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Sen. Susan Collins on her meeting with the U.N. ambassador, why she's still troubled by the Benghazi attack and wants to revisit Rice's role in Africa...
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If investor rights are trying to smooth over the Ben Ghazi controversy she blew it.
Her means a GOP senators only raising more questions especially -- -- with senator Susan Collins senator com's Preston ambassador rice about her State Department worked back in 1998.
Rice was working at the time on the accident -- -- terrorist attack two US embassies would truck bombs he attacks in Kenya and Tanzanian killing over 200.
Twelve or Americans.
Here is senator counts.
Senator -- thank you it's great to be -- -- you spoke yesterday with ambassador -- is that right I did we -- Privately for about seventy by men so -- -- meeting did you get the sense she answered every question.
Foley that you that's different -- she did not I asked her a wide range of questions ranging from why she agreed.
As UN ambassador to call on those shows in the first place.
Since that position like secretary of state is usually about politics.
And not involved.
And campaigning.
Two more detailed questions about why she blames.
The attacks not on the video why -- that there was some protest when there wasn't.
It was really a wide ranging discussion.
Was -- inability to answer some of the question -- to get the sense I realize it's just have a sense that.
-- wanna answer them or that she didn't have the information or was or some other reason.
Frankly I found her to be very -- -- -- and not very forthcoming.
I asked her for example.
Of why she maintained that it'd been a protest that evolves into an attack.
When the president of Libya had been on right before her.
And it said that they'd already arrested fifty people that they were extremists that they've worked.
-- people with ties to al-Qaeda that some of them had come from Natalie.
And that they eat at that it had been a premeditated.
Attack.
And -- -- answer to that in particular was really unsatisfactory.
She basically said that she -- streets of intelligent reporting.
Worst superior.
And it.
When you think that the president of that country.
Is telling you that it's a terrorist attack.
You would think that would has cute who at least -- And think about what -- and other intelligence was saying you think that she when she appeared on the spot Sunday shows -- she appearing as a spokesperson for the government to inform the American people.
Or was she there as an advocate for political reasons.
That's really a key question.
I believe that the White House asked her to -- mine.
Because they felt that she would emphasize.
The points -- the Obama administration.
Wants to emphasize that.
And that's what's discouraging to me I don't think it's a coincidence.
That secretary of state.
Hillary Clinton declines -- the opportunity to go on those shows.
I think she realized that the secretary of state and I would argue the UN ambassador.
It should be above politics should not be tacky about it very contentious.
Issue right in the midst of part but political.
Campaign one of the things that I think you spoke about at the press conference just their reviews of reporters -- in 1998 -- our embassies were bombed and prior to the Bobby.
There were apparently the ambassadors asked for more security before the -- I think there might twelve Americans were murdered plus many others -- -- those two volleys.
Our ambassador rice -- the state are not as that you at a faster but the State Department on the centers of the accident yes.
Did were you satisfied the question she asked about what she knew in terms of any request for.
Protection or beefing up security -- -- you ask those questions I did answered those questions we took a look -- had -- 1998.
Accountability.
Review board re bored.
On the bombings.
In Kenya and Tanzania.
And at the time -- to indicate Susan Rice was essentially.
In charge of the African affairs at the State Department.
This was a searing.
-- -- and it was one of the Al qaeda's most successful.
-- bombings.
And twelve Americans died 4000.
People were injured.
200 people over all lost their lives.
So this wasn't it -- that you would saying he would remember.
In in great detail a few words the person.
Who was the assistant secretary for African affairs.
I knew from the -- port that the ambassador Kenya.
Our ambassador to Kenya had made repeated.
Requests for more security.
Warning of the terrorist threat and the danger to the American person out there.
As well as others working at the embassy and that those requests have been.
Turned down when IE -- isn't right she told me.
Said she wasn't expecting a question on bad and that she would have to refresh her memory.
And go bad can think about it she then said that she was sure she was not at ball.
In turning down any requests for additional security.
Well those answers in -- -- themselves are somewhat contradictory.
But I can't imagine.
Not remembering.
And series.
On our embassies.
Did you walk out of the meeting with a sense that you -- more likely to vote for her confirmation should she be nominated by the president.
For secretary of state or that you are less likely -- I blacked out of the meeting -- that crows found sense of disappointment.
I actually presented Susan Rice to the porn.
Relations committee in the senate when she was first nominated to beat the UN and -- that are.
So what I had spoken -- her even though I did not know -- well.
I was impressed with her background he has some family ties to the state of things and I actually presented to her to that committee.
So clearly I want her to be successful.
I was proud of her and yet I left that meeting.
Win.
Less.
But feeling about her judgment.
And it -- doubted her suitability.
Should be secretary saying.
Now it's premature for me to make a final decision she obviously has -- -- -- -- nominated much less have a hand.
Have -- nomination hearing.
Bad I am very troubled by the fact that she gave such conflicting.
Answers.
And she had access have much more.
Then just the unclassified.
Talking points she -- to access to the fall presidential daily breeze.
On intelligence so she was well informed.
And to new.
That our word intelligence community felt.
That direct ties to al-Qaeda affiliates that we're involved in the attacks.
Sent -- -- -- thank you.
