‘Meet the Press’ transcript for May 13, 2007

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  And that's the kind of thing we're hearing about Iraq.

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  You felt that way about Somalia when you saw no end in sight.

SEN. McCAIN:  Yes, I did, and...

MR. RUSSERT:  And many Americans now are echoing your words about Iraq, because they see no end in sight.

SEN. McCAIN:  Well, if you compare--want to compare Somalia to what's at stake in Iraq, please feel free to do so.  I don't see any comparison except that there was chaos in the streets of Mogadishu, and this now is got to do with vital national security interests.  I also said that we should get out of Beirut when we did, because a, a presence of a few Marines in a barracks was not going to, in any way, significantly impact what was going on in Lebanon. And I was right, and a lot of young Marines died because we--of the way that we put a presence in there without any chance of success.

MR. RUSSERT:  You say we're making progress.  You've been on this program talking about Iraq.  In 2003...

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...you said, "I believe we've achieved significant goals"; 2005, we view it as, as "hopeful," we're making "progress"; 2006, we're on the "right track," "I want to emphasize again" the "good things happening"; we're "showing signs of success" in 2007.  It's upbeat, upbeat, upbeat.

SEN. McCAIN:  I think...

MR. RUSSERT:  And yet the reality is quite different than that kind of optimistic message.

SEN. McCAIN:  You know, Tim, I think it would be fair also to put the statements that I made when I came back from Iraq that said it was a failed policy, that we had to have more troops on the ground, that we were not carrying out the right kind of effort at training and equipping the Iraqis, that the Iraqi government wasn't--so it might be fair to flash some of those statements up, including the long speech I gave, after I came back from Iraq, to the Council on Foreign Relations, where I said if we pursue this failed policy, we will fail in Iraq.  So I think that that might balance it out a bit.  Do I think we had, we had made some progress?  Yes.  And do I think that we have had some significant setbacks?  Yes.  We-- both is--are the case.

MR. RUSSERT:  You made a lot of news back in April when you went to Iraq. You went on a radio show and said never--had a news conference, "never been able to go out in the city as I was today." And then later these photographs were released, where we saw--(clears throat) excuse me--John McCain in the marketplace, surrounded, wearing a flack jacket.  The next day the papers said that, "A day after members of an American congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain pointed to their brief visit" in "Baghdad's central Market as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants were incredulous about" "Americans' conclusions.  `What are they talking about?'" "the owner of an electrical supply shop said.  `The security procedures were abnormal.' The delegation arrived at the market" "more than 100 soldiers in armored humvees--the equivalent of an entire company," "attack helicopters circled overhead, a senior" "military official in Baghdad said. The soldiers redirected traffic from the area" "restricted access to the American." "The congressmen wore bulletproof vests" through the hour-long visit.  `They paralyzed the market when they came,'" "`This was only for the media.'"

SEN. McCAIN:  Well, I don't...

MR. RUSSERT:  Wasn't that...

SEN. McCAIN:  ...I don't know who Mr. Faiyad is, and I'm sorry that I didn't see him.  I talked with many, many of the merchants.  We stayed there for more, more than an hour.  That same place was not a functioning market a short time before.  A bomb had gone off in that area and killed many, many people. There, there was a group of people that I talked to, as I traveled--walked around that, that shopping area for over an hour who said, "I'm glad to see you.  Things are better." They--some--a guy came and complained about a sniper that, that they'd had problems with, and the police chief we talked to about that.

My point is the neighborhoods are safer.  They are not safe.  That's why we have to continue what we're doing.  We have a new strategy that, that can succeed.  I was glad to walk through that market.  I will go walk through a market as often as I can.  It was not allowed to go through a market a short time before that.

MR. RUSSERT:  But, senator, you had an armed escort.

SEN. McCAIN:  I had an armed escort because, because that's what General Petraeus thought we ought to have.  I was glad to go outside of Baghdad and have over an hour opportunity to talk to the people that I talked to.  Now, they are very different from the people that, that you are quoting here and others.  They said, "I'm glad to see you.  Things are better here.  We have, we have seen improvement." That's what I was told, and that's what the other two members of Congress were told when we were there.  You can find a lot of difference of opinion if you want to, but I believe that it's important for me to go out and meet those people if I can and be around them.  I didn't call for the kind of, quote, "protection" that was around me.  But I am not afraid, and I'm glad to go any place that I can to talk to the people of Iraq and tell them of my commitment to see that they have a free, democratic government where they don't have to face the bombs going off and the suicide bombers and the--and can start leading normal lives.  And I'll do that every chance I get.

MR. RUSSERT:  But the military felt you needed that protection, and the number of suicide bombers has gone up since the surge began.

SEN. McCAIN:  The military--the suicide bombers have gone up because they know that this is probably the most effective way publicitywise.  It's not the most effective way if you're talking about winning a conflict.  Suicide bombers are the most difficult of any to counter, people who are willing to take their own lives in order to take others'.  You can ask the Israelis; I think they'll tell you that.  They have literally sealed their borders, and yet suicide bombers get across.  And again, is this long and hard and difficult?  Is that market safe?  No, but it's safer than it was before.  And that, in my view, is the key to whether we will succeed or fail or not.  And I'll be glad to go back to that market with or without military protection and, and humvees, etc.  But the fact is, I walked through narrow streets.  I didn't have people all around me.  I don't know what, what--where they get their information, but I was glad to walk around and talk to people and have contact with them and tell them that I, as an American, will do everything I can to let them lead the normal lives which are God-given rights to everybody on earth.

MR. RUSSERT:  There seems to be a real erosion in support of the war amongst Republicans.

SEN. McCAIN:  Yeah.

MR. RUSSERT:  Eleven Republican congressmen met with the president.  One said "My district is prepared for defeat if that's what you are going to say, Mr. President."

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  The leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, "condemned the Iraqi government for its failure to resolve security and political problems more expeditiously and predicted that, unless the current troop surge succeeds, U.S. policy will be changed by year's end either by" the president or by "congressional action."

SEN. McCAIN:  Well, first of all, I share his, his dismay, and we've discussed it already about the Iraqi government's failure to act effectively. When I was over there, I met with Iraqi government officials and told them how important it is for them to act as a inclusive government, and, and I believe that they certainly are having messages sent.  I hope that they are receiving them.  And again, I understand the lack of patience on the part of the American people.  And we're getting a little circular here in how sad and, and frustrated they are.

MR. RUSSERT:  But these are the Republicans.  They're, they're--Mitch McConnell's saying that they're ready to move this year, Republicans in Congress, against the war unless the surge shows success relatively quickly.

SEN. McCAIN:  Look, I think, I think by the end of this year we will see some signs of success, how significant those will be.  But if every Republican is against it, if every Republican calls for withdrawal, I will do what my conscience, my knowledge, my--I know what war is.  I know how evil these people are.  I know what war, war and peace is about.  And I know the consequences, from my study of history and knowledge and background, the consequences of failure.  So if I'm the last man standing, I have an obligation to do what my conscience and my knowledge and my background and everything I've known through my well-experienced life is best for this country.  And I will not change from that, from that position.  But I also understand what public opinion does and what democracies do.  But that doesn't mean that I change my views and my positions and blowing in the, in the direction of which the political winds are blowing.

MR. RUSSERT:  In 2000 you lost the Republican nomination to George Bush. Would it be ironic that you lost the 2000 nomination because you embraced George Bush's Iraq war policy?

SEN. McCAIN:  Life isn't fair.  I did not embrace the policy for a number of years.  I was one of the severest critics.  But life isn't fair.  But I--I've had a wonderful opportunity to serve this country.  I have been the--I am the luckiest guy you will ever have on this program.  I've been honored to serve. And I will continue to serve in some capacity until I am unable to do so.

MR. RUSSERT:  We're going to take a quick break.  We're going to come back and talk to John McCain about other issues--immigration, taxes and more--right after this.

                               (Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  More Meet the Candidates 2008.  We're with Republican candidate John McCain, after this station break.

                               (Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  We're back.  The Republican candidate for president John McCain.

Immigration reform, a signature issue for you.  Here's how The Washington Post reported it.  "The co- author of lat year's immigration bill" "John McCain, has been largely absent from this year's negotiations, as he soft-pedals his pro-immigration stance.

"Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin" of Illinois "said McCain's absence from the negotiations has been a big factor in the rising tide of Republican opposition" to the bill.

SEN. McCAIN:  Actually, as short a time ago as Friday, I was in a meeting with Senator Graham and Senator Kennedy.  I've been on many meetings.  I'm on constant contact on this issue.  I think we are close to an agreement that I think can pass both Houses, the Senate this time.  The president's been heavily engaged, Secretary Chertoff has been heavily engaged.  And Secretary Gutierrez, other Republicans, including my friend John Kyl has done a tremendous job in this effort, and I think we've close to an agreement that we can bring to the floor.  And I've been heavily engaged in daily having conversations with people on all sides of this issue.

MR. RUSSERT:  The New York Times says McCain's aide says a--says his identification with Senator Kennedy has accounted for his political problems on the issues with conservatives.

SEN. McCAIN:  I don't know who that aide might be.  The fact is...

MR. RUSSERT:  Would you be willing to tell...

MORE FROM MEET THE PRESS

Meet the Press Section Front

Nov. 30: First Lady Laura Bush, Afghanistan's Ambassador Said Jawad, Ted Turner Nov. 23: James Baker, Bill Daley, Sen. Joe Lieberman, political roundtable Nov. 16: Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), T. Boone Pickens, Tom Friedman, Katty Kay, Andrea Mitchell, Tavis Smiley Nov. 9: Valerie Jarrett, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., political roundtable Nov. 2: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Fmr. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., political roundtable Oct. 26: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Chuck Todd, Charlie Cook, Kelly O'Donnell Remembering Tim Russert   Images: The life of the political journalist   Slideshow: A look back at 60 years of 'Meet the Press' Find ‘Meet the Press’ in your area Meet the Press Section Front   Add Meet the Press headlines to your news reader: