Q But how could it be that the person who is third in line to the presidency has no knowledge of the existence of this operation?
MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I think there are times when people just need to pause and talk to each other and talk fully to people on the Hill who are in a position to know, and they will have -- again, as I said, the president has confidence that they will say the administration did the right things for the right reasons.
Q Broadly can you say who was informed, though, and when? Was it right after, the hours after September 11th when this was triggered; that broadly who in the Congress happened to be informed then?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, people have always been working on this program. And it's fair to say that after September 11th, more people were involved in the continuity of operations part of the program. I'm not going to get into specifically who. And let me tell you why I'm not going to get into specifically who was informed about the program. There was a similar program that operated for the legislative branch, and as result of a great many people talking about it and discussing it and being informed, the program is now a tourist attraction, at a waste of millions and millions of dollars to the public. These are serious programs and serious times, and the president has made clear that he will inform the Congress, because it's a responsibility and it's important for our nation that Congress be informed, but the president has no interest in repeating in the executive branch what happened in the legislative branch.
Q There's a real conflict here. You understand that, don't you? You are absolutely contradicting what the leaders have said.
MR. FLEISCHER: I can only reiterate what I said about the president's confidence, as members have an opportunity to stop, pause and talk to each other. I wouldn't say -- Helen, I wouldn't say that lightly. I wouldn't say that if I didn't have reason to say that. Gary (?):
Q So they didn't get it. They didn't get it. However you chose to inform the leadership of Congress about the acceleration, substantial acceleration and putting in place of this program which has been in place -- been established in the Cold War -- you ramped it up, and in some form or fashion, it's your claim, that the administration informed these leaders, they didn't get it.
MR. FLEISCHER: I cannot speak for what members of Congress received from people who are close to them or on their staffs.