Dana Don’t Know!

Q The U.S. military conducted 19 focus groups throughout Iraq last November, and its report on those focus groups stated that Iraqis from every ethnic and sectarian group are united in the belief that the U.S. invasion is the root cause of the sectarian violence in Iraq, and that the departure of the U.S. military is the key to national reconciliation. And I wondered, has the President seen the military’s report on those focus groups?

MS. PERINO: I don’t know if he has. I haven’t either, and I’d refer you to DOD because I don’t know the accuracy of that.

Shafted By His Hand-Holding Saudi Pals

Q Finally, just one more on this, Dana. When the President was in the Middle East, he asked the Saudis to consider doing something about supplies. Has there ever been any response to that, any —

MS. PERINO: In terms of from OPEC?

Q Yes.

MS. PERINO: Well, I don’t know about any of the private conversations that have gone on back and forth, but obviously, given the situation that we have today, and that the reason increase in gasoline prices is being directly linked to a supply issue in regards to crude oil, we remain concerned.

[snip]

Q But OPEC didn’t help us. OPEC declined after the President’s discussion with the Saudis — OPEC declined to raise production.

MS. PERINO: Obviously this is — this was their decision. And the President is not going to be able to just go over there and open up the spigot. We have to work with our partners.

[snip]

Q So why aren’t they helping us?

MS. PERINO: Kevin.

Your Daily Les

Q Thank you. When asked last night about the endorsement of him by Louis Farrakhan, Senator Obama replied that Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism is, “reprehensible,” and that he had not sought Farrakhan’s endorsement. And my question: This statement by Senator Obama deserves White House approval, doesn’t it?

MS. PERINO: I’m not going to comment in any way on the ’08 election.

Q You’re going to avoid this? Won’t you commend him? Don’t you think he should be commended?

MS. PERINO: If you want to ask two questions, you should make sure they’re two that I can answer.