CNN’s Abby Phillip and Scott Jennings Battle It Out Over Who Benefits From Trump’s War in Iran

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings struggled to answer who Donald Trump’s war against Iran was really for as he butted heads with host Abby Phillip on Wednesday.

“You know why NATO should care about this? It was just a couple of weeks ago that we learned that Iran has ballistic missile capabilities that can reach most of Europe,” argued Jennings during a debate on CNN NewsNight. “On top of that, does no one else here find it agitating that we spent billions and trillions of dollars over decades, we have U.S. troops stationed at all these bases, with all these allies, and then when we decide that we need to do something that is in our national security interest, you have supposed friends of the United States saying, ‘You can’t use these bases, we’re not gonna permit this, we’re not gonna help you on that’? It is agitating.”

CNN host Abby Phillip replied, “But doesn’t NATO have a say in how they deal with the threat?”

She questioned, “Don’t you think NATO ought to have a say, European countries ought to have a say, in how you address that threat? I’m not disagreeing with you about the threat, but shouldn’t they be consulted? Aren’t they not right to wonder why weren’t they consulted before Trump decided to wage a war? It sounds like you think it’s in their defense. Shouldn’t they have been consulted?”

“Well, it is. It is in the defense of all of Europe now that we see that the ballistic missile threat is real,” claimed Jennings, to which Phillip pressed, “But Scott, should they have been consulted?”

“Consulted?” asked Jennings, before shrugging. “I mean, look, we decided it was in our national security interest. Why they don’t understand that it is in theirs is beyond me.”

Phillip shot back, “Oh, OK. So if it’s about our national security interests, that makes sense, right? But if it’s in theirs, they should be consulted. If this war is about Europe’s security, shouldn’t Europe be consulted?”

“It’s about our national security, but along the way here, what we’ve all learned is that Europe is under threat,” argued Jennings, to which Phillip pointed out, “If this is about us, this is our war.”

Meidas Touch’s Adam Mockler jumped in, “You said this was our national security interest.”

“It is our national security interest,” replied Jennings.

“OK, so then why is the onus on Europe to clean up our mess?” questioned Mockler.

President Trump has repeatedly lashed out at European and Asian allies in recent weeks over their refusal to join his ongoing war against Iran.

Despite arguing that the conflict was really for the benefit of the United States’ allies in Europe and Asia, the Trump administration failed to consult with them prior to launching its offensive against Iran.

Watch above via CNN.

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