You're watching...
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton on Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearings and growing tension in the Middle East.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Facility.
For more on Israel's strike on Syria and hagel confirmation hearing I'm pleased to be joined by former US ambassador to the UN -- Fox News contributor.
John Bolton ambassador Bolton welcome glad to be here left asking -- -- just moment but first we have to talk about.
Chuck Hagel in the senate armed forces hearing today.
We were expecting a rough.
Questioning session for him that was downright brutal what's your take.
Well it was a debacle for Chuck Hagel and it wasn't because the questioning was so brutal as that the answers were so incompetent.
I've been through my own confirmation hearings I've helped prepare.
Other people for -- And I understand.
Hagel went through a lot of time and effort to prepare but it didn't showed today in question after question.
He simply seemed unable.
Or unwilling.
To provide answers that the work coherent -- you've shown some of the clips that the list goes on and on.
-- let's -- one thing for an example sent senator in half saying.
You know why do you think the Iranian Foreign -- so strongly it's that so strongly supports her nomination to secretary how should you can't -- and you into his situation similar when yourself.
But think actually that was when he got right he just didn't answer any what are you gonna do -- OK when when the when the have a yes or no by John McCain on the surge in Iraq well you know I if I were Hillary Clinton.
Today I'd be thanking my lucky stars she didn't face that on the -- Ghazi hearing and and and -- wouldn't say yes -- -- and and if he had to know that question is adamant that.
And McCain is critical to his potential confirmation he didn't do himself any good with that answer -- to have known it would it tough day here why is he in this situation why does -- want to stop.
Well I think it's obviously.
Very substantial cabinet position the largest cabinet department by far enormous responsibility.
And he was very involved in national security issues when he was in the -- I think that's understandable but I think today his inability.
Answer some of these questions now raises competence question that as far as I know didn't exist before today.
So do you think that will result in not getting -- didn't we don't know I think we don't know at this planet a lot depends on John McCain Lindsey Graham -- if they come out against fatal I think it's in jeopardy.
So let's talk -- Syria now last year in Iran -- threatening retaliation over Israel's air strike warning that serious consequences Tel Aviv.
Iran's getting involved here we know they've got the nuclear program you wrote about this in the Wall Street Journal this week.
How does all of this and -- -- it sounds like he could be -- the precursor for more bad things to come just put simply.
Yeah well let's let's look at the reason for the Israeli attack which I think is essentially uncontested except by Syria was to destroy -- sophisticated air defense system being moved from Syria into Lebanon.
If the Israelis didn't want that -- to take place why because they didn't want to have this anti aircraft system.
Capable of defending has -- -- in Lebanon which as -- armed with rockets that can cover essentially.
All of Israel so since Hezbollah is a surrogate for -- what this means is that Iran was trying to protect.
Hezbollah perhaps to launch its own preemptive strikes against Israeli civilian populations or.
To be in a position to retaliate if Israel strikes Iran's nuclear weapons program.
And is is Israel concerned it's having to go at it alone here in terms of the US.
Policy in the Middle East and we're talking that Chuck Hagel he's had some eyebrow raising statements about Israel and Iran obviously.
As well there's got to be concern on the part of Israel about how much support they're gonna happen here in west.
Well I think they know they're not gonna have much support from the Obama administration and it's it's very difficult for Israel would be put that position.
But the State of Israel was founded in part on the belief that only the Jewish people could be secure if they protected themselves so they're defense strategy or not premised on.
The US coming to -- -- in time of need which is a good thing since we're not going to ambassador Bolton thanks for your time tonight thank you.
