AND HE HAD THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH
HIM. >> THAT, OF COURSE, WAS NIKKI
HALEY. JOINING ME NOW IS SUSAN RICE,
FORMER AMBASSADOR TO THE WHITE HOUSE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS AS WELL. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
YOU HEARD NIKKI HALEY SAY THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD WAS SUPPORTIVE
OF THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HEARD FROM
PRESIDENT MACRON AND SOME OTHERS.
WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE? OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE BEEN CRITICAL
OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. >> WELL, LET ME BEGIN WITH
SOMETHING LESS CRITICAL AND GIVE THE PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR
HALEY CREDIT FOR ARRIVING AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND UNDERSCORING
THAT IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS POTENTIAL, IT'S ONE WE OUGHT
TO WORK WITH AND THE INITIATIVES THEY HAVE PUSHED ON U.N. REFORM
ARE QUITE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS AND PLACE PROPER
PRIORITY ON THAT. THE SPEECH, HOWEVER, I THINK WAS
A PROBLEM. >> WHY?
>> IT WAS INTERNALLY INCONSISTENT.
IT WAS FULL OF BOMBAST AND THREAT.
IT WAS FULL OF DECADES OF REALIZING THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN
AN EASY WORLD. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF PROSPERITY
AS OTHERS ARE. SO THE THREAT TO NORTH KOREA
CAME ACROSS TO MANY, AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND
THE UNITED STATES, AS BEING INAPPROPRIATE AND OVER THE TOP
FOR AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN
NORTH KOREA. WE HAVE FOR MANY YEARS, AND THAT
PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE DO
ABOUT IT? THE PRESIDENT THREATENING TO
DESTROY A NATION FROM THE PODIUM OF UNITED NATIONS WAS PROBABLY
NOT THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH IT. >> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
SUPPORT IN CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES, THE POLITICAL BASE, FOR BOTH A
STRONG CRITICISM OF NORTH KOREA AND, OF COURSE, OF IRAN.
AND THE PRESIDENT NOW THREATENING TO GET OUT OF THE
IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL. NORTH KOREA FIRST.
CALLING HIM ROCKET MAN AND THREATENING TO DESTROY THE
COUNTRY. IS THAT APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE
FACT THAT HE HAS USED SUCH
RHETORICAL EXCESS TO KIM JONG-UN AND THE UNITED STATES?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S PROPER FOR KIM JONG-UN TO STEP UP AS A
30-YEAR-OLD MURDEROUS DICTATOR IN NORTH KOREA.
WE NEED TO SHORE UP OUR ALLIES, SHORE UP OUR DEFENSES AS WELL AS
MISSILES AND OTHER THREATS. WE NEED TO RAISE THE COSTS FOR
THEM, WHICH MEANS MORE SANCTIONS.
THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS THREAT IS THROUGH TRADITIONAL BUT VERY
FIRM AND CLEAR DETERRENCE. MAKING IT CLEAR TO NORTH KOREA
THAT IF THEY WERE TO RATCHET UP, INDEED, THE REGIME WOULD BE
ANNIHILATED BY THE UNITED STATES.
MAKING THAT CLARITY POLICY CLEAR DRAWS THE LINE THAT WE NEED TO
DRAW. ALSO, IF THEY WERE TO
PROLIFERATE NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT IN A SOBER, CONSISTENT,
CONSISTENT, COHERENT WAY. AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED
YESTERDAY AND HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS THE RHETORIC HAS
BEEN OVERHEATED. THE LINES HAVE BEEN BLURRED.
AND BY MOCKING KIM JONG-UN AS ROCKET MAN WE DEGRADE THE
SERIOUSNESS AND GRAVITY OF OUR OWN.
>> SHOULD THAT BE THE PRECONDITION OR SHOULD WE GO
IMMEDIATELY INTO TALKS, INCLUDING TALKS DIRECTLY WITH
NORTH KOREA. >> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SET
PRECONDITIONS FOR TALKS. WE MUST MAKE CLEAR THEY SHOULD
DENUCLEARIZE, THAT'S THE GOAL OF TALKS.
I THINK WE FOUND WHEN WE SET ALL THE PRECONDITIONS THAT IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO GET ANYWHERE. I THINK FOR THE MOMENT, QUITE
FRANKLY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET ANYWHERE.
I DON'T THINK THE NORTH KOREANS ARE READY TO COME TO THE TABLE.
BUT WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO THAT AND WE SHOULDN'T
PUT SO MANY HURDLES IN THE WAY TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE.
>> WHAT ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE NUCLEAR DEAL?
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SIGNALS YESTERDAY AS WELL AS BEHIND THE
SCENES TODAY THAT HE MAY VERY WELL DECIDE TO GET OUT OF THE
NUCLEAR -- IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL OR NOT CERTIFY THEIR COMPLIANCE,
FIND SOME LEGALISTIC WAY TO TRY TO GET OUT OF IT OR PUT THEM ON
NOTICE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT.
>> THAT WOULD BED BE A MASSIVE MISTAKE.
LET'S REMEMBER WHERE WE BEGAN WITH THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL.
SOME YEARS AGO, THE BIGGEST THREAT WE PERCEIVED FROM IRAN,
OUR ALLIES IN THE GULF PERCEIVED FROM IRAN IS THAT IT HAD THE
POTENTIAL TO ACQUIRE AND DELIVER A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
WE HAVE TAKEN THAT POTENTIAL OFF THE TABLE.
IRAN HAS HAD HAD MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO A NUCLEAR WEAPON,
NOW IT HAS NONE. IT HAS THE MOST INTRUSIVE
INSPECTION TEAM EVER. IRAN IS NOT IN POSITION TO
SECURE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. THAT'S HUGE TO OUR SECURITY AND
OUR PARTNERS IN THE REGION. IT CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN
BEHAVIOR THAT WE FIND HUGELY OBJECTIONABLE FROM SUPPORT TO
TERRORISM AND DESTABLING COUNTRIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE NEED TO WORK TO COUNTER THAT AS WELL AS THEIR MISSILE THREAT.
BUT ALL THOSE THREATS AND CHALLENGES WOULD BE FAR WORSE IF
IRAN WERE TO OBTAIN A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
HAVING SOLVED THAT PROBLEM FOR THE TIME BEING, AND FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE, WE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO WALK AWAY FROM A DEAL
THAT HAS ACCOMPLISHED A MAJOR SECURITY OBJECTIVE.
AND REALIZE THAT IF WE WERE TO DO SO, WE WOULD BE LEAVING
OURSELVES ISOLATED, NOT IRAN. IT WOULD BE US BREAKING THE
DEAL, LEAVING US ISOLATED FROM OUR ALLIES WHO HELPED NEGOTIATE
IT LIKE GERMANY, LIKE FRANCE AND BRITAIN, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND
FROM THE OTHER PARTNERS, RUSSIA AND CHINA.
THAT WOULD BE FOLLY. IT WOULD LEAF IRAN FREE TO
DEVELOP A NUCLEAR WEAPON UNIMPEDED AND LEAVE US WITH NO
ABILITY TO RECONSTITUTE THE SANCTIONS REGIME THAT PUT SO
MUCH PRESSURE ON THEM TO GET TO THIS DEAL.
>> PRESIDENT ROUHANI WAS SPEAKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS MORNING. I WANTED TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT. >> Translator: IT WILL BE A
GREAT PITY IF THIS AGREEMENT WERE TO BE DESTROYED BY ROGUE
NEWCOMERS TO THE WORLD OF POLITICS.
THE WORLD WILL HAVE LOST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> BUT IRAN IS STILL -- IS ALSO SAYING HE WON'T AGREE TO ANY
RENEGOTIATION, ANY CHANGES. SHOULD THE DEAL BE OPEN AT LEAST
TO CHANGES OR AMENDS -- >> NO.
>> THERE'S A MEETING TONIGHT OF ALL THE COUNTRIES WHERE REX
TILLERSON IS GOING ON SIT DOWN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ZAHRIF.
SHOULD THIS BE DEAL? >> IT WAS A GOOD DEAL, IT
ACCOMPLISHED OUR OBJECTIVES, DESPITE WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
SAYS. THERE'S NO NEED TO REOPEN IT.
THERE'S VALUE IN DISCUSSING HOW TO STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATION,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEING FULLY IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO EVERY
OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS. BUT WE COULD BEGIN A PROCESS OF
DIALOGUE TO DISCUSS WHAT COMES AFTER THIS DEAL, SUNSETS OR
ELEMENTS OF ITS SUNSET. THAT'S WORTH DOING.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WHEN WE'RE HURLING THREATS, THREATENING TO
WALK OUT, ACTING LIKE A SPOILED CHILD AT THE DINNER TABLE.
IF WE SIT DOWN AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS -- I'M GLAD THE
PRESIDENT IS SPEAKING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER, THAT
RELATIONSHIP WE HAD WHEN SECRETARY KERRY SPOKE WITH HIM
WERE NEEDED. WORKING WITH THOSE WHO HELPED
NEGOTIATE THE IRAN DEAL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MAY COME AFTERWARDS
IS VERY USEFUL. BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THAT
EFFECTIVELY IN THE CONTEXT OF UPHOLDING OUR OCTOBERS TO STAY
IN THE DEAL SO LONG AS IRAN IS COMPLYING, WHICH IT IS.
>> WILL PRESIDENT OBAMA BE SPEAKING OUT ON THIS?
THIS IS A CENTRAL PART OF HIS DIPLOMATIC LEGACY?
>> I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE HIS VOICE HEARD
WHEN HE THINKS IT'S NECESSARY OR ADDITION.
>> HE'S IN NEW YORK NOW, AS YOU KNOW.
>> HE'S NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL TODAY.
I DO THINK, ANDANDREA, WE HAVE WORLD COMMUNITY THAT CAME BEHIND
THIS DEAL BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT IT SOLVED AND ADDRESSED A VERY
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. THAT WE NEED TO STICK WITH EVEN
AS WE CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON IRAN FOR BEHAVIOR WE FIND
OBJECTIONABLE, MISSILE TEST, SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM, AND ITS
ROLE IN SYRIA ASK YEMEN. >> YOUR TAKE ON THE STATE
DEPARTMENT DIPLOMACY IN THE TRUMP ERA?
>> WELL, ANDREA, THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS NOT AN ENTITY TO
BE WEAKENED AND UNDERMINED AND EVISCERATED AS SOME MIGHT THINK.
IT'S A HUGE ASSET ALONG WITH OUR DEFENSE AND DEVELOPMENT TO
PROJECT AND ENSURE OUR STRENGTH ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE.
WE NEED DIPLOMATS. SO, WE NEED PEOPLE IN CONFIRMED
POSITIONS THAT CAN DO THE BUSINESS OF DIPLOMACY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE NEED AN ADEQUATE BUDGET.
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WOULD HAVE CUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT BY
30%. FORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS THAT WISER
MINDS ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS IN CONGRESS WILL RECTIFY THAT.
WE NEED TO BE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED ON THE WORLD STAGE.
AND NOT IN A HUNKERED DOWN POSTURE.
SO I HOPE THAT HAVING SPENT A FEW DAYS HERE AT THE UNITED
NATIONS, THAT SECRETARY TILLERSON, PRESIDENT TRUMP, WILL
SEE THE BENEFITS OF DIPLOMACY WHEN THEY ENGAGE IN IT IN A
SUSTAINED FASHION AND ENABLE THE DAY-TO-DAY DIPLOMATS TO H