CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE IS WITH US AND NBC NEWS
WITH US AND NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT HANS NICHOLS AT
CORRESPONDENT HANS NICHOLS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE WHITE HOUSE. >> SO, DAVID IGNATIUS, FOR
>> SO, DAVID IGNATIUS, FOR SEVERAL HOURS LAST NIGHT IT
SEVERAL HOURS LAST NIGHT IT CERTAINLY APPEARED THAT THE
CERTAINLY APPEARED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN WERE ON A
UNITED STATES AND IRAN WERE ON A PATHWAY, AN INESCAPABLE PATHWAY
PATHWAY, AN INESCAPABLE PATHWAY TO WAR, A WIDE-SPREAD WAR WHERE
TO WAR, A WIDE-SPREAD WAR WHERE RETALIATION WOULD MEET
RETALIATION WOULD MEET RETALIATION, AIR STRIKE WOULD
RETALIATION, AIR STRIKE WOULD MEET AIR STRIKE.
MEET AIR STRIKE. AND YET WE WAKE UP THIS MORNING
AND YET WE WAKE UP THIS MORNING AND CERTAINLY THIS SEEMED
AND CERTAINLY THIS SEEMED OBVIOUS WHEN DONALD TRUMP
OBVIOUS WHEN DONALD TRUMP DECIDED NOT TO ADDRESS THE
DECIDED NOT TO ADDRESS THE NATION LAST NIGHT THAT THE
NATION LAST NIGHT THAT THE UNITED STATES DID NOT RESPOND
UNITED STATES DID NOT RESPOND AND, IN FACT, IRAN’S RESPONSE
AND, IN FACT, IRAN’S RESPONSE WAS INDEED CALCULATED,
WAS INDEED CALCULATED, PROPORTIONAL AND IF YOU BELIEVE
PROPORTIONAL AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY STRUCK
THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY STRUCK THE BASE BUT DID WHAT THEY COULD
THE BASE BUT DID WHAT THEY COULD TO LIMIT THE LOSS OF LIFE, IT
TO LIMIT THE LOSS OF LIFE, IT WAS ACTUALLY REMARKABLY
WAS ACTUALLY REMARKABLY RESTRAINED.
RESTRAINED. WE WAKE UP THIS MORNING WITH
WE WAKE UP THIS MORNING WITH BOTH SIDES SAYING NO MAS.
BOTH SIDES SAYING NO MAS. >> CERTAINLY, JOE, THE INITIAL
>> CERTAINLY, JOE, THE INITIAL FEELING IS ONE OF RELIEF THAT WE
FEELING IS ONE OF RELIEF THAT WE DIDN’T GO INTO A SECOND SPASM OF
DIDN’T GO INTO A SECOND SPASM OF RETALIATION, COUNTERRETALIATION.
RETALIATION, COUNTERRETALIATION. MILITARY STRATEGISTS OFTEN TALK
MILITARY STRATEGISTS OFTEN TALK IN CRISES LIKE THIS ABOUT
IN CRISES LIKE THIS ABOUT LINKAGES AND HOW TIGHT THE
LINKAGES AND HOW TIGHT THE LINKAGES ARE BETWEEN ACTION AND
LINKAGES ARE BETWEEN ACTION AND REACTION AND WHAT WE SAW
REACTION AND WHAT WE SAW SENSIBLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP
SENSIBLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THAT THE LINKAGES WERE
WAS THAT THE LINKAGES WERE LOOSENED.
LOOSENED. THAT THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE
THAT THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE REACTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
REACTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. AND THEN WHEN IT CAME, IT WAS
AND THEN WHEN IT CAME, IT WAS THE TWEET THAT YOU READ IN TERMS
THE TWEET THAT YOU READ IN TERMS OF CASUALTIES, SO FAR, SO GOOD.
OF CASUALTIES, SO FAR, SO GOOD. ALL IS WELL.
ALL IS WELL. REASSURING WORDS, NOT THE KIND
REASSURING WORDS, NOT THE KIND OF WORDS THAT TYPICALLY PROCEED
OF WORDS THAT TYPICALLY PROCEED A SHARP ADDITIONAL ESCALATION.
A SHARP ADDITIONAL ESCALATION. SO I THINK BY OPENING UP THE
SO I THINK BY OPENING UP THE TIGHT LINKAGES THEY GAVE
TIGHT LINKAGES THEY GAVE THEMSELVES SOME TIME TO THINK
THEMSELVES SOME TIME TO THINK AND LOOK.
AND LOOK. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS TODAY.
PRESIDENT SAYS TODAY. I THINK THIS IS STILL A CRISIS
I THINK THIS IS STILL A CRISIS THAT COULD QUICKLY GET BACK INTO
THAT COULD QUICKLY GET BACK INTO THE ACTION/REACTION CYCLE.
THE ACTION/REACTION CYCLE. I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD ALL THINK
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD ALL THINK ABOUT IS THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN
ABOUT IS THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR 40 YEARS, SINCE THE
BUILDING FOR 40 YEARS, SINCE THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION OF 1979.
IRANIAN REVOLUTION OF 1979. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WAR, HOW
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WAR, HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO WAR.
CLOSE WE WERE TO WAR. OVER ALL THOSE FOUR DECADES, NOW
OVER ALL THOSE FOUR DECADES, NOW IT’S REALLY HERE AND, YES, WE
IT’S REALLY HERE AND, YES, WE WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION BUT I
WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE
THINK PEOPLE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE DIPLOMATIC QUESTION.
DIPLOMATIC QUESTION. HOW DO WE GET OFF THE PATH WE’VE
HOW DO WE GET OFF THE PATH WE’VE BEEN ON SO THAT THIS CRISIS
BEEN ON SO THAT THIS CRISIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST
COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND BEGIN A PROCESS OF
PLACE AND BEGIN A PROCESS OF BENDING TOWARDS SOME
BENDING TOWARDS SOME RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE’RE TALKING
RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE’RE TALKING TO IRAN ABOUT MUTUAL PROBLEMS
TO IRAN ABOUT MUTUAL PROBLEMS AND HOPEFULLY SOLVING THEM.
AND HOPEFULLY SOLVING THEM. >> THIS COLD WAR HAS GOTTEN
>> THIS COLD WAR HAS GOTTEN HOTTER OBVIOUSLY OVER THE PAST
HOTTER OBVIOUSLY OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, WILLIE.
SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, WILLIE. BUT LAST NIGHT THE IRANIANS
BUT LAST NIGHT THE IRANIANS SAYING WE DO NOT SEEK
SAYING WE DO NOT SEEK ESCALATION.
ESCALATION. DONALD TRUMP SEEMING TO BACK
DONALD TRUMP SEEMING TO BACK AWAY FROM POSSIBLE RETALIATORY
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE RETALIATORY STRIKES AS WELL.
STRIKES AS WELL. FOR NOW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A
FOR NOW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HOT WAR HAS COOLED DOWN.
HOT WAR HAS COOLED DOWN. >> YEAH, THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
>> YEAH, THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SO FAR, AND I DO EMPHASIZE SO
SO FAR, AND I DO EMPHASIZE SO FAR, HAS NOT PLAYED OUT.
FAR, HAS NOT PLAYED OUT. LAST NIGHT WE KNOW THAT THE
LAST NIGHT WE KNOW THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD SOME WARNING
UNITED STATES HAD SOME WARNING BECAUSE OF ITS DETECTION SYSTEMS
BECAUSE OF ITS DETECTION SYSTEMS THAT BALLISTIC MISSILES WERE
THAT BALLISTIC MISSILES WERE INBOUND FROM IRAN, PERHAPS
INBOUND FROM IRAN, PERHAPS GIVING OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL
GIVING OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THOSE WE FIGHT WITH FROM
AND THOSE WE FIGHT WITH FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TIME TO SEEK
OTHER COUNTRIES TIME TO SEEK COVER.
COVER. SO OUR FIRST THOUGHTS ARE WITH
SO OUR FIRST THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE
THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OVERSEAS AND THEIR FAMILIES BACK
OVERSEAS AND THEIR FAMILIES BACK HERE AND HOPING THAT THE REPORTS
HERE AND HOPING THAT THE REPORTS OF NO CASUALTIES HOLD UP THIS
OF NO CASUALTIES HOLD UP THIS MORNING.
MORNING. RICHARD, YOU AND I WERE TALKING
RICHARD, YOU AND I WERE TALKING BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR AND MY
BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHO IS THE
QUESTION TO YOU IS WHO IS THE PERSON AROUND DONALD TRUMP WHO
PERSON AROUND DONALD TRUMP WHO EITHER WALKED IN THE ROOM LAST
EITHER WALKED IN THE ROOM LAST NIGHT OR CAN WALK IN THE ROOM
NIGHT OR CAN WALK IN THE ROOM AGAIN THIS MORNING AND SAY TO
AGAIN THIS MORNING AND SAY TO HIM, MR. PRESIDENT, ENOUGH.
HIM, MR. PRESIDENT, ENOUGH. WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVE
WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVE HERE.
HERE. WE TOOK GENERAL SOLEIMANI OFFER
WE TOOK GENERAL SOLEIMANI OFFER THE BATTLEFIELD, THE PRICE IF
THE BATTLEFIELD, THE PRICE IF THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES HERE IS
THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES HERE IS RELATIVELY SMALL, WE HOPE.
RELATIVELY SMALL, WE HOPE. STOP NOW.
STOP NOW. WHO IS SAYING THAT TO HIM AND DO
WHO IS SAYING THAT TO HIM AND DO YOU THINK HE CONTINUES THE TONE
YOU THINK HE CONTINUES THE TONE AND POSTURE HE HAD LAST NIGHT IN
AND POSTURE HE HAD LAST NIGHT IN THAT TWEET WHEN HE SPEAKS TO THE
THAT TWEET WHEN HE SPEAKS TO THE COUNTRY LATER THIS MORNING?
COUNTRY LATER THIS MORNING? >> SHORT ANSWER IS WE DON’T KNOW
>> SHORT ANSWER IS WE DON’T KNOW AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN
AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT IT WAS OFTEN THE
GOVERNMENT IT WAS OFTEN THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP THAT WOULD
MILITARY LEADERSHIP THAT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO DO THAT OR
BE MORE LIKELY TO DO THAT OR CIVILIANS HAD A MORE IDEOLOGICAL
CIVILIANS HAD A MORE IDEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE USE OF MILITARY
APPROACH TO THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.
FORCE. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S SOLDIERS WHO HAVE TO DO IT AND
SOLDIERS WHO HAVE TO DO IT AND ARE ON THE RECEIVING END.
ARE ON THE RECEIVING END. THEY HAVE OFTEN BE MORE CAREFUL
THEY HAVE OFTEN BE MORE CAREFUL AND THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SOMEONE
AND THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE FROM MR.
FROM THE OUTSIDE FROM MR. TRUMP’S POLITICAL BASE.
TRUMP’S POLITICAL BASE. WHAT WAS TO ODD ABOUT THE LAST
WHAT WAS TO ODD ABOUT THE LAST FEW DAYS IS EVERYTHING HE WAS
FEW DAYS IS EVERYTHING HE WAS DOING WAS INCONSISTENT WITH HIS
DOING WAS INCONSISTENT WITH HIS IDEA OF GETTING OUT OF THE
IDEA OF GETTING OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST, OF AMERICA FIRST.
MIDDLE EAST, OF AMERICA FIRST. HE WAS GOING DOWN A PATH THAT
HE WAS GOING DOWN A PATH THAT WAS SOMETHING HE HAD CAMPAIGNED
WAS SOMETHING HE HAD CAMPAIGNED AGAINST.
AGAINST. SO IT’S POSSIBLE HE HAD BEEN
SO IT’S POSSIBLE HE HAD BEEN REMINDED OF THAT.
REMINDED OF THAT. BUT I WANT TO COME BACK TO
BUT I WANT TO COME BACK TO SOMETHING DAVID WAS ALLUDING TO,
SOMETHING DAVID WAS ALLUDING TO, NONE OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OR
NONE OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OR FACTORS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED AND
FACTORS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED AND I THINK WHAT’S SO INTERESTING
I THINK WHAT’S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THE SPEECH WE’RE GOING TO
ABOUT THE SPEECH WE’RE GOING TO HEAR THIS MORNING IS WHETHER THE
HEAR THIS MORNING IS WHETHER THE PRESIDENT BEGINS TO MOVE THIS
PRESIDENT BEGINS TO MOVE THIS AWAY FROM A CONFRONTATION, AND
AWAY FROM A CONFRONTATION, AND WE GOT LUCKY LAST NIGHT, IRAN
WE GOT LUCKY LAST NIGHT, IRAN MAY HAVE THREADED THE NEEDLE,
MAY HAVE THREADED THE NEEDLE, DONE SOMETHING BUT NOT CAUSED
DONE SOMETHING BUT NOT CAUSED ENOUGH HARM, BUT ARE WE GOING TO
ENOUGH HARM, BUT ARE WE GOING TO SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE ACCEPT
SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE ACCEPT THE IRANIAN REGIME, OUR GOALS
THE IRANIAN REGIME, OUR GOALS ARE NOT REGIME CHANGE.
ARE NOT REGIME CHANGE. ARE WE GOING TO SAY THAT THE
ARE WE GOING TO SAY THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO HAVE SOMETHING,
TIME HAS COME TO HAVE SOMETHING, PUT A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC IN
PUT A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC IN PLACE.
PLACE. WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER AN
WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER AN END TO A REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC
END TO A REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC WARFARE IN EXCHANGE FOR IRAN
WARFARE IN EXCHANGE FOR IRAN DOING THIS ON NUCLEAR, THIS ON
DOING THIS ON NUCLEAR, THIS ON MISSILES, THIS ON ITS REGIONAL
MISSILES, THIS ON ITS REGIONAL BEHAVIOR, ESSENTIALLY CAN WE
BEHAVIOR, ESSENTIALLY CAN WE COMPETE WITH THE MILITARY
COMPETE WITH THE MILITARY DYNAMIC BY INTRODUCING A
DYNAMIC BY INTRODUCING A DIPLOMATIC DYNAMIC.
DIPLOMATIC DYNAMIC. THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS I’M
THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR.
LOOKING FOR. >> ADMIRAL, THERE WAS SOMETHING
>> ADMIRAL, THERE WAS SOMETHING ESPECIALLY AS I WOKE UP THIS
ESPECIALLY AS I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND REPLAYED THE EVENTS
MORNING AND REPLAYED THE EVENTS IN MY MIND, AND, BY THE WAY, I
IN MY MIND, AND, BY THE WAY, I HOPE THIS IS THE CASE, THERE
HOPE THIS IS THE CASE, THERE SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING VERY
SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING VERY CHOREOGRAPHED ABOUT EVERYTHING
CHOREOGRAPHED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE
YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF HIS
PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET SITTING IN THE WHITE
CABINET SITTING IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON
HOUSE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON KNOWING AN ATTACK WAS COMING.
KNOWING AN ATTACK WAS COMING. THE IRANIANS LAUNCHED THOSE
THE IRANIANS LAUNCHED THOSE ATTACKS, THEY STRUCK AN AMERICAN
ATTACKS, THEY STRUCK AN AMERICAN BASE, SO THEY ARE SEEN AS THE
BASE, SO THEY ARE SEEN AS THE WINNER BY THEIR PEOPLE,
WINNER BY THEIR PEOPLE, ANNOUNCED INCORRECTLY THAT 30
ANNOUNCED INCORRECTLY THAT 30 AMERICANS HAD BEEN KILLED
AMERICANS HAD BEEN KILLED IMMEDIATELY, BUT REPORTS,
IMMEDIATELY, BUT REPORTS, INITIAL REPORTS, AGAIN, SUGGEST
INITIAL REPORTS, AGAIN, SUGGEST NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED.
NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED. THEY THEN CAME OUT AND WE DO NOT
THEY THEN CAME OUT AND WE DO NOT SEEK ESCALATION, THEY SAID WE
SEEK ESCALATION, THEY SAID WE SEEK NO ESCALATION.
SEEK NO ESCALATION. THIS IS DONE.
THIS IS DONE. DONALD TRUMP RESPONDED LIKEWISE.
DONALD TRUMP RESPONDED LIKEWISE. I JUST -- IT DOES SEEM VERY
I JUST -- IT DOES SEEM VERY CHOREOGRAPHED AND I JUST WONDER
CHOREOGRAPHED AND I JUST WONDER IF A THIRD PARTY GOT INVOLVED
IF A THIRD PARTY GOT INVOLVED AND MAY HAVE CALLED THE
AND MAY HAVE CALLED THE PRESIDENT OR SOMEONE ELSE.
PRESIDENT OR SOMEONE ELSE. >> YOU KNOW, THAT’S AN
>> YOU KNOW, THAT’S AN INTERESTING SPECULATION, JOE,
INTERESTING SPECULATION, JOE, AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS A
AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS A MEETING WITH THE SAUDI OFFICIAL
MEETING WITH THE SAUDI OFFICIAL YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY. THERE HAVE BEEN FLICKERS OF THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN FLICKERS OF THAT KIND OF MEDIATION OVER TIME.
KIND OF MEDIATION OVER TIME. I THINK FRANKLY WE JUST GOT
I THINK FRANKLY WE JUST GOT LUCKY.
LUCKY. ALWAYS IN A CHOICE BETWEEN A
ALWAYS IN A CHOICE BETWEEN A VERY CLEVER MOVE AND THINGS JUST
VERY CLEVER MOVE AND THINGS JUST WORK OUT, THE SIMPLEST ANSWER IS
WORK OUT, THE SIMPLEST ANSWER IS ALSO THE RIGHT ONE, MY SENSE IS
ALSO THE RIGHT ONE, MY SENSE IS THE IRANIANS LAUNCHED A BIG
THE IRANIANS LAUNCHED A BIG RELATIVELY DUMB CRUISE MISSILES,
RELATIVELY DUMB CRUISE MISSILES, THESE ARE NOT PRECISION GUIDED,
THESE ARE NOT PRECISION GUIDED, THEY DIDN’T ZONE IN TO GO AFTER
THEY DIDN’T ZONE IN TO GO AFTER THE MESS HALL RIGHT AT DINNER.
THE MESS HALL RIGHT AT DINNER. THIS WAS THE MINIMUM THEY COULD
THIS WAS THE MINIMUM THEY COULD DO AND, THEREFORE, I THINK WE
DO AND, THEREFORE, I THINK WE KIND OF ARE AT LAST EXIT BEFORE
KIND OF ARE AT LAST EXIT BEFORE THE TUNNEL ON THIS ROUND, BUT AS
THE TUNNEL ON THIS ROUND, BUT AS BOTH DAVID AND MY GOOD FRIEND
BOTH DAVID AND MY GOOD FRIEND RICHARD HAVE SAID, THE LONGER
RICHARD HAVE SAID, THE LONGER TERM PROCESS HERE HAS GOT TO
TERM PROCESS HERE HAS GOT TO RESOLVE THIS LINGERING
RESOLVE THIS LINGERING BITTERNESS AND HATRED BETWEEN
BITTERNESS AND HATRED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN.
THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN. SO HERE IS WHAT I’M HOPING AND
SO HERE IS WHAT I’M HOPING AND WATCHING FOR, A, THAT THE
WATCHING FOR, A, THAT THE IRANIANS DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER
IRANIANS DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE.
BITE AT THE APPLE. I DON’T THINK THEY WILL, BUT
I DON’T THINK THEY WILL, BUT WATCH -- WATCH THE ARABIAN GULF,
WATCH -- WATCH THE ARABIAN GULF, WATCH OUR SHIPS AT SEA.
WATCH OUR SHIPS AT SEA. NUMBER TWO --
NUMBER TWO -- >> CAN I STOP YOU THERE,
>> CAN I STOP YOU THERE, ADMIRAL?
ADMIRAL? CAN I STOP YOU ON NUMBER ONE
CAN I STOP YOU ON NUMBER ONE BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING
BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, FOR AMERICANS THAT
THAT, AGAIN, FOR AMERICANS THAT HAVE NOT FOLLOWED IRAN AS
HAVE NOT FOLLOWED IRAN AS CLOSELY AS YOU HAVE SINCE 1979
CLOSELY AS YOU HAVE SINCE 1979 THE THING THAT HAS ALWAYS STRUCK
THE THING THAT HAS ALWAYS STRUCK ME AND I’M SURE IT STRUCK YOU,
ME AND I’M SURE IT STRUCK YOU, YES, THEY’VE BEEN THE EPICENTER
YES, THEY’VE BEEN THE EPICENTER OF TERRORISM SINCE 1979.
OF TERRORISM SINCE 1979. YES, WE CONSIDER THEM FOR GOOD
YES, WE CONSIDER THEM FOR GOOD REASON TO BE A TERRORIST REGIME
REASON TO BE A TERRORIST REGIME WHO CONSIDERS THE UNITED STATES
WHO CONSIDERS THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL AN ENEMY.
AND ISRAEL AN ENEMY. AT THE SAME TIME LIKE THE OLD
AT THE SAME TIME LIKE THE OLD SOVIET UNION, THEY, TOO, HAVE
SOVIET UNION, THEY, TOO, HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE WITH A SMALL
BEEN CONSERVATIVE WITH A SMALL SEA.
SEA. THEY DO NOT SWING WILDLY LIKE AL
THEY DO NOT SWING WILDLY LIKE AL QAEDA.
QAEDA. THEY DO NOT SWING WILDLY LIKE
THEY DO NOT SWING WILDLY LIKE ISIS.
ISIS. THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS
THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS REGIME HAS SURVIVED SINCE 1979,
REGIME HAS SURVIVED SINCE 1979, IS THERE NOT?
IS THERE NOT? AND IN PART IT’S BECAUSE THEY
AND IN PART IT’S BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN.
KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN. >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT, JOE, IS
ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT, JOE, IS THEY HAVE IDEOLOGY, THEY HAVE
THEY HAVE IDEOLOGY, THEY HAVE RELIGION, THEY HAVE GOALS, BUT
RELIGION, THEY HAVE GOALS, BUT THEY ARE NOT RECKLESS AND THEY
THEY ARE NOT RECKLESS AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT SUICIDAL.
ARE DEFINITELY NOT SUICIDAL. SO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE
SO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARABIAN GULF TO SEE IF THEY TAKE
ARABIAN GULF TO SEE IF THEY TAKE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE.
ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE. I DON’T THINK THEY WILL.
I DON’T THINK THEY WILL. WATCH CYBER, THAT SHOE HAS YET
WATCH CYBER, THAT SHOE HAS YET TO DROP.
TO DROP. AND LET US HOPE THAT THIS WILL
AND LET US HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A MOMENT WHERE SOMEONE CAN
BE A MOMENT WHERE SOMEONE CAN COME IN AND MAYBE NEGOTIATE
COME IN AND MAYBE NEGOTIATE THIS.
THIS. AND I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING THIS
AND I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING THIS IS WHERE THE YOUR MEANS WHO HAVE
IS WHERE THE YOUR MEANS WHO HAVE BEEN KIND OF ON THE FENCE IN
BEEN KIND OF ON THE FENCE IN SOME WAYS COULD STEP UP, LOOK
SOME WAYS COULD STEP UP, LOOK FOR SOMEONE LIKE URSULA
FOR SOMEONE LIKE URSULA URSULA VANDERLEI, SHE COULD LEAD
URSULA VANDERLEI, SHE COULD LEAD AN EFFORT, WE COULD GET INTO
