Were running out of time. Is the window for diplomacy closing . Were on the flight deck of the uss reagan. In the sea of japan. Our exclusive look at the military buildup around the Korean Peninsula. And its a story ive been following for more than a decade. Uncommon valor was common that day. The 2004 battle in sadr city, iraq. The families and soldiers who sacrificed about to become a television miniseries. Were one on one with lead actor Michael Kelly. And the reallife inspirations behind a long road home. Action. From the white house to your house, we take on the moments that matter, this week. Good morning. As we come on the air this week, were seeing success in one war. With the defeat of isis in raqqa, syria. Preparations for what may be the war ahead, you see us there on the deck of the uss reagan. During an american show of force this week in the waters off korea. And an emotional war of words here at home. Sparked by debate over President Trumps phone calls to the families of the fallen. And to one widow in particular. The wife of a green beret killed in niger earlier this month. On tuesday, trump called the family of that fallen soldier. Sergeant la david johnson. A longtime family friend, democratic congresswoman Frederica Wilson was also listening in. And said the family was not comforted. By the president s words. By thursday, chief of staff john kelly was in the Briefing Room defending the president. Kellys words were raw, emotional, and personal, as he spoke about the loss of his own son in afghanistan in 2010. Let me tell you what my best friend, joe dunford told me. He was my casualty officer. He said, kel, he was doing exactly what he wanted to do when he was killed. He knew what he was getting into. By joining the that 1 . He knew what the possibilities were. Because were at war. If general kelly had stopped there, this debate would likely be over. As a nation, we almost certainly could have agreed to make those painfully intimate words the last words. Instead, using the language of a political operative, kelly then attacked that florida congresswoman, who had criticized the president. Accusing her of being disrespectful at a 2015 building dedication to fallen fbi agents. And the congresswoman, stood up. And in the long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there in all of that, and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building. And she just called out president obama and on that phone call, he gave the money, the 20 million to build the building. She sat down. The problem with that account, it just wasnt true. As video from the 2015 event shows, wilson using most of her remarks to pay tribute to the fallen. But instead of apologizing or correcting the record, the white house doubled down. If you want to get into a debate with a fourstar marine general, i think that thats something highly inappropriate. Sanders later said, anyone can be questioned. But her defense didnt sit well. Even among some of trumps allies. The White House Press secretary today said it was highly inappropriate to get in a debate with a fourstar general. Do you agree with that . No, not in america. But this did happen in america. And lets turn to another retired fourstar general, and former cia director, david petraeus. Good morning, general petraeus. Great to see you. Good to be with you, martha. Thanks. I want to start with what the white house said, about it being highly inappropriate to debate a fourstar general. I think were all fair game. And i certainly experienced lots of that, in testimony on capitol hill during the surge in iraq and subsequent endeavors in Afghanistan Central command and so forth. We, in uniform, do protect the rights of others to criticize us. I remember opening the New York Times at the sixmonth mark on the surge. A fullpage ad attacking me personally. I didnt appreciate it, needless to say. I remember it. It said, general betray us. Yes. But at the end of the day, were fiercely protective of the rights of our americans to express themselves. And even if that includes criticizing us. And general, you saw the emotional response that john kelly had about the gold star family and the call the president made. But he also had very harsh words about congresswoman wilson. Is that appropriate . Especially given that he was wrong . Well, this is obviously an unfortunate situation. We need to unite behind our gold star families, to embrace them with compassion and support. Not to drag them into partisan politics. Sadly this is a bit symptomatic of what i think is afflicting our country right now. Arguably, the most important threat the United States faces is not russia, iran, north korea, chinese competition, or isis. Its parochialism here at home. Especially in this city. Which is preventing us from resolving issues that could allow us to capitalize on extraordinary opportunities. America is leading the world in the i. T. Revolution, life sciences, energy. Manufacturing. We need to relearn the word of compromise. We need to take the volume down. Look, i know john kelly very, very well. He was a tremendous division commander. A twostar commander in the second half of the surge. Served with him subsequently in other positions. I have to think that this weekend, hes sitting at home or in the white house, trying to figure out how to turn down the volume. How to get this behind us. And how to focus on what really is important to the country over all. But he didnt do that this week. I want to go back to that. He didnt do that this week. And he has been seen as you say, as this voice of reason in the white house. But did he lose some of that authority by joining this political fight . Again, my hope is that the john kelly that we all know and respect enormously, whose family, obviously, experienced that personal loss of a service member, of their son. The last full measure of devotion as Abraham Lincoln termed it. Went through that. And i just have to think, hes thinking, how can we turn down the volume . How can we move forward . And how can we focus the administration and the country on the issues that are preventing us from capitalizing on extraordinary opportunities . I want to get your reaction to what admiral mike mullen the former chairman of the joint chiefs said earlier in month. Im increasingly concerned about the dependence of the American People on jim mattis, h. R. Mcmaster, john kelly, and Rex Tillerson. I have been in too many countries, globally, where the generals, if you will, gave great comfort to their citizens. That is not the United States of america. Do you have any of those same concerns . Well, i know them all, obviously. As does our great former chairman of the joint chiefs, admiral mullen, under whom it was a privilege to serve in iraq and afghanistan. If youre going to have to depend on some people, i think these are pretty great people. I think the administration has a Superb National security team. Arguably among the best in recent memory. By and large, theyre guiding a policy that is really more continuity than change. In a number of areas. Though certainly there are changes in areas such as tax, trade, climate, and so on. But, this is a superb team. A team that has helped guide the defeat of the Islamic State in iraq and syria. That has made the right call with the president approving on afghanistan, i believe, that is seeking to get chinas attention. To deal with the north korean situation in a way that is ever more pressing. So, again, this is a superb group of individuals. Theyre not all military, obviously, secretary tillerson. General petraeus, earlier, this year in june, in the aspen ideas festival, you kind of dodged a question. Saying the team is important. You dodged a question about whether President Trump was fit for office. Saying it was immaterial because of the team. Immaterial . Look, i felt it was inappropriate for a former general to be judging whether someone elected by the American People is fit or not. Hes our president. And what we need to do as a country is try to support those who are supporting him. So that we can, indeed, continue this Economic Growth that we have had. So we can shore up national defenses. Come to grip with issues like immigration reform, infrastructure investment, tax reform, and the rest. And i do want to talk about niger and what happened there, given they were ambushed, was this an intelligence failure, as some on the hill are saying . We dont know. Thats why theres a team from the department of defense out there investigating. We have to wait to see what they find. Before we make that kind of a judgment. And you saw the fall of isis in the stronghold of raqqa in syria this week. What does that tell you . About where we are . That was a success. Now what . Its a very important success. As i mentioned the last time we were together, the sooner isis could be shown to be a loser is the sooner its not as effective in recruiting, in pros le advertising, encouraging, inspiring, and so forth. And that is now very much the case. Plus, the media center in raqqa has been destroyed, as well. As i also said, the battle that matters most is the battle after the battle. What happens after the Islamic State is defeated. Were already seeing that in iraq. This is the battle over power and resources. In countries that have a lot of resources. Particularly in the case of iraq. And what you have seen there is right after the defeat of the Islamic State, in an area around kirkuk. Because of an illtimed referendum, pressure on the Prime Minister to keep going. And to reclaim areas from the kurdish pesh merga that had been occupied when iraqi forces evacuated in the wake of isis. I want to get to north korea. Stand by with me for a moment. As we mentioned, i traveled some 7,000 miles to the sea of japan this week. And it really felt like a world away from the political rancor here at home. The men and women who stand ready to protect this nation and its allies are laser focused on the mission and unrattled by the escalating threat of conflict with north korea. The sea of japan is bristling with warships. This is the uss Ronald Reagan a Nuclear Powered aircraft carrier. Where the roar of fighter jets is constant. The 5,000 sailors on board conducting five days of drills with south korean counterparts. North korea calling the exercise a provocation. Accusing the allies of trying to frantically start a nuclear war. In washington on thursday, the director of the cia saying north korea is mere months away from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear weapon. We ought to behave as if were on the cusp of them achieving that objective. Reporter and the president s National Security adviser warning patience is running thin. Were in a race to resolve this short of military action. Were not out of time. But we are running out of time. We are running out of time. Reporter landing on the reagan this week, a tail hook trap, the intensity of the exercises is evident. Everyone is aware of the tension on the peninsula. Does that factor into your exercises . We live with this kind of stuff in balance all the time. Were very keen, and aware, i think, of the tension. Reporter this is the carriers third trip to the sea of japan in the last five months. The same waters where many of the missiles north korea has launched have come crashing down. The training that we conduct is about being ready to respond. And, ready to respond to whatever happens. I have control of everything that moves on the flight deck and on the hangar bay. One plus 30minute cycle, we could launch an event from anywhere from 12 to 15 to 20plus aircraft. Reporter with so many moving parts, live bombs, and missiles, and no margin of error, coordination of every movement during these complex exercises is critical. And just before the fighter jet hits the deck, it goes to full power in case it doesnt hit any of the wires. Too high, youre not going to stop. Too low, it can get catastrophic pretty quickly. We have the best pilots in the world out here. Any deviation from glide slope and center line and it can end poorly quickly. Reporter this pilot, call sign waldo, has been flying for 16 years. And is pretty confident that the u. S. Navy can outmaneuver kim jongun. The ability to target an aircraft and our ability to defend ourselves makes us makes me feel pretty good. So from a personal standpoint, im not alarmed. Reporter this carrier is only part of the military presence. The marine corps is leading the charge, as well. Were now at the Marine Corps Air station in japan. This is the f35. Theres a squadron of these here. These are the most sophisticated planes in the u. S. Arsenal. This major has been taking part in the exercises, flying the f35. The nations Crisis Response for us. We train to fight tonight. And we will fight and win tonight. Reporter and with the region remaining on the brink, they have to be ready to fight tonight. And were back now with general petraeus. Your successor at the cia said we have about a 20 to 25 chance of a real conflict there. Can you see a diplomatic resolution at this point . I think theres still an opportunity here. And really, all of this rhetoric, frankly, is aimed, not at north korea, but at china. This is about getting president xis attention, once hes done with the party congress, which is still ongoing. So that china will really clamp down on the umbilical cord through which 90 of the trade to and from north korea transits. China has the ability to bring north korea to its senses but doesnt want to bring it to its knees. They dont want to see a reunified Korean Peninsula and all that that would entail. But this is possible. And thats what this is all aimed at doing. The saberrattling. Certainly the preb rations. So that if there is some kind of military engagement that well be the best prepared we can possibly be. But needless to say, any possible scenario is ugly. And thats what everyone is intent on preventing. But it requires chinas action. You talked about the rhetoric being aimed at china. Theres been a lot of rhetoric from President Trump. He tweeted that secretary of state Rex Tillerson is wasting his time. Trying to negotiate with north korea. Youre saying all of this is aimed at china . This is aimed at china. And again, secretary tillerson is undertaking the kind of Strategic Engagement that is necessary here. To build that relationship. Also in advance of a trip out there by the president himself. This is the essence of this. This is chinas decision to take. Whether they are going to do, which they did do one time before, 15 or so years ago. Which was to get north korea back to the negotiating table. Halt the missile and Nuclear Testing where it is right now. But you have heard this rhetoric. It may be aimed at china, but north korea is hearing it. Kim jongun is hearing it. Does this exacerbate the situation . Does it make conflict more likely . Well, before you get into a crisis, this probably gives the other side a bit of pause. The problem with this kind of approach is that if you end up in a crisis, even inadvertently, then you dont want the other side thinking that you might be prone to take the slack out of the trigger. Because then they might be the ones to pull the trigger first. What is the strategy if china doesnt do its part . China has to understand the new strategic reality that would result. Which is very uncomfortable for them. If they didnt like the air defense system, the antiballistic Missile System that went into korea, they really wont like all the other stuff that is going to follow, or that which will go into japan. At what point do Nuclear Weapons have to go back into south korea . When does japan get offensive capabilities . What does japan do about the Nuclear Issue . Does it get its own nuclear program. This, i think, is what china has to really come to grips with. And decide that once and for all, they are going to dramatically tighten what goes in and out of korea and russia does the same. And they all approve the u. N. Security Council Resolutions that should, indeed, do just that. Let me ask you this simple question. As we sit here right now, are you concerned there could be a real nuclear war with north korea . Certainly concerned. The question is how concerned. Likely . I dont think likely. No. All of this, again is a Communications Strategy that is trying to make sure that china understands that this administration is in a very different situation from any of its predecessors. That north korea, on this president s watch, could have the capability to hit a city in the United States with nuclear weapon. We hope they dont do that. Nice to talk to you this morning, general petraeus. Thank you so much. Great being back. Thank you. 13 years after an army platoon was ambushed on the streets of sadr city, their battle and their bravery is the subject of a powerful new miniseries. Actor Michael Kelly and two of the reallife he roes portrayed in the series join me after a short break. Es join me after a short break. What are the ingredients of a life well lived . Is it the places you go . The things you own . Or the people that fill it with meaning . For 150 years, generations of families have chosen pacific life for retirement and Life Insurance solutions. Protecting whats most important to you. Thats the power of pacific. Ask a Financial Advisor about pacific life. Not all Fish Oil Supplements provide the same omega3