Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Sec. Panetta answers questions about Libya

Details

  • Description

    What did outgoing Defense secretary tell Senate panel about attack?

  • Duration 3:18
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Capitol Hill Mike thanks for that.

The confirmation vote for the next Defense Secretary was held off until the current pentagon chief agreed to answer questions.

About last September's terror attack and Libya.

Today a senate panel got to question Leon Panetta the national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin tells us not everyone was satisfied with what they heard.

Well ushered the based on time distance and alert postures -- -- they wouldn't have gotten there in time time.

Distance.

The lack of an adequate warning it takes hours to be able to risk.

On the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and joint chiefs chairman general Martin Dempsey explained why the military couldn't do more to save the lives of ambassador Chris Stevens.

Sean Smith Tyrone woods and -- Doherty.

Ending -- on September 11.

United states military.

And so I've said this not.

And frankly should not be a 911 service.

Capable of arriving on the scene within minutes to every possible contingency.

Around the world where.

When I got to lasted for two days that was it any airplane life goes anywhere in the world before the attack was concluded.

If you're tired -- -- a strike aircraft no senator your responses general Dempsey are.

Very inadequate and in my opinion in the same kind of -- receive for the security that you provided it -- counselor.

They wanted to know what the president knew and when he knew it.

So he didn't ask you what ability we had any area what we could do.

-- did you having that further communications with -- ninth.

No did he ever -- -- that night to say how are things going.

What's going on where's the consulate.

No -- in that eight hour period did the president show any curiosity about how is this going.

What kind of assets do you have helping these people did he ever make that phone call -- -- There is no question in my mind -- United States.

Was concerned about American lives -- all due respect I don't all of that's incredible statement if he never called -- -- Q are we helping these people -- what's happening to their.

Dempsey admitted that he had seen the August 16 cable that ambassador Chris Stevens wrote to the State Department.

Warning -- thing -- consulate could not sustain an attack senator Graham wanted to know why Secretary Clinton testified she never saw that cable.

Well I don't know that she didn't know about the cable she said she didn't -- then that city are you stunned that she didn't.

I would call myself surprised that she -- Senator McCain asked about the US providing weapons to the Syrian opposition.

Did you support.

The recommendation by secretary of state.

And then secretary of state Clinton and then head of CIA.

General Petraeus that we provide weapons to the resistance and Syria do you support that we didn't.

Last weekend the New York Times reported Clinton and Petraeus asked the White House last summer for permission to arm the Syrian rebels.

Senator Rand Paul hinted last week that the -- sending -- May have been involved in moving weapons from Libya to Syria via Turkey Chris.

Jennifer Griffin reporting for the Pentagon Jennifer thanks.

Load More