Fox News "Fox News Live" - Transcript

Interview

MS. KELLY: Well, for more now on what is at stake in this growing political crisis over in Pakistan, indeed, a state of emergency there, we are joined by Senator John Cornyn live from the Capitol.

Senator, thank you very much for being here with us.

SEN. CORNYN: Thanks, Megyn.

MS. KELLY: The White House, the White House now saying, urging Musharraf to return Pakistan to civilian rule, and basically, to release the somewhat 1,800 people who have been arrested since he declared a state of emergency. This whole thing got started because he wants to maintain power and the Supreme Court was coming down with a ruling that may have gone against him.

You know, I think a lot of Americans are worried because Pakistan has a nuclear weapon and we don't know who is running the country. Put it in perspective for us just how serious is this for Americans?

SEN. CORNYN: Well, Megyn, the military is the glue that's held together Pakistan as a nation and it is clearly in our self-interest, American self-interest for Pakistan to retain its stability such as it is and I think that means for the time being that Musharraf is willing to take whatever steps he thinks is necessary to keep the country together.

Clearly, it's not in our long-term self-interest because we want to see Pakistan, a democratic nation, not one ruled by a military dictator, but we don't - but we actually do not want to see it turn over to the hands of Islamic extremists, people who are targeting Benazir Bhutto, as well as President Musharraf and who would love to get their hands on those nuclear weapons.

MS. KELLY: Right. And Benazir Bhutto is this woman who runs this opposition group and she's said to be the heavy favorite for the prime minister when the elections go forward. She's been prime minister of Pakistan in the past. She said, reportedly she said in a telephone interview with CBS News, that she is worried the extremists in Pakistan will exploit this emergency rule and that there could be horrific consequences to Pakistan if they do.

Given that, what more, if anything, should the United States be doing in response to this crisis?

SEN. CORNYN: Well, I'm afraid there's not a whole lot we can do; it's a matter of the Pakistanis trying to control the situation themselves. Clearly, we believe in this country in democracy and self-determination. We're not seeing that now in essentially a military dictatorship under President Musharraf, but he is the stabilizing influence for the time being, but clearly it's not our investment in him as a person, but in a stable Pakistan ruled by whomever that is in America's self-interest.

MS. KELLY: Well, and that's exactly it. Is it the time right now to be sending a message that we, America, support the citizens of Pakistan and democracy in Pakistan and not so much Pervez Musharraf, who appears to have thrown out democratic reforms, so would say to promote his own self-interests right now?

SEN. CORNYN: I think you're clearly correct, but the concern I would have is that we not do anything that would contribute to the further destabilization of the country because, clearly, al Qaeda and Islamic extremists would love to get their hands on control of the government and its weapons, and that's something we should avoid at all costs.

MS. KELLY: Indeed. Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, thank you so much for being here with us. We appreciate your insights.

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