Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued that while “what has happened [in Libya] is deeply regrettable” and instability “has given terrorist groups, including ISIS a foothold,” “if there had not been that intervention to go after Gaddafi, we would be looking at something much more resembling Syria now” during a Democratic presidential town hall on the Fox News Channel on Monday.

Hillary, when asked if the aftermath of the overthrow of the Libyan government is one of her “greatest failures” said, “Well, Bret, let’s talk about it, in context, and let’s remember what was going on at the time. It was during the so-called Arab Spring, people in Libya, who had been living under the dictatorship of Gaddafi for 42 years were rising up. And he, as we can all remember, was a ruthless dictator with American blood on his hands. Ronald Reagan, as you recall, tried to take him out, because of the danger he posed. And once it became clear to him that the people of Libya were trying to get more freedom, and hopefully a better future, he basically said he was going to hunt them down like cockroaches. The Europeans, who had a lot more of a connection with Libya, going back many decades, were absolutely intent upon working with us and NATO. For the first time, Arab countries stepped up and said, we will work with NATO, because this man has paid for efforts to undermine us, assassinate our leaders, all around bad character. So, we did join with our European and Arab partners. He was overthrown. And let’s also remember, that the Libyan people have voted twice, in free and fair elections, for moderate leaders trying to get themselves to a better future. Now, what has happened is deeply regrettable. There have been forces coming from the outside, internal squabbles, that have led to the instability that has given terrorist groups, including ISIS a foothold, in some parts of Libya. I think it’s fair to say, however, if there had not been that intervention to go after Gaddafi, we would be looking at something much more resembling Syria now, than what we face in Libya.”

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