The lack of public comments coordination between President Donald Trump, his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Adviser John Bolton on Iran creates a situation "ripe" for war, even if it is not the president's "instinct," according to Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.
"What really worries me, John, is the secretary of state and John Bolton, the national security adviser are moving us into a position where the president will feel boxed in, and he has to respond in some military way because I don't think that's his instinct," Sen. King told CNN's "New Day" host John Berman.
"That's what's troubling right now. Wars start sometimes, or often, by miscalculations and misunderstandings. And this is a situation that's ripe for that.
"One side thinks they're being defensive, The other side thinks, 'Well, those people are being provocative — we’ve got to strike first.' Very dangerous situation. Calm voices are needed in all levels of the administration."
President Trump has said publicly Iran's alleged oil tanker attacks are "minor," while Secretary Pompeo and NSA Bolton are taking more hardline stances against Iran aggression in the Gulf of Oman. The policies are not as concerning to Sen. King as much as the confusion – no to mention the lack of a confirmed Secretary of Defense after Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan withdrew from contention.
"No, I don't understand the strategy," King said. "Yes, I do have concerns about where it is going. It's clear, as you point out, the secretary of state, the national security adviser are much more aggressive. They are much more forceful.
"The president says, 'Oh, a couple of tankers. No big deal.' That's very confusing, and it's a confusing message to the world and to the Iranians, and it's just hard to determine."
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