Below are rough notes (very very rough) from my FNC colleague Guerin Hays. In reading below (and I admit reading something can convey a completely different view than if you hear it in person), it appears State Department’s Nuland got a bit snippy when AP reporter asked about Benghazi. Am I reading too much into the note below that Nuland is irritated by the cable news coverage of Benghazi when she responds to the AP print reporter as she did? Read below
Here are the notes:
Interesting Exchange from AP reporter who thinks it is odd Nuland will not talk on camera on certain Benghazi related items when others at state are talking to papers.
q: Security in Benghazi and immediate attack and whether a FES team should go? why not asked to go?
13:12:43 leave it to ARB to provide full review, not get on
13:12:54 not planning on talking about this issue
13:13:20 I’m sure television networks appreciate you advocate for them
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Below are all of FNC Produer Guerin Hays rough notes:
PER PRODUCER GUERIN HAYS
Main Points;
Wendell [Goler]Asked about Cables and reviews on Benghazi:
13:09:17 I don’t have anything broadly new to add . Secy is look at all documents out there, give us best advice
On if we will get review on Benghazi before elections:
13:09:48 NO, expect take 60 and 65 days, that takes us into December, make sure complete and through review rather than hitched to some political deadline
13:10:18 we don’t talk to politics here, not speak to one side or another
Tunisia/ Benghazi
13:10:55 Wendell frustrate you as well, at this podium not speak on those bring to justice, not on what we are learning and what we are perusing.
13:11:28 meeting is today, the expectation is talk about full complement issues, deepen broaden democratic issues, reform economic reform, in Tunisia
13:11:55 we’ve obviously been having conversation vigilant in provide security
Interesting Exchange from AP reporter who thinks it is odd Nuland will not talk on camera on certain Benghazi related items when others at state are talking to papers.
q: Security in Benghazi and immediate attack and whether a FES team should go? why not asked to go?
13:12:43 leave it to ARB to provide full review, not get on
13:12:54 not planning on talking about this issue
13:13:20 I’m sure television networks appreciate you advocate for them
q: official talk on record and you not speak at podium?
13:13:43 didn’t see what he said
13:13:48 can you take that and come back and give that to us on Camera?
Nuland 13:14:03 i will speak to them and get what he said
q: Issa letter
13:14:31 she’s gotten the letter and she’s reviewing it and expecting a response soon?
q: explain why 6 weeks after documents left out? Stat abandon site right?
13:15:05 not going to speak to Benghazi
13:15:13 come back to you after, if have anything on that
U.S. Elections and International Monitoring: 12:49:47 team has duty to comply with law, fully plan to comply with U.S laws, with regard with those states where have been questions, work with them to have direct contact with local authorities
Syrian Rebels execution Video of unarmed Government troops:
13:08:08 we have obviously seen this video…. condemn human rights , by any other party, anyone committing human rights policies should be condemned 13:08:39 put forth code of conduct, have routinely called for their fighters to do that… and we echo that
Asked about Turkey requesting Patriot missiles along border with Syria against Syrian attacks
12:52:36 haven’t seen what you are seeing 12:52:45 already had article 4 12:52:52 support alley in any way
12:53:02 regard to no fly zone, talk with alley, have not made any decisions
Log:
State Dept Briefing
DC Tape #39
RAW-DCSTATEDEPARTMENTBRIEFINGRAW-53YDXUCA
Speaker: Victoria Nuland
12:48:40 Nuland walks up
q: about the elections in US and INTL monitoring
12:49:06 intl election monitors in 2 states threatened, Iowa, arrest , and Texas similar threat, they should not show up in Poland places12:49:31 how dealing with states?
Nuland
12:49:36 did talk about this with some length last week, great length 12:49:47 OST team has duty to comply with law, fully plan to comply with U.S laws, with regard with those states where have been questions, work with them to have direct contact with local authorities 12:50:22 as a country value, 12:50:28 deploy american observers to places like Russia and Ukraine, 12:50:40 since 2002 successfully in Texas since 2008, already operating in some 40 states
q: does state go out with them?
12:51:01 no we don’t
IFES
12:51:20 studying admin of
12:51:27 particular states, working with states, intl . elections assistance
12:51:58 there were questions in Texase, question was state laws, resasurring to us and state authorities
q: Turkey request Patriot missile along border with Syria against syrian attacks
12:52:36 haven’t seen what you are seeing 12:52:45 already had article 4 12:52:52 support alley in any way
12:53:02 regard to no fly zone, talk with alley, have not made any decisons
q: patriot missile
12:53:20 not going to get into hypothetical 12:53:26 patriot missile systems are defensive systems not battery systems
12:54:11 our hope doha will produce more broader representative structure, reflect many groups sprung up in Syria over last year, up to syrians to pick their leadership
SYRIA:
q
12:54:57 we have been suportive of SNC, thought needed to broaden representation, ethnically, geographically 12:55:21 reflect leadership emerging in Syria
12:55:29 view remains SNC should remain in Do Ha. 12:55:41 not a matter of US dictationg. 12:55:52 use this time to really broaden its self 12:55:59 leadership represent all in syria, colors and voices inside syria
12:56:14 representatives will be welecome to Do Ha
q: what structure should look like, numbers of people, council?
12:56:54 again don’t want to get ahead of meeting in doha next week, these are syrian decisions to make, conversations among syrians talked about a relativ broad council with smaller leading board of some kind, see what emerges in Do Ha
12:57:33 Beth Jones leading un observer negotiation.
12:59:18 i would say that in our conversations with syrians, articulated 2 key goals, which we support
12:59:35 internal goal for syria its self, new enhanced structure, more political coehesion inside syria, give assurances 12:59:56 rights voice protected, borader membership 13:00:06 encourage more defections, break from regime, dem open syria
13:00:20 ehance deepen, 13:00:26 second goal external goal, here talked about dificulties we’ve had, vetting groups, ensuring working with right people. leadership emerge in new way, better direct assistance, where it can be most helpful to oposition as a whole, goal having a real representative address for countries that remain to be convinced, transiton best interest of syria, russians, 13:01:34 a more coehisve reflective group that can do advocacy, that they’ve got a better plan for syria
13:02:33 want to see more voices inside syria, rather than fight amonst themselves about what represnting
13:03:24 making sure group represents not just sunni, but christian the Kurds for that to be represented in group and geographic, 13:03:48 new structures over year, local coordinating council, armed groups do better talking to each other 13:04:09 our hope same home syrian tell us, new improved structure
13:04:21 help facilitate non
13:04:34 our position has not changed
13:04:39 we are working with states made choices other than ours, whether humanitarina, or nonlethal, getting to those who seek same syria we seek
13:05:07 prevent Syrian hijacking 13:05:15 one of goals syrians seek on a new leadership in Doha
13:05:41 i think if they don’t participate in broader structure they risk making themselves irreleveant
13:06:00 more makes harder, narrow slice of syrian congregation fighting amongst themselves
q: broader group get together?
13:06:34 if you look at transitional efforts, in Libya, carful broadly representative, in terms of background, able to have converasation about needs of country
13:07:03 in yemen, all constituents
13:07:09 from our own , Unted states, better change of united policy
q: so you say congress working well
13:07:25 better than all the alternatives
13:07:34 democracy is always difficult, bet everything else is worse?
q: Syrian Rebels shooting
13:08:08 we have obviously seen this video…. condemn human rights , by any other party, anyone commiting human rights policies should be condemned
13:08:39 put forth code of conduct, have routenly called for there fights to do that… and we echo that
Wendell on Cables and revues
13:09:09 cable indicates weekly revues
13:09:17 i don’t have anything broadly new to add . secy s… look at all documents out there, give us best advice
q: few days and election
13:09:48 NO, expect take 60 and 65 days, that takes us into decemenber, make sure complete and thourgh review rather than hitched to some politi8cal deadline
13:10:18 we don’t talk to politics here, not speak to one side or another
Tunesia/ Benghazi
13:10:55 Wendell frustrate you as well, at this podium not speak on those bring to justice, not on what we are learning and what we are persuing
13:11:28 meeting is today, the expectation is talk about full complement issues, deepen broaden democratic issues, reform economic reform, in Tunesia
13:11:55 we’ve obviously been having conversation vigilant in provide security
q: Security in Benghazi and immediate attack and whether a Fes team should go? why not asked to go
13:12:43 leave it to ARB to provide full review, not get on
13:12:54 not planning on talking about this issue
13:13:20 television networks advocate for them
q: official talk on record and you not speak at podium
13:13:43 didn’t see what he said
13:13:48 can you take that and come back and give that to us on Camera?
Nuland 13:14:03 i will speak to to them and get what he said
q: Issa letter
13:14:31 she’s gotten the letter and she’s reviewing it and expecting a response soon?
q: explain why 6 weeks after documents left out? State abandon site right?
13:15:05 not going to speak to Benghazi
13:15:13 come back to you after if have anything on that
q: Indian Ocean RIM association, What roll US want to play?
13:16:07 we welcome news included as dialogue partner in ARC
13:16:29 that part of the world extremly imporant, glad to see states around indian ocean working together
Iranan Opposition into adding you to group
13:16:56 speak to fact other nations want us added as a dialogue partner
azerbaijan and limiting commercial flights
13:21:35 as we always do with these kinds of issues , urges parties to find diplomatic solution in keeping with intl law with respect to intl travel
13:22:03 issued statement, 2011, antoher in July 2012 calling for diplomatic solution
13:22:21 operation of this effort should not be used for any status of change
China and Japan
Secy Clinton report in danger if not more communication between Japan and China
13:22:57 gonna keep that confidential
13:23:04 did have last week group of well respected friends of japan and china take visit listening tour , not give more details
communication on Island dispute?
13:23:37 advocating dialog
13:23:50 our goal is to encourage both countries to talk through it
13:24:30 we are not seeking to immediate , not officials, work together
Okinawa assault
13:25:36 amb spoke for all of us in most recent event, cooparate fully in most recent event
India
13:27:16 film maker issues on democracy human rights
Bahrain
13:28:42 dont’ have update on those
american guy serving as advisor to Bahrian interior…
13:29:06 dont’ have anything on that
Cuba Internet
13:29:31 we are absolutly guilty of those charges, does offer free course to use election to Cubans, have
13:29:59 wouldn’t be necessary if cuban gov didn’t limit it
13:30:15 we have been very clear for our support for freedom human rights for decades, Allen gross is guilty of nothing and should be released
Gaza and Hamas visit
13:30:50 we are clear publicly and privatly, with allies, we oppose Hamas, destabilize .. visits not condusive, instead urge all parties to come togtether to play a role, encourage anyone wanting to do that to use establish that
13:31:48 concern have more and more of this and that was not helpful
q: teaching people to use internet
13:32:15 teaching people how to use the internet period
13:32:41 our view on all of these is the same
Secy Clinton vote
q: do you know where secy will be for elections and how she will vote?
13:33:53 how she will vote? Ha ha ha
13:34:01 speak to that after she does it, but not vefore
13:34:11 i’ll let her know you asked how she would vote
13:34:46 Shot goes wide, 13:34:51 Nuland walks off stage
13:34:58 How long did you guys make me go? (looks at watch) off stage
