You're watching...

Amb. Stevens admitted concerns about security in journal

Details

  • Description

    Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton reacts

  • Duration 6:35
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Meantime one news network is reporting -- ambassador Chris Stevens is own journal.

Revealed his own concerns about security.

There at the consulate and the rise in Islamic extremism.

And al-Qaeda inside Libya.

At one point the ambassador even said that he felt like a target believed he was an out on an al-Qaeda hit list so were these concerns genuine.

Well founded I mean and -- they ignored.

-- we do enough to protect our diplomats and a volatile part of the world on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

John Bolton as the former US ambassador to stations and a Fox News contributor he also consult with the Romney campaign.

Ambassador Bolton I wanna say that there is a separate debate about whether -- an engine to run with that.

Personal journal of the ambassador erection gonna take that up in -- -- we'll get to that meter -- with you wanna talk about the substance of the journal which has now been reported.

Very widely and it.

Said that he was concerned about what he called the never ending security threats there especially in -- Ghazi.

That the -- specifically mention the rise -- Islamic extremism the growing al-Qaeda presence in Libya and said that he was on an al-Qaeda hit list.

What should we have been doing under those circumstances.

Well we don't know how ambassador Stephens came to believe this but he had excellent contacts in the former Libyan opposition from his days there so he may have heard it.

Himself he may have been told that by security personnel.

But I'm sure that if he believes that security was a problem he would have been formed the state department's diplomatic security bureau.

They would've made a threat assessment and should have taken the necessary steps.

The fact that he and three other Americans were killed by definition shows there was a massive failure of security.

And I think that that what he wrote in his diary or journal or whatever was.

Undoubtedly now proven to be well founded the question is what -- State Department do about.

Is it what kind of communication do have from somebody the State Department whom who might deal with ambassador Stevens I don't know will be -- secretary of state Clinton never.

And -- and Susan -- are you an -- she's got your former job because she was the one who came out.

You know days after he he was killed and said this was about a film this is about a film a film that was not pre plan which now the administration is telling us something very different.

What does that feel sorry for Susan Rice for having uttered those words because they're demonstrated to be utterly and completely wrong in and I'm afraid -- kind of political cover up I wondered at the time where was Secretary Clinton she was responsible.

Not Susan Rice.

But you know if if you have security concerns there are well established bureaucratic procedures to follow and so I think the questions ought to be directed at the State Department.

Did did that Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Try to increase its personnel there were they denied for some other reason what what was going on if the answer is well there were a lot of Libyan security guards for the ambassador.

That answer doesn't cut -- and that may reveal a real failing in the overall approach to the region.

The idea that you could trust non Americans to protect an American ambassador that's obviously -- -- Well because now the State Department is expressing it it's outrage at CNN over coming out with the contents of the so called diary and CNN is responding by saying.

That the level of your outrage speaks volumes about this story you know I mean what they reported was not particularly flattering for our government and -- and when you look at this investors can.

-- say foreign service officers said traditionally have carried around bound notebooks where they take notes of meetings there -- they jot down thoughts and ideas and notions on progress they're making and so -- so it I wouldn't I'm not sure I would characterize this as a -- I haven't seen it.

But it's not like count my relations with my family it's it's a professional and ongoing professional journal.

So in that sense I think its contents.

I keep personal information quiet but I think it tells you something about what was happening in life -- embassy trip.

That's very interesting how wanna ask you about your comment about Susan Rice as she says she has your former -- -- sorry for her.

How does networking you give -- just a little window into how that would work if you know when you're the ambassador to the United Nations with President Bush or one of his ministers calling up and say John when -- -- hit the Sunday talk show circuit.

This is the message or is or are we to believe it's Susan Rice.

You know looked at this situation and said I believe that this is based on the protests.

Well here here's a little secret ambassadors carry out their instructions and when they don't they get fired so if somebody said to her you're going to the talk shows and this is what you're gonna say I'm sure she did it and I would have done the same.

Their mistake was not having Susan Rice say -- their mistake was the message they weren't reporting facts they work concluding.

That the demonstrations and the assassination were due to the Mohamed film.

When they didn't have the facts to go on -- they had wanted to duck the issue they're very good at that.

They -- said we're waiting for the investigation we don't reach any conclusion that's what they did they reached the conclusion that was politically useful to them.

And we have yet to hear from the president since all of that has come out he spoke in the days immediately after but not since since as we learned that this was a terror attack it was put pre planned.

And the al-Qaeda in Iraq -- al-Qaeda may be very much behind it according to the initial reports that we're now getting.

I want to play as somebody from Dana Perino was a fox conference today as a former White House person she was the Press Secretary under President Bush.

And -- let you respond to her thoughts on this.

And when Robert gives them.

Is not the Press Secretary Martin was that we got -- and I -- -- neither of us have security clearances anymore he's obviously closer to that this White House and I have or ever would be.

But how does -- know.

But the information -- then why would they sent a campaign person out to talk about where's the where's the National Security Council wears a CIA when he says that wasn't intention or un intentional or unintentional well it was something tension all.

Because if there but isn't and that was misinformation I don't understand why at the very -- and they didn't just say.

We don't know what we don't know and we'll get back to you as soon as we get more information then we wouldn't feel misled.

-- second about how Robert Gibbs said ambassador rice didn't intentionally or unintentionally mislead anybody and the fact that they put Robert -- out on the Sunday talk shows not.

Somebody who's now with the White House not have -- so he can really speak who's in the know and why they haven't done your thoughts.

Why should anybody be surprised this president hasn't governed for three and a half years he's campaigned for three and a half years this is business as you.

-- rally -- you and you miss the UN as you look over America or the east side of Manhattan the the only thing -- -- -- that being inside the government bubble when it comes to traffic in Manhattan -- -- outside the government bubble and a mere inhabitants of New York it's not a happy time welcome to our.

-- I -- arraignment at the box anyway thank you might see if there.