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>> WE TOOK ACTION LAST NIGHT TO
STOP A WAR.
WE DID NOT TAKE ACTION TO START
A WAR.
>> Neil: WE DID NOT TAKE
ACTION TO START A WAR.
FOR A RETIRED AIR FORCE GENERAL
WHO JOINS US RIGHT NOW.
CAN WE AVOID THAT?
>> I BELIEVE SO, NEIL.
I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE STRIKE
LAST NIGHT WAS MEASURED IN AN
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE BY THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO ACTUALLY
A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATED GREAT
RESTRAINT AFTER 18 MONTHS WORTH
OF AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS IN
VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
BY THE IRANIANS.
U.N. THE THE AUDIENCE ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THOSE.
THE SEIZING OF TANKING IN
INTERNATIONAL WATERS, THE TAX ON
OTHER TANKERS, THE SHOOTDOWN OF
AN UNARMED AMERICAN DRONE, AND
ATTACKS ON A SOVEREIGN ALLY AS
OIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN
SAUDI ARABIA.
SO, WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WAS
HE SET A REDLINE, THAT BEING THE
LOSS OF AMERICAN LIVES OR
INJURIES.
AND WHEN THAT LINE WAS CROSSED,
HE TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTION.
>> Neil: YOU KNOW WHAT I ALSO
WONDER ABOUT, WITHOUT GETTING
INTO POLITICS, DEMOCRAT OR
REPUBLICAN, DOES THAT MEAN THOSE
WHO CRITICIZE TAKING THIS GUY
OUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THOUSANDS OF U.S. DEATHS, THAT
YOU WOULD NOT.
KNOWING THAT YOU HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNEW WHERE HE
WAS, THAT WAS LIKE THE CRITICISM
THAT BILL CLINTON GOD FOR NOT
TAKING OUT USAMA BIN LADEN WHEN
HE WAS PRESIDENT FOR FEAR OF
COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
AND HE DID NOT.
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED YEARS
LATER.
SO I WONDER, SURELY YOU ARE NOT
ADVOCATING HOLDING OFF ON DOING
THAT FOR FEAR THAT TAKING OUT A
BUTCHER WOULD LEAD TO MORE
BUTCHERING?
>> NEIL, LET ME BE CANDID.
I AM ABSOLUTELY APPALLED AT THE
FEAR THAT MANY OF, AND I TRY TO
STAY NONPARTISAN, BUT THE FEAR
THAT MANY ON THE LEFT HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING TO POTENTIAL IRANIAN
RESPONSE THAT IS PARALYZING THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO
DEFEND AND HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE PRESIDENT TO DEFEND
AMERICAN LIVES AND INTERESTS.
SO THE WAY THAT WE WILL DETER
IRAN IS NOT BY PROJECTING FEAR,
BUT BY MAKING SURE THAT THE
IRANIAN LEADERSHIPS UNDERSTAND
THAT WE CAN CRUSH THEM LIKE A
BUG, AND WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND