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Fmr. CIA Officer Michael Scheuer on the lack of any U.S. national interest for the war in Libya and Obama’s withdrawal plans in Afghanistan.
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-- the former head of the CIA's bin Laden unit Michael -- good to have you with us Michael thank you well let's start with first Libya.
The geopolitics of it -- national interest of our being there aren't -- give us your assessment.
There is no national interest for the United States to be -- -- humanitarian aid is not something you go to war about.
What we saw today in congress is the fact that in terms of foreign policy and war Americans are now governed by a monarch not I have elected president.
You know I guess you have to go to Harvard to see is somehow that this is not a war.
It's it's a ridiculous situation and what we're at what we end up doing first of -- is is providing.
Air support for people who are basically the Taliban but there in Libya.
The second thing we're doing is giving -- Islamist groups whether it's al-Qaeda for the Libyan Islamic group where the Egyptian groups.
A huge advantage and opportunity together weaponry and -- free people from jails.
This is going to be something we're going to regret for a long time we're destabilizing.
Another area.
Just as the Iraq war in Afghanistan destabilize the Persian gulf.
The Iraq War -- stabilize in the gulf region.
Now North Africa -- -- say destabilize.
Even before our engagement but certainly this.
Not stabilizing it and anyway I would certainly either agree -- about.
Pakistan.
Now revelations that.
That there are -- for direct relations apparently that are just be coming -- known as a result of looking at the at the numbers.
In Osama bin Laden's couriers phone.
Are are we really surprise that there are relationships.
Between Osama bin Laden.
Al-Qaeda and they -- -- the ISI.
Pakistan.
We shouldn't be -- That -- whatever's come out to date so fire from the rate at Osama bin Laden regarding relations.
Between al-Qaeda the Afghan Taliban the Pakistani government this group today -- -- -- That was all -- in a late ninety's the early part of this century -- Bit of a -- to the American people is coming from.
The fact that President Bush and President Obama have always identified Pakistan is very strong as a very strong ally.
The pakistanis.
As any nation state look out for themselves first.
In my own mind I I'm rather tired of the United States government looking for other people to do what we should be doing for ourselves.
You very seldom find any other person that's willing to do your dirty work.
And to depend on the Pakistan needs to do something that would hurt their country is counter intuitive and childish.
And that's what we've been doing for the past decade.
Counter intuitive and childish Michael as you say then I suspect that many people watching and listening to your right now or thinking of a host of issues.
Some more domestic -- international which that can also apply.
But staying on the in foreign policy if you will and our geopolitical interest in that particular reason South Asia.
What should we be doing in Afghanistan.
Is it time for withdrawal.
Give us your assessment of that which -- No what -- what I have argued is that we should never send American kids Marines and soldiers men and women.
Overseas to fight a war we don't intend to win.
We did -- in Iraq we did get in Afghanistan.
The president is being -- praised now for this slow withdrawal.
Of people from Afghanistan.
We can't control any single part of their country with a number of troops we have there now.
It's only gonna get worse as the president draws down 33000.
Troops.
So what he's done basically is surrender.
And they have for that he's being applauded which I must say something about the contemporary American character also.
But I think it's important to think about what the president's words last Wednesday said to the Muslim world.
It said that the world's greatest superpower is folding its hand.
And going to withdraw without accomplishing anything it started out to do in Afghanistan.
And just as the first defeat of a superpower the Soviets.
Galvanize their generation of Osama bin Laden.
To become anti American job -- the defeated the second super -- will have the same galvanizing effect on the next generation.
The president it is really.
It very it either very ignorant or just very calculating.
In that talking to the American people.
About the cost of withdrawing.
Get it in in the sense of losing that war and that's exactly what he's doing.
-- sure thank you for being with us we appreciate.
