Rachel Maddow: Pelosi Questions Obama Iraq Plan (VIDEO)

***UPDATED WITH VIDEO OF FULL INTERVIEW***

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday voiced concern over the planned size of a residual force to be left in Iraq. The California Democrat told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that she "completely agree[d]" that 50,000 seems like "an awful lot." She added that the president has not made an official statement on the plan, so "I don't know what the justification is for 50,000." The 50,000 number comes from administration officials, but President Obama has yet to approve the final details. Watch the interview below.

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Comments

[mamacat]

After seeing the interview, I think that the headline is more a case of the news-division trying to attract interest than of the news-division trying to accureately report the news.

I got the sense that what Speaker Pelosi was saying is that this is a positive development, one that she will have to ask questions about and have more discussions about, before she can comment upon. Since the question and her comments were based on an undependable leak, rather than an actual release, it is pretty difficult to make or expect an intelligent criticism.

Over and over again Speaker Pelosi made the point that it is too soon for her to make a definitive comment, but that is not what made it into the headline.

[waitforme]

'Advisors' is reminiscent of the 'advisors' in Vietnam before the war escalated. Call them advisors and you have 'no more military troops left in Iraq'. This is not 'stopping the war'. it is continuing, just at a lesser number. -- No doubt some will be ensconced permanently in Kuwait, just in case they're 'needed'.

Evidently Pelosi is against this many being left in Iraq. Good for her. This, and her adamant commitment on Maddow yesterday to 'universal health care' (she used the word, 'universal', my god) as soon as possible, are the first two things she has said in a thousand years that I've agreed with. So, let's all get behind Nancy Pelosi. Write Speaker of the House Pelosi and tell her you support her and be specific. Tell Obama you support Pelosi, at WhiteHouse.gov.

But -- what about the escalation in Afghanistan? When most Afghans I've heard from do not support military presence? But I did hear a 'high-level' person say yesterday that 'military is not the answer' (my god!). They seem to be casting about to find a better, more global, less 'offensive' way there.
Setting up educational institutions, bringing adults and children into the 21st century of ideas and history and imagination and technology, while using US soldiers to guard these schools and all the children and teachers attending them, seems to me a good alternative. Eventually, the population will not tolerate the Taliban or Pashtoons or anyone else bullying them. Just stop killing people, please!

[Cybersquirt]

After "impeachement is off the table" you better be pushing for investigations, Pelosi.

See that it's done or you'll be out of a job.

[jimrs6]

She said last night that impeachment is back on the table.

[nogimmicks]

50,000!!! This is like deploying a THOUSAND additional policemen to every state of the United States of America! With that type of headcount prosecuting 252 bank executives would be no problem at all. Or even better, that like like adding a thousand doctors to each state of the United States to provide free healthcare.
This is not pulling out. That means serving the old neocon masters and driving the US into a wall economically.

[zepfan81]

We can't just "leave" Iraq. They're sitting on and around a LOT of oil and we use a LOT of oil.

[Cybersquirt]

There's nothing to keep those soldiers from performing humanitari­an/reconst­ruction work, is there? I hope that's the explanation for that fvcking number because that's certainly what that country is most in need of.

[zepfan81]

Did she have a lot of surgery or what?

[Kristen Wack]

I really do hope that she is elected out of office next term. That FIXED smile she has on her face under all circumstances: state dinners, bailouts or impeachment papers, the president's address to congress - she looks like an aquiescent housewife! I'm appalled!

[Yermammy]

Actually I agree with you she should go, but not quite yet... Ms. Pelosi is pushing harder for prosecutions than Leahy or Conyer's now. Once investigations are started, she should testify under immunity and then respectfully resign her post and station for Dereliction of Duty by not adhering to the Constitution in regards to our common domestic enemy- George W. Bush (et alia).

[waitforme]

Actually, she just said two things, maybe three, I can agree with, for the first time in a long time. She wants universal health care and will work for it (she said 'universal'). She wants investigations done about the people who used torture. This is the first time I can actually feel good about Pelosi and get behind her. (Where was she before, though? Good question.)

[mcamp52]

I think Pelosi is great at what she does. I think Maddow is great at what she does. It was fascinating to watch them together and I will look forward to more candor from both of them.

[DuPageDem]

Pelosi's excuses to Rachel regarding torture & wiretapping were pathetic. She couldn't speak against those practices, she said, because they were classified. What a stooge. She's old enough to remember Daniel Ellsberg, Mike Gravel and the Pentagon Papers. But then, those were real Americans.

[OliverTwist]

A very fine presentation by Pelosi.

Inspiring.

[huffposeur]

ask the five hundred million americans who lose their jobs every month: pelosi is a botoxed clown with absolutely no concept of numbers

[Cybersquirt]

500 million? Wow. Can I have some of what you're smoking?

Accountablility is required in all areas.

[JohnIII]

Obama said he wanted a "responsible" withdrawal. We can't just pick everything up and leave. It would put our troops in more danger than they already are. Whether you believe the war was illegal or not, we've made gains. I'm not an Obama apologist either. I didn't vote for him. It's funny that I am defending him against his own.

[meede]

I'm a Dem and agree with most of your post. The gains would be a discussion!!. People don't listen. He has on numerous times referred to 'responsible' withdrawal. But, I would like it to be 50,002. I would like to offer up Pelosi & Reid!!

[mergina]

I AGREE with Pelosi. We do NOT need 50.000 troops in Iraq. GET US THE HELL OUT OF THERE NOW.

[BDizzle]

I am so impressed by people with no military experience assuming how many troops we need and when we should exit. (Sarcasm) Why don't we leave it up to Gen. Petraus and commanders on the ground and leave MoveOn out of the equation. WWLincolnD? I think he would have told Move on to kiss his @ss.

[Yermammy]

Talking from a seasoned Vet's point of view, I'm not all impressed with your ignorance of the fact that many senior brass think both wars are foolhardy and will break us financially. But you blindly believe your failed King Junior was right; who merely surrounded himself with yes-men to further his neoconic military adventurism. How about YOU move on, Copernicus.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Patraeus and the other generals on the ground have a vested interest, a conflict of interest.

That's why.

[carnelld]

Nancy Pelosi is correct on several points. We do not need 50,000 troops in Iraq. That is a joke and a slap to any sane reasonable thinking person.

Obama did run on the "bad war-good war" concept. Obama said he would end the Iraq war (the bad war) and pull the troops out in 16 months. He also repeated that we should send more soldiers into Afghanistan( the good war) .

Most people were so tired of the Iraq war and wanted it over ,they overlooked Obama's second position on Afghanistan. Now Obama is committing more troops into Afghanistan and does not appear to have an end game strategy. That is what happened in Iraq. That is also what happened in the Viet Nam war.

Everyone is enthralled by Obama's election and the good things he has/will accomplish, but we should also watch what is going on with the militarism our government continues in those third world countries.

In my book there is no "good war". We should be demanding Obama pull our military frm both countries and Pakistan also.

Otherwise, we are no better than George W. Bush and those who engineered and fought the war in Iraq, including Cheney,Patraeus, Gates, Rice, Perle, Wolfawvich, etc.

[Kaviraj]

Bad war - good war? you must be joking! there are no "good" wars. Afghanistan cannot not be won. Period. Get out as fast as you can. Leave it to the locals.

[spartanmom]

Leave it to the locals?

That is what created this mess. If you want a failed state you leave it to the locals and sit back and plug your ears as the stories of slaughter begin to leak out again.

Do you remember how bad things were there? We rejoiced when we first heard that the Taliban was taking over. Anything to stop the killing!

I've been watching the situation there since the early 1980s. Judging from your comments, I'd guess you woke up to it yesterday.

[wrathofwonka2002]

Iraq is going to be like Korea and Germany. The US will always have some sort of presence here. This will also apply to Afghanistan.

[huffposeur]

i doubt it. there won't be any united states in 3-4 years

[wrathofwonka2002]

There will always be atleast a Division's worth of Soldier here in Iraq for years to come. Think of it like Korea or Germany.