AMERICAN SECURITY.
>> SECRETARY ESPER WELCOME BACK
TO "FOX NEWS SUNDAY."
PETER THANKS, CHRIS, GOOD TO BE
WITH YOU.
>> Chris: LET'S START WITH A
TERRIBLE SHOOTING IN PENSACOLA.
WE KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF THE
PEOPLE THAT THE SAUDI OFFICER
KILLED WAS A RECENT GRADUATE OF
THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY.
DID HE TARGET AMERICANS?
>> Secretary Esper: FIRST OF
ALL IT'S A VERY TRAGIC INCIDENT,
OUR CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE
KILLED AND CERTAINLY THOSE WHO
WERE INJURED AS WELL AND SO WE
JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR
HEARTFELT CONCERNS FOR ALL OF
THEM.
WITH REGARD TO YOUR QUESTION, I
DON'T KNOW YET.
I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE
INVESTIGATION TO PROCEED, TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY HE WAS
DOING AND WHY.
>> Chris: I MEAN IT'S A FACT,
WE KNOW THAT THREE PEOPLE WERE
KILLED, WHERE THEY AMERICANS ARE
NOT?
I THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT TO
KNOW.
SPEAK TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THEY WERE AMERICANS THAT WERE
KILLED, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> Chris: TO WE HAVE A SENSE
AFTER WHETHER HE WAS GOING AFTER
AMERICANS?
>> Secretary Esper: THAT'S
WHAT WE NEED TO LET THE
INVESTIGATION PLAY OUT.
>> Chris: THERE ARE REPORTS
THAT SEVERAL SAUDIS HAVE BEEN
RETAINED IN SEVERAL OF THEM HAD
BEEN FILMING THE INCIDENT.
FIRST OF ALL, IS THAT TRUE, AND
THERE ARE SOME TOP FLORIDA
OFFICIALS WILLING TO SAY THIS IS
A TERRORIST PLOT.
>> Secretary Esper: SO SOME
WERE DETAINED, FRIENDS OF HIS
THAT WERE ALSO ON THAT BASE AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, AND I ALSO WAS
TOLD THAT ONE OR TWO WERE
FILMING IT.
IT WAS UNCLEAR IS WHERE THEY
FILMING IT BEFORE IT BEGAN OR
WAS IT SOMETHING WHETHER PICKED
UP THEIR PHONES AND FILMED THAT
ONCE THEY SAW IT UNFOLDING.
THAT MAY BE A DISTINCTION WITH
OR WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE BUT
AGAIN THAT IS WHY I THINK WE
NEED TO LET THE INVESTIGATION
PLAY OUT.
>> Chris: THAT WOULD NOT BE A
NORMAL RESPONSE, TO FILM ONE OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO IS SHOOTING
AMERICANS.
>> Secretary Esper: I DON'T
KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO PASS
JUDGMENT ON IT AT THIS POINT IN
TIME.
TODAY PEOPLE PULL OUT THEIR
PHONES AND FILM EVERYTHING AND
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS.
>> Chris: MORE THAN 5,000
FOREIGN NATIONALS ARE IN
PENTAGON TRAINING PROGRAMS.
ARE YOU GOING TO REVIEW THE
ENTIRE PROGRAM AT ARE YOU GOING
TO TRY TO FIND SOME BETTER WAY
TO VENT -- I UNDERSTAND
HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 -- SOME
BETTER WAY TO VET PEOPLE,
FOREIGNERS WHO COME INTO THIS
COUNTRY FOR THIS KIND OF
TRAINING FOR ANY LINKS TO
EXTREMISM?
>> Secretary Esper: SURE, LET
ME SAY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I
DID YESTERDAY IN THE WAKE OF
THIS INSTANCE AS I SPOKE TO MY
DEPUTY SECRETARY, THE ACTING
NAVY SECRETARY AND OTHERS TO SAY
I WANT TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE SURE
WE PUT OUT AN ADVISORY TO ALL OF
OUR BASES, INSTALLATIONS AND
FACILITIES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE
TAKING ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
APPROPRIATE TO THE PARTICULAR
BASE TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE ARE
SAFE AND SECURE, THAT'S NUMBER
ONE.
NUMBER TWO I ASK THAT WE BEGIN
REVIEW OF WHAT OUR SCREENING
PROCEDURES ARE WITH REGARD TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS COMING TO THE
UNITED STATES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS CURRENTLY OF
COURSE THEY ARE REVIEWED BY
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THEY ARE
REVIEWED BY DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY AND THEY ARE
REVIEWED BY US AND I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCEDURES
ARE FULL AND SUFFICIENT.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF SAFETY BUT
OVERALL THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS,
EXCHANGES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT OUR
POTENTIAL ADVERSARIES SUCH AS
RUSSIA AND CHINA DON'T HAVE,
WHICH IS AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF
ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS AND
THE ABILITY TO BRING FOREIGN
STUDENTS HERE TO TRAIN WITH US,
TO UNDERSTAND AMERICAN CULTURE
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US,
BUILDING THOSE LONG-TERM
RELATIONSHIPS THAT KEEP US
SAFER.
I WILL TELL YOU DURING MY TIME
IN THE MILITARY I WENT TO
WEST POINT WITH KIDS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES.
I TRAINED AT AT THE HELLENIC
MILITARY ACADEMY INCREASE FOR A
SUMMER.
DURING MY TIME IN THE ARMY I
TRAINED WITH AN OFFICER FROM
AFRICA.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS HELP US
UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD
CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND WE NEED
TO CONTINUE THAT.
>> Chris: SO WHAT YOU SEEM TO
BE SAYING IS YES IF WE NEED TO
VENT BETTER WERE GOING TO DO IT
BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DROP
THIS PROGRAM.
>> Secretary Esper: THAT'S
RIGHT.
>> Chris: THERE ARE REPORTS
THAT THE PENTAGON IS WORKING ON
A PLANET, CONSIDERING A PLAN TO
SEND A 7,000 MORE U.S. TROOPS TO
THE MIDDLE EAST.
I UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT HAS
NOT DECIDED ON THIS YET, BUT
WHAT WOULD MORE U.S. TROOPS HELP
US DO TO COUNTER THE THREAT FROM
IRAN?
>> Secretary Esper: FIRST OF
ALL, I HAVE NO PLANS RIGHT NOW
OR ORDERS TO SEND 7,000 OR
14,000 ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO THE
MIDDLE EAST, BUT WHAT I'VE SAID
CONSISTENTLY, CERTAINLY TO
CONGRESS AND TO OTHERS IS THAT
ON A WEEKLY BASIS, DAILY BASIS,
WE MONITOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
THE PERSIAN GULF, WE WATCH WHAT
IRAN IS DOING TO MAKE SURE WE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS
ARE.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IN THAT
THEATER ARE A FEW THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, REASSURE OUR ALLIES
SUCH AS THE SAUDIS AND THE UAE
AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE
REGION.
NUMBER TWO, AFFIRM THE RIGHT OF
COUNTRIES FOR FREEDOM OF
NAVIGATION, FREEDOM OF THE SEAS,
AND NUMBER THREE, HOLD UP THE
INTERNATIONAL RULES-BASED ORDER.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO FROM THE
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS DETER
IRANIAN BAD BEHAVIOR.
IF YOU RECALL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
THERE WERE GOING AFTER SHIPS IN
THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THEY SHOT
DOWN ONE OF OUR DRONES.
WE REACHED A POINT, I THINK,
THAT WE HAVE DETER FURTHER
IRANIAN BAD BEHAVIOR BUT AS WE
SEE IRANIAN BEHAVIOR OR
INTENTIONS CHANGING, I WILL
CHANGE OUR FORCED POSTURE TO
MAINTAIN THAT DETERRENCE.
>> Chris: YOU SAY THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE
DOING, THEY ARE GOING AFTER
SHIPS IN THE PERSIAN GULF, THEY
AREN'T SHOOTING DOWN DRONES, WE
SENT -- YOU SENT IN 14,000 MORE
TROOPS SINCE MAY BUT THE
IRANIANS HAVE CONTINUED TO SHIFT
MISSILES AROUND THE AREA TO
IRAQ, TO YEMEN.
THEY HAVE RECENTLY TESTED A NEW
MISSILE THAT APPARENTLY WOULD
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELIVER A
NUCLEAR WEAPON.
WHAT WOULD MORE TROOPS TO DO?
THEY DETER THAT ACTION AND ARE
YOU BASICALLY SAYING WE ARE
PREPARED TO GET INTO A SHOOTING
WAR WITH IRAN?
>> Secretary Esper: WHAT I
SAID PUBLICLY AS WE ARE REPAIRED
STILL NOT PREPARED TO RESPOND
DEPENDING ON WHAT IRAN DOES AND
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR
RESTRAINT SHOULD NOT BE
INTERPRETED AS WEAKNESS.
WE ARE PREPARED TO DEFEND
OURSELVES AND OUR FRIENDS AND
ALLIES IF NECESSARY BUT YOU HAD
ON TWO IMPORTANT THINGS.
FOR 40 YEARS NOW SINCE THE
REVOLUTION IRAN HAS BEEN ENGAGED
IN A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES THAT
HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT UNDERMINE
THE ENTIRE REGION.
IT'S THE MALIGN BEHAVIOR IN ANY
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES STRETCHING
FROM AFRICA TO AFGHANISTAN.
THERE MISSILE PROGRAM, THEIR
NUCLEAR PROGRAM, HOSTAGE TAKING,
ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS WE WANT
IN A NEW INCOMPETENCE OF
AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO GET RID
OF.
WHAT WE WANT IS IRAN TO JOIN AND
TO BECOME A NORMAL NATION, A
NORMAL COUNTRY.
>> Chris: GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.
>> Secretary Esper: WELL, WE
HAVE TO DO IT.
IT LIKE I SAID, THEIR HANDS ARE
IN EVERY TYPE OF COUNTRY OUT
THERE STIRRING THINGS UP.
AT LEBANON, SAUDI ARABIA, SYRIA,
YEMEN, AND WE CAN GO ALL ACROSS
THIS REGION AND TALK ABOUT
IRANIAN BAD BEHAVIOR.
>> Chris: WE ARE HERE AT THE
REAGAN LIBRARY AND BACK IN 1985
REAGAN LAID OUT WHAT WAS KNOWN
AS THE REAGAN DOCTRINE, WHICH
WAS THAT THE U.S. WAS GOING TO
SUPPORT RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS
AROUND THE WORLD TO COUNTER
SOVIET AGGRESSION.
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THIS
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAS
PULLED U.S. TROOPS OUT OF
NORTHERN SYRIA, ABANDONING OUR
KURDISH ALLIES.
HE'S TALKING NOW ABOUT A PEACE
DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN, PULLING
OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.
WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING ISIS,
WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING THE
TALIBAN, ISN'T WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOW DOING THE
EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE REAGAN
DOCTRINE?
>> Secretary Esper: NOT AT
ALL.
LET'S LOOK AT THOSE TWO
SITUATIONS.
WE WITHDREW TROOPS FROM THE
BORDER WITH TURKEY BECAUSE OUR
LONG-STANDING ALLY OF 70 YEARS
WAS GOING IN BECAUSE OF THREATS
THEY HAD ABOUT TERRORIST
ACTIVITY COMING INTO TURKEY AND
WHAT WE TOLD THEM IS YOU
SHOULDN'T DO THIS, WE WORKED
HARD TO GET THEM TO NOT DO THAT,
WE TRY TO SET THE SAFE ZONE BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE
COMMITTED TO DOING THAT AND WE
WEREN'T GOING TO PUT OUR TROOPS
IN THE PATH.
HE >> Chris: UP MY POINT
WITHOUT GETTING INTO A LOT OF
THE DETAILS IS WE SEEM TO BE
PULLING BACK FROM FIGHTING
TERRORISM OR RONALD REAGAN WAS
LEANING FORWARD IN TERMS OF
FIGHTING SOVIET AGGRESSION.
>> Secretary Esper:
PRESIDENT REAGAN KNEW WHAT THE
THREAT WAS.
IT FELT RIGHT AT THE WAS THE
USSR AND WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
KNOWS IS OUR LONG-TERM CHALLENGE
AS RUSSIA AND REALLY CHINA, SO
THE KEY -- YOU MENTIONED
AFGHANISTAN.
WE'VE BEEN IN THAT COUNTRY FOR
18, 19 YEARS.
THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS THROUGH
POLITICAL AGREEMENT SO IF WE CAN
REACH A POLITICAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE TALIBAN, THE CURRENT
AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND US TO
ENSURE THAT AFGHANISTAN IS NO
LONGER A SAFE HAVEN FOR
TERRORISTS, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
IT ALSO ALLOWS ME, US, TO FREE
UP TROOPS, TO REDEPLOY AGAINST
THOSE TWO OTHER COUNTRIES THAT
WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IN
THE LONG TERM.
>> Chris: WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME OFF, I WANT TO DO A
LIGHTING ON CHEMICAL QUESTIONS
AND A POSSIBLE QUICK ANSWERS
ABOUT TROUBLE SPOTS.
NORTH KOREA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS NOW SAYS THAT
TALKS ABOUT DENUCLEARIZATION ARE
OFF THE TABLE.
IF THEY RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING,
LONG-RANGE MISSILE TESTING, WHAT
WILL U.S. DO?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON
HYPOTHETICALS.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS MUCH, MY
JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
READY, PREPARED TO FIGHT AND WIN
BACK IF NECESSARY.
I BELIEVE WE ARE IN A HIGH STATE
OF REDNESS RIGHT NOW BUT MY TEST
THAT TO 2ND TASK IS TO ENABLE
MORE DIPLOMATS SO THOSE OF THE
THINGS WE DO, I WORK CLOSELY
WITH SECRETARY POMPEO ON THESE
ISSUES AND WE WILL SEE.
I THINK THE TALKS ARE ALWAYS
OPEN.
I'VE SAID, SECRETARY POMPEO HAS
SAID AND CERTAINLY
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID WE WANT
TO SIT DOWN, WE WANT TO HAVE
NEGOTIATIONS, WE WANT TO REACH
THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE
DENUCLEARIZE NORTH KOREA.
>> Chris: PRESIDENT TRUMP
PARDON SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
MILITARY WHO HAD EITHER BEEN
CONVICTED OR CHARGED WITH WAR
CRIMES.
HE STOPPED AND ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW.
YOU SAID HE'S THE COMMANDER IN
CHIEF, IT'S HIS CALL, BUT AS THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, ARE YOU
WORRIED THAT THIS UNDERMINES THE
MILITARY CODE OF JUSTICE AND MAY
PERHAPS DISCOURAGE OTHER
SERVICE MEMBERS FROM REPORTING
ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER CONDUCT?
>> Secretary Esper: NO I
DON'T.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THE
SUPPORTER OF THE CODE OF UNITARY
DILATORY JUSTICE.
OUR SOLDIERS ARE WELL --
SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN,
MARINE OR WELL-TRAINED TRAINED
ON THE LAWS OF CONFLICT.
IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT THE
FIRST PERSON TO IT OF PARDON
COMMUTE SOMEBODY.
THERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF
COMMANDERS IN CHIEF DOING IT,
IT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION.
>> Chris: FINALLY A COUPLE
QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
WHEN WE LAST TALKED A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO YOU SAID YOU WERE
GOING TO DO EVERYTHING YOU COULD
TO COMPLY WITH CONGRESSIONAL
SUBPOENAS OF RECORDS ABOUT THE
CUT OFF, THE WITHHOLDING OF AID
TO UKRAINE, BUT TWO DAYS AFTER
OUR CONVERSATION, THE PENTAGON
STONEWALLED, DIDN'T RELEASE A
SINGLE DOCUMENT.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT I
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE?
>> Secretary Esper: WHAT MY
GENERAL COUNSEL HAD COME FORWARD
WITH IS THAT THERE WERE LEGAL
AND TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATING TO
THE REQUEST THAT WE SOME LIQUID
AND HONOR, SO THAT WAS THE
REASON BEHIND THAT.
>> Chris: DO YOU FEEL CONGRESS
HAS A RIGHT TO OVERSIGHT TO BE
ABLE TO SEE DOCUMENTS FROM THE
PENTAGON ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT
WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS?
>> Secretary Esper: THEY DO,
BUT PROVIDED IT'S ON THE RIGHT
AND PROPER WAY AND I THINK IT
WAS THE ISSUE.
I THINK MY REPUTATION IS PRETTY
GOOD IN TERMS OF BEING VERY
TRANSPARENT.
I LIKE TO MUNICH IT WITH MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS BUT IN THIS CASE IT
MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THERE
WERE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES
THAT PROHIBITED US FROM DOING
EXACTLY WHAT WAS REQUESTED BY
THE CONGRESS.
>> Chris: FINALLY, YOU WERE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THIS
PAST SUMMER WON A LOT OF THESE
ACTIONS WERE GOING DOWN WITH
REGARD TO UKRAINE.
THE PRESIDENT TRUMP EVER
EXPLAINED TO YOU, TELL YOU WHY
HE WAS HOLDING UP U.S. MILITARY
AID TO UKRAINE, AND ALLY THAT IS
IN A CURRENT WAR WITH RUSSIA?
>> Secretary Esper: I'M NOT
GOING TO GET INTO THAT, THERE'S
OBVIOUSLY AN INQUIRY UNDERWAY ON
CAPITOL HILL.
I CAME INTO THE STORY, IF YOU
WILL, IN LATE JULY WHEN I
ASSUMED OFFICE.
>> Chris: YOU'VE BEEN ACTING
SECRETARY EARLIER IN JULY.
>> Secretary Esper: I HAD FOR
A COUPLE WEEKS IN THE NOSE OUT
OF THE GAME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS
WHILE WE WAITED FOR MY
CONFIRMATION PROCESS.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS MUCH, WHEN
I CAME ONTO THE SCENE THE THREE
THINGS WE WERE LOOKING AT FOR
THIS.
ONE, WAS THE EIGHT NECESSARY
VITAL TO THE UKRAINIANS IN TERMS
OF DEFENDING AGAINST RUSSIA
HUMIC NUMBER TWO, HAD THAT
UKRAINIANS ARE ADDRESSED
CORRUPTION AND THAT WAS A
CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN AND NUMBER
THREE, WERE OTHER COUNTRIES IN
THE REGION, OTHER ALLIES AND
PARTNERS ASSISTING THEM IN GIVEN
THOSE THREE THINGS WE DECIDED TO
SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF
UKRAINIAN AID.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
BOTTOM LINE IS MOST OF THAT AID
GOT OUT ON TIME AND AT NO TIME
DIDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON
UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY.
>> Chris: YOU WERE NEVER TOLD
ABOUT ANY POLITICAL
CONSIDERATIONS?
>> Secretary Esper: I'M NOT
GOING TO GET INTO THAT, THERE'S
A CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY UNDERWAY
AND I WILL LAY THAT PROCESS UNTO
ITSELF.
>> Chris: MR. SECRETARY