From Holden:

Today’s gaggle was conducted aboard Air Force One in route to the papal planting in Rome.

Little Scottie’s opening remarks included news on an event of the day.

And shortly here we’ll have out — oh, wait, one other thing. You all may not be aware of this, but there was a CH-47, Chinook helicopter with American troops on board that went down in Afghanistan, the indications from the military are that it was a result of bad weather. The reports are that at least nine troops have been lost. The President was briefed on it by his National Security Advisor. And the families of the fallen are yadda-yadda thoughts and prayers blah-blah-blah.

OK, Scottie didn’t actually say that last yadda-yadda, blah-blah bit. But his expression of condolences for the victims of Chimpy’s serial wars could not be less sincere if he had.

Next up, did Laura dodge a bullet?

Q The helicopter that went down in Afghanistan, if you find out it was any of the four that Mrs. Bush used last week, would you let us know?

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay. I don’t — it was a Chinook helicopter; I’m not sure that she was on a Chinook. I assume that she was not.

Q She was on four big helicopters, there were four big helicopters.

MR. McCLELLAN: You were there.

Q That’s why I’m asking, because that’s the only —

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay. I’ll find out.

Finally, the press would like to know what President Clinton, Bush the Elder, and Bush the Lesser are doing in the forward area of the plane.

Q What are they doing? Are they reading or sleeping?

MR. McCLELLAN: They dispersed and went different ways and are doing their own thing right now.

Q Are they swapping lies? (Laughter.)