DEAD AFTER BARRICADING HIMSELF
INSIDE FOR THREE HOURS.
>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONDING
WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM TO NORTH
KOREA'S PROPOSAL TO HOLD TALKS
WITH THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA.
THE ROGUE REGIME SAYING IT'S
WILLING TO PUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS
AND MISSILE TESTING PROGRAMS ON
HOLD WHILE ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE.
THE PRESIDENT ATTRIBUTING THE
BIG WIN TO HARSH SANCTIONS.
>> THESE SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN
VERY VERY STRONG AND VERY BITING
AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO
HAPPEN.
SO I REALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE SIN
EAR.
WE'LL SOON FIND OUT.
>> Sandra: LET'S BRING IN TEXAS
CONGRESSMAN MAC THORNBERRY THE
SECRETARY OF THE HOUSE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT
NORTH KOREA IS SINCERE WITH
THESE RENEWED PUSH FOR TALKS?
>> OH, I'M SURE THEY'RE SINCERE
IN WANTING TALKS SO THAT THEY
CAN GET SANCTIONS EASED.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL DECADES, NORTH
KOREA HAS PLAYED US LIKE A
FIDDLE.
THEY'LL DO A TEST OR ESCALATE
SOME CRISIS AND THEN THEY'LL
AGREE TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT
IN CHANGE FOR RELAXING SANCTION
OR SOME TALKS OR SOMETHING.
SO YOU'VE HAD A SERIES OF UPS
AND DOWNS OVER THE YEARS BUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'VE BEEN
ABLE TO DEVELOP INTERCONTINENTAL
BALLISTIC MISSILES AND NUCLEAR
WEAPONS AND A THREAT TO OUR
HOMELAND.
SO THEY'LL GO UP AND DOWN, BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY GET
WHAT THEY WANT.
>> Sandra: SO WILL THESE TALKS
EVENTUALLY HAPPEN?
THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GO INTO
FURTHER DETAIL ABOUT
PRECONDITIONS FOR THOSE TALKS TO
ACTUALLY HAPPEN OR THE DIALOGUE
TO OPEN.
WHAT SHOULD BE THOSE CONDITIONS
IF IT WAS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN?
>> THE THING IS WE NEED TO BE
CLEAR-EYED GOING BECAUSE NORTH
KOREA IS TRYING TO DIVIDE US
FROM OUR ALLIES AND SOUTH KOREA
AND TRY TO GET SANCTIONED EASED
OR NOT HAVE NEW SANCTIONS
APPLIED OR WEAKEN OUR RESOLVE TO
STAND UP TO THEM.
PUT IT ON THE TABLE AS FAR AS
EXACTLY WHAT THEY WILL DO AND
MAKE THEM DO IT.
DON'T EASE SANCTIONS JUST SO
THAT THEY WILL COME TO THE TABLE
AND START TALKING.
THAT'S THE TACTIC THEY'VE USED
OVER THE YEARS TO GREAT EFFECT.
>> Sandra: IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SEEMS TO
BE TAKING A BIT OF A VICTORY LAP
BUT SEEMS TO BE CAUTIOUS SAYING
THEY SEEM TO BE ACTING
POSITIVELY BUT HE'S GONE AS FAR
AS TO SAY HE'S DONE MORE THAN
HIS PREDECESSORS MORE THAN
PRESIDENTS BEFORE HIM WITH NORTH
KOREA.
>> I AGREE THESE ARE THE
HARSHEST SANCTIONS WE HAVE SEEN.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE HARSH
ENOUGH TO GET THE CHANGE THAT WE
NEED IN NORTH KOREA.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY
CHANGED IS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
MISSILE DEFENSE AND OTHER THINGS
IN THAT AREA SO STANDING UP TO
NORTH KOREA MILITARILY IS THE
THING THAT SENDS THEM THE
CLEAREST MESSAGE.
THE PRESIDENT IS WALKING A TIGHT
LINE.
HE HAS TO BE OPEN TO TALKS BUT
NONE OF US SHOULD BE DILUTED
INTO THINKING THESE PEOPLE HAVE
SUDDENLY CHANGED THEIR STRIPES.
>> Sandra: INTERESTING.
WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.
MEANWHILE, YOU SPOKE AT A
HEARING YESTERDAY REGARDING THE
NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES WE
FACE AS A NATION.
WERE REALLY SPECIFIC IN THE
HEARING TALKING ABOUT THE
GROWING THREAT OF ISIS IN
AFRICA.
WATCH THIS EXCHANGE.
>> WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT AFRICA?
WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS THAT THE UNITED STATES
HAS IN YOUR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY?
>> THE VIOLENT EXTREMIST
ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATIONS PERMEATE OUR
CONTINENT.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THE VIOLENT
EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS THAT
WISH HARM ON THE REGION AND
CONTINENT AND HARM TO THE UNITED
STATES ARE CONTAINED.
>> Sandra: MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU ARE
RAISING THE ALARM OF THE GROWING
THREAT OF ISIS IN AFRICA.
WHY?
>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK MORE
BROADLY, WE HAVE TO PAY
ATTENTION TO RUSSIA, CHINA,
IRAN, NORTH KOREA -- ALL THOSE
THREATS.
BUT THE THREAT FROM TERRORISM
HAS NOT GONE AWAY.
WHAT'S HAPPENED AS WE'VE
SQUEEZED ISIS DOWN SOME OF THOSE
TERRORIST HAVE SQUIRT OUT TO
OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE'S NOT
MUCH GOVERNANCE AND BIG
WIDE-OPEN SPACES AND POOR
ECONOMIES AND THAT'S AFRICA.
IN THE EAST YOU HAVE EL SHABAB
AND BOKKO -- THE HARAM.