i want to play for you first of all some sound this morning from brigadier general robert lovell. he was in charge of intelligence in africa on the night benghazi came under attack. he said something off the bat may have changed the equation how the whole thing is looked at in the light of history. i want to play that for you right now. >> in the hours that ensued after the attack on our consulate compound in benghazi, did you hear youtube video? >> briefly discussed but not from any serious standpoint. >> you heard about this early on and you, as the deputy and the highest ranking person that moment working these issues, you dismissed the idea that this attack was in fact a demonstration that went awry and was based on a youtube video out of los angeles? >> yes, sir, short answer. jon: so the top intelligence official covering africa, jonah, said there was really, essentially no discussion of the attack that night having been prompted by a youtube video. why did the secretary of state, why did national security advisor susan rice, why did the president continue to hammer that vid

we welcome our guest, brigadier general rob th -- general robert lovell.mer deputy commanding general of joint task force odyssey guard. miss core sh sarks ki is a research fellow at the hoover institution. mr. rolls is a senior fellow at at foundation for defense democracies. mr. frederick wary is a senior associate for middle east program at the cash deendowment for international peace. your titles are impressive and they are all doctorates. would you all please rise and take the oath and raise your right hands. do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? thank you, please be seated. let the record reflect all witnesses answered in the affirmative. in order to allow sufficient time for questions. i ask each witness summarize their opening statements which will be placed in the record in their entirety in addition other extraneous material you may want to submit. but try to stay close to the five minutes. as as my predecessor, mr. towns often said, green means go everyw

. >> i think that's the point, brigadier general robert lovell said there wasn't a military response to try to help these guys that were under attack. >> the memo was directed to -- basically this brings her into all of this, the spin control at the time, is that she's running for president. #. >> i think it's really ---on september 11, she attributed it to the video, she's in public on video on september 12, and september 13 saying this was undoubtedly resulting from this islamic video. i think those public statements are going to be used against her if she runs for president. because her statements are so soft soaping of what's going on, we're investigating. it sounds terrible. so i think it's going to be a huge problem. >> will it matter if the press corps doesn't care about this? the fact of the matter is that most of the media says we don't care. >> i think it's going to come back on her, her testimony in congress, why does it matter, she got very emotional in the senate. why does it matter what really happens? for many americans actually it does really matter what happened and

. >> retired brigadier general robert lovell, a deputy intelligence director for the africa command testified that seven hour noose the benghazi assault in germany, they knew there was no connection to a protest or an internet video. >> it was early on in the evening of september 11th. >> before 3:15 a.m. >> absolutely. >> within hours, sources tell fox a target list was assembled and lovell testified a terrorist group with known ties to al qaeda was blamed. >> it was -- we felt it was -- >> lovell's testimony is consistent with the september 12th e-mail from state department official beth jones to secretary of state hillary clinton's closest aides, including sheryl mills, that the libyan ambassador was told -- was responsible. what's been overlooked is hours later on 10:00 p.m. september 11th even before the attack was over mrs. clinton sent out a press release directly linking the video to the benghazi violence. while mrs. clinton waes statement was out of sync with the intelligence it was reinforced three daze later by the ben rhodes e-mail which critics say intended to shape the public di

saying that he doesn't believe brigadier general robert lovell had a role to which he could speak to any authority on what transpired in the attack and then copy, saying that he wasn't serving in the capacity they gave him reliable insight into operational options available to commanders. echoing a talking point of the democrats. what do you interpret the chairman is trying to say there? >> i think both of them are right. i listen to the generals testimony and he has admitted that he's an intel officer that was not involved in the operational options are being discussed that night. as well as what options were executed. he had no hand in it. he was able to identify as others said that there was no demonstration that this was actually an attack and he expressed emotion and frustration that we could not have done something about it. but chairman mckeon said he had done an investigation of those who had a hand in this. he started out thinking he had something. the president authorized all forces to be available and that was the pentagon's decision. there was no delay in the use of any o

now quotation of the evening, appropriate on this day where major general robert lovell told house oversight committee that u.s. government did nothing to help the americans caught in benghazi terrorist attack. he said, we didn't even try to stop terrorists from attacking our consulate in benghazi, we turned, to the nba. and michael jordan, who once said, i can accept failure, everyone fails at something. but i can't accept not trying. -- we're coming right back. >> governor jeb bush picks up a endorse am after struggling for his mother's endorsement. >> the a-time, mont monica crow, judy miller and brad blakeman. on a likelihood of a bush and clinton face-off friday night, buddy. you are gonna need a wingman. and with my cash back, you are money. forget him. my airline miles will take your game worldwide. what i'm really looking for is -- i got two words for you -- re-wards. ♪ there's got to be better cards than this. [ male announcer ] there's a better way with creditcards.com. compare hundreds of cards from all the major banks to find the one that's right for you. it's simple. search, com

now quotation of the evening, appropriate on this day where major general robert lovell told house oversight committee that u.s. government did nothing to help the americans caught in benghazi terrorist attack. he said, we didn't even try to stop terrorists from attacking our consulate in benghazi, we turned, to the nba. and michael jordan, who once said, i can accept failure, everyone fails at something. but i can't accept not trying. -- we're coming right back. >> governor jeb bush picks up a endorse am after struggling for his mother's endorsement. >> the a-time, mont monica crow, judy miller and brad blakeman. on a likelihood of a bush and clinton face-off in 2016. my dad has aor afib.brillation, he has the most common kind... ...it's not caused by a heart valve problem. dad, it says your afib puts you at 5 times greater risk of a stroke. that's why i take my warfarin every day. but it looks like maybe we should ask your doctor about pradaxa. in a clinical trial, pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate mesylate)... ...was proven superior to warfarin at reducing the risk of stroke. and unlike warf

general robert lovell is the former deputy director for intelligence and knowledge development director at the united states african command. and the former deputy command general of the joint task force. and a research fellow at the hoover institution. mr. david ross, phd, is a senior fellow at the foundation for defense of democracies. mr. frederick is a senior associate for middle east program at the carnegie endowment for international peace. your title is impressive but they're all doctorates. pursuant to the rules, if all witnesses could please rise and raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? thank you and please be seated. all witnesses answered in the affirmative. in order to allow sufficient time for questions, i would ask each witness summarize their opening statements, which will be placed in the record in their entirety, as well as other extraneous material. please try to stay close to the five minutes. as my predecessor often said, green means go everywhere

witnesses, robert lovell brings with him firsthand knowledge of u.s. military , as he servedya at u.s./african command. u.s./african command is africom. thised effor is the organization that had responsibility not just for libya but for the entire continent of africa. this unit's mission included and the libyan revolution the september 11 2012 terrorist attack on a diplomatic compound in benghazi. at the u.s. african command, general lovell served as the deputy director for service and and asge development commanding general of joint task odys on the seat guard -- sey guard. we appreciate all of our witnesses taking time to testify and enlighten the public about the situation in libya and the effects of u.s. decisions. to pursuing the relevant information about the military's involvement in libya, we continue to receive documents from the state department. alone, we haveh received over 3200 new documents , many of which have never been outside of by anyone the administration. all of which should've been turned over more than one year and a half ago whe

>> reporter: chaffetz put those questions and more to now retired air force brigadier general robert lovelly intelligence that night. lovell was in the u.s. military operations center in substitute gather monitoring the attack in realtime. >> it was desperation to be able to -- >> it was what? >> desperation there to gain situational awareness and to be able to do something to save people's lives. >> did they actually do it? we had dead people, we had wounded people, and our military didn't try to engage in that fight. would you disagree with that? >> four individuals died. sir, we obviously did not respond in time to get there. >> could we have? >> we may have been able to, but we'll never know. >> reporter: in his testimony, he echoes a contention made by republicans that part of why our mission in benghazi was so vulnerable was because of administration policy, a premature push to normalize relations with the libyans. >> basically, there's a lot of looking to the state department for what it was that they wanted. >> reporter: that push for normalization may have spread beyond the borders

but in testimony before the house oversight committee thursday, retired robert lovell disputed that.> what we did know quite early on was that this was a hostile action. this was no demonstration gone terribly awry. to the point of what happened, the facts led to the conclusion of a terrorist attack. >> general lovell also said the military should have tried to react to the attack those u.s. forces were not in a position to immediately respond and that the state department delayed the ultimate decision to deploy deploy. armed services schmidt chairman buck mckean disagreed with general lovell's testimony adding, we have no evidence that terror. >> a just-released talking points e-mail prepared for then u.n. ambassador susan rice to use on sunday talk shows following the attacks proved the white house had tried to spin the story to its advantage. among the points, rice was to convey that the u.s. is doing everything we can to product our people and facilities abroad and more controversially though underscore these protests are rooted in an internet video an polipolicy. darrell isa bla

army brigadier robert lovell from the u.s. military's africa command who was directly involved in dealing with this at the time. listen to this. >> we didn't run to the sound of the guns. they were issuing press releases. we had americans dying. we had dead people. we had wounded people and our military didn't try to engage in that fight. would you disagree with that? >> four individuals died, sir, we obviously did not respond in time to get there. >> could we have? >> the gentleman's time is expired. go ahead. >> we may have been able to but we'll never know. >> he's a retired u.s. marine -- underscores the tension that was obviously very evident during this hearing. >> absolutely. republicans are highlighting this testimony, brought him on in order to try to make the point that military was taking orders or at least was deferential to the state department at a time this was something the military should have been focused on as an attack not something a diplomatic measure. this is the first military personnel, retired now, wh

with the select committee -- >> the republican head of the armed services committee said that robert lovell who was testifying didn't know what he was talking about because he was in germany at the time. >> alan? >> you don't think that members of congress will find out more information now that you can have general petraeus and hillary clinton sitting next to each other -- >> how many more investigations -- do you know in the bush administration, i know you hate when i bring up bush -- after 9/11, there were 13 different attacks at embassies and consulates resulting in hundreds of deaths. i didn't hear a word about this. why is there a double standard about this president? >> you shouldn't be afraid of the truth. and if this investigation, this select committee can uncover the truth, then you should welcome it and let the chips fall where they may. listen, krauthammer is right. think about the people that went to jail over covering up a third-rate burglary at the watergate building in washington, d.c. four people died. it's a very big deal. >> benghazi is a tragedy, it's not a scandal. >>

retired generally robert lovell making it clear he never doubted it was a terror attack and telling lawmakers there should have been a military response. listen to this. >> did they ever tell you to go -- >> not to my knowledge, sir. >> we didn't run to the sound of the guns. they were issuing press releases. >> four individuals died, sir, we obviously did not respond in time to get there. >> could we have? >> we may have been able to, but we'll never know. >> republican congressman jason chaffetz of utah sits on the oversight committee, obviously you were in that hearing today. congressman, great to see you again. he looked emotional when you were asking him about that because, lest we forget that four americans died in this attack. >> and that was the key point. i appreciate the general 33 years of service. he was heading up a group that was military intelligence too looking at the assets that were there and the perpetrators there. but he was in the room. it's the first time we've heard from somebody like this in a public setting. they moved some people forward but they weren't directed to

among those whotestified, general robert lovell and not only said the video narrative should never haveshed by anyone, he also said this. >> there are accounts of time, space and capability, discussions of the question could we have gotten there in time to make a difference? the discussion is not could or could not of time, space and capability. the point is we should have tried. >> while the general was declaring under row that the military should have intervened that night, nancy pelosi was trying to dismiss any and all benghazi conversation, take a look. >> i'll say again, diversion subdiffusion, agabenghazi, benghazi, why aren't we talk about something else? i know what i read in the press about those e-mails that were consistent with what is put out there before. i don't think there is anything new there. >> i can name four reasons why we're talking about this and they are the victims, the people that lost their lives that night. here to respond the mother of sean smith, one of those killed, pat smith, great to see you again. i wish as always under better circumstances, what is you

today, retired brigadier general robert lovell testified before the house oversight committee about why the u.s. military did not respond at all to the terror attack in benghazi that killed four americans, including the u.s. ambassador to libya. general lovell was in germany awaiting orders to strike at the terrorists, orders that never came. >> what we did know quite early on is that this was a hostile action. this was no demonstration gone terribly awry. to the point of what happened, the facts led to the conclusion of a terrorist attack. the afri-con j 2 was focused on attribution. the attacks became attributable very soon after the event. >> so that means the u.s. military, the cia on the ground in libya, and pretty much everyone else directly involved with the benghazi attack knew it was not a spontaneous demonstration within hours. yet, as we proved yesterday, the obama administration created a fiction that the attack was a reaction to an anti-muslim videotape. the cover was blown off that deception this week when a memo by white house advisor ben rhodes was released through the f

nobody held accountable, and at the end -- >> well, in the point of fairness brigadier general robert lovell asked if he agreed with the chairman of the armed services committee e report that there was not more done in benghazi. >> i totally disagree with thatment. i totally disagree with that and i have been to three posts in the mediterranean where we have that capability, and i interviewed and mr. issa interviewed in benghazi some of the individuals in the military, and they were never given the order. we did have the capability, and i was assured at the briefing at one of those posts, pre-benghazi, that we had the ca capability to go in and rescue not only in north africa, but deeper into the continent, and so to me, that is baloney. >> and congress mman john mica, thank you for coming into the program. and now let me bring in keith boykin and joe, and what the congressman said contradicts what the brigadier general said. what do you think? >> well, the republicans are grasping at the straws, and john mica should be concerned about the issues of the unmoment imt in florida or the climate

let me play brigadier general robert lovell. he testified the military should have tried to intervene. because this went on for hours. it took a while. i want to get your reaction to what he said this week. >> there are accounts of time, space and capability, discussions of the question could we have gotten there in time to make a difference. well, the discussion is not could or could not of time, space and capability. the point is we should have tried. >> we should have tried. this went on for hours. >> and there was no attempt made. as many military people have said, within an hour to an hour and a half, they could have had jets from italy above the battle at benghazi. whether they were armed or not, at least they could have broken the sound barrier. they could have dispersed and caused confusion on the battlefield. even that was not done. no attempt was made. >> we learned that mr. vietor was on with bret baier making a fool of himself saying dude, that was two years last night. we learned he was in the situation room. presid

so -- >> putting aside republican darrell issa, retired brigadier general robert lovell testified todaystified under oath that by 3:15 after the 9/11/2012 attack they dismissed the video and very quickly identified this as a terrorist attack. by 3:15 he testifies, under oath. in light of that, why on 9/14, two and a half days later, was ben rhodes writing an e-mail about the general state of affairs, as you say, highlighting the video and not highlighting terror? >> ed, the e-mail was about protests around the region. if you want to tell me today -- >> [inaudible] benghazi was part of it, right? >> right. and i would refer you to the cia-produced talking points on that that referred at the time to currently-available information suggesting that the protests, there were protests outside of the facility in benghazi inspired by demonstrations outside of cairo. what inspired those demonstrations outside of our embassy in cairo, do you even remember? >> cairo i don't remember specifically. there was -- >> does anybody -- >> a flag being burned. >> they were trying to get the blind sheikh out

one of our witnesses, retired united states air force brigadier robert lovell brings first-hand knowledge of u.s. military in libya. u.s. african command is sometimes called africom. in the military command lingo, this is the organization that had responsibility, not just for libya, but for the entire continent of africa. this unit's mission included both the libyan revolution and the september 11, 2012, terrorist attack on a diplomatic compound in benghazi. general lovell was the deputy commanding general of joint task force odyssey guard. in this assignment he was tasked with helping the state department reopened the u.s. embassy in tripoli after the fall of gaddafi. we appreciate all of our witnesses taking time to testify and enlighten the public about the situation in libya and the effects of u.s. decisions. in addition to pursuing the relevant information about the military's involvement in libya, we continue to receive documents from the state department. since late march alone, we have received over 3200 new documents, many of which have never been seen before by anyone outside of

seconds even though there was such compelling testimony there was a guy, air force brigadier general robert lovell the deputy director at africom, he was on the hot seat up on capitol hill yesterday and he made it very clear, we didn't even try to rescue those guys. watch. >> do you feel like the united states was doing everything it could do to protect the people and its facilities abroad? >> no, sir. four individuals died. sir, obviously, we did not respond in time to get there. >> could we have? >> we may have been able to but we'll never know. we didn't try. >> that was very compelling. congressman was on with us. i read his pre-interview. this will be explosive. he came out and did every military person we had a chance to talk to said you never leave a man behind, you do everything you can, even if that man is dead in battle, you do everything to get that body out. how does it make sense to have a fight to go on for eight hours and not even try. but many elm were shocked when the general said he's an unreliable witness and criticized his assertions that troops didn't respond to that attack. m

martha: it's brigadier general robert lovell. he says he watched the assault in realtime.

and then on may 1, 2014, general robert lovell, deputy director of intelligence of africom became the first to say that a rescue attempt was not possible, arguing -- quote -- "the discussion is not in the could or could not in relation to time, space and capability. the point is, we should have tried." madam president, it's hard to disagree with the good general that we should have tried to save those four americans who were murdered that tragic night. we are left once again with persistent questions on benghazi to which we still don't know the answers. here are 10. one, why was the state department unwilling to provide the requested level of security to benghazi in the summer of 2012? two, do president obama's daily intelligence briefings in the run-up to september 11, 2012, support the assertion that there was no credible threat of a coordinated terrorist attack on benghazi during the time? and do the daily intelligence briefings following that date support the claim the administration made that the cause was an internet video? and why hasn't the white house declassified and release

robert loval testifying before congress this week. if anyone knows what should have been done, it's general lovell, the deputy director at command at the time of the attack. why was no help sent? why did four americans lose their lives? with us, colonel david hunt. you just heard from the brigadier general. did these four americans have to die? >> no, absolutely not. we have to remember the timeline. the cairo embassy along with about 20 other embassies were being attacked on that day of september 11th. the cairo embassy happened eight hours before benghazi. >> not in the same way, colonel, excuse me, not in the same way. they were trying to climb the wall. i was in cairo two weeks ago. there was no claim they had rocket-propelled grenades in cairo. >> that's true, but my point was there were 20 embassies throughout the middle east that were under attack that day. my point is we should have known, we should have known that there was danger there. the benghazi incident takes eight hours. the president, he has an order to prepare, but never gives the order to execute. lovell was there along with 1200 other people who were watching this i

who discredited this witness by mckeon and i quote, called brigadier general robert lovely an unreliable witness and lovell's assertion that they were not quick to deploy troops to the terrorist attack in libya. he testified thursday before issa of california oversight panel. brigadier general lovell did not serve in a capacity that gave him reliable insight into operational options available to commanders during the attack, nor did he he offer specific courses of action not taken, mckeon said. armed added, the orces security interviewed a dozen witnesses, yielding thousands of pages of transscript, emails and other documents. we have no evidence that state department officials delayed the decision to deploy what few resources d.o.d. had available to respond. end quote. how trag is that? -- how tragic is that? how tacky is that? how beneath the dignity of the house of representatives is that? i have an amendment to this resolution based on a simple premise, that if this thing is going to be put together and funded, that it really does some kind of work bipartisanly, which would be really strange in thousand