Now . The car carrying irans most powerful military commander destroyed beyond recognition from the missile strike drone overhead, confirmation coming quickly the ruthless and cunning Quds Force CommanderQasem Soleimani was targeted and killed. Attacks against u. S. Targets planned by soleimani were imminent though the Trump Administration has yet to provide any evidence. The chairman of the chiefs of staff say there was compelling evidence soleimani was planning significant violence in days and months, adding damn right there is risks to the u. S. In that region and we would being negligent if we didnt take action. He was plotting to take big action he described it to put hundreds of americans lives at risk. It was imminent. This was an intelligencebased assessment that drove our decisionmaking process. Reporter the apology sending around 3,000 more troops to the region, adding to the beefed up presence that followed violent protests at the u. S. Embassy at baghdad. Hundreds of u. S. Service members have been killed by soleimanis actions according to officials and thousands more maimed by improvised devices in iraq. U. S. Officials tell cnn soleimani was planning more attacks against u. S. Targets at multiple places across the region highlighted more than usual. We watched intelligence flow in at the work he was doing to put americans at risk. Reporter 62yearold soleimani joined after the iranian revolution in 1979. For over 20 years he had been at the head of its shadowy quds force straiting terrorist attacks in the middle east and around the world and supported and directed proxy forces of hezbollah against israel and isis and also committed war crimes against sunni muslim civilians. The Trump Administration says they approved the attacks but the killing of soleimani left the u. S. Presence in doubt with powerful forces demanding eviction of the americans, the iranian Prime Minister calling the attack a flagrant violation of the u. S. Iraq security agreement. The apology has raised the forced Protection Level for troops in the middle east meaning they believe those attacks likely and troops in italy put on alert and american citizens have been told to leave iraq immediately. The question of an iranian response to this attack is almost certainly not if but when. Everybody is brassicing for t and the response to that will be critical as well. Now to President Trump and his public remarks about his order to kill soleimani. Boris is traveling with the president in florida. The president seems to be trying to tamp down the fears of war with iran. Reporter thats right, wolf. The president saying he carried out this strike in order to prevent a war, not start one. Also saying they should have been carried out a long time ago, and citing a specific imminent threat from iran, plan apparently to attack u. S. Interests. The president did not give very many specifics about that plan. We are learning the strike was in the plan some time, however talks to carry it out ramped up at maralago, the president holing a meeting with top advisors and military brass and friendly lawmakers apparently told in that meeting there was very robust debate, the president hearing flat out hesitation from some of his close advisors what kind of retaliation the u. S. Might see from a strike and the broad policy of the United States in the middle east. We were told the president was adamant about carrying out this strike and even defensive and we heard some of the remarks he made to reporters this afternoon. Listen to more of what he said. Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qasem Soleimani. He was plotting sinister attacks on diplomats and military personnel. Today, we remember and honor the victims of soleimanis many atrocities and take comfort in knowing his rein of terror is over. We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war. If americans anywhere are threatened, we have all of those targets already fully identified and i am ready and prepared to take what ever action is necessary, and that in particular refers to iran. Wolf, the president is taking criticism for bypassing congress on this strike. There are questions by democratic lawmakers about the legal justification he used to carry out this strike. We should tell you the president is speaking to a group of evangelical supporters in miami. Were monitoring that. Robert obrien, National Security advisor said on a call that the Administration Stands ready to talk to iran without any preconditions. They have been rebuffed. We should point out the United States was rebuffed by iran to these potential talks well before assassinating this top general, wolf. Thank you very much, down in florida. Lets go inside iran where leaders are vowing a crushing response to soleimanis death. On the ground in tehran for us, President Trump says hes not seeking a war with iran. What are you hearing from the iranians . Reporter the iranians are extremely angry, wolf, especially the iranian leadership. We heard from the top leader who said there would be revenge and quite frankly said despite the death of Qasem Soleimani he obviously hailed as someone who was a Freedom Fighter for the iranians, despite his death, the quds force he commanded would continue the way it had before. This is a force that not only consists of Qasem Soleimani, even though he was a giant figure in that, but it has top generals who had the same battle experience Qasem Soleimani also, being in iraq and places like syria and lebanon. The iranians say this wont stop and there will be revenge, the Supreme Leader saying that and foreign leader and iranian president also saying they believe the u. S. Would be responsible for any retaliation that would take place. Where could that take place . Ill tell you what, one iranian former commander once said, look, the americans need to understand at every single base in the United States, there is a Group Controlled next door. It could happen anywhere in this region and in many forms and not clear when they would retaliate. There are three days of mourning scheduled in iran, some already took place, probably going on the next couple of days and a big event on sunday in Qasem Soleimanis hometown. Iranians already plotting. The Supreme Leader himself cheered a leader of the National Security council. This is an extremely tense moment. Fred will get back to you. Now, to the top democrat on the Armed Services committee. Thank you for joining us. Let me get your Immediate Response. The president said he took this action to stop a war and not to start one. What do you make of that . What has happened has been an increased acceleration and escalation in our anticipation of iranian attacks. Rather than stopping a conflict, hes accelerating the conflict. I think thats essentially what general millie said, hed be irresponsible if he didnt prepare for the consequences as they see them. The iranians have a political as well as a geopolitical reasons to do that. Soleimani was very popular and of major import in iran. In addition they have to maintain their presence and sway in areas and regions they control. The chairman of the joint chiefs also says there was clear evidence that soleimani was planning a significant campaign of violence against the United States. Do you have any reason to doubt the general . I dont have any reason to doubt general millie. The issue is how best we could have reacted to disrupt that plan. The question was the assassination of soleimani the best to disrupt that plan. The consequences of taking out soleimani is this heightened tension, escalation. You spoke about the theory of revenge by the iranians, the concern not only in iraq and iran, but throughout the region and worldwide about a possible response by the iranians. That, i dont think was effectively factored in. When do you expect to personally be briefed by the administration. Some of your Committee Staffers have already been briefed this afternoon. We hope by tuesday, when we reassemble for the Senate Sessions that will get a detailed highly classified briefing. We dont know yet the critical facts they relied on because it is highly classified. We have to have those facts in order to establish the credibility this was imminent and no effective alternative other than taking out soleimani. What information do you need to see, senator, from the administration, to determine specifically this strike was justified . I have to see what the proposed targets were, the plans, as detailed as possible, and what role soleimani was playing. Was he simply the general coordinator or was he so intimately involved in every operation that his absence would stop them. In fact, i think its been pointed out previously, if these plans were so detailed and intimate and evolved, theres no reason to suggest they cant be put forward by someone else, maybe not with the same skill but theres an infrastructure in the quds force that the idea of just taking soleimani out will make the problem go away i dont think holds up. In 2005, senator, you and i were in iraq, general john abizaid, then the u. S. Militarys commander of the central command, and we spoke extensively. Did you ever think then in 2005 when we were in fallujah or other places, that iraq would be such a disaster . I did not. We were cautiously hopeful and many many days ahead that would be difficult but we thought we would see some progress. I returned to iraq about a year ago and there was some improvement, but what has happened and i think the studies pointed out, particularly the Major Commission study of the department of defense and army, that the real winner in the iraq war was iran. They were able to assert themselves into the political process and military affairs of the country so distinctively now they have great leverage there. You also have heard from some of your reporters, at least threats by the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians to evict the u. S. Forces. They have the right to do that and were only there at their discretion. Thats Something Else the iranians will try to use, their political influence as well as their tactical operational skills. All right, senator jack reed, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks, wolf. U. S. Officials are on alert for possible revenge attacks by supporters. How and when . I will speak to president obamas former National Security, susan rice, and discuss the consequences of the deadly attack on iraq. Robinhood believes now is the time to do money. Without the Commission Fees and account minimums. So, you can start investing wherever you are even on the bus. Download now and get your first stock on us. Robinhood. Were following the breaking news on the significant killing of irans top commander. President trump insisting he ordered the attack to stop an imminent threat, not to start a war. Joining us is former security secretary, susan rice. Thanks for coming in. Lets talk about what the president said a little while ago. He said the u. S. Should have killed general soleimani a long time ago. Was that ever under serious consideration during your tenure during the Obama Administration . During my tenure as National Security advisor we didnt have the opportunity, to my knowledge. Had we had the opportunity, we would have given it obviously very careful consideration weighing the pros and the cons. Frankly, then as now, its not clear that when you look at the strategic landscape and the costs and consequences of such an action whether the benefits outweigh the real risks. The most important thing, wolf, we took these serious situations under careful consideration. We would way deliberately the risks and benefits and considered the second and third order consequences and most importantly, we would have made very sure before we took such an action that would undoubtedly lead to escalation we put in place preparations to protect and defend american personnel in the region. You new clearly, Qasem Soleimani was responsible for hundreds of deaths of u. S. Military personnel in iraq . He was indeed. As the Bush Administration reported there was an opportunity and serious consideration was given to it. At the same time, as we experienced during the Obama Administration, in the early stages of our involvement in iraq, the iranians were very active targeting american personnel with very dangerous weapons. That fell off after 2011 and escalated again in recent months as pressure on the Iranian Regime increased in President Trumps maximum pressure campaign. Clearly, in recent days, the u. S. Had the intelligence where Qasem Soleimani was and the military capability, drone strike, of killing him. Did President Trump do the right thing . Thats a very complicated question. I am doubtful ultimately it will prove to be the right thing. In the first instance, any of us familiar with Qasem Soleimani and the extraordinary blood on his hands, has to be happy to see him off the battlefield. He was a murderer and terrorist of the first order. Having said that, whether we and americans around the world are safer as a result of his targeted assassination than they would have been had we pursued other means to deal with what was purportedly the imminent threat at hand. I am not sure about that. I am not sure as i look at this there are other ways to deescalate this situation. President trump saying i did this to stop a war not to start it seems to imply he gets all the votes in this and the iranians get a serious set of votes. Theres no question in my mind they will retaliate in a very serious way in a time and place of their choosing and maybe multiple times and multiple places. The question then is what will President Trump do . Will he respond as well, in which case this esscalatory cycle increases and risk of war gets greater and greater . Or does he back down and if he backs down the iranians will interpret that as an ability to push further. Either way were down a path of conflict. Are americans safer today than two days ago . I dont think so. A plot, if you believe the president administration, they have not given statements to congress. They are briefing right now. The members you interviewed today, senators and members of congress relevant on these key committees, they dont know the specifics behind the intelligence. We have to wait and see. Even if it were the case there were imminent plots under way, how to deal with that is not a blackandwhite issue. Taking soleimani out doesnt mean those plots cant proceed. How worried are you. What capability does iran have right now to seriously threaten the United States . Thats absolutely the right question. If you look at how iran is postured in the region, they have infinite opportunities through militia to attack us, syria, lebanon, libya, the whole gulf where we have large military installations, as you know, all throughout the gulf region. Afghanistan is another place where the United States could be targeted by iran. Theres a whole shipping lanes of the persian gulf region, which are now potentially active war zones with real risks to the global economy. Then, of course, wolf, as you and i know, iran has cells, proxy cells and direct cells it can control it can light up in europe, in latin america, in africa, and even perhaps in this United States. The risk to american civilians as well as diplomats and military personnel now throughout many regions of the world is much heightened. Is it fair to say that Qasem Soleimani was the conductor of this ability of iran to spread its influence throughout that entire region through iraq, syria, lebanon, down near saudi arabia, in yemen, he was the orchestrator of that . He was an orchestrator but he wasnt a one man band. Thats the problem. There is no way i can envision iran take this hit and decides, never mind, well just stand down. I think the survival of the regime and its leadership prominence in the region, and its own mind depends on a strong forceful reaction. Thats how you get this escalatory dynamic. Somebody has to back down or this will go to a place thats going to be quite dangerous and concerning. Do you trust what youre hearing from the Trump Administration right now, the initial information about the intelligence assessments . Wolf, i wish i could. This administration, sadly, tragically, has a record of almost daily misrepresenting the facts. Telling false hoods about issues big and very small. Its hard to have confidence on the face of their representations. Id like to see the evidence. Id like to see the Details Behind the information that apparently led to this attack. Certainly what Qasem Soleimani has done and irans record, would support what the administration is saying, not the least in the recent context but one cannot be certain without seeing t