CNN The Situation Room - Transcript
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
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BLITZER: Zain, thanks very much. Zain Verjee reporting.
Now we get an on-the-scene update on the situation in Iraq from two United States governors. Republican Mike Huckabee of ArKansas and Democrat Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, they are both in Baghdad right now.
I spoke with them just a short while ago.
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BLITZER: Governor Doyle, thanks very much for joing us. Governor Huckabee always good to have you on the program. This time both of you in Baghdad. Listen to what the president said yesterday in defining success in Iraq. Listen to this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The definition of success, by the way, is for there to be a country where the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten the democracy. And where Iraqi security forces can provide for the security of their own people, and where Iraq is not a safe haven from which the terrorists, al Qaeda and its affiliates, can plot attacks against America.
BLITZER: Governor Doyle, how close is the U.S. to achieving that success, based on what you've seen during your brief stay in Iraq?
GOV. JIM DOYLE (D) WISCONSIN: Well I don't pretend to be an expert on foreign policy, other than to say that I think that that definition is certainly a definition and a vision that's widely shared. I spent today with Wisconsin troops in both Kuwait and Baghdad, and I'll tell you that the troops are very, very high in morale and I think are very committed to the mission and I think would very much agree with that definition of success.
BLITZER: A few months back in November, Governor Huckabee, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, had a different definition of success. He said this: "I'd like to be able to land at the airport of Baghdad and get into an automobile and drive to the green zone. That's what I'd like to be able to do. That would be a sign that we are achieving some success."
In other words, just doing routine things. Drivin around Baghdad, going to a movie, going to a dinner. Things that both of you can't do right now without an enormous amount of security surrounding you what do you think of his definition of success?
GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) ARKANSAS: After my experience here, I feel like we're going to get there. We're not going to get there this month. We might not get there this year, but we're going to get there. What's happening in Iraq is that it's become truly the Normandy of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. And it's as much a beachhead for changing the future of the world as Normandy was in changing the future of Europe.
We can't pull out. We can't simply stop what's being done. It would be not only a disservice to the brave men and women who have already served here, but it would be really the disservice to the future generations of not just Americans, but people around the world who need a stable Middle East in order to stop terrorism and to bring some sense of balance to the world.
PHILLIPS: Governor Doyle, Democratic Senator Russ Feingold from your state has spoken of a need to get a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal. Are you on board with him on that?
DOYLE: I don't know whether that's advisable. I do know this. I know that everybody in Wisconsin prays for the safe and speedy return of our sons and daughters and mothers and fathers. And whether that's best achieved by a timetable or not I guess remains to be seen. I do know this -- from just -- from the time I have -- that I've been here, I think there is a real sense of optimism that the mission will be accomplished. Very high morale among the troops.
BLITZER: Both of you have significant numbers of National Guard personnel, troops from Wisconsin deployed in what they call the theater right now.
Last July, Governor Huckabee, you said this. You said, "If we had a major natural disaster, we would be stretched thin. I think all governors right now are worried about the long-term impact of long deployment and frequent deployment on recruiting and retention. It is a major topic of concern." How concerned are you right now that your troops from Arkansas are being stretched way too thin?
HUCKABEE: Well, they apparently don't think they're being stretched too thin. I have that concern, but our retention rates and recruitment rates are at an all-time high. So it's indicative of the fact that these people volunteered for it. The ones that I speak to feel like they're doing a mission that's important.
And you know, when people talk about a timeline, one thing I think we forget -- we've been at this democracy thing here in America for 240 years. We haven't quite gotten right, either. And the people for Iraq were able to get the vote for women as well as for minorities in a much shorter order than happened right here in the United States under our own constitution that was established back in the 1780s.
BLITZER: If you were faced with a major disaster, Governor Doyle, would you be able to deploy enough National Guard personnel in Wisconsin, given the deployment you have in the region right now?
DOYLE: We would be, although it's not to say it wouldn't be a real challenge. There's no doubt our National Guard, like I think every state, has been really challenged over these last few years. However, we have just over 2,000 who are actively serving now in Iraq -- Kuwait and Iraq. And we have 10,000 members of the National Guard.
So I'm quite confident that we could. We could meet any challenge that we have in Wisconsin. But that's not to say that this doesn't put an enormous strain on us. But that's what it is. I mean, it is what it is. I'm very proud of the leadership of our National Guard that has managed this very difficult time very, very effectively.
BLITZER: We're almost out of time, Governor Huckabee, but a quick political question to you. You've written an excellent book on the 100 pounds you lost, you inspired a lot us with your diet and I see you've kept the weight off. You're running a lot. But the political question is this -- are you running? And I'm referring to 2008.
HUCKABEE: The honest answer is, I don't know. The only thing I know I'm running right now is the Little Rock Marathon March the 5th. And that I'm certain about.
BLITZER: When are you going to decide about 2008?
HUCKABEE: I think it will probably happen at the end of the year if I decide at all. And plenty of time to really make that decision. And right now I've got tight do in my final year at governor and certainly I'm looking at the future and what it might hold. It might be in the prospects, but it's too early to lay it out at this point.
BLITZER: Governor Huckabee, Governor Doyle, thanks to both of you for joining us here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Good luck over there. Be careful. We'll see you back here soon.
DOYLE: All right, thank you.
HUCKABEE: Thanks, Wolf.
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