Lawrence Eagleburger, Pt. 3

" But business as speaker of the house problem because she's and I certainly cats more than the -- has even gotten of the president's ease Easter selling and went bananas and that was asked in the original bill. The house and the Senate. They're the ones who are creating the problem right."

" They've. There's no question they of them was the problem say what they control they have of the congress you would think they can do about it but. It that's sort of a point it seems to me very clear that the president needs to step in and make some decisions and make some things clear. And if he has to call it people into the White House tellem that he's had enough of this but once these instructions. To the party. That sort of thing to do it but my point again is it differently is that. This is news to me an example of whether or not they don't know what it is they're looking for I don't know what is -- trying to get. This is -- of foreign affairs and is certainly true in the domestic issues that we now face and my point is. Shut up until you've decided what it is you want that's my point again it. Now he's out there making speeches every fifteen minutes. But the fact of the matter is there's no direction. And there's certainly no direction when it comes -- the question of making these decisions on what ought to be done. And that that concerns me most of all we have an administration looks as if it's. Beside you. It talked nicely. But that is anything but decide if he's anything but rent one that is hard to read. And I don't like I won't like the way that the direction in which is presently exists that up to you right now. But I'd rather have a president -- was leading us somewhere and 11 was wandering all while the place and in foreign affairs is disaster. In domestic affairs we do a lot of that but in foreign affairs if we can't make it clear that the rest of the world what it is we want. And I that we are prepared to accept who were heard by we're prepared to put four. And when when we have some limits if we just wonderful point point is we have done I think so far. We're never going to make the world understand for one minute. Why is it is important about the United States. Maintaining. A global peace and security with god knows we want and need. And we have virtually the only country in a position to. Move us in the proper directions but if we don't know what direction leave. It's not gonna -- and I it's much too early by the way to make any long term decisions about whether this administration. Foreign policies coherent. And -- But on the basis of what we've seen so far. I must have you -- think he has. And and if we -- today to try to describe the foreign policy in the United States I can't do I don't know what it is they think it. And -- we can get them to articulate in his sensible way. And not every fifteen minutes that is the what it is we want and how we want to do it. I I'm afraid I've going to be very unhappy with them and get that you -- get down -- things -- This question we we've managed to. Tell the polls in the text that we and change -- Because that's when yeah he's those circumstances that they have to form a view of our foreign policy. Well they is that do what they want and never -- at a time don't count on their word. If there's anything we -- He's that they get the views the United States worry that they."

" I asked to compare and this is this foreign policy analyst at early this administration's with the last democratic how about this foreign policy. Direction or philosophy would most recent Republican administration President Bush 43."

" Well my. Enthusiasm. For he. Our policies also won some and then take it by the at least. And did in this sense that's I think not it's the criticisms solution. At least was the last bush presidency. You had a pretty good idea of where he was going well what is. -- concerns worldwide is not negative word in terms of what he wasn't right except we -- except. You can articulate and he will describe. When you -- I didn't like. But that's a different -- the point is it pretty well this privately funded by foreign policy was. And again it is. Well that make this point. You'll recall that in the first instance he was faced with 9/11. He became president -- immediately. Forced him into certain things on foreign policy that might who has done. So it's hard to make the comparison was. In administrations have been in office -- years Vista. But if you try to judge this one. Spyware is now again my major criticism has to be I don't know where they yeah. And in the case of bush after 9/11 million very well what his. Foreign policy was going to be focused. I can't make that judgment so I can't compare the two other than to say that in which case. Partly because of external events he was forced into making some decisions. That gave you pretty clear picture -- where it was going to be. That make any sense that. Aniston. Says that they're very different time. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton. I think of her in the first place has great deal of respect for and he's very smartly. I don't agree with a lot of things but that's not point but I am finding. More and more. Interest. He's and I hear less and less involved. In the really tough questions of foreign affairs. And others. Involved much more for example. I gather from what I can see at least that she is responsible pretty much for the public. This option of our problems on nerves here we've -- been doing talking about that. We all respect secular state finance editor of time talking about. The thing four. But I guess I'm trying to say is I'm wondering whether and it's too early again to make a judgment I guess. But I -- lots of time that can answer the question. Where is she what is she doing and and I'm wondering whether in fact she is. In charge of the American foreign policy and not and not I would refuse I think it's too bad. Because I think as they say fees fees smart. He has who has a good feel for foreign affairs I think I'm an agreement about so much but. She can do it do it well and I'm not at all we're -- permitted to do -- should be."

" You mean by the fact we based on voice in different regions of the country which some have thought that might somehow take away some of her real estate. "

" Of the more than that it takes away. These these two stars if you the Holbrooke for instance as opposed to manage. Afghanistan. That. What happened to the assistant secretary for that reason when he's supposed to be doing. And I. And they've also by the way they avoid any constitutional. Requirements such as being approved by the Senate so. You've got these people out there making decisions that. Have avoided any of the constitutional requirements they ought to head debate -- And yes the answers how much. She is -- is -- keep track of him and ordered him and make the decisions on policy in that part of the world I don't know I have serious doubts about it. And I do think it is that the cotton sent Avi Bryant and happy with the fact. That the administration is avoiding yet senatorial approval -- the the yes he's the answer your question yes he's got these cars. Mitchell who ultimately. And again I mean how much of the report tomorrow much for the report to the president. My question is to make up their own minds. But is how are they linked into the system. And that may sound like real bureaucrats but I have to take you don't link into the subsystem. And you go on one direction and want part of the world another -- direction and the other part the world you'd get something terrible trouble. So one of the things that he's I think important. He's the role of the secretary of state coordinating all of these different activities. And I'm not at all or she's doing that or being Herman's."

" He's got released and the man who was convicted in connection with over now 150 deaths of 30000 plus feet in this like. -- lot of outrage when he there was a huge celebration when the man got back to back to Libya but. How is it in terms of form how is it that we were able to convince. See the Scots. To keep them."

" Birthplace I don't know much we try. I don't know how much. I don't know what was done behind the scenes. When did we know they were gonna release him. Maybe that's on the."

" Shouldn't we have -- that we should -- I mean this is a rather I mean this is a very. Personal matter to Americans."

" woman number one we should have known enemy may well have I don't know I don't know but but I don't know at all is once we learned that this was going to happen. Did we go to the Scots Irish officials privately and say something -- not I have no idea. -- community Vietnam answer you question ought to be very simple. That we should have been able ago. Probably in the -- government. Or manages them. To the -- and say look sentences. And going to be an outrage -- effect in the US dues. And for God's sake don't do it. And then put on -- repression we needed. I don't know whether we didn't you know that I'll I can say is that. If we did it. Then came on the -- for not paying any attention to. And and not to what we can do about it now but. Of the basic point here absolutely correct and there's no way to explain. Other than one of two things either we didn't. The argue with the -- about doing this. Or we did arguing they -- ended anyway if it's the latter I can't tell you what we can do about it now finally tell you. Leo to me very clear and have made it very clear that. What is their turn to ask us for something we're gonna have double the time but accepting -- I wonder whether we really."

" Tell them. Well what about you -- what about Gordon Brown wouldn't have thought that Gordon Brown would have known that it was coming down and that it would really matter to the American people that. Yeah we'd we'd like -- be brought in on this discussion. There are a number of nationalities murdered -- a lot of Americans. Would include -- would upset called us up and said okay you know."

" But the point is all of this makes sense but the fact of the matter is it was apparently not done now while wasn't that done. I don't know whether Gordon Brown some invited to his attention. Not all I can tell you is. The one place where we could have made it clear but we've bonded but we didn't want. Was in the UK are in Scotland and which is both but I mean I like being. It was. The fundamental point is our obligation to make sure that everybody understand how we gonna react. I have no sense of whether we did that at all and that that it would be an interesting question. Ask the administration weather but in fact was done. Calibrated and the -- before this communities who made. That in fact it would upset the -- a lot of us and then there was no reason to do I have a bad somebody -- ask him I don't know."