Up. Senator tim kaine. And senator Bernie Sanders that thinks it could lead to another middle east quagmire. If steve bannon leaves, does the agenda leave with him. We have Helene Cooper joining us today. Welcome to sunday, its meet the press. The longest running show in Television History celebrating its 70th year. This is meet the press. Good sunday morning. This breaking news there was e tacks on two egyptian Christian Churches this morning. It killed two dozen people and wounded scores of others. Hours later a suicide bomber killed 11 people in front of a church of alexandria. Isis as claimed responsibility for both of those attacks. President trump became the 7th consecutive president to attack. It involved 60 cruise missiles to an air base. They say it was a appropriate response for a chemical attack. It scrambled political allian s alliances. It drew criticism from some of his strongest supporters and has raised all sorts of questions. Was this Mission Accomplished or Mission Creep . What is the message the u. S. Is sending to the world . And can mr. Trump sell this to his nationalist base that was deeply skeeptical about taking any action. This is not cut and dry. Ultimately the question is was this an impulsive move by a president moved by human suffering. No child of god should ever suffer such horror. It is a startling reversal by a president who spent his campaign saying that the u. S. Should stay out of war. Now hillary wants to start a shooting war with a nuclear arms ru armed russia. He has supporters confused and angry. Some blame steve bannon who days before the syrian attack was booted. Rubios happy, hillarys happy the syrian president s brutality is nothing new. In 2013, eight days after a chemical attack that killed 1400 civilians, trump tweeted what will we get for bombing syria besides more debt and a bobble longterm conflict. Obama needs congressional approval. Now with the power of the presidency, he seems to have abandoned that point of view, at least for now. What is his ultimate goal. Were prepared to do more but we hope that will not be necessary. Just last week, the secretary of state backed away from the policy of regime change in syria. I thi the stnk the status an longer term status of president assad will be decided by the syrian people. With the acts that he has taken, it seems there is no role for him to governor the syrian people. Russians on the ground were given notice the missiles were coming. Flights from the base have resumed, and secretary tillersons trip to moscow is still on. Most of washingtons Foreign Policy establishment is applauding the strikes. The strikes were important. I think they were a signal that is as important as the damage that was dope. While a coalition of liberals and conservatives skeptical of interventi intervention. It is fair to say that no one has been more forceful of the response than nikki hailey. I asked if the Trump Administration believes they achieved what they needed to or if more needs to be done. This is a very complicated situation. We know there is no easy solution, but our focus is to make sure that were strengthening the es ceacease f. We want to push towards a political solution. At the end of the day, than is what is needed to make sure a political solution comes together and we hope they will continue the talks in geneva and we will continue to see progress. A big part of that solution would include the russians. They dont accept the conclusion that United States and others did that this was the assad regime. Do you plan to present the information publicly . Where will it be presented . The interesting thing is when this chemical weapons murder happened to so many people, russias reaction was not oh how horrible or how could they do this to innocent children. Their initial reaction was assad didnt do it, the Syrian Government didnt do it. Why were they that defensive that quick. The idea of the casualties came after. Want first party for them was covering for assad. What we know is that the Syrian Regime had done this again as they had so many times before. We had evidence they had done it. Its classified, so im not the one that would release the information, but it was enough that the president knew. But there are no plans to present it. If it is important to isolate russia, to publicly show how wrong they are about this . I dont doubt that information wont come out. I think youre also seeing the investigations of russia now. That comes out when they can declassify it. I expect the proper directors will come out with that information. Right now all we needed to know in that room is is it true, did it happen, whats the evidence, and go with that. We watched the president in what i believe was his finest hour since he has taken office. He was thoughtful about it. He talked about risk, what general mattis and the military did was a rock star performance because they were so focused on ma making sure there was limited civilian casualties. Where they used the planes to carry the chemical weapons, and that they were making sure the United States doesnt allow the use of chemical weapons ever. If assad continues and he is brutal but using conventional weapons to be brutal do we sit on the sidelines . Well keep all of our thoughts and plans close to the chest. He will not be releasing any information. In no way do we look at peace happening in that area with iranian influence, and no way do we see peace in that rare with ru area with russia covering for assad, or with assad as the head of the government. We have to make sure that were trusting the process. What about the fact that were not allowing Syrian Refugees unless under the most extreme circumstances into the country right now . I watched this administration focus so much on the safety of United States citizens. As a mom and wife, im very grateful for that. What this president has done is said prove to me youre vetting them properly, and if you are, we will resume where we are. You to prove to me theyre being vetted in a way that were not putting american citizens at risk. There was countries we knew were problems that we could not vet, and thats key. If you cant vet, you dont know who youre letting in, you dont know if there are bad intentions there, and the president is being very cautious with that. Making sure it is People Safety first. I think the focus we need have is how do we goat a safe syria. How do we make sure those that fled the area go home and get back there. The president will not sacrifice the safety of american citizens. Who should bare the sacrifice . The syrians, women and children in familiar were trying to flee and get gassed by assad, who should take that burden if the United States is not helping out. The United States took that fwhurd week, they fought for syria and told assad no more. What is now the priority in syria, assads removal or defeating isis. Before the emphasis was defeating isis. We can have multiple priorities. We think is also the influence that is causing so many more problems in the area, and then we have to make sure we see a leader that will protect his people, and clearly assad is not that person. That was of course nick kki hailey. My next guest has been a frequent republican critic of President Trump on many issues. Senator Lindsey Graham. I want to get to that last question i asked ambassador hailey. Does it change americas position of prioritizing what to prioritize in syria . Isis over assad. Secretary tillerson and ambassador hailey say it is still isis. Accelerate the demise of isil. Theyre great threat to the homeland and assad as not. But i have never been more encouraged by the Trump Administration than i have today. Ambassador hailey said you will never end the war with assad in power. So you need more american kro s troops. 4,000 to 6,000. Destroying isil. You need a safe haven quickly so people can regroup in syria. Then you train the opposition to go after assad. And you tell the russians if you continue to bomb the people we train, well shoot you down. Do you think President Trump is ready to take that advice . Youre calling for troops to be sent in. Are you going to introduce a resolution in congress to give him that authority. He already has that authority. You have good people on this program but i differ in this regard, i think he has authorization to use force. Assad signed the chemical weapons treaty ban. There is an agreement with him not to use chemical weapons. War criminals dont police each other very well. The putin regime is a bunch of war criminals. These are all limitations on using force, not authorizations for use of force. So you think that syria, a sovereign country not mentioned at all in the current organizatio authorization, that you can send troops in without congress grangran granting the president more authority there. We already have troops on the ground nobody is saying cut off funding. If you dont like those 1000 american troops out there then cut off funding. I like troops there to help destroy isil. We will accelerate the demise of isil. I want to train Opposition Forces because she ahe is a pro iron. We are on sound legal footing here, but our strategy is not yet developed. What comes next, im glad that trump did this. She no longer obama in the eyes of our enmys, but he needs to do more to close the deal. There is not a difference, if youre a mother and your baby is dead, there is treaty that is what the chemical weapons treaty is all about. I will say this if you kill babies with conventional bombs it is still a moral outrage. This is what trump is saying, he is saying fu, and it is a serious mistake. If you dont worry about what trump might do on any given day you have issues. We had a few peopling watching and it raised some eyebrow eyebrows. I have to ask about the change of heart saying the strike on syria is the single best proof that trump has no overriding commitment to any side logical position. If he can abandon his position on this because of horrific pictures on tv, what is safe . Refere obama said he has to go in in name only. This president is setting a strategy to get rid of assad. To the american people, the war never ends with assad. He is a recruiting gold mine. He will not be accepted by the region or his people, im glad the president did this. You want him to punish russia more for his support of assad. What is something concrete you think he can do in the next couple months to punish. Say that russia aided and abetted assad in using chemical weapons. The russians soldiers were on sight, they intentionally left the chemical weapons in their hands, so i would go after them through sanctions for interfering in our election and for aiding and abetting the use of chemical weapons. Senator, thank you for coming on and sharing your viewing even if they were not necessarily pg rated this morning. Coming up, tim kaine their experience is coveted. Their leadership is instinctive. Theyre experts in things you havent heard of researchers of technologies that one day, you will. Some call them the best of the best. Some call them veterans. We call them our team. It delivers a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste. Zero alcohol™. So it has the bad breath germkilling power of this. [rock music] with the lighter feel. Of this. [classical music] for a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste. Ahhh. Try listerine® zero alcohol™. Also try listerine® pocketpaks for fresh breath on the go. Wheres jack . Hes on holiday. What do you need . I need the temperature for pipe five. Ask the new guy. The new guy . Jack trained him. Jacks guidance would be to maintain the temperature at negative 160 degrees celsius. That doesnt sound like jack. Actually, jack would say, hey mate, just cool it to minus 160 and were set. Good on ya. Oh yeah. Thats jack. Welcome back, the missile strike has scrambled some alliances. He supports the syria operation but with complications. Let me start, why do you support this action. I know you have legal questions about it, but why do you support this action . Chuck, as you know im a strong supporter that the u. S. Should take action to protect humanitarian causes like the ban on chemical weapons. So i voted for a limited strike to do exactly the same thing. A limited strike for that purpose, for the humanitarian purpose is something that i would likely support if there was a plan. But where a i differ, youre not supposed to start war without a plan that is brought to you by congress. That makes us different from any nation in the world. The drafters of the constitution said you have to put a check against an executive gone wild. They have not presented a plan to congress and asked for approval. Thats what they have to do. Senator in this case it is very limited, and number two there was american interests on the ground, very close to chemical weapons. If youre saying this aex was illegal, then you must be thinking that the libya action was illegal chuck, i was a Senate Candidate in 2011 when president obama joined military action against libya. Humanitarian purposes. I agreed with the republicans in the house that rebuked president obama and said he exceeded his authority because the u. S. Was not under eminent threat. That is the only situation they can use article two power. You heard Lindsey Graham just say that was not the case. We had a briefing on friday and they presented us with no plan. We dont know if it is limited or if there is more. When we asked about the legal authorization, they said they were not prepared to discussion that but they will in the coming days. We dont want a president , any president , to just be able to start a war or launch missiles when they want. There has to be congressional approval. You heard senator graham outline what he would like to see, what actions are taken going forward. And i said do you need congressional authorization for that and he says no. If an authorization is on the floor of the senate, sending in a limited number of troops to push the momentum back, would you support Something Like that . You know, we agree these atrocities are horrible, but sheer where were different. He said the Trump Administration is aiming for regime change. If assad is doing things wrong, violating International Treaties with an authorization we can try to deter him for doing it, prosecute him for war crimes, but i dont think we should say were going to try to change your leader. I dont think it should be official u. S. Policy. Do you think he will go under any circumstance that is not militar military . I agree i dont think there is a political solution, but what we should know us with on is humanitarian relief. In 2014, the Security Council said we should be delivering aide to syrians, and if we had fewer would have left the country. All right, senate or tim kai, turning to another view on this, joining me now is Bernie Sanders who has a dimmer review on the strike, welcome back, sir. Good to be with you. Explain why you were against the strike. First thought, lets all recognize that in a world of disgusting dictators, Bashir Al Assad is at the top. He has allowed people in his country to be killed and millions to be displaced. Our goal long term is to work with countries around the world. Getting rid of this guy and finally bringing peace and stability to this country that is so decimated. I do not believe the president simply has the authority to laun launch missiles. I think he has to come to congress and explain what his longterm goals are. Perhaps the most important vote i have ever cast in my life was against the war in iraq. When we get sucked in, we dont know the unintended consequences. Its easier to get into into a war than get out as we have learned. Is there a point where humanitarian cause trump thats . You know, where you see the gassing of people . Is there a point where americas moral authority is being challenged and you have to send a military message because no one else is going to do that and nothing else will deter assad . What we are seeing in syria is the desintagration. Gassing people in your country is disgusting beyond all words. What is the rational solution . Is putting 30 missiles into syria going to solve that problem . At the end of the day in my view we have to learn about what the war, the failure of our efforts in iraq and afghanistan, not defeat them, and understand it will be deplomacy. Secretary of state john kerry kept going back to the table. The russians and the iranians dont look interested. Chuck, youre right this is extremely complicated and difficult. We have been in war in iraq and afghanistan for 14 years. Thousands of american soldiers have died. The whole middle east has been thrown into a uproar. Massive instability. All that imsayim saying is we to be clear about goals, understand them unilaterally, and understand that when we have a collapsing middle class, and a infrastructure that needs trillions in repairs, maybe we dont want to throw trillions more into the middle east. In december of 2015, you called for more diplomacy. Our primary pucks is to destroy iesz. You were a proponent of prioritizing isis first in syria. Assad has been doing what he has been doing for years. Chuck, 400,000 people in syria have been killed. Men, women, and children. This is a horror show. We have to get rid of asad, but we cannot do it unilaterally. What do do you to the russians if theyre not at all interested . I think you may want to make them an offer you cant revus. They have to come to the table and not maintain this horrific dictator. Any position that anyone takes can be criticized. I think getting the United States, involved in bar fair, it will just continue the process of money going down a rat hole. I think the solution has to be political. And by the way, one other thing that i am concerned about, trump says one thing and he ends up doing another thing. Lets get kin si fr consisten from this president. Thank you for being on the show, shirr. Thank you. There you have it, a lot of perspectives on syria these days. The political fallout fro