Pinheads And Patriots: Where You Stand In The Age Of Obama Part 11

O'Reilly: We have also inhibited Iran from controlling the southern part of Iraq-by the surge-which you did not support. So why won't you say, "I was right in the beginning, and I was wrong about that"? We have also inhibited Iran from controlling the southern part of Iraq-by the surge-which you did not support. So why won't you say, "I was right in the beginning, and I was wrong about that"?

Obama: You know, if, if you have, if you have listened to what I have said-and I'll, and I'll repeat it right here on this show-I think that there is no doubt that the violence is down. I believe that that is a testimony to the troops that were sent and General Petraeus and Amba.s.sador Crocker. I think that the surge has succeeded...in ways that n.o.body antic.i.p.ated-by the way, including President Bush and the other supporters. Now, it has gone very well, partly because of the Anbar situation- You know, if, if you have, if you have listened to what I have said-and I'll, and I'll repeat it right here on this show-I think that there is no doubt that the violence is down. I believe that that is a testimony to the troops that were sent and General Petraeus and Amba.s.sador Crocker. I think that the surge has succeeded...in ways that n.o.body antic.i.p.ated-by the way, including President Bush and the other supporters. Now, it has gone very well, partly because of the Anbar situation- O'Reilly: The awakening, right. The awakening, right.

Obama:-and the, the Sunni awakening-partly because the, the Shia- O'Reilly: Well, if it were up to you, there wouldn't have been a surge- Well, if it were up to you, there wouldn't have been a surge- Obama: Well, look- Well, look- O'Reilly: No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no.

Obama: No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no.

O'Reilly: Look, if it were up to you, there wouldn't have been a surge. Look, if it were up to you, there wouldn't have been a surge.

Obama: No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no.

O'Reilly: You and Joe Biden- You and Joe Biden- Obama: No. No.

O'Reilly:-no surge.

Obama: Hold on a second, Bill. If you look at the debate that was taking place, we had gone through five years of mismanagement of this war that I thought was disastrous. And the President wanted to double down and continue on an open-ended policy that did not create the kinds of pressure on the Iraqis to take responsibility and reconcile- Hold on a second, Bill. If you look at the debate that was taking place, we had gone through five years of mismanagement of this war that I thought was disastrous. And the President wanted to double down and continue on an open-ended policy that did not create the kinds of pressure on the Iraqis to take responsibility and reconcile- O'Reilly: Well- Well- Obama: Well, look, that- Well, look, that- O'Reilly: Come on- Come on- Obama: Well, what I have said is-I have already said, it's succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Well, what I have said is-I have already said, it's succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.

O'Reilly: Right. So why can't you just say, "I was right in the beginning, and I was wrong about the surge"? Right. So why can't you just say, "I was right in the beginning, and I was wrong about the surge"?

Obama: Because there is an underlying problem with what we have done. We have reduced the violence- Because there is an underlying problem with what we have done. We have reduced the violence- O'Reilly: Yeah? Yeah?

Obama: But the Iraqis still haven't taken responsibility. And we still don't have the kind of political reconciliation. That we are still spending, Bill, $10 to $12 billion a month- But the Iraqis still haven't taken responsibility. And we still don't have the kind of political reconciliation. That we are still spending, Bill, $10 to $12 billion a month- O'Reilly: And I hope that, if you are President, you can get them to kick in and pay us back. And I'll-and I'll go with you. And I hope that, if you are President, you can get them to kick in and pay us back. And I'll-and I'll go with you.

Obama: Let's go. Let's go.

O'Reilly: We'll get some of that money back. We'll get some of that money back.

Obama: Yeah. [ Yeah. [Laughs.]

O'Reilly: All right, let's go to Afghanistan. All right, let's go to Afghanistan.

Obama: All right. All right.

O'Reilly: Look, there is no winning the Taliban war- Look, there is no winning the Taliban war- Obama: Yes? Yes?

O'Reilly:-unless Pakistan cracks down on the guys that are in-Pakistan, okay?

Obama: And you and I agree completely. And you and I agree completely.

O'Reilly: Okay, yeah? And we all know that. Okay, yeah? And we all know that.

Obama: Right. Right.

O'Reilly: You gave a speech in Denver-a good speech, by the way. You gave a speech in Denver-a good speech, by the way.

Obama: Thank you. Thank you.

O'Reilly: But you bloviated about McCain not following them into the cave. You are not going to invade Pakistan, Senator, if you are President. You are not gonna send ground troops in there, and you know it. But you bloviated about McCain not following them into the cave. You are not going to invade Pakistan, Senator, if you are President. You are not gonna send ground troops in there, and you know it.

Obama: Here, here, here is, here is the problem. John McCain loves to say, "I will follow 'em to the gates-to the gates of h.e.l.l." Here, here, here is, here is the problem. John McCain loves to say, "I will follow 'em to the gates-to the gates of h.e.l.l."

O'Reilly: But he is not going to invade either. But he is not going to invade either.

Obama: Well, that-and, and the point is, what he-what we could have done is- Well, that-and, and the point is, what he-what we could have done is- O'Reilly: No, no, not "could." Let's-what do we do now? No, no, not "could." Let's-what do we do now?

Obama: What, what we can do- What, what we can do- O'Reilly: Yeah? Yeah?

Obama:-is stay focused on Afghanistan- O'Reilly: Yeah? Yeah?

Obama:-and put more pressure on the Pakistanis.

O'Reilly: Like what? Like what?

Obama: Well, for example, we are providing them military aid, without having enough strings attached. So they are using the military that we use- Well, for example, we are providing them military aid, without having enough strings attached. So they are using the military that we use- O'Reilly: For nothing. For nothing.

Obama:-for-to Pakistan. They are-they are preparing for a war against India.

O'Reilly: So you are gonna pull them out, and let the Islamic fundamentals take 'em over? So you are gonna pull them out, and let the Islamic fundamentals take 'em over?

Obama: No, no, no, no. What we say is, "Look, we are gonna provide them with additional, uh, military support-targeted at terrorists. And we are gonna help build their democracy and provide-" No, no, no, no. What we say is, "Look, we are gonna provide them with additional, uh, military support-targeted at terrorists. And we are gonna help build their democracy and provide-"

O'Reilly: That's exactly what we are doing now- That's exactly what we are doing now- Obama:-the kind of funding- O'Reilly: Right. Right.

Obama: But, but we are not- But, but we are not- O'Reilly:-and he is doing that now.

Obama: We, we haven't-that's not what we have been doing, Bill. We have wasted $10 billion with Musharraf without holding him accountable for knocking out those people. We, we haven't-that's not what we have been doing, Bill. We have wasted $10 billion with Musharraf without holding him accountable for knocking out those people.

O'Reilly: All right. So you are gonna-again-more diplomacy-and we need it, absolutely. Try to convince the Pakistani government to take a more aggressive approach- All right. So you are gonna-again-more diplomacy-and we need it, absolutely. Try to convince the Pakistani government to take a more aggressive approach- Obama: And what I would, and what I would- And what I would, and what I would- O'Reilly:-and, and to say, "If you don't, we will pull the plug."

Obama: And, and what I will do is-well, if we have bin Laden in our sights- And, and what I will do is-well, if we have bin Laden in our sights- O'Reilly: Yeah? Yeah?

Obama:-we target him, and we knock him out.

O'Reilly: But everybody would do that. But everybody would do that.

Obama: Well, I mean- Well, I mean- O'Reilly: I mean, that would be the biggest win Bush could have- I mean, that would be the biggest win Bush could have- Obama: Of course. Of course.

O'Reilly:-is if we could do that.

Obama: And that is- And that is- O'Reilly: But you can't send these ground troops in, because then all h.e.l.l breaks loose- But you can't send these ground troops in, because then all h.e.l.l breaks loose- Obama: We can't-we, we-we can't have, uh, uh.... That n.o.body talked about some full-blown invasion of Afghanistan. But the simple point that I made was, we have got to put more pressure on Pakistan-to do what they need to do. We can't-we, we-we can't have, uh, uh.... That n.o.body talked about some full-blown invasion of Afghanistan. But the simple point that I made was, we have got to put more pressure on Pakistan-to do what they need to do.

O'Reilly: I mean, well, I gotta tell you. I don't-I don't think the administration- I mean, well, I gotta tell you. I don't-I don't think the administration- Obama: I don't think, I don't think you and I disagree on this. I don't think, I don't think you and I disagree on this.

O'Reilly: No, but they have put an enormous amount of pressure. And NATO doesn't fight in, uh, in Afghanistan-I don't know whether you know that or not. No, but they have put an enormous amount of pressure. And NATO doesn't fight in, uh, in Afghanistan-I don't know whether you know that or not.

Obama: Well, first- Well, first- O'Reilly: The Germans won't fight. The Germans won't fight.

Obama: Well- Well- O'Reilly: The French will, because of Sarkozy. The French will, because of Sarkozy.

Obama: They will. They- They will. They- O'Reilly: But the Germans wouldn't allow it, and the others won't. But the Germans wouldn't allow it, and the others won't.

Obama: Right. Right.

O'Reilly: So it's all on us, again. Why? Well, why won't the Germans fight against the Taliban? So it's all on us, again. Why? Well, why won't the Germans fight against the Taliban?

Obama: Well, you know part of the reason? Well, you know part of the reason?

O'Reilly: What? What?

Obama: Part of the reason is, is that we have soured our relationship-with the Europeans-after Iraq. And you know, when I went over to Europe...and if you listen to that speech in Berlin-which you know, a lot of your buddies had a good time making fun of- Part of the reason is, is that we have soured our relationship-with the Europeans-after Iraq. And you know, when I went over to Europe...and if you listen to that speech in Berlin-which you know, a lot of your buddies had a good time making fun of- O'Reilly: I don't have any buddies, but-[ I don't have any buddies, but-[Laughs.]

Obama: [ [Laughs.] But if, if you listen to what I said, one of the things I said in that speech is, "You cannot think that the Americans are gonna just carry all the weight on this thing. You guys have to step up to the plate."

O'Reilly: So when you are President-? So when you are President-?

Obama: But, but Bob Gates, the secretary of defense-who, by the way, I think is a, is a serious guy in this administration and has, and has helped- But, but Bob Gates, the secretary of defense-who, by the way, I think is a, is a serious guy in this administration and has, and has helped- O'Reilly: A good guy. A good guy.

Obama:-helped, helped straighten out some of the foreign policy problems-he himself has acknowledged that part of the problem is, politically, there is, uh-there is enough anti-Iraq sentiment in there-in, in Europe- O'Reilly:-to poison the well for Afghanistan.

Obama:-to poison the well for Afghanistan.

O'Reilly: So you are gonna change all that with a magic wand? Come on. So you are gonna change all that with a magic wand? Come on.

Obama: I am not gonna-no, I am not gonna-no, I am not gonna change all that with a magic wand. That, that-I am not gonna change anything with a magic wand. What I am gonna do is I am gonna, uh, engage in the kind of liberal diplomacy-and change our policy in Iraq to send a signal to the world, the central front on terror right now is in Afghanistan, and the hills between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I am not gonna-no, I am not gonna-no, I am not gonna change all that with a magic wand. That, that-I am not gonna change anything with a magic wand. What I am gonna do is I am gonna, uh, engage in the kind of liberal diplomacy-and change our policy in Iraq to send a signal to the world, the central front on terror right now is in Afghanistan, and the hills between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

O'Reilly: Yeah, but you can't, you can't change a thing in Iraq, uh, uh, if it's gonna benefit Iran. And, and that's- Yeah, but you can't, you can't change a thing in Iraq, uh, uh, if it's gonna benefit Iran. And, and that's- Obama: Yeah, that I agree with you. Yeah, that I agree with you.

O'Reilly: That's gonna be your minefield as you go on- That's gonna be your minefield as you go on- Obama: But, but Bill, uh, you and I probably agree on the fact that Iran is one of the biggest beneficiaries of us going into the Iraq in the first place- But, but Bill, uh, you and I probably agree on the fact that Iran is one of the biggest beneficiaries of us going into the Iraq in the first place- O'Reilly: It has been, but not now. Now, now they are paying a big price for miscalculating- It has been, but not now. Now, now they are paying a big price for miscalculating- Obama: Well- Well- O'Reilly:-the resolve of our country.

Obama: I, I will say that the, that the fact that the Shia militias have folded up-right now-is a good thing. I, I will say that the, that the fact that the Shia militias have folded up-right now-is a good thing.

Where do I start with this? First of all, that was the only time so far that I have heard President Obama admit he had made a mistake. As you see, he said the surge worked, but he, of course, had forcefully opposed it. Two years ago, that was the big headline that came out of this interview.Because Iraq remains an unstable situation, the President has been patient in withdrawing U.S. troops from this troubled country. That measured policy has angered the Far Left. I think we should give Mr. Obama credit for not caving into that const.i.tuency, which is misguided on Iraq. In light of all the blood and treasure the United States has spent there, we simply cannot let Iraq go down the drain. But we should never again get involved in this kind of mora.s.s.As for Afghanistan, it's obviously a colossal mess. But, do you know what? That's n.o.body's fault. The place is just impossible. About ten years ago, American Special Forces and some Afghan allies defeated the thuggish Taliban in about ten minutes. Since then, the situation has deteriorated into an absolute debacle.After a decade of our involvement, most Afghan police are arrogantly corrupt, the army rarely fights, and the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, is an incompetent weakling who is probably a criminal. Certainly, his brother, who runs the province of Kandahar, is a thief and a drug lord. Just as President Bush was before him, President Obama is stymied. The Taliban, hiding in plain sight by dressing in civilian clothing, are able to kill at will, terrorizing the population at night. NATO forces, no matter how brave and skilled, can't protect the Afghan people because there are not enough NATO forces. That means that the poor Afghani folks are afraid to support the Americans and NATO, which could mean death even though the allies are sincerely trying to help them and deny the terrorists an important sanctuary.The Taliban can also hide out in Pakistan, and NATO forces can't cross the border to kill them. In addition, some Pakistani intelligence big shots are actually supplying the Taliban with arms and logistics. Can you say chaos? chaos?In a controversial move, President Obama took months to announce his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan but simultaneously undermined this move by promising to begin pulling U.S. forces out of there in July 2011. On hearing that, the Taliban broke out some humus and pita bread, or whatever it is they eat, and celebrated.Then the Afghan commander, General McChrystal, got sandbagged by the dopes at Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, and the world finally focused on what is an awful situation. and the world finally focused on what is an awful situation.We should all be praying that General David Petraeus can pull off another miracle in Afghanistan and stabilize the country. If he does not do that, the Taliban will continue to brutalize millions of innocent people (especially women), and al-Qaeda terrorists will once again have room to roam. Remember, the reason NATO is in Afghanistan at all is because the Taliban partnered up with al-Qaeda before the attacks on 9/11. Nothing much has changed in that relationship.If NATO fails in Afghanistan, the defeat will be on President Obama. It is his war now, just as Vietnam became LBJ's war, even though that war began under President Kennedy. I believe President Obama realizes the danger to him here. That means General Petraeus will get what he needs to do what he does. But this thing is hanging by a thread; absolutely anything could happen. In fact, Michael Scheuer, a former CIA agent who headed the bin Laden unit, writes that the Afghan war is already lost: "Afghans hate and will not tolerate their country being occupied by foreigner infidel." This [historic quote] is verifiable over almost 24 centuries of history by referring to the Afghan experiences of Alexander the Great, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union. It took varying periods for the Afghans to get rid of each occupier-the Greeks were particularly tough to root out as Alexander created Greek colonies in the country-but in time each was defeated and left with its tail between its legs. And so will we.Mr. Scheuer is a noninterventionist and skews his commentary that way, but there is no question that President Obama's strategy of limited engagement while winning Afghan hearts and minds may not work. Scheuer is blunt on the point: War means fighting, and fighting means killing, and any other approach to war means wasted resources and lives, and will yield nothing but defeat and the need to fight the same war over again. This is why Obama should have sent a marine [commander] to replace [General] McChrystal. This is also why he did not.

Finally, I get a ton of mail basically agreeing with Michael Scheuer and also arguing that the President is soft on terrorism in general. Some of the correspondents point to the fact that the President will not even use the words "war on terror." True, but another fact defines Mr. Obama as the "drone king." In his pursuit of terrorists, he has ordered scores of missile attacks launched from Predator drones. They have been devastatingly effective, killing hundreds of al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders along with some civilians. Obama has used this s.p.a.ce-age weapon far more than President Bush did. So how do we explain that? If he's soft on terrorism, why is he conducting a very aggressive missile campaign, which by the way the ACLU and other Far Left kooks hate? That's an interesting question, is it not? Remember, President Obama is a complicated guy. One of the major themes of this book is that things are not always what they seem. I give a lot of credit to CIA Chief Leon Panetta, a true Patriot, for wising up Mr. Obama about the threat these terrorist killers pose to Americans. So the next time you hear that Mr. Obama is a Pinhead for not taking the war on terror seriously enough, remember that he is definitely the "drone king."

O'Reilly: Okay. Uh, United States and Poland, putting the missile shield in Poland. Okay. Uh, United States and Poland, putting the missile shield in Poland.

Obama: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

O'Reilly: All right? Putin doesn't like it. All right? Putin doesn't like it.

Obama: Right. Right.

O'Reilly: Are you gonna keep that missile shield in there? Are you gonna keep that missile shield in there?

Obama: I think that we have to make sure that, uh, uh-and I have said this before. The Russians are playing a game, and they pretend that this missile shield is directed against all their interests. I think that we have to make sure that, uh, uh-and I have said this before. The Russians are playing a game, and they pretend that this missile shield is directed against all their interests.

O'Reilly: Yeah, it's ridiculous. It's a defensive thing. Yeah, it's ridiculous. It's a defensive thing.

Obama: It's, it's a defensive thing. And we- It's, it's a defensive thing. And we- O'Reilly: So you are gonna keep it there then? So you are gonna keep it there then?

Obama: And, and given, given what has happened in Georgia, I think that we have to send a clear signal that Poland and other countries in that region are, are not gonna be subject to intimidation and aggression- And, and given, given what has happened in Georgia, I think that we have to send a clear signal that Poland and other countries in that region are, are not gonna be subject to intimidation and aggression- O'Reilly: Okay, so I just want to get this on record. If you are elected President, you are keeping the missile shield in Poland? Okay, so I just want to get this on record. If you are elected President, you are keeping the missile shield in Poland?

Obama: I believe that the missile shield is appropriate. I want to make sure it works, though. I want to make sure it works. I believe that the missile shield is appropriate. I want to make sure it works, though. I want to make sure it works.

O'Reilly: Well, we are testing- Well, we are testing- Obama: And that's one of the problems that we have got. And that's one of the problems that we have got.

O'Reilly: So Putin, uh, comes out last week and he says, "Hey look, uh, we are gonna reimpose our dominance on all of the countries that surround us. And we don't care whether you like it or not, because you are tied down in Afghanistan-Iraq and Afghanistan-and we are gonna do what we want to do." So Putin, uh, comes out last week and he says, "Hey look, uh, we are gonna reimpose our dominance on all of the countries that surround us. And we don't care whether you like it or not, because you are tied down in Afghanistan-Iraq and Afghanistan-and we are gonna do what we want to do."

Obama: Sure. Sure.

O'Reilly: Such a nasty little guy, number one. Such a nasty little guy, number one.

Obama: [ [Laughs.]

O'Reilly: And would you agree with that a.s.sessment? And would you agree with that a.s.sessment?

Obama: [ [Laughs.] Well, that-I'll agree with the a.s.sessment that, uh-I wouldn't look into his soul and, uh- O'Reilly: Yeah. Yeah.

Obama:-and think I know him.

O'Reilly: And I'll put a cowboy hat on the guy. And I'll put a cowboy hat on the guy.

Obama: Yes. Yes.

O'Reilly: This is gonna be a problem, all right? This is gonna be a problem, all right?

Obama: Oh, this is a huge problem. Oh, this is a huge problem.

O'Reilly: Okay. And, and you are gonna have to confront Putin- Okay. And, and you are gonna have to confront Putin- Obama: And we are going to-and that's exactly right. And we are going to-and that's exactly right.

O'Reilly: Maybe not militarily, and maybe you can do it other ways. But Europe is weak and Europe is cowardly- Maybe not militarily, and maybe you can do it other ways. But Europe is weak and Europe is cowardly- Obama: Right. Right.

O'Reilly: You know, what are they gonna have? Another meeting? Yeah, Putin is quaking, aren't they? Isn't Putin quaking about that? They are gonna have another meeting- You know, what are they gonna have? Another meeting? Yeah, Putin is quaking, aren't they? Isn't Putin quaking about that? They are gonna have another meeting- Obama: Well, you know what? And here, here, here is the one thing I would say.... There are, there are two things where we can have some leverage over Russia. Number one is that, commercially, they are tied up with Europe, and they are increasingly integrating. Their stock market has taken a beating since they went into Georgia. Well, you know what? And here, here, here is the one thing I would say.... There are, there are two things where we can have some leverage over Russia. Number one is that, commercially, they are tied up with Europe, and they are increasingly integrating. Their stock market has taken a beating since they went into Georgia.

O'Reilly: Yes. Yes.

Obama: But that- But that- O'Reilly: Like they care. Like they care.

Obama: Well, Putin may not care, but there are a whole bunch of folks that are- Well, Putin may not care, but there are a whole bunch of folks that are- O'Reilly: They do. Right. They do. Right.

Obama: There are a whole bunch of millionaires in Moscow who do care, all right? So that's a leverage point. And the Europeans can be helpful in applying that leverage point, and that's point number one. The second thing that we have to do is actually defensive: We have got to get our energy policy straight. As long as they are getting over $100 a barrel for oil, then they are gonna be able to act-and that's the biggest problem we have. There are a whole bunch of millionaires in Moscow who do care, all right? So that's a leverage point. And the Europeans can be helpful in applying that leverage point, and that's point number one. The second thing that we have to do is actually defensive: We have got to get our energy policy straight. As long as they are getting over $100 a barrel for oil, then they are gonna be able to act-and that's the biggest problem we have.