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Today's Press Briefing
Man, I know everyone loves it when I do this, but check this interchange out, from todays White House Press Briefing:

Q When the President went to the Pentagon today, did he ask about the dropping of a bomb on a home, killing nine children and grandchildren, and so forth? I mean, is this how we go after the rebels?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President talked about the update that he received at the Pentagon earlier today. And let me just back up, because, first of all, as I understand it from the military in Iraq, they have put out a statement saying they are looking at the facts surrounding this matter. Second of all, our military goes out of the way to avoid civilian casualties. They target the enemy. They target the terrorists and the Saddam loyalists who are seeking to kill innocent civilians and disrupt the transition to democracy. In terms of this individual matter, it's something that's being looked into in terms of the facts surrounding it.

Q Why did they do that --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that's an accurate characterization, first of all. The military has put out --

Q They didn't find any so-called terrorists.

MR. McCLELLAN: The military has put out additional information and you need to look at what they've said. It's still being looked into. I encourage you to wait until the facts are learned.

Q How can you justify killing children and grandchildren at home?

MR. McCLELLAN: Look at what took place in Iraq last month; successful elections, where you had nearly 70 percent of the voters turn out --

Q That has nothing to do with my question.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and if you look at the pictures from that election, the Iraqi people are determined to live in freedom. They want to chart their own future. And the President talked about that earlier today. And it's --

Q -- bomb innocent families.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- the terrorists and Saddam loyalists who are going out killing innocent civilians. We saw that again today, with some suicide attacks on a funeral procession of Iraqi civilians.

Q So why are we there --

MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree strongly with your characterization of our military. They go out of the way to target the enemy --

Q I didn't say they did --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, your implication is certainly that.

Q In this case, there have been several --

MR. McCLELLAN: That's your implication. No, that's your implication. Our military --

Q That's not my implication. I'm telling you what --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- uses technology to target the enemy and avoid civilian casualties.
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