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House demands answers on US Consulate attack in Benghazi
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California Congressman Buck McKeon weighs in
- Duration 5:59
- Date Oct 20, 2012
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California Congressman Buck McKeon weighs in
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-- this -- is alert now lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are pushing President Obama and his administration for answers about what really happened.
In the attack on in the US consulate in Benghazi one of those lawmakers demanding answers about Libya is the chair of the house armed services committee -- -- -- Congressman has sent these letters to senior military commanders asking simple yes no questions about what happened in -- Ghazi.
Congress making and -- sent those letters with a 24 hour deadline to respond however he's now being told.
That they will not make that deadline -- joining us live now welcome congressman great to have you here today.
-- -- -- -- -- We now know that multiple warnings about security threats were contained -- -- -- own words in several cables to Washington.
This against a backdrop of two prior bombings of the big Gaza compound.
And the assassination attempt on the British ambassador why are your efforts to get answers being stonewalled.
You know.
We don't know all on on Thursday is as you say -- sent a series of direct yes or no questions to senior commanders within our military.
The inquiry asked a series of yes or no questions.
Regarding any advice -- warning that those commanders may have given.
To the State Department prior to the 9/11 attack.
In Ben -- Essentially what I want to know was -- -- or anyone in their command.
Warned the state department of any problem that they had in Libya or not offered any help and I gave them 24 hours to respond.
On Friday we received a call from senior officials in the Department of Defense.
Saying that they would not respond in a timely matter and they did not say when they would be able to answer our question.
At the same time they want on to say that they would not be responsive to a previous request -- we had asked about special operations activities surrounding the incident.
That they would not be giving us an answer to those.
To that request.
You don't five weeks it seems like those commanders already know the answers to the questions that I asked.
It seems to me that the American people -- -- -- to annul if the White House the State Department were using all of the information available prior.
Tonight eleven.
I'm really troubled by the way this incident is is what -- unfolding because.
For all the president's talk about wanting to get information the American people they're not being responsive and I just don't see it happening.
Well let me ask at W seven house committee chairman actually set a detailed list of questions as well -- the white house on September 25.
And for that you also received no response.
Do you believe the president then has been lying to the American only three weeks ago -- -- -- the president lying to the American people to further specific campaign narrative that concerns about al-Qaeda have been diminished.
Well you know I watched the debate.
And I heard him say that he went into the Rose Garden immediately after.
And the attack and said it was terrorist attack but we know that that.
Five days after the attack the ambassador to the United Nations went on five.
Television shells and said it was just of spontaneous combustion that.
I guess people just showed up for a demonstration when mortars and RPG's.
We know that that wasn't the truth that the American people -- -- wasn't the truth.
So what if if they're not telling the truth then the only thing left I guess is either.
We're up for a life.
How surprised -- you and trouble to learn that our own ambassador actually sent a cable to DC on September 11.
Today that he and three of his colleagues were murdered saying he was really worried about his security.
You know more I hear about this and it's just coming from the media were not getting this from the White House we have not -- -- we've talked about had any response.
-- serious requests we've made of the White House and it's the first time in more in my service.
That I've seen the secretary of defense prohibit.
-- -- the uniformed military from being able to respond to a direct question from the chairman of the Armed Service Committee.
This to me it looks like they're just trying to -- is holding out hope it goes away and wait till after the election.
The wrong the American people are getting engaged in this everywhere I go.
People won't talk to me about this they're concerned.
You know they can take the truth.
Am I can't understand from the life and you why the president just doesn't go out and say look.
This is what really happened because people already know.
And to think that we left that ambassador out there on his own -- -- -- adequate protection just sickens me frankly.
Let me ask you really -- final moments I have review we're hearing about this video that reportedly shows events as they were unfolding in real time on that fateful day should that video be released -- what do you know about it.
All I know is what I've heard from the media.
And it it seems to me that.
The longer they hold out the longer they wait -- people the more interest is going to be developed they ought to just get out there they ought to tell everything they know.
You know usually all of the problems that erupt in Washington.
The one when -- -- coverup it's always worse than the incident itself they ought to just come clean tell us what happened admit that mistakes were made.
-- -- -- And make corrections for the future.
Because this is just going to be a deeper and bigger bigger hole the third -- and.
All right and sir thank you so much for joining us today when -- in size and know you're following this very closely as our week.
And we will continue checking with you as events unfold thank you for joining us today.
Thanks for having me.