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Veteran senator breaks down secretary of state's long-awaited testimony on the Benghazi terror attacks, says there are still unanswered questions
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Many questions that are -- answer.
And the answers frankly that you've given this morning are not satisfactory.
To me why is it.
That the administration still refuses to provide the full text of emails regarding.
The deletion of references to al-Qaeda and terrorism in the talking points why do we care.
Because -- the classified information had been included it gives an entirely different version of events.
To the American people.
Going to the American people and tell them what happened then you ought to have your facts straight.
Senator John McCain confronting secretary of state Hillary Clinton about the -- does he attack the attack that left four Americans including ambassador Chris Stephen's dad.
Why was Senator McCain not satisfy would secretary Clinton's answers we asked him.
Senator nice to see us and thank you gonna today you ask questions of secretary of state Hillary Clinton I know that the true view our friends but -- quite rough -- Well I hope I wasn't rough honor but I think.
We need to make it clear that there are many unanswered questions here months after the tragic loss of four brave Americans and we still don't know.
What shape the talking points that and restoration -- we still don't know when the president was -- we still don't know.
Why the survivors.
Who were.
Who were flown to Germany when -- asked the next day where there was a spontaneous demonstration or not we still don't know why the president continued.
For at least two weeks afterwards.
To say that he didn't know whether it was a terrorist attack -- -- and of course -- Exchange that he had with Mitt Romney in their debate where he said -- called it terrorist attack when he hadn't.
But there's so many questions that remain unanswered why we're so many warnings ignored.
By the State Department why why should win the person in charge of the detail of sixteen people.
Objected and the question to stay because of there.
Failure in the security there around.
The consulate.
Why did they heed the warnings when militia attack on the British ambassador.
None of these questions have been asked it to the satisfaction.
Frankly if any of us who have -- -- paid close attention.
But did you get them today and NASA engineers to watch hundreds or even in the house at all a lot of it is members of congress talking.
And they get to the end of their time and then they have to get the answer in writing later because David either praising her.
Or roughing her dropping into the really was sort of like you know what do you know when you know like who is there -- there was -- there's very little of that in hearing.
Well first of all it's not.
Two surprising given members of congress but second -- -- -- only -- five minutes so I had to lay out in my in my five minutes those questions that remain unanswered.
Because you know with all due respect to secretary of state she basically sort of says that everything had been taken care.
Greta why in the world should we not know what the emails were when they decided what particular language.
That ambassador Susan Rice would use talking to.
The American people why would ambassador rice say al-Qaeda has been decimated we know al-Qaeda hasn't been decimated we know it's on the rise.
Why don't why isn't -- I realize that you're in the minority here but six.
Ambassador rice.
Talked to senators behind closed doors she -- not been summoned to the house where the majority republics a majority so none of this is.
Yeah she has those answers.
And she hasn't been summoned.
I'm not sure how many answer she had us because -- -- was chosen her precious points of presence said.
Would end and defensive where she doesn't know anything about -- got a seat that was -- that statement.
She was given a set of talking points.
Now she should've known better she should have checked him out the same way that.
Colin Powell should have known better when he told the world that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
But.
I don't think she has many of the answers the answers lie within the State Department to CIA.
And the White House who changed the talking points and why.
Because the talking points if it had included the classified information they had.
Would have depicted a very different version of events than the ones that can -- -- rice told the American people.
And I guess finally why would we ever think.
That people bring mortars and rocket propelled grenades to spontaneous demonstrations.
-- -- on the face up and end.
This cannot be ignored the fact that this was all in the heat of a presidential campaign.
A president who was campaigning saying.
Bin Laden is dead and al-Qaeda is on the run we know that's not true.
As -- sort of passing the torch in the next couple days -- weeks between secretary of state Hillary Clinton and soon to be -- take John Kerry.
I'm curious your thoughts on how Secretary Clinton has done as secretary of state.
And your thoughts about John -- he goes forward.
First -- and Secretary Clinton is admired and respected around the world she and I have been.
Friends for many years we used to travel together and then there's a drinking contest and nowhere -- -- false false high right.
And had.
So.
I have.
I admire.
The fact that she is admired throughout the world and -- very effective secretary of state I also think that John Kerry.
We'll do they a credible job as secretary of state he has a world of experience.
And John Kerry and I don't agree on a lot of issues but we have a relationship.
Which was forged two years ago and so I have confidence that he will carry out the presence.
Agenda and serve the present now.
I wouldn't nominate very frankly as friendly as we are wouldn't nominate him to be secretary of state I would have my own selection but.
I I respect the present selection in this case I do have significant.
And serious questions for.
Senator I -- to another coming up soon yes becoming before.
Armed services committee next week.
On the topic of the Pentagon's second offense -- second defense Panetta has said that he's going to lift the ban on women in combat but what's your thought.
I think that I respect that judgment I would -- -- emphasize.
That there are certain specialties.
That require certain physical capabilities.
And I would not bar women for example -- tapes OK I would not bar them from them if that's his decision.
But I hope that they would have to measure up to the same physical standards.
Because he's -- the shields for the best example they're small unit they have to depend on each other.
And I'm not saying that women can't perform that way I just hope we would keep the same standard requirements.
For screening and eligibility to be a member particularly if some of our elite military units.
I know -- issue in Washington one of my colleagues Chad program -- confirmed that speaker Boehner told a group of Republicans on this on the house side.
That president Obama's focus is to annihilate the Republican Party.
Is that that collective viewpoint here to the Republicans in the senate or not.
Greta I've seen a number of presence in their second terms I've seen.
President Reagan and President Clinton in their second term President Bush junior in his second term.
There was always an outreach.
Starting with the inauguration -- we've got to work together.
Obviously it was a very confrontational.
Speech that the president gave that I think would have been more appropriate if he feels -- for the state of the union.
-- -- to inaugural screech.
I think you can lend credence to the belief that the president United States wants to.
We gain a majority in the house for a percentage.
And in order to achieve that he has stood.
Split the Republican Party particularly in the house and so.
I regret that -- that I didn't hear one word from the president about.
It's time we -- sat down and work together and address these issues that are confronting the nation but it is what it is.
That means that we're -- for a pretty rough couple years.
He teaching you mention that you haven't really good relation -- Senator John Kerry and it didn't serve.
Missed my.
Observation that.
When there -- -- discussion about what what do my taxes recently is that senator Vice President Biden who is a US senator for many years as many relationship.
Here relationships appear -- the senate he was dispatched it relationships -- important Washington has been.
Relationships are important I am very -- good relationship with the vice president he's one of the most likable guys.
In Washington he had -- strongly disagree.
On many issues but it's good to be able to pick up the phone and and talk to somebody that the -- around here it took me long time to learn.
Is it you can disagree with people and you can -- and god -- Ted Kennedy and I used to go at it.
But as long as you don't get personal -- -- don't tax someone's character and integrity.
Than you can shake and forget I -- huge fight one day with.
Ted Kennedy on the floor and we were yelling need each other and we locked up need -- -- -- recently we did pretty good anyway.
Hope that that was what it was like doing business and I learned a lot from him he did a press Obama.
I haven't had that much to do with President Obama I've been over the White House once in the last four years.
And good meeting we had was very pleasant.
And he said he was gonna get back to me on a number of issues and I never heard from him again so it's not that we've had a bad relationship we've just had no relationship.
Senate thanks thank you.
