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Gibbs on Libya: Nobody misled anybody

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    Obama campaign senior adviser on president's foreign policy, debate strategy

  • Duration 5:40
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Analysts say there's -- governor Mitt Romney to go after President Obama again tonight over the attack on the US confident in Libya.

They kill the US ambassador in three other Americans.

As we reported at the top of this newscast US intelligence has reportedly told the president.

The attack did start out as a spontaneous protest over an anti Muslim video.

And they kept telling him that for more than a week according to the reporting of the Wall Street Journal which is owned by the parent company of this network.

But the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says that is not what he was hearing at the same time.

-- within twelve hours of that incident.

The intelligence committee received a report that said this was a military or militia style event which would contradict all of what they were talking about.

Well now US officials tell Fox News the second building the attackers hit and in -- was a secret CIA base.

Officials originally described it as a safe house or an annex to the consulate.

Robert Gibbs here -- vocal with a -- the former white house Press Secretary is now a senior advisor to president Obama's campaign.

-- I know you were listening to Mary odious but -- congressman himself Florida as he represented the republicans' case here would you like to begin by responding -- that.

Well you there's a lot to responsive by the congressman but I would just say this if you want to know how President Obama treats our allies and our friends.

A lot better than Mitt Romney treated the people of Great Britain on the eve of their Olympics and if you want to know how we treat our enemies.

Ask Osama bin Laden he tonight sits in hell because he's dead.

-- Robert if you're advising the president on how to maybe get past this issue of Libya but what would you tell and it did.

Closer I don't think we have to get past that is an issue I think the president is is gonna spend tonight.

Some time discussing it looked your lead in is an appropriate part of this story but look severed the president ordered investigation is to everything that happened.

So that most importantly we can make sure this never happens again.

And that we -- hunt down those that are responsible.

And do something about it that's what the president tends do he'll speak about that tonight.

To our fight against a broader fight against al-Qaeda and what we have to do to continue to keep our country strong and safe.

As we have under the steady strong leadership of Barack Obama.

Of course what there and I don't wanna spend the whole time talking about this I really -- but what the Republicans are suggesting is that the president knew.

Because the security folks -- so he knew as soon enough.

But sort of misled us all through surrogates and otherwise so that it would become a campaign issue and he went on to campaign do fund -- Well again hey it's rich getting.

Attacked by Republicans.

On intelligence failures but look that the president has been very clear on this.

Nobody misled anybody.

Nobody was seeking to divert attention from anything.

This president has said and spokespeople have said.

The information they provided was exactly what they knew -- they knew it and as you mentioned.

The Wall Street -- -- reported just today that for ten days or so.

The intelligence community was telling the president exactly what representatives of our government we're telling the American people.

Is that something we need to get to the bottom of you -- it -- But Robert -- new poll is out tonight from ABC news' Diane Sawyer added on I don't know an hour so go on on world news tonight and it it indicates that.

The governor Romney is virtually tied with the president in trust to handle.

Terrorism that that represents a pretty good shift in this poll by ABC news and Langer research associates.

Is it possible that this attack and Ben -- has been part of this in your estimation.

You know it's a good question to -- no but I think they'll get a chance to talk about this directly tonight.

You know will have a chance to talk about.

The fact that this this president promised to pull our troops.

Out of Iraq and in that war.

Redouble our efforts in Afghanistan because our commanders on the ground in 2007 and 2008 wanted more troops to take on the Taliban -- -- take on al-Qaeda.

That's what we've done we've upped the tempo.

Of our strikes against those -- al-Qaeda.

Not in just in Afghanistan but around the world.

And we've decimated their senior leadership taking them off the battlefield as a result of that I though the president's anxious to talk about this.

-- governor Romney -- demonstrate.

His strong case for the American people.

Course of the same time a year so -- we were in the middle of the knob or with Libya that became a sort of war over there and then all of a sudden.

Well all of a sudden we're left with this I -- -- they're concerned that that that didn't go through congress and -- there is trouble there now that -- -- -- -- I think the most important thing in Libya look.

Just days after this.

Tragic terrorist attack that killed ambassador and three others tens of thousands of Libyans marched in the streets and in celebration of our -- life.

-- in in their strong desire to see militias that are in control as a police force and throughout Libya pushed out a civil society put in place.

We are at.

At the very beginning of democracy in many of these countries the Middle East many of them have been the ballot box but that's only the first step in creating a structure in a civil society.

That puts in place a system for justice but since in places a situation where they can have free speech and protest.

What they see is unjust.

We after remaining -- in this part of the world and if we do.

Libya and other places in the Middle East have the possibility in the ability to flourish.

As strong vibrant democracies.

Robert Gibbs the spokesman for the Obama administration of former Press Secretary -- it's -- -- -- thank you -- thank you for having me.

You bet I said the Obama administration and that the Obama campaign -- --

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