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What the Spokesman Meant to Say…
Sometimes the White House issues “Setting the Record Straight” statements when it feels like a reporter got something wrong.
And sometimes the White House has to engage in its own internal record-straightening. Like yesterday, after press secretary Tony Snow determinedly defended the administration’s plan to give billions of dollars worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Helen Thomas: Why are you giving a big aid package to the Saudis when there are questions about their role in Iraq? And are these packages aimed at countering Iraq?
Snow: No, what we’re really trying to do, number one, we have a long history of security cooperation with the Saudis. This is nothing new, it goes back more than 25 years. What we’re doing is we’re trying to create the ability for nations in the region to to feel more secure and to defend their own interest.
Thomas: They can pay for it.
Snow: Thank you.
And with that, it was on to opther topics. But a few feet away, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council, seemed a bit ill at ease about Snow’s comments. The problem is there is no plan to give arms to the Saudis. It would be a sale, not a gift.
A few hours later, at another White House briefing, Snow issued “some clarifications on arms negotiations.” American taxpayers, he clarified, are not picking up the tab for weapons that could be headed to the well-heeled Saudis. There are plans to give weapons to Israel and Egypt.
“Informal” talks are under way about sending arms to Saudi Arabia but, Snow said, “These will not be grants, but in fact, the offer of arms sales to allies within the region.”
“So I hope that clears that up,” Snow said after setting the record straight.
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