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Do American diplomatic outposts have a security problem?

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    Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane responds

  • Duration 5:59
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-- talk now more about our top story the anti American uproar in the Middle East and North Africa targeting American embassies and consulates but let's concentrate on the security arrangements and what's going wrong this week.

Perhaps longer than that we're joined by Fox News military analyst retired army vice chief of staff Jack Keane general thanks for being here -- What do we know about the security around -- -- we know wasn't enough.

What we're hearing it was that the local element of it Libyan forces just melted away essentially.

They just.

Went away.

Well couple things -- you know I mean the Libyan security is a major issue in the country -- -- to Libyan people wasn't one of their top concerns would be security.

So the host country security which we used to having to protect US property embassies and consulates in Libya does not affect the best on the long moment to.

At the consulate there were no Marines to provide internal security that they are at the embassy.

And then at that console itself.

Normally I think we would have diplomatic.

Service security details to protect and I don't know if they were present but this much we do know just by looking at the pitchers.

The people in.

In that console war and a fire -- use in military terms outgunned.

Our armed and numbers truly make a difference in a fight like that despite people who may have a lot of skill.

If your opponent has got time I munition and consuming more weapons that is probably gonna move to their favorite that's probably what happened it.

In a volatile place like Libya which clearly is in their armed groups all around.

It's almost like Iraq or Afghanistan where those embassies have to -- really firm security around the ambassador.

And and you know that around Iraq and Afghanistan they hire.

Not even -- cool.

Security guards they get to.

Nationals from other countries mongolians in other countries to work so they don't get paid off -- to get out of there.

Look at Baghdad.

And Kabul other gold standard in terms of defending.

Embassy people and staff.

And consulates and in so in the embassy itself and the reality is knew we would not say this but we know the situation so volatile in the threat so high in those countries.

That our own security forces capable of defending those fixed installations.

Regardless of the capacity of the security forces -- although security forces grew and capacity through the years and they were able help us.

I think when we determine investigation of what took place here we're gonna find out that we've.

Should have -- much larger and capable security force of our own attack and that console.

How does happen do you think general on 9/11.

Ahead of you know it's the eleventh anniversary of 9/11.

It's Libya it's volatile.

And you have an ambassador who just was not protected.

It's a tragedy of the investigation I'm convinced we'll get to the bottom of it but it clearly security was very much him inadequate it's outrageous.

That.

Armed goons like that could penetrate off facility.

Killed four American -- -- of a -- a bunch of others and just destroy the place.

The Marines you talk about we hear about that attachments is different embassies really there about the internal part of the -- it's not a a major protection of the embassy itself.

Not absolutely that's its internal to the embassy.

-- -- There if something penetrates.

When he ambassador is on the move one of his staff is on the move they have personal security.

Diplomatic service.

Details protecting the external part of the embassy sometimes that contract people protect an external part of it was -- also host country forces.

The degree of threat in the area will also drive the amount of security and there -- -- a two embassies in Africa.

In 1998 it was a whole reassessment of all of our embassies and they were brought up to a very common tough standard based on what the threat.

And the Pentagon was very adamant and Marines were very adamant that this whole story about Marines not having.

Loaded weapons not having ammo was not true they shut that down right away in Cairo this was about Cairo Egypt general wanna get.

Quickly about policy.

What does this say about the Obama administration policy in the Middle East and North Africa and Libya the whole region.

Well I think it calls for -- -- the policy we had prior to nine elevenths.

Was in fact contain radical Islam.

Post 9/11.

George Bush put in confrontation and and I think any president would.

But I think since the Obama administration what has been happening slowly but.

But actually happening.

Seriously.

Is that we've been disengaging Iraq is an example Afghanistan with a timetable.

The policy with the Iranians.

Clearly all of our friends in the area so concerned about -- romance.

And a policy of generally appeasement with them.

Weak economic sanctions and gradually leading to nuclear weapons is they're number one issue you're talking to leaders in the region they will they we'll tell you where's the United States.

What is happening to disengaging.

Even even in Libya.

Where we are right now what this crisis.

The fact that we pulled out early our forces.

And didn't see that through and left it up to NATO forces to do we gonna military stalemate there for almost four months as a result of fact we gave up the lead.

In non operational and all of our resources -- almost leaders in the Middle East watch this closely.

Well it's your general camp leather neck -- on province under attack two dead right now.

Afghanistan.

Is very dangerous place it remains.

I was -- love them -- not too many months ago.

And the fact of the matter is Helmand Province and Kandahar Province have been turned around to -- -- that we have momentum in that area they still can hurt us obviously as they did you.

General thanks so much for your time could sing about.

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