English transcript

Because if the issues pose in a way in which they have to, in effect, abjectly capitulate,

then I think a great many of them will say no.

This is a country of 80 million people, and they know that while we can inflict enormous

damage on them, they can hurt us a lot.

Charlie, we have been now in two 10-year-long wars.

We have wasted an enormous amount of financial wealth, not to speak of lives.

Our position in the world has deteriorated.

Can you imagine what the consequences would be for us if the conflict in Afghanistan

expanded because of the Iranians, if Iraq was massively destabilized, if Bahrain was

set on fire, if the northeastern oil fields in Saudi Arabia were attacked?

Do they have the capacity to ignite all of that?

To ignite, yes.

To prevail, no.

But in the meantime, the consequences, the costs, would be cumulative.

And oil prices would go through the roof.

Yes, and the global economy will be affected.

So we're playing with fire here.