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Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer says White House needs to make it more clear on what they plan to do in Iran.
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-- -- foreign policy -- -- something -- wasn't discussed a great deal at the conventions we had stirring speech showed that in the eyes of many.
From former second of state Condoleezza Rice -- the Republican Convention.
Senator John McCain also talked about foreign policy that and that we had a farm policy speech from Senator John Kerry.
At the Democratic Convention but it certainly wasn't an issue that was front and center yet that -- Many crises that the United States could have to deal with at any moment and could yet bring about the sort of October surprise.
That could change the election chief among them of course the question of Iran.
We joined now by lieutenant colonel Tony -- the center for advanced defense studies.
Wolf are you all -- of operation dot hot great to see you colonel.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- President Obama are on the -- called to say.
If the Iran -- do this then we will have to do this it do you think that they want the Israeli strategy is here.
Why I think what you're seeing Jonathan it is.
Almost a desperate plea that -- bled from the diplomatic -- we've read about this outburst between.
Mr.
yet Netanyahu and our -- recently I think you're seeing now this public exclamation of -- desperation for clear.
And concise.
Ideas of -- we will do United States will do in response to.
What the Israelis believed to be a credible threat and so the fact that you see this playing out in public.
Tells me that in private we don't have the solutions before us and so anytime you see this level of public ought angst.
I think you need to be worried about what's really going on behind the -- so.
I think they're they're trying to striving very hard here to put pressure on this White House.
To say if this then this.
Because at this point in time from what I'm hearing in my sources we really don't have a clear understanding of what we will we would do and certain circumstance because the White House -- not -- that policy very clear at this point.
Now but this there's obviously 88 a strategy.
In that as well and that -- right the White House doesn't necessarily want.
To box itself into a corner and to draw a line in the sand that they then.
Really have to act on putting in your view in this kind of situation.
Is it better for everybody to happen Cleo line is drawn.
I I think in the mind of the Iranians it should always be -- you could never did never let -- -- -- down I think it's probably you know not to get off topic here.
But has -- with president Obama's Afghan strategy you told what to do when you told we're gonna put the troops felt wonderful about it don't do that and here I think you need to keep.
Keep it vague for the public to consume to include the Iranians with that said.
You never want your allies to be doing essentially what we call strategic communication behind your back trying to put pressure on -- I think it's what we're seeing here.
And so it should be very clear in the minds of the have our allies.
What our response would be during the Cold War there was no doubt about certain things being tripped at certain times regarding Germany.
Germany had certain understandings of what we would do if -- -- happened why -- happen in response.
I don't think we have at this point time and that's where I think that there's a disconnect.
Scott well weigh in on this said did this it's there's -- -- see some mistrust between the US and Israel at the bit between this administration.
And the Israeli leadership it makes it more difficult to deal with the -- -- It contrary would -- -- saying you know Obama's thrown during the bus is actually very good working relations that Obama's race is given more military aid to Israel than any recent presence I don't think -- that a solid mistrust and I think -- has been clear at least diplomatically.
They don't want Israel to attack Iran I think that's what they're communicating so that is there a strategy and I would agree I think that's catastrophic would be catastrophic I think that the -- would agree would only set Iran back may be -- and even are really leading defense forces officials in Israel but the former head of the sun does not believe that an Israeli attack would be prudent.
But can you said you agree that it -- if what if it was a military attack of probably sent him back a few months are you.
Yes two reasons first we're talking about realistically 300 targets that we know to go back quote Don Rumsfeld -- other known known to -- unknown unknowns and we don't know what we don't know about other facilities we have not discovered so.
The no -- to 300 be tough to knock a ball out via air only.
Secondly.
I do believe that that -- -- you know to dry up by I've heard rumors that that North Korean bomb went off a couple years ago.
That was really done partially for the Iranian so I think that they have all the knowledge they need to actually -- development and field.
Nuclear weapons the question becomes how will they launch them all the use of so I think we -- start focusing on delivery systems.
A Hollywood do that I I think.
We have to except the fact that that this -- that they're probably too far down the road to stop the nuclear program we've got to go to plan B I don't think anybody knows what a good plan B is at this point time.
-- would you would you put any sort of all of zone on the Israel striking all their own prior.
To our election he had -- I gotta tell you I think it's gonna come down to who they think's gonna win I there -- an article -- and his recently which I can't agree with I don't know this.
But my gut tells me that if the Iranians and if if the Israelis think that the -- -- a -- White House -- when.
They may well wait because they may see is an ability to work more closely with that White House and I know.
There's this video that this White House Obama White House is give a lot of aid to the Israelis dot dot dot with that said.
There's still a lot of questions about how all this so this administration would respond the Iranians doing something.
For better for some -- saying I endorse -- position but the Romney's it's that Romney folks seem to say.
We would be with you in an attack.
So I think that's really the equation right now is who -- they think will win the election in November that that may be the sad that truth about how they Israelis.
Good plan there -- their actions regarding the Iranians.
But very associated got a question here -- I wonder if you could weigh in.
-- say he says so following do is -- hoping Iran will not make Obama OK the water we do.
After Iran doesn't make the bomb do we just change of tone -- told what happens.
If they suddenly get to that point I mean I everybody says they don't want to let them do it but what they do.
Well I.
I think we're to that point the talk should have been done three years ago -- administration first -- four years ago.
With that said I think we miss an opportunity to work with the Iranian green green movement.
To throw off throw off the ball it's frankly we -- not you know the that there persians the Iranian people are not our enemies a lot of these folks I've seen from everything I've read.
And reports that they want to be free and like many other people do.
We should have focused on -- on government regime change.
Not with us taking the lead but -- -- people taking only frankly I think it's -- best interest of the Hillary people to throw off their government I think that's our best hope at this point.
Is it somehow sanity.
Comes into the equation I don't.
Believe it's gonna happen anytime soon but -- I think we have to accept the likelihood that the Iranians will have nuclear weapons within the next year and -- -- much we can do to stop.
Wow OK -- Briscoe wasn't very good glad you're agreeing with the good colonel also if you.
-- who does attacker that would be the end of the green movement and Wimbledon hardline right and Iran and partners and -- Com and one other and another point over and done this subject to -- -- soldier back colonel.
We're getting reports that this is only Yemeni defense official saying this right now we don't have confirmation from the US they say they have to wait for DNA test but.
The Yemeni -- officials are reporting that they kind of strike has killed the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula number two.
A man by the name of -- eat out -- -- big get if true.
Absolutely a big get again.
As we talked about Michelle I -- rather captured him right in kill them based on the fact that -- what he knows is gold beyond gold.
One of the things this administration talked about doing is dismantling network dead men tell no tales so yes it does does the fact is this if this is true -- -- -- I don't know mr.
about either.
If it's true this is a huge.
Hit on their commander control and ability to do things internally -- in Yemen and frankly projector force overseas a good kill it true.
With that -- I still would have of the captured and find out what he knows and these guys do to the talking despite what they say they they they be given a hard life but these guys -- to the top -- -- -- And -- -- -- finally before I let you go that we gonna talk to Catherine Herridge in a moment she is an -- -- -- -- with the parents.
All of a member of seal team six -- -- -- -- -- was ultimately killed with sixteen other seals in Afghanistan when that chopper was shot down in 2011.
But I'm that she's talking to them about their views of the book that is just being published by a member all seal -- six about the Osama bin Laden -- the Pentagon has tried to shut down parts of that book saying that it's classified material nobody -- and qualified to talk about how that's been down this road before -- yes they did it -- -- book operation dot com.
-- right did did tell me your views on the on this whole issue of that classified material getting out into the public -- -- Well very quickly my book collector to separate reviews the DOD did not like the first one so they redid the second time in more much more severe I believe Johnson we talked about -- little bit.
It was for political reasons not not you know -- we've added that stuff and -- like this -- Everybody in that book were characters participated in helping me right we -- as a team to to show how mistakes were made and how to correct those mistakes.
This was going to be a how to not do the same mistakes again book in my case.
This case is a little bit different he was he -- on its -- He actually did things two took as a coconut god hear -- rumor that the guy left was kicked out of the unit because.
He -- the rumor was he was going to do a book and that it just goes against their culture.
So that's that the sad truth that he probably brought some of this on himself.
It is are classified in the book I don't know I've read it I'm adorning -- sealed -- Brothers and not and -- caught in the book.
I'm not gonna look -- but I think there's a good possibility if it -- go through review.
That there's chances or something in -- let me say this for the record -- and be very clear about it.
Seven degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Once you identify one guy you then can Trace to other places associates.
And thereby -- you brokered to use -- term circle of trust.
This guy being out there in a public that gives the ability of the bad guys to Trace.
To him other members of his unit so he's actually given up the operational security -- and I'm sorry and publishing this -- and it and its dividend of of all -- Didn't help because it was only call people on a helicopter that he said he was -- And then beyond -- -- there's down to two guys apparently they would have been done doing the book and so you've you've automatically kind of you know gone down to a very narrow audience and now he's jeopardize the security of his -- his teammates as well so bloodbath.
So we did in in the wool that the elite world of the seals this this personally this -- is pretty much persona non Grata and he would say.
I would safely say based on the conversations I've had his persona non -- that's correct.
All right OK lieutenant colonel Tony shape and great to get your views as always there -- a couple is that with the center for advanced defense studies.
And all all -- operation dot com thanks so much -- Thank you Jonathan that's fascinating point.
