Rove Reacts

" That's enough now -- top story tonight let's bring in Fox News analyst call role. One of the few defenders of the bush administration's anti terror policies which rose in Washington are you surprised. That this. Skirmish broke out this week you know we thought it was done. With Obama saying he didn't want this in any -- and and get back into the headlines -- surprise."

" I really am remember a week ago yesterday last Thursday the interrogation memos were released. On Sunday the team Obama sent key aides to the president all the Sunday shows to say. No recriminations that basically shut it down after they had several days worth of pushed back by the left. Monday they got more pushed back by the left and then on Tuesday President Obama appeared to flip flop by saying I'm now in favor of these investigations. But by yesterday by Thursday there have been some sanity. Reaffirmed and White House and he backed away from and in meetings with congressional leaders it was smart to do so. To step back from -- it was not very smart to have done what he did on Tuesday a table of the interesting things. About that to me is I don't think this was done with a lot of pre thought on the part of the president because he made those remarks on Tuesday. And -- appearance with. King Abdullah of Jordan. It was also the day that they were trying to get president George W. Bush to have come to Washington to appear at a signing. Of the -- bill with President Clinton the Senator Kennedy and senator hatch so. Obviously they weren't thinking no big deal about about what they're going to say on the -- the president George W. Bush might have been in town if they were -- same -- be calling for investigation of key members in this in this."

" This isn't warriors who does is it worrisome number one I think the president back to -- because he saw the Rasmussen poll and other polls I'm sure he took his own. That shows 60% of the American people said this is ridiculous and that cuts across party lines. But the second thing is that that president Obama's got I'm and I don't want to be you know this world better than than anyone I was critical of President Bush. While you were his major advisor for not. For not coming back in defending his administration's strong enough and and allowing people who hated him to define him and I told I -- my last interview with a -- to look. You're making a mistake. Letting these people to find your administration -- saying nothing you're not above this -- representing me and other Americans you're the president now we have a president. Who's not showing leadership in this area this is a destructive area that's what worries me. This this can -- care of the country apart in a time when President Obama needs to bring the country together. Now well and."

" And look if it's so bad on so many ways let's let's set the policy implications this aside the implication we're gonna. Criminally prosecute previous administrations for political differences but you're right -- It would tear the country apart it would also send a signal that all you had to do if you -- the left -- was screaming check out. -- throw a temper tantrum and you've been in his way it would be a confirmation of weakness. You different from front and an aide Maggie ability that you don't want to be seen as having if your present -- United States but it and alas that's where we are. He was that he was against any retribution that he was for investigations and now he's backed off that again. We'll see if that sticks but but the -- green image is one of of a lack of resolute us in a willingness or ability to push him around."

" just not not understanding the leadership that he has to show at this point he's you know -- the job so. Maybe that's it all right let's go to Pakistan because this is extremely troubling. You've got to -- variation there. And again you know the people hated Musharraf and -- screaming about my sharp and leave for -- was able to keep this country from blowing up. I have a weak central government and an army that -- that apparently not going to fight the Taliban Taliban are moving closer and closer. To Islam a bad so what do you think."

" Well it's dangerous for us and hand. They're not a lot of good news in all this this is a nuclear armed nation. That -- been made an important strategic ally in the United States you're right it is led by an ineffective government that has gotten less popular as time goes on because it alternatively appeased or negotiated with the Taliban. And then tried to confront them and did so unsuccessfully. We've got very few cards to play -- S I think the administration has not done as well -- should've. Remember we started off not particularly good shape with Pakistan because during the -- course of the campaign. Obama talked about how he'd gone to Pakistan after you graduate from college this was foreign policy experience they weren't impressed -- that. Then when he needed to demonstrate toughness he said he was willing to invade Pakistan he -- as secretary of state wisely to Asia as her first trip -- didn't bother going to India or Pakistan. And then most import of all is. -- our policies in Iraq and Afghanistan have created the image that we're not a reliable ally and we might cut and run on so their choice -- Do we do we stand with and I'm dependable ally in the United States of America or do we cut a deal with some people we don't like it right now they're tilting towards cutting a deal. All the deals if they -- overthrow our government to look I mean he can do the math here at the Taliban take over the government of Pakistan have nuclear weapons. I mean you're going there today yell. Yeah -- only good news out of this is what the military is unlikely to continue along this line forever in fact there -- comments by some of the some of the regional north leaders in the and that part of Pakistan in the three provinces to -- have been taken over -- Brunei and the third that is being threatened. That said basically look. You know they're not living up to their agreement win win win the moment comes the military that common soldier one of them said. We'll know that everything has been done to avert this and -- and it's necessary to confront the Taliban -- they're gonna give yeah I don't have much territory they gonna give -- with a sixty miles of Islamabad."

" But -- better get going and that -- going fast because you know what's going to happen if the Taliban take take over India is an attack it is not going to sit for Taliban government with the atomic bomb was. You know nuclear -- unlikely to have the weapons are probably. Ways to get those weapons out of there the government began to fall but it you're -- it is a very dangerous situation. They're gonna be won the top priorities of this industry and make ignorant you know I never realized it here until next may maybe a call Nancy Pelosi and -- that perhaps you know team. Get a map and say you know this this is important the other stuff --"