Software Vault: The Gold Collection/Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO/cdr11/wh930428.zip/4-28C.TXT

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From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:[e-mail] Wed Apr 28 21:04:02 1993
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 16:12-0400
From: The White House <[e-mail]>
Subject: Press Briefing by George Stephanopoulos  4.28.93
To: [e-mail]

                           THE WHITE HOUSE

                    Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                  April 28, 1993

                            PRESS BRIEFING
                       BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS

                          The Briefing Room

11:32 A.M. EDT

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Everybody's dressing so springlike
these days.  It's fantastic.  It is spring.

         I have nothing to announce.  I'll just take some
questions, if anybody has any.

         Q      The President said in the Rose Garden that he saw
no risk in proceeding ahead with health care on this current
schedule.  Is that the assessment, that there's no risk here
whatsoever?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think the President said he wants
to go forward, and he thinks that we can go forward and get both his
economic and his health care plans without any risk.  He believes
that moving forward on these programs, they reinforce each other, and
that's what we're going to do.

         Q      So there's absolutely no question at this point
that health care will be unveiled mid-May, legislation probably
presented in June, and that that and reconciliation will move forward
together?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think we're on track.

         Q      But there's no concern that the reinforcing could
be in terms of reinforcing people's negative opinions about taxes?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I think that we think that
the President's health care program is going to be a very positive
program that's going to be well-received by the American people,
because it's going to provide security for the American people.

         Q      George, how does the President feel about Aspin's
decision on women in the military?  Does he support it fully?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  As you know, Secretary Aspin would
make an announcement later today.  But the President has talked to
Secretary Aspin about this issue and he fully supports the directives
that the Secretary will issue today.

         Q      Does he feel that is consistent with his position
on gays in the military?  Is this part of his philosophy, that there
should be no restrictions on people because of gender or any other --

         Q      Status.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't think there's any tie
between the issues.  What the President believes is that the women
are now serving in the military.  Women should have the opportunity
to serve in broader positions than they now serve in, and he supports
the decision by the Secretary to move forward.  It's also an
important issue for the readiness of the Arms Forces.  This is going
to insure that we have the best trained forces out there.

         Q      And how was the decision reached?  Did it come up
through the Cabinet level?  Was the President involved in the
decision-making?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President met with Secretary
Aspin I believe sometime last week, where the Secretary reviewed the
issue with him and the President said go forward.

         Q      Is Brown in line to be FBI Director if there's a
vacancy?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Who?

         Q      Lee Brown.

         Q      Ron Brown.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Les Brown.

         Q      James Brown.  (Laughter.)

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President -- Helen, I think
we're getting way ahead of ourselves.  He just announced the man who
is to be drug czar today, and he's looking forward to --

         Q      Has he been considered at all for FBI Director?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President is thrilled that Lee
Brown accepted the appointment of drug czar and he knows that he will
do a good job.

         Q      What does making him Cabinet-level mean?  Is he
going -- because Bush did the same thing with his drug czar, but he
didn't sit in on Cabinet meetings.  Is Brown going to actually sit in
on Cabinet meetings?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Yes.

         Q      Full Cabinet?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.

         Q      At the table, or behind the table?  (Laughter.)

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Right at the table.  We're putting
a new leaf in the table.

         Q      Cabinet never meets.  So what's the real effect --
(laughter and applause.)

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We just can't win.  (Laughter.)
When it meets, he will be there and he will participate.

             Q      Senator Biden said he expects the President will
probably make a decision within a week on Bosnia.  Is that the
timetable that you think the President --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, I think he's likely to make a
decision before the end of this work week.

         Q      Before the end of this work week?

         Q      Then what happens?  Does he send Christopher over
to try and sell it?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again --

         Q      He's not going to announce it right away, or is he?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I think he'll make a
decision before the end of the week.

         Q      So then you have the decision in the leaks and the
announcement -- (laughter).

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  You know this town, Brit.
(Laughter.)

         Q      We've been told all along that it wasn't coming
this week.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  That was a question about an
announcement.  He asked about a decision.

         Q      Before Saturday he'll make a decision on what to
do?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not sure.  Before the end of
this week.  I mean, he works seven days.

         Q      The Christopher would take this to Europe?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I expect that there will be full
consultation with our allies once the President makes a decision.

         Q      Will his decision be announced or consultations
first?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think it's most likely that the
President will have consultations before any final announcement.

         Q      Biden also said that there's less objection among
the members of Congress to lifting the arms embargo because for those
who really don't want to do something military, it's a less painful
choice and it doesn't involve as much engagement.  Is that the sense
that you have, that there's more consensus behind lifting the arms
embargo than there is behind air strikes?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't have a strong sense of
exactly where the Congress is right now.  I think there is a general
consensus for strengthened action, as the President has said that he
will fight for in the coming days.  Beyond that, I don't think I can
speak to that at this point.  The President began his consultations
yesterday.  He was very pleased with the meeting and thought that he
got a lot of good information from the members of Congress, some of
whom had visited Bosnia and the region recently.  But beyond that I
can't comment on it.

         Q      How do you describe the process that he's going
through?  He taking information -- what is he doing with it?  How
does it affect his decision-making?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, as you know, the President
has been dealing with this issue for quite some time.  He's had a
full review.  The National Security Council's done a full review.
They have asked for the recommendations and advice from all the
relevant Cabinet secretaries, from the Secretary of Defense, from
Madeleine Albright, our Ambassador of the United Nations, obviously,
from the Secretary of State and from the National Security staff
itself.  They have synthesized the options.  They have presented a
range of options to the President, and they have also talked through
those options with him.

         He has followed that up with discussions with members of
Congress.  As you know, he has also met with or spoken with other
world leaders, including Prime Minister Major and President
Mitterrand of France.  And he will continue those consultations in
the coming days and weeks.

         Q      George, General McPeak this morning, the Chief of
Staff of the Air Force, said this morning that we could carry out --
the United States Air Force, anyway, could carry out a limited
bombing campaign against the Bosnian Serbs.  And what he said at very
little risk to ourselves, meaning our aircraft.  Their anti-aircraft
technology is pretty primitive.  He claims they could take out some
bridges, some artillery emplacements without losing many or any
airplanes.  Does that represent the kind of advise, military advise
that the President is getting from the chiefs, or is this an Air
Force Chief of Staff free-lancing his own opinions about his
service's capabilities?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I just can't characterize the
private advice given to the President from the Joint Chiefs, but I
wouldn't dispute at all what General McPeak says.

         Q      Given that polls show the American people, the
majority of them not in favor of military action, is it considered an
impediment or something he is, at this point, discounted and will do
what he thinks is right?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Obviously, one of the lessons we've
learned is that if the President is going to take action,
particularly military action overseas, it's better to have the
support of the American people.  And the President understands that
and the President, once he makes a decision will do what he can to
rally the American people behind that decision.

         I can't comment directly on those polls because I'm not
certain that's exactly right.  I don't know what the questions are
and I think that there are actually -- a majority of Americans who
support stronger action in Bosnia, even though there might be a
majority against, for instance, sending in ground troops, which the
President has already said he doesn't want to do.

         Q      So then you don't view it, really, as -- you don't
see an impediment in public opinion at this point to a stronger
action?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, once the President makes a
decision he'll communicate that decision to the American people and
do what he can to get the support of the American people for that
decision.

         Q      When President Bush made his last trip he went to
West Point and he laid out the Bush doctrine, which was basically
guidelines for when intervention is prudent and necessary.  And when
Secretary Christopher went to the Hill yesterday he basically
repeated the same guidelines.  Have you all consulted with
Eagleburger, Baker, those kind of people about this?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think there have been
consultations.  President Bush did lay out clear and consistent
guidelines, and it's something -- as you know, Secretary Christopher
gave similar statements yesterday and we have no quarrel with that.
But we've obviously -- we've talked to our predecessors.

         Q      So is this a seamless web in terms of the Bosnia
policy?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think you're talking about apples
and oranges.  There are two separate things.  There's one --
principles on military intervention and other specific policy.  And,
clearly, there are differences between the Bush and the Clinton
policy on Bosnia, but the principles that were set forward, similar
to ones set forward by General Colin Powell, are ones that we
support.

         Q      George, as the President goes through his decision-
making policy on Bosnia, you've told us and he's told us that he
doesn't want the U.S. to act alone, he wants us to act in concert
with our European allies.  But if there's a principle involved of
bringing ethnic cleansing to an end and he heard the pleas last week
from Elie Wiesel, why would it be required that the allies sign on
board United States' efforts to stop that kind of atrocity?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that one of the principles
also involved is you have to have a reasonable chance of success in a
policy.  And obviously the chances of success are increased if we
have the support of our European allies.  I would also point out that
our European allies are involved a this point.  They have troops on
the ground in Bosnia, so they clearly have a say.

         Q      What makes the President more optimistic now that
he can get them on board?  This isn't really consultation anymore, is
it?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure, it is.

         Q      I mean, he's tried to reach Mitterrand for two days
and he won't pick up the phone.  I mean, it's really --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  How do you know that, Helen?

         Q      How do I know that?  Because we were told that he
was trying to reach him for two days running.  You said, yes, he's
going to talk to Mitterrand--

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  They spoke last week and there
might have been an exchange of phone calls, but I'm certain they're
going to speak again very soon.  The important point is that the
President is consulting with our allies and he is --

         Q      But consulting -- he's run up against a brick wall,
up to now.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, that's just not true.

         Q      You mean, they are bending now?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I mean that he is consulting and he
is -- when he makes a decision he will continue those consultations.

         Q      Well, he will still not take unilateral action if
they don't go along?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  What the President said is, he
believes that the policy should be multilateral and he believes that
it will be.

         Q      But what makes him believe that?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He's an optimist.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Can I ask you a question, please?  Why is the
administration proposing a reduction in the business meal and
entertainment tax deduction from 80 percent to 50 percent, since
there are several people who do say that it would be
counterproductive, costing thousands of lower-wage service jobs?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Is that what we call a loaded
question?  (Laughter.)

         Q      Inquiring minds want to know.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  It's based on a simple principle.
If a worker going into an office to work as an assistant to an
executive has to pay for his or her own lunch without any tax break,
without any deduction for that lunch, why should executives get a
special tax break paid for by all of us for a three-martini lunch in
an expensive restaurant?  It just doesn't make sense.

         Q      It creates jobs.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Is this both a fiscal and social policy?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.  It raises money and it also
is more fair.

         Q      What about the waiters who are earning just a few
bucks an hour who won't be serving the people --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think that when this was first
reduced from 100 percent to 80 percent, a lot of the studies showed
that it had no effect on jobs at all.

         Q      George, he's had a chance now to talk with members
of Congress and, obviously, the Alliance and members of the
administration.  Where do you think the consensus is emerging on
policy toward Bosnia?  Are there some options that have greater
agreement than others?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I can't get into the specific
options.  I believe that there is a general consensus for stronger
action.  Beyond that, I don't think that we have a clear sense yet.
But the President will make a decision and we'll go back to Congress
and try and get support.

         Q      Can you be a little more specific about stronger
action?  There's all sorts of options out there.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I know.  I can't.

         Q      George, let me just get the timetable straight.  He
makes his decision before the end of this week.  He then consults
with the allies in Europe, and then he makes his announcement to the
American people what he's going to do?

         Q      And it remains secret until that point, right?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  The President will make a decision
-- the decision is not going to be finalized until he does consult
with the allies.  But, clearly, he's going to make a decision on what
he's going to present to the allies in trying to get multilateral
action for it.

         Q      And then after the consultations, he'll come back
and do an Oval Office address or whatever he's going to do to rally
the American public behind his policies?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Once there's a final announcement
that's ready to go, sure.

         Q      But it happens in that order -- he consults with
the leaders after he's made his decision, or before, or both?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He's been consulting straight
through.  But I think  there will be an intensified consultation
after he's made his decision.

         Q      Will he have another news conference tomorrow on
his 100th day?  Tomorrow is his 100th day, right?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I guess tomorrow is the 100th day,
yes.  It's the actual 100th day, yes.

         Q      Gee, you hadn't noticed.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  How about that.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Will he have a news conference tomorrow?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Another one -- you get one every
day.  Maybe, I don't know.

         Q      You can knock out a lot of nasty pieces that way.
(Laughter.)

         Q      That's one of avoiding nasty pieces.

         Q      George, is it certain that Secretary Christopher is
going to Europe?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Excuse me?

         Q      Is it certain that Secretary Christopher is going
to Europe?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, we haven't made any
announcement on that.

         Q      Do you know any more than yesterday?

         Q      Dealing with NAFTA, a lot of Cabinet secretaries
came out yesterday more or less reputing partly or wholely what Mr.
Panetta said.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, that's not what they did.

         Q      Okay, they came out and said it's not dead.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Right, and Mr. Panetta never said
it was dead either.  He said if it were sent up today, which it
wasn't, it would unlikely pass the Congress.  That is still true.

         Q      Like Franco is still dead.  (Laughter.)

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  But the President is in the middle
of negotiations on the side agreements.  When we finish -- complete
those negotiations, we will present the agreement to the Congress and
we expect it will pass.

         Q      On campaign finance reform, Monday was the day,
Wednesday was the day, now it's next week we're told.  People from
the administration up on Capitol Hill, we understand.  Who are they
meeting with to try to work on this?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think there's probably general
consultations.  I know that a lot of members of the Senate wanted to
have some consultations with Republicans before the final
announcement.  I think that Mack McLarty's up on the Hill today
talking to a large group of Democrats.  I'm not sure exactly who's in
the meeting.

         Q      So are the Democrats concerned or the Republicans?
The Republicans have said they would stand against portions of your
package.  Were you also concerned about some in your own party?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We want to make sure that we have
full consultation before we make any announcement.  But we're not
concerned.

         Q      Any comment on the story in the New York Times to
the effect that the administration's trade policy is rife with
division and is therefore basically stuck, paralyzed?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, it's clearly not paralyzed.
The President made -- set out the administration's trade policy in
his speech at American University.  And we've been moving forward on
negotiations with NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The President had good discussions with Prime Minister Miyazawa, I
believe, almost two weeks --

         Q         had discussions?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.  Almost two weeks ago.  And
we've also been moving forward on GATT and a number of other trade
issues.  And there's no paralysis at all.  We're moving forward.

         Q      What about the disagreements within the
administration, reported there?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Can't comment on it.

         Q      You're not -- well, you would if they weren't
happening, wouldn't you?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, not necessarily.

         Q      Let me follow up on campaign finance.  Some of the
Democrats who are interested in these consultations are saying that
this is just a courtesy, that there is no movement to change the
package now, to address any of the Republican concerns.  What's your
response to that?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Our response is that we're looking
for the strongest reform package we can get.  And we're interested in
getting the support of anybody who's willing to sign onto a strong
package of reform.

         Q      What's the benefit of consulting after the package
is almost completed, as opposed to consulting with them in the past
three months?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  We are consulting with them before
any decisions are made.  We will continue to consult with them and we
hope to get their support.  If they choose not to support it, that's
their decision.  But we're going to go forward with a real package of
real reform.

         Q      Is it possible that anything that they say will
change the package at this point?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.

         Q      It is possible?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure.

         Q      Has the President had any time to pay attention to
the Middle East peace talks?  Does he have any suggestions for the
parties?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No specific suggestions.  He's
pleased that the parties have come to Washington for the talks, and
he hopes that they will go well.

         Q      And has he changed his mind about meeting with any
of them?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There are no meetings planned at
this point.

         Q      On drug policy, Secretary Aspin was at the
announcement today and the military has, in the past, been pretty
reluctant to get involved in drug interdiction and other -- I'm
curious to know why he was there and what role?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, the military does have a role
on interdiction.  They have radar planes off the coast, and they've
been involved in some of our foreign efforts, including I think in
Bolivia in the past.  There have been large-scale assistance by the
U.S. military.  So they clearly have a role.

         Q      But it's been fairly -- I mean, they haven't gotten
involved.  I mean, you're not using military planes to shoot down
drug dealers --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No, but we've used military planes
to track drug dealers.  I just disagree.

         Q      I was just curious to know what role you anticipate
the Defense Department and the State Department having in the drug
war, seeing as the President wants to move more toward treatment and
education from --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I think what the President said is,
he doesn't see it as an either/or situation.  We need to move forward
on enforcement, on interdiction and, clearly, doing what we can to
control the supply overseas, while simultaneously beefing up our
efforts at treatment and prevention and education here at home.

         Q      Do you envision expanding the military role?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Not necessarily.  I don't want to
speak to that at all, but the military clearly does have a role, and
it will continue.

         Q      But their presence there didn't mean any --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  It meant that they have a role to
play in the drug war, and they will continue to play it.

         Q      What does the President think is the U.S. national
interest that would justify U.S. military intervention in Bosnia, and
how would he try to sell that?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I think that when the
President has an announcement to make along those lines, he will make
it and he will justify it.

         Q      When the President said he intended to make drug
treatment an important part of the health care plan, did that mean
that you intend to include drug treatment as part of your core
benefits package that would be guaranteed under coverage?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I can't comment on what's
going to be in or out of the health care package, except to stand by
what the President says which it will be an important part.  We just
have not made any final decisions on the comprehensive benefits
package or any other portion of the health care program.

         QQ       The budget this year pretty much just follows
George Bush's model.  And the President's talking about wanting to
move the focus towards treatment.  Dee Dee said this morning that was
because you didn't have a drug czar in place.  Now that you've got
one, do you anticipate any changes in your budget or a supplemental
to that budget to change the outcome?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  No.  I think the President also
pointed out that there has been a 10 percent increase, I believe, in
treatment and that's clearly going in the direction that we want to
go in.   I mean, we can't achieve all of our goals overnight, but the
President is clearly setting the direction that he wants to go in.

         Q      But in terms of the way you allocate the money.
People on the Hill have been pretty disappointed in what they see as
not living up to the campaign promise on drugs.  And I'm wondering if
you're going to change the allocation of money now that you have
someone in place.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I expect that as the
President's budget makes it through the reconciliation process it's
conceivable that there will be changes.  But I would just again point
out that the President has increased funding for treatment and
prevention in his budget.  He is setting new directions and we're
going to continue to do that as best we can.

         Q      George, do you have any foreign leaders programmed
for the next few weeks, this month?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Sure, there are for the next few
weeks and when we have a whole list we'll let it out.  I don't know
of any more this week.

         Q      George, why did it take until day 99 of your
administration to come up with a drug czar?  What was the cause of
the delay if it was such a high priority?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, it was a high priority and we
were working on it.  We made sure we had a thorough review process.
And what we're pleased with is that we've gotten the best person for
the job, someone who's gotten a significant background in law
enforcement, someone who's studied the problems of criminology,
someone who also understands the very real issues around treatment
and prevention.  The President is happy.  If it took a few extra days
to get Lee Brown, it was worth it.

         Q         goes up to the Hill?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm not sure.

         Q      Do you consider -- does the administration consider
air strikes something that need to be done in the surprise mode?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I don't think there's going to be
any surprises.

         QQ       In other words, are you saying that if there's a --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I'm saying the President hasn't
made a decision


         Q      In other words, are you saying that if there is a
decision so I can't comment on anything he hasn't --

         Q      But there would be an announcement -- for tactical
reasons you wouldn't do something by surprise without announcing it
first?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I can't get into that.

         Q      Did the President sign the executive order that he
promised banning discrimination against gays throughout the
government?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  He hasn't done it yet; it's under
review.  We don't have a specific timetable right now.

         Q      Is it on hold until the situation with the Pentagon
is settled?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, not necessarily.  We just
don't have a timetable.

         Q      Are any of the options that the President's
considering in Bosnia that would not require additional U.N. action?

         Q      Stumped the band.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Times up.  (Laughter.)

         Q      Oh, come on.  You were so close.  (Laughter.)

         Q      It's a trick question.

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Can't comment.  (Laughter.)

         Q      The State Department said that there's already U.N.
legal authority for any military action that would involve protecting
or expanding humanitarian relief.

         Q      Is that the White House interpretation?

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  That's a different question.

         Q      Well, let's take that part of it then.  For
military action that would involve protecting humanitarian relief
that would be --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  I simply cannot comment on
decisions that he hasn't made.  I can't get into that.

         Q      The reason I'm asking is because it has to do with
the timing of any actions that were taken.  If this involves a
decision, you know, consultation and the President announces it and
then we have to go to the U.N. and have weeks more of discussions,
that's one thing.

         Q      That way we've got a chance of getting a weekend
off.  (Laughter.)

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  Again, I certainly am not
contradicting anything that Secretary Christopher said.  At the same
time, we have consistently not commented in any way that would tip
off the conceivable presidential decision, and I just can't start
doing that now.  And if I answer that question it starts to cut of
some things; might not cut off others and I just can't do it.

         Q      A follow-up question on timing.  I understand why
the President wants to consult with Congress and with the allies.
But things are very dire on the ground for some people in Bosnia.
And my question is, is there a sense of urgency about this that you
have noted in the White House and could you give us --

         MR. STEPHANOPOULOS:  There's an absolute sense of
urgency.  That's why the President's been pressing for these
meetings.  That's why he's been pressing for a decision.  That's why
he's been pressing for the best advice from his Cabinet officials,
from the Pentagon, from the State Department.  That's why he called a
meeting with the responsible members of Congress yesterday.  And
that's why he will continue to move forward and make a decision quite
soon.

         THE PRESS:  Thank you.

                                 END                    1:45 P.M. EDT

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