FOX News -Transcript

Interview

FOX NEWS CHANNEL INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR JOHN CORNYN (R-TX)
SUBJECT: PETRAEUS/CROCKER HEARINGS INTERVIEWER: E.D. HILL

MS. HILL: Back to Washington, though, and back in the spotlight. General David Petraeus and Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker, testifying before the Senate again, fielding questions on Iraq for a second day -- right now in the Senate Foreign Relations committee and later today before the Senate Armed Services committee.

Joining us now is Texas Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Armed Services committee. And before I get to talk into their - about their testimony, I'd like to find out what, exactly, you did this morning in the wake of a disgraceful attack on the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus? The very far left group called Move- On put out an advertisement calling him "General Betray Us," and so far, I understand, only Joe Lieberman is the only Democrat who's come out to criticize that. Is that true?

SEN. CORNYN: It's shameful, E.D., and it is true. But this morning I introduced a resolution on the floor of the Senate and - inviting our colleagues on the Democrat side of the aisle to join us in condemning this despicable attack against this great patriot, ( ?) they tried to --

MS. HILL: And did they?

SEN. CORNYN: They objected to considering the amendment at that time, but we're going to keep coming back until we get a vote on it because they need, for their own sake, to separate themselves from the - from the irresponsible rhetoric of Move-On.org,, or else they need to be considered as part of a coordinated campaign.

MS. HILL: Can you - take me inside this, you've been in these hearings before. Now General Petraeus is sitting in front of people who have been asked for comment about this - this attack against him, and have said, well, you know, he's not a bad guy, but - and they add on all these caveats. What kind of tension does that create, if any?

SEN. CORNYN: Well, it's - it creates a lot of tension but, you know, we hear these statements like, "I support the troops, but we're not going to give them what they need in order to be successful." And I support General Petraeus, he was confirmed 81 to zero, unanimously, in the Senate, and now he's come back to report, to provide us the facts and people just simply close their ears and close their mind. And, unfortunately, we have irresponsible outside groups like Move- On.org try to undermine his character before he's even opened his mouth.

MS. HILL: Here's my impression - and I may be wrong, but when I listen to these hearings, I hear people do a lot of grandstanding. As my father used to say, they like to hear themselves talk. And they ask questions, and then they answer their own questions. If no one really changes their mind one way or the other, why do we bring them back from Iraq where, I would assume, they're certainly needed?

SEN. CORNYN: Well, that's a - that's a great question, and I think your observation is one that I've heard before. A lot of times, senators aren't so much interested in getting information as they are putting on a show and becoming the center of attention. Unfortunately, that's the opposite of what it should be. We should be allowing people like General Petraeus to testify and let the American people know what they know, which is so important to our future security.

MS. HILL: Yeah. What will you be trying to find out from the General and the Ambassador?

SEN. CORNYN: Well, I'm going to ask my colleagues on the Senate to join me - on the Senate Armed Services committee, in condemning this attack against his character. And, hopefully, we'll get some affirmative responses. But, basically, I want to know whether we are making progress -- according to early reports we are, and what his plan is for leaving Iraq in a - with the capability of governing and defending itself so that it doesn't become a failed state, so that al- Qaeda or Iran can fill that space and endanger American lives.

MS. HILL: All right. Well, please tell us how that - that request for the resolution supporting the general proceeds because, you know, when you're confirmed unanimously and then all of a sudden you come back and people are - then saying they've got doubts about your truthfulness and your dedication to the country, it raises some questions.

Senator Cornyn, thank you very much.

SEN. CORNYN: Thanks, E.D.

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