Rumsfeld Interviewed by Bill O'Reilly

Interview with Sec of Def Donald Rumsfeld by Bill Oreilly;
1) Bill; How are we safer now this election has taken place?
Sec; The violent extremists have said what they intend to do, bring down modern democracies, attack west, and determined to alter our way of life.. terrorism changes behavior.... our victory is maintaining our way of life.
We want to fight the terrorists in Iraq, not in US.

2) Bill; How was Saddam a threat with no WMD
Sec; Had used WMD on own citizens, shooting at our planes, giving $25,000 to suicide bombers.

3) Bill; Iraqi's would not wage a gorilla war after Saddam was dethroned; Was the Sec of Def wrong...
Sec; Did not anticipate the level of violence.

4) Bill ; VP Cheney said, Insurgencies in it's last throws?
Sec; Spurt of energy when particularly violent... I think the reality of these terrorists is they will not sign a cease fire... these may last 4,5,6 or 8 years. Those extremists are attacking a legitamite government elected by their own people.

5) Bill; Press is 75% against Bush, Jack Murtha becoming icon for antiwar movement... won't come on Factor because he can not defend his statements. He has old the world Sec is incompentent.
Sec; Tim Russert repeated Jack Murtha
Bill: You have to bat it down, you must say he does not know what he is talking about.
Sec; If I spent all my time, stating everything that is wrong... Others in congress are saying

6) Bill; Why is press coverage hostile to Iraq war
Sec; Franklin Roosevelt was vilified, Lincoln, truman pounded over Korean war... this is tough business.. this is what happens in war...if we stopped everytime some criticized our country, this would be a much different country

7) Bill; Is Dean using Iraq for political reasons?
Sec; I don't know what is in Dean's head....We can't lose the battles in Iraq, only in Washington...
Bill; Dean says we can't win this war...
Sec; That's utter nonsense

8) Bill; This time next year, Iraqi's can fight own battle
Sec; Every day they are taking more responsibility... the rib cage is more important.. how long does it take us to develop our commanding officers... then they have to connect the army to the police and the police to the intelligence... We will start drawing down from 160k to 137k after elections... from there it will be need based... 214k Iraq security forces to date.

9) Bill; Coerce interrogation, no one can use coercion
Sec; The military will not be effected... no implications or changes

Sec comments; The American people have donated billions of dollars for relief efforts in pakistan, here at home for Katrina and for the Tsunami victims. This is a great country!
Sec;