WEBVTT 00:01.900 --> 00:03.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And now we turn to the political analysis of Shields and Brooks. 00:03.933 --> 00:08.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That is syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks. 00:08.033 --> 00:09.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Hello to both of you. 00:09.666 --> 00:11.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Let's start with our lead story tonight. 00:11.200 --> 00:15.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And that is the whistle-blower from the intelligence community. 00:15.100 --> 00:20.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The word gets out -- or this person is alleging that he that the president, in a conversation 00:22.066 --> 00:26.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% with -- now we think it's the president of Ukraine, urged the president of Ukraine, Mark, 00:27.933 --> 00:31.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to investigate Joe Biden's son. 00:31.533 --> 00:36.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And we have a -- there's still no -- the president denies it, and others do, but now we have 00:37.733 --> 00:40.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% several news outlets backing up the story. 00:40.266 --> 00:43.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And I was just handed -- and you have seen it -- a statement by Joe Biden. 00:43.966 --> 00:48.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He says: "If these reports are true, there's truly no bottom to President Trump's willingness 00:48.566 --> 00:51.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to abuse his power and abuse our country. 00:51.666 --> 00:55.966 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% This behavior is particularly abhorrent because it exploits the foreign policy of our country 00:55.966 --> 01:00.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and undermines our national security for political purposes." 01:00.200 --> 01:03.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% How seriously should we be taking these allegations? 01:03.200 --> 01:06.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% MARK SHIELDS: I think they're enormously serious. 01:06.000 --> 01:11.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And the fact that The Wall Street Journal is leading this story, along with The New 01:13.033 --> 01:16.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% York Times and The Washington Post, but this is not false or fake news or anything of the 01:17.166 --> 01:18.400 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% sort. 01:18.400 --> 01:20.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's not a political vendetta of any sort. 01:20.666 --> 01:25.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And this is quite beyond a Playboy model or a frat party at an Ivy League school or anything 01:28.733 --> 01:29.733 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of the sort. 01:29.733 --> 01:32.266 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% This is really serious. 01:32.266 --> 01:35.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% This is totally exploiting the national security, putting at risk the national security of the 01:39.766 --> 01:44.766 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% United States for narrow political, personal interests, if, in fact, the reports are true. 01:47.366 --> 01:52.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And I guess the most disturbing thing to me, Judy, was the president accused the whistle-blower, 01:54.866 --> 01:57.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% who, at enormous risk, and it required considerable courage, of being an extreme partisan, which 02:01.266 --> 02:06.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% means, A, that somebody in the White House knows who the whistle-blower is. 02:07.133 --> 02:08.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% This is mafia-like threats. 02:08.766 --> 02:10.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% We know who you are. 02:10.833 --> 02:14.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And they have investigated his political affiliation or her political affiliation. 02:15.933 --> 02:18.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I mean, so, I think it's enormously grave. 02:18.000 --> 02:21.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, in fact, the president - - David, the president was saying today to 02:21.466 --> 02:26.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the television cameras that people in the White House were making fun of all this. 02:28.800 --> 02:32.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Are we looking at something where it's going to be a he said/he said situation going forward? 02:34.700 --> 02:36.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DAVID BROOKS: Well, presumably, the call was listened to by others and recorded. 02:36.333 --> 02:39.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% So, I'm not sure it was recorded, but it was certainly listened to. 02:39.166 --> 02:41.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% These calls are not -- it's not just a one-on-one call. 02:41.300 --> 02:42.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% There's people on the line. 02:42.833 --> 02:45.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% You know, I think it is pretty grave. 02:45.300 --> 02:49.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Most presidents go into the White House thinking, I'm here to serve the office, I'm here to 02:49.533 --> 02:51.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% serve America. 02:51.600 --> 02:55.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Donald Trump is using America to serve him and American foreign policy to serve him. 02:55.666 --> 02:59.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And most presidents go into the office thinking that the phrase my fellow Americans means 02:59.566 --> 03:03.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% something and that we have greater loyalty to our fellow Americans than we do the people 03:03.466 --> 03:05.366 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% in outside countries. 03:05.366 --> 03:10.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And he's basically using another country to be oppo research on his fellow American. 03:12.066 --> 03:15.100 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And I think this rises to more a level -- I'm not sure this really is foundationally changing, 03:17.066 --> 03:21.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but it rises to a different revel, if there's a connection between the foreign aid and the 03:21.433 --> 03:22.433 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% promise. 03:22.433 --> 03:24.933 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Right. 03:24.933 --> 03:26.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% DAVID BROOKS: That really is using -- suborning U.S. government money for your own private 03:26.800 --> 03:28.166 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% gain. 03:28.166 --> 03:30.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And that's clearly corruption of a high order. 03:30.766 --> 03:34.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And, as both of you are saying, Mark, we don't know for a fact that this happened. 03:34.900 --> 03:38.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% But the evidence is now building, the reporting is building. 03:38.400 --> 03:40.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And there are two strands. 03:40.366 --> 03:44.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It is urging the leader of another country to get involved in a political campaign, but 03:46.433 --> 03:48.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% then the quid pro quo, potentially. 03:48.666 --> 03:51.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% MARK SHIELDS: No, exactly, Judy. 03:51.533 --> 03:56.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% To say, look, be in touch with my Dr. Dirt, my oppo research guy, who once was America's 03:57.733 --> 04:00.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% mayor and is now doing smear jobs. 04:00.300 --> 04:01.466 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Rudy Giuliani. 04:01.466 --> 04:03.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% MARK SHIELDS: Rudy Giuliani. 04:03.566 --> 04:08.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% How the mighty have fallen to that point where he's an errand boy to be a hit man on political 04:09.366 --> 04:10.533 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% opponents. 04:10.533 --> 04:12.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% No, David put it very well. 04:12.733 --> 04:17.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I mean, this is a total, total corruption of the -- if it's valid and if it's accurate 04:19.766 --> 04:23.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% - - and I think that the news reports are done very soberly, quite honestly, because they 04:26.266 --> 04:30.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% take their position -- their mission seriously. 04:30.933 --> 04:35.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% If it's true, Judy, then I don't see how the Democrats can back off on impeachment investigation. 04:39.100 --> 04:42.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: And I want to ask you about that because this week, David, as both of 04:42.866 --> 04:45.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you have pointed out, the president's lawyers were in court. 04:45.666 --> 04:50.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They were arguing against a New York lawsuit, an attempt to get the president's tax returns 04:53.033 --> 04:55.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to be turned over, to be made public. 04:55.066 --> 04:59.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And the president's lawyers are saying you can't investigate a president while he's sitting 04:59.466 --> 05:01.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% in office. 05:01.666 --> 05:06.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% What we're learning today in these reports about Ukraine raise questions about that. 05:07.966 --> 05:09.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DAVID BROOKS: Yes, this was the Nixon defense with David Frost, that, if a president does 05:09.600 --> 05:10.600 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% it, it's not illegal. 05:10.600 --> 05:11.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And it didn't work for Nixon. 05:11.800 --> 05:13.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I'm not sure it would work for here. 05:13.866 --> 05:17.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I mean, a basic principle of our government is that no person is above the law. 05:17.700 --> 05:19.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And so I don't think that will work. 05:19.800 --> 05:23.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I am struck -- I do think, if there's a link to the foreign aid, the Democrats obviously 05:23.900 --> 05:26.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% have to launch a different and new investigation. 05:26.500 --> 05:31.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I'm struck mostly by, when President Trump does something out in the open, or Rudy Giuliani 05:31.233 --> 05:34.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% does something out in the open, like, it doesn't become a big thing. 05:34.533 --> 05:38.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Now that we have something secret that the press have uncovered, suddenly, it blows up. 05:38.800 --> 05:41.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But Giuliani wasn't shy about this. 05:41.033 --> 05:44.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And the fall of Giuliani is one of the great stories of our age. 05:44.200 --> 05:48.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I covered him a lot when he was mayor, extremely brilliant, extremely sharp, not the man I 05:48.133 --> 05:50.233 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% see today. 05:50.233 --> 05:53.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The one continuity is that he would sit around with his staff and watch "The Godfather" movies 05:53.733 --> 05:54.733 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% over and over again. 05:54.733 --> 05:56.366 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: Wow. 05:56.366 --> 05:57.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% DAVID BROOKS: And the mob behavior -- this really is mob behavior. 05:57.633 --> 05:59.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It's like, let's dig up dirt on this guy. 05:59.800 --> 06:01.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% That's the way it strikes me, more than anything else. 06:01.866 --> 06:05.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, and, again, Mark, with these -- with the president's lawyers fighting 06:05.666 --> 06:09.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% back, which they have been -- they have been fighting all these attempts to get any information 06:09.666 --> 06:10.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% turned over. 06:10.666 --> 06:12.766 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: Right. 06:12.766 --> 06:13.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: But this is the first time we have heard them argue a president can't 06:13.433 --> 06:14.633 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% be investigated. 06:14.633 --> 06:15.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: Can't be investigated. 06:15.800 --> 06:17.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I agree with David about the Nixon defense. 06:17.833 --> 06:22.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Nixon, of course, invoked that defense in 1977, three years after he had been forced 06:23.400 --> 06:25.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% out, in an interview with David Frost. 06:25.400 --> 06:29.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But no president -- he did prove that, and by his own statement and his own actions, 06:31.033 --> 06:33.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that no president can be above the law. 06:33.100 --> 06:37.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And, no, I really think the gravity of this is yet to be fully appreciated. 06:40.166 --> 06:43.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: The major -- other major story we're watching very closely this week, David, 06:43.866 --> 06:48.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% of course, is the -- in the aftermath of the attack on the Saudi oil complex and the administration 06:50.833 --> 06:54.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% pointing fingers immediately at Iran, although, so far, we don't have absolute proof. 06:56.366 --> 06:58.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I'm told there's just been a press conference at the Department of Defense. 06:58.400 --> 07:03.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The defense secretary, Esper, is saying everything we have now points to Iran. 07:05.366 --> 07:08.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% President Trump's response has been first to talk about being locked and loaded and 07:08.500 --> 07:13.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we could do whatever we wanted to Iran, but, on the other hand, today and at intervals 07:14.900 --> 07:16.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% this past week, saying, no, that's not what we want. 07:16.933 --> 07:19.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We don't want war with Iran. 07:19.133 --> 07:21.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% What do we make of this American response? 07:21.400 --> 07:22.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% DAVID BROOKS: Yes. 07:22.800 --> 07:23.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Well, you know, this happens in the Middle East. 07:23.733 --> 07:27.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And all arrows do point to Iran. 07:27.066 --> 07:30.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I mean, Iran has been clearly ramping up their terror activity toward the Saudis over the 07:30.933 --> 07:33.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% last several months with a bunch of these missile attacks. 07:33.666 --> 07:37.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Secondly, the fact that these attacks, somehow, they did it -- a sophisticated enough weapon 07:37.200 --> 07:38.366 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% to get through. 07:38.366 --> 07:39.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% No American missile base saw them. 07:39.766 --> 07:42.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% There are a lot of American bases in the region. 07:42.800 --> 07:46.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And so that suggests it was something more than just a small rebel army. 07:46.766 --> 07:49.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It was a really sophisticated attack. 07:49.500 --> 07:53.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so what's happening is, Iran is clearly testing to see what it can get away with in 07:53.166 --> 07:55.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% order to intimidate the Saudis. 07:55.166 --> 07:57.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And the Saudis know they're very vulnerable to this kind of attack. 07:57.333 --> 07:58.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% They're trying to sell their oil company. 07:58.866 --> 08:01.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The oil markets are their bread and butter. 08:01.833 --> 08:06.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And Iran is the country that is hegemonic or trying to be hegemonic in the region. 08:08.233 --> 08:10.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And they have got an ideology they're trying to export. 08:10.466 --> 08:12.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And so I think Trump is actually playing it reasonably well. 08:12.900 --> 08:17.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I mean, it's a chess match, where they launch something, and then we try to frighten them, 08:17.333 --> 08:20.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% or we try to put some economic sanctions on them. 08:20.433 --> 08:24.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And so Trump is pushing back without going crazy. 08:24.200 --> 08:26.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% And so he's not being violent. 08:26.833 --> 08:31.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so far, I think he's playing the game as -- sort of as well as you can do under 08:32.566 --> 08:33.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% in the circumstance. 08:33.800 --> 08:35.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: He's handling it well? 08:35.933 --> 08:38.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MARK SHIELDS: He's not being violent, but I think we have to say that we are where we 08:39.966 --> 08:42.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% are today with Iran because of Donald Trump. 08:42.633 --> 08:47.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Donald Trump withdrew, on political grounds alone -- that was his only basis, that Barack 08:50.133 --> 08:53.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Obama had negotiated that agreement, the nuclear agreement, with the Iranians, with the United 08:55.333 --> 08:59.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% States, and U.K., and Russia, China, Germany, France, put it all together. 09:00.766 --> 09:05.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% There were 98 percent reduction in their capacity. 09:05.733 --> 09:07.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% They were open to inspection. 09:07.900 --> 09:10.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And he withdrew, and there was nothing to replace it. 09:10.466 --> 09:12.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% He has no coalition partners. 09:12.433 --> 09:14.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% He has lost his coalition. 09:14.533 --> 09:18.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We are now standing, waiting for the judgment of the Saudi prince as to whether we go to 09:19.900 --> 09:21.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - - send Americans to war. 09:21.966 --> 09:24.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I mean, what are our shared values with the Saudis? 09:24.833 --> 09:26.266 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% I missed those. 09:26.266 --> 09:30.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Are they freedom of press, religion, assembly, rule of law? 09:30.466 --> 09:32.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Is there anything? 09:32.833 --> 09:37.266 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I think what we have seen is that -- the limitations of budget defense sales to a country. 09:39.133 --> 09:41.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I mean, Trump boasts over the fact we have sold $4 billion. 09:41.633 --> 09:46.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They have the fifth largest defense budget in the world, the Saudis do, and they can't 09:47.366 --> 09:48.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% even defend themselves. 09:48.800 --> 09:53.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And, you know, they are overbuilt, they're overmuscled. 09:53.266 --> 09:55.000 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% And David's right. 09:55.000 --> 09:56.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We're not going to win this. 09:56.966 --> 10:00.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And the Iranians know we're not going to -- President Trump doesn't want to go to war. 10:00.766 --> 10:03.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I don't say -- accuse him of being a warmonger. 10:03.333 --> 10:07.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And he doesn't want to go to war because 2020 is coming up, and a war in the Middle East 10:07.566 --> 10:09.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% is about the last thing in the world any president wants. 10:09.533 --> 10:10.533 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% DAVID BROOKS: Yes. 10:10.533 --> 10:11.533 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% I... 10:11.533 --> 10:13.533 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (CROSSTALK) 10:13.533 --> 10:14.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, I should add, I just was told another comment from the defense 10:14.333 --> 10:16.400 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% secretary just now. 10:16.400 --> 10:19.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He said: "We will send" -- the U.S. will send some troops to the region, but he said it 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% won't be in the thousands. 10:20.000 --> 10:22.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% DAVID BROOKS: Right. 10:22.033 --> 10:23.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: So we don't know what that means, but it's a half-step, David, I think. 10:23.833 --> 10:24.833 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (CROSSTALK) 10:24.833 --> 10:26.100 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% DAVID BROOKS: Yes. 10:26.100 --> 10:27.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% This is what -- you do this, I do this. 10:27.033 --> 10:28.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% We are signaling to each other. 10:28.500 --> 10:30.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% It's a dance. 10:30.466 --> 10:32.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think the Iranians probably know Trump is not going to do anything. 10:32.566 --> 10:34.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He's going to send a signal, but he's not going to -- he doesn't want to go to war, 10:34.833 --> 10:36.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% so they do have the upper hand on this. 10:36.666 --> 10:38.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% One area where I disagree with Mark... 10:38.000 --> 10:40.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: OK. 10:40.166 --> 10:42.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DAVID BROOKS: ... is, I don't think this is entirely due to the Iranian nuclear deal being 10:42.233 --> 10:44.333 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% canceled. 10:44.333 --> 10:47.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The critics of that deal, even before it was accepted, said the problem is that Iran has 10:47.966 --> 10:50.033 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% two bad things. 10:50.033 --> 10:52.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They're doing the nuclear program, but the terror in the region program. 10:52.600 --> 10:56.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And many people criticized that deal because it did nothing to address Iran's terror in 10:56.533 --> 10:57.900 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% the region program. 10:57.900 --> 11:00.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% And that's what this is a continuation of. 11:00.000 --> 11:03.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It may be ramped up a little, but they have been doing this sort of thing for -- well, 11:03.133 --> 11:04.133 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% since 1979. 11:04.133 --> 11:05.366 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: Yes. 11:05.366 --> 11:09.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I mean, I'm not here as an apologist for Iran. 11:09.033 --> 11:14.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I'm saying there was a coherent coalition to contain and to limit Iranian activity and 11:17.366 --> 11:19.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Iranian negative influence. 11:19.500 --> 11:23.900 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And I believe it was working, and that there is now no substitute is exactly like his health 11:25.600 --> 11:26.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% care plan. 11:26.600 --> 11:28.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% 0 There is no substitute. 11:28.066 --> 11:32.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I mean, dismantle what is there, and replace it with nothing. 11:32.533 --> 11:35.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And I honestly think -- there's no one-off with Iran. 11:35.700 --> 11:40.700 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% I mean, Iran has got Syria bases. 11:42.700 --> 11:46.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Iran has opportunities to perplex and torment us in all kinds of places. 11:48.266 --> 11:52.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, and this story is -- now we're a week into it, but it looks as if we're 11:54.866 --> 11:58.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% about to see the next phase with the announcement of troops going into -- more troops going 11:58.233 --> 12:00.433 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% into the region. 12:00.433 --> 12:02.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Mark Shields, David Brooks, thank you. 12:02.466 --> 12:03.200 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% MARK SHIELDS: Thank you.