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McCain: President is responsible for American security

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    GOP senator reacts to Secretary Clinton taking blame for Benghazi failures

  • Duration 8:38
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Hi -- news alert now Republican senator Lindsey Graham slamming the White House in a new letter this morning.

After secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Claims responsibility.

For the security failures that led to the US consulate attack in Libya that killed four Americans the letter.

Asks this question.

If the president was aware that there were two prior IED attacks against that -- it.

Just months before in April and in -- and it says quote to the president this letter.

Did you consider to be is serious events.

If you were informed what action was taken to protect the consulate.

Here's a secretary of state Hillary Clinton said that touched off this firestorm listens.

Well I'm.

Responsible for the state department for the more than 60000 people around the world.

Key decisions about security assets are made by security professionals.

But we're going to review everything to make sure that.

-- we're doing what needs to be done in.

Increasingly risky environment around the world.

There's no doubt that.

Our men and women from the State Department USA idea the rest of our government.

Are having to balance all the time how to do their jobs.

And not stay behind high walls but to do it as safely as possible and that's an ongoing daily calculation around the world.

-- they have it Senator John McCain in it believes that the White House should still be held accountable.

In this matter he sent a letter of his own he joins us now former presidential candidate senator.

After Arizona John McCain good morning sir walk on.

-- -- let us thank you thank -- thing I let's start with with Hillary Clinton why now.

And why is she falling on the sword you think.

Well I think it's an act of loyalty.

There are many people it.

Believe that.

And Secretary Clinton may have further political ambitions and this could.

Obviously harm that in one way but also.

Bring in some additional.

Support possibly from President Obama who can't run again but.

Look I think it's very laudable that she should throw herself under the bus.

But first of all responsibility for American security doesn't -- with the secretary of state lies to the present United States particularly in light of the fact.

-- -- to attacks on April and June 1 -- -- was and I ED the -- hole in the wall it was an attempted assassination of the British ambassador.

And then guys -- and the question is what did the president know when did he know about it and what did he do about it.

That's what the president and I State's responsibility is -- you know Martha there was a sign on Harry Truman's desk -- said the buck stops here.

Obviously there may be -- sign on president Obama's desk that says.

The buck stops over there the present then.

Win on the view and Letterman much after after was well known that there was no demonstration that this was a terrorist attack.

By an al-Qaeda affiliated group went on to say I'm both of those programs well.

This hateful video.

Damage passionate centric he.

Why didn't he know that many days later I why do they not have any nation because it be that he had to fly out to Las Vegas.

I mean of the American people gonna get answers to the questions that you are asking.

Is one of the things that you know jumps into my -- when I when I listen to you that the president and Hillary Clinton.

Both made a sort of public service announcement about this movie that went out all all through these regions in Libya.

And in -- saying -- that movie it was not made by Americans it was not made by the American government.

You know well after were told that that just.

Department of State watched the events as they unfolded and -- Ghazi in real time so you know I mean what is going -- here.

Well it it obviously there's.

They're in the business now of of covering up when it's always worse that cover up then.

The actual situation itself that always happens but also.

Who was it.

You know who it was it was the White House not the State Department.

That sent our ambassador Susan Rice out to be on all of -- Sunday morning talk shows including FOX News Sunday the state categorically.

That this was a spontaneous demonstrations spurred by -- hateful video.

They kept that up for an unacceptable link to time when there was no demonstration.

Yeah like you say in real time there was no demonstration it was an eight hour attack.

And so.

They are they are either deceiving the American people or they are so incompetent.

If they don't deserve it sure you know and that's what this go ahead.

It will it was brought to my attention the other day that when you think about the bin Laden raid for example and the -- -- of that that came out.

Right after the bin Laden -- much to that disapproval.

-- many people and you look at this situation say she's so why was it that we were able to hear all the details of that investigation so quickly.

And yet this one we're getting.

Radio silence not.

Any successful operation we've gotten all the details to the point where that we all know they have compromise certainly.

Seal team six.

And among others.

But off so.

Our Director of National Intelligence a few days ago said that they have had information that led them to believe.

That it was a spontaneous.

Demonstration.

What in the world information could they possibly have had since we know.

It was just -- -- a spontaneous.

Demonstration or a hateful video this morning what in the world to mr.

clapper now.

Unless somebody.

-- Made up something that gave him and what kind of confidence -- give us in our Director of National Intelligence about Iran.

Yeah I mean that's -- -- question we're looking right -- John Brennan and clapper.

And Hillary Clinton -- these -- the people that you would expect that the president would be.

Calling into his office and saying I need answers why did and I know about this wide and I know about these IED is that where exploding -- in Benghazi in.

-- our consulate in the months prior to this particular.

Attack any you said moments ago senator that you believe that the White House is in.

Cover up mode.

Right now.

I mean I that's a serious charge.

Well either it's either.

Willful deception wore a degree of incompetence.

And failure to understand.

Fundamental facts on the ground either one and either one of those is obviously totally unacceptable.

And what that that there's failure so over the Middle East and Iraq.

Al-Qaeda -- comeback in more than doubled.

In Afghanistan we know the tragedies that are going on with Afghans killing Americans and all of present does is talk about would draw.

In Syria now thirty some thousand people have been massacred.

And we won't even give them weapons -- wish to defend themselves and the tensions in the region are dramatically.

Escalating.

It fit in an Iranian situation has certainly not.

Improved Iranian our relations with -- -- or part almost at their all time low.

So there's failure -- -- the region this is just a manifestation.

The failures of of and the consequences of leading from.

Mind and that's crew is he has the big picture reason why a there is some -- -- perhaps going on here.

In terms of you know.

President -- -- -- -- vice president keeps saying look Obama.

Osama bin Laden is dead and al-Qaeda is on the run I'll cut this is not on the run they're coming back there were all over -- which is.

Really a dangerous situation and -- efficient -- it radical Islamist.

Radical Islam -- pouring into Syria now.

Where's if where the -- -- this thing over with much earlier help these people that wouldn't happen the whole region.

Believes that America is weak and withdrawing and that's the consequences.

Of foreign policy failures.

Well you have a long history obviously and studying all of this and watching it and being there on the ground so Senator McCain we'll see if we get some answers to some of these questions tonight.

In this debate will lobby watching and we hope you'll come back and -- to listen about it thank you sir.

Thank you --

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