Why it need to have been not needs to have been

[ostap77]

"Ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama's commitment was reinforced -- not that it need to have been -- by his two relatively recent trips to Israel, when he met with Israeli leaders from across the spectrum -- and you all know it's a very wide spectrum in Israel...."

Why would it be "it need to have been...." not "it needs to have been......"?

 

[bhaisahab]

"Ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama's commitment was reinforced -- not that it need to have been -- by his two relatively recent trips to Israel, when he met with Israeli leaders from across the spectrum -- and you all know it's a very wide spectrum in Israel...."

Why would it be "it need to have been...." not "it needs to have been......"?

It's a mistake.

 

[ostap77]

So there would need to be "it needed to have been..." or "it needs to have been"?

 

[bhaisahab]

So there would need to be "it needed to have been..." or "it needs to have been"?

I would use "needs", although "needed" is possible.

 

[SoothingDave]

Is this some sort of subjunctive? I would say it was if it said "and it need not be."