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Obama administration changes narrative of Libyan attack

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    Fmr. U.S. Amb. John Bolton weighs in

  • Duration 6:03
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Grammy and they are more than two weeks since the attack the Obama administration has offered several different versions of exactly what happened there.

So what needs to be done to move forward joining us this morning on the set here in New York is former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.

Was also a Fox News contributor and joins us about this time every single Sunday.

Especially good to see in person welcomed by a debate here at what happened to ambassador Chris Stevens in the others it is so tragic so needless.

And -- necessary why -- security not up to standards why would -- know Marines why such an apparent failure.

Well this this is I think the central question because there's simply no doubt.

-- for Americans are killed that there's a security failure -- what whatever happened after people can debate but this was a failure now was it because.

The ambassador had asked for security -- had been denied.

Was it because the administration simply believed its own rhetoric that Libya was fine that there was no al-Qaeda threat that the war on terror was over.

But we don't know the answer but I think that members of congress including unanimously all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

And asked these questions and we need answers to them you've been out there on the front line yourself you've been some of the worst hot spots of the world as the US diplomat for many decades.

What type -- security should there have -- And what would you expect as a representative of our nation well you know it it's important that Arab diplomats be able to get out.

And do their job and not be locked in -- security bubble but but obviously here.

It wasn't enough to give your viewers some comparison when I was up here in New York as ambassador when I went outside the US mission outside the residence at at least I had I had at least.

Three diplomatic security personnel with me at all time that was in New York ambassador Stevens apparently had one.

In Ben Ghazi -- the two Navy SEALs who were killed were doing something else when they came to the defensive there.

Fellow Americans they were not assigned to the -- so he had one person in an incredibly.

Dangerous environment sadly not nearly and so basically -- -- sitting duck.

-- and I think if some of the reports we've heard that that the ambassador's position his location was betrayed by the Libyan security guards.

Loyal to this al-Qaeda or terrorist outfit.

That that just shows how unwise it was to rely on non Americans to protect our personnel.

Do you think in this case it's possible that an administration to be too trusting.

That they can believe that there's freedom now in Libya Qaddafi is gone and although there can be some dangers just think that nothing like this would ever happen.

Absolutely and I think unfortunately it's probably true not only in the context of Libya to take the invasion of our embassy in Cairo where our flag was torn down in the al-Qaeda flag put up also on September the eleventh.

The Egyptian government didn't fulfill its obligations but the embassy was out sending out messages as we as we -- call trying to appease the demonstrators so I think this mindset.

That permeated the administration in the State Department and I think that was one of the reasons that our adversaries saw vulnerability and took advantage of what does this mean for the broader issue of American foreign policy.

Well that's why I think the subsequent events after September 11 are also very important was there a cover up because it was politically inconvenient to admit that al-Qaeda is for surging that the war on terror is not over that Libby is not.

Sweetness and light or is -- the Obama administration's overall ideological blinders.

Unable to process reality when it's contrary to there.

Very radical worldview is it fair to blame the administration and they would say that this is on for scene that they had whatever information they had on the ground at that time.

I mean do you believe that it potentially could be a cover up or they're just dealing with the information as it happens and you know.

Well -- that convey it if that's all the information they had it wasn't enough now it was it because intelligence resources were inadequate or did they not feel -- important to deploy enough intelligence resources to uncover the information.

We don't have -- have need for a lot of intelligence about potential terrorist attacks in Iceland.

But Libya Egypt are quite different circumstances I think the administration is vulnerable -- there I don't but I don't pin this on lower ranking officials I think this is the president's responsibility.

What -- should be done.

Well I think we need a new president I mean I think that's what it comes down to unless this world -- if that's what it is is removed and we get a more realistic assessment of the threats.

That the United States faces that our officials are diplomats face that private citizens face in the Middle East.

What we're never gonna have an effective policy you can't base an effective policy on delusion.

Well how would a new president you've been an advisor to the Romney campaign at times how did the president changed something -- something it's like this happens suddenly.

On September 11 where you know you can't dig out of a hole quickly and we're we're in a deep hole but I think it's got to be made clear to all the governments that we do not accept their failure protect our people I think we've got to have substantially increased.

Intelligence throughout the region I think we've got -- showed everybody that we still believe that there's a war on terror certainly the terrorists haven't stopped.

And that we're gonna stop the some of the main sources of that are running and funding of terrorist than others and finally you if you're diplomat you've been an ambassador for many years what what does it mean to you.

In your heart when -- -- -- Chris Stevens is -- murdered in cold blood.

By this mob.

As -- was well it's a terrible tragedy and it shows the vulnerability of Americans out on point in a variety of different places.

It you know we focus on our service members and well we should because so many of them have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

But many other Americans official government employees contractors -- -- just as much at risk as our private citizens that's why.

The view that people hold of American the world is so important if they respect us.

If they -- let's be blunt.

Then I think the safety of our fellow citizens all around the world is better off but if they think we're weak and decline it invites this kind of tragedy.

Ambassador John Bolton always good to see you thank you for coming in person this morning thank you as notes appreciate it -- thank --

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