RUSSERT: Would you have any problem expanding President Bush's orders to the CIA to go after Osama bin Laden to include Saddam Hussein?
LIEBERMAN: Well, I leave that to the president. But as a matter of principle and morality, of course not.
RUSSERT: Senator McCain?
MCCAIN: I think Joe's right.
And I would just like to add one additional point. I believe that we will succeed. We will endure in Afghanistan. We will take out bin Laden, and we will take out the Taliban. And then we've got a major challenge of a stable government, but...
RUSSERT: How long will that take?
MCCAIN: I think the longer we give the impression that we're there for, the shorter it'll be. Because, as you quoted from articles earlier, they think they can outlast us. I don't think they can this time.
RUSSERT: Do you believe the American people will continue to stay with that campaign?
MCCAIN: Absolutely, and I think the president is doing a great job in leading America and making us aware of the challenge we face.
But I think the real crunch is going to come after Afghanistan is settled and then we have to address the other countries, including Iraq. That's where the coalition may not be so strong. That's where people like the Saudis and the French and many others may have real reservations. read the whole thing
What happened? Well, as we know, the Bush administration thought they had Afghanistan all wrapped up. You know, like Iraq, "mission accomplished." Who knows what this administration's line of thinking is. Nothing has been transparent. I don't even think George Bush knows. Dick Cheney and others are the holders of the keys to the Bush administration.
