MTP Transcript for Jan. 14, 2007

SEN. KYL:  First, there was some discussion earlier about the Iraqis have a say in this.  And frankly, they have the first say in it, and I suspect they’ll be the ones that sort out what happens if this is not successful, at least in the first instance.  But with all due respect, I would suggest that that’s the second question to be asked.  The first question is, is there an alternative to the strategy that the president has announced?  And the only alternative that I’ve heard here this morning, or that I’ve heard in, in the halls of Congress, is we should find a way to withdraw and find a way for a political settlement.  Well, of course it would be wonderful to try to find a way.  That’s not concrete, it’s not specific, it’s not specific, and it does also ignore the fact that it’s not just Sunni on Shiite violence.  There is a lot of al-Qaeda influence in Iraq today.  The president talked about it in his speech.  In al-Anbar Province, to the west of Baghdad, you have al-Qaeda essentially trying to take control of that entire, about a third of the country.  Part of our new troops will, will be to go into there and to try to pacify that.  They are the ones who instigated this violence between the Shiites and the Sunnis by blowing up the Golden Mosque.  And so it’s not possible to achieve a peace settlement with al-Qaeda.  So it’s not as simple as simply saying we need to find a way to get a peace settlement.  We’ve got to restore order and defeat the terrorists.

MR. RUSSERT:  A difficult and complicated debate, and I thank you all for offering to it—offering so much to it.

Senator Dodd, before we go, you’re running for president?

SEN. DODD:  Yes, sir.

MR. RUSSERT:  You’re willing to take on Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and say you’re more qualified than they are?

SEN. DODD:  Well, I want to make my case based on experience and judgment and ability.  The very debate we’re having here today, I think, indicates we need new leadership in the country.  I can’t believe that in five years we’ve squandered years of the administration’s, Republicans and Democrats, building world alliances to support us.  When you think of where we were on September 12^th, 2001 and where we are today, clearly new leadership is necessary in the country, and I want to be part of that debate.

MR. RUSSERT:  Senator Lieberman, in 2004 Chris Dodd was the general chairman of your presidential race.  You’re going to cast your lot with your fellow Senator Dodd this morning?

SEN. DODD:  Don’t put—don’t put Joe in that position here.

SEN. LIEBERMAN:  Very nice, very nice of you to ask, Tim.  Look...

SEN. DODD:  Good morning, Joe.  How are you?

SEN. LIEBERMAN:  Good morning, buddy.  I, very briefly, look, I’ve worked closely with Chris Dodd for 18 years.  His experience, his ability, makes him a very credible candidate for president.  I wish him well.  I’ve had a lot of politics over the last two years.  I’m staying out of the president—any presidential campaign for a while.

MR. RUSSERT:  Senator Joe Lieberman, thank you very much.  Chuck Hagel, Jon Kyl, Chris Dodd.

SEN. DODD:  Thank you.

MR. RUSSERT:  Just to stir it up a little bit.

SEN. DODD:  Just to stir it up.

SEN. LIEBERMAN:  Good work, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT:  Coming next, tomorrow we celebrate Martin Luther King Day.  He appeared here August 13^th, 1967, 40 years ago.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  And we are back.  Forty years ago this year, Dr.  Martin Luther King made his last of five appearances on MEET THE PRESS.  The country was in the midst of a civil rights struggle, and Dr.  King radiated optimism and determination.

(Videotape, August 13, 1967):

MR. LAWRENCE E.  SPIVAK:  Our guest today on MEET THE PRESS is Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

MR. SIMEON BOOKER (Ebony):  Doctor King, do you believe that the American racial problem can be solved?

DR.  KING:  (President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference):  Yes, I do.  I refuse to give up.  I refuse to despair it in this moment.  I refuse to allow myself to fall into the dark chambers of pessimism, because I think in any social revolution, the one thing that keeps it going is hope.  And when hope dies, somehow the revolution degenerates into a kind of nihilistic philosophy which says you must engage in disruption for disruption’s sake.  I refuse to believe that.  However difficult it is, I believe that the forces of good will, white and black, in this country, can work together to bring about a resolution of this problem.  We have the resources to do it.  At present, we don’t have the will, but certainly the, the Negroes and the decent, committed whites—maybe they’re in a minority now, but they’re there—must work together to so arouse the conscience of this nation, and at the same time to so articulate the issue through direct action and powerful action programs, that our demands can no longer be eluded by the government or by Congress or all of the forces in power.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT:  Less than a year after that interview, Dr.  Martin Luther King was assassinated, April 4^th, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Had he lived, he would’ve been 78 years old tomorrow.  And we’ll be right back.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  That’s all for today.  If it’s Sunday, it’s MEET THE PRESS.

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