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Defcon3 8/15/2012

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    Special Ops group attacks Obama on leaks, Syria latest and where do we stand in the war against Al Qaeda?

  • Duration 28:42
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Government Defcon three hour each week on Fox News.

Dot com live where we dig deeper into the national security issues of the day.

I'm KT McFarland and we want you to join in the discussions -- -- Twitter or live chat.

We're gonna open the show now with the brief preview of a document -- -- being released today that takes the Obama White House to task for -- intelligence information.

One of the people involved with that efforts is gonna join us right after the show take away.

Worse than ever or leaks coming out of the White House.

I don't see why anybody would purposely.

Put lives in jeopardy.

You will get Americans killed.

It is my -- We're here to speak out against the release.

-- national security secrets.

Mr.

President.

-- -- and those close view that hold some of the nation's highest secret.

Police.

These -- quiet about.

Nothing.

I welcome back to -- country.

We've seen as a trailer for a video that's been released today.

Odds are called special.

Well I don't know what is it called but we've got -- as US navy CL.

A former navy -- Scott Taylor and he's an Iraq War veteran -- you were motivated to get together with some former CEO special operations guys.

And put to gather.

This package that we've just seen and talk about the national security -- so tell us what is a group and why you don't.

Yes.

Yes thanks for having first book a -- it's a pleasure being on your show.

We're a group called coalition if you will of very serious men and women for former.

Navy SEALs special forces delta force Marines and intelligence community officials like former CIA officers.

And we're we're very serious and we're fed up basically with the leaks at the highest level this administration national security secrets which.

And your -- operations and potentially put those and -- folks who are fighting overseas in harm's way so we decided to get together and then do something about it and -- of course their folks say why you -- -- and a political season -- let's really the only time the politicians pay attention and we want people to be held accountable for these types of disclosures.

I mean how much you reflect.

Live with the feel Imus story in the active duty.

See on special operations forces community show those guys can't talk that there was still wearing the uniform.

And they're still in the military they're not allowed to speak out on these issues that you have -- but I assume when -- data sparked a lot of those people.

Before you done us right.

Absolutely that's an excellent question and I'm glad that -- asked that.

And this group -- folks who are like myself who still haven't many peers serving right now in the military.

And you have retired folks as well who also had a fierce serving and a lot of them still work side by side by active duty forces and -- in the contract world in things such -- this nature so.

We understand the other pervasive majority feeling throughout the communities and very close to my still live in Virginia Beach I'm I'm very close to to folks who I -- -- And absolutely reflect the majority opinion within these communities.

Okay so when you inning in the -- that we saw and -- by the way we should tell people where they go to see the entire documentary.

Sure our website is dishonorable disclosures.

Dot com this also had a -- -- dot com contact.

Him.

And they can see the whole trail there or they can see it at -- sack OP SEC.

Team got to work.

Okay.

Now in the making a big issue you look -- -- -- some retired people who were involved then has some motor guys.

What is in their expertise and -- sort of long history of looking at these issues what are they worried about that might happen doesn't get -- they get around forever they know the guys leak secrets all the time why is this different.

Well there's been -- you know there there's been a pervasive culture.

Over the past couple years.

Love -- just coming out and we really think that they reflected a for political opportunity NN yet while they're they're been leaks throughout -- the country's history.

It seems like there have been more coming out.

Over the past couple years than ever before and these these folks are really they're really worried about again future operation -- the success of those.

And then endangering not only the operators around the field but potentially to support civilian support staff as well.

Are our allies.

And the -- -- this is really serious business and I think that a lot of these folks who have varied enough of their friends and -- -- don't know they're willing to get up and stand up and and say something about it rather than.

Losing another life.

OK so tell me give me -- for instance.

All these operational details have been -- for example about the bin Laden raid.

What does that do to our future operations.

Against al-Qaeda.

Well let's let's think about I think that.

Whether you're going to war your -- a basketball game you don't want anybody know what your strategy is to win let alone the audience and when we tell.

For example would have been laundry when you're saying who the operators were what specific -- -- -- Ironically could -- a sign group that they're from.

What what vehicle they use to get there how many were there with a tactics were coming you really put these guys at a disadvantage and -- the enemy adjusts their tactics.

And it for the next time.

You know -- other things that struck me is when the -- -- first came out that one of the kind myself included one of the things that I was very concerned with.

This is in need secret war right in the war against jihadist in this in the war that we're fighting.

Intelligence becomes a primary mean.

School of battle.

We don't know who these guys are we don't have the insides track in the inside scoop but we're never going to get I can't take some blue eyed blond from Minnesota.

And put him in the middle of an al-Qaeda cell -- -- it's just not gonna happen so what we need to do is rely on.

Foreign intelligence agencies to cooperate with us.

And what this is sense and will for an end intelligence agencies be reluctant to help us if they're worried that very covers are going to be Antoine.

Absolutely I mean look at the for instance of the stocks that virus where it was -- that is Israel.

Helped -- -- -- you know in conjunction we we did this operation.

Worthy of the Yemeni.

Al-Qaeda the -- Arabian Peninsula guy who infiltrated that cell.

Was it from a joint Saudi British and American plan coming what's the let's let's face it I mean there are allies are not gonna trust us with the with -- high level secrets.

And absolutely handers as operations.

Okay I first got one what's the goal here com.

You obviously want to bring this issue to the forefront and as you pointed out of it's not a political season nobody pays any attention.

What's your absolutely.

The goal -- is is to basically a stoppage to ensure that whoever.

Is a commander in chief where the buck stops of course gets our house in order to make sure that they're cracking down.

10 once secretive -- just like we have private Bradley Manning -- in jail right now we need to ensure that folks the highest level with some of the -- you know the most secret.

The most classified secrets don't -- them for political gain or otherwise and that's what we believe there should be an independent investigation into this.

In a -- -- administration is very serious about cracking down on those security leaks than they would have no problem with an independent investigation.

-- they would come back you're fed up we have tool.

Returners you're looking into this guy's -- have -- -- experience and these issues why hasn't gotten off.

Because it's not independent.

Is Sarah here -- they they work for the attorney general human.

Absolutely so your -- your crushing their credibility.

A micro not not specifically questioned their credibility.

They're experienced but I but absolutely I think that you need to have an independent investigation.

So that again you you have this pervasive culture of -- -- folks don't feel like they're gonna be held accountable obviously.

And it's obvious that some of these -- have come from the high subtle because of the only ones in this compartmentalize areas that under that -- about the secrets.

So you need to have someone from the outside as look -- and to ensure that there's accountability.

And what do you think if you dared to get an independent -- outside investigation what do you think -- time.

I had figured they would they would probably fine a couple of sources of these leaks and those folks should be held accountable.

OK well now we've had this story has been in the national crass people have talked about at the administration the president.

This Edward -- now we're gonna get to the bottom of this of leaking isn't coming out of my White House.

We'll have you noticed that -- since all that happened does the leaking continue.

Absolutely it's continuing there's a -- the -- was it was a week ago there was a leak but.

You know I think -- it's very important to understand that we are trying to educate the public.

Where -- on the the amount and the consistency of these high level leaks because if you just take one at a time it's very easy to dismiss it -- to leak it always happens.

But if you look at you take it over the past couple years and the amount of these -- and how they're geared and how they're used politically.

It's it's atrocious -- -- it's it's complete negligence of our national security secrets.

We look at how you you obviously live in a world where there are a lot of former military -- -- current.

Military's special forces how is -- how to how does this affect around not just of the people themselves but of their families.

Well I can tell you right now I'd buy pose a -- stories on my FaceBook and a lot of people who are like -- from the families.

So that -- -- is a very supportive of what we're doing as well because -- again.

Not only are you putting the operators themselves a danger potentially which are also putting their fan was -- danger.

In danger then not so they're they're very supportive of it and they just want you know those folks who -- spread and national security seekers to shut up.

When the al-Qaeda story broke a bin Laden story was where is -- to the press.

There were some stories in the Washington Post about.

Seek out a special forces you know seal team six -- and they gonna name the high school that their kids went to -- talked about the local restaurant -- talked about.

What community in suburbs they live and has there any effort to give additional security to the families of the sales.

It's not that I'm aware also plan I'm I'm not aware of that but I think that if they requested and -- they would probably be given that let's.

But -- not that I'm aware of.

Okay Scott what are you doing with this from here you've got a big launch a day got -- got a good bit of media were really honored that -- Breaking it here on foxnews.com.

Lives Defcon three and gather here for -- any thing to impregnate.

For you anything except at a that I liked that and I know -- -- -- fox on Shannon -- this weekend.

But toward what do you think is the reaction going to be worrying -- going to be a week from now are you still be talking about this -- do you think people would just -- off toss it off off.

Another political event.

Well I'm -- -- of the folks who were against us are trying to paint that picture that it's a political thing but let me -- let me also say that that we are not partisan at all we have folks who are members who are good Democrat Republican libertarian everything in this this is -- far exceeds any any.

-- partisan politics it's not politics at all in fact a lot of our members are -- political.

It's just important to them.

But we you know -- release this documentary short.

And then -- were planning on running commercials and -- states and the key states of course are the ones that then the nation's heavy paying attention to and the politicians are going to be paying attention to.

We're gonna have premieres and a couple specific areas I'm gonna have premier and Virginia Beach here next week.

Two to show.

So we're gonna continue to be out there and try to educate the public on listen and hopefully.

Stop the pervasively can now this administration.

Okay what that Scott Taylor a former navy seal for Iraq War veteran.

And again this again what is a website where people go and if not a lot of find out more about this and -- they wanna see -- good documentary itself.

Sure please go to the website dishonorable disclosures.

Dot com.

For all -- OP SEC.

Team dot org to see the full documentary short.

Okay well thank you so much for joining ascent really trying to keep the public aware of are very important issue that -- my highs in the shadows.

But this time you guys are gonna let it sit there and they're gonna -- some -- so thank you so much for your and it's.

Thank you very much for having a really appreciate it okay we're gonna take a break -- -- gonna come back with a very special report out of Syria.

Welcome back to -- country with some something to show you that is pretty important to look at there's a breaking news out of Syria right this minute and we're getting our first look at what happened when government forces.

At a hospital.

In an airstrike yesterday now want to warn you that the video you're back to see is is actually pretty disturbing.

And it's something that are on Steve Harrigan was able to get really at risk to his own life.

-- take a lock.

This young boy figures -- was in a hospital and all up well.

When we're told the rockets hit the voice screamed as -- -- -- to treat him a threat under the threat of even more attacks the child's caught in the crossfire he is hurt so severely.

So this is all.

The video that we really feel we can responsibly show of his treatment.

The attack came as United Nations -- today that the Syrian regime is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

And it's Fox News this Steve Harrigan he's in northern Syria right -- near the border with Turkey where a lot of fighting is going on a short time ago he filed this report -- fine.

And we saw what at least in my view clearly was a war crime against humanity just a few hours ago five miles behind me.

In the Syrian town of Hamas this year in government warplane amid made two passes above the town of Hamas.

And launched two missiles into a civilian population now we are renting a house -- Hamas so these missiles struck very close our house really wiping out half of the block.

There we are on here's what the scene looked like when we walked out into the wreckage.

-- -- -- -- -- -- real -- yeah but I don't oppose the president I'd love god.

You can tell -- not happy -- most.

I don't -- positive fighter yeah this is right definitely I don't mean as this sounds yeah I -- a -- added the guys are good.

-- Reporting that man who was screaming lost six of his own children in that attack -- keep in mind.

This wasn't a fight this wasn't part of -- war in the middle of a sunny afternoon.

This was a -- playing firing into civilian apartment buildings killing at least thirty people.

I have -- Steve Perry are praying for murders -- you know it's important to remember that this is a country which.

I -- a grown a year and a half ago was.

An -- -- Bergen and middle class -- armed country in the Middle East.

We had some people on the show you lay -- about a year and a half ago talking about the -- -- -- new young Syrians that they were yuppies and that they were.

They have a new stock market they were all high tech entrepreneurs these are the kind of kids who -- -- in our schools you'd see them.

In a very normal environment and now their whole country's time apart in their children this -- war on the children.

Which I think is is that this that's great tragedy about any kind of civil war that happens it's not just soldiers fighting soldiers -- jihadist fighting.

Military's kids caught in the crossfire that's the great -- Anyway we we wanna bring Tom Jocelyn man he is feet.

Editor -- -- journal he is probably the country's leading expert on terrorists and al-Qaeda.

We wanted to ask him not just about what's going on in Syria and references to al-Qaeda is now showing up in Syria.

But really where is al-Qaeda.

Would the administration has said that al-Qaeda -- on the ropes.

But even last week we saw that there are reports that al-Qaeda is now in Syria as some -- -- feel that they.

Syria and the success of the Syrian rebel forces is in part because they've been turned -- prior to joining me out again as Tom Jocelyn.

He's a senior editor of the left or right of the longhorns are under -- good not only Soledad -- okay Iran war journal and is with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Now.

People have said in the administration bad al-Qaeda is actually got -- we got them I'm not sound they Obama -- -- -- Bobby Osama Keller but you say no.

Night I think it's really premature to say that al-Qaeda is there it's on the path of defeat.

When they say that what they're talking about is a Qaeda senior leadership in Pakistan has been weakened because of the -- been killed and other CEO Carly -- -- killed.

However we don't really know how deep al-Qaeda is benches in Pakistan I Gavin reviewing al-Qaeda propaganda and you can tell there are dozens of other senior leaders left.

At least and the idea that we've killed you know ten or whatever -- lessons 2009 and that's it I think it's sort of foolish to say to write them off al-Qaeda has a presence in Afghanistan country well a lot people say has a very substance presents Afghanistan.

And what we see is that all -- presence throughout the world really or throughout the Middle East is actually expanding -- -- affiliates are growing.

And they are connected the al-Qaeda core they're not separate from it.

You -- in Yemen al-Qaeda dream peninsula is -- Gary 2009 the same month that President Obama is inaugurated that's become the leading al-Qaeda -- in terms of attacks -- against the US homeland.

-- you -- throughout Africa northern Africa Al qaeda's expanding in -- they control large portion of northern Mali.

In Somalia they control large swaths of territory.

-- -- you'll Qaeda groups popping up in the Sinai he CNOOC -- groups in the Gaza the West Bank.

And -- you -- in Syria.

And what with having it's hearing now is a direct consequence of American forces leading.

Because by drawing down all America's combat troops in Iraq we left no forces in place to -- continue your fight al-Qaeda in Iraq.

What's happened now is a kind Iraq has basically free -- to move into Syria because it operated for years along the Syrian Iraqi boy.

-- right there -- into our rock from Sarah predator in a new transfusion actually sponsor that the series and decide Asad regime actually sponsored.

Al-Qaeda is flow of suicide bombers into Iraq.

In eastern part of the country.

And what's happened now is because we army troops on the ground we don't like any intelligence -- al-Qaeda and Iraq's doing.

We can't fight al-Qaeda in Iraq and we can't it actually hinders our ability support the good rebels who -- targeting aside machine.

Because what you see from the -- association officials is they want support any of them deserve freed American arms and an end up and in the.

OK I hear I -- ago the Syrian rebels were getting in Hubei were just getting destroyed I mean it was just hopeless right -- making -- now games.

Against -- sides against the Syrian army memo sent in the last two or three months you've seen enormous gains they -- -- the suicide bomber.

Who killed the defense chief he'll -- intelligence chief.

-- now see all these reports that al-Qaeda is there have been doing.

Truck bombs suicide bombs IED's as with a really good at.

Where has that al-Qaeda come from and who's funding them.

Well you know it's it's it's tricky tricky business to -- out -- that it was funny in the prom that we have is that because the rebellion is sort of commingled.

It's tough to say where al-Qaeda begins in the other rebels and demeanor -- -- -- front which has won the al-Qaeda groups in Syria has claimed to be fighting along the Syrian free army.

It actually made videos and clean -- -- there helping Syrian free army you know a fight -- forces that's the type of commingling and we that we see.

To stop this that say where one begins in the elements -- I would say it al-Qaeda maintains a deep.

Funding pool throughout the gulf and it that I wouldn't imagine al-Qaeda in Syria is now being funded by some of the same strangers who funded al-Qaeda all along.

So what would you say to somebody who says what we need to.

Arm the rebels trying to rebels give them some help but at the same time Hussein as you say they're fighting side by side to -- -- you don't want to give rebels.

Military equipment that's gonna turn around falling -- of al-Qaeda and be used against United States -- our allies either in the region -- abroad.

-- I think it makes sense if we were going to intervene we should intervene earlier studies are they for that well meaning actually depends on what intelligence is about the composition went.

The trying to bomb issues as they can't tell who was al-Qaeda who is an interior which is troubling.

One of the things that the troubles me is the CIA -- York times is actually working with Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.

To funnel.

Various tactical -- into Syria for the fight.

The same as the brotherhood to me is sort of a black box we don't really know what the Syrian Muslim brother has been up to all these years thought -- and -- What I'm saying -- -- September 11 plot.

It's an absolute fact symbol hombre in Spain the al-Qaeda cells there were run by Syrian Muslim Brothers are run by stream as -- -- graduate -- Qaeda.

All throughout Europe where -- Syrian Muslim brother was exiled.

You find this this confluence I would say of interest between former -- -- former -- Muslim Brothers and al-Qaeda.

What's going on now with in Syria is very tough to say that we did did you know now stream of the Brothers was only one of the good guys I have I'm doubtful that.

Okay.

December 2001.

The United States have gone in to Afghanistan to get out try to get them up and we -- in October.

November December in two months we have -- -- al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan -- less than a hundred -- In a rickety old boss Osama bin Laden and Britain his last will and testament and they thought they were gone -- As a less than a hundred of them escaped over the Tora Bora mountains in the Pakistan.

How did we get from our broken down bus and less than a hundred guys to this international movement where it just seems that you kill 15 -- show up.

Well like I think the estimated in late 2001 -- only on her -- was way way off I mean it's the first part of the story there were all that are clearly clearly -- there were more deceiving going in for Afghanistan and Pakistan there were way way more than that.

But you we consistently underestimated al-Qaeda senior leadership in that their strategy the strategy was to forge a -- to -- is vanguard the broader job this movement.

And part of that was -- -- relationships with other jihadist groups that share their ideology.

And share seeing this on the same targets them and has provided very deep bench for -- -- draw from so we've seen for example al-Qaeda -- a senior leader that's a formally and al-Qaeda member.

They can draw in another member from another group to take over that role that's the type of sort of continuum there is between all kinds other groups you have this.

This whole set of groups in Pakistan -- glossary -- Haqqani Network even -- tell bonded at senior a lot of -- sort of the feeder schools so our Qaeda al-Qaeda is very much in league with -- -- groups infecting.

In 2010 as secretary of defense Robert Gates called -- the syndicate.

He's in the east Travis Afghanistan is increasingly a syndicate between al-Qaeda.

Always a different groups that was no accident that started long before 9/11 that have been line very deliberately basically entrenched Al qaeda's interest -- -- -- different groups.

Okay one of the great things about the showers -- the people who are watching.

On their computers on their hand held serve their -- -- part of this conversation.

So they're sending in their comments their questions.

And I got one really fascinating come -- and I think it very well said from Taylor came this as a sad as it is to say.

I'm not shocked by the violence in Syria any regime.

That will fall.

Economic -- in middle falling you have so many factions after a -- -- and there will be no checks on the splits the civil war and the address it's a guaranteed thing.

So al-Qaeda does not finish but nine -- -- the other groups in the region there's just gonna keep fighting no matter what we do or don't do what do you say that.

Well I mean they're two arguments right the first argument is serve quads I isolationists -- -- which is don't get involved because it's a mess and you can't control -- The other but the downside the argument is the -- the other argument which is it if you don't get involved you have no capacity to shape events.

So basically you're leaving it to your your enemies to define what's gonna happen.

I think he saw that basically in Afghanistan after the Soviet Jihad member of the 1980s.

The US work with Paxson right you're trying to build up these forces mujahideen to go in and Tyler Wilson's war -- probably going out and fight Soviets.

The downside with the US did was we form that ought to pakistanis allow them to decide who was going to be this surviving analysts are surviving Mujahedeen take over Afghanistan.

That led directly to -- -- qaeda's rise in a series of other chain of events.

The bottom line is if America doesn't play any role at all.

You know and you can do you can debate what that -- should be but they don't play any -- we don't play any role already sub several all we're just -- the battleground everybody else.

An advisor to the table one last quick question al-Qaeda Hezbollah Hezbollah's the -- rainy -- Terrorist organization al-Qaeda is Sunni once she had one city.

Are they -- Brothers are -- -- moral -- Well I'll say this I mean it's it's difficult to lump everybody together you know -- -- everybody in the -- group but when it comes to.

Our interest -- attacking American interests the -- have cooperated.

And that's firmly document by an island commissioned a series.

Of course missing all along that any connection -- -- clearly infected and one of the things about Syria it's interesting is now the Iran Iran's interest in our country our contradict a -- interests.

-- something we haven't seen throughout the Middle East and I may see some tension between two and -- they actually already -- -- -- great for -- possibly possibly but but the thing is that there are still a lot of senior al-Qaeda members living in Iran.

Iran still holds an al-Qaeda network according Obama's rationed it shovels the shot -- fighters to Iraq and Afghanistan.

So you know it's complicated to say -- could very well work against each other one area and work together in other areas.

If that's the Middle East traffic -- and ending -- at the time -- and Foundation for the Defense of Democracies have a long war journal thank you so much nothing -- and I untangle and all those who -- -- excellent.

Well I want to show you are famous picture that was.

Now we're gonna do break the mission and a famous pictures -- you have to.

Wait a minute there adequate have a copy has -- seven.

Look for May hire this is a famous picture -- -- snap to New York's Times Square by US navy photographer.

After the announcement of Japan's surrender which ended World War II it was August 14 in New York.

At that point it was -- fifteenth in Japan.

The official surrender took place a couple of weeks later while he was on September 2 and president Truman Harry Truman declared that the date.

With the official Vijay day -- victory of Japan.

The movie town news cameras capture the historic surrender ceremony aboard the battleship.

USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and something that you don't know which is my late father in law.

Was right there one of a young.

May be and captains standing right behind the man who signed.

The unconditional surrender by the enemy.

Was accepted by general -- The issue.

Involving.

Divergent ideals and ideology is.

I've been determined.

On the battlefields of the world.

And have kids are not for our discussion or debate.

I now invite.

-- -- -- -- All of the emperor of Japan.

And the job but he is government.

-- -- Japanese imperial general headquarters.

Just trying they have to look up surrender.

-- the places.

Indicated.

Let us pray that peace.

Being hours start to the world.

Not god but -- preserve it.

Always.

It is -- it is.

Our hope.

Well that's a look back in history and it's a very good thought peace in the world.

Haven't gotten area.

Thanks for joining us for a whirlwind tour of the flashpoints around the planet and as you know which are to some of the leading experts in the field.

And for you ended the discussions with your extremely good questions today.

So that's it for -- country we're Indiana hiatus for the next three weeks a Republican democratic conventions and I'll be on vacation.

And national security crisis I'm afraid we'll probably continue to.

But Intel we return on September 12 hearing -- -- an -- mall seen through rates.

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