That guests would compliment our wifi. That we could video conference. And do it like that. snaps if youd have told me that i could afford. A gigspeed. A gigspeed network. Its like 20 times faster than what most people have. Id of said. Id of said youre dreaming. Dreaming definitely dreaming. Then again, dreaming is how i got this far. Now more businesses in more places can afford to dream gig. Comcast, building americas largest gigspeed network. Angles this is cnn breaking news. Top of the hour the our breaking News Coverage of the u. S. Military action in syria continuesing process. Its a little past midnight on the east coast here. A little past 7 00 a. M. In syria where u. S. Aircraft include b1 bombers and one u. S. Navy warship were used in the attack on bass. The strikes in coordination with britain and france focused on the regimes chemical weapons capability. Listened to the president tonight. My fellow americans, a short time ago i ordered the United States armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of syrian dictator bashar al assad. The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. Establishing this deterrent is a Vital National security interest of the United States. We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian Regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents. The president speaking from the white house. I want to bring in pamela brown, pamela brown is at the white house now. Ryan brown is at the pentagon. Nick payton walsh in syrian and sam kylie in moscow. Pam to you first. It seemed there was some differences between the president , what he said and what secretary mattis said. What can you tell us about that . Reporter thats right. If you listen to what they both said. It almost as if there were two different operations underway. On the one hand you had the president saying that the u. S. Was prepared for a sustained response in order to ensure that there were not any further chemical weapons attacks. Almost leaving the door open there could be a wave of more strikes. Then you heard secretary mattis on the other hand who said that this was a onetime shot. And to understand sort of why there was a difference there, you have to go back and look at the last few days with the meetings between the president and his National Security team. We are told through sources that the president throughout the week has been pushing for a stronger, more muscular, sustained response. But secretary mattis and other pentagon officials have been holding back more. Been more cautious because they wanted to prevent a direct conflict with russia and the concern is that if they went overboard with the response that that could of course create issues with russia. So that is sort of what is partially behind the difference in messages there. Now, speaking of russia, the president sent a direct message to russia and iran during his speech, saying that how could they be complicit, you know, in the innocent murder of civilians calling out russia for not stopping syrias Chemical Weapons Program despite the promise there. But also intelligence officials and Administration Officials are keeping a close eye how russia responds to the airstrikes announced this evening. Thats a big concern thats been part of the calculus this week and part of the delay in actually making this decision, sort of gaming out how russia will respond and whether the u. S. Is prepared for any type of response from russia. Don. Pamela brown at the white house. Pamela thank you so much. I want to bring in nick peyton walsh. Youre apology the developments in syria. What you tell us. Reporter at this point the u. S. Announced three particular targets which clears up a lot of the confusion adrian southeastern regime loyal media during that 70 minute window. Only 70minute window we the first explosions were heard during the opening remarks to when jim mattis declared it over. The targets hit one in damascus, a Research Center for the development of production of chemical weapons, another similar facility near homs to the north of the capitol and the south of that, a third facility considered to be a command post as well as a storage foltz. The homs foltz related to the pruks of sarin. Both in 2013 and april last year that was the red line Barack Obamas and Donald Trumps later which in oshs days didnt merit military action but in april did launch 59 tomkowiak missiles. The question is as the dawn is up here now and people piece through exactly what was hit, what level of damage was inflicted . Yes of course buildings destroyed were they empty, people inside . Did the days ahead of telegraphing of the u. S. Intentions provide syria enough scope to get people out of the buildings or have other things been hit too we havent been told about at this particular stage. There are signs on syrian state media and from Syrian Regime loyalists that theyre trying to paint how they shot missiles out of the sky over homs as a victory. But theyve escaped to some degree unscathed. But the message has been clearly delivered that basically the u. S. Dont want to get involved in the lengthy civil where. It just doesnt want chemical weapons use. Whether or not that gets registered in moscow and tehran. Is. Well have to wait and see. But clear though interesting too that swrm jim mattis secretary of defines not willing to state that they have prove on is a sarins use. Just like there have been suggestions that sarin likeths color even a a house holds km chemical deadly in heavy concentrations used together is the use of color even enough for the u. S. To intervene again in were in a messy picture for what it means going forward. But certainly days of anticipation led to 70 minutes worth of quite intense and focused strikes with a clear message and of course the uk and france onboard as well not just the u. S. Acting by itself sfwroo indeed. I want to get to ryan brown at the pentagon. Wove heard secretary mattis talk about the targets tonight and the goal of the strike. Fill us in what he said, also any information on what else france or britain may be doing. Thats right, don. The secretary mattis laying out the rationale for the targets that theyre specifically tied to the Chemical Weapons Program. A Research Facility near dpakz, the capitol, involving the Chemical Weapons Program and a storage site near homs and a Commander Center near homs. All secretary mattis saying affiliatewood the Syrian RegimeChemical Weapons Program. The strikes designed to both help degrade that program as well as deter the regime from using chemical weapons in the future. Now, there is were told that u. S. B1 bombers were involved in the strikes, firing air launched cruise missiles. One u. S. Navy ship in the red sea participated. The french said the jets participated in the strikes and british said some tornado jets launched missiles against targets in syria as well. A multilateral operation. And unlike last year in april of 2017, secretary mattis saying double the number of weapons were used. Last year about 59 mitchells were fired. This time secretary mattis saying double the number of weapons used. Trying to up the ante if you will in the efforts to curb the Syrian RegimeChemical Weapons Program. Ryan, stand by. Sam kylely pl lets bring you. U. S. Ambassador said in response to the u. S. , the possessor ever the big ez artisanals chemical weapons has no moral right to blame other countries. Has russia indicated any kind of response. Reporter not really not yet. Its early in the morning. And i think the russians will want to get do their own Battle Damage assessment as its called to a assess the extent to which the Syrian Regime has been hit. And whether theres beenny Collateral Damage to russian facilities or indeed iranian facilities. But just to pick up the point there, the Russian Ambassador to washington, mr. Anton ov the in the same statement said the warnings have been left under hear. He says the action attention will not be left without consequences. And the spokes woman here has said slr things. Keeping i think the part warm while the kremlin trying to figure out its reaction. If this is the end of the counterchemical weapon facilities strikes, as secretary mattis suggested in his statement at the pentagon then it may be a possibility the russians might well drop it and indeed even put pressure on the syrians to try to get them to stop using the chemical weapons, even chlorine which theyve used dozens of times. But if its going to escalate, and if there is another round of bombing for example, tomorrow night well see stronger and stronger reactions coming from the russians. But at the moment threatening but mutedly so. Okay, sap. Lets get back to nick peyton walsh. Im getting from sooernl state tv reporting no deaths, three injured near homs. You can talk about that. But also respond to this as well. The president warned both russia and iran in the address tonight. But the likelihood of any change in behavior between russia or iran in syria, what is it . No, really. In a word this is all about chemical weapons, all about after particularly the incident in salisbury the uk, the uk saying chemical weapons have no place in modern society and coming together for the one moment neither uk or the france or u. S. Lets be honest has any desire to tip the balance in the civil where. Theyve been criticized for years not being adequately involved. This is not about them suddenly trying to change the outcome here. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson had a plan suggesting that assad should leave power and the russianen a iranian influence shb checked. We content know what mike pompeo is going to dplemt as his idea or john bolton this is not about influence in the lengthy civil where. You may possibly see that russia and iran, who are kind of getting their way, moscow with its own base or aircraft on the mediterranean and iran who must be pretty content what they seem to have a highway between tehran through iraq, syria to lebanon one of of its allies to north of israel. Its arch enenemesis in the reg. They have cell over the territory they want here in the area despite the brutal savage treatment of Syrian Rebels by russia and the Syrian Regime. They arent going to see the moved to upset the balance tactically within the broader conflict. You heard there from sam it may be that russia back in 2013 said to the Syrian Regime, please lets get onboard with the u. N. Resolution to get rid of chemical weapons whether that was hotlines or not but it doesnt have that effect of removing all the weapons. But pressuring syrian saying lets not have a stand off. What happened in douma even if you look at no sense of moral value it didnt yield that much of a success because while they managed to kill many civilians over 40 and affect over 500 or so and push people out of a small pocket of area they were likely winning there anyway soon. People may look at this as some element of lucky avoidens by russia and iran for the tactical goals. Nick, pamela rb ryan, sam thank you. When we dom back more op the breaking news. Airstrikes on syria by the United States along with britain and france. Dont work your way upfront without it. And dont watch her dance, like nobodys watching without it. Early ticket access. Another way we have your back. The powerful backing of american express. Dont live life without it. The powerful backing of american express. But birds eye made it deliciousfrom zucchini. A. Mmm. Mashed potatoes. And rice but made from cauliflower. Looks like i need a fork oh no. giggles birds eye veggie made. So veggie good. 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Ask your rheumatologist about humira. Whats your body of proof . The powerful backing of american express. Dont live life without it. Here our breaking news at this hour and cnn. President trump announcing airstrikes on blast regimes Chemical Weapons Program. I want to bring in cnn military analyst Major General james expired marks and cred rick lateen. Colonel francona you have new information about the targets hit. What do you know . Ive been monitoring syrian arabic language media. And there was a press release put out by the Syrian Military on the target set. And if its to be believed so we always say that about the syrian press but if you look at these ten targets struck, virtually all have to do with chemical weapons, either the research and development, production, storage, or the employment or kpand and control there of and the two air bases involved in the recent attacks. So you know, the intelligence looked to be very good. And they have focused on the chemical weapons capability as they said they were going to do. So its a pretty impressive list. Now we dont know the extent of damage to the facilities. But if they were able to hit this target set it would put a real dent in syria as chemical weapons capability which is the focus of tonights mission. General marks show us what Alliance Assets are in the area. Sure will don. Py orientation we know what syria looks like, capitol of damascus, homs one of the critical areas for chemical weapons storage. This is the assets routinely in the area and the assets moving and steaming and available in the area. As we know this strike may not be over. It may be a sustained effort. But might also be an effort that took place this evening and then through assessment this might be the end of it. What we see clearly is you have french and American Assets here in jordan. Those are closest to syria might have been involved in the bulk of the strikes. Dont know for sure only because of the proximity to syria. Obviously you have british and u. S. Forces in cypress and turkey. Whats unique about the forces in turkey is because of the tenuous relationship the United States has with turkey turkey remember is a nato ally but they have been saddling up next to russia for some time and have even purchased s400 air Defense Systems from russia now available to twrk. A unique circumstance. We always have a naval presence in the mediterranean and as a matter of routine we have surface vessels and subsurface vessels might be transiting the red sea. The bulk of the capability in the middle east is here. Both in qatar and in the united arab emirates. Those capabilities have been there for many, many years. They are a routine part of the landscape. These are the capabilities used predominately for strikes. There was some prepositions plus up capabilities in advance of the strike options. Colonel, the syrian state tv is saying no deaths, three injured near homs. Do you think that is likely to go up . Do you think thats accurate . Well, i would be a bit surprised if its accurate. In a way thats a good thing. Because then it would make it very difficult for the syrians to actually trot out a bunch of bodies that were not part of any damage that actually happened. And one of the things that im afraid of is that as part of an Information Operations campaign they would actually trot out some things some damage that actually did not occur that would include damage to building was, bodies things like that. That would be a classic thing. But now theyve basically said if there are only three wounded then the strikes have basically done what they wanted to do in the sense of Collateral Damage. And in that sense its a good goodfare our side as well. Let me ask you another question. Syria has been in the middle of a civil war for years. This is the second strike President Trumprd ohhed there, one in april of last year as well. Would you anticipate any sort of longer term commitment here . I think we have to be careful of all the longer term commitments. What could happen here is a definite move toward that because we may discover through the Battle Damage assessment that will take place we didnt strike everything we wanted to strike. That could then result in a second strike or a series of strikes which could then have the effect of escalating the conflict as it currently exists. Umhum. Colonel francona when the president talks about not wanting to be in syria for an indefinite period of time saying he hopes everyone is out in six months. What message does that send to syria, russia and iran. Your point is well taken. Syria and inner russia and iran are watching this and so are the turks. The turks have a vested interest in the United States leaving the area because they want to dominate that entire stretch along their southern border where the kurds are. They want to make sure the kurds represent no threat to turkey. The russians and iranians want to be the power brokers in syria. As long were there they have to coned with u. S. Military presence. If they can get us to leave by any means, be it political ob diplomatic or making life untenable for us that gives them free rihn opinion. Opinion at russians have a longer term goal than the iranians. They are looking to reassert themselves in the middle east. After the collapse of the soviet union, the russians were kicked out. We were successful in that. And it was not until just a few years ago that we saw the russians coming back. It was the the morrissey when morrissey was overthrown in egypt we they made inroads in egypt but they made successful inroads in syria with the two air bases, 49year laces one airways want one naval base and using them extensive tli. The russian haves a vested interest in the United States getting out of the way and letting them be the preeminent military power in the region. General marks does this ham string our efforts to say we are not exactly in it for the long haul . You know, i think the way we need to approach this obviously to your question, don is from the strategic perspective. We are in it for the long haul but we have options in terms of how we want to be in it. One of the things i think in presents to us is an option. Russia has a presence thats been in syria for quite some time. They almost predate our presence in this part of the world. But this is an opportunity, if our president wants to try to cooperate in some way with russia, we can narrow define the elements of cooperation look like. And we can go about the business of trying to get syria in some way out of this entangled mess that they have created for themselves. The United States and russia clearly have different views in terms of where we are right now. But its an opportunity for both nations to move Forward Together if we can define it very narrowly and have very discernible steps. And we can build trust between us. Otherwise, we continue to have messes like this and theyll be more of them. Stay well, gentlemen. When with he come back more on the breaking news, the airstrikes tonight on syrias Chemical Weapons Program. Mines way better. This ones below market price and has bluetooth. Same here, but this one has Leather Seats use the cars. Com app to compare price, features and value. Fenext up ferias newy. Glam grunge haircolor. Ultrasmokey, cool gray shades feria has pure dyes live in color. Live in feria by loreal paris. Whether its a big thing, small thing, or something unexpected, pnc will be right there when you need us. Because when it comes to your finances, if you focus on today, tomorrow has a way of working itself out. Here is our breaking news tonight. President trump announcing precision strikes tonight on syrias chemical weapons capabilities. Back with me now Major General james spider marks and colonel lateen. The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said they identified target to mitigate the risk of Russian Forces being involved. How difficult would it have been to avoid hitting any russian on iranian personnel. Well it would be very difficult. The russians insin eighted themselves into every military installation in syria. They are closely allied and aligned with the syrians. You find advisers down to the battalion level in most units. I know that general doneford said we didnt provide any other information over the deconflicten line but the russians new this was coming and they moved personnel around to make sure they werent in harms way. If you look at the target set. The target set was in the damascus area. There were only a two targets in the homs area. Most of the russians, the senior russians and bulk of forces are in the northern part of the country. And also their air defenses are in the bulk of the northern part of the country. So we avoided a lot of the Russian Air Defense as well. I think it was probably planned that way. Hit the targets that you know arent going to be that defended. Hit the targets where you think the russians wont be. Im getting colonel laiten. Sustained response trump described could include further military action as well as diplomatic and economic steps. While he says the attack is over military options remain on the Table Including in response to another use of chemical weapons. Tell us what that means. So what that means, don, is that we are looking at a possible escalation of this. So we have this type of strike we just experienced tonight. What could happen is they may set a series of other targets and go after those. Clearly if there is a us eye of chemical weapons it makes sense for the president to reserve the right to go back and restrike targets and strike new targets. That would be a pretty normal thing to do in a situation like this. But i think the hope here is that this will not require that degree of escalation. I think it remains to be seen if there are some other indications that these strikes were not effective or if there are indications the syrians are going to either move chemical weapons and their precursor agents somewhere else or if theyre going to use those weapons, then we could see more strikes coming in that report from jim sciutto will probably bear itself out. General, marks, the u. S. Is going after the facilities where they process and store chemical weapons. What type of personnel would be onsite . Would you expect many casualties . Would there be people in the facilities . Probably not this time of day backup thats why the strikes come at night. Not only is it the element of surprise its a down cycle which is obvious. But youll have very, very few people in the facilities. Of course there will be folks that will be in the facilities. But thats why you choose them choose to strike at that time. The types of capability or or at least the individuals with certain capabilities there these are going to be very highly trained, very scientific, very a sharp guys. The folks that are running the research and Development Facilities have an ongoing mission. Theyre highly trained, highly educated. Niece are the scientific types that are putting together everything that needs to be in place to ensure that the capability does not atrophy. New capabilities can be developed. So highly trained, probably very minimal in number during this period of the strikes. But this is where if they come back to the facilities tomorrow morning theyre going to find that there is not much there at least its morning right now. And theyre going to drive up to the work site and go okay i guess im not going to work today. This was not shock and you a. This was not an attempt to just completely debilitate the regime. This was attack against regime targets minimal in number but significant in terms of attribute to the chemical ability. That the United States and france and uk said you have to cut this out. Thanks to one and all. More tonight on the breaking news, the airstrikes in syria plus the bombshell revelation that the longterm attorney of the president of the United States under criminal investigation. David. Whats going on . Oh hey thats it . Yeah. 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You dont have to say im your best friend. Thats okay. Where were changing withs . Contemporary makeovers. Nd. Then, use the ultimate power handshake, the upper hander with a double palm grab. Who has the upper hand now . Start winning today. Book now at lq. Com. We can now simulate the exact anatomyh care, of a patients brain before surgery. If we can do that, imagine what we can do for seizures. And if we can fix damaged heart valves without open heart surgery, imagine what we can do for an irregular heartbeat, even high blood pressure. If we can use analyze each patients Breast Cancer to personalize their treatment, imagine what we can do for the conditions that affect us all. Imagine what we can do for you. In the midst of breaking news on the airstrikes in syria, we also have the bombshell revelation about President Trumps personal attorney. The Justice Department saying Michael Cohen is under criminal investigation, an investigation going on for months. Lets discuss now cnn president ial historian douglas brinkley, National Security analyst Samantha Vinograd and juliette kayyem, and cnn political commentator david swerdlick. Juliette. Kayleigh. Yoend where that came from. 2016 youre back. Oh wait. Whoa. Im just kidding. Flash back. My gosh thats right. I colored my hair. Okay. So the president s personal attorney Michael Cohen under criminal investigation as i said its been going on for months. Do we know what he is being investigated for . Not exactly. We know that its a big deal because of the authority that the prosecutors received from a court to essentially take everything that cohen has got. We do know also that its related to his business dealings at least in the Court Proceedings that came out today. And not necessarily related to his legal work. Why is that significant . Because Michael Cohen is an entity of donald trump, as a businessman, as a lawyer, and his dealings have always in the last couple of years of his professional life have been tied to donald trump. And so i think one of the biggest take aways and probably why donald trump is so nervous at this stage is the questions or the the prosecutors saying they wanted more information about Michael Cohens dealings with Corey Lewandowski and hope hicks, two key players in the Trump Campaign and obviously hope hicks a key players in the white house. That seems to be direct ties to trump. And something that you know, for trump, himself is not something he can stop by threatening to fire sessions or mueller or rosenstein at this stage. I thought it interesting, david, as i was watching the situation room with wolf blitzer and raj shaw was on the lawn of the white house and he wouldnt answer wolfs questions regarding miebl cohen. He wanted to talk to the issues important to the American People. He gladly answered the question about Scooter Libby but then wouldnt answer the question about Michael Cohen. And my response to him would have been so you dont think the president s personal attorney being under criminal investigation is a story thats important to the American People, especially when his only client is you know who, david . Yeah, don, i think thats right. I havent i didnt see that interview. But i think there is two sides to that. On the one hand you are absolutely right. This is an issue of critical importance to the American People. The president of the United States at least in theory should be the moral leader of the country. He is the head of state. The idea that one of his henchman, Michael Cohen is under criminal investigation i believe the warrant that was served this week referenced wire fraud, bank fraud, possible Campaign Finance violation, no indictment yet. He of course has the presumption of innocence. That is serious business. And remember, none of this would have come up we wouldnt be talking about in he wouldnt know who Michael Cohen was if President Trump had just stayed a private citizen, if he had not run for president or if he had not won. But now that he is president all this is a matter of national concern. On the other hand, don, here is what i think republicans are holding onto. If you look at the polls, real clear pliks polling average, the president is at 42. He was at 44 on inauguration day. The bottom hasnt fallen out. He still has over 80 support among republicans that allows the white house to keep repeating the talking points about all these things that theyve done. You hear what i said, though, his only client. Yes. Is the president of the United States and he is under criminal investigation. Its not like he could be you had under for any other client. And what are his other business dealings . No, right, no, look, President Trump is like, you know its like gou to the club with one of your buddies. And he gets in a fight and you know the buddy is wrong but youve go the to jump oh in on his side even though this is my knowledge cohen now. Donald trumps gotten him into this bar fight. And now his whole life is getting turned upside down because he is loyal to his friend. Even though he knows his friend is way out there on the plank. Its a rich political version of no snichgt. Sam when david said the bottom hasnt fallen out you were shaking your head no. Its unbelievable to me reality check, here, right. The president is really talented at hiring a lot of people that end up under criminal investigation. And its worth noting that President Trump, i believe, had a lawyer at Michael Cohens hearing today. This wasnt just some random event that happened the president is disassociated from process. Right. I have to wonder for the president s base or for example republican senators or members of congress generally, at what point do all the criminal investigations start to lead people to wonder whats going on here . How many criminal investigations does it take before they wake up and they say, something is wrong here . This guy is shady. I dont think its ever going to happen. I dont know. Maybe im too optimistic i wish that it would. I dont think its happening. Whatever shady is or not. Thats not for me to determine. I think that the i think the their merging is effective. They have conservative media, the trump channel all saying the same thing. Do you agree with me, douglas. I do. And as long as the economy does well people will forgive donald trump an awful lot. But this event with Michael Cohen is just blockbuster killer negative for donald trump. I mean, the odds are of being the fixer for donald trump over the past decade and do dealing with all these kinds of payoffs and nefarious activities and behaviors, the fact is one very well might surface in your having a president of the United States with a felony charge. To me whats happening to Michael Cohen is even more dangerous for the president than basic Mueller Report on the collusion. Because here you are looking at criminal activity. And its booted to new york away from washington being. This is what the New York Times is reporting deep concern inside the white house over the newly revealed criminal investigation and that President Trumps advisers have concluded that the cohen investigation poses a great and more imminent threat to the president than the special counsels investigation. Go on. Thats kind of what i was just saying. I think i think for donald trump this is going to be a very bleak weekend. Syria has been like i know people are saying wag the dog. But its having a lot of popular support. We didnt have a lot of casualties. None so far reported. Can you talk to me about that . Because the Syrian Television is i saying no one died. There are three injured. When it first happened all i heard from everyone, if you read social media is wag the dog, the wag the dog. I cant determine that. Maybe its wag the puppy because youve got france and britain on. But what do you think of that assessment. I think that trump had to do something, though, because of the red line. And once that chemical weapons event happened a week ago he was going to do something. You won say its wag the dog. I dont think fully. But the comby refrmgss of today. Comby is going to be everywhere next week including on cnn. Its getting donald trump going. Youre getting his tweeting again, making crazy statements again. And the little bump bounces getting out of syria will fade. Stick around everyone. When we come back, the political war between james comey and the president heating up. Why the president went on a twitter tyrod about the former fisher director. Right, mom . Righttt. Safe driving bonus checks. Only from allstate. Switching to allstate is worth it. Certain chemicals can prevent paint from delivering the color you want. So we got rid of them, and that made our paint color more durable, more fade resistant, and truer. Its a simpler paint formula, thanks to our exclusive gennex color technology. So now theres less standing between you and better color. Thats proudly particular. Benjamin moore. The standard for paint professionals. Only at local paint and hardware stores. The powerful backing of american express. Dont live life without it. James comey new book. Full of explosive revelations and President Trump rage tweeting. Balk back with me now. Douglas, the slow leak of the comey book. From starting to attract last night bubble last night. Attracted a swift and angry response from the president. From slime ball. To weak. To liar. And leaker. And this afternoon this from the white house briefing. One of the president s greatest achievements will go down as firing director james comey. Remember that this Mueller Investigation began when the president fired james comey. Whats your thoughts . Sfwl the president just despises comey. And now were able to read the excerpts you can see why. Comey pulls no punches. He calls him every name in the book. He compares him to the crime family. Calls him a mobster. A constant liar. I was surprised that comey is so loose si goose si with his own language. He uses the phrase holy crap. And the golden showers. And i thought he would have taken a higher road. In instead he seems to have gone into the muck with donald trump. Next week it will be back and forth comey trump. On the tv shows. I didnt think he needed to do that. He should have been the great Public Servant. Does anyone disagree with that . Hes held in such high esteem. People were upset with the 2016 election. But democrats were calling for him to resign. Not necessarily be fired. And they got back on board. I was just i slightly disagree. Douglas has the historical perspective. What was learned in 2016 in terms of people who were at odds with trump. Then candidate and now president. They the Michelle Obama frame. When they go low we go high. Frequently didnt work. I wonder if hes fwoing with i go low i go lower type approach. When youre doing battle with trump, theres no bottom to which he wont go. When it comes to insults. I think comey had enough time to reflect on that kp seize hes in this image dog fight. With the president. At least he will be for the next several days. And maybe he says look its going to get nasty. Why not just let it rip. From the beginning. Since were talking about that, comey does write some tongue and cheek about the president s physical characteristics. This is for you juliette. His hair and skin. Hand size. Heres what he said about why it was so salacious. I started to tell him about the allegation was he had been involved with prostitutes in a hotel. In moscow in 2013. During a visit for the pageant. And the the russians had filmed the episode. And he interrupted defensively, and started talking about it. Do i look like a guy who needs hookers . And i somebody was asking that rhetorically. And i didnt answer. I moved on and explained. Im not saying we credit this. Im not saying with believe it. We thought it important you know. Do you feel the details detracted from the more serious allegations he made . No. I dont. And i i dont know what choice comey had. Its the reality of what the dossier was about. In other words the question is as i have been saying is did it happen or not. The question is whether the dossier or information in the dossier could have been used to compromise the president. During the 2016 election. Or compromise him now. In terms of his allegiance as president. I will say, i wish that Donald Trumps anger we could see this anger directed towards putin and those responsible for what happened during the 2016 campaign. To Sarah Sanders point what will make a great president is not firing comey. It would have been a president who spent 18 months actually addressing what is fundamental and structural concern for the democracy. So, the trumps protest now are not only sort of irrelevant to mullers investigation, they do ring really odd when you compare them to his lack of interest in Americas National and homeland security. Excerpts from the forthcoming book leaked yesterday. Trump has spent today really punching back in attempt to discredit the former fbi director. This is sanders earlier today. The American People see right through the blatant lies of a selfadmitted leaker. This is nothing more than a poorly executed pr stunt. To rehab his reputation and enrich his own bank account by peddling a book that belongs in the bargain section. Comey will be forever known as a disgraced partisan hack. That broke his sacred trust with the president of the United States. The dedicated agents of the fbi. And the American People he vowed to faithfully serve. She wanted to get that out. That was scripted. She read every word. Who do you think the American People is more credible . I think comey. But heres the thing, a will the of people write books about president s. You can fill a library. Most of the time president s dont respond. Particularly when those books are untrue. This president has spent personally and through sanders responding to things he says. That makes me wonder. To your earlier question, the timing of this book is unfortunate. I think that we are now seeing a scene play out that was expected. The president s base are using this book to kind of bully james comey. Its a distraction at a time when we have an investigation under way and 2018 midterms coming. A lot of people are saying shed light on the president prioritizing for example his own personal interest over the russia investigation. We knew that. I personally would have just liked to see this book published through the midterm. And once the investigation was done. What dwrou think of that . Should he have waited for the investigation to end . I agree its giving new to the base. To look the fbi is out to get the president. The deep state. Theres a sort of conspiracy of the washington establishment. In that sense, sam is right. I wouldnt second guess the timing of the book, though. The book probably is just when it was ready to come out it was going to come out. Comey is known even though people have always said that he is someone of High Integrity and intelligence. Someone a dedicated Public Servant his reputation is also someone who likes the spotlight. This is a moment. Who knows when the investigation will be over. Remember the libya investigation was two years. It hasnt been that long. All right. Thank you all. When we come back the latest on the breaking news. Air strikes on the regime in syria. Im sorry, leo. I know im late. Traffic on the Ponte Vecchio on a monday. Always late. Oh my wallet un momento. Card lock from capital one. Instantly lock your card. In case your card goes. Arrivederci. Mona that smile. Technology this convenient. Could make history. Whats in your wallet . Were ready for you. Introducing new elvive protein recharge leavein conditioner. In just 1 use, elvive revives damaged hair. Because youre worth it. Janice, mom told me you bought a house