That was following u. S. Missile strikes on a steering military base in retaliation of bashar assad chemical weapon attack on his own people. Ru is refusing to blame aside for that attack. Secretary tillerson said one way or another, assad must go. We did discuss at length the future role of aside, whether it be a future political process, were not. Clearly our view is that the reign of the assad family is coming to an end. Joining the panel this week, wall street journal columnist, Dan Henninger, bill mcgurn, mary kissel. Bill, whatever happened to the president s plan for a reset with relations to russia . Vladimir putin really did engineer the victory for donald trump. He is not getting his moneys worth it from this. It is really interesting, what donald trump is doing is not just a connection against russia and the bombing of syria, it is a public embarrassment of Vladimir Putin before the entire world. First siding with assad. Also in little things. One of the false dichotomies of the obama years is that the only thing anyone ever does is a fullscale invasion of u. S. Troops, whether it is ukraine or syria, or nothing. I think the invitation to montenegro to join dado something putin does not want. There are a lot of levers they can push and Rex Tillerson seems sophisticated and is pushing some of those. Paul in a way, married some of Donald Trumps ambitions for a better relationship ran up against russian reality for supporting assad. There is no alliance with assad, iran, and russia in syria. Then you have the chemical attack. It has become a lever for the pivot. Dentistry. It has. I thought it was encouraging that Rex Tillerson suggested that sanctions are not going to be lifted anytime soon on russia. That is of course another big point of leverage we have, given how weak russias economy is, that was good news. He also mentioned cybercrime in that press conference. By the way, that was a good press conference, if it looks that way a public you know it is even worse behind closed doors. There is no love lost their. Paul you have a john kerry with these lovefest and you knew that they did not really agree its syria in particular behind the scenes. It was all nice ups up front. You mentioned iran, the president of iran was in moscow two weeks ago, signed 14 economic agreements. Russian said theyre going to help the iranians rebuild the nuclear plant. Clearly, there deepening their alliance. The iranians are trying to establish a shiite crescent, engulfing iraq. This is not in the interest of the United States. Whatever help we make it from Russia Fighting the Islamic State this is out talents by the what theyre seeking from iran. I think the Trump Administration sees that clearly. I want to elaborate on montenegro. This is a small country. Something at putin really does not want to become the 29th member of nato. Yet, trump, this week despite what he said in the campaign about nato being obsolete. Suddenly it is not so obsolete anymore. And he said not obsolete anymore. And he said they sent a formal letter saying that we would agree to montenegros secession to nato if others would agree. This is a direct push back from putin. What to make of this in terms of trumps own thinking and the evolving sense of his foreignpolicy is . Trump ran on the promise that he was going to send troops back in syria and get us back on track in the middle east. Some of this is rallying allies around whether its nato or central europe, whether it is bringing in leaders from the middle east, look at the parade of leaders he has had at the white house recently. Jordan, egypt, saudi arabia, just to name a few. That is no quince it in. I think he perceives a thread in syria that goes beyond bashar all assad. Its isis, tesla, its al qaeda, which is regenerating itself. He knows and he has made a promise to the american people, he needs allies to rally around. Paul changing view of alliances. That was one of his views that he has no concern for traditional american alliances. He is not bracing nato. We are never going to get a trumpet doctrine in the sense of clarity and so forth. It is kind of like nancy plus he said whave to pass healthcare. We had to electron to find out what the doctrine is going to be. That can be dangerous. It can be, but he is not embarrassed by the use of American Force brady is not inclined to letter enemies run over us. For the first time in eight years what amir putin has to ask himself, what will americas reaction be. Paul but tillerson said, dan, assad days are numbered. Is that this administrations redline now . That theyre going to have to follow through with a make sure that assad does the power . Given the administration can train their change their minds. They are put down a difficult marker. One of these things would be to partitioned syria and within section reserved from assad. If they can get to Something Like that as a goal to get peace in syria, i think they would pursue it. If assad wants to rent one third of the country, that would be fine. Paul are we seeing the emergence, we dont have a lot of time, the emergence of a more conventional donald trump foreignpolicy . That the radical version he ran in the campaign . We could be. Remember trump and mattis both said this week that syria policy is not changing. Also after the syria strike, they justify that strike because assad had broken the chemical weapons ban and used weapons of mass destruction. Not because he kled all of this people. I dont think it is a big change, no. Paul still had, what putin stands to gain from doubling down on his support for syria down on his support for syria even as the Global Community whoa thats amazing. Hey, im the internet i know a bunch of people who would love that. 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Symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. You should tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. Symbicort could mean a day with better breathing. Watch out, piggies child giggles symbicort. Breathe better starting within 5 minutes. Get symbicort free for up to one year. Visit saveonsymbicort. Com today to learn more. Paul a key question for the Trump Administration is whether it can weekend russias support for syria, given that moscow is Bashar Assads a military ally in the middle east. Heres President Trump this week on the foxbusiness network. Frankly, putin is backing a person who is truly an evil person. I think it is very bad for russia, i think it is very bad for man kind, it is very bad for this world. Paul the founder and president of the foundation for defense of democracy, it is good to see you cliff. Welcome. A week later after the bombing of the syrian airfield, how does that look as a way of changing the incentives and behavior of the middle east . In terms of Vladimir Putin, i think it causes him to reconsider. We know it a few things about Vladimir Putin after all of these years. One is that in his view, it is a realistic view, the leader of russia has a job to do. That is to expand, in this case, to rebuild the russian empire. He wants to do that at home, and Eastern Europe with a former soviet state. He also wants to do that in the middle east. He wants an arab ally, he wants a border on the mediterranean, he gets both from syria. From putin it is more business and personal. If he gets what he wants, i dont think he needs assad. That said, then Dan Henninger is right, if assad was to run a small portion that might be good enough. Given my, putin has been plana we cant very well. He does not want to see trumpet play trump cards, pardon the expression. Paul i have seen no evidence so far in russian behavior or statements that they are at all backing away from the side. They have vetoed the resolution at the United Nations this week to assail assad. Is there any sign at all that they are deed linking . We have not seen it yet. What he did at the un was to totally negate International Laws most basic is the most terrible thing. We have nothing at. There is a feeling state. It is humpty dumpty. I dont see how get put back together again. One of the things i mentioned the Trump Administration is considering, is something called safe havens, i called them protection zones. That is likely to lead to some sort of partition of the state. If that happens or, point where it is the reality on the ground, the facts on the ground that assad does not will the whole country. Part of that might be ruled by isis, part by various secretary in an ethnic groups. If you have a safe havens or self protection zones on the jordanian order, the kurdish areas, those will not be part of assads theory any longer. There may be things that need to be accepted by putin. I think you can accept them. Paul we know that donald trump to talk about the safe havens, the safe zones in the campaign. It is not something he would be flip flopping on if he went in that direction. That would require american air power to enforce, and that would ramp up the potential confrontation with russia. How big of a risk is there of a military engagement between the two countries . Everything putin would back down at the u. S. Would fear that it would establish a nofly zone. One thing that has been talked about for long time, i think it wouldve been a good idea, its really possible to do without boots on the ground is to eliminate assads airpower. His entire airport. Just not a lot of planes, then he cannot do chemical weapons are barrel bombs. Once you do that, nofly zone is not so hard. Its not so hard to set up self protection zones. Paul is there an alliance to be had with the sunny countries of the mide east and turkey perhaps . Could the u. S. Lead that put that together and talk about saudi arabia, the gulf states, and jordan. Could you put together an alliance that protected these safe zones and basically was a force to fight the iranian, russia assad triumph . I think so with some reservation. The sunni says dates, they should absolutely be supportive of this. They should be asked to pay for this. As for supplying troops, that is a little more dapple. Israel world, on its border in some ways it already is, it is supporting very quietly the jews across its border in syria. So, this sort of thing can be arranged. This is what diplomacy can do if diplomacy is backed up by force. The idea that obama had diplomacy and force are alternatives. That was a naive mistake. Paul lets step back a bit. Looking at the first days of trump for policy, are we seeing the emergence of what you call, for lack of a better word, a normal Republican Administration on Foreign Policy . What a contrast to what he ran on. I dont think thats unfair. I think it awaits true. If i were speaking for the ministration, which im not, heres what i would say. The Trump Administration is going to be whats for in the American Interests. The American Interest is not only to stop acts of terrorism inside our borders. The American Interest is stricken eyes their threats overseas that are maturing that we have to deal with in advance. I think that is very much what he has done in terms of syria. Very much what he has done in afghanistan. Among other things, those 2x this week, they begin to reestablish the capability of Strategic Deterrence which they used to have. That is vital for American Interests. You want to see a sense of all and your enemies and allies as well. Paul cliff, thank you for being here. When we come back, stories of white house infighting make for juicy headlines. Paul despite efforts of the white house to slow down the rumors. The rumors continue to go with his see bannon fighting with the soninlaw. As Jerry Kushner take some more responsibility in the west wing. President trump himself told the press that i like steve but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. The president went on to say that steve is a good guy, but i told him to straighten it out or i will. We are back with dan, and bill joining us. And also Editorial Board member, joe rago. Is this the end of estevan and the white house what is in . I think it is certainly a diminishment of his role. He was the author of a lot of the early mistakes . Such as qwest mark. It such as a divisive in our girl address and the travel ban which inflamed politics in a way that polarize the country. Paul and still is in place because it stop of the courts. He is also taking some incoming for failure to repeal and replace obama care. I think a little bit unfairly. But, if you cannot deliver results, trump is going to go for someone who can. Paul why unfairly on healthcare . Is that because he is seen to have a conservative estimate described as a conservative, he couldnt deliver the Freedom Caucus which was supposed to be as allies. He probably took the wrong turn taking ultimatums. I havent been told what to do since i was 17 by my father, im not to be told now. I think were also learning about Donald Trumps governing style. One of the other things he said about steve abandoned is that look, steve is a guy who works for me, allight. Thats true. Everybody is a guy who works for tron. That is a reality. But trump has peers who he admires. Hes been having a lot of meetings with peoples in the Business Community. He is actually listening to these business leaders. On the one hand he is going to reauthorize the Export Import Bank which is a government subsidy. A total flipflop from his campaign. A total flipflop because of the convinced him it was helping smaller businesses. On the other hand he is going to push very hard on financial deregulation because its been next line to him. Steve bannon has no role in competing. If you remember the last ad he ran, that 62nd ad, he had Goldman Sachs and there is one of the balance of the globalists. That was an ad, in part developed by steve bannon. Now, he has the globalists, at least what youre saying, advising him. My word to steve bannon, live and learn. You did it in the election but now youre the white house. Were talking about policy. Steve bannon is not contributing successful policy as joe has explained. Paul how do you explain this bill in terms of policy . What is it mean . Is at the eclipse of the conservative wing . I think infighting is endemic to any white house. People who have not worked in a white house cannot understand how fast of various things, you. You are developing policy in a pressure cooker. When it was the campaign, see bannon was in charge and of things. Messaging and so forth. Now hes more of a advisory role. When i was there it was going badly and people used to complain about speechwriters. And i say give me a better war, give you better speech. So, theres two problems, Steve Bennett doesnt have a policy popportfolio. He has a vision, but other people are setting the policy. Its not that wise to go up against the president sun while when the soninlaw and the daughter have official roles within the administration. That puts you at a disadvantage. Paul ideologically as is going to matter to fundamental issues like healthcare, tax reform, and other things . It will matter to the extent that they can get results. Paul but the wrath from the right is that Jerry Kushner is not a republican, he was a democrat. Gary , either democrat or on alliant, he has no record of his donations were mostly to the democratic party. Theres nothing wrong with that, the point is, is this a menstruation moving to the left politically . Thats a question. I dont think it is. If you look at the national council, what the personals policy to use a washington cliche, very conservative, murders row of conservative policy experts on taxes, healthcare, energy, down the line. I think cohen himself, while a registered democrat was really left with a bataste afr the obama years. The degradation of free markets, entrepreneurship, i think it has moved significantly to the right. To a degree, the trump philosophy is not the traditional philosophy. But what it is, it is a probusiness view as opposed to a pro market view. Thats why you have the deregulation and thats why it takes you a long way. It is not quite the same thing. To a degree that he has a philosophy its a patriotic probusiness point of view. Paul well see how this evolves. Thank you. Still had, a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the american hearts and minds of the American Voters im worried i cant find a safe used car. Hearts and minds of the American Voters you could start