Digest of Other White House Announcements

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

January 12

In the morning, at Bayan Palace Guest House in Kuwait City, Kuwait, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then traveled to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where, in a briefing room, he met with Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force—Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker. Later, he toured the Operations Center.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City.

In the afternoon, the President met with U.S. Embassy personnel and their families. Later, he traveled to Kuwait International Airport, where, upon arrival, he participated in a greeting with Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah of Kuwait. He then traveled to Manama, Bahrain, where, upon arrival atBahrain International Airport, he participated in a greeting with King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Sakhir Palace. Later, he traveled to the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel, where, in the Al Noor Room, he met with U.S. Embassy personnel and their families.

In the evening, the President had a telephone conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss his Middle East trip. Later, he met with King Hamad. They then had a working dinner.

January 13

In the morning, the President traveled to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where, in the multipurpose room, he had breakfast with U.S. military personnel. Later, he traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where, at Abu Dhabi International Airport, he participated in a greeting with President Khalifa bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan of the United Arab Emirates.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Al Mushref Palace, where he participated in an arrival ceremony with President Khalifa.

In the afternoon, in the Al Etihad Majlis of Al Mushref Palace, the President met with President Khalifa. Then, in the Dining Room, they had lunch. Later, he traveled to the Emirates Palace Hotel.

Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to the Falcon Farm of the Desert Encampment, where he had dinner with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In the evening, the President returned to the Emirates Palace Hotel.

January 14

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. He then participated in an interview with Greta Van Susteren of FOX News. Later, in the ballroom of the Emirates Palace Hotel, he met with U.S. Embassy personnel and their families.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where, upon arrival at Dubai International Airport, he participated in a greeting with Vice President and Prime Minister Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktum of the United Arab Emirates. He then toured the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where he had lunch with Dubai School of Government students. He then traveled to the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Later, he returned to Dubai International Airport, where, in the Royal Airwing, he met with U.S. Embassy personnel and their families.

Later in the afternoon, the President traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While en route aboard Air Force One, he had a telephone conversation with President-elect Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia to congratulate him on his election victory. Upon arrival at King Khaled International Airport, he participated in an arrival ceremony with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. He then traveled to Nasiriya Guest Palace.

In the evening, the President traveled to Riyadh Palace, where he had dinner and met with King Abdallah. Later, he returned to Nasiriya Guest Palace.

January 15

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to the U.S. Embassy Riyadh where, in the lobby, he met with Embassy personnel and their families. He then visited Al Murabba Palace and National History Museum.

Later in the morning, the President returned to Nasiriya Guest Palace.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to the Al Janadriyah Farm in Al Janadriyah, Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, he participated in a photo opportunity with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. They then toured the farm.

In the evening, the President had dinner and met with King Abdallah.

January 16

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he had a traditional breakfast with King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. He then returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to the Four Seasons Resort in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

In the afternoon, the President had lunch with President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Later, he traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, where he participated in a greeting with President Mubarak. He then returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the evening.

January 17

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President and Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., had a conference call with congressional leaders. Later, in the East Room, he met with Republican National Committee members.

The President announced his intention to nominate Nelson M. Ford to be Under Secretary of the Army.

The President announced his intention to nominate Joxel Garcia to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (Health).

The President announced his intention to nominate Jeffrey J. Grieco to be Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (Legislative and Public Affairs).

The President announced his intention to nominate the following individuals to be members of the Board of Directors of the National Board of Education Sciences: Jonathan Baron; Frank Philip Handy; Sally Epstein Shaywitz; and Joanne Weiss.

The President announced his intention to appoint H.H. Barlow, William DeLauder, and Keith W. Eckel as members of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

The President announced his intention to appoint Robert A. Easter as Chairman of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

The President announced his intention to appoint John M. Townsend as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

January 18

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President traveled to Frederick, MD. Later, he returned to Washington, DC.

During the day, in the Roosevelt Room, the President met with former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, former Prime Minister Yevgeniy Maksimovich Primakov of Russia, and senior American and Russian statesmen and policy experts to discuss Russia-U.S. relations.

The President announced the designation of the following individuals as members of the Presidential delegation to Tbilisi, Georgia, to attend the inauguration of Mikheil Saakashvili as President of Georgia on January 20: Carlos M. Gutierrez (head of delegation); and John F. Tefft.

The President announced the designation of the following individuals as members of the Presidential delegation to Auckland, New Zealand, to attend the state funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary on January 22: Mary A. Bomar (head of delegation); William P. McCormick; and Jim Whittaker.