One Man's plan for Iran
I would simply say [to the NATO leadership], "Are you not entrusted with the security of Europe? Is that not your fundamental charter?" Iran has boasted that they have weapons that can hit you, they're making all kinds of antagonistic rhetoric--or at least the president is--toward the free world. If I were the military commanders in NATO, I'd say, "Wait a minute, you'd better at least sit down and devise a plan from our experience with the Cold War and see whether or not those principles are applicable."
You were recently in Afghanistan. How are things going there?
The situation there is very dangerous. Certainly, it has exceeded what we had been led to believe here in the Congress--that things were proceeding. ... Suddenly, here in the last several months, you've seen significant engagements with the security forces of Afghanistan and the security forces being provided by the United States and NATO.
What about Iraq's new government and the security climate there?
You've got to give this new government a reasonable time within which to seize the reins of full responsibility of a sovereign nation. But I do believe that we should be examining quietly, if they do not succeed in coming to grips with the full responsibilities of a sovereign nation--namely, provide the security for its people and also the infrastructure for people to have a daily life--then what do we do? I think you've got to begin to think out of the box a little bit ... as to how you would let the parts begin to function themselves, with still--hopefully--some central form of government. You've got to have that, because without a fair allocation of resources from the oil ... you will certainly find a civil war will break out.
I do not want to see our forces sucked into this trap of sectarian strife and being caught between the bullets flying to and from, in respect to Shia and Sunni. I don't want to see that. That's not what we sent our troops to do.
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