3/25[/2007]
BBC Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman
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Iraq 4 Years On: A Neo-con Rethink?
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Q. Is there not an American responsibility, having invaded a country, dismantled all the apparatus of government, to ensure the citizens of that country are not murdered?
A. I think it's the responsibility which we've tried to fulfill to turn it back over to the Iraqis... We made a mistake in hindsight not turning it over to them earlier.
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But we don't have a responsibility to make the government of Iraq succeed, that's their responsibility.
Q. Do you have a responsibility to keep the peace or not?
A. I think that's their responsibility too. I think we're all agreed the sooner the Iraqis can decide whether they're gonna do that or not the the better off everyone is.
Q. You sound as if you're washing your hands of the whole affair?
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A. What I would have done differently is much earlier, much sooner after the overthrow, given it back to the Iraqis, and I'll exaggerate for effect here, but given them a copy of the Federalist Papers and said good luck.
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