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really offsets
with that said let's talk about President Obama going to congress
the there is there were two pieces out that today
I one by Ezra Klein won by Brian Beutler
who said im a.m. import a kid
the implication up both the pieces was that
the openness up the administration
both in terms above carry saying at the beginning of the hearing that
look it's possible we have to put boots on the ground but we don't want to do
that
and the Obama administration I
writing it's such a broad authorization for military force
in a way put a
sir forced congress in some way to
to be a restraint on the Obama administration
that the Obama administration could be on its own is that makes a nice
them yet yeah I do bro but is that out for us and explain how that works
worst
II to see you cut out a little bit there are sorry okay question okay yet so I'm
I do Brian Beutler in as a client had pieces today that sorta suggested
that the administration being so open about the potential for
boots on the ground and a coming in with such a broad
authorization for military force was a wave invite in congress to Sir to
restrain the administration
okay yeah I you know I think the I thought that
a little bit to but I think that doesn't make sense to me just because
a congressional novo would be such as so damaging
um you know I just don't
I you know I think those are both smart guys I like them I know them I think the
great reporters
but that just seems to be kinda overtaking it to me
I think the way that this would be seen both domestically and internationally
with PSE
a huge blow to the Obama administration arm
so I ever I have real trouble thinking that that school
how they're going about in other words there's there's no alemana 11
dimensional chess going on here it's just the way that that that's it working
out
yeah I mean I think it's interesting but I don't agree with it
all right now let me ask you this he it was reported today
that I believe was today that Russia
i'ma drew some post I
that russia has suspended the delivery love s-300 missile systems to Syria
I'll apparently because Syria has it the
has you know past the 30 day window they have to pay their bills or whatever it
is
your that literally them paid so we're we're delaying it by
one to two years in that same piece
a.m. Putin had said a.m.
that russia may prove a military operation in Syria evidence shows that
Damascus carried out the cab chemical weapons attack
should we perceive this as an opening in other words
as the United States gets closer
in the event the congress does authorize something
does that raise the stakes for the russians because if they think that
they're gonna lose
their up the their customer essentially in a sign
i'd is a put them in a position above wanting to negotiate n
are they starting to set up some
other way for them to save face yeah you know I so I think that could be one of
the better outcomes here
even possibly short love going through
with strikes if you could you know if congress okays
this then the president moved forward um and Russia
during exactly what you said could be you know
patrolled inclined toward you're pushing you know
with your pulling back from supporting the disorders you so much for at least
pushing elements of the regime to the table which still remains the
administration's policy
to get the parties to a negotiation um
in which a solid is taken out of power
but the institutions of the state or are maintained at some level so we don't
have the complete collapse
syrian state so I mean I think if the threat of the strikes could get
Russia to behave more productively I think that would be a good outcome its
is
is there is there anyway that the United States
mean is there any settlement that you see possible where Assad stays in power
in other words does he have to leave I yeah I don't see any outcome in which is
on himself
stays in power I just don't I mean I think the question is
you know what actual on the second third fourth echelon
love the basses government you know we have the experience in Iraq where you
the basque you that the bats occasionally took out a centrally
all the people collectively connected with saddam's party but that was
specifically
taking all the people who knew how to run the state we don't want to see that
happen in Syria but the question is how far down
you know the line up do you want to clear out
the people connected with this regime over the years do
do I do do guys like you
n gals like you study this stuff do you have a notion
I love who those potential it you know
who is in the city Assad regime that maybe the russians are talking to saying
like
you know this could be a good opportunity for you to get a promotion
that type of thing
you know I really don't care what the from there are other study this much
more closely than me who could probably give you a better answer
I'm I know there was the Syrian general who just
defected today um
so you know that that's a sign you know but that this is happening
on this is an ongoing thing right um
something that's the kind of thing we'd like to see is little greater defections
higher-up defections from from
you know which is a sign both internally and to the opposition
that the the regime regime starting to the to fall and I presume it puts
pressure on Russia to do that
if they want to maintain her customer there they have to get it be
more proactive art so lastly I just wanna touch on this part 2 because this
is come up
assert perfectly in terms of Iran
there's some talk that the president
needs to get a or one argument that the presence Posey offering two guys are
John McCain who apparently again today
II guess is iPhone he may have lost in poker and that is now sorta changes is
this position about to support him
the president here or maybe I don't know maybe with some other game he was
playing air
abut a.m. a that
the the administration was making an argument like if you give us authority
here
that's going to prevent us from may be launching an attack on Iran and we all
know how much you guys want that
a can you just serve explain to us those dynamics
yeah that's it it's a little bit confusing me first you have the
credibility are going into those describing earlier me the idea that the
united states need to do this to you
make clear to arrange backers including and perhaps most significantly the
Iranian regime that we we draw a red line as the president did
around the nuclear weapon that we meet at that there will be consequences if
that line is crossed
arm but also you know there's a there's an issue here with regarding
presidential authority to carry out military action
um so you know that the administration basically seems to be arguing
the you specifically for people like McCain and even more so
Senator Lindsey Graham who has actually been very very frank
about his intention to lay down the tracks for an eventual attack on Iran
that you know if if you kind of handicappers here by not supporting us
then it could be a problem later um in trying to get
international support um you know for possible
strikes on Iran or at least signal that to Iran which could undermine
a our negotiations with the yeah I did those guys are really concerned that
they may not get there
Iranian waldo there would be extremely I think sad
for missed opportunity for them alright well you know i i appreciate your coming
so gimme gimme a sense i mean
do you have a sense above over over how this is what's going to happen in
congress I mean
is the president gonna get the authority and I
what when he goes to russia I think in the next day or two
right for the g20 summit I
I would assume that he would want that congressional
that resolved right because he's sitting down with these other
countries particularly Russia I and
they may discuss this and if
if congress is undecided there's no way for any these other countries to react
yeah I mean that's let me die the right now I think it is pretty clear he'll get
support in the Senate the house is
you know it's really up in the air right now I mean I think you've got more
dedicated no vote at this point from
but it's i I'm really not sure many you seen the you know the administration
obviously going full court press you've got groups like a pack
that have been you know brought into to lobby in favor
but at the same time when you see even Liz Cheney
running for Congress to running for the Senate in in wyoming who's opposing this
let me let me repeat that
this change opposes this military intervention
which said something about the mood out there among voters
um it just it I really don't know
now Matt just thanks so much for your time today been very
a lining and really appreciate your your your your
you're keeping it up today on this sure happy to
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