podesta-emails
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*Main Topics:* al-Maliki statements, Obama visiting Iraq
*Summary:* As the media swooned over Senator Obama's arrival in Baghdad this
morning, the McCain campaign attempted to hit back to influence the
coverage. Senator McCain himself appeared on various networks giving
interviews. On Good Morning America, he erroneously spoke of problems on the
"Iraq-Pakistan" border. On the Today Show, Meredith Vieira pressed McCain on
missing every single Afghanistan hearing his own Armed Services Committee
held in the past two years, the 'learning curve' he would have on domestic
issues relating to the economy, and on Phil Gramm. Senator McCain brushed
aside the recent al-Maliki comment essentially endorsing Senator Obama's
withdrawal plan, claiming, "I know what they [the Iraqis] want." Surrogates
for the McCain campaign echoed Senator McCain's message of withdrawal being
dictated by 'conditions on the ground' rather than 'an arbitrary date.'
However, Governor Bobby Jindal veered slightly off-message while speaking on
behalf of McCain, saying "let's listen to…Prime Minister Maliki" and also
that withdrawal could take place in shorter than 16 months. Senior McCain
adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer similarly conflicted with Senator McCain's
dismissal of al-Maliki by saying "when [al-Maliki] comes forward and makes
this statement, it's got a lot of credibility." In other news, the Batman
movie performed very well in box offices, China is attempting to drastically
reduce pollution before the Olympics, bin Laden's driver will be tried as a
war criminal, and oil prices are down, though it is believed they will
rebound shortly.
Highlights:
1. NBC: McCain Interviewed, pressed on withdrawal, Maliki's comments,
hearings, economic learning curve, Gramm
2. ABC: McCain Interviewed, makes gaffe on "Pakistan-Iraq" border
3. CBS: Short clip of McCain interview, McCain stressing Obama's
misjudgement of surge
4. MSNBC: Jindal highlights McCain endorsement of surge, claims
withdrawal could be shorter than 16 months, says McCain listens to al-Maliki
5. CNN: Jindal downplays Maliki statement, stresses success of surge
6. FNC: Joe Lieberman Interviewed, Claims Obama seeks to lose war in
Iraq
7. MSNBC: Bill Press mocks McCain's whining about Obama's overseas trip,
hosts note McCain's absence from Afghanistan hearings
8. MSNBC: Pfotenhauer says Maliki has credibility, however repeats
talking point about adhering to conditions on the ground
9. CNN: James Dobson "might" endorse McCain
10. CNN and FNC: Giuliani and McCain go to Yankees game
Clips:
*Highlight #1*
*McCain Interviewed on Today Show, Pressed on Negative Ad, Withdrawal,
Economic Learning Curve, Gramm* (NBC 07/21/08
MEREDITH VIEIRA: Senator McCain thank you for joining us.
JOHN MCCAIN: Good morning Meredith.
VIEIRA: You have been very tough on Senator Obama, you've questioned his
judgement on foreign policy, called him naïve, and his trip little more than
a campaign rally overseas. So given what you've seen and heard over the past
few days do you still hold to that assessment? MCCAIN: Look I'm glad Senator
Obama will get a chance for the first time to sit down with General David
Petraeus and understand what the surge was all about, why it succeeded, and
why we are winning the war. And that is because we carried out a strategy
which has succeeded. And Senator Obama rallied against, voted against, and
used his opposition to the surge as a way of gaining the nomination of his
party. I hope he will have a chance to admit that he badly misjudged the
situation and he was wrong when he said that the surge wouldn't work.
VIEIRA: Senator you mentioned General Petraeus-
MCCAIN: It's important that the American people know that is the situation
and I've mentioned General Petraeus, yes?
VIEIRA: I'm bringing him up because he told the AP on Saturday that al-Qaeda
may be shifting its base back to Afghanistan. Then on Sunday Barack Obama
reiterated his belief that Afghanistan is the central front in the war on
terrorism. Do you agree with that Senator?
MCCAIN: I agree with Petraeus when he said Iraq is the central battleground
in the war and the struggle against al-Qaeda. He said that. And I agree with
him when he said we will be able to withdraw troops as conditions on the
ground dictate. Not to do what Senator Obama wants to do, which was we'd be
out by last March. Never to have the surge and the success. And you can't
choose to lose a war in Iraq in my view in order to win a war in
Afghanistan. Of course we have problems in Afghanistan. And as we succeed in
Iraq, there will be troops available to go to Afghanistan. But it's more
than just troops. Senator Obama doesn't understand that it is a strategy –
the same strategy that succeeded in Iraq we will employ in Afghanistan, the
one that he rejected in and still does not accept the success of.
VIEIRA: Senator Obama's table of removing troops from Iraq within that 16
month period seemed to be given a thumbs up by the Iraqi prime minister when
he called it the right timeframe for withdrawal, he has backed off that
somewhat but the Iraqis have not stopped using the word timetables so if the
Iraqi government were to say, if you were President, we want a timetable for
troops being removed, would you agree to that?
MCCAIN: I've been there too many times. I've met too many times with them
and I know what they want. They want it based on conditions and of course
they'd like to have us out. That's what happens when you win wars, you
leave. We may have a residual presence there as even Senator Obama has
admitted. But the fact is, that it should be based on the agreement between
prime minister Maliki, the Iraqi government, and the United States that it
will be based on conditions. This is a great success, but it's fragile. And
could be reversed very easily. I think we should trust the word of General
Petraeus who has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround. And by the way, we'd
have been out last March if Senator Obama's wish had originally called for.
Not 16 months from now, but last March. He was wrong on the surge. He was
wrong today saying it wouldn't succeed. And obviously we have challenges in
Afghanistan, which will require more troops, and more NATO participation,
but we can win. If we had lost in Iraq, we'd have risked a much wider war
that would have put enormous challenges and burdens on our military.
VIEIRA: You know in this latest TV ad sir you criticize- your ad- you
critcize Obama for never holding a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan, but
according to Senate records, you've missed all six hearings on Afghanistan
that were held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on which you served
during the last 2 years. So where is your accountability?
MCCAIN: I've visited Iraq many times. I've had briefings, constant
briefings. I've visited Afghanistan. I know the issues extremely well. And,
I'm not the chairman of a subcommittee that had direct responsibility, but
the fact is I was right about the surge at the darkest times when many
people said that would kill my ambitions for the Presidency. I did it
because I believed it was best for America. Senator Obama chose a path which
was very wrong and is wrong today. And if we had done what he wanted to do,
we would be facing enormous challenges – probably the risk of a wider war.
That's the real difference.
VIEIRA: You said in a time of war, a commander in chief's job doesn't get a
learning curve. We're facing a crises here domestically that a lot of people
consider more significant in their lives right now in the war and that is
the economic crisis. You have admitted that your economic policy is a
weakness for you. So do you deserve a learning curve to get up to speed?
MCCAIN: Actually I have far more experience on the economy than Senator
Obama. I'm very strong on the economy. I was chairman of the Senator
Commerce Committee, Science and Transportation which addresses all these
issues. I have a concrete economic plan to fix the problems in America-
VIEIRA: But look at the man who established that plan for you-
MCCAIN: Offshore drilling, including the fact that we have nuclear power-
VIEIRA: Phil Gramm who called this a mental recession.
MCCAIN: Oxygen. Uh, Hydrogen. Hybrid fuels. All kinds of nuclear power. I
have plans for all of those and I am confident we can succeed. Americans
working together on a mission to fix our economy, keep them in their homes,
become energy independent and I have a strong plan of action and a strong
backgroud on the economy to address these issues
VIEIRA: But Senator if I can bring up Phil Gramm again, that was your key
economic adviser and the framer of your policy until he called whats
happening here a mental recession and that we are a nation of whiners. He
has since stepped down, removed himself from your campaign. But do voters
have a right to question your judgement because you said he was the
strongest person you knew on economic issues. Should they be worried about
your ability to lead us out of a recession?
MCCAIN: Actually, he was one out of a number of advisers that I have. I
value their views and their opinions and I'm very strong plan of action for
our economy. I think most Americans agree with it, including offshore
drilling, which Senator Obama opposes, including nuclear power which Obama
opposed. I strong- keep taxes low. We have a very strong economic policy.
We're talking about it in town hall meetings all over America. And I've
invited Senator Obama to come to these town hall meetings with me and that
way people can compare us on these issues that are so important to their
future and economy and the future of this nation. And I'm proud to have a
broad array, including 300 economists and 5 nobel prize winners that say my
economic plan is very good.
<https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/4p2kbuococ>
*Highlight #2*
*McCain: Surge has worked, Afghanistan is a "serious" situation but not
"precarious" or "urgent" *(MSNBC 07/21/08 7:05am)
DIANE SAWYER: You have criticized Sen. Obama in the past for not going to
Iraq and getting a fresh assessment. He is in Iraq as we speak this morning.
Does this take care of it?
JOHN MCCAIN: Well, I believe that he'll be able to—I know that he'll be able
to have the opportunity to see the success of the surge. It has succeeded.
This is the same strategy that he voted against, railed against, campaigned
for his nomination, to obtain his nomination in opposition. He was wrong
about the surge. It is succeeding. We are winning. And I hope he will agree
that he had a fundamental misjudgment in the need for this change in
strategy which has succeeded, which is allowing us to win this war.
SAWYER: Quick coverage about the press coverage if I can. He's there with a
lot of reporters and it's been widely reported—you're laughing. Do you think
the press coverage is unfair?
MCCAIN: That's up to the American people to decide, Diane. It is what it is.
SAWYER: His camp has said that, in fact he was out ahead of you on
Afghanistan, where the real problem is today. The level of violence has
increased, more US and NATO troops killed in June in Afghanistan than were
in Iraq. The Taliban resurging and also, Sen. Obama says he was warning of
this all along. And I'm going to play a bite from yesterday.
BARACK OBAMA: I believe that US troop levels need to increase and I have,
for at least a year now have called for two additional brigades, perhaps
three. The situation is precarious and urgent here in Afghanistan and I
believe this has to be our central focus. The central front on our battle
against terrorism.
SAWYER: Does he deserve the credit for saying that there should be more
troops in Afghanistan now that the chairman of the joint chiefs is saying
just the same thing?
MCCAIN: Actually the chairman of the joint chiefs has said yesterday that
it'd be very dangerous to do what Sen. Obama wants to do in Iraq. He said
the fragile victory that we are succeeding in gaining would be all placed at
risk if we did what Sen. Obama wanted. Look, you don't have to choose to
lose in Iraq in order to succeed in Afghanistan. Of course I've been
following closely the events in Afghanistan. I gave speeches in Germany
talking about the need for more NATO troops, more US troops. But it's more
complicated than that Diane. It's not just a matter of troops, it's a matter
of our relations with Pakistan, it's relations with a new strategy, which
will, can and will succeed. The same kind that worked in Iraq, which he has
rejected, and we can succeed there and it's going to be tough.
SAWYER: But—
MCCAIN: It is very tough. If we had lost in Iraq, the complications in
Afghanistan would have been enormously more difficult.
SAWYER: But the chairman of the joint chiefs says, "I need the troops, I
need the additional brigades but I don't have troops I can reach for to send
to Afghanistan until I have reduced requirement in Iraq." So, in a sense
they are linked. The troops in Iraq and the availability of troops for
Afghanistan. My question is, when will you have enough troops to send to
Afghanistan?
MCCAIN: I'm sure fairly soon. But it'll be dictated by the conditions on the
ground. Look, it's like any counterinsurgency or strategy that's succeeds.
We will be able to free up troops to go to Afghanistan but if we abandon
Iraq [laughing] and state specific dates for withdrawal, we would've been
out last March. This previous March if we had done what Sen. Obama wanted to
do. He was wrong then. He was wrong now. And he should admit that he was
wrong. That might help us succeed in Afghanistan and we will free up
additional troops as we succeed in Iraq and come home in victory and honor.
SAWYER: Do you agree the situation in Afghanistan is precarious and urgent?
MCCAIN: Well, I think it's very serious.
SAWYER: Not precarious and urgent?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don't know, uh, exactly run through the vocabulary but it's a
serious situation. And but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a
lot of work to do and I'm afraid that it's a very hard struggle.
Particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border. And I would
not announce that I am going to attack Pakistan as Sen. Obama did when he
was doing his campaign. But most importantly, he railed against, voted
against and said the surge wouldn't work. He said it wouldn't work and
couldn't work. And has failed to acknowledge. It did work and we have
succeeded. Thank god.
[ . . . ] <https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/mchc7srggk>
*Highlight #3*
*Short Interview of McCain Stressing Obama's "Misjudgement"* (CBS 07/21/08)
JOHN MCCAIN: We are winning the war and Senator Obama was wrong. He railed
against it, he voted against the surge, and he said it would fail. He was
wrong there. And there's very little doubt in my mind that he will see for
himself that he had a gross misjudgment and that he'll correct
that.<https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/r7qnsa8kc4>
*Highlight #4*
*Jindal Slam Obama For Late Visit, Claims Withdrawal Could Be Before 16
Months, To Listen To Maliki* (MSNBC 07/21/08)
BOBBY JINDAL: One extreme says no more domestic production, the other
extreme says let's only drill our way to independence. The reality is we've
got to do it all. We need nuclear power, we need conservation, we need
renewables as well as more domestic production. It makes no sense to say
we're not going to produce more oil and gas at home while we yell at other
countries that aren't always our friends. But secondly, I tell voters don't
just vote on the party, vote for conservatives. And I absolutely agree the
voters had cause to fire the Republican majority in Congress. The Republican
majority was spending like Democrats, wasn't balancing the budget, had
become addicted to earmarks, was defending corruption that we never would
have tolerated in the Democratic Party, and finally we stopped being the
party of new ideas. So I tell voters you know don't always vote Republican
but find the real conservatives that have real great ideas. Here in Louisian
we've cut six taxes, our largest income tax in our state's history, we got
one of the nation's strongest ethics codes. We're actually growing jobs. We
got a fortune 1000 company moving its headquarters here. Fortune 500
company contemplating a 3 billion dollar investment in Louisana. So, I tell
voters find real conservates, don't worry about party labels. Find people
who will do what they promise you in their campaigning.
WILLIE GEIST: Governor Jindal, it's Willie Geist here in New York. The
McCain campaign has called Barack Obama's campaign overseas a photo-op, a
campaign rally, a couple of the terms. I wonder what you think as you watch
these pictures coming in from the weekend from today of him sitting with
Karzai there, visiting Baghdad today, what are your impressions of his trip?
JINDAL: Well certainly I think its long overdue. I'm glad that he's finally
going there. He didn't go during the primaries but now that he's there, I
wish he'd gone and listned to the commanders instead of sticking to his
policies before he announced his policies decisions before he went to listen
to the commanders in the field. You know certainly when he talks about the
16 month timeline, this firm timeline, the reality is the surge is working.
I hope when he goes over there he says look Senator McCain was right,
Senator McCain even when the Bush administration wasn't for this, Senator
Obama opposed it, said it would never work, Senator Reid said it wouldn't
work, Senator McCain stood tall and said the surge can work, it will work,
Senator McCain said he was willing to lose an election, rather than lose a
war. So I hope Senator Obama will come back and say he's learned from his
trip, he thinks the surge is working. I certainly agree we want our troops
to come back as quickly and as safely as possible. But the fundamental
difference between the two Senators is Senator McCain has said it has to be
based on the facts on the ground. Senator Obama continues to advocate an
unconditional withdrawal.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I think there's an argument that since we're in there the
job needs to be done. I think the argument has been if we should have been
in there in the first place and what kind of misconceptions brought us
there.
JINDAL: I disagree.
BRZEZINSKI: Senator McCain confused the issue here on exactly the
differences are between the candidates.
JINDAL: Well no I disagree. I think the American voters are looking forward
now and saying we want our troops to come home safely and victoriously.
There is a fundamental difference between Senator Obama saying its 16 months
no matter what happens on the ground and Senator McCain saying you know look
it could be shorter, it could be longer, let's listen to General Petraeus,
lets listen to Admiral Mullen, let's listen to Prime Minister Maliki, who
have all said basically the same thing, which is yes American troops should
be able to leave, they should be able to leave safely, probably more quickly
that we originally anticipated, but it should be based on facts on the
ground, not an artificial political timeline. I think that's the fundamental
difference.
BRZEZINSKI: Well also the Prime Minister has been quoted saying the 16
month-now the questions as to exactly what that's being translated to, its
pretty clear that he seems to be at least likely attracted to the 16 month
withdrawal time line that Barack Obama is putting out there as suppose to a
horizon.
DAVID SHUSTER: Governor Jindal it's David Shuster here I think you said
something and I just want to follow up. You said John McCain said it could
be less than 16 months? When has he said that? Would you agree with pulling
troops out less than 16 months?
JINDAL: I think if you listen carefully to General Petraeus and the Senator
and the Admiral, others who've commented on this all have said look if we
want our troops to come home as quickly and safely as possible, but it needs
to be driven on facts on the ground. Let me say this, and I'll put those
words in my mouth, not somebody else's mouth, it could be 12 months, it
could be 16 months, it could be longer, but the point is, the Senator's
always consistently said it needs to be driven by the facts on the ground.
And let's be clear, the reason we're able to have this conversation today is
because the surge is working. The surge that Senator Obama opposed. And lets
also be clear Obama's been advocating 16 months even before the facts on the
ground changed. The bottom line, the most important thing is this: whether
its 16 months, 12 months, 24 months, whatever the timeline, it has to be
based on the facts on the ground. It cannot be simply an unconditional
etched in stone withdrawal and one of the things I truly admire Senator
McCain for he has said again and he said this last year: willing to lose an
election but he was not willing to lose a war. I think that speaks to his
character and the fact this isn't driven by politics. […]
JOE SCARBOROUGH: You talk about facts on the ground, McCain talks about
facts on the ground, Obama talks about facts on the ground, but we also have
facts on the ground in Washington DC, the Pentagon, the Generals saying
there that we are stretched to a breaking point our army is. I know you know
this even though you're working down in Louisiana now for the people of
Louisiana now. Should we pay as much attention to what our generals are
saying at the Pentagon about our broken US army as much as we are the
generals on the ground in Iraq.
JINDAL: Absolutely. One of the things we hear our commanders both in DC as
well as abroad in the field tell us is that as the surge has worked, as we
are able to reduce our troop presence in Iraq- and it does look from early
indications that we'll be able to be even more aggressive at reducing the
number of combat troops we had originally anticipated, it absolutely looks
like we'll be needing to send more troops to Afghanistan. In some sense the
same kind of surge strategy that was advocated by Senator McCain in Iraq to
apply that same pressure, that same tactic in Afghanistan. We absolutely
need to be listening to our commanders that as we achieve success in Iraq,
that may free up the resources to provide some relief in Afghanistan.
SCARBOROUGH: We just don't have the troops to send that surge to Afghanistan
unless we remove them from Iraq.
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*
Highlight #5*
*Jindal Downplays Maliki Comments, Pushes for Need to Pay Attention to
"Facts on the Ground" *(CNN 07/20/08 7:55am)
JOHN ROBERTS: Not only does Senator Obama want to deploy troops from Iraq to
Afghanistan after he is elected president . . . but he also said in
Afghanistan yesterday he think there needs to be an immediate shift of
troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, because Afghanistan is now the central
front in the war on terror. Where does senator McCain come down on that idea
of immediately moving troops?
BOBBY JINDAL: Well, two things. One, it's good to see senator Obama endorse
the same kind of surge in Afghanistan he opposed in Iraq. But secondly, what
Senator McCain has said, what Prime Minister Maliki has said, what Adm
Mullen said yesterday, what Gen Petraeus has said, is that troop withdrawals
should based on the conditions on the ground. Everyone wants to see our
troops come home safely and victoriously . . . now, the surge is working.
General Petraeus is beginning to say it may be possible to bring even more
troops back even more quickly than originally anticipated. Now, that's great
news. We need to remember, when it wasn't popular, Sen. McCain, even when
the Bush administration wasn't there, Sen. Obama wasn't there, Senator
McCain stood for the surge, stood for sending in more troops. One of the
things I respect senator McCain for . . . he has made it clear he would
rather lose an election than lose a war. He has made it very clear. Let's
listen to the commanders on the ground. Yes, bring the troops out, but base
ton the facts on the ground.
ROBERTS: On the point of listening to commanders on the ground, General
David Petraeus said . . . at hearings that it appears that al-Qaeda is
diverting fighters from Iraq to Afghanistan speaking to an urgent need for
more troops on the ground there in Afghanistan.
JINDAL: Absolutely. You hear General Petraeus, Admiral Mullen and senator
McCain saying give the commanders what they need . . . Sen. Obama, for
months, for years now, Obama has been advocating this withdrawal without any
regard to conditions—
ROBERTS: But Senator Obama also advocated, in advance of what Senator McCain
said last week, sending at least two more brigades of U.S. forces to
Afghanistan. Senator McCain has only recently come to that issue.
JINDAL: Again, I, this is the fundamental difference between the two is that
Senator McCain said, let's listen to the commanders on the ground. General
Petraeus is now saying, because of a surge senator McCain supported, it may
be possible to withdraw more troops if they need more troops in Afghanistan
. . . Senator McCain is right to follow the advice of the commanders on the
ground but to make sure if we redeploy, we do it victoriously so that all of
the sacrifice, the work on the ground is not all for naught.
ROBERTS: Gov Jindal, Sen. Obama also appeared to get support from Iraqi
prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki . . . for his 16-month withdrawal timetable,
a an interview he did with *Der Spiegel* magazine, the White House expressed
concern, contacted al-Maliki, his office came out, they tried to walk it
back a bit, saying it was mistranslated, misunderstood, but in a separate
CNN translation of that exchange with the German reporter, al-Maliki did
say, "if he is elected he would withdraw the troops within 16 months, we
believe that time period give or take a little would be good to end of troop
presence in Iraq." That would seem to indicate that he is coming down in
favor of the Obama plan
JINDAL: Well, I think the Prime Minister came back and explicitly said,
look, he wasn't trying to interfere with American elections, endorse one
candidate or another. But, two things. One, the prime minister is making it
clear that, thanks to the surge that Senator McCain supported, thanks to the
decrease in violence and thanks to the victories against al-Qaeda it may be
possible for American troops to leave more quickly than originally
anticipated—
ROBERTS: Would they be able too leave in that 16-month timetable?
JINDAL: Well, but again that has be driven by facts on the ground. I think
the fundamental difference is you can't go in and say 16 months no matter
what happens. Let's remember, Senator Obama was advocating 16 months even
before the recent drawdown in violence, the recent victories. I think that's
the fundamental difference. It's an arbitrary timetable based on politics
versus a plan based on the actual results on the ground. Senator McCain has
long believed the surge would work and result in the kinds of victories
we're seeing today, and that would allow us to listen to commanders and to
begin to withdraw troops. Both men want our troops to come home safely, I
think the difference is Senator Obama . . . has held on to the same
timeline for months despite the facts on the ground.
ROBERTS: But Governor Jindal, do you believe that given the progress in Iraq
from the so-called surge, which is now coming to an end, that it might be
reasonable to think you could pull combat brigades out of Iraq by June of
2010?
JINDAL: Look, it may be 12 months, may be 16 months, maybe longer. It all
depends on the conditions on the ground, depends on what our commanders tell
us based on what we see today. And we know the facts on the ground can
change quickly. Based on what we've seen today is appears we'll be ale to
withdraw more troops more quickly than originally anticipated. But let's not
give the enemy an artificial deadline, let's not tell them in advance, let's
not telegraph our plans so they feel like they can just outwait us or
manipulate these timelines . . . the good news is that the surge is working.
Senator McCain was right and, you have to remember, he advocated that long
before the Bush administration, Senator Obama or anybody else. Senator Obama
has yet to come out for the surge that's creating the conditions allowing
our troops to come home
victoriously.<https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/wrwshem0wg>
*Highlight #6*
*Lieberman Interviewed, Attacks Obama For Seeking To 'Lose' In Iraq* (FNC
07/20/08)
WALLACE: Joining us now to talk about Senator Obama's trip and its effect on
the presidential campaign, two key supporters who are on the vice
presidential watch lists -- Senator JoeLieberman, an independent Democrat
who supports McCain, and Senator Evan Bayh, who backs Obama.And, Senators,
welcome back to Fox News Sunday .
LIEBERMAN: Thanks, Chris.
WALLACE: As we discussed with Admiral Mullen, Iraqi prime minister Maliki
seemed over the weekend to endorse Obama's plan for pulling combat troops
out of Iraq by mid 2010, within two years. Now he's apparently backed off
that.
But, Senator Lieberman, the Iraqis clearly want us out sooner rather than
later, and they would like on a timetable. Why is Senator McCain resisting
that?
LIEBERMAN: Well, we -- Senator McCain and I and others -- want us out of
Iraq sooner rather than later, but we want us out in a way that does not
compromise all the gains that American and Iraqi forces have made in Iraq,
which Admiral Mullen spoke to.
And frankly, we want to stay there to a victory because we don't want all
those who have served in the American uniform there to have served or in
some cases died in vain.
Remember this, Chris. We wouldn't be having this discussion about how to get
out unless the surge, which John McCain courageously fought for, taking on
the president of his own party, popular opinion, risking his campaign, and
which Senator Obama opposed, worked.
So I think that's the good news. I think everybody -- that is, Prime
Minister Maliki, President Bush, people like John McCain and I -- agree the
sooner we're out, the better. But it has to be based on conditions on the
ground.
Senator Obama doesn't seem to feel that way. It looked like he did a little
bit after the primaries were over. But then he, pushed by MoveOn.org and
others on the antiwar left of the Democratic Party, is back to a rigid time
line. And that's not wise.
WALLACE: Let me talk to Senator Bayh about that. Admiral Mullen didn't
mention Obama, but he did say this idea of a timetable for getting out in
two years is dangerous. Why not agree that you're going to make any
decisions based on conditions on the ground, Senator?
BAYH: Chris, I think it's important to note that Barack Obama's judgment
about these issues has been excellent from the beginning, the kind of
judgment you'd want in a commander in chief, and others are now beginning to
adopt his positions.
We wouldn't be discussing surges in Iraq or anything else if Barack had had
his way. We wouldn't have started that war to begin with.
He was right about Afghanistan. That's the place from which we were
attacked. He's been calling for more troops there now for over a year. And
John McCain, to his credit, has now come around and adopted Barack's point
of view on that.
He has been for, as you say, a phased withdrawal from Iraq. As we heard,
Prime Minister Maliki has embraced a more definitive time line, whether it's
the 16 months or something else. But clearly, they want a more definitive
time line.
And even President Bush now is coming up with a variety of euphemisms --
aspirational goals, time horizons. I mean, it's starting to sound pretty
much like a time line to me.
So it's common sense, Chris. Any important enterprise, certainly something
as important as a war -- you want to have a plan. And a plan has to have
some idea of what it's going to cost, what the adverse consequences are
going to be and how long it's going to take.
So 16 months seems to be a reasonable goal. Let's work toward that. Let's
bring this to a conclusion in a responsible way and focus on Iraq (sic)
where the focus should have been all along.
WALLACE: But, Senator Bayh, even the Washington Post criticized Obama this
week for -- and let's put it up on the screen -- his iron timetable,
accusing him of foolish consistency and that he's ultimately indifferent to
the war's outcome.
And here's an exchange between Obama and McCain this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We can safely redeploy our combat brigades at a pace that would
remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: I'm really astonished that he should give a policy speech on Iraq
and Afghanistan before he goes to find out the facts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Again, two questions, really, Senator Bayh. Why the, quote,
iron timetable that the Washington Post talks about? And secondly, this
issue -- why announce your policy before you go to Iraq and talk to the
generals and the Iraqis?
BAYH: A couple of things, Chris. First, General Petraeus was asked recently
about whether a 16-month period was a reasonable period of time, and he said
it would depend on a variety of factors. He didn't say it was unreasonable.
We've been there -- will have been -- 16 months from when the next president
is inaugurated, almost seven years. We've spent $700 billion. Just think of
all the other things we could have done --finished Afghanistan, energy
security for our country -- with those amount of resources.
What's really surprising is that John, a man I admire and respect, says that
even knowing there were no weapons of mass destruct in Iraq, knowing all the
consequences that have been adverse in Afghanistan because of our fixation
on Iraq, he would do this all over again. That's what is really surprising.
So Barack thinks that 16 months from January is a reasonable period of time.
Let's go for it. Let's see. Let's try and bring this to a conclusion on that
time frame. If there are difficulties, we'll address them when they arise.
LIEBERMAN: Look, the fact is that if Barack Obama's policy on Iraq had been
implemented, Barack Obama couldn't go to Iraq today. It wouldn't be safe.
Barack Obama and John McCain saw the same difficulty in Iraq.
John McCain had the guts to argue against public opinion, to put his whole
campaign on the line, because, as he says, he'd rather lose an election than
lose in a war that he thinks is this important to the United States.
The reason I say Barack -- if Barack Obama's policy couldn't --had been
implemented -- if Barack Obama's policy in Iraq had been implemented, he
couldn't be in Iraq today is because he was prepared to accept retreat and
defeat.
And that would mean today Al Qaida would be in charge of parts of Iraq.
Iranian-backed extremists would be in charge of other parts of Iraq. There'd
be civil war and maybe even genocide.
And the fact is that we are winning in Iraq today. And you know, you can't
choose, as Senator Obama seems to think, to lose in Iraq so you can win in
Afghanistan.
The reality is if we lost in Iraq, which Obama was prepared to do, we would
go to Afghanistan as losers. Instead, Al Qaida has its tail tucked between
its legs as it's exiting Iraq to go -- to try to...
WALLACE: I'm going to...
BAYH: I have to respond to that. Barack Obama was not for losing in Iraq.
Barack didn't want the war to begin with.
John McCain opposed surging troops in Afghanistan until last week.
LIEBERMAN: Yeah, but what...
BAYH: Excuse me. Was John for losing in Afghanistan? I don't think so.
LIEBERMAN: Of course not.
BAYH: And now you have Maliki, even President Bush, are moving toward Barack
Obama's position on this.
WALLACE: I want to...
BAYH: His judgment was right.
WALLACE: Gentlemen, I want to -- we could continue this...
LIEBERMAN: Those questions -- bottom line, no question that Barack Obama was
prepared to lose in Iraq.
BAYH: That's not true.
WALLACE: All right. All right.
LIEBERMAN: Forget what's right or wrong...
WALLACE: Gentlemen, you're going to have to agree to disagree. I want to
move on to the whole issue of his trip this week.
Senator Lieberman, the McCain camp seems divided about whether this is a
legitimate fact-finding trip or a political stunt. After McCain and the
Republican Party taunted Obama for not going to Iraq, has that, in fact,
backfired on them by making this an even bigger story?
LIEBERMAN: No, I don't think so. I think John McCain's challenge to Barack
Obama is very important. And frankly, it says a lot more than whether McCain
was right about Iraq and Obama was wrong.
It says what kind of leaders these people will be as president. Obama
reached -- John McCain reached a decision about what to do in Iraq based on
what he saw there, what he heard -- what he heard from the generals and from
the soldiers, and then he had the guts to fight big interests to see - -
including public opinion, to see that that would happen.
Senator Obama was taking positions about Iraq to put us on a rigid time line
to get all troops out by March 2008 -- all combat troops. That's what he
said. That would have been accepting defeat there. And I think what it says
about the two of them -- this is the kind of president John McCain will be
on the economy. We're in crisis. We need a president who will listen, learn,
decide what's right for the country, not what's right for their political
campaign, and fight for the American people to make...
WALLACE: I want...
LIEBERMAN: ... that happen.
WALLACE: I want to ask Senator Bayh about another aspect of Obama's trip.
He plans to make a big public speech in Berlin. There was first talk it was
going to be at the Brandenburg Gate. They announced today it's going to be
at the Victory Column, a golden column in the heart of downtown Berlin.
Why would someone running for president of the United States hold a big
rally in Germany? Wouldn't it be like a candidate for German chancellor
holding a rally in front of the Statue of Liberty?
BAYH: A couple of things, Chris. First, getting back to Iraq, I just have to
disagree once again. Barack Obama is for success in Iraq. His judgment about
this was right from the beginning.
If you agree that knowing what we know today you would do this all over
again...
WALLACE: With all due respect...
BAYH: ... then vote for John McCain.
WALLACE: Gentlemen, I think we both have been there.
BAYH: But I just couldn't let Joe get away with saying he's for defeat.
That's not true. He has a better path to victory. His judgment's been right
about this.
WALLACE: Now answer my question.
BAYH: Now, with regard to Germany, look. I was with Barack the last time he
made one of these trips to Iraq. We met with the Iraqi president, the prime
minister, our generals, our ambassadors. He was very substantive, very
knowledgeable about the challenges that we face.
Now he's meeting with some of our European allies. We need to rehabilitate
these relationships. They frayed over the last eight years. Our reputation
in the world has been damaged because of some of the policies this president
has pursued.
If we are going to be strong, if we are going to confront Iran, we need
allies and friends with us. Rallying global opinion to America's side is an
important responsibility for a president, and that's one of the things he is
attempting to do. WALLACE: All right. Finally, I want to ask you both about
your political situations.
Senator Bayh, if Obama asks you to be his running mate, what will you say?
BAYH: Well, I've said that's not the sort of thing you say no to, Chris,
so...
WALLACE: Which means you'd say yes.
BAYH: Well, that's the kind of thing you do say yes to, and I've said that.
But you should probably ask Joe. He has more experience with the vice
presidential questions than I do.
WALLACE: Have you been asked to turn over personal information to the
campaign?
BAYH: You know, that's their business, Chris, and I think you should direct
those questions to them.
WALLACE: But -- oh, come on.
(LAUGHTER)
BAYH: Well, I'm trying my best not to make news on that this morning, so I
hope you'll forgive me. But truly, they've established a process. It's their
process. And I think it's up to them to respond to that.
WALLACE: Are you in the process?
BAYH: You know, I'd love to answer your question, but I think I really
can't.
WALLACE: Senator Lieberman, some conservative leaders say -- on the
Republican right say with your liberal stands -- obviously, you're not
liberal or -- I don't know if those words mean anything.
But obviously, you support McCain on foreign policy, but with your -- what
they call liberal stands on economic issues and social issues, for McCain to
pick you as his running made would be a political, in their word,
catastrophe. Do you agree?
LIEBERMAN: Well, they shouldn't worry about it too much because it's not
going to happen. But I will say this. I hope that my support of John McCain,
an independent Democrat supporting a Republican, is my way of saying that
there's too much partisanship in Washington.
We need a leader like John McCain, a president like John McCain, who has
always reached across party lines to get things done, to fight for the
American people.
WALLACE: Real quickly, are you going to speak at the Republican convention?
LIEBERMAN: I don't know yet.
WALLACE: If you're asked, will you?
LIEBERMAN: If John asks me and he thinks I can help him, because I believe
-- this is no ordinary time, no ordinary election. John McCain is no
ordinary candidate. I want to help him.
I'm not going to attack Barack Obama. I'm going to go to explain why I, as
an independent Democrat, am supporting John McCain, hoping that I can
convince other independents and Democrats to join me in choosing the man who
is clearly more ready to be the president America needs today.
WALLACE: Even if that means Senate Democrats would kick you out of their
caucus?
LIEBERMAN: Well, I'm following the model of John McCain. I'm going to do
what I think is right for the country and not worry about the politics. And
John McCain is definitely right for the country as our next president.
WALLACE: Senator Lieberman, Senator Bayh, we want to thank you both. We
could have talked a lot more. Safe travels on the campaign trail to both of
you.
LIEBERMAN: Thank you.
BAYH: Thank you, Chris.
WALLACE: Up next, what does our Sunday panel make of the big Obama trip and
all those anchors and reporters following the senator halfway around the
world? Some answers when we come
back.<https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/ecqvjsepwc>
*Highlight #7*
*Bill Press calls McCain a whiner, hosts note McCain's absence at
Afghanistan Armed Services Committee hearings* (MSNBC 07/21/08)
DAVID SHUSTER: You know first of all whenever you start an ad talking about
how many hearings someone has been to, that's not a very strong ad.
Secondly, if you do want to talk about hearings, John McCain, ranking
Republican on the Armed Services Committee, there were six hearings on
Afghanistan in the last two years, how many did John McCain attend?
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: How many?
SHUSTER: Zero.
BRZEZINSKI: Ouch. Well there's the rebuttal ad. I will just say, country
first, that's, I mean that's playing into those polls that already say he's
more of a patriot.
BILL PRESS: I'd like to add, the country first gets to me as an American
with a flag. I like John McCain and I respect his service to the country but
you're right he's whining about how many hearings Obama attended, and then
he's whining about this trip. You know sorta he reminds me of a kid who
wasn't invited to the birthday party. So he's on the outside saying 'what a
lousy party.' It's not a lousy party, it's a great party. He's just not
there. <https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/p24es0z0gc>
*Highlight #8*
*Pfotenhauer Says Maliki Statement Has Credibility, Yet Repeats Talking
Point About Adhering To Conditions On The Ground* (MSNBC 07/21/08)
TAMRON HALL: Let me ask you do you believe the Iraqi leaders are playing
politics here? Including Nouri Al-Maliki, the prime minister are playing
politics here? Because their time table is essentially the same thing as
what we're hearing from Senator Obama. Are they playing with the political
system here?
NANCY PFOTENHAUER: I certainly couldn't question their motives. I'm just
saying Maliki over time has been consistent in saying that any withdrawal
needed to be based on conditions on the ground. So, when he comes forward
and makes this statement, it's got a lot of credibility. But if someone was
calling for withdrawal, troop withdrawal a year ago or two years ago when
they were fighting the surge, withholding funds for our troops who are in
combat in Iraq and in Afghanistan, those motives are questioned. I mean it's
interesting that Senator Obama is able to safely visit these places in part
because the strategy that he fought was put in place and has succeeded.
HALL: Some people are asking Nancy this morning where does this leave
Senator McCain? You have the end of the work week, the President of course
George Bush saying that there is a time horizon. That they've reached an
agreement the White House and the Iraqi officials agree, reached an
agreement on time horizon. Did you wake up this Monday morning with this
timetable the year 2010 that Iraqi officials say they're look at yet. Where
does this leave Senator McCain. Some people describe, they're saying he's
kind of in a box here. He's gotta come out and he's gotta be more definitive
about what he thinks is happening and what should happen next.
PFOTENHAUER: Well he made the statement a month or so ago where he said he
was confident that the troop reductions would certainly be done by 2013. So
he was projecting even months ago that would occur. Now we're talking about
really the art if you will, not the science, of how many troops and how
fast, in order to ensure the gains that were made on the ground that are
significant but they're still fragile and reversible are not put into
jeopardy and that requires a tremendous amount of local knowledge. It's not
something that should be made based off politics. It should be made based on
the very best knowledge our military commanders on the ground. And so I
think what Senator McCain has done in a very principled way is that's what
its gotta be based on, not any timetable that helps my election. And I think
that's the opposite of what Senator Obama has done.
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