    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 32 (Monday, August 18, 2008)]
    [Page 1131]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Briefings at the Central Intelligence Agency in
    Langley, Virginia

    August 14, 2008

        I want to thank the Director, Mike Hayden, and D.O. Steve Kappes for
    hosting me out here at the CIA. I get a chance to thank a lot of the
    folks who work out here for their service to the country.
        It's really important for the people who work here to understand the
    significant--the significance of the contributions they're making to
    secure the homeland. The people here work long and hard hours. And
    they're smart, capable, and they deserve the Nation's thanks.
        We also had a couple of briefings, one on the war on terror and the
    other on the situation in Georgia. Got a lot of folks, smart folks
    analyzing the situation on the ground, and of course, briefing us on
    different possibilities that could develop in the area and the region.
        I sent Condi Rice, Secretary of State Rice, over there. She'll be
    coming back to brief me Saturday. I'm looking forward to hearing
    firsthand what she has seen, what she has heard. And my call, of course,
    is for the territorial integrity of Georgia to be respected and for the
    cease-fire agreement to be honored.
        And we will be working this issue throughout the coming weeks, and
    people out here at the Agency have been incredibly helpful. And I want
    to thank you very much for your hospitality. Thank you, Michael.
    Appreciate you. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:52 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Stephen R. Kappes, Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency.