Sen. Lindsey Graham on Foreign Policy Challenges

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We want to get the Republican perspective now on foreign policy -- challenges in the Middle East and growing economic problems here at home.

We're joined by senator Lindsey Graham who comes to us from his home state of South Carolina senator let's start -- Admiral Mullen was flat statement this week the Pakistani intelligence supported the insurgents who attack US.

Installations.

In Afghanistan now at the hearing where if he's SATA.

You said we are on a collision course with Pakistan question what should we did.

Well itself flawed -- relationship that admiral Mullen say it cannot be abandoned that we need to put Pakistan on notice.

You know they help us without Qaeda targets in Afghanistan.

They have Pakistan they openly support Connie network this safe havens.

And -- Pakistan to attack our troops in Afghanistan and go after the Afghan government.

They provide aid in conference the Taliban.

We should reconfigure the assistance to Pakistan.

In a mark up that I was.

Ranking member -- no longer we designating an amount of aid to Pakistan.

We're gonna have a more transactional relationship but here's the key.

Secretary Panetta said the the.

Pakistan intelligence agencies supporting terrorism as a national strategy needs to come to end.

It destabilize is Afghanistan -- killing American soldiers if they continue to embrace terrorism as part of their nationalist strategy.

We're going to have put all options on the table including defending our troops.

No that's a pretty stunning statements are about one of the top foreign policy voices when is it all options on the table you're talking about military action.

Against -- I am saying that we know the -- -- network operates with impunity inside of Pakistan in a town called -- shall.

Admiral Mullen and secretary Panetta are right that the IS side the security.

The intelligence agency in Pakistan.

-- and directly and indirectly they do some good things with us against al-Qaeda they have to choose what what drives this.

Pakistan believes we're leaving Afghanistan -- betting the Taliban will come back.

The Pakistan military lives like -- within Pakistan.

A democracy in Afghanistan is a threat to Pakistan military.

Control in their own mind.

So is now time of choosing I hope they choose wisely -- secretary Panetta and people like myself cannot in good conscience.

Go to military funerals and say I'm sorry your son or daughter was killed in Afghanistan.

By assistance given to terrorist in Pakistan by the Pakistan government -- and it has to come to an end.

But briefly served and I wanna move on to other subjects you're suggesting.

US military action has to be considered against the -- -- network inside.

The territory the sovereign -- border of Pakistan.

I am saying that the sovereign nation of Pakistan is engaging in hostile acts against the United States.

And our allies in Afghanistan that must cease -- leave it up to the experts but -- the experts believe that we need to elevate our response.

They will have a lot of bipartisan support on Capitol Hill the best solution.

As for Pakistan to.

Fight all forms -- terrorism.

Embrace working with us so that we can do -- terrorism along their border costs it is the biggest threat to stability to Pakistan this terrorism itself they have made -- Tremendous miscalculation.

The foreign minister said America needs Pakistan.

You're right but not a Pakistan that will help fill American troops.

Let's move on to the Palestinian vote their push for a vote on statehood at the United Nations President Abbas the Palestinian president.

Has indicated that he's going to reject the latest peace plan offered by the US and other countries for new peace talks with Israel that is gonna press ahead.

With a vote app the UN what can and should the US do about the.

When number one it's a giant step backward for the two state solution that the Palestinian people have been hoping and dreaming for.

There will be -- the United States will veto a Security Council resolution.

That would give state had only this here Security Council can provide state and part of criteria is that the the member applying as a peaceful state -- Obama administration's right to Vito.

Statehood.

Through the Security Council -- none of us know what kind of state -- would be buying into and you avoid direct negotiations but there's another problem.

They will probably understand the Palestinians will that will veto any Security Council resolution.

And they'll go to the general assembly for observer nation status that is provocative because it will probably be -- Then the Palestinians will have access to the international criminal court.

And other UN institutions and they will Begin to use the UN is a political tool against the Israelis.

Which will create a backlash here -- home.

This is a very provocative dangerous step by the Palestinians.

-- not lead to peace it will lead to instability.

And it will push us back home in a bipartisan fashion to speak out.

-- in what what.

Well I -- will be considered but just -- mansion.

The I think.

Certain organizations in the UNR kangaroo courts the human rights commission was formerly chaired Bolivian under Qaddafi.

These organizations that they get observer state.

Status -- general assembly vote will allow the Palestinians to use the UN as a political tool.

Now we'll create a backlash here at home it will -- UN support by the American congress.

If they go down the road of forming a government -- Hamas.

But Todd Fatah and Hamas government Hamas -- a terrorist organization that will end US help.

To the Palestinian people because the day they form a government Hamas is a meaningful player unrepentant Hamas that unions it's the systems.

Making the world -- much more dangerous let's.

Turned to the economy you just heard my conversation with White House senior advisor David -- Hearing his explanation what do you think is behind the new Obama plans to create jobs and to cut the deficit.

His polling numbers He should have done what President Clinton did.

When He got beat soundly in 94 President Clinton turned to Republicans and we passed the balanced budget agreement.

And we engaged in welfare reform legislation that fundamentally change welfare the balanced budget agreement affected entitlements we work together.

Their approach after being being.

Is to go to Ohio Kentucky and give a speech about a bridge and didn't declare.

Class warfare is -- strategy.

In terms of solving the economy every problem that He inherited is much worse.

Our unemployment a lot more debt higher gas prices.

You can't borrow money because that Dodd-Frank he's putting more taxes on people -- create jobs he's creating conflict.

Where should be trying to find common ground and let them to -- on -- -- -- Let me -- -- -- -- cancer what about and you heard mr.

-- eloquently make the argument that is just not fair to ask more of the war.

Of the seniors.

While.

Giving nothing and having nothing of the top earners.

-- what you do Medicare and Medicaid -- -- do what Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill did you work together you protect near term and -- retirees.

Anybody over 55 would be -- but you do what -- Simpson's.

-- commission recommended he's had a lot of input and it -- in a bipartisan fashion.

From the gang of six but he's going -- a partisan route.

He's trying to elevate class warfare he's trying to find.

A points of disagreement rather than common ground.

And He is using in my view a strategy class warfare.

Divide and -- to try to survive this next election it won't work you should have done what Bill Clinton did.

Once He got beat in congress find common ground -- -- problems so.

And we've really got a couple of minutes left if congress is so divided and they congressional super -- that He has only two months to come up would.

Another trillion dollars in -- what are the chances for a compromise.

Well the gang of six was a bipartisan group so.

Bowles Simpson had bipartisan sport look at those proposals see if you can flatten the tax code something -- support.

Lower rates flatten the tax code do entitlement reform in a way that.

Doesn't hurt near term retirees and get get get our.

Fiscal house in order at the end of the day if this commission fails.

There's a trigger cutting defense spent 600 billion dollars if they can't performed their job our -- legislation Chris.

That will protect the Defense Department from devastating cuts Leon Panetta said wanna asking if you take 600 billion dollars out of -- stance -- topple over -- trying to do.

You'll be shooting the country in the head out 100 across the board cut as a trigger the whole government being on the table the 5% reduction.

For the whole government and cut our pay -- 10%.

-- than devastating the Defense Department I hope the super committee works but if it fails let's don't destroy the Defense Department.

Couple last questions -- -- as I discussed with David -- We here in danger up on Capitol Hill loved by letting the government run out of money again the danger -- shut down now know continuing resolution.

Don't Republicans who are calling for yes more for FEMA for disaster relief that we want to see -- that's.

Two Green energy programs don't Republicans.

Aren't they gonna GAAP fairly or unfairly a lot of the blame if the government shuts down.

The government's not gonna ship them -- most Americans want us to do would disasters.

In front of us and disasters to come best -- we're trying to start to pay for things that we haven't paid for before.

The house proposals -- small our best Harry -- to take it it does fund disasters.

It gets -- -- -- have black -- the Democrats claiming the underdog is out all right tabled it sir.

Well -- say -- come up with a proposal of your own that reduces.

The effect of additional spending we can't borrow money every time something bad goes.

-- wrong in America are you able to borrow money.

Every time something bad goes with your business or your family you have to have priorities -- something we don't seem to accept up here.

The house version says that the disaster.

Has to be dealt with we're gonna help people been affected by disasters overall start cutting the government in other places where it.

Where the money is not so important so I support the idea of paying for this cents.

Finally -- we -- about thirty seconds left.

Point 812 -- sad that this and -- of the presidency is that GOP's.

Race election to lose.

You've got Rick -- the front runners stumbling you've got a lot of conservatives who aren't satisfied.

With Mitt Romney you've got Herman -- winning the Florida straw poll yesterday are you worried.

About this -- in the Republican race reprise.

The best thing we've got going for us is Obama policies that won't work and never gonna work.

-- seems to be unwilling to change it is our race to lose we need to make sure we produced a candidate who can -- President Obama.

And things are so much worse in the last three years going into the fourth -- I think it most definitely is ours to lose.

This vetting of candidates it's a tough process.

I'm proud of our candidates I think the whole debate is being good.

And they're gonna get stronger over time we can't afford four more years of policies -- are keepers in perpetual -- unemployment.

And the Obama administration's picking on Israel a year and a half ago about East Jerusalem settlements saying that is -- the problem.

Started this whole unraveling of the peace process.

Senator Graham gonna have to leave -- -- want to thank you so much for joining us and please come back sir.

Thank you.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham on Foreign Policy Challenges

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