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Why hasn't FBI been granted access to site of Libya attack?

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    Gen. Michael Hayden weighs in

  • Duration 6:18
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Thirty New York now there are new questions on this Monday morning about the investigation in the attack on our consulate in Libya.

Nearly three weeks after four Americans were killed FBI agent in charge of that case have yet to access the site.

Or even secure the crime scene.

Some US lawmakers suggesting the entire investigation was botched from the beginning.

It was -- that either will create willful ignorance.

Or or abysmal intelligence to.

To -- think that people come to spontaneous demonstrations with heavy weapons mortars act and the attack goes on for hours.

-- -- in an interview general Michael Hayden is with me now former director of the CIA and -- good morning to you and welcome back morning go to our program here willful ignorance dismal intelligence.

And is Senator McCain on to something there.

Well look I know -- intelligence is bill that I can understand why the senators -- bit puzzled.

The elements he suggested.

Complex attack heavy weapons indirect fire sequential attacks against two installations.

My default option would not a -- that this was -- the help coming of a spontaneous demonstration.

What would it have been.

Well I might instinct given that it happened in Ben Ghazi.

Will -- the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group was very strong -- happened on September 11.

That the attack appeared to have them as well coordinated and -- complex as it was.

My initial instinct was probably along the lines -- that this could not have been spontaneous.

It was probably pre planned -- how deep the planning went.

What the chain of command was how high up in this al-Qaeda affiliate approval went.

Those are all things to be discovered but it just looked too well done two -- -- spontaneous so why then blame it on this film repeatedly for days.

I I'd I don't I don't know that did you do know bill that the intelligence community changed its view.

As they put out in their press release last Friday as more information came in and they became more certain.

That this was indeed a planned attack what what I'm curious about is what's the timeline.

Look when you do this you begin with hypotheses.

There was probably a spontaneous hypotheses.

And a pre planned hypotheses.

I really -- knows when to -- the pre planned hypothesis.

Overtake the spontaneous hypothesis in the intelligence community began to think.

That this was not.

A product and what demonstrations in Cairo and what would that tell you.

Well.

The announcement last Friday simply said that their ideas developed there's no sense of the timeline there.

And frankly when you put a document like this out in the public domain even though you may think.

It's a professional document it has tremendous political impact.

Until very legitimate question now in the American political process to the -- since they've.

Willingly entered this public dispute is when did you change your mind.

Part of that statement reads the -- way this is Shawn turner now here's a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence James clapper this is.

Part of the statement to -- you referring late on Friday when it came out in the immediate aftermath.

There is information that led us to assess that the attack began spontaneously.

Following protests earlier that -- -- -- embassy in Cairo we provided that initial assessment to executive branch officials and members of congress and it goes on from there.

So that now was the story line today.

And from that you -- him.

Well look.

As I said intelligence is hard you don't always get it right clearly spontaneous was incorrect.

I'm not sure I'm not privy to the information.

On which they would base the judgment that it was spontaneous.

-- these are good people they're all friends of mine.

I give them the benefit of the doubt they thought that.

That then how quickly.

Did their views change based upon the gathering of additional information -- -- category that you're just yesterday David Axelrod and David who -- appeared here.

Contradict one.

-- I think.

I did -- -- bill that that's the issue isn't it here you have the professionals of the American intelligence community.

By issuing this press release ending up in -- in the middle.

Of a very hotly debated political fight.

And and that whole movement of stepping out and going public is frankly puzzling to to folks like me I'm not quite sure why they did that.

Now -- to get to two more items here LA times reporting today CIA officers active officers now.

But names not release but they're quoted they're talking about -- would draw from but -- is a Ben -- rather is disgraceful.

And overly cautious.

Is it.

Well again I have not heard that I'm not privy to any inside information that in general bill I have a pretty good sense how bureaucracies particularly the American.

Government bureaucracy works we were probably two in cautious part of the attack.

And reacting bureaucratic -- were probably overly cautious now and I've seen that happen before in other circumstances.

There's another story that was a reference last hour Marsha Blackburn was on here house Republican calling for Susan Rice -- step down.

And perhaps more after that -- suggesting but she referenced this piece from Daily Beast today about cherry picking information.

Where you will use certain bits of information to -- your story.

Does that sound plausible here.

Well it sure it's plausible -- look I'm not in the position to to judge our ambassador to the United Nations I think what two things -- really important.

Where was the intelligence communities thinking.

On that Sunday morning and secondly.

-- -- talking points which appear to have been consistent.

Over five different talk shows were talking points cleared by the American intelligence community just as a matter of caution bill just inside the bureaucracy.

That's actually a wise thing to do.

So you don't end up trying to defend a position that frankly.

Ends up being indefensible general thank you for your time -- appreciate your job and this will call on you again as we -- in this story.

Michael Hayden former director of the CIA -- today out of Washington.

Important as.