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ABC NEWS, THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND FORMER MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS ANCHOR: And we begin today with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Thanks for spending time with us this morning.
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Oh, it's a pleasure to talk with you from Singapore, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And as you're in Singapore, you and the President are facing really his toughest decision yet on Afghanistan. And on his way over when he stopped in Elmendorf Air Force Base, President Obama made this commitment to the troops and the country. Listen.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESTEPHANOPOULOS: We'll give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We'll give you the equipment and support that you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to you.
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STEPHANOPOULOS: Now that is a tough promise to keep. History shows that the public won't support a war for very long if they're not convinced that the goal is worthy. But also, and probably more important, that the war can be won. How can you convince the country that this war can be won?
CLINTON: Well I think the President said it very well in talking to some of the brave young men and women in uniform when he stopped at Elmendorf.
What he's been doing in the last weeks is testing every single assumption, asking for evidence, asking for dissenting opinions. I mean, he has conducted an extraordinary effort to make sure that the decision he makes is rooted in his best judgment as to what is in the national security interest of the United States. And I believe that's a case that can be made to the American people. I have no doubt about that. Now, look, I understand that there will be people who are maybe critical or unconvinced or not persuaded. But I think the majority of Americans will know that this president has gone the extra mile, in fact, more than that to make sure that whatever decision he makes is in the best interest of our country, that it is aimed at making our country more secure and supporting our men and women in uniform as they fulfill the mission.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, one of those dissenting voices right now is reported to be our ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry. He's also the former commanding general of U.S. forces there. And he has sent cables to Washington warning that President Karzai is not a worthy partner and that sending more troops to Afghanistan now could actually make it more difficult for the Afghan government, President Karzai, the Afghan army to do what they need to defend their country on their own. And I know you can't comment on any classified cables but what do you think of this sentiment that President Karzai has not shown that he's a credible partner yet and that sending more troops now will actually make the Afghan army too dependent on U.S. forces?
CLINTON: Well, George, you're right. I can't and wouldn't comment on the confidential advice that anyone has provided to the President during his deliberations. But the argument that you've just described is one that a number of people have made in the press and in arguments that have certainly been made known to me, to the President and others. We agree that our goal here is to defeat al-Qaeda. That has been a clear goal and a mission from the President ever since he made his commitment of additional troops back in the spring. And we understand that the Afghans themselves need help in order to defend themselves against the Taliban. Those are mutually reinforcing missions but our highest obligation is to the American people. It is to do everything we can to make sure that America is secure, that our allies, our interests around the world are protected. And that is what we're focused on. Now we believe that President Karzai and his government can do better. We've delivered that message. Now that the election is finally over we're looking to see tangible evidence that the government, led by the president but going all the way down to the local level, will be more responsive to the needs of the people, will deliver the services that the people of Afghanistan want, who do not want to return to the Taliban, but they want a government that actually can function on their behalf. And that together we and our allies in the international community will help them to build a security force that can take care of their security going forward.
