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Discussion with Lawrence Eagleburger

Aired November 27, 2003 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: What do you think this means for the troops that we see there, and not just the troops that were in that mess hall, but obviously the word is out, and the 130,000 or so U.S. forces on the ground in Iraq are aware by now that the commander-in- chief was there. What do you think that means to them?
LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER: I think it means a lot. And I tell you, particularly since they've been taking it on the nose here for the last month or so. You know, a death every day or so. And I think the fact that the president came and took some personal risk himself, by the way, in doing so, I think that probably tells them a great deal about not only their president, but about how the country thinks about what they're doing. And certainly, even if a lot of Americans may not agree that they should be there at all, the fact of the matter is, I don't think any American would have anything but praise for the president demonstrating to those kids, those men, that we all know what they're doing for us.

So I think in every respect, I can't think of anything that was wrong with this idea. And if people want to argue that it's pure politics, they can argue it. But I don't believe it for a minute.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk, though, for just a moment about -- you mentioned that the troops there have been taking it on the chin.

EAGLEBURGER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: A photo opportunity like this, while it is good -- maybe the term is theater. Whatever it is, good morale booster for the troops, however you want to describe it, doesn't wash away the reality on the ground there in Iraq, does it?

EAGLEBURGER: No, it doesn't. But what it does do -- and I can't emphasize this enough, either -- even in two hours, the fact of the matter is the president still put himself in harm's way. And I think that says to the GIs more than any other thing could say, that he really does believe in what they're doing and he's prepared to demonstrate that by putting himself at some risk as well. And I can't emphasize enough, I think, the fact that he went there on his own and stayed there with them for a while and where he could have been in some serious difficulty is going to have a major impact on the morale of the troops that stay there.

O'BRIEN: And one final thought. We haven't really talked about this, because the president did address some of his remarks directly to the Iraqi people. He also spent some time with the Iraqi Governing Council. Do you think that will make any difference one way or the other to the Iraqi people, despite all the things that they face right now?

EAGLEBURGER: Not very much, if I can be blunt about it. I think it may make a difference to the Governing Council, depending on what he said to them. But I think the Iraqi people -- well, yes, it will make a difference for a while, because they will be impressed that he came. But at the same time, they will note that he didn't really spend any time with them, and he couldn't for security reasons. I think it's much more a message to Americans and to those GIs, at least a much more lasting message than it is to the Iraqis, although I suppose it will make some difference, but not a lot.

O'BRIEN: Lawrence Eagleburger, thank you very much for taking time from your Thanksgiving holiday to spend it with us. We do appreciate it.

EAGLEBURGER: Thank you, sir. And Happy Thanksgiving.

O'BRIEN: Same to you.

EAGLEBURGER: OK. Bye-bye.







Aired November 27, 2003 - 15:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: What do you think this means for the troops that we see there, and not just the troops that were in that mess hall, but obviously the word is out, and the 130,000 or so U.S. forces on the ground in Iraq are aware by now that the commander-in- chief was there. What do you think that means to them?
LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER: I think it means a lot. And I tell you, particularly since they've been taking it on the nose here for the last month or so. You know, a death every day or so. And I think the fact that the president came and took some personal risk himself, by the way, in doing so, I think that probably tells them a great deal about not only their president, but about how the country thinks about what they're doing. And certainly, even if a lot of Americans may not agree that they should be there at all, the fact of the matter is, I don't think any American would have anything but praise for the president demonstrating to those kids, those men, that we all know what they're doing for us.

So I think in every respect, I can't think of anything that was wrong with this idea. And if people want to argue that it's pure politics, they can argue it. But I don't believe it for a minute.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk, though, for just a moment about -- you mentioned that the troops there have been taking it on the chin.

EAGLEBURGER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: A photo opportunity like this, while it is good -- maybe the term is theater. Whatever it is, good morale booster for the troops, however you want to describe it, doesn't wash away the reality on the ground there in Iraq, does it?

EAGLEBURGER: No, it doesn't. But what it does do -- and I can't emphasize this enough, either -- even in two hours, the fact of the matter is the president still put himself in harm's way. And I think that says to the GIs more than any other thing could say, that he really does believe in what they're doing and he's prepared to demonstrate that by putting himself at some risk as well. And I can't emphasize enough, I think, the fact that he went there on his own and stayed there with them for a while and where he could have been in some serious difficulty is going to have a major impact on the morale of the troops that stay there.

O'BRIEN: And one final thought. We haven't really talked about this, because the president did address some of his remarks directly to the Iraqi people. He also spent some time with the Iraqi Governing Council. Do you think that will make any difference one way or the other to the Iraqi people, despite all the things that they face right now?

EAGLEBURGER: Not very much, if I can be blunt about it. I think it may make a difference to the Governing Council, depending on what he said to them. But I think the Iraqi people -- well, yes, it will make a difference for a while, because they will be impressed that he came. But at the same time, they will note that he didn't really spend any time with them, and he couldn't for security reasons. I think it's much more a message to Americans and to those GIs, at least a much more lasting message than it is to the Iraqis, although I suppose it will make some difference, but not a lot.

O'BRIEN: Lawrence Eagleburger, thank you very much for taking time from your Thanksgiving holiday to spend it with us. We do appreciate it.

EAGLEBURGER: Thank you, sir. And Happy Thanksgiving.

O'BRIEN: Same to you.

EAGLEBURGER: OK. Bye-bye.