CNN Live Today - Transcript

CNN LIVE TODAY - Transcript

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CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Fred, one of the most vocal critics of troops in Iraq is Congressman John Murtha. He -- last November, as recently as last November, asked -- called for U.S. troops to be withdrawn. He joins me now live with reaction to this death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Congressman, it is a pleasure to have you, an outspoken critic in this war, but a very big day for this administration. Is it fair to say that this attack and the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi wouldn't have happened if U.S. troops were not on the ground?

REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure it was a bomb that killed him from the air. So I'm not sure about that. But one thing for sure, this is significant. This is significant, two aspects. One is the fact that Zarqawi is killed, but also the fact that they appointed a defense minister and an interior minister. There's no question we can't win this militarily. So it's a matter of time. The Iraqis are getting better. I think the intelligence came from the Iraqis, as I understand it. Now, this is the early reports. And it came to the security forces and the Iraqis and then passed on to the Americans. So this was a key element. Whether they could have done this themselves in this isolated area, I don't know.

But one thing for sure, this is significant to get rid of a real thorn in the side of the Americans. And of course, what I've been saying over and over again is the economic situation is not improving and the public has lost faith in what's going on. And when you have less electricity, less oil production and so forth, we've got a long ways to go. But this is very significant, and I hope the Bush administration will take this as a signal to start working diplomatically with these other countries in trying to reduce our presence as quickly as we can from this $8 billion cost per month.

LIN: But, congressman, I'm hearing two things from you. Yes, a major victory certainly due credit goes to the U.S. forces and the Iraqi forces on the ground. I want to play back to you what Tony Snow, White House spokesperson, said earlier today.

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TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: Why are you so hellbent on saying we're going to get out tomorrow? You know, make a good news headline. But the facts on the ground, we've got six additional dead guys out of the terror network. But there is still a significant problem here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)a

LIN: That was the answer to reporters saying, all right, let's -- is the president going to be talking about troop withdrawal? Is that the next conversation to have with military commanders on the ground? Tony Snow also went on to say to critics who say -- people who are calling for a pullout, that he has to ask, what is the best way to win? Today was a winning strike, congressman. Is there value to having U.S. forces still in Iraq?

MURTHA: Well, it's costing us $9 billion a month. It's cost us so far up to $450 billion by the end of this year, and the 2,400 lives that we've lost. What I'm saying is, we've got the Iraqis trained, you've got a government in place; now It's time to said a schedule for the withdrawal and the redeployment of American forces.

LIN: What do you think is a reasonable timetable? You once said six months.

MURTHA: Well, I said it could be done in six months. But I believe it's something that could be worked out very quickly. I think we cannot win this. It's a civil war they're involved in. Al Qaeda's a small part of this. We've diverted ourself away from the real war on terrorism to the war in Iraq, and this is the problem we face. We have Sunnis fighting Shias, and the Americans are caught in between.

LIN: So what do you think would happen if troops were to withdraw at this point?

MURTHA: I think they'll settle this themselves, just like we settled our civil war ourselves. It's one of those things where we're either going to withdraw now or we're going to wait six months from now or a year from now and be forced to redeploy.

So I'm convinced that it's time now for us to start a real effort by the president, by the administration, to meet with the Iraqis and tell them, look, you folks have the capability. It's your government. If you really believe in democracy, you're going to have to take over this effort yourself, and we'll be able to redeploy our troops.

LIN: Congressman, you know that your words have great impact on men and women in the military, 37 years in the Marines. Powerful words indeed. Congressman, thank you very much for joining us.

MURTHA: Nice talking to you.

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