Sigh. I GuessDana Thinks That Thirty Civilian Deaths Would Be OK

Q Thirty-five Iraqis, including women and children, were killed by Americans yesterday. Do you still consider that we’re having a big success there?

MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that number is correct, as far as I know. Obviously, we regret the loss of any innocent life. I know that our military takes great pains to make sure that they are protected in this war zone. I’d refer you to the Multinational Force In Iraq for more.

Q — newspapers today —

MS. PERINO: I don’t think that that number is what they said. That wasn’t the number in the newspaper.

Pwnd By The Chinese Again

Q Dana, there’s a report that the Chinese Foreign Minister told the President today the reason that a U.S. aircraft carrier was turned away from Hong Kong was due to a misunderstanding. First of all, can you confirm that? And secondly, is that an acceptable explanation?

MS. PERINO: The President met today with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang, this morning in the Oval Office. They discussed North Korea, Iran, and many other bilateral issues that we have with China. The President raised the issue about the recent aborted port call by the USS Kitty Hawk. Foreign Minister Yang announced that — assured the President that it was a misunderstanding. I was not able to be there, but that’s the readout that I have for you, that that’s the explanation that was given to the President.

Q Is that an acceptable explanation to the President?

MS. PERINO: I don’t have any more from — I don’t have a presidential reaction. I just know about the meeting.

Q What kind of misunderstanding? How do you have a misunderstanding that you turn an aircraft carrier around? Do you know what the explanation was?

MS. PERINO: I don’t know what his explanation was. All I know was he told the President that it was a misunderstanding. I don’t have details, but I’ll see if I can get anything more for you.

Les Crakcs On Chimpy’s Saudi Pals

Q On CNN, Governor Huckabee said that U.S. consumers are financing both sides in the war on terror, because every time we put our credit card in the gas pump we’re paying so that the Saudis get obscenely rich, with the money funding madrassas that train the terrorists. And my question: Does the President believe that Governor Huckabee is wrong to say this and that we’re enslaved to Saudi oil?

MS. PERINO: That’s a clever way to try to get me to comment on what is now a matter that is a part of a presidential candidacy. The President is looking forward to working with Congress when they get back. We hope that we can get an agreement on an energy bill that will help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.