White House Daily Briefing

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

May 9, 2001

PRESS BRIEFING BY ARI FLEISCHER

The James S. Brady Briefing Room

1:40 P.M. EDT

Q: How does the President feel about space-based offensive weapons?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has asked the Department of Defense to
take a look at its defense needs. And Secretary Rumsfeld is reviewing
the overall military strategy to help preserve the peace. And this
week, as you know, the Secretary made a personnel management decision
to create a four-star general to oversee space programs. And that's
the President's view.

Q: So he certainly hasn't ruled it out?

MR. FLEISCHER: The Secretary is reviewing these matters, per the
President's direction.