Meant a new isolationism and a confusing signal to those at home who elected him on that very sentiment. We are prepared to do more. But we hope that will not be necessary. Dickerson but what more . We talked with secretary of state Rex Tillerson about u. S. Foreign policy and whether the president s concern for humanitarianism now extends to removing Bashar Alassad. Is it a priority of u. S. Policy to get him out of power . Our priority in syria, john, really hasnt changed. I think the president has been quite clear, first and foremost we must defeat isis. Dickerson next up, a key republican who says more must be done to stop the syrian dictators attacks on his own people. Senator john mccain praised the president s move but said it is about more than just isis. It is now vitally important we develop a strategy, we put that strategy in motion and we bring peace too the region. I believe the United States of america can address both at the same time. We can walk and chew gum. Dickerson plus the Senate Goes Nuclear in order to get neil gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court. We will have some thoughts about that plus plenty of am sister on syria, russia, north korea, and the week in politics, it is all coming up on face the nation. Dickerson good morning and welcome to face the nation. I am john dickerson. Tensions are rising just about all over the world this morning. There were more air strikes this weekend on in syria where the chemical attack occurred last week and a u. S. Navy Carrier Group the vincent is moving closer to the peninsula we want to welcome Rex Tillerson to the broadcast, mr. Secretary, thank you for being with us, as a start, what message was being sent to the syrian leader with the u. S. Military action . Well, john, i think the president was quite clear in his statement he made to the American People that syrias continued violations of, National Hurricane center resolutions and previous agreements syria entered into regarding the chemical weapons accord would no longer be tolerated. I think we have stood by and watched multiple chemical weapon attacks by the Syrian Regime under the leadership of Bashar Alassad, and this one, in particular, was the most horrific since the major chemical attack back in 2013. I think that is clearly the message is that the violation of international norms, the continuing ignoring of u. N. Resolutions and the continuing violation of agreements that they themselves entered into will no long per tolerated. Dickerson if syria continues though on the other course it has been on, which is to attack with conventional weapons, barrel bombs and also block humanitarian aid, what is the message if they continue doing those things from the United States . Well, i think those continued actions by Bashar Alassad clearly call into any question of him expected to have any legitimacy to continue it is a leader of syria. I think the issue of how Bashar Alassads leadership is sustained or how he depart is something we will be working with allies and others in the coalition, but i think with each of those actions he really undermines his own legitimacy. Dickerson is it a priority of u. S. Policy to get him out of power . Our priority in syria, john, hasnt really changed, i think the president has been quite clear. First and foremost, we must defeat isis, and i would say that the military progress both in syria and in iraq has been remarkable since President Trumps inauguration. We have continued to liberate areas. We are making tremendous progress in liberating mosul in iraq, working with coalition forces, who working with allies and we are moving to position to liberate raqqa, and to continue to contain isis and the threat that isis really does present to the homeland and to other homelands of allies around the world. Dickerson so in terms of president assad, you said there has been no change in policy. As a result of this attack so it is still true then his fate is to be determined as you said previously by the Syrian People . Yes, john, i think obviously the United States on founding principles are selfdetermination and i think what the United States and our allies want to do is to enable the Syrian People to make that determination, and we have seen what violate regime change looks like in libya and the kind of chaos that can be unleashed and indeed the kind of misery that it enacts on its own people. I think what we are hopeful is through this syrian process working with coalition members, working with the u. N. And in particular working through the geneva process that we can navigate a political outcome in which the Syrian People, in fact, will determine Bashar Alassads fate and his legitimacy. Dickerson the problem i think the question of how his criminal actions and are dealt with is something that will be a part of that process. Dickerson the argument that people make for more intervention by the United States is that the Syrian People are in no position to make a determination about the president because he is bombing a lot of them, millions of them have had to flee the country and that he created a condition where there is no institution that can remove him from power and while the u. S. Pursues its interests he continues to do all of the things that the administration has now said are so morally reprehensible. Reprehensible. I think, john, it is important we keep our priorities straight and we believe that the First Priority is the defeat of isis, that by defeating isis and removing their caliphate from their control we have now eliminated at least or minimize add particular threat, not just the United States, but to the whole stability of the region, and once the isis threat has been reduced or eliminated i think we can turn our attention directly to stabilizing the situation in syria. We are hopeful we can prevent a continuation of the civil war and that we can bring the parties to the table to begin the process of political discussions. Clearly that requires the participation of the regime with the support of their allies and we are hopeful that russia will choose to play a constructive role in supporting cease fires through their own talks but also ultimately through geneva and if we can achieve assess fires and zones of stabilization in syria then we hope we will have the cant to begin a useful political process. Dickerson this was the first crisis that started in and was carried through on this president s watch. Can you give us a window into that and what the president s attention was focused on . Well, the president ially tell you was very thoughtful in terms of the decision to take the strike. He requested immediately from the Defense Department and our military planners up in options and requested of the state Department Working with the marble Security Council diplomatic options. We had multiple meetings to discuss those options, he asked a number of questions, probing those so that they were fully developed. And then we had two meetings down, once we arrived in maralago in which ultimately the president made the ultimate decision. So i think, john, i would describe the president s leadership in this issue was extraordinary in terms of the way he conducted those meetings. He clearly wanted everyone to express their personal views around the options, invited ever to express those openly without reservation so he could consider all of those options. They did consider them and then ultimately made the decision. So i think it was a clear demonstration of his leadership, but also clear demonstration of how well the team of people that he has put in place are able to Work Together to arrive at a at an answer that is clearly the right one. Dickerson senator marco rubio made a charge this week he accused you of quote nodding to the idea assad was going to get to stay in some capacity. This was referring to your regarding about the Syrian People picking whether he could stay or go and senator rubio said it was no coincidence that then president assad used chemical weapons, what is your response to that . I think that is a regrettable comment on the part of senator rubio. Dickerson and do you think there was nothing the u. S. Did in the statements either you made or the u. N. Ambassador made saying it was not a priority to get him out that that had no effect on his thinking . This was swoon, this was a continuation of a series of chemical weapon attacks by Bashar Alassad, this was not the first. As you well know there were two similar attacks in march, march the 25th, march the 30th in homma so this was yet another instance of Bashar Alassads continued violation of the chemical weapons agreements. Dickerson russia said that they dont believe that this is the way that the United States sees it, is that because russia might have been involved in this chemical weapons attack . Well, i think the russians have played now for some time the role of providing cover for Bashar Alassads behavior. The alternative explanation that the russians put forth is simply not plausible, not only is it not plausible we know from our own information and open Source Information that their alternative explanation is simply not credible. So there is no question as to who is responsible for these attacks. It was Bashar Alassad. And i think the russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons agreements to be the guarantor that these weapons would be seized, they would be removed, they would be destroyed. Since they are Bashar Alassads ally they would have the closest insight as to their compliance. So regardless of whether russia was complicit here or whether they were simply incompetent or whether they got outwitted by the Bashar Alassad regime, you would have to ask the russians that question. But clearly they have failed in their commitment to the international community. Dickerson given how strongly the president acted with respect to syria using the chemicals weapons isnt it a rather important point whether the russians were actively engaged in the military chemical weapons use that the u. S. Government Just Launched a military strike over . Isnt that a crucial question . Well, to our knowledge, we do not have any information that suggests that russia was a part of the military attack undertaken using the chemical weapons. A. Dickerson the u. N. Ambassador said how many children have to die before russia cares . Is that a message you will take to moscow . Your visit next week . Well, again, it is clearly the message is, russia gave certain assurances under the chemical weapons agreement in 2013 and in accordance with the u. N. Security Council Resolutions that they would be the guarantor of the destruction of syrias chemical weapons stockpiles. Russia has failed in that commitment, and the result of their failure has led to the killing of more children and innocents. Dickerson do you worry about russian retaliation for the u. S. Military actions . I see no reason there would be retaliation since the russians were never targeted in this particular strike. It was a very deliberate, very proportionate and very targeted strike undertaken in response to the chemical weapons attack and russia was never a part of the targeting. Dickerson there is a channel of communication between the u. S. And russia, both flying over syria. So they dont bump into each other, if nothing else, is that line of communication still open . As far as i know, the line of communication continues to be open, and the battlefield commanders are able to communicate with one another. I am aware that there have been certain public statements made out of moscow, so we will just have to see and may have to ask the military people. Dickerson you met with president of china along with the president there in florida. What message did the chinese take from the u. S. Action in syria . Well, the president , i think, very thoughtfully and rightfully did notify presidency ping, president , situate of the attack, he wanted to explain to him the rationale for the u. S. Action. Why it was taken and why he felt it was necessary. My understanding, i was not standing there by but my understanding is that the president xi said well, no one should kill children. The chinese have since issued their own statement on the attack itself. Dickerson . The president also said about north korea, if china doesnt act, then, in north korea, then we will. Did the chinese get that message from this meeting over the weekend . I can tell you that both the president , president s had extensive discussions around the dangerous situation in north korea. They had a very lengthy exchange on the subject yesterday morning. I think it was a very useful and productive exchange. President xi clearly understands and i think agrees that the situation has intens intensified reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken and indeed the chinese even themselves have said that they do not believe this conditions are ripe today to engage in discussions with the government in pyongyang, so what i think we are hopeful is that we can Work Together with the chinese to change the conditions in the minds of the dprk leadership and then at that point perhaps discussions may be useful. But i think there is a shared view and no disagreement as to how dangerous the situation has become. And i think even china is beginning to recognize this presents a threat to even chinas interests as well. Dickerson all right, secretary tillerson we will have to leave it there, thanks so much for being with us. It is my pleasure, john. Dickerson we turn now to senator john mccain, who joins us from senator, i want to ask you, you like, would like the administration to take a series of steps to knock out the Syrian Air Force, set up safe zones, it appears from secretary tillerson the other not going to do anything more than the actions they have already taken. What is your reaction to that . I think what the president did was an Excellent First step and it was a reversal of the last eight years, and i think it was important. But it is now vitally important we develop a strategy, we put that strategy this motion and we bring about peace in the region and that obviously means that there has to be a cessation of these war crimes. John, using chemical weapons is a war crime, but starving thousands of people is also. A barrel bombs which indiscriminately kill innocent civilians, precision strikes are done by russians on hospitals in aleppo, war crimes as well. So there are a lot of war crimes that are taking place and another aspect of this that i do not agree with the secretary is that you have to just concentrate on isis. We will take mosul. We will take raqqa and we better have strategies as to how to handle those places once we have won it. But they are not disconnected from Bashar Alassad and the al qaeda, and the war crimes that have been taking place. You cant to a large degree, Bashar Alassad b by polarizing the Syrian People have also given rise to isis and al qaeda. So they are both connected and i believe that the United States of america can address both at the same time. We can walk and chew gum. We have the capability to do both, and yes, we want a negotiated september, but the only way that that will happen is if it is not in their interests to continue what they have been successful at for over eight years and that is why i thought symbolically and psychologically the president s action was very important, but now we better follow it up. And by the way we should have cratered the runways. Dickerson just to follow up on that, senator, secretary of state tillerson said when i listed those other parts of syrian efforts that you mention, he said that America Needs to quote keep its priorities straight and focus on isis. But your argument is that taking care of the humanitarian actions that Bashar Alassad is taking that that is a part of the fight against isis as well. I think they are totally connected and also when you see these crimes that are being committed, they are horrifying. John, i also believe that a grieving mother whose child has been killed isnt too concerned whether it is a chemical weapon or a barrel bomb. He is still slaughtering people and we may stop the chemical weapons, but we also have got to stop the other indies discriminate, inhumane war crimes that are being committed as well. And that means, obviously, trying to set up some kind of safe zone so that these refugees will have a place where they can be and also that will help with the refugee flow issue. Dickerson senator, you said you had wished they cratered the runways. Based on your assessment of the damage that was taken from the u. S. Military action, what kind of a signal do you think that sends to president assad . Well, i think the fact that we acted was very important and i support the president s action and i have been told that there was some recommendations to take 0 out all six places that the Syria