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Interview with Sen. Dan Coats; Cheney Rips Obama Over Iraq; Hillary Clinton Town Hall; Clinton in Campaign Mode on Book Tour

Aired June 18, 2014 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Here to discuss all of this, the situation as it unfolds in Iraq and any potential U.S. response, is Senator Dan Coats. He's a Republican from Indiana.

Senator, appreciate you being here this morning. Thank you.

SEN. DAN COATS (R), INDIANA: Thank you.

HARLOW: I want to begin with this op-ed. I've assume that you've read in "The Wall Street Journal". I want to read you part of it. Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz writing, quote, "Rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many."

This comes as the nation debates any potential military action. This is a scathing op-ed talking about the president being out golfing while we're facing this increasing terror threat. What do you make of what Dick Cheney wrote here?

COATS: I think that what has been said is very true in terms of what's happened under this presidency. You know the Constitution gives the president the commander in chief title and the responsibility to deal with crises, whether they -- in terms of how they affect the United States. This clearly is in our economic and strategic interest here. And with all the blood and treasure we spent to bring Iraq to a united state and, frankly, a pretty pacified -- after the surge, we've seen it now deteriorate rapidly.

This is an opportunity for the president to step up and regain some credibility for the United States and I think provide some leadership. And I hope he takes it. He's supposed to meet with the leadership today. It's way too late. He's in the desert, but the wrong desert and should have been in the White House. But at least it's a start. And I'm calling on the president, Mr. President, we look to you as a leader, not only of our country, but our country as a leader in the world. And we need some decisiveness and some decisions. You can't just keep turning to Congress and saying, give us some ideas.

HARLOW: Senator -

COATS: The president is the one that needs to form the policy.

HARLOW: Senator, at the same time, it was the Bush/Cheney administration that signed in 2008 that status of forces agreement that required all troops, not just combat troops, all American troops out of Iraq by 2011. Now, of course, there are those that say the Obama administration should have started sooner in extending that, should have worked harder on those negotiations with the Maliki government. But isn't some of the blame here as well on the Bush and Cheney administration, something obviously that is not brought up at all in this op-ed?

COATS: Well, you don't -- the important thing is that everyone steps up and takes responsibility. That's the duty of a congressman and that's the duty of the president of the United States.

HARLOW: But is that happening -- is that happening -- is that happening -- is that happening, sir?

COATS: Well, we have literally walked away from Iraq and tried to press -- given the leverage that we have, any kind of involvement in a status of forces relationship with Iraq that is absolutely necessary in putting pressure on their president there to be much more inclusive and stay engaged. Frankly, we have a lot at stake, not just for Iraq, not just for the Middle East, but for its United States. And whatever happened in the past, it's time to step out now and make a decision.

HARLOW: Yes.

COATS: Go before the Congress, go before the American people and make a decision, Mr. President.

HARLOW: At the same time, in 2011, the Maliki government was unwilling to give the United States the guarantees that it needed to, it believed at least at that time, to keep our troops there, protection from prosecution and other things. I want to talk to you about something that some of your fellow Republicans have been talking about, and that is an area where they're a bit divided, whether or not the U.S. should potentially take up this opportunity for discussions with Iran. Being, of course, there is the nuclear divide, but being on the same side with Iran when it comes to wanting to defeat and hold back ISIS.

You know, you heard Ted Cruz on "Erin Burnett Outfront" last night saying no way, no how. You heard Hillary Clinton addressing the prospect of that in the town hall. And then you even have Lindsey Graham, who said he would be, you know, willing -- the U.S. should be willing to have those discussions. Where do you fall on that? Should we be talking to Iran about working together here?

COATS: You know, we've got a saying in southern Indiana at least, if you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas. Iran is the leading sponsor of terrorism, leading sponsor of unrest throughout the Middle East. They have created the IEDs that have maimed and killed our soldiers. We are pursuing their quest for nuclear weapons. This compromises everything we do. We are making peace with an enemy to try to deal with a situation that we should be dealing with, with our allies and friends, not with our enemies.

HARLOW: So that's a no?

COATS: Absolutely a no. It would be a tragic mistake for us. We would pay long-term consequences for that type of arrangement.

HARLOW: I appreciate the time this morning, Senator Dan Coats. Thank you for coming in.

COATS: Sure enough. Thank you.

HARLOW: Our conversation on the developing situation in Iraq will continue straight after a break. I'll ask a military analyst about President Obama's possible options. Are air strikes still on the table? A lot of reporting about that out this morning. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Happening right now, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking on the situations in Iraq, blasting Republicans about criticizing President Obama's Iraq policy. We're monitoring that for you. We'll bring you the very latest as soon as we have it.

Let's bring in a couple more guests to talk about this. Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona is a CNN military analyst, also Patricia Murphy is a columnist with "The Daily Beast." Thank you both for being here. Appreciate it

PATRICIA MURPHY, COLUMNIST, "THE DAILY BEAST": Thanks, Poppy.

HARLOW: I want to talk about the Dick Cheney op-ed. I assume you both read it this morning in "The Wall Street Journal." Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz write, quote, "rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many."

To you, Patricia, at a time like this when lives are at stake in Iraq, when the United States is trying to decide on their course of action, if any right now, what do you make of this op-ed and what did you make of the timing of it right now?

MURPHY: I think the timing of it is very dangerous. I think the op-ed itself is an attempt by the former vice president really to cover his own decisions, to keep himself out of the way of blame for what is happening in Iraq today and to try and really just to sort of be an armchair quarterback for what the president is doing right now. I think that it's just not at all helpful to the current debate. If the Bush administration had finished the job that they started, if they had finished the war, if they had completed the status of forces agreement before a new administration came in, they would have been able to protect their own legacy on this. But because it has drawn out so long, because it is now so chaotic, I don't think it helps at all to have anybody in the former administration telling the current administration what they need to be doing. If it is so critical, so public, in a forum like, I think it's not at all helpful to the debate.

HARLOW: At the same time, though, to you, colonel, I mean you're on the side of, you believe that the Obama administration is, in part, to blame for this for not, as you talked about, extending that status of forces agreement with the Maliki government back in 2011. Some could see this op-ed as a push -- an attempt to push the administration at this time to act - to act now. What is your take on what should be done at this point in time by the U.S. (ph)?

LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I think we made a big mistake in 2011 by walking away from the status of forces agreement extension talks. I think it was very important that we keep some sort of residual force in Iraq.

Between 2008 and 2011, the security situation did not improve enough that would have allowed us to leave, precipitously, in my opinion, as we did. Had we been able to keep a reasonable size force in Iraq, we might not be having this conversation because they would have been able to blunt that attack on Mosul, which precipitated this move on Baghdad. So I think that was a failure on our part to do that and I think we're living with the consequences of that.

HARLOW: I want to ask you, you served as a military attache in Syria and I was thinking about this a lot this morning, wondering, do you think that the president risks looking hypocritical here if he, the administration, the U.S. attacks ISIS in Iraq and did not during its rise in Syria, or do you think it's just a sign of lessons learned from the situation and the unfolding, the downward spiral in Syria?

FRANCONA: Well, you know, Syria is -- has been a problem for three years since the revolution began. And I think we missed an opportunity early on to support the more moderate elements that were present in Syria. I think that opportunity has -- the window has closed.

HARLOW: Right.

FRANCONA: I think the situation is too bad now in Syria to get involved right there. We have an opportunity to blunt ISIS in Iraq. I think we should take advantage of that.

We cannot live with this artificial state created by an Islamic group between Syria and Iraq. That would provide yet another safe haven for al Qaeda to come back in, for another Islamist groups, jihadis from all over the world. That would be really dangerous in the future so. So I think the president has an opportunity to move now in Iraq where we failed in Syria.

HARLOW: Appreciate the time. Wish we had a lot more of it with both of you. Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona and Patricia Murphy. Appreciate it.

NEWSROOM back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Well, as you know, she is calling it a book tour -- right, a book tour -- not a campaign stop. But Hillary Clinton was very much in campaign mode last night, taking questions on everything from Benghazi and those attacks almost two years ago to immigration issues in this country that are unfolding right now along the U.S./Mexico border. How did she do? I want to bring in CNN executive political editor, Mark Preston, also CNN political commentator Ben Ferguson and Jess McIntosh joins us, the communications director for Emily's List. The president of that organization has often been floated as a potential director for a possible Clinton presidential campaign in 2016 -- wad to throw that in there.

We'll get to you in a moment, Jess. But to you Mark, your impressions of last night's town hall?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, Poppy, you know, if there was ever any question, if you ever had doubt in your mind that Hillary Clinton was contemplating a run for president, you just have go back and watch that town hall. She staked out positions on guns, on immigration, on same-sex marriage, strict definitive positions on Syria, on Iraq, Iran.

HARLOW: Right.

PRESTON: All laying a groundwork that many of us believe, I think that everyone believes that she was going to run for president. But it was at this moment last night that occurred right before she took the stage, her motorcade was pulling up to the museum where this event was being held.

She got out and she approached a squirrel on the sidewalk. Now the squirrel, it was a staffer sent there by the Republican National Committee and she handed the squirrel the book, shook his hand and I think this is -- while it may seem frivolous at the moment, really look at it, it shows that Hillary Clinton is willing to take her detractors on, she is willing to address them head on and she did that right before she took the stage.

So, look, pictures are a thousand words and actions speak louder than all of that. I think we saw that last night.

HARLOW: The official word, "I'm thinking about it" and talking about being excited about being a grandmother. But then saying, hey, by the way, grandfathers have run for president. That was something that certainly caught my attention.

You know, last night, guys, we heard about this evolution of Hillary Clinton's answer on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal in this country. First, let's listen to her answer from her NPR interview last week, then you're going to hear what she told our Christian Amanpour at last night's town hall.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: For me, marriage had always been a matter left to the states. And in many of the conversations that I and my colleagues and supporters had, I fully endorsed the efforts by activists who work state by state. And in fact, that is what is working. And I think that, you know, being in the position that I was in the senate, fighting employment discrimination, which we still have some ways to go, was appropriate at that time.

If we're going to support marriage in our country, it should be available to everyone, regardless of who they love. And that this marriage equality issue is a great human rights issue. So yes, I evolved over time and I'm very, very proud to state that I'm a full supporter of marriage equality right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Ben, your take on that, listening to both of those?

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I mean, evolution over time, I would say since last week would be a little bit more accurate. This is a woman that certainly is -- everything points that she is going to run for president of the United States of America. And part of what you could see about her answers is they're so well thought out, so well planned, almost like there's been debate prep.

How are you going to answer this? What is your stake on this? Do you want to change what you said last week that maybe didn't connect with people enough? And that's the reason why you see her talking in this safe way, but also in very broad terms and changing her position a little bit.

And I think part of this is really just learning what connects with people and what gets you bigger applause. What she said yesterday got her a much bigger applause than what she said to NPR. And so that is the candidate Hillary Clinton, kind of honing her skills.

HARLOW: Well, if she does decide to run, that's statement that was so clear last night and decisive, it's not something she can turn away from.

FERGUSON: Take back. Yes.

HARLOW: Jess, to you, during her 2008 run, she got some criticism that she wasn't as, you know, personable as she could have been or as open about her, you know, herself, her private life, being woman, running, et cetera. I thought it was so fascinating how she explained that last night. It was so personal. It really struck a chord with me. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I think it was difficult to really gauge how I was presenting myself and being perceived. So, I do believe that was an issue. I mean I -- I would be worrying about, well, you know, what are people going to say and, you know, what do they mean and all the rest of that and I think I'm beyond that. I can't say I'm never going to feel that. But I do believe that a woman in any high public position, whether it be journalism, politics, business, whatever, is always constantly being judged. And you then can fall into what is a kind of bad habit of constantly editing yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HARLOW: Look at those heads nodding there in the audience. She also went on Jess to talk about frankly as a woman having to think about hair and make-up and how her male rivals could just get out of the shower and shake their head. I mean this was something that we hadn't heard before. Do you think that opening up like this is a calculated step for a potential run in 2016?

JESS MCINTOSH, EMILY'S LIST: I think it's candid and it's insightful. And I think that what she said resonated with every single woman there and watching at home. I mean I wish that last night had been Hillary Clinton's presidential announcement. Everybody I know is really pretty excited about the possibility.

But what it was -- was a town hall with a woman who could be the frontrunner if she chooses to do this. I think we saw last night exactly why people are so excited about her brand of leadership. They want somebody who relates to them in their day to day lives and that's what she proved last night -- so yes.

FERGUSON: Poppy, I also think part of this is she lost last time and she knows that she has to recreate and reinvent herself. It's a lot easier after you lose, to say ok, that didn't work. And so to be a little personal, and to be a little bit more even that grandmother role and the nurturing and caring. Remember that's what got her husband elected President was the I feel your pain guy that would go running to MacDonalds with people they can relate.

HARLOW: I'm picturing you out right now. Marc, so you really quickly before we wrap up. I just want your take here in terms of -- you know she said right at the outset. If you want to be President you have to have vision for the country and you have to know how you're going to execute it. But do you think we heard a vision for the country from Hillary Clinton last night?

PRESTON: You know Poppy there's been a lot of criticism of her and a lot of questioning of whether Hillary Clinton has been able to offer that vision. Has she (inaudible) why voters should select her. And honestly I do think it's a little bit too early to be playing that at her doorstep. We're not asking the other candidates, the other Republicans, the Rand Pauls of the world and why they think that they should be president.

And quite frankly, we know why, she thinks that she should be president. She thinks that she's the most qualified to be president. So it's a little bit. We're all looking for something about Hillary Clinton to pick at or to find out about as well as the republicans as well. I don't think that this is really an honest or a good way of going at either candidates whether it's Hillary Clinton or any of the Republicans that are running right now. They are not candidates, although they are candidates.

HARLOW: Just saying. Hey, kudos to our Christiane Amanpour -- as Hillary Clinton said, the most creative way of asking if her competitive juices were flowing for a presidential bid in 2016. That's going to be fascinating to watch and you'll all be there with us for the long ride ahead to 2016 Thank you Mark Preston, Ben Ferguson, Jess McIntosh.

We're back after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Vietnam, it was the war that JFK didn't want and LBJ couldn't stop and it is the focus of CNN's original series "THE SIXTIES".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will prevail in Vietnam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 14,000 Americans dead, the war in Vietnam has become the most divisive in a hundred years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What Vietnam did was introduce us to a new kind of America -- one that was not pure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't expect to do your job and feel pity for these people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Vietcong and the North Vietnamese didn't play by our rules.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's worth fighting for and I don't think we can get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You started to distrust your own leaders. Because you start to say well, their lights.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can assure you that we intend to carry on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the casualties mounted, that was turning the public in this country against the war.

David Miller publicly affirms --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lyndon Johnson realizes he was no longer in charge of the war. The war was in charge of him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM with Don Lemon begins after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)