CNN "The Situation Room"- Transcript: Russia

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (D), CALIFORNIA: No. No, they don't. It's obvious from this situation and from others that they do not. Although they're working at it. And keep in mind that Europe has open borders from one country to another. So it's a very, very difficult situation.

I think another question is, does America have appropriate communication with European governments about men, women that may be trying to travel into the United States? It's a question. I hope we do. I am not sure that we do, however.

BLITZER: Because it's a very serious question. He has a European passport. He doesn't even need a visa to come to the United States. The question is would he have been flagged if he had decided to fly from Paris to New York?

GARAMENDI: Well, that's a very good question for the Congress of the United States to ask our homeland security folks. And if not, then what can be done to obtain, for our border and our airports, the appropriate information that we need about folks that have been flagged in Europe as being potential troublemakers.

BLITZER: The cash. He needed a lot of money to fly from Paris -- or from Berlin to Turkey, then fly back to Paris. Then get a first-class ticket on that high-speed rail, that train from Amsterdam to Paris, to get all these weapons, all that ammunition. I suppose they're trying to find out where this so-called homeless guy got all that money.

GARAMENDI: Well, that's the connection. And I'm sure that connection will be made. You just don't go pick up eight magazines, an AK-47 and an automatic pistol anywhere. You've got to have money. You've got to have a connection. Somebody somewhere set it up, and apparently, the French prosecutors think that this guy is tied to some sort of a terror cell somewhere.

We need to know that in America, because that may very well provide us with information about people that might be coming into this country, and certainly, it's information the European authorities must have.

[17:35:06] BLITZER: Because the French prosecutors say that El- Khazzani while on that train just before the shooting incident, he was actually looking at videos, quote, "inspiring people to jihadi acts." They found that on his phone while he was on the train.

Here's the question, though. Watching those videos alone, does that automatically cause red flags among law enforcement authorities?

GARAMENDI: It should. And it also ought to cause red flags among those Internet companies that are allowing those videos to be shown.

This is something we've talked about here in the United States. Is does the -- Internet companies, YouTube, Google, others, have a responsibility to take a hard look at the kind of things that are being displayed on their networks? My answer is, yes, they should. They have a responsibility.

And when they see these kinds of things that are clearly inspiring jihadists, they should take them down and they should similarly report that to the appropriate authorities, either local or federal. BLITZER: Congressman, I want you to stand by. We have more to

discuss, including new information. The U.S. now deploying F-22 fighters, sophisticated jets to Europe in the face of what is perceived to be threats from Putin and Russia, as Russia is getting ready to sell a new sophisticated air defense system to Iran. Much more with Congressman Garamendi when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:41:02] BLITZER: Congressman John Garamendi of the House Armed Services Committee is still with us. We'll get back to him shortly.

But first this. The Pentagon now warning that the United States will still have ways of responding as Russia moves forward with the sale of an advanced air defense missile system to Iran.

Let's go to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. She's got new information. What are you learning, Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Vladimir Putin likes nothing better than to put on a show. But every when he's doing that, he is sending a message.

Warplanes take to the skies, part of an exhibition near Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin watching intently.

Flanked on one side by Jordan's King Abdullah, on the other by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

Two key U.S.-Middle East allies that Putin is courting. Later, telling Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed, bin Sayyaf.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): I'm glad to use this time to talk about regional and our bilateral relations.

STARR: Putin is talking to both leaders about the fight against ISIS and the war in Syria, where Russia is still supporting Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, over U.S. objections.

Not the only Putin move in the Middle East that has the U.S. deeply worried. Russia is selling an advanced S-300 air defense radar and missile system to Iran to help secure Iran's air space.

PETER COOK, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: We obviously have problems. We've experienced those concerns to the Russians. We don't see this as a positive development. At the same time here at the Defense Department, the president will have options available to him.

STARR (on camera): Options to do what?

COX: Military options.

STARR (voice-over): And in Europe, as Russian fighters continue threatening Ukraine, the new advanced U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter preserving U.S. options against Putin. The air force announcing several F-22s are now being sent to Europe on a training exercise to reassure U.S. allies worried about Russian advances.

STARR: We'll get the F-22 into facilities that we would potentially use in a conflict in Europe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And you'll remember, it was just a couple days ago Defense Secretary Ash Carter called Russia antagonistic. That's the U.S. message back to Putin. No indication he's planning to change his behavior anytime soon -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Barbara. Thank you.

We're back with Democratic Congressman John Garamendi of California. He's a member of the Armed Services Committee.

So the U.S. sending these F-22 raptors, supposedly for training missions in Europe. Does NATO right now, based on everything you know, Congressman, have enough military might to -- hopefully, it never happens -- have to fight Russia if things really heat up?

GARAMENDI: Well, I think you said the right thing, and that's hopefully, not have to fight Russia.

What we're doing is displaying our power. We have awesome power. We have an incredible ability to wage war wherever we may need to wage war. But we really do not want a war in Europe. We've seen that too many times the last century, and it's really ugly, really, really bad.

All the while we need it make it very, very clear to Mr. Putin that you're not going to be able to do just anything you want to in eastern Europe. That there are consequences.

So it's really a show of strength. But it's also a show of determination.

At the same time, even during the Cold War, there were very serious and fruitful negotiations going on with the USSR at that time that led to a de-escalation of some of the major nuclear threats.

And we ought to be communicating with Russia in many, many different ways, certainly parliament to parliament, U.S. Congress to their parliament, as well as at every level. I know that Secretary Kerry did reach out to Russia. Communications very, very important. As is maintaining strength military and otherwise.

[17:43:11] BLITZER: What do you think of this Russian deal to sell Iran advanced S-300 air defense missile systems, which presumably would make any U.S. airstrike against Iran's nuclear facilities, if Iran does violate this nuclear deal, or an Israeli airstrike a lot more difficult if this deal goes through?

GARAMENDI: Well, I think the -- the question is, a lot more exactly what is that. Keep in mind that we have extraordinary capabilities. We've been prepared for a long, long time to deal with these kinds of defense systems, missile defense systems. And we do have the capability to deal with it. Is it more difficult than if they did not have it? Yes. Is it impossible? No. But the answer here is to make sure that that nuclear deal actually works, that we don't have to engage in offensive military action.

With regard to Jordan and others going to Russia, that's a game as old as the Cold War. Russia and the United States were constantly wooing the leadership in the Middle East, one side than the others. But there is also something underlying this that may be very, very important, and that is that Russia is Assad's Syria leadership, they are the supporters. And if there is going to be some sort of a deal worked out to deal with that terrible situation in Syria, Russia is going to have to play a role in that.

So maybe there is something good that's happening here behind the scenes. We can be hopeful. But at the same time, we have to be strong.

BLITZER: Congressman John Garamendi, thanks as usual for joining us.

GARAMENDI: Thank you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source