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Did WH plan to shield Obama if Bin Laden raid went wrong?

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    Former AG Mukasey says Panetta drafted memo to place blame on Navy admiral

  • Duration 4:16
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Starting revelations now from the former attorney general that secretary defense Leon Panetta drafted political cover for President Obama.

In the event here's some of bin Laden raid had failed Michael will Khazei revealing that if it went wrong.

The blame would have fallen on a navy admiral William -- crave it.

And -- special ops he was the commander in charge of that -- about a year ago here's what Khazei.

We Sean Hannity.

There was a memo from.

Leon Panetta.

That described the authority that was given the -- -- And it was to proceed according to the risks only according to the -- that have been outlined to the president and if he encountered anything else they had -- check back.

And you better believe that if anything else have been encountered and the mission fails then the blame -- a full on -- and that's what that's about well what about all this might -- Covert operations officer Mike good morning Q what do you make of that allegation well -- -- -- -- it's it's.

If you've worked in government ready period of time particularly in operations.

It doesn't necessarily surprise you it's disappointing in the sense that.

You know the old saying the buck stops here.

But the idea that there was a as as Mike Casey pointed out -- heavily lawyer memo.

Designed to try to get the -- this top with -- -- craven who who heads up so com.

It it it isn't surprising in operations and in my -- -- There are occasions when you know the lawyers would comment and say in basic explained to us look you know we're.

We're here to protect the agency in the director and also good luck.

It's it's to be expected in a sense.

But it is disappointing because you know old school days you know guys like Eisenhower and others you know they made it very clear that.

That you know the credit goes to the troops and the blame goes to me.

Not not the other way around so is this standard operating procedure -- not.

Or or is -- the way things are done today but not before a well and I think it's it's become more and more the way things are done.

As a standard operating procedure in the current administration and yes and and you know in the past where -- -- lawyer memos and yes.

So it but I I I agree I was on the show -- Mike -- and and I -- see how agitated and angry he was over -- and and I do agree with him.

My point being is it's not necessarily a surprise in this.

In this day and age what -- Casey said and maybe you -- this during the interview with Hannity.

He said I think there's going to be more than comes tumbling out about that escapade he -- -- -- -- Well I'm having he'd be what he's referring to a sense is that nobody in Washington can keep their yap shut for very long anymore so.

Just as if -- when you think about the decision that that -- pres Obama's been talking about how difficult this decision was for him.

To launch its attack on -- why do you think about what his options were -- -- OK we've got sufficient actionable intelligence not conclusive let's go with it which is what he did and that works.

Or you go option B I'm not gonna go way that.

Well I think the decision in that room was look we have to understand this information is gonna come out at some point do we want to be the administration that didn't.

Take this opportunity to try to get bin Laden so much in that same way I think there were aware that if things had gone bad you know they needed something -- they were looking for something.

That could perhaps deflect the blame and so saying this this special ops commander Rick craven is -- aware of all this.

As it's bigger range and put together you know it you know -- again that it would be speculation on my part you know was he -- informed of the memo did he sign up to the memo what was it something put in a safe and it's going to be pulled out should things have gone south.

In on -- was ago -- open and you know suddenly he's looking the memo that says no arm I only given approval.

For certain parameters you know this thing went off the reservation because of their field expediency and that's what you deal went went out there doing this.

When you know so maybe now the blame is elsewhere.

It's speculation but I think fits him on might -- for all of this the fall in line you would think Creighton was probably dividends up.

Could be.

I'm not I'm I'm I'm not signing up to that.

You know these these these sort of things you don't know how to play out in and inside the administration's don't appreciate that -- thank you we'll talk again Mike -- here and thank.

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