joining us now ben collins, former green beret, served three tours in afghanistan.great to have you with us. russia has allegedly activated a no-fly zone. i think they did it at midnight last night but they haven't worked out any of the details nor the enforcement of it but if u.s. war planes fly into the no-fly zone, is that setting up a dangerous military confrontation with the russians? >> well, it certainly could, gregg, as you said, the devil is going to be in details. after the air strike in syria, russia and the united states had closed off that channel of communication between the -- the air control and so i think as far as i understand it, they've reopened that channel and that's going to be extremely important because, you know, at the time when you have american planes and russian planes and other countries planes all flying, it has to be deconflicted. i don't think that russia would go as far as to shoot down certainly an american aircraft, but i don't think that any part of this deal is going to keep us from still flying and targeted isis and al-qaeda a

ben collins, thank you for your service. >> bill: 29 minutes past the hour now.rutal double murder. police releasing new details a man accused of murdering two doctors inside their boston home. what his past is telling investigators today. >> swing and a miss and it is over. >> you might be tired, maybe a little late for work together, an extra cup of coffee. we'll talk about why coming up. >> bill: starting today a federal appeals court will be the first to look at president trump's revised travel ban. that will happen today. that order bans foreign nationals from these countries from entering the u.s. for 90 days. james rosin outside the courthouse in richmond, virginia. lay out the arguments. what case will each side make today? >> the arguments that we'll hear today will be familiar to anyone following the story since president trump rolled out his first version of his executive order on immigration policy one week into his presidency. with that order halted by the courts, however, president trump issued a revised version of it in early march and it, too, has

we will bring in ben collins a retired special forces officer and green beret with three tours in afghanistan welcome to the big show. great to see you. kennedy. kennedy: more troops in afghanistan to fight the taliban. is that a good idea and how do we know we can trust the people we are training? >> is it a good idea of? it's a necessary idea but otherwise we are going to have more of the same. i will tell you that during the bush administration we were military heavy with not much of a political effort behind it. during the obama years we reduced the military footprint and we tried everything on a diplomatic or politicasolution that just made it more complicated. can't have one of the other. you have got to have both those necessary to put the pressure on the taliban but we also better have a political and diplomatic solution ready to go as well. kennedy: the solution i'm guessing isn't a national unity government. you pointed out three strong men from disparate ends being brought together by curious means. >> it never ends well and that seems to be u.s. national policy when it comes to pi

army green beret captain ben collins. i'll start with you.ake to get these russians to stand down? what do we have to do? >> well, gerri, i think first we have to recognize exactly what it is that they are doing. you know, the russians are famous for using what's known as a gray zone attack, which means, you know, if you can sum up their motto, it's to do everything they can to disrupt the current order. so they'll use military, political, psychological, and economic attacks. we saw it in the way that they tried to influence the elections in the u.s., the way they tried to influence the elections in france. you know, the military aspect is part of it and the psychological part of it as well, as in the, you know, how they just claim that they're going to now for the expulsion of those 35 diplomats. it's all part of postering on behalf of putin to give some sort of leverage that he would like to be able to use in the near future like the g20 summit. gerri: andrew, to you. is it posturing, or are you more concerned about something else going on

army green beret officer captain ben collins. he is going to be here hopefully you will be too. see you on the "fox news" channel at noon. dobbs. lou: good evening everybody. we begin with breaking news, big news president trump tonight firing fbi director james comey. in a white house statement the president said he acted based on the recommendations of deputy attorney general rod rosenstein and attorney general jeff sessions. "fox news" has obtained the president's letter to director comey. it reads in part, i have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from your office effective immediately. while i greatly appreciate you informing me on three separate occasions that i am not under investigation, i nevertheless concur the judgment of the department of justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau. it is essential that we find new leadership that restores public trust and confidence in his lawn fourchon and -- law enforcement mission. a senior white house official telling "fox news" that it is coincidental that this firing, this

army green beret officer captain ben collins. he is going to be here hopefully you will be too.ee you on the "fox news" a paid advertisement for time life's music collection. ♪ chances are 'cause i wear a silly grin ♪ there are artists we'll always remember... ♪ mona lisa, mona lisa ♪ men have named you there are beautiful songs, words and memories that will always touch our hearts... ♪ it's impossible ♪ to tell the sun to leave the sky ♪ ♪ it's just impossible this is the music of your life.

with me now is ben collins. good day to both of you.interesting juxtaposition at the address of the academy while the president continues in a trip that is winding down from overseas. andrew, start. is there a theme or a takeaway from the president's trip so far? >> absolutely. you know, i think it's areassertion of american powers after some of america's key alliances were allowed to wither. he stopped on all the major alliance hot spots except for japan. he stopped in saudi arabia, israel, nato and wrapping up at the g8 the most powerful liberal democracies in the world. when you combine that with mike pence at the naval academy speaking to the next generation of american military leaders it sends a very strong message about america's future and strength in the world. >> bill: i was thinking earlier today the isis killers calling them not killers but losers. the challenge to nato leaders and the challenge to sunni leaders prior to that in saudi arabia. let me squeeze ben in here quickly and i'll come back to you, andrew. ben, what is

ben collins is a u.s. army three beret and joins us now.ood to see you. >> shannon: a lot of folks out there aren't happy about the phone call to the president of the philippines. reince priebus the white house chief of staff says this is not the time to be making those calls. we have to line up all kinds of allies in the region. it will take precedence for now. >> absolutely, shannon. it is a regional problem. we need to have a regional solution. as it's stated, china provides about 90% of the trade with north korea. so you have to also look at those other regional countries like japan and the philippines that would be affected by this especially on the heels of some of these new sanctions that they're talking about. but as far as talking to the leader of the philippines, look, the reality is this is politics trump style. if we're going to start with looking at the human rights track record look, it's not something the best thing i think that we have but look, we won't be able to talk to china or saudi arabia. sometimes you have to priorit

what is make as concern it might be able to and and we have ben collins.emocratic administration, north korea does whatever the hell it wants. >> absolutely. to put it in context, neil, 10 years ago they had the first nuclear test. that registered in one kiloton. the nuclear test we saw a few months ago registered in somewhere around 25 to 30. hiroshima was 15-kilotons. neil: wow. >> the issue will not be a question if they're going to have the capability but when. so we are unfortunately a point where action has to be taken either by us or through the chinese. but this man obviously showing that he is not slowing down in his desire to have a weapon but i don't think he has got it yet. neil: he is pretty close. routinely a lot of experts poo-poo his missiles off course. this one was a little off course but i'm looking at the world reaction, he is nowhere close. he is getting closer with each shot, right? >> he certainly is and one of the biggest things holding him back, when you're talking about an intercontinental ballistic missiles, that has to go into s

>> i will be looking at john mccain to susan collins, to ben sass, to lindsey graham, to several others, and richard burr who is leading the senate intelligence committee to stan up and unanimously say with their democratic colleagues at that when our nation is attacked we are not democrats or republicans. we are americans. we all have to stand resolutely against those who would do harm to our way of life and our system of government. and i just think in the long sweep here, brian, we have had now the president attack separation of powers by trying to impede a congressional investigation. he has attacked the first amendment, and a free media and a free press which is a pillar of our democracy. now he is attacking the rule of law. >> raj what do you think of when you think of comey? now of course it's in the rearview mirror. as you know, he had his friends and he had his detractors. the latter saw a guy especially at these most recent hearings kinds of burdened or crippled or tortured by his own integrity, all drawn up over the problems that came with his office, the tough decisions, tou

collins. a company are were providing analysis and relief examples how america sustained leadership in the biomedical industry has resulted in emmerrable ben photos our country's economic in physical will become. among the participanted was bill ford, ceo of general atlanta. ,dr. craig thompson, dr. barman the president of science. >> -- merck tesse, president of stan understand university and dr. rick lifton, the president of -- the united states is atop the list of global investors in lifesons, this investment is dependent on the nih and the important research it funds in order to maintain ore international leadership in pie bee medicine we mist strengthen the partnerships ben government agencies, investos, academies and research foundations. this meeting was an important step. today shortly after this briefing we'll release a list of the president's thirdwave of forward court nominees these ten individuals were chosen to a deep 'knowledge of the law and commit upholdinges constitutional principles. if confirmed justice joan larson will be a circuit court judge of the u.s. court of appeal for the six inch circuit. justice larson is curre