Summary

[MEET THE PRESS: SEN, CHRIS DODD] [WASHINGTON, DC USA] MEET THE PRESS - SEN CHRIS DODD; FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH; DOUGLAS BRINKLEY; MICHAEL DEAVER; ED MEESE Meet the Press with Senator Chris Dodd, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Withdrawal from Iraq? DODD: 09:01:05 I believe we should I didn't come to that lightly more isolated today 09:01:53 parliament actually considering taking a vacation from their duties 09:02:09 if the Iraqis know that this is not an open ended process come March our military participation is over 09:02:30 what has happened to the other tools? 09:02:40 my view is without the clarity by the hour our security is going to be in grater and greater jeopardy GINGRICH: 09:02:59 first of all the immediate human need 09:03:19 if we have to set a deadline, let's set it for next Tuesday we are prepared to set defeat we will have legislated defeat very demoralizing 09:03:46 there is a bigger part I am not comfortable with the current situation in Iraq nor am I comfortable with our limited use of state credit 09:04:14 we still after 5 ½ years don't have control of Afghanistan the Iranians are now producing nuclear material and will have a nuclear weapon within the year 09:04:45 an entire town has been abandoned in NJ we arrest 6 terrorists without anyone noticing they were illegal 09:05:30 we need an expanded use of state craft Chaos in Iraq? DODD: 09:05:52 I don't think you have to ask the question hypothetically, that's what's happening 09:06:10 it seems to me the issue of chaos is upon us already we fail to understand there has been conflict for years now 09:06:33 we are in the middle of a civil war we are in the middle of a civil war yes there are elements of Al Qaeda there, but it is principally Sunni and shiats 09:07:09 I don't believe that I don't think most people do There is a political and economic solution 09:07:29 this much I do know, the status quo is doing nothing for the country 09:08:00 this notion that we are so wedded to a civil conflict that is why I am supporting withdrawal GINGRICH: 09:08:20 the fact is civil wars are hard if we had today's congress during guadalhar we are in a world wide war we need to start thinking about winning this world wide war 09:08:54 we just saw a video of a 12 year old beheading a man in Pakistan 09:09:12 the president of Colombia because the tone of the government is inappropriate the next battle cry will be cut off the funding 09:09:40 let me point out, this is a democratic congress that hasn't passed any of Pelosi's bills 09:10:14 we should actually be for winning the war we are slowly losing the battle on terrorism What would you do to succeed? GINGRICH: 09:10:36 empower general petraeus fourth you would establish a nationwide id card you actually fully equip intelligence 09:11:06 say to the Iranians we will block your oil 09:11:19 I would lean forward and say to the world that we will do what it takes, not tol4erating legislative defeat DODD: 09:11:42 terribly naive you have 80% who think we are the source of chaos the war on terror is the legitimate war 09:12:39 we're losing that particular war the war on terror is being neglected all of our attention 09:13:04 this is incredible to me it has to do with the lack of willingness to listen their suggestions make a lot of sense to a lot of people GINGRICH: 09:13:34 the fact is the Iranians want us defeated the idea that the answer is, it's like saying let's turn 09:13:52 I reject totally the idea that the Iraq war Al Qaeda bombed embassies when we weren't in Iraq 09:14:25 we have yet to engage in how serious this is we're now 5 years into this war I am in no way defending the bush administration we are in danger of losing one or more American cities to nuclear or biological attack DODD: 09:15:16 it's an international, multinational problem it's global in perspective 09:15:52 the idea that we don't talk to the Iranians, the Syrians, I think it's naive and dangerous GINGRICH: 09:16:17 he had a grand strategy 09:16:47 maliki is doing the best he can, but he's not a very strong person DODD: 09:17:11 equating the American Revolution to a civil war in Iraq 09:17:23 they have to decide if they want to be a nation or not hey are asking us to decide that for them GINGRICH / DODD: CROSSTALK GINGRICH: 09:18:32 we have these stunningly self destructive the fact is there are aou he fact is the Iraqis are taking a lot more casualties then we are 09:19:11 we say that's not really good enough look at all the people who have twice voted DODD: 09:19:57 I happen to like president aribe deeply engaged in the drug trafficking the question being raised about who the money is being spent 09:20:30 the idea that you don't raise concerns What do you think will happen if we leave Iraq? GINGRICH: 09:20:46 I think we send a signal to the enemies to sit and wait I think we have dramatically ensighted the enemies and I think we'll see a simple upsurgence 09:21:22 every enemy on the planet will exhault they don't plan to stop in Baghdad and they will come here as soon as possible DODD: 09:21:48 it's deeply worried about terrorism only one country can lead and that the United States we're bogged down in a situation the great moral 09:22:20 my view is there is a new mission here a change in course allow us to encourage the neighbors to participate you open up the prospects of a better source of alternatives military solution has bee n discredited Will Newt Gingrich Run for President? DODD: 09:23:51 How about a ticket?