General Abizaid dismissed Logan’s claims, and maintained that "defeat" was her word not his. However, Logan persisted in proclaiming that the United States had been beaten.
The transcript of Logan’s exchange with General Abizaid follows:
Lara Logan: We hear very little about victory in Iraq these days. We hear a lot about how to manage the defeat. And a lot of Americans...
John Abizaid: What defeat?
Lara Logan: How we minimize the defeat.
John Abizaid: That's your word. Defeat is your word, not my word. Can Iraq stabilize? Yes, Iraq could stabilize.
Lara Logan: Is that what we--is that victory now? Is that what victory will look like in Iraq, just stability? That's what we're aiming for?
John Abizaid: Victory in Iraq is a nation at peace with its neighbors, and Iraq hasn't been at peace with its neighbors in a long time. It is a country that respects the rights of its citizens. It's a country that can defend itself. It's a country that's not a safe haven for terrorists.
Lara Logan: Increasingly in this country, people are talking about how to manage defeat in Iraq. There's a loss of support for the war, very clearly showing in the present. Not a loss of support for the military...
John Abizaid: Yeah.
Lara Logan: ...or for the soldiers which still remains strong.
John Abizaid: Well, Lara, again, let me say I don't think people in the country are trying to figure out how to manage defeat in Iraq. I think people in the country are trying to figure out how to manage our involvement in Iraq so that Iraq can stabilize. You just can't walk away from these problems of the Middle East and hope that things are going to get better. Look, many people have said we're already at the beginning of World War III.
Lara Logan: Are we?
John Abizaid: No. We're not, and our involvement in the region will prevent it.
