Larry King Live-Transcript

Larry King Live-Transcript

KING: We're to have joining us three of your friends, Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina -- they're all in Washington -- Senator John Warner, Republican of Virginia, ranking member of the Armed Services; and Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and now Chairwoman of the Rules Committee. Remaining with us John Edwards. In a while, John McCain.

What did you think, Senator Graham, of the speech?

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: I agreed with the president before he made the speech, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. I look at it this way: what's the result of a failed state in Iraq to our future as a nation, to the region as a whole?

If Iraq fails and if we lose this war, I think the biggest winner is Iran. And the country breaks apart and the Kurds are likely to separate and you'll have Turkey very upset with that.

So my biggest motivation is not about my re-election in 2008. I support the president. He's probably not that popular in South Carolina because, I believe, that's our best chance to win.

And I would just end with this thought. No matter what I think or any of the other senators think, the president is the commander in chief and he's put General Petraeus in charge of this new mission. I met with General Petraeus today. He believes that this surge, along with the Iraqi political adjustments, can lead to victory and he will ask the Congress for the capability to perform this mission.

Will the Congress say no to General Petraeus? I, as the senator from South Carolina, will give General Petraeus what he needs to be successful. The old strategy failed. The new strategy might fail. I think it's our best chance for victory and let's give it a chance.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/10/lkl.01.html