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Former defense secretary on suspicions of a White House cover-up in the Libyan US consulate attack, the politics of terrorism and how Romney's foreign...
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-- rice resign.
Earlier former secretary defense Donald Rumsfeld went on the record.
Just a second season thank you good to be with you.
There are many calls by Republicans for undersecretary.
-- for Iran and -- of the UN Susan Rice to resign just a back up the secretary of state and the president but their calls for her to resign after going on all of -- talk shows and pushing this -- YouTube video.
As the reason because your thoughts -- Well it's really up to the president and the ambassador as far as I'm concerned I think that the president can nominate.
Who he wants in the senate confirmed her.
And she's the ambassador while she's there I watched the presentation.
And I thought it was.
It's amazing that someone in her position.
Would go on with that degree of certainty that fast and that authoritative -- -- be that wrong.
Do you think she was perhaps.
How not to drive it is I thought it was unusual that the and -- of the UN would be making that appearance right after that event I would have expected some other member of the administration.
Not the -- of the UN.
I agree it would have been more likely that someone from the cabinet of the White House staff for the NSC staff might have success something.
It may very well be that that she was already scheduled and they just used -- Let her.
Her presentation.
Was.
Demonstrated to be an accurate within a matter of hours.
Which -- got to be embarrassing.
What about the investigation.
We are both confirming this morning one of my colleagues just official over at the Pentagon producer.
That the FBI twenty days later still has not set foot and Ben -- I would guess the FBI's -- and my guess is that he.
The individual who makes the decision has decided that that the situation still not safe.
44 that.
Team of people to go and obviously the every day that goes fine means that these.
The -- and who will have been sufficiently disturbed that the likelihood of -- learning much.
Diminishes with every passing day.
How could it not be safe for our FBI who are pretty well trained for security.
And yet it was safe for our ambassadors.
And others to be there.
It wasn't safe when I don't know but basically it's a thinking main -- obviously wasn't because particularly the sinking -- the safety -- and the FBI.
Are not so tough enough and armed enough for them.
Ready to go and investigate that -- as you say -- time marches on we lose evidence we lose information.
Sure.
I think that that once an event like that happens and the people -- killed.
It's clear that they misjudged the security situation they didn't have the kind of security that they needed to stay alive.
And my guess is that it's very difficult for the FBI to figure out exactly what the security situation would be.
If they go win it would be noted.
They would be a target and it may very well be that the our government is encouraging them not to.
It could be that that they just have concluded that that.
They would make such a presence if they win in that they could become a sizeable target but I just don't know.
-- I think it's unfortunate and need to do that they have not been able to get into the crime -- You know I've always been on the outside is very -- outside than the inside but I'm curious if he had any sort of thought.
Why the administration went out with the YouTube videos due to begin with because -- outside tonight eleven.
That's Americans.
When a hostile environment.
And -- on our territory -- a consulate in Libya yet they went -- would -- YouTube and they stuck with it for so many days and you know.
Even -- went up -- the ability of intelligence I would've at least -- a little bit differently.
Well you're you're you're quite right they made a terrible mistake I think what they did was.
You know hope springs eternal they they wanted it to be the YouTube.
And and they it was much more convenient from the administration's standpoint I haven't seen the film that nobody seems.
And and yet it hit demonstrated such serious misjudgment on their part to think that they could.
Make it BD YouTube which it wasn't obviously as time's gone by.
And I quite agree with you that that anyone looking at -- knowing at the history of September 11 would at least have.
Registered that that that could very well -- been part of an organized attack which apparently now people in the senior and the administration have acknowledged.
That it was a planned attack.
Is there a consequence.
Of that misjudgment or is it just something where we -- chatter about it amongst ourselves like -- -- -- think it was a YouTube video is obviously.
Something different Isabel is is there real consequence of that mistake -- -- judgment -- -- -- I think so I think and didn't you know anyone can make a mistake so that you can have one incident where it's.
Happen something happens.
But they've had a pattern where the leaks out of the White House.
And the presentations by the White House have been the kind of thing that that in retrospect looking at -- -- as a pattern.
They're calculated to try to make the president look like he's in charge and that he is not being.
-- his foreign policy is working.
Instead of the fact that it seems to be unraveling as we watch.
The world scene we see that dad.
Country after country I don't know how many it's been fifteen or twenty.
Where the people have been burning American flags.
Have been burning pictures of the president of the United States have been attacking embassies.
In one way or another demonstrating an opposition to the United States and to the to the policies that this president has put forward.
And and that's got to be disturbing -- here in the middle of a political campaign so it it it.
Makes the administration look bad and I hit my impression is that they're trying to.
Spin things in a way that will.
Commute the difficulties we face in the world and there are serious difficulties how describe his foreign policy.
I think that the foreign policy of this administration first three and a half four years now has been one of -- a step back.
The phrase that came out of the White House to lead from -- Holland which you can't lead from behind.
Leaders lead from the front.
-- the economic management of our country has told the world that we're.
In decline.
And it it was sufficient that the vice president of the United States had a go at his convention.
And say we're not in decline I don't know why did he have to say that because.
It's clear the country is managing its economic affairs in a way that tells the world were modeling America after Europe.
And that's a failed model.
The idea of another half a trillion dollar -- and the defense budget sends the signal out to the world.
Get the United States will not be in a position to contribute to peace and stability.
And and contribute to -- a better world which we've done throughout my adult life we've we've.
Our country has been a factor depressants but it's in withdrawal under this administration and like a vacuum -- hope abhors any patent.
It just it'll be it'll be fielding will be filled by somebody and -- be filled by countries that don't have our best interest at heart.
You saw from the administration we're here today in response to be well he inherited two hours and and a deep recession.
Now with the debt the debt has gotten much larger mean there's no question about that there is the understatement of the year.
So but but how do you respond to like you know what should he have done differently -- how would you have you know I never lies about this some guy 20/20 hindsight but I also know that you have some your own thoughts even if if -- -- back three and a half years ago.
Well I mean just to give you one example.
You can -- when you demonstrate weakness as a country.
People take advantage of that.
The phrase weakness is provocative is real it encourages people to do things they wouldn't otherwise think and so this -- Pattern of apology by the stress from.
The pattern of of not even getting a status of forces agreement in Iraq.
Where -- where we would have had an arrangement -- that country.
The setting of a timetable in Afghanistan and it seems to me all our.
Examples of of a withdrawal they declined -- pull back by our country.
And I think that that that's unfortunate because I think that -- that -- being filled and it's being filled by people who don't have our interest at heart.
He -- Iraq I read so -- for coming in here that that September was our deadliest month.
And the deadliest month in Iraq in twelve years.
There were.
-- the the fact that.
A number of additional troops were put in Afghanistan.
And led to -- additional targets in half for Afghanistan.
And their two we've seen a good many.
-- attacks we have our forces we -- our 2000.
-- post over the weekend -- -- in Afghanistan doesn't count the people came back to where severely injured may have died from their injuries exactly.
You say your assessment of the of the war now both tours I think that that each country is is.
Considerably better off by not having -- tell among them Afghanistan and not having the butcher of Baghdad Saddam Hussein in Iraq the countries have been given an opportunity to.
Have a freer political system and a freer economic system to fashion their own constitutions.
They are going to have those countries are going to have to.
Plan their future can figure out their future and make their future we can't build nations for other countries the United States but we can be helpful.
And if we do it in in a wise way we can we can set them on a path.
That will be better for their people and better for the region and better for the United States.
That does not mean we have to stay there forever in my view.
This -- this administration.
I was in Afghanistan and secretary of state Hillary Clinton told a group of women.
That the United States would not leave and let the Taliban command and continue do things of the women that they're going to do that they did historically.
Looks like to -- bands coming in full force.
I don't know list.
I don't they don't they becoming a full person.
The Taliban full force I would really serious and if I mean I I guess that he and there's a strong presence of the Taliban right now.
If there's no question the Taliban were shoved out of that country and a Karzai government was was elected in a new constitution.
It's also no question but that they've been reorganizing in Pakistan and they've been attempting to reassert themselves within the country.
How far they'll get I don't know.
I think that that the the people of Afghanistan were relieved when the Taliban was gone.
Now is it intimidating do they kill people you bet they were using the soccer stadiums to cut off -- Women couldn't go wild without a male member of their family -- women couldn't get my health care in that country.
But a lot of refugees who left the country of come back I think Afghan people of Afghanistan.
Like the fact that they had an election than voted for their parliament and I think they have a crack -- building a better country.
Optimistic.
Hello I'm realistic I think I think it's up to them they're gonna have to pull up their socks and gravity make it work and then have to make it work in a way that.
Won't be exactly the way we made it work.
But it's a tough task for them no question about it.
Egypt and then now with the president -- she is in command we -- this is better for the United States how does this.
How does Israel.
As is better for Israel Israel should be nervous or uncertain course is worse.
I think it's worse for Israel without question I mean should not congress Saadat and and -- Mubarak.
-- -- relationship with Israel -- created a stable situation there and and put Israel -- much more secure circumstances.
More she is Muslim Brotherhood he these selfish in the parliament -- -- them Muslim Brotherhood have control.
Destabilizing.
Influence in that country -- my view is the military.
And how that will shake out over time but I personally.
I don't think we're better off their highs I think you can't be better off with a Muslim Brotherhood government in -- in my view.
Furthermore I think you can't be better off if if -- -- impression in that part of the world.
Is that we've turned away from the liberals which turned away from the people that were supporters of freer political system and freer economic system.
And and I guess the secretary of state when when she was over there was had tomatoes thrown at the United States secretary of state -- it wasn't by.
Muslim Brotherhood people's.
I'm told it was by people who feel that we've left that we've left them in the lurch.
And the other problem you have with what happened to -- -- -- other countries around the world see that and they see that the White House in the United States.
Physics they threw him under the bus cut him -- said he should go.
Every leader in that part of the world.
Wonders are they next time -- going to be told by the White House that they should go and and shift support away from them.
-- our country went through a long tough process we went through a horrible civil war we had slaves into the eighteen hundreds women didn't vote into the -- if we didn't arrive.
Like this and those countries aren't going to be perfect they're gonna be imperfect if if perfect is what we think of ourselves.
We're we're still evolving and they're you know -- -- and -- -- going to be different than we are.
-- and for us to be.
-- -- to think that we're gonna be better off with the Muslim Brotherhood then we are with -- -- Sadat -- Mubarak government's.
Or that Israel's going to be better off I think is is missing the point I just don't believe that's true.
Have one last question cave next four years where they've president Romney and foreign policy and next four years for the President Obama foreign policy.
What's to do what what do you foresee is the difference aware that some.
-- so I think the difference will be significant.
Normally.
The Republican and the Democratic Party have have.
Really been within the forty yard lines to use -- seasonal.
Figure of speech.
But I think in this case of this president we're not we're where he's he's way way over -- in terms of the policy.
Yeah governor Romney without doubt understands that our country is exceptional.
He recognizes the role we play in the world.
He believes that the world is a better place if we are a participant in that world and and and recognizes that that it is not for us to go around the world apologizing and and and wring our hands.
What what's called the Arab Spring is really something that's happening in the Islamic world if it's not bearable only because it's happening in.
A good many other countries as you know well.
And and it's not spring but it's summer and fall and it's going to be winner it is a significant.
Shift.
On the part of a lot of people in a lot of countries who are encouraged and seeing the rise of Islamist.
Non secular forces in those countries and that is not in our interests.
You should check it -- CSX thank you.
