Special Report: President Donald Trump Makes Statement From White House | NBC News

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WE ARE AWAITING A STATEMENT ON
THIS SUNDAY MORNING FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP AT ANY MOMENT
FROM THE DIPLOMATIC ROOM IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO
ANNOUNCE A U.S.-LED SPECIAL
OPERATION MISSIONS KILLED ABU
BAKR AL BAGHDADI.
THE RAID HAPPENING IN NORTHERN
SYRIA ON SATURDAY.
SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE ALSO
KILLED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETING ON
SATURDAY NIGHT, QUOTE, SOMETHING
VERY BIG HAS JUST HAPPENED.
LET'S BEGIN WITH NBC CHIEF
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RITUALSHIP
RICHARD ENGLE IN NORTHERN SYRIA
WITH DETAILS OF THE RAID.
RICHMOND, GOOD MORNING.
HOW CONVINCED ARE WE THAT WE
HAVE AL BAGHDADI?
>> Reporter: WELL, U.S.
OFFICIALS ARE PRETTY CONVINCED.
THEY ARE NOT GIVING THE 100%
CONFIRMATION.
WE MIGHT HEAR THAT SOON FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT THEY ARE
VERY CONFIDENT THE OVERNIGHT
RAID WHICH BEGAN AROUND 11:00
LOCAL TIME DID, IN FACT, KILL
ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI, THE LEADER
OF ISIS, THE WORLD'S MOST WANTED
TERRORIST.
IT HAPPENED ON A VILLAGE ON THE
BORDER OF SYRIA AND TURK AND WE
HAVE BEEN TO A HALF DOZEN TIMES.
A WELL-KNOWN SMUGGLING VILLAGE
SO IT'S BELIEVED THAT BAGHDADI
WAS TRYING TO LEAVE SYRIA AND
PERHAPS GO TO TURKEY AND STAY IN
THIS AREA THAT HAS AN OPEN-FLOW
OF PEOPLE.
NOW WITNESSES IN THE VILLAGE
TELL US THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
AROUND 11:00, FIRST, THEY HEARD
HELICOPTERS COME IN.
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.
THE HELICOPTERS CAME IN IN
FORCE.
THEY WERE CIRCLING AND OPENING
FIRE.
THIS WAS NOT A QUICK OPERATION.
IT WAS NOT AN IN AND OUT.
THEY WERE CIRCLING AND FIRING
FOR QUITE A BIT OF TIME.
THE WHOLE THING LASTING THREE TO
FOUR HOURS.
THEN AMERICAN TROOPS LANDING.
THEY DIDN'T JUST ATTACK ONE
TARGET.
THEY TARGETED MULTIPLE HOUSES
AND A CAR IN THE AREA.
THE MAIN FOCUS, HOWEVER, WHAT
THEY THINK WAS THE HIDEOUT OF
ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI.
THEY WENT INSIDE.
THERE WAS GUNSHOTS.
THE WITNESS THAT WE SPOKE TO WAS
ABOUT 500 YARDS AWAY.
HE SAID HE COULD HEAR THE
HELICOPTERS OVER HIS HOME.
HE COULD FEEL THE WIND FROM THE
HELICOPTER BLADES PUSHING INTO
HIS HOUSE, RATTLING THE WINDOWS,
BUT HE SAID HE WASN'T ABLE TO GO
OUTSIDE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT HOUSE,
IT'S QUITE UNCLEAR, BUT THIS
OPERATION CONTINUED TO UNFOLD.
THE U.S. SPECIAL OPERATION
FORCES, THE MOST ELITE AMERICAN
TROOPS IN THE WORLD WERE ON THE
GROUND EXPLOITING AS THEY CALL
IT THIS SITE, GATHERING
INFORMATION.
APPARENTLY KILLING ABU BAKR AL
BAGHDADI AND THEN LEAVING AND
BLOWING UP THE COMPOUND.
>> RICHARD ENGEL IN NORTHERN
SYRIA FOR US.
LET ME CHECK IN WITH HALLIE
JACKSON AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE SAW PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST
NIGHT SEEMED TO TEASE THIS OUT
OF WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: YES.
>> WHEN DO WE KNOW WHEN THIS
RAID WAS GREEN-LIT BY THE
PRESIDENT?
>> Reporter: IN THE EVENING AT
SOME POINT AS THIS WAS GOING
DOWN.
WE UNDERSTAND FROM SOURCES THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP PERSONALLY
APPROVED THIS OPERATION.
I'M TOLD A LOT OF WHITE HOUSE
AIDS HUDDLED IN THE EVENING
TELLING ME THIS MORNING THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND A SMALL
GROUP OF HIS ADVISERS WERE IN
THE SITUATION ROOM MONITORING
DEVELOPMENTS WITH THIS
OPERATION.
THE PRESIDENT, OF COURSE, VERY
INVOLVED IN THIS.
WHAT IS A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR
HIM MOVING FORWARD.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE
PRESIDENT HAS REPEATEDLY TALKED
ABOUT WHAT HE DESCRIBES THE
DEFEAT OF ISIS AND SOMETHING
ALMOST A PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN
STUMP SPEECH, IF YOU WILL.
IT'S REFERENCED CONSTANTLY WHEN
THE PRESIDENT MAKES PUBLIC
REMARKS, BUT HE HAS TALKED MUCH
LESS, FAR FEWER TIMES ABOUT AL
BAGHDADI, HIMSELF.
THE PRESIDENT HAS MENTIONED THAT
BAGHDADI'S SHORT DETENTION IN
2004 RATHER CRITICALLY.
THIS IS WHEN HIS PEOPLE ARE
CRITICIZING HIM.
WATCH THE PRESIDENT, BASED ON MY
REPORTING AND WHAT I'VE HEARD TO
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS
ESSENTIALLY PROOF POSITIVE THAT
HIS POSITION IS WORKING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO CALL
IT A VICTORY LAP BECAUSE I'M NOT
SURE HOW DEFINITIVE THERE BE
DECLARED THAT BAGHDADI HAS BEEN
KILLED BUT I THINK THE PRESIDENT
WILL USE THIS TO CONVINCE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HIS POSITION IS
CORRECT ON SYRIA, WHAT HE WANTS
TO DO IS WORKING IN A CAMPAIGN
TO DEFEAT ISIS.
IT'S CERTAINLY A COMMANDER IN
CHIEF MOMENT FOR HIM AND UNUSUAL
TIME AS YOU KNOW FOR A PRESIDENT
TO BE MAKING THESE KIND OF
PUBLIC REMARKS ON A SUNDAY
MORNING BUT, CLEARLY, THE
PRESIDENT AFTER THIS OPERATION
WENT DOWN, WE UNDERSTAND LATE
YESTERDAY HE WANTED TO BE THE
FIRST PUBLIC PRESIDENT TO TALK
ABOUT THIS, CHUCK.
>> HALLIE JACKSON AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, THANK YOU.
LET ME GO TO OUR CORRESPONDENT.
COURTNEY, HE TOOK CREDIT BUT
HANDED OUT A LOT OF CREDIT
SAYING THIS IS A FIVE-MONTH
OPERATION, IF YOU WILL, TO TRACK
AND LOCATE AL BAGHDADI?
>> Reporter: YEAH, THERE IS A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT
NATIONS TAKING CREDIT FOR THIS
RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE U.S.
MILITARY SIDE IS THAT THESE
ELITE SPECIAL OPERATORS WHO WERE
A PART OF THIS MISSION ARRIVED
IN THE COUNTRY A LITTLE OVER A
WEEK AGO HERE IN THE REGION AND
THEY STARTED PLANNING, REFINING
THEIR PLANS FOR THIS MISSION.
THEY HAD RECEIVED SOME ACTABLE
INTELLIGENCE AND WANTED TO
REFINE IT BEFORE THEY WENT
FORWARD AND GOT THE APPROVAL AND
WENT FORWARD WITH THIS MISSION.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
DETAILS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
WE KNOW SOME OF THE FORCES
LAUNCHED FROM HERE IN IRBIL AND
FLEW INTO THE NORTHWESTERN BOARD
WITH TURKEY.
WHEN THE COMMANDOS LANDED ON THE
GROUND AND STARTED THIS RAID
THEY WERE MET WITH SOME
RESISTANCE.
ISIS DEPLOYING AT LEAST ONE CAR
OR VEHICLE BOMB TO TRY TO STOP
THE RAID WHICH WAS TAKEN OUT BY
A U.S. AIR STRIKE.
SO WE KNOW THAT THIS MISSION,
THIS RAID LASTED SEVERAL HOURS.
IT WAS AN EXTENDED PERIOD, BUT
MUCH OF THAT TIME WAS ACTUALLY
USED FOR THE SITE EXPLOITATION.
THAT IS THEM GOING IN AND TRYING
TO GATHER UP COMPUTERS, FILES,
ANYTHING THEY CAN GET.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT AS PART OF THE
EXPLOITATION, THEY WILL TRY TO
GET DNA OR ANY KIND OF FORENSIC
EVIDENCE THEY CAN ON THE TARGET,
IN THIS CASE, ABU BAKR AL
BAGHDADI, SO THAT WHEN WE GET TO
THE LATER STAGE WHEN THIS RAID
LIKE THIS BECOMES PUBLIC, THEY
CAN TALK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND TO THE WORLD WITH MORE
CERTAINTY THAT, IN FACT,
BAGHDADI MAY BE THE PERSON WHO
WAS TARGETED AND KILLED IN THIS
OPERATION.
CHUCK?
>> COURTNEY IN IRBIL, IRAQ,
THANK YOU.
LET ME GO TO ANDREA MITCHELL.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE BEEN GETTING
WORD THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
MAKING PHONE CALLS TO SOME
AMERICANS WHO MIGHT BE HAPPY
THAT AL BAGHDADI IS DEAD?
>> THE FOLEYS IS THE FIRST
VICTIM, FIRST AMERICAN VICTIM OF
ISIS.
THE WHOLE PROFILE CASES WHERE
THE PRESIDENT WAS VERY GAUGED
REALLY IN INTENSIFYING WHAT WAS
DONE, HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT
HOSTAGES OF TERRORISTS.
THOSE FAMILIES WILL BE VERY MUCH
A PART OF THIS SPEECH, I
BELIEVE.
IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE THAT
THEY ARE VERY, VERY CONFIDENT IN
THAT THEY HAVE GOT THE FORENSICS
FROM THE GROUND AND THAT WE WILL
HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT IN
THE SPEECH ABOUT BAGHDADI'S
IDENTIFICATION.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS IS
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
MISSTATING FOR MANY MONTHS THAT
ISIS IS CONQUERED IN CONTRAST TO
INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT FROM
THE PENTAGON, THEY DID GET RID
OF THE CALIPHATE, THE TERRITORY
BUT ISIS WAS RESURGENT ACCORDING
TO OWN INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE
END OF JUNE.
RESURGENCE IN SYRIA AND IRAQ.
SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS,
AT LEAST IS SYMBOLIC VICTORY AND
BAGHDADI WAS GOING TO HAVE MORE
OF AN OPERATIONAL ROLE GIVEN
WHERE HE WAS FOUND AND THIS IS
CLEARLY A VICTORY ROUND FOR THE
PRESIDENT AND THEY ARE MAKING
THE MOST OF IT WITH THE SPEECH
THIS MORNING.
>> ANDREA MITCHELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
LET ME GO TO JEREMY BASH, FORMER
CHIEF OF THE STAFF DURING THE
CIA AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
JEREMY, AL BAGHDADI, SYMBOLIC
REARED, OPERATIONAL LEADER?
HOW MUCH WAS HE, AT THIS POINT,
FROM ISIS?
>> Reporter: HE LED FROM THE
SHADOWS AND WAS A SYMBOLIC
LEADER AND DIDN'T APPEAR MUCH IN
PUBLIC AND UNCLEAR IF HE HAD
COMMAND AND CONTROL AUTHORITY
OVER ISIS ELEMENTS.
ISIS INSPIRED ATTACKS ACROSS
EUROPE AND SOME IN THE UNITED
STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD IN
SRI LANKA.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THE
CALIPHATE NEEDS TO BE DEFEATED
AND IT'S UNDER PRESSURE.
THE DECISION IN RECENT WEEKS TO
ALLOW TURKEY TO GO INTO NORTHERN
SYRIA, THE KURDISH FORCES, OUR
ALLIES ON THE GROUND HAVE HAD TO
ABANDON THEIR TAKE-DOWN OF ISIS
AND GUARDING ISIS PRESENCE AND
ALLOWED THE ISIS FIGHTERS TO BE
RELEASED FROM PRISON.
SO A CONCERN WE HAVE TO WATCH
THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME.
>> JEREMY BASH, THANK YOU.
LET ME GO BACK TO RICHARD ENGLE
IN NORTHERN SYRIA.
ON THE SAME ISSUE WHERE ARE WE
OPERATIONALLY ON ISIS, HOW
IMPORTANT IS THE PUBLIC
NOTIFICATION OF THE DEATH OF AL
BAGHDADI, HOW MUCH COULD THAT
IMPACT ISIS' ABILITY JUST SIMPLY
WHETHER ON THE INSPIRATION FRONT
OR WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATIONAL
ABILITIES?
>> Reporter: IT IS IMPORTANT.
HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE GROUP.
HE WAS THE SYMBOL OF THE GROUP.
HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE GROUP.
ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI IN MANY
WAYS IS ON THE SAME LEVEL OF
OSAMA BIN LADEN.
OSAMA BIN LADEN ABOUT 9/11 AND
NAVY S.E.A.L.s HUNTED HIM DOWN
AND FOUND HIM.
ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI DID
SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
HE DIDN'T JUST FOUND A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION, HE ESTABLISHED A
TERROR STATE WHERE I AM RIGHT
NOW THAT HE CALLED THE
CALIPHATE.
THAT STATE HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK
WITH U.S. SPECIAL FORCES, WITH
KURDISH ALLIES FOR THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
SO THIS IS A CULMINATION OF A
FIVE-YEAR WAR AGAINST ISIS THAT
THE KURDS HELPED A GREAT DEAL
WITH.
THEY LOST 11,000 OF THEIR PEOPLE
TO GET TO THIS MOMENT AND NOW
THEY SAY BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP
IS SHIFTING MIDDLE EAST POLICY,
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LEFT
BEHIND.
THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN SO
ANGRY AND WHY OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL DAYS WE HAVE BEEN DOING
SO MANY REPORTS ABOUT HOW THE
KURDS FEEL BETRAYED.
THEY ARE UNDER ATTACK AND IT IS
BECAUSE OF THE FIVE YEARS OF
HUNTING DOWN ISIS, LOOKING FOR
BAGHDADI AND GATHERING
INTELLIGENCE, CULMINATING WITH
THIS MOMENT, TRACKING HIM DOWN
TO A SAFE HOUSE IN A LITTLE TINY
SYRIAN BORDER VILLAGE, A
SMUGGLING TOWN THAT THEY WERE
ABLE TO EXECUTE THIS RAID.
AMERICANS SPECIAL OPS GOING IN
AND KILLING HIM AND EXPLOITING
THE FACILITY FOR INTELLIGENCE
AND THEN LEAVING.
THIS WON'T BE JUST THE ENDS
RIGHT NOW.
WHENEVER THEY GO ON TO A TARGET
LIKE THIS LIKE WITH BIN LADEN
THEY LOOK FOR EVERYTHING THEY
CAN FIND.
ANY KIND OF COMPUTERS AND FILES
AND DOCUMENTS AND ACT
IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THAT
INTELLIGENCE IS FRESH AND WHAT
THEY CALL ACTIONABLE.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE OPERATION BUT
PROBABLY FOLLOW-ON OPERATIONS IN
THE COMING HOURS AND DAYS.
>> RICHARD, YOU HAD MADE A
MENTION IN ONE OF THE REPORTING
NOTES THIS MORNING THAT WE WERE
ALL EXCHANGING THAT, LOOK.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN AL QAEDA
AREA, SORT OF AN AL
QAEDA-CONTROLLED AREA OR FORMER
REMNANTS OF AL QAEDA AND THAT
THERE SOME TIMES THAT THE
REMNANTS OF IT AND ISIS IRM AT
00:27:28,813 --> 00:27:30,614 DISH WERE AT ISSUE ON HERE.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU THEY
WERE SEEKING WITH REFUGE WITH AL
QAEDA?
>> Reporter: BUT IT DIDN'T WORK,
DID IT?
>> NO.
>> Reporter: YOU CAN LOOK AT
THIS AS A GREAT INTELLIGENCE
COUP BUT IT COULD BE THAT THIS
WAS A BIT OF AN INTERNAL HIT,
SOMEBODY TURNED HIM IN.
AL QAEDA NEVER LIKED ISIS.
ISIS WAS TOO VIOLENT FOR AL
QAEDA AND THEY NEVER LIKED
BAGHDADI.
BAGHDADI TOOK A DIFFERENT KIND
OF TRECHL TO THE WORLD.
HE WOULD BUTCHER HIS VICTIMS AND
CUT THEIR HEADS OFF AND SET THEM
ON FIRE.
AL QAEDA NEVER LIKED HIM AND
THOUGHT HE WAS TOO VIOLENT AND
TOO UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE FACT
HE WENT ON THE RUN AS HIS
CALIPHATE WAS SHRINKING TO AN AL
QAEDA AREA AND SUDDENLY IT
PICKED UP.
BY THE WAY, THEY WERE ON THE
GROUND, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES,
AN ARABIC SPEAKER USING A BULL
HONOR ASKING FOR A SPECIFIC
PERSON TO TURN HIMSELF IN SO
THERE WAS A SPECIFIC SOURCE THAT
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR TO SAY,
PLEASE TURN YOURSELF IN.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HIM.
THEY HAD SOME COOPERATION FROM
THE GROUND IN THIS AL QAEDA
AREA.
SO YOU COULD LOOK AT IT AS WELL
AS BIT OF A MAFIA HIT.
THE LARGER ORGANIZATION, THE ONE
WITH THE LONGER TERM VISION
TURNING ON SOMEONE, A GROUP THAT
WAS TOO RADICAL CAUSING TOO MUCH
PROBLEM AND TOO EXTREME EVEN FOR
THEM.
>> RICHARD ENGLE IN NORTHERN
SYRIA, THANK YOU.
LET ME GO BACK TO COURTNEY IN
IRAQ FOR US.
DO WE KNOW, YET, IF WE HAVE
CAPTURED ANYBODY ALIVE, OR ARE
THE BODIES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN
ARE ALL DECEASED AT THIS POINT?
>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN
LOCAL RUMORS AND REPORTING OF
THAT, BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL THAT
THE U.S. TOOK ANYONE INTO
CUSTODY ON THIS.
WHEN YOU HAVE -- REMEMBER BACK
TO THE RAID WITH OSAMA BIN LADEN
ALL KINDS OF RUMORS SWIRLING
AROUND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND
SEEING THE SAME THING HERE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE WILL GET
VERY LITTLE FIDELITY ABOUT THE
U.S. MILITARY OUT OF THIS
BECAUSE OF THE CLASSIFIED AND
SPECIAL OPERATIONS NATURE OF THE
DELTA FORCE.
THESE ARE THE MOST ELITE AND
SECRETIVE OF THE U.S. FORCES AND
NEVER TEND TO HEAR MUCH ABOUT
THEM.
GIVEN THE FACT THIS IS SUCH A
HIGH PROFILE PERSON WHO SEEMS TO
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS RAID,
WE MAY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE
DETAIL THAN USUAL.
WE DO KNOW THAT THE MILITARY WHO
WAS THERE EXPLOITING THE SITE
WAS ABLE TO GATHER SOME DNA FROM
THE PERSON THEY BELIEVE TO BE
BAGHDADI.
WE KNOW THAT, ACCORDING TO A
NUMBER OF U.S. OFFICIALS, THAT,
IN FACT, HE DETONATED A SUICIDE
VEST OR A BELT.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE --
FOR THOSE KIND OF TERRORIST
LEADERS OR ISIS CELL LEADERS TO
BE WEARING A VEST OR A BELT.
WE DON'T OFTEN SEE THEM ACTUALLY
DETONATE THEM.
SO IN THIS CASE, THAT WAS A
LITTLE BIT SURPRISING.
THERE WAS EVEN SOME BACK AND
FORTH EARLY ON OVER WHETHER HE
DETONATED IT HIMSELF OR MAYBE
DURING THE COURSE OF THE
FIREFIGHT, SOMEHOW IT EXPLODED.
U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CONFIRMING
THAT TO US.
IN THE COURSE OF THEM -- THE
U.S. MILITARY GOING THROUGH THE
SITE ANDGATHERING UP THE
ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE AS
RICHARD CALLED IT THEY WERE ABLE
TO GATHER DNA AND NOW OFFICIALS
SEEM SO CONFIDENT IN THE FINDING
THAT, IN FACT, THAT WE EXPECT TO
HEAR FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT,
IN FACT, BAGHDADI HAS BEEN
KILLED IN THIS RAID.
>> COURTNEY, THANK YOU.
LET ME GO TO ANDREA MITCHELL.
ANDREA, THE WAY WASHINGTON
WORKS, A COMPETING "I TOLD YOU
SO" IN THIS DEBATE ABOUT WHAT
SHOULD THE AMERICAN PRESENCE BE
IN NORTHERN SYRIA AND THE
PRESIDENT'S LONG TERM, MIDTERM,
SHORT TERM.
YOU HAVE SOME ARGUE THAT SAY THE
PRESENCE THERE IS NECESSARY IN
ORDER TO STRIKE LIKE WE STRUCK
TO GET AL BAGHDADI AND PERHAPS
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ALLIES
ARGUE THIS IS THE PROGRESS WE
ARE MAKING WHICH MAKES ME
CONFIDENT IN THE DECISIONS THAT
I'VE MADE.
WHERE IS THIS DEBATE GOING TO GO
IN WASHINGTON?
>> IT'S GOING TO THE 2020
CAMPAIGN, I SUSPECT.
LOOK.
THE FACT SYRIAN KURDS, MOST
LIKELY, TO THEIR CREDIT, WERE
HELPFUL IN THIS OPERATION AND
TURKEY WAS NOT.
TURKEY WAS ONLY ENGAGED TO
DECONFLICT, TO LET THEM KNOW
DON'T SHOOT AT US, WE ARE
ACROSSING THIS BORDER.
THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED AT ALL
OPERATIONALLY AS FAR AS WE KNOW
FROM WHAT THE TURKS SAID TODAY.
THIS RAISES THE QUESTION, WHY
DID WE ABANDON THE SYRIAN KURDS
WHO WERE OUR ALLIES AND KEEPING
THE ISIS FIGHTERS UNDER LOCK AND
GO AND GO WITH ERDOGAN IN TURKEY
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN NOT BEEN
HELPFUL FOR US.
WE NEED TO BE ON THE GROUND TO
OF THIS INTELLIGENCE AND YOU CAN
ALMOST ARGUE WE WERE GETTING
THIS INTELLIGENCE NOW BECAUSE WE
ARE AT THAT CRITICAL POINT WHERE
ALL U.S. TROOPS WERE GOING TO BE
OUT EXCEPT THOSE IN A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT AREA GUARDING THE OIL
AND THOSE WERE NOT THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE LOOKING FOR ISIS
FIGHTERS.
I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A
VERY TOUGH DEBATE ABOUT THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO
BE A VICTORY LAP TODAY FROM THE
PRESIDENT AND THAT IS
APPROPRIATE.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
BUT THE FACT IS THERE IS GOING
TO BE ARGUMENTS OVER HOW
IMPORTANT BAGHDADI WAS TO, YOU
KNOW, WHAT JEREMY JUST DESCRIBED
AS A FRANCHISE OPERATION.
THEY ARE IN LIBYA AND OTHER
PARTS OF AFRICA AND IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
ISIS IS NOW A BRAND AND A
HIDEOUS BRAND, AND THEY HAD
THEIR OWN ENEMIES, AS RICHARD
JUST POINTED OUT, ALONG THE AL
QAEDA RIVALS.
THIS STORY IS NOT YET TOLD.
I AM TOLD THE OPTIONS WERE
PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT ON
THURSDAY, TT HE AUTHORIZED THE
GROUND OPERATION ON THURSDAY.
SO THIS DID COME TOGETHER VERY
QUICKLY.
AS THE BIN LADEN OPERATION DID
ONCE THEY DECIDED TO GO FORWARD.
>> AERNED MITCHELL, THANKS FOR
THAT.
I FEEL LIKE WE CONTINUE TO GET
PIECES OF THIS PUT TOGETHER.
LET ME GO BACK TO JEREMY BASH
FOR A SECOND.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM ANDREA
THERE THAT WAS GREEN-LIT AS LATE
AS THURSDAY.
ON ONE HAPPENED, SOME PLANNING
BUT THIS CAME TOGETHER FAIRLY
QUICKLY.
YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HOW THESE
DECISIONS COME TOGETHER THIS
QUICKLY.
EXPLAIN HOUSE WE COULD GO FROM
SOME INTELLIGENCE TO OPERATIONS
THAT FAST AND APPARENTLY WE WILL
HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT IN A
MINUTE SO THAT IS YOUR TIME
LIMIT HERE, JEREMY.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
QUICKLY HERE.
LOOK.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2011
GREEN-LIT THE OPERATION AGAINST
BIN LADEN THREE DAYS BEFORE THE
OPERATION.
BUT IT WAS MANY WEEKS AND MONTHS
IN THE BRIEFING.
WE NEED MORE INFORMATION HOW THE
WHITE HOUSE WAS INVOLVED.
THE BROADER ISSUE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE FUTURE
OF ISIS.
ISIS IS IN TRANSITION.
YES, THEIR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN
DECAPITATED, BUT BECAUSE THEY
ARE NOW IN SOME WAYS IN
ASCENDENCE BECAUSE THE KURDISH
FORCE ON THE GROUND CONTAINING
THEM HAVE TO SPLINTER IN THE
FACE OF THIS TURKEY INVASION, WE
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT MEANS
THAT ISIS STRONG IN THE MONTHS
AND WEEKS TO COME OR IF THEY
WILL BE WEAKER.
>> DOES THIS MEAN, VERY
QUICKLY -- I'M PAUSE IT THERE.
HERE IS THE PRESIDENT.
>> LAST NIGHT, THE UNITED STATES
BROUGHT THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE
TERRORIST LEADER TO JUSTICE.
ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI IS DEAD.
HE WAS THE FOUNDER AND LEADER OF
ISIS.
THE MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT
TERROR ORGANIZATION ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD.
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN
SEARCHING FOR BAGHDADI FOR MANY
YEARS.
CAPTURING OR KILLING BAGHDADI
HAS BEEN THE TOP NATIONAL
SECURITY PRIORITY OF MY
ADMINISTRATION.
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
EXECUTED A DANGEROUS AND DARING
NIGHTTIME RAID IN NORTHWESTERN
SYRIA AND ACCOMPLISHED THEIR
MISSION IN GRAND STYLE.
THE U.S. PERSONNEL WERE
INCREDIBLE.
I GOT TO WATCH MUCH OF IT.
NO PERSONNEL WERE LOST IN THE
OPERATION, WHILE A LARGE NUMBER
OF BAGHDADI'S FIGHTERS AND
COMPANIONS WERE KILLED WITH HIM.
HE DIED AFTER RUNNING INTO A
DEAD-END TUNNEL, WHIMPERING AND
CRYING AND SCREAMING ALL THE
WAY.
THE COMPOUND HAD BEEN CLEARED BY
THIS TIME WITH PEOPLE EITHER
SURRENDERING OR BEING SHOT AND
KILLED.
ELEVEN YOUNG CHILDREN WERE MOVED
OUT OF THE HOUSE AND ARE
UNINJURED.
THE ONLY ONES REMAINING WERE
BAGHDADI IN THE TUNNEL AND HE
HAD DRAGGED THREE OF HIS YOUNG
CHILDREN WITH HIM.
THEY WERE LED TO CERTAIN DEATH.
HE REACHED THE END OF THE
TUNNEL, AS OUR DOGS CHASED HIM
DOWN.
HE IGNITED HIS VEST, KILLING
HIMSELF AND THE THREE CHILDREN.
HIS BODY WAS MUTILATED BY THE
BLAST.
THE TUNNEL HAD CAVED IN ON IT,
IN ADDITION.
BUT TEST RESULTS GAVE CERTAIN,
IMMEDIATE, AND TOTALLY POSITIVE
IDENTIFICATION.
IT WAS HIM.
THE THUG WHO TRIED SO HARD TO
INTIMIDATE OTHERS, SPENT HIS
LAST MOMENTS IN UTTER FEAR, IN
TOTAL PANIC AND DREAD, TERRIFIED
OF THE AMERICAN FORCES BEARING
DOWN ON HIM.
WE WERE IN THE COMPOUND FOR
APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AND
AFTER THE MISSION WAS
ACCOMPLISHED, WE TOOK HIGHLY
SENSITIVE MATERIAL AND
INFORMATION FROM THE RAID, MUCH
HAVING TO DO WITH ISIS, ORIGINS,
FUTURE PLANS, THINGS THAT WE
VERY MUCH WANT.
BAGHDADI'S DEMISE DEMONSTRATES
AMERICA'S RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF
TERRORIST LEADERS AND OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE ENDURING AND
TOTAL DEFEAT OF ISIS AND OTHER
TERRORISTS ORGANIZATIONS.
OUR REACH IS VERY LONG, AS YOU
KNOW LAST MONTH, WE ANNOUNCED
THAT WE RECENTLY KILLED HAMZA
BIN LADEN THE SON OF OSAMA BIN
LADEN WHO WAS SAYING VERY BAD
THINGS ABOUT OUR PEOPLE, ABOUT
THE COUNTRY, ABOUT THE WORLD.
HE WAS THE HEIR APPARENT TO AL
QAEDA.
TERRORISTS WHO OPPRESS AND
MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE SHOULD
NEVER SLEEP SOUNDLY, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL COMPLETELY DESTROY
THEM.
THESE SAVAGE MONSTERS WILL NOT
ESCAPE THEIR FATE AND THEY WILL
NOT ESCAPE THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF
GOD.
BAGHDADI HAS BEEN ON THE RUN FOR
MANY YEARS, LONG BEFORE I TOOK
OFFICE.
BUT AT MY DIRECTION, AS
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE UNITED
STATES, WE OBLITERATED HIS
CALIPHATE 100% IN MARCH OF THIS
YEAR.
TODAY'S EVENTS ARE ANOTHER
REMINDER THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO PURSUE THE REMAINING ISIS
TERRORISTS TO THEIR BRUTAL END.
THAT ALSO GOES FOR OTHER
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.
THERAPY, LIKEWISE, IN OUR
SIGHTS.
BAGHDADI AND THE LOSERS WHO
WORKED FOR HIM AND LOSERS THEY
ARE, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY
WERE GETTING INTO.
IN SOME CASES, THEY WERE VERY
FRIGHTENED PUPPIES.
IN OTHER CASES, THEY WERE
HARD-CORE KILLERS, BUT THEY
KILLED MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
THEIR MURDER OF INNOCENT
AMERICANS JAMES FOLEY, STEVEN
SOTLOFF, PETER KASIC AND KAYLA
MUELLER WERE ESPECIALLY HEINOUS.
THE SHOCKING PUBLICIZED MURDER
OF JORDANIAN PILOT, A WONDERFUL
YOUNG MAN, SPOKE TO THE KING OF
JORDAN, THEY ALL KNEW HIM AND
THEY ALL LOVED HIM.
HE WAS BURNED ALIVE IN A CAGE
FOR ALL TO SEE.
ON THE EXECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
IN LIBYA AND EGYPT AS WELL AS
THE MASS MURDER OF ANOTHER RANK
ISIS AMONG THE MOST OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS THE HISTORY OF OUR
WORLD.
THE FORCED RELIGIOUS
CONVERSIONS, THE ORANGE SUITS
PRIOR TO SO MANY BEHEADINGS, ALL
OF WHICH WERE OPENLY DISPLAYED
FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.
THIS WAS ALL THAT ABU BAKR AL
BAGHDADI, THIS IS WHAT HE
WANTED.
THIS IS WHAT HE WAS PROUD OF.
HE WAS A SICK AND DEPRAVED MAN
AND NOW HE IS GONE.
BAGHDADI WAS VICIOUS AND VIOLENT
AND HE DIED IN A VICIOUS AND
VIOLENT WAY, AS A COWARD RUNNING
AND CRYING.
THIS RAID WAS IMPECCABLE AND
COULD ONLY HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH
THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND HELP OF
CERTAIN OTHER NATIONS AND
PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE NATIONS OF
RUSSIA, TURKEY, SYRIA, AND IRAQ,
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
SYRIIAN KURDS FOR CERTAIN SPORT
-- SUPPORT THEY WERE ABLE TO
GIVE US.
THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS
MISSION.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO THE GREAT
INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS WHO
HELPED MAKE THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL
JOURNEY POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE SOLDIERS AND
SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES
INVOLVED IN LAST NIGHT'S
OPERATION.
YOU ARE THE VERY BEST THERE IS
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, NO MATTER
WHERE YOU GO, THERE IS NOBODY
EVEN CLOSE.
I WANT TO THANK GENERAL MARK
MILLIE AND OUR JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK IN OTHER
AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT AND WERE CRITICAL TO
THE MISSION'S UNBELIEVABLE
SUCCESS.
LAST NIGHT WAS A GREAT NIGHT FOR
THE UNITED STATES AND FOR THE
WORLD.
A BRUTAL KILLER, ONE WHO HAS
CAUSED SO MUCH HARDSHIP AND
DEATH, HAS VIOLENTLY BEEN
ELIMINATED.
HE WILL NEVER AGAIN HARM ANOTHER
INNOCENT MAN, WOMAN, OR CHILD.
HE DIED LIKE A DOG.
HE DIED LIKE A COWARD.
THE WORLD IS NOW A MUCH SAFER
PLACE.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST HEAR THIS
WAS AN OPERATION THAT WAS GOING
TO GET STARTED?
>> WE HAVE HAD HIM UNDER
SURVEILLANCE A WEEKS.
WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE
HE WAS GOING AND WHERE HE WAS
HEADING.
WE HAD VERY GOOD INFORMATION
THAT HE WAS GOING TO ANOTHER
LOCATION.
HE DIDN'T GO.
TWO OR THREE EFFORTS WERE
CANCELLED BECAUSE HE DECIDED TO
CHANGE HIS MIND.
CONSTANTLY CHANGING HIS MIND.
AND, FINALLY, WE SAW THAT HE WAS
HERE, HELD UP HERE.
WE KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE
COMPOUND.
WE KNEW IT HAD TUNNELS.
THE TUNNELS WERE DEAD-END, FOR
THE MOST PART.
THERE WAS ONE, WE THINK, THAT
WASN'T BUT WE HAD THAT COVERED
TOO, JUST IN CASE.
THE LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE, THE
LEVEL OF WORK WAS PRETTY
AMAZING.
WHEN WE LANDED WITH EIGHT
HELICOPTERS, A LARGE CREW OF
BRILLIANT FIGHTERS RAN OUT OF
THOSE HELICOPTERS AND BLEW HOLES
INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING
NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THE
MAIN DOOR BECAUSE THAT WAS
BOOBYTRAPPED.
AND THERE WAS SOMETHING -- THERE
WAS SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING TO
SEE.
I GOT TO WATCH IT, ALONG WITH
GENERAL MILLIE, VICE PRESIDENT
PENCE, OTHERS IN THE SITUATION
ROOM AND WE WATCHED IT SO
CLEARLY.
>> HOW DID YOU WATCH IT?
>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY HOW BUT
WE HAD ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AS
THOUGH YOU WERE WATCHING A
MOVIE.
THE TECHNOLOGY THERE ALONE IS
REALLY GREAT.
A BIG PART OF THE TRIP THAT WAS
OF GREAT DANGER WAS THE -- IT
WAS APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND
TEN-MINUTE FLIGHT AND WE WERE
FLYING OVER VERY, VERY DANGEROUS
TERRITORY.
IN FACT, SOME OF OUR LEADERS
SAID THAT THAT COULD BE THE MOST
DANGEROUS FLYING IN AND FLYING
OUT AND THAT IS WHY LAST NIGHT
WE WERE SO QUIET ABOUT IT.
WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
AND I DIDN'T MAKE MY REMARK
UNTIL AFTER THEY HAD LANDED
SAFELY IN A CERTAIN AREA.
BUT THE FLIGHT IN AND THE FLIGHT
OUT WAS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS
PART.
THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT WE WOULD
HAVE MET UNBELIEVABLE FIRE.
RUSSIA TREATED US GREAT.
THEY OPENED UP.
WE HAD TO FLY OVER CERTAIN
RUSSIA AREAS, RUSSIA-HELD AREAS.
RUSSIA WAS GREAT.
IRAQ WAS EXCELLENT.
WE REALLY HAD GREAT COOPERATION.
AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING
AND WHERE WE WERE GOING EXACTLY.
BUT THE ISIS FIGHTERS ARE HATED
AS MUCH BY RUSSIA AND SOME OF
THESE OTHER COUNTRIES AS THEY
ARE BY US.
AND THAT IS WHY I SAY THEY
SHOULD START DOING A LOT OF THE
FIGHTING NOW AND THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO, I REALLY BELIEVE THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO.
YES, JENNIFER?
>> WHAT ROLE DID THE KURDS PLAY
IN THIS?
>> THEY GAVE US NOT A MILITARY
ROLE BUT GAVE US SOME
INFORMATION THAT TURNED OUT TO
BE HELPFUL, THE KURDS.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE ROLE
OF TURKEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN AND
IRAQ?
>> WHO?
>> WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF TURKEY?
HOW DID THEY HELP?
>> TURKEY, WE DEALT WITH THEM.
THEY KNOW WE WERE GOING IN.
WE FLEW OVER SOME TERRITORY.
THEY WERE TERRIFIC.
NO PROBLEM.
THEY WERE NOT A PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD START
SHOOTING AND THEN WE WILL TAKE
THEM OUT, BUT A LOT OF BAD
THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
PLUS, IT WAS A VERY SECRET
MISSION.
WE FLEW VERY, VERY LOW AND VERY,
VERY FAST, BUT IT WAS A VERY
DANGEROUS PART OF THE MISSION.
GETTING IN AND GETTING OUT, TOO,
EQUAL.
WE WENT IN IDENTICAL -- WE TOOK
AN IDENTICAL ROUTE AND MET WITH
GUNFIRE COMING IN BUT IT WAS
LOCAL GUNFIRE.
THAT GUNFIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY
TERMINATED.
THESE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.
THEY HAD THE GUNFIRE TERMINATED
IMMEDIATELY, MEANING THEY WERE
SHOT FROM THE AIRSHIPS.
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
TIMING.
YOU TALKED EARLIER, YOU KNOW,
SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT PULLING
TROOPS OUT.
YOU KNOW?
AND THEN TROOPS BACK IN.
AND YOU KNOW?
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
TIMING OF WHEN THIS OPERATION --
>> I TELL YOU, FROM THE FIRST
DAY I CAME TO OFFICE, AND NOW WE
ARE GETTING TO CLOSE TO THREE
YEARS, I WOULD SAY WHERE IS AL
BAGHDADI?
I WANT AL BAGHDADI.
AND WE WOULD KILL TERRORIST
LEADERS, BUT THEY WERE NAMES I
NEVER HEARD OF IT AND NAMES THAT
WERE NOT RECOGNIZABLE NAMES.
THEY WERE BIG AND IMPORTANT ONES
BUT NOT THE BIG NAMES.
I SAID WHERE IS AL BAGHDADI?
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE
ABLE TO SCOPE HIM OUT.
YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY
SMART, THEY ARE NOT INTO THE USE
OF CELL PHONES ANY MORE.
THEY ARE VERY TECHNICALLY
BRILLIANT.
THEY USE THE INTERNET BETTER
THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD,
PERHAPS OTHER THAN DONALD TRUMP,
BUT THEY USE THE INTERNET
INCREDIBLY WELL.
HE DIED LIKE A DOING.
-- HE DIED LIKE A DOG AND LIKE A
COWARD AND WENT WHIMPERING AND
SCREAMING AND CRYING AND I THINK
SHOULD BE BROUGHT OUT.
LIKE THE KIDS WHO WANT TO LEAVE
VARIOUS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE
UNITED STATES, THEY SHOULD SEE
HOW HE DIED.
HE DIDN'T DIE A HERO.
HE DIED A COWARD, CRYING,
WHIMPERING, SCREAMING AND
BRINGING THREE KIDS WITH HIM.
THREE KIDS WITH HIM TO DIE A
CERTAIN DEATH.
HE KNEW THE TUNNEL HAD NO END.
THEY CALL IT A CLOSED-END
TUNNEL.
NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.
>> WAS THERE GOING ON BEFORE YOU
MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT?
>> I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM
THREE YEARS.
HE STARTED GETTING SOME POSITIVE
FEEDBACK ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
AND WE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS THAT DID
A GREAT JOB.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON.
>> ABOUT WHAT TIME DID THIS
OPERATION START YESTERDAY, SIR?
AND DID YOU NOTIFY --
>> THIS OPERATION STARTED TWO
WEEKS AGO IN TERMS OF THE REAL
OPERATION BECAUSE WE HAD HIM
SCOPED.
WE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE IN A
CERTAIN LOCATION.
HE WAS.
THINGS STARTED CHECKING OUT VERY
WELL.
WE WERE INVOLVED ON OUR OWN TEAM
WITH SOME BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO
I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW.
BRILLIANT PEOPLE THAT LOVE OUR
COUNTRY.
HIGHLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.
AND WE HAVE HAD HAD PRETTY WELL
SCOPED OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS
BUT HE TENDS TO CHANGE
IMMEDIATELY.
HE HAD A LOT OF CASH.
HE TENDS TO CHANGE LIKE ON A
DIME WHERE HE'LL BE GOING TO A
CERTAIN LOCATION AND, ALL OF A
SUDDEN, HE'LL GO SOMEPLACE ELSE
AND YOU'LL HAVE TO CANCEL.
BUT THIS WAS ONE WHERE WE KNEW
HE WAS THERE.
AND YOU CAN NEVER BE 100% SURE
BECAUSE YOU'RE BASING IT ON
TECHNOLOGY MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
BUT WE THOUGHT HE WAS THERE.
AND THEN WE GOT A CONFIRMATION
AND WHEN WE WENT IN, THEY WERE
GREETED WITH A LOT OF FIRE
POWER, A LOT OF FIRE POWER.
I TELL YOU, THESE GUYS, THEY DO
A JOB, THEY ARE SO BRAVE AND SO
GOOD AND SO, IMPORTANTLY, MANY
OF HIS PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND WE
WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXACT NUMBER
OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
BUT MANY WERE KILLED.
WE LOST NOBODY.
THINK OF THAT.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> WHEN YOU TOLD THE RUSSIANS --
>> OUR DOG WAS HURT.
ACTUALLY THE CANINE WAS HURT
THAT WENT INTO THE TUNNEL.
BUT WE LOST NOBODY.
>> YOU REQUESTED TO THE RUSSIANS
TO FLY OVER THIS AREA THAT THEY
CONTROLLED --
>> WE SPOKE TO THE RUSSIANS.
>> WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?
>> WE TOLD THEM WE ARE COMING
IN.
AND THEY SAID, THANK YOU FOR
TELLING US.
THEY WERE VERY GOOD.
>> DID YOU TELL THEM WHY?
>> THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY.
WE DID TELL THEM, WE THINK
YOU'LL BE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE,
AGAIN, THEY HATE ISIS AS MUCH AS
WE DO.
YOU KNOW WHAT ISIS HAS DONE TO
RUSSIA.
SO, NO, WE DID NOT TELL.
THEY DID NOT NOPE THE MISSION
BUT THEY KNEW WE WERE GOING OVER
AN AREA THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF
FIRE POWER.
>> HAVE YOU NOTIFIED THE
CONGRESSIONAL -- ABOUT THIS
PELOSI --
>> WE HAVE NOTIFIED SOME.
OTHERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED NOW AS
I SPEAK.
WE WERE GOING TO NOTIFY THEM
LAST NIGHT BUT WE DECIDED NOT TO
DO THAT BECAUSE WASHINGTON LEAKS
LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THERE IS NOTHING -- THERE IS NO
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT LEAKS
LIKE WE DO.
AND WASHINGTON IS A LEAKING
MACHINE.
AND I TOLD MY PEOPLE, WE WILL
NOT NOTIFY THEM UNTIL -- OUR
GREAT PEOPLE ARE OUT, NOT JUST
IN BUT OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM
GREETED WITH FIRE POWER LIKE YOU
WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN.
IT WAS TOP SECRET.
IT WAS KEPT.
THERE WERE NO LEAKS, NO NOTHING.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT KNEW ARE
THE FEW PEOPLE I DEALT WITH AND
MARK MILLIE AND THE JOINT CHIEFS
OF STAFF WERE INCREDIBLE.
WE HAD SOME TREMENDOUS BACKUP.
ROBERT O'BRIEN, SECRETARY ESPER
AND SECRETARY POMPEO.
PENCE, I TOLD YOU.
HE WAS GREAT.
THIS IS A VERY SMALL GROUP OF
PEOPLE THAT KNEW ABOUT THIS.
WE HAD VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE.
A LEAK -- A LEAK COULD HAVE COST
THE DEATHS OF ALL OF THEM.
NOW, THEY ARE SO GOOD THAT I
THINK NOTHING WAS GOING TO STOP
THEM ANY WAY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE TRUTH, THAT'S HOW GOOD THEY
WERE.
WE ALSO THEM SURROUNDED BY
MASSIVE AIR POWER.
UP IN THE AIR YESTERDAY
SURROUNDED AT VERY HIGH LEVELS.
WE WERE VERY LOW.
WE HAD TREMENDOUS AIR POWER.
>> YOU WATCHED THIS FROM THE SIT
ROOM SOME WHO WERE YOU WITH IN
THE SIT ROOM?
>> SECRETARY ESPER AND A FEW OF
THE JOINT CHIEFS, MARK MILLIE,
SOME GENERALS.
WE HAD SOME VERY GREAT MILITARY
PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM AND WE HAD
SOME GREAT INTELLIGENCE PEOPLE,
ROBERT O'BRIEN.
HE IS REALLY GREAT.
YES?
>> WAS THE PULL OUT OF U.S.
TROOPS IN SYRIA LAST WEEK TIED
WITH THIS RAID?
>> NO.
RIGHT.
GREAT QUESTION.
AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, BY
THE WAY.
YOUR NETWORK IS FANTASTIC.
THEY REALLY ARE DOING A GREAT
JOB.
PLEASE LET THEM KNOW.
NO.
THE PULL-OUT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS.
IN FACT, WE FOUND THIS OUT AT A
SIMILAR TIME.
IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION
BECAUSE WE FOUND THIS OUT AT A
SIMILAR TIME.
NO, WE ARE AFTER THESE LEADERS
AND WE HAVE OTHERS IN SIGHT,
VERY BAD ONES, BUT THIS WAS THE
BIG ONE.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE, PERHAPS
THAT WE HAVE EVER CAPTURED
BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONE THAT
BUILT ISIS AND BEYOND.
AND WAS LOOKING TO REBUILD IT
AGAIN, VERY, VERY STRONGLY
LOOKING TO BUILD IT AGAIN AND
THIS IS WHY HE WENT TO THIS
PROVINCE, THIS IS WHY HE WENT TO
THIS AREA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE I WAS WATCHING
THIS MORNING AND HEARING AND
THEY SAY WHY WAS HE THERE?
PEOPLE WERE VOLUNTEER SURPRISED.
THAT IS WHERE HE WAS TRYING TO
REBUILD FROM BECAUSE THAT WAS
THE PLACE THAT MADE MOST SENSE
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO REBUILD.
YEAH?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] WHEN DID YOU
DECIDE TO SEND THE TWEET?
>> I SENT THAT AFTER I KNEW THEY
HAD LANDED SAFELY.
>> WHEN THEY HAD RETURNED?
>> RIGHT.
THAT WAS TO NOTIFY YOU GUYS YOU
HAVE SOMETHING BIG THIS MORNING
SO YOU WOULDN'T BE OUT PLAYING
GOLF OR TENNIS OR OTHERWISE
BEING INDISPOSED.
>> WHERE WERE THEY SAFE?
WHERE DID THEY LAND?
>> I'D RATHER NOT SAY BUT WE
LANDED IN A VERY FRIENDLY PORT
IN A FRIENDLY COUNTRY.
>> GIVE YOU ANY PAUSE ABOUT YOUR
DECISION TO WITHDRAWAL TROOPS?
>> NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT.
LOOK.
WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP SOLDIERS
BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY FOR THE
NEXT 200 YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
WE ARE OUT.
BUT WE ARE LEAVING SOLDIERS TO
SECURE THE OIL.
WE MAY HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE
OIL.
THAT'S OKAY.
MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS THE
OIL, IN WHICH CASE, THEY HAVE A
HELL OF A FIGHT, BUT THERE IS
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND WE
ARE SECURING IT FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, IT STOPS ISIS
BECAUSE ISIS GOT TREMENDOUS
WEALTH FROM THAT OIL.
WE HAVE TAKEN IT, SECURED IT.
NUMBER TWO -- AGAIN, SOMEBODY
ELSE MAY CLAIM IT BUT WE WILL
EITHER NEGOTIATE A DEAL WHOEVER
IS CLAIMING IT, IF WE THINK IT'S
FAIR OR MILITARILY STOP THEM
VERY QUICKLY.
WE HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER IN THAT
PART OF THE WORLD.
WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT
IS RIGHT NEARBY.
A VERY BIG, MONSTROUS, VERY
POWERFUL AIRPORT AND VERY
EXPENSIVE AIRPORT THAT WAS BUILT
YEARS AGO.
WE ARE IN THERE FOR -- WE ARE IN
THAT MIDDLE EAST NOW FOR EIGHT
TRILLION DOLLARS.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE KEEPING
SYRIA AND TURKEY -- THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISION.
THE KURDS HAVE WORKED ALONG
INCREDIBLY WELL.
BUT IN ALL FAIRNESS, IT WAS MUCH
EASIER DEALING WITH THE KURDS
AFTER THEY WENT THROUGH THREE
DAYS OF FIGHTING BECAUSE THAT
WAS A BRUTAL THREE DAYS.
WE WOULD HAVE SAID TO THE KURDS,
HEY, DO YOU MIND MOVING OVER
SEVEN MILES?
THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE MOSTLY.
YOU SO SEVEN OR EIGHT MILES.
COULD YOU MIND MOVING OVER?
BECAUSE I HAVE TO SAY, TURKEY
HAS TAKEN TREMENDOUS DEATHS FROM
THAT PART OF THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, WE CALL IT A SAFE ZONE
BUT IT WAS ANYTHING BUT A SAFE
ZONE.
TURKEY HAS LOST THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THAT
SAFE ZONE SO THEY HAVE ALWAYS
WANTED THAT SAFE ZONE FOR MANY
YEARS AND I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO
HELP THEM GET IT BUT WE DON'T
WANT IT.
I WANT OUR SOLDIERS HOME OR
FIGHTING SOMETHING THAT IS
MEANINGFUL.
I TELL YOU WHO LOVES US BEING
THERE -- RUSSIA AND CHINA.
BECAUSE WHILE THEY BUILD THEIR
MILITARY, WE ARE DEPLETING OUR
MILITARY THERE, SO RUSSIA LOVES
US BEING THERE.
RUSSIA LIKES US BEING THERE FOR
TWO REASONS.
BECAUSE WE KILL ISIS, WE KILL
TERRORISTS, AND THEY ARE VERY
CLOSE TO RUSSIA.
WE ARE 8,000 MILES AWAY.
MAYBE THEY CAN GET HERE, BUT WE
HAVE DONE VERY WELL WITH
HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE BAND
WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS APPROVED
BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT, AS YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW?
A REPORTER THAT SAID WE LOST A
CASE AND HE WAS RIGHT IN THE
EARLY COURT.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY JUST
REFUSED TO SAY THAT WE WON THE
CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT SO,
YOU KNOW?
BUT WE HAVE A VERY EFFECTIVE BAN
AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO
COME TO OUR COUNTRY BUT IT'S
MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY,
WHEREAS, RUSSIA IS RIGHT THERE,
TURKEY IS RIGHT THERE.
SYRIA IS THERE.
THEY ARE ALL RIGHT THERE.
EXCUSE ME.
IRAN IS RIGHT THERE.
IRAQ IS RIGHT THERE.
THEY ALL HATE ISIS.
SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW -- IN
THEORY, THEY SHOULD DO
SOMETHING.
I GIVE YOU SOMETHING ELSE.
THE EUROPEANS NATIONS HAVE BEEN
A TREMENDOUS DISAPPOINTMENT
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY CALLED --
BUT MY PEOPLE CALLED A LOT --
TAKE YOUR ISIS FIGHTERS AND THEY
DIDN'T WANT THEM.
THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT THEM.
THEY CAME FROM FRANCE, THEY CAME
FROM GERMANY, THEY CAME FROM THE
UK, THEY CAME FROM A LOT OF
COUNTRIES.
AND I ACTUALLY SAID TO THEM, YOU
KNOW, TAKE THEM, I'M GOING TO
DROP THEM RIGHT ON YOUR BORDER
AND YOU CAN HAVE FUN CAPTURING
THEM.
BUT THE UNITED STATES TAXPAYER
IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE NEXT
50 YEARS.
YOU SEE WHAT GUANTANAMO COST.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO
FRANCE AND UK AND OTHER PARTS OF
EUROPE AND THEY CAN WALK BACK
BUT NOT TO OUR COUNTRY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF WATER IN BETWEEN
OUR COUNTRY AND THEM.
SO, YEAH, GO.
>> YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD MET
SOME -- GOTTEN TO KNOW SOME
BRILLIANT PEOPLE ALONG THIS
PROCESS WHO HELPED PROVIDE
INFORMATION AND ADVICE ALONG THE
WAY.
IS THERE ANYONE IN PARTICULAR OR
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE ANYONE
CREDIT FOR GETTING TO THIS POINT
TODAY?
>> WELL, I WOULD BUT IF I
MENTIONED ONE, I HAVE TO MENTION
SO MANY.
I SPOKE TO SENATOR RICHARD BURR
THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW HE IS VERY SOLVED WITH
INTELLIGENCE AND THE COMMITTEE.
AND HE IS A GREAT GENTLEMEN.
I SPOKE WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM JUST
A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND HE IS
RIGHT OVER HERE AND HE HAS BEEN
VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS
SUBJECT AND HE A VERY STRONG
HAWK, BUT I THINK LINDSEY AGREES
WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
AGAIN, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT CAN HELP THEM
PATROL.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE A THOUSAND
OR 2,000 OR 3,000 SOLDIERS ON
THE BORDER, BUT LINDSEY AND I
TOTALS AGREE IS THE OIL.
THE OIL IS SO VALUABLE FOR MANY
REASONS.
IT FUELED ISIS, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, IT HELPS THE KURDS,
BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY BEEN
TAKEN AWAY FROM THE KURDS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO LIVE WITH THAT
OIL.
NUMBER THREE, IT CAN HELP US
BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
TAKE SOME ALSO AND WHAT I INTEND
TO DO, PERHAPS, IS MAKE A DEAL
WITH AN EXXONMOBIL OR ONE OF OUR
GREAT COMPANIES TO GO IN THERE
AND DO IT PROPERLY.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT BIG.
IT'S BIG OIL UNDERGROUND BUT
IT'S NOT BIG OIL UP TOP.
MUCH OF THE MACHINERY HAS BEEN
SHOT AND DEAD.
IT'S BEEN THROUGH WARS.
BUT -- AND SPREAD OUT THE
WEALTH.
BUT, NO, WE ARE PROTECTING THE
OIL.
WE ARE SECURING THE OIL.
NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T
MAKE A DEAL AT SOME POINT.
THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR A THOUSAND
YEARS, THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR
CENTURIES.
I WANT TO BRING OUR SOLDIERS
BACK HOME.
BUT I DO WANT TO SECURITY THE
OIL.
IF YOU READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
DONALD TRUMP, I WAS A CIVILIAN.
I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO
WITH GOING INTO IRAQ AND I WAS
TOTALLY AGAINST IT.
BUT I ALWAYS USED TO SAY, IF
THEY ARE GOING TO GO IN, NOBODY
CARED THAT MUCH, BUT IT GOT
WRITTEN ABOUT, IF THEY ARE GOING
TO GO IN, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD
THE STATEMENT.
I MADE IT TO EVERY HUMAN BEING
ALIVE.
IF THEY ARE GOING INTO IRAQ,
KEEP THE OIL.
THEY NEVER DID.
THEY NEVER DID.
I KNOW LINDSEY GRAHAM HAD A BILL
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID BACK FOR
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE
SPENT, MANY, MANY BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
I HATE TO SAY IT, IT'S ACTUALLY
TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUT MANY,
MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
BY ONE VOTE THEY WERE UNABLE TO
GET THAT APPROVED IN THE SENATE
AND HAD BIG OPPOSITION.
IF YOU DID THAT, IRAQ WOULD BE A
DIFFERENT STORY TODAY BECAUSE
THEY WOULD BE ON THE GROUND US A
LOT OF MONEY AND TREATING US
DIFFERENTLY BUT I HAVE TO SAY
IRAQ WAS VERY GOOD WITH RESPECT
TO LAST NIGHT.
>> I KNEW ABOUT THIS FOR THREE
DAYS.
WE THOUGHT THREE DAYS THIS IS
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT WAS ACTUALLY -- LOOK.
NOBODY WAS EVEN HURT.
OUR CANINE, AS -- I CALL IT A
DOG.
A BEAUTIFUL DOG.
A TALENTED DOG.
IT WAS INJURED AND BROUGHT BACK.
BUT WE HAD NO SOLDIER INJURED
AND THEY DID A LOT OF SHOOTING
AND BLASTING.
EVEN NOT GOING THROUGH THE FRONT
DOOR.
YOU THINK YOU GO THROUGH THE
DOOR.
IF YOU'RE A NORMAL PERSON YOU
SAY, KNOCK, KNOCK, MAY YOU COME
IN?
THE FACT IS THAT THEY BLASTED
THEIR WAY INTO THE HOUSE IN A
VERY HEAVY WALL AND IT TOOK THEM
LITERALLY SECONDS.
BY THE TIME THOSE THINGS WENT
OFF, THEY HAD A BEAUTIFUL BIG
HOLE AND THEY RAN IN AND GOT
EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE.
UNBELIEVABLY BRILLIANT AS
FIGHTERS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE COULD BE
ANYBODY BETTER AND THESE, AS YOU
KNOW, ARE A TOP OPERATIONS
PEOPLE.
>> BAGHDADI, APPARENTLY, HAD
BEEN IN -- FOR SOME TIME.
WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OF
THAT?
>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
BUT HE WAS THE LAST ONE OUT AND
HIS PEOPLE HAD EITHER BEEN
KILLED, WHICH THERE WERE MANY,
OR GAVE UP AND CAME OUT BECAUSE
WITH THE 11 CHILDREN THAT CAME
OUT, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY I RECALL
HIS CHILDREN.
THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
BUT THREE DIED IN THE TUNNEL.
THE TUNNEL COLLAPSED WITH THE
EXPLOSION.
BUT YOU HAD OTHER FIGHTERS
COMING OUT ALSO AND THEY ARE
BEING BROUGHT BACK -- THEY ARE,
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THEM
IMPRISONED.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT TIME YOU
WENT IN THE SITUATION ROOM?
>> WELL, I STARTED AT 5:00.
WE WERE PRETTY MUCH GATHERED AT
5:00 YESTERDAY.
WE WERE IN CONTACT ALL DAY LONG
THROUGH -- HOPEFULLY, SECURELY
PHONES.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW TOMORROW BUT
NOTHING SEEMED TO LEAK SO I
GUESS THEY WERE SECURE FOR A
CHANGE.
BUT WE GATHERED MORE OR LESS AT
5:00.
THE ATTACK STARTED MOMENTS AFTER
THAT.
THE LIFTOFF STARTED MOMENTS
AFTER THAT.
AGAIN, THE ELEMENT OF ATTACK
THAT THEY WERE MOST AFRAID OF
WAS GETTING FROM OUR BASE INTO
THAT COMPOUND, BECAUSE THIS
TREMENDOUS FIRE POWER THAT WE
WERE FLYING OVER, AND I WON'T GO
INTO IT, BUT YOU HAD A VERY BIG
RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN ONE AREA.
YOU HAD A TURKISH PRESENCE.
YOU HAD A SYRIAN PRESENCE.
AND YOU'RE FLYING LOW.
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
AND THERE WERE SHOTS MADE BUT WE
THINK THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT
WERE SHOOTING THAT WERE
INDISCRIMINATELY SHOOTING.
HELICOPTERS TOOK SOME SHOTS BUT
WE THINK THAT THESE WERE PEOPLE
THAT WERE JUST RANDOM PEOPLE
THAT DON'T LIKE TO SEE
HELICOPTERS, I GUESS.
>> WAS THERE ANY KIND OF DNA
TEST DONE?
>> SO THAT IS ANOTHER PART OF
THE GENIUS OF THESE PEOPLE.
THEY BROUGHT HIS -- THEY HAVE
HIS DNA.
MORE OF IT THAN THEY WANT EVEN.
AND THEY BROUGHT IT WITH THEM
WITH LAB TECHNICIANS WHO WERE
WITH THEM AND THEY ASSUMED THAT
THIS WAS BAGHDADI.
THEY THOUGHT VISUALLY IT WAS HIM
BUT THEY ASSUMED IT WAS HIM, AND
THEY DID A SITE, AN ON-SITE TEST
AND THEY GOT SAMPLES.
TO GET TO HIS BODY, THEY HAD TO
REMOVE A LOT OF DEBRIS BECAUSE
THE TUNNEL HAD COLLAPSED BUT
THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY GOOD AT
THAT.
AND AS I SAID, THEY BROUGHT BODY
PARTS BACK WITH THEM, ET CETERA,
ET CETERA.
THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT.
THE VEST BLEW UP, BUT THERE ARE
STILL SUBSTANTIAL PIECES THAT
THEY BROUGHT BACK.
SO THEY DID IT ON-SITE TEST
BECAUSE WE HAD TO KNOW THIS.
AND IT WAS A VERY QUICK CALL
THAT TOOK PLACE ABOUT 15 MINUTES
AFTER HE WAS KILLED AND IT WAS
POSITIVE, THIS IS A
CONFIRMATION, SIR.
>> IT'S ALSO RECORDED THAT HIS
WIFE -- OR ONE OF HIS WIVES
DETONATED A VEST.
>> THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, BOTH
WIVES, BOTH WEARING VESTS.
THEY HAD NOT DETONATED, BUT THE
FACT THAT THEY WERE DEAD AND
THEY HAD VESTS ON MADE IT VERY
DIFFICULT FOR OUR MEN BECAUSE
THEY HAD VESTS ON.
AND IT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT
FOR OUR MEN BECAUSE YOU NEVER
KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY NEVER DETONATED BUT THEY
WERE DEAD.
>> ON THE POSSIBLE SUCCESS, HAVE
YOU BEEN BRIEFED ON WHO --
>> YEAH, WE KNOW THE SUCCESSORS.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY GOT THEM IN
OUR SIGHTS AND WE WILL TELL YOU
THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE KNOW THE SUCCESSORS.
HAMZA BIN LADEN WAS A BIG THING
BUT THIS IS THE BIGGEST THERE
IS.
THIS IS THE WORST EVER.
OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS VERY BIG BUT
HE BECAME BIG WITH THE WORLD
TRADE CENTER.
THIS IS A MAN WHO BUILT A HOLE
AS HE WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT, A
COUNTRY, A CALIPHATE.
AND WAS TRYING TO DO IT AGAIN.
I HAD NOT HEARD TOO MUCH ABOUT
HIS HEALTH BUT HEARD STORIES HE
MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN GOOD HEALTH
BUT HE DIED IN A RUTHLESS AND
VICIOUS MANNER
[ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE
TAKEN AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE
DIED ON THE SITE BUT WE HAVE
PEOPLE THAT WERE TAKEN AND THE
CHILDREN WE LEFT THEM UNDER CARE
OF SOMEBODY THAT WE UNDERSTAND.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE --
>> 11 CHILDREN.
>> HOW MANY ADULTS?
>> I'D RATHER NOT SAY AND LEAVE
THAT TO THE GENERALS BUT A SMALL
GROUP.
MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE.
>> WHICH SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM
WERE INVOLVED?
>> MANY OF THEM.
AND AT THE TOP LEVEL AND PEOPLE
THAT WERE TRULY INCREDIBLE AT
THEIR CRAFT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
IT.
>> AS FAR AS PARTNERSHIPS GO,
WERE THERE ANY OTHER FORCES
INVOLVED OR WAS THERE ONLY
AMERICAN TROOPS?
>> ONLY AMERICAN FORCES.
ONLY AMERICAN FORCES BUT WE WERE
GIVEN GREAT COOPERATION.
>> DID THE U.S. --
>> WE TOLD THE RUSSIANS WE ARE
COMING IN BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO
OVER THEM.
AND THEY WERE CURIOUS BUT WE
SAID WE ARE COMING.
WE SAID, LOOK, WE ARE COMING BUT
THEY WERE VERY COOPERATIVE.
THEY WERE REALLY GOOD.
WE DID SAY IT WOULD BE A MISSION
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE, TOO.
AGAIN, THEY HATE ISIS AS MUCH AS
WE DO.
>> I MEANT FOR INTEL PURPOSES.
ANY FOREIGN INTEL IN THIS
OPERATION?
>> WE HAD OUR OWN INTEL.
WE GOT VERY LITTLE HELP.
WE DIDN'T NEED VERY MUCH HELP.
WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.
WHEN WE USE OUR INTELLIGENCE
CORRECTLY, WHAT WE CAN DO IS
INCREDIBLE.
WHEN WE WASTE OUR TIME WITH
INTELLIGENCE, THAT HURTS OUR
COUNTRY BECAUSE WE HAD POOR
LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
BUT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW MANY OF
THE INTEL PEOPLE AND I WILL SAY
THAT THEY ARE SPECTACULAR.
NOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT AND WANT TO
KEEP IT QUIET.
THE LAST THING THEY WANT,
BECAUSE THESE ARE GREAT
PATRIOTS.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN
DEALING WITH ARE INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE AND IT'S REALLY A
DESERVING NAME, INTELLIGENCE.
I'VE DEALT WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT
AREN'T VERY INTELLIGENT, HAVING
TO DO WITH INTEL.
BUT THIS IS THE TOP PEOPLE AND
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
IT WAS FLAWLESS AND IT WAS VERY
COMPLICATED.
BUT SO I DO APPRECIATE RUSSIA,
TURKEY, IRAQ, AND SYRIA, TO AN
TENTH, BECAUSE WE ARE FLYING
INTO SYRIA.
A LOT OF SYRIAN PEOPLE WITH LOTS
OF GUNS.
SO WE HAD GOOD COVER FOR
PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART.
IT WOULD NOT -- WHEN YOU FLY
234, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT
WOULD BE THE MOST DANGEROUS WHEN
YOU'RE GOING INTO SHOOTING NESTS
AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENED ONCE THEY BROKE INTO
THAT PRETTY POWERFUL COMPOUND.
THIS WAS A VERY STRONG COMPOUND.
AND AS I SAID, HAD TUNNELS.
BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS PART, WE
HAD GREAT COOPERATION -- YES,
MA'AM?
>> SPEAKER PELOSI AHEAD OF TIME,
DID YOU SPEAK WITH HER?
>> NO, I DIDN'T DO THAT.
I WANT THIS KEPT SECRET.
I DON'T WANT MEN LOST AND WOMEN.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE
LOST.
>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE INVITING
THE SPECIAL FORCES TEAM TO THE
WHITE HOUSE AFTER?
>> OH, YEAH, THEY WILL BE
INVITED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL WANT
TO HAVE THEIR FACES SHOWN, TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW?
THEY ARE INCREDIBLE FOR THE
COUNTRY.
THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PUBLIC
RELATIONS.
BUT THEY LOVE DOING WHAT THEY
ARE DOING.
I'VE SEEN IT.
FIRST LADY WAS OUT THERE
RECENTLY LOOKING AT WHAT THEY
DO.
SHE CAME BACK AND SHE SAID, WOW.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
THE TRAINING, YOU KNOW?
ALL OF THE TRAINING AND THE
POWER OF THE PEOPLE.
THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE STRENGTH,
THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH, THE
MENTAL STRENGTH.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.
THESE ARE VERY UNIQUE
INDIVIDUALS.
>> YOU MENTIONED WHIMPERING.
DID YOU MENTION THAT ON YOUR
VIDEO?
>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
BUT HE WAS SCREAMING, CRYING,
AND WHIMPERING AND HE WAS SCARED
OUT OF HIS MIND.
AND THINK OF JAMES FOLEY, THINK
OF KAYLA, THINK OF THE THINGS HE
DID TO KAYLA!
WHAT HE DID TO FOLEY AND SO MANY
OTHERS.
AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAY,
OH, ISN'T THIS A LITTLE VIOLENT?
THINK OF HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU
SEEN MEN -- I THINK IN ALL CASES
MEN FOR THE MOST PART, DID YOU
IN TERMS OF THIS -- WHERE YOU
SEE THE ORANGE SUITS AND YOU SEE
THE OCEAN AND THEY ARE BEHEADED.
OR HOW MANY OF YOU GOT TO SEE --
BECAUSE IT WAS OUT THERE -- THE
JORDANIAN PILOT WHOSE PLAIN WENT
DOWN AND THEY CAPTURED HIM AND
THEY SET HIM ON FIRE.
THE KING OF JORDAN ACTUALLY
ATTACKED VERY POWERFULLY WHEN
THAT HAPPENED.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THAT BUT HE SET HIM ON FIRE.
THIS WAS AL BAGHDADI AND YOU
SHOULD NEVER, EVER HOPEFULLY,
SEE A THING LIKE THAT AGAIN.
NOW, THERE WILL BE NEW PEOPLE
EMERGE BUT THIS WAS THE WORST OF
THIS PARTICULAR WORLD.
THIS WAS THE WORST.
PROBABLY IN CERTAIN WAYS THE
SMARTEST.
HE WAS ALSO A COWARD.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
THINK OF IT.
EVERYBODY WAS OUT AND WE WERE
ABLE TO SEARCH HIM DOWN AND FIND
HIM IN THE TUNNEL.
WE KNEW THE TUNNEL EXISTED AND
THAT IS WHERE HE WAS.
>> YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF HEAT
FOR THIS PULLOUT.
DO YOU THINK THIS WILL CHANGE --
>> I DON'T HAVE A SYRIA
PULL-OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO GUARD TURKEY AND
SYRIA THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND
DANGEROUS AND THEY HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR CENTURIES.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY PEOPLE,
2,000 MEN AND WOMEN OR A
THOUSAND OR 28.
WE HAD 28 -- I DON'T WANT THEM
THERE ANYWHERE.
I DON'T WANT THEM.
NOW I WILL SECURE THE OIL.
THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN CERTAIN
PART BUT THAT IS TREMENDOUS
MONEY INVOLVED.
>> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
CONFIRMING THE NEWS HAD BEEN
LEAKING OUT ALL MORNING THAT
U.S. SPECIAL FORCES HAVE KILLED
THE FORMER -- OR FORMER HEAD OF
ISIS ABU BAKR AL BAGHDADI.
THISAT HAS BEEN AN NBC NEWS
SPECIAL REPORT.
FOR SOME OF YOU, "MEET THE
PRESS"