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'The Outpost'

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    ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper on his new book

  • Duration 6:19
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We face a very clear deadline -- requires us to make some big decisions on jobs taxes.

And deficits by the end of the year.

Both parties voted to set this deadline and I believe the both parties can work together to make these decisions -- a balanced and responsible way.

-- that was President Obama earlier today -- his first news conference more than eight months and joining me in studio to help analyze today's -- or somebody.

By the way who's usually in the room for those events who played hooky today author of the brand new book the outpost and untold story of American valor.

ABC senior ABC news senior White House correspond kicked -- -- I'm great fight I've -- one quarter and I love your tweet shoes your being you really live and breathe this which I really like.

Let me ask is I just went through this -- Lindsey Graham I felt questions weren't asked today at the press conference you said between the first and second debates.

You talk about there was a general feeling in the Romney campaign.

That the media was ready to write the Obama comeback story of the ways they feel -- I do that there is an institutional bias.

Is that's what they were saying to you when -- that's true.

-- in this election I didn't get as.

Much of of a general scheme because I was so I was just focused and Obama as -- the last campaign -- hop around a lot and went to look covered a lot of different campaign so I I don't know I mean I think that there are.

Ways in which narratives take control.

And -- sometimes they're they're not fair I mean I think this -- to give a nonpartisan example I think.

The media wasn't fair to Hillary Clinton during the democratic primaries there was a lot of anti Hillary stories.

And more scrutiny on her than there was on then Senator Obama.

And sometimes that's because.

One person runs a better campaign one person has a more inspirational leader.

One person's a fresher face but whatever the reasons I think sometimes the media should be a little bit more careful about bending over backwards to be fair.

I think one of the issues is -- mean the president was able to have run out the clock pumping got -- see where was he that night.

Did he know about the request for security.

Was there requests for assistance that night -- would those that were under fire we know that Tiger Woods and one of the navy seal.

They disobeyed orders because they were hearing the cries for help but I didn't feel we got to answer a lot of questions tonight.

There's a lot we don't know about that -- still mean that what we what we do know about that night is that President Obama was meeting with secretary Panetta.

And the joint chiefs chairman kind of -- pre scheduled meaning.

And that's when they were told that the compound was under attack and according to the White House the president said do we need to do to get those to to save them.

The American December where was he when did he know.

Who did -- talk to.

Did did he was he the person who sent to stand down to the CIA annex which was a mile away.

These to -- seem.

Basic but we're watching this in real time does not seem like the president ought to -- -- that.

When the state department's -- and a real time.

I don't have answers that you're looking for a certain song that's I guess yeah I've I've I've got a grilling you know and I mean I think a lot of there's a lot we don't know about some of the things you just you just asserted.

You know the CIA denies to be true which is not -- take away from Jennifer Griffin's you know great reporting but.

The CIA says -- there was no stand down order there's obviously a lot we don't know about.

And I know there have been more and more -- talks provided you -- -- minute by minute accounts from the Pentagon from the CIA from the State Department.

And at some point -- there needs to be some sort of reckoning because they don't always add up.

Down.

Look I I actually think you're one of the guys that really does try to play down the middle middle like our own Ed Henry and there are -- few others.

Those that question by Jonathan Karl today Don they're great -- yeah I thought those really good and I don't wanna be -- -- make a blanket.

Media for bias question but I don't -- to get your thoughts on it.

I wanted to -- that you you wrote a book the outpost and untold story of American valor and you talk about 53 I think was the number of Americans.

And -- surrounded.

By 400 Taliban on the really outnumbered and he wrote this book and I'm reading it this is an amazing story that only most people know about.

Tell us a little about well.

It did this combat outpost was put in this incredibly obscure corner.

Of Afghanistan.

At the bottom of three steep mountains fourteen miles from the Pakistan border.

The troops were -- originally put there to try to prevent.

The insurgents from coming in from Pakistan.

But as -- the years went wrong.

And it became more and more dangerous the reason for that -- to be there.

Seem to to -- but the outpost stayed there and one of the reasons campus stayed there is because the military has this very can do spirit.

That candy spirit often is one of the greatest things in the world sometimes it means that mistakes are not admitted.

And and buying in this summer of 2009 as a pentagon investigation later admitted.

There was no strategic or tactical reason for that camp to be there -- become a camp -- its only purpose was its own self defense.

And for years the intelligence reports have been warning that something bad was gonna happen to this camp and then it finally did.

It just before dawn October 3 2009.

About 400 Taliban attacked -- camp 53 Americans.

In the worst possible vulnerable position.

And the Taliban may be evil but they are also Smart and they pinned down the mortars that -- down the observation post they knew where to go with everything.

Eventually they got in the camp.

Eight Americans died that day.

But forty -- Iraq and the testament and one of the reasons I wrote this -- is because the heroism of those who survived and the -- to guide him was just remarkable they ran out.

Into this hailstorm of bullets and rockets and mortars to save their Brothers to providing ammunition and -- and it's it's a sad story but it's also very inspiring one -- This is who we have serving us.

In the armed service and all clad in blue and light of I know everyone's talking about the salacious nature of -- General Petraeus and all this.

These guys put so much on the line for us they risked their lives and they sacrificed so much and we.

I don't think an accurate picture as he's being portrayed often enough by the about our military.

I love the book and it's really terrific we're very well -- went to Afghanistan you talked all these guys owner of fifty people there has really well done.

Jacque appreciate call myself back again I appreciate -- a lot of fans among -- troops -- -- good people great people will look at them and.

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