Politics As Usual

[Atticus Grinch]

• Q Scott, a report coming out of Congress tomorrow will say that the reported meeting between Mohammed Atta and a top Iraqi official in Prague likely never took place. That's been one of the underpinnings of the administration's contentions that there were high-level contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda. Particularly, Vice President Cheney has said this repeatedly. Given that --
  
  MR. McCLELLAN: I think you should look at what he said most recently. In terms of the report, look, let's --
  
  Q Given that conclusion --
  
  MR. McCLELLAN: -- we look forward to seeing the report. We haven't seen it at this point. It hasn't been released publicly. I understand there are --
  
  Q Senator Levin is putting this out today, so -- but anyway --
  
  MR. McCLELLAN: I find -- Dick, I find it interesting that some members are talking about this report publicly, before it's released. I think that says something right there. I recognize this is an election year, as well, but I think it says something when members are talking about it prior to its release in this manner.
  
  Q Well, the question is, given that conclusion by this bipartisan panel, will the administration continue to talk about these high-level contacts, of which this has always been one piece of the evidence.
  
  MR. McCLELLAN: And you should look back at what the Vice President said most recently on that, because I think you didn't characterize his most recent comments accurately --
  
  Q What did he say?
  
  MR. McCLELLAN: But in terms of the contacts, we've -- all you need to do is go back and look at what Secretary Powell outlined before the United Nations and the Commission pointed out those same high-level contacts, going back over the last decade.

Cite.

Hank: I remain at your disposal to respond to any questions you may have by making vague references to having responded to it in the past.

44-7.