Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

McCain: Response to Libya crisis was 'abysmal ignorance'

Details

  • Description

    Senator responds to crisis in Libya and Syria

  • Duration 7:15
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Memo out of the top story tonight very troubling report from CBS news.

It says a former head of a US military security team in Libya objected to the State Department downgrading.

Security in Libya.

Apparently two security teams were removed by the State Department.

In August.

When you found out the last two teams are being pulled from Libya.

What was your feeling about that I thought -- -- -- to play the -- with two fingers.

There was common concern amongst the entire embassy staff so all the experts on the ground are telling.

Headquarters of the State Department.

We need this.

And the answer kept coming back -- you've got to do with less.

For what reasons I don't know.

It's hard to believe.

We call the State Department spokesman Mike toner told us the security teams who brought home on a planned rotation.

That did not impact security -- -- where the assassination and the terror attack took place.

Join us now from Raleigh, North Carolina Senator John McCain -- closely following the story.

I mean this is upsetting to me as an American not just as a journalist and I think Hillary Clinton the secretary of state owes a full explanation tomorrow my wrong.

No you're right -- and it's not only and that would -- all of the security teams.

There were previous attacks and their lives.

Even Chris Stevens diary which as you know was uncovered out of the rubble.

That he was concerned about security but let me add just one more element here that it's really.

-- frustrating to me and that is five days five days after.

This mortar rocket propelled grenades synchronized al-Qaeda affiliated attack took place on the consulate.

The administration trotted out.

Our ambassador the United Nations who I was on one on the Sunday shows just after her who said this was a spontaneous demonstration.

Because by a hateful video.

Now how in the world that anybody five days afterwards could draw that conclusion and tell let the American people.

Is -- their abysmal ignorance or willful deception of the American people both of which are totally.

I -- and we need an explanation from ambassador rice but right now tonight -- -- from the from the people that sent her out Buffett he's she said it.

Since she said she.

You got the information he said it should -- that if the information from that the highest circles of government our national security advisor and our Director of National Intelligence vision that she was just a -- and I got to cop to it the only person and responsibly who told her to do it.

Is rights but I -- I'm right -- I'm telling you Hillary Clinton's guy she owes the families of those four Americans were killed -- herself Hillary Clinton.

She's the boss.

You don't pull security teams out of Ben -- in Libya and when -- ambassadors saying hey.

We're in trouble here and the and the head that you just heard the head of the security there said.

Don't pull them and then this happens in the end where are you mrs.

Clinton where are you who -- you got -- -- -- tomorrow.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And I think -- and in congress should demand a secretary of state appear.

Before -- whatever committee want.

And explain what the hell is going on here.

And the Director of National Intelligence who issued a statement not long ago and what might he was -- to cover up said that they had information.

That it was a spontaneous demonstration.

What information could you possibly have.

When you hear of an attack -- mortars and with a -- rocket propelled grenades affiliated within affiliated al-Qaeda outfit.

That carries out a very sophisticated operation that's not what you really look at it as -- I didn't.

Survey nation it's disturbing but we have to start with the secretary of state she owes -- -- and the families an explanation and we're gonna demand right.

Now this real quick about Syria Syria and Turkey nationally each other if you were president would you get involved with Syria.

Of course I would be helping them with weapons weapons are being flown over Iraq by -- -- today.

There's Iranians on the ground Russians are -- are supplying them and all kinds of equipment.

Helicopters jet aircraft artillery tanks are being slaughtered and massacred tortured gang raped.

While we sit by and watch and that the present United States until recently wouldn't even say anything.

On their behalf I'll tell -- what we need we need it has that leadership first American leadership second we need.

I have a no fly zone but most importantly right now at the moment.

We should be giving them arms with which to.

Defend themselves over over.

When I -- -- on the rebels no fly zone like they did in Libya.

And get involved on -- side of the anti -- forces that's -- you guess everything everything that we said would happen if we got involved.

It's happening because we're not involved al-Qaeda is pouring into the place the massacres have increased in -- Iranians and Russians have increased their.

A supplies and and that support of Prussia or Al -- and the tensions in the region are going up look at Syria Turkey Jordan trip Syria.

Yes sure so.

-- over there and -- all right Alice and I -- to just to get your opinion what you would have done had you been present.

Now finally were you surprised that President Obama was so flat in the debate he wasn't the guy that debating you four years ago.

Well I think that there's a fundamental change here bill and that was in 2008 he didn't have a record to defend.

And -- he's been living enough for your bubble.

Surrounded by an adoring media this is the first time.

That he has really had to respond to any couldn't because he's having to defend -- record which is indefensible.

And I guess -- second thing is that.

What is probably most impact -- about this than anything else you sit.

Obama's planned the campaign spent hundreds of millions of dollars particularly in swing states portraying.

Mitt Romney -- some kind of out of touch Richie Rich.

You know the bank accounts in the Cayman Islands guy and he came across is a sensible.

Reasonable.

Centrist man who wants to unite America and the toughest question that Obama had to answer.

Which win are we going to have some bipartisanship.

The same kind of thing that Ronald Reagan and tip -- -- hill and Bill Clinton used to do.

With -- -- Bob Dole and he couldn't answer except to say sometimes you have usually -- You must have been a little bit surprised how flat the president was casino he's pretty energetic guy and can he could do the -- step as well as anybody is can I get -- that night.

He was knocked out -- it.

Well I think that that well as I said that the timing was a fight they would stop him but I think he'll do a lot better.

The next time around and don't underestimate the -- -- -- -- next time around town hall meeting so it's different I -- story come out as flat as the president you know it would you guys you guys how to go on the road.

-- and and far away again if it is I think who kicked the hell of a job by like they're sitting on the lap routine that's the best no show though a bit later on thank you senator we appreciate it -- on the rundown bedrock.

Load More