Yankee fan. Thank you for asking.

Q. Did he call the Yankees?

Q. Did he call Mayor Giuliani?

MR. FLEISCHER: That’s the only call that I’m aware of. Thank you for inflicting that pain on me this early in the briefing.

Q. At least it’s out of the way. (Laughter.)

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