1 month ago
The pursuing is simply a transcript of an question and reply pinch retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, erstwhile commandant for U.S. Central Command, that aired connected April 14, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're going to spell now to nan erstwhile commandant for U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie, who is besides nan writer of a caller book, "The Melting Point", disposable successful June. General, invited backmost to "Face The Nation". Given what you conscionable saw play retired successful nan past 24 hours, I wonderment if you deliberation that deterrence has been reestablished? And connected nan spectrum of options that Iran had earlier it, really large did it spell past night?
GEN. FRANK MCKENZIE: Well, first of all, bully to spot you, Margaret. I deliberation this was a large onslaught by Iran. I deliberation this was arsenic adjacent to a maximum effort arsenic they could generate. And- and I'll exemplify it successful this way. Iran has complete 3000 missiles of various types scattered around- astir nan country. They person astir 100—probably a small much than that—missiles, mostly successful occidental Iran, that tin target Israel. Based connected what nan Israelis are saying, I judge they fired astir of those weapons astatine Israel. The Israelis, obviously, were capable to intercept astir of them. Iran could not replicate past night's onslaught tonight, if they had to. Now they besides usage cruise missiles, and they usage drones to effort to coming a multi-dimensional problem to nan Israelis. It was a maximum effort. Now nan Iranians are going to backtrack and talk astir moderation. There was thing mean astir this attack, and I deliberation John Kirby nailed it precisely erstwhile he was talking to you earlier astir nan quality and scope of nan Iranian attack. It was indiscriminate. And it was designed to origin casualties. So we should conscionable see that, arsenic we return a look astatine it. Now, has nan terrace been reset? I deliberation nan Israelis performed magnificently, pinch our assistance and nan assistance of different nations successful nan region, and including nan United Kingdom. And truthful I deliberation that now nan Iranians person to beryllium backmost and consider: what they considered their astir important capability, their ballistic missiles, their drones, and their- and their cruise missiles, person now been employed successful a awesome combat test. And frankly, that trial has failed. So I deliberation Israel this greeting is now overmuch stronger than they were yesterday. And Iran is comparatively weaker than it was yesterday.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But now it comes down to governmental decisions that Israel's activity will beryllium making. And arsenic you heard John Kirby say, those decisions haven't been made yet connected what a reprisal will look for illustration by Israel. Would you advise, if you were successful your erstwhile role, Israeli leaders to- to propulsion backmost here? How concerned are you astir a location escalation?
GEN. MCKENZIE: So I deliberation 1 of nan opportunities for nan victor successful a major- successful a awesome conflict that was conscionable fought, that Israel won, is nan opportunity to usage restraint. And I would counsel restraint. There will beryllium voices that will impulse nan Israelis to return retired nan Iranian atomic program, which I deliberation is a- is simply a mendacious chimera anyway. But I would reason that if you're going to do something, and they whitethorn person to do something, I would beryllium precise, I would beryllium short. The truth of nan matter is, Israel tin sanction nan value they want to exact. The wide spread betwixt Iranian zealotry and enthusiasm and Israeli competence has now been laid bare for each to see. So nan Israelis will beryllium capable to do what they want. But sometimes erstwhile you're successful that position, showing immoderate restraint is nan champion strategical action that you tin take.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Chairman McCaul was here. And he said, we spot now Iran is not 10 feet tall. It sounds for illustration you're saying Israel tin motion this off.
GEN. MCKENZIE: I don't deliberation Israel tin motion it off, because I deliberation Israel still needs to beryllium concerned astir Lebanese Hezbollah up northbound successful Lebanon. They do person nan expertise to wounded Israel if they travel into nan fight. Interesting past night, location were immoderate tactical backmost and distant successful nan bluish border. But thing for illustration nan measurement of fires that LH, Lebanese Hezbollah, could person generated had they want to travel into nan fight. The truth that they did not take to do truthful is, I think, very, very important. It's a very important point to note, because they cognize and understand what Israel tin do to them. I've ne'er viewed nan Iranians arsenic being 10 ft tall. I don't deliberation nan Israelis person either. I person a patient respect for, astatine slightest their enthusiasm, and their- and their willingness to undertake things that we saw past night. But now nan Iranians person sewage to beryllium backmost and eat, though they'll ne'er opportunity it publicly. They're going to person to examine, re-examine, immoderate of nan very basal concepts of nan measurement they've constructed their military.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And Lebanese Hezbollah has been- has not entered this conflict to day successful a important way. I cognize you've- you've been informing for a while, that's the- that's nan subordinate to watch. You were straight progressive successful nan taking retired of IRGC commandant Qasem Soleimani during nan Trump administration, and past Iran's retaliation astatine that clip was besides viewed as- arsenic reasonably restrained. How concerned should nan United States be, though, now, successful this moment, astir U.S. unit and U.S. unit beingness successful places for illustration Iraq and Syria? As you know, this is simply a unrecorded rumor astatine nan White House this week arsenic nan Iraqi premier curate visits.
GEN. MCKENZIE: Our forces distributed crossed Iraq and Syria, supporting nan Armed Forces of Iraq and anti-ISIS operations and supporting our SDF partners successful eastbound Syria, those forces are susceptible to an Iranian aliases an Iranian proxy attack, we admit that. I deliberation that's why nan President's been very forceful successful informing them. Now, it's besides very instructive that nan Iranians did not take to onslaught us, arsenic they- arsenic they conducted a awesome strategical onslaught connected Israel. So they've listened to that. The Iranians cognize that we person nan capability, if they take to conflict us, to wounded them very badly. And I deliberation that nan Iranians will deliberation agelong and difficult earlier undertaking attacks against america in- successful nan future.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If Israel were to respond, would you person suggested targets? What- what would you expect?
GEN. MCKENZIE: Well, nan Israelis person a batch to take from, some wrong Iran and extracurricular Iran. My- my only strategical proposal would be, you want to beryllium narrow, you want to make judge that it's a- it has a definable opening and a definable end, and nan Iranians cognize erstwhile it's over. But nan truth of nan matter is, Israel tin sanction its value correct now. And that's a very heady position to beryllium in. But it's besides a- a position that calls for workout of strategical restraint, and a position to nan agelong term. And Israel has an opportunity here, I think, to show that, and to prehend the- to prehend nan negotiated initiative, really, successful an arena wherever they struggled to do it complete nan past few- fewer months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We will spot if they make that governmental decision. General, convey you very overmuch for your analysis. We'll beryllium correct back.
