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Does the U.S. Want a Ceasefire in Gaza?

December 31, 2008 6:41 PM

ABC News' Kirit Radia reports: There appear to be some inconsistencies in the Bush administration's position regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.

Today, White House deputy spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that the administration wants a durable and sustainable ceasefire that would begin only once Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, saying anything less would not be worth the paper it is written on. He, at no point, called on Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza.

Johndroe parried questions on a proposed 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire and refused to take a position on how a cessation of violence could otherwise be reached.

On Tuesday, however, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed on to a statement from the Quartet (the international group of U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia that has attempted to mediate peace, but typically ends up bickering internally) that called for an immediate end to the violence on both sides.

Johndroe today denied there was any difference, saying: "The Quartet statement says an immediate cease-fire that is fully respected. I think those statements are very consistent. I've been talking about the need for Hamas to fully respect a cease-fire since Monday, or otherwise it won't be worth anything, no matter whether it's immediate or not. So we all want to see an end to the violence. It has to be a respected cease-fire. I think that we're all on the same page."

December 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (81)

WH Blames Hamas for Violence

December 29, 2008 4:52 PM

ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports from Crawford, Texas: In the White House's first press briefing since Israel began bombing Gaza over the weekend, spokesman Gordon Johndroe towed the same line we've heard from the administration in recent days, blaming Hamas for the outbreak of violence but at no time calling on Israel to stop its retaliation.

"Hamas has once again shown its true colors as a terrorist organization that refuses to even recognize Israel's right to exist. In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable cease-fire. That is the objective to which all parties need to be working.  And that is what the United States is working toward. We also remain concerned about the humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza. We ask that all parties involved to allow food and medical supplies to reach the people there. And we appreciate the efforts of a variety of countries in the region who are working to help the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza," Johndroe said.

"We have urged the Israelis to avoid civilian casualties, but they are working on decreasing the number of Israeli citizens that are vulnerable," he added.

President Bush has yet to inject himself into the situation since this latest round of fighting began, leaving it up to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to speak with the parties (though, consistent with longstanding policy, the U.S. has not spoken with Hamas). Instead Bush has spoken with regional intermediaries. On Saturday, he spoke with Saudi King Abdullah and then this morning with Jordanian King Abdullah.

In those discussions, Johndroe said the president told the kings, "we want to see the violence stop, but in a way that leads to a durable and sustainable succession of violence. We can't have the violence stop now only for it to start up again."

Rice, meanwhile, has spoken to several regional and world leaders about the fighting, including Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Noticeably absent from her list of calls, however, is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Rice has taken the time to brief the incoming administration on the situation. Since fighting broke out she has spoken with President-elect Barack Obama and his pick for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Johndroe said he did not expect Bush to speak publicly about the situation. "At this point, we don't have any plans for the president to -- to make a statement on this. We will continue to monitor the situation. I mean, he's staying in touch with the national security adviser, as well as the secretary of state, and we'll see," Johndroe said, adding: "Secretary Rice has been the primary interlocutor."

The president has received intelligence and situational updates and this morning discussed the matter via secure video conference with Vice President Dick Cheney, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and National Security Adviser Steve Hadley.

"They updated him on overnight developments in the Middle East and discussed U.S. actions," Johndroe said.

Asked if the U.S. is urging Israel to avoid a ground operation in Gaza, he replied: "I can't speak to any potential ground operation.  I think that any ground operation, according to the Israelis, would be part and parcel of the -- of the overall operation, given their statements saying that they don't want to retake Gaza, that they simply want to protect their people."

"I'm not going to speculate on a ground operation," he quickly added.

Asked if Israel's targets were justified, he replied: "The United States understands that Israel needs to take actions to defend itself."

Johndroe said the U.S. has not been involved in the planning or coordination of the Israeli offensive.

"The United States is not involved in this action in any -- in any specific way. The United States has provided millions of dollars of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and so we are certainly encouraging countries in the region to continue their efforts to bring medical and food supplies to the people of Gaza," he said.

So what is the president doing today?

"After his phone call with Abdullah and his intelligence briefing, he went to his office to work on paperwork and a variety of things. And I expect he'll probably ride his bicycle today and spend time with Mrs. Bush. And I expect he'll also probably receive updates on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, as well," Johndroe said.

December 29, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (33)

Bush Avoids the Spotlight on Vacation, Despite International Conflict

December 28, 2008 7:03 PM

ABC News' Kirit Radia reports from Crawford, Texas:

Even an emerging crisis in the Middle East, one he pledged to resolve just 13 months ago, has not drawn President George W. Bush from his final vacation before leaving office. Despite his personal pledge at Annapolis last year to broker a deal between Israel and the Palestinians before 2009, this weekend Bush sent his spokesmen to comment in his stead.

The spokesman's statement, while blaming Hamas for the outbreak of violence, did not signal that the United States is prepared to step in to resolve the conflict, suggesting that this president is content to leave the matter for his successor.

Since departing Washington for Crawford on Friday, President Bush has made no attempt to be seen in public. In fact, he has yet to leave his ranch.

His spokesmen said that the president has stayed in the loop, receiving his usual briefings and consulting with his top advisors. He had at least one talk with a foreign leader, a conversation with Saudi King Abdullah, yesterday.

Not atypically, we have yet to learn anything more about what is keeping the commander in chief busy, though one can assume there is brush to be cleared, trails to be biked, and perhaps even fish to be caught.

The Western White House expects to begin briefing reporters starting tomorrow, which will hopefully shed some light on the U.S. response to the Israel-Gaza situation… and on the president's schedule.

December 28, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (177)

Double-Teaming Pakistan

December 22, 2008 4:19 PM

ABC News' Luis Martinez and Kirit Radia Report: In another sign of how importantly the US military is taking its relationship with Pakistan, the Pentagon announced that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen visited Pakistan earlier today for the seventh time since assuming the post more than a year ago and Pakistan's National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, formerly the Ambassador to Washington until last May, was back in town last week for meetings with top US officials.

A brief statement released by Mullen's office says Mullen traveled to  Islamabad earlier today and met with Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, head of Pakistan's controversial Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.  It was Mullen's eighth meeting with Gen. Kayani.

According to the statement, "He thanked both men for their efforts -- and the efforts of the Pakistani. government -- to arrest members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and other extremist groups involved with the attacks in Mumbai."   In his meetings Mullen "urged them to support judicial efforts to prosecute the cases fully and transparently." 

Mullen's previous trip to Pakistan took place shortly after the deadly terror attacks in Mumbai, India that temporarily inflamed tension between India and Pakistan.  His message on that last-minute trip was to urge military restraint by both sides and to encourage Pakistan to focus attention on the terror threat posed by Lashkar-e-Taibe (LET) in the eastern Kashmir border region, a terror group suspected of having received support in the past from the ISI. 

According to the statement, Mullen "encouraged the Pakistani leaders to use this tragic event as an opportunity to forge more productive ties with India and to seek ways in which both nations can combat the common threat of extremism together."
 
Mullen visited Pakistan after having wrapped up his participation in a week-long USO Christmas tour of the United Kingdom, Germany, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, in this country, on Friday the Pakistani National Security Advisor met with top officials at the Pentagon and the State Department. Durrani met with  Secretary, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Rice's top diplomat for the region Richard Boucher. At the Pentagon he met with Deputy Secretary Gordon England and Policy chief, Ambassador Eric Edelman.   

According to a US official, Rice pressed Durrani for Pakistan to follow through on its rhetoric to fight terror in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. She told him that Pakistan needs to turn its words into actions. In other words, Durrani was told Pakistan needs to do more to crack down on terror networks inside the country.

The official disputed reports suggesting that Durrani was "summoned" to Washington.

Meanwhile, Centcom commander General. David Petraeus has presented a proposal that would create a $2.6 billion fund to help equip Pakistan's military buy better weapons and train for a counterinsurgency.  The fund would be similar to those set up for Afghanistan and Iraq and allow Centcom the financial flexibility to provide arms and training on short notice to Pakistan's military.  An initial payment of $400 million could be included in the war supplemental bill that will go to Congress early next year. The fund would be beyond the $6 billion in reimbursements the US has provided to Pakistan for military operations in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan since 9-11. 

December 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (25)

US Shifts Stance on Zimbabwe

December 22, 2008 2:56 PM

ABC News' Richard Coolidge and Luis Martinez Report: With a month left to govern, the Bush administration is ratcheting up the tough talk and the pressure in a bid to help Zimbabwe and its people out of its political, economic and health crises.

In announcing a change of policy over the weekend, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer announced, "We have lost confidence in the power-sharing deal being a success with Mugabe in power. He has lost touch with reality."

The government has been deadlocked after an arrangement was formed with strongman Robert Mugabe remaining president and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who won the original election last March - as Prime Minister. But, negotiations over who would get to control what ministries - particularly the Defense and Home Affairs (i.e. police) Ministries - have led to a stalemate.

On Friday, the 84-year old President was defiant, declaring, "I will never, never, never, never surrender. Zimbabwe is mine."

Secretary Rice upped the ante today in an interview with Agence France-Presse, saying, "I am going to consult with our allies, particularly with some of our African allies and with the British and we will see...But I think it high time that the international community step up the sanctions on this regime."

Showing support for the citizens of the country, she continued, "I don't know how much longer people can let this go on, claiming that it is somehow an internal matter. It is not...It is clearly having caused problems across the border and even if it were an internal matter, what is happening to the Zimbawean people is unconscionable."

Yesterday on "Meet the Press," she re-iterated that Mugabe cannot last.

"The regime of Robert Mugabe has got to go. You have a cholera epidemic there. You have a humanitarian disaster in terms of food. You have the goons of the Mugabe regime going around and detaining people and frightening people, terrorizing people. Again, the international community in that circumstance needs to act."

December 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Bush Gets MRI on Left Shoulder

December 22, 2008 2:38 PM

ABC News' Huma Khan Reports: President George W. Bush on Monday got an MRI of his left shoulder and a cortisone injection for pain at the Walter Reed Medical Center before visiting wounded soldiers at the hospital.

White House physician, Dr. Richard Tubb conducted the MRI and set up the appointment after Bush experienced intermittent pain, but the doctor said it's "probably just wear and tear from an active individual."

"It's in good shape ... it's about an 80 mile-an-hour fastball," Bush said when asked by reporters how his shoulder is doing.

Deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe said the pain has not impacted the president's duties.

Bush was at Walter Reed Monday afternoon -- in his 16th visit to the hospital -- to meet 13 soldiers who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. He presented Purple Hearts to seven soldiers and also met the family of a service member who is in the ICU.

"Every time I come here, I get amazed at the quality of care, the professionalism, and the courage of our troops. I can say with certainty that the health care that our troops get in military medical facilities is excellent," Bush said. "I am so pleased to hear from spouses and other loved ones about the care they get, as well, when they come to visit their wounded -- wounded child or wounded husband or wounded spouse."

Bush said it would be his last trip as president to Walter Reed.

"You know, I oftentimes say being the Commander-in-Chief of the military is the thing I'll miss the most, and coming here to Walter Reed is a reminder of why I'll miss it," the president said.

Results from the MRI are expected later today.

December 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (30)

After Proclaiming His Own Innocence, Blago Pardons 22 Illinoisans

December 19, 2008 9:14 PM

ABC News' Matt Jaffe reports: On the same day that he proclaimed his innocence for the first time after being arrested 10 days ago, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich pardoned 22 people Friday evening.

"I am pleased to restore the rights of citizenship to these individuals," Blagojevich said in a statement. "After looking at each one of these cases, it was clear that this was the right thing to do."

Only hours earlier, the governor had spoken out for the first time since his arrest on charges that included attempting to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

"I am here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, that I intend to stay on the job, and I will fight this thing every step of the way," Blagojevich said at a Chicago news conference this afternoon. "I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath."

The defiant lawmaker refused to bow to "false accusations" and "a political lynch mob" demanding his resignation. In the week and a half since he was charged by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzerald, Blagojevich has steadfastly continued to serve as governor, going in to work at his Chicago offices almost every day and signing bills on a regular basis.

The governor said today that he had done "nothing wrong" and he clearly believes the same is true for the 22 people pardoned Friday evening.

The 22 people pardoned are: Shantya Russell, Michael Gordon, Michael Tabler, Robert Eugene Smith, Lora Thomas, Constance Glass, Donald Kendall, Edward Lee Smith, Jackie Wayne Collins, Sylvia Johnson, Joel Naskiewicz, John Kidwell, Juan Linval, Katrina Raickett, Larry Pierson, Latasha Lofton, Jeffrey Nussbaum, Bret Lefever, Donald Mitchell, James Moreland, Alex May, and Marcus Lyons.

December 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (88)

25,000 More Troops for Afghanistan

December 19, 2008 12:49 PM

ABC News' Luis Martinez Reports: The latest Pentagon estimate for the number of additional troops needed to fight the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan has risen to 25,000, ABC News has learned.

Since last fall, the Pentagon has been trying to meet a request from U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan for four additional combat brigades and their support troops, a request estimated to be about 20,000 troops.  Top Pentagon officials have repeatedly said meeting the request could likely take 18 months and is greatly dependent on the continued reduction of US troops in Iraq that would free up units that could then flow into Afghanistan.

A senior defense official tells ABC News that military planners now estimate 25,000 more troops will be needed for Afghanistan.  With 31,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan, it appears that by mid-2010 the number of US troops there will almost double.

Four combat brigades and an aviation brigade would equate to about 16,000 to 18,000 troops, but the numbers are pushed higher by the additional numbers of support troops, known as enablers, that would be needed to assist the combat forces.

The official says adding the enablers had originally produced estimates ranging between 20,000 and 30,000 more troops arriving in Afghanistan over the next 18 months.  However, a recent efficiency review concluded that the number would be about 25,000.   This number is confirmed by another defense official who says that most of the additional troops will be based in southern Afghanistan's Helmand and Kandahar Provinces. 

In mid-January, the Third Brigade, 10th Mountain Division will be the first of the additional brigades to begin flowing into Afghanistan, but no other combat units have been ordered to go to Afghanistan. 

Last week, Secretary Gates told reporters that he hopes an additional two brigades could be in Afghanistan by the summer of 2009.  Reporters traveling with Gates this past weekend received a briefing from a Senior Military Official who said the brigades that would flow into Afghanistan had been identified by military planners, but no final decisions had been made on their deployments

Though the flow of troops into Afghanistan is greatly dependent on a reduction of US troop levels in Iraq, this official said, "They're not all a one for one, its not as easy as just to say, the big pieces are off ramping from Iraqi options typically, but when you get into enablers they're obviously fine-tuned for Afghanistan and not just sort of one for one with respect to Iraq."

The senior defense official agrees saying not every troop requirement in Afghanistan will be met by off-ramping units originally destined for Iraq.  He says Army and Marine units not in the rotation cycle for Iraq could likely be heading to Afghanistan.  One option being explored is looking at how National Guard units could be used to their full potential without breaking requirements for tour lengths and dwell time -- the amount of time reserve units are allowed between overseas combat tours.

December 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (12)

Sources: Obama to Appoint Navy Adm. Blair as New National Intelligence Head

December 18, 2008 7:20 PM

ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: Democratic sources tell ABC News that Barack Obama will appoint retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair to be the nation's top intelligence official, replacing Michael McConnell as the director of National Intelligence.

Before he retired from the Navy as a four-star Admiral in 2002, Blair served as the top U.S. military official in the Pacific.  He's also served as the director of the Joint Staff in the Pentagon and in various capacities at the National Security Council and the CIA. 

The sources say Obama is also seriously considering keeping Mike Hayden as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, but caution no final decision has been made.  Keeping Hayden as CIA director would be a controversial move because of the CIA's policies on the interrogation of terrorist suspects, although Hayden was not at the CIA when the most controversial tactic -- waterboarding -- was used on three CIA detainees. 

Two weeks ago, Obama had a lengthy briefing from Hayden on the CIA's covert programs.  According to a Democratic source, the two-hour briefing went well.  Although Hayden's future was not discussed, the source said Obama "felt comfortable" with Hayden.

December 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (16)

No Offense

December 18, 2008 12:34 PM

ABC News' Brian Hartman Reports: In what amounts to a final poke in the eye of groups that promote abortion rights, the Bush administration has issued a long-awaited rule that protects doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to provide services that offend them.

Democrat-allied groups like Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Rights Action League and Moveon.org have been railing against this "provider conscience" rule since it was first proposed this summer.

The rule requires any "entities" that receive federal funds to give their workers the freedom to recuse themselves from providing any services they find morally repugnant. It's not just about abortion. This also gives health care workers and medical researchers the freedom to refuse to do anything they find offensive -- like providing birth control, sterilizing patients or sharing family planning information.

The rule appears in the Federal Register tomorrow, just in time for it to kick in before Obama takes office. For democrats to unravel it will require either an act of Congress or a repeat of the lengthy rulemaking process.

In the notice for the rule, the administration writes this is necessary, in part, to address a critical shortage of doctors and nurses.

"The Department is concerned about the development of an environment in sectors of the health care field that is intolerant of individual objections to abortion or other individual religious beliefs or moral convictions. Such developments may discourage individuals from entering health care professions. Such developments also promote the mistaken belief that rights of conscience and self-determination extend to all persons, except health care providers," the notice says.

HHS officials insist the rule, while new, creates no new restrictions. They say it simply enforces laws already on the books.

The Federal Register notice says: "This rule implements federal laws protecting health care workers and institutions from being compelled to participate in, or from being discriminated against for refusal to participate in, health services or research activities that may violate their consciences, including abortion and sterilization, by entities that receive certain funding from the Department."

Sharon Camp, president of the Guttmacher Institute, which promotes reproductive health and education, calls this claim "disingenuous."

"In fact, by redefining key terms it vastly expands these laws' reach," Camp wrote in a letter of protest she filed with HHS. "The regulation conflicts with and undermines a host of other federal and state laws and policies designed to help Americans obtain needed reproductive health information and services."

These criticisms are acknowledged in the text of the rule itself, but it downplays complaints that this will lead to more limited access to birth control.

"We have found no evidence that these regulations will create new barriers in accessing contraception unless those contraceptives are currently delivered over the religious or moral objections of the provider in such programs or research activities."

Even before this rule kicks into affect, President-elect Barack Obama's Transition Team already is reviewing ways to, as National Abortion Rights Action League puts it, "fix the damage the Bush administration has done" to the democrats' reproductive health agenda. The Wall Street Journal took a good look at the Obama team's options yesterday.

And you can read the new rule for yourself right HERE.

December 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (105)