iranians or it could be that the president who in the context of briefings always internalizes things being told to him. it's not clear whether it was told to him or written down. i think for president trump that will matter a lot. >> or did he just use it as an excuse? i'm telling you, john, it's on the first powerpoint slide that the pentagon gives you. here's what it's going to cost you in terms of potential casualties. it's baked into the planning process of every tactical strike operation from the very, very beginning so i find it incredible for anybody to suggest that he wasn't told. >> it is a remarkable insight into the commander in chief, any commander in chief, but particularly this one. his reputation in town among his critics is he's impulsive, he's reflective, he's not nuanced, he doesn't do the either/ors. this was an either/or and he decided at the end, his advisers were unanimous. mr. president, you should do this. and he decided at the last minute i don't want to do this, i don't think it's proportionate. >> but those who were not