Untitled Document

[00:00:28] e [00:00:58] e [00:01:28] e [00:01:58] e [00:02:14] [Music] [00:02:24] one [00:02:26] minute all right [00:02:28] too [00:02:34] guy the [00:02:48] corner [00:02:50] ready one camera needs to come in and [00:02:52] then we're going to go you [00:02:54] ready it's a blowers uh turn off the air [00:02:57] blower system [00:03:00] then will'll be [00:03:10] ready [00:03:13] one [00:03:28] hle [00:03:59] okay [00:04:09] are we [00:04:12] [Music] [00:04:16] good uh thank you very much uh this is a [00:04:19] red letter Day in the United States [00:04:21] Senate a bill pass [00:04:23] committee with bipartisan support and [00:04:25] let me tell you a little bit about the [00:04:27] legislation that Senator Corker and [00:04:30] Cardon uh just passed through the [00:04:32] committee um it's one thing to introduce [00:04:34] a bill there nothing to make it law and [00:04:39] uh I've never seen a better combination [00:04:41] than Bob Corker and Ben Cardon when it [00:04:44] comes to foreign policy the Foreign [00:04:46] Relations Committee is a model for the [00:04:49] rest of us if you're looking for [00:04:51] something that's working in Washington [00:04:53] the armed services committee was 27 to [00:04:56] nothing uh the legislation regarding [00:04:58] Iran North Kore and Russia uh was [00:05:02] 97-2 it went through the Foreign [00:05:04] Relations Committee uh this committee [00:05:07] can get to yes Bob is a natural [00:05:10] reconciler of different opinions and [00:05:13] this is a big day for me a big day for [00:05:16] the Taylor Force family I think a step [00:05:19] forward toward rationality in the mid [00:05:21] East and I just want to congratulate [00:05:24] Senator Corker and his committee but [00:05:26] tell you a little bit about Taylor Force [00:05:28] we just passed to the committee I think [00:05:31] 16 to5 or 17 to four I don't know the [00:05:34] numbers he can tell you uh the Taylor [00:05:36] force act Taylor forest was 29 years old [00:05:41] a Westport graduate class of 2009 he [00:05:44] served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Phil [00:05:46] artillery officer till 2014 he was on a [00:05:49] Vanderbilt University graduate school [00:05:51] program in Israel when he was stabbed [00:05:54] and killed on March 9th 2016 he left [00:05:57] behind his father Stuart his mother [00:05:59] Robbie sister Kristen uh his mother and [00:06:02] father live in South Carolina again he [00:06:04] was a graduate student uh at Vanderbilt [00:06:07] studying in Israel so it's kind of odd [00:06:10] how paths cross a uh anyway he'd gone to [00:06:15] study Global [00:06:16] entrepreneurship he was in Jaffa a med [00:06:19] uh a city by the Mediterranean Sea he [00:06:21] was uh enjoying himself with his [00:06:23] colleagues and he was stabbed by bash [00:06:26] masalah an Islamic terrorist who was who [00:06:29] murdered [00:06:30] uh Taylor force uh masalah was shot dead [00:06:34] by the Israeli police he stabbed other [00:06:36] people thank God they survived uh he uh [00:06:40] was U living in under the Palestinian [00:06:43] Authority his body was sent back to uh [00:06:47] to his home area he was praised as a [00:06:50] heroic martyr he was given the status [00:06:54] the pride of all the young [00:06:56] Palestinians and uh others were urged to [00:06:58] follow in his footsteps this is the man [00:07:01] who just killed Taylor Force body sent [00:07:05] back to the West Bank given the title [00:07:08] The Pride of all young [00:07:10] Palestinians the Palestinian Authority [00:07:13] pays families of uh like this a lump sum [00:07:19] of money and lifetime payments so if [00:07:21] you're a young Palestinian the best [00:07:23] thing maybe you can do for your family [00:07:25] in terms of income streams is to be a [00:07:27] terrorist that's sick that's in [00:07:29] consistent with peace um they paid $144 [00:07:34] million uh in martyr payments and if [00:07:36] you're serving a sentence in Israeli [00:07:38] prison for being a terrorist uh your [00:07:40] family gets a payment while you're in [00:07:42] jail and when you get out of jail you [00:07:44] get a honorary rank in the Palestinian [00:07:47] Security Forces based on how long you've [00:07:48] been in jail the longer in jail the more [00:07:51] vicious the crime the more money you and [00:07:52] your family get that's inconsistent with [00:07:55] peace that's inconsistent with uh decent [00:07:58] Society uh [00:08:01] he was called a heroic martyr at the [00:08:03] funeral uh it it just goes on and on and [00:08:06] on uh we've got video of the funeral and [00:08:08] it will literally make you sick the way [00:08:11] the Palestinian Authority pra this [00:08:14] vicious murder uh here's what uh the [00:08:17] president of [00:08:18] uh uh the Palestinian Authority said I [00:08:21] will not compromise on this issue I'd [00:08:24] rather lose my job even if I have to [00:08:27] leave my position he declared this week [00:08:29] couple weeks ago response to us and [00:08:31] Israel pressure I will not compromise on [00:08:33] the salary of a martyr or a prisoner so [00:08:36] I'm going to turn it over to Bob but [00:08:37] here's what I would say that a two-state [00:08:39] solution I support I would like the [00:08:42] Palestinian people to live in dignity [00:08:44] have their own destiny in their hand [00:08:47] elect their leaders side by side with a [00:08:49] secure state of [00:08:51] Israel I do believe that peace can never [00:08:54] be achieved as long as governments [00:08:57] reward their young people for being [00:08:59] terrorists [00:09:00] at the end of the day the payment to [00:09:04] people who kill Taylor force or people [00:09:08] like Taylor force is inconsistent with [00:09:11] peace and is such a crime against young [00:09:14] Palestinians for their own government to [00:09:17] incentivize murder and terrorism we give [00:09:21] over $300 million a year of Aid to the [00:09:23] Palestinian Authority this bill crafted [00:09:26] by Senator Corker and myself and others [00:09:29] is going to cut off all us funding to [00:09:31] the Palestinian Authority until they [00:09:34] change their laws which reward terrorism [00:09:37] which reward people for killing a young [00:09:39] man like Taylor Forest why did he die [00:09:42] what did he do wrong [00:09:45] nothing and I don't want his death to be [00:09:48] in vain sander Gerber brought me this [00:09:51] issue explaining to me the Palestinian [00:09:54] law is so corrupt they have a schedule [00:09:57] in their law as to how much you receive [00:10:00] based on how long you are in jail and [00:10:02] the payments you receive if you're [00:10:03] killed and become a martyr it is a sick [00:10:07] system it needs to change this [00:10:09] legislation suspends all payments to the [00:10:11] Palestinian Authority until they change [00:10:14] this perverted and sick practice it [00:10:16] allows usaid payments to go to the [00:10:19] Palestinian people but there has to be a [00:10:22] certification from Secretary State the [00:10:23] Palestinian authorities making progress [00:10:25] on this problem we carve out a hospital [00:10:28] in East Jerusalem is basically the only [00:10:30] hospital for the Palestinian women and [00:10:33] children our goal is not to punish women [00:10:36] and children our goal is to change a [00:10:39] practice that I think corrupts uh the [00:10:42] Palestinian youth inconsistent with [00:10:44] peace this was a product of compromise [00:10:48] and negotiation I introduced the [00:10:50] legislation about a year and a half ago [00:10:54] Senator Corker started using the [00:10:56] committee process I could have done this [00:10:58] through uh through the Appropriations [00:11:01] process I did not want to do it I wanted [00:11:04] to see if the Senate could work and it [00:11:06] did and the original bill came out [00:11:08] better we cut off all funding the [00:11:11] Palestinian Authority we allow money to [00:11:13] flow to the people of uh the Palestinian [00:11:15] people with a condition their government [00:11:17] get better and we exempt a hospital from [00:11:19] this conflict because what good is there [00:11:22] in punishing women and children for [00:11:23] something that they did not do so it [00:11:26] would not have happened without Senator [00:11:28] Corker and senator Cardon this committee [00:11:31] above all others in the United States [00:11:33] Senate seems to work and it starts at [00:11:36] the top so I want to thank you on behalf [00:11:38] of the forest family this is a big day [00:11:41] we're not there yet this bill came out [00:11:43] with a lot of bipartisan support that [00:11:45] support will grow on the floor and one [00:11:47] day it will become law and my goal is to [00:11:50] leverage better outcomes this is not [00:11:52] inconsistent with peace this is a step [00:11:55] toward peace the Palestinian leadership [00:11:58] needs to understand understand that the [00:12:00] American people are very generous that [00:12:03] we want to help you but you have to help [00:12:06] us in the process I cannot look the [00:12:08] Taylor Force family in the eye and say [00:12:11] giving money to the Palestinian [00:12:13] Authority at this point in time given [00:12:15] the laws they have in place that led to [00:12:17] the death of your son is a good [00:12:19] investment for peace or the American [00:12:22] taxpayer thank you Senator Corker on [00:12:24] behalf of the Taylor Force family thank [00:12:27] you and all the members of your [00:12:28] committee thank you thank you so much [00:12:31] I'll be brief I know you have some [00:12:33] questions [00:12:35] um I first want to thank uh Lindsay [00:12:38] Senator Graham for bringing this issue [00:12:40] forth [00:12:41] um I agree with everything he just said [00:12:44] relative to the legislation and and uh I [00:12:48] want to also thank sander Gerber who [00:12:50] came into my office and laid out the [00:12:52] evolution and this law I think many [00:12:54] people don't understand that these laws [00:12:56] have been in place uh they've been put [00:12:59] in place by Presidential decree I think [00:13:01] we know that the government there is not [00:13:03] really functioning in an appropriate way [00:13:05] I think aboss is 12 years in on a four [00:13:08] or five year term at present and these [00:13:10] laws were then put in place by the [00:13:13] president himself it's continued to [00:13:16] evolve to put some uh just a little more [00:13:19] context here if you commit a very fairly [00:13:23] lowlevel terrorist act you get paid $400 [00:13:27] a [00:13:28] month if you commit a very egregious [00:13:31] terrorist act you murder an Israeli or [00:13:35] someone else and you get a 30-year [00:13:38] sentence you get [00:13:39] $3500 a month in interviews with [00:13:43] prisoners in Israeli jails who had [00:13:47] committed these acts they clearly stated [00:13:51] their goal was to ensure that they did [00:13:53] something egregious enough to at least [00:13:55] get a 5-year sentence where the payment [00:13:58] is stepped up [00:14:00] uh this is this is [00:14:02] sick this is [00:14:04] sick and what Lindsay laid out relative [00:14:07] to how this person was heralded u in his [00:14:11] own country is [00:14:12] again sick it's [00:14:15] sick uh I met Stuart force uh Taylor's [00:14:20] dad uh we've talked [00:14:23] extensively uh I'm glad that the United [00:14:25] States Senate today and the committee on [00:14:27] a 174 vote honored his life by making a [00:14:31] change that will affect so many other [00:14:33] people uh Taylor Force as Lindsay [00:14:36] mentioned not only uh was a native of [00:14:38] South Carolina but he went to Vanderbilt [00:14:41] University in Tennessee so it is [00:14:43] interesting how lives become interwoven [00:14:46] but our actions today I think speak to I [00:14:49] know speak to the fact that what has [00:14:51] happened here um will hopefully when [00:14:55] past uh prevent other people from having [00:14:58] the same same fate an innocent person [00:15:01] going about their activities in an [00:15:03] innocent way being murdered by someone [00:15:07] who's being incented to do that by their [00:15:10] own government so I am proud of what we [00:15:13] have done today I want to thank Lindsay [00:15:14] for his passionate leadership on this [00:15:17] issue uh I want to thank him for his [00:15:20] passionate leadership on the Russia [00:15:21] issue which again ended up passing the [00:15:24] Senate 98-2 and passed the house with [00:15:27] with only three no votes and I like the [00:15:30] way that we are able to work together to [00:15:33] make good things happen for our nation [00:15:35] relative to foreign policy I do wish [00:15:37] everyone here could have seen the markup [00:15:40] today pretty incredible um a very open [00:15:45] process where people expressed opinions [00:15:48] we came to a resolve that as Senator [00:15:50] Graham mentioned I think has made this [00:15:53] bill a better bill it's a bill now that [00:15:56] is is very crisp it's [00:16:00] surgical it's meant to change the [00:16:03] behavior of the Palestinian Authority as [00:16:05] he has mentioned so eloquently but not [00:16:08] intended to hurt the Palestinian people [00:16:10] that have nothing to do with this law [00:16:12] that's been put in place by their [00:16:14] government so with that let me stop let [00:16:16] me thank Lindsay one more time for his [00:16:19] passionate leadership on this issue and [00:16:21] let me thank my colleagues uh my sen [00:16:23] Senator uh Cardin who's worked with us [00:16:27] um others on the committee who call [00:16:29] today's pastures to be what it is and I [00:16:30] do look forward to becoming law yes [00:16:32] ma'am can you run through the Amendments [00:16:34] adopted the three envelop amendments and [00:16:36] the Second Amendment um it wasn't clear [00:16:38] to me can I do that when other people [00:16:42] who don't care so much about the details [00:16:44] uh are not having to listen you're the [00:16:46] best at that but we will provide you [00:16:47] with all of that it does have a one-year [00:16:50] uh [00:16:51] escrow um so that in fact uh it gives [00:16:55] them time to change their behavior and [00:16:57] the Palestinian people [00:16:59] understand that this is not designed to [00:17:01] cut off Aid to them it's designed to cut [00:17:03] Behavior I think that would be the most [00:17:05] important amendment that was added yes [00:17:07] sir so the president signed the Russia [00:17:09] Iran North Korea sanctions yesterday and [00:17:11] then this morning he said our [00:17:13] relationship with Russia is at an [00:17:14] all-time and very dangerous low you can [00:17:16] thank Congress the same people who can't [00:17:19] even give us Health Care is Congress to [00:17:22] blame for our relationship with Russia [00:17:23] right now what do you make of that [00:17:24] statement you know I I try not to [00:17:27] respond to tweets as you know uh [00:17:29] statement from the president yeah I [00:17:30] understand uh I will respond to this one [00:17:32] and state that look the relationship [00:17:34] that we have with Russia is solely [00:17:37] because of of [00:17:39] Putin uh the activities the things that [00:17:42] he has taken against Western democracy [00:17:45] the way he has tried to reshape a map [00:17:47] it's been US policy for 70 years that [00:17:51] that Europe will be whole Democratic and [00:17:53] free he's altered that map what he's [00:17:55] done in Syria what he's done as an [00:17:57] affront to the American people people to [00:17:59] try to have an effect on the election [00:18:02] outcomes here is had to be spoken to I [00:18:05] think we did it in a in a very [00:18:07] appropriate manner I'm proud of the [00:18:10] legislation and I'm actually very proud [00:18:12] of the fact that Congress continues to [00:18:15] assume its rightful role in foreign [00:18:17] policy I think the Congressional review [00:18:19] component um which by the way was a [00:18:21] piece of your original [00:18:23] legislation U again we we massaged it to [00:18:26] a degree but uh the fact is I think [00:18:28] think this is a place where Congress [00:18:31] needs to stand side by side with the [00:18:33] administration to ensure that congress's [00:18:35] prerogatives also adhere to so I'm proud [00:18:38] of the legislation and I know there's [00:18:40] some frustration I get it uh I know [00:18:43] Lindsay and I are both frustrated about [00:18:45] the the healthc care issue I mean we [00:18:47] would have liked to have an outcome but [00:18:48] I think to to there's no reason to tie [00:18:50] the two together we acted I think in the [00:18:53] in the country's National interest in [00:18:55] doing this Putin through his actions is [00:18:58] the one that has taken this relationship [00:19:00] back to levels we haven't seen since [00:19:04] 1991 uh and it's up to him to change his [00:19:07] behavior uh to to to move it in a [00:19:09] different direction Senator yes two [00:19:13] question first off um can I get your [00:19:15] reaction to the leaking of the [00:19:17] transcripts of the conversations between [00:19:19] the president and and um other heads of [00:19:22] state what the ramifications of that [00:19:23] could be from a foreign policy [00:19:25] standpoint and then also um there's a [00:19:27] report that that they're consider [00:19:28] considering or president Trump is [00:19:29] considering putting General McMaster to [00:19:32] head the strategy in Afghanistan whether [00:19:34] or not you think that that would be a [00:19:35] good decision I'll let Lindsay speak to [00:19:37] the second part I'll speak to it also [00:19:39] and then I'll come back to the first go [00:19:40] ahead uh as to the leaking I think it [00:19:43] really is a disservice to the president [00:19:45] this happened can you imagine being [00:19:46] president of the United States having a [00:19:48] conversation with a foreign leader and [00:19:51] that conversation being divulge to to [00:19:53] the media it's just not fair to [00:19:55] president Trump the person who did this [00:19:58] U think they have a noble uh outcome in [00:20:01] mind but that that is just chaos you [00:20:03] just can't have people in the government [00:20:06] working for the president picking and [00:20:09] choosing uh what what to leak that just [00:20:12] that's just wrong and I hope we find out [00:20:15] who the person is and they get punished [00:20:17] uh as to [00:20:19] Afghanistan it's up to the president [00:20:21] it's Trump's War it's not Obama's War um [00:20:24] if we do not listen to General McMaster [00:20:27] and people like him who' have been [00:20:29] fighting this war for 15 years and adapt [00:20:31] our policies were going to fail in [00:20:34] Afghanistan uh we need more troops [00:20:36] General Nicholson I think has done a [00:20:38] fine job from my point of view but [00:20:40] president Trump is going to make a [00:20:42] decision and he will own it if you do [00:20:45] not add capability to the fight it's [00:20:48] going to get worse not better what you [00:20:50] saw in Iraq is going to happen in [00:20:52] Afghanistan tfold is a place now where [00:20:56] International terrorism is on the rise [00:20:57] isil has a a footh hole we're trying to [00:20:59] dislodge them so 3 or 4,000 American [00:21:02] troops with some air capability we don't [00:21:04] have today will turn the tide of battle [00:21:07] every Soldier over there is an insurance [00:21:09] policy against our homeland being [00:21:10] attacked my big theory is if you don't [00:21:13] listen to the generals and you try to [00:21:15] make this up as you go as B Obama and [00:21:17] Biden did you're going to wind up losing [00:21:20] Afghanistan like we did Iraq and the [00:21:22] consequences to America are worse this [00:21:24] is the place where 9/11 was planned I [00:21:27] can't think of a more uh beneficial [00:21:30] outcome to International terrorism than [00:21:32] to drive us out of Afghanistan because [00:21:35] we don't have the will to get it right [00:21:37] I'm sorry it's taken so long this is a [00:21:39] generational struggle the president gave [00:21:41] an eloquent speech in Poland do we have [00:21:43] the will to protect our values and stand [00:21:46] up to people who would destroy our way [00:21:48] of life the test of that will is in [00:21:50] Afghanistan uh they're going to try to [00:21:52] break our will the Afghan Security [00:21:54] Forces need help they're not where they [00:21:56] need to be they don't have an Air Force [00:21:58] so the outcome in Afghanistan is [00:22:00] directly related to Homeland Security [00:22:02] it's not about democracy in Afghanistan [00:22:05] it's about International terrorism using [00:22:06] Afghanistan to strike us at home and [00:22:09] abroad and our allies and if you don't [00:22:12] understand that I think you're miss [00:22:15] misunderstanding what the generals are [00:22:16] trying to tell you I know that General [00:22:18] Biden General Obama General Graham are [00:22:21] are not really good generals General [00:22:23] Bannon won't be any [00:22:26] better so let me I don't have okay I'll [00:22:28] be a [00:22:30] little I'll be a little briefer the the [00:22:34] uh which I'm used to this uh but look on [00:22:37] a in Afghanistan what what's happening [00:22:41] is everyone is hedging their bets yes [00:22:45] everyone so because the region has no [00:22:50] idea what our policy is going to be [00:22:52] they're beginning many of them are [00:22:54] backing the Taliban we know that you [00:22:55] know Pakistan we know for a fact is [00:22:58] doing so Russia's beginning to play we [00:23:01] think Iran's definitely playing and and [00:23:04] so we've got to have a policy that is [00:23:06] sustainable I I really appreciate the [00:23:09] and understand the president's [00:23:10] frustration um I have a lot of respect [00:23:12] for Nicholson also and it's been a lot [00:23:14] of time talking through Afghanistan with [00:23:17] him but whatever comes out of this has [00:23:20] got to be something that we know to be [00:23:23] sustainable and something that we [00:23:25] believe is going to change their [00:23:26] trajectory because as long as the region [00:23:29] believes uh we're 6 months away from [00:23:32] stepping out or we're 6 months away from [00:23:34] giving up they're going to continue to [00:23:36] do all they can to play both sides and [00:23:38] that playing both sides is what puts US [00:23:41] soldiers most In Harm's Way on the first [00:23:43] issue I had a long conversation with [00:23:45] President Trump last Friday [00:23:48] morning uh I was aware of the initial [00:23:50] change that uh was getting ready to take [00:23:53] place I have encouraged the president [00:23:55] and now encourage that through General [00:23:57] Kelly to fire [00:23:59] every single person that's had anything [00:24:01] whatsoever to do with backbiting [00:24:03] undermining other people for their own [00:24:05] benefit or leaking and not to be [00:24:08] cautious about it if there's even a [00:24:10] thought that somebody was involved get [00:24:12] rid of them I mean it is unseemly what [00:24:14] is happening at the white house right [00:24:16] now or what has been happening again it [00:24:19] appears that General Kelly is taking [00:24:20] charge and I say this not to say [00:24:23] anything against the first Chief of [00:24:24] Staff I don't know if he was ever given [00:24:26] that Authority in the first place but [00:24:28] but to have people there that are [00:24:30] leaking [00:24:32] information that are talking to each of [00:24:35] you to try to have their public policy [00:24:38] implemented because they're getting you [00:24:40] to argue on their behalf and we know [00:24:42] it's happening these people should be [00:24:44] fired they should be out of government [00:24:46] they're disloyal to our government and I [00:24:48] hope that that's what's going to [00:24:50] happen we got to vote one last thing [00:24:53] about General Nicholson is not going to [00:24:56] be able to win in Afghanistan under the [00:24:57] current construct The Rules of [00:24:58] Engagement have to change in your new M [00:25:00] capability it doesn't matter what [00:25:02] general is in charge if you don't have [00:25:04] the capability to win so I just really [00:25:07] am upset to hear that it's a general [00:25:09] Nicholson problem when it really is a [00:25:12] force structure problem an attitude [00:25:14] problem uh and and as Bob said No White [00:25:16] House can function this way we need [00:25:18] order out of chaos and start firing some [00:25:20] people probably be the right signal sen [00:25:23] to your point about release are you [00:25:24] concerned at all about the tone and the [00:25:26] tenor of those transcripts especially [00:25:28] I haven't seen the transcript so you [00:25:30] guys are are sharing with me constantly [00:25:33] things I don't know uh so I will respond [00:25:36] to that question once I actually read [00:25:38] the transcripts let me say this caveats [00:25:40] issue last time I was in [00:25:43] Afghanistan I I don't know if you [00:25:45] realize this but President [00:25:47] Obama had a caveat that said we could [00:25:50] not fire on [00:25:54] Al-Qaeda do you understand that I mean [00:25:57] the the policies that we have had in [00:25:59] place in Afghanistan are ludicrous we [00:26:01] could not take actions against Al-Qaeda [00:26:04] only the Taliban and only under certain [00:26:07] circumstances I think that's actually [00:26:08] reversed so so uh I do hope the policies [00:26:12] will change as has mentioned I'll talk [00:26:14] to y'all again maybe in the hallway I [00:26:16] apologize that we've got a vote s seven [00:26:18] weeks here the government might shut [00:26:20] down here you guys have both expressed [00:26:21] concern about funding for the state [00:26:23] department some of the cuts there can [00:26:24] you just briefly address the concern [00:26:26] about that and how that that is [00:26:29] by September [00:26:30] 30th I I don't think there there are no [00:26:33] cuts to the state department because [00:26:35] there is that's what the president [00:26:36] propos I think you all understand the [00:26:38] president's budget typically is a nice [00:26:41] piece of paper that people read and move [00:26:43] on to the budgeting process I'll see [00:26:45] y'all later thanks a [00:26:57] lot [00:27:18] well