>>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> WE COULD CALL IT A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS RIGHT NOW.

AS WE LEAVE HERE, I COULD CALL IT, OR WE COULD GO FURTHER.

>> MIXED MESSAGES AS THE WAR WITH IRAN RAGES ON.

SO WHAT IS TRUMP'S END GAME?

I ASK RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL AND FORMER U.S.

COMMANDER JOSEPH VOTEL.

THEN, FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA.

TRUMP MAY HAVE REMOVED THE DICTATOR MADURO, BUT IS LIFE ANY BETTER UNDER ACTING PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ?

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST LILLIAN TINTORI JOINS ME.

>> WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE APPROVAL OF CONGRESS, THIS IS SETTING UP OUR COUNTRY FOR FAILURE.

>> HOW LAWMAKERS CAN TRY TO END TRUMP'S NEW WAR IN IRAN.

>>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS, CANDACE KING WEIR, THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM, THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> AND A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM EVERYONE.

I'M IN NEW YORK SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

IT'S DAY 11 OF THE WAR WITH IRAN, AND THERE IS STILL NO CLEAR OFF RAMP.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS IT WILL BE OVER VERY SOON, PERHAPS IN A BID TO CALM THOSE SURGING OIL PRICES.

BUT HE CONTINUES TO MAKE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WE'VE ALREADY WON IN MANY WAYS, BUT WE HAVEN'T WON ENOUGH.

WE'RE ACHIEVING MAJOR STRIDES TOWARD COMPLETING OUR MILITARY OBJECTIVE.

AND SOME PEOPLE COULD SAY THEY'RE PRETTY WELCOME PLEAT.

I COULD CALL IT OR WE COULD GO FURTHER AND WE'RE GONNA GO FURTHER.

>> NOW, CONFUSING MATTERS MORE, PETE HEGSETH SAYS THE U.S.

WILL NOT RELENT UNTIL, QUOTE, THE ENEMY IS TOTALLY AND DECISIVELY DEFEATED.

IT'S IN CONTRAST TO TRUMP'S MIXED MESSAGES.

IRAN CLEAR ON ITS GOALS AND SAYS IT IS PREPARED FOR A LONG WAR.

ALTHOUGH, OIL PRICES DID, IN FACT, FALL SHARPLY ON TUESDAY.

THEY REMAIN INCREDIBLY VOLATILE.

THE WORLD'S TOP OIL EXPORTER IN SAUDI ARABIA IS WARNING OF CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES IF SHIPPING DOESN'T RETURN TO NORMAL SOON.

MEANTIME, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS WE ARE NOT DONE YET IN IRAN.

WITH ISRAEL LAUNCHING A BROAD WAVE OF STRIKES ON TEHRAN OVERNIGHT.

CORRESPONDENT FRED PLACAN HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THE HUMAN IMPACT OF THIS WAR ON THE GROUND IN TEHRAN.

HERE'S HIS LATEST REPORT AMID ONGOING STRIKES AND A NOTE THAT FRED AND HIS TEAM OPERATE IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AS REQUIRED UNDER LOCAL REGULATIONS.

BUT MAINTAINS FULL EDITORIAL CONTROL OVER WHAT IS REPORTED.

>> Reporter: THERE'S BEEN HEAVY BOMBARDMENT OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS AS WE BOTH HEARD AND FELT.

THIS MORNING, WE VISITED A SITE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT WAS TARGETED AGAIN.

>> YEAH, WE SHOULD GO.

YEP.

OKAY, WE'RE HEARING JETS OVERHEAD.

THERE'S ANTI-AIRCRAFT CARRIERS GOING OVER.

THEY TOLD US TO GET OUT OF HERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

THAT SHOWS HOW FAST THINGS CAN TURN BAD HERE.

WE WERE FILMING AT A SITE, GET RID OF THIS MASK, THAT WAS STRUCK YESTERDAY.

>> Reporter: EARLER, WE SPOKE TO FOLKS CAUGHT IN THE ATTACK.

>> I WAS IN THE BASEMENT.

I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE OPPOSITE WALL.

I WAS UNDER THE RUBBLE.

THAT'S IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I'M SORRY.

>> A REMINDER THERE OF THE PRONOUNCED GRIEF ON THE GROUND IN TEHRAN.

AND OF COURSE, THOSE DANGERS THAT ARE FACED BY ORDINARY IRANIANS EVEN AT THIS HOUR.

WE WANT TO THANK FRED FOR HIS REPORTING THERE.

SO WHAT IS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S END GAME AND STRATEGY IN THIS WAR?

GENERAL JOSEPH PATEL IS A RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL WHO WAS COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND AND HE JOINS US NOW FROM MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE PROGRAM, GENERAL.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> NOW, AS WE JUST HEARD, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS GIVEN VERY DIFFERENT SIGNALS ON THE SPAN IN A SHORT SPAN OF HOURS HERE.

HE SAYS THAT ON ONE HAND, IT'S PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE.

THEN THE U.S.

WILL, HE SAYS, GO FURTHER, UNTIL THE ENEMY IS TOTALLY DEFEATED.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ASK YOU FROM A MILITARY PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT YOU SERVED AS U.S.

COMMANDER OF U.S.

CENTRAL COMMAND FOR THREE YEARS BETWEEN 2016 AND 2019.

YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THE COMMANDER ON THIS MISSION.

HOW CONFUSING IS THIS KIND OF MESSAGING FOR COMMANDERS AND FOR ALLIES TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS MISSION?

>> YEAH, THANKS.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

SO CERTAINLY I WON'T TRY TO INTERPRET EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING.

HE HAS A VERY UNIQUE WAY OF COMMUNICATING.

BUT I THINK AS I WATCH THE PENTAGON PRESS BRIEFING AGAIN THIS MORNING, AT LEAST THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH THE CHAIRMAN, THE MILITARY OBJECTIVES I THINK STAY PRETTY CLEAR.

SO YOU KNOW, THEY VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON TAKING AWAY THE WAR- MAKING CAPABILITY OF IRAN, OF THE REGIME TO, YOU KNOW, PROJECT THAT MILITARY POWER THEY HAVE BEYOND THEIR BORDERS.

SO I THINK THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW, IS VERY MUCH DIRECTLY FOCUSED ON THAT.

I THINK WHAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING OVER TIME HERE, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME STRATEGIC AMBIGUITY IN TERMS OF OUR BROADER STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES HERE, BUT I THINK WHAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING IS THE TACTICAL OBJECTIVES MAY BE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.

AND THAT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON REMOVING THE MILITARY CAPABILITY OF THE REGIME.

>> AND LET'S GET TO SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES HERE.

TRUMP HAS SAID YESTERDAY, HE SAID THIS ABOUT IRAN'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES.

LISTEN.

>> THEY HAVE NO NAVY.

THEY HAVE NO AIR FORCE.

THEY HAVE NO ANTI-AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT.

IT'S ALL BEEN BLOWN UP.

THEY HAVE NO RADAR.

THEY HAVE NO TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

AND THEY HAVE NO LEADERSHIP.

IT'S ALL GONE.

>> SO GIVEN, AGAIN, THAT YOU UP UNTIL 2019 SAW THE INTELLIGENCE, YOU KNEW THE CAPABILITY FIRSTHAND IN IRAN, I WONDER WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE THREAT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE DRONES AND MISSILES BEING FIRED.

AND I WANT TO ASK YOU DIRECTLY ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.

BECAUSE SOME INDICATE THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD HAS CONTINUED TO REALLY UP ITS GAME AND HAS BEEN READY FOR THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> YEAH.

WELL, YEAH, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN HAS TAKEN A HEAVY TOLL ON THE IRANIAN REGIME'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES.

WHETHER IT'S THE NAVY, WHETHER IT'S THEIR MISSILE DEFENSES, SOME OF THEIR DRONES, CERTAINLY THEIR COMMAND AND CONTROL.

I THINK WE'VE SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTED THAT.

BUT THERE ARE REMNANTS.

THERE ARE REMNANTS AND CAPABILITIES.

AND SO WHILE IRAN, A LOT OF ITS EQUIPMENT IS GONE, IT STILL DOES POSSESS SOME SORT OF A KILL CHAIN HERE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LAUNCH MISSILES.

AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, DRONES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO LASH OUT.

NOW, THE NUMBERS OF THOSE ARE DOWN, BUT NONETHELESS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY SERIOUS.

ONLY ONE OF THOSE NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL TO CAUSE CASUALTIES OR CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

SO I THINK WHAT YOU SEE IS THE MILITARY REALLY, REALLY FOCUSING IN ON TRYING TO GO AFTER THOSE MEANS OF RETALIATION THAT THE REGIME, YOU KNOW, STILL MAINTAINS.

WITH REGARD TO THE IRGC, THE IRANIAN REPUBLICAN GUARD CORE, CLEARLY THEY ARE THE STRENGTH BEHIND THE REGIME.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE LEADERSHIP HERE FOR DECADES.

SO THEY REPRESENT KIND OF THE PROFESSIONAL MILITARY, SO TO SPEAK, RESPONSE THAT COMES TO THIS.

THEY ARE DIEHARD.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE, AND THEY ARE GONNA FIGHT.

FOR THEM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO APPRECIATE FOR THEM AND FOR THE REGIME, THIS IS EXISTENTIAL FOR THEM.

SO THEY ARE GONNA FIGHT HARD, EVEN AFTER THE SEVERE STRIKES THAT THEY'VE ABSORBED OVER THE LAST 11 DAYS.

>> AND CLEARLY, SOME ADVERSITY AHEAD THEN.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES, OF COURSE, TO THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS VOWED TO LAUNCH, IN HIS WORDS, FIRE AND FURY AGAINST IRAN IF IT SEEKS TO BLOCK EVEN ONE TANKER.

ONE OF THE COUNCIL OF THREE LEADING IN IRAN RIGHT NOW POSTED ON X THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL EITHER BE A STRAIT OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL OR WILL BE A STRAIT OF DEFEAT AND SUFFERING FOR WARMONGERS.

YOU KNOW, YOU, AGAIN, AT THE TABLE, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE DANGERS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND ACTUALLY GET TANKERS MOVING AGAIN?

>> YEAH.

WELL, HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAIL THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ ON BOARD SOME OF OUR U.S.

NAVY VESSELS, I HAVE A GOOD APPRECIATION FOR HOW NARROW AND DANGEROUS IT IS.

THE ADVANTAGES TO THE ATTACKER, MEANING IRAN, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TRANSIT ROUTE FOR SHIPS TO MAKE.

IT'S NOT EASY.

THEY ARE NOT MOVING AT SPEED.

THEY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN.

THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO A VERY SPECIFIC ROUTE THAT THEY TAKE THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

THOSE ARE ALL VULNERABILITIES FOR ANY FORCES MOVING THROUGH THIS.

IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS OPEN, WHAT I WOULD BE ADVISING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED ALL THE POTENTIAL THREATS ALONG THE SHORELINE.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IRAN'S, YOU KNOW, VERY, THE LARGE NUMBER OF SEA MINES HAS NOT BEEN DEPLOYED IN THIS AREA.

WE'D HAVE TO USE NOT ONLY OUR OWN MINESWEEPERS BUT PERHAPS UNDERSEA SURVEILLANCE VESSELS TO HELP US SURVEIL THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S OUT THERE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ESCORT THESE SHIPS THROUGH.

THIS IS A BIG OPERATION.

AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THING STAYS OPEN SO WE CAN GET THESE TANKERS THROUGH HERE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE DOING THAT, WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO LAUNCH STRIKES HERE.

SO THIS WILL BECOME A CHOICE FOR OUR MILITARY LEADERS AT SOME PARTICULAR POINT.

AND THE PRIORITIES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS WILL HELP DRIVE THOSE THINGS THAT WE DO ON THE GROUND.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING YOU SAY IT'S A CHOICE, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF RESOURCES.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A CHOICE HERE BETWEEN TRYING TO DEESCALATE RIGHT NOW AND TRYING TO ACTUALLY OPEN THE ECONOMY, THAT YOU CAN'T PROSECUTE THE WAR IN THIS WAY AND ALSO KEEP THE STRAIT OPEN?

>> I THINK THERE'S A CHOICE BETWEEN CONTINUING TO HIT IRAN HARD, GOING AFTER THE RETALIATORY MEANS, AND REALLY, REALLY DESTROYING THAT, TAKING IT DOWN AS FAR AS WE CAN AND DEDICATING OUR MARITIME AND AIR RESOURCES TO CREATING A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN BEGIN TO MOVE TANKERS THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

THOSE AREN'T, YOU KNOW, EXCLUSIVE OF EACH OTHER.

BUT YOU KNOW, THEY BOTH ARE RESOURCE INTENSIVE, THEY'RE BOTH VERY HIGH PRIORITIES FOR US, AND SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME DECISION IN TERMS OF WHAT TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER THE OTHER.

>> YEAH.

WE ARE GETTING AN IDEA FROM YOU ON THE SCOPE OF THE CHALLENGE HERE.

I DO WANT TO GO TO THE CIVILIAN TOLL HERE ON MANY AROUND THE WORLD.

ESPECIALLY ON THAT ATTACK ON THE SCHOOL IN IRAN.

VIDEO ANALYSIS NOW SUGGESTS THAT A U.S.

TOMAHAWK MISSILE STRUCK A MILITARY BASE NEAR A SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHERE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES SAY 160 CHILDREN WERE KILLED.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS REPORTING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO DATED INTELLIGENCE.

THE SCHOOL WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SITE IN 2016.

I POINT OUT YOU WERE THE COMMANDER AT THAT TIME.

I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, THOUGH, YOU RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2015.

AT LEAST 170 PEOPLE THERE WERE KILLED OR INJURED.

THAT WAS WHEN THE TRAUMA CENTER WAS MISTAKENLY TARGETED.

AND I'M QUOTING YOU HERE NOW.

YOU SAY AT THE OUTSET WHEN THAT INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE, AND WILL WORK HARD TO TRAIN AND PUT SYSTEMS IN THE PLACE THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF SUCH AN INCIDENT OCCURRING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

I MEAN, THE IRANIAN INCIDENT HERE IS JUST SO TRAGICALLY SIMILAR.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE SEEN SUCH EQUIVOCATION FROM BOTH THE DEFENSE SECRETARY AND THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF?

THEY'RE SAYING IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED BUT NOT MUCH MORE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, CERTAINLY, I MEAN, THESE ARE TRAGIC EVENTS, AND NO COMMANDER WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN UNDER THEIR WATCH OR DURING THE CONDUCT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS.

AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING.

AND MY SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, OUR INABILITY TO SOMETIMES GET THE CIVILIAN CASUALTY CHALLENGE UNDER CONTROL ACTUALLY WAS IMPACTING THE MISSION THAT WE WERE GIVING THERE.

SO IT BECAME A VERY, VERY HIGH IMPERATIVE ON THIS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS.

THERE ARE HARD THINGS TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY'RE EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SITE, YOU DON'T HAVE RELIABLE SOURCES ON THE GROUND THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON TO GET DETAILS, AND THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE ONGOING COMBAT OPERATIONS.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT'S IMPERATIVE HERE IS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS, AND IF THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AND COMMIT TO, YOU KNOW, PREVENTING THAT FROM MOVING FORWARD.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

THESE THINGS UNFORTUNATELY HAPPEN.

IT'S A REALLY BAD EFFECT OF COMBAT OPERATIONS HERE.

WE TRY TO PREVENT, BUT WHEN IT DOES OCCUR IN MY ESTIMATION, IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO TRY TO DO AN INVESTIGATION, TRY TO BE VERY CLEAR WITH PEOPLE, AND TRY TO GET THE RESULTS OUT THERE, AND THEN TRY TO LEARN FROM THAT SO YOU DON'T REPEAT IT.

AND THAT'S, UH, I MEAN THAT'S KIND OF HOW I LOOKED AT IT.

>> PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE TIME APOLOGIZED INSIDE OF A WEEK.

WE'VE NOT HEARD ANY OF THAT.

DO YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE AVAILABLE INFORMATION FOR THE U.S.

MILITARY TO TELL THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK, THIS WAS LIKELY A GRAVE MISTAKE?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT INFORMATION IS BEING PASSED BACK AND FORTH.

BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK A RECOGNITION THAT THERE'S, THAT A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE GOES A LONG WAY TO MOVING THIS FORWARD.

I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD FORGET ABOUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE, BUT WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IF THIS WASN'T CAUSED BY THE UNITED STATES, THEN WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AND DO OUR BEST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND TRY TO PREVENT IT.

>> WE GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER HERE WHEN WE DISCUSS U.S.

INTELLIGENCE THAT NOW SAYS IRAN COULD RETRIEVE HIGHLY ENRICHED EWE EWE RAIN JANUARY AFTER ALL THESE STRIKES.

IF SECURING THAT URANIUM REQUIRED A SPECIAL FORCES RAID INSIDE IRAN, HOW RISKY WOULD THAT OPERATION BE, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE CHANCES FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> AN OPERATION LIKE THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE HIGH RISK.

THESE ARE ALL SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS, TO PUT A FORCE ON THE GROUND, EVEN A RELATIVELY SMALL DEFINED SPECIAL OP RATIONS FORCE, YOU KNOW, TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

AND THIS ISN'T JUST ON THE COAST.

WE HAVE TO PENETRATE INTO IRAN.

WE HAVE TO CONTROL THE AREA.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FORCE ON THE GROUND.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED.

AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

GOING IN AND DOING A MISSION LIKE THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WILL LIKELY BE DONE IN A PERIOD OF DARKNESS.

IT WOULD LIKELY TAKE SEVERAL DAYS OR MAYBE LONGER TO GO IN AND DO THIS.

SO FIRST THING I THINK TO APPRECIATE IS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT OPERATION THAT HAS TO BE UNDERTAKEN.

U.S.

SPECIAL OP RATIONS FORCES HAVE A WHOLE VARIETY OF UNIQUE CAPABILITIES.

I WON'T GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THEY ARE PREPARED TO DO MISSIONS OF THIS NATURE, BUT AGAIN IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

IT WOULD INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST U.S.

SPECIAL OPERATORS ON THE GROUND.

WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A LOGISTICAL TAIL.

WE'D NEED SPECIALTY FORCES LIKE EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE DISPOSAL ELEMENTS.

WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A SECURITY FORCE ON THE GROUND THAT WAS EXTERNAL TO THE SPECIAL OP RATIONS FORCE THAT WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON RECOVERING THE MATERIAL.

THEN WE HAVE TO GET ALL THAT OUT OF THERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1,000 POUNDS OF HAZARDOUS NUCLEAR MATERIAL THAT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T CREATE A BIGGER PROBLEM AND GETS IT BACK TO SOME PLACE.

I THINK THE PICTURE I'M TRYING TO PAINT FOR YOU, THESE THINGS AREN'T IMPOSSIBLE.

THEY'RE DIFFICULT, BUT THEY TAKE A LOT OF PLANNING, THEY'LL TAKE A LOT OF RESOURCES, NOT SOMETHING WE CAN JUST DO.

>> SO DOES BY NECESSITY, THIS MUST GO ON FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS IF THEY WANT TO GET TO THAT URANIUM?

>> THIS GOES BACK TO THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR KIND OF AN END STATE HERE.

I'M CERTAIN THAT OUR VERY EXCELLENT INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS WORKING OVERTIME TO DO ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE DAMAGE AND HOW FAR THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SET BACK OR DESTROYED SO WE CAN HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE IN THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

WITHOUT THAT, YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WHETHER THIS CONTINUES ON OR WHETHER WE TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME TYPE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OR WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE TO THE REMNANTS OF THE REGIME THAT WE WANT TO COME IN AND DO THIS, I MEAN I THINK THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF EXTENDING, I THINK THAT REALLY IS A DECISION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AS THEY IDENTIFY THEIR OBJECTIVES.

>> RIGHT.

BUT I KNOW YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AN EXTENSION THERE.

THE U.S.

NAVY TORPEDOED AN IRANIAN WARSHIP OFF THE COAST OF SRI LANKA.

SECRETARY HEGSETH CALLED THAT A QUIET DEATH.

I WANT YOU TO LISTEN NOW TO MORE OF HIS WAR RHETORIC, I WOULD CALL IT.

LISTEN.

>> DEATH AND DESTRUCTION FROM THE SKY, ALL DAY LONG.

WE'RE PLAYING FOR KEEPS.

OUR WAR FIGHTERS HAVE MAXIMUM AUTHORITIES GRANTED PERSONALLY BY THE PRESIDENT AND YOURS TRULY.

OUR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE BOLD, PRECISE, AND DESIGNED TO UNLEASH AMERICAN POWER, NOT SHACKLE IT.

THIS WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A FAIR FIGHT.

AND IT IS NOT A FAIR FIGHT.

WE ARE PUNCHING THEM WHILE THEY'RE DOWN.

WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE.

>> DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ALL DAY LONG FROM THE SKY.

GENERAL, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF THE WAY YOU CONDUCTED YOURSELF IN YOUR MILITARY CAREER?

>> I WON'T TRY TO, I'LL LET THE SECRETARY'S WORDS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

I WON'T TRY TO INTERPRET THAT OR EXPLAIN IT.

AS A SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDER, MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSIONS GIVEN TO ME BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE PRESIDENT AND DO THAT IN A WAY THAT REFLECTED OUR VALUES, REFLECTED OUR ADHERENCE TO THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT, AND OF COURSE WERE ALL CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

WAR, COMBAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE CLEAN.

AND IT REQUIRES HARD DECISIONS AND HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE DOING IT FOR US.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT I TRY TO DO, WHAT I TRIED TO DO WHEN I WAS IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP WAS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TRY TO HOLD TRUE TO THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE AS MILITARY PROFESSIONALS.

AND CERTAINLY AS AMERICANS.

AND CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A WAY IS THAT THE COUNTRY WOULD BE PROUD OF HOW WE DID IT.

>> GENERAL JOSEPH VITEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NOW MEANTIME, ISRAEL IS FIGHTING A WAR ON TWO FRONTS AS WELL AS CONTINUED STRIKES INTO IRAN.

THE IDF IS CARRYING OUT WHAT IT CALLS TARGETED RAIDS INTO SOUTHERN LEBANON.

WHEN ISRAEL NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES MOST, HOW ARE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MIXED MESSAGES GOING DOWN IN ISRAEL?

JEREMY DIAMOND JOINS US FROM TEL AVIV.

11 DAYS INTO THIS WAR, IRAN IS STILL ABLE TO FIRE BARRAGES OF MISSILES AND DRONES.

WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM THERE ON THE GROUND?

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE AIR RAID SIRENS AND BARRAGES OF BALLISTIC MISSILES BEING FIRED AT ISRAEL.

OFFICIALS TELL US THAT THOSE BARRAGES ARE MUCH SMALLER IN SIZE.

SOMETIMES JUST A SINGLE MISSILE BEING FIRED BY IRAN.

WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US, THOUGH, IS THAT ABOUT HALF NOW OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILES BEING FIRED IN ISRAEL ARE ARMED WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS CLUSTER MUNITIONS, MEANING INSTEAD OF IT BEING A SINGLE WARHEAD THAT COULD CARRY SOME 500 KILOS TO A TON OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, YOU'RE INSTEAD SEEING MISSILES WITH SOME 24 SMALLER BOMBS, EACH OF THEM HAVING ABOUT FIVE KILOGRAMS OR 11 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL MAXIMUM.

BUT A MUCH LARGER CHALLENGE FOR ISRAEL'S AIR DEFENSES.

AND STILL HAVING THE POWER TO NOT ONLY DISRUPT DAILY LIFE BUT TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION AND ALSO CASUALTIES HERE ON THE GROUND.

IN FACT, WE'VE NOW SEEN TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THOSE SMALLER BOMBLET, PART OF THE LARGER CLUSTER MUNITION HERE BEING USED BY THE IRANIANS.

CLEARLY STILL A PRESENT DANGER, BUT AGAIN ISRAELI AND U.S.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS IN NOT ONLY DESTROYING IRAN'S BALLISTIC MISSILES IN ITS STORAGE FACILITIES BUT ALSO STRIKING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR LAUNCHERS AND DISABLING THEM, PREVENTING IRAN FROM LAUNCHING THOSE MUCH LARGER BARRAGES.

>> AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE GENERAL, JEREMY, EVEN ONE CAN BE DANGEROUS IN TERMS OF CAPABILITY INSIDE IRAN.

TRUMP SAID ENDING THE WAR WOULD BE A MUTUAL DECISION WITH NETANYAHU.

I MEAN, HOW IS THAT PLAYING POLITICALLY INSIDE OF ISRAEL?

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HIGHLIGHTS JUST SOME OF THE TERROR STILL GOING ON THERE.

NOT TO MENTION THE CONFLICT SPREADING TO LEBANON.

HOW IS ALL OF THIS GOING DOWN THERE?

>> Reporter: WELL, ISRAELI OFFICIALS WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE THIS WAR, AND TO DO SO FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL OF REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN, WHICH AS OF NOW WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR THAT REGIME CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE.

INSTEAD, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS ONE HAMANI BEING REPLACED WITH ANOTHER HAMANI.

SO FAR, NO SIGNS OF MASS PROTESTS IN THE STREETS OF IRAN AS THE RESULT OF WHAT ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES IS DOING, WHICH IS NOT ONLY GOING AFTER IRAN'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES, TARGETING ITS SENIOR POLITICAL LEADERS, BUT ALSO TRYING TO WEAKEN THE STRUCTURES OF THE REGIME, INCLUDING ITS INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES TO ALLOW FOR SUCH A POPULAR UPRISING TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU KNOW, ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CLOSELY WATCHING THE MIXED MESSAGING COMING OUT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOUTH IN RECENT DAYS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAR IS ENDING OR IT'S JUST BEGINNING.

WHEN THEY HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT, I THINK IT GAVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT ISN'T ABANDONING THIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN JUST YET.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT HE'S CLEARLY WATCHING EVERYTHING FROM THE OIL PRICES TO THE IMPACT ON REGIONAL STABILITY, THE POLITICS OF ALL OF THIS BACK IN THE UNITED STATES, AND CERTAINLY THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT TIME COULD BE LIMITED FOR THE UNITED STATES TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN THIS.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS STILL FEEL LIKE THERE'S WORK TO DO ON THE GROUND IN IRAN.

OFFICIALS TALK TO US ABOUT MORE QUOTE-UNQUOTE SURPRISES AHEAD.

AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING SPECIAL FORCES ON THE GROUND TO CARRY OUT OPERATIONS IN IRAN.

>> WE JUST HEARD, AGAIN, FROM GENERAL VOTEL HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE.

>>> NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP OFTEN TOUTS THE U.S.

OPERATION IN VENEZUELA AS THE, QUOTE, PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW REGIME CHANGE CAN PLAY OUT.

TWO MONTHS AFTER THE U.S.

CAPTURE AND REMOVAL OF NICHOLAS MADURO WITH ACTING PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ AT THE HELM NOW, THE GOVERNMENT IS PUSHING MAJOR REFORMS ON THE COUNTRY'S MINING INDUSTRY.

REFORMS PUSHED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANXIOUS TO CONTROL VENEZUELA'S OIL.

MEANTIME, THOSE FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY INSIDE THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO FACE REPRESSIVE TACTICS FROM THIS REGIME.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A LONG-TIME HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST AND THE WIFE OF OPPOSITION POLITICIAN LOPEZ.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO PARSE WHAT'S GOING ON, ON THE GROUND IN WEDNESDAY, YOU CLAIMED YOUR FAMILY HOME, IN FACT, HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED BY SABIN.

THEY ARE THE INTERNAL SECURITY FORCE.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO US WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO YOUR HOME, AND CRUCIALLY HERE, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT HOW THIS REGIME IS DOING AND WHAT THEIR MOTIVES ARE IN ALL OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU, PAULA.

IT'S SO DIFFICULT.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS.

WHEN I SAW THAT VIDEOS OF MY HOME, I START SHAKING MY BODY AND CRYING.

AND I NEED TO TALK WITH MY KIDS.

WITH MY THREE KIDS AND WITH LEOPOLDO, MY HUSBAND.

HE'S A POWERFUL LEADER.

HE'S A DEMOCRATIC LEADER FROM VENEZUELA.

BUT MAYBE FOR IT'S DIFFICULT TO SHARE EMOTIONS, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL THE TRUTH.

I AM HERE TO DENOUNCE THIS REGIME.

LOOK MY HOME INSIDE.

THEY DESTROYED OUR REMEMBERS, OUR MEMORIES.

THEY'RE INSIDERS, THE ROOMS OF MY KIDS ARE PERFECTLY THERE WAITING FOR US.

OUR DOGS, TWO LABRADOR DOGS, THE THEIR NAMES IS CARACAS AND COLEO.

OUR ANIMALS ARE INSIDE.

THEY TOOK EVERYTHING.

THEY STOLE EVERYTHING, OUR PERSONAL THINGS.

THINGS THAT MAYBE NEVER GONNA BE THE SAME BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE THINGS, IT'S NOT A HOUSE.

IT'S OUR MEMORIES.

IT'S OUR LIFE.

MY THREE KIDS BORN IN THIS HOUSE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA.

AND MY THREE KIDS LEARN HOW TO SPEAK, HOW TO WALK IN THAT HOME.

HERE WITH ME IS FREDERICKA, MY SMALL LITTLE DAUGHTER THAT SUPPORT ME BECAUSE I NEED TO TALK WITH MY FAMILY.

IT'S NOT ONLY MY SITUATION.

IT'S OUR FAMILY'S SITUATION.

BUT MANY VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE IN FEAR, AND THEY CAN'T SPEAK.

BUT TODAY I AM THE VOICE OF MILLION OF VENEZUELAS BECAUSE THEY TOOK MANY HOUSES, MANY HOMES IN VENEZUELA.

WE SUFFERED A LOT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN IN A DICTATORSHIP.

THEY PERSECUTE US.

THEY ATTACK US.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS.

I'M STILL FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM.

LILLIAN, YOU JUST SPOKE OF THE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF THE CHILDREN AND THAT IS YOUR HOME, THAT YOU'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO RETURN TO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATION ABOUT WHEN OR HOW YOU WILL RETURN IN SAFETY TO VENEZUELA AND TO YOUR HOME?

>> OF COURSE.

WE HAVE DREAMS.

WE ARE 10 MILLION VENEZUELAN PEOPLE OUTSIDE VENEZUELA BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CHOICE.

I NEED TO ESCAPE BY THE SEA WITH MY LITTLE GIRL IN MY ARMS AND MANY VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE AROUND THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE THE DREAM.

YOU KNOW I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR RODRIGUEZ.

YOU KNOW?

YOU CANNOT BREAK US FOREVER.

YOU KNOW?

OUR DREAM IS BIGGER THAN OUR FEAR.

AND WE WANT A FREE VENEZUELA, AND WE WANT ALL THE POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, I'M IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE FAMILIES IN VENEZUELA.

STILL, MORE THAN 500 POLITICAL PRISONERS IN JAIL.

THEY TORTURE THEM.

THEY KILL PEOPLE IN IN THE STREETS IN THE LAST YEARS.

THEY BROUGHT MANY VENEZUELAN FAMILIES, AND WE CANNOT FORGET.

>> LILLIAN, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT WHATSOEVER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR HOME?

>> NOTHING.

THEY ONLY SAID THAT IT'S AN ORDER OF PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ.

THE WORKER SAID THAT.

I'M HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE HOUSE OF RODRIGUEZ AND WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE RODRIGUEZ GIVE US THE ORDER.

IT'S MY HOME.

IT'S IN MY NAME.

IT'S THE ONLY, UM, PROPERTY THAT I HAVE IN MY LIFE.

THAT'S THE ONLY HOME, THE ONLY HOUSE THAT I HAVE.

BUT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE HOUSE.

IT'S THE MEMORIES.

IT'S OUR LIFE IN CARACAS.

LOOK.

THAT'S MY HOUSE TODAY.

LOOK,THEY DESTROYED EVERYTHING INSIDE, AND THEY PUT A BIG WALL LIKE A JAIL SO MANY PEOPLE CAN'T SEE INSIDE.

BUT YOU KNOW THE REGIME, THE POLICEMEN INSIDE, THEY RECORD VIDEOS, AND SEND IT TO ME AND TO LEOPOLDO.

AND WE ARE, I CAN'T SAY.

IT'S TOO HARD.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A FORM OF INTIMIDATION IN YOUR FAMILY AND A WARNING NOT TO RETURN.

YOU SPECIFICALLY SPELL OUT THAT YOU ARE BLAMING RODRIGUEZ.

I WANT YOU TO LISTEN NOW TO PRESIDENT TRUMP SPEAKING ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ACTING PRESIDENT THERE.

LISTEN.

>> THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF INTERNAL BECAUSE IT WORKS WELL.

I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE PROVEN THAT SO FAR IN VENEZUELA.

WE HAVE A WOMAN, DELSY, WHO HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY.

VERY RESPECTED.

SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, NO DISRUPTION.

>> IF YOU LISTEN TO HIM, LILLIAN, IT SEEMS AS IF RODRIGUEZ HAS CART BLANCHE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT AS SHE SEES FIT.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE YOU AND THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT?

>> I CAN SAY THAT MARCO RUBIO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.

MARCO RUBIO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.

A LOT.

NOT NOW.

IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.

THEY DESTROYED THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY RIGHT NOW DESTROYED MY HOME.

AND I NEED TO REPEAT THIS.

IT'S NOT ONLY MY CASE.

THERE ARE MANY CASES INSIDE MY COUNTRY.

IN THE LAST WEEK, I RECEIVE A LOT OF CALLS OF MANY FAMILIES TELLING ME LILLIAN, THE SAME FOR US.

THEY TOOK OUR APARTMENT.

THEY TOOK OUR HOME.

THEY TOOK OUR FAMILY'S PROPERTY.

SO WE ARE GOING TO DENOUNCE.

AND MARCO RUBIO KNOWS THIS A LOT.

MARCO RUBIO KNOWS THAT CABELLO IS A CRIMINAL.

>> THE WAY HE WAS AT THE SIDE OF NICHOLAS MADURO, HE'S NOW AT THE SIDE OF RODRIGUEZ.

AN OPPOSITION LEADER IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW WHEN SHE'LL BE BACK IN THE COUNTRY.

RODRIGUEZ STILL HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP.

WHERE DOES YOUR OPPOSITION MOVEMENT GO FROM HERE?

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE RODRIGUEZ CONTINUES TO POINT TO THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS UNDER THAT AMNESTY LAW HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

>> WE ARE THE VOICE OF MANY VENEZUELAN PEOPLE.

THE LEADER RIGHT NOW IS A WOMAN FULL OF COURAGE.

I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO RETURN HOME, AS SHE ALWAYS SAID.

SHE'S ONE OF MY FRIENDS.

SHE'S ONE OF THE POLITICIANS THAT I SAID IS ALWAYS FIGHTING, ALWAYS STRAIGHT, AND ALWAYS SAYING THE TRUTH.

AND WITH SUPPORT, THAT WE GO TO RETURN TO VENEZUELA.

AND WE WANT A VERY CLEAR THING.

SHE SAID WE WANT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY STILL HAVE POLITICAL PRISONERS IN JAIL.

THEY RELEASE ONES, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE THAN 500.

AND THE REGIME IS STILL THERE.

SO WE WANT A CHANGE.

AND WE WANT TO DECIDE OUR FUTURE WITH FREE ELECTIONS.

>> LILLIAN, WE CONTINUE, OF COURSE, TO FOLLOW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE VENEZUELA.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO US AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AS WE SAY, CONTINUES TO HOLD THIS UP AS A MODEL, PERHAPS NOT JUST FOR VENEZUELA BUT EVEN PLACES LIKE IRAN.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, PAULA.

>>> AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW LONG PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WAR IN IRAN WILL GO ON OR WHAT THE REAL OBJECTIVE IS.

OUR NEXT GUEST ARGUES THAT THE CONTINUED STRIKES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THE CONFLICT COULD HAVE, QUOTE, DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

ANDY KIM TELLS US HOW VOTERS ARE FEELING ABOUT THE U.S.

INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN AND WHY HE AND HIS FELLOW LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING TO END IT.

>> YOU RECENTLY WROTE AN OP-ED CALLED HOW WE CAN END TRUMP'S NEW WAR IN IRAN.

YOU SAID CONGRESS MUST STEP IN IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE MILITARY ACTION.

EXPLAIN.

>> BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEIR VOICE IS NOT BEING HEARD RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS.

THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION WAS TRYING TO PROTECT.

THAT WE ARE SENDING OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN INTO HARM'S WAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SO CLEARLY A WAR.

EVEN THE PRESIDENT CALLS THIS A WAR.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S APPROVAL.

AND THIS WAS NOT.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK IS VERY DANGEROUS.

AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM CONGRESS, THIS IS SETTING UP OUR COUNTRY FOR FAILURE.

>> THE PRESIDENT HAS OFFERED SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS OR REASONS FOR ENGAGING IRAN RIGHT NOW.

HE SAID WE'RE GONNA DESTROY THEIR MISSILES AND RAISE THEIR MISSILE INDUSTRY TO THE GROUND.

A COUPLE DAYS LATER, HE SAID IT'S MY OPINION THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK FIRST.

THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK IF WE DIDN'T DO IT.

HE ALSO SAID WE NEEDED TO TOPPLE THE REGIME BECAUSE IT POSED AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO AMERICA.

AND AGAIN, LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR AUDIENCE IS HEARING THESE DIFFERENT MESSAGES.

YOU'RE A SENATOR.

YOU HAVE BETTER ACCESS.

IS THERE A BETTER BRIEFING, A CLEARER EXPLANATION THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS PROVIDING TO YOU?

>> NO.

NO.

THIS IS VERY CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT DECIDING THAT HE WANT A WAR WITH IRAN.

AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AND HE HIMSELF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO JUSTIFY THAT AND REVERSE ENGINEER AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS.

IN SOME WAYS, THIS FEELS LIKE THE 2003 IRAQ WAR IN FAST FORWARD.

IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE SAW IN YEARS OF THAT WAR AND JUST HOW WE SAW THE SHIFTING OF THE GOALS.

WHEN WE SAW THE MISSION CREEP.

WE'RE SEEING THAT ALL WITHIN THE FIRST EIGHT DAYS OF THIS WAR.

BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NO CLEAR OBJECTIVES.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T SEE WHAT THE END IS WHERE WE CAN SEE US PULLING OUT OF THIS.

AND THAT OPEN-ENDEDNESS IS WHAT, AGAIN, MAKES THIS DIFFERENT FROM VENEZUELA, WHICH ALSO WAS DONE BY THIS PRESIDENT.

BUT A VASTLY DIFFERENT SCALE OF WHAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND NEW YORK STATE COMBINED IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ADVERSARY HERE.

>> YOU WROTE IN OUR OP-ED ABOUT ONLY 27% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT USING MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAN.

WHEN YOUR OFFICE GETS THE PHONE CALLS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

>> WHAT I HEAR FROM THE BROAD BRUSH OF PEOPLE WHO CALL INTO MY OFFICE IS THAT THEY ARE JUST CONTINUALLY SEEING THIS PRESIDENT JUST DO WHATEVER HE WANTS AND NOT CARE AT ALL ABOUT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANT A GOVERNMENT THAT FOCUSES ON ADDRESSING THE COST OF LIVING THAT CHALLENGES AFFORDABILITY THAT THEY'RE FACING.

WITH THIS PRESIDENT TELLING US AS A COUNTRY WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO HELP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE KEEP THEIR HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR THIS YEAR THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, NOW WHEN THEY SEE HIM BLOWING THROUGH THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY JUST IN A MATTER OF A FEW DAYS, IF NOT WEEKS, IN THIS WAR IN IRAN.

AND SO THEY ARE VERY CLEARLY SEEING HIM BEING DECEPTIVE.

HE IS LYING TO THEM ABOUT US NOT HAVING THE MONEY AND THE CAPABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT HE'S TOTALLY WILLING TO DO THIS TO PUSH FORWARD IN A WAR, AGAIN, WITHOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S APPROVAL.

AND THE REASON WHY HE DIDN'T GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S APPROVAL IS HE KNOWS THAT THEY DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.

AND THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THIS WAR.

AND THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING IN OUR TOP PRIORITY INTEREST.

ABDOMEN THAT IS WHY THIS PRESIDENT HAS PUSHED AHEAD ALONE.

>> BEFORE YOU WERE A SENATOR, YOU WORKED IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, AT THE PENTAGON, AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, I WONDER TO COUNTER IRANIAN TERROR GROUPS, YOU MORE THAN OTHER SENATORS KNOW THE POWER AND STRENGTH OF THE IRGC.

AND AS YOU JUST RATTLED OFF SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, IS THE PRESIDENT CORRECT IN SAYING THEY ARE A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES?

AND THAT THEY NEED TO BE ERADICATED?

>> THEY ARE CERTAINLY A STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR.

AND SO IS NORTH KOREA.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES GOING IN, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, AND THEN TAKING OUT LEADERSHIP IN NORTH KOREA.

YES, THEY'RE POINTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT MY FAMILY IN SOUTH KOREA, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IS WHAT THE UNITED STATES CAN AND NEEDS TO BE DOING AT THIS MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, I WAS AT THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO IRAN.

LIKE AMERICA, I'VE NEVER SEEN AMERICA SO ISOLATED AND ALONE AS WE ARE NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REALLY ABDICATED OUR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ROLE BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP ISN'T JUST ABOUT MILITARY MIGHT.

SURE, OUR MILITARY IS INCOMPARABLE TO ANYONE ELSE.

WE HAVE, BY FAR, THE BEST MILITARY.

WE SEE THE POWER WE CAN DO.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ALWAYS USE IT.

IT IS A TOOL.

AND OFTEN A TOOL OF LAST RESOURCE.

BUT THIS PRESIDENT REFUSES TO ABIDE BY THIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I HAVE SPENT YEARS STUDYING THE IRANIAN REGIME, UNDERSTANDING THE TERROR THAT THEY BROUGHT, THE SHIA MILITIA GROUPS NETWORKED THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE WORLD.

AND THAT KNOWLEDGE GIVES ME EVEN GREATER CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE THIS WAR COULD HEAD.

SURE, THE AMERICANS COULD AT SOME POINT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD AT SOME POINT SAY THE BOMBS AND THE MISSILES, BUT THIS NEW IRANIAN LEADER JUST IN PLACE AFTER WATCHING HIS FATHER, WIFE, AND A CHILD KILLED BY THE UNITED STATES, YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO GO EASY?

AND HE NEEDS TO PROVE HIMSELF TO THIS COUNTRY OF 90 MILLION PEOPLE HE HAS TO KEEP UNDER HIS CONTROL.

YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT JUST TURNS OVER ON THE AMERICANS?

THIS VERY MUCH OPENS THE DOORS FOR A VERY LONG AND PROTRACTED WAR.

IN THE SAME WAY, IF YOU WERE TO CALCULATE HOW DID IRANIAN FORCES AND TERROR GROUPS KILL AMERICANS THE MOST?

IT WASN'T THROUGH BALLISTIC MISSILES.

IT WAS THROUGH THESE IEDs, THROUGH OTHER TYPES OF IMPROVISE TERROR OPERATIONS.

THEY HAVE MANY TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VULNERABLE TO.

I WORRY ABOUT UNLEASHING THAT UPON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> SECRETARY RUBIO SEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE CASE FOR KIND OF A PREEMPTORY RETALIATORY ACT, SAYING LOOK, WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK THE UNITED STATES IF IRAN WAS ATTACKED.

AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE BLAMED US HAD WE SAT ON THAT INFORMATION.

WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD THAT CONGRESS WANTS TO SEE BEFORE AN ATTACK OR A DEFENSIVE ATTACK CAN HAPPEN?

SHOULD IT BE AN ACTUAL ATTACK ON THE HOMELAND AGAINST SPECIFIC AMERICAN TARGETS BEFORE AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS ABLE TO TAKE THAT AUTHORITY?

>> WELL, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE PAST, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

WHAT WAS JUST LAID OUT BY RUBIO IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG IN TERMS OF A JUSTIFICATION FOR STARTING A WAR.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE, INCLUDING DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO TRY TO STOP THESE ATTACKS FROM HAPPENING OR CONVINCING ALLIES AND OUR PARTNERS NOT TO BEGIN THIS.

BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO REMOVE FORCE FROM THE REGION, FROM THREAT INSTEAD OF PUTTING MORE IN, WHICH IS WHAT TRUMP DID.

IF THIS WAS SO MUCH OF A CONCERN BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHY DID THEY NOT EVACUATE OUR EMBASSIES AHEAD OF TIME?

THEY ONLY DID ONE.

THEY DID BEIRUT.

EMBASSY BAGHDAD, WHICH WOULD BE FIRST IN MY MIND TO EVACUATE IF THERE WAS AN ACTUAL THREAT, AN IMMINENT THREAT OF RETALIATION.

THE FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT REMOVE OUR DIPLOMATIC OFFICERS FROM ANY OF THESE 14 COUNTRIES THAT THEY LATER EVACUATED, EXCEPT FOR BEIRUT, SHOWS THEY DID NOT THINK THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN IMMINENT THREAT.

THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY THINK THROUGH THIS.

>> SENATOR, IN YOUR TIME AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND AT THE PENTAGON AND AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, IS THERE THE EQUIVALENT OF, I DON'T KNOW, A THREE RING BINDER SO TO SPEAK THAT SAYS HERE ARE THREE OR FOUR PLANS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IRAN?

AND DID THE ADMINISTRATION FOLLOW ANY OF THOSE PLANS?

>> I CAN TELL, LIKE FOR INSTANCE WHAT I WAS POINTING OUT ABOUT THE LACK OF COORDINATION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE FACT THAT AMERICANS ABROAD WERE NOT TOLD TO DEPART PRIOR TO THE COMBAT BEGINNING.

IN THE 2003 IRAQ WAR, SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT IT, I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT, BUT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DID PUSH FORWARD TELLING AMERICANS TO GET OUT OF THE REGION BEFORE COMBAT WAS UNDERTAKEN.

YOU KNOW, THEY SET UP ALL SORTS OF EFFORTS TO TRY TO CONNECT IN WITH AMERICANS.

YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT TRUMP DID NONE OF THAT, IN FACT THE FIRST MESSAGE OF ANY CONSEQUENCE TO PEOPLE IN THE REGION, AMERICANS IN THE REGION HAPPENED 72 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST BOMBS WERE DROPPED.

SO THREE DAYS OF SILENCE, AND IT SAID DEPART NOW.

YOU KNOW, WELL HOW?

MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES HAD CLOSED THEIR AIR SPACE.

THE FACT THAT YOU SEE THAT, THAT SHOWS YOU THAT THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE PLANS.

WE HAVE OTHER EFFORTS IN PLACE.

FOR INSTANCE, UNDERSTANDING THE CYBER SECURITY THREATS WE COULD FACE HERE AT HOME, ESPECIALLY WITH AN ADVERSARY LIKE IRAN THAT HAS PROVEN CYBER CAPABILITIES.

THE FACT THAT THEY PUSHED FORWARD WITHOUT OUR CYBER SECURITY LEAD AT FULL STRENGTH, THE FACT THAT THEY GUTTED SISA, CUT A HUGE SWATH OF THEIR STAFF, ABOUT A THIRD OF THEIR STAFF EARLIER LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW IT SHOWS THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ONE NEEDS TO CONSIDER WHEN TAKING ON A WAR OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

>> REGARDING AMERICANS GETTING OUT OF THE REGION, THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL IDENTIFY WHERE YOU ARE AND PROVIDE TRAVEL OPTIONS DIRECTLY TO YOU.

THE ADMINISTRATION'S ALREADY RAPIDLY CHARTERING FLIGHTS FREE OF CHARGE AND BOOKING COMMERCIAL OPTIONS, WHICH WE EXPECT TO BECOME INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE AS TIME GOES ON.

AND THE SUCCESS OF THIS MISSION FURTHER COMES TO FRUITION.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

DO YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS FROM NEW JERSEY WHO ARE STUCK THERE, CALLING YOU?

>> YEAH, THEY'RE STUCK THERE.

MANY ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN WAY OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING RESPONSES.

I MEAN, LOOK, I DID PRESS SECRETARY RUBIO ABOUT THIS IN THE BRIEFING LAST WEEK.

AND THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN TAKING SOME ACTIONS.

BUT WHERE WAS THIS PLANNING AHEAD OF TIME?

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS SO CONCERNING, JUST THE RISK THAT THEY PUT AMERICANS INTO.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

LIKE THEY DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

IF WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON YOU JUST SAID, IF THAT WAS ALL TRUE, WHY WASN'T THAT SAID ON DAY ONE OF THIS WAR?

INSTEAD, ON DAY THREE THEY SAID DEPART NOW.

YOU CANNOT COUNT ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO HELP YOU.

THEN SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THEY SAID OH, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW.

SO IT WAS JUST A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING SITUATION WHERE YOU COULD SEE, AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST MAKING THIS UP AS THEY GO ALONG.

THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY DAY ONE PLAN FOR AMERICANS.

>> YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD IS CHANGING RAPIDLY BECAUSE OF THESE ACTIONS.

SPAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS REFUSED TO ALLOW THE U.S.

TO USE MILITARY BASES FOR STRIKES AGAINST IRAN.

AND THE PRESIDENT IN RESPONSE HAS THREATENED, YOU KNOW, A TRADE EMBARGO AGAINST SPAIN.

AND HOW IS THIS STRAINING THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR ALLIES?

>> WELL, FIRST I'LL JUST SAY AND POINT OUT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAPPIEST ABOUT THE UNITED STATES AT WAR IN IRAN ARE VLADIMIR PUTIN AND PRESIDENT XI IN CHINA.

OUR ADVERSARIES ARE JUST JOYOUS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT THE UNITED STATES BOGGED DOWN IN A WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT IS TAKING AWAY RESOURCES THAT WE COULD BE GIVING TO THE FIGHT IN UKRAINE OR TO ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION AS THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT TRUMP MIGHT SAY TO PRESIDENT XI IN CHINA NEXT MONTH.

AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAR, THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS JUST TAKEN THIS ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL WAR IN IRAN NOW GIVES RUSSIA AND CHINA GREATER CREDENCE TO SAY THAT THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.

YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE CRITICIZE PUTIN GOING INTO UKRAINE?

HOW CAN WE CRITICIZE XI IF HE WERE TO PUSH CHINESE FORCES INTO TAIWAN OR ELSEWHERE WHEN WE HAVE JUST TAKEN THIS TYPE OF ACTION?

NUMBER TWO IS, AGAIN, WE ARE DOING THIS ALONE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING, LIKE I NEVER IMAGINED THAT I'D BE THINKING THAT THE 2003 IRAQ WAR COALITION WOULD BE SEEN AS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, MULTILATERALISM COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN 2026.

WHAT'S OUR CREDIBILITY LIKE?

YOU KNOW, WE'RE BRINGING THEM ALL INTO, EVEN THE MIDDLE EAST PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE TALKING NONSTOP WITH LEADERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHO FEEL COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED BY THESE APPROACHES AND ARE NOW CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, THE UNITED STATES AS JUST A FORCE OF CHAOS NOW.

AND JUST CONTINUALLY HEDGING AGAINST US.

I EVEN HEARD ONE LEADER OF AN ALLY NATION SAY THEY ARE NOW CONSIDERING IN THEIR MEETINGS THE UNITED STATES AS A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.

THEY SEE US AS A THREAT TO THEIR OWN INTERESTS NOW, WHICH IS JUST SO SAD AND SCARY TO SEE AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED ON A NATO MILITARY BASE IN AFGHANISTAN, THE IDEA THAT WE ARE NOW A THREAT TO SOME OF OUR ALLIES IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED AT.

AND THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THE CASE.

>> IRAN HAS JUST NAMED AYATOLLAH'S SON AS ITS NEW SUPREME LEADER.

DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH ABC NEWS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAID IF HE DOESN'T GET APPROVAL FROM US, HE'S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT THE REGIME'S STABILITY, OUR DIPLOMACY, OUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

>> YEAH.

WELL, AGAIN, THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT RETALIATION OR IMMINENT THREAT.

THIS WAS ALWAYS ABOUT REGIME CHANGE FOR THIS PRESIDENT AS MUCH AS SOME OF HIS CABINET IS TRYING TO COVER THAT UP, THIS IS CLEARLY ABOUT REGIME CHANGE.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID SOMETHING A FEW DAYS AGO.

HE SAID THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO OF ALL THIS ACTION BY AMERICA IS IF SOMEONE AS BAD AS THE PREVIOUS AYATOLLAH IS PUT INTO POWER.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

WE'RE SEEING HIS SON, SOMEBODY WHO IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL LEADERS IN IRAN, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AT THE HAND OF APPROVING THE BRUTAL CRACKDOWN IN 2009 OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND KILLED MANY UNTOLLED THOUSANDS OF IRANIANS.

THIS IS SOMEONE WITH PERHAPS THE CLOSEST TIES TO THE IRGC'S TERROR OPERATION IN IRAN FROM THE RELIGIOUS, CLERIC LEVEL.

SO WE ARE PUTTING INTO PLACE THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE OF THE TERROR OPERATION OF IRAN, THE CUTS FORCE.

THAT IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS UNLEASHED UPON OUR WORLD.

SOMEONE WHO IS YOUNGER, SOMEONE WHO COULD VERY WELL BE IN POWER FOR SOME TIME.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE FINALLY CAPTURED SADDAM HUSSEIN.

EIGHT MONTHS INTO THE IRAQ WAR.

DID THINGS GET BETTER AFTER THAT?

DID THINGS GET LESS VIOLENT AFTER THAT?

WAS THERE LESS THREAT UPON THE AMERICAN SERVE MEMBERS?

NO, WAY MORE AMERICANS WERE KILLED AFTER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CAPTURE THAN BEFORE HIS CAPTURE.

I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THAT OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT.

DID THAT UNLEASH A GOLDEN AGE FOR AMERICA?

NO, THERE WAS CONTINUED VIOLENCE.

WE SAW THE DEMISE OFFAL OF ALQAEDA IN IRAQ.

DECAPITATING THE LEADER HAS NEVER PROVEN TO BE A STRATEGY THAT GUARANTEES ANYTHING BETTER.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH A COUNTRY OF 90 MILLION PEOPLE WITH THE EIGHTH LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD VERY WELL UNLEASH SOMETHING WORSE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE IN TERMS OF IMMINENT THREAT.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IMMINENT THREAT BEFORE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, WE LIKELY WILL HAVE IT NOW THANKS TO DONALD TRUMP.

>> SENATOR ANDY KIM OF NEW JERSEY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND FINALLY FOR US, EVEN IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION, MANY FEARLESS IRANIANS ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE WAR, INCLUDING IRAN'S WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM.

IN A BITTERSWEET SWEET MOMENT, FIVE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GRANTED ASYLUM IN AUSTRALIA, POTENTIALLY ABANDONING HOPES OF SEEING THEIR LOVED ONES AGAIN.

THE SQUAD REFUSED TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM LAST WEEK, PROMPTING FEARS OF HARSH PUNISHMENT UPON RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

AS TWO MORE MEMBERS SEEK REFUGE NOW, OTHERS HAVE REPORTEDLY LEFT AUSTRALIA IN PURSUIT OF A ROUTE BACK TO IRAN.

DIFFICULT CHOICE, OF COURSE, BUT A BRAVE ONE IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME.

AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

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JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

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