breaking overnight, president trump preparing for the much anticipated speech, a short time from now, which he is expected to urge muslim unity in the fight against terrorism. how will it go over and will he leave anti-islamic rhetoric out of the script? the president attempting a reset with the leaders of egypt and qatar, a short time ago. >> very serious discussions right now going on and one of the things that we will discuss is the purchase of lots of beautiful military equipment because nobody makes it like the united states. >> hi, everybody. good sunday morning to you. i'm thomas roberts in new york at msnbc world headquarters. 7:00 on the east, 4:00 out west. we have a lot of breaking news to go over for the second straight sunday. north korea conducted a missile

test. south korean officials say it came from the region. janice joins us now from beijing. janice, what are sources saying about this? yes, we are talking about this weekly, at the very same time. >> reporter: this missile is believed to be medium range according to u.s. specific command. u.s. officials, along with those in south korea are analyzing the data to identify the type. no the pace at whichorth korea is launching these miiles a testing them suggests they are really in a push to try to reach that goal of developing and testing an intercontinental ballistic missile for reaching the coast of the united states. experts say the launch last weekend showed tremendous progress in north koreas program. perhaps surpassing pyongyang's expectations if the number of

photos and videos the regime released is any indication. the sight that was used for today's launch was used for a launch last month. that launch failed. if we are looking at the same type of missile, it was a solid fuel mission and used a mobile launcher. the whole system can be moved and set up in minutes and launched with little notice. what it suggests is kim jong-un is quite intent on his technology and not as flexible on diplomacy. no matter what pressure china is putting on, the pressure the u.s. is counting on, the regime may be focused more on developing weapons program to have more leverage heading into sort of talks. at this point, each test is undermining the belief that talks are even an option. thomas? >> janice, we just had coverage of diplomatic talks that took place where it seemed as if the

north korean diplomats were open to create thag dialogue. the test we keep talking about, though, threw a wrench into how successful any possibility of diplomatic talks could be. >> reporter: it does seem to defie logic. it happened at lower levels, without official government talks. suggested perhaps there was a door that was opening for negotiations. you pair that with the comments from the new president in south korea saying he would be open to talks, echoing what president trump said, that he would, under the right circumstances sit down with king jong-un. the fact that north korean diplomats were suggesting talks might be an option suggest it was moving in that direction. then the launch last weekend, which, again, was a surprise in

terms of what it suggested. the advances in the north korean program. the missile launch reached an altitude of 1300 miles. if it went in a straight line, reached a distance further than any missile tested before. there seems to be a disconnect between what the diplomatic piece of this is looking for and what kim jong-un seems focussed on, making advances in technology, going to continue to push toward realizing the goals so if talks do happen, he has leverage going io them. >> thank you for reportinin beijing. great to have you with me. breaking, early word on the president's speech that is going to take place in a short time from now. just over two hours in saudi arabia. we want to go to kristen welker, traveling with the president. what are we learning about

what's to come? >> reporter: we just got excerpts from the president's speech. he wants to try to reset relations with the muslim world. he's hope thag this speech helps him do it. let me read you a portion we got from the white house. he's going to say, this is not a battle about different faiths, sets or civilizations. this is between bar baric criminals that obliterate human life and decent people of all religions. this is a battle between good and evil. thomas, that's really the critical argument and thesis of this speech. this battle between good and evil. he is starting his trip here in saudi arabia to reach out to the muslim world, this speech, a critical part of the outreach. it comes after the inflammatory comments he made as a candidate. he said muslims hate the united

states. the tone, today, expected to be very different. the esti a lot of people have, is he going to reiterate the term radical islamic terrorism he used as a candidate. it's a term former president barack obama wouldn't use and hillary clinton wouldn't use. they felt it was provocative and could recruit more terrorists. will president trump use that term or abandon it? we expect the tone to be quite different. his goal today is to get the muslim world more engaged in the fight against isis. he sees that as really the corner stone of why he was elected to be president. all eyes, not only here are going to be on the president today, but really all around the world. one more interesting note, thomas, one of the key authors of the speech, stephen miller, is the same person who authored the travel ban, which impacts those from predominantly muslim

countries. the president is putting his final tweaks on the final version. >> i want to talk about the phrase, radical islamic terrorism. general mcmaster has not been a fan of that terminology. take a listen to what he said here and i'll ask you about it on the other side. >> i think the president listens to people. he listens to people in the region. this isn't america just on transmit here in the middle east. this is the president asking questions, listening, learning. of course the president will call it whatever he wants to call it. >> we know, correct me if i'm wrong, general mcmaster has spoken out being against that term in the past. has he had any sway in how miller is drafting this speech? >> reporter: well, i think you really captured the fact there is this internal divide in the white house about what language and policies should be enacted. there is no doubt h.r. mcmaster

will have weighed in on a speech of this enormity. the question is, who will have the final say, president trump, as it always is. it could be a game-time decision. we have asked the white house, repeatedly, if the president plans to use this term. they are notipping their hand. everyone will have to wait to see what the president's final decision is in in regard. again, thomas, our broad guidance, when it comes to the speech is the tone is going to be softer. he understands the stakes. he understands if he wants to reach out to the muslim world and wants to be credible and help overturn all those inflammatory comments he made on the campaign trail, the tone has got to be different when he speaks in a few hours. >> kristen welker, thanks very much. we'll talk later. >> i was to bring in a nonresident fellow at the golf institution of washington and a columnist for lebanese

newspaper. it is great to have you with me. hopefully you were able to hear what h.r. mcmaster said in the clip. to reiterate, he said the president listens to people, he listens to people in the region. a big part of this, this isn't just america on transmit here in the middle east, this is more than that. when it comes to that term, radical islamic terrorism, do you think the president will use that today and if not, should he? >> well, i don't think the issue is islamic radicalism. we know there is radicalism. we know there are forces in the muslim world. that's nothing new. the problem is, it should not be phrased in terms. this is not a struggle between good and evil. let's put it bluntly, thomas, there are many people who are participating in this conference in saudi arabia who are not good. leaders where there's tremendous

repression. the problem in most societies is bad governance. that is creating the environment that is producing these yng men who feel they are d disinherited, no stake in their country or society, they are not getting the right education. these are the issues. you cannot tell me this is a fight between good and evil, then cooperating with the leader like in egypt who is facing an islamist insurgency, albeit sinai, using this islamist insurgency to rule by decree and any kind of decent, even if it is the most peaceful coming from liberals, in the name of combatting radical islamism or whatever, he is using that to perpetuate an impressive regime.

it's all over the place. >> if you think about how -- >> that's the problem. >> if you think about how the world and people who you talk about that are living under bad government rule, how is the credibility of this president who is facing enormously bad headlines back here at home about just that? >> look -- >> bad government, bad leadership and deep corruption. >> look, this president lacks the intellectual, political hest to start the reset the administration is talking about. this president has a recent history that is well known to everybody. the leaders of the arab world are cutting him too much slack saying, well, look, we need him because we have a fight with iran. we need him because we have a fight with al qaeda and isis. but, this is a wounded president. i'm old enough to remember 1974

when nixon was paraded in the streets of cairo to throngs of egyptians shouting, nixon, nixon and two months later, he was out. people are cognizant he is having serious problems domestically, but choosing to ignore that. there's denial and wishful thinking on their part, they are investing in this president who is going to save them from iran. one of my fears is many are framing this issue with iran in sectarian terms. this soon be world we are going to allow ourselves with against shiite iran. this is playing in the hands of sunnis and shiites. this is awful. it embarked on policies of -- of destabilization, whether it's in iraq, syria, lebanon, it should be done in a political way.

>> the fact rouhani was re-elected yesterday in iran. you are talking about the instability of that region. rouhani was running on the expansi expansive civil liberties and less isolationist when it comes to the rest of the world. this is the same day the u.s. signed an arms deal with saudi arabia north of $110 billion. how do you see those things calculating into an equation of working together in the future? >> look, iran is not a democracy near -- golf states are democracies. most countries are not democracies. of course, there are varng degrees of openness. iran has a vibrant society that is being repressed by the -- those that have been served by the revolutionary guard, hard

liners in iran. i think any approach to iran should not be placed on the sunni block where the american president goes and sounds like he's an arms merchant. there should be an approach that is political. we are going to stop your that fairious influence and support for hezbollah and radical militias and groups and appeal to the iranian people. there's a future for you, if you open up to us, if you open up to your neighbors and pursue different policies. this harping on the sunni/shiite divide is playing into the hands of the radicals on both sides. this is prescription for more violence in the region. as it is, we have arab societies literally and physically burning in syria and iraq. >> we are witnessing these civil wars, these divisive issues and we shall see how the president addresses that, coming up two

hours from now, seeing if he can cast that wide yet and a call for the greater good. great to see you, sir. thank you for your time. we are going to have more on the excerpts we have on the president's speech. first, a look at the national convention center, the site of many events. you are wondering about the weather there. the expectehigh, 105 degrees with 20% chance of humidity. we have heard from reporters in that region, such as kelly o'donnell, it is a dry heat. back in a moment. i was active. then the chronic, widespread pain drained my energy. my doctor said moving more helps ease fibromyalgia pain. she also prescribed lyrica. fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of overactive nerves. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. woman: for some, lyrica can significantly relieve fibromyalgia pain and improve function, so i feel better. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions.

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the president. this is not a battle between different faiths, sex or organizations, this is barbaric criminals who seek to protect it. joining me is john finer who served for secretary of state, john kerry. great to have you with me on a morning like this. what do you think of that speech and the tone the president is trying to deliver? >> thanks. i think the excerpt is fine, in and of itself. we'll see the rest of the speech. there are questions we should look at, one, does he get the tone and the substance right? i think that's an open question. you have talked about the notion whether he uses the phrase radical islamic. saying those words does not end terrorism. there are a number of ways a president could step into a sensitive issue inadd ver tantly, given the people advising him that a not very

anced in their views of islam. the second question is -- >> the credibility which the president delivers the speech, how do they negate the rhetoric, knowing it could pop up, we don't have that excerpt. stephen miller, who we are familiar with his feelings, is the author. >> it's people like steve bannon, the president surrounded himself with a number of people with extreme views on islam themselves. but, the second question, really, is can one speech, you know, establish a new u.s. role, presence, view of the united states in the region. remember back in 2009, president barack obama gave a speech in cairo on the middle east and the middle east intervenes and imposes an agenda. two years later, the arab spring, not about the united states, and we have been trying to pick up the pieces since

then. a speech, in and of itself is not going to be enough. even if the president gets the tone correct. >> again, i get back to the credibility. if you go back to 2009, think about the time there after, donald trump was the main birther in chief, going after the president for being born in kenya, having a muslim background. trying to fear monger off of that. it's not one speech, but it is one man we are depending on to try to create a aspiration of leadership or a good will and faith that people globally can believe in. >> i would totally agree with that. i don't think this president will ever have a tremendous degree of credibility. i think they will be willing to overlook the commentf ty feel like they are getting what they want out of the president. that includes, you know, very tough stance against extremism which they share.

a tough stance vis-a-vis iran. your previous guest made a great point. the president is walking into huge fault lines, one between extremist and less extreme forces. the other is the sunni/shiite divide. they are trying to draw the president to put his thumb on one side of the scale, the sunni side, it could escalate rather than easing those tensions, which is a better use of the president's time. >> you opinion on rouhani and being re-elected. he will stay in power. >> i think, you know, the critics of the iranian government are correct in the sense iran continued to pursue aggressive regional policies in the region. they have pursued an internal agenda. none of that is changed under rouhani. he has been open to engagement with the rest of the world and willing to negotiate with the

west with the nuclear program. >> rouhani is going to stay in place. he wants to be the custodian. that was helmed under your former boss, john kerry. will it stay that way with president trump? >> the tump administration said they are complying with their end of the nuclear agreement. the nuclear agreement, in my view and people in the region and the united states where it's increasingly popular, brought a measure of greater stability and removed one of the greatest threats to the region, the threat of their nuclear program, which is off theab, thanks to diplomacy, not going to war. >> our former chief of staff serving under john kerry. thank you for your insight. >> thank you. we are awaiting the president's speech. stay with us. (burke) at farmers, we've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything.

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