Sen. Graham: Benghazi consulate was a 'death trap'

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-- Senator McCain.

And senator Graham and others want to go after somebody that they should go after me.

And I'm happy to have that.

Discussion would.

But for them to go after.

The UN ambassador.

Who had nothing to do -- doesn't.

And with simply making a presentation based on intelligence that she had received -- and this divert besmirch her reputation.

These outrageous.

I was President Obama referring to US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice last week.

Suggesting if anyone including he named -- Senator McCain and senator Graham.

Has a problem with the way she handled the messaging.

In connection with the death of four Americans and -- -- Libya.

They can blame him the commander in chief.

But not hurt in his field.

Ms.

rice you may remember went on five Sunday talk shows.

After the attack the Sunday after the attack and suggested that a video.

And spontaneous protest were to blame for the violence.

Now one of a lot of voices in the country on the apparent debacle in -- Ghazi.

Is doing just that blaming the president yes but adding that it was US leadership that allowed our consulate -- to become nothing short of the quote death trap.

Lindsey Graham is a Republican senator South Carolina and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee he's with me now senator welcome.

Thank you -- -- So.

I want to ask you this -- let's start with this because over the when we went to the weekend we had some folks on Capitol Hill saying.

Look Petraeus.

Had had issued -- some talking points saying.

This was an al-Qaeda attack.

And then somebody took that line out of the talking points that were given to Susan Rice she was sent out there on the Sunday talk shows to say -- -- boss told it is saying the question was we took that out.

Over the weekend the White House says it wasn't us.

So -- -- it did today do we know the answer to who took that out about al-Qaeda.

Well we certainly know the answer -- the biggest beneficiary of having it taken out was and asked the president's reelection.

Do you think it's an accident.

Dead not mentioning that al-Qaeda was involved.

Help create continue the narrative.

By the president himself that we kill bin Laden al-Qaeda has been dismantled I don't know who took out the talking points and less if I got this right you want to explain to the American people about being Ghazi a tragic situation where four Americans were killed so who do you pick.

You pick somebody that you admit knows nothing about what happened so why would you pick somebody knows nothing.

We pick the person who's the most politically compliant good friend of -- that would read -- thing you gave them.

I'm not the problem the process that led to Susan Rice -- informing the American people.

Is the problem she didn't just tell us it was a a riot and a mob spawned by video which was completely untrue she repeated that Sunday in our -- -- this president promised to give them lie and he did.

He promised to dismantle al-Qaeda and they're being dismantled and the truth of the matter was.

Al-Qaeda had come to our front door in Libya.

And wanted to present himself -- and for two weeks.

After then September 11 attack going the view.

David Letterman in the United Nations and continue to suggest this was a mob riot respond video surely he know with the classified information was there's a lot accounting to be done and I blame the president above all others.

But what do you make of hit the White House denial on the talking points mean.

Dick do you believe I -- -- theory has -- myself I White House interfered in the intelligence that was offered Susan Rice and and that they need answer for -- for that but they seem to be denying that they did that.

Well you've you've been a lawyer for very long time we're talking people at the White House are under criminal investigation.

Remember the -- about bin Laden that led to the Pakistani doctor being given a life sentence.

Three weeks in a row they were -- major news stories in the New York Times about successful.

Counterterrorism operations how the bin Laden raid unfolded.

It was done to make the president look good and strong he deserves credit for the bin Laden -- but to leak information.

The post -- Pakistani -- -- jail for life is.

As a bad thing they told us about disrupting underwear bomber plot in Yemen -- double agent that hurt our relationships with the British and put that.

That whole family at risk they also leaked information about a CIA.

Effort with the Israelis to have a cyber attack against Iran.

These people.

Have shown a propensity.

To leak classified information to make the president will like a strong decisive decisive commander in chief.

Is it much of a stretch to think that the same people would withhold information to keep him from looking -- Some and -- -- -- from you in the senate and over in the house including Adam Smith Democrat has -- have come out and said look she came out she said.

That this was a spontaneous demonstration.

That it was not pre plan.

But they say why can't it have -- both a spontaneous demonstration.

And a terrorist attack -- couldn't what she was saying be technically true that it was spontaneous.

But it was a spontaneous act by a bunch of terrorists.

Well why can't.

Why was that consulate left open after months.

-- urging that we need more reinforcements.

Let's get back to the big picture here.

I blame the president for allowing the consulate to stay open after the British close players in the Red Cross left.

There were multiple attacks one in April 1 in June multiple warnings from investors Stephenson al-Qaeda is -- being Gaza do you think he's still I asked -- -- All he had to if he's not he quit being commander in chief how can you imagine a situation where a consulates attacked a holes blown in the wall.

The president goes out in the public the next day and somebody asking.

What do you think about the consulate attack and being Gaza yesterday says I don't know which -- talking about.

Surely to god he knows what's going on when our -- attack.

Dizzy Izzy quit being commander in chief and into Adams.

To that the question you just asked me.

It is clear that the people on the ground they identified the organizations as an al-Qaeda affiliate in real time.

There was never a mob there was never -- riot and why was the reference to al-Qaeda is taken out in the talking points -- cost.

We're three weeks away from election and a -- Taliban and al-Qaeda inspired attack in Libya.

So goes the idea bin Laden's dead al-Qaeda has been dismantled I don't know just and I can only watch as senator and I didn't know.

Yeah my auditors not forget that I recognize that wouldn't touch app that I appreciate the point well taken and thanks for coming and we thank you right back --

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Sen. Graham: Benghazi consulate was a 'death trap'

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