1 month ago
The pursuing is simply a transcript of an question and reply pinch Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that aired connected April 14, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We're joined now by Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. Welcome backmost to Face The Nation, Senator.
SEN. MARK KELLY: Thank you for having maine on. Margaret,
MARGARET BRENNAN: I cognize you are connected nan Intelligence Committee, you way a batch of nationalist information issues. The U.S. intelligence appraisal backmost successful February that was declassified said Iran is quote, "not presently undertaking nan cardinal atomic weapons improvement activities basal to nutrient a testable atomic device." Are you concerned that immoderate of these calls for strikes connected Iran by Israel aliases for- moreover U.S. information successful them, could that alteration Iran's calculus?
SEN. KELLY: Well, I deliberation it could and that's why we don't want to spot this escalate. You know, past night, we supported Israel successful their defense very successfully. This is simply a very fierce enactment by Iran. They've been doing this for months now done their proxies, but now straight from Iranian territory, truthful this is significant. We don't want to spot this escalate into a wider conflict. At nan aforesaid time, I americium perpetually looking astatine nan Iranian atomic weapons capability. They could get beautiful close, beautiful accelerated if they chose to do that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But they person not, arsenic yet, decided to make that governmental decision.
SEN. KELLY: That- that is our intelligence community's study of this and I would work together pinch that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. In a canvass that was taken earlier this Iranian reprisal, Democrat's support for sending weapons to Israel has dropped from almost half to a 3rd since October , according to our latest canvass that we released today. Democrats are now much sympathetic to Palestinians than to Israelis. Are you concerned that Israel's behaviour successful this warfare successful Gaza and nan usage of U.S. subject instrumentality is going to wounded President Biden successful November?
SEN. KELLY: Well, my- my first interest present is nan Israeli group and nan Palestinian people. I mean, Israel was violently attacked connected October 7. I've watched an hr of footage from that day, it was horrific, and Israel has a correct to take sides itself. The measurement this has been conducted successful Gaza, I person superior concerns, I've expressed those. Just astir recently, astir a week agone pinch nan Israeli Prime Minister astir what happened pinch nan World Central Kitchen; reckless enactment and irresponsible, and they request to do better. We supply them pinch important aid, and we're going to request to supply them pinch much by nan measurement present because of what happened past night, we were going to request to replenish their rounds. Yeah, I mean, I'm ever you know, I'm concerned pinch perceptions and- and an election. But nan point that's ever apical of mind for me, because I beryllium connected nan Intelligence Committee, I'm connected nan Armed Services Committee, it's our ain nationalist information and nan nationalist information of our allies.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And, Senator, I know, You've been concerned astir nan information of Ukraine arsenic good and that nationalist information supplemental. I want to talk to you much successful extent astir that and what's happening successful your location authorities successful a moment, but I'm gonna person to return a commercialized break here. So enactment pinch america and we dream that each of you will enactment pinch america arsenic we talk arsenic good astir nan Arizona Supreme Court determination past week that shook nan governmental world. Stay pinch us
–COMMERCIAL BREAK–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome backmost to Face The Nation. We are continuing our speech now pinch Senator Mark Kelly. Senator, earlier we time off nationalist information space, I want to inquire you astir immoderate U.S. intelligence accusation declassified and shared pinch reporters this week astatine nan White House, that China's surging instrumentality to Russia for its warfare pinch Ukraine, helping Moscow capable gaps successful its accumulation cycle, including helping to nutrient drones and artillery. Why is China utilizing this infinitesimal to thief Russia pinch its warfare successful Ukraine?
SEN. KELLY: Well, I deliberation they recognize that Russia, nan result of this war, Russia against Ukraine is captious for their ain decisions pinch Taiwan successful nan Western Pacific. This is each connected. Iran, Ukraine, China, nan banal of Ukrainian ammunition is dwindling. They're going to tally retired of ammunition. Russia's capacity, we look astatine this each nan time, is going up. With nan thief of China, Russia tin triumph this. If we support Ukraine, Ukraine tin win. We passed an emergency supplemental 2 months ago. It's sitting connected nan speaker's desk, he should bring that to nan level tomorrow night, get it passed. This is besides going to thief Israel, we tin replenish, you know. nan stocks that they utilized past night.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I return your point, Senator, connected them each being connected. I want to inquire you astir what's happening successful your location authorities of Arizona, arsenic you cognize nan State Court ruled an 1864 Civil War era rule tin return effect that would criminalize abortion, it's connected clasp astatine nan moment, but this is simply a unrecorded issue. Do you person assurance that your authorities legislators will return action earlier it goes into effect?
SEN. KELLY: Well, fto maine commencement by saying this has been a disaster for women successful Arizona. They've mislaid a basal correct to abortion, and it's each because of Donald Trump. And our legislature, yeah, they tried to hole this a mates of days ago, that did not work. We've sewage to get- we've sewage a ballot inaugural successful November to hole this. Donald Trump owns this. He said conscionable yesterday that he collapsed Roe v. Wade and because he did that, this enabled our tribunal to bring backmost this draconian 1864 rule to return distant this right, nonstop doctors to jail.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I mean, to beryllium fair, your Republican authorities legislators person immoderate agency present too, they could person done thing different, but I return your rhetorical point.
SEN. KELLY: They could have. Yeah, they could person and right, they did not do- do thing astir it. They had nan opportunity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But, location is that inaugural you conscionable mentioned to put connected nan ballot successful November a chance for your authorities to ballot connected this peculiar rumor and it would guarantee abortion entree up to viability, which is anyplace betwixt 21 and 24 weeks, typically, of pregnancy. From a governmental position, really overmuch is this going to thief offset immoderate of nan disappointment and exhaustion we're seeing successful polling from Democratic voters? Will this rumor thrust up turnout successful a measurement that benefits nan president successful your state?
SEN. KELLY: Well, my first interest is women successful Arizona and their- and their wellness and women could dice from this 1864 ruling that erstwhile again was enabled by nan erstwhile president. So that's my biggest concern. We're going to person an predetermination successful November. I ideate we're going to person ample turnout because of this issue. I besides want to constituent out, Margaret, that I don't deliberation this represents who we are successful nan authorities of Arizona. This is simply a infinitesimal successful time, we're gonna get done this. We person an opportunity to hole this successful November.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we will beryllium watching to spot what happens. Senator, convey you very overmuch for joining us.
SEN. KELLY: Thank you. Thank you, Margaret. Today
