Kerry MTP Transcript up

[jfxgillis]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4772030/

My favorite part. It's an ugly truth, but you can't be a statesman without facing ugly truths:

SEN. KERRY: Now, here we are. I believe the following very deeply. Number one, we cannot fail. I've said that many times. And if it requires more troops in order to create the stability that eliminates the chaos, that can provide the groundwork for other countries, that's what you have to do.

MR. RUSSERT: How do you define failure?

SEN. KERRY: Well, I think failure is the lack of a stable Iraq. I think a failed state in Iraq is failure.

MR. RUSSERT: Islamic regime similar to Iran would be acceptable?

SEN. KERRY: You could even go further than what I just said and suggest that if we are stuck for a long period of time in a quagmire where young Americans are dying without a sense of that being able to be achieved, I think most Americans will decide that's failure.

MR. RUSSERT: Could you accept a Shiite theocracy running Iraq similar to what we have in Iran?

SEN. KERRY: I think that what is important is to have a pluralistic representation. It doesn't have to be, at least in the early days, the kind of democracy this administration has talked about, though that's our goal and we should remain there. But what is critical is a stable Iraq.