Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, our last two topics that will be addressed are Senator Cochran’s view on Defining Victory in Iraq and Bringing the Troops Home. Click here to read the previous topic, “Lobbying Reform.”

Defining Victory in Iraq

MS. WOODRUFF:  Senator, as you can imagine the war in Iraq has been a touchstone of the Talk to Power questions that have come in since we had our first guest back in August.  The comments and the questions we see seem to split fairly evenly between those who advocate a pullout and those who argue against it. 

Here’s what another reader has written in to you:  “I am now 65.  In my early years I consistently voted Republican because I believed in conservative principles.  But I am terribly disappointed in President Bush and the misrepresentations he made to gain acceptance of his war in Iraq.  My question to you:  what is President Bush’s definition of victory?  What is your definition?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, my definition of victory is to bring peace and stability to the region, to be a contributing factor and an influence in stopping the killing, stopping the conflicts, creating a stable environment, a democracy in Iraq so that the people there can determine what they want from their country for themselves.  Let them be the judge, not the United States.  I think that’s what President Bush wants.  He doesn’t want to take over the government and run it from Washington.  We can’t do that, and we’re not trying to do that.  We’re trying to give the people of Iraq a chance to run their own country in peace and stability in a very volatile and dangerous region of the world.

Bringing the troops home

MS. WOODRUFF:  So, Senator, to follow up to the question, if they are scared they are going asked, forced to leave Iraq, making what they’ve done pointless, is that a possibility?

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, I don’t know what the possibilities are.  There is a review being undertaken right now at the request of the president to help reassure us that we are doing the right thing, that we’re on the right track by being actively engaged in trying to bring this conflict to an end and create an opportunity for the people of Iraq to establish their own government that is strong enough to meet the needs of the people of that country.  We don’t want to run that country.  We have enough trouble running the United States here in our own government.  So, we know that we can’t be there for an unlimited period of time, but we think that in the near term, the soldiers and sailors who are in uniform now and marines, who are all contributing and risking their lives in many cases to stabilize the situation, are serving our national interests, and we appreciate their service very much.

Thanks for tuning in to the “Talk to Power” series!

Click here to see video footage of Senator Cochran’s response. Also, click here to see the full article on Yahoo News!