Fox News Network The Big Story with John Gibson - Transcript

HEADLINE: 100 People Killed in Car Bombings in Iraq; Interview with Rep. David Drier ® California and Rep. Adam Smith (D) Washington

GUESTS: Adam Smith, David Drier

BYLINE: Judge Andrew Napolitano, Kelly Wright

BODY:
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO, HOST: Good afternoon. This is THE BIG STORY. I'm Judge Andrew Napolitano in today for Judge Andrew Napolitano.

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REP. ADAM SMITH (D) WASHINGTON: Well, I think the storm is going to continue for a little while. The buildup to the June 30 deadline certainly is going to have a large amount of violence. I would imagine it's going to continue. Every expert I've talked to, all the military folks over there think that it's going to continue. But the key is getting to Iraqi sovereignty, getting to the Iraqis controlling the country. And the sooner the Iraqi people look at these attacks as what they are, which are attacks on the Iraqi people as opposed to thinking of it as being opposed to the U.S. occupation, the more help we will get from the Iraqis. And then they'll realize this civil war is against them and they need to stand up and fight with us, whatever they may think of our occupation. For them to have a secure future, they need to work with us to create that security situation and fight against these insurgents.

NAPOLITANO: You know, Congressman Drier, it does seem to be getting worse almost every day. Are the Iraqis-is the new government ready for sovereignty? Can they do a better job rowing this boat than we have done in the past six or eight months?

REP. DAVID DRIER ® CALIFORNIA: Well, I will tell you, I think Adam is absolutely right in talking about the fact that we're going to continue to go through difficult times. It's something that President Bush said the night that he announced his five-point plan. Many people had said there wasn't a plan, but very clearly there is a plan which begins with this handover and moves towards security, the training of 260,000 Iraqi troops, rebuilding the infrastructure, making sure that we expand the international coalition where it consists of 31 countries right now, Judge. And then, of course, elections, which is our ultimate goal. Is it going to be able to be handled better by Iraqis?

Well, I will tell you to have Iyad Allawi to stand up as the leader chosen by about 1,000 Iraqis, not installed by any member of the coalition, but really chosen as was President Ghazi al-Yawer by a coalition of Iraqis saying that the horrible action that we saw taking place today with nearly 90 people tragically killed-and our thoughts and prayers go out to them, and, of course, any of those Americans who were killed as well-but clearly they have described those, Judge, as infidels, which is a term that was used by Usama bin Laden and others criticizing us, so it's obvious that the Iraqi people are outraged with what's going on. And I think that they'll be able to step forward and provide leadership with our support-with the support of the coalition.

NAPOLITANO: Here is the concern of a lot of Americans, Congressman Drier. We'll get back to Congressman Smith in just a moment. If we take out a whole neighborhood in Fallujah looking for this guy Zarqawi, if Zarqawi is the guy behind the beheadings, if Zarqawi is the guy who has issued an assassination threat on the new president is there any ...

DRIER: New prime minister.

NAPOLITANO: Is there any more likelihood he will be found after the turnover rather than now when we're still in charge?

DRIER: Well, let me say this, there is little doubt whatsoever that the new leadership wants to bring an end to the activity of these blood- thirsty terrorists who are disrupting their country. So, you know, there is no cutting and running. The United States is going to continue to have a presence in Iraq for years to come. That's been made very clear. I believe that working in concert with now Ambassador Negroponte and others in the coalition that we will be able to vigorously pursue Zarqawi and any others who are responsible for the kinds of heinous acts that we've seen inflicted on the people of Iraq.

NAPOLITANO: All right, Congressman Smith, let's sort of slide into the political side of this. Would the Democrats have argued or have they argued that we should have had the turnover sooner or that the Iraqis are not ready and we shouldn't have the turnover next week?

SMITH: No, I think the turn over is at an appropriate point. I think this is when they are ready. As David mentioned, the appointments have been made. I think the more voices we can have that are Iraqi voices out there speaking against these insurgents, the more likely we are to get cooperation from the Iraqi people, which we desperately need to stop this insurgency. I think the main Democratic criticism is what happened between April of 2003 when Saddam Hussein's regime fell and April of 2004 when the violence really started escalating. A number of-a number of-I'm sorry. Go ahead, Judge.

NAPOLITANO: Let me put a recent poll up on the screen. Who does a better job-who was likely to do a better job of protecting the United States from terrorist attacks. Look at these numbers. After all that's been happening in Iraq during the past four or five months President Bush 49 percent, Senator Kerry 28 percent. What say you, Congressman Smith?

SMITH: Well, first of all, I've seen a lot of different polling numbers. There is no question that there are lot of polls out there that show growing concern with the president handling of the war on terror and the war on Iraq. The numbers have been going south for him for a long time. There was a recent poll for ABC News where the people even said they trusted John Kerry 48 percent to 47 percent to handle the war on terrorism. So the polls are all over the map. I don't think even David would argue with the fact that the president's polling numbers in these areas just went down.

NAPOLITANO: We just have a few seconds left. Congressman Drier, I will give you the last word.

DRIER: Since we are just talking about polling right now, the Fox News Opinion-Dynamics Poll just showed Bush at 47, Kerry at 40 in this most recent number. This is not about polls, Judge. What this is about is insuring the sovereignty of the people of Iraq and peace and stability, the rule of law, political pluralism and self determination. And, of course, to you, Judge, I'll say the rule of law again since that is of paramount importance to you.

NAPOLITANO: I appreciate it. Congressmen Adam Smith, Congressman David Drier, thank you for joining us.

SMITH: Always good to be with you. Thanks, Judge.

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