GWEN: NEWS TONIGHT -- HARRY REID'S EXIT.
REID'S EXIT.
OLD AND NEW DEBATES IN OLD AND NEW DEBATES IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE FIRST AFGHANISTAN AND THE FIRST OFFICIAL 2016 CANDIDATE STEPS OFFICIAL 2016 CANDIDATE STEPS UP.
UP.
WE WILL COVER IT ALL TONIGHT ON WE WILL COVER IT ALL TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
"WASHINGTON WEEK."
>> WE'VE GOT TO BE MORE >> WE'VE GOT TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTRY, THE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTRY, THE SENATE, THE STATE OF NEVADA AND SENATE, THE STATE OF NEVADA AND US.
US.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I'M NOT AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
GWEN: HARRY REID'S ANNOUNCEMENT GWEN: HARRY REID'S ANNOUNCEMENT HE'S QUITTING THE SENATE SETS HE'S QUITTING THE SENATE SETS OFF OFF NEVADA SEAT AND FOR THE TOP NEVADA SEAT AND FOR THE TOP DEMOCRATIC POST IN THE SENATE.
DEMOCRATIC POST IN THE SENATE.
THE FALLOUT, TWO WAYS OF LOOKING THE FALLOUT, TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT AFGHANISTAN.
AT AFGHANISTAN.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN T WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN T BACK.
BACK.
GWEN: AS ITS PRESIDENT PLEADS GWEN: AS ITS PRESIDENT PLEADS FOR THE TOWS STAY A LITTLE FOR THE TOWS STAY A LITTLE LONGER.
LONGER.
AND BOWE BERGDAHL, ONCE HAILED AND BOWE BERGDAHL, ONCE HAILED AS AN AMERICAN HERO, IS INSTEAD AS AN AMERICAN HERO, IS INSTEAD BRANDED A TRADER.
BRANDED A TRADER.
>> SERGEANT BERGDAHL IS CHARGED >> SERGEANT BERGDAHL IS CHARGED UNDER THE UNIFORM COACH OF UNDER THE UNIFORM COACH OF MILITARY JUSTICE WITH ONE COUNT MILITARY JUSTICE WITH ONE COUNT OF ARTICLE 85, DECERTIFICATION OF ARTICLE 85, DECERTIFICATION WITH IMPORTANT WITH IMPORTANT OR HAZARDOUS DUTY.
OR HAZARDOUS DUTY.
GWEN: PLUS -- GWEN: PLUS -- >> I BELIEVE IN YOU.
>> I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF MILLIONS OF COURAGEOUS MILLIONS OF COURAGEOUS CONSERVATIVES RISING UP TO CONSERVATIVES RISING UP TO REIGNITE THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.
REIGNITE THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.
GWEN: TED CRUZ BEATS THE REST OF GWEN: TED CRUZ BEATS THE REST OF THE FIELD TO THE BUNCH BY MAKING THE FIELD TO THE BUNCH BY MAKING HIS 2016 PLANS OFFICIAL.
HIS 2016 PLANS OFFICIAL.
COVERING THE WEEK -- MANU RAJU, COVERING THE WEEK -- MANU RAJU, SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL COMPETENTANT FOR POLITICO.
COMPETENTANT FOR POLITICO.
ALEXIS SIMENDINGER, WHITE HOUSE ALEXIS SIMENDINGER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR CORRESPONDENT FOR REALCLEARPOLITICS.
REALCLEARPOLITICS.
NANCY YOUSSEF, SENIOR NATIONAL NANCY YOUSSEF, SENIOR NATIONAL COMPETENT FOR "THE DAILY BEAST" COMPETENT FOR "THE DAILY BEAST" AND DAN BALZ, CHIEF CORESPONDENT AND DAN BALZ, CHIEF CORESPONDENT FO"THE WASHIGTON POST.
FO"THE WASHIGTON POST.
>> AWARD WINNING REPORTING AND T >> AWARD WINNING REPORTING AND T HAPPENS,IVE FROM OUR NATION'S HAPPENS,IVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH GWEN IFILL.
ONCE AGAIN LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
FOR US, FIRE SURPRISES ARE THE FOR US, FIRE SURPRISES ARE THE BEST SURPRISES.
BEST SURPRISES.
BY TME LEADER BY TME LEADER HARRY REID WON THE DAY, HARRY REID WON THE DAY, ANNOUNCING HE WILL LEAVE THE ANNOUNCING HE WILL LEAVE THE ZPHAT WHEN HIS TERM ENDS IN ZPHAT WHEN HIS TERM ENDS IN 2016.
2016.
THE 75-YEAR-OLD REID, WHO THE 75-YEAR-OLD REID, WHO SUFFERED A GREIVIS INJURY TO HIS SUFFERED A GREIVIS INJURY TO HIS FACE AND EYE EARLIER THIS YEAR FACE AND EYE EARLIER THIS YEAR IN AN EXERCISING ACCIDENT, SAID IN AN EXERCISING ACCIDENT, SAID HIS FORCED RECOVERY GAVE HIM HIS FORCED RECOVERY GAVE HIM TIME TO THINK BUT HE INSISTS TIME TO THINK BUT HE INSISTS THAT IS NOT WHY HE'S STEPPING THAT IS NOT WHY HE'S STEPPING DOWN.
DOWN.
HE POSTED THIS VIDEO ONLINE.
HE POSTED THIS VIDEO ONLINE.
>> THESE BRUISES I HAVE ON MY >> THESE BRUISES I HAVE ON MY FACE, ON MY EYE, ARE AN FACE, ON MY EYE, ARE AN INCONVENIENCE BUT TRUST WHEN I INCONVENIENCE BUT TRUST WHEN I FIGHTING IN THE RING.
FIGHTING IN THE RING.
GWEN: WENT, REID WAS ONCE A GWEN: WENT, REID WAS ONCE A BOXER, SOMETHING THAT SURPRISES BOXER, SOMETHING THAT SURPRISES NO ONE THAT HAS RUN AGAINST HIM, NO ONE THAT HAS RUN AGAINST HIM, NEGOTIATED HIM OR COVERED HIM.
NEGOTIATED HIM OR COVERED HIM.
MANU RAJU IS ONE OF THE LATTER.
MANU RAJU IS ONE OF THE LATTER.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHY HE WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHY HE REALLY SKEPPED DOWN?
REALLY SKEPPED DOWN?
MANU: HE WAS FACING A REALLY MANU: HE WAS FACING A REALLY TYPICAL ELECTION NEXT YEAR.
TYPICAL ELECTION NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE HE THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE HE COULD HAVE WON BUT HE WOULD HAVE COULD HAVE WON BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT AGGRESSIVELY TO KEEP TO FIGHT AGGRESSIVELY TO KEEP HIS SEAT.
HIS SEAT.
GWEN: DOESN'T HE FIGHT ALL THE GWEN: DOESN'T HE FIGHT ALL THE TIME?
TIME?
MANU: HE DOES FIGHT ALL THE TIME MANU: HE DOES FIGHT ALL THE TIME BUT HE JUST DOES NOT HAVE IT IN BUT HE JUST DOES NOT HAVE IT IN HIM.
HIM.
HE DECIDED LATE LAST YEAR THIS HE DECIDED LATE LAST YEAR THIS PROBABLY WAS NOT THE RACE HE PROBABLY WAS NOT THE RACE HE WANTED TO TAKE, EVEN BEFORE HIS WANTED TO TAKE, EVEN BEFORE HIS EXERCISE ACCIDENT.
EXERCISE ACCIDENT.
AND DURING THAT AT A TIME WHEN AND DURING THAT AT A TIME WHEN HE WAS RECOVERING, HE REALLY HE WAS RECOVERING, HE REALLY REALIZED IT WAS PROBABLY TIME TO REALIZED IT WAS PROBABLY TIME TO HANG IT UP.
HANG IT UP.
IT WAS A GUY WHO CAME TO IT WAS A GUY WHO CAME TO CONGRESS IN 1983.
CONGRESS IN 1983.
HAS REALLY RISEN IN THE RANKS HAS REALLY RISEN IN THE RANKS AND HAS DONE WHAT FEW THOUGHT AND HAS DONE WHAT FEW THOUGHT CODO IN MAINTAINING HIS CODO IN MAINTAINING HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR SUCH A LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, FOR A DECADE AS A LONG TIME, FOR A DECADE AS A SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, HE'S FACED BUT ON TOP OF THAT, HE'S FACED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF DISSENSION INCREASING AMOUNTS OF DISSENSION WITHIN THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC WITHIN THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC RANKS.
RANKS.
WHAT WE SAW AT THE END OF LAST WHAT WE SAW AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AFTER THE MIDTERM YEAR, AFTER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS IN WHICH THE ELECTIONS IN WHICH THE DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, LOST DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, LOST CONTROL OF THE SENATE, HANDFUL CONTROL OF THE SENATE, HANDFUL OF THESE DEMOCRATIC MODERATES OF THESE DEMOCRATIC MODERATES DID NOT WANT HIM TO RETURN AS DID NOT WANT HIM TO RETURN AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
THEY ACTUALLY OPENING ANNOUNCED THEY ACTUALLY OPENING ANNOUNCED INE THOUGH HE RAN UNOPPOSED.
INE THOUGH HE RAN UNOPPOSED.
SO THE VIEW POINT INTERNALLY IS SO THE VIEW POINT INTERNALLY IS REID FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS REID FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS VULNERABLE.
VULNERABLE.
I THINK HE RECOGNIZED THAT TOO, I THINK HE RECOGNIZED THAT TOO, HE PROBABLY HIS HOLD WITHIN THE HE PROBABLY HIS HOLD WITHIN THE CAUCUS WAS STARTING TO LOOSEN A CAUCUS WAS STARTING TO LOOSEN A BIT.
BIT.
HE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT HE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT INCREASINGLY HARD, NOT TO JUST INCREASINGLY HARD, NOT TO JUST WIN RE-ELECTION BUT STAY AS WIN RE-ELECTION BUT STAY AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER AND THAT WAS DEMOCRATIC LEADER AND THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO DECIDE MAYBE I ENOUGH FOR HIM TO DECIDE MAYBE I JUST DON'T HAVE IT IT IN ME.
JUST DON'T HAVE IT IT IN ME.
GWEN: HERE'S THE INTERESTING GWEN: HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HARRY REID, FOR THING ABOUT HARRY REID, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH HIM VERY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH HIM VERY CLOSELY, HE'S A CLUSTER OF CLOSELY, HE'S A CLUSTER OF CONTRADICTIONS.
CONTRADICTIONS.
HE'S A TOUGH GUY.
HE'S A TOUGH GUY.
KNOWN AS MASTER OF SENATE AS IT KNOWN AS MASTER OF SENATE AS IT WERE.
WERE.
HE'S GOTTEN INCREDIBLE LOYALTY HE'S GOTTEN INCREDIBLE LOYALTY AMONG MOST OF HIS RANKS.
AMONG MOST OF HIS RANKS.
AND YES HE ALSO HAS A REPUTATION AND YES HE ALSO HAS A REPUTATION R BEING KIND OF RUDE AND R BEING KIND OF RUDE AND BRUFF.
BRUFF.
MANU: HE'S A COLORFUL CHARACTER MANU: HE'S A COLORFUL CHARACTER EVEN IF HE COMES ACROSS AS A EVEN IF HE COMES ACROSS AS A BLAND GUY BECAUSE OF HIS STYLE.
BLAND GUY BECAUSE OF HIS STYLE.
HE'S VERY SHREWD AND HE'S VERY SHREWD AND CALCULATING.
CALCULATING.
DOESN'T SEEM THE LIMELIGHT THE DOESN'T SEEM THE LIMELIGHT THE WAY OTHER FOLKS DO.
WAY OTHER FOLKS DO.
AND HE'S SUCH AN INSIDER.
AND HE'S SUCH AN INSIDER.
HE KNOWS HE KNOWS INSTITUTION AND PULL THE LEVERS INSTITUTION AND PULL THE LEVERS OF THE INSTITUTION TO GET WHAT OF THE INSTITUTION TO GET WHAT HE WANTS, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL HE WANTS, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL WHEN YOU OPERATE A PLACE LIKE WHEN YOU OPERATE A PLACE LIKE THE SENATE WHERE THE PROCESS IS THE SENATE WHERE THE PROCESS IS IS HE ARCANE AND YOU NEED TO IS HE ARCANE AND YOU NEED TO REALLY BE AN INSIDER AND REALLY BE AN INSIDER AND OPERATIVE TO GET STUFF DONE AND OPERATIVE TO GET STUFF DONE AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S DIDN'T DOING THAT'S WHAT HE'S DIDN'T DOING EFFECTIVELY FOR A VERY LONG EFFECTIVELY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
TIME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS LEGACY >> WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS LEGACY SFLB SFLB >> I THINK AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER >> I THINK AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER HE IS RUSHINGING THE HEALTH CARE HE IS RUSHINGING THE HEALTH CARE LAW IN CHRISTMAS EVE 2009, THAT LAW IN CHRISTMAS EVE 2009, THAT WAS REALLY A HARDBALL MOVE.
WAS REALLY A HARDBALL MOVE.
THIS WAS DONE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY THIS WAS DONE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY DEMOCRATIC VOTES, OF COURSE BY DEMOCRATIC VOTES, OF COURSE AND IT WAS NEGOTIATED IN HARRY AND IT WAS NEGOTIATED IN HARRY REID'S OFFICE.
REID'S OFFICE.
HE SPENT WEEKS AND WEEKS HE SPENT WEEKS AND WEEKS NEGOTIATING THIS.
NEGOTIATING THIS.
HE JAMMED THIS THROUGH ON HE JAMMED THIS THROUGH ON CHRISTMAS EVE ON A PARTY LINE CHRISTMAS EVE ON A PARTY LINE VOTE AND THAT WAS A HUGE, OF VOTE AND THAT WAS A HUGE, OF COURSE, MOW MEANTOUS CHANGE.
COURSE, MOW MEANTOUS CHANGE.
IF BARACK OBAMA WOULD NOT HAVE IF BARACK OBAMA WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THAT LAW IF IT WERE NOT GOTTEN THAT LAW IF IT WERE NOT FOR HARRY REID.
FOR HARRY REID.
I ALSO SAY THE OTHER HUGE THING I ALSO SAY THE OTHER HUGE THING HE DID WAS INVOKING THE HE DID WAS INVOKING THE SO-CALLED NUCLEAR OPTION, WHICH SO-CALLED NUCLEAR OPTION, WHICH IS IN 2013 THE RULE, THE EFFORT IS IN 2013 THE RULE, THE EFFORT TO GUT FILIBUSTER RULES ON TO GUT FILIBUSTER RULES ON PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES.
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES.
THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE NO THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE NO OTHER LEADER HAS DONE THAT OTHER LEADER HAS DONE THAT BEFORE.
BEFORE.
AND THAT CAN BE USED TO FURTHER AND THAT CAN BE USED TO FURTHER WEAKEN THE WEAKEN THE COULD PRESUMABLY ALTER THE COULD PRESUMABLY ALTER THE INSTITUTION FOR YEARS AND YEARS INSTITUTION FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
TO COME.
THAT WOULD CERTAINLY OUTLAST THAT WOULD CERTAINLY OUTLAST HARRY REID'S TIME IN OFFICE.
HARRY REID'S TIME IN OFFICE.
ALEXIS: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ALEXIS: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIS HIS LIKELY SUCCESSOR?
HIS HIS LIKELY SUCCESSOR?
MANU: CHUCK SCHUMER IS THE GUY MANU: CHUCK SCHUMER IS THE GUY WHO WILL PROBABLY RUN THE WHO WILL PROBABLY RUN THE CAUCUS.
CAUCUS.
HE AND HARRY REID HAD A PRIVATE HE AND HARRY REID HAD A PRIVATE MEETING LAST NIGHT, THURSDAY MEETING LAST NIGHT, THURSDAY NIGHT, WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THE NIGHT, WHERE THEY DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OR DISCUSSED REID POSSIBILITY OR DISCUSSED REID WAS RETIRING.
WAS RETIRING.
REID SAID HE WOULD BACK CHUCK REID SAID HE WOULD BACK CHUCK SCHUMER TO BE HIS SUCCESSFUL.
SCHUMER TO BE HIS SUCCESSFUL.
CHUCK SCHUMER IS THE NEW YORK CHUCK SCHUMER IS THE NEW YORK DEMOCRAT, NUMBER THREE IN THE DEMOCRAT, NUMBER THREE IN THE CAUCUS RIGHT NOW.
CAUCUS RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT ESSENTIALLY LEAPFROGS AND THAT ESSENTIALLY LEAPFROGS THE NUMBER TWO MAN IN THE THE NUMBER TWO MAN IN THE CAUCUS, DICK DURBIN, SENATE CAUCUS, DICK DURBIN, SENATE MINORITY WHIP.
MINORITY WHIP.
BUT IN THE EYES OF A LOT OF BUT IN THE EYES OF A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, SCHUMER HAD ALREADY DEMOCRATS, SCHUMER HAD ALREADY SUP PLANTED DURBIN AS THE DE SUP PLANTED DURBIN AS THE DE FACTO NUMBER TWO JUST BY VIRTUE FACTO NUMBER TWO JUST BY VIRTUE OF HIS POLITICAL SKILLS, HIS OF HIS POLITICAL SKILLS, HIS HE PLACE -LIKE MIND AND THAT HE PLACE -LIKE MIND AND THAT WHERE HE IS.
WHERE HE IS.
SCHUMER SPENT ALL DAY FRIDAY ON SCHUMER SPENT ALL DAY FRIDAY ON THE PHONES LOCKING DOWN SUPPORT THE PHONES LOCKING DOWN SUPPORT AND HE DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT, AND HE DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT, ACCORDING TO HIS OFFICE, TO ACCORDING TO HIS OFFICE, TO BECOME THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC BECOME THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
LEADER.
ALEXIS: SO WHY DO RAMIREZ SOUND ALEXIS: SO WHY DO RAMIREZ SOUND CHEERED THAT THE NEVADA SEAT MAY CHEERED THAT THE NEVADA SEAT MAY LOOK MORE VULNERABLEABLE FOR LOOK MORE VULNERABLEABLE FOR DEMOCRATS?
DEMOCRATS?
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER COUNT >> BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER COUNT HARRY REID OUT.
HARRY REID OUT.
EVEN AS LOUSY AS HIS APPROVAL EVEN AS LOUSY AS HIS APPROVAL RATINGS ARE, SOMEHOW HARRY REID RATINGS ARE, SOMEHOW HARRY REID FINDS A WAY TO SURVIVE.
FINDS A WAY TO SURVIVE.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE AND THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINGS REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF THINGS REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF PPN PPN OPEN SEAT.
OPEN SEAT.
NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO COULD RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN WHO COULD RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, REPUBLICANS HOPE THE SIDE, REPUBLICANS HOPE THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OUT THERE, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OUT THERE, BRIAN SANDOVAL WILL RUN BUT IT'S BRIAN SANDOVAL WILL RUN BUT IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT HE DOES.
VERY UNLIKELY THAT HE DOES.
THERE ARE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT THERE ARE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT COMES UP AS WELL.
COMES UP AS WELL.
INCLUDING STATE REPUBLICAN INCLUDING STATE REPUBLICAN LEADER STEVE ROBERSON IS LEADER STEVE ROBERSON IS MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.
CANDIDATE.
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE FORMER NEVADA ATTORNEY GENERAL, FORMER NEVADA ATTORNEY GENERAL, LOOKS LIKE SHE'S A LIKELY LOOKS LIKE SHE'S A LIKELY CANDIDATE AND REID WANTED HER TO CANDIDATE AND REID WANTED HER TO RUN AS WELL.
RUN AS WELL.
GWEN: WLEB NEVADA WAS NOT AT THE GWEN: WLEB NEVADA WAS NOT AT THE HEART OF THE POLITICAL WORLD AND HEART OF THE POLITICAL WORLD AND NOW IT KIND OF IS.
NOW IT KIND OF IS.
WE HAVE HARRY REID TO THANK FOR WE HAVE HARRY REID TO THANK FOR THAT IN PART.
THAT IN PART.
NOW TO THE CONTINUING FALLOUT NOW TO THE CONTINUING FALLOUT FROM AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR.
FROM AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR.
AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASH REF GHANI AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASH REF GHANI CAME TO WASHINGTON TO PROVE CAME TO WASHINGTON TO PROVE ESSENTIALLY HE'S NOT HAMID ESSENTIALLY HE'S NOT HAMID KARZAI.
KARZAI.
KARZAI WAS THE LAST PRESIDENT OF KARZAI WAS THE LAST PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN WHO STARTED OFF AS AFGHANISTAN WHO STARTED OFF AS AMERICA'S GREAT HOPE AND TURNED AMERICA'S GREAT HOPE AND TURNED INTO AMERICA'S GREAT THORN IN INTO AMERICA'S GREAT THORN IN THE SIDE.
THE SIDE.
I ASKED PRESIDENT GHANI ABOUT I ASKED PRESIDENT GHANI ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK.
THAT THIS WEEK.
THAT WAS TENSE TOWARDS THE END THAT WAS TENSE TOWARDS THE END AND PREB ALLUDED TO THAT TODAY.
AND PREB ALLUDED TO THAT TODAY.
HOW HAS THAT CHANGED?
HOW HAS THAT CHANGED?
>> IT HAS CHANGED FUNDAMENTALLY >> IT HAS CHANGED FUNDAMENTALLY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE AND HAVE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE AND HAVE REVITALIZED PARTNERSHIP.
REVITALIZED PARTNERSHIP.
WE'RE NOT ENGAGING IN A BLAME WE'RE NOT ENGAGING IN A BLAME GAME.
GAME.
WE'RE ENGAGED IN COMMON WE'RE ENGAGED IN COMMON UNDERSTANDING AND COMMON ACTION.
UNDERSTANDING AND COMMON ACTION.
AND PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS AND PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS ALSO THAT THE COMBAT ROLE OF THE ALSO THAT THE COMBAT ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ENDED AS WAS UNITED STATES HAS ENDED AS WAS AGREED BETWEEN OUR TWO AGREED BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS AND THE ASSIST GOVERNMENTS AND THE ASSIST MISSION THAT U.S.
FORCES ARE MISSION THAT U.S.
FORCES ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN DOES NOT CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN DOES NOT INVOLVE COMBAT ROLES.
INVOLVE COMBAT ROLES.
GWEN: SO AT GHANI'S REQUEST, GWEN: SO AT GHANI'S REQUEST, PRESIDENT OBAMA DID AGREE THIS PRESIDENT OBAMA DID AGREE THIS WEEK TO PUSH BACK THE DEADLINE WEEK TO PUSH BACK THE DEADLINE HE IMPOSED FOR PULLING OUT U.S.
HE IMPOSED FOR PULLING OUT U.S.
TROOPS.
TROOPS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: THE BOTTOM LINE PRESIDENT OBAMA: THE BOTTOM LINE IS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM IS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM MAKE ENORMOUS SACRIFICES, THEIR MAKE ENORMOUS SACRIFICES, THEIR FAMILIES DO, TOO.
FAMILIES DO, TOO.
THEY SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM.
THEY SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM.
THIS WILL MEAN THAT THERE ARE THIS WILL MEAN THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME OF OUR FOLKS GOING TO BE SOME OF OUR FOLKS WHO ARE IN AFGHANISTAN UNDER THE WHO ARE IN AFGHANISTAN UNDER THE NEW SCHEDULE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN NEW SCHEDULE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN HOME.
HOME.
GWEN: HOW DOES THE WHITE HOUSE GWEN: HOW DOES THE WHITE HOUSE JUSTIFY THIS?
JUSTIFY THIS?
IT'S BASICALLY AN UNKEPT PROMISE IT'S BASICALLY AN UNKEPT PROMISE IN SOME RESPECTS?
IN SOME RESPECTS?
ALEXIS: IT IS AND THE PRESIDENT ALEXIS: IT IS AND THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD THAT WOULD BE THE UNDERSTOOD THAT WOULD BE THE CASE IN MAKING THIS AGREEMENT CASE IN MAKING THIS AGREEMENT WITH GHANI.
WITH GHANI.
THE WAY THE PRESIDENT PUT IT WAS THE WAY THE PRESIDENT PUT IT WAS INTERESTING.
INTERESTING.
HE TALKED ABOUT AFGHANISTAN HE TALKED ABOUT AFGHANISTAN STILL BEING A DANGEROUS PLACE STILL BEING A DANGEROUS PLACE AND PROBABLY THE MOST FRANK AND PROBABLY THE MOST FRANK THING HE SAID WAS, WE DON'T WANT THING HE SAID WAS, WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK.
TO GO BACK.
SO IN SOME WAYS THE PRESIDENT SO IN SOME WAYS THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING WE WANT TO PROTECT WAS SAYING WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR INVESTMENT.
OUR INVESTMENT.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN SECURITY THAT WE THE UNITED SECURITY THAT WE THE UNITED STATES ARE INTERESTED IN AND YOU STATES ARE INTERESTED IN AND YOU CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE THE CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
CASE.
WORKING WITH THE PENTAGON THERE WORKING WITH THE PENTAGON THERE WAS A DETERMINATION THAT THE WAS A DETERMINATION THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT AT THE CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT AT THE BASES IN KANDAHAR OR JALALABAD BASES IN KANDAHAR OR JALALABAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PRESENCE IN THAT AREA, TO USE PRESENCE IN THAT AREA, TO USE DRONE STRIKES, COUNTERTERRORISM.
DRONE STRIKES, COUNTERTERRORISM.
YOU CAN SEE IN GHANI'S YOU CAN SEE IN GHANI'S PRESENTATION THE CONCERN HE HAS PRESENTATION THE CONCERN HE HAS IS ABOUT THE ISLAMIC STATE AND IS ABOUT THE ISLAMIC STATE AND MADE NO BONES ABOUT WARNING MADE NO BONES ABOUT WARNING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ABOUTT, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ABOUTT, TALKING TO THE ADMINISTRATION TALKING TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THAT.
ABOUT THAT.
SO THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THE SO THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT AS PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT AS MAINTAINING A LEVEL OF TROOPS.
MAINTAINING A LEVEL OF TROOPS.
NEARLY 10,000 BUT HE CONTINUED NEARLY 10,000 BUT HE CONTINUED -- THE PRESIDENT CONTINUED TO -- THE PRESIDENT CONTINUED TO SAY THIS DOESN'T DETER US FROM SAY THIS DOESN'T DETER US FROM THE TIMETABLE THAT I HAD SET THE TIMETABLE THAT I HAD SET ORIGINALLY FOR BASICALLY WINDING ORIGINALLY FOR BASICALLY WINDING DOWN TO 1,000 TROOPS, THAT WOULD DOWN TO 1,000 TROOPS, THAT WOULD INCLUDE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND INCLUDE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE, BY THE END OF INTELLIGENCE, BY THE END OF 2016.
2016.
BY THE TIME HE GETS READY TO BY THE TIME HE GETS READY TO LEAVE.
LEAVE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST STRIKING IS THESE TWO MEN MOST STRIKING IS THESE TWO MEN REAL TO GET ALONG.
REAL TO GET ALONG.
THEY REALLY SEEM TO CLICK AND THEY REALLY SEEM TO CLICK AND THE ANTI-KARZAI PRESENTATION THE ANTI-KARZAI PRESENTATION THAT PRESIDENT GHANI PRESENTED THAT PRESIDENT GHANI PRESENTED SEEMED TO GO OVER WELL ON SEEMED TO GO OVER WELL ON CAPITOL HILL.
CAPITOL HILL.
AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMED TO GO AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMED TO GO OVER WELL WITH THE OVER WELL WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION.
ALEXIS: I'M CURIOUS THEN HOW ALEXIS: I'M CURIOUS THEN HOW MUCH DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP MUCH DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP FACTOR INTO THE PRESIDENT'S FACTOR INTO THE PRESIDENT'S ECISION?
ECISION?
>> THE PRESIDENT AS WE KNOW WHAT >> THE PRESIDENT AS WE KNOW WHAT BEYOND FRUSTRATED WITH HAMID BEYOND FRUSTRATED WITH HAMID KARZAI.
KARZAI.
HE WAS UNRELIABLE.
HE WAS UNRELIABLE.
THE WORD CONTINUALLY USED THIS THE WORD CONTINUALLY USED THIS WEEK WAS PARTNERSHIP.
WEEK WAS PARTNERSHIP.
THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND A DESIRE TO AFGHANISTAN AND A DESIRE TO BUILD EVEN ON DIPLOMATIC AND BUILD EVEN ON DIPLOMATIC AND INTERNATIONAL, FINANCIAL, INTERNATIONAL, FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND DEVELOP A ROLE AND ECONOMIC AND DEVELOP A ROLE AND THAT WAS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT WAS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TALKED ABOUT.
THE ADMINISTRATION TALKED ABOUT.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT PRESIDENT THE OTHER THING ABOUT PRESIDENT GHANI THAT WAS INTERESTING IS HE GHANI THAT WAS INTERESTING IS HE VERY MUCH SEEMED TO KNOW THE VERY MUCH SEEMED TO KNOW THE WEST.
WEST.
HE SORT OF TALKS THE TALK, HE SORT OF TALKS THE TALK, COLLOQUIAL -- COLLOQUIAL -- GWEN: HE WENT TO COLOMBIA.
GWEN: HE WENT TO COLOMBIA.
NANCY: HE'S AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, NANCY: HE'S AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES, WENT LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES, WENT TO COLUMBIA, SHARES THAT WITH TO COLUMBIA, SHARES THAT WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT.
THEY COMMUNED OVER THE FACT THE THEY COMMUNED OVER THE FACT THE PRESIDENT'S MOTHER WAS AN PRESIDENT'S MOTHER WAS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THEY SEEMED ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THEY SEEMED -- HE SEEMS TO HAVE THE KNACK, -- HE SEEMS TO HAVE THE KNACK, POLITICIAN'S KNACK OF BONDING POLITICIAN'S KNACK OF BONDING OVER A COMMON CAUSE.
OVER A COMMON CAUSE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS PRESIDENT GHANI SAID THAT SEEMED PRESIDENT GHANI SAID THAT SEEMED TO GO OVER WELL AND MADE TO GO OVER WELL AND MADE HEADLINES WAS HE CHANGED THE HEADLINES WAS HE CHANGED THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, THAT'S THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, THAT'S THE WAY HE PUT IT, I WANT TO THANK WAY HE PUT IT, I WANT TO THANK THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, WE, THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, WE, AFGHANISTAN WANT TO THANK THE AFGHANISTAN WANT TO THANK THE TAXPAYERS AND TALKED ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS AND TALKED ABOUT THE SACRIFICE THE UNITED STATES SACRIFICE THE UNITED STATES MADE.
MADE.
ALEXIS: SOLDIERS.
ALEXIS: SOLDIERS.
NANCY: YES.
NANCY: YES.
DAN: THE PRESIDENT -- DAN: THE PRESIDENT -- MANU: THE PRESIDENT CAME IN AS MANU: THE PRESIDENT CAME IN AS ANTI-CAR CANDIDATE.
ANTI-CAR CANDIDATE.
BUT THE WORE WITH ISIL AND THE BUT THE WORE WITH ISIL AND THE FACTOR IN HIS LEGACY IN MAKING FACTOR IN HIS LEGACY IN MAKING HIS DECISION IS?
HIS DECISION IS?
NANCY: IT'S BEEN A PAINFUL THING NANCY: IT'S BEEN A PAINFUL THING TO SEE PRESIDENT OBAMA TACKLING TO SEE PRESIDENT OBAMA TACKLING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IRAQ AND THE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IRAQ AND THE IDEA WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK IS IDEA WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK IS AN ECHO WE HAD TO GO BACK IN AN ECHO WE HAD TO GO BACK IN IRAQ.
IRAQ.
THE PRESIDENT IS WRESTLING WITH THE PRESIDENT IS WRESTLING WITH THIS IDEA HE WANTED TO END THESE THIS IDEA HE WANTED TO END THESE WARS AND HE CONTINUES TO TALK WARS AND HE CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT THAT BUT THE ABOUT THAT BUT THE ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY IN TERMS ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY IN TERMS OF ITS BRIEFINGS TO REPORTERS, OF ITS BRIEFINGS TO REPORTERS, IT'S TALKING ABOUT THIS IT'S TALKING ABOUT THIS MAINTENANCE AS SHORT TERM AND MAINTENANCE AS SHORT TERM AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE DOWN THE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE DOWN THE ROAD.
ROAD.
THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN TO THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN TO MAYBE ACTUALLY HANDING THIS OFF MAYBE ACTUALLY HANDING THIS OFF TO SAYS SUCCESSOR.
TO SAYS SUCCESSOR.
GWEN: THERE WAS ADDITIONAL, AND GWEN: THERE WAS ADDITIONAL, AND FOR THE WHITE HOUSE UNEXPECTED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE UNEXPECTED RESIDUAL FALLOUT FROM THE WAR IN RESIDUAL FALLOUT FROM THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK IN THE AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK IN THE SPACE OF ONLY NINE MONTHS, SPACE OF ONLY NINE MONTHS, FORMER TALIBAN CAPTIVE BOWE FORMER TALIBAN CAPTIVE BOWE BERGDAHL, ONE HAILED AS BERGDAHL, ONE HAILED AS HONORABLE HERO AFTER THE U.S.
HONORABLE HERO AFTER THE U.S.
TRADED FIVE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES TRADED FIVE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES FOR HIS RELEASE, HAS BECOME A FOR HIS RELEASE, HAS BECOME A PARIAH, CHARGED THIS WEEK WITH PARIAH, CHARGED THIS WEEK WITH DECERTIFICATION.
DECERTIFICATION.
NEXT UP, A MILITARY NEXT UP, A MILITARY COURT-MARTIAL.
COURT-MARTIAL.
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HE CAME TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HE CAME TO BE CAPTURED WERE RAISED ALMOST BE CAPTURED WERE RAISED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS RELEASE LAST YEAR BUT IT TOOK UNTIL NOW LAST YEAR BUT IT TOOK UNTIL NOW FOR THEM TO GAIN THE WEIGHT OF FOR THEM TO GAIN THE WEIGHT OF OFFICIAL CONDEMNATION.
OFFICIAL CONDEMNATION.
SO WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEN SO WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, NANCY?
AND NOW, NANCY?
NANCY: I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN NANCY: I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN BOWE BERGDAHL DISAPPEARED IN THE BOWE BERGDAHL DISAPPEARED IN THE SUMMER OF 2009.
SUMMER OF 2009.
EVEN THEN THERE WERE QUIET EVEN THEN THERE WERE QUIET WHISPERS HE MAYBE WALKED OFF WHISPERS HE MAYBE WALKED OFF BASE AND BEEN A DESERTER BUT BASE AND BEEN A DESERTER BUT PEOPLE WERE HE'S TAPT TO SAY PEOPLE WERE HE'S TAPT TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY BECAUSE HE WAS THAT PUBLICLY BECAUSE HE WAS MISSING AND PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW MISSING AND PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SURE.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR SURE.
AND THEN OVER TIME MEMBERS OF AND THEN OVER TIME MEMBERS OF HIS PLATOON STARTED TO COME OUT HIS PLATOON STARTED TO COME OUT AND BY THE TIME THAT THE TRADE AND BY THE TIME THAT THE TRADE HAPPENED, THE FIVE GUANTANAMO HAPPENED, THE FIVE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES FOR HIS RELEASE IN DETAINEES FOR HIS RELEASE IN 2014, HE WAS BEING HERALDED AS 2014, HE WAS BEING HERALDED AS HERO AND THERE WAS REAL HERO AND THERE WAS REAL FRUSTRATION AMONG THOSE WHO FRUSTRATION AMONG THOSE WHO SERVE ADD LONGSIDE HIM, THOSE SERVE ADD LONGSIDE HIM, THOSE WHO R AND ROSE GARDEN WHO R AND ROSE GARDEN CEREMONY WHERE THE PRESIDENT WAS CEREMONY WHERE THE PRESIDENT WAS FLANKED BY HIS PARENTSES AND HE FLANKED BY HIS PARENTSES AND HE WAS CELEBRATED AS AN HERO.
WAS CELEBRATED AS AN HERO.
A MONTH LATER SUSAN RICE CAME A MONTH LATER SUSAN RICE CAME OUT AND SAID HE SERVED WITH OUT AND SAID HE SERVED WITH HONOR AND DISTINCTION.
HONOR AND DISTINCTION.
IT WAS THE TIME TIPPING POINT OF IT WAS THE TIME TIPPING POINT OF THE LACK S BACKLASH OFNESS THE LACK S BACKLASH OFNESS SOMEONE WHO SHOULD NOT LABELED A SOMEONE WHO SHOULD NOT LABELED A HERO.
HERO.
THE U.S.
FOUGHT FOR HIM TO COME THE U.S.
FOUGHT FOR HIM TO COME BACK BECAUSE THE MOTTO IS WE BACK BECAUSE THE MOTTO IS WE DON'T LEAVE SORLEDES BEHIND BUT DON'T LEAVE SORLEDES BEHIND BUT WHITE HOUSE GETE HIM A HERO.
WHITE HOUSE GETE HIM A HERO.
AS FAR OUT IN THE DIRECTION THEY AS FAR OUT IN THE DIRECTION THEY DID WHEN HE WAS RELEASED?
DID WHEN HE WAS RELEASED?
AND WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION AND WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE SINCE WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE SINCE THEN AS THEY WATCHED THIS T THEN AS THEY WATCHED THIS T FROM WHERE IT WAS?
FROM WHERE IT WAS?
NANCY: MOIN SENSE IS THERE WAS NANCY: MOIN SENSE IS THERE WAS AN UNDERESTIMATION OF HOW ANGRY AN UNDERESTIMATION OF HOW ANGRY PEOPLE WERE IN THE MILITARY OF PEOPLE WERE IN THE MILITARY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO HIS DISAPPEARANCE.
HIS DISAPPEARANCE.
REMEMBER, FOR FIVE YEARS REMEMBER, FOR FIVE YEARS EVERYBODY ON PATROL IN EASTERN EVERYBODY ON PATROL IN EASTERN PAKISTAN, ON THAT BORDER WERE PAKISTAN, ON THAT BORDER WERE ORDERED TO LOOK FOR BOWE ORDERED TO LOOK FOR BOWE BERGDAHL.
BERGDAHL.
PEOPLE RISKED THEIR LIVES.
PEOPLE RISKED THEIR LIVES.
THERE ARE CONFLICTING REPORTS THERE ARE CONFLICTING REPORTS WHETHER PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.
WHETHER PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.
SOME FAMILY MEMBERS THINK THEIR SOME FAMILY MEMBERS THINK THEIR LOVED ONE WAS KILLED FOR THE LOVED ONE WAS KILLED FOR THE SEARCH FOR BOWE BERGDAHL.
SEARCH FOR BOWE BERGDAHL.
AT THE TIME REMEMBER THE AT THE TIME REMEMBER THE NARRATIVE WAS THE U.S. IS NARRATIVE WAS THE U.S. IS LEAVING AFGHANISTAN, WE'RE LEAVING AFGHANISTAN, WE'RE WINDING DOWN.
WINDING DOWN.
I THINK THERE WAS AN I THINK THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING IN THE WHITE HOUSE UNDERSTANDING IN THE WHITE HOUSE THIS IS VICTORY BECAUSE WE THIS IS VICTORY BECAUSE WE BROUGHT EVERYBODY HOME.
BROUGHT EVERYBODY HOME.
AND IT'S INTERESTING WE HAVE THE AND IT'S INTERESTING WE HAVE THE NEWS OF THE EXTENSION OF THE NEWS OF THE EXTENSION OF THE TROOPS THIS WEEK IN THIS BECAUSE TROOPS THIS WEEK IN THIS BECAUSE HERE WERE TWO INSTANCES IN WHICH HERE WERE TWO INSTANCES IN WHICH THE NARRATIVE OF THE WAR WAS THE NARRATIVE OF THE WAR WAS CHALLENGED.
CHALLENGED.
IN THE CASE OF DRAW-DOWNS THAT IN THE CASE OF DRAW-DOWNS THAT THE WAR WOULD BE OVER AND CASE THE WAR WOULD BE OVER AND CASE OF BOWE BERGDAHL, HE WAS A HERO.
OF BOWE BERGDAHL, HE WAS A HERO.
SO IT WASERESTING TO SEE OUR SO IT WASERESTING TO SEE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AFGHANISTAN IN UNDERSTANDING OF AFGHANISTAN IN A SENSE CHANGE SO DRAMATICALLY A SENSE CHANGE SO DRAMATICALLY IN THE SPAN OF 48 HOURS.
IN THE SPAN OF 48 HOURS.
MANU: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MANU: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHARGES HE MAY SNACE COULD HE CHARGES HE MAY SNACE COULD HE ACTUALLY FACE JAIL TIME?
ACTUALLY FACE JAIL TIME?
NANCY: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
NANCY: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
RIGHT NOW THE CHARGE OF RIGHT NOW THE CHARGE OF DECERTIFICATION CARRIES DECERTIFICATION CARRIES FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE BUT MORE FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE BUT MORE INTERESTING CHARGE IS INTERESTING CHARGE IS MISBEHAVIOR BEFORE THE ENEMY MISBEHAVIOR BEFORE THE ENEMY CARRIES A LIFE SENTENCE.
CARRIES A LIFE SENTENCE.
THE CLIMATE I'M SEEING INSIDE THE CLIMATE I'M SEEING INSIDE THE PENTAGON IS ONE THAT'S NOT THE PENTAGON IS ONE THAT'S NOT LOOKING TO PUT HIM IN JAIL.
LOOKING TO PUT HIM IN JAIL.
REMEMBER HE SERVED IN A SENSE REMEMBER HE SERVED IN A SENSE FIVE YEARS IN CAPTIVITY.
FIVE YEARS IN CAPTIVITY.
BUT THERE HAD TO BE A SENSE OF BUT THERE HAD TO BE A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO IT SEEMS THE EXPECTATION SO IT SEEMS THE EXPECTATION THERE WILL BE A NEGOTIATION OF THERE WILL BE A NEGOTIATION OF SOMETHING.
SOMETHING.
NOT JUST TIME BUT HE HAD TO BE NOT JUST TIME BUT HE HAD TO BE IN A SENSE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS IN A SENSE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS MUCH FOR HIM AS SORT OF THE MUCH FOR HIM AS SORT OF THE EXPECTATIONS WITHIN THE MILITARY EXPECTATIONS WITHIN THE MILITARY COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY.
ALEXIS: NANCY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE ALEXIS: NANCY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION?
REACTION?
YOU HINTED CERTAINLY AN UP-SWELL YOU HINTED CERTAINLY AN UP-SWELL OF COUNTER THINKING FROM INSIDE OF COUNTER THINKING FROM INSIDE THE MILITARY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE MILITARY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TOHE REACTION NOW THE TOHE REACTION NOW THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN AT LEAST LAID CHARGES HAVE BEEN AT LEAST LAID OUT IN THE REPORT?
OUT IN THE REPORT?
NANCY: THE SENSE YOU HEAR THE NANCY: THE SENSE YOU HEAR THE MOST IS HE HAD TO BE CHARGED, MOST IS HE HAD TO BE CHARGED, SOMEONE CANNOT WALK OFF BASE AND SOMEONE CANNOT WALK OFF BASE AND LEAVE HIS GUN BEHIND AND NOT LEAVE HIS GUN BEHIND AND NOT FACE CHARGES.
FACE CHARGES.
THERE HAS TO BE A SENSE OF THERE HAS TO BE A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON REACTION COMING OUT OF THE REACTION COMING OUT OF THE PENTAGON.
PENTAGON.
BUT WHERE THE CASE GOES, WE WILL BUT WHERE THE CASE GOES, WE WILL SEE.
SEE.
HE WILL HAVE ARTICLE 32 HEARING, HE WILL HAVE ARTICLE 32 HEARING, THE EQUIVALENT OF GRAND JURY THE EQUIVALENT OF GRAND JURY SCHEDULED DATE, ALTHOUGH IT SCHEDULED DATE, ALTHOUGH IT COULD CHANGE, IS APRIL 22.
COULD CHANGE, IS APRIL 22.
SO WE WILL SEE AFTER THAT.
SO WE WILL SEE AFTER THAT.
GWEN: THERE'S A DEFENSE TO BE GWEN: THERE'S A DEFENSE TO BE MOUNTED?
MOUNTED?
HE'S NOT JUST SAYING YEP, I DID HE'S NOT JUST SAYING YEP, I DID IT.
IT.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE OTHER BUT THERE HAS TO BE OTHER ARGUMENT.
ARGUMENT.
NANCY: NOT ONLY DEFENSE BUT ONE NANCY: NOT ONLY DEFENSE BUT ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSE ATTORNEYS OF THE BEST DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND HE STARTED TO PUT OUT AND HE STARTED TO PUT OUT INFORMATION THAT SAID HE PUT OUT INFORMATION THAT SAID HE PUT OUT A LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO A LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO GENERAL MILEY, WHO PUT THE CASE GENERAL MILEY, WHO PUT THE CASE TOGETHER, AND HE SAID THINGS TOGETHER, AND HE SAID THINGS LIKE HE DIDN'T DESERT.
LIKE HE DIDN'T DESERT.
HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO WALK TO HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO WALK TO ANOTHER BASE TO MAKE A ANOTHER BASE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT.
COMPLAINT.
THAT HE -- THAT HE -- GWEN: DESCRIBED THE GWEN: DESCRIBED THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
CIRCUMSTANCES.
NANCY: THAT HE WAS TORTURED, NANCY: THAT HE WAS TORTURED, HELD IN ISOLATION FOR WEEKS IN HELD IN ISOLATION FOR WEEKS IN DARK ROOM WHEN'S HE TRIED TO DARK ROOM WHEN'S HE TRIED TO ESCAPE BY HIS ATTORNEY'S COUNT A ESCAPE BY HIS ATTORNEY'S COUNT A DOZEN TIMES AND YOU CAN'T SAY HE DOZEN TIMES AND YOU CAN'T SAY HE WAS AN ENEMY BECAUSE HE KEPT WAS AN ENEMY BECAUSE HE KEPT TRYING TO GET AWAY.
TRYING TO GET AWAY.
SO HE DIDN'T BEHAVE, IF YOU SO HE DIDN'T BEHAVE, IF YOU WILL, DISHONORABLY.
WILL, DISHONORABLY.
GWEN: AND ALL OF THAT WILL PLAY GWEN: AND ALL OF THAT WILL PLAY OUT.
OUT.
THANK YOU, NANCY.
THANK YOU, NANCY.
AND IF WE TURN ONCE AGAIN TO OUR AND IF WE TURN ONCE AGAIN TO OUR WEEKLY CHECK-IN ON THE 2016 WEEKLY CHECK-IN ON THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE OUR FIRST THIS WEEK WE HAVE OUR FIRST OFFICIAL CANDIDATE, WHATEVER OFFICIAL CANDIDATE, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
THAT MEANS.
IT IS REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED IT IS REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ, WHO WENT TO THE WORLD'S CRUZ, WHO WENT TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TO LARGEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TO DECLARE FLAT OUT THAT HE'S DECLARE FLAT OUT THAT HE'S RUNNING AND WHY.
RUNNING AND WHY.
SENATOR CRUZ: INSTEAD OF THE SENATOR CRUZ: INSTEAD OF THE JOBLESSNESS, INSTEAD OF THE JOBLESSNESS, INSTEAD OF THE MILLIONS FORCED INTO PART-TIME MILLIONS FORCED INTO PART-TIME WORK, INSTEAD OF THE MILLIONS WORK, INSTEAD OF THE MILLIONS WHO LOST THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, WHO LOST THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, LOST THEIR DOCTORS, HAVE FACED LOST THEIR DOCTORS, HAVE FACED SKYROCKETING HEALTH INSURANCE SKYROCKETING HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS, IMAGINE IN 2017 A NEW PREMIUMS, IMAGINE IN 2017 A NEW ESIDENT SIGNING LEGISLATION, ESIDENT SIGNING LEGISLATION, REPEALING EVERY WORD OF OBAMA REPEALING EVERY WORD OF OBAMA CARE.
CARE.
GWEN: BUT BEFORE HE GETS TO RUN GWEN: BUT BEFORE HE GETS TO RUN AGAINST AN ACTUAL DEMOCRAT, CRUZ AGAINST AN ACTUAL DEMOCRAT, CRUZ HAS FIRST TO FACE DOWN MORE THAN HAS FIRST TO FACE DOWN MORE THAN A FEW REPUBLICANS.
A FEW REPUBLICANS.
HOW IS THAT SHAKING OUT, DAN?
HOW IS THAT SHAKING OUT, DAN?
DAN: I TALKED TO ONE OF HIS DAN: I TALKED TO ONE OF HIS FOLKS TODAY AND THEY SAID WELL, FOLKS TODAY AND THEY SAID WELL, AT THIS POINT HE'S THE ONLY AT THIS POINT HE'S THE ONLY CANDIDATE SO HE'S KIND OF GOT A CANDIDATE SO HE'S KIND OF GOT A CLEARFIELD AHEAD OF HIM.
CLEARFIELD AHEAD OF HIM.
SO FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HE'S SO FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HE'S THE ONLY ONE.
THE ONLY ONE.
SERIOUSLY, THERE IS NO SERIOUSLY, THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN IN THIS FIELD REPUBLICAN IN THIS FIELD MORE EXCITED THE REPUBLICAN MORE EXCITED THE REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE BASE OVER THE LAST CONSERVATIVE BASE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAN TED CRUZ.
COUPLE OF YEARS THAN TED CRUZ.
WHEN HE GOES BEFORE LANGUAGE AN WHEN HE GOES BEFORE LANGUAGE AN THEY RESPOND.
THEY RESPOND.
AT THE SAME TIME THERE SENT A AT THE SAME TIME THERE SENT A REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE WHO HAS REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE WHO HAS SO IRRITATED DEMOCRATS AND SO IRRITATED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND IN A SENSE THAT REPUBLICANS, AND IN A SENSE THAT IS THE TOTALITY OF TED CRUZ AND IS THE TOTALITY OF TED CRUZ AND HIS CANDIDACY.
HIS CANDIDACY.
I MEAN, HE'S RUNNING AS THE PURE I MEAN, HE'S RUNNING AS THE PURE ESSENCE OF CONSERVATISM.
ESSENCE OF CONSERVATISM.
HE DOES NOT BUY THE ARGUMENT HE DOES NOT BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU CAN BE TOO CONSERVATIVE THAT YOU CAN BE TOO CONSERVATIVE AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES.
AND HE HAS LONG ARGUED THAT THE AND HE HAS LONG ARGUED THAT THE REPUBLICANS LOST IN 2008 AND REPUBLICANS LOST IN 2008 AND 2012 NOT BECAUSE THEIR NOMINEES 2012 NOT BECAUSE THEIR NOMINEES WERE TOO CONSERVATIVE BUT WERE TOO CONSERVATIVE BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AUTHENTICALLY CONSERVATIVE.
AUTHENTICALLY CONSERVATIVE.
AND HE'S GOING TO PUT THAT AND HE'S GOING TO PUT THAT PROPOSITION TO THE TEST.
PROPOSITION TO THE TEST.
GWEN: SEVERAL GUYS KIND OF STAKE GWEN: SEVERAL GUYS KIND OF STAKE OUT THAT VERY SAME GROUND?
OUT THAT VERY SAME GROUND?
DAN: HE WILL HAVE A LOT OF DAN: HE WILL HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION.
COMPETITION.
NORMALLY WE THINK OF THIS RACE NORMALLY WE THINK OF THIS RACE AND YOU DESCRIBE IT IN BRACKETS AND YOU DESCRIBE IT IN BRACKETS OR BUCKETS OR LAY-INS OR OR BUCKETS OR LAY-INS OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE'S AN WHATEVER, BUT THERE'S AN ESTABLISHMENT BATTLE TO WHO ESTABLISHMENT BATTLE TO WHO BECOMES THE ESTABLISHMENT BECOMES THE ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE, AND THEN THERE IS KIN FAVORITE, AND THEN THERE IS KIN SIDE.
SIDE.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF COMPETITION ON HE'S GOT A LOT OF COMPETITION ON THIS SIDE.
THIS SIDE.
OBVIOUSLY FOR HIM, THE PATH OBVIOUSLY FOR HIM, THE PATH BEGINS IN IOWA.
BEGINS IN IOWA.
THE IOWA CAUCUSES TYPICALLY THE IOWA CAUCUSES TYPICALLY FAVOR SOMEBODY CONSERVATIVE.
FAVOR SOMEBODY CONSERVATIVE.
BUT HE WILL FACE MIKE HUCKABEE, BUT HE WILL FACE MIKE HUCKABEE, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS WHO FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS WHO WON THE CAUCUSES IN 2008.
WON THE CAUCUSES IN 2008.
PROBABLY RICK SANTORUM, WHO WON PROBABLY RICK SANTORUM, WHO WON THE CAUCUSES IN 2012, FORMER THE CAUCUSES IN 2012, FORMER SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS, BEN SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS, BEN CARSON IS A FACTOR IN THIS RACE, CARSON IS A FACTOR IN THIS RACE, NEUROSURGEON WHO IS A NOVICE NEUROSURGEON WHO IS A NOVICE POLITICALLY BUT LIT UP POLITICALLY BUT LIT UP CONSERVATIVES ALMOST TO THE CONSERVATIVES ALMOST TO THE EXTEND TELL CRUZ HAS.
EXTEND TELL CRUZ HAS.
A VARIETY OF PEOPLE HE HAS TO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE HE HAS TO JOSTLE AGAINST JUST TO GET TO, JOSTLE AGAINST JUST TO GET TO, IN A SENSE, THE FINALS OF THIS IN A SENSE, THE FINALS OF THIS CONTEST.
CONTEST.
MANU: I WANTED ASK YOU ABOUT HIS MANU: I WANTED ASK YOU ABOUT HIS PATH.
PATH.
IF HE WINS IOWA, TO SAY HE WINS IF HE WINS IOWA, TO SAY HE WINS IOWA, WHEREOES TED CRUZ GO IOWA, WHEREOES TED CRUZ GO AFTER THAT?
AFTER THAT?
THOSE FOLKS THAT YOU MENTIONED, THOSE FOLKS THAT YOU MENTIONED, SANTORUM AND HUCKER BEE SORT OF SANTORUM AND HUCKER BEE SORT OF PETERED OUT AFTER THEY WON THE PETERED OUT AFTER THEY WON THE IOWA CAUCUS.
IOWA CAUCUS.
DAN: THAT'S THE DILEMMA THAT DAN: THAT'S THE DILEMMA THAT PEOPLE RUN WITH SORT OF THE PEOPLE RUN WITH SORT OF THE NOTION HE HAS, THAT THEY CAN'T NOTION HE HAS, THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY.
MAKE IT ALL THE WAY.
HIS VIEW OBVIOUSLY IS, IOWA, NEW HIS VIEW OBVIOUSLY IS, IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS NOT NECESSARILY HAMPSHIRE IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING THOOB GREAT FOR HIM GOING THOOB GREAT FOR HIM PROBABLY BUT THEN SOUTH CAROLINA PROBABLY BUT THEN SOUTH CAROLINA MIGHT BE.
MIGHT BE.
IF HE CAN THEN BY THEN IF HE CAN THEN BY THEN CONSOLIDATE THAT CONSERVATIVE CONSOLIDATE THAT CONSERVATIVE PORTION OF THE ELECTORATE, HE'S PORTION OF THE ELECTORATE, HE'S BETTING, AND PART OF WHAT HE DID BETTING, AND PART OF WHAT HE DID IN HIS SPREACH WHEN HE ANNOUNCED IN HIS SPREACH WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY WAS ESSENTIALLY TO HIS CANDIDACY WAS ESSENTIALLY TO SAY THERE ARE MILLIONS AND SAY THERE ARE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL MILLIONS OF RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES WHO STAYED ON THE CONSERVATIVES WHO STAYED ON THE SIDELINES.
SIDELINES.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ENERGIZED BY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ENERGIZED BY THE PEOPLE WE PUT UP.
THE PEOPLE WE PUT UP.
IF HE CAN TAP INTO THAT GROUP, IF HE CAN TAP INTO THAT GROUP, IF HE CAN IN FACT BRING OUT AN IF HE CAN IN FACT BRING OUT AN ARMY OF THOSE VOTERS WHO HAVE ARMY OF THOSE VOTERS WHO HAVE STAYED ON THE SIDELINES, THEN HE STAYED ON THE SIDELINES, THEN HE THINKS HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINKS HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
DO THAT.
>> DAN YOU MENTIONED WE HAD A >> DAN YOU MENTIONED WE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN WE WILL COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN WE WILL SEE MORE, TED CRUZ IS THE FIRST SEE MORE, TED CRUZ IS THE FIRST TO GET IN OFFICIALLY.
TO GET IN OFFICIALLY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHO'S COMING CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHO'S COMING NEXT AND WHAT S THE THINKING NEXT AND WHAT S THE THINKING ABOUT WAITING, WHICH I GUESS IT ABOUT WAITING, WHICH I GUESS IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN A RUSH NOW SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN A RUSH NOW BUT IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF LATE?
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF LATE?
DAN: IT IS LATER IN PREVIOUS DAN: IT IS LATER IN PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS FOR AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGNS FOR AN INTERESTING REASON, WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A REASON, WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A MINUTE.
MINUTE.
WE ASSUME THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS WE ASSUME THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS SENATOR RAND PAUL OF KENTUCKY.
SENATOR RAND PAUL OF KENTUCKY.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO IT AROUND HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO IT AROUND APRIL 7.
APRIL 7.
MARCO RUBIO WILL PROBABLY BE IN MARCO RUBIO WILL PROBABLY BE IN SOON AFTER THAT.
SOON AFTER THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW ON THE DEMOCRATIC WE DON'T KNOW ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WHEN SECRETARY CLINTON IS SIDE WHEN SECRETARY CLINTON IS GOING TO PUT SOME STAMP ON GOING TO PUT SOME STAMP ON HERSELF AS A CANDIDATE.
HERSELF AS A CANDIDATE.
BUT WE THAT I WILL BE RELATIVELY BUT WE THAT I WILL BE RELATIVELY EARLY IN APRIL.
EARLY IN APRIL.
JEB BUSH SEEMS TO BE IN NO JEB BUSH SEEMS TO BE IN NO HURRY.
HURRY.
HE SEEMS TO BE ON HIS OWN HE SEEMS TO BE ON HIS OWN TIMETABLE.
TIMETABLE.
DOING THINGS HIS OWN WAY.
DOING THINGS HIS OWN WAY.
SCOTT WALKER, ALL OF THESE SCOTT WALKER, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ACTIVE BUT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ACTIVE BUT SCOTT WALKER'S TIMETABLE IS A SCOTT WALKER'S TIMETABLE IS A LITTLE LATER.
LITTLE LATER.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET IN NOW.
MORE PEOPLE GET IN NOW.
THE REASON THEY HAVE WAITED IS THE REASON THEY HAVE WAITED IS THE POWER OF SUPER PACS.
THE POWER OF SUPER PACS.
SUPER PACS IN THIS ELECTION PLAY SUPER PACS IN THIS ELECTION PLAY A MORE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAN A MORE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAN THEY HAVE EVER PLAYED.
THEY HAVE EVER PLAYED.
THE RULES ON SUPER PACS MAKE IT THE RULES ON SUPER PACS MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A CANDIDATE VERY DIFFICULT FOR A CANDIDATE TO REALLY BEGIN, REALLY COURT TO REALLY BEGIN, REALLY COURT SUPER PAC DONORS ONCE THEY'RE AN SUPER PAC DONORS ONCE THEY'RE AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE SO THEY'RE OFFICIAL CANDIDATE SO THEY'RE DOING IT NOW.
DOING IT NOW.
GWEN: OK. GWEN: OK. WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT MONEY WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT MONEY AGAIN.
AGAIN.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE TO GO FOR NOW BUT AS WE HAVE TO GO FOR NOW BUT AS ALWAYS THE CONVERSATION WILL ALWAYS THE CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE ONLINE.
CONTINUE ONLINE.
THAT'S ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" THAT'S ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA, WHERE WE WILL WEBCAST EXTRA, WHERE WE WILL TALK, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ABOUT TALK, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ABOUT WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LORETTA WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LORETTA LYNCH NOMINATION?
LYNCH NOMINATION?
AND YOU CAN FIND IT ALL WEEK AND YOU CAN FIND IT ALL WEEK LONG AT WORLD SERIES WORLD LONG AT WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES.
SERIES.
KEEP PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
KEEP PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
KEEP UP WITH ME ON THE PBS KEEP UP WITH ME ON THE PBS NEWSHOUR AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEWSHOUR AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK HERE ON "WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK HERE ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK."
GOOD NIGHT.