Transcript for Subtlety dropped along with the 'mother of all bombs'

Your take on this map if you have spent years studying this region you were the former policy director for South Asia. And southeast is that a Senate Foreign Relations Committee you've. Studied it for so long. That leap commander there for our NATO forces said that this was the right weapon. For the target we make of the use of this weapon at this time in the US effort there. It's possible that Joseph Nichols and it is absolutely. There are very few targets missions for which some more out would be the right where. This is in Austin. It destroys things basically or your surface. That it's it's no trader could not go after for example. North Korea's nuclear assets and it cannot be dropped from normal Oliver it's so. You fly C 130 cargo. Play and pushed Al. You can use in the case against. Enemy has boss irritant says. So it is possible that this is one that rare circumstances. Where this was the right tool for the job. We also due somber but it was. Political impact at least in power. Woody and I that Janet mark. Well we've all seen the headlines. About is that this was the largest. Home. In US conventional arsenal. Is it surely coincidental. That was dropped at us they are coming to a head in North Korean. As he Chinese president she shouldn't be in what is it just didn't oh US. It may or do you are where it's. There is these room for speculation. That the political messaging was part of the equation. He wrecked over to you now I'm gonna know what it took Joseph and all attend back in it a question about a nice until mentioned Eric free and that's because in this political world we're living in right now. The two are very much related at least in terms of how the president might be messaging himself here what what if that's the approach and strategy think from the White House. There's not even much subtlety about the mother of all bombs being use the deliver that mother of all messages that message aimed squarely at North Korea on the eve of this weekend's anniversary celebrations widespread speculation that the navy and nuclear tests were to be the first. Under the trump -- the idea of this demonstration of of American power. Potentially influencing the decision making it North Korean leadership I think is critical in understanding what's happening is all comes also as the vice president Mike Pence heads the regional bee in South Korea. Over the weekend I think it's when you see that in the maneuvering around China combine that with the with with what happened Afghanistan Syria last week. The message from the the trump administration is this president means business and he will use American force American might when he deemed it appropriate when he deems the moment is right. Without a lot of deliberation without any compunction about what sort of mechanisms he uses. Hey Johnny you've advised the Pentagon when it comes to North Korea specifically. Meal at about how your processing what we're seeing now they've obviously been. An escalation of tensions when it comes to how. President trump and officials in North Korea are talking act each other if it just Saber rattling or something overseer. Well that's that's great question we have a new administration. And press. I don't think any war. The internationals here knows exactly what acts. A couple of facts we got to bear in mind. Did he do all that was dropping Outkast all is not. It would be used to take out North Korean nuclear tests there's and other uncle Walt massive ordnance penetrator. This is exactly what vision. But it's highly unlikely that didn't or could succeed in taking out nuclear nuclear assets when they're very suspicious immediately. Will this messaging. Costs here do you the leadership of North Korea particularly acute don't. She needs to ease somewhat unlikely he's also who's skiers are easily he takes great pleasure in seeking comfort age. Plus the fact. That. North Korea has the conventional military capacity to. Estimate the population of South Korea particularly. The capitals Seoul. And if anyone thinks that's just a problem for South Korea. We've got 20000. American troops stationed in in the year he the artillery range. A 100000. American citizens. Have grown incidentally is which is vice president Mike its.

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