50 Marines sent to Libya: Too little, too late?

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Means to Libya.

After the shocking death of the US ambassador Chris Stevens there remember it was ordinary Libyans who pulled Stevens from the smoke filled consulate.

After this week's attack he died shortly there after.

So the question is are there enough members of the US military protecting our diplomats serving in some of the world's most dangerous regions.

Former assistant secretary of defense bing west joins me this morning he worked under president Ronald Reagan sixteens here.

So let me pose that question to you do we have enough members of the military.

Protecting.

Our ambassadors in these dangerous regions.

I I don't think it's the number it's a question what are their orders.

We have these Marines who are trained to protect the embassies.

But.

The the issue of this State Department is -- doctrine is talk.

The doctrine of the marine course to fight.

In the real question I think somebody have to post of the president.

Is if you're going to send the Marines are -- sending them authorized to use lethal force because that would change everything if you came over -- wall and right now I think the answer is no.

And I doubt if the president would answer that question so is he -- the drones to be lethal and -- I think he's hoping he -- going to ride this out.

You know.

Bing west we find out that the deputy president -- deputy prime minister of Libya.

Said you know I've spent as much as we condemned the acts of what took place and their horrific and mourn the loss.

We cannot believe the Americans and I paraphrase here left their embassy.

Staffed because we warn them about the imminent danger that was coming their way.

It's stunning to me.

This was a breakdown.

Intelligence.

In reaction.

On a huge level.

Now you cannot send in the Marines until the State Department security officer request them.

But when they do our post.

Excuse me were postmortem of this tragedy.

They're going to discover a huge break down and on 9/11.

I just don't get it I really don't and then be claiming this was because of some film that came out six months ago and somebody.

Just recently.

Translated to Arabic that's a lot of baloney.

Yes we had that Tony Schaeffer on the air about half an hour ago -- I don't know if you saw a bit.

He's former CIA guy and then when asked you know where -- -- Intel wide in the CIA.

Why weren't they alerted to do anything there it's he said they were told don't do anything you know the the Arab spring's gonna be a good thing for us -- just the -- let it go.

Someone.

Knew this was coming did nothing.

And I don't mean to be cynical but but watching the mainstream press trying to beat up on trip on governor Romney and distract from this I think -- Close to a disgrace.

The fundamental issue is why were we so I'm prepared as a government when everyone knew something was going to happen so we -- I -- that is somebody better.

Who is let me just read -- talking about that somebody knew the -- Egyptian situation is gonna happen or the Libyan or both.

All I believe both are all in all absolutely we knew about that protest that was coming in and Egypt we knew about it we have we told our people to get out of there.

Well holy smokes if you're if you're sending out those kinds of signals why don't you look next doors well I think it was a colossal failure here of intelligence.

And I suspect.

They're going to put off any investigation of this until after the election.

Well do you have we find out that some low level.

State Department worker.

With without checking with the State Department.

Put out the -- and the initial statement that essentially apologized for the film the tweet after the invasion of our embassy came.

I personally find that inexcusable.

What broke down there in terms of systems and operations.

I don't believe.

That it happened the way it was just described.

To me and that was cleared by the by the chief of staff of the embassy -- by the ambassador.

You don't just as as a low level employee decides you're going to be communicating with the world I just don't believe that happen that way.

And that's one of the reasons being that.

Mitt Romney went after the president and his policy over there yesterday and -- -- -- banged -- -- the head by the mainstream media that thought he was out of line only was it.

Look at what we're having a race to see who's going to be the next commander in chief and he was just -- on what he'd do in the same situation.

The unfortunate fact is that the vast majority of the mainstream press.

Want President Obama to be the next president.

And in this particular case they diverted attention tremendously.

And they did a disservice to the American public.

In recognizing that we have a huge problem in the Middle East and they're just trying to trivialize it.

But but because the question that I kept asking myself yesterday when I watched all of that the press coverage struck today was who is the present -- United States right now.

Who is the president of the United States today and shouldn't that be what we're talking about.

Totally he's the commander in chief.

He started this four years ago by apologizing and saying c'mon -- -- by we can all get along.

Now it smashed on the railroad tracks and the president of standing back from that and allowing the -- to sort of say well.

President -- mr.

Romney shouldn't be criticizing the president but the president hasn't said anything.

I'll come back to the basic question somebody -- the president Mr.

President you are now sending in Marines to protect our embassies.

Have you authorized them to use lethal force.

And I'll bet heat -- Right and we decide the press coordinating caught on camera you'll hear later in -- show.

Talking about how the -- asked the same question to Mitt Romney over and over again and that is did you jump the gun.

And Diego and that -- he stuck to his guns and even some Republicans are criticizing him.

Not all but some.

Bing west thanks so much for your service in the country as a marine and thanks for joining us this morning.

Thank you -- join.

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50 Marines sent to Libya: Too little, too late?

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