The showdown over Rice continues

>>> white house officials say today the president has not made final decisions on his foreign policy team but he went oust his way at a cabinet meeting to give a shout out to susan rice .

>> susan rice is extraordinary. couldn't be prouder of the job that she's done.

>> delaware senator chris coons a member of the foreign relations committee has to decide who will be the next secretary of state and join me from capitol hill . thank you very much. what do you think of the criticism among republican colleagues of susan rice for her comments after benghazi? do you think that that is sufficient to prevent her from being nominated and confirmed?

>> andrea, that will be a mat that we have to take up in the senate and see. i think the president, who has not nominated a candidate to be the next secretary of state is entitled to his own nominee, if they are qualified. susan rice is certainly more than qualified. she's led admirably, represented us at the united nations during a difficult period when she has worked tirelessly and effectively to assemble an international coalition to impose new sanctions against iran, to lead the referendum process that created a new nation in south sudan . shoo she's been an effectived a acrow vindicate advocate. she deserves a full and fair hearing. i don't think the fact she went on sunday morning talk shows and repeated talking points given to her by the intelligence community should stand in the way of her confirmation in the u.s. senate .

>> is the real issue security for our missions overseas?

>> if there were the real issue the fact there's an ongoing investigation looking at security of our missions overseas would be the principal focus rather than individual character assassination, i think, baseless attacks on susan rice and her conduct as best i can tell from everything i have seen and heard, she was simply pre preet repeating talking points prepared for her by the intelligence community . there are things we should be looking at making sure we have the resource, personnel, budget to provide for security at u.s. embassies and consulates. lots of country around the world where security's real issue, from the democratic republic of the conga, egypt, syria. at a time of tightening budgets, i do in that's a worthy question. are we doing enough to keep our diplomats safe?

>> i wanted to ask you about the co c congo , you've been concerned about the rebels. reportedly withdrawing from eastern congo . what more should the united states be doing to put pressure on this.

>> assistant secretary of state johnny carson returning today from a meeting with regional leaders and vie taken the step of joining with several of my colleagues, senators durbin and boessman and others introducing today an amendment to the defense authorization act that would impose sanctions on individuals, leaders and countries that provide material support to m23. watchers, listenering might wonder why this is an important matter. a huge conflict in eastern c no go that took 5 million lives in last decade and it's vital we take strong steps in supporting the u.n. security council resolution that calls for m23 to withdraw from goma and negotiate a path forward that reduces tensions and violence in the critical part of the eastern congo .

>> senator, thank you very much. thank you for your attention to a subject that doesn't get enough attention in washington.