Mokhiber: Earlier this year, General (William) Boykin said the following: "George Bush was not elected by a majority of voters in the United States. He was appointed by God." Does the President believe that God played any role in getting him to the White House?

Scott McClellan: Again, the President has addressed that matter.

Mokhiber: Not whether God played any role in getting him to the White House.

Scott McClellan: The President has addressed that matter and I'm not going to go back through it.

Mokhiber: Okay, well, I have a second question.

The second question is - yesterday the President was asked about troop strength levels through next year. And he said it was a trick question. In what sense was it a trick question?

Scott McClellan: He went on to talk about how he relies on his military commanders in the region - General Abizaid in this instance - to make the decisions in terms of what is needed. He will continue to do that - continue to ask the questions - do you have the resources you need, do you have what you need to carry out your objectives. That's the role the President plays. And he relies on the military commanders, since they are the ones in the best position to make those decisions about what resources were needed.

Mokhiber: Why was it a trick question?

Scott McClellan: I'm sorry?

Mokhiber: Why was it a trick question?

Scott McClellan: Because it is the military leaders who make those decisions. And that's all.

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-Thanks to Russell Mokhiber

White House reporter Russell Mokhiber is the editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter - www.corporatecrimereporter.com. He co-authors the weekly Focus on the Corporation column with Robert Weissman which Common Dreams publishes. He can be reached at: russell@nationalpress.com