You're watching...
Alan talks with Sen. Joseph Lieberman about his call for intervention in Syria, his thoughts on the presidential race, and his plans after he leaves t...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Joseph Lieberman.
Well you know I just never.
Roles it's like that's and there are sure you vote -- -- with a Democratic Caucus.
Then -- I think if you.
Actually the left it was almost fifty thought -- shouldn't sit out of that the answer your questions program yes.
National Journal does this rank him liberal conservative votes.
The last six years of almost always been around 50% 4948.
Either -- -- -- vote independently.
Do you think -- we're -- -- you -- want to reveal who you might vote for MB as I really haven't decided.
Do you think the president has been as strong and Israel.
As he should be in his Mitt Romney.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Maybe it doesn't -- -- the -- agency claimed.
Part of that debate is whether or not the president and strong enough and you're good enough ally do you think he has been I think.
The president's record.
Has had its ups and downs with regard to Israel in other words the president will -- in those says.
That the military's.
Intelligence and intelligence relationship.
With Israel.
-- the united -- -- says under under his administration has been as good or better than before and I would -- that's right.
Now and -- sort of the political or diplomatic political and really being diplomatic the relationship between the heads of state some of the things the president.
Has said such as the speech in Cairo in the spring of 2009 -- Called for us so called settlement freeze and Israel is -- covered discussion about.
The 67 borders going back to them as a basis for negotiation -- thought those were mistakes and they create a lot of unease both in Israel and among the the supporters of Israel.
Jewish and Christian here in the United States.
Governor army has a right to say what I mean I am -- I gotta tell you I was thrilled when he said Jerusalem Israel because it is the capital.
Of -- ever been recognize -- -- for -- that's that's outrageous because most every other country in the world.
The United States has its embassy in the city the -- says is their capital.
Now in -- somebody believes that there will be no Israel.
Clearly.
Some part of Jerusalem.
Will be the capital of Israel I think our embassy or abusers or not since it was -- -- -- rather obvious that a friend Israel that are on Israel and noble -- I don't know because right now the spectrum of -- -- and a that was a good question -- let's.
-- -- -- -- And a US senate hearing about it I know I I it I don't and I'd say that the president's been better.
Over the last.
You're two that he wasn't the first year through producer.
You had a piece on Syria given him that he's out.
You say that our lack of active involvement on the ground in Syria also means that when the Assad regime finally does -- of the Syrian people are likely to feel.
-- little goodwill toward the United States.
Does that mean we should be on the ground there and -- should we be involved yet militarily we shouldn't be involved movements that you do you do that you put team that's an edit we -- -- because I can see you know can be confusing but we say at another point.
And McCain and Lindsey Graham -- -- -- did not -- today we don't.
Think there should under any circumstances be really American soldiers' boots on ground.
But we're we're we're really saying is that we -- the openly declaring our support of once the opposition side.
Give up on -- kind of UN process.
And in which is not frustrated by the Russians and the Chinese and give weapons to the Syrian opposition because right now -- are holding back is extending.
The fight longer I think and it's also given an opportunity to have groups ago credited to get in there and have a role.
In post Assad Syria did you say you talk about air power we should be involved.
At least well I think and it doesn't.
And Millen live view with together with allies in Europe in the Arab world -- used their power to.
Stop -- the Libyan planes from attack can.
That is Qaddafi is points from attacking the U Libyan freedom fighters that -- -- that article we say that we are hope to Syrian opposition set up.
For a safe zones and we may want -- to use airpower.
On to it to make sure there remains -- so that that you Syrian governments of partnerships and freighter aircraft and attack them just where we -- In Libya personality.
Not only did -- could -- get overthrown killed ultimately.
But of -- Libyan government seems to be a secular moderate and and a really good friend of the United States and hopefully.
The same will be true in Syria -- because we're so aggressive in Libya but not as much cancer.
You know there's not a logical reason for us Syria is much more strategically.
Important to us -- -- -- relationship.
-- -- number one enemy.
It in the middle is switches Iran.
Maybe it's because the Qaddafi was.
It's such a strange character there was user heroic people.
And in opposition to him but to the very same reasons that we gave for going Olivia remember.
That Qaddafi and his forces were moving toward the eastern city of Ben Ghazi -- thought -- was gonna be a humanitarian disaster will.
-- has done that and more on what I'm really -- head in over 20000 Syrians.
Of his own people that he's killed also there's no real excuse.
For not being involved there today and it's in our strategic interest obviously concerned about conflagration between Israel and Iran anytime maybe before the end of the year.
I don't know what the timing but I but I am -- and I think fuel industry totals -- -- when leaders of countries say the kinds of things that.
The are in leadership this about wiping Israel off the -- The threat it represents to the almost the entire Arab world which there are world.
Feels -- that -- remains are spreading now wants -- And the fact that there are pretty clearly -- every internationalist but rushing toward a nuclear weapon.
There's and there's a real danger in the regional some of them folks from the Arab countries -- it took to.
-- -- that if Iran gets -- and nuclear weapon that they'll be the first to be targeted for at least coercion.
Rather than Israel because Iranians.
Will be hesitant to take Israel on Israel go in military presence too powerful.
I mean that's a judgment for the Israelis and for us this our strategic interest lead -- to ask that question.
I say this and we're getting close to a point.
Where the question of whether there was some other way besides military power to stop the uranium.
And nuclear program is going to be.
Answerable because we're we're now applying the strongest possible since the strongest there -- sanctions on Iran.
We've had diplomatic conversations with -- at the so called.
An inch half an inch.
Away from their new so -- that change you think there's got to be so I think without change we're going to be can we and I think the Israelis decide what they'll decide are we in the united suits are going to be confront it was a judgment.
-- a choice to two alternatives either Iran's gonna go nuclear in the world will change the terrible corruption including for us.
Or we're gonna stop them militarily -- a year and -- decision when -- going to be either Republican or Democratic Convention no -- one of the great things about being an independent is that you don't have to go to either could even decided to no I have not been invited to do that makes me feel very good.
I headed by former vice president and how many do you do you wish you had the opportunity to me now I understand whether Democrats.
Have remembered.
As but I'm glad I don't wanna go -- and it's either convention I've had my fill of conventions and funder of this circus.
For forty plus you went out wherever tell -- As as you would expect to though gore and maybe maybe we we occasionally exchange emails I haven't sentimental while you still friendly.
Yes and I will always you know we've had disagreements since 2000 on this -- that.
But I will always be grateful to him because.
The choice of a vice presidential running time of the citizens governor Romney is about to make the choice -- next couple weeks maybe sooner.
Is the most singular exercise of power in American national politics and I don't mean.
President has enormous powers commander chief to go to war for instance.
But this is a decision at one man Mitt Romney movement.
And now Al Gore won -- gave me this extraordinary opportunities in 2000 and broke a barrier took a risk you were Jewish American.
A chance to run for national office and that since game expresses confidence in the American people.
And at the moment and appreciate so union center of the -- is assaulting a gift of rest.
And it's now in paperback by senator Joseph Lieberman thing.
