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Former Rep. Duncan Hunter, (R-Calif.), on Iraq’s political future and the country’s security concerns now that U.S. troops have left.
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Clearly latest round of violence on next guest says President Obama.
Has failed to acknowledge the US victory in Iraq the fact that there is now an elected government and Iraqi military holding firm.
And a critical new ally instead of enemy in the Middle East joining us now former congressman Duncan Hunter.
Who's served as the chairman of the armed services that committee and thank you so much for joining us tonight.
Mr.
hunter.
This -- -- being left there I mean how how concerned are you that this could really disintegrate into civil.
War.
Well actually I think it's very clear that Iraq doesn't come wrapped in a neat package never has never well.
But the but let's take first -- first the American military that one million American volunteers.
Did win decisively the Iraq War.
And the Anbar Province in the west they turned the Sunni tribes against al-Qaeda they turned those tribes on al-Qaeda crush them.
The surge came about and 2007 and stabilize Baghdad.
And while you had ten attacks today that's true and and at one time and the war we had 100 attacks a day every day.
So it's true that that there's a crises situation right now and the key obviously is reconciliation.
Not at the top between Sunni and Shiite.
And the administration has done something right in that they have.
General David Petraeus and general Ray Odierno who were battlefield commanders.
In theater commanders.
And notebook the players well they have a close relationship with ballot -- professional relationship that they had for a long time on the ground.
I would suggest that they need to get a a couple of the old hands up people like general John Kelly.
Or Sean McFarland of the US army who work with the Sunnis and have the trust of Sunni leaders.
And -- and have them camp close to the vice president.
And try to bring about a reconciliation.
Of -- they don't have to bring about friendships but bring about a reconciliation.
Well.
The fact of the troops have pulled out now -- -- does that open the dual full Iran.
It doesn't in my estimation for this reason.
You know when when the first Iraqi division went down -- wiped out the Mahdi Army that was headed by Muqtada Al slaughter.
In Basra in 2008 you may -- call -- And at.
In the next election Al solders party only got five point 9% of the vote and it showed us that the Iraqi People are nationalistic.
In fact they pushed back against all the parties that were perceived to have.
A close relationship with Iran -- have to remember they had some vary in duration and dying and dead and vicious wars.
What -- -- so I see a nationalism in Iraq.
That will keep.
I ran from from being able to go above lot of what I would call the meddling stage.
To a dominating stage in in Iraq.
I wanna get to Afghanistan before our time runs out the US commander in Afghanistan not announcing an American troops could stay in my country beyond 2014.
Pull out.
You know you want to talk about a country that's just so difficult to get a handle on Afghanistan has to be it.
Very very difficult -- I I think the best thing that could be done right now.
Is to throw -- surveillance curtain over that 15100 mile border.
Between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
With aerial assets that is with with manned and unmanned aircraft with about a six or ten -- revisit rate along that border.
To -- groups from from coming out of Pakistan and making making substantial strikes.
In Afghanistan.
But the other thing we need to do right now which is a presidential mission is that's.
The allies to 26 plus other nations.
Look better again that Afghanistan right now are not shouldering the their share of the burden we're taking more more casualties than the other 26 nations.
Together the French ever rule that they don't go to the battle -- the Germans however ruled they won't leave the Ford at night.
And and this is something where the president of the United States need to meet with national leaders and bring them -- to the fight in Afghanistan.
But I think we have -- I think we still have a good chance of being able to to.
Stabilize Afghanistan in the same way that we get Iraq where at least they can keep.
They can keep an insurgent group.
From gaining enough critical momentum to be able to damage American interest very good thank you so much congressman Duncan Hunter the joining us some idea about.
What's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan thank you.
