McCain talks foreign trouble spots, 'Game Change'

This transcript is automatically generated

With -- foreign policy challenges and unsettled presidential race and that controversial new movie on the 2008 campaign.

We have plenty to discuss with our next guest Senator John McCain joins us from cottonwood Arizona senator welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Thank you Chris.

Let's start that would that would the terrible news overnight from Afghanistan.

What's your reaction and we just talked about you heard -- with speaker Gingrich to the news that apparently.

One US over -- service man walked off his base in southern Afghanistan.

Went -- civilians homes shot the mop.

May have killed according to unconfirmed reports as many as sixteen people including children what's your reaction about.

And also your reaction to the growing.

Sentiment among some conservatives like speaker Gingrich that our mission in Afghanistan may not be doable we may need to get out.

Well it's obviously it's a terrible situation.

That happened there and it's.

It's one of those things that you cannot explain except.

Extend your deepest sympathy to those victims and -- see that justice is done.

I might add that there was a significant.

Step forward in agreement.

Concerning detaining these.

Between President Karzai and United States which.

I think would move us very much closer to aid to long term strategic partnership.

Agreement.

That is I think an important step forward.

But.

These these things in warfare.

That happened.

Give us all the more reason to have it be avoided and finally.

They're still the serious fundamental problems of corruption in the Karzai government and sanctuary in Pakistan.

Ambassador Crocker made it very clear in a cable that he sent back through the CIA which of course naturally appeared.

On the front page of the Washington Post.

But you know but -- let's walk our way through this -- -- you have the accidental burning -- the Koran.

Then our Afghan partner is -- liason and military targeted and killed six.

US servicemen now we have this incident with obviously it would seem a deranged.

American service men killing more than a dozen.

You know that the blow back from not -- going to be terrible.

And and and as a result YouTube GAAP people like Newt Gingrich is -- you know -- well doggone defense saying maybe it's just.

Time to get I'll.

I understand -- frustration.

And I understand the anger and the sorrow.

I also understand and we should not forget.

That the attacks on the United States of America at 9/11 originated in Afghanistan.

And if Afghanistan.

Dissolved into a situation where the Talabani.

We're able to take over or a chaotic situation.

It could easily returned to a al-Qaeda base for attacks on the United States of America that is still our goal as it was.

The day that we when it.

You became -- the first senator this way to say that the US in coordination with other countries.

Should use our air power to go after the Asad regime.

Here is what President Obama sudden response.

What happened where there was we mobilize the international community and we knew that we could execute.

Very effectively.

In a relatively short period of time.

There's a much more complicated situation.

You know and the point that that he and and others make in response to your calls for using US -- -- that series got a much stronger army.

They've got a much stronger and more robust air defense system.

They have big caches of biological and -- and chemical weapons.

And that we.

Don't really know who the opposition is that it isn't united it isn't reliable and they say those are all big differences from Libya so so.

What about their counter argument this is just.

Different and more complicated than -- First well let me make it clear I never called for unilateral US action and we do not have to have boots on the ground.

What is taking place in Syria as we speak and by the way there.

Going -- it live and slaughter continues.

Is a violation not of the United States national security policy.

Made by the -- United States that we would prevent mass occurs.

Wherever they take place.

If the United States of America does not have the military capability with our allies to subdue.

The Syrian military than we have -- about 700.

Billion dollars a year every time one of these crises comes up.

We have we hear from this administration reasons why we can't do something.

Why we can't leave from in front instead they want to lead from behind.

People are being mass occurred as we speak and by the way general -- Head of our Central Command is said and others have said that if Syria -- it would be the biggest spoke to a landing in 25 years.

But the point is massacres are taking place -- -- we're taking place in Bosnia and Kosovo.

And under President Clinton we intervene because that's what America is all about.

These people are fighting for their freedom.

They are being slaughtered in an unfair fight being supplied by the Russians and Iranians not only Iranian weapons but Iranians.

On the ground it is not a fair fight.

And the United States of America does have the capability with our allies.

In exercising a lot of options and airpower is one of them and -- I've seen not to do so.

In my humble opinion is disgraceful and shameful.

Let's turn to Iran the president seemed to send to different messages about what he's willing to do.

To stop Iran's nuclear program first talking to Jewish leaders and I attacked.

And then talking about his Republican rivals at a news conference let's watch.

How will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests when I see the casual moments.

With -- which some of these folks talk about war.

I'm reminded of the cost.

Involved in war.

What would you do sir if if if 2008 it turned out differently what would president McCain do would you give the -- Israelis a Green light to strike would you.

What would be your -- lines as to what you would allow Iran to do before you would strike and would you give.

Diplomacy because now we got this new oil embargo.

The European oil embargo against Iran a new.

Sanctions against the Iran's Central Bank how much time would you give them to work.

First let me say that president said he doesn't bluff.

Well -- national security policy is to prevent -- -- he said that.

-- -- is unacceptable and has to go we'll find out about bluffing.

Second of all it's a little.

-- some that are present United States would denigrate the views.

Of other people who feel.

That they have a right to weigh in them -- on this issue.

It's not casual moments that so much some of us in the senate have -- -- engaged it's not casual on the part of Mitt Romney to say.

That is just unacceptable for the Iranians to route to that developing a nuclear weapon.

But so the president -- the national security advisor and chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff to Israel and then leaks.

That they are there in order to -- Israel not to act.

Now if -- if your nation.

That is threatened with extinction -- -- has threatened Israel would you rely on another country's capabilities in order to make sure.

That you are not attacked with nuclear weapons that's the situation.

Israelis find themselves and why prime minister -- who said.

-- -- Israel as a sovereign nation and will act in their sovereign interest.

So what the president has done rather than bring us closer together with Israel is.

Shown great degrees.

-- separation what should he have -- he should have sat down with the prime minister of Israel with our national security -- -- -- the following red -- That if Iran crosses those red lines and by the way they continue they continue to develop a nuclear weapon.

And there has been no change from that course despite the sanctions and all the other efforts that are being made which need to be made.

And these -- the following red lines mr.

prime minister and we will act with you.

Iran reaches those red lines and those red lines could be drawn.

Instead.

The the president has decided.

To try to persuade Israel -- not to attack at least between now and November of 2012.

It's.

Not helpful relations between the United States and Israel have never been worse.

Well that brings -- speaking of elections to the new HBO movie game change about your selection.

Of Sarah Palin as as your running -- now you have swore.

That you're not gonna watch game change that I want to know because would premiere of last night and HBO did you break down until then.

I watched the Phoenix Coyotes defeat the San Jose Sharks three and I think it was a great game of course I'm not going to watch it it's based on a book that's.

Completely biased and -- unattributed quotes sent.

That's hat trick and what I don't understand.

And even in the tough world of politics why there continues to be such assaults on a good and decent person.

Sarah Palin fine -- only person person whose nomination.

Energized our our campaign we were in the lead and they continue.

To disparage and attack -- character and -- person.

Hi yeah I admire and respect her I'm proud of our campaign and I'm grateful -- she -- with me.

And I'll always be proud of what we did and humbled by the fact that I was able to get the nomination of the Republican party for president of the United States.

I don't wanna ask you not about Palin but about yourself because it does portray you in the movie won at one of the things it says is that -- all your talk.

About putting country first that your decision to pick Sarah Palin.

Was pure politics and here is a clip from from the shop.

Desperately -- a game changing.

None of these middle aged white guys -- -- -- To find me a woman.

Simple question senator -- ever happen.

Of course not and by the way.

I've been told that.

I have portrayed as using an exceeding amount of coarse language.

I don't use coarse language very often I have a larger vocabulary than that but.

Of course not to I thought that she was the best qualified person I thought she had.

That day -- the ability to excite our party and the kind of person that I wanted to see succeed.

In the political arena -- at very effective and successful governor.

The stay -- canyon again Chris I I look forward not back and this kind of stuff.

Is something that I don't spend a lot of time on because right now I'm trying to work on issues such as those we previously discussed.

I I just last one last question in this regard because it does speak to the president not a problem.

That credibility and in the NCAA that.

You say that the authors and Hollywood made -- -- but.

I want to point out some quotes from -- met who was he your.

Chief strategist during the 2008 campaign is by by Woody Harrelson.

It in the movie and here's what he says.

He says it's the true story.

Of what happened over those ten weeks as a Schmidt talking now and then he says that's.

I read rat playing a part in a process.

That yield as someone on the ticket who was not prepared to be president.

So I'm not asking you to respond to Hollywood or to the authors.

What do you say to the guy who was one of your top advisors in the 2008 campaign Steve Schmidt is -- this is all true.

I regret that he would make such a statement.

We'll leave it there Senator McCain thank you thank you as always for coming on sir it's always a pleasure to talk with -- I was gonna say.

That.

In the movie which I watched part of you swear like a sailor but I guess that would be unfair to sailors -- -- -- -- I'll leave -- there.

And thanks again Chris thank you sir.

Watch Live

McCain talks foreign trouble spots, 'Game Change'

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Okla. Gov. Fallin: We're strong and we'll rebuild

House of Scandals: Where was Obama?

Tea Party group sues IRS for political profiling

State Dept. official says he was 'scapegoat' for Benghazi

Gutfeld: Media still cast Tea Party as villains, not victims

Sen. Paul: 'Someone has to be fired' over IRS scandal

Search, rescue efforts still underway at tornado-hit school

Survivor: Family will 'stay together and just rebuild'

Scandals affecting public opinion of Obama administration?

Oklahoma: How you can help rescue teams on the ground

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Moore, Oklahoma resident: 'God, protect me. Protect me'

Transcript

Recommended