00:00This is Secretary Luis Martinez with ABC News.
00:02First, a question to General Cain, sir.
00:04In your personal opinion, were the risks of the Strait of Hormuz being closed because of the conflict,
00:11were they mitigated early enough in part of the decision-making process
00:15to lead up to the decision to take action against Iran?
00:19And in your opinion, is Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz?
00:23We just heard the Secretary say that Iran is letting them ships through,
00:28which would imply that potentially it's not just – the Secretary also said that the U.S. –
00:35that the Strait is open. He did say that, sir.
00:37But in your opinion, sir, how can the U.S. ensure safe passage?
00:43Mr. Secretary, can you say today that the United States achieved –
00:48the administration achieved the military goals that you've constantly delineated?
00:54And – but strategically, is that a victory because of that?
01:00And also, you said earlier that the President chose mercy.
01:04But you yourself had said three weeks ago that we will give no quarter to Iranian troops.
01:11How do you – how do you correlate those two?
01:14And do you think that your comments may have put American troops at risk?
01:18No. I try to be nice up here, but you did listen to what I said, right?
01:25I laid out the objectives. We believe we've accomplished them, and it's a historic military victory.
01:30And President Trump has the option as the Commander-in-Chief to compel an adversary to the table,
01:36which is precisely what he did.
01:37And at the end, he chose to say, you know what, I'd rather talk to you at the table
01:40than obliterate your capability to export oil and fund your terror regime.
01:44So he did make that choice. That was his choice.
01:47He was a President of Peace, and he's been willing to make those really tough calls
01:52that the American people elected him to do.
01:54Nothing we've done – not a single thing we've done – this is a typical – of course, it's ABC.
01:59Not a single thing we've done has put an American troop in more of a harm's way.
02:04We've only set our troops up to harm Iranian military capabilities,
02:09which they've done to devastating fashion and to great success.
02:13Mr. Chairman, you had a – there's a lot in that question.
02:16I'd love to take that offline and answer it, but it was – I'm struggling to find exactly what your
02:22question was,
02:23and that's probably me, not you.
02:25Okay, all right. Sorry about that.
02:27Mr. Chairman, it's – sorry. It was an indictment framed as a question, so you're forgiven for my understanding.
02:31Go ahead, please.
02:33No, you've had your chance. Go ahead, sir.
02:36Thank you very much.
02:37I believe so, based on the diplomatic negotiation, so I believe so.
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