Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ Well, clearly the immediate aftermath for the economy sends worrisome signals, and it is important to fully assess those signals, and when it comes to the making of appropriate policy on an economic point of view, what to do -- what type of stimulus package, if there should be additional tax cuts, if there should be additional spending, if there should be regulatory changes. The President is going to adopt a very consultative approach with the Congress, and a deliberative approach, as well. He will take a look at the context of the economy, and he will make a judgment. ”

“ There is one, the airlines, which clearly have been directly and adversely affected as a result of the attack on the United States. The President is considering what appropriate remedy is proper and wise and in the taxpayers' interest for the airlines, to help them deal with the consequences of the attack. More broadly speaking, the President is also, as he will today, talking to members of Congress and to his advisors about what steps could be taken to help the economy in general. And of course, any steps that would help the economy in general could also have an impact on various industries. ”

“ Is the administration inclined in some way and in some forum, or even privately on a one-on-one basis, to provide whatever evidence or some kind of evidence so that those who are also exposed in this battle can make the case that they have seen convincing evidence and that it's real? MR. FLEISCHER: I think all you have to do is listen to President Musharraf's speech today. And based on the information that Pakistan is aware of and the conversations that Pakistan has had with the United States, they are taking action that the United States government is appreciative for. ”

“ And the manner in which our enemies, in this case, the terrorists, carry out the war against us is different -- hijacking airplanes with plastic knives and flying them into buildings in America. And our response will be different. Our response will not only be the traditional senses the American people have become accustomed to when it comes to war. But it will be all those other elements the President has talked about, while the financial networks that involve diplomacy, sanctions, trade, economy, politics, carrots, sticks. ”

“ As the leader of the world's largest Muslim population and the third largest democracy in the world, President Megawati joined President Bush in underlining the importance of differentiating between the religion of Islam and the acts of violent extremists, which has taken place in New York and here at the Pentagon in Washington, emphasizing that Islam is a religion of peace that neither teaches hatred nor condones violence. ”

“ Are you saying that the United States should do nothing unless there's world unanimity? I'm not aware of any such doctrine. Q Why should the American people believe that this government has such solid evidence linking Osama bin Laden to these terrorist acts when it wasn't even able to determine that there were four planes that were going to get hijacked and kill thousands of people? Why should we believe you? ”

“ President Bush expressed his appreciation for South Africa's offer of search and rescue teams and medical assistance to help in America's recovery. President Mbeki offered his condolences and said that President Bush has taken on an important task to mobilize a global coalition against terrorism. The Presidents acknowledged the common threat of terrorism to both the United States and South Africa, and President Bush explained that his effort to go after terrorist sanctuaries, as well as countries who sponsor such evil. ”

“ On your first question, it's a vital question, and I think it's so important every day for everybody in government to continue to remind the American people, as General Ashcroft did this morning, that the American people should show no intolerance toward anybody based on what has happened. The fabric of our society is tremendously strong, but there are some weak edges. ”

“ It's just another indication of how the world is speaking out and expressing unity and solidarity in a variety of ways with the United States in a way that will isolate the terrorists and enable the world to do combat with terrorism on a host of levels. ”

“ I continue to use that, because, again, I think it's so important for the American people who have for so many years understood war to be a traditional war, as the President points out, that involves capital cities and movements of fleets, and airplanes sitting on tarmacs, that this type of war is a totally different type of war. ”

“ They are already working with the United States very productively and cooperatively. And so I think you have to ask yourselves the question of, are the other nations around the world asking the same questions that you are, and I indicate that many of those nations are beyond what you're asking. Q I don't think there is any question that our allies are prepared to believe this. What we're talking about are people who are not necessarily our allies and those who try to make the argument that the administration is simply waging war on Islam. ”

“ And this is another reason why he's also mindful of the patience of the American people. The American people are a patient people. The American people also want to see action. But the President is going to be guided by a very resolute sense of only action that should be taken is action that will work, that will be effective, and that will be effective for the long-term. ”

“ Q Given the President's sense of urgency to help bail out the airlines, does he also feel it necessary to provide direct financial aid to other industries, such as the insurance industry, reinsurance industry, hotels, motels, tourism in the state of Hawaii, that are also having financial difficulties that they can trace directly to the aftermath of the terrorist attack? ”

“ It's so important at all times to remember the things that make America strong, and immigration is one of them. We can be a nation with immigrants; we can also be a nation of laws, and we have to be both. Q You mentioned yesterday that the response from the Taliban had been all over the lot. Is there any more clarity today, and if not, does that in itself indicate that they're not going to cooperate? ”

“ The President has said that he sees in this an opportunity to do something for the next generations, so that people will not have to suffer these terrorist attacks that culminated in the attack on the World Trade Center. ”

“ He is sending a message and he's rallying a coalition, that those who engage in terrorism and those who harbor terrorists need to be worried about the actions that our government will take. Q Is one side in that conflict more guilty than the other? Is one more of a terrorist group than the other? ”