Home • Readout of National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice’s Meeting with National Security Office Director Kim Kwan-Jin of the Republic of Korea

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 17, 2014

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Josh Earnest En Route Joint Base Andrews, 9/17/14

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Joint Base Andrews

2:11 P.M. EDT

MR. EARNEST: Good afternoon, everybody. Nice to see you. I hope you enjoyed our morning at MacDill Air Force Base. Let me just do two quick announcements and then we’ll get to your questions.

This afternoon at CENTCOM, the President received an update from General Austin and other senior CENTCOM officials on their ongoing efforts to develop plans for the broader and sustained military campaign against ISIL. He was also briefed on their efforts to build the broad international coalition that is necessary to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL. I spoke to the President after the meeting -- he seemed pleased with the briefing, he called it “thorough,” and he complimented the staff on their solid work.

In addition, this afternoon, back at the White House, the President will convene members of his national security team to prepare for next week’s UN Security Council meeting that he will chair to discuss the international community’s coordinated efforts to mitigate the threat that’s posed by foreign fighters. This is the focal point of extensive planning here in the United States, and with our allies and partners around the globe.

So with that, we’ll go to your questions.

Q Josh, yesterday General Dempsey made some more news after he testified on the Hill, traveling with reporters to Paris. He said two things -- one was that in the assessment by the military is that only half of the Iraqi army is prepared to be partners with the U.S. in confronting ISIL. And his other point was that because we have trainers on the ground in Iraq, it might be time to revisit the immunity agreement that al-Maliki would not sign before. So I wondered if that’s a concern for the President. Is there a need for this immunity agreement? And what do you do when only half of the Iraqi army is a trusted partner?

MR. EARNEST: I don’t have any updates as it relates to our position on an immunity agreement, so I’ll just have to take that question. If there’s a comment that we have on that later today I’ll let you know.

As it relates to the capability of the Iraqi security forces, we’ve noted for some time that the principal failure of the Iraqi security forces to withstand the assault from ISIL earlier this summer was related to the failed political leadership of Iraq’s central government; that the Maliki government had failed to unite the diverse elements of the nation of Iraq, and that meant that the security forces were not united. That in the same way that the country was divided along sectarian lines -- again, as a result of the failed political leadership -- that the security forces were weakened by those sectarian divisions as well. That’s why the core component of this strategy, from the beginning, since the day that ISIL made their dramatic advance across Iraq, has been the formation of an inclusive central government in Baghdad.

Iraq’s political leaders have made tremendous progress along those lines. They made progress that many observers, frankly, did not think they’d be able to make by this point, to be in a position where they had political leadership that reflected the diversity of that country. And we do expect that that diverse leadership, pursuing a unified governing agenda, will have a corresponding impact on the security forces. We do anticipate that that unified government will have some success in unifying the security forces, which will make them stronger and better able to confront the threat that is posed by ISIL.

Because of our confidence in their improved capability, the President has made the decision to ramp up the kind of military assistance that we provide them. That includes training, that includes some additional equipment. It also includes the backing of American airstrikes to support the effort of Iraqi and Kurdish security forces to take the fight to ISIL on the ground. All three of those things should also enhance the capability and the capacity of Iraq’s security forces to face down ISIL.

Q How much time does the U.S. have to accomplish that?

MR. EARNEST: Well, the President has talked about the need to move with some urgency to address the instability that we see in the region -- that there is a genuine concern about the ability of ISIL to establish a safe haven that would be bad for our interests in the region. It certainly would have a destabilizing impact on that region and have an impact on our allies and partners in that region. It certainly would enhance the threat that is posed [to] Americans who are in Iraq. And down the road, it could significantly worsen the threat that that organization poses to Americans around the globe and even to the U.S. homeland.

The President is determined, however, to ensure that we build the kind of international coalition that will be necessary to make it clear that it’s not the United States alone that is at war with ISIL. ISIL has declared war on the rest of the world, and the President will -- and the United States will build and lead an international coalition to take the fight to ISIL to degrade and ultimately destroy them.

Q Josh, were the President’s comments today meant to be a rebuke to General Dempsey?

MR. EARNEST: Absolutely not. What General Dempsey said during the hearings yesterday -- and these kinds of semantic details are important. It’s important for people to understand exactly the policy that the President is pursuing and how that is being implemented by his military commanders.

What General Dempsey was describing was the need at some point in the future to put American troops, who are already in Iraq in an advisory capacity, into forward-deployed positions with Iraqi troops -- not to engage in combat. They would not have a combat role. They would not be personally or directly engaging the enemy, rather they would be providing tactical advice to Iraqi security forces. In some cases, they could be in a position to even call in airstrikes. But as General Dempsey made clear yesterday, that forward deployment of those advisory -- of those troops who are in an advisory capacity has not yet been necessary.

If it does become necessary, or I should say it this way, if General Dempsey determines that it may be necessary to forward-deploy some of the American advisers, then he will bring that option to the President. And the President said that he would consider it on a case-by-case basis.

But what he would consider is not a combat role for our troops -- that's not something that the President was willing to consider, and that's not a prospect that General Dempsey raised. So what the President restated in his remarks to our servicemen and women at MacDill Air Force Base today is consistent with what the President said in his national address to the nation one week ago today. That also happens to be consistent with the testimony of General Dempsey yesterday, and the advice that the President has received from General Dempsey and other members of his national security team.

The reason for this -- and this is important, too -- this is not a matter of personal preference, right? This is not a matter of the President concluding that -- well, let me say it this way. The President has made a strategic decision that it’s not in our best interest, it is not in the national security interest of the United States of America to put American ground troops back into a combat role in Iraq and Syria. And that's precisely because the President, as many others, has learned the lessons of the last decade; that countering security threats in this region of the world requires Iraqi security forces to stand up and fight for their own country; that it will be Iraqi security forces that are responsible for taking the fight on the ground to ISIL forces in their own country. This is a strategic objective that the United States cannot execute for them.

The United States and our military will certainly support Iraqi security forces as they take the fight to ISIL on the ground in their country, but this is not something that we will do for them.

Q If the General makes that kind of recommendation, and as you say, the President considers it and eventually approves it, do you see any risk for that being a slippery slope to more?

MR. EARNEST: No, it is not. Well, again, the semantics are important. I do not see that as a slippery slope to U.S. troops having a combat role on the ground in Iraq, and that's specifically because that's an option the President has ruled out.

But I also would underscore what General Dempsey said. General Dempsey at this point believes that the strategy that we’ve put in place so far, which has not required the forward deployment of American military advisers with Iraqi security forces, has been successful. And what General Dempsey was discussing was the possibility that if our strategy does need to change, that this is an option that he had preserved, and the President had agreed to review on a case-by-case basis.

But again, what he would review would be the forward-deployment of American military advisers with Iraqi security forces. The President will not review or consider options that involve putting American military personnel on the ground into a combat role.

Q But surely having those men and women deployed or forward-deployed will put them in harm’s way, much more so than they would be in a purely advisory role in Baghdad or elsewhere.

MR. EARNEST: The President was very clear in his remarks to the troops at MacDill Air Force Base today in indicating that every mission has a risk. It is also true that our -- that American military pilots are putting themselves at risk when they carry out these airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq.

When those American military pilots carry out airstrikes in Syria, they also will be at some risk. There is risk associated with American servicemembers who are currently defending the embassy in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil. But that is different, that is materially different than these American soldiers personally or directly engaging the enemy in combat on the ground. That is not an option the President will consider.

And again, that's simply because the President believes it’s in our strategic interest to ensure that Iraqi security forces are fighting for their own country, and that they are the ones that are principally responsible for taking the fight to ISIL on the ground in their own country. This is something that we cannot do for them.

Q Josh, as you may know, former Defense Secretary Gates said on a CBS “This Morning” interview today said that this strategy won’t work without boots on the ground; and that airstrikes alone won’t do it; and to say otherwise risks the President falling into a trap. Do you have any reaction to that?

MR. EARNEST: I did not see the full context of Secretary Gates’s remarks. But with that caveat, let me say that the President has been clear about the need to take the fight to ISIL on the ground in Iraq and in Syria. What the President has ruled out are American servicemen and women being in a position where they are the ones that are responsible for engaging in combat operations against ISIL on the ground in Iraq and Syria. The President will not consider that option.

What the President will do, however, is ramp up the assistance that we’re providing to Iraqi security forces as they take the fight to ISIL on the ground in their country. The President has said that he will deploy and has already ordered American airstrikes against ISIL targets in support of Iraqi security forces and their ground operations.

As it relates to Syria, the President has been just as clear that we will not send American servicemen and women into combat mission on the ground in Syria, but that someone does need to be responsible for taking the fight to ISIL on the ground in Syria. That is why the President has sought to ramp up the assistance that we’re providing to Syrian opposition fighters. We are pleased with the bipartisan progress that has been made thus far in the Congress to give the administration the Title 10 authority that’s needed to expand our training and equipping mission for Iraqi -- for Syrian opposition fighters.

There is one aspect of this that I do want to make clear. There has been some confusion that I’ve seen. These training -- this Title 10 authority to train Syrian opposition fighters would not occur on the ground in Syria. These training operations would be conducted in the region. You’ll recall that the Saudi government has already indicated a willingness to host some of these training operations in their country. So, to be clear, American military personnel would be responsible for much of that training. There’s a role to play for other countries that have some expertise in training security forces, but American military servicemembers would be assisting those training operations -- but those training operations would not occur on the ground in Syria. They would occur on the ground in the region in places like Saudi Arabia.

Q This is the President’s own former Defense Secretary, part of the original team of rivals, and he is saying that the President risks falling into a trap by continuing to say what he has been saying. Do you see that risk at all?

MR. EARNEST: Well, Peter, I think what I would say is there is no doubt that what the President is pursuing here is a strategy that ensures that America’s national security interests are front and center. And that is what’s guiding the President’s decision-making.

This is complicated business, and the context of questions that you all have asked me over the last several months about the sectarian divisions in this region of the world; you’ve noted the long history of conflict that exists in this area of the world; we’ve talked about how the United States has previously gotten drawn into conflicts in this region of the world in a way that didn’t always -- well, in a way that the President views didn’t always end with us maximizing the benefits for our own national security.

So the President has been very deliberative and thoughtful in his approach to dealing with this situation. At the same time, the President has not been hesitant to ensure that we’re using all of the elements of American power, including military power, to protect our people and our interests and our homeland.

Q Josh, was the President today at CENTCOM presented with a war plan or anything resembling a war plan that was detailed for him that he signed off on? Did that happen today?

MR. EARNEST: Christi, what the -- as I mentioned at the beginning, the President was updated on the ongoing planning efforts of senior officials at CENTCOM. This is part of an ongoing process that has been in place for some time. The President has been in regular touch with General Austin and other members of his national security team as they’ve developed options for the President.

The President announced one week ago today that he had made a decision to broaden our military campaign against ISIL. And that includes the deployment of American military air power against ISIL assets in support of Iraqi security forces in Iraq and, down the line, would be in support of the ground operations conducted by Syrian opposition fighters.

But I think the way that I would describe this meeting to you is that this is sort of part of the ongoing planning effort that’s been underway for some time at the Department of Defense. The President has been very pleased with the advice that he has received from his military planners. Again, he described the briefing that he received today as “thorough.” And I’m confident that the conversations that the President is having with members of his national security team and with his senior military commanders will continue.

Q Did he give any kind of sign-off or feedback on operational plans that were laid out for him today?

MR. EARNEST: I don’t have any more details to share with you in terms of the President’s conversations with his military planners at this point.

Q Is something like that needed in the near future?

MR. EARNEST: Well, there will continue to be a dialogue with the President and his senior military commanders as they continue to pursue this planning process. They’ve made a lot of progress in a relatively short period of time here. And like I said, the President is pleased with the leadership of General Austin and other officials in CENTCOM as they’ve sought to give the President the advice that he needs as it relates to the strategy of broadening our military campaign against ISIL in the region.

The other thing that I don't want to leave out is that a focal of the efforts at CENTCOM is building this international coalition. And the President had the opportunity while we were at CENTCOM headquarters today to visit with and meet the senior national representatives of countries who partner with the United States in this region of the world, who closely coordinate their activities with CENTCOM officials and other American military personnel. And that is an indication of how much of a priority building and coordinating this international coalition is at CENTCOM.

So, again, the challenge that they face is significant. It’s not just putting together American military plans. It’s developing the kind of military plans that can be carried out by a broader international coalition. And it involves securing commitments from the broader international community, and from our partners in the region.

Q Of those 40 people that he mentioned today, from 40 countries, were those American military and diplomatic officers? Were they people from other countries? Or a mixture of both?

MR. EARNEST: They're obviously American personnel who are responsible for -- let me say it this way, they're representatives of foreign countries. But there are also American personnel at CENTCOM who are responsible for maintaining those relationships. So the answer is both.

Q Josh, President Poroshenko is at the White House tomorrow. Should we expect any announcements or fresh U.S. aid to Ukraine above the fact that this is obviously a very significant, symbolic gesture the President is having by having him in the Oval Office?

MR. EARNEST: Let me read something short on this, and then I’ll answer your question. The United States congratulates Ukraine for ratifying its association agreement with the European Union, and for passing the Amnesty and Special Status laws in parliament -- two important measures to peacefully resolve the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine.

In ratifying the Association Agreement yesterday, Ukraine committed to undertake a number of reforms that will help to deepen Ukraine’s democracy and lay the groundwork for a more stable and prosperous economy. We congratulate Ukraine on committing to undertake these important steps.

So what we have seen, Stephen, is significant progress that the Ukrainian government has made, under the leadership of President Poroshenko, to strengthen the democracy in that country. The President has made clear that he is committed to ensuring that the United States of America stands with the people of Ukraine as they seek to strengthen their democracy and strengthen their ties with countries around the world. This is about building up their democracy and strengthening their economy in a way that reflects the will of the Ukrainian people. And the United States will continue to stand with our friends in Ukraine and support them as they pursue this effort.
I don't have any specific announcements to make right now, but stay tuned.

Q Josh, will there be any specific asks by our President of Mr. Poroshenko? And are there any expectations that he will make any specific asks of the U.S.?

MR. EARNEST: Well, I don't want to speak for President Poroshenko. I think what you can expect that President Obama will do is continue to encourage President Poroshenko to pursue a diplomatic resolution of the differences between the Ukrainian government and the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

There is a tenuous cease-fire agreement that's been in place for a week or two now. And the President will -- well, let me say it this way, I think President Poroshenko’s visit -- at the invitation of President Obama -- is a pretty clear symbol to everybody, including the people of Ukraine, that the United States is prepared to stand with them as they pursue a future that reflects the will of the Ukrainian people, and as they seek to protect their sovereignty and their territorial integrity from inappropriate outside interference.

Q What’s the message to the unseen presence in the room -- Mr. Putin?

MR. EARNEST: Well, I think in this case maybe the picture of President Poroshenko sitting in the Oval Office will be worth at least a thousand words, both in English and in Russian I think.

Q What would a few of those words be? (Laughter.)

MR. EARNEST: That's why you get paid the big bucks, to describe those pictures.

Anybody else? Okay, thanks, everybody.

END
2:34 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 17, 2014

Message to Congress -- Terrorism

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act

(50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, is to continue in effect beyond September 23, 2014.

The crisis constituted by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York and Pennsylvania and against the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on United States nationals or the United States that led to the declaration of a national emergency on September 23, 2001, has not been resolved. These actions continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224 with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 17, 2014

Notice to Congress -- Terrorism

NOTICE

- - - - - - -

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS

WHO COMMIT, THREATEN TO COMMIT, OR SUPPORT TERRORISM

On September 23, 2001, by Executive Order 13224, the President declared a national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act

(50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York and Pennsylvania and against the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks against United States nationals or the United States.

The actions of persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 23, 2014. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism declared in Executive Order 13224.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 17, 2014

Message from the President on the Extradition Treaty between the US and Chile

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, the Extradition Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Chile (the "Treaty"), signed at Washington on June 5, 2013. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.

The Treaty would replace the outdated extradition treaty between the United States and Chile, signed at Santiago on April 17, 1900 (the "1900 Treaty"). The Treaty follows generally the form and content of other extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. It would replace an outmoded list of extraditable offenses with a modern "dual criminality" approach, which would enable extradition for such offenses as money laundering and other newer offenses not appearing on the list from the 1900 Treaty. The Treaty also contains a modernized "political offense" clause and provides that extradition shall not be refused based on the nationality of the person sought. Finally, the Treaty incorporates a series of procedural improvements to streamline and speed the extradition process.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Treaty and give its advice and consent to its ratification.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 17, 2014

Remarks by the President at MacDill Air Force Base

Tampa, Florida

12:04 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, MacDill! (Applause.) I want to thank General Austin for his introduction, Lloyd, for your exceptional leadership -- were you about to sneak off the stage?

GENERAL AUSTIN: Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I was.

THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead. (Laughter.) It’s better when Lloyd is not standing next to me because I don’t look small. (Laughter.) General Austin has done such an extraordinary work, both commanding our forces in Iraq; today as the commander of CENTCOM. I want to thank somebody else for his own lifetime of service to America –- first as a soldier who fought in Vietnam; now as our Secretary of Defense –- Chuck Hagel. Give it up for Chuck. (Applause.)

Chuck was here a few weeks ago to welcome the new head of Special Operations Command, General Joe Votel. Give Joe a big round of applause. (Applause.) For those of you who don’t know, 13 years ago, Joe led his team of Army Rangers as they jumped into Afghanistan to establish our first base there –- by jumping out of the plane alongside them. So Joe is a tough guy, and he knows what he is doing and I can’t think of somebody who is more qualified to head up our Special Forces. And so we want to thank Joe for accepting this assignment.

Your member of Congress, Kathy Castor, is here. Give Kathy a big round of applause -- there she is right there. (Applause.) Your Wing Commander, Colonel Dan Tulley. (Applause.) Your senior enlisted leaders: Command Sergeant Major Chris Greca; Command Sergeant Major Chris Faris; Chief Master Sergeant Matt Lusson. (Applause.) And most of all, I want to salute all the spouses and military families on base, because let’s be honest -– they’re the force behind the force. (Applause.) I spent time with some of them last night, and it’s clear why our military is the finest fighting force in the history of the world -- and it’s because our military families are serving right alongside you.

I know we’ve got some Air Force in the house. (Applause.) It’s great to be at the home of the 6th Air Mobility Wing. (Applause.) The 927th Air Refueling Wing. (Applause.) CENTCOM. (Applause.) SOCOM. (Applause.) We’ve got some Army here. (Hooah!) Navy. (Hooyah!) The Marines. (Oorah!) And Coast Guard. (Laughter and applause.) We love our Coast Guard. (Laughter.)

Now, I’m not here to give a long speech. But what I really wanted to do is come down and just shake some hands. I just received a briefing from General Austin and met with your commanders. I met with representatives from more than 40 nations. It is a true team effort here at MacDill. And I came here to say the same thing that I’ve been saying to troops on bases across this country, around the world, and a few months ago in Bagram -- and that is thank you. On behalf of the American people, I want to thank all of you for your service; I want to thank all of you for your sacrifice; I want to thank you for your commitment to each other and your commitment to our country. As your Commander-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of each and every one of you.

For nearly 75 years, the men and women of MacDill have lived a commitment to “Airmen, Mission, and Community.” You’ve supported our troops through each generation of challenges. And as home to both Central Command and Special Operations Command, you have shouldered some of the heaviest responsibilities in dealing with the challenges of this new century.

For more than a decade -– ever since that awful September morning 13 years ago; ever since Joe and his Rangers took that jump a month later -– you, and all our men and women in uniform, have borne the burden of war. Some of you -– our quiet professionals, our Special Forces -– were among the first to go. When the decision was made to go into Iraq, you were there. When we refocused the fight back to Afghanistan, you were there. You have served with skill, and honor, and commitment, and professionalism.

And some of you carry the wounds of these wars. I know some of you lost friends. Today, we remember all who have given their lives in these wars. And we stand with their families, who’ve given more than most Americans can ever imagine. And we honor those sacrifices forever.

But here is what I want every single one of you to know. Because of you, this 9/11 Generation of heroes has done everything asked of you, and met every mission tasked to you. We are doing what we set out to do. Because of you, Osama bin Laden is no more. Because of you, the core al Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been decimated. Because of you, Afghans are reclaiming their communities; Afghan forces have taken the lead for their country’s security. In three months, because of you, our combat mission will be over in Afghanistan, and our war in Afghanistan will come to a responsible end. That's because of you.

You and our counterterrorism professionals have prevented terrorist attacks. You’ve saved American lives. You’ve made our homeland more secure. But we’ve always known that the end of the war in Afghanistan didn’t mean the end of threats or challenges to America.

Here at MacDill, you knew this and have known this as well as anybody. You played a central role in our combat and counterterrorism operations. You make sure our troops and pilots get what they need in order to get the job done. You train forces around the world so countries can take responsibility for their own security. The 6th Air Mobility Wing is continuously deployed, supporting our humanitarian and combat operations around the world -– “Ready to Defend.” And your work is as vital as ever.

Because in an uncertain world full of breathtaking change, the one constant is American leadership.

In a world where technology provides a small group of killers with the ability to do terrible harm, it is America that has the capacity and the will to mobilize the world against terrorists –- including the group in Syria and Iraq known as ISIL. Our intelligence community, as I said last week, has not yet detected specific plots from these terrorists against America. But its leaders have repeatedly threatened America and our allies. And right now, these terrorists pose a threat to the people of Iraq, the people of Syria, the broader Middle East -- including our personnel, our embassies, our consulates, our facilities there. And if left unchecked, they could pose a growing threat to the United States.

So, last month, I gave the order for our military to begin taking targeted action against ISIL. And since then, our brave pilot and crews –- with your help -– have conducted more than 160 airstrikes against these terrorists. Because of your efforts, we’ve been able to protect our personnel and our facilities, and kill ISIL fighters, and given space for Iraqi and Kurdish forces to reclaim key territory. They’ve helped our partners on the ground break ISIL sieges, helped rescue civilians cornered on a mountain, helped save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children. That's what you’ve done.

Now going forward, as I announced last week, we’re going to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy. And whether in Iraq or in Syria, these terrorists will learn the same thing that the leaders of al Qaeda already know: We mean what we say; our reach is long; if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven. We will find you eventually.

AUDIENCE: Hooah! (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: But -- and this is something I want to emphasize -- this is not and will not be America’s fight alone. One of the things we’ve learned over this last decade is, America can make a decisive difference, but I want to be clear: The American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission. They will support Iraqi forces on the ground as they fight for their own country against these terrorists.

As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not commit you and the rest of our Armed Forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq. After a decade of massive ground deployments, it is more effective to use our unique capabilities in support of partners on the ground so they can secure their own countries’ futures. And that's the only solution that will succeed over the long term.

We’ll use our air power. We will train and equip our partners. We will advise them and we will assist them. We will lead a broad coalition of countries who have a stake in this fight. Because this is not simply America versus ISIL -- this is the people of the region fighting against ISIL. It is the world rejecting the brutality of ISIL in favor of a better future for our children, and our children’s children -- all of them.

But we're not going to do this alone. And the one thing we have learned is, is that when we do things alone and the countries -- the people of those countries aren't doing it for themselves, as soon as we leave we start getting into the same problems.

So we've got to do things differently. This is why we’ve spent the past several weeks building a coalition to aid in these efforts. And because we’re leading in the right way, more nations are joining us. Overall, more than 40 countries so far have offered assistance to the broad campaign against ISIL. Some nations will assist from the air -- and already France and the United Kingdom are flying with us over Iraq, with others committed to join this effort.

Some nations will help us support the forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. And already Saudi Arabia has agreed to host our efforts to train and equip Syrian opposition forces. Australia and Canada will send military advisors to Iraq. German paratroopers will offer training. Other nations have helped resupply arms and equipment to forces in Iraq, including the Kurdish Pershmerga.

Arab nations have agreed to strengthen their support for Iraq’s new government and to do their part in all the aspects of the fight against ISIL. And our partners will help to cut off ISIL funding, and gather intelligence, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East.

And meanwhile, nearly 30 nations have helped us with humanitarian relief to help innocent civilians who’ve been driven from their homes -- whether they are Sunni, or Shia, or Christian, or Yazidi, or any other religious minority.

Yesterday, at the White House, I met with an outstanding American leader -- retired Marine General John Allen. He worked with Iraqi tribal leaders as they fought to reclaim their own communities from terrorists, and he’s going to serve as America’s special envoy to build and coordinate this incredible coalition. And I’ve called on Congress to make sure you’ve got all the authorities and resources you need to get the job done.

But the point is we cannot do for the Iraqis what they must do for themselves. We can’t take the place of Arab partners in securing their own region and a better future for their own people. We can't do it for them, but this is an effort that calls on America’s unique abilities -- and responsibilities -- to lead.

In a world that’s more crowded and more connected, it is America that has the unique capability to mobilize against an organization like ISIL. In a world full of broader social challenges, it is America that has the unique capability and know-how to help contain and combat a threat like Ebola, the epidemic in Africa. And yesterday, on top of all that we’re already doing to help, I announced a major boost to our response. We’re establishing a military command center in Liberia, at the request of their government, to support civilian efforts across the region. And Major General Darryl Williams, commander of our Army forces in Africa, arrived yesterday -- he’s already on the ground. And our armed forces will bring their unique, unrivaled expertise in command and control, and logistics and engineering, including creating an air bridge to get health workers and medical supplies into West Africa faster. And obviously, in all our efforts, the safety of our personnel will remain a top priority.

In the nation of Liberia, one person who heard this news yesterday was reported to say, “We have been praying to get the disease wiped out of our country. So if the coming of U.S. troops will help us get that done, we [will] be happy.” And that's the story across the board. If there is a hurricane, if there is a typhoon, if there is some sort of crisis, if there is an earthquake, if there’s a need for a rescue mission, when the world is threatened, when the world needs help, it calls on America. Even the countries that complain about America -- (laughter) -- when they need help, who do they call? They call us. And then America calls on you.

To all the servicemen and women here and around the world: we ask a lot of you. And any mission involves risk. And any mission separates you from your families. And sending our servicemembers into harm’s way is not a decision I ever take lightly; it is the hardest decision I make as President. Nothing else comes close. I do it only when I know the mission is vital to the security of this country that we love. I do it only because I know that you’re the best there is at what you do. And, frankly, there just aren’t a lot of other folks who can perform in the same ways -- in fact, there are none. And there are some things only we can do. There are some capabilities only we have.

That’s because of you -- your dedication, your skill, your work, your families supporting you, your training, your command structure. Our Armed Forces are unparalleled and unique. And so when we’ve got a big problem somewhere around the world, it falls on our shoulders. And sometimes that’s tough. But that’s what sets us apart. That’s why we’re America. That’s what the stars and stripes are all about.

And between war and recession, it has been a challenging start to this new century. We’ve been busy. This has not been an easy 14 years. And many of you came of age in these years. But I want you to know, as I stand here with you today, I’m as confident as I have ever been that this century, just like the last century, will be led by America. It will be and is an American century.

At home, we’re bouncing back, better positioning ourselves to win the future than any nation on Earth. Overseas, we’re moving forward, answering the call to lead. And even when it seems like our politics is just dividing us, I want you to remember that when it comes to supporting you and your families, the American people stand united. We support you. We are proud of you. We are in awe of your skill and your service. Only 1 percent of Americans may wear the uniform and shoulder the weight of special responsibilities that you do, but 100 percent of Americans need to support you and your families -- 100 percent.

This is a moment of American leadership, and thanks to you, it is a moment that we are going to meet. And I will keep standing up for your interests and for our security, and for the human rights and dignity of people wherever they live. And we’re going to keep on working with our allies and partners to take out the terrorists who threaten us wherever they hide. Because in stark contrast to those who only know how to kill and maim and tear down, we keep on building up and offering a future of progress and hope. And like the generations before us, we’re willing to defend this country we love. We’re willing to help others on this planet that we share. We’re protected by patriots like you. And for all those reasons, the United States of America will remain the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known.

Thank you very much, everybody. I’m proud of you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

END
12:22 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2014

Presidential Proclamation --- Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2014

CONSTITUTION DAY AND CITIZENSHIP DAY, CONSTITUTION WEEK, 2014

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Eleven years after a small band of patriots declared the independence of our new Nation, our Framers set out to refine the promise of liberty and codify the principles of our Republic. Though the topics were contentious and the debate fierce, the delegates' shared ideals and commitment to a more perfect Union yielded compromise. Signed on September 17, 1787, our Constitution enshrined -- in parchment and in the heart of our young country -- the foundation of justice, equality, dignity, and fairness, and became the cornerstone of the world's oldest constitutional democracy.

For more than two centuries, our founding charter has guided our progress and defined us as a people. It has endured as a society of farmers and merchants advanced to form the most dynamic economy on earth; as a small army of militias grew to the finest military the world has ever known; and as a Nation of 13 original States expanded to 50, from sea to shining sea. Our Founders could not have foreseen the challenges our country has faced, but they crafted an extraordinary document. It allowed for protest and new ideas that would broaden democracy's reach. And it stood the test of a civil war, after which it provided the framework to usher in a new birth of freedom through the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

America's revolutionary experiment in democracy has, from its first moments, been a beacon of hope and opportunity for people around the world, inspiring some to call for freedom in their own land and others to seek the blessings of liberty in ours. The United States has always been a nation of immigrants. We are strengthened by our diversity and united by our fidelity to a set of tenets. We know it is not only our bloodlines or an accident of birth that make us Americans. It is our firm belief that out of many we are one; that we are united by our convictions and our unalienable rights. Each year on Citizenship Day, we recognize our newest citizens whose journeys have been made possible by our founding documents and whose contributions have given meaning to our charter's simple words.

Our Constitution reflects the values we cherish as a people and the ideals we strive for as a society. It secures the privileges we enjoy as citizens, but also demands participation, responsibility, and service to our country and to one another. As we celebrate our Nation's strong and durable framework, we are reminded that our work is never truly done. Let us renew our commitment to these sacred principles and resolve to advance their spirit in our time.

In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2014, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2014, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that bring together community members to reflect on the importance of active citizenship, recognize the enduring strength of our Constitution, and reaffirm our commitment to the rights and obligations of citizenship in this great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2014

Remarks by the President on the Ebola Outbreak

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia

4:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. I want to thank Dr. Frieden and everybody here at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for welcoming me here today. Tom and his team just gave me an update on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, our efforts to help mobilize the international community to fight it, and the steps that we’re taking to keep people here at home safe.

Tom and his team are doing outstanding work. Between the specialists they have on the ground in West Africa and here at headquarters, they’ve got hundreds of professionals who are working tirelessly on this issue. This is the largest international response in the history of the CDC. After this, I’ll be meeting with some of these men and women, including some who recently returned from the front lines of the outbreak. And they represent public service at its very best. And so I just want them to know how much the American people appreciate them. Many of them are serving far away from home, away from their families. They are doing heroic work and serving in some unbelievably challenging conditions -- working through exhaustion, day and night, and many have volunteered to go back. So we are very, very proud of them.

Their work and our efforts across the government is an example of what happens when America leads in confronting some major global challenges. Faced with this outbreak, the world is looking to us, the United States, and it’s a responsibility that we embrace. We’re prepared to take leadership on this to provide the kinds of capabilities that only America has, and to mobilize the world in ways that only America can do. That’s what we’re doing as we speak.

First and foremost, I want the American people to know that our experts, here at the CDC and across our government, agree that the chances of an Ebola outbreak here in the United States are extremely low. We’ve been taking the necessary precautions, including working with countries in West Africa to increase screening at airports so that someone with the virus doesn’t get on a plane for the United States. In the unlikely event that someone with Ebola does reach our shores, we’ve taken new measures so that we’re prepared here at home. We’re working to help flight crews identify people who are sick, and more labs across our country now have the capacity to quickly test for the virus. We’re working with hospitals to make sure that they are prepared, and to ensure that our doctors, our nurses and our medical staff are trained, are ready, and are able to deal with a possible case safely.

And here I’ve got to commend everybody at Emory University Hospital. I just had the opportunity to meet with Doctors Gartland and Ribner and members of their team and the nurses who -- sorry, doctors, but having been in hospitals, I know -- (laughter) -- they’re the ones really doing the work. And I had a chance to thank them for their extraordinary efforts in helping to provide care for the first Americans who recently contracted the disease in Africa. The first two of those patients were released last month and continue to improve. And it’s a reminder for the American people that, should any cases appear in the United States, we have world-class facilities and professionals ready to respond. And we have effective surveillance mechanisms in place.

I should mention, by the way, that I had a chance to see Dr. Brantly in the Oval Office this morning. And although he is still having to gain back some weight, he looks great. He looks strong and we are incredibly grateful to him and his family for the service that he has rendered to people who are a lot less lucky than all of us.

As we all know, however, West Africa is facing a very different situation, especially in the hardest hit countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and in Guinea. Tom and others recently returned from the region, and the scenes that they describe are just horrific. More than 2,400 men, women and children are known to have died -- and we strongly suspect that the actual death toll is higher than that. Hospitals, clinics and the few treatment centers that do exist have been completely overwhelmed. An already very weak public health system is near collapse in these countries. Patients are being turned away, and people are literally dying in the streets.

Now, here’s the hard truth: In West Africa, Ebola is now an epidemic of the likes that we have not seen before. It’s spiraling out of control. It is getting worse. It’s spreading faster and exponentially. Today, thousands of people in West Africa are infected. That number could rapidly grow to tens of thousands. And if the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected, with profound political and economic and security implications for all of us. So this is an epidemic that is not just a threat to regional security -- it’s a potential threat to global security if these countries break down, if their economies break down, if people panic. That has profound effects on all of us, even if we are not directly contracting the disease.

And that’s why, two months ago, I directed my team to make this a national security priority. We’re working this across our entire government, which is why today I’m joined by leaders throughout my administration, including from my national security team.

And we’ve devoted significant resources in support of our strategy with four goals in mind. Number one, to control the outbreak. Number two, to address the ripple effects of local economies and communities to prevent a truly massive humanitarian disaster. Number three, to coordinate a broader global response. And number four, to urgently build up a public health system in these countries for the future -- not just in West Africa but in countries that don’t have a lot of resources generally.

Now, this is a daunting task. But here’s what gives us hope. The world knows how to fight this disease. It’s not a mystery. We know the science. We know how to prevent it from spreading. We know how to care for those who contract it. We know that if we take the proper steps, we can save lives. But we have to act fast. We can’t dawdle on this one. We have to move with force and make sure that we are catching this as best we can, given that it has already broken out in ways that we had not seen before.

So today, I’m announcing a major increase in our response. At the request of the Liberian government, we’re going to establish a military command center in Liberia to support civilian efforts across the region -- similar to our response after the Haiti earthquake. It’s going to be commanded by Major General Darryl Williams, commander of our Army forces in Africa. He just arrived today and is now on the ground in Liberia. And our forces are going to bring their expertise in command and control, in logistics, in engineering. And our Department of Defense is better at that, our Armed Services are better at that than any organization on Earth.

We’re going to create an air bridge to get health workers and medical supplies into West Africa faster. We’re going to establish a staging area in Senegal to help distribute personnel and aid on the ground more quickly. We are going to create a new training site to train thousands of health workers so they can effectively and safely care for more patients. Personnel from the U.S. Public Health Service will deploy to the new field hospitals that we’re setting up in Liberia. And USAID will join with international partners and local communities in a Community Care Campaign to distribute supplies and information kits to hundreds of thousands of families so they can better protect themselves.

We’re also going to build additional treatment units, including new isolation spaces and more than 1,000 beds. And in all our efforts, the safety of our personnel will remain a top priority. Meanwhile, our scientists continue their urgent research in the hope of finding new treatments and perhaps vaccines. And today I’m calling on Congress to approve the funding that we’ve requested so that we can carry on with all these critical efforts.

Today, the United States is doing even more. But this is a global threat, and it demands a truly global response. International organizations just have to move faster than they have up until this point. More nations need to contribute experienced personnel, supplies, and funding that’s needed, and they need to deliver on what they pledge quickly. Charities and individual philanthropists have given generously, and they can make a big difference. And so we’re not restricting these efforts to governmental organizations; we also need NGOs and private philanthropies to work with us in a coordinated fashion in order to maximize the impact of our response.

This week, the United States will chair an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Next week, I’ll join U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to continue mobilizing the international community around this effort. And then, at the White House, we’re going to bring more nations together to strengthen our global health security so that we can better prevent, detect and respond to future outbreaks before they become epidemics.

This is actually something that we had announced several months ago at the G7 meeting. We determined that this has to be a top priority; this was before the Ebola outbreak. We anticipated the fact that in many of these countries with a weak public health system, if we don’t have more effective surveillance, more effective facilities on the ground, and are not helping poor countries in developing their ability to catch these things quickly, that there was at least the potential of seeing these kinds of outbreaks. And sadly, we now see that our predictions were correct. It gives more urgency to this effort -- a global health initiative -- that we have been pushing internationally.

Let me just close by saying this: The scenes that we’re witnessing in West Africa today are absolutely gut-wrenching. In one account over the weekend, we read about a family in Liberia. The disease had already killed the father. The mother was cradling a sick and listless five-year-old son. Her other son, 10-years-old, was dying, too. They finally reached a treatment center but they couldn’t get in. And, said a relative, “We are just sitting.”

These men and women and children are just sitting, waiting to die, right now. And it doesn’t have to be this way.

The reality is that this epidemic is going to get worse before it gets better. But right now, the world still has an opportunity to save countless lives. Right now, the world has the responsibility to act -- to step up, and to do more. The United States of America intends to do more. We are going to keep leading in this effort. We’re going to do our part, and we’re going to continue to make sure that the world understands the need for them to step alongside us as well in order for us to not just save the lives of families like the one I just discussed, but ultimately, to make sure that this doesn’t have the kinds of spillover effects that become even more difficult to control.

So thank you very much to the entire team that’s already doing this work. And please know that you’ve got your President and Commander-in-Chief behind you. Thank you.

END
4:14 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2014

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Atlanta, Georgia, 9/16/14

En Route Atlanta, Georgia

1:26 P.M. EDT

MR. EARNEST: Good afternoon and welcome aboard Air Force One as we embark on a 24-hour trip to Atlanta and Tampa, where the President will be engaged on two significant national security priorities. The first is stepping up our whole-of-government approach to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. And the second is leading an international coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.

First, in Atlanta, the President will meet with doctors, nurses, scientists and other leading medical experts at the CDC who have, at the President’s direction, been focused on responding to the Ebola outbreak since it was first reported back in March. Many of you saw the reports this morning that the President has directed the Department of Defense to deploy significant logistical engineering and training support to expand the capacity of the ongoing response. This order from the President is consistent with his view that responding to the Ebola outbreak is a top national security priority.

Many of you may be interested to know that this morning, before departing the White House, the President met briefly in the Oval Office with Dr. Kent Brantly and his wife, Amber. Dr. Brantly serves as the Medical Director for the Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center in Monrovia, Libya -- Liberia. And as was reported, he tested positive for the Ebola virus back in July. Dr. Brantly was transported back to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on August 2nd. He was treated and released on August 21st, free of Ebola. Dr. Brantly is in Washington, D.C., to testify before Congress today regarding the Ebola outbreak.

Second, tomorrow, in Tampa, the President will visit MacDill Air Force Base -- it’s the headquarters of Central Command -- to discuss the plan for building an international coalition to degrade and destroy ISIL. After announcing his decision to broaden our efforts against ISIL in his address to the nation, the President asked his team to arrange for him to travel to Central Command to get an in-person briefing from General Austin and other CENTCOM personnel about some of the operational details of the military effort that the President has ordered.

General Austin has returned from the region to lead the briefing. Secretary Hagel will participate as well. However, this is just one aspect of the President’s activities at MacDill. He’ll also meet with senior national representatives from those nations located within Central Command’s scope of responsibility. Many of these nations will be an important part of the international coalition that the President will be leading against ISIL.

In addition, the Commander-in-Chief is also looking forward to spending time with the servicemen and women of MacDill Air Force Base and share with them the gratitude of the nation for their service and sacrifice to our country and to our security.

Now, you also know -- sorry about that -- you also know that prior to departing the White House today, the President met with General John Allen, the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and Brett McGurk, who is the Deputy Special Presidential Envoy.

The President underscored the importance of maximizing coordination with allies and partners to build a strong coalition with broad international participation. The President stressed that the comprehensive approach to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL requires a wide range of political, diplomatic, military, economic and other efforts. He also expressed his deep appreciation for the work and sacrifice of U.S. servicemen and women, as well as the diplomats engaged in the struggle to counter ISIL. The President thanked General Allen for his many years of service in uniform and for continuing since his retirement to serve his country in a civilian capacity.

So with all of that, thank you for indulging me. Let me go to your questions.

Q Josh, I wanted to ask you about General Dempsey’s testimony today. He said that under certain circumstances he could see himself asking the President to allow advisers on the ground to participate in combat operations. I wonder if the President is open to that, if that recommendation would come from General Dempsey.

MR. EARNEST: Jim, I think, as was clear from General Dempsey’s remarks, that he was referring to a hypothetical scenario in which there might be a future situation in which he might make a tactical recommendation to the President as it relates to the use of ground troops.

It’s the responsibility of the President’s military advisers to plan and consider all the wide range of contingencies. It’s also the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief to set out a clear policy. And the President has been clear about what that policy is. He reiterated it on a number of occasions; most recently, I believe in his address to the nation on Wednesday night, which is that the President does not believe that it would be in the best interest of our national security to deploy American ground troops in a combat role in Iraq and Syria. That policy has not changed.

Q So under no circumstances would there be boots on the ground?

MR. EARNEST: Well, precision is important here. And what the President has been very clear about is the role of American forces in Iraq. The President has deployed American servicemen and women -- a limited number of them -- to serve in an advise-and-assist capacity, to staff joint operation centers, to defend the embassy in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil. So there are American service personnel in Iraq.

There are also, obviously, American servicemen and women who are engaged in some of the air combat operations, right? There are more than 150 strikes, I believe, that have been announced by Central Command that have taken place at the direction of the President.

But what he’s been very specific and precise about is that he will not deploy ground troops in a combat role into Iraq or Syria.

Q -- he would say no to General Dempsey under that, the hypothetical that General Dempsey laid out.

MR. EARNEST: Well, it’s also clear from General Dempsey’s remarks that he has confidence in the strategy that's already been put in place. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he has confidence in that strategy because he has advised the President over the course of the last few months that they’ve been working on this -- on the strategy. So the strategy that is in place is one that has the confidence of General Dempsey. At least the military aspect of the strategy that has been deployed so far has resulted in some important benefits.

We’ve talked about how the use of American military air power has been successful in backing up Iraqi security forces as they blunted an advance on Erbil a few months ago, or at least earlier this summer. American airstrikes were instrumental in supporting Iraqi security forces as they retook the Mosul Dam. We’ve also seen the precise deployment of American military air power to prevent humanitarian disasters in Sinjar Mountain and Amerli, where ISIL fighters were poised to carry out a genocide against religious or ethnic minorities in Iraq.

So this is a strategy that's been deployed with successful results so far. But as we broaden out this campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, the President and his team are insistent on working with the support of an international coalition to succeed in this mission. And the President is confident that this mission can be successfully executed without deploying American servicemen and women in a combat role on the ground in Iraq and Syria.

Q Josh, can you further characterize the President’s visit to MacDill tomorrow? Is it a decision meeting? Is it a tactical meeting? Both? What does he expect to accomplish -- hope to accomplish?

MR. EARNEST: You’ll hear from the President himself after he does all the things that he’s doing at MacDill with CENTCOM personnel. It's important to remember that in addition to the briefing that he'll receive from General Austin and other senior officials at CENTCOM, that he’ll spend some time with those who are working to build this broader international coalition and spend some time with our servicemen and women who have made so many sacrifices for our country. So it's important to remember that this is a visit where he’s got a lot on the agenda.

Q Back to the President’s -- back to General Dempsey’s comments. You laid out the President’s policy and said it hasn’t changed. But did his remarks today indicate that maybe the Pentagon is not on the same page with the White House on this?

MR. EARNEST: Well, I'm confident that if you asked General Dempsey if he’s on the same page as the Commander-in-Chief that he would say that he is. But I will let him speak for himself.

Q Josh, on Ebola. Can you shed some light on the 3,000 troops that will be sent? What will they be doing? And most specifically, will any of them be handling victims, either alive or dead, and themselves put at risk for contracting it?

MR. EARNEST: That's a good question. For very specific details, I'd refer you to the Department of Defense. There’s also a factsheet that I can share with you. But as a general matter, let me say that the Department of Defense has significant logistical capabilities. And those who are trying to respond to this outbreak in West Africa are operating in a very difficult environment. And the use of Department of Defense personnel and assets to strengthen the logistical network in place that's supporting that effort will significantly expand the capacity of that effort.

We also anticipate that the commitment of DOD personnel and resources will galvanize the international community; that people around the world, knowing that the Department of Defense is involved in this effort, can have some more confidence that the effort is well run, that it will be well executed, and that they can contribute to the effort knowing that they’ll have the necessary resources to succeed.

As it relates to your specific question, Department of Defense personnel will not be responsible for providing direct patient care. What they’re doing is they will be serving in a function that will allow them to capitalize on their unique capabilities to enhance logistical support, to provide some training and also some engineering support as well.

Q Josh, can you explain where those 3,000 troops will be? Is it primarily in Liberia or will they be spread out among all of the countries that are most affected by this?

MR. EARNEST: Again, for a detailed answer to this question I refer you to the Department of Defense. But I know that there is an Intermediate Staging Base, I believe it's called, that will be stood up in Senegal. Senegal, you’ll note, is not one of the countries that currently is affected by Ebola -- or it's not a country in which anyone has contracted Ebola at this point. So there will be a substantial contingent of these 3,000 Department of Defense personnel that will be at this Intermediate Staging Base. There will be some other locations in Liberia where American military personnel will also be located.

But, again, they will be providing some logistical support, some training, even some construction or engineering assistance that they can provide, but they will not be providing direct patient care.

Q And in terms of the funding, the factsheet and your colleagues on the call last night said that the DOD would be requesting a reprogramming of $500 million. The word “request” indicates that maybe that's not a done deal. Is that true, or is that money definitely going towards that?

MR. EARNEST: Let me take a crack at answering your question. There is a request that has been made by the administration for supporting this effort, and we're confident we’ll have the resources that we need to carry out this specific mission.

Let me say one other thing. This is a bit of a tangent, but this is also an important thing I wanted to convey today. The other thing that the House of Representatives is currently debating is whether or not to give the President or this administration Title 10 authority that would allow the Department of Defense to play an active role in training Syrian opposition fighters. We are pleased with the bipartisan support that we’ve received so far for that authority, and we know -- we’re pleased with the progress that that legislation that would give this authority is making through the House.

There’s been some discussion about language that is included in this proposal by the Chairman of the House Arms Services Committee, Buck McKeon. It’s important for people to understand that the language that the Chairman has inserted is something that is the result of bipartisan efforts to advance this proposal. It’s primarily related to some oversight in reporting functions. The President and his administration across a wide range of areas has demonstrated a willingness and even a desire to work with Congress as they conduct their proper oversight.

So as a general matter, let me just say that the language suggested by Chairman McKeon is one that has bipartisan support, and is one that is supported by this administration. And we’re hopeful that Congress will act quickly to pass this measure and give the administration the authority that is needed to begin the effort to train Syrian opposition fighters. We have secured commitments from the Saudis to host this training operation, and we’d like to move quickly to set up this operation. And we’re hopeful that Congress will act quickly to give the administration the authority that’s necessary to do it.

Q And one last one on Ebola. Why did it take so long to get this big effort underway? And is it a sign that the United States and the President see this threat as growing and being a bigger national security item than even he said a few weeks ago?

MR. EARNEST: You’ll hear more from the President and from some of the experts at the CDC today on this. The fact is, the CDC has responded aggressively to the situation since the initial reports of an Ebola outbreak became public back in March. So this has been a sustained effort that has been underway for some time. I mentioned during the briefing yesterday that in response to this Ebola outbreak, the CDC executed the largest ever deployment of CDC personnel to try to respond to it.

But there’s no question that what we’re seeing now is the largest ever outbreak of Ebola. And because it is a top national security priority, the President has directed the Department of Defense to significantly ramp up the kind of assistance they’re providing to those who are trying to respond to this effort.

Q But couldn’t a ramp-up two weeks ago have maybe prevented a lot more deaths?

MR. EARNEST: Well, Jeff, what we’re seeing is -- and what we have seen from the United States is an aggressive response to this situation that started all the way back in March. And the reason for that is simply -- well, I think there are two reasons for that. The first is the President has identified it as a top national security priority.

The second thing it illustrates, however, is that the United States is the world’s indispensable nation. And the United States, and our military in particular, has unique capabilities and a capacity to offer assistance in very remote parts of the world. And we do anticipate that it will galvanize the global health community and nations around the world as they consider how and whether to contribute to this Ebola response effort.

So the President is pleased to lead this country as we play a leading role in the global response to this Ebola outbreak.

Q Josh, in terms of timing, do you know when those 17 treatment facilities will be up and running? And also, do you have a sense of how long those 3,000 military personnel might be deployed to this region?

MR. EARNEST: I don’t have that information, but the Department of Defense may be able to offer up some more details on that.

Q Josh, quickly, just a quick question. Do you expect to have anything for us tonight more on the meeting tomorrow? Any conference call, statement, or anything further?

MR. EARNEST: No, I don’t anticipate that.

Stephen.

Q On Russia. The ruble is falling to record lows. Is this a goal of U.S. sanctions policy and do you see this building any political pressure on Putin? You spoke last week about striking at his inner circle.

MR. EARNEST: Our goal from the beginning has been to impose economic costs and to isolate Russia for their actions in Ukraine. These reports of the declining value of their currency is consistent with the impact that we’ve seen thus far of the sanctions regime that’s been put in place by the United States in close coordination with our allies in Europe. And it is evidence that Russia is paying a price for their destabilizing actions in Ukraine.

Thanks, everybody. Buckle up for landing.

END
1:44 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2014

Readout of the President’s Meeting with General John Allen, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and Ambassador Brett McGurk, Deputy Special Presidential Envoy

The President met today at the White House with General John Allen, the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and Ambassador Brett McGurk, Deputy Special Presidential Envoy. The President underscored the importance of maximizing coordination with allies and partners to build a strong coalition with broad international participation. The President stressed that the comprehensive approach to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL requires a wide range of political, diplomatic, military, economic and other efforts. He also expressed his deep appreciation for the work and sacrifices of U.S. servicemen and women as well as diplomats engaged in the struggle to counter ISIL. The President thanked General Allen for his many years of service in uniform and for continuing, since his retirement, to serve his country in a civilian capacity.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2014

Readout of National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice’s Meeting with National Security Office Director Kim Kwan-Jin of the Republic of Korea

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met yesterday with ROK National Security Office Director Kim Kwan-Jin at the White House. Ambassador Rice and Director Kim affirmed their strong commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance and discussed a number of bilateral, regional and global issues. In particular, they affirmed the need for close coordination and cooperation in bringing about the verifiable denuclearization of North Korea. They agreed on the need to counter new and emerging challenges to global security and stability, such as the threat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses to Iraq, Syria and the region, and the threat to west Africa posed by the Ebola virus. Ambassador Rice and Director Kim pledged to continue close consultations on these and a range of regional and global security issues.