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Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton on potential cuts to the Defense Dept. and the Administration’s handling of the Benghazi attack.
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Thank you.
Meanwhile up.
500 billion dollars that's how much -- -- -- Defense Department if we go over the cliff.
With more on what this means for national security former United Nations ambassador John Bolton.
Joins me now investor welcome back to show always great to have you here.
What do you see as the impact of these cuts sequestration.
On the defense spending.
Well remember these 500 billion dollars of cuts that sequestration will bring are on top of something very close to a trillion dollars of defense cuts.
In the first Obama term.
That the the extra cuts really -- -- go well beyond muscle now we're and -- bone.
Defense Secretary Panetta.
Has made that clear so on the president's own defense secretaries has said that.
That our defense capabilities are being cut unacceptably you know that it's bad and and let me just say here.
At this is not a matter of being count him.
That this is that this goes to the ability of America to sustain the international order.
That our economy rest on you're gonna have sustained prosperity in the United States.
If the United States can't provide whatever minimal order there is in the world today and that's the direction were -- and.
Well what's gonna happen as a practical matter we gonna have a lot of layoffs -- -- going to be people is going to be -- and machinery and what's gonna get cut.
Well if the sequestration goes through.
Over the long term obviously the worst thing that will happen will be our inability to for a cure.
The sophisticated and expensive.
That weapon systems that we need in the short term I'm sure they'll try.
Personnel layoffs to to mitigate the effect of it but.
It's unpleasant either way you know people say -- these expensive weapon systems.
You don't need them let me be very clear I don't want the United States ever to be -- a fair fight with anybody.
And I'd much rather spend on advanced weapon systems to protect against American casualties the point here is.
If America's not perceived as strong the risk of military hostilities increases.
-- I was switch gears here a little bit talk about the -- -- the attacks.
I wanna know how you would describe the administration's approach -- -- -- if you're satisfied with what's been done the president.
And television interview was dead heat that feels like they're doing a great job what is your response.
But that this is not a matter of fact technical fixes to inadequate security that the -- guys that he -- -- guys he tragedy stands.
From a policy failure a mistaken world view of the Obama administration.
That the war on terror is essentially over that Al qaeda's been defeated.
That the Arab Spring is bringing democracy in the Middle East that -- killings and -- guys in September the eleventh.
Prove that all of those.
Points of view -- wrong the terrorist threat still there and we are not dealing with fanatically so I think.
Sadly my prediction would be Barrymore Ben guys he's out there as long as we hold the view that President Obama expresses.
I have to ask you about Hillary Clinton you've been fairly critical of her.
Recently and she of course -- been sort MIA we haven't seen her for weeks.
Now we get why now we understand why that -- -- -- blood clot that she's being treated for now.
Tell you.
With that knowledge now in retrospect.
What do you make of her disappearance.
Do you feel like maybe -- too harsh in your criticism of her.
But not my point from the beginning has been that there's a real lack of transparency here whether they -- understating.
The health problem.
Or overstating the health problems we still don't know and she's been out of the public view for three weeks one year.
At contemplating a presidential run as she is and I say it doesn't do any good for your credibility not to be open and candid.
About this kind of situation that nobody nobody wants.
Her to have a health.
Problem but we expect honesty and openness from our political leaders.
-- -- investor Bolton thanks for coming -- appreciate your time happy new year have a great happy new year.
Thank you.
