Rep. Peter Welch (D., Vt.) told Martin Bashir Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) has too much confidence "in the striking capacity and the definitive outcome" of a military operation to shoot down a North Korean missile Friday on MSNBC.
The Defense Intelligence Agency also drew criticism from the congressman who cast doubt on the DIA's recently disclosed assertion that North Korea is capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on a missile:
MARTIN BASHIR: Do you agree with that assessment that we would need to strike?
PETER WELCH: I don't. You know, the thing about Senator McCain is he has a lot of confidence in the striking capacity and the definitive outcome of a military operation. What I think history has shown us is that there's been a carelessness in looking at unintended consequences. I mean, Iraq is a very good example. Incidentally, the DIA assessment. You have to have some skepticism here. They were the folks that assured us Iraq had a nuclear weapon. So this moderate degree of confidence over there, we don't really know what it means, but to be suggesting that we pull the trigger on a military operation right now, I think, probably just escalates the rhetoric and is not a net positive. I think Senator Kerry was very firm and very clear that there are U.N. conditions that North Korea is violating. If they do anything that results in a conflict, the North Koreans know what the outcome will be. He's making it clear the U.S. will protect itself and protect its allies.
Full interview: