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“Kill or Capture” author Daniel Klaidman on the tension between Eric Holder and David Axelrod and reports the Administration had a “kill list”...
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Inner circle reportedly.
Really are.
Strongly and conflict and a number of instances going beyond just conflict.
A brand new book reveals a dust up between.
Presidential.
Aides and allies David Axelrod and attorney general Eric Holder.
The two men described -- going quote chest to chest like a schoolyard fight joining me now and Newsweek special correspondent Daniel Weidman.
And author of kill or capture of the war on terror and the soul of the Obama.
Presidency great to have you here congratulations on the balked thank you so much appreciate its this is had a dramatic moment within the -- Almost unimaginable true -- through look at the sort of -- the new year.
That most of us -- see over the course of time.
What drives that kind of conflict amongst those who the -- one -- Well strong convictions usually drive.
That that kind of conflict but also.
You know working in the White House and administration.
Is obviously real pressure cooker everyone remembers no drama Obama during the campaign.
But there is -- -- junction between campaigning and governing when you have to make tough choices it becomes much harder.
In this particular case you had a political advisor.
To the president in the very beginning to the administration the economy was still very much in recession.
It White House -- decided that it marked pursue Health Care Reform as its major priority then you had an attorney general.
Who was pushing to fulfill some of the president's.
-- promises on our counterterrorism issues close down Guantanamo way to various other things all nearly all approach have.
From it's been in the past been very tough.
And the real source of the tension.
That led to this particular confrontation is that the White House.
Was frustrated they thought they attorney general holder had -- Sort of stepped on their message a number of times are making some.
I'm sort of ill considered remarks some people remember the nation of -- speech where he talked about race -- that kind of in -- in this way couple of wallet.
-- one of their most idiotic political statements made by any attorney general.
Well it's always difficult to talk about race in this country so.
What happened it was not that difficult one can say almost anything in this country groups -- free country is but you have to make a little sense -- you have to be right yeah only particular case I think even my -- yes.
As I don't -- -- leave it there there's no way however rationalize falling.
This nation of cowards anybody -- -- -- did you -- Hubert -- That's that's your prerogative arm rank order here telling a story -- You know if so what happened was the White House thought OK well there needs to be better.
Communication between the Justice Department and the wire -- to make sure that some of these kinds of distractions in the current so.
David Axelrod decided.
And others in the White House Rahm Emanuel that perhaps it would be a good idea to put someone on the attorney general staff.
Who has had a little more finally tuned sense of politics and communications -- Eric Holder.
But then -- -- -- not enough people want this to coordinate.
Eric Holder has no political sensibility or intelligent understanding -- while he's -- hey -- you're kidding me.
Well these things that you know that things get very tense inside debt and and you know the White House is increasingly over the years have wanted to.
Control and so now locations we're looking at a -- -- Kill or capture.
And Daniel.
-- political sensibility would drive.
In administration purposeful.
To achieve leak information.
That goes to the heart of national security.
That has sort kill list that has issue put it if that is struggling.
For the very soul of -- this administration and the president.
Well you're making some assumptions about when you say the administration purposefully leaking.
Look I go out -- reporting people are willing to talk to me -- you know people throughout the national security bureaucracy.
And people talk for all sorts of different reasons and sometimes it's hard to define those motives.
Do you have a sense -- -- -- I do in in in some respects I think people.
Talk to me about some of these issues because they wanna make -- war.
That the public understands that some of these very tough counterterrorism -- decisions are not made lightly you know they're there they're involved in making decisions about whether.
People live or die.
And you know sometimes these issues weigh on -- -- remarks and says and they want to make sure.
-- that people understand these issues are not made light these decisions are not made lightly that there is vigorous debate in the administration.
You know I'm from my perspective I think this is about accountability I think people ought to understand.
Out when the United States government is making decisions about killing individuals in fact when the president they -- -- the more we ought to know about it so.
That's why I recommend your -- -- excellent kill or capture an airplane and it's good to have you with us and it will continues or more there would be -- -- more little edge.
On -- question of conscience and national interest I would be happy to discuss explore that are near -- any time will come on back --
