Q I have two questions. And I start with Terry's question, which was, when did the White House become aware of these Red Cross reports?
MR. McCLELLAN: Mike, I'd have to go back and check the exact time period. But as Terry pointed out, these issues have been -- they go back a while, so I'd have to check that.
Q But did you know about them before the "60 Minutes" story?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we were aware of them, because we work very closely with the International Red Cross. We believe it's important to cooperate closely with the Red Cross on these issues. These are important matters and, as I said, the actions that a few individuals committed do not represent the United States military....
Q Scott, you said, before the "60 Minutes II" story. Did you know about them -- did the White House know about these reports before this investigation began in mid-January?
MR. McCLELLAN: Mike, I haven't gone and, like, done a time line on this, but as Terry pointed out, these concerns have been brought to our attention previously. And like I said, we are always in close contact with the principals on these issues of detainees.
MR. McCLELLAN: Mike, I'd have to go back and check the exact time period. But as Terry pointed out, these issues have been -- they go back a while, so I'd have to check that.
Q But did you know about them before the "60 Minutes" story?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we were aware of them, because we work very closely with the International Red Cross. We believe it's important to cooperate closely with the Red Cross on these issues. These are important matters and, as I said, the actions that a few individuals committed do not represent the United States military....
Q Scott, you said, before the "60 Minutes II" story. Did you know about them -- did the White House know about these reports before this investigation began in mid-January?
MR. McCLELLAN: Mike, I haven't gone and, like, done a time line on this, but as Terry pointed out, these concerns have been brought to our attention previously. And like I said, we are always in close contact with the principals on these issues of detainees.
In that same briefing, there is another interesting exchange that caught my eye:
Q Scott, two quick questions. One, we have spoken to some of the people -- civilians and the military people who served in Iraq, and what they are saying, one, they are supporting the Secretary of Defense to stay on the job. And, two, what they are saying is that these egregious acts have taken place, as you said, that few individuals were involved, because what they had seen before that how the Iraqis treated American soldiers, burned alive, killed and murdered and -- on the streets. You think that had maybe contributed to this?
MR. McCLELLAN: That what may have contributed to it?
Q How Americans were killed and abused and burned alive in Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: There are certainly terrorists and thugs and Saddam loyalists who do not want a free and peaceful Iraq to emerge, and they're going to use any excuse to try to take advantage of the current situation. But we will show the world, through our actions, that the actions of a few do not represent the good work of the many, of our men and women in the military.
And I would point out that the United States is committed to treating people humanely and treating people -- and meeting all our international obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions.
MR. McCLELLAN: That what may have contributed to it?
Q How Americans were killed and abused and burned alive in Iraq?
MR. McCLELLAN: There are certainly terrorists and thugs and Saddam loyalists who do not want a free and peaceful Iraq to emerge, and they're going to use any excuse to try to take advantage of the current situation. But we will show the world, through our actions, that the actions of a few do not represent the good work of the many, of our men and women in the military.
And I would point out that the United States is committed to treating people humanely and treating people -- and meeting all our international obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions.
Now, I don't know who was doing the questioning, nor what the intent was, but just to clarify the matter, the prisoner "abuse" could not have been contributed to by the Fallujah incident referred to in the question (which by the way was not American soldiers, but hired mercenaries). And the reason it could not have been contributed to by that incident is that the "abuse" documented occured last fall.
McClellan, of course, doesn't answer the question, and it could be that he was very well aware of the proper answer and chose to leave it ambiguous, leaving the impression that these incidents were not only related, but that the latter actually contributed to the former. Turning physics on its head, in the now signature up is downism world of the White House.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
