Ralph Peters

" But right now I wanted to talk to while I want to have them on as long as we can lieutenant colonel. Ralph Peters he's the he's the he's a great a columnist for the New York Post and he's the author of his latest book is never quit the fight. And that wanted to check in with -- yesterday about the incident incident in Somalia and and -- want to talk about that today but I just want to first get his thoughts on the the president's speech we have a link on on our website it's in the New York Post W's last chance. So while Ralph basically assess its worth one more shot."

" Well that's what -- or -- for many reasons. And I'd like it was there's -- them that -- in -- As a retired army officer who has many friends in the lieutenant colonel. Right in an honest I -- some -- thunderstorm there I realize this is about life and death. That there will be American casualties got -- but the stakes in Iraq are genuinely. Incalculable the president right about that there's no guarantee this plan will work. And there are things I'm not crazy about -- opinion but nobody has offered a better nobody in the position of power. And it's -- reasonable chance of -- serving as a bridge. For the next nine to 11. And the other side that bridge the key thing and the president acknowledged this. And you know mixing metaphors here but yet the Iraqis -- have to do this themselves and the president finally realized announced return. Because what we can hang on the -- ever but if the Iraqis are going to fight their own country. It can't work so we'll see me there aren't real Iraqi patriots the question is Arthur could not will they show the same spirit of act."

" Would you say patriots saw mean they they see themselves are a lot of don't see themselves not as Iraqis but the Sunnis or Shiites."

" It yeah absolutely in the and then their actions within Sunni Arabs within this year Arab community the Kurds but there are also people who do believe. -- unified Iraq and meet -- itself. -- actually don't want -- all they all hate each other or or our city you know the New York on the -- order -- each other. When the -- is in between they have very real differences. We don't know if they can overcome those differences. Is -- to be very very steep I mean if we're perceived as having suffered a military defeat it really does strengthen. And a Bob -- as a terrorist but that's -- there are things that being said about Iraq that are going to -- that are also. Argue that -- Vietnam Vietnam except for a kind of it is Al Qaeda has yet. They're the ones that are committed detective out. We could -- tomorrow. Although it would be a terrible thing to do the people rock precedence but so it is more complex. The politicians of either side are saying that how he's the bottom line is that. We're in there. We've got a chance to point this -- only chance the chance it -- chance worth taking. Our military people are going to do the best. But the bottom line is 2007 is that -- Iraqis can get together this year were out of there if they'd do -- We should be going to stay as long as it expound on -- that. Despite the troops are which is that that you'll have a positive practical effect whether translates -- strategic affect that's another issue but. The bottom line is Iraqis have to pick up football."

" You know it's so confusing over there you know you think of what happened on Haifa street which you wrote about it your column today where they basically went and took out a bunch assume the -- foreign terrorists. And I'm sure that the -- Sadr City they worked they were plotting they were glad those guys were being killed of them have to worry about a but that on the other hand will have to turn around and do something about as you as you pointed out the the Mahdi army militia's you know we're we're fighting it seems like fighting both sides."

" And an and there are other side still -- or terrorist I mean there's there's no question about it. This is multi layered and me be clear I am not a cheerleader -- bush administration."

" All you have who have great and this is the nearest thing to a pro bush administration column you've written along time."

" Not because I think the president got a pretty much right last night -- no pain now for the terrible mistakes not enough troops no discipline is on the ground. We didn't provide basic security. All the things we should've done in 2003 or latest itself as a forward the president wants to do those things about it Iraqis off the street I put it in make work -- necessary provide basic security but I do think the bush administration is finally on the right."

" You know Ralph Ralph after you leave says that the people could be the anti war people -- like bush people so I'll put it has more directly. They're going to call and it's it will we never should have been in the first place."

" Yet you know the first order of -- anti war people. It did serve in the military themselves I -- there is respect them if that's a kind of folks who hope they were too good to serve our country you know. But now feel qualified to -- military strategy -- can be a little more patient but. I do believe it was not crystallized -- that terrible execution of the occupation that all the mistakes administration rumsfeld pentagon -- Nonetheless I've remained convinced it will remain convinced that the white -- it's getting rid of Saddam Hussein was in a moral act. He brought that Hitler there's no question about it and that it was critical given that the Middle East was so broken. That we had the -- and on sparking change because but it did what was created it's here. In the Middle East while some US actions that was that Israel those -- Accelerating actors but the problem fundamental problem is the Middle East itself literally broken it is -- civilization. In the Middle East cannot move forward and provide people with hope. We're casino and the terrorists so I felt the getting rid of settlement moral and and bright and we get responsibility erupted we -- supported 98 used to it was immoral act but why taxing than necessary act and just sorry the bush is that it's."

" There was a there was another column yesterday in the New York Post saying that the that the -- Arab states are making the first baby steps towards getting together some kind of -- a coalition against I ran because they're afraid Korean minister escorted try to set up some kind of well it -- Shiite crescent in the mideast I mean it. Are any of these it's failed societies is as you've just pointed out of that area of incapable of thought stopping I ran."

" The only good -- is terrified and the saudis are terrified right now because there there there."

" Why what why at least still financing al --"

" because that -- apparently is over 7000. The princes and members and and NATO there's a wide range of actions that some of them. Are clearly determined to sponsored global. -- the -- to work in dozens of countries around the world seem impressed when what they do. Tremendous Stanley stated in our brands but this these are now we've got your base of the wind in the reaping the whirlwind because the aerospace supported. The extremist base supporters are now coming back in terrifying them. And by the way -- power is on the rise and I'm not sure -- stop that we need to figure out how to manage my my concern is yes. Inclination to Washington to people. All solutions that didn't work in the first place the default on supporting authoritarian regimes and dictators the bipartisan tendency that got us where we are today. Oppressive regimes like -- off. The saudis the -- are so we'll put it on the road nine elevenths so well I do is move forward and be a portrait changed. But it's hard to -- Washington's belief -- addiction to Saudi money and that the belief that somehow decided --"

" You don't again if -- if we didn't have this dependence on foreign awhile mean I hate to sound like you know ago Greenpeace Bernie Sanders type guy but if I have the addiction to foreign oil. This wouldn't be such a pressing problem what it."

" Only you know this is a bipartisan -- you know people like to think to themselves as Democrats Republicans would expect. I don't want party lines of the Communists and fascists that. But you know this idea that policy Republicans ought to Democrats well look this was a bipartisan failures since 1973 in Washington. Neither party backed the curious program to look for alternative fuels from more efficient engines. Future historians -- you look back in the late when this country indeed Apple. -- America's leaders from both parties didn't take serious action to try to wean ourselves from Middle Eastern"

" 18774694322 witnesses colonel Ralph Peters the other titled his new book is never quit the fight. And that he's he's got a great he writes a great column for the New York Post let me ask you about yesterday's call now what seems like maybe they didn't get the the top but terror leaders in in Somalia with the with the AC 130 --"

" You get all experimental kind of guy I -- with the."

" I loved your line about how they're about how their they're not going to be able to be protected by the media because that is so true that that that's that's what these people count on in these countries where -- CNN has to be as a bureau."

" In Italy after you know look I have a democratic -- Republican army after hard core left fiscal folks that is -- to -- this answer. If there's a concern about this of course of the old -- on the gallows. We're aware -- he was gassing the Kurds slaughtering and torturing his own people it's starting wars against they're going to wait so there's that -- Somalia look Somalia is 100% could use. Mixed news on the Somalia but we -- just weeks ago. That was into Afghanistan the terrorists stopping at another country of their home with Islamist regime in the August issue. By and funded by Al Qaeda with terrorists haven't run about how and why the Ethiopians."

" Life that the Ethiopians who would've ever thought it."

" Well you know they're they're in the clashes have within the past -- Ethiopia's in this case we should be pleased that this is an alliance between. Ethiopians were -- a dominant -- only Christians but some Moslems. Moderate Muslims in Somalia -- were mixed and the United States and very quickly. With Ethiopians believe -- as all of -- regime out of there now. Are the islamists don't rebel course. They'll be it is Somalia will be trouble prolonged but it's a lot better. They have they -- partly islamists in the foreign terrorists hiding out and -- confessed -- thankless."

" Look I business snake infested -- it but it."

" If this is nasty stuff and I personally quite like the fact that I mean I don't think about our terrorist enemies who bombed the embassies in Tanzania Kenya. But the thing about them you know. Getting some unexpected company in the over the."

" They're ready do you think Dickinson they can get these guys they I hope they can they're on the run -- it seems like once they get on the run they always seem to be able to -- whoever's after armed."

" Yeah well you know sometimes it is supposedly -- we got sort Connolly could -- have been without. But critics say are high in -- but how long it took it -- beautiful. It takes time but we'll get a."

" Can you stick around -- you gotta go. Unfortunately you have good okay but -- Okay Ralph thanks for being with us Ralph up -- that the post columnist for the author of never quit the fight we'll take your calls in just a moment -- are"