Friendly Debate

" tonight for the past couple years I have criticized President Bush for not confronting the irresponsible media which continues to viciously attacked him. They don't take it personally now and now because they are trying to destroy you know that. Well it's it's too bad guy and I think most Americans don't want to see the president destroyed I think most Americans want this country to come together and work for the common good. I -- I suspect a lot of Americans are sick and tired of Washington politics. Joining us now from Washington with -- reaction former bush adviser and current Fox News analyst Karl Rove are -- let's take. My criticism of President Bush. You what you're out there I guess almost at the time I started criticizing President Bush for not. Go and after his critics and now the critics are running wild so. Wasn't -- right."

" Well it's funny you should mention this I literally today was working on -- book is coming out of Simon and Schuster and I'm writing about this very issue I do think in retrospect there are moments. When we should have defended more fervently of the administration's policies and gone specifically after art critics. This however torture and enhanced interrogation is not one of them because administration did a good job everybody in the challenges that charges of torture. In keeping an enhanced interrogation techniques in place. We fought back amendments in congress in 200520062007. It took -- a new president who unilaterally. Remove the legal authority and ended these enhanced interrogation techniques the Bush Administration in pretty good job the defendant through January 20 finish. Okay but this six -- that I mentioned were never mentioned by your administration they are doing an enormous amount of damage to the country would you admit that they are doing damage to the country. Well absolutely effect. Look I think there's been a concerted effort by many on the left in order to change the fundamental fabric of America and they see this is an opportunity to furthers that goal and I don't sit there are unpatriotic they just have a different ball well let me -- they -- did not unpatriotic."

" When you when you're going to have pictures being released in the next few days of investor -- criminal investigations into wrongdoing by Americans which happen. And they're going to flood all over the world who's going to be in danger there that's going to heighten the danger for every American troops overseas every American diplomat. And every American tourist and you're saying these men are unpatriotic. Mr. rove."

" I'm not sit. They're not doing this because their unpatriotic they're doing this because they want to achieve a goal for America that fundamentally disagree with you talk about putting people in danger. The president of the United States Barack Obama -- put American military in danger by Indian these enhanced interrogation techniques and limiting everybody including the CIA. To the techniques in the army field manual which generally consist of will you give your name address. Telephone number and you would you like to sugar 21 with your coffee that's the limit of what we're doing we -- got a president elicits I don't -- he's unpatriotic I say he's mistaken. He has made a huge error he's putting American lives at risk in these other men -- that you talked about the you're right they're joining with him in doing that."

" None on a busy day very -- there's a difference look. You can debate president Obama's policy he believes that. By doing all of this ending all of your policies and a the world alike as much better and more cooperative witness you can debate that I agree with -- I I I don't think he I think it made it heightens the danger but. It's it's theoretical the other thing isn't C a radical mr. role when you see those pictures on the front page of the New York Times and leading the newscasts on NBC. Whether it's tomorrow or a week from today. The whole world is going to go look at America look how bad day off. This is criminal activity that took place you can use a picture from any criminal investigation. You can use a picture of these kids getting killed by their parents and -- around the country at the worlds of look at steps. It's the same thing. The ACLU knows well how this is going to be used by the -- hottest and people who hate us they know they don't care so there's a difference between Obama and well policy and these people actively supporting. Our troops in danger this a different."

" I'm not certain I agree to that there's a difference because President Obama. Part of the reason he ended the enhanced interrogation -- read a statement he says it is going to improve our image around the world he thought that this would somehow make this look better and reality when it did was it confirmed at least in the Islamic world all America understands it was doing the wrong thing in it was in America is a bad country and ended up in the same place. Now I think -- let's let's not get stuck there because I think for both an agreement. Whether it was President Obama ending the enhanced interrogation techniques -- the ACLU and all the rest of these people pushing for the release of these photographs that -- as you pointed out. For a criminal investigation ordered charge US military -- and I don't know why are saying they would have taken it sort of do the right -- and that's exactly what we're assess it. And neither instance. These people are doing the wrong thing for America they are doing the wrong thing for our country they're doing the wrong thing for our men and women in uniform and they're making us less a case like the media."

" Only that the only media challenging them on a national level on The Wall Street Journal and Fox News Channel that's it. The rest of the media sympathize with these people which is why there isn't an outcry what did you think when you saw that cartoon in the New York Times yesterday of the statue of liberty. With a whip. What did you think of that. I thought pinch Sulzberger was right two to worry about why he had to sell his building in the stock is in the toilet. And I'm glad it is what you offended as an American -- what I mean absolutely just lives always look."

" Look what look like I'm from Texas and UT take in New York liberal Lott met this -- a little pinch Sulzberger he is an elite list of -- not. Who thinks he knows better than the rest of America and has views that are distinctly outside the mainstream what America's all about. He probably thought that was a damn fine cartoon -- run in with proud of I thought it was a typical in keeping with the editorial policy of the New York Times. Which is distinctively to the left of American politics and out of touch with the American -- Throughout thanks very much we appreciate it next on Iraq."