Iran war panel roundup: What has the US gained, and why send more troops?

[0:00] This windfall is based on lifting sanctions that will allow oil that's already on ships essentially to be sold, put into the global market. [0:09] And if you run the math, you get to $14 billion. [0:12] Steve Moore, is this good policy in this context? [0:15] It's a tough one. [0:15] I mean, look, we were just talking about people being angry about paying $4 and $5 a gallon gas. [0:21] So if this money makes it into the market, it'll bring down the price here at home. [0:25] So this is for the American people to decide whether it's worth it to pay less at the pump to give a temporary lifting of these sanctions to get us around so it gets into the tanks of the American motorists. [0:39] So I don't know. [0:40] We'll see what Americans think about that. [0:43] I don't want anything going to the benefit of this regime, Casey. [0:47] I just have to be honest. [0:48] I understand the point. [0:49] Anir, you made a valid point in terms of the American people struggling at the pump. [0:52] I get that. [0:53] I empathize with it, and I'm certainly not ignoring it. [0:55] But we are in the midst of a conflict with this regime. [0:59] And whether it's $14 billion or $1 billion, I think it's slightly different than Obama. [1:05] We're not directly giving them cash, but they are still benefiting. [1:08] They are still benefiting. [1:09] And I'm of the mindset that I would not want the regime to benefit. [1:13] I get the politics of this, but we have to realize if you're allowing them to access that type of capital, [1:18] then that's capital that will allow them to potentially kill more of our troops when we send the 1,000 over there. [1:23] So, no, I'm not necessarily supportive of this. [1:25] Yes. [1:25] I mean, I would argue this is, if you think what Obama did was bad, this is infinitely worse. [1:31] Why? [1:31] Because, no, I'll be really clear with you. [1:34] Why? [1:35] We were not at war with Iran when that happened. [1:37] We had just signed the JCPOA, the nuclear deal. [1:40] Maybe you don't like it, but we weren't actually at war with them. [1:43] And just a quick calculation here, $14 billion is 400,000 Shahadeh drones. [1:51] 400,000 Shahadeh drones, which they can produce. [1:54] We know. [1:55] They can. [1:55] They can produce themselves. [1:56] So, I just want to say, I understand that the president is panicked about gas prices, [2:02] but perhaps the worst possible idea is to provide resources to a regime you are actually at war with [2:11] so that they can buy more weapons to threaten not only American troops that we may send over there, [2:17] but, you know, our allies, et cetera. [2:19] How are we funding their bombs? [2:21] It actually sounds like this table is basically in agreement about this. [2:24] The question is, [2:25] was when Obama did it or when Trump did it worse? [2:27] I was just going to say, Casey, Nara, you're my friend. [2:30] I certainly respect you. [2:32] But I do think it's a little hypocritical because in the previous segment, you said, [2:36] look, gas prices need to come down immediately. [2:38] You know, I have a great way to lower gas prices. [2:41] I have a great way to lower gas prices. [2:44] And 92% of Americans agree with me. [2:46] The best path forward is to end the war. [2:49] We can end the war. [2:50] It's not going to happen tomorrow. [2:51] It could. [2:52] Apparently, we've already won the war, according to the president. [2:54] By the way, the one thing about the gas price, [2:55] if you look at what's called the futures markets, [2:58] that's what the market is predicting the price of gas will be, [3:01] you know, three, four, five, six months from now. [3:04] Every, the futures market is telling us that we're going back to the very low gas prices we had [3:10] before we went into Iran. [3:11] So this is a temporary situation. [3:13] It'll last three or four months. [3:15] And then we're going to be back to the lowest, you know, under Trump. [3:18] Is it transitory? [3:18] What's that? [3:19] Is it transitory? [3:20] Transitory, yes. [3:22] I like that one. [3:23] Very, very. [3:24] I didn't know you were going to say transitory. [3:25] It really is. [3:26] Okay, then only these two people sitting at the table will be capable of making it with each other. [3:31] Okay, transitory inflation is what Neera is talking about. [3:33] I'm sorry. [3:34] I apologize. [3:35] Let's watch Scott Besson, who is the Treasury Secretary. [3:38] He was out on Meet the Press over the weekend trying to explain this policy. [3:45] And the phrase he used is, well, he says that we're jujitsu-ing the Iranians. [3:51] Watch. [3:51] About 140 million barrels are out. [3:56] On the water. [3:57] In essence, we are jujitsu-ing the Iranians. [4:01] We are using their own oil against them. [4:05] When we unsanction this, rather than the oil going to China, it can go to Japan. [4:09] It can go to Korea. [4:10] It can go to Indonesia. [4:12] It can go to Malaysia. [4:12] And it can go to Iran, too. [4:13] I mean, isn't the point that the sanctions were in place to prevent Iran from getting any of the money? [4:19] They will have access to some of the money now. [4:21] Again, Kristen, you're missing the point. [4:23] So please listen to me. [4:24] They were getting it from China anyway. [4:28] All right. [4:28] So Scott Besson says that Kristen Welker was missing the point. [4:32] Let's see about these Republican senators, OK, who we've heard from in recent days. [4:36] The headline here is Trump draws bipartisan backlash for easing oil sanctions on Russia and Iran. [4:42] Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa, called lifting restrictions on Russian oil the, quote, wrong move, [4:47] adding that every dollar generated from sales, quote, fuels Putin's war and prolonged suffering in Ukraine. [4:52] Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi signaled unease, [4:55] with the administration's broader strategy criticizing the combined decision to ease sanctions on both Russian and Iranian oil. [5:01] Senator Jerry Moran, Republican of Kansas, warned that the temporary waivers would, quote, [5:05] enrich the very countries that we wish to harm, [5:08] contending that they reversed the impact of earlier sanctions that had begun to squeeze Russian finances. [5:14] So Iran is the biggest beneficiary of lifting these sanctions. [5:19] See, like, look, we could just go to break. [5:21] I mean, we don't need to complicate it. [5:25] We don't need to try to play verbal. [5:27] Did you? [5:27] Jiu-jitsu? [5:28] What's the word? [5:29] Jiu-jitsu. [5:30] Jiu-jitsu, right? [5:31] I can't even say it. [5:31] My six-year-old, it's his favorite thing. [5:33] Yeah, exactly. [5:33] But that's the thing. [5:34] It's like, you know, this benefits the Islamic Republic regime, period. [5:39] Whether it's Iran, the Russians, I think it's really cognizant right now for Republicans to advise the president [5:45] how important it is to not permit our adversaries, quite frankly, [5:50] to have the monetary ability to kill innocent people in Ukraine or innocent people in Iran [5:54] or our troops who are going to be stationed over there trying to gain control. [5:57] We'll illustrate it with our moves. [5:58] I get the politics of it. [5:59] I get the polling. [6:01] But some things are a bit bigger than what's immediately before you, [6:04] and that's the advice I'd give the president on this. [6:06] But I would say this, though. [6:07] What is the long game? [6:08] It has not been clearly communicated to the American people or to Congress, [6:12] and that's part of the big problem. [6:13] I mean, you know, we're eliminating all of their weapons that could be used against the United States. [6:17] It doesn't feel that safe right now. [6:19] The world will be a safer place when we leave Iran. [6:22] Now we're talking about potentially boots on the ground. [6:24] They're sending the paratroopers there. [6:27] They have one job. [6:29] They go and try to get on the ground. [6:32] And Marines are already in the region. [6:34] What should happen as far as the president's responsibility for bringing the American people along on this? [6:39] Look, I always want every president to go through the constitutional process [6:45] of working with their co-equal branch of government in the Congress [6:49] to ask for either a formal declaration of war or the authorization for use of military force. [6:55] Every president should do that. [6:56] What we've seen. [6:57] Historically is very few presidents. [6:59] I think going back to World War Two have, in fact, gone through this formal process and gone to Congress to to ask for those those authorizations. [7:10] I don't think we need boots on the ground at this stage. [7:13] And the reason why I say that is I don't want that war is is ugly. [7:17] It's nasty. [7:18] It's not something that I want to see any American have to deal with. [7:21] And so if the president and Secretary Rubio can utilize the steps that they're going through, the diplomatic process, [7:27] they have the. [7:27] Pakistanis working to do these negotiations. [7:30] And I believe in my heart of hearts that the president does want this to come to an end without having to do boots on the ground. [7:36] But I also will tell you this. [7:37] This president is a president of action. [7:39] We've seen past administrations use no big words and things and say that they draw lines in the sand and all these things. [7:45] If Iran does something, this president means business. [7:48] If Iran rears its ugly head and attempts to continue doing what they've done for many, many years as the number one state sponsor of state of terrorism. [7:57] This president will take action. [7:58] I don't want that to happen. [8:00] I don't think anyone at this table or any of the American public wants that to happen. [8:02] But everyone should be on notice that this is a president of action who will, in fact, do what he needs to do to carry out his mission of protecting the American people. [8:09] What do you mean as a state sponsor of terrorism? [8:12] How do you define terrorism? [8:13] Are we going to argue that Iran is literally the number one sponsor? [8:16] Is Iran committing genocide in Gaza right now like the Israeli government is, which dragged us into this war, which every president, every president prior. [8:24] Iran is the number one sponsor of terrorism. [8:26] For 47 years. [8:26] The Iranians have killed Americans and our allies across this world. [8:31] OK, they're trying to obtain nuclear weapons so they can annihilate Israel and potentially capitals in Europe. [8:39] There's no evidence of that. The JCPOA was actually a successful deal. [8:42] I find it appalling that you're an Iranian apologist. [8:45] Yeah, this is so I mean, there's nothing I can do to call out Israel's genocide and then everybody swarms. [8:52] No, no, no, not. [8:54] That's the one thing you can't say. [8:55] It is about Gaza. [8:56] This is about regional conflict that's spiraling out of control that the president is adding to. [9:00] But you stated there's no evidence that Iran wants nuclear weapons. [9:03] They lied. [9:04] That they buried something in the mountains. [9:07] There has been a religious edict that has said since 2003 that they should not be creating a nuclear weapon. [9:10] They lied to the United Nations. [9:11] In fact, we killed the Ayatollah, the older father who was actually against building a nuclear weapon because he thought that it was going to contribute here. [9:18] I'm genuinely shocked that you are defending the Iranians. [9:22] I've got to tell you, I hope that you tuck yourself in at night under that pillow of lies that you just told about the Iranians. [9:28] That is absolutely a crock of a word I can't say on national television. [9:31] The United States is funding a government that an Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem, says is committing genocide, [9:38] as is Amnesty International, as is every credible human rights group right now. [9:42] There's a massacre in Gaza. [9:44] There are hundreds of thousands of people unaccounted for under rubble. [9:47] That's what I define as terrorism. [9:48] Now, Iran is now exerting their leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. [9:52] Do you want the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon, yes or no? [9:57] The thousands of people that have died at the hands of Iranians would disagree with your personal description of what terrorism is. [10:03] And I'm sorry, does it meet the bill of what it actually is? [10:05] I mean, killing civilians is what I define it as. [10:07] As a diplomat, former diplomat, and former advisor at the Department of Defense who has worked in the region and worked on all these issues, [10:13] two things can be true at the same time. [10:14] The United States is supporting an Israeli government that has violated international law. [10:18] International law is committing war crimes. [10:20] And Iran is a state sponsor of terror, right? [10:22] Those are both true. [10:23] These are the realities the United States has had to reckon with for decades of U.S. foreign policy. [10:28] It is also why the United States has not ever put its hand on the lever in such a hard way [10:34] as to bring the war to Iran that Iran has been itching for. [10:39] Because Iran is able to defend. [10:42] It has now had all the possible folks who would have revolted and overthrown the regime. [10:48] They suddenly woke up one day to having everything around them bombed. [10:52] There was no CIA or Mossad effort to actually support a proper uprising, which is frankly what the United States did with the Shah. [11:00] So we know we have the capability of doing that. [11:02] None of that, none of that planning or strategy existed. [11:05] We had U.S. embassies being attacked by drones and on fire in allied countries because our allies had no idea this was happening. [11:13] So the United States went all in on something that Benjamin Netanyahu has wanted for decades. [11:18] And we're calling that action and strong. [11:22] And guess what? [11:22] The president of the United States, the commander in chief, wants to walk away from that right now. [11:29] When the president of the United States calls this, what we are seeing right now, a victory that is entirely rhetoric, that is entirely spin. [11:39] Military capabilities have absolutely been degraded. [11:42] Absolutely true. [11:43] But we are seeing economic impacts. [11:45] We are seeing downstream effects. [11:47] We are seeing impacts on the American public. [11:48] Without any effort having been made to convince the American public that this was necessary. [11:56] Can I just clarify? [11:57] Yeah. [11:57] Hold on. [11:58] Terry. [11:58] The one thing you need in a president in wartime is credibility. [12:02] And Trump is all over the map, right? [12:04] First, it was unconditional surrender and regime change. [12:07] Now, we won. [12:09] Carolyn Levin is out there saying the Iranians are defeated and will continue to be defeated. [12:14] He says, I'm going to end this war. [12:16] Don't worry. [12:17] It's not going to last that long. [12:18] He does not know what to do. [12:21] And he says he was surprised that Iran, which has been waiting for this moment for a long time. [12:26] And anyone who spent any time there, anyone who's read a book, knows that the war they wanted was against the other Gulf states. [12:32] Trump says nobody knew they were going to bomb UAE or Saudi or whatever. [12:37] Of course they are. [12:37] And the notion that it's won already or that they're defeated, they just bombed a U.S. air base. [12:42] Can I just say real quick? [12:44] The enemy always gets a say. [12:45] I disagree, Terry, with you. [12:47] Because in this situation. [12:49] I think the fact that the president can be confusing in his language, that he contradicts himself and his subordinates, is intentional. [12:57] It's deliberate deception. [12:59] And when you're in the midst of a negotiation. [13:01] Hold on. [13:01] Is he deliberately deceiving the American public? [13:04] Is he deliberately deceiving Congress? [13:05] The Iranians are in the midst of a negotiation. [13:08] And I trust you. [13:09] I know we're all impatient. [13:11] We talk about this conflict. [13:12] It's only been four weeks. [13:13] We talk about it like it's been four years. [13:15] And we're impatient. [13:17] We want certainty. [13:18] We want to know what's coming next. [13:20] But so do the Iranians. [13:22] That's true. [13:22] But here's the thing. [13:23] And we cannot tell them. [13:24] We can't tip our hat. [13:25] The reason I think why people are impatient is because they didn't know it was coming. [13:27] The American public was not sold on this. [13:29] Congress was not sold on this. [13:30] And that means the Iranians didn't know it was coming. [13:32] Mind you, we were putting forces in the Middle East. [13:34] But wait a minute. [13:35] But you've also got Nancy Mace who has said that Iran is becoming an Iraq. [13:40] That's how she sees it. [13:41] Now, that's her opinion. [13:43] And that's her. [13:44] Again, it's been four weeks. [13:45] She can take a chill pill. [13:46] Understood. [13:46] But if you have someone who is impatient. [13:48] Who has been a great supporter of Donald Trump saying this, then certainly the American [13:53] public is looking at this and wondering, why are we here? [13:56] And now that we are here, now what? [13:59] Because gas is going up, right? [14:02] There are economic issues that are hitting Americans in ways that they thought that Donald [14:07] Trump was going to solve. [14:08] So how do you explain to them that this is going to be for the better good? [14:12] $11 billion a day, right? [14:14] That's part of the explanation. [14:15] What are we doing with $11 billion a day? [14:17] What is the American public gain? [14:18] What is the American public gain in safety and security that it did not have a month [14:21] ago? [14:22] All of the points that have been made here, you know, we're in a very cordial debate. [14:27] And I think that all of the points have been heard and well taken, except this one. [14:32] There can be no ambiguity. [14:35] There can be no question. [14:36] And the American public, I think, is sitting at home watching this, gripping their chairs [14:40] at the idea that you are an Iranian sympathizer. [14:44] And the people that... [14:45] Gripping their chairs? [14:46] The people that... [14:47] Well, it's not funny. [14:48] The idea of what the... [14:49] I think it is. [14:50] And that's scary. [14:51] The idea of what the Iranian regime has done around the world, not just to Americans, but [14:56] to their own people. [14:57] You talked about rights and things. [14:59] They killed 30,000 people. [15:00] I don't defend the Iranian government. [15:01] That's what you were just doing for the last three minutes. [15:02] But the reason that we have this government is because they over reinstalled the Shah. [15:04] Pete asked you a question. [15:05] Pete asked you a question about, do you want Iran to have a nuclear bomb? [15:09] And you couldn't answer it. [15:10] The reason this government exists is because... [15:11] You couldn't answer it. [15:12] You are a sympathizer for the Iranians. [15:13] I don't want anyone to have... [15:14] I'm sorry. [15:15] You should have denuclearization and prosperity. [15:16] And Israel shouldn't have nukes either. [15:17] You guys are really piling on Emma because I have not heard either one of you say anything [15:22] critical of either the U.S. military operation or not, either the fact that Israel has more [15:28] of a plan and a strategy and the United States, which is supposed to be leader, is following [15:32] Israel. [15:33] I mean, come on. [15:34] That's not a... [15:35] I'm not piling on Emma. [15:36] I'm not piling on this... [15:37] I'm asking you now to clarify this point. [15:38] How do you guys feel about the United States following another country's military strategy? [15:42] I'm not piling on Emma. [15:43] I'm not piling on Emma. [15:44] I think we're doing an incredible job militarily. [15:45] I agree. [15:46] I agree. [15:47] I agree. [15:47] You've got a horrible idea. [15:48] Not very. [15:49] Not very. [15:50] But the Iranians are somehow... [15:51] Are you signing on to Israel's conquest of southern Lebanon? [15:52] Are we in a war of conquest now for Israel? [15:54] Because Israel is going to steal some of Lebanon. [15:58] They're going to go there and keep it. [16:01] Is that our policy now? [16:02] I'm focused on Iran and whether they have nuclear weapons. [16:05] And the United States hasn't. [16:06] And the fact that they lied about their ballistic missiles. [16:08] I'm sorry. [16:09] Those are important issues. [16:10] We are linked like a chain with Israel right now. [16:12] And they're stealing... [16:13] They have announced they're going to take southern Lebanon. [16:16] Hold on. [16:17] TAKE THAT POINT, BUT THE APOLOGY FOR IRAN IS RIDICULOUS. [16:23] I CAN'T MAKE IT ANY CLEARER. [16:24] SHE JUST SAID, DO WE WANT IRAN TO HAVE A NUCLEAR BOMB? [16:29] I DON'T THINK ANY NATION SHOULD HAVE NUCLEAR BOMBS. [16:31] WE SHOULD DENUCLEARIZE ACROSS THE BOARD AND ISRAEL SHOULDN'T [16:33] HAVE ONE, NEITHER SHOULD IRAN. [16:34] THE REALITY IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING IS [16:36] INCONGRUENT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, AND [16:38] THAT'S THE SCARY PART HERE. [16:39] THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE [16:40] HAPPENING WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE DEBATES. [16:42] THERE'S A CONVERSATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING, WHICH IS [16:44] JUST WHATEVER THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS ON ANY GIVEN DAY. [16:47] ONE DAY WE'VE WON, THE NEXT DAY THERE'S NEGOTIATIONS, THE NEXT [16:50] DAY WE'VE WON AGAIN, BUT THERE'S THE ACTUAL ON-THE-GROUND [16:52] REALITY THAT WE ARE MOBILIZING THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO THE [16:55] MIDDLE EAST, WE ARE ASKING FOR $200 BILLION FOR THIS WAR, AND [16:59] I DON'T KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THIS? [17:01] 86-YEAR-OLD KAMENEI WAS REPLACED WITH HIS 30-YEAR YOUNGER SON [17:04] WHO IS MORE RADICAL, MORE EXTREME, IS PURGING MODERATES. [17:07] CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN FOR THIS? [17:10] ONE QUESTION I WOULD POSIT HERE IS TO YOU, SCOTT, AND THIS IS [17:16] WHAT JAMES MATTIS HAD TO SAY, OKAY? [17:18] MAD DOG MATTIS, VERY WELL RESPECTED MARINE CORPS GENERAL, [17:23] FORMER TRUMP DEFENSE SECRETARY. [17:24] HE SAYS THIS, IRAN RIGHT NOW, IF WE DECLARED VICTORY, THEY'D [17:27] SAY THEY OWN THE STRAIGHT. [17:29] YOU SEE ATTACKS FOR EVERY SHIP THAT GOES THROUGH, WE'RE IN A [17:31] TOUGH SPOT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I CAN'T IDENTIFY A LOT [17:35] OF OPTIONS. [17:36] I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS [17:37] BEFORE. [17:38] WE'VE TALKED HERE, AND I THINK ONE OF THE RESPONSES TO WHAT YOU [17:40] JUST LAID OUT IS THAT THE IRANIANS HAVE FUNDED BAD ACTORS [17:43] ACROSS THE REGION FOR MANY DECADES. [17:46] MANY PRESIDENTS IN BOTH PARTIES HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW BAD THIS [17:49] REGIME IS, BUT SCOTT, THE CHALLENGE IS, OKAY, WE'VE DONE [17:53] THIS, WE SEEM TO HAVE UNDERESTIMATED THEIR [17:55] CAPABILITIES WITH DRONES, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DIG IN, THE WAYS [17:58] THAT THEY'VE ATTACKED THEIR ALLIES, AND NOW JIM MATTIS IS [18:00] SAYING HE CAN'T SEE A GOOD WAY OUT. [18:02] CAN YOU? [18:03] I MEAN, THE WAY OUT, OF COURSE, IS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL [18:05] COALITION TO SECURE THE STRAIGHT, AND JUST IN THE NEWS [18:08] TODAY IS THAT THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY IS ON ITS WAY. [18:10] THEY'VE DECIDED TO ENGAGE. [18:12] I THINK THAT'S THE CLEAR FUTURE HERE, IS AFTER YOU DECIMATE [18:15] THEIR MILITARY, TAKE AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, [18:18] TAKE AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE A BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM, AND [18:22] DEFEAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE AN EXPORTER OF TERROR, YOU HAVE [18:25] AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION THAT A, MONITORS THESE PEOPLE, AND B, [18:29] SECURES THE STRAIGHT. [18:30] AND OBVIOUSLY, VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS AN [18:33] INTEREST IN THE STRAIGHT BEING OPEN AND SECURE, AND THAT THEY [18:35] DON'T HAVE A NAVY OR ANY CAPABILITY AT ALL TO HARASS [18:38] THESE SHIPS GOING THROUGH. [18:40] SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE HOPE, AND I THINK WHAT THE [18:42] PRESIDENT SAID IS TRUE. [18:44] WE HAVE DECIMATED THEIR MILITARY CAPABILITIES. [18:46] WE'VE DESTROYED NEARLY ALL OF THEIR NAVY. [18:49] WE'VE DESTROYED NEARLY ALL OF THEIR NAVY. [18:51] SO ONE OF THE PIECES HERE IS TO GET THE REST OF THE WORLD ENGAGED [18:55] IN THE STRAIGHT. [18:56] I THINK THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO DOING THAT. [18:57] I THINK THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO DOING THAT. [19:01] WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, THOUGH, IS WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT [19:04] OVER, BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE [19:07] THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. [19:09] THE MISSION WAS NEVER REALLY CLEAR. [19:11] THE PRESIDENT SAID NINE MONTHS AGO THAT HE OBLITERATED IRAN'S [19:16] CAPABILITIES TO OBTAIN A NUCLEAR WEAPON. [19:19] YET HE'S DEPLOYING THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO THE REGION. [19:23] IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, REMEMBER HE STARTED OFF SAYING WE WERE ON AN [19:26] EXCURSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. [19:28] WE WERE PREPARING FOR A GROUND WAR WITH NO CLEAR WAY OUT. [19:34] AND SO THE PRESIDENT SAYS THERE'S NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON. [19:38] IRAN SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE. [19:40] AND SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NOR THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND, HAVE A [19:44] CLUE WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S MISSION IS, WHAT THE WAY OUT IS. [19:48] 13 PEOPLE, U.S. [19:49] SOLDIERS HAVE ALREADY DIED. [19:51] WE NEED A CLEAR MISSION. [19:52] RESPECTFULLY, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? [19:54] DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IRAN HAS BEEN THE WORLD'S LARGEST [19:58] STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR FOR THE LAST NEARLY FIVE DAYS? [20:01] THE PRESIDENT IS THE ONE, SCOTT, WHO SAID NINE MONTHS AGO THAT HE [20:05] OBLITERATED ANY CAPABILITY THAT THEY HAD. [20:09] SO WHAT IS THE MISSION NOW? [20:12] WHY ARE WE THERE NOW? [20:15] I THINK THE PRESIDENT. [20:17] I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, WE'RE HAVING A DEBATE, SO I'M [20:19] ASKING YOU A QUESTION. [20:20] DO YOU BELIEVE IRAN IS A STATE SUPPORTER OF TERROR? [20:23] AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT'S OKAY TO SEND OUR SONS AND [20:26] DAUGHTERS INTO A WAR. [20:27] OKAY. [20:28] BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS DEBATE. [20:30] LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE OBJECTIVES ARE. [20:32] NUMBER ONE, THEY ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST STATE SUPPORTER [20:35] AND EXPORTER OF TERRORISM. [20:37] NUMBER TWO, THEY HAVE A BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM, [20:40] WHICH WE FOUND OUT THIS PAST WEEKEND CAN REACH MOST OF [20:42] EUROPE. [20:43] NUMBER THREE, THEY LIE ABOUT THEIR NUCLEAR. [20:45] IS EUROPE AT THE TABLE? [20:47] IS EUROPE AT THE TABLE? [20:49] THAT DISCOVERY. [20:50] WHY WAS IT AT THE TABLE? [20:53] WHY WAS IT AT THE TABLE? [20:55] WHY WAS IT AT THE TABLE? [20:57] WHY WEREN'T OUR ALLIES INCLUDED? [21:00] I SEE NOW WHY YOU DON'T KNOW THE OBJECTIVES, [21:02] BECAUSE YOU DON'T STOP TALKING LONG ENOUGH TO LISTEN. [21:04] NUMBER THREE, THEY HAVE A NAVY THAT HARASSES SHIPS. [21:09] IN THE BEGINNING, IN THE DISCUSSION, IN THE STRATEGIC [21:11] PLAN, IN THE OPERATIONAL PLAN. [21:13] WHY WEREN'T THEY INCLUDED? [21:15] HOLD ON A SECOND. [21:16] WE'VE KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THE EUROPEANS WERE NOT [21:18] INCLUDED IN THIS. [21:19] I TAKE YOUR POINT. [21:20] WE'VE LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES. [21:22] BUT ALSO, THIS PRESIDENT HAS STRUGGLED TO TELL A STRAIGHT [21:25] STORY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHY IT IS, AND HIS [21:29] ADMINISTRATION HAS, RIGHT? [21:31] I MEAN, MARCO RUBIO WAS OUT WITH AN EXPLANATION. [21:34] HOLD ON, HOLD ON. [21:35] MARCO RUBIO WAS OUT WITH AN INITIAL EXPLANATION SAYING, [21:39] WELL, WE THOUGHT ISRAEL WAS GOING TO ACT, SO WE NEEDED TO DO [21:43] IT. [21:44] OKAY? [21:45] NOW WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT TODAY SAYING THAT WE ARE HAVING, THAT [21:50] HE IS HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE IRANIANS, AND THAT THEY [21:53] GAVE HIM INFORMATION. [21:55] AND THAT THIS IS A PRESENT, AND THAT THIS IS PART OF WHY HE IS [21:59] ENCOURAGED BY THE STATE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. [22:02] I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY THAT MOMENT FOR YOU, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF [22:05] WE CAN GET OUR CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE RAILS [22:07] AROUND THAT. [22:10] WATCH. [22:11] THEY DID SOMETHING YESTERDAY THAT WAS AMAZING, ACTUALLY. [22:14] THEY GAVE US A PRESENT, AND THE PRESENT ARRIVED TODAY. [22:18] IT WAS A VERY BIG PRESENT WORTH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND [22:23] I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT PRESENT IS, BUT IT WAS A [22:26] VERY SIGNIFICANT PRESENT. [22:29] IT WAS A VERY NICE PRIZE. [22:31] IT WAS OIL AND GAS RELATED, AND IT WAS A VERY NICE THING THEY [22:34] DID. [22:35] BUT WHAT IT SHOWED ME IS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE RIGHT [22:37] PEOPLE. [22:39] SO DOES ANYONE SITTING HERE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HE'S [22:41] TALKING ABOUT? [22:42] I'M SURE SCOTT DOES. [22:43] PLEASE TELL US WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. [22:45] NONE OF US DO, BECAUSE NONE OF US ARE IN THE ROOM FOR THESE [22:47] NEGOTIATIONS. [22:48] DON'T SEEM LIKE TRUMP IS EITHER, DUDE. [22:50] TRUMP ISN'T EITHER. [22:51] YOU'RE NOT. [22:52] YOU'RE NOT. [22:53] AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT. [22:54] I DIDN'T SAY THAT I DO. [22:55] NONE OF US ARE GOING TO BE. [23:00] NOW WE WILL REACT TO IT WHEN THE NEWS BREAKS, BUT TO ME, IF YOU [23:03] EXIT THIS WITH AN IRAN THAT HAS A DEFEND AS IT RELATES TO [23:07] MISSILES, AS IT RELATES TO AN AGGRESSIVE NAVY, YOU TAKE AWAY [23:10] THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND YOU LEAVE THE [23:12] REMNANT HERE UNWILLING TO BE A SUPPORTER OF TERRORISM, THAT IS [23:16] AN UNEQUIVOCAL WIN FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [23:19] I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE VERY CAREFUL WORDING SCOTT IS USING [23:21] HERE. [23:22] HE'S SAYING IF THAT HAPPENS, WHICH MEANS THAT HE [23:23] DISAGREES WITH TRUMP'S STATEMENT THAT IT ALREADY HAS [23:25] HAPPENED. [23:26] I ALSO CANNOT BELIEVE YOU INVOKED AN INTERNATIONAL [23:29] COALITION JUST TWO MINUTES AGO WHEN TRUMP ALREADY TRIED THAT. [23:32] TRUMP ANNOUNCED TWO WEEKS AGO HE WAS GATHERING AN [23:34] INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF COUNTRIES TO ESCORT SHIPS THROUGH [23:38] THE STRAIT OF HORMOOS. [23:39] GUESS WHAT? [23:40] NO COUNTRIES ANSWERED BECAUSE HE SPENT THE PAST YEAR [23:42] THREATENING TO INVADE GREENLAND. [23:44] AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE SAID HE DIDN'T NEED THEM. [23:46] HE SAID HE DIDN'T NEED THEM. [23:47] THEN HE COMES ALL THE WAY BACK AROUND SAYING, LISTEN, I DIDN'T [23:50] BREAK UP WITH HER. [23:51] NO, SORRY, SHE DIDN'T BREAK UP WITH ME. [23:52] I BROKE UP WITH HER. [23:53] I DIDN'T NEED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. [23:54] YOU ALMOST HAD IT. [23:55] I ALMOST HAD IT. [23:56] YOU SCREWED IT UP. [23:57] DO YOU AGREE WITH TRUMP THAT THIS WAR IS WON? [24:00] I AGREE THAT WE HAVE DEVASTATED THEIR MILITARY. [24:03] HE SAID WE'VE WON. [24:04] YES OR NO? [24:05] IT'S NOT A HARD QUESTION. [24:06] WON OR NOT? [24:07] IF YOU CONSIDER A CONDITION OF WINNING, DESTROYING THEIR [24:10] MILITARY CAPABILITIES, THEIR MISSILE CAPABILITIES – [24:12] WE HAVEN'T. [24:13] IF THAT'S TRUE, WHY CAN'T THE STRAIGHTENED FORMULAS BE OPEN [24:16] IF THEIR MILITARY IS DESTROYED? [24:17] HOLD ON ONE SECOND. [24:20] THE BIG PICTURE QUESTION I DO HAVE HERE, SCOTT, IS IF IT IS [24:25] TRUE THAT WE HAVE WON, WHY ARE WE SENDING THE 82nd AIRBOARD? [24:29] TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. [24:30] WHY IS THE STRAIGHT NOT OPEN IF WE'VE WON? [24:33] ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE DISCUSSION IS PRESUMABLY [24:37] NUCLEAR MATERIALS. [24:39] AND EVEN WITH BOMBING LAST JUNE. [24:40] NUCLEAR MATERIALS DON'T GO AWAY FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND THAT [24:45] MATERIAL CAN JUST BE DUG UP AND REUSED. [24:47] SO ONE OF THE – REALLY, TO ME, THE ONLY REASONABLE BASIS TO PUT [24:54] OUR FOLKS IN IRAN IS TO RECOVER MATERIALS AFTER AN AGREEMENT [24:58] HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. [24:59] WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT? [25:00] PUTTING AMERICAN BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO RECOVER NUCLEAR [25:02] MATERIALS? [25:03] AFTER AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED TO RECOVER [25:04] MATERIALS? [25:05] YES. [25:06] SO NOT AS COMBAT TREATS? [25:07] CORRECT. [25:08] WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT, SCOTT? [25:09] WELL, WE CANNOT EXIT THIS, IN MY OPINION, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO [25:13] ASSURE THE WORLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENRICHED URANIUM TO THE [25:18] POINT OF AND PURPOSE OF BUILDING A NUCLEAR WEAPON. [25:20] WE HAVE TO GO BOOTS ON THE GROUND. [25:21] SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO EXIT WITH. [25:23] DO YOU AND KEN HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION HERE? [25:27] WOULD YOU SUPPORT USING SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOR US, [25:30] POTENTIALLY PARAMILITARY FORCES, OR POTENTIALLY REGULAR TROOPS TO [25:33] GO GET NUCLEAR MATERIAL IF THE IRANIANS DIDN'T WANT US HERE, OR [25:36] ARE YOU WORRY OF THAT AS A CHOICE? [25:38] WELL, I'M WORRY OF IT, OF COURSE. [25:40] ANY TIME YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY, YOU HAVE TO BE LEERY [25:44] OF IT, BUT I GUESS I'M NOT, AND NONE OF US HERE ARE IN A [25:47] POSITION TO KNOW WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE CONVERSATIONS [25:50] BETWEEN US AND WHO WE'RE TALKING WITH IN IRAN, ALSO WHAT IS [25:53] ISRAEL PLANNING TO DO, ALSO WHAT ARE WE HEARING FROM OUR PARTNERS [25:56] IN THE OTHER GULF STATES. [25:57] I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT WE'RE FRANKLY NOT [26:00] IN A POSITION TO KNOW ENOUGH TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT YES, [26:02] OF COURSE, ANY TIME AMERICAN TROOPS ARE IN HARM'S WAY, YOU [26:05] WORRY AND YOU PRAY, AND WE HAVE THE GREATEST MILITARY IN THE [26:09] WORLD, AND WE HAVE THE GREATEST TROOPS IN THE WORLD, BUT IT [26:11] WOULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS, AND HOPEFULLY, AS KEN SAID, YOU [26:14] WOULD GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY SAY, UNCLE, COME GET THE [26:16] ENRICHED URANIUM, AND THAT WOULD BE A BEST CASE STATUS. [26:19] I THINK THE PEOPLE YOU USED TO WORK FOR CALLED THEM KNOWN [26:22] UNKNOWNS. [26:23] THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT THE U.S. IS GOING TO MUTUALLY [26:27] CONTROL THE STRAIT WITH IRAN. [26:32] WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. [26:33] THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. [26:35] YOU'RE RIGHT, SCOTT. [26:36] THAT'S NOT TRUE. [26:36] WE KNOW THAT ANYTIME AMERICAN TROOPS ARE IN HARM'S WAY, WE ALL [26:40] OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. [26:42] AND THAT'S WHY THE MISSION FOR THEM, WHAT THEY ARE CLEARLY [26:45] TRYING TO DO, NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED SO THEY CAN [26:49] ACCOMPLISH THAT AND COME BACK HOME. [26:52] THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY, NOT SUPPORTING A PRESIDENT WHO IS [26:55] ALL OVER THE PLACE IN TERMS OF THIS WAR. [26:58] YOU DO WANT TO GET THE NUCLEAR MATERIAL. [26:59] I GAVE HER THE LAST WORD. [27:01] I GAVE HER THE LAST WORD. [27:02] THE PRESIDENT HAS TURNED THIS THING INTO A VIDEO GAME. [27:05] I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS. [27:07] HE LITERALLY HAS WHITE HOUSE STAFF TRYING TO TURN THIS INTO [27:10] VIDEO GAMES AND MAKING MEMES AND TALKING ABOUT WORKING THEIR [27:13] LITTLE HEARTS OFF MAKING MEMES INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON WAR [27:16] PLANNING. [27:17] AND I HAD DINNER TONIGHT WITH GULF STATE REPRESENTATIVES. [27:19] I'LL TELL YOU WHAT OUR ALLIES THINK IN THE REGION. [27:22] THEY THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO THIS WAR. [27:24] THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM NOT TO CONTINUE THE BUILDUP IN THE [27:27] REGION AND NOT TO GO TO WAR BECAUSE THEY WARNED THE [27:30] CONSEQUENCES COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. [27:32] SOME OF THESE ARE COUNTRIES WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE NO FANS OF [27:34] IRAN. [27:35] THEY WANTED TO SEE IRAN WEAKENED, BUT THEY KNEW WHAT [27:37] COULD HAPPEN WOULD BE WORSE. [27:39] AND NOW THEY SEE A PRESIDENT WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, [27:42] WHO'S CONSTANTLY MOVING THE GOAL POSTS, WHOSE OWN STAFF ISN'T [27:45] EVEN SURE WHAT HE'S DOING. [27:47] THAT'S PRETTY SCARY TO ME. [27:48] THE PRESIDENT SEES THIS AS, AGAIN, A VIDEO GAME, NOT WHAT [27:51] IT IS, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH THAT AFFECTS NOT JUST THE [27:53] UNITED STATES BUT THE ENTIRETY OF OUR WORLD. [27:55] SCOTT, IS THAT UNFAIR? [27:56] I MEAN, TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BOMB OUR LITTLE HEARTS OUT? [27:58] I MEAN, IT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME IF WE CONTINUE TO BOMB THEM. [28:02] THESE ARE THE WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. [28:03] THEY'VE BEEN AT WAR WITH US FOR 47 YEARS. [28:05] THEY WANT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. [28:07] BY THE WAY, THE REASON THAT THEY'RE SAYING THERE ARE NO [28:09] TALKS WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING THERE ARE IS BECAUSE THEY [28:12] LIE ALL THE TIME. [28:13] THEY SENT THEIR PEOPLE OUT IN FEBRUARY TO SAY, WE WOULD NEVER [28:16] HAVE LONG-RAGE MISSILES. [28:18] WE HAVE NO PLANS. [28:19] AND THEN WHAT DID WE FIND OUT THIS WEEKEND? [28:21] THEY GOT 4,000-KILOMETER-RANGE MISSILES THAT CAN REACH MOST OF [28:24] EUROPE. [28:25] THEY LIE ALL THE TIME. [28:28] THAT'S WHAT THE IRANIANS DO. [28:29] THEY'RE TERRORISTS. [28:30] THEY HATE US. [28:31] WE'RE THE GREAT SATAN. [28:32] ISRAEL IS THE LITTLE SATAN. [28:34] WE CAN WIPE THEM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND WE'LL BE FINE [28:35] WITH ME. [28:36] BUT IF THE PRESIDENT ACHIEVES NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, NO BALLISTIC [28:40] MISSILE PROGRAM, AND AN END TO THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF [28:43] TERROR ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, THAT WILL BE A GOOD OUTCOME. [28:46] SO I HOPE HE GETS IT. [28:47] I'M GLAD HE'S WORKING TOWARDS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. [28:50] THEY SAY HE MIGHT BE TALKING TO THIS SPEAKER OF THE IRANIAN [28:52] PARLIAMENT. [28:53] I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS OVER THERE NOW BECAUSE WE KILLED SO [28:55] MANY OF THEIR TOP GUYS. [28:56] MAYBE THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHO THE RIGHT HAND IS TALKING [28:58] TO. [28:59] I AGREE WITH YOU. [29:01] THE LEADERS OF THE IRANIAN REGIME, THEY LIE. [29:03] I THINK THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW IF OUR PRESIDENT IS ALSO [29:06] TELLING THE TRUTH. [29:07] AND SO IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE TWO BAD ACTORS IN THIS CASE, AND [29:11] I AM CONFUSED. [29:13] I REALLY DON'T KNOW. [29:14] I WANT MY PRESIDENT TO BE HONEST. [29:15] YOU ARE EQUATING THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO THE IRANIAN [29:18] REGIME? [29:19] NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I DID. [29:20] YOU SAID TWO BAD ACTORS. [29:21] BUT TWO BAD ACTORS DON'T HAVE TO BE THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF BAD [29:23] ACTORS. [29:24] ONE IS A LITTLE BAD, ONE IS A LITTLE WORSE. [29:25] I DON'T KNOW. [29:26] CHAIN FOR AMERICA. [29:27] I AM CHAIN FOR AMERICA. [29:28] BUT AMERICA CAN ONLY WIN IF WE'RE HONEST. [29:30] AND I DON'T KNOW IF OUR PRESIDENT IS BEING HONEST WITH [29:32] US BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HONEST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF [29:34] THIS WAR. [29:35] ABOUT WHAT? [29:36] ABOUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT. [29:38] NOW IT'S JUST NUKES. [29:39] BEFORE I THOUGHT IT WAS REGIME CHANGE. [29:41] ARE THEY TALKING TO HIM? [29:42] THEY SAID REPEATEDLY. [29:43] NUKES, TERRORISM, NAVY. [29:44] NOPE. [29:45] HE SAID THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DIDN'T TELL HIM THEY WERE GOING [29:47] TO STRIKE THE LIQUID GAS RESERVE. [29:50] THEN THEY SAY IT IS. [29:51] IT'S JUST EVERY DAY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. [29:53] SO I'M ALLOWED TO BE SKEPTICAL OF THE TRUTH. [29:56] BRAD, GO AHEAD. [29:57] I THINK IT'S DEPRESSING THAT WE CAN'T GET TO A POINT WHERE WE [30:01] CAN'T ALL AGREE THAT IRAN, WITHOUT A BALLISTIC MISSILE [30:04] PROGRAM AND WITHOUT ITS ABILITY TO RUN A PROXY NETWORK IN THE [30:07] REGION AND WREAK HAVOC, THAT THAT'S AN UNEQUIVOCAL GOOD [30:09] THING. [30:10] THERE IS NOTHING BAD ABOUT THAT. [30:11] I'M NOT HEARING THAT AT THIS TABLE. [30:12] THAT'S NOT WHAT ANYBODY IS SAYING. [30:13] I'M NOT HEARING THE IDEA THAT IRAN IS NOT A BAD ACTOR AT THIS [30:16] TABLE SO FAR. [30:17] NOW, ONE THING I AM HEARING, AND BRAD, WEIGH IN ON THIS, AND [30:20] THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I PUT TO CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, THE WALL [30:25] STREET JOURNAL EDITOR AT LARGE, GERARD BAKER, SAID THIS TODAY. [30:28] THE UNSETTLING REALITY IS THAT WITH THIS PRESIDENT, AMERICANS [30:31] IN WARTIME ARE IN THE UNPRECEDENTED POSITION OF [30:34] HAVING TO SUSPECT THAT THE ENEMY'S VERSION OF EVENTS IS [30:38] MORE LIKELY TO BE TRUE THAN OUR OWN. [30:41] WE HAVE BECOME BAGDAD BOB. [30:44] SO I PUT THAT QUESTION TO CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, OR I PUT THE [30:46] QUESTION OF WHETHER THE IRANIAN REGIME OR THE PRESIDENT ARE [30:50] TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE TALKING TO EACH [30:53] OTHER. [30:54] PRETTY BASIC, RIGHT? [30:55] HERE'S WHAT HE SAID. [30:58] WHO DO YOU THINK IS TELLING THE TRUTH? [31:01] CASEY, UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE LEARNED THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN [31:05] LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. [31:06] AND HE KEEPS LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHICH IS NEVER [31:10] A GOOD THING. [31:11] SO YOU BELIEVE THE IRANIAN OFFICIALS OVER THE PRESIDENT OF [31:13] THE UNITED STATES? [31:15] I BELIEVE THAT BASED ON ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE [31:19] AND DONALD TRUMP'S TRACK RECORD OF LYING. [31:21] WE KNOW HE'S LYING WHEN HE SAYS THAT THE IRANIANS ARE TALKING [31:26] WITH US AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO GIVE DONALD TRUMP EVERYTHING HE [31:29] WANTS. [31:30] YES, THAT'S A LIE. [31:32] CHRIS VAN HOLLEN IS THE UNITED STATES SENATOR, A SENIOR [31:35] MEMBER OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND HE IS UNDERMINING AMERICA'S [31:37] ABILITY TO TALK TO US. [31:38] IT IS HIS JOB AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO SUPPORT THE [31:44] UNITED STATES POSITION HERE, JUST LIKE HE DID WHEN OBAMA WAS [31:47] IN LIBYA AND HE GAVE HIM 90 DAYS AND BASICALLY JUST TOOK HIS [31:50] WORD FOR EVERYTHING. [31:52] BUT BACK TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, OF COURSE NO ONE IS [31:56] ADMITTING THEY'RE TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES [31:58] BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO BE HUNG BY A CRANE TOMORROW [32:00] IF YOU'RE A PERSON IN THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. [32:03] THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT IS NOT JUST A BAD ACTOR. [32:05] THEY TERRORIZE AND MURDER THEIR OWN CITIZENS, MUCH LESS ANYBODY [32:08] WHO MIGHT CUT A DEAL WITH THE UNITED STATES. [32:10] I THINK WE OUGHT TO TRUST THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT ABOUT WHAT [32:12] AMERICA'S INTEREST IS. [32:13] HASN'T THE PRESIDENT BEEN INCONSISTENT? [32:15] DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE FIRST [32:17] STRIKE TO RIGHT NOW? [32:19] SAY IT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. [32:20] I WISH HE WOULD DO LESS COLOR COMMENTARY AND LESS [32:22] PLAY-BY-PLAY. [32:23] INSTEAD OF TALKING SIX TIMES A DAY TO THE PRESS ON THIS, I [32:25] WISH HE WOULD TALK ONCE A WEEK. [32:27] PROBABLY WHY YOU WANT HIM TO TALK LESS THAN SIX TIMES TO THE [32:30] PRESS IS BECAUSE WHEN HE TALKS, HE DOESN'T SAY THE SAME THING [32:32] EVERY TIME. [32:33] WHICH CAN LEAD SOME PEOPLE TO THINK HE'S NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. [32:36] HE'S OFFERING TOO MANY DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES, AND I THINK LESS [32:40] ACCESS WOULD HELP THAT. [32:41] BUT THE OBJECTIVES ARE ALL WORTHY. [32:44] YOU DON'T WANT IRAN TO CONTINUE TO BE A STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR. [32:47] YOU DON'T WANT IRAN TO HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, ESPECIALLY NOW [32:49] THAT WE KNOW THEY HAVE MISSILES THAT CAN LAND ALL OVER EUROPE, [32:53] AND SOON WHO KNOWS WHERE ELSE. [32:54] YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE NAVY, WHICH THEY HAVE [32:56] HAD FOR YEARS. [32:58] THESE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT OBJECTIVES, AND AS BRAD SAID, IF [33:01] YOU ACHIEVE THESE THINGS OUT OF THIS, WHATEVER THE REGIME OR [33:04] SOMETHING ELSE LOOKS LIKE AT THE END, THAT IS A GOOD THING. [33:07] THEY HAVE BEEN AT WAR WITH US AND ALL OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION [33:11] FOR 47 YEARS. [33:12] WE ARE WAY OVERDUE FOR THIS. [33:14] THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH, AND HE FINALLY HAD THE GUTS TO DO [33:17] IT. [33:18] SO AT THE END OF THIS, IF WE ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS I JUST LAID [33:20] OUT, YOU WOULD AGREE THAT WOULD BE, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER [33:23] PLACE, YES? [33:24] I'VE GOT TO AGREE WITH SCOTT. [33:27] YOUR POINT ABOUT THE OBJECTIVES. [33:29] YOU AND I BOTH AGREE, IRANIAN REGIME, BAD REGIME, DANGEROUS [33:32] REGIME, KILLED AMERICANS, TERRIBLE REGIME. [33:36] THE REASON YOU WANT TO BE CONSISTENT ABOUT YOUR STRATEGY [33:39] IS DEPENDING ON WHAT OPENING MOVE YOU MAKE, IT AFFECTS THE [33:42] SECOND MOVE, IT AFFECTS THE THIRD MOVE. [33:44] ANYONE WHO PLAYS CHESS KNOWS THAT. [33:46] DONALD TRUMP HASN'T PLAYED CHESS. [33:47] DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY CHESS. [33:49] AND OUR ALLIES TONIGHT EVEN TOLD ME IN MEETINGS THAT BECAUSE [33:52] DONALD TRUMP KEPT SHIFTING HIS OBJECTIVES, BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP [33:55] WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE PRESIDENT TELLS US WHO HE'S [33:58] NEGOTIATING WITH. [33:59] WHEN THE PRESIDENT KEEPS MOVING OUR OBJECTIVES, I TALK TO PEOPLE [34:05] FROM THE REGION ALL THE TIME. [34:06] THE REGION OR WITH THE GOVERNMENTS? [34:07] SCOTT, HERE'S THE POINT. [34:10] THE PEOPLE IN THAT REGION WHO ARE OUR ALLIES HAVE BEEN VERY [34:14] PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THE PRESIDENT SHIFTING [34:17] OBJECTIVES. [34:18] AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. [34:20] BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN AND UNDERTAKE [34:22] REGIME. [34:22] AND A DECAPITATION STRIKE, YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR ALLY TO THROW IT [34:27] ALL OUT THERE. [34:28] DONALD TRUMP IF HE HAD APPROACHED THIS WAR DIFFERENTLY [34:30] WOULD NOT HAVE INSTIGATED IRAN TO GO ATTACK OUR CLOSEST ALLIES [34:34] IN THE REGION. [34:35] WHICH THEY HAVE DONE AGAINST CIVILIAN SITES, AGAINST [34:37] ECONOMIC SITES THAT THEY WOULD NOT LIKELY HAVE OTHERWISE DONE [34:41] IF WE HAD SAID THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE BALLISTIC MISSILES. [34:44] THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE NUCLEAR PROBLEM. [34:46] DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY STRUCK THE NUCLEAR SITES BEFORE? [34:48] WE DIDN'T SEE LNG FACILITIES STRUCK IN THE WAKE OF THAT. [34:51] BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THERE. [34:52] WE WERE GONE BEFORE THEY EVER KNEW WE WERE THERE. [34:53] SO YOU'RE SAYING IF WE HAD SENT OUT THE CORRECT PRESS RELEASE, [34:59] THE IRANIANS WOULDN'T HAVE ACTED IRRATICALLY? [35:00] I'M SAYING IF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES UNDERSTOOD WHY [35:03] HE WAS THERE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES. [35:05] GET RID OF THE NUKES, GET RID OF THE MISSILES, GET RID OF THE [35:08] TERRORISM. [35:09] THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AREN'T WITH YOUR TALKING POINTS. [35:13] THEY ARE HIGHLY SKEPTICAL. [35:14] THEY DON'T LIKE THE TACTICS. [35:15] I THINK THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN GET TO AN OUTCOME, BUT THERE ARE [35:18] MANY PATHWAYS TO THIS SOLUTION. [35:20] I DON'T KNOW IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WITH THE PRESIDENT. [35:24] ONE REASON WHY I DON'T THINK THEY ARE WITH THE PRESIDENT IS [35:25] BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HE IS BEING HONEST. [35:28] I'LL ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED BRAD. [35:29] FROM THE TIME WE DID THE STRIKES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO TODAY, [35:33] DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN THE SAME STORY? [35:35] YES, I FEEL LIKE THE OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN CLEAR TO ME. [35:38] NOT THE OBJECTIVES, THE STORY. [35:41] IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT TIME AND AGAIN. [35:44] POTUS, RUBIO, HEGSETH, KANE, NUTS, MISSILES, NAVY, TERRORISM. [35:52] YOU AREN'T WATCHING THE SAME NEWS THAT WE'RE ALL WATCHING, IF YOU [35:54] THINK THE STORY HASN'T CHANGED. [35:55] I COME TO THE SAME OFFICE YOU DO. [35:57] BUT THEY LITERALLY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER NUCLEAR SITES. [36:01] JUST THAT ONE ALONE. [36:02] JUST HONE IN ON THAT ONE. [36:03] THAT'S NOT TRUE. [36:04] WHAT YOU JUST SAID WASN'T TRUE. [36:05] FOR THE ENTIRETY OF DONALD TRUMP'S ADULT LIFE, HE HAS SAID [36:08] IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON ON MY WATCH. [36:12] BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW. [36:14] THE NUCLEAR SITES HAVE NOT BEEN A TARGET IN THIS WORLD. [36:16] HERE'S WHERE IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO. [36:18] THIS PRESIDENT HAD THE GUTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY [36:20] DIFFICULT TO TAKE OUT AN EVOWED ENEMY IN THE UNITED STATES. [36:23] WHEN WE SAW PRESIDENT OBAMA DO THAT WITH SYRIA, HE BACKED AWAY [36:26] FROM HIS RED LINE. [36:27] HIS PARTY DIDN'T SUPPORT HIM. [36:28] THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY HAS SUPPORTED HIM. [36:29] THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM AS LONG AS HE'S ACHIEVING [36:32] WORTHY OBJECTIVES IN IRAN AND AS LONG AS THIS IS QUICK. [36:35] WHICH HE STILL INDICATES WILL BE QUICK. [36:36] MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY ARE NOT SUPPORTING HIM. [36:39] YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE CORRECT POLLING. [36:42] 92% OF AMERICANS WANT THIS WAR TO END AS SOON AS HUMANLY [36:45] POSSIBLE. [36:46] WE ALL WANT THIS WAR TO END AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. [36:49] EVERYBODY AGREES. [36:50] I WANT OUR OBJECTIVES MET, TOO. [36:51] I WANT IT DONE IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY. [36:53] THIS PRESIDENT DID NOT APPROACH THIS IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY. [36:55] HE DID NOT GAME IT OUT. [36:56] HOW MUCH LONGER SHOULD WE WAIT? [36:57] ANOTHER 47 YEARS? [36:58] HE DIDN'T EVEN CLAIM HE THOUGHT THE STRAIGHT OF HORROR MOVES [37:00] WOULD BE CLOSE. [37:01] MY GRAD SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLASS, WE GAMED THAT [37:05] OUT AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.