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New fallout from White House narrative on Libya attack

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    Handling of Benghazi hurting the president?

  • Duration 14:09
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Well it was five weeks ago yesterday when President Obama stepped up to the microphone in the rose garden and spoke about 9/11.

The crowds storming our embassy in Cairo and the deaths of four Americans at a consulate in Ben Ghazi Libya.

At this week's presidential debate President Obama challenge governor Mitt Romney and the rest of America to -- get the transcript.

To prove -- -- that he had labeled with the attack on our Ben Ghazi consulate terror from day one.

-- -- go one better and just play the remarks for you in -- here they are.

Good morning.

Every day it all across the world.

American diplomats and civilians worked tirelessly to advance the interests and values of our nation.

Often.

They are away from their families.

Sometimes.

Very brave great danger.

Yesterday four of these extraordinary Americans were killed in an attack on our diplomatic post in -- Gaza.

Among those killed was our ambassador Chris Stevens as well as.

Foreign service -- Sean Smith.

We are still notifying the families of the others who were killed.

And today the American people stand united and holding the families of the four Americans in our thoughts and in our prayers.

The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack.

We're working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats.

-- also directed my administration to increase our security at diplomatic posts around the world.

And make no mistake we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers.

Who attacked.

Our people.

Since our -- The United States has been a nation -- respects all faiths.

We reject.

All efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others.

But there is -- -- no justification to this type of senseless violence.

Not.

The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.

Already many Libyans have joined us in doing so in this attack will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya.

Libyan security personnel fought back against the attackers alongside Americans.

Libyans helped some of our diplomats find safety and they carried ambassador Stevens as.

Bodies to the hospital where we tragically learn that he had died.

It's especially tragic but Chris Stevens died in the Gaza because it is a city that he helped to say.

At the height of the Libyan revolution.

Chris led our diplomatic post in the Gaza.

-- characteristic skill courage and resolve.

He -- partnerships -- -- Libyan revolutionaries and help them as they plan to build a new Libya.

When the Gaddafi regime came to -- -- Chris was there to serve as our ambassador to the new Libya -- worked tirelessly to support this young democracy and I think.

-- Secretary Clinton and I -- deeply on his knowledge.

The situation on the ground there.

He was.

A role model to all who worked with and to the young diplomats.

Who aspire to walk in his footsteps.

Along with his colleagues.

Chris -- -- a country that is still striving to emerge from the recent experience of war.

Today the loss of these four Americans -- fresh but our memories of them going wrong.

I have no doubt that their legacy will evolved through the work that they did far from our shores and in the hearts of those who love them.

Back home.

-- just there was already a painful day for our nation as we mark the solemn memories of the 9/11 attacks.

We mourned with the families who were lost on that day.

I visited the graves of troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan about hallowed grounds.

Arlington cemetery.

And have the -- say thank you and this summer wounded warriors at Walter Reed.

Met last night we learned the news of this attack in the Gaza.

As Americans.

Let us never ever.

Forget that our freedom is only sustained because our people who were willing to fight for.

To stand up for and in some cases lay down their lives for.

-- -- countries only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those both civilian and military.

Who represent us around the globe.

No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation.

Alter that character.

Or clips the light of the values that we stand for.

Today we mourn for more Americans who represent the very best.

The United States of America.

We will not waiver in our commitment to see the justice is done for this terrible act and make no mistake.

Justice will be done.

But we also know that the lives these Americans -- stand in stark contrast.

To those of their attackers.

These four American stood up for freedom.

And human dignity.

-- should give every American great pride in the country but they served.

In the hope that our flag represents to people around the globe who also yearn to live in freedom and -- dignity.

We grieve what -- fairways.

But let us carry on -- memory and let us continue their work of seeking a stronger America had a better world for all of our children.

Thank you.

May god bless the memory of those we lost and may god bless the United States of America.

There you have it.

Simon Rosenberg is president and founder of Indiana think tank and advocacy organization.

He's also former campaign advisor to President Clinton and Ben Ferguson -- a radio talk show host -- -- welcome back to the program.

And so now you heard you heard the president there.

In ends it he said no acts of terror what ever shake the resolve of this great nation acts of terror.

And there is a question now Ed Henry our chief White House correspondent saying that the White House is gonna run with this what the president said the debate the other night.

To say that that reference we just heard.

Was the president declaring Libya but terrorist attack.

Is that what you heard -- Now it's not it's not what the White House said it's not what the president -- the days after it's not what the young State Department.

Put out and -- video that they paid for to play around the world apologizing on behalf of the YouTube video.

Even in that video where they -- -- -- our own State Department to be exact words the president United States America.

And words from Hillary Clinton.

There was nothing in that video but an apology and nothing about terrorism at all.

They said it was a video.

They did not say this is an act of terror he talked specifically about what happened last night -- -- he did not say.

The acts of terror last -- and big guys he he didn't come close to that words they can try to rewrite history.

But there's also their own ambassador rice you said this was because of a video and we -- we spent 70000.

Dollars.

On an ad saying we're sorry for video doesn't sound like an act of terror to me if you're apologizing for a video.

Simon that use of that phrase no acts of terror -- -- shake the resolve of this great nation on the heels of an acknowledgment of 9/11.

And having gone to Arlington cemetery.

Is not necessarily synonymous with the president declaring what happened in -- Ghazi a terrorist.

Act do you -- do you take it now as such.

I first wanna say that I don't work for the government I don't have a security clearance and there's an awful hunt going on here that.

We're all trying to make sense of -- and so I wanna say that on the outside.

Let me read you what Barack Obama said the next day -- Which he -- this a little bit which is he says so I want all of you to know.

That we are going to bring those who killed our fellow Americans justice and want people around the world to hear me.

To those who would do us harm no act of terror not -- acts but no act of terror will go unpunished.

And so I think that what is fair right now is what we know is this.

In the act in the days afterwards this terrible act this tragic act.

But we knew immediately that military means had been used this was not like what happen in Cairo where people climbed over the fence right.

And even the next day on September 12 I -- on your show the show.

And talked about the military strike that had taken place what was confusing was whether or not it was so there was no confusion.

About whether or not there was a military like strike against their ambassador who killed him.

That was clear from day one.

What has been confusing is whether or not this was that the video cause these protests.

And given that there were protests going on and dozens of other cities because this video the very same time.

It is reasonable to assume that they thought that there was also a video involved in this too they've since clarified and said that was not the -- Little -- where we're gonna hear you guys out because that we're gonna have to break I'm gonna carry forever but.

Active -- declare he's having an act of terror.

Does not necessarily mean -- declaring -- a terror attack I mean it any.

Act it's gonna kill our ambassador in this fashion -- could be described as an act of terror -- that's not necessarily the same -- declaring a terrorist attack and it seems.

Let -- into this seems like the White House narrative is now going to be that the president.

Was meaning to and did declare this a terrorist act because that's what he seemed to tell that questioner after the -- -- -- but until we believe but I -- -- go that far in camera.

Quickly and I'm gonna go to -- -- the break.

So quickly Megan is that I think that the White House it was 24 hours after a terrible act where the guys who knew what actually happened had died.

And so they were still trying to figure out he left himself the running room in that that in case it was an actual terror attack heart breaks I don't think that is not how break -- -- the -- coming back to you guys -- -- -- -- commercial we'll talk.

I'm -- and -- -- back at me now Simon quickly.

So they're in the New York Times today there was a report about the man has been identified as the leader of the attack.

Who represents an organization called and so our -- -- -- Who has -- and it says in the New York Times that this group has no known affiliation Qaeda.

And so the key thing here is that some sort of -- -- -- I -- I'm -- I'm aggressive and has had to -- a lot of time OK go go -- to make -- and give -- -- them.

And this is this is not hard to figure out what the president was saying.

Our ambassador Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

All said that this was a spontaneous.

Including when he went to the big stage the United Nations.

Where the world is watching the press is simply not true then that's simply I'm not -- true.

But OK he's sitting on trillion what the president said at the UN -- you can approximate about what Susan Rice said Simon you cannot debate yeah.

Is that there -- a lot of -- -- -- -- yeah you know she blamed -- -- and there's no question about our -- that's not true -- it's not.

But -- -- doesn't take him.

We're getting it.

Make meg in the Arab and why let me say this -- I had ten point Simon.

My point is this if you're the president -- it's America and you have someone that walks into your office on 9/11 on that evening and says there was a five hour.

Our random fire -- our ambassador is dead three Americans who were trained at the best in our military are dead.

-- you should be -- the president to know that's not a spontaneous.

Act of people writing.

That's an orchestrated attack and it's a terrorist attack and the president should know that it if he doesn't know it we've got big problems because you.

Have a five hour rock throwing contest on the anniversary of 9/11 it was an orchestrated attack it would have.

Five -- right now let me -- America even -- resident and president that we just listen to in the Rose Garden he says.

We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others that is clearly a reference to this tape that was bashing the Prophet Mohammed.

But there is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence.

Simon you're telling me he wasn't trying to hide it -- dictate.

To what happened in Ben Ghazi there.

Megan I don't think people knew at that point what it happens I think.

You keep hearing that then why did you.

-- today it's an -- tape wasn't relevant because.

That weekend that Susan Rice spoke on television.

There were protests against the tape.

In dozens of cities across the Middle East the tape was still war -- the Middle East it was still a factor in the debate at that time and to deny it is just ignorant.

And so I think that -- for what I hear that from what I've.

-- -- -- -- Arrest at the -- think polygamy -- in the -- What's relevant and was causing trouble in dozens of other capitals around into the program.

He's not then got that hold on but I understand here's a nice five five days after the president right now claims that he wanted to -- -- -- -- as respondents.

And we have today.

Is that in fact this was not a pre planned premeditated.

Attack.

That what happened initially was it it was a spontaneous.

Reaction to what had just transpired in Cairo.

It as a consequence in the video our current.

Last -- Simon and.

Anecdote and -- so if you finish that area what she says was that then.

Got a big guns and military strikes came in and it left and left in military strike as our embassy.

There was never talked about -- -- wins that there and I never confusion about the military nature of the strike with there was confusion haven't been -- it was a -- video chat.

Okay thank you.

Sure.

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