Counterterrorism official calls Libya attack 'terrorism'

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For the first time a senior US counterterrorism.

Official calls the deadly attack on the US consulate in Libya an act of terrorism.

Matthew Olsen director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

Made the comments after several administration officials described the assault as a spontaneous.

Act.

All of this comes as intelligence sources tell Fox News they believe.

The attack was the work of al-Qaeda led by a former Guantanamo detainees.

Let's bring in congressman Peter King he is chairman of the house homeland security committee.

The administration stocks so long with the notion that this attack that killed our ambassador in three other people.

Came on 9/11 and you know and and -- apparently did not involve.

A whole lot of you know.

Dan.

Street outrage it was pretty much -- directed attack on our embassy.

They called it just a spontaneous.

Protests.

Why.

-- if he was in fact a terror attack why -- it for so long.

On this was absolutely -- responsible by the administration to have UN ambassador going on national television 45 national shows.

Insisting that this was not a terrorist attack when at the very least they had to know at that time that there were terrorist elements involved.

And to do that makes it personal sense -- sign of weakness to our enemies is sending it sends a confusing signal to our allies the only rationale forward and it's inexcusable.

Is that the Obama administration wants us to think the war against terrorism is over.

That the president's policies have worked we have nothing to worry about al-Qaeda that is dangerous if you're responsible and it was wrong and I commend Matt Olson saying what he did yesterday.

At the senate Homeland Security here.

Well and and now there is word that this -- on -- cool move the possible leader of this attack is a guy that we had in American custody.

At Guantanamo Bay and released him.

We did and we also knew the last several years a -- -- testimony before my committee.

About a year and a half ago.

About his activities in -- in Libya.

How active he was and we knew that al-Qaeda.

Is in that area we know there are Qaeda affiliates that says and South Korea are in that area.

We knew there -- a number of al-Qaeda militias in that area and for the administration to ignore all out.

And to say this is all because of -- a showing of a pornographic video about Mohammed.

It was really disgraceful amount if they believe what they're saying at the time and that's even worse I mean it's -- confident I think they were attempting to use this for political purposes.

To show that the administration is on top of the war on terrorism and really in effect a -- been defeated in either event they acted wrong and responsibly.

And they can do damage to a policy by encouraging our enemies and confusing our allies.

Just breaking from the Reuters news wires -- as we've been speaking congressman.

Is the word from the White House the White House now says it is self evident.

That the Ben Ghazi violence was a terror attack.

Our Bill Hemmer was speaking -- bedlam bowl the press spokesman for the president's campaign not the White House but for the campaign.

Asked him earlier whether the president would be addressing this this.

I guess controversy these confusing statements.

-- -- what metal bolts of the bill Bill Hemmer.

Well again the director of the National Counterterrorism Center yesterday -- career national security.

Official shared with the American people.

The information that we have about us I understand that but I know this time when I don't engage in and speculation like everybody -- watching this tends to everybody watching this.

Knows that President Obama is the commander in chief.

It's his job will he address the American people and clear up these stories.

Well listen the administration testified before congress yesterday and share the information that we have.

At this time it.

So if our embassy is attacked.

On 9/11 and you know.

Is there is there I guess is the is the administration.

Have -- been avoiding to this point calling it terror attack because they don't want.

The blame.

For having and -- this kind of an attack fall on their watch.

Yeah I think that's -- all about so that was spreading false information to the American people and to the world during the presidential campaign.

Spreading false information to cover the president's record against terrorism and they knew was wrong they had -- was wrong to go out as early as they did and the I really is.

That President Obama was pontificating last week.

Accusing governor Romney of speaking before we knew all the facts so now what the president and his administration done with -- -- investors -- And Jay -- has done a spokesman for the administration is -- 45 days they -- -- false story to the American people.

And they can't deny it was -- which is no way they -- made a blanket statement that this was not a terrorist attack at the time they did when all we indicators war.

That it was a terrorist attack now they've had committed the terrorist attack.

Is it docked -- for the administration they have a list terribly.

And again if it -- them to help them politically is almost -- right.

What is significant is in such a dangerous part of the world the administration show that you -- what I was talking about.

Or was intentionally misleading the American people and the world.

And that is bad news that is the wrong thing to do.

We have a deadly and -- al-Qaeda.

A quick question about the blind sheik Omar Abdel -- -- you and a number of other Republicans wrote the administration saying you heard.

And that it was possible he was being considered for released -- Egyptian authorities this guy convicted in connection with the first one terror attack on the walk on the World Trade Center the White House says it's never been under consideration.

Are you satisfied with that -- No not I was -- management -- were told by senior people in federal law enforcement.

That this is being considered we don't know what is and how we were told -- by people we reason to believe that awards.

That's why we contacted the administration we've got have not been unequivocal answers.

State Department says there is no plan and there's been no recent contact with the Egyptian government we know the president Marcy has acted has asked for this in the past now.

I'm not saying it is a current plan I don't they say though there is no -- they -- say one thing.

That.

The white people -- in American prison -- the only answer to that and they were.

Refused to give that the semantics are important congressman Peter king of the house homeland security committee.

Congressman thank you.

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Counterterrorism official calls Libya attack 'terrorism'

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