Sen. Kennedy seeks ‘hard answers’ on state of Iran War

[00:00:00]Is Russia America's friend?

[00:00:03]>> I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't quite hear your question.

[00:00:05]>> America's friend?

[00:00:08]>> Uh I think that depends on your definition of friend. I think it's a complicated relationship.

[00:00:16]But no, I don't think they're our friends.

[00:00:20]>> Thank you.

[00:00:25]If we could stop people, entities, and countries from buying Russia's oil, that would help cut off its cash flow, wouldn't it?

[00:00:36]>> Yes, sir.

[00:00:38]>> We have a bill to do that, as I'm sure you're aware.

[00:00:45]We have the votes today to pass it overwhelmingly.

[00:00:53]I have also have enormous respect and admiration for our Majority Leader, Senator Thune.

[00:01:03]But I hope everybody on this panel will today contact Senator Thune and ask him to bring that bill to the floor.

[00:01:17]Some of my colleagues, General, want America to just stop in Iran.

[00:01:25]End the blockade.

[00:01:28]Bring all of our our our warriors home.

[00:01:32]What would be the consequences of that in your estimation?

[00:01:39]>> Sir, I think uh termination criteria is always a political decision. However, I assess that uh Iran will continue to be a challenge moving forward. So, we have to uh be thoughtful about that.

[00:01:53]>> tolls on the Strait.

[00:01:55]>> I don't know, sir. That's a decision that's a and will depend on what happens in the future.

[00:02:00]>> We've got a blockade to stop them.

[00:02:03]>> We do, sir. That's putting economic pressure on them.

[00:02:06]>> I'm not asking you for I'm not trying to get you in trouble. I know your advice to the president it is uh it is is private. But this is serious as four heart attacks and a stroke.

[00:02:21]Now, what happens if we come home and end the blockade to the world?

[00:02:30]>> Sir, Iran uh has the potential to continue to be a threat and we're going to we will need to prepare military options to do that.

[00:02:38]>> straight?

[00:02:39]>> I Sir, that's a hypothetical question and I don't know the answer to that.

[00:02:43]>> Oh, it's not hypothetical. You come home We come home. It's not going to be hypothetical. You know that, General.

[00:02:50]And I do, too.

[00:02:51]And and I I appreciate your discretion.

[00:02:55]But we're down to it.

[00:02:57]We need some hard answers and some straight talk.

[00:03:01]What will happen, Pete?

[00:03:05]>> Senator, I would I would agree with the chairman that the likely outcome is they would try to impose their will on the on the waterways in ways that uh the world the world would not like. Call it a toll, call it a fee, call it an exchange, call it control. They would do something that they would try to hold it at issue.