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Obama challenges Romney on bin Laden at White House presser

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    Former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton reacts

  • Duration 6:29
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If the president of the Japanese prime minister covering a lot of ground there -- the president making considerable amount of news there on the subject of North Korea.

Iran.

As for this Chinese dissidents -- our viewers may or may not have been following that there is a Chinese dissident who is.

It's try to seek asylum.

He he's a blind Chinese legal activist who is trying to seek asylum.

Inside of Chinese gone to the US embassy there and the secretary of state Hillary Clinton will go there later this week the president.

Declining to comment on that particular situation.

About saying every time we meet with China the issue of human rights comes up.

And that's aid they want China to be strong and prosperous but then the president going -- talk about Osama bin Laden's death.

This has been in the news lately for obvious reasons that tomorrow is the one year anniversary.

Of his execution and the president's election team is come out with an ad.

Reelection team has come out an ad targeting.

Mitt Romney and suggesting that he would not have given the same order that President Obama needs to go in and take out bin Laden.

That made a lot of news this weekend and you could hurt you could hear that it was one of the two questions really get to questions of each leader.

That the reporters on scene today brought up with President Obama.

The president saying first of all he hardly thinks that there's been excessive celebration.

Of bin Laden's death that Americans should use the time for reflection and to give thanks for those who participated.

In that raid.

And regarding what appeared to be a reference to the president's campaign at he said.

He believes that to see what folks would do you look at their previous actions and statements.

Regarding how they feel for example about going in to Pakistan.

That seems to be a clear reference to something Mitt Romney said when he was running for president back in 2008.

We're gonna talk about all of that now with the former US ambassador to the United Nations.

-- Fox News contributor John Bolton ambassador wanna pick up with you on that last point.

-- because Mitt Romney.

Said that back in 2008.

When he -- was running for president.

He criticized.

Then candidate Obama -- statements that he would go into Pakistan.

If necessary.

To strike inside of Pakistan to take out bin Laden and he said on August 3 2007 I do not concur in the words of Barack Obama.

In a plan to enter an ally of ours I don't think those kinds of comments help in this effort to drop more friends to our effort.

He was asked about that comment two days later in a debate and told George Stephanopoulos.

It is.

Wrong for a person running of the president United States to go on TV and say we're gonna come in your country unilaterally.

Of course America maintains our option to do whatever we think is in the best interest of America.

But we don't go out and say ladies and gentlemen of you Germany if there's ever a problem in your country.

And we didn't think you were doing the right thing we reserve the right to come in and get them out.

Put in perspective for us ambassador.

Well I think in that context of a presidential campaign obviously there's a lot that goes on.

That the full context of governor Romney's statement made it clear there was no lack of enthusiasm for going after Obama.

And indeed I think the Obama campaign ad that discusses that really is kind of out of line.

I was even more struck though -- by the nature of the question and the opportunity it gave.

President Obama which he took to make a political point in the middle of the a bilateral press conference with the Japanese prime minister.

Those who was the second American who asked the question I thought you had to be a reporter not members of the White House staff I just found that amazing -- Think that was it -- the president.

Missed an opportunity to take the high road there.

Except to say to -- to me he was given a softball I actually thought prime minister node -- answer on the terrorism point.

Was right on target he said the death have been lied to decide and the threat of terrorism.

Which is the White House narrative.

That the threat of terrorism continues and as indeed even expanding his.

Prime minister noted pointed out -- to include cyber terrorism a whole new realm of of threats to the United States and our other friends and allies around the world.

The reporters seem to be getting it looking for our response to a comment Mitt Romney made as well earlier today where he was asked in the wake of the president's reelection -- Whether he would have taken the same actions in taking up -- -- and he said of course he would have.

And he said quote even Jimmy Carter would have given that order that seemed to be what she was referring to.

I want to talk about some of the other news that they made today it in the ticket there on the issue.

Of North Korea where he said he has tried President Obama set you know I tried to make sure that that pattern is broken of the world purchasing good behavior from them.

Saying we can anticipate what they're going to do in coming months.

But there the region around them is unified.

In making sure that -- North Korea is contained your thoughts.

Well obviously it's not unified we have Defense Secretary Panetta saying just a few days ago that it look like China had provided.

That carrier for the missile fake or not -- -- ahead.

In their recent that parade and -- -- young which which shows that China's hard late coming up to speed on the sanctions against North Korea and indeed.

President Obama himself as recently as February the twenty ninth had his administration.

Agree to a deal with North Korea that did precisely what he said.

They weren't doing and the north Koreans than violated it by that missile launch fortunately one that failed.

You know the best thing you can say about the Obama administration North Korea is it hasn't been making unnecessary concessions.

But that's not the same thing is really dealing with the continuing threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons not only in northeast Asia.

But the global threat that the nuclear program in the ballistic missile program.

The -- in the Middle East given their cooperation with Iran over the years.

So I don't I don't really think there's much to say there I think if the Japanese prime minister.

And I had been had a greater opportunity to opine on that subject.

In in a political context in Japan and you -- heard a lot more concerned.

About the continuation of the North Korean threat especially as it applies to Japan which is obviously much closer to North Korea.

A lot of news made there today ambassador John Bolton thank you so much for your response we appreciate it.

Thank you coming.

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