Colin Powell talks Afghanistan, race for the White House

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Eight general -- times this is security advisor everything you know Angry Birds have -- our idea and I take it see you leave little -- that it's got a government.

Yeah they had a government could be good for your health.

-- don't kid a we're gonna talk a little bit about your book and and it's terrific in it in a minute or two but first we're gonna talk a little bit about some stuff in the news.

I -- play for you sound byte of the present United States talking about Afghanistan and in or getting out over there right okay here's a president with smoothness.

I don't think that there's ever going to be and an optimal point where we say this is all done.

This is perfect this is just the way we wanted to and now we can.

-- Wrap up all our equipment and and go home so I think good that the timetable that we've established is a sound one.

It is a responsible one.

Are there risks involved and it absolutely.

Can I anticipate that over the next.

Two years there are going to be some bad moments along with some good ones.

Absolutely.

Absolutely so there is -- Americans can't wait for Afghanistan to be.

Perfect it's never going to be perfect I don't think it will be perfect and I think his statement with a rather.

So over one and very factual in terms of the situation that we -- -- and I think it's wise to say okay look at the end of 2013.

We will finish -- active combat operations.

Continue to face down and remove ourselves by 2014.

Not entirely leave trainers behind -- relief support people we had.

Sooner or later the Afghans have to take over responsibility for their own country and it is their country and they've been training hundreds of thousands of people would do it so.

How long I mean you know it's a very process of proposition.

Absolutely -- -- David Sanger in his new book in the New York Times says the president made his decision before -- -- -- -- could even come home from.

War and present his options and up until the last six weeks the secretary of defense Robert Gates as secretary of state Hillary Clinton -- even consulted does that concern you.

I -- -- it was true I don't know that is true I'm quite sure that David was consulted throughout the process it may not be that he was there every day.

But my recollection of that period and I was talking to people and met with the president during that period you're getting advice from lots of people.

I mean -- -- -- steady meetings and I think he had a firm idea of what the military was recommending to him.

Whether they were home or not he knew what they were recommending to him.

He had send questions about what they were recommending but -- was taken into account before in his decision.

Season I think it's true but if it was true it would well the troops what it's true the truth that he never consulted with David Petraeus I don't think that's right.

The fact that he never consulted with Hillary or about -- I don't think that's right.

I think -- the word was into the final yet into the last six weeks.

They.

I'm not quite sure of the exact point that David is making.

Let's go into the other part of a potent political -- right now our situation scenario as it is four years ago you decided as a Republican to endorse President Obama.

And I know that you're not ready yet to say whether or not you're gonna do that -- you called him a transformational figure why wouldn't you be able to endorse him right now.

Thoughts for years later it's an election period number of private citizen and I know I always take my time to examine -- options.

And I came out this week on television to them on a book tour not a promotional and -- This New York yes or you need yes secretary just you and unanswered and I'm not rated very good -- -- and spent four years ago you said you know we were in a whole economically and you said that that you felt that.

Barack Obama would be better economically lead the country out of the hole than John McCain.

There was no doubt in my mind at that time was pretty convincing.

The Senator Obama at that time -- surrounded himself with some rather Smart gifted people.

And when I looked at the McCain campaign and look I'm an old friend of thirty years -- John McCain I heard about Joe The Plumber.

-- and they really was no plan to rescue and in fact in the subsequent years.

The financial system has been stabilized automobile industry has been saved the unemployment -- still to the -- and not moving as well situated so still have challenges ahead.

It's a -- the guy to do it or is Mitt Romney guy who's got experience run and -- state run in the Olympics run a company.

That's the judgment the American people make and I will have to make in due course I must say that.

The -- the need for me to endorse anybody right now is really not there I'll take my time.

And when I feel appropriates it will eventually make an -- -- may or may not that's the beauty of my situation.

Yeah.

At -- and it says it does all the -- wanna -- I -- his vote.

I think the interesting thing is that the two parties appear to be so -- -- right now the especially when it comes to economic policies.

And how exactly to try and fix the economy so I think that's why people want to know what you'll do this time around because you -- the President Obama would do a good thing for the economy.

And now since both parties -- to be so polarized on how to attack that.

That's what people want to know what you think.

I'm not happy with either party right now and their plans to attack.

I wish they had adopted the plan that have been put before them by some some bulls.

Which -- -- both sides with pain.

Good to rally around because required everybody that you would give and compromise and -- and my -- my standards be -- if I mean my standard speech around the country is that.

If Arafat on his -- -- four months could create.

This great nation and write a constitution.

By arguing with -- each other but compromising with -- each other if you don't compromise you can't get consensus and the country has nothing.

To you know rally behind.

And we still do what we seem to -- -- their ability to compromise and you know I think what you guys just knock off the hearings go have a couple of drinks.

Click back yet pinnacle -- -- -- -- -- thing right now that's of these cities try first came in the governor's senior level.

These guys didn't hate each other they went after each other all day long and went bashing each other able famously able Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill you famously fight like cats and dogs during the day and it might have that's him that's how the country functions and if you doubtful about that the countries -- -- But you know leadership he wrote books about leadership his latest book is about leadership that.

But the present commission the bipartisan council which would have given him cover to say listen -- put Republicans on their to senator Simpson.

Is a Republican this is their recommendations.

I'm gonna go for it.

Is that good leadership to ignore.

He had his own reasons for it not using it I thought it was a good outcome.

And I know both you gentlemen and the people who -- -- it remember he had to create that body because congress refused right to put together a body shouldn't have been what is congress doing business with congress.

And Evan -- that they remember senator journalists out -- gut congressman chairman -- was on there so is that good leader I didn't ignore it I didn't I don't know that the Republicans and lead bottom and sides -- the greatest thing that -- like -- president.

But who passes laws who actually who actually drying up the bill.

Sure that the president of the congress passes the legislation in the appropriate to the point and what I got a question for you were your ears burn -- In the last 2448 hours because Jay Carney was asked about your endorsement and here's what he said about why you should endorse the guy who currently -- a -- with.

In the national security.

Realm.

Which.

Has I think particular resonance with general Powell the president's record has been.

Judge to be exemplary by outside.

Observers and commentators.

And -- national security what craving -- Jay Carney speaking for me now.

-- But that they use the in my life and I can speak for myself and I'm free to do that and I am.

Sometimes very supportive of -- person sometimes I will be critical when the criticism is a.

-- -- so let's move on this next topic what do you think about this judicial watch is now coming out and saying.

The potentially President Obama gave the administration gave classified information about the Osama bin Laden raid.

To Hollywood movie maker.

And some of the interviews at the seals had given may have gone to this Hollywood filmmaker who do you think about that.

Well I don't know I don't what I don't know anything about this story is that it just breaking this morning investment knowledge and so I don't know what was given what was not get an assistant judicial watch report.

But it is not that unusual after an action.

You start to provide it be classified or unclassified or if it's not sensitive anymore information to help people understand what happened.

I mean when I was with President Bush and Vice President Cheney use of problem about what it happened and Vice President Cheney took a classified document into the president and declassified on the spot and then gave it to the press.

And so without knowing the specific facts of the case out of those -- would concern you know it was if -- it was highly classified information it was still classified as still being protected and in a classified matter.

Then that would give me some concern but I don't know the facts and Navy SEALs are all over the place these days reading writing books -- -- interviewed and whatnot.

Lessons and they're great guys get an interview and can disagree for a couple -- -- we have lots more question.

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Colin Powell talks Afghanistan, race for the White House

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