Jeff Blankfort writes: "Being a State Department or White House press spokesperson is no easy
job; and this guy at State, Ian Kelly, says he's worried about getting fired or
transfered if he says too much re Dennis Ross. A must read." Partial tranny:
QUESTION: Tangential to this, what – there seem to be a –
well, not seem to be, there are a lot of reports about Dennis Ross
based on one specific report in an Israeli newspaper. What’s his
status? Has he been fired?
MR. KELLY: He has not been fired.
QUESTION: Is he being ousted?
MR. KELLY: He is not being ousted.
QUESTION: Is there an abrupt change to his responsibilities?
MR. KELLY: I – there is —
QUESTION: Is he being reassigned?
MR. KELLY:
Look, he’s in the building today. I was in his office today. He’s
working very hard on the same issues that we’ve been discussing the
last, whatever it is, 15 minutes. And you know, if and when there is
some kind of personnel announcement, I’ll be happy to let you know.
QUESTION: Isn’t it – isn’t he being reassigned to another position at the White House?
MR. KELLY: Anything is possible. I could be fired today too, I mean, if you guys keep probing me on this.
QUESTION: Isn’t it true that he’s being – isn’t it true that he’s being reassigned to another position at the White House?
MR. KELLY: Like I said, I have – there – I have no personnel announcements.
QUESTION: So the Secretary has full confidence in Dennis Ross to continue in his present role?
MR. KELLY: Absolutely.
QUESTION: So Dennis Ross – Dennis Ross is going to continue in his role as advisor to the Secretary on, what was it, western Gulf –
QUESTION: Southwest Asia.
QUESTION: – southwest Gulf affairs?
MR. KELLY: He is – as I say, he is working very hard. He worked hard throughout the weekend, and he’s continuing to do his job today.
QUESTION:
Has the book that he and David Makovsky published recently caused any
problems for him internally in this Administration that you’re aware?
MR. KELLY: No, no. It’s a very good book, by the way. I started reading it over the weekend.
QUESTION: Was there any —
QUESTION: Oh, so you’re doing reviews from the podium.
QUESTION: Was there any concern about this book —
MR. KELLY: It probably was inappropriate, but there it is. It’s out there.
QUESTION:
Was there any concern about his authorship of this book of some of the
opinions that he and his coauthor expressed in the book —
MR. KELLY: No.
QUESTION: — during the time leading up to his appointment?
MR. KELLY: No, not at all.
QUESTION: Why not?
MR. KELLY: Well,
I mean, Mr. Ross is – I mean, he is in the Administration now. He is a
very close advisor of the Secretary on a number of issues related to
Iran and the region. But he also came out of the academic community,
and he’s entitled – he was entitled to his opinion. He wrote the book
before he came on board here.
QUESTION: But I mean,
his opinion in his book and everything notwithstanding, are you saying
that Dennis Ross is not being reassigned to another position at the
White House?
MR. KELLY: I’m saying he’s working very hard here at the State Department.
QUESTION: Well, you’re not saying no.
MR. KELLY: I’m saying he’s working very hard here at the State Department.
QUESTION: I’m not saying he’s – I’m not saying he’s not working very hard. There’s a lot going on in Iran.
MR. KELLY: I can’t predict the future, Elise. I don’t know —
QUESTION: No one asked if he was, you know, lollygagging –
QUESTION: No one is questioning that he works very hard.
(Laughter.)
QUESTION: But yes or no? I mean, is he being reassigned to —
MR. KELLY: I – you know, I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t predict what’s going to happen tomorrow.
QUESTION: You can’t predict till tomorrow when you’re going to announce it?
MR. KELLY: I may be reassigned, God knows where, tomorrow. I don’t know.
