CNN "The Situation Room"-Transcript

Interview

CNN "The Situation Room"-Transcript

BLITZER: Congressman Keith Ellison is just back from a weekend trip to Iraq. The Minnesota Democrat, Congress' only Muslim lawmaker, is a vocal critic of the war in Iraq.

Congressman Ellison is joining us now from Capitol Hill.

Congressman, thanks very much for coming in.

REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: Hey, thanks, Wolf. Glad to be here.

BLITZER: All right. So what do you think? Did you come back ready to give General Petraeus a chance to see if his new strategy can work?

ELLISON: Well, I came back seeing that at least in the Al Anbar province, in the city of Ramadi, that reconstruction efforts and reconciliation efforts and working with local tribal and religious leaders can have a positive effect. That's what I came back having seen. I think that the idea -- we have to get about reconciliation, and we have to make sure that in an area where we have 50 percent unemployment, that we don't have people who are just idle and out there.

You know...

BLITZER: So it sounds -- it sounds, Congressman -- correct me if I'm wrong -- you've come back with some different views, some nuanced changes than what you went.

Is that a fair assessment?

ELLISON: Well, I'll say that I learned some things, but I'm still an opponent of this war. I don't think we should ever have invaded Iraq. But -- and I also think that it is reconciliation and reconstruction that is going to win the day and that this -- and that this militarily is really not what's going to win the day in Iraq.

So those are views I held beforehand. I was open to learning. I didn't go in there trying to prejudge the situation. But having came back, I'm convinced that working directly with local leadership, reconciliation between Shia-Sunni, between Shia-Shia, between a -- reconciliation in general is something that is really going to win the day. BLITZER: It sounds like you don't have a lot of confidence though in the Iraqi national government, the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, even as you express some greater appreciation for local leaders that that he may be able to get their act together.

ELLISON: Well, you know, I remain -- I remain skeptical. I want to see Prime Minister al-Maliki do much more in the area of reconciliation.

I actually asked a deputy prime minister specifically about the efforts toward reconciliation, and I was disappointed with his answer. I just didn't hear enough specific steps about reconciling those differences that really need to be made up if we're going to have a stable Iraq. But I remain convinced that it is the reconciliation and the reconstruction that are going to bring stability and peace in Iraq.

BLITZER: But you still want a timeline for a U.S. troop withdrawal? Would you like to see all U.S. troops out by the end of this year or April of next year? Is that still your stance?

ELLISON: Yes, it is, Wolf, because I think that there is nothing like a timeline to focus people's attention. I'm not convinced that without the pressure of a timeline, without a certain sense of urgency, that Prime Minister al-Maliki's government will do what it needs to do to reconcile the differences that are out there and that need to be healed to have a stable -- stable Iraq.

BLITZER: When you met with Iraqis, did they know you're a Muslim? And did you feel if they did that you got a different reception from some of the other members of Congress you were traveling with?

ELLISON: Well, we were well treated everywhere we went, but I will say that I did meet in the city of Ramadi with the mayor and with two religious leaders, and the religious leaders were sheikhs who have a tremendous amount of influence, who, only four months ago, were going toe to toe to kick al Qaeda out. And we did have an affinity, and it was really a wonderful opportunity to meet with them and listen to them.

They were very concerned about how al Qaeda is really damaging the reputation of Islam around the world. And this was a very important concern for them, and they expressed that to me.

BLITZER: Let me give you a chance to clarify some controversial remarks you made not that long ago, early in July, involving the Reichstag.

You said this at one event for which you later clarified and apologized and said you meant no comparison. But I want to read it to you because it's still raising some concerns.

"It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the communists for it, and it put the leader (Hitler) of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted."

The impression from that quote was that Bush, in effect, was responsible for 9/11, to create this opportunity to go in this war on terror and do whatever he wanted. And you were pretty much blasted for that. You later said you didn't mean that. But explain exactly what you did mean.

ELLISON: Well, let me say, at the time, I specifically denied any plan, Wolf. But here's the thing. You know, I chalk it up to rookie error. And I'm trying to move on from it.

Nobody always says the right thing. I didn't say the right thing at that time. And I'm trying to move on from it, Wolf.

So I appreciate you asking the question. But I'm just trying to leave that. I've said what I had to say about it, and I'm trying to move forward.

BLITZER: But I just want to be clear. You never suggested there was a Bush-led conspiracy...

ELLISON: Oh, no, I never said that.

BLITZER: ... that resulted in 9/11.

ELLISON: I never said it at the time, and I absolutely deny that now.

BLITZER: And even the comparison of Bush and Hitler, that's inappropriate. I just want to make sure you agree with that.

ELLISON: I agree. Yes, I do agree with it.

And that's not an error I will be making again. And, you know, look, you know, we're all doing the best we can and we're trying to learn from the mistakes that we make.

BLITZER: Keith Ellison has been on this program here in THE SITUATION ROOM several times since he was elected, even before he was elected to the U.S. Congress.

Thanks very much for coming in again.

ELLISON: Any time, Wolf.

BLITZER: Appreciate it. Glad you're back safe and sound from Iraq as well.

ELLISON: You bet. Have a great one.

BLITZER: Thank you.

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