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Gen McChrystal on handling of Benghazi investigation

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    Former U.S. commander in Afghanistan weighs in

  • Duration 8:16
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Already there's a major bloated -- to god the investigation the only known person in custody -- the attack is now a free man lawyers for -- RC.

Say their client was let go because authorities have no real evidence to retired general Stanley McChrystal on how the White House is handling all of this.

Well I think first if you look at the death of Chris Stevens and then the other individuals killed in the attack that night it's a tragedy but -- Want to be careful that we as a nation don't draw the wrong conclusions.

Ambassador Stephens was doing what he knew had to do.

He was in big guys he because he decided to be there there was risk involved.

But I admire -- service he was a brave guy he made the decision to be there I think we're going to have to accept risk around the world I don't think you can.

I'll always be in places.

That are completely secure and still get the job -- you don't think that this was.

At least.

Falsely presented.

I I.

I really can't judge that was presented but I think the most important thing is we not lose sight of the fact that.

We need to be engaged in the world and we need people like investor -- out engaging.

Even when it's dangerous well there's this perception that we left our people -- The reporting that I've seen doesn't lead me to draw that conclusion.

Of that meeting it was -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Well I'm not to I think it may have been accidental you know but the most thing I don't think that we left people to die -- think we've failed to heed warnings.

There were certainly from what I've heard there was a lot of intelligence but again I go back sometimes people have got to go in harm's way.

To do the nation's bidding.

And so rather than.

-- in -- a different way I view.

Chris Stevens as a hero.

On senator Lindsey Graham Republican South Carolina journalist that I don't get answers on -- Ghazi.

No confirmation for White House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan as you know as a percentage.

-- is is that there is that right.

I think that's a call that the White House has got to make I don't have all the detail I know John Brennan respected him for years.

Is he up to that CIA director.

I've had a great relationship to John Brennan again through the answer room's been -- stuff if he's in the consider that I think the Senate's got to make that decision I think the president's got to decide whether it's enough and the senator confirms him as a responsibility to they feel comfortable.

You know we had a -- cable coming to defense John Terry coming to state.

-- decorated Vietnam war veterans who have an aversion.

To.

Foreign policy.

Infringement foreign wars.

-- made for very good reason.

How do you feel about that could this.

Complicate.

Our mission.

Abroad to places like Afghanistan and else.

My sense is Senator Kerry and senator hagel are both very experienced people effective military service is helpful but not a prerequisite.

I think it's going to be hard to predict exactly what they do because I think.

The next four years at least are going to be uncharted territory I think we're going to be in a very dangerous world maybe not -- and it's been in the past but certainly.

Doesn't -- -- that -- lights that hate Childress I -- course senator hagel.

Was famous.

Opposing sanctions against I I don't put a lot of stake and who Iran likes and who they don't like me but I well I I generally think anyone around like sergeant Edward.

I don't even given that much credit really appear on.

The whole General David Petraeus Jewish.

We surprise.

I was surprised.

And I served alongside Dave Petraeus for a long time to include many years in combat -- and great servant to the nation and a great partner would you have any idea any of this stuff is you know I I think that.

The most important thing is he and his wife now they they get a chance to focused on themselves that's what I think is most important.

So there was no talk of this fear that he was compromising.

Either military secrets -- -- -- this -- I think this is now.

Belongs to General Petraeus and his wife and I think they focus on and I think me opining.

One way or another just didn't helpful have a lot of planning a little bit on the role of political leaders.

Being your boss.

And when a new president comes -- and whether.

He is a veteran and on and John Kerry was a decorated.

It.

He came in a debate things.

Barack Obama comes in our latest -- haven't had any -- Which is better I like to study history and when I the one that jumps out -- me is -- -- He was a cap and I believe in the black hawk war but is he says all I ever fall was mosquitoes.

When he took over the presidency immediately he was a commander in chief in the biggest war to war in our nation to date.

600000.

American casualties during that war.

He had to learn to be a commander in chief in the job.

He had to learn how to deal with military leaders how to think about strategy and the military leaders that he worked with they had to learn as well.

None of them they have been in the Mexican war but none of them had the background.

To suddenly walk in India with the national level on this scale and they had a pretty good -- What he did but it took awhile if you if you read history it took president Lincoln he went through some generals but he also change the way he led.

-- probably in my estimation took two to two and a half years as president of -- I think every president evolves I think.

John F.

Kennedy evolved I think every monetary advantage just didn't trust is -- I was -- Well he was once.

-- never listened to a general -- in uniform because you'll be mine mesmerized by the uniform.

I think they've all got to come.

To feeling comfortable because -- a team at the end of the day.

The commander in chief and his military leaders that they have to be a team to -- it's not an opposition they bring different views and they work as a team and I think that's extraordinarily important.

You don't on general as the business never hear thoughts and focused on numbers deficits debt.

And maybe the biggest threat to this country right now -- -- -- -- clone wars but whether we even have the money to pay for more of the money.

Period I've talked to some of your retired counterparts -- say.

That is the problem our financial.

Security.

Is at risk people.

I agree in the near to mid term -- financial security and stability of the nation.

Is the essential foundation from which we go in if we can't get that right other nations concede they know our weakness if we don't fix that.

In the long term I think I'm most worried about education.

Because if we don't educate the coming future of Americans we're not gonna have the kind of work force the kind of leaders to kind of military that we need.

Do you.

Should we should be the world kingpins.

Everything is America center I mean it does seem to be a -- -- and maybe we'll see it under secretary of state Terri -- Loves United Nations -- are probably our nation's a shared role that it shouldn't always be you.

US US US but he did well I don't think we should be the king pin and I certainly would use that word but whether we like it or not we are the essential nation.

We are the one nation in the war -- can do things that no one else can and there are certain things.

Even groups of nations can't do unless United States of America participates in some way I think most -- in the future going to be coalition based.

By necessity politically and practically.

But we've got to understand we're not just another equal nation.

We bring power credibility.

Experience.

And technology that.

That makes us unique and so we can't hide the crowd with the -- My Asian tennis -- the book general Stanley McChrystal.

Is to god is a great read you will learn a lot.

An awful lot when you think about this whole Afghanistan thing mineralized as I -- it I thought it was pretty -- -- -- it.

We inherited that's going in there and we didn't appreciate it you write children's basic stuff -- Movements.

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