Senator Marco Rubio: Troops In Syria Might Be Possible In The Future | Morning Joe

ASSEMBLED. >> AND WITH DIFFERENT
IMPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF AMERICAN --
>> THERE'S BEEN A COURSE CORRECTION.
WE JUST HEARD IT. >> SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS BEEN
CALLING FOR A COURSE CORRECTION, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, A MEMBER
OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, SENATOR MARCO RUBIO
OF FLORIDA. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
WE WERE LOOKING AT YOUR TWEETS EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND ALL
ALONG, YOU WERE SAYING WE CAN'T SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE FATHER WHO LOST BOTH OF HIS TWINS AND
SAID, SOMETHING MUST HAPPEN. WAS THE PRESIDENT'S ORDERS LAST
NIGHT, WAS A U.S. MILITARY'S ACTION LAST NIGHT, WAS THAT
ENOUGH? >> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS
SAYING IT WAS ENOUGH. IT WAS CERTAINLY ENOUGH FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THAT MISSION. CONFESS TO DESTROY THE AIR BASE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS EFFECTIVE, IT HAD A CLEAR GOAL,
THE GOAL WAS TO DEGRADE AND DESTROY AN AIR BASE THAT WAS NOT
JUST A GREAT STRATEGIC VALUE TO THE ASSAD REGIME, BUT THE ONE
USED TO CARRY OUT THE ATTACK EARLIER IN THE WEEK.
I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE ON OUT.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIMEE DEBATIN TACTICS, AIR STRIKES OR NO,
NO-NO-FLY ZONE OR NOT HAVING WITH.
I DO BELIEVE THE NSC IS WORKING ON A STRATEGY.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON FOREIGN POLICY, YOU
CAN'T CONTROL THE TIMING. UNLIKE DOMESTIC POLICY, YOU
CAN'T CONTROL THE TIMING. I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS THE
EVENTS GOT AHEAD OF THE PLANNING.
I BELIEVE AFTER LAST NIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO WORK ON WHAT THE U.S. NEEDS TO DO AND WHERE WE WANT TO END
UP. I BELIEVE IT'S THE COMBINATION
OF THE REMOVAL OF ASSAD AND ALSO THE DEFEAT OF RADICAL GROUPS.
>> YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER WAY TO ANSWER IT, WE'VE BEEN ASKING,
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANT TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY SEEING THAT THE
UNDERSTAND IS STANDING AS A MORE LEADER, OR WHAT WOULD THE
RESPONSIBLE HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN ALLOWED
ASSAD TO USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND WE DID NOTHING?
>> IF IN FACT ASSAD HAD BEENN ABLE TO DO THIS, THE MESSAGE
WOULD BE IF YOU COMMIT THIS HORRIBLE WAR CRIME AND YOU GAS
PEOPLE AND WHATEVER SOME OTHER LEADER WILL DID I AS TO DO,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF HEADLINES, A LOT OF CRITICISM, A
NASTY LETTER, BUT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
THAT'S BEEN THE CALCULUS. HE SITS THERE AND SAYS IF I DO
THIS, IT'S GOING TO HELP ME IN THE BATTLEFIELD EVEN IF
THOUSANDS OF INNOCENTS HAVE TO DIE.
THE PRICE I PAY IS JUST SOME BAD PUBLICITY, A LOT OF HEAT, BUT
ULTIMATELY NOTHING ELSE. THAT DYNAMIC NEEDS TO SHIFT.
I DON'T THINK LAST NIGHT IN AND OF ITSELF WILL SHIFT IT, BUT I
THINK IT BEGINS TO SHIFT IT. I BELIEVE IT ALSO APPLYING TO
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. IF YOU'RE KIM JONG-UN SITTING
THERE IN NORTH KOREA, YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT AM I DEALING WITH
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS AND MAYBE A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED
THAN 48 HOURS AGO. >> DAVID IGNATIUS, CERTAINLY HE
UNDERSTANDS HE'S DEALING WITH SOMEBODY DIFFERENT.
>> HE'S CLEARLY WILLING TO USE MILITARY FORCE, BUT I WANT TO
ASK THE NOR, WE'VE HAD AN INITIAL SHOT OF 59 CRUISE
MISSILES, BUT SHOULD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS THEY WATCH
THIS MORNING BE THINKING, WE MAY NEED TO BE ENTERING A SITUATION
WHERE U.S. TROOPS ARE MO ARE AT RISK?
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT A NO-FLY ZONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE U.S. TROOPS IN SYRIA TAKING THIS
FLIGHT MORE AGGRESSIVELY? >> THAT MAY BE QUITE POSSIBILITY
AT SOME POINT, BUT IT HAS TO BE IN FURTHERENS OF A STRATEGIC
GOAL. IT GOES BACK TO THE TACTICS
VERSUS STRATEGY. THE STRATEGY NEED TO BE WE NEED
TO EMPOWER SOME NON-JIHADIST SYRIANS GROUPS, SYRIAN SUNNIS.
A LOT OF THESE ARE FOREIGN FIGHTERS.
EVEN THE AL NEWS RA, AL QAEDA-LINKED FIGHTERS, THEY'RE
FOREIGNERS WHO HAVE FLOWN INTO SYRIA BECAUSE OF THE VACUUM THAT
CREATED THIS OPPORTUNITY. THERE HAS TO BE A SUNNI
ALTERNATIVE TO ASSAD'S RULE. YOU HAVE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE ON TO
HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. IF THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN
FORCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ALLY SAYS IN THE FURTHERANCE OF
A STRATEGY SUCH AS THAT, I DO BELIEVE YOU CAN BUILD SUPPORT.
IF IT'S JUST A TACTIC WITHOUT ANY CLEAR STRATEGIC AIM, IT'S A
MUCH HARDER SELL. THAT'S WHY I THINK THE STRATEGIC
COMPONENT IS CRITICAL TO GAINING PUBLIC AND CONGRESSIONAL
SUPPORT. >> THE BBC'S KATTY KAY IS WITH
US. SHE HAS A QUESTION.
>> THERE IS SOME CONCERN THIS MIGHT LEAD INTO A BROADER
ENGAGEMENT ON THE 35R9 OF AMERICA AND AMERICA WOULD LIE
ALLYING TO BECOME ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS.
HOW MUCH APPETITE DO YOU THINK THERE IS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES AND AMONGST AMERICA'S ALLYING TO BE THE FIRST STEP IN
A BROADER, MORE COMPLICATED, MORE INTENSE ENGAGEMENT?
>> ONE OF THE BIG DEBATES IN EUROPE IS ABOUT IMBASE, THE
REFUGEE CRISIS, THE REFUGEE FLOWS.
THAT'S ALL EMANATING OUT OF THE SYRIAN CRISIS.
THERE WOULDN'T BE A REFUGEE CRISIS IF THERE WEREN'T REFUGEES
BEING DRIVEN OUT BY VIOLENCE AND BY THE SORT OF ATTACK.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH THE ATTACKS
OCCURRING IN EUROPE, ISIS-INSPIRED AND THE LIKE.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? BECAUSE SYRIA HAS BECOME AN
UNGOVERNED SPACE IN WHICH THE RADICAL ELEMENTS CAN OPERATE.
I THINK THERE HAS TO BE AN APPETITE TO GET INVOLVED.
FOR ALL OF OUR ALLIES AND FOR OURSELVES.
AS LONG AS ASSAD IS THERE, ASSAD WILL NEVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO
GOVERN A UNIFIED SYRIA AS WE ONCE KNEW IT.
YOU SAW THE IMAGES OF THESE PEOPLE CARRYING THEIR CHILDREN
TO THE GRAVE. THEY WILL NEVER ACCEPT ASSAD AS
THEIR RIGHTFUL RULER. THEY WILL DO ONE OF TWO
THINGS -- LEAVE, OR JOIN WHICHEVER GROUP IS THE BEST
ARMED TO KILL AND REMOVE ASSAD, AND THAT'S WHERE RADICALISM
BEGINS ON GROW. THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT/NEVER
BEEN JIHADIST, BUT LINK UP WITH WHATEVER GROUP THAT'S EFFECTIVE,
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PUNISH AND REMOVE THE PEOPLE WHO DID THAT
TO THEIR FAMILIES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT UPNEEDS TO
CARE ABOUT AND SOMETHING THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO CARE ABOUT.
>> SENATOR, WE'LL CHANGE SUBJECTS HERE.
YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY INDEPENDENT VOICE AMONG REPUBLICANS
REGARDING THE INVESTIGATION OF RUSSIA AND THE POSSIBLE
COLLUSION WITH ASSOCIATES OF DONALD TRUMP.
ARE YOU CONFIDENT NOW THAT THERE CAN BE AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, GIVEN THE FACT
THAT CHAIRMAN NUNES STEPPED DOWN IN THE HOUSE?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S PREFERABLE TO AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL?
>> A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, I CAN'T COMMENT ON
THE HOUSE PROCESS. OFFICELY I READ AND HEAR THE
NEWS ABOUT IT, AND I'M NOT STEEPED IN IT.
I DON'T GENERALLY COMMENT ON HOUSE SITUATION.
AS A FORMER HOUSE MEMBERS, YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND WHY.
I CAN COMMENT ON THE SENATE. I THINK THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE IS WORKING IN A POSITIVE AND BIPARTISAN WAY.
JUST TODAY, I'LL DO SOME WORK BEFORE WE HEAD OUT FOR RECESS.
I'LL GO DOWN AND CONTINUE SOME OF MEYER WORK.
I BELIEVE WE'LL PRODUCE A REPORT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TO
TOWER COLLEAGUES. THAT REPORT WILL DETAIL WHAT THE
ACTIVE MEASURES CAMPAIGN LOOKED LIKE.
IF IN FACT THERE WERE ANY SORTS OF COLLUSION AMONG ANYONE, AS
I'VE SAID BEFORE I'M N NOT PREPARED TO OPINE ON THAT, IF
THE FACTS LEAD US, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE AND YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO MAKE UP YOUR MINDS. THE PART THAT NO ONE IS TALKING
ABOUT, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT LEARNS
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016. THIS IS ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHAT
TO DO. IT'S HAPPEN IN FRANCE RIGHT NOW.
>> THIS HAPPENED TO DEMOCRATS IN 2016, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT TO
YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, IT COULD HAPPEN T TO US IN 2020, U
BEING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. >> DURING THE MIDDLE OF MY
REELECTION CAMPAIGN, I SAID I WILL NO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT WIKILEAKS, BECAUSE IT WAS WORK OF A FOREIGN AGENCY.
I THINK WE'RE FOCUSING ON A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSING ON THE ENTIRE FOREST, NOT JUST SOME OF THE TREES.
ONE OF THE GOALS THAT PUTIN HAD WAS TO UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN
OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. WHAT HE WAS HOPING FOR IN MANY
WAYS WAS NO MATTER HOW THE ELECTION TURNED OUT THERE WOULD
BE ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD, INFIGHTING AMONG US, HE WOULD BE
ABLE TO GO TO THE WORLD AND SAY THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
THEY ALL PREACH ABOUT ISN'T FAKE, ISN'T GOOD, ISN'T REAL.
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO END IN 2016. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT A REPUBLICAN, AND HE'S NOT A
DEMOCRAT. HE IS A FORMER KGB AGENT, WELL
TRAINED IN THE HEART OF DISINFORMATION.
HE HAS WEAPONIZED THAT BY THE WAY OF THE INTERNET AND HE'S
DOING IT TODAY IN EUROPE WITH ALARMING SUCCESS, AND IN
PARTICULAR I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN FRANCE AND THAT ELECTION, WHERE THEY ARE ACTIVELY HELPING
LE PEN, AND VERY AGGRESSIVELY HELPING IN TRYING TO UNDERMINE
MA CHRON. >> SENATOR

Senator Marco Rubio: Troops In Syria Might Be Possible In The Future | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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