Sen. Graham reacts to US consulate attack in Libya

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Joined by senator Lindsey Graham a Republican from South Carolina senator -- is in the Senate Armed Services Committee he was in Libya.

Last February he knew ambassador Stephens well.

And senator what a loss really for the entire nation today your thoughts on the events over the last me for hours.

Well you said it well America lost one of her best diplomats Chris -- Libya he loved his job he loved this country.

He went to the most dangerous places trying to.

Build up democracies and help those who want to help themselves.

And Libya lost one of her best friends and allies.

I just not -- cannot say you have Florida.

Chris was.

During the war in Libya.

And my number one priority is to make sure those -- are responsible for the killing of Chris and his colleagues were brought to justice.

Leaving government has that said all the right things about condemning this but we need action to make sure that those who.

Planned and perpetrated this attack brought the tests had to -- that.

-- were -- Libyans use our intelligence gathering capabilities and go ask.

Jointly with the Libyans I'm hoping we will see an outpouring from the Libyan government and the people themselves.

Expressing their admiration for Chris and those who were.

His colleagues I think you would reassure America.

To understand that everybody in Libya.

Is not this way the extremist in question are trying to break our will and a big election in Libya and Islamic extremists got defeated soundly.

So what happened -- it represented the Libyan people -- the movement.

Chris gave his life more and we're not going to disengage because a bunch of thugs who -- wonderful people.

Senator Graham we just -- from the president we also heard from secretary of state.

Hillary Clinton here's what she had -- -- this morning.

This was an attack.

By a small and savage group.

Not the people or government of Libya.

The friendship between our countries.

Born out at shared struggle.

Will not see another casualty.

Of this attack.

Senator we had such a great friendship with the Libyan Libyan government then why did this happen why did the government not stepped in and prevent -- from taking place.

Well at the end of the day that compound.

An outpost in the Gaza -- was subject to attack I don't know if this was a bomb or pre planned attack.

But I do know having been -- the end listen to Chris many times followed the election.

That what happened doesn't represent.

The spirit of the Libyan revolution are the people I know that because.

I've been there and I know that Chris understood that but.

-- people in our own country that do crazy things sometimes violent things this film that everybody's talking about.

Well you know we have a free country can almost say and do any thing but -- him doesn't represent our government the spirit of the American people and it's no excuse.

To add to it that the take innocent lives so.

At the end of the day we've got to keep focused on our strategic interest and -- is to make sure that live here.

-- develops.

Into a ally that under Qaddafi it was the the policy of the government to kill Americans this is an outrage but I think Hillary is right but one thing I would say about the Obama administration.

Leading from behind is not helpful.

We're not nearly engaged in supporting the Arab Spring -- we should be.

This whole effort in the mideast to try to develop the Arab Spring has -- -- focus and and -- very supportive in our foreign policy.

It will get a little bit more into that you mention that this is a small group -- -- small group in Libya and I want to get to that point in this film.

That some have suggested is the inspiration for some of these mob attacks it didn't just happen in Libya though it happened in Egypt as well there is another very big rock group.

That protested outsider and the -- breached her walls there on the anniversary of 9/11 so is this a small random uprising in Libya.

Or is -- supporting it -- -- -- story.

-- in multiple countries.

In the middle unless it.

It could be it could be a little of both the extremists who want to drive us out of the region and destroy this effort -- democracy are Smart.

They don't pick random days I think you may be onto something I think this may be.

More coordinated than spontaneous but at the end of the day it does not represent.

The people Libya are Egypt okay in this regard they didn't go to the square.

The become -- al-Qaeda statement there elements in Libya and Egypt and Tunisia and Syria.

That we must forcefully deal -- in the United States.

Is giving an uncertain signal but our resolve to deal with these groups and the -- that we're allowing to be created.

Is to the benefit of the extremist groups that we need to be pushing back against.

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Sen. Graham reacts to US consulate attack in Libya

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