CNN Late Edition - Transcript

CNN Late Edition - Transcript
03/27/05

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BLITZER: Senator Reed, you've been here to Iraq a few times. This trip, what have you learned that has come as a surprise, if anything?

SEN. JACK REED (D), RHODE ISLAND: Well, here we've reached a point now where the political issues have probably taken front stage to the military issue.

Military progress has been made. I don't think anyone can yet say that the insurgency is over. In fact, the robustness and the ability of the insurgency to reconstitute is still obvious.

But now it's a political issue. Can they form a government? Will this government be allowed to come into power, to be stable, and lead the Iraqi people forward?

BLITZER: And what's your assessment?

REED: Well, I think the jury is still out, frankly. We've been waiting days now for the announcement that the presidency has been established, that ministers will be selected, a prime minister will be selected.

And also we're in the area where the issues are sometimes more difficult than military tactics. The culture, history, position within the country, all of these are very, very critical.

And the other factor I would add is that I think now we have to put the same kind of emphasis from our State Department on mentoring and political support for this new government, as we have in the military sphere, developing the Iraqi security forces. BLITZER: It's now been more than two years since the U.S. launched the invasion to get rid of Saddam Hussein and his regime. Looking back on this whole effort, was it worth it?

REED: Well, it's one of those things where it will always be played out in the future, not so much now.

I think we've made progress. We've suffered losses, obviously. We're now committed to this, so the question is not so much is it worth it now. We have to make it worth it. We have to carry through.

That's going to take a great deal more effort, over many years, more resources, sadly probably more American troops in there and the dangers that they face.

But once we've engaged in this effort, we can't stop short. And now we are in the political phase, and that's a very challenging phase.

BLITZER: As we're speaking, we're in an active runway. We can hear helicopters and planes taking off not very far away from where we are.

The whole issue of the U.S. military in Iraq, right now, what, 140,000, 150,000 troops, I know you've been critical in the past that the U.S. didn't have enough forces in the theater. Is it adequate, the level right now?

REED: Well, right now it appears to be adequate. The criticism-and I think it's a sensible one-is that for many, many months we didn't have that kind of overwhelming power that might have either dissuaded the insurgency or quickly suppressed it.

At this point, I think we've gotten traction militarily. And now the great challenge is building up the Iraqi security forces. That's going to take many months, if not years. And as long as we don't have adequate Iraqi security forces, our presence will be required.

So the force structure now is probably adequate unless something dramatically changes. But I think we did miss many months where we could have been more effective, more forceful.

BLITZER: What about equipment, armor, is it adequate right now? Because you've looked at that issue closely. You're a member of the Armed Services Committee.

REED: Again, this is a situation where we came in here unprepared for the type of insurgency that was waged against us, particularly when it came to armored vehicles like armored humvees, body armor, that equipment.

I think, after two years now, we've finally caught up. The troops that I talked to feel as if they have adequate equipment, also that we can improve with more equipment. We need equipment to take care of these mines and IEDs. We don't have enough of that. There's always the push for more or better equipment to protect our troops. But we're not in the crisis situation we were in about a year ago.

BLITZER: We saw you meet with some of your constituents here in Iraq. You've come a long way to campaign, to get some votes out there. It was pretty-what's it like to meet somebody from Rhode Island at the Balad airbase?

REED: Well, it's terrific. I've been in Iraq five times and visited Rhode Island National Guardsmen and Rhode Island troops every time. There's been a tremendous improvement in the quality of their life.

One thing that's been consistent has been their dedication, their patriotism, their commitment to their country to do their jobs. That's inspiring.

And, you know, in a way, it's not only inspiring, but it's good to see neighbors. Rhode Island's a small place, and when you get to be able to see people you know or went to school with their brother or worked with their father, it's a little bit of old home for them, and I hope-I know it makes me feel good too.

BLITZER: What did they share with you? Are they happy? Did you ask them, what do you need?

REED: Absolutely. And I could see a transition from the first visit in July 2003, where our military police didn't have adequate humvees, didn't have adequate body armor, didn't have night vision devices, didn't even have enough bottled water. That's all changed. The quality of life is improved.

Now they feel very confident they have the equipment. Again, the big question now is not so much the military capacity to defeat these insurgents. It's the capacity to build an Iraqi government that can independently stabilize and protect their country.

That's going to be a great challenge. I'm not quite sure we're there yet. I know we're not there yet. And that's the type of endeavor that is more challenging sometimes than military activities, and something that we're not as successful at historically.

BLITZER: Correct me if I'm wrong. When you head back to Washington you're going back somewhat more encouraged than when you got here.

REED: Well, I think I'm encouraged in a sense that the military operations have reached a phase where we are more than holding our own.

But this has been an up-and-down process. I can remember, we all can remember, the adulation and just exhilaration after the fall of Baghdad. Then suddenly we found ourselves immersed in the beginning of the insurgency. Then there was this same kind of before and after Saddam was captured, after the battle of Fallujah. This has been up and down.

It's important, I think, to bring the message back to Washington, is that the job is not done either militarily or politically, that this is a long-term commitment, that we have to be prepared to stay here with presence and also purpose for many, many, many months.

And I think at this juncture, probably the worst thing would be over confidence, a sense that it's all over, let's get out quickly.

BLITZER: Senator, thanks very much.

REED: Thanks, Wolf. Pleasure.

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