MORNING JOE 4/12/17 : U.S. Foreign Policy Under The Trump Admin.

>> FRANKLY WE TALKED CHEMICALS,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST
DON'T SEE THIS, THE LEVEL OF
BRUTALITY, THE LEVEL OF
VICIOUSNESS.
BUT WHEN T BARREL BOMBS
AND BOMBS OF ANY KIND RIGHT ON
TOP OF A CIVILIAN POPULATION,
THAT'S THE WORST THING -- I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
FRANKLY PUTIN IS BACKING A
PERSON THAT'S TRULY AN EVIL
PERSON
I THINK IT'S VERY BAD FOR
RUSSIA
I THINK IT'S VERY BAD FOR MAD F
KIND
IT'S VERY BAD FOR THIS WORLD.
>> THE WHITE HOUSE IS ACCUSING
RUSSIA OF TRYING TO COVER UP THE
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN LAST
WEEK'S DEADLY CHEMICAL WEAPONS
ATTACK
THE TRP ADMINISTRATION SAYS
DECLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE SHOWS
THE CHEMICAL AGENT SARIN WAS
DELIVERED BY A SYRIAN REGIME
AIRCRAFT
MEANWHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
BOLSTERING THE U.S. ROLE IN ONE
OF PUTIN'S MOST HATED ALLIANCES.
TODAY PRESIDENT SCHEDULED TO
MEET WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL OF
NATURE AT THE HOUSE.
YESTERDAY TRUMP SIGNED A TREATY
ALLOWING THE ENTRY OF MONTENEGRO
INTO THE MUTUAL DEFENSE PACT
WHICH WOULD EXPAND ITS REACH IN
EUROPE
SECRETARY CRETARY OF STATE REX N
IS WARNING RUSSIA IN NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS ABOUT ITS TIES
TO SYRIA SAYING THE ASSAD REGIME
WAS, QUOTE, COMING TO AN END
RUSSIA AT RISK OF LOSING
RELEVANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST BY
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE
DICTATORSHIP
STILL THE NEW SECRETARY OF
STATE'S INEXPERIENCE IS SHOWING
JUST A BIT
HE REPORTEDLY SAID TO A GROUP OF
TOP DIPLOMATS AT TUESDAY'S G7
MEETING IN ITALY, QUOTE, WHY
SHOULD U.S. TAXPAYERS BE
INTERESTED IN UKRAINE.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO FRANCE'S
FOREIGN MINISTER.
>> LET'S BRING I THINK MEMBER OF
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE,
DEMOCRATIC WHIP DISHING DURBIN
OF ILLINOIS.
SENATE, FIRST OF ALL,
CONGRATULATIONS, CUBS DOING
WELL, 5-2, GREAT SEASON.
IT SEEMS AS IF DAVID IGNATIUS
AND OTHERS ARE SAYING THERE IS
STARTING TO BE A SHIFT IN
AMERICA'S FOREIGN POLICY PERHAPS
BECAUSE OF MATTIS AND McMASTER'S
PRESIDENT.FLUENCE WITH THE
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT WE EXPANDED
NATO YESTERDAY
>> ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
UKRAINE US EXHIBIT A WHY IT IS
ESSENTIAL.
COUNTRIES OF POLAND, BALTICS,
UKRAINE, IS ESSENTIAL.
I I AGREE WITH DAVID IGNATIUS.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS MODERATION
OF THE VIEWS OF DONALD TRUMP AT
LEAST IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOREIGN
POLICY THAT DIFFER FROM WHAT WE
HEARD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
STARTED OFF AS PRESIDENT --
>> NOW IGNATIUS SAID MOVING
TOWARDS CHINA IN A WAY WE CAN
DEAL WITH CHINA.
THEY ARE ALL TALKING PRETTY
TOUGH ON RUSSIA.
>> YES
WHAT A CHANGE.
WHAT A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN SUCH A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
THINK A WEEK AGO, ABOUOUT A WEEK
AGO, HERE IS SECRETARY OF STATE
TILLERSON SAYING LET THE SYRIAN
PEOPLE DECIDE IF ASSAD HAS A
FUTURE
WITHIN SEVEN DAYS WE'RE
ATTACKING THEM
SO THERE IS A TRANSITION TAKING
PLACE.
YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED JARED
KUSHNER AS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS
OF THE TRAITION.
I THINK THAT'S TRUE FROM WHAT
I'VE HEARD
IT'S AN INDICATION THEY ARE
MOY ARE
MOVING TOWARD WHAT USED TO BE
THE CENTER STRIPE, MAINSTREAM
FOREIGN POLICY
>> GENTLEMEN, OBVIOUSLY GENERAL
McMASTER, GENERAL MATTIS
OBVIOUSLY HAVING REALLY --
>> JOE, I VOTED FOR MORE
GENERALS THAN I EVER DREAMED I
WOULD AS A KID GROWING UP IN THE
'60s.
>> ISN'T IT FUNNY, I SAY THIS TO
MIKE ALL THE TIME YOU THINK OF
GENERALS AROUND THE PRESIDENT,
YOU THINK OF JFK AND THE
WARMONGERS HE HAD AROUND HIM HI
THE PEOPLE HE DIDN'T TRUST
NOW YOU HAVE MAYBE 15 YEARS OF
WAR.
GENERALS IS THE MODERATING
INFLUENCE.
>> IF YOU SAW MATTIS YESTERDAY,
WHAT A GREAT, SOLID PERFORMANCE.
.
>> HE WASN'T INTIMIDATED BY THE
AUDIENCE
HE WAS PLAYING THE PRESS SAYING
MAYBE IT'S YOUR TURN TO ASK A
QUESTION AND GETTING SOLID
ANSWERS LIKE A MAN WHO HAS SEEN
COMBAT AND W PEOPLE DIE,
MAKING LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS.
PRAISE THE LORD THAT THAT SORT
OF PERSON IS THAT CLOSE TO THE
PRESIDENT.
THAT'S THE THING MOST OF US FEAR
THE MOST
IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING
HE TAKES A NAP BETWEEN TWEETS.
THERE'S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
FIVE MINUTES TO MAKE A LIFE OR
DEATH DECISION
WHO DOES HE CALL
>> I THINK HE'S GOT A TEAM
AROUND HIM BECAUSE OF WHAT'S
HAPPENED IN SYRIA THAT HE'S
ACTUALLY SPENDING TIME WITH THAT
ACTUALLY ADDS VALUE TO THIS
PRESIDENT IN A BIG WAY.
>> NO QUESTION
LOOK WHAT McMASTER IS DOING.
>> TRUMP MADE THESE CHOICES.
>> THINK>> THINK ABOUT THE TRADH
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.
WE WENT FROM GENERAL FLYNN TO
GENERAL McMASTER
WE WENT FROM K.T. McFARLAND TO
DINA POWELL.
>> YOU WANT SOMEONE OPPOSED TO
THE WAR GO TO PENTAGON
READ McMASTER'S BOOK,
DERELICTION OF DUTY, WHICH
OUTLINES FLAWS AND COWARDICE AT
THE COMMAND LEVEL IN THE 1960s.
>> YOU TALK TO THE MILITARY,
YOUNG MILITARY, ASPIRING
LEADERS, McMASTER IS A HERO.
HE'S A PERSON THAT SPOKE UP AND
TALKED ABOUT THE ERRORS OF
FOREIGN POLICY AND HOW THEY WERE
PLAYED OUT IN MILITARY
DECISIONS.
>> WHEN YOU HEAR REX TILLERSON
SAY THE ASSAD ERA IS COMING TO
AN END LIKE HE DID YESRDAY,
WHAT DO YOU HEAR IN THAT
THAT CAN HAPPEN A FEW DIFFERENT
WAYS, FROM THE SYRIAN PEOPLE
SOMEHOW, RUSSIA LEA LEANING ON M
CONVINCING HIM TO LEAVE POWER.
I DON'T SEE ANY INCENTIVE FOR
HIM TO DO THAT
OR COME FROM WESTERN COALITION
LED BY UMBRELLAS REMOVING HIM
FROM POWER
WHAT DOES
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU
>> I THINK BACK TO FOUR YEARS
AGO AT HOME SPRINGFIELD,
ILLINOIS IT'S SUNDAY NIGHT AND I
GET A PHONE CALL FROM PRESIDENT
OBAMA.
WHAT'S UP, PRESIDENT
WELL, WE SEE SOME CHEMICAL
WEAPONS IN SYRIA
I WANT TO COME TO CONGRESS AND
ASK YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO
VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION AND GIVE
ME AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT, WHICH I DID.
AND A NUMBER OF F REPUBLICANS
JOINED US, CORKER, McCAIN,
GRAHAM
THEN IT CAME TO GENERAL CONGRESS
AND THEY SAID, WHAT'S NEXT AFTER
THIS 60 DAY EFFORT TO DISCOURAGE
ASSAD FROM CHEMICAL WEAPONS?
THEY BACKED OFF, BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS BACKED OFF AND
THAT WAS THE END OF THE RED LINE
AS FAR AS THE PRESIDENT WAS
CONCERNED.
SO I ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT
FOLLOWS 60 MISSILES, WHATEVER,
WHAT'S NEXT.
>> THAT'S MY QUESTION.
HOW IS ASSAD REMOVED FROM POWER
ULTIMATELY.
>> 23 OF US VOTED NON THE IRAQ
RESOLUTION TO GO TO WAR.
WE SAID NO ON THE QUESTION.
>> WOULD YOU VOTE NO ON THE
MISSILES FIRED THURSDAY NIGHT.
>> I BELIEVE IN MY VIEW, CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY, THAT IS IN THE
INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
>> I'M NOT PUSHING YOU ON THIS
NEXT QUESTION, THIS IS MORE OF A
GENERAL QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY
THAT'S BEEN TALKING SINCE LAST
THURSDAY NIGHT, WHEN WE ASK
WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT'S
NEXT, A VERY WISE QUESTION TO
ASK.
IF THEY ARE SAYING OUR POLICY IS
NOT CHANGI, WE'RE NOT INVADING
SYRIA, ISN'T PERHAPS THAT THE
WRONG QUESTION ON WHAT'S NEXT,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
IS IT JUST GOING TO O BE A MISSE
STRIKE
WE MAY BE A FOCUSED MISSILE
STRIKE THAT GENERAL MATTIS
SUGGESTED TO THE PRESIDENT,
MAYBE THAT'S WHAT MOMENT CALLED
A
NEXT UNTIL HE CROSSES ANOTHER
RED LINE.
>> I THINK YOU MIGHT PUT YOUR
FINGER ON IT
I'M NOT SURE THEY HAVE A PLOT
THAT SAYS THIS IS STEP ONE.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT THEY DID WAS ASSERT THIS
PRESIDENT IS WILLING TO USE
FORCE.
THAT WAS THE STATEMENT, AGAINST
A DICTATOR USING WEAPONS THAT
ARE INEXCUSABLE WHEN IT COMES TO
CONFLICT.
>> ALL RIGHT
HE IS JON MEACM.
>> SENATOR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
BEING SURPRISED YOU VOTED FOR AS
MANY GENERALS AS YOU DID
ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK A LOT
OF THESE GENERALS ARE AS
BUTTONED DOWN AS THEY ARE IS
BECAUSE OF VIETNAM
IT'S THE COLIN POWELL MODEL.
WE'RE NOW IN THE 16th YEAR OF
WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, 14th YEAR
ALMOST TO THE MONTH IN IRAQ.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT
GENERATION OF GENERALS WILL BE
LEARNING FROM THESE WARS THAT
ARE THE LONGEST IN OUR HISTORY.
>> THAT'S A GOOD AND IMPORTANT
QUESTION
I THINK TION
I THINK THE FRUSTRATION OF
VIETNAM WITH ALL THE LIVES LOST
AND MONEY SPENT AND DIVISION
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, LOOK
AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
AFGHANISTAN TODAY.
I VOTED FOR THAT WAR
WE WERE GOING AFTER THE PEOPLE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRIBLE
TRAGEDY OF 9/11.
YET YOU LOOK BACK ON IT NOW AND
SAY WHERE ARE WE TODAY IN TERMS
OF STABILITY AND FUTURE OF
AFGHANISTAN.
WE STILL CAN'T FIELD AN ARMY IN
AFGHANISTAN TO EXECUTE BASIC
PEACEKEEPING AND STOP THE
ADVANCE OF THE TALIBAN AND OTHER
TERRORIST FORCES
SO I WOULD SAY THERE'S STILL A
LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION
THE WORLD HAS ITS LIMITS AND
PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN
WE SAY WE'RE A GREAT NUCLEAR
POWER, DOESN'T MEAN MUCH WHEN
YOU'RE DEALING WITH ROADSIDE
BOMBS.
>> ALL RIGHT
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DICK DURBIN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH
TODAY MARKS A BIG STEP IN TH IN
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO
KEEP A CAMPAIGN PROMISE THAT IS
SLASHING GOVERNMENT BEAUROCRACY.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS TELLING
FEDERAL AGENCIES IT'S TIME TO
SHRINK THEE OF THEIR
WORKFORCE.
JOING US FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET MICK
MULVANEY
GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD THIS
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
>> ALL RIGHT
SO TELL US MORE ABOUT THESE
PLANS.
HOW IS IT GOING TO ACTUALLY
HAPPEN
>> BY THE END OF THE DAY TODAY
WE'LL ROLL OUT GUIDANCE TO
FEDERAL AGENCIES ON HOW THEY ARE
SUPPOSED T
SUPPOSED TO IMPLEMENT GOVERNMENT
RESTRUCTURING IN TERMS OF THEIR
HIRING AND FIRING.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT FIRST CAME
INTO OFFICE HE INSTITUTED A
GOVERNMENT WIDE HIRING FREEZE.
IT'S NOT FOR NEW
MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY OR
GOVERNMENT TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, DO
NOTHING NEW.
SETTLE IN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING
ON
WE'VE DONE THAT NOW.
WE'LL END THHIRING FREEZE
TODAY.
WE'LL START ALLOWING AGENCIES TO
START HIRING IN A SMART FASHION.
SOME WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
GET SMALLER, SOME BIGGER
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET
WE'RE DONE WITH H ACROSS THE BOD
HIRING FREEZE TODAY.
WE'RE NOW TRANSITIONS INTO THE
SMARTER, MORE SURGICAL PLANS OF
RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT
>> MARK HALPERIN.
>> DIRECTOR, ARE YOU TO
NEED DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO RAISE
THE CEILING OR AVOID A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OR CAN YOU
DO IT ALL WITH REPUBLICAN VOTES.
>> THOSE AR COUPLE DIFFERENT
QUESTIONS.
THE DEBT CEILING IS PROBABLY IN
SESEPTEMBER.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING COMES UP THE
END OF APRIL
MY GUESS IS WE'LL PROBABLY NEED
VOTES ACROSS THE PARTIES BUT
OBVIOUSLY POSSIBLE TO DO IT WITH
JUST REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.
BY THE TIME YOU GETO THE
SENATE, I THINK THE DEBT CEILING
CAN BE RAISED UNDER
RECONCILIATION, WHICH TAKES 50
VOTES.
THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, THE
FUNDING IN APRIL WLD NEED 60.
>> WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO IT
WITH DEMOCRATIC VOTES OR
INDIFFERENT TO THAT?
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE APRIL
FUNDING SITUATION BECAUSE THAT
COMES FIRST.
WE ALREADY STARTED TO TALK TO
APPROPRIATORS ON THE HILL BOTH
IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND BOTH
PARTIES AND WE'VE SET FORTH OUR
PRIORITIES
IT SHOULDN'T COME AS A PRICE TO
ANYBODY.
THE PRESIDENT WANTS MORE MONEY
FOR DEFENSE, MORE MONEY FOR
BORDER ENFORCEMENT MONEY
FOR THINGS LIKE EDUCATIONAL
SCHOOL CHOICE.
HE WANTS REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING.
THE SAME THINGS YOU SAW WRAPPED
UP IN OUR BUDGET
WE'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE THINGS IN
THE APRIL FUNDING BILL.
>> DIRECTOR MULVANEY, IT'S
WILLIE GEIST
GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID AGAIN LAST
NIGHT IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE
WANTS TO, QUOTE, DO HEALTH CARE
FIRST.
HE SAID I HAVE TO DO HEALTH CARE
FIRST.
I WANT TO DO IT FIRST TO REALLY
DO IT RIGHT.
AT THE FIRST FAILURE OF REPEAL
OF OBAMACARE, THE PRESIDENT HAD
SAID HE WAS READY TO TURN THE
CORNER AND LOOK AT TAX REFORM.
FROM YOUR STANDPOINT, WHERE IS
THE FOCUS ON THE WHITE HOUSE,
HEALTH CARE OR TAX REFORM?
>> ALL THE ABOVE
WE CAN DO MORE THAN ONE THING AT
A TIME
I'VE GOT A MEETING ON TAX
REFORM
WE'VGOT A MEETING I THINK
LATER ON TODAY OR TOMORROW ON
INFRASTRUCTURE
WE MET YESTERDAY WITH A GROUP OF
CEOs ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT
RESTRUCTURING AND OBVIOUSLY
DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING ALL
THE TIME ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE
BILL
IT'S NOT JUST SORT OA ONE OFF.
YES, THERE'S A RHYME AND A
ROBBERY TO WHAT HAS TO GO FIRST,
WHAT SHOULD GO FIRST BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THE WHITE HOUSE IS
JUST DOING ONE TOPIC AT A TIME.
>> SO YOU SHARE THE PRESIDENT'S
BELIEF IT'S WISE TO GO BACK IN
ON HEALTH CARE DESPITE THE
INITIAL FAILURE?
>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF
ADVANTAGES TO DOING HEALTH CARE
FIRST.
THERE'LITICAL REASONS FOR
DOING IT, BUILDS MOMENTUM.
ALSO ECONOMIC REASONS TO DO IT,
NUMERIC IN TERMS OF CBO SCORING
AND ARCANE SENATE RULES THAT
ACTUALLY BENEFIT TAX REFORM IF
HEALTH CARE GOES FIRST
SO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, I
THINK THE PRESIDENT IS
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON HEALTH
CARE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE
STOP WORKING ON OTHER THINGS AS
WELL.
>> MICK MULVANEY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW THIS
MORNING.
>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.
>>> JUST AHEAD A POTENTIAL
BLOCKBUSTER REPORT FROM THE POS
THERE WAS A COURT ORDER TO
MONITOR CARTER PAGE OVER
CONCERNS HE WAS WORKING FOR
RUSSIA.
>> WORKING FOR RUSSIA ACTUALLY
GET FISA CT FISA COURT.
>> WHICH IS VERY HARD TO DO.
>> VERY HARD TO DO
PROBABLE CAUSE HE WAS AN AGENT
OF RUSSIA.
>>

MORNING JOE 4/12/17 : U.S. Foreign Policy Under The Trump Admin.

Latest Posts