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Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and FNC national security analyst K.T. McFarland on the increasing tension with Iran.
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To the region.
Joining us for more on all of this Fox News national security analyst KT McFarland.
Holding national security posts under presidents Nixon Ford and Reagan former US ambassador to the United Nations Fox News contributor John Bolton.
Thank you both for being here KT.
The shots fired apparently do this small vessel approached very closely.
To this that the ship it makes me frankly nervously here that was allowed to do so.
Well the protocol what happened is that the USS Cole in 2000 -- the US personal destroyer.
Was -- the same thing happened it was a small civilian fishing vessel that came right -- -- the US has called out.
After that we change the protocol and what we do now is when there's a vessel of any sort of -- we say we give the warning.
And we say don't come any closer and ministership progresses we say down committee for -- we're sure going collateral and we should amount of water.
Why would we let this happen I mean I -- there were two warning statements -- that the Nevada and small vessel turn and then approached the -- again.
It just seems like such unnecessary.
Risk.
To permit that.
Well that's the protocol at I think I just -- at all that it but I don't understand why the protocol would impair or -- so much risk for the united.
That it did get the ship at South Asia.
But the but the problem you worry about is miscalculation that whoever is taking any ship and we know the Iranian revolutionary guard -- they train this way that's what they do they.
Mass small -- little boats in the current US fassel's and they taunt them and the worry is that somebody's gonna miscalculate.
Come to close get blown out of the water before you know you're shooting word and every wants.
Would no one wants it.
Are we putting four carrier groups into the region that is.
I think it's all but unprecedented.
Well if indeed we -- -- station those groups there.
Well the the only sensible thing for the United States to do is to take the Iran -- threat to close the Strait of Hormuz seriously.
I don't what they've made the threat previously they've done it for years and part of back at this point that the sanctions are actually -- quashing.
-- their production their petroleum production.
-- to twenty year lows.
Why do we think.
That it's -- more grave threat now well I don't I don't think those statistics are right but leaving that aside I think the the white culture.
They because that live on the side we wanted to write statistics left -- the want about it but.
You know I have before me yet because that the statistics are not accurate the -- are already smuggling oil out of Iran through the Kurdish areas of Iraq into Turkey.
They're quite likely shipping it out through Iraq as though it's Iraqi oil.
And they're all kinds of other things they're doing to disguise production I'm not saying the sanctions have any effect but I wouldn't say they're -- in the economy effect that's why I think the threat to close the strait.
Is something that we do have to take seriously I don't think they'll go ahead do it but if we weren't prepared.
And they actually did it there'd be held up and justifiably so.
And our.
At this point one does it look why does it come down to the United States and -- in the in the region.
We have gone through this so many times that and you've got -- got my -- That's wonderful.
You hear the absolute right person -- since I've been told many levels.
But why should the United States -- by itself be responsible for maintaining the the Strait of Hormuz why should it be by itself.
Are responsible for some 1718.
Million barrels a day of oil that's primarily going to go to Europe.
Not to the United States this a great risk and great experience to the United States -- -- in hell haven't we learned that.
Well what do you want your would you wanna have a Chinese demonstrate a little I -- I gotta be that'll be delighted to answer questions about your credit at.
And if you're just got out network along I -- want to -- I think United States is the only navy capable of doing -- the United States has historically done -- when I was in the Reagan administration.
Iranians try to do similar things -- re flagged vessels Arabic anchor wars this is where we have made -- stand that we are gonna keep a rerun.
