Producers’ Pick | Mark Esper: Trump Didn’t Surround Himself With the Best People

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He fold for and expand your world with flex mode it stands on its own, so your hands free to get more done during calls and with multi-window view. You can use up to three apps at the same time plus the edge to edge screen allows you to fully immerse yourself in your favorite games and shows. Visit Samsung.com to learn more about galaxies he fold Mark Esper welcome to brightly radio show. It's great to be somewhat first of how have you enjoyed this tour well it's in some ways yes you know it's busy it that takes a lot of time and you meet a lot of interesting people and a lot of great questions so I enjoy dubbing on your show the other day that was Locklin right David on Fox and friends, great first dog about which woods happening on the ground in Ukraine. We just writing a $40 billion check now and some people say when does this stop when do we stop giving money Ukraine what America is suffering economically here at home. What you do what you tell my listeners. Well, I'd say a few things. First, I'll look this is more more than just Russia versus Ukraine is autocracy versus democracy. And I think we need to support Ukrainians there showing a lot of skill grid leadership courage under fire and I think that we can provide them that the training the means. The material weapons to fight despite that means we don't have to fight it and look somebody who grew up yet in the Cold War era. I know what the right Russia can do and that you know when I secured a fenced the implementation national defense strategy was my top priorities but but I will say this one much to go write your question foregoing is a lot of money and we boarded put forward, I think, 11, 12 billion before that I would need to make sure we understand where it's going. But there are the controls of which it sucks that we know exactly what were getting and that the look of a bunch of talk. I think there should be offsets as well and that we need to factor those things into consideration to. And lastly, I think we need not only think about Ukraine's defenses I don't like the budget being put forward by Pres. Biden. I think their week other flat and we need to really build up United States military. More broadly, and deal with the greatest adversary week that space in the country which is China. Finland has come out and said as of today there officially applying to be a NATO member I can imagine that them not being on the glide path.

Would you support that I would. I think they bring military capability. I think they would be a good asset Bayshore of the north eastern flank of the alliance and they get the Arctic Circle.

So yes I think they would be a net plus for the United States and for NATO as what sweet but what I think that's couple days away now with the Russians are on the record of saying that that would be a direct threat to them. If we go ahead and do appear to be bringing NATO again right to another portion of their border would how do you digest that what course to say that like to do a lot of saber rattling. We should take them seriously but you know you and I discussed the other day on a regular Republican and Reagan called the Soviet Union the evil Empire. I don't think this one under Rob is a different and we need to stand firm and stand tall, take a very Reaganesque approach.

They also say that Medvedev has warned the West and us specifically to stop arming Ukraine or else will be some severe repercussions. There is of course eluding every other day to some type of nuclear attack.

How serious you take that again. I think that whenever anybody talks about nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction.

We need to listen when you take seriously what He spoke by and I you sure were providing Ukraine with the means to defend themselves and rushes on the other the same on the type restaurant.

They supplied adversaries of ours in the past, weapons used against American so you know what's what's good for one is good for the other secretary you were sick to the Army and then the general Mattis resigns when the present thread to take our troops out of series that I is not recurring.

He's not conferring with me anymore.

He/she deserves secretary defense and that understands him that you have hesitancy and hesitancy in taking the job, not because the look I believe in public service.

I believe in serving your country. I entered West Point the age of 18.

Kind of always in my blood and served on active duty for 10 years of war and peace in another 11 years and the guard reserve so that when the nation calls it's your duty to serve, and that was, what what took me an office in the first place. She ends up having troops in Syria and why would you say was the mission there in Syria. Do you think you guys accomplished.

It I think we did look, I think we defied the PDF ISIS caliphate and present trump deserves credit for that week we knocked him down to nearly nothing and defeated them as a real fighting force.

It was important to keep troops on the ground ensure that happened dated Lodge again. The second thing was it was important to keep in Iraq which was transiting farms and people you know through Syria to 2 to 3. Our friends in the region and so I thought it was important to keep keep some number troops there like keep a careful eye on them in you as you focus your foreign policy with the present foreign policy so much different than this presence did this DAR are Ron focused.

They are allowing a run to negotiate directly with Russia on our behalf to get back into Iranian deal that you left it only has two years left.

Can you wrap your head around that policy now II don't it's a mistake present trump made the right call from getting out a deal. It was a bad deal. The nuclear deal with Iran. I like the maximum pressure campaign, you know, we can get traction because you can get enough allies on board to support us and look I I think it's can be a stretch to think that present bonds will be able to bring back a plan of life and strengthens it as he promised, and I look.

I think all the still should be taken to the Senate and let the Senate way yeah but I think the reason why they will do is a know the answers is that the Senate will reject this type of agreement so we needed.

This is why we need to bolster continue bolstering the Gnostics military beef up our allies in the region as well and make sure were prepared to deter necessity necessary, fight and win against you want to come down to talk to Sec. Esper about his book. Isaac Roseburg is inside release of the last few years, a secretary defense that didn't end well present. Basically tweeted out that DZ your fire door to replace resign, so I doubt would get ticked me off to if I were you, but I want to go back to the area of contention. The one policy the Joe Biden claims was kept in place that you guys had was pulling out of Afghanistan.

He said he had no choice. Is that true know that's not true. You know be a lot of choices of it. I disagreed with the present. At the end of the at at the end of the administration on this as well.

You know brother was a push to withdraw all troops precipitously from Afghanistan.

My view was personal. I support the that the deal was put on the table, negotiated by the State Department under Mike Pompeo, but I believe you need to be conditions based and so I was good going down the Republic troops. I thought we should stop there until the Taliban lived up to their end of the deal. They didn't.

My view was we should use the two things it that they hated the most.

One is our presence in the country with our allies and number two is our ability to inflict violence upon, so my recommendation was to stop their pursue those two things and get them to come to the table negotiate as they committed to the agreement. That's what I would've recommended present Biden do as well. You know he could seek a positive agreement as well and and and kind of put the pressure on the on the Taliban. Instead, we had this terrible trawl that resulted in Americans being left in Afghanistan that resulted in servicemembers being killed and really undermined our our stature in the world stage.

So this is a question that I have everything.

The military never on both sides on when a civilian leader. The present United States gives you gives you an order that you do not feel comfortable with. You resign you make it work and scholarly.

Well I did before even answer that clearly general Milian Gen. McKenzie were not okay with this evacuation.

At least they said they weren't so in their testimony.

They came forward and were asked how did you embarrass the nation to the point where we left with the planes landing in the middle of the Taliban, surrounded by terrorists after the death of 13 American service members listen.

Generally, it's your testimony that you recommended 2500 troops approximately stay in Afghanistan. Yes, my assessment was back in the fall of 20 and remain consistent throughout the we should keep a steady state of 2500 and it could bounce up to 3500. Maybe something like that present did you ever present that assessment personally present my I don't discuss exactly what my conversations are with the sitting president in the Oval Office, but I can tell you my personal opinion was not always candid. Gen. McKenzie, you sure that assessment center.

I do sure that assessment today. Recommended something to the president. The president said no and now they have to go explain it. What did they do the right thing.

Staying on the job. Look, I think that's a fundamental question know my way of dealing with all my bosses to include guilt of present trump was it it if you gave me an order be really gave orders.

It just wasn't his style was really I owed him my best recommendation and I Mike tended to go back and present him a variety of options trying find something that was even better than what you my proposal.

I think your first responsibility is in terms of serving the present is present in your honest advice and give you more options.

You only you always want to give a present liver space is weak. Send the military took to pick the best decision possible. And then again the day if he says look II disagree on what you do do this and then yet to come to come to your own decision as to whether you can implement it, or whether you would resign and I always said that my hardline was I would never do anything illegal, immoral or unethical. You know, so that's work for me that would those are my lines.

Everybody has their own lines and in my cassette I think the big beaver trial last summer was abysmal. It hurt us in so many ways, not least of which is our young service members were killed there on the ground. Afghanistan you know Connie was a spineless piece. You know I write my book, that the public Afghanistan was lack of leadership beginning at the top beginning at the political level. He was known to be corrupt and unlucky foodie flee the capital before the Taliban really arrived and forced contrast at the present one skin Ukraine who stayed with his people and fought to keep it just as a contrast leadership and in war.

So much comes down to leadership and morale. Fox News contributor transom.com daily newsletter. I'm inviting you to join a conversation every week just to bend on its podcast listen no Fox News contests.com would you have. Do you believe in.

You know you're very candid you don't love everything trump did you guys do not end on good terms you believe trump would've let that happen to I don't know it's it's speculative right I you know present trump that took a really tough strong approach these issues and I don't know if a selection of that situation.

I mean look I give him credit, he wondered, would drop Afghanistan that was campaign pledge. If you won the he wanted to to live up to. There's a lot to be said for that. On the other hand, there are ways to do it in ways not to do or not, I hope you would've heeded the advice of the and others to keep the conditions based and and really do it on the con mind that protected our people insured Americans got out and and didn't diminish our stature in a world which is greatest frustration working for present trump well II think he was not just that I think he had too many people in the White House with not serve him well or presented outlandish ideas.

I think it if he would not taken more counsel from his cabinet right whether to Atty. Gen. bar Mike Pompeo, myself brothers. I really think we could help him implement his agenda more successfully and and of course booklets. I also think his speech was too coarse and divisive. I think the key for Republicans this week. We need leaders who will unify the country bring people together and as a Republican you know God describe myself as a regular Republican. You gotta grow that base right you gotta grow the base that you can win elections at the end of the day. We can't advance at the traditional Republican agenda of lower taxes and stronger military order, security conservative judges unless we win elections and right now we're sitting here. We don't we don't own the White House.

We don't know the house you don't on the Senate and that's a problem and hopefully that will turn around here and in the midterms when you do you think in retrospect, why is like a military guy like Mike Pompeo who you graduated with will say okay he's still a little different general keen these different and I shall be able to him. I'll be over work with this guy.

Other people I Gen. Kelly like Gen. Matus will grant going. I can't deal with this present these two unorthodox seeds of these attempts to volatile he wants me to do too many things that are outside the lines what he think you guys are all from the military background but yet some were more flexible with the president and others yeah I don't I don't know I'm coming.

There is be said for the presence on unorthodox style. In some ways it was successful immediate pushed hard to put a wall very on the Southwest border.

I supported that I thought was success what it should be finished yelling and other areas. It it went too far.

Like set about withdrawing tomato other people have different styles personality. Some work better than others and it just is what it is. Brian you expect him to to run again, would you vote for.

I hope he doesn't. And because I cassette I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation Republican leaders. Those who push forward same Republican conservative committee agenda, but will do so in a way that again will kind of bug grow the base and when the elections and the I'm not sure the dull trunk, and when, and for that reason, at least one reason is I hope we see some some new faces or faces emergent and after the midterms from 2024 begins, and I hope present will not run I hope will kind open it filled up will you tomorrow. Hope we can have you as an expert business Ukraine thing is unfolding. You know your you know the region you know the players, congratulations on your book a sacred oath for Casper. Thanks so much. Thanks, try to look for to join you again some doubly fantastic to look at the books just subscribe and listen to the trade only federal prosecutor and four term US Congressman from South Carolina brings you a one-of-a-kind punch subscriber listen no Fox News tests.com