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US temporarily reduces staff at embassy in Tripoli

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    Mike Baker reacts to latest developments in Libya

  • Duration 4:50
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But again -- fallout now from the attack in the consulate Ben Ghazi.

The US now temporarily pulling out more staff members from its embassy in the capital city of Tripoli saying that they are leaving for security reasons.

Now this is the Obama administration puts out dueling versions of the assault.

Last week remember secretary of state Hillary Clinton calling it a spontaneous.

Outburst of violence.

The office of the director.

National intelligence has said we had no actionable intelligence that.

On attack on our post and -- -- was planned or imminent.

For a fast forward now -- yesterday Defense Secretary Leon Panetta now saying the attack was very much premeditated.

And not spur of the moment.

As we -- determined does the details of what took place there and that.

That attack took place that it became clear.

That there were terrorists do it plan that attack.

Add up all the turmoil in the Middle East and many wonder if the Arab Spring is turning into an Islamic winter.

Mike Baker former CIA Covert operations officer president of diligence LLC.

Global intelligence and security firm and Mike good morning to you good morning let's get to the region -- a moment here but where are you balance.

Story.

Well what I at night might opinion my belief based on a lot of experience working overseas.

And having had a lot of contact with the State Department over those years and hasn't changed since the dust settled on this unfortunate attack on -- September 11 and -- -- It was it was self evident it was clear to anybody who who -- that worked in this field for any time.

That this wasn't some spontaneous attack.

And it was also clear that the primary problem here is that the State Department didn't do their job and that job should have been done a year ago issued -- -- -- out.

Legitimate properly assessed the risk and Ben -- as soon as they said we're putting a consulate there and their -- state department's function one of them.

Is to go out and properly assess risk and and make the proper security arrangements for their personnel their facilities.

They knew Ben -- was a war zone they knew we had al-Qaeda elements and Charles Syria and others operating -- we knew that we had tons of heavy weaponry -- been pilfered from the armories.

We knew it was -- high.

Threat area and they did not provide the proper security.

Had not and I'm not talking about a few days before the attack I'm talking back when they put the -- Gaza conflict in the air -- -- I understand you consulates get a marine guards or is that just for.

Embassy work.

Now they can they can be given and they should've been given a marine security guard attachment.

Those young men when American women are fantastic at what they do but they need to be a sign they need to be on site nor did they do their job okay now -- bring it all back then to -- -- very simple and fundamental question.

Why would the administration handle it's this.

Well I I can't believe this -- stupid as to believe their their own narrative from the outset so I I think the only conclusion here is that they understood that they had screwed up.

And that's not a good narrative two months before an election and so they chose to go with what appeared to be.

Possible.

By saying it was spontaneous.

And they said look we had these riots and who know and it just happened.

And it's it's it kind of boggles the mind and it and it makes you think that they believe the American public -- -- is is stupid or naive.

The State Department cables that some are calling for to be made public you've had experience with us what what would they say -- what would they reveal what they tell us about.

Ambassador Stephens and how he was feeling about his own safety and security what what would they give.

Well I was suspected that there are.

And probably cables that.

Contain information related concerns over the security in Ben Ghazi probably from the very outset of that that facility once they dust settled on the revolution.

And I think you probably looking at months and months and months.

Where there are cable's going back and forth between Washington and and Libya talking about that the port security situation -- -- -- concerns over the facility that's their concerns over the security of those personnel.

And for what ever reason.

State department's administration didn't act out.

Also -- regardless whether you're somebody else -- top of the -- sunscreens for them at some point will we see them.

Well not less this -- keeps getting beaten and I think it is possible that bit that they never go public isn't that freedom of information or not.

Well I mean it it should be but -- there was outrage over the White House secure intelligence links as outrage all my guys and how could this happen.

And where is that investigation it's completely disappeared and now I suspect.

You know because the White House probably thinks the media most of the media will go -- -- -- this.

I think -- gonna get a pass on this unfortunately we'll see about that Mike thank you Mike Baker with us today at a Connecticut today goods in your mind.

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