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Mob attack an act of war?

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    Reaction to murder of U.S. ambassador

  • Duration 5:42
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Are we're following me.

Right now out of Libya the US ambassador to the country of Libya Christopher Stephens dead.

Have to series of attacks in the US interest in the Middle East including.

Our embassy in Cairo the White House this morning has now condemned the acts but could this be considered an act of war let's talk to former assistant secretary.

And Fox News national security analyst KT McFarland who worked for President Reagan also drew is right now from Washington.

Former assistant secretary of defense for public affairs under President Bush.

Victoria Clarke when you -- good morning how -- you -- -- thank you very much active war.

It's definitely an act of war.

Can I say it's embassies around the world are considered United States territory.

So someone who attacks on American embassy is in effect going to war against United States now is it at that country of -- of -- going to work has some answers now at some up but -- the country -- protect the United States embassy.

Absolutely.

So Torre -- what does the president do right now to show the seriousness of it and to make sure this doesn't spread like wildfire throughout the Middle East.

It's a great question obvious I focus a lot on the communications aspects of this but I think he should be at a podium.

Denouncing this violence in the strongest terms I already -- absolutely encouraging urging that the Libyan government and Egyptian government by the way.

To get to the bottom of these attacks and what happened and making sure those people are brought to justice.

And by the way he can remind the American people.

This is why we have people over here over -- and this is what we're trying to accomplish this is why they died this is what we're going to do to ensure it doesn't happen again.

He can talk about what our policies are in the region at the same time.

But I think it is absolutely important that he sends the strongest message possible that this will not be tolerated.

-- let's talk a little bit about the security we're talking about the embassy there in Ben Ghazi apparently all service personnel there out of their right now there's a story that apparently.

When the crowd came up.

The Libyan security hired.

You know either by -- the United States to help protect the embassy -- seem to have indicated to the protesters where the Americans were.

Next thing you know the protesters are attacking that -- And that's how this happens.

You know -- this is president Obama's Jimmy Carter moment this is exactly what happened in 1917.

We need to -- Carter administration -- Shall decide the Shah of Iran helped him.

-- -- topple the -- in favor of the rebels in what came ultimately mullis taking US diplomats hostage.

We have now pushed our dictators who had to go but we pushed them out of west -- -- -- place chaos.

And burning of the American flag throughout the Arab Spring universality American flag -- now you're seeing it and now Americans are being killed.

Yeah at Torrey on top of this thing about this remember was the genocide that was it was about to be bestowed on the people -- -- Ghazi.

And that's what the president said by pushed by the French president the time Sarkozy we have to take some action and we decide to lead from behind.

To prevent genocide we don't -- in Syria we want to prevent didn't Syria in Libya.

And he's in the sink.

Right now absolutely right and I think will know.

Very shortly whether or not the Libyan government.

Is sincere about -- words because if they are fully cooperative in the investigation.

If they move very quickly to bring the people who did this to justice.

Then we'll know that yes the Libyan government while fragile is trying.

To do the right thing but if in the initial hours and days after this we're not getting their full cooperation.

Adding dozens of very very different signal and indicated what about the initial response from the embassy in Cairo -- business I apologize.

Ford to the protesters.

This is not a part of the world where apologies help they hurt and the president say seems to go out today get off the golf course go out today and in the strongest possible terms.

Tell that part of the world that American lives are sacred we have helped them with their revolution and any attack against Americans -- the American Embassy.

We'll be met with the sharpest reconnaissance.

-- you -- communications is is your Forte that's your expertise when this starts happening yesterday we start hearing about it last evening.

What do you think is their traditional response from our government being that the State Department one off the reservation with that stupid really statement.

What which of the White House be doing.

Again I'm repeating myself but I think the president has to be at the podium -- to break through the clutter.

He has to break through the confusion of statements that were sent out and then walked back.

He needs to be at a podium looking the American people in the world write me on and saying this will not be tolerated -- -- add on to something Kati was talking about.

Which is and I hope I'm wrong about this but I found it even before the ambassador in -- three others were killed let's not forget them.

Even before that I thought is this is too much of a coincidence of these attacks occur in -- up in -- -- on the anniversary of nine elevenths and I hope I'm wrong.

But one of the things we have to get to very very quickly is was there some broader effort.

In -- they were chanting we are all Osama bin Laden I don't think -- -- -- -- and let me ask you this it -- -- didn't -- a mistake yes I -- you before you go there is going to be presidential election.

Two months from yesterday but -- Mitt Romney is his obviously gonna come out today and make it stronger statement than the when he did yesterday.

I think that's a mistake we should have -- present as states at a time when it comes to foreign policy I think it would have -- -- this is the moment when we don't know where.

Governor Romney stands on these issues I don't think he should be a second -- of foreign policy now.

If Obama doesn't get out there and stop this violence that's one thing that.

But right now you don't want to have to spokesman.

Talk I think go after these guys that you do not want to have.

This become a political election issue right now.

Sorry Tori Clarke joining us from Washington think -- you McFarland your record -- -- thinking much thank you feel about.