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Republicans waiting on more answers from Chuck Hagel

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    Will GOP move to block president's pick for defense secretary?

  • Duration 5:53
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-- -- week since former senator Chuck Hagel answered questions in front of a senate committee but he has yet to be confirmed.

Republicans say they still need more information from him while Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin says they are asking too much.

Try to renounced the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee senator James inhofe of Oklahoma good Pataki senator thanks so much for kids do with these before we get into the -- a confirmation -- -- -- -- -- senator Lindsey -- made some news today as saying that he thinks the confirmation.

Chuck Hagel and as well John Brennan for the CIA should be held up until the president has a full accounting of his whereabouts and his involvement.

During the big Gaza attack -- where do you come down.

Well you know if it's.

There's so many other reasons to hold up.

Chuck Hagel and not so -- -- -- But yeah he has every right to do that he's looking for more of more information.

He has not gotten it yet and I know that because I'm the ranking member on this on the -- -- on the Republican side armed services.

-- we have made several requests to hand -- And I think as a member of the committee that Lindsay has every right to it right to -- I doubt as as we heard during Leon Panetta.

Testimony to your committee.

He had one conversation with the president and -- chairman of the joint chiefs staff Martin Dempsey.

Last about a half an hour during that attack and that was the only time that the president checked in with him and with the chairman of the joint chiefs.

On a personal level are you concerned about what his level of involvement was during that -- I'm concerned about its level of concern on -- thing you know.

If you stop and look at all the things that happened in April may June July.

Those are things that -- the Red Cross to cut -- get out of there the brits did the same thing.

And I know.

Chris Stevens he's a great guy and he actually made a request for more security.

It was denied that -- and request I would say.

Where it was the president during all that time it was a lack of I don't know lack of interest in this thing that he was certainly not being presidential.

And what's sure big problem with.

How's the knee the entire aftermath of my big and it can be they're not really covering the Wright issue because what we do you know about -- Gaza.

Is that now talking about the the attack on the end and that was a second attack it actually had an early in the morning of the twelfth.

When that happened that was -- that was without any question.

Eight a terrorist attack that was organized al-Qaeda type of of attack.

Everybody knows it Brandon told police that unequivocally.

That's what it was in Panetta said the same thing with the in the open -- now they knew that.

The day of the attack in light of -- since Susan Rice at -- lied to the American people.

On that weekend all five of this the big shows on TV.

But the only answer is it was before the election and they didn't want to he would -- wouldn't know what a lousy.

The policy we've had the president has had.

In the in the Middle East something else that came up during the hearing was secretary Panetta said that there was no way that they could have called in F -- decisions that you just can't bomb the heck out of a place.

With the F sixteens have you don't know where you're going to do you buy that argument that there was nothing that that the Pentagon could have done with aircraft.

Even flying a load scare people away because they couldn't they -- prepared for this we're told about months ahead -- -- certainly weeks at a time.

They can replace something in the vicinity that's what we are saying should have been done.

If you stop and realize that Cris Stevens was making a plea for help.

All during that period of time that I would say that we we could have had so -- -- there.

When we have the answer is there not -- -- says we should have.

That we have -- Let's let's switch to the hagel confirmation you are on the record senators and that you will do all you can to prevent him from becoming secretary of defense John out of -- -- -- that you that you and I said that in the very beginning and when he came into my office.

I -- sizes and -- -- -- nearly year war hero and all that.

Which can't be secretary of defense that does it -- to -- -- you at all concerned that.

The ministry of Iran is endorsing his candidacy his nomination for secretary of defense the things that he is -- It's senator crews came out these things -- Al-Jazeera interview where he agreed that America is the world's bully.

It agreed that Israel is guilty of committing war crimes.

You know that this the type of thing that you can't you you you can't accept.

I -- -- popular and I know that he's gonna do as best I would do my best to.

To see that he's not -- sectors and among the things that you could potentially do to derail his confirmation is too.

Not a filibuster in the senate is that something you out of -- -- did it would be put it this way.

It's been done many many times -- 89 times in the last since in that in recent history.

71 of those times where it was not filibuster necessarily but who has called for a sixty vote margin I want a sixty vote margins -- -- And you don't have to filibuster to yet there.

If there's a way of doing what you're -- actually have to mount a filibuster well -- there's the threat I think that and that and that's what triggers the cloture vote so would you threaten.

A filibuster I would threaten to cause a sixty vote margin yes I would do to filibuster and definitely.

You realize you've just -- abusers saying that you -- you would support a filibuster.

But it -- had many of your senate colleagues have said they don't think it should come to that that that will they see they're they're pretty stating that's the assumption that we haven't been doing it.

John in the last nine years -- -- nine times.

And and and some of them have been confirmed some have not but I really don't see anything rove and requiring a sixty vote margin.

Form either limited to the most significant jobs or appointments that are present it.

Frankly I don't trust discipline -- this president to make the right appointments I don't think that hagel is incredibly.

Senator James inhofe.

Good to see this afternoon -- do it thanks for spending time.