Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 5, 2013 – 2:08 P.M. EDT
MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here. Good Monday to you. Before I take your questions, I just wanted to note that on behalf of all of us in the press office, from the President on down, we want to express our condolences to the NBC family and to the Palmer family at the loss of John Palmer, who was truly one of the greats, in my view — a wonderful man, a terrific reporter, and someone who was as old-school as you could get, and just decent to the core.
So, with that, I’ll go straight to the Associated Press.
Q Thanks, Jay. A couple of questions on the embassy closures and the threats surrounding that. Can you be a little more specific about the type of chatter that led to these closures? Are we talking about intercepts of electronic communications?
MR. CARNEY: Well, Julie, I appreciate the question and I certainly understand the interest. There’s a great deal of focus and attention on this in the press, in the public, and of course, within our administration. We take the threat very seriously and have taken action because of that.
I’m not in a position to discuss specific intelligence, but we believe that this threat is significant and we are taking it seriously for that reason, and have taken the actions that the State Department announced out of an abundance of caution, and will continue to monitor this and take action as necessary.
Q Is this threat contained just to Americans and American interests overseas, or is there any heightened threat to Americans in the U.S.?
MR. CARNEY: I would say that the threat is emanating from and may be directed towards the Arabian Peninsula, but it is beyond that, potentially. And that is why we have taken some of the actions we’ve taken. And we can’t be more specific than that except to say that the embassy closures that we’ve announced are in reaction to that out of an abundance of caution, and the extension of those closures does not reflect a new stream of threat information but is more a reflection of taking necessary precautions.
Q But I just want to clarify — you said that this largely contains the Arabian Peninsula but also beyond that. Does “beyond that” include Americans in the U.S.?
MR. CARNEY: I think that the threat from al Qaeda and affiliated organizations to the United States and to the American people has been a reality that we’ve talked about for a long time now. I think —
Q This specific threat —
MR. CARNEY: Again, I’m not going to get into specific intelligence matters. I can tell you that we have taken the action we’ve taken out of an abundance of caution and we have issued the warnings that we’ve issued in order to make sure that the American people are aware of the potential threat, the potential threat that has always been with us but which is heightened at this time. And we will provide more information as we can, mindful of the need to maintain our security.
Q And word of these embassy closures and this threat followed the President’s meeting with the President of Yemen. Obviously Yemen is at the center of this. Is there anything that came from that meeting, anything President Hadi told President Obama that contributed to this decision?
MR. CARNEY: We read out that meeting and I don’t have any more detail for you from that meeting. It is certainly the case that we cooperate on counterterrorism with Yemen and have for some time. But this specific information reflects what we’ve gathered, broadly speaking, and that’s what we’re reacting to. The meeting between President Hadi and President Obama centered on a variety of topics, including our counterterrorism cooperation.
Yes, Jeff.
Q Jay, should Americans in the U.S. — to follow up on what Julie asked — be afraid?
MR. CARNEY: Jeff, what I can tell you is that we face an ongoing threat from al Qaeda and its affiliates. There are individuals and organizations out there that are focused on doing the United States and the American people harm, as well as doing harm to our people.
Now, the statement that we put out has made clear that our current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond. And our information suggests that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August.
What we know is that the threat emanates from and may be focused on occurring in the Arabian Peninsula, but it could potentially be beyond that or elsewhere. And so we cannot be more specific — which is why we’ve taken some of the actions we’ve taken and made the statements that we’ve made.
Q What does this say more broadly about the strength of al Qaeda in general?
MR. CARNEY: We’ve made clear, as I was saying earlier, that as al Qaeda core has been diminished through the efforts of the United States and our allies, affiliate organizations — including in particular, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula — have strengthened. And we have here in Washington identified AQAP as a particularly dangerous threat for some time now, a number of years. As you know, from this very podium John Brennan, now the CIA Director, then the President’s Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor, spoke very specifically about the rising threat from AQAP. And that is something that we’ve seen in some of the foiled attempts that AQAP has been engaged in, and has been a focus of attention of our national security apparatus for some time.
Q And if I could ask you one other question on a separate issue — some colleagues of our at Reuters reported today that a unit of the DEA, called the Special Operations Division, gives tips to law enforcement across the U.S., and was asked to cover up evidence that is used to launch investigations against Americans. Can the White House confirm this? And are there any concerns about the constitutionality of this program?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I’d say two things. One, I would refer you to the Department of Justice on this. And beyond that, I can tell you that it’s my understanding, our understanding, that the Department of Justice is looking at some of the issues raised in the story. But for more, I would refer you to the Department of Justice.
Q Jay, in the past, the President has said that al Qaeda — and you just mentioned this — core has been on the path to defeat. He said this back in May; he said it in December. And I’m just curious — with nearly two dozen embassies and consulates being closed, is it fair anymore to say that core al Qaeda is on the path to defeat?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I think as most people who cover these issues understand, al Qaeda core is the Afghanistan/Pakistan-based central organizational core of al Qaeda, once headed by Osama bin Laden. And there is no question over the past several years al Qaeda core has been greatly diminished, not least because of the elimination of Osama bin Laden.
What is also true is that al Qaeda and affiliated organizations represent a continued threat to the United States, to our allies, to Americans stationed abroad, as well as Americans here at home. And for that reason we have focused a great deal of attention on those affiliated organizations.
And we have made clear over the past several years that AQAP, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, is of particular concern and has demonstrated both an interest in and a willingness to attempt serious attacks on the United States, our allies and our people. For that reason, we have to be continually vigilant, and have been. And the threat that we’ve made public in recent days reflects the fact that we are vigilant about the willingness of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and other affiliated organizations with al Qaeda to take action against us and against our allies and our people. And we are taking all the precautions we can as we gather more information.
Q And what does it say to the rest of the world when you close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates? Some might say that that is a showing of weakness on the part of the United States that it has to shut its doors.
MR. CARNEY: Well, as I think the State Department has made clear, this is a temporary measure. It is limited to the diplomatic facilities that have been specifically identified. And it is done — in terms of the extension of the closure — out of an abundance of caution, which I think is the right move given the potential threat that exists.
We are engaged around the world. And it is absolutely the case that that engagement creates some risk for American personnel around the world. And decisions like these are designed to reduce that risk in the face of a potential threat. But the engagement, of course, will continue because it’s in the United States’ interest to be engaged around the world, including in those areas that are volatile and where the risk is higher than elsewhere.
Q And is there any concern that you’ve taken your eye off of the ball when it comes to al Qaeda — stressing for months that its core is on the path to defeat while AQAP gets stronger — when you have affiliates like the one in Benghazi where people who might be affiliated with al Qaeda pulling off the attack in Benghazi? Lindsey Graham yesterday said that al Qaeda is on steroids. That doesn’t sound like it’s on the path to defeat.
MR. CARNEY: Well, again, I think you’re confusing al Qaeda core with what we have said very clearly about the threat posed in particular by AQAP, but also affiliated organizations around the region and the world. I think that any evaluation of the actions that we’ve taken in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliated organizations over the last several years and over the life of this administration demonstrates a pretty intense focus on the fight against al Qaeda and the effort to degradeal Qaeda’s abilities and all the abilities of all the affiliated organizations.
Q The eye hasn’t been taken off the ball?
MR. CARNEY: I think any fair assessment would conclude the opposite.
Jon.
Q Jay, is there any confidence that we have enough information to disrupt whatever plot is potentially underway?
MR. CARNEY: I think we’ve told you as much as we can at this point about the intelligence that we have. I’m not in a position to discuss in any more detail our intelligence. We obviously, as I said earlier, believe that this threat is significant and it is ongoing. And for that reason, we have taken some of the action that we’ve taken. And we are obviously continuing to gather information to work with our partners and allies as we do that to combat this threat and the overall threat posed by terrorist organizations that wish us harm.
Q And on Edward Snowden, you said that the administration was looking at the utility of this summit in Moscow in September. Have you had any further information on that?
MR. CARNEY: I have no new announcement for you today. As I said the other day, this was not a positive development, and while we have a wide range of interests with the Russians, we are continuing to evaluate the utility of a summit. I think it’s fair to say that you can expect that we’ll have a decision to announce in coming days about that specific issue.
Q So how can the President go to Moscow and meet with Putin just after this slap in the face?
MR. CARNEY: I think it’s fair to say that we have a range of issues, Jon, of interest with the Russians. And as I said the other day, it has been true for four and a half years now that we have dealt with the Russians in a very realistic way, in an effort to cooperate where we can and to be very clear and pointed where we disagree. We obviously disagree with the Russians very strongly about the decision they’ve made on Mr. Snowden. We disagree with the Russians on a number of other issues, including Syria. And we have made those disagreements plain, both publicly and privately, in our discussions with the Russians.
So when it comes to the utility of a summit in Moscow, a bilateral summit, we are evaluating that against not just our disagreement over Mr. Snowden, but some of the other issues where we have failed to see, thus far, eye to eye. And once we have fully assessed the utility of a summit, we’ll make an announcement.
Major.
Q A couple of things since we haven’t had a chance to talk to you about this — there’s been a lot of speculation over the weekend that it’s maybe the President’s birthday, maybe it’s the end of Ramadan, maybe it’s the anniversary or the Kenya/Tanzania bombings, and I’d like to see if you can, in any way, shape or form, communicate something that is non-speculative about what this threat stream seems to be about and if it does have any connection to what has been speculated possible touch points that I just listed.
MR. CARNEY: I cannot shed light on what has generated this particular threat. We simply act on the information that we have. We obviously share the information we have with our partners and allies, as we identify and try to take action against those who would do us harm and pose a threat to us, and who may be organizing an attempt to attack either the United States, our allies, or a U.S. facility. But beyond that I don’t have any specific information to provide to you about this particular threat and what it’s related to.
Q Okay. As you told us over the weekend, the President was routinely briefed on this. In the past, when you look at case studies of times when the United States government has announced and not announced, there have been different tactical reasons for that. And sometimes when there’s an announcement, there’s a change in the information flow, there’s a change in the chatter, there’s a change in the operational communication that potential terrorists go through. Can you tell us anything about if that’s changed over the weekend, after the announcement on Friday — the threat stream minimizing, or diverting, or changing in a different way?
MR. CARNEY: I think that’s a good question and I have no new information to provide to you. We have no new threat stream that is related to our decision to extend the closure of facilities. And I can say that because, understandably, a new decision like that, coming on the original decision to close some facilities on Sunday, might be read as indicating that we have a new stream of information, and we do not. We’re simply working off of the information we had coming into the weekend to act prudently in further extending the closures.
Q Okay. Senator Graham and Senator McCain are in Egypt. I know we talked a little bit about this last week, but was there something — for example, any conversations between the President or senior administration officials before they arrived in Egypt? Would you expect to hear back from them? And in the intervening weeks since the last spate of violence, is there anything that you are prepared to say about the direction of Egypt, either pro or con, or helpful or not helpful?
MR. CARNEY: Well, on the visit by Senators McCain and Graham, I can say that we’re continuing to consult closely with Congress, and that includes those two senators, with whom we have had at the highest levels discussions about matters of national security and foreign policy. As you know, those two senators met with the President not long ago to discuss national security issues. And we will, of course, consult with them and other members of Congress on developments in Egypt in the days and weeks ahead.
More broadly on Egypt, as you know, Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns was in Cairo this weekend and continued his discussions with a wide range of Egyptians, both yesterday and today, on how they can calm tensions, avoid further violence and facilitate an inclusive democratic process that helps Egypt’s ongoing transition succeed. Deputy Secretary Burns has extended his trip, as has the EU Special Representative Bernadino León. The Deputy Secretary continues to consult closely with Egyptians from a range of groups and parties and sectors of society, as well as with the EU and representatives of the UAE and Qatar, who are also in Cairo.
And along with our international friends, our team is in Cairo to offer the Egyptians help as they work to calm tensions and reduce the polarization that we have seen there. Ultimately, the decisions on the path forward are for Egyptians alone to make, but we are assisting and facilitating this process, as requested by the Egyptians.
Q Before I let you go, I know you don’t want to give away everything tomorrow, but there have been for the last month or so some encouraging signs in the housing market as a part of the overall upward trend of the economy, and I wonder what’s missing that the President is going to address tomorrow that’s needed that he hasn’t already done before.
MR. CARNEY: Well, I think that you’re absolutely true that there has been an important rebound in the housing market. The data that describe the situation in the housing market in this country on January 20th, 2009 are daunting. I believe the American people lost roughly $7 trillion in wealth by January 2009.
And what we have seen, through the grit and determination of the American people, and through the decisions made by the administration and the policies put in place both with Congress and through executive action, has been a very positive change in direction in our housing market. But we are still not where we need to be. And there is certainly ample room to grow when it comes to providing more homeowners the assurance and the capability to refinance their homes and to further stabilize and grow the housing market across the country.
So as part of his plan to offer a better bargain for the middle class, President Obama will be in Phoenix tomorrow to lay out proposals for continuing to help responsible homeowners and those Americans who seek to own their homes.
Following his remarks in Phoenix, on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern and 10 a.m. Pacific time, the President will do an interview with Zillow to answer questions from citizens around the country that will be submitted through a range of social media platforms, including through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Vine. Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff will moderate the discussion in which the President will answer questions submitted by Zillow’s users and social media community, using the hashtag #askobamahousing.
So I think what is important to remember about this is that so many Americans across the country view their own economic and financial circumstances through their homes and whether they own a home, whether their home is underwater, whether they feel like they have equity in their homes. And so that strengthening of the housing market is of vital importance to the strengthening of the middle class. And that’s why the President has chosen to focus on housing as one of the cornerstones of his economic agenda.
Q Refinancing and access to mortgage is primarily the focus?
MR. CARNEY: Well, again, I don’t want to steal — as you said at the top — the President’s thunder, so I encourage you to wait for more specifics from the President tomorrow.
Ed.
Q Jay, on Iran, you’ve got a new President in office, and obviously there is still a very grave nuclear threat the administration is concerned about. But do you feel like he is saying some of the right things? Do you feel like maybe there is an opportunity here?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I appreciate the question. I want to mention that we, again, congratulate the Iranian people for making their voices heard during Iran’s election. We note that President Rouhani — recognize his election represented a call by the Iranian people for change. And we hope that the new Iranian government will heed the will of the voters by making choices that will lead to a better life for the Iranian people.
