NSA program said they expressed at least some reservations, and one actually showed us a letter saying he had grave reservations. What was done with those reservations?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, actually, you talk about a letter that was released by a senator. There were additional briefings after the one that was referenced in that letter; we had more than a dozen briefings with members of Congress on this authorization. The President said that they were briefed on the authorization and the activities conducted under it. We believe that's important. We respect the role that Congress plays, and that's why they were briefed on this matter. Now, this is a highly classified program and we believe it was briefed in the appropriate way.
Q Did you take those into consideration? Did those objections lead to any change in the program?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to go further than what I've said, in terms of the briefings that were had.
Q You understand that those who criticize you on this are suggesting basically those objections were --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I also understand that the American people know what we're doing to try to prevent attacks from happening and save lives. And I think the American people understand the sensitivity of talking about such a highly classified program. The President talked about that yesterday.
Q Can you at least say they were not ignored?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Can you at least say they were not ignored?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think we ever ignore Congress.
Q Well, they said they got no reply. Was the President made aware of Senator Rockefeller's objections?
MR. McCLELLAN: You just talked about Senator Rockefeller's letter. I just told you that after that letter there were additional briefings that occurred.
Q And he got no reply to the letter, and I'm asking, was the President made aware of that letter?
MR. McCLELLAN: There were additional briefings that occurred. The President is very well aware of these matters.
Q Did the President meet The New York Times editor on December 6th and ask him to not publish the eavesdropping story?
MR. McCLELLAN: I saw reports about that; I'm not going to get into discussing it, though.
Q No confirm, no deny?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, neither.
Ken, go ahead.
Q Scott, are there any kind of surveillance techniques or operations that this administration has considered, but rejected as unlawful? Or is the position in the building that the use of force resolution places no legal limits on whatever the President deems is necessary?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll reject the latter part of your question.
Q What about the first?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to get into discussing these matters, national security matters of this nature. There are a lot of discussions that occur. That's why the President made sure that this program was very limited in nature and that it was targeted to address a specific problem. And that's why he also carefully reviews it every 45 days or so. And top legal officials -- both at the NSA and the Justice Department and here at the White House -- review the activities that are conducted under it, as well. And that includes the General Counsel of the NSA; that includes the inspector general at the NSA. That's why we went to Congress and briefed members of Congress about it, as well.
Q If it became useful and necessary to listen in on conversations between two people within the United States, does the President believe has the legal authority to do that now?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there are other tools available to us. He talked about that very issue yesterday. FISA is an important tool. We make use of FISA. But this is a difference between monitoring and detecting and preventing. And there are differences here that General Hayden and the Attorney General talked about yesterday, as well.
Q Scott, how much President Bush is concerned about the stability -- (inaudible) -- will be the flashpoint in 2006, regarding its final status conditional or unconditional --
MR. McCLELLAN: This is an issue that I think the State Department has talked about. Nicholas Burns over there has been very involved in this issue. It's an important issue and he stated our views on it. I'll be glad to get you some more information on it, if you want.
Q One more. How the President defines the role of Greece since the country -- (inaudible) -- already deployed 1,800 U.S. troops, along with 18,000 --
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me take a look at it, and I'll provide you with more.
Q In reference to yesterday's statements, what is the President doing to push the Iraqi leaders to form a more inclusive government and convince them to reach a compromise --
MR. McCLELLAN: Right now we don't know who the Iraqi leaders are; the results are still coming in. But the President has said that it's important that the new government be inclusive and representative. And there's a constitution that's in place that requires a two-thirds vote on forming the leadership of the new government.
But we look forward to assisting and helping the new government once it is in place. Well, let's back up. We look forward to helping the new leaders form an inclusive and representative government. It's up to them to determine the makeup, but we're there to help assist them and move forward as quickly as they can. It's going to take some time because, as I pointed out, the requirements in the constitution. But those requirements are there for a reason, so that you do have a leadership that is representative and inclusive. And we'll look forward to seeing what the results are.
The President spoke with President Talabani and Prime Minister Jafaari earlier today, congratulated the Iraqi people on a successful election. This was an historic moment, and we'll continue to work with them going forward.
Q Thank you.
MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.
END 1:05 P.M. EST