Video: Pakistan opens key supply route

>>> developing news right now, pakistan announcing it is reopening the nato supply routes to afghanistan . the taliban saying it is shocked at the move. and warns that it would attack any vehicles carrying supplies for foreign forces in afghanistan . nbc's chief pentagon correspondent joining me now. mick, are officials a the this point saying whether the routes were reopened after an apology over the border attack? or are they admitting that just yet?

>> well, i haven't heard any u.s. officials say what secretary of state hillary clinton said was an apology. in fact, one senior u.s. official said only you in the media are calling this an apology. but secretary of state clinton did say that the u.s. is sorry for the fact that a u.s. air strike mistakenly killed 24 pakistan soldiers in a cross- border incident about seven months ago. the important thing here is that the pakistanis consider it an apology and have reopened the vital supply routes to provide those supplies to u.s. forces in afghanistan . and for the past seven months, they've had to use alternate routes , which has cost the u.s. an additional $100 million per month. so finally, these tensions have been put aside and the u.s. can get back to doing business with pakistan on a more congenial basis, i guess. and at a better, more fruitful relationship for the u.s. in afghanistan , craig .

>> let's go to iran now, mick. test-fired several missiles, commanders claim that some of the missiles are capable of hitting u.s. warships in the gulf. "new york times" reporting that the united states is building up its military presence in the gulf to stop iran from closing the state of hormuz. has the pentagon indicated whether this military build-up is part of a long-planned effort? or is it a direct response to something?

>> no, craig , this has been going on for some time. it is in response to the rising tensions over iran 's nuclear ambitio ambitions. and the possible threat of an israeli strike to take out iran 's nuclear weapons program that they perceive as underway. what is happening here is that the u.s. has doubled the amount of mine sweepers -- they've put some stealth fighters, a small number of stealth fighters and other fighter aircraft in a couple of gulf states , and they have sent a helicopter carrier into that region that could serve as a platform for special operations forces . but there is no hint whatsoever and no desire on the part of the white house , the administration, or the u.s. military to engage the iranians militarily. this is all for defensive purposes. and quite frankly, trying to send a signal to both israel, iran , and the gulf states that the u.s. there would like to keep a lid on things , but is prepared to respond if possible. and in return of threats, they could probably do that, but only temporarily. the u.s. military would respond aggressively. and if the iranians were to attempt to attack u.s. ships or military facilities in the area, u.s. military officials warn that the response from the american military would destroy iran 's navy at the very least.

>> from the pentagon on this tuesday, jim, thank you.

>> okay, craig .

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/48062298/

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