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[0:00] ..." Senator McCain has set up over and over again that you supported a timetable for phased withdrawal from Iraq is that true. Absolutely unequivocal"...
[0:34] ..." wrong I do not support that never have we've had. We've and Senator McCain pointed to an interview I had back then that April. With ABC what I said that our president and there Prime Minister should have timetables and milestones we have timetables and milestones for progress we're making together. But I never suggested a date specific to withdraw and actually she asked -- question. The next question was if congress -- to give you -- specific for withdrawal would you senator Vito -- be -- it. I'm opposed to setting a specific date for withdrawal by the way we've had since that time. 1012 debate Senator McCain never raise that question. In any of those debates -- from what wondered what my position was he did it could have raised by instead of what about time and time again. And let him make it absent clear -- it again tonight. I will not pull our troops out until we have brought success in Iraq and that means for me. That we do not have safe havens for Al Qaeda or Hezbollah or anyone else. But our troops have secured the public the population that kind of threat that they would not"...
[2:50] ..." time I won't -- and I'm. It's time we didn't want to weigh in because -- governor I was out there on the front lines -- my friends saying we not only can't withdraw. What we"...
[4:46] ..." we have waited in late in the weeds until we leave. Then Al Qaeda would have won and we wouldn't be facing him disasters just. He's just being discussed this McLaren by both of them for"...
[4:59] ..." Senator McCain the quote is from governor Romney energy emitted according actual -- as well there's no question that the president Prime Minister --"...
[6:28] ..." Against -- radical Islamic extremism -- that many times I want Senator McCain and I continue to raise. I want -- to I don't know how many of the had to respond to -- accusation"...
[6:42] ..." just focus on this this session want. Which is the issue that's Senator McCain raised which is actually going to be quite my next question view was that. You were asked to go back in the surge when you were governor and you did say he would not take position this was in January. Proceeding December of 20062 months later you announce your running for president Y two months before you're running for president re not going to take a position. On supporting or not supporting mr."...
[0:00]" Senator McCain has set up over and over again that you supported a timetable for phased withdrawal from Iraq is that true. Absolutely unequivocal -- figured that word -- unequivocally absolute no. I have never ever support this specific timetable for exit from Iraq and its offensive to me that some would suggest that I have. And I have noted that everyone from time magazine bill Bennett over there's two. Actually CNN's own analyst at is that it was a lie. As -- did it wrong I do not support that never have we've had. We've and Senator McCain pointed to an interview I had back then that April. With ABC what I said that our president and there Prime Minister should have timetables and milestones we have timetables and milestones for progress we're making together. But I never suggested a date specific to withdraw and actually she asked -- question. The next question was if congress -- to give you -- specific for withdrawal would you senator Vito -- be -- it. I'm opposed to setting a specific date for withdrawal by the way we've had since that time. 1012 debate Senator McCain never raise that question. In any of those debates -- from what wondered what my position was he did it could have raised by instead of what about time and time again. And let him make it absent clear -- it again tonight. I will not pull our troops out until we have brought success in Iraq and that means for me. That we do not have safe havens for Al Qaeda or Hezbollah or anyone else. But our troops have secured the public the population that kind of threat that they would not have safe havens from which they could launch attacks against us. And if there's any misunderstanding. Those words should make it perfectly clear as have every single debate that I -- fifteen debates. I do not propose nor have I ever proposed a public or secret date for withdrawal is is simply wrong. And by the way raising it a few days before they. The Florida primary. When there was very little time for me to correct the record when the question that was most frequently asked to sell your for specific date of withdrawal. Sort of falls on the kind of dirty tricks that I think Ronald Reagan would have found to be reprehensible --"
[2:13]" Okay."
[2:19]" Well of course he said he wanted to timetable. Before that. We have to understand that we lost the 2006 election and the Democrats thought that they had a mandate. The thought they had a mandate to get us out of Iraq. And I was prepared to sacrifice whatever was necessary and that in order to stand up when I believe him. Now on December. Of 2006 after the election governor Romney was asked when he thought about the search he said at that time I won't -- and I'm. It's time we didn't want to weigh in because -- governor I was out there on the front lines -- my friends saying we not only can't withdraw. What we got to have an additional. And additional troops over there in order for us to have a chance to succeed. Than an April. April was a very interest the year 2007. That's when Harry Reid said the worst lost and we got to get out. And the buzz word was timetables timetables governor of the writing answered that question was no. Not what you said and that was we will we don't want to have to lay had -- in the weeds until we leave and O'Malley key. And the president should enter into some kind of agreement for quote. Timetables timetables listen."
[3:40]" Buzz word I would -- senator that I wisely and well why don't -- my success unless he's in the actual quote actual club. Nationalities as we don't want them -- in the weeds until we leave that is the actual quote. When I'm -- fact checkers he wanted to know he's the timetable. Force until we was senator the local army. And that is what I had not been slated to -- is prepared to have the person who's being accused of having a position he doesn't have. -- the expert on what his position is how is it that you're the expert on my position. But my position has been very."
[4:18]" I -- this is -- the way and I'm government. You couldn't -- that's secured that's exactly why we're having the the fight that's a suspect why is that's -- that I have fought for this surge I have said we need to have this succeed. I know the situation in Iraq and I am proud. Who have supported this president and supported. The fact that we are succeeding in Iraq today that you believe in god if we have waited in late in the weeds until we leave. Then Al Qaeda would have won and we wouldn't be facing him disasters just. He's just being discussed this McLaren by both of them for people. Welcome skirmishes."
[4:59]" Senator McCain the quote is from governor Romney energy emitted according actual -- as well there's no question that the president Prime Minister -- Melky about. Have to have a series of timetables and milestones they speak a thousand miles and those shouldn't be for public pronouncement you don't want the enemy to understand how long they have to wait in the weeds until you're going to be gone. You don't de passe it's -- That means that we relieved that it's open to interpretation of how hot sun relay I'm sorry senator it's our question on this your first on this you have to have. -- have it could not weighing in as governor. On the search when it received critically this. Justice is a look at -- how you respond and you do oh the going to be gone laying in the weeds questions this tiny tables what's the buzz words and for those who want to get out. About deconstruction and you're saying point blank you do not want to get out and what did you mean by that statement."
[5:51]" Big that we have a series of timetables and milestones for working on the progress is -- making the progress we're making the rule of law what they're soldiers are doing what our soldiers are doing how many how many troops -- able to recruit and how well trained are they. As a matter of fact the individual last in the following question do you have a specific time would you support congress that they give a specific time and I stood at all of us get by the way this has been around. If this was a question. It could been raised in April -- on the second issue that was raised. I want period during which raised three times -- times is whether you have experience and judgment to lead this country in the war. Against -- radical Islamic extremism -- that many times I want Senator McCain and I continue to raise. I want -- to I don't know how many of the had to respond to -- accusation that they let me get right to look I was you have."
[6:41]" all right let's just focus on this this session want. Which is the issue that's Senator McCain raised which is actually going to be quite my next question view was that. You were asked to go back in the surge when you were governor and you did say he would not take position this was in January. Proceeding December of 20062 months later you announce your running for president Y two months before you're running for president re not going to take a position. On supporting or not supporting mr."
[7:08]" Look as governor of the state there a lot of issues about federal election that I take a position I was running a state. My responsibility for running -- state when I became a governor I took a whole series of positions on national issues that's normal and natural with regards to the surge. The briefing that I receiver -- early briefing from Fred -- the size of our military after received that I said I support increasing our military by at least a 100000. And then just -- the president's announcement of the surge I spoke again with trade Fred Kagan. And he laid out the philosophy of the surge his vision -- you know many consider him one of the authors of the surge idea. And and what he gave me that report -- that was my staff and announced that day. That I supported a surge the president announced later that day the entire program so I supported as a candidate for president number one number two. Hundreds do with regard to this idea that I favor a specific date for withdrawal I do not. We had I believe since that interview that that senator -- we've had ten or twelve debates he's never raise that issue with me. He never said you predict specific I've been asked that question. Time and again last debate we had I said I will not leave Iraq until we have secured Iraq and make sure -- never become a safe haven. And and what's interesting here is it's an attempt to do that the Washington style old politics which is laid a charge out there. I think the regardless of whether true or not don't check. Don't talk of the candidate just throw it out there. Did in the media industry there's not a single. Media source that I've seen that had said it was a reprehensible even that's a given the New York Times and it was brought the Washington Post. The what they endorsed in the Washington Post gave -- three Pinocchio is for it it's simply. It's simply wrong I want you and the senator house and senate and the final comment on this subject and that we allow more about Iraq we're going to talk the other guy's got -- throughout time."
[9:05]" The debate it wasn't clear it wasn't in when he said that when he said in December it was after the election. President bush fire Rumsfeld and we announced that we -- going to happen strategy. That was a critical time timetables was buzzwords times tables were the ones. As far as Washington type politics is concerned. I think my friend governor Huckabee sir will have to ask the millions of dollars of attack ads and negative edge leveled against him and Iowa. Millions of dollars are attacking did you attack against me in New Hampshire and have. Ever since a lot of that your own money you're free to do with -- what you want you can spend at all. But the fact is that negative ads my friends are -- and set the tone unfortunately in this campaign. I save you again. Debate after the election 2006. -- whether we -- going to have obtained timetables for withdrawal are not timetables were in the bus were. That was in Iraq study group that was what the Democrats and we wanted to do. Your answer should have been no"
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