Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > August > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSecond thoughts on Sam Nunn: Audio, outakes, and nuclear war
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Even now, Sam Nunn is a man of paragraphs trapped in a sound-bite world.
Not that he talks to excess. Compared to two Georgia contemporaries, Jimmy Carter and Newt Gingrich, Nunn is a walled-in Cistercian monk under a vow of silence.
But when he does speak, the former Georgia senator has always tended toward detail and nuance - the very characteristics that he says are missing from the ‘08 presidential debate.
Possibly you saw Sunday’s article on Nunn and the fact that he’s turning over the idea of a third-party or independent run for the White House next year.
The piece was based on an hour-long interview, and by necessity much was left out - mostly Nunn’s extended comments on foreign and defense policy.
I’ll catch you up on the leftovers below. But first, feel free to listen to these extended, edited sound clips from the interview:
On running, beginning with his conversations on the topic with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
On what’s missing from the ‘08 presidential debate;
On Iraq. “Fiasco” is only the start;
Now for the outtakes:
- Nunn, who helped oversee the rebuilding of the U.S. military in the post-Vietnam period, fears that American forces may be headed toward a similar slump as a result of the extended fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. He pointed specifically toward the loosening of rules that permits the acceptance of some recruits with criminal records.
“It’s in good shape today, but there’s a huge threat to it right now. I think were moving back to period of the ’70s where the quality and deterioration started feeding on itself,” he said. “We’re not there yet. But that’s where we’re heading.”
- He sees no easy solution to the dilemma of Iraq. “If I had a magic answer, I would certainly not withhold it. I think the options - none of them are good. all of them have their downside. I think we have to get out of the civil war without pretending that we can immediately get out of Iraq,” Nunn said.
Getting out tomorrow isn’t an option. “We have something like 44,000 track vehicles over there. It would take, probably, 12 months - nothing but flying C-17s and other cargo aircraft back and forth to get them out,” he said.
A new Iraq policy should have three priorities, he said. The first is preventing the Sunni-Shi’ite conflict from spreading throughout the Middle East. Then, complete the training of Iraqi forces. And step in whenever genocide rears its head.
“Although it’s really not accurate, we’ve given the impression in the world that the military is our primary and only tool. And the military are the first ones to say that we can’t be the only tool. There has to be a whole array of tools in the arsenal,” Nunn said.
- Another issue that could propel Nunn into a race for the White House is nuclear weaponry. Over the past several years, Nunn has argued that the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of terrorism, and the development of high-tech conventional weapons have made nuclear stockpiles passé.
Here’s a speech on the topic he gave in June to the Council of Foreign Relations. Print it out and keep it on your desk. You’ll impress the boss.
Nunn wants a ban on the small, tactical weapons that could soon become targets for increasingly sophisticated terrorists. But he’s also argued that it’s time for both the United States and Russia to back off the hair-trigger alerts that - on mere suspicion - could send flocks of nuclear-tipped missiles into the other country’s camp.
It has, Nunn said, “become nutty.”
The former senator says he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin this last month: “Why is it in the United States’ security interests for the president of Russia to have only four or five minutes” - that’s the time it takes for a missile fired from the Bering Sea to strike - “whether to use your nuclear weapons because you think you’re under attack by the United States?”
About Putin.
The United States has announced that it wants to set up a missile defense shield in Europe that would protect it from Iran, using silo and radar stations in Poland and the Czech Republic - old Soviet territory.
That’s raised Putin’s suspicions that the operation is really aimed at Russia. If not, he said, then put those first-alert stations on Russian soil to prove it.
Nunn says that might be a good idea. “That’s something we ought to take them up on. We ought to take them seriously,” he said.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By God I wish he had a chance
August 19, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
A Democrat who is not a liberal, not a foaming at the mouth demagogue, a common sense moderate. Nunn is really something neither party has right now, a statesman. That said, he will never win.
By backfromiraq
August 19, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
Sam Nun has been out of the public’s eye too long. Yes, he is well respected in Georgia but I’m Sorry to speak the truth but Jimmy Carter has ruined it (forever) for a Georgia candidate for President.
By pragmatist
August 19, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
Senator Nunn is a pragmatist that could be a truly unifying candidate. Whether he ultimately choses to officially throw his hat into the ring, he is well-positioned to influence the policy direction of the country, and I hope people listen because we need his voice. He is spot-on!
By Bitter EX democrackkk
August 19, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this
Sam who?
By Run
August 19, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
Sam Nunn is tough, Sam Nunn’s the One, Put Sam Nunn Back in Washington!
By Victor Jones
August 20, 2007 2:04 AM | Link to this
Sam, your time has come, Run Sam Run.
By Unaffiliated Voter
August 20, 2007 6:57 AM | Link to this
Nunn gave up politics to return to loiwyerin. Lets support him in his decision to remain on the sidelines.
By Taylor
August 20, 2007 7:22 AM | Link to this
Speaking to the logic of backfromiraq — ‘….has ruined it (forever) for a Georgia candidate for President.”
Is it safe to assume there will never be another president from Texas??
By Nicholas
August 20, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
While it would be a good idea my fear is that a Nunn candidacy would be the only way someone like Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney could win. If Nunn really cared about what was going on he would work within his party to get his ideas across instead of running himself.
By Will Jones
August 20, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Nunn is a yammering CFR/Rockefeller-stooge failing to address the patently obvious truth that Bush/Cheney (Rockefeller stooges) committed 9-11 to serve BIG BROTHER and Roman Catholic BIG OIL.
Viz.: “The New Pearl Harbor,” David Ray Griffin, PhD. “Loose Change 2.”
By backfromIraq
August 20, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Taylor, I don’t know about Texas but I know about a sure thing!!
By Cindy Kessler
August 20, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
As a older American and lifelong Democrat, I would love to have another choice in this much too long and too costly campaign. I would encourage Mr. Nunn to enter the race as a Democrat. Because he would instantly gain a majority of the voters.I worked for both Clinton/Gore campaigns but was disheartened by many of Clinton/s choices—Sam Nunn should have been his Secretary of Defense—not a Republican and I feel that the same DLC interests would be front and center in her administration. We need a real Democrat to run.
By keith
August 20, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
He’ll never win as a independent. No way. His best shot back to washington is to run for the senate next year & beat Saxby Chambliss or be a running mate of Obama or clinton.
By GodHatesTrash
August 20, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Backfromiraq - Georgians like you won’t get elected for a long time - we don’t need another redneck president.
Sam Nunn might stand a chance, unless he starts talkin’ like a southron idjit.
By backfromiraq
August 20, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Go ate Trash, glad you agree JC was one too many and the worse in history.
By GodHatesTrash
August 20, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this
The worst in history is your Chickenhawk Commander-in-Chief. A redneck from Texass, where they are even dumber than in Georgia.
Must suck to serve under a moron.
By kreedham
August 21, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Keith. Unless Sam can get a promise from the Democratic nominee to be Sec of State or Defense he should return to the Senate. With his experience and knowledge he’ll quickly move up the power ladder.
And with a Democratice majority and Democratic President in 2008 Georgia will be better served. Saxby is just worthless enough to do Georgia any good.
By kreedham
August 21, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
To add to my previous post… I doubt Sam would consider returning to the Senate…I just think he wants a bigger stage to air his views.
I did read a few years back his daughter was considering running for office. Maybe she should…I just don’t think Dale Cardwell or Vernon Jones have a chance.
By Sue Pository
August 21, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
By backfromiraq
August 20, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Go ate Trash, glad you agree JC was one too many and the worse in history.
Did you suffer from a brain injury while serving? I do hope the VA is treating you well …… bless your heart.
By Bob Casillo
August 21, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
Our countries appetite for self destruction. Special interest groups.Whose only interest is pride,power and greed.Independent voters should elect Mr.Nunn.To be president.
By backfromiraq
August 21, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
While the mainstream news media has portrayed Carter in a saintly light, preoccupied with building homes for the underprivileged, Carter has devoted most of his time to condemning the United States to any audience who will have him. The President who allowed the Ayatollah Khomeini to return to Iran and establish a Theocracy. The man who sat impotent while Iranian radicals stormed the American Embassy in Tehran has been busy appeasing America’s enemies since he left the White House.If you are looking to blame anyone for the 3600+ soldiers and 1000+ DOD civilian contractors whom have died in Iraq point the middle finger at Jimmy Carter. Because that is where the blame belongs!! As WorldNetDaily reported, Carter hob-knobbed with an unregistered Iraqi agent, Samir Vincent, inviting him into his home, and giving him a guided tour of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga. Samir Vincent was an agent of Saddam Hussein who helped Iraq evade compliance with the U.N.-approved “Oil for Food” program. Billions of dollars were funneled from the “Oil for Food” program into Saddam’s military. Jimmy Carter favors appeasement of those who would seek to bring devastation to American cities, a position not altogether different from the position Carter took in the face of threats of Soviet aggression during his presidency. There doesn’t seem to be a white flag of surrender that Jimmy Carter doesn’t enjoy waving. Besides playing soft with Iranian radicals, Carter repeatedly expressed support for the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas. Hamas is recognized as the largest and most powerful Palestinian terrorist organization, advocating for the destruction of Israel and responsible for dozens of terrorist attacks, which have maimed or killed thousands of innocent civilians. A day after the terrorist group emerged victorious in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, Carter urged the international community to support Hamas and provide financial assistance to the new government. But the peanut farmer from Georgia wasn’t done meddling with American foreign policy. Carter has made personal promises to ambassadors from Egypt, Pakistan and Cuba that he would fight to undermine U.S. opposition to the new U.N. Human Rights Commission. In May 2001, a bloc of nations led by despots and tyrants voted the United States off the U.N. Human Rights Commission. Nations with known human-rights violations, such as the Sudan, were instead placed on the panel. So here was Jimmy Carter urging the nations of the world to rebuke the United States and they did. In his editorial, “Colonization of Palestine Proceeds Peace,” Jimmy Carter laments that, “For more than a quarter century, Israeli policy has been in conflict with that of the United States and the international community.” No the truth is that for more than a quarter century JC’s politics have been in conflict with the interests of the United States. During Jimmy Carters short term as president he oversaw the highest interests rates ever in the US. The economy was abysmal with nearly double diget unemployment. And his own party, the Democrat’s - quietly disowned him. Jimmy Carter birth’d the likes of Khomeini, Arafat, Chavez, and Jong-Il and he went to bed with Castro at the same time. Inexcusiable for one who wore the uniform of the USN. Bendidict Arnold had nothing on Jimmy Carter.
By GodHatesTrash
August 21, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this
Blah blah blah from backfromiraq, running down a decent man because his Commander-in-Chief is a clown chickenhawk.
Hey dude - Iraq - the job ain’t anywhere near done - get your righteous a-ss back there.
Or are you a cut and runner?
By Lara Hutton
August 24, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
Green Party should nominate Sam Nunn for President. That would put Sam on the ballot in 20 states where Green Party has ballot access. This entire discussion misses the challenge of getting on the ballot. Sam Nunn with the Green Party could get on the ballot in all 50 states if they start soon. It would be a very healthy alliance both for Senator Nunn and Green Party. The first obstacle is getting on the ballot. Only then can you get elected. Green Party Presidential Candidate Sam Nunn would make a positive addition to the Republic’s 2008 election.
By backfromiraq
August 24, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
Ah Go, you are such an easy mark. Typical liberal, who when presented with facts and the reality of the situation, you resort to name calling and personal attacks. And each time you destroy your credibility a l’il more. If your buddy, Jimmy Carter were such a noble man he would have returned his $1 Million dollar price to the Nobel Committee, since it has become apparently obvious to all that he did not convince North Korea to end it nuclear enrichment program. In fact he needs to give it to GW since N. Korea is now dismantling that very program. Come on, “Go eat Trash” and ruin you credibility some more.
By Right Democrat
August 25, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
Sam Nunn would make an excellent President. Of course, any independent or third party campaign is a long shot. Nunn might provide a real public service by running and forcing the major party candidates to deal with the critical issues rather than pandering to extremes.