'Doom and Gloom'

When I interviewed Benazir Bhutto in December [the Pakistani opposition leader was assassinated 15 days later], she said to me, "I feel they are going to come knocking at my door one night."
Unfortunately, her death, the way it happened, proves her point. That's the irony. That's the sad thing about her death. She predicted something, and she was proved right in that prediction. So it must be listened to. We cannot use extremism as a tool for any purpose. It will hurt us eventually, as it has begun to hurt Pakistan.

The United States is sending 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Will that help?
I'm happy about that, yes, yes. The American contribution to the war against terrorism is fundamental and strong.

Will it make a difference?
It will make a difference when the Americans are clear and straightforward about this fight.

What do you mean by that, Mr. President? "When the Americans are straightforward about the fight"?
[When] they mean what they say. [When] they do what they say.

Do you think the U.S. is sending the right type of troops? Should they be Special Operations troops?
That's a professional issue. It has to be addressed by the military.

How much influence does Iran have in your country right now, Mr. President?
We have had a particularly good relationship with Iran the past six years. It's a relationship that I hope will continue. We have opened our doors to them. They have been helping us in Afghanistan. The United States very wisely understood that it was our neighbor and encouraged that relationship.