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Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and “Spring Fever” author Andrew McCarthy on the lack of clear answers in the investigation into th...
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In a statement following that meeting with the Republican senators and acting CIA director Michael morale ambassador rice said this.
We explained that the talking points provided by the intelligence community and the initial assessment upon which they were based.
Were incorrect in a key respect.
There was no protest or demonstration.
In been Ghazi.
Neither I nor anyone else in the administration.
Intended to mislead the American people at any stage in this process.
Now even greater confusion on the issue of who changed ambassador rice is talking points.
The most reasoned explanation and revision comes from CIA acting director morale.
-- this morning told senators that the FBI had removed references to -- Qaeda from those talking points.
But it 4 o'clock eastern time today.
CIA officials said morale misspoke and that in fact the CIA.
Had deleted the references.
Not the FBI.
Stay -- -- -- say joining us now former US ambassador to the United Nations Fox News contributor John Bolton Andrew McCarthy.
Former federal prosecutor.
Who convicted the blind -- and the author of spring fever great to have you both here.
And -- your reaction to what is playing out in the nation's capital.
This is the nation's capped its capital of the super -- Right of that so they say a lot of miss speaking going on it would appear.
You know look.
It it it's been obvious from the start here that they.
Tried to to play out this idea of this video that nobody saw.
Being the cause of this atrocity that happened in Benghazi.
In which four Americans including our ambassador.
Have been killed.
It's imperative that we get to the bottom of this.
And it getting to the bottom of it while it's been a comedy of errors should not obscure the fact that this is an extremely serious matter.
Involving that a major ratification by the commander in chief who did not take action during a seven and a half hour siege.
During which we had assets in place that he could've used to protect Americans.
And we have this this inexplicable result.
Of Americans being killed precisely because of the way the president handled it.
Ambassador this is this is quite a play of it's being produced right now in Washington DC.
Senators I got.
-- Graham.
McCain.
There are sending their being mr.
Not someone is too strong a word but.
Are urgently requested to meet with -- ambassador rice and to what end when we have the responses we've just shown you from three senators.
Say we've got more questions that would had going in.
Well this meeting was obviously a disaster if this was intended to bring them a little bit closer together to facilitate her nomination as secretary of state it was a real failure when you have senators coming out and saying very circumspect -- and unmistakably.
Things are worse now than before the meeting that that's not a good sign.
What Obama will do in terms of the nomination I don't know but clearly what we've got here is an administration that can't get its story straight and I think as long as that day is out there.
This is going to be a very troubled period for Susan Rice and her perspective nomination.
The idea is than any president as a matter tradition has the right to his odd choice to fill whatever office is is an issue.
In this case secretary of state.
But this kind of dissension and contradiction.
And and contest between the two parties over.
Ambassador rice.
-- really creates a different dynamic.
Do you think.
While it it creates a different dynamic I think on on two levels number one.
The appointment of a secretary of state is an extremely important thing for the country.
But in this instance again.
It cannot be used as a side show that obscures.
The much more important thing that we have to get to the bottom of here which is why didn't the commander in chief take the actions that he should have taken to protect.
Americans.
And as far as Susan Rice is concerned.
She is actually at that -- a position now where she's basically saying.
Give me a promotion give me more responsibilities.
-- government on the basis of how wife performed up to this point and what that -- most notorious performance.
Is to go out and carry this cockamamie story to the American people about what happened in this atrocity well.
There is another issue here and it's a matter of equity with that which the Democrats are addressing.
Are in a different -- -- let me bring to it an independent perspective and that is as much as an investor rice has become a lightning rod.
The failures on the part of David Petraeus for -- -- -- -- Michael morale.
Director of National Intelligence James clapper.
The list goes on and on and nearly three months after being -- We don't know who's responsible.
Who made which choices made which decisions.
And who.
Is truly responsible beyond the president himself -- foremost.
-- what was an utter tragedy.
Who were should worship the Republicans be focusing beyond just ambassador rice and -- to this point -- -- Well I think -- that the point is is very clear that there were failures by the administration before the attack -- not providing adequate security there a lot of unanswered questions what happened on the day of the attack and whether everything was done.
To protect people but then there's also the story of what came after and that goes directly.
The administration's foreign policy not just the talking points but who decided about the narrative about the YouTube video.
-- turned quickly to to each of president -- Taking.
Taking powers of that and any other country would make him a dictator.
At the same time declaring that he would not -- not be just another dictator.
-- -- -- watching the Muslim Brotherhood it seems so follow pretty much of the script that you laid out in Euribor spring fever.
And I I think it's it's worth up underscoring here that in Muslim Brotherhood would circles.
More C is a hard line.
He's not you know one of these guys that they that they put out there as a moderate he actually.
In -- -- circles.
Is somebody who use very closely to the to the discipline and structure and ideology of brotherhood so.
No one who has watched this over the years should be surprised by what he's done.
-- thank you very much -- people here appreciate -- you.
Much more on.
