Speaking truth to power

BIDEN: Based on what you’ve said, there’s really no
hope, is there? We should really get the hell out of there right now,
right? There’s nothing to do.

ROSEN: As a journalist, I’m
uncomfortable advising an imperialist power about how to be a more
efficient imperialist power. I don’t think we’re there for the
interests of the Iraqi people. I don’t that’s ever been a motivation.

However,
I have mixed emotions on that issue. Many of my Sunni friends,
beginning about a year ago, many of them who are opposed to the
Americans, who supported attacking American troops in Iraq, began to
grow really nervous at the idea of the Americans leaving Iraq because
they knew they would be massacred. It could be Rwanda the day the
Americans leave. The creation of these Sunni militias, the Awakening
groups, militates against that kind of a massacre of civilians
occurring because now there are actually Sunni safe zones…But I do
believe that if Americans were to withdraw you’d seen an increase in
violence at least temporarily, until some sort of equilibrium is
reached—

BIDEN: But the good news is we wouldn’t be imperialist anymore in Iraq, from your perspective.

ROSEN: (smiling widely) Only elsewhere in the region.

BIDEN: Only elsewhere in the region. I’m sure glad we invited you, I tell you. [Bloviates for ninety seconds, then turns to other witnesses.] Gentlemen, to the non-imperialist side of the witness stand…