Moe Lauzier

" And joining us right now from Washington DC Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts good morning Senator Kerry."

" Good morning well actually I'm in Boston where you're kind of well Leon you -- Conan has to bear that going to be. Airing the show however it was they Marcy and it occurred to me that. There are some misunderstanding about exactly what contained in the legislation that was passed that was important. Talk about what's really on the table."

" All right now what what we're wearing is there a misunderstanding there was there or whether it when they're not a firm date to depart Iraq."

" Well not for a complete departure and that's what's important for people -- understand the legislation actually leaves the president. Three discretionary 80 choices that he can make and I'll deal with the issue at a though some people's civil why should congress be saying that at this point but that. But it allows the president the discretion to leave troops necessary to finish the training of Iraqis that's number one which is them. Real reason -- there. Number two it'll I was the president the discretion to leave troops to chase Al Qaeda which we obviously want to do -- prosecute the war in terror so you can use spirit yelled let's say delta force special forces Rangers. Where do you need to be able to make sure -- you're standing up to them that bird that allows the president the discretion to be able to leave forces necessary to protect the American forces that are there. And your facilities that those three those three exemptions if you will. Are at the discretion of the president so there's no challenged his constitutional authority and the reason for doing that Mo. Is that there's a feeling that after five years were in the fifth year of the war and this has taken longer than it took to prosecute him win World War II and there's a very powerful feeling that we're in the middle now of the civil war Al Qaeda is incidental. To the violence that's really happening there the violence that's happening as soon here and share this year on Saturday and the politicians are not making the decisions necessary. A couple of buttons so well as sympathetic as you I heard what of your callers say. You know we've got to be tough construe end up -- recognize that the threat to the nation in the world we know. I believe there's a very serious threat from radical islam. But I also believe that our presence there right now in the middle of this civil war is giving the radicals an excuse to put people to use us as a target and to divert from the real issues. So the reason we made the decision we made. There's is to push for something that's actually that incidentally it's by party you know you've -- you know former secretary of state Jim baker former secretary of state Larry eagleburger you got former Republican conservative minority leader -- Simpson's senator from Wyoming -- get these maybe Ed Meese former Attorney General with -- Mean these guys all joined in and said. That is the way to try to proceed so I just don't want young Americans at risk while Iraqi politicians are unwilling to compromise. And sees the democracy that would give them."

" You were mentioning that the that we're in a middle of the civil war that would have an implied that the seeds of the war were shown internally rather than externally that. It's aimed at Iran is playing both sides against the middle on this. From -- from what general Petraeus nine just get through and it's and it's a long long read them -- it was so long but it was worth reading the the transcript from his press briefing just a couple of days ago talking about how the the outside influence is really setting -- against -- in new financing it. And arming at teaching them how to build their weapons and so on and so forth -- that Al Qaeda to a degree is doing exactly the same thing."

" Right now though that's true I absolutely accept both of those things that fact that that was general Petraeus this -- listen to a very carefully and I've been over there are a number of times. And there is no question that Iran is making mischief there there's no question that Syria is making mischief there are excellent that. The question is what do you do about it what's the best way to deal with -- they could be experts tell me and tell us in the Senate that Iran wants to make mischief because we're there and it's an easy target. But in the end they don't want Iraq to completely fall apart because that's not in their interest either it's also not in the Syrian interest. The -- the majority of Syria is SUNY. And Assad himself as our white. And so he's in the minority in his own country that at the superior being oppressed in Iraq. Then he'd -- that becomes more fragile but there's no question they're making mischief today but I heard you say I think it was used -- one of the callers you -- the neighboring countries are really going to deal with -- around and I happen to agree with that there -- Iran has predominately Shiite so Jordan Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also -- I've met with the leaders of every one of those countries. They are clearly taking a -- as a threat. I think the way to concentrate their minds and relieve the pressure on our forces. This could be saying look. This is not open ended you guys have got to get serious around here you gotta have bureau's security arrangements were willing to back it up. None of us are suggesting that you -- just leave the region to chaos that would be absolutely absurd and irresponsible and I'm not willing to do that. We've talked about over the horizon capacity you can put American forces at a major base. Right nearby and and be able to provide the emergency and other kinds of support necessary to the Iraqis. But outside of the Iraqis in the church I'd been over there -- Americans are carrying the brunt of this. And more and more of our soldiers are coming back from there. You know upset angry frustrated and there are unbelievably committed there amazingly courageous they're doing a helluva job we're very proud of them. But I just think the best way to help them is to push the Iraqis to start taking over this operation."

" Well they didn't terms of that and we've made just go back to around for a few seconds."

" have to run at a moment here."

" I'm the only point I was going to make is that Iran is the former perjury is not Arab in his much easier to get those nations to follow in line in dealing. Well with the ran it certainly wouldn't be a far less difficult than it would be to get them to stand up to Iraq."

" Why -- I -- I agree with that there is the justice -- the Persian and Arab edits a distinction that a lot of people lose you're absolutely correct. -- important distinction because you know that's -- I'd that's existed through the centuries and I thank you you know we need to played a little little more"

" they learn how to and divide us and we need maybe sometimes we can -- in the same game senator thank you very much -- got the."

" Well I'm delighted -- awfully sorry that we gave -- a difficult time and giving west it's -- glad you're going to protect allies have to -- TI I was protecting my -- is well but 1980 1980 -- called up pretended to be senator Claiborne -- On Rhode Island station I was -- week in Atlanta if you are very good nothin' but the call was very very good so -- protecting ourselves that are -- I'm glad -- will be sent to have a good -- Senator John Kerry"