Printable Version
Bush's Plan to Win the War on Terror: Are the American People Listening?
By John Scott, Fox News
March 24, 2006
Transcript
John: You’ve heard President Bush on Fox News Channel giving a series of speeches and news conferences over the past two weeks, telling all of us he has a plan to win the war. Are the American people listening? Our guest this morning, Tim Roemer, former democratic congressman from Indiana and a member of the 9/11 Commission. Congressman Roemer, good morning.
Tim Roemer: Good morning John.
John: The president says that we will succeed in Iraq, no matter how long it takes, what do you make of the latest round of speeches?
Tim Roemer: Well, I think he got off to a good start, John, he says he’s got a strategy, he’s got a plan for victory, and that’s what the American people are attentive to. They want to hear how things will change. However, I think that he stumbled over two things this week that are serious concerns to the American people John. One is, when he was asked the question, are troops going to be out of Iraq someday, he said that’s was up to the future presidents and future government of Iraq. I think the American people don’t want you passing the buck like a hot potato they want the responsibility with you, you making those decisions, what’s your plan to change things in Iraq. And two John, this whole situation that FOX has been covering very well: the outrage in Afghanistan. If we’re going to lose troops, if our people are going to die over in Afghanistan and Iraq, we want changes. We don’t want people like Abdul-Rahman who wanted to change to Christianity 16 years ago and profess his belief in Jesus, then on trial to be executed. Those are not the kind of changes we are fighting for, and I hope the president and the Secretary of State, can make sure that he is not executed in Afghanistan.
John: Back to the issue though of troop levels in Iraq, you know its pretty common as has been pointed out, we still have troops in Germany and Korea years after those wars ended. President Clinton said he wanted to send troops to Bosnia for approximately 12 months, we still have troops there.
Tim Roemer: This is different though John. When the president of the United States says, I am not going to make that decision, that’s up to future presidents, I think you do two things that really hurt your leverage; one with the Iraqis. The Iraqis need to have pressure on them to train their security forces, to come to a unity government, to meet in parliament, to follow through on the successes that we have seen in the elections over there. When you’re saying as the president that you’re not going to make these decisions, those are going to be three and four years off, you lose that leverage. And two, I think you lose the attention of the American people. Look he’s trying to get the American people to believe that he’s got a plan for victory, and when he says I’m not going to make those decisions, actually other presidents are going to make them. I think that’s abdicating some of that responsibility and accountability.
John: Alright, Tim Roemer, former congressman and a member of the 9/11 Commission. Thanks very much for being with us.
Tim Roemer: Alright John, great to be with you.
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