Good morning, its wednesday june 29th. With us on set, veteran columnist mike barnicle, john halman. Fellow at the council on Foreign Relations and contributing editor at the atlantic and aman. This morning Istanbul International airport has parlsy reopened following the suicide bombing that left at least 36 people dead, according to the countrys Prime Minister. Nearly 150 more are reported injured in what he is calling an attack by the Islamic State. Turkish Officials Say three attackers arrived at the airport
in a cab last night. They then opened fire in and around the arrivals area using automatic weapons. Police exchanged gunfire with the attackers before the explosives were detonated sending people running in panic. One man caught up in boston described the chaos. I was in there and people were shooting on one side and we all ran the other way and then the bombs went off and people were running the other way and more shooting. We came out and after that, i think there was another bomb. But not really sure. Showing some of the attack and we warn you that the following videos are graphic. We have video captured on cctv footage on a compure that appears to show the moment of one of the explosions in what appears to be the lower level of the airport. Nbc news has not independently confirmed it is the blast. Another video appears to be a Police Officer shooting an attacker falling to the ground moments before detonating his explosives. The state Department Said it was determining if any victims were american. Yeah, the pace seems to be quickening from ororlando to istanbul and before that, brussels and paris. What is your take on the latest attack . The attacking turkey at a fairly low place. Probably could have pulled off more of this in the past. In the past, turkey has been in some ways kind of valuable. A pipeline for fighters. Obviously, a lot for people that havent really been following this for a while. A longrunning dispute between the United States, the west and turkey about that pipeline and insistence that they do more to
stop the flow of isis fighters into syria. Thats right. Turkey has been a conduit for fighters that are fighting against assad. Did something happen that would have triggered this attack . A crackdown in turkey. That crackdown going on for roughly the last year and made the Islamic State mad and turkey less valuable for them. So, they really stepped up and said, yeah, were going to attack you and hit you hard in your most cause pallten center. Mike . Is it possible between turkey and israel may have played a part in this . That happened very recently. From what i can tell about this attack, three coordinated suicide bombers, not the kind of things you ramp up in a matter of a couple days. Obviously, turkey and israel getting back together is not something that the Islamic Statelikes or would support. But i dont think that they could ramp up an attack so fast that they would be the thing that made this one happen. You dont think . I dent think so, no. Some airports around the u. S. Are beefing up their security in the wake of the attack in iistanbiistanbul. Putti putting, high, visible patrols. The agency added it is collaborating with federal, state and local Law Enforcement officials on security. Meanwhile, passengers arriving at miami International Airport tell nbc there that they noticed tighter security, as well. The attack on istanbul comes three months after the subway and airport attacks in brussels that left 32 dead and 300 injur injured. Lets bring in retired executive assistant director of the fbi sean henry. Sean, first of all, what do umake of the timing of the attacks and where they were
carried out . Anything stand out to you . No, i mean, clearly, this is an attack on a soft target. We know isis or other terrorist group what their intend is. Inflict as much fear, harm, confusion into the civilian population. When we think about the security and people talk about asoft targets, why dont we put security further out outside the airport or maybe in the parking lots but the reality is youre just moving the soft target farther and farther away. At some point youre going to have a group of civilians all congregating around in an area unpredicted prior to people coming through the security area. Thats where the vulnerability becomes. Lets talk about the timing of the attack. Two years of the date and also, obviously, attacks during ramadan have been suggested in the past. Are we looking at possibly this
attack yesterday commemorating the twoyear anniversary . Its certainly possible. Im not necessarily sure that isi operates with this certain degree of symbolism when it comes to specific dates. We do mention the leadership of isis is calling for stepped up attacks around the world because of ramadan. Keep in mind more interesting, we are approaching the end of ramadan, which is one of the busiest travel seasons on the islamic calendar. So, the airports would have been extremely busy and security would have tight, and turkish officials tell me that they were actually anticipating something around this holiday season. This is similar to christmas and new years for us. Families are traveling and a lot of stepped up security. So what happens out here, many of us in the west, aman, would look at turkey as a state that has been moving more
islamists over the past decade and moving away from the west. So, we would find turkey to be an interesting target. Isis really dont see the gradual move. By no means does isis consider turkey as a symbol or Islamic State it wants to represent. It does not believe in that version that the akp party are trying to implement their version of government. So, turkey has shifted away from what we traditionally thought of a western democracy and by no means is it going in the direction of countries, even saudi arabia or even countries that would make iran or in any way make isis feel or islamic law or any kind of islamic governance. Sean, you were talking earlier about extending the ring of security further and further out from airports. Istanbul a fairly large airport. Isnt that the third busiest
in the world . It is the third busiest in europe. In europe. Third busiest in europe. At some point that becomes nearly impossible. At some point no place is truly secure against people, isis or whoever who want to do what happened yesterday. Mike, i think youre right. I think the best way to prevent these types of attacks is you have to eliminate the threat. That requires more aggressive policing and certainly military actions, internationally to disrupt these organizations. As it relates to the United States here domestically and airport security, officers, security teams, et cetera, being more proactive and more aggressive in their searching are the types of ways youll identify and disrupt some of these attacks but while this threat remains, we are going to be in sad shape here to ensure that were able to detect and disrupt all attacks. All right, joining us from istanbul, nbc news chief Foreign CorrespondentRichard Engel with the latest from there. Rich snrd. Good morning. I must say that this country, this airport, this city are being incredibly rezil yrnt this morning. The airport is back up and running. There have been some lights that were canceled but repair work is already under way. A steady steam of traffic and travelers going and coming from here. I saw people sitting in the coffee shops having their breakfast before getting on their flights and planes have been taking off and a very different scene from the one that we saw after the brussels attack where that airport was shut down for days. The airport here at istanbul is so important to the region and the hub for the region and this country clearly wanted to get it back up and running quickly. A little bit more detail about the attack itself, the Prime Minister said that isis, as weve been talking about this
morning is the likely suspect. He said that the attackers arrived in taxi cabs. Witnesses said they were dressed in black and they started opening firing and then detonating their suicide devices both at the curbside area around the arrival hall and then after those explosions. One of the attackers was able to get inside the arrival hall itself. The death toll still in the mid30s, although those numbers have been fluctuating. Richard, let me ask you. What is the reaction from the government and what was the reaction to papers what seems to be the reaction from the people . Is it defiance, anger, fear . What are you picking up . The reaction from the government is one of resolve that they will take reaction to fight this. This is a global scourge that they need to be united. In touch with the kremlin this morning. Turkey trying to bury the hatchet with russia. There have been very tense relations with russia over the
last several months. Also israel and turkey trying to improve their relations. So, turkey at the moment is trying to come out of the cold. Turkeys relations with almost all of its neighbors and some of its Close Friends, including the United States have been very bad recently. And i think this attack could further prompt turkey tasay it cannot go it alone. It could not have adversaries inside the country and outside. But i must say people in this country have been bracing for this kind of attack. A specific intelligence warning that we reported on two weeks ago that isis had deployed more than 30 fighters from inside syria to specifically carry out attacks during the muslim holy month of ramadan. A senior official told us that this attack at the airport is very likely linked to that advance deployment of isis personnel that they were set
here to stage attacks and the concern is ramadan is not over yet what we saw last night here may be the start of a wave of violence in the final days of this muslim holiday. Nbc Richard Engel, thank you very much, both presumptive president ial nominees released statements in response tathe terror attack. Hillary clinton said in part the attack in istanbul only strengthensors resolve to defeat the forces of terrorism and the United States cannot retreat. Part of Donald TrumpsStatement Reads our enemies are brutal and ruthless and will do anything to murder those who do not bend to their. We must take steps now to protect america from terrorists. Here he is at a Campaign Rally last night. They said what do you think about waterboarding . I said, i like it a lot and i dont think it is tough enough. We have to be so strong. We have to fight so viciously and violently because were dealing with violent people. Vicious people. And, you know, they eat dinner like us. Can you imagine them sitting around the table or wherever theyre eating their dinner talking about the americans dont do waterboarding and yet, they probably think were weak, were stupid, we dont know what were doing. We have no leadership. You know, you have to fight fire with fire. We have loaws. And the laws say you cant do this, you cant do that. You cant do a lot. Their laws say you can do anything you want and the more vicious you are, the better. We cant do waterboarding, which it isnt the nicest thing but peanuts compared to other things. We cant do waterboarding. But they can do dropping off
heads and they can do whatever they want to do. John, react to what you saw from Hillary Clinton and donald trump. Look, i think the first thing to say is that we thought for a long time now that this is going to be an election where security is the dominant theme and as these terror attacks ramped up im sure you saw that story in the l. A. Times which accounted all of april. 858 People Killed in the month of april around the world. This is going to be, the dream beat, i think, now all the way through to november. You have both Hillary Clinton and donald trump are confident that their approach, politically on this issue, benefits them. Trump, im the strong man. Clinton, im the confident woman. I think for people who think that trump is a danger as commander in chief, those kinds of words will fuel people to make the criticism that the idea we should fight fire with fire and sink to the terrorists
levels and somehow the moral sup superiority should be compromised in order to fight this battle. That will just fuel their sense that hes not equipped and im sure youll hear secretary clinton make those arguments. For a lot of Trump Supporters, that posture, well do whatever it takes with no real considerations for International Law and no considerations and that will be appealing to much of his base. I think that will be appealing beyond the base of Many Americans who you think that look at the numbers and supported drone war fare. The increase of drone war fare despite the civilians that were killed. Its when the United States sees itself under attack, you can go all the way back to dresden. And world war ii. And see that nuance is not always United States play. I am curious, though, how Donald Trumps words and now Hillary Clintons words are read
internationally and also by, lets say groups like isis. A group like isis is very happy to play the game. Its true they are laughing at us, but, of course, that doesnt mean we need to stoop to their level and if they want us to say that the United States do they see us as weak . They do. Do they see us as Osama Bin Laden saw us as a paper tiger to rough. A lot different from what bin laden saw. They see us us as simply, we dont have god on our side. If there is an allout war and a fight between the United States and the Islamic State, its going to look really good for the Islamic State. Bring it on is their any suggestion that these attacks are increasing in speed because theyre losing on the battleground . Yeah, i think that has
something to do with it. As aman mengdzed, the holy month of ramadan. Isis thing physical you blow yourself up you get brownie points beyond what you get for the rest of the year. You should expect an uptick and thats exactly what weve seen. Well bring you back in later this morning. Still ahead on morning joe our politicians have aggressively pursued a policy of globalization, moving our jobs, our wealth and our factories to mexico and overseas. Globalization is made the financial elite who donate to politicians very, very wealthy. I used to be one of them. Hate to say it, but i used to be one. President obama isnt buying it. He says trump is tapping into fear and not populism. Also ahead well talk to congressman mike mccall and former director michael lighter a and. Youre watching morning joe, well be right back. Share the joy of real cream. With reddip. Try duo fusion ing antacids . New, two in one heartburn relief. The antacid goes to work in seconds. And the acid reducer lasts up to 12 hours in one chewable tablet. Try new duo fusion. From the makers of zantac. What if 30,000 people download the new app . Were good. Okay. What if a miion peopledownload . Were good. Five million . Good. We scale on demand. Hybrid infrastructure, boom. Ok. What if 30 Million People download the app . Were not good. Were total heroes. Scale on demand with the Number One Company in cloud infrastructure. 21 past the hour. Joining us now, msnbc Political Correspondent casey hunt. In washington, senior Political Editor and White House Correspondent for the Huffington Post sam stein. What do you think about Donald Trumps trade speech yesterday . Sam found it funny. Let me no, no, no, that was just me clearing my throat. In a sort of mocking way. Well, lets take a look and then ill tell you. Donald trump returned to pennsylvania steel country to speak out against the globalism vowing economic independence with a plan that would withdraw the u. S. From the transpacific
partnership and we withdraw from nafta and impose new tariffs and taxes to punish bad behavior. Trump took direct aim at the Global Financial elite claiming hillarylinton would protect the status quo and continue the total betrayal of American Workers. Hillary clinton and her campaign of fear will spread the lie that these actions will start a trade war. You already have a trade war and were losing badly. Badly. She has it completely backward. Hillary clinton unleashed a trade war against the American Worker when she supported one terrible deal after another from nafta to china to south korea. It doesnt matter. No matter where she went, the American Worker was hurt. So, john, what was your take on this speech . The trump speech . Its a fascinating thing. Not just the speech, but the
clinton response to it that i found interesting. We can talk about the economics of this and talk about the politics of it. We now have a race unlike any president ial race in our lifetimes. Where you have one candidate in donald trump who is an out front protectionist and arguing for, i think you can say this without any shading. Hes basically saying i want to go back to a world before globalization. A set of policies t