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Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Chicago, Illinois, 3/16/2012
Aboard Air Force One En Route Chicago, Illinois
11:38 A.M. EDT
MR. CARNEY: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us on Air
Force One as we make our way to our first stop of the day. Before I
take your questions let me give you a readout of the President’s call to
President Karzai:
President Obama called President Karzai early this morning to offer his
best wishes and congratulations to President Karzai and his wife on the
birth of their daughter.
The two leaders took the opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment
to the Lisbon framework, in which Afghan forces would complete the
process of transition and have full responsibility for security across
the country by the end of 2014.
The two leaders also affirmed that they share the goal of building
capable Afghan security forces and strengthening Afghan sovereignty so
that Afghans are increasingly in charge of their own security, with the
lead for combat operations shifting to Afghan forces, with U.S. forces
in support, in 2013.
To that end, the two leaders also discussed President Karzai’s recent
reiteration of his longstanding concerns regarding night raids and house
searches, and recommitted to conclude ongoing negotiations on a
memorandum of understanding to resolve those concerns.
They also agreed to further discuss concerns voiced by President Karzai
about the presence of foreign troops in Afghan villages. President
Obama reiterated that he looks forward to welcoming President Karzai to
the NATO Summit in Chicago in May, where they, along with our NATO
allies and ISAF partners, will together define the next phase of
transition. The President and President Karzai agreed to stay in close
touch.
That is my readout.
Q Jay, did they discuss them -- President Karzai’s recent comments
that indicated he’d like an earlier withdrawal of U.S. troops?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I think that was clearly a subject of the
conversation, as I just described in a fair amount of detail in the
readout. Broadly, they discussed a variety of issues with regards to
the mission in Afghanistan. And I think what is clear from the readout
of the call is that the two leaders agree that within the context of
the Lisbon framework, which will result in transfer of full
responsibility for Afghan security to Afghan forces by the end of 2013
2014, we will, as the President has said, reach a milestone at some
point in 2013, where Afghans will take the lead in combat operations.
U.S. forces will continue to partner with the Afghan forces but will be
in a support mode. So this is all part of a gradual transition that
results in the fulfillment of the Lisbon framework by the end of 2014.*
Q Jay, Karzai’s representation of their conversation suggests that
the President expressed some surprise that Karzai had called for a
removal of troops or withdrawal of troops from rural -- in villages and
moving them back to bases. And also, that they discussed the transfer
of the soldier accused of these atrocities to U.S. soil.
MR. CARNEY: I am not aware that that was a subject of the
conversation, on your second point. On the first point, I would simply
say that the two leaders did discuss President Karzai’s concern about
U.S. forces in Afghan villages. And within the context of a discussion
about the transition that is already underway and is taking place that
will result in U.S. forces turning over to Afghan forces greater and
greater responsibility to the point where they have the combat lead by
2013 and full responsibility for Afghan security -- full lead by 2014, I
think that the two men were very much on the same page.
Q So does that mean that there will be no withdrawal from villages
until it’s under the context of the change of role next year?
MR. CARNEY: Look, there have been -- you’re talking about ground-level
decisions that have to do with deployments within the framework of an
overall strategy. There have been ongoing changes in the disposition
and location of U.S. and ISAF forces for a long time now as we have
begun this transition and begun to draw down U.S. forces. And that will
continue.
So there are places where U.S. forces were more out in the field, if
you will, and less now; and then -- and less before and more now.
That's part of an overall strategy. But those kinds of on-the-ground
decisions will be made within the framework of the overall strategy, but
more at a ground level.
Q Jay, the President has now obviously had two conversations with
President Karzai arising from unpleasant things, whether it was the
rampage or President Karzai’s remarks. Did President Obama make any
kind of a broader plea or commitment that he’d like to see the
relationship be on a sort of a sounder footing, and acknowledge that the
last couple of weeks have been particularly rough?
MR. CARNEY: Well, the President has acknowledged, and I’m confident
that it is the context -- that it is fair to say with -- about this
conversation that it is well understood that the last several weeks in
Afghanistan, because of the events that have taken place there, have
been particularly challenging. And the President has very publicly
expressed his thoughts on some of these incidents, as well as
communicated with President Karzai about them.
So I don’t have a specific sense of how that general understanding and
acknowledgement fits into this conversation, but it is within the
context of all these events that that conversation took place. So as I
said yesterday from the podium, there is a broad strategy here that has
been underway now for some time that included this surging up of
forces, the refocusing of our mission to concentrate on our number-one
objective, al Qaeda. And in support of that, stabilizing Afghanistan,
building up Afghan forces, building up their capacity so that we can
transition security responsibility to the Afghans and get our forces out
of Afghanistan.
The President’s plan envisions an end to this war, and not just the
hope for an end but the concrete measures that need to be taken to
withdraw U.S. forces, to transfer security lead over to Afghan forces,
to give control of the country to Afghan forces so that our men and
women can come home.
So I think that the -- again, the two men very much share the goal of
Afghanistan being able to be responsible for its own security, for
Afghan forces to be able to do that and have the capacity to do that,
and for the success of the -- for the mission to be successful, which is
to further erode and ultimately defeat al Qaeda and allow Afghanistan
to be stable enough so that it will not become a haven for al Qaeda in
the future.
Q Jay, there are reports out of Kuwait that the government there is
upset about the shooter being transferred there, saying that he can’t be
kept there for a long period of time. Do you guys have a reaction to
some of those reports, and any details on when and where he may be
moved to?
MR. CARNEY: I saw those reports but I don’t have a reaction to it.
I’ll have to refer you to the State Department for that. And I don’t
have any information that I can impart to you about his -- about any
particular individual’s location.
Q He might be still in Kuwait?
MR. CARNEY: I’ll have to take that question. I’m not sure what I can say on that.
Q Jay, was the President consulted on any transfer of the staff sergeant out of Afghanistan?
MR. CARNEY: Again, we’re not commenting with any specificity about the
investigation for obvious reasons. The President has clearly been
regularly briefed and updated on the situation in Afghanistan, including
the situation surrounding the incident that resulted in the killing of
innocent civilians in Afghanistan. But beyond that I’m not going to
get into any specifics.
Q One more question on the call. I didn’t hear, or maybe I missed
it in the readout -- did they discuss reconciliation at all?
MR. CARNEY: I don’t know that they did, but I wouldn’t be surprised if
they didn’t. That is obviously one of the key elements of our overall
strategy here, which is to support that Afghan-led process. But I
don’t know if that specifically came up in this call. As you noted
earlier, they've been -- the two leaders have been in contact fairly
frequently, of late, and generally have fairly regular contact. So
reconciliation is always one of the topics of conversation.
Q Jay, about today's trip. Is it easier when planning campaign and
official business to have one day like this where the entire day is
fundraisers, in terms of who ends up paying the bill at the end of the
day?
MR. CARNEY: I'm not really involved in paying the bills, so I would direct your -- those questions to the campaign.
The President of the United States is President of the United State 24
hours a day, including when he calls foreign leaders in the very early
hours of the morning, and on weekends, and on any given day of the
week. So there are a lot of factors that go into presidential
scheduling. The schedule this week worked out that he was able to do
these events in the way that we planned.
But I can assure you that his day will be full of the execution of his
responsibilities as President, even as he is engaging in some of these
campaign events.
Q And I'm not questioning that. My question is, just from a logistical perspective, if this is easier.
MR. CARNEY: Again, it's hard -- I don't know. I mean, that's a logistical, billing question --
Q The White House is involved in that as well.
MR. CARNEY: -- that it really is not for me to answer. I have no idea
what’s easier or not. What I do know is that we do this very much by
the book, very much in accordance with the rules that have been in place
since we’ve been in office and prior to us coming into office, and
will continue to do so.
Q Did the President watch the documentary that his campaign put out
last night online? And if he didn't watch it last night, has he seen
the full film? And also wondering on that, why was -- from your point
of view, why was this necessary? I mean, it’s obviously targeting the
President’s supporters, reminding them of all of his accomplishments.
But why was this necessary at this time?
MR. CARNEY: Again, that's a campaign video. Questions about campaign
strategy should be addressed to the campaign. I was asked this
yesterday. I don't know if the President has seen it. I would be
surprised if he hasn’t simply because it is his reelection campaign.
But he has been quite busy.
I had a chance to see it. I thought it was superb. I’ll probably watch it many times. I hope you will, too.
Q Jay, big event in Atlanta today -- Tyler Perry, Cee Lo is
performing. Does the President have Cee Lo in his iPad or his iPod?
MR. CARNEY: I wouldn’t -- I think he might. I know he’s a fan.
Q There’s one particularly titled song that kind of goes against the
hope and change message. I can't repeat it on something that's going
to be transcribed, but -- (laughter.)
MR. CARNEY: I don't know about specific songs, but hopefully we’ll get to hear to some music tonight.
Q I think the clean version of that title is “Forget You.” (Laughter.)
Q It’s still an “F.” (Laughter.)
MR. CARNEY: Again, I don't have any comment on specific songs.
Q Can you be a little more specific on what time that phone call happened this morning?
MR. CARNEY: I mean, not that long after midnight, as I understand it.
Q Midnight local time here?
MR. CARNEY: Midnight, U.S. time, yes -- Washington time.
Q Because he called sometime in the early hours --
MR. CARNEY: So I guess it was late night, early morning, Washington
and morning in Kabul. And I think he wanted to speak with him --
Q During his day --
MR. CARNEY: And that was when it worked for both leaders. Also, the
President was eager to congratulate President Karzai on the birth of his
daughter.
Q Has he been speaking to Leader Reid about the jobs bill and
keeping it as clean as possible so that it doesn't -- so it doesn't get
slowed down in the process?
MR. CARNEY: I don't know if the President and Leader Reid have had
that conversation. I -- certainly senior White House staff have been in
regular consultation with the Hill about the legislative agenda,
including the small business bill. We’ve put out a SAP on the small
business bill. There are a number of elements in it, in the House
version, that were essentially
-- I mean, directly reflect precise proposals of the President’s. That's why we have been supportive of it.
It is also true that we believe we are supportive of the Senate
amendments that would enhance investor protections. So we’re supportive
of those amendments, too, to improve the bill.
That’s it?
Q Got a week ahead for us, Jay?
MR. CARNEY: I do not have a week ahead. They’ll be sending it at some point today.
Q Jay, do you remember a trip -- last question from me. Do you
remember a trip that was all fundraising? I mean, we were just trying
to figure this out. I know you did an all fundraising one before, but
not that long ago. There was one in California. But was there one
where you left Washington, did only fundraising and came back?
MR. CARNEY: I don’t know. I’d have to look at the schedule.
Q There was a Chicago trip that we talked about; that was an afternoon/evening trip.
MR. CARNEY: And was that all campaign events?
Q It was all campaign.
MR. CARNEY: So that would be an example of that. I don’t
think it’s unprecedented. And to Jeff’s point, it may or may not be
simply logistically easier to do these when possible given all the other
responsibilities he has. But I really don’t know how it all gets puts
together.
This week, obviously, we had a lot going on in Washington, and I think
today was identified as a day where we could pull this off.
All right.
Q Thank you.
MR. CARNEY: Thank you, all, very much.
END
11:56 A.M. EDT
