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Former CIA agent Mike Baker on Secretary Clinton's testimony on the U.S. consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya
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But the big story Nicole politically is the secretary of state Hillary Clinton today testifying before the congress answered questions about the attacks back in September the terror attack on the US consulate in Benghazi Libya.
Board said the response saved American lives in real time and it did.
The very next morning I told the American people that heavily armed militants assaulted -- compound.
And I vowed to bring them to justice.
And I stood with President Obama and the Rose Garden as he spoke of an act.
-- -- That was explanation as we bring in Mike Baker former CIA Covert operations officer and president of the firm diligence.
LLC at times during the hearing things got heated -- -- show you a little bit of that on the second at other times emotional so it's.
He can interest stink so far this is only the start of that Mike -- -- your impressions -- that anything stood out.
Well knowledge is the ongoing continuing white out smoke and mirrors review I mean I think it's a lot for secretary of state months and months out.
The incident that to get up there and and below that snippy with members of the of the of the committee's it just it's just an odd.
Situation -- anybody I had of this appearance.
Has been much delayed right was anticipating that she was gonna get up there and and reveal anything -- there was going to be some amazing transparency.
To explain as a minute state accountability review board came out would -- report.
Frankly I don't think we needed three months for them to produce something that was a statement of the obvious we knew there were serious.
Administrative and logistical.
Screw ups leading up to the incident we know that.
But they didn't address some of the issues which I'm sure she's not going to address -- namely.
You know who was in the White House situation room that night of the -- it did anybody in the military can command request authorization.
To at least try rescue attempt.
Was -- authorization denied and finally the most important question I think it's how could the president just fail to at least try.
-- -- planes up in the air to at least try to get a response whether you stabilize or not our job is to try and save those lives and this wasn't -- I don't talk went -- talking about that.
Mrs.
Clinton said number times today that there is no delay in the response but there's been reporting.
Mainly by Fox News that that there were some delays in the response to the attacks you mentioned her tone.
I think what you're referring -- this exchange you have a senator rod Johnson.
Of Wisconsin have been talking over and over about Susan rice's appearance UN ambassador on the Sunday shows are right after the -- -- attacks.
And you know whether or not American people were misled by ambassador rice and here's that exchange senator Johnson speaking then.
Secretary Clinton answering watch that's.
We were misled the -- closely protests meant something spraying out of that in the salt spring out of that.
And that was easily them to ascertain that that was not the fat but but the American people to -- -- that within days and and they -- They didn't know with all due respect the fact is yet for dead Americans what I'd had a right protest it was a because of guys out for a walk when not decide they don't kill some Americans.
What difference at this point does it make it is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can't.
To prevent it from ever happening again senator.
What difference does it make she says Mike what he said.
Are you kidding me that is the answer from the secretary of state if it's her shop.
It up to find out who was responsible we know is responsible for months and months and months.
The other security situation is deteriorating -- -- weapons all over that place we knew it was a war environment high threat high I'd -- risk.
And we knew the cables -- going back and forth and that those cables were ignored requesting additional security all of that we know so what does she possibly talking about other again in this this effort to deflect.
Because you -- obviously they were coming up on the election in November obviously I'd I suspect there were political operatives and so situation room.
And they did not want to take the risk but ultimately.
Ultimately the problem was yes the CIA staff on the ground a global response personnel they did everything possible.
Two to try to protect and they did protect and save a lot of life we -- had a much worse situation if it wasn't for them.
But their job -- to wait for the calvary and the president never sent the calvary.
Mike thank you you know there are other headlines come out of this Senator John McCain said that secretary Clinton's -- were not satisfactory senator Ron Paul said if you were president he would've fired Secretary Clinton that happened a few moments ago his comments Mike Baker thanks as always.
