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Senator says withdrawal is putting U.S. progress at risk for 'political reasons'
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-- -- reaction -- the stars and stripes are lowered over the American military headquarters in Baghdad this ceremony formally ending.
The war in Iraq and now some in Washington.
Are pointing -- the President Obama tried to block the strategy widely credited with bringing about today's conclusion.
And also let's talk about why are we go from here in Iraq here now as a Republican senator.
John McCain ranking member on the armed services committee Senator McCain good morning good to see is always -- -- -- good morning he you know the president said yesterday.
At Fort -- that he believed that all of the soldiers and Marines who fought in Iraq and -- are coming home.
Can leave with their heads held high.
The question is -- as all of this plays out can the administration.
Hold their heads high in terms of our relationship.
With Iraq.
Well I don't think so I think several.
I think twelve point out that the president has never acknowledged that the surge succeeded he opposed to -- said it would fail even when it was succeeding.
He made a campaign promise in 2008 and perhaps one of the reasons why he won the nomination was -- -- to remove all troops from Iraq and that political goal has been achieved unfortunately.
In the words of general team -- the architects of the surge.
He said we won the war and now we -- risking losing peace because.
We have always felt we needed a residual force to leave behind as Condoleezza Rice has stated that we always envisioned that.
Despite what the administration's spin this that the Bush Administration.
Made an agreement to get all troops out we always -- leaving.
-- residual force there are still big problems -- And I we have got time to go through all of them.
But -- residual force being left behind around 20000.
Would have insured I think that we had continued the progress that needs to be made and finally.
We're proud of many young men and women who served.
But now we're putting at risk.
All of that loss of blood and treasure because I believe for political reasons.
-- Jennifer Griffin was on the ground there this morning and she says she was very surprised.
To see that there were only a handful.
Other Iraqis who were at that ceremony she's -- alluding to the fact that the relationship was really not nurture.
Between our administration and the Iraqi administration.
And that that would be the key just to making sure that they -- that Iraq felt stable and secure.
Going forward and that they weren't vulnerable to encroachment by a -- right.
Well you're exactly right there's already increasing influence of the Iranians there tensions in occur between the Kurdish area in.
It's the other parts -- they have no air control of their airspace they need it technical.
Technological skills that we could have provided for counterinsurgency.
And of course there Malick he has been.
Less than inclusive in his government has taken some steps.
That are very disturbing -- as far as the Sunnis are concerned.
So our forces remained there could've done a lot of things and a lot of things right and unfortunately.
We are now as I said placing all of this at risk and I would remind you that.
Senator I mean then senator now Vice President Biden wanted to break up the country.
Into three different countries.
Yes on that -- he may he may see that legislation realize.
Stab -- that that's exactly through two very quick -- if I cut.
Vladimir -- and you have that sweet relationship going on apparently well let's put up what what he said what you said rather.
The Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you know I you treat to Wagner -- -- -- like that too much and he sent back this message to you.
He has the blood of peaceful civilians on his hands and he can't live without the kind of disgusting repulsive scenes like the killing of Qaddafi.
What is your response to that -- I think that -- Obviously.
Obviously mr.
Bruton.
-- I love to call him is a little bit stunned but seriously.
It's very clear.
That these uprisings in demonstrations in Russia had really unsettled him.
And the oligarchy that that controls Russian patients like maybe it's Keyon Carter cops believe this is -- craft -- -- -- Running Russia and that I think that's pretty clear why he reacted in such.
Strange -- offers fashion.
Who would have imagined that we could have these discussions.
By a -- to we would Vladimir Putin but boy you definitely hit a sensitive spot.
There's no doubt about that one last question for a big debate obviously Fox News debate -- in Iowa tonight.
These polls are shifting by the second we're about to show people some pretty interesting numbers in a moment here.
You ran against President Obama last time around what do you think can beat in this time.
I think any one of them can.
But I also say -- and all do respect the fact enough with debates now deteriorated into who's gonna make a mistake there's a lot more to campaigning.
And just -- you've got a huge town hall meeting she got to be on the ground you've got to make speeches.
You've got to do a lot of things a debate takes three days of the candidates time.
The day before the day -- -- day after that.
In my view enough debates.
They have picked me -- picking a winner at this point sounds like now.
All right double time next time Senator McCain always get attacked you sir thank you so much ladies --
