President Obama's Face The Nation Interview

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: In The News

(CBS)

President Obama told Bob Schieffer Friday that he has no illusions about how difficult the task of securing Afghanistan and Pakistan from Al Qaeda influence will be for the United States.

"This is going to be hard, Bob... I am under no illusions," he said. "If it was easy it would already have been completed."

The two spoke for an interview that will air in full on CBS' "Face The Nation" Sunday.

"We're going to have to go with a strategy that is focused, that is narrowly targeted on defeating al-Qaeda," the president said.

Added Mr. Obama: "We think that if you combine military, civilian, diplomatic, development approaches, if we are doing a much better job coordination with our allies, that we can be successful."

The president also told Schieffer that, during a meeting at the White House Friday, he asked bank CEOs to "show some restraint" in their spending - especially when the financial institutions in question are recieving federal aid.

Mr. Obama said he asked the bankers to "show that you get that this is a crisis and everybody has to make sacrifices" during the meeting. Schieffer asked him about the bankers' response to his appeal; Mr. Obama said they "agreed" and "recognized" the problem.

The president then said that when it comes to real results, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Check your local listings to find out when and where "Face The Nation" will be airing in your area on Sunday, March 29.

Bob Schieffer gives CBS News anchor Katie Couric a preview:

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by sjc_1 March 29, 2009 9:52 PM EDT: "They gotta be from Texas."

Or Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi or any other very Republican state. People that live in those states either become one of them, or become ridiculed by them. They seem to want everyone to believe what they do. It is kind of creepy, but that is the way it is.; Reply to this comment


by butterfly462 March 29, 2009 5:19 PM EDT: Where on earth are all of these nasty republican fools coming from on this post?! Why don't we just continue with the bad policies that the republicans utilized for years and that got us into this horrible mess? Why don't we just let the "party of NO" with no alternatives, no ideas, no brains, continue ruining this country? What complete jerks you rethugs are, that's why you lost and continue to lose, the majority of this country is sick and tired of you, you really need to shut up and crawl back under your rocks now!!
Posted by suzyku at 11:20 AM : Mar 28, 2009

Probably Texas. I live here. I really think they must all be from Texas. I heard with my own ears a couple of weeks ago that a guy I work with really thought Sarah Palin could do a better job. A lady I work with said global warming isn't real, besides Gods going to destroy the earth anyways. Just two examples from my workpalce in Texas. They gotta be from Texas.; Reply to this comment


by rsoxfan1123 March 29, 2009 11:43 AM EDT: In all of the talk I hear about what needs to be done in Afghanistan I don't hear any questions or comments on the UN level of involvement. I thought the days of go-it-alone-bankrupt-our-country style wars ended with the Bush administration.; Reply to this comment


by vannalton March 29, 2009 11:21 AM EDT: That it is Obama's war is ludicrous. Were we not to take a multifaceted approach - economic, educationally, reconstruction, i.e. another Marshall Plan - with Afghanistan while coordinating all our efforts with Pakistan, we indeed would putting our nation as well as the welfare of the world at stake. If some want to believe that it solely Obama's war, go ahead. It is a war the whole world must face or like a flesh eating infection, these radicals could infect and accomplish what Hitler tried to do and failed. This is a national and a world infection of which we all must heal.
Vann of Torrance, Ca; Reply to this comment


by loveobama March 29, 2009 10:55 AM EDT: I agree with 'elements'. I love our new President. Thank God the majority of this country has the good sense to distinguish between real intelligence and benevolent compassion, good judgment and leadership, and negativism, division and greed. I just love this guy. I can't get enough of him. I live, or did live in a predominantly Republican region. I am very happy to report that my part of the world overwhelmingly supported Obama and positive change. Let the ugly, meanspirited, negative folks commiserate with their creepy bretheren on AM radio. They're a dying breed, thank God.; Reply to this comment


by birdiesue March 29, 2009 10:32 AM EDT: I just heard the announcement that an interview by Bob Schieffer wth Obama will be telecast today. Whew!! I was worried we would have an entire day where Obama wouldn't be on a TV show. I am relieved we don't have to go without the daily dose of another campaign speech.; Reply to this comment


by moneywatcher March 29, 2009 10:31 AM EDT: If there is a time to put aside differences and work for the overall good of our country it is now. We have done it in the past with other challenges, Why not now?
Turn off conservative talk radio and do something to help. Whether that is spending some of your money, volunteering or hiring. Let the greed stop and a new day in a more caring way begin.; Reply to this comment


by moneywatcher March 29, 2009 10:24 AM EDT: IIf ever there was a time for americans to come together, it is now. We did it in 33, 41, 63. 68, we need to do it now. Politically eat your loss, financially eat your loss and get behind this wonderful president and a plan for the future. A new day with some pain leading to a wonderous future. Get on board or quit whinning1; Reply to this comment


by dhowley March 29, 2009 9:59 AM EDT: I think we will fail in Afghanistan unless we gain the support of the international community. We need commitments of more troops from Arab and Islamic countries and from Europe, so that the occupation is not seen as a US occupation. Dan Howley; Reply to this comment


by Atheism_Wins March 29, 2009 8:05 AM EDT: The president then said that when it comes to real results, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating."
-------------
Shut up, thief-in-chief!!!!!!!

Give us back our stimulus money!!!!!!!!! Give us back our bailout money!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment

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