Attorney general in history in these areas. I didnt agree with everything, but hes head and shoulders above those that preceded him. Whatever day he walks out of justice, he can walk out of that department with his head high and shoulders back, he lived up to the dreams his parents had when they came to this country. Thanks for watching. Im al sharpton. Hardball starts right now. The alliance grows. Lets play hardball. Good evening, im Chris Matthews in philadelphia. Talk about a game change, here are photos of the Saudi Arabian pilots, including the son of the crown prince of the saudi royal family who took part this week in air strikes against isis in syria. And here are the pictures of the
15 saudis who participated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the pentagon back on 9 11. And yesterdays strikes on the isis controlled oil refineries, 16 fighter jets engaged in the attacks, six were United States, ten were United Arab Emirates and saudi arabia. One of the emirates pilots, the leader of her countrys mission was al mansoury. Tonight we look at the recruitment of this arab posse. And also the noise from the figure most consistently wrong about the situation in iraq, former Vice President dick cheney who spent months telling our countries untruths about iraqs weapons, and more months banishing sunnis from the iraqi government, pushing unknown numbers of foreign Iraqi Military leaders into the ranks of the terrorist group itself. Plus, todays announcement by Speaker John Boehner that thisCongress Wont even vote on the war in iraq, even in the lame duck. And even after the election this year. Plus the news that most americans are totally in the dark on the outlandish sums corporate ceos are taking home these days. Former ambassador to the u. N. And former ambassador to saudi arabia. Governor richardson, what do you make ever the fact that the saudis are making such an effort to let the world know that even the crown prince is in the cockpit in this attack on isis . Well, this is very encouraging. Its a message to the arab world and the saudis are almost with the egyptians the leaders of the arab world, they finance and provide resources to everybody, that theyre in deeply with the United States on this isis effort. That theyre willing to risk a member of the royal family as a pilot. You recall prince bandar the same way he was former ambassador to the United States. He was always deeply involved and symbolically, when you put
the royal family in there, it sends a very strong message. I think whats also encouraging, the United Arab Emirates are involved, qatar is involved. Especially since the arab emirates and qatar and the saudis have had some tension with each other. Thats good we have a unified gulf league effort. Ambassador jordan, it seems to me quite a distinction to look at the pictures of the pilot there, the crown prince in the cockpit as part of that Bombing Mission this week and compared to the 15 thugs who were on the airline back on 9 11. It is a contrast, and i think its important to make this contrast. Those 15 hijackers were not representative of saudi arabia. The son, the crown prince in the cockpit is much more representative of what the government and the royal family are trying to accomplish. Theyve spent really a decade now trying to live down the fact that there were 15 saudi hijackers making those attacks, and i think theyre making good now on the efforts that weve
encouraged them to undertaken, and they have undertaken on their own. This morning the uaes ambassador to washington explained why it was important for the world to see arab pilots involved in this mission against isis. As i watched the debate over the last few weeks over what arab states are going to step in, i think its important for us moderate arabs and muslims to step up and say, this is a threat against us. This is more of a threat against us than it is against you. This is not just a threat to our countries, this is a threat to our way of life. Theres new evidence of how barbaric isis can be. A prominent female iraqi human rights lawyer and campaigner was killed by a masked firing squad in a Public Square in the city of mosul. She was tortured before her death on monday, the u. N. Said. She was detained after posting messages on facebook describing isiss destruction of mosques
and shrines by isis as barbaric. One iraqi town under isis control, an eyewitness reported seeing an execution of a man and a woman convicted of adultery. They were led out in front of a crowd of 200 residents who stood by as eight fighters carried out the execution. They just stones smaller than a baseball to prolong the couples death. A witness said the couple screamed in agony for 15 minutes. One rep told nbc severed heads on fences and people who are crucified have become normal sights as isis terrorizes the people. Mr. Ambassador, explain if you can, in the tradition of arabia and islam, what this is all about, this public display of barbarism . This has been a tradition in the arab world that weve seen for several hundred years, if not thousands. Its something that the saudis
at least when i was ambassador, were getting away from. They still conduct beheadings in public, which i find hard to handle. But overall, i think were seeing some progress among the saudis and certainly the emirates have not embraced this kind of activity in many years. But it does show you the brutality of the isis wing, if you will, of islam. It is being condemned now by the grand musty in saudi arabia, by all of the establishment religious leaders. Is it aimed at us, is it aimed at americans, or is it aimed at fellow muslims . To get us into the war . I cant tell. What are they aiming these public executions and stonings and simulated, i think in some cases, crucifixions of people who are already dead, whats it all about . Weve seen this among the taliban in the past as well. I think its intended to draw the west, especially america,
into a more involved process militarily in the region, but i also think its intended to show theyre a powerful force that is to be contended with, which, overall, i think, is aimed at recruiting more and more volunteers to come into barbaric assembly. Yesterday president obama called on the war to join the war against isis. Evidence his call was heard. The french say the question is on the table. David cameron went further, saying, he supported his country joining in air strikes in iraq. We have a need to act in our own National Interest to protect our people and our society. So it is right that britain should now move to a new phase of action. I am, therefore, recalling the British Parliament on friday to secure approval for the United Kingdom to take part in
international air strikes against isil in iraq. Governor richardson, you were at the u. N. , you know how difficult it is to get people together, to herd cats, as its said. How do you think john kerry secretary of state has been able to pull together these arab leaders and new european leaders to join us in the Bombing Campaign against isis in syria especially . I think secretary kerry has had a good strategy. First, you get the arab countries to show that this say muslimarab effort, and the next step, we want the arabs to do ground troops. Then you get the europeans. We need the permanent five of the security council. Britain, france, the United States, were not going to get russia and china, but you get the principle movers in the security council. Plus, i think you need the french and the british. Their air power is very strong. We cant do it alone. Well take the lead, but at the same time, i think both the
british and the french have been aided here by whats backfired with isis, in other words the beheading of their citizens. The beheading of that frenchman has prompted the French Public to realize that it maybe makes sense for some payback. And thats encouraging. I think the next step, chris, is some of the sunni countries that have stayed on the sideline, that havent really helped. I mean, look, what we want them to do is put troops on the ground, militarily, not just food and humanitarian assistance and blankets. That is important, but it has to be a real wholesome coordinated effort, but its really an arabmuslim issue. Isis is mainly a threat to them. Theyre a threat to us too, but its mainly a regional issue and arabs should lead. Let me ask you the final question. What do you make of this iraqi, the new Prime Minister of iraqs claim, i think its no more than a claim, that hes uncovered a
plots to blow up subways in new york and paris . Well, i think in the arab world, you hear of conspiracies every day. Hes probably hearing of this from some people who may have limited access. They may have been imagining this, or misunderstood what they heard on a communication intercept or through other means. I am suspicious of the claim. I think hes trying to show that hes on board with a mutual effort to defeat isis and to provide warning, to western interests that may be threatened. But hes also pretty new at his job. He probably doesnt have sufficient skepticism as we all should have, from uncorroborated intelligence reports. Of course it would encourage us to do more bombings of his enemies. Anyway, its not been confirmed. Thank you both for joining us. Coming up, dick cheney cant resist his chance to attack the president personally at this time of international crisis. He was at it again last night. I think its deliberate. I think he has a world view, and what hes found increasingly is that its not consistent with reality. Strong words from a man whose own reality, as he believes it was, led to the disaster of the iraq war. Then we have the hardball round table. Well discuss John Boehners declaration that the Current Congress will not even vote on the war against isis. He suggested that sometime early next year perhaps. Anyway, shouldnt Congress Vote in 2014 on a 2014 war . Plus, do you know how much more a typical ceo makes than an average worker . Try 350 times more. No other country in the world has a larger pay gap. And a new study shows most americans have no earthly idea whats happening. Let me finish with why dick cheney, who got us into this mess in iraq should stop criticizing and start, how about confessing, for once. This is hardball, the place for politics. Proper nutrition. Keeping the romance alive. Level 7 and setting a good example. Daddys trying. We are so ready for this. Life can surprise you. So can an allstate agent. From savings on a new car, to discounts on a great car seat. The good hands are doing more than ever before. To build something smarter. Some come here to build something stronger. Others come to build something faster. Something safer. Something greener. Something the whole world can share. People come to boeing to do many different things. But its always about the very thing we do best. Msnbc is proud to be taking part in at Global Citizen campaign this year, an effort to end extreme poverty around the world by the year 2030. On saturday, thats this saturday, msnbc will be brofting from the great lawn in new yorks central park with performances by jayz and no doubt, tune in and learn more saturday 3 00 p. M. Eastern or head to msnbc. Com Global Citizen for information. Well be right back. It makes me happy to go on the computer. I like feeling smart. Internet essentials from comcast has brought lowcost Internet Access to over 1. 4 million lowincome people at home. Internet essentials helped me progress in my schoolwork. It helped my grades move higher. Today its the largest Broadband Adoption program in america. It helped me a lot. Comcast nbcuniversal. Helping to bridge the digital divide. Welcome back to hardball. If anyone should be disqualified as a Foreign Policy expert, especially on iraq, it should be former Vice President dick cheney. From his bogus claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of
mass destruction, to his claims about aluminum tubes being used to make nukes, to his prediction that the iraq war would be over in weeks, rather than months. Heres a record of his record of untruth. Hes been seeking to acquire and we have been able to prevent him from acquiring the kinds of tubes that are necessary to build a centrifuge. Simply stated, theres no doubt that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, there is no doubt hes amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us. Regime change in iraq would bring about a number of benefits to the region. When the gravest of threats are eliminated, the freedomloving peoples of the region will have a chance to promote the values that can bring lasting peace. Do you think the American People are prepared for a long, costly, and bloody battle with significant american casualties . I dont think its likely to unfold that way, tim, because i
believe well be viewed as liberators. Do you think it will be a long war or a short war . My own judgment based on my time as secretary of defense and having operated in this area in the past, im confident our troops will be successful and i think it will go relatively quickly. Weeks . Months . Weeks rather than months. So why does anyone listen to someone whos been wrong for so long, so consistently . He clearly lacks the experience and i think also the respect for our senior commanders. These are tremendously capable people. I worked with them as Vice President and when i was secretary of defense. The president doesnt have to do everything. He gets to make the decisions, but he clearly ought to listen to the senior military commanders who are responsible on the ground for executing policy and take their advice occasionally. And what explains his
criticism of the president personally . Congressman moran, what do you make of this guy . He pops up like a jackinthebox, the very night the president spoke to the world through the u. N. , trying to reach the arab world, and right in the middle of that, he goes in there and tries to screw up the message and create a partisan fight. Hes a man whos been wrong consistently on iraq. Its shameless and it sends the wrong message to the world. Hes deliberately trying to undermine the credibility of our president outside our borders. Its one thing to get involved in domestic politics, but to discredit our president at a time like this is just so wrong. Another thing to bear in mind, ill never forget being in baghdad, trying to get into the green zone, with a number of members of congress who had to fund that iraq war and waiting to be searched and so o we waited for a long time. But a number of skragly
americans would walk up to the front of the line and walk in unhindersed. I asked the soldiers, who are those guys . Thats halliburton. They own this place. Cheney was one of the owners of halliburton. He was the ceo before he became Vice President. The cant imagine the millions of dollars he made off that war and then to have the hutzpah to continue to denigrate our president particularly at the worst possible times in the eyes of the world, it really is shameless. Why does your party, im not knocking other media, but why does your party listening to cheney as an expert when we can show you again and again where his ideology got in the way of his truthtelling, that he wanted it to be true, that Saddam Hussein had Nuclear Weapons and the reason they talked about it was to get the europeans into the war. Why does he keep being treated like a man who knows . I think the former Vice President cheney has long experience and people respect that experience, and he was wrong on iraq, but so was tony blair, so was george tenet, there were a lot of people who were wrong on whether they had weapons of mass destruction. No, Nuclear Weapons. Nuclear weapons lets call it what it is. He was pushing the word that we were going to have a mushroom claud if we didnt get the smoking gun. They were it willing that in order to sell this war. Then he gets in there, takes apart the sunni regime, so all those generals and soldiers go looking for a new home. They found one. Isis. All that came apart because of him. Now they wont even take responsibility, he wont even buy thats going on in iraq now when he created todays iraq and you know it. Its his iraq. You asked me why republicans listen to him. Given all that. He has long experience in the recently, secretary of defense in the first persian gulf. I did say there were mistakes made at the beginning of that war and continuing in the war. But i think the Vice President has a lot of fans out there in the Republican Party that silence to him why . Because he has that experience. Hes also someone who believes strongly this is where we disagree, chris. I think the Vice President passionately cares about america and is worried about its security and feels that president obama is not making the right decisions. You can disagree with that, but i think the fact that he speaks out shows the diversity and strengts of america that we can have this discussion. Its a free country. Im not knocking our freedom. Im knocking a guy who is being listened to. Earlier this month he was meeting with republican lawmakers. Harry reid warned his colleagues at that point about listening to the former Vice President. There are people here in congress who are taking advice from dick cheney, and i think they better be very careful with the advice they take from dick cheney. Dick cheney is more re