Q If it takes until Memorial Day, the end of the month, what’s the impact on the military? You’ve been making the case every day that time is running out.
MR. SNOW: Well, we’ve made the case that it is certainly not constructive to drag this out, but I’m not going to try to play — we’re not going to answer subjunctive questions.
[snip]
Q Will the military have difficulty if they don’t get the —
MR. SNOW: Again, that is a question properly aimed at the Pentagon. But also, as you know, the Pentagon is loathe to get into making characterizations on operational matters. Let’s just put it this way: We know that already there’s a requirement of transferring money from certain accounts to others to make sure that we have full funding. That will continue to be the case until the emergency supplemental has been passed. We think it is preferable to have all accounts funded fully.
Q The President has sometimes been critical of Congress when it takes a recess when there’s important pending business. Does he have a view about the Iraqi parliament planning to take a recess?
MR. SNOW: Well, this is something that I think is probably still under discussion in Iraq, as well. We’re not commenting.
[snip]
Q Tony, why aren’t you commenting about the possibility that the Iraqi parliament is going to take two months off this summer with key legislation pending? I mean, even if they are considering this, isn’t that an affront to this administration?
MR. SNOW: Why don’t you let the Iraqi parliament go ahead and work through and have debates, even though — let’s just let them go ahead and consider the matter. And in two months, if this is a really pressing matter, we can discuss it then.
Q If I could follow here, I mean, it’s really kicking up a lot of dust on Capitol Hill. As you’re trying to get this supplemental worked out in negotiations, doesn’t this hurt the whole process?
MR. SNOW: Again, let’s see what happens.
Q Are you hearing something different than what we’re hearing, that they’re at least considering it?
MR. SNOW: Well, I’m aware of the news reports, but I also am aware that you’ve got an Iraqi government right now, where we are working with them on a whole host of issues — there was some discussion this morning about the fact that you have now — the Council of Ministers have passed on to the Council of Representatives an oil law. And there is a lot of activity going on in the country, and I just think at this particular juncture, trying to draw broad conclusions about something that is rumored possibly to happen in two months is a great parlor exercise, but it is not a particularly useful diplomatic exercise.
Q But if somebody is talking about it on the ground —
MR. SNOW: Everybody talking about it — surely you all will talk about this. No. (Laughter.)
Q Doesn’t it speak to political will? At a time when people are questioning, can the Iraqi government actually meet political benchmarks, doesn’t that, though, speak to the will of the Iraqi government? Does it have the political will to move —
MR. SNOW: I’m telling you, let’s just wait and see what happens over the next couple of months. We have had many debates like this in this country. You may recall when people have gone on vacations before elections, when they haven’t passed budgets, when things have been pushed off until the very end of the year. I don’t want to be doing equations here, but the fact is the legislative process is something that you have to contend with. This is a democracy.
[snip]
Q Try this one more time. Ambassador Crocker has said publicly he’s raised concerns about the Iraqi parliament taking a recess for two months. Why wouldn’t the President raise such concerns with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki in his frequent video teleconferences?
MR. SNOW: Well, again, I’m not going to disclose to you — we give you readouts of the teleconferences. What I’ve said is, the Ambassador has made his view known — views known, and there is a debate going on in Iraq. So let’s see how the Iraqis handle this. That’s all I’m saying.
Q Why won’t the White House weight in?
MR. SNOW: Because you know what? Iraq — we respect Iraq as a sovereign government, and we are not going to sit around and lecture them on those particular matters. We will make our views known. And the Iraqis also are making their views known. Again, there’s a vigorous debate about this, which is why I would suggest that you let these things sort of play out and see what happens.
