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Sen. McCain: President doesn't believe in US leadership

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    Arizona senator on WH handling of Mideast crisis

  • Duration 6:20
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Senator John McCain says he is stunned that the Obama administration ever thought the attack on the US consulate in -- -- Libya was spontaneous.

Intelligence sources now telling Fox News last week's effort was coordinated strike orchestrated by a group that has ties to al-Qaeda in North Africa.

And another Islamist militia group.

After many days Obama administration as a whole now seems to agree.

This was a terrorist attack I sat down Senator McCain asked what he makes of how the White House has handled the situation.

And that you can't make it out -- that this White House crusade and unique thing it's amazing.

It was a spontaneous attack it was a video that caused it and now with a straight face they say oh yes this was a terrorist attack.

But now they haven't said yet whether it was planned or not and the fact is that it has all the earmarks of al-Qaeda.

And and it's very clear.

Then.

-- 9/11 and the terrorist attack in the kind of orchestration that it was was heavy weapons.

Rocket rocket propelled grenades and I'm very sophisticated operation.

That the spontaneity was missing out of this it's what this is all about -- Is that they have.

Made the American people believe.

That by killing bin Laden they've taken care of al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda is alive and well across the Middle East including a resurgence in Iraq and they are.

There in Libya and this is a terrorist attack.

And they were foolish to -- start.

So how would you -- -- this moment in our foreign policy.

Moment of glaring weakness in some of the chickens unfortunately are coming home to -- very briefly connect tea.

In Iraq it's unravelling as you know they've just convicted the vice president.

To death had death penalty.

Al qaeda's resurgence.

Days.

Relations between the three different enemies Sunni Shia and Kurds are breaking down dramatically Iran news.

Influences increasing Iranian planes are flying over Iraq to Syria.

Good arms from -- our side as we speak in Afghanistan.

We have now unfortunately had to adopt a policy where we're not operating within training.

With the Afghan troops and that means that they cannot be ready to take over those responsibilities.

And frankly they never were.

And so.

We have to evaluate our whole situation the attack on.

The base in Kandahar was the most devastating attack since the Tet offensive in the Vietnam War we lost 200 million dollars worth.

Of airplanes in that attack in the tragic death.

Two Marines.

In Syria the -- -- goes on and it cries out for American leadership and the president doesn't even speak up and finally in Iran.

We continue on a collision course and the administration continues.

To try to urge the Israelis not to attack Iran.

Rather than -- Iran and we are with the Israelis we've drawn red lines and they can't cross.

In Afghanistan.

-- an engineer now because of these insider attacks you're asking that that we calls.

The draw down of US forces there.

Well.

I think we have to pause and evaluate where we are -- what we need to do but again this flows from the time.

The president and I states never talked about success in Afghanistan is never.

Use the word victory he is continuously overridden the recommendations of -- military advisors.

-- quickly never enough troops and announced -- -- earlier than they wanted to so -- he has sent the message to.

-- -- -- Friends and enemies in the region kept believing that we are withdrawing and they are making the appropriate accommodation.

And that reality hits never engage based on success it's always been based on date certain.

And believe me that is not a way to successfully waged a conflict.

Let me ask you this there are also reports and that there are.

Moves under way to have the blind Sheikh released even though there are denials right now from the White House but even the fact that this is even being discussed -- Egypt would like that to happen.

How do you react to that.

Thank you just can't believe that we would consider such a thing only in deference -- -- families who.

By his actions.

There's so many things that you know -- there's still a conversation about releasing some.

Some prisoners from -- among prisoners in exchange for some kind of statement on their part.

This president doesn't believe in American leadership that's really what it's all about.

What about the fact also that we're hearing he may be meeting with Egypt's president more seat next week -- when the United Nations -- but yet.

We have yet to hear whether or not he's going to sit down Benjamin Netanyahu.

I think -- certainly establishes the administration's priorities.

And our closest ally in the Middle East the one.

-- ally of ours that -- -- -- the threat of extinction because the Iranians have publicly stated their commitment to that.

And so again the president could find news time to go to Las Vegas and do a fund raiser but he couldn't find time.

To see the prime minister.

When he lives in town.

And I -- United States when he was in the United States.

Senator McCain always a pleasure to see you thank you so much for joining us today.

Thanks for having you know.

And shifting gears a bit you know this might be a little inside baseball if you aren't from Washington DC but the -- also got fired up about another issue he says.

Is might be one of the biggest scandals and cover ups since Watergate.

I think it's a vast left wing conspiracy.

Against one of our great presidents.

Senator McCain wants to watch the nationals baseball team to give -- They -- show wanna get to the bottom of this baseball controversy.

A little later in -- And speaking --

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