U.S. To Send 1,000 U.S. Troops To The Middle East
LEMON: Tonight, the Trump administration announcing a new deployment of troops to the Middle East. This comes as the Pentagon release its new images of what it claims is evidence of an Iranian attack. The images are a more detailed close-up look on the attack on two tankers last week and they've only been declassified after U.S. allies expressed skepticism at Trump blaming Iran. This is an image. Take a look at it. It was taken by a U.S. helicopter showing an Iranian Revolutionary Guard boat just moments after the crew had been -- the crew had been removed what the Pentagon says an unexploded mine from one -- and unexploded -- excuse me -- unexploded mine from one of the tankers. Let's discuss now with James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence is here. Mr. Clapper, thank you. Serious business we have to get to. So, what are your thoughts on these images released? Do you think Iran did this?</s>JAMES CLAPPER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Oh, yeah, Don. I think -- I thought -- I figured that from the get-go. I mean there's really nobody else right now that has both the capability and the intent to do something like this. It might be useful just for a moment to contemplate Iran's perspective on this. So if Iran can't export oil. That means others in the region are going to fill the void. And so the Iranians are going to do what they can to disrupt that, and do it in such a way and do things that are attributable, which this certainly is, but deniable. Because the Iranians will continue to deny, you know, this is going on. It shouldn't come as a big surprise given the impact of sanctions on the Iranian economy. I think the Iranians are messaging people, both with the action they've taken with the ships, as well as their announcement about enriching uranium, which they're not doing secretively. And I think the messaging there is directed more towards Europe and trying to prevail upon the Europeans to find some way to get around the U.S. sanctions, which the Europeans are finding is very difficult.</s>LEMON: You know, I spoke to Fareed Zakaria last week, and he said he thinks there was more of this coming that they're basically being squeezed and they're trying to get themselves out of it.</s>CLAPPER: Well, that's true. You know, there is a historical precedent for this. You go back to 86 and 87, you know, similar situation. And we ended up, if I recall, escorting ships and reflagging Kuwaiti ships and this sort of thing to get them through the Strait of Hormuz. I will say I don't think Iran intends or wants any kind of a conventional war with the United States. But they feel as though they're being pushed around, and they're trying to push back.</s>LEMON: Director Clapper, the Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan's justification was (Inaudible) reads in part this. It says the recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region. You know, we're talking about 1,000 troops here. That's not a huge number. But what is the message here, Director?</s>CLAPPER: Well, I think the message -- again, messaging all around here. And I think we're trying to message back 1,000 troops. You know, it's pretty modest. I wouldn't be surprised if at least some of them are intended for what's called forced protection. You know, shades of Benghazi sort of thing where some of this may be for protection of U.S. diplomatic facilities, and may be bolstering the defensive capabilities of our shore installations, notably in places like Bahrain or Kuwait.</s>LEMON: You know, there is also this "New York Times" report about U.S. intelligence escalating cyber-attacks on the Russia power grid as a warning to Putin contain this line about the president's lack of involvement, OK? It says, Trump reportedly had not been briefed in any detail on the operations for concerns over his reaction and the possibility that he might countermand it or discuss it with foreign officials. Listen, American national security officials are declining to share Russia-related intelligence with the president of the United States because they view him as a security risk. How serious is this?</s>CLAPPER: Well, first, as an intelligence guy, you know, you kind of cringe when you see articles like that. If the president didn't know about this program with the Russians, assuming "The New York Times" article is accurate, well, he sure does now. I do know there are other instances where there have been concerns about U.S. intelligence capabilities, particularly when it comes to Russia. Since there is some mystery about just what exactly what the relationship is particularly personally between President Trump and Putin. So I think it's -- you know, we can't confirm or deny, but it's certainly plausible. And I do know there is concern in the intelligence community about that.</s>LEMON: Yeah. The president just tweeted a denial of The Times story, and also called for them to immediately release their source. I mean he's previously denied ever watching much TV or our show, but do you buy that?</s>CLAPPER: That he doesn't watch TV? Oh, yeah.</s>LEMON: Yeah. He's saying he's calling for a denial from The New York Times. I mean do you -- yeah, what do you think -- and to release its sources.</s>CLAPPER: Well, that gets into a real sensitive area with freedom of the press and all that. And I hope it doesn't come to that. Because, again, assuming this is accurate, that for the sake of discussion, then someone conveyed that to "The New York Times" who has concerns and, you know, wanted those concerns be known publicly. I will say in defense of the administration that they did publish a national cyber- security strategy, which was in tone, although not much different in substance. And they're upsized and downsized to being more aggressive. Plus, I think the commander of Cybercom, the director of NSA (Inaudible) has been circumspect, but nevertheless I think made clear to people about self-defense and being more activist. And frankly, if we have done this with the Russians, that's a good thing, because we've known and it's been discussed publicly about the Russian penetration of our grid. So if this is all true, then we perhaps achieved a mutual deterrence here. And that's a good thing.</s>LEMON: Director Clapper, thank you for your time. I appreciate it. us.</s>CLAPPER: Thanks, Don.</s>LEMON: We'll be right back.