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so, north africa is a new al qaeda haven, or al qaeda elements. >> it is. here, andrea, i think this crisis that we experienced on september 11th and 12th in benghazi, here's where it's evolved, and secretary clinton mentioned this at the hearing this morning, we have a crisis in north africa, the vast expanse thousands of miles across the sahara desert from niger to mali, algeria and morocco, you have radical islamist elements that have taken power in northern mali. the french government has gone out to meet that threat with the support of many african countries and the united states. i think as the house meets this afternoon and questions secretary clinton, we really ought to be talking about that issue, because the administration, obviously, made some mistakes before benghazi 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 kill

concerns about terrorism and instability in north africa are, of course, not new. been a top priority for the entire administration's national security team. but we have been facing a rapidly changing threat environment, and we have had to keep working at ways to increase pressure on al qaeda and the islamic maghreb and the other terrorist groups in the region. in the first hours and days, i conferred with leaders, the president of libya, foreign ministers of tunisia and morocco, and then i had a series of meetings at the united nations' general assembly, where there was a special meeting focused on mali and the sahel. in october, i flew to algeria to discuss the fight against aqim. in november, i spent deputy secretary bill burns to follow up in algiers, and then in december, in my instestead, he co-chaired an organization we started to respond to some of these threats, the global counterterrorism forum, that was meeting in abu dhabi, as well as a meeting in tunis of leaders working to reform security services. we have focused on targeting al qaeda's syndicate of

and the campaign in north africa some of the hostage takers were militants from libya where paris helped islamists topple the late colonel gadhafi who had warned of an impending al qaeda surge in the region marty is probably has more you want to peace you wanted freedom you wanted economic progress france great britain europe will always stand by the libyan people but a regional crisis probably wasn't what mr sarkozy anticipated when he was spearheading the military operation to topple moammar gadhafi although the former french president current say that he had been warned personally i play a significant role in establishing peace in those regions of africa should the situation in libya be unstable al qaeda will establish its rule bin laden will return and libya will be another afghanistan terrorists will flood to europe cut to paris and almost two years later markets after his words could well be ringing in the areas of need what i saw was the successor francois hollande having just sent troops to mali france's new leader could well be learning that every action has a reaction not only

addressing the broader strategic challenge in north africa and the wider region. 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

particularly those threats are growing in north africa.he attacks last week in algeria again show the nature of the danger. i support having a wide diplomatic presence. we can't retreat. as you recognized in your testimony. but it has to be done with the safety of our personnel foremost in mind. this committee intends to work with with your department in a bipartisan way to improve security. every organization has shortcomings. few welcome them being highlighted. it's this committee's job to get answers to the tough questions. our goal is to identify where state department management broke down, thus failing to protect our people in benghazi. it is clear that the problem was not confined to a few individuals. the accountability review board convened by you, madam secretary, found "systemic failure in leadership in management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus of the state department. according to the board, these systemic failures led to the grossly inadequate security in libya. the benghazi compound was facing a storm of mil

david cameron has said that the fight against islamic terrorists in north africa could take decades can britain really afford to get involved like they did in afghanistan which i should mention of course started out with george bush saying that we would be in and out. well politicians turned always to say we'll be in and then we'll be seeing mr cameron knows that this will take time i don't imagine that he is thinking of committing british ground troops to north africa but there's a lot we can do in terms of intelligence technology logistics i think it does have to be done the question really is how can we afford not to. there was the thought that france went in because of possible uranium resources there what is britain's interests than. well i think britain's interest is in having stability on the on the if you like the southern florida flank of nato just across the mediterranean from from western europe. i don't accept these conspiracy theories about minerals i think it's really about knowing that we have we have stable neighbors stable neighbors but at the same time britain openly b

i got the most recent update from the director a few days ago when he returned from north africa. they are following some very promising leads and putting together cases. they would have to speak to you directly about that in a classified setting. but i think what they are trying to determine is how best to respond and i think what the president clearly said is, we will respond and we will bring those to justice and i don't think anybody should doubt this president at his word. we have some very good examples of that. it may take time but he does not in any way divert attention from the goal of bringing them to justice. >> thank you, madam secretary. the president also said al qaeda has been decimated and in light of the recent terrorist activities that we continue to see in north africa, around the world, would you characterize that as al qaeda has been decimated? >> well, core al qaeda certainly has been. i think would you hear the same from the intelligence committee, or d.o.d., the work that has been done in afghanistan, in the borders area between afghanistan, pakistan certai

. >> and other terrorist threat in north africa. the foreign office told all britons in benghazi to leave immediately because of a specific and imminent danger. >> this is a turbulent part of north africa and the whole of the region, north africa is an area where various militant groups organize. want to prevent that threat but we have got to put the safety of british citizens first. >> libyan officials say the warning to them by surprise. >> this announcement hints at something that is not exist on the ground. this is not justified enough in our opinion. >> only a few months ago, a large group of well-armed men attacked the u.s. consulate in benghazi, killing the american ambassador and three others. over the last few months, the security situation has deteriorated after the attacks in benghazi last september. the start of this year saw molly coming close to control by islamists. an attack was launched on a remote gas facility in algeria. in a sign of just how many groups are active, he has not thought to be behind this latest thre

how you think we can insure that state and defense are coordinating through africom in west and north africaoing forward. >> senator i appreciate greatly your sustained attention to africa, and i think it's going to be viewed as quite prophetic, because there will be, i believe, a continuing set of challenges. you mentioned some of them, but by no means dash we've got bocaharam, causing instability to one of the biggest oil producing nations in the world. we've got other unrest and challenges coming down the west coast of africa. we also have a success story, at least a hoped for beginning success story in somalia. what did the united states do there? you know, when i became secretary of state i recommitted american money to the amasom forces. we worked to train them. we worked with the kenyans when they went in. we worked with the jabudis. it took time. there were no short cuts but we had literally the boots of our american soldiers and diplomats on the ground. i visited one of the training camps in uganda, and what we have to do is recognize we're in for a long term struggle here, and that

north africa with al-qaeda. question marks about afghanistan. capability. it seems a more dangerous world than when secretary clinton took office. >> if john kerry was here and heard your summary he might have second thoughts about taking the job. yes, endless stream of problems. i don't know the people personally, but my understanding of the president he is a micro manager, not a delegator. george bush genuinely delegat delegated to the secretary of state. this president is micro manager even with hillary clinton. whatever john kerry does or says it's because that is what he knows or he believes that barack obama wants. personification of america minus the military force. in other countrys. in some respects insurgents are worse than assad. we know it from egypt and libya. what can we do without the military to back him up? there is a limited ability he can -- for what he can do. extend the president's will with diplomats. it doesn't matter who the secretary of state is. because they will say what barack obama wants him to say. >> bret: to the p

we have to make the decision we will do the same in north africa as well. >> thank you. i look forward to getting your debt -- you're a device and -- your advice and encouragement to ensure the same success going forward in west africa. >> senator mccain. >> thank you, madam secretary. it is wonderful to see you in good health and as combative as ever. [laughter] we thank you for your outstanding and dedicated service to this nation. we are proud of you. all over the world when i travel, you are viewed with admiration and respect. months after the benghazi tragedy, there are many questions that are unanswered. the answers frankly that you have given this morning are not satisfactory to me. were you and the president made aware of a classified cable from chris stevens that said united states consulate in benghazi cannot survive and the stained -- a sustained assault, numerous warnings about the security were unanswered or unaddressed. it took a cnn reporter looking through the conflict to find chris stevens last warning. when were you made aware of that table? -- cable? wh

i got the most recent update from the director a few days ago when he returned from north africa. they are following some very promising leads and putting together cases. they would have to speak to you directly about that in a classified setting. but i think what they are trying to determine is how best to respond. and i think what the president clearly said is we will respond and we will bring those to justice. and i don't think anybody should doubt this president at his word. we have some very good example that it may take time but he does not in any way divert attention from the goal of bringing them to justice. >> thank you, madam secretary. the president also said al qaeda has been decembimated and in li of the recent terrorist acts tists we continue to see in north africa, around the world, would you character that as al qaeda has been decimated? >> core al qaeda certainly has been. you would hear the same from the intelligence community or d.o.d., the work that has been done in afghanistan and the borders area between afghanistan and pakistan certainly has taken out a whol

north africa in particular is going to be what afghanistan was. a gathering place for the islamic militants that want a launching pad. it is close to europe . it can target the united states and our alplice and north africa is the new battle ground in the war the al-qaida war against yus our war against them. >> we thought that the war with al-qaida and islamic extremism was from the middle east. is that like where you strike them in one place and they pop up somewhere else . they are not disappearing but relocate to a different region. >> they have had elements going over the years in tus nisia . nigeria . now a concerted effort that appear to going in north africa and mali and algeria . they are effective fighters and they are ruthless and a combination of al-qaida and islamic . they get people from iraq and core al-qaida and they get those from the arabian peninsula. it is a international movement and there is a vacume and they fill it. the president hurt us in implying that the war against al-qaida is over. core al-qaida has been hurt but they

what is clear after this incident is the growing al qaeda threat in north africa. >> al qaeda is still there. they are still a threat. they are a threat in yemen. they are a threat in somalia. they are a threat as we speak in mali. >> instability in mali has created the opportunity for a staging base and safe haven for terrorists. again it's still unclear how many died in this botched military raid. >> jennifer griffin from the pentagon in that fox report tonight. thank you, jennifer. the hostage takers meanwhile claim the raid was for revenge for the french assault on militants next door in the country of mali. fox news has learned the attack was in the works long before france launched its military operation in that country. learning more about the one-eyed terrorists ordering the raid and ties to al qaeda. details on that story coming up tonight on "the fox report." imaginary girlfriend and star football player at the center of a scandal that has transcended the world of college sports. tonight we have a lot more questions than answers, frankly. it all involves the notre dame lineba

the same flag across north africa. the same ideology, the war room. they decide to attack. they decide to move which prompted the french to intervene, and they decided to attack the international center. that's pretty much an army. not just dispersed. lou: the algerian military has concluded its operations against the terrorists who had been holding the hostages and that gas complex in eastern algeria. it is at an end. we will have further developments with more on the numbers of those who are alive, successfully rescued as we continue our coverage on the algerian hostage-taking. the terrorist group response will be taking a as we continue here. stay with us. we're coming right back. some local police and sheriff's don't want to enforce a federal laws if they are prohibited from enforcing federal immigration laws. they don't certainly want to enforce federal laws they deemed to be unconstitutional. oregon sheriff tim mueller says it is all about the second amendment. he joins us next. executive orders, executive actions. this president's actions on the second amendment cons

>> ifill: plus, how has the turmoil in north africa overall affected u.s. foreign policy? we get some answers. >> brown: then, two military stories. we get the latest on defense secretary leon panetta's decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat. >> ifill: and we explore the pros and cons of drone warfare and examine the technology behind it-- the subject of tonight's edition of "nova." >> our mind tries to put it in terms of robot or human? but the reality is a mix. >> brown: we close with politics and a look at the way forward for the republican party, tatdends he nn'iodebt houseten limit for three months. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour."n' >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> ifill: secretary of state hillary clinton testified for the first time today about last september's deadly attack on

that the next front is in north africa. secretary clinton also asked about an august 16th classified cable first reported by fox news that summarized an emergency meeting where the staff on the ground in benghazi told her office that they could not defend against a coordinated attack. >> an emergency meeting was held and a cable sent out on august 16th by the ambassador himself warning what could happen. and this cable went unnoticed by your office. >> the august 16th cable stated that secretary requests for benghazi would be forth coming. the rso in benghazi submitted to tripoli a preliminary list of proposed secretary recommendations on august 23rd but no requests were submitted to washington before the attacks. >> that cable also told the office here in washington, d.c. that the islamists and the weapons were everywhere secretary clinton said, that she had not seen it nor could she say who in her office had reviewed it or even denied those requests, shep. >> shepard: what are you learning about this apparent transfer of

al-qaeda and its options have taken a strong hold in north africa and targeting and killing americansin the region. the most recent attack was in algeria where a natural gas facility was targeted by an al-qaeda affiliate. dozens of hostages, including americans were killed. right next to algeria is libya, where this past september 11th, ambassador chris stevens and three others were killed when terrorists stormed the american consulate in benghazi. libya has been politically unstable since the 2011 death of president muammar gaddafi. and brings us to the nation of mali, the al-qaeda and the islamic group, and targeting select forces to topple aqim which has other attacks in the area. >> instability in mali has created an expansive safe haven and looking to expand the attacks like we saw last week in algeria. there's no doubt that the algerian terrorists had weapons, and remnant of aqim had weapons from libya. >> mike: joining me now is new york congressman peter king. glad to have you here, i want to begin by talking about what happened in algeria just a week ago. four dozen people ki

and where the growth of al-qaeda has been limited in countries like afghanistan it has grown in north africa and so the arrival of the sort of terrorist acts and the rest in northern africa in northern africa is i think to be expected and that's what david cameron has said i think the reason for his visit there is is to show the support that britain and the u.k. government wants to give northern african countries that wish to tradition to democracy although not necessarily in military terms there are other ways we can give support training is one advice on on economic growth is is another and i think that's the line david cameron wants to play at the moment would you say let's talk about his interests in libya b.p. british petroleum is due to start drilling in libya soon could that have had something to do with it all full. well i mean as you'll be well aware tony blair had a very close relationship or a close relationship certainly with with colonel gadhafi and arrangements were made at that time with with british petroleum so if anything the transition to democracy and the uprising in liby

north africa.ay remember mitt romney raising the red flag in the midst of the presidential campaign. >> mali has been taken over, the northern part of mali, by al qaeda-type individuals. what we're seeing is a pretty dramatic reversal in the kind of hopes that we had for that region. >> there's some snarky tweets after mitt romney said that, but turns out, hindsight, he was right on. next, democratic senator chris coons on what secretary clinton calls a very serious ongoing threat. you're watching "the daily rundown," only on msnbc. ♪ we, we chocolate cross over. ♪ yeah, we chocolate cross over. ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing fiber one 80 calorie chocolate cereal. ♪ chocolate. >>> if the last ten years were about targeting terrorists in the middle east, the next ten will likely be focused on them in north africa. we're looking at the dramatic developments in countries like algeria and mali, all of them in north africa, a region seemingly tailor made for al qaeda activity. the u.s. and its allies

that's where we'll see senator kerry head pretty soon. >> michael: let's talk about north africa, atlled when the islamists took hostage at the bp facility. is this another area we have to worry about al-qaeda. we talk about it with mali and somalia as well. is this a concern. >> the al-qaeda affiliate in north africa is well-known to mideast watchers and analysts. it has not gotten the attention of the american public because the american public doesn't give much attention to north africa but give what happened in algeria and mali, and the united states is beginning to airlift french troops in so they're playing an auxiliary role. certainly algeria needs to get more u.s.-focused since we had three americans killed there. >> michael: and you know, skipping around the region, what do you make of the poor showing thatthat benjamin netanyahu received. >> he has a little bit of coalition support. he and the party they got 31 seats. you need a majority of 61 to really governor. there are one or two parties that he can join with. i think the big picture here is as in his first term now i m

training of these militarists are the very same people who are creating the problems in north africa.think people may not know this. up until 2007 there was no distinct central africa command in terms of the way the pentagon cleaved the world. in 2007 there was africa command and it currently is stationed in europe, not actually in africa. there have been a variety of initiatives to train the soldiers of different african regimes, counterterrorism training, other kinds of training and in fact the soldiers of mali. mali was one of the star pupils in the -- >> and they're the same people now we're fighting. >> right. so i want to turn to mali in a second but first i want to push back -- not push back but to play devil's advocate about this intervention question on libya. when you look at all the negative consequences of libya, what do you say to the point about syria? everything that you could say about libya, weapons, destabilization, refugees, everything that's terrible about what has been the fallout of libya seems to me happening in syria as well where there hasn't been the same int

we have to make the decision we will do the same in north africa as well. >> thank you. i look forward to getting your debt -- you're a device and encouragement to ensure the same success going forward in west africa. >> senator mccain. >> thank you, madam secretary. it is wonderful to see you in good health and as combative as ever. [laughter] we thank you for your outstanding and dedicated service to this nation. we are proud of you. all over the world when i travel, you are viewed with admiration and respect. months after the benghazi tragedy, there are many questions that are unanswered. the answers frankly that you have given this morning are not satisfactory to me. were you and the president made aware of a classified cable from chris stevens that said united states consulate in benghazi cannot survive and the stained assault, numerous warnings about the security were unanswered or unaddressed. it took a cnn reporter looking through the conflict to find chris stevens last warning. when were you made aware of that table? when we you made aware of that attack on the b

it's of course in-- >> brown: in what ways do you see us rings, specifically in the north africa? >> i think it's nice that nick said we should thank the french, and absolute the french have interests in mali as well. apparently the administration is really struggling right now how much support to provide to the french, not on the ground but the question of refueling their flights. if we're not willing to do that it begs the question of howing whether we will be to step up to the challenge in the mag reb. >> brown: you see a pullback? >> i think it is the signal we got from the president and in libya. the subcontracting of arming the forces in libya that were fiels the gaddafi to gulf countries meant that arms flowed not to people who we chose, not to people who nato chose but to people who were chosen by gulf countries. that's one of the reasons we have this terrible blow-back. >> brown: nick burns, that's larger question and we're at the beginningave new administration, we heard the inaugural speech the other day, do you see the administration somehow pulling back from the easie

yes, i said domino, in the great terrorist threat to north africa.porous boundary, the militants move easily from mali to algeria to libya, drawing more recruits each day in a land where places like timbucketue signals adventure. the wall of attack on the desert gas factory in algeria say the islamists was a reprisal for the french incursion into mali. according to american press reports, some of the attackers who sacked our consulate in benghazi, also took part in the algerian hostage-taking and murder in the sahara. anyone with a hawkish urging to get more involved in north africa should take note of our record in mali before we hire the contractors and send in the advisers. teams of u.s. special forces have been training and advising the malian army for more than ix years. but last year, the army cut and ran in the face of the enemy. many defected and surrendered their weapons to the militants. even more humiliating for the u.s., one of the malians they were training staged a coup against the feeble government. the new york times reports that the