ON AIR DISPUTE: U.S. President Barack Obama and 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft get heated during interview

Kroft eggs Obama until the president loses cool

U.S. President Barack Obama was challenged with question after question in his latest interview on 60 Minutes. The President was pressed for details on his plans for Syria as Russia continues to bring its forces into the country to join the civil war, eventually leading to a civil dispute between Obama and 60 minutes reporter Steve Kroft.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - A rather combative conversation between U.S. President Barack Obama and 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft erupted as Kroft issued challenging questions to Obama concerning plans for Syria and Russian President Vladimir Putin's entry into Syria's civil war. 

The two interrupted and spoke over each other often, however neither raised their voice. 
Obama became flustered after he was continuously asked if he was embarrassed over the events in Syria. What was supposed to be a friendly interview became heated on Sunday night when a debate erupted, with Middle East topics fueling the fire. 

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The 24-minute interview mostly covered domestic and foreign policy. However, Kroft repeatedly questioned Obama's strategies in Syria against ISIS and even accused the president of repeatedly "embarrassing" himself due to his failures and lack of leadership.
Obama immediately defended the U.S. missions in Syria and Iraq, saying better results would come in due time. As provided by the CBS official transcript, that topic went as follows:

Steve Kroft: The last time we talked was this time last year, and the situation in Syria and Iraq had begun to worsen vis-ŕ-vis ISIS. You had just unveiled a plan to provide air support for troops in Iraq, and also some air strikes in Syria, and the training and equipping of a moderate Syrian force. You said that this would degrade and eventually destroy ISIS.
President Barack Obama: Over time.
Steve Kroft: Over time. It's been a year, and--
President Barack Obama: I didn't say it was going to be done in a year.
Steve Kroft: No. But you said...
President Barack Obama: There's a question in here somewhere.

The conversation took place during a heated debate about the current status in Syria. Kroft continued pressing Obama about the timetable and successes of the administration against ISIS and even said that the Pentagon's plan to train and equip anti-Islamic forces fighters was an embarrassment.
Kroft continued to grill Obama concerning the timetables and successes of the Obama Administration against ISIS, going as far as saying the anti-Islamic forces fighters were an embarrassment. Kroft's questions grew more and more long-winded, as did Obama's answers until finally, Kroft commented, "I feel like I've been filibustered, Mr. President."

More questions bombarded the president concerning Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces in Syria with the clear statement that he "doesn't distinguish ISIS forces in Syria and those forces moving against President Assad."
To read the full transcript, please click here.

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