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Sen. Graham angered to learn Defense Secretary Panetta only briefed the president once
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Yeah on Capitol Hill today and it was not all about John Brennan and -- some seriously contentious exchanges flu and a major bombshell was revealed.
When former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and joint chiefs chairman.
General Martin Dempsey went before the senate armed services committee to testify about the big Ghazi consulate attack.
-- most alarming news that came out of their testimony -- -- President Obama was virtually absent on the night the four Americans died and according to Panetta.
He and general Dempsey only -- once that night to the commander in chief watch this.
-- PM information that.
That something was happening that -- there was an apparent attack going on in -- -- And I informed the president of of that fact and he at that point.
And directed both myself and general Dempsey to do everything we need.
You to -- try to protect lives there did you have any fit further communications with -- ninth.
Did you have any other further communications did he ever call you that night to say how are things going.
What's going on where's the consulate know did you communicate with anyone else -- the White House that night no.
No one else called you to say.
-- at what -- things going.
All disclosure about telling statement infuriated my next guests watched this exchange he taught at the -- United States one time.
To be tough -- for thirty minutes.
One time.
And you never talk to him again.
-- the -- idea until afterwards until after the attack was on a -- Are you surprised at the press in the United States never called -- secretary Panetta and say how's it going off.
That it.
You know -- normally in these situations so -- he knows the level of threat will it who didn't let me finish cancer.
We.
We were deploying the forces he knew we were deploying the forces he was being kept what.
I had I hate to interrupt you but I got limited time wouldn't -- forces track question do you his -- and 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 -- Look compared.
There is no question in my mind -- United States.
Was concerned about American lives of all due respect I don't all of that's an incredible statement if he never called a nasty are we helping these people -- what's happening -- -- -- -- we have a secondary however will be things after the -- And here now with more South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham senator I'm I'm stunned.
That Charlie.
If our family member.
And -- -- -- loved ones was killed.
And then Ghazi -- be sick to my stomach.
The president of the United States talked with secretary -- defense for fifteen minutes never talk of sector is state.
Until after the attack was over.
Never made a phone call saying how close are we to help these people Chris Chris -- What did he do when he was told the and master was missing we've had one investor killed.
In the last thirty years.
-- president of the United States has to account for his leadership here.
I intend to hold them accountable thus -- the White House is delayed denied deceived and stonewalled.
In this has to content and -- -- to account for his leadership.
This was an eight hour ordeal I mean and as you pointed out they didn't send -- any help which well Mallory that they could have.
What was the timeframe wasn't it early right after the attack started that Panetta spoke with with the Obama.
So no it's like eight hours went by the whole night went by and nobody.
They didn't talk to Obama wants.
He talked to President Obama for 30 minutes around 5 o'clock in the afternoon that's when the attack I had was about an hour old.
Our ambassador was missing about thirty minutes later during the entire episode.
Not one phone call to the Department of Defense from the press United States.
Wondering what's going on how close are already helping these people.
That's secretary of state never once talked with secretary of defense.
The -- in the United States never made one phone call to find out how this operation was going.
And this whole episode.
If it -- come out before the election.
Do you remember when Obama turned to Romney in the third debate and basically said.
I know these people I know their families I know their names I would never put them in harm's way -- Mr.
President.
What did you do for eight hours who did you talk to what kind of leadership did you exhibit they made two movies about the bin Laden raid you deserve.
Credit for that but you've had no accounting for the -- -- attack.
And you're gonna have an accounting I'm not going to stop.
Until the American people know what their commander in chief did for eight hours and thus far all we know Louisiana fifteen minute conversation.
Right now multiple requests senator -- made four.
Extra security because the threat was great and they couldn't withstand this tax.
Senator McCain focused on that with general Dempsey watch this exchange.
Did you ever get the that the message that said they could not withstand a sustained attack on main consulate I was tracking that intelligence I was tracking through general receive that information I did and -- such I didn't bother -- that bothered me a great deal then why ever recently forces and right in place to be ready to respond because we never received -- request to do so number one and number two.
We never heard of Tim masters Stephens who repeated warnings about -- -- had surgery through general -- but we never received a request for support from the State Department.
Which would have allowed us to put sources I government's fault.
I'm not blaming the State Department I'm sure they had their own would you blame.
-- -- who is responsible man.
-- so Senator McCain is putting out that they failed to give them the requested security people for war you pointed out they failed Doreen.
The attack and then it was -- my right to say it's a lie and cover up after.
Well I think there's three things we learned today that Susan -- is statements on 15 September 5 days after the attack -- a bunch -- BS.
The costs Panetta and Dempsey said today does senator and I often get a great job.
We knew that night it was a terrorist -- senator Dan.
Chairman Dempsey said the mortar rounds hitting the roof -- was pretty impressive.
Panetta and Dempsey both testified that they knew it was a terrorist attack.
On September the eleventh my question is how could the president United States for over two weeks.
Tell us we don't know what happened how could Susan Rice go on national TV and say there's no evidence of a coordinated terrorist attack.
She misled the American people who change the talking points.
And Secretary Clinton story makes no sense she said she had a clear idea of the threats.
She didn't even know about the August 15 memo from -- her own investor and the secretary of defense did.
That and the president himself was still blaming YouTube video two weeks later -- yes -- -- were against enhanced interrogations.
W and I had a disagreement on that -- against torture OK I don't believe I don't believe that three people though -- -- -- but not to digress.
Okay what about the president.
Bombing people.
Killing of targeting them -- drone attacks.
If I think he I think he should have enhanced interrogation techniques that are classified I -- -- Kia.
We should kill all the terrorist -- -- after the terrorists we can fine I'm okay with a -- But he won't he's you know we've captured one person -- in four years it's hard interrogated dead man.
So this president has close gitmo where a nation without a jail misses don't come back to haunt us in your morning guys he's come at this commander in chief -- disengaged.
He doesn't understand the realities -- Syria become -- it contagion from the whole region the whole mid east is blowing up.
We don't have a place to put a terrorist if we captured them and it's gonna bite us in the but I guarantee your right that I -- -- wrong but you're not.
Good to see senator thank you.
