111992728915379759

Q. Speaking of that, how’s the Mars project coming along? (Laughter.)

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111992728915379759

Q. Speaking of that, how’s the Mars project coming along? (Laughter.)

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111983882592346959

Q. Scott, I have a two-part question, the first one dealing with the great state of Texas.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Do you ever have a one-part question? (Laughter.)

Q. No. If I was on the front row, I’d get a six-part question. (Laughter.)

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111983882592346959

Q. Scott, I have a two-part question, the first one dealing with the great state of Texas.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Do you ever have a one-part question? (Laughter.)

Q. No. If I was on the front row, I’d get a six-part question. (Laughter.)

Full Transcript

111957833760142194

Q. Were you able to check into that report that Kim il-Jong sent a message — private message –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Kim Jong-il?

Q. Yes, that’s the one. (Laughter.) Sent a message to –

MR. McCLELLAN: Mr. Kim Jong-il.

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111957833760142194

Q. Were you able to check into that report that Kim il-Jong sent a message — private message –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Kim Jong-il?

Q. Yes, that’s the one. (Laughter.) Sent a message to –

MR. McCLELLAN: Mr. Kim Jong-il.

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111936360335720230

Q. Senator Cornyn today endorsed Governor Perry for reelection, called him a tremendous leader for Texas, who deserves reelection in 2006. I know the administration generally supports Republican incumbents. Will this White House be getting involved in the Texas gubernatorial race?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No, the President will not be getting involved in the primary.

Go ahead.

And let me just say that he considers both friends.

Q. As do you, I’m sure. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I consider one mother. (Laughter.)

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111936360335720230

Q. Senator Cornyn today endorsed Governor Perry for reelection, called him a tremendous leader for Texas, who deserves reelection in 2006. I know the administration generally supports Republican incumbents. Will this White House be getting involved in the Texas gubernatorial race?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No, the President will not be getting involved in the primary.

Go ahead.

And let me just say that he considers both friends.

Q. As do you, I’m sure. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I consider one mother. (Laughter.)

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111927198644283680

Q. Mark, what’s your exact title?

DR. MARK McCLELLAN: It’s Dr. Mark McClellan, and I’m the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or the head of the Medicare program, Medicare Chief, something like that, if you want to shorten it down.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: “Older brother,” you can just refer to him as that. (Laughter.)

DR. McCLELLAN: That works, too.

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111927198644283680

Q. Mark, what’s your exact title?

DR. MARK McCLELLAN: It’s Dr. Mark McClellan, and I’m the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or the head of the Medicare program, Medicare Chief, something like that, if you want to shorten it down.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: “Older brother,” you can just refer to him as that. (Laughter.)

DR. McCLELLAN: That works, too.

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111927188831268932

Q. Scott, is the insurgency in Iraq in its last throes?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Terry, you have a desperate group of terrorists in Iraq that are doing everything they can to try to derail the transition to democracy. The Iraqi people have made it clear that they want a free and democratic and peaceful future. And that’s why we’re doing everything we can, along with other countries, to support the Iraqi people as they move forward. The fact that they are making great progress on the political front is significant because that helps defeat the terrorists, because the terrorists don’t want to see democracy take hold. They don’t want lasting democratic institutions to be put in place. And that’s why we are standing with the Iraqi people as they move forward on the political front.

We’re also standing with the Iraqi people as they move forward on — to address the security situation. We are working side by side with Iraqi forces now to defeat those terrorists and regime elements who want to derail the transition to democracy. And every day we move forward on democracy and training Iraqi security forces is every day closer that we are to succeeding in Iraq.

Q. But the insurgency is in its last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: The Vice President talked about that the other day — you have a desperate group of terrorists who recognize how high the stakes are in Iraq. A free Iraq will be a significant blow to their ambitions.

Q. But they’re killing more Americans, they’re killing more Iraqis. That’s the last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: Innocent — I say innocent civilians. And it doesn’t take a lot of people to cause mass damage when you’re willing to strap a bomb onto yourself, get in a car and go and attack innocent civilians. That’s the kind of people that we’re dealing with. That’s what I say when we’re talking about a determined enemy.

Q. Right. What is the evidence that the insurgency is in its last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just explained to you the desperation of terrorists and their tactics.

Q. What’s the evidence on the ground that it’s being extinguished?

MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, we’re making great progress to defeat the terrorist and regime elements. You’re seeing Iraqis now playing more of a role in addressing the security threats that they face. They’re working side by side with our coalition forces. They’re working on their own. There are a lot of special forces in Iraq that are taking the battle to the enemy in Iraq. And so this is a period when they are in a desperate mode.

Q. Well, I’m just wondering what the metric is for measuring the defeat of the insurgency.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you can go back and look at the Vice President’s remarks. I think he talked about it.

Q. Yes. Is there any idea how long a last throe lasts for?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Steve.

Full Transcript

111927188831268932

Q. Scott, is the insurgency in Iraq in its last throes?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Terry, you have a desperate group of terrorists in Iraq that are doing everything they can to try to derail the transition to democracy. The Iraqi people have made it clear that they want a free and democratic and peaceful future. And that’s why we’re doing everything we can, along with other countries, to support the Iraqi people as they move forward. The fact that they are making great progress on the political front is significant because that helps defeat the terrorists, because the terrorists don’t want to see democracy take hold. They don’t want lasting democratic institutions to be put in place. And that’s why we are standing with the Iraqi people as they move forward on the political front.

We’re also standing with the Iraqi people as they move forward on — to address the security situation. We are working side by side with Iraqi forces now to defeat those terrorists and regime elements who want to derail the transition to democracy. And every day we move forward on democracy and training Iraqi security forces is every day closer that we are to succeeding in Iraq.

Q. But the insurgency is in its last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: The Vice President talked about that the other day — you have a desperate group of terrorists who recognize how high the stakes are in Iraq. A free Iraq will be a significant blow to their ambitions.

Q. But they’re killing more Americans, they’re killing more Iraqis. That’s the last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: Innocent — I say innocent civilians. And it doesn’t take a lot of people to cause mass damage when you’re willing to strap a bomb onto yourself, get in a car and go and attack innocent civilians. That’s the kind of people that we’re dealing with. That’s what I say when we’re talking about a determined enemy.

Q. Right. What is the evidence that the insurgency is in its last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just explained to you the desperation of terrorists and their tactics.

Q. What’s the evidence on the ground that it’s being extinguished?

MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, we’re making great progress to defeat the terrorist and regime elements. You’re seeing Iraqis now playing more of a role in addressing the security threats that they face. They’re working side by side with our coalition forces. They’re working on their own. There are a lot of special forces in Iraq that are taking the battle to the enemy in Iraq. And so this is a period when they are in a desperate mode.

Q. Well, I’m just wondering what the metric is for measuring the defeat of the insurgency.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you can go back and look at the Vice President’s remarks. I think he talked about it.

Q. Yes. Is there any idea how long a last throe lasts for?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Steve.

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111903115479540685

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. No, no, no, Scott –

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. You have given — he did not say thank you. (Laughter.) Scott, but you have — you have –

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, April — April, he did say thank you. I will see you. Thank you.

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111903115479540685

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. No, no, no, Scott –

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. You have given — he did not say thank you. (Laughter.) Scott, but you have — you have –

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, April — April, he did say thank you. I will see you. Thank you.

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111903110679295242

Q. …My question is, is President is ready to replace Kofi Annan with my friend, President Bill Clinton, as the United Nations Secretary General. (Laughter.)

Q. Your friend? (Laughter.)

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