benghazi did not happen in a vacuum. the arab revolutions have scrambled dynamics and shattered forces across the region. instability in mali created an expanding safe haven for terrorists and look to extend their influence and plot further attacks like the kind we saw in algeria. let me offer our deepest condolences to the families of the americans killed and injured in the algerian hostage crisis. we remain in close touch with the government of algeria, ready to provide assistance if needed and seeking to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so we can working to to prevent such terrorist attacks in the future. concerns about terrorism and instability in north africa are not new of course. indeed they have been a top priority for this entire national security team. but we need to work together to accelerate a diplomatic campaign and increase pressure on al qaeda and the islamic and other terrorist groups in the region. i conferred with the president of libya and foreign minsters and prime minister of tunisia a

exhibit "a" of leading from behind is benghazi. there are more benghazis to come. this was a death trap. agencies in question are not talking to each other. they're not sharing information with the american people. before we move forward with a new c.i.a. director i want to know what the c.i.a. did regarding benghazi and who changed those talking points? who took al-qaeda out of talking point? >> bret: last thing. you know pressure will build and the democrats will start saying this is a hold-up hindering the president's ability to have the national security team at full strength. how will you respond? >> i hope democrats care about benghazi as much as i do to find out what happened, why information was taken out of talking points that were really unjustified. what did the president do? let's learn together from the benghazi debacle and not hide the fact from congress and american people. hope democratses up this is an important event. bin laden raid deserves to be celebrated. benghazi deserves to be understood and explained. >> bret: senator graham, thank you for

what exactly did she know about security failures in benghazi? well, nbc's kelly o'donnell is live on capitol hill. kelly, this is going to be one dramatic day up there. >> reporter: there has been so much buildup towards this. and because of not only the scope and the tragedy of what happened in benghazi, but the magnitude of who the prime witness is. hillary clinton, in one of her final acts as secretary of state, one of the things members have told me they really wanted to be certain about, was that she would testify while still secretary of state. as we all know, she suffered an illness, first there was a virus, a fall that led to a concussion, then a blood clot. had a really tough go. so there were questions about when she would be able to testify and even for a brief time, there were questions about whether or not her illness was serious enough. that's all been put to rest. what i hear from members is that the tone today will be a lot about looking to what can be done in the future, about protecting some of the sensitive areas that the u.s.

thrown over the wall of the facility in benghazi. may 22, 2012, red cross building in benghazi was hit by two rpg rpg's. the blind shake took responsibility for that attack june 6, 2012, consulate in beach gaza was targeted by an i.e.d. that blew a legal in the perimeter wall and the blind sheik took credit. in august we got a classified state department table warning the benghazi consulate could not withstand a coordinated attack and the regional security officer believes it could not be protected at an emergency meeting a month before the attack on september 11th. a contingency plan was drafted to move the operations to the c.i.a. annex a mile away from the compound. this cable is presumed to have been shared by senior staff and sent to your office and sent to the nsc and on september 11th the day the ambassador was killed he personally wanted of "a growing problem with security in benghazi and growing frustration with security forces and the libyan police." were you aware of that cable? >> that security cable did not come to my at

we had none at benghazi. it was unfortunate we evacuate all the americans and unclassified material was left behind. we had no classified material. there is going to be an effort, because of this work i have directed, to really sort this out so you know and everybody knows exactly what the protocols and rules are and we act accordingly. >> thank you. >> thank you for your thorough, thoughtful, and forthright answers. it is what we have come to become accustomed to. we will welcome you one more time as you come tomorrow to be part of introducing senator kerry to the committee. we will welcome you there, as well. there are several takeaways here that are incredibly important. one is that we have to look at the totality of the threat environment versus just looking for a specific, credible threat when we are thinking about the protection of foreign service personnel. i see we are moving in that direction. the other one is the changes in the department have clear lines of authority and responsibility for security

benghazi did not happen in a vacuum. the arab revolutions have scrambled power dynamics and shattered security forces across the region. instability in mali created an expanding safe haven for terrorists, who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we just saw last week in algeria. and let me offer our deepest condolences to the families of the americans and all the people from many nations killed and injured in the algerian hostage crisis. we remain in close touch with the government of algeria, ready to provide assistance if needed, and also seeking to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so we can work together to prevent such terrorist attacks in the future. now, concerns about terrorism and instability in north africa are not new, of course. indeed they have been a top priority for this entire national security team. but we need to work together to accelerate a diplomatic campaign, to increase pressure on al qaeda and the islamic maghreb and other terrorist grubs gru groups in t

doing what needed to be done, in the follow-up to benghazi. i don't really think anybody in the administration was really focused on that so much as trying to figure out, you know, what we should be doing. and, you know, i wasn't involved in the talking points process. as i understand it, as i've been told. it was a typical inner agency process where staff, including from the state department, all participated to try to come up with whatever was going to be made. this is a intelligence product and it is my understanding that the intelligence community is working with appropriate committees to explain the whole process. >> my time is up. i gather you still stand by the statement you made less than 24 hours. that heavily armed militants assaulted our compound, and you vowed to bring them to justice. you still stand by it? >> absolutely. >> senator cardin. >> thank you, secretary clinton. first, congratulations. thank you for the extraordinary service the past four years as secretary of state >> i also want to thank you for your help in dealing w

report prior to the terrorist attack in benghazi? >> i was certainly aware of a number of reports from threw our government. i don't know the specific report you refer to. there were d.o.d. reports and intelligence and community reports and state department reports talking about the decreasing or the increasing threat enenvironment in eastern libya. that was what we were trying to address with the libyans. remember, the election in july in libya brought to victory what we would consider moderates, people who had a very different view of the kind of future certainly than al qaeda or the militants but there is going to be a struggle in this region and the united states has to be as effective in partnering with the non-jihadist whether they fly a black flag or any other flag. >> i understand this but this is pointed out to be affiliated with al qaeda terrorist whose attack and kill united states citizens citizens and other citizens from the united states around the world. did anyone in your department, were they aware of the report and

benghazi did not happen in a vacuum. the arab revolutions have scrambled power dynamics and shattered security forces across the region. instability in mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we just saw last week in algeria and let me offer our deepest condolences to the families of the americans and all the people from many nations killed and injured in the algerian hostage crisis. we remain in close touch with the government of algeria ready to provide assistance if needed and also seeking to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so we can work together to prevent such terrorist attacks in the future. now, concerns about terrorism and instability in north africa are not new of course. indeed, they've been a top priority for this entire national security team. but, we need to work together to accelerate a diplomatic campaign to increase pressure on al-qaeda and the islam magreb in the region. and two weeks later after the a

we had no classified material at benghazi. and it was unfortunate that we evacuated all the americans and unclassified material was left behind but we had no classified material. so there's, there is going to be an effort, because of this work that i have directed, to really sort this out so that you know that everybody knows, exactly what the protocols and rules are, and we act accordingly. >> thank you, madam secretary. mr. chair. >> thank you. madam secretary, thank you for your thorough, thoughtful and forthright answers. it is what we have become accustomed to from you. i understand we'll be able to welcome you one more time when you come tomorrow to be part of introducing senator kerry to the committee. so we look forward to welcome you t well. i think there are several takeways here that are incredibly important. one is, is that we have to look at the totality of the threat environment versus just looking for a specific credible threat when we are thinking about the protection of our foreign service personnel. and i see

and the wake of benghazi, and they've admitted that. but we now need to move on to protect our diplomats but also meet this radical threat in north africa. remember, it was a obscure radical terrorist group that attacked our embassies in nairobi in 1998, hundreds of people were killed, and the same group attacked us on 9/11, al qaeda. now an offshoot of that group is at work with other radical elements in north africa. we have to go out and meet that threat. it's not ours alone to meet, the french and the african countries are quite willing to take it on, but they need our help. and i agree with michael, we cannot retreat from the world. we got to have our diplomats fully present in dangerous areas like that. our diplomats are willing to meet that threat, but they now need the support of congress to fully fund security for them. >> nick burns, thank you so much, good to see you. and, of course, michael lighter here in washington. >>> we have this breaking news now from the house. the house has passed the extension of the debt limit to m

report prior to the terrorist attack in benghazi? >> well, i was certainly aware of a number of reports from throughout our government. i don't know of the specific one you're referring to. there were d.o.d. reports, community reports, state department reports talking about the decreasing -- or the increasing threat environment in eastern libya. that is what we were trying to establish with the libyans. the election in july brought to victory what we would consider moderates. people who had a very different view of the kind of future than certainly al qaeda or these militants have. but there's going to be a struggle in this region and the united states has to be as effective in partnering with the non-jihadists whether they fly a black flag or any other flag. >> i clearly understand that, however, this flag was pointed out to be affiliated with al qaeda, terrorists who attack and kill united states citizens and other individuals around the world. do you -- did anyone in your department below you, were they aware of this report and th

consulate in benghazi. we have complete coverage of that. let's get right to our end point, connie mack, i'll give it to you. >> the conversation about the drones, law enforcement, real estate agents. this is an infringement i think on our privacy and rights as individuals. the technology might be awesome, and we might enjoy that technology, but it's something i think we have to be very, very careful with. if it's in the wrong hands, what they use that technology for. >> it will be interesting to see where it ends up going. thanks for being with us guys. hey carol, good morning. ♪ >>> good morning to all of you, i'm carol costello, happening now, secretary of state hillary clinton answers for the deaths of four americans before a senate committee. after weeks of delay, she appears before lawmakers to discuss the terrorist attack on the u.s. consulate in libya, and republicans are being warn todd be respectful to secretary clinton. but it will go beyond politics. did the government do enough to protect their citizens? did the state departme

benghazi did not happen in a vacuum. the arab revolutions have scrambled power dynamics and shattered security forces across the region. instability in mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we just saw last week in algeria. and let me offer our deepest condolences to the families ofwe remain in close touch with the government of algeria, ready to provide assistance if needed, and also seeking to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so we can work together to prevent such terrorist attacks in the future. concerns about terrorism and instability in north africa are not new, of course. they have been a top priority for this entire national security team. but we need to work to increase pressure on al-qaida in the islamic maghreb and the other terrorist groups in the region. i've conferred with the president of libya, the foreign ministers and prime ministers of tunisia and morocco. i met with a very large group of regional le

it was not even suggested in any of the reports and information coming from benghazi. i know the purpose of this hearing is to find out how to ensure another benghazi never happens again. i'd hope we'd all include the aftermath of the tragedy as well. how we make sure that such gross mispresentations of attacks on americians ever happens again. i know you put the four vinls identified as culpable by the review board on administrative leave, what do you anticipate will be the final resolution of their status with the

report prior to the terrorist attack in benghazi? >> i was certainly aware of a number of reports from throughout our government. i don't know of the specific one you were referring to. there were d.o.d. reports, state department reports, talking about the decreasing or the increasing threat environment in eastern libya. that was what we were trying to address with the libyans. and remember the election in july in libya brought to victory what we would consider moderate people who had a very different view of it than al qaeda or other groups. the united states has to be as effective partnering with jihaddists whether they fly a black flag or other flag. >> i clearly understand that. however this flag was pointed out to be affiliated with al qaeda, terrorists who attack and kill united states citizens from around the world. did anyone in your department below you, were they aware of this report and photos prior to and don't you think they should have brought this to your attention? >> i am well aware there were people claiming to be a

this is not just benghazi. remember, on september 11, the days immediately following we had attacks on the u.s. facilities throughout the region. we have had attacks on the embassy in tunisia. on september 14. you had the flag flying in egypt. you had all of the attacks on u.s. interest throughout the region with basically no response from the u.s. government. i don't think there is any question that they are emboldened. the key thing to remember here. we talk about this last night. the groups have been growing in strength over the past several years. this is not the first person to do it. the commander in july said, "the u.s. government missed an opportunity to deal with al-qaeda in the aqim when they had a chance." that devastating indictment from the administration. >> bret: we will hear more about the policy arguments ahead of secretarybe clinton testifying january 23 about benghazi, too. that is it for the panel. but stay tuned to see a video that may be too close for comfort. living with moderate to sever

facility in benghazi. on may 22, 2012, a building in benghazi hit by two r.p.g.'s. the brigades took responsibility for that attack. on june 6, 2012, u.s. consulate in benghazi was targeted by an i.e.d. an attack that blew a hole in the perimeter wall, again, the blind sheik brigade taking credit. and then on august 16 we had this cable that's been widely reported, a classified state department cable, warning that the benghazi consulate could not with stand a cord coordinated attack. and the regional scored a officer believed our cons -- coordinated officer believed our consulate could not be protected less than a month before the attack. a contingency plan was supposedly drafted to move the operations through the c.i.a. annex about a while away from the compound. this cable is presumed to have been shared by senior staff, it was sent to your office, it was sent to the n.f.c., and even on september 11, the day ambassador stevens was killed, he personally warned about, quote, a growing problems with security in benghazi and growing frustration with security forces an

by 1997 benghazi was essentially in a state of siege. it was a very large barracks that was in the center of the town known as the fist of gadhafi, and this was of sort of, you know, it was basically occupied in many degrees o occupied territory. which, fast forward, you know, this explains a bit more of this east/west distinction was very important in proving the spark of the rebellion. um, another and perhaps the most critical inflection point in this was the, in gadhafi's ultimate sort of downward trajectory was the u.s. war in iraq. because once this was underway, you know, the state was set for two competing and rather disingenuous narratives. one told by gadhafi to his own people, one told by the bush administration and the west to its people. the west, the story, you know, put forth by -- on our side was that gadhafi was, essentially, unrepen tent up until the point about lockerbie and other terrorist activities and his weapons of mass destruction until the point where e saw saddam -- he saw saddam hussein pulled out of the spider

repeated requests came from benghazi for more diplomatic security officers to go to benghazi and guard that very ill-constructed compound. nothing happened. the decisions taken by the ambassador, who tragically died, chris stevens, were-- were-- were-- were unfortunate looking back. he shouldn't have been in benghazi in the way he was on that day, september 11. and then finally, senator mccain stressed why wasn't there some u.s. military power available to come to the rescue of the people who were trapped in the embassy annex so that people wouldn't have ended up dying on the roof essentially unable to protect themselves against the mortar fire they were taking. and you could see, he's still angry about it. >> rose: the other thing he considered unacceptable was her response with senator johnson when she said, "what difference does it make?" >> i thought that was an especially poignant response from secretary clinton. and it reflected an uncertainty to this day, i'm told among intelligence officers who have reviewed the evidence they have of what happened that night, believing it or no

senior officials fully appreciated the great threats in benghazi. they knew that al qaeda was there. they knew that our security was insufficient, but instead of adding security, in this case they took it away. they withdrew mobile security detachment teams. they sent packing a special team that the defense department provided, and provided at no cost. so if senior officials knew that our diplomats were not safe, were not adequately staffed, then why did they continue to withdraw security? i think that's the first question. in testimony this morning you said you never saw those requests. and i understand that. last month though, deputy secretary burns testified that memos regarding the deep touring in the security system did make their way to the seventh floor. so what senior official was he referring to when he talks about top management? who in the senior management was responsible for responding to those requests that were coming from the field? that would be my question. >> there's a lot of important questions in that, mr. chairman, and let me b

the situation about benghazi is likely to continue. secretary of state hillary clinton will not have to answer more questions about benghazi, but they may come up again in the next chapter of her career. bbc news, washington. >> i spoke a brief time ago with a democratic senator who sits on the foreign relations committee and chairs a committee for african affairs. he joins us from capitol hill. canyon now admit that the state department missed warning sides in the run-up to the benghazi attack? >> today's hearing by the senate foreign relations committee, where secretary clinton appeared, was an opportunity for her to take full responsibility for the tragic events in benghazi, where four americans were killed. it was a broad hearing, and i thought her answers were forthright, responsible, and gave her an opportunity to demonstrate convincingly the strong actions she took in the days after that september 11 attack to make sure the appropriate actions are taken in the state department to make sure that events like this do not happen aga

we had no classified material in benghazi. it was unfortunate that we evacuated all of the americans and unclassified material was left behind but we had no classified material. so there's going to be an effort, because of this work that i have directed, to really sort this out so that you know, that everybody knows exactly what the protocols and the rules are and we act accordingly. >> thank you, madam secretary. mr. chair? >> madam secretary, thank you for your thorough, thoughtful, and forthright answers. it's what we've become accustomed to from you. i understand we're going to be able to welcome you one more time when you come tomorrow to be part of introducing senator kerry to the committee. we look forward to talking to you then as well. i think there are several takeaways here that are incredibly important. one is that we have to look at the totality of the threat environment versus just looking for a specific credible threat when we are thinking about the protection of our foreign service personnel and we are moving i

repeated requests came from benghazi for more diplomatic security officers to go to benghazi and guard that very ill-constructed compound. nothing happened. the decisions taken by the ambassador who tragically died, chris stevens were-- were-- were-- were unfortunate looking back. he shouldn't have been in benghazi in the way he was on that day, september 11. and then finally senator mccain stressed why wasn't there some u.s. military power available to come to the rescue of the people who were trapped in the embassy annex so that people wouldn't have ended up dying on the roof essentially unable to protect themselves against the mortar fire they were taking. and you could see, he's still angry about it. >> rose: the other thing he considered unacceptable was her response with senator johnson when she said, "what difference does it make?" >> i thought that was an especially poignant response from secretary clinton. and it reflected an uncertainty to this day i'm told among intelligence officers who have reviewed the evidence they have of what happened that night believing it or not the

. >> and at her side one of her toughest critics on benghazi. today recounting how he and fellow vietnam veteran john kerry worked together to normalize relations with vietnam in the 1990s. >> helping to establish a relationship with vietnam that serves american interests and values rather than one that remained meyered many mutual resentment and bitterness is one of my proudest accomplishments as a senator. i expect it is one of john's as well. witnessing almost daily his exetch lear statesmanship is one of the highest privileges i've had here. >> kerry's first appearance on the senate foreign relations panel as an activist. some things don't change. >> how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in vietnam? >> i'm tired of -- >> when i first came to washington and testified, i was testifying as part of the group of people who came here to have their voices heard, and that is, above all, what this place is about, so i respect, i think, the woman who was voicing her concerns about that part of the world. >> women at war. the pentagon lifts th

>> hillary clinton finally answers questions about the benghazi debacle. delivering a powerful performance to convince lawmakers and the media to see it her way. did it work? find out next on news watch. y te a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant we don't let frequent heartburn come between us and what we love. so if you're one of them people who gets heartburn and then treats day afr day... block the acid with prilosec otc and don't get heartburn in the first place! [ male announcer ] e pill eachmorning. 24 hours. zero heartbur >> with all due respect, the fact is would have four dead americans. was it because of a protests or because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they would go kill symptom americans. what difference, at this point, does it make? it is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator. >>ro is secretary of state hillary clinton finally facing lawmakers in the house and the senate taking some s tough questions about the benghazi fi

consulate on benghazi. her testimony delayed for weeks due to health issues but today an unrattled and yet impassioned clinton went before members of the senate. >> the fact is we had four dead americans, was it because of a protest or guys out for a walk one night and decided they would go kill some americans? what difference does it make? it is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again. >> it's not over yet. clinton will testify about benghazi this afternoon before the house foreign relations committee and what remains to be seen whether the hearings will finally put to rest lingering question about benghazi and her political future. >> these officials were screaming out for more security. and i'm just wondering if you might mention one reform that would be helpful -- >> i didn't see those requests. they didn't come to me. i didn't approve them. i didn't deny them. >> to talk more about this, joining me now is congressman elliott engle, a ranking

consulate in benghazi. secretary clinton took responsibility for the deaths of four americans including ambassador chris stevens. this is one of her last hearings before she steps down. john kerry is the nomination to replace her. from the foreign relations committee, this is to 0.5 hours. -- 2.5 hours. >> let me begin by welcoming the new members to the committee. since the false and that has not passed the committee resolution of official late seating members, i want to ask consent to allow our prospective members to participate in today's hearing. let me welcome me and thank you for honoring your commitment to come before the committee after the review board's findings. you said you would after the findings were completed. you have a bit of an intervening challenge. we are thrilled to see you here today doing well. and to take time out of your schedule to discuss the tragic events from the causing -- from benghazi to learn. in your tenure as secretary, you've always been up front and energetic and defend

both panels asking her, of course, about benghazi. one of the tough questioners was texas congressman michael mccall, the new chairman of the house panel on homeland security. he joins me now. congressman, you were very tough on hillary clinton. do you think that clinton has answered the questions, and some people are suggesting that the questioning was too much of a grilling for her, that the benghazi situation was something that was happening many different capitals. they were dealing with demonstrations and potential takeovers at embassies around the world, and they were really struggling with a developing situation. >> look, we have tremendous respect for secretary clinton, but the fact is the american people are entitled to the truth in this case. people need to be held accountable. i asked her specifically about this august 16th cable that went to her office warning about the security situation. she said she never had seen that cable, and that nobody in her office had seen that cable so who did so cable? youcable? he basically h

diplomats in benghazi, libya. when we come back, we'll ask the brother of one of the victims for his take on the secretary of state's testimony. whether he blames her, others, for his brother's death. [ male announcer ] don't just reject convention. drown it out. introducing the all-new 2013 lexus ls f sport. an entirely new pursuit. let's say you pay your guy around 2% to manage your money. that's not much you think. except it's 2% every year. does that make a difference? search "cost of financial advisors" ouch. over time it really adds up. then go to e-trade and find out how much our advice costs. spoiler alert: it's low. rlly? yes, really. e-trade offers investment advice and guidance from dedicated, professional financial consultants. it's guidance on your terms, not ours. that's how our system works. e-trade. less for us. more for you. i took my son fishing every year. we had a great spot, not easy to find, but worth it. but with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. so my docto

benghazi was a tragedy. we've all acknowledged that. the lost of american lives and we also acknowledged the bravery of the people on the ground. they did extraordinary service and saved lives. and that's what they are trained to do and we want to make sure that we acknowledge that. also, let me point out that you have been very open with the committee. we had a hearing on december 20th with your deputies and they provided all of the information and you're here today. we thank you very much for that. i want to follow up on one area of northern africa that you point out the risk factors that we currently have in northern africa. algeria is a reminder of the global security concerns. we do not know as senator rich pointed out the individuals who may have been involved in libya may have been involved and algeria, we don't know that. we do know there's reports from the united nations and others that weapons have gotten from libya into algeria, which points out our need as we look at transitions occurring in that region, syria, assad is not

and we have team fox coverage of the benghazi hearings. catherine herridge covering the ongoing threats from terrorists. first, let's get to mike emanuel on capitol hill. mike, in the late afternoon session and late in the day, some fireworks on the house side. >> shep, that's right. there was some bickering back and forth with democrats saying that funding for embassy security has been inadequate. republicans responded saying "you should spend your money on security and not on other things such as climate change." then there was this moment: >> there was a request made for more security and it was denied on june 7th. and so, madam secretary, you let the consulate become a death trap, and that's national security malpractice. you have said you take responsibility, what does responsibility mean, madam secretary? you are still in your job and there are four people at the department of state that have culpability in this that are still in their jobs. >> clinton says she takes responsibility but congressman duncan notes that some heads should

. >> and a scathing report on benghazi attacks, not true. >> had i been president at the time i would have relieved you of your post. >> jon: hillary clinton finally answering questions about the benghazi attacks, putting on quite a performance for lawmakers and the press. real emotion or just an act? the woman who ignited the petraeus scandal with the press, media debate or too late. and manti te'o gives katie couric the straight scoop on the hoax. >> and prince harry hammered by the media by giving the facts. >> take a life to save a life. >> and on the panelist, daily beast, kirsten powers, and jim pinkerton, american editor conservative magazine and investigative reporter and fox news contributor, vicky ward. i'm jon scott. fox news watch is on right now. now. >> i barack hussein obama do faithfully swore that ill execute the office of president of the united states. >> and will to the best of my ability. >> and will to the best of my ability. >> preserve protect and defend. >> preserve protect and defend. >> the constitution of the nights. >> the constitution of the united states

flu. >> apparently it's the acute benghazi allergy. >> jon: well, the benghazi flu turned out to be a cerebral blood clot point taken. as there could be no doubt as to what caused the cooing alates in the cap larrys is fear of lawmakers. questions such as. >> at what point in time can our administration and government fire someone whose gross negligence left four americans dead in benghazi. what does the word responsibility mean to you madam secretary. >> jon: well websters defines responsibility as why don't you go (bleep) yourself. [ applause ] i'm sorry that was from the show "webster." i'm not saying hillary clinton or the state department are blameless here. we need a thoreau inquiry and critical analysis of the misjudgments and pure incompetence that led to the tragedy but this here committee weren't it. >> on august 16 we had this cable that's been widely reported a classified state department cable warning that the benghazi consulate could not withstand a coordinate add tack. were you aware of this august 16 cable? >> 1.43 million cables a year come to the state department t

we had forces that were actually taken back away from benghazi. i think you know i was there right after or in libya right after this occurred, and, you know, i still, there's still no one -- not a single person -- has yet been held accountable. so we'll see. i know that she is sending something up that allows action to be taken against employees that don't deal with things in an appropriate way. it's almost, you know, hard to understand that nothing yet has happened. so we'll see. there's an arb, as you know, it was talked about a great deal yesterday, recommendations have been put in place. but, again, this is something that actually secretary kerry, if confirmed and when confirmed, will be dealing with for some time. jon: as you know, there have been attacks in the past on americans in troubled parts of the world, the uss cole was attacked and sailors killed, there were attacks on our embassies in kenya and tanzania, you can go all the way back to the '83 marine barracks bombing, if you want, americans attacked without a lot of response. are yo

you heard secretary clinton say it it doesn't really matter what happened at benghazi. why are we going back and looking at what happened? well, baloney. of course it matters. this administration consistently refuses to confront the reality of international terrorism. and now a country we didn't think would have an event, the algerian crisis involved people with benghazi and drifting all over the region and you'll have better armed terrorists in more places and nobody six months ago knew where mali was and now mali is in danger of becoming a terrorist sanctuary. nobody in the administration wants to admit this is spiraling steadily worse and is getting to be, i think, a bigger and bigger international problem, which raises the question, how can you know that an embassy is safe? she talked about looking at high risk embassies. i would argue we live in an era where every embassy is a high risk embassy if the terrorists figure out that's the one which is vulnerable to be attacked. >> greta: i remember that we used to look the at presidency in terms of how many, how many co

over the attack in benghazi, libya. so what did we learn? this is "special report." ♪ ♪ >> bret: good evening. i'm bret baier. amid accusations of a coverup, incompetence and inaction, secretary of state hillary clinton defended her handling of the september 11 assault on the u.s. mission in benghazi, libya, while accepting responsibility as head diplomat. we have coverage. brit hume looks at the hearings and the questioners. chief white house correspondent ed henry focuses on what the president was doing during and after the attack. we begin with the chief congressional correspondent mike emanuel. at times, somber and at times combative hillary clinton. good evening. >> bret. good evening. more than four months after the benghazi attack, lawmakers are given a chance to question secretary of state clinton about what went wrong. who is to blame. and how to prevent future attacks like this one. >> days before she is due to leave the post, secretary of state clinton said the september 11 attack on benghazi consulate that led to four america

i was going to put on smash mouth, the official reason was the benghazi hearing. wasn't the real reason behind this pure washington, d.c. theater? >> yes. >> isn't that the reason for everything. >> john: i would argue that it is. 2011 they exploit attacks to attack. rand paul tried to have the first volley of attacks. >> wouldn't rand paul say maybe i shouldn't step away just net yet. again, the country needs me. super calm, fierce, looking amazing. and so on it. it was like classic hillary. >> john: well rand paul seemed to be throwing his hat in the ring, and i know it was 2001, not 2011. he said to hillary that he would fire her if he was president and then brought up some right wing conspiracy. does rand have a chance of being the g.o.p. nominee or is crisis chris christie going to rush him. >> the g.o.p. crazy is so mutating and bizarro and self-destructing. who knows. they had santorum. >> everybody was ahead for a week and then it went away. with the ever growing women and minorities in this country and you have a candidate who said i would do this day vot

where are the survivors of the benghazi attack? by some account there are dozens of people who left benghazi, who have stories to tell. we know at least secretary clinton talked about one person still in walter reed. we haven't heard from any of these people. meanwhile we heard from the algeria hostages while the thing was still going on. there's a lot of things that we still don't know about this attack, and it's been a long time. the question is, do people want to know? we'll continue to cover it. obviously here, but capitol hill doesn't seem to want to purr suv it as much as -- pursue it as much as everyone else. >> do you think hillary clinton is lying about, who cares, will bit her in four years if she wants to be president? >> you could forsee -- jay tapper said he could see it as a political commercial down the road. i could see that, too. it was a moment a lot of people touted as a pushback, a forceful pushback, and i heard some people characterize it as a great moment for her. others said, it was really not a great moment,