We Need Answers on Libya
In September, our country mourned the tragic death of Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, and three other Americans who died in an attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi: Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. In the days following the attack, the Obama Administration blamed the violence on a "spontaneous" reaction to protests over an anti-Islam film.
However, State Department emails released this week tell a different story. These emails reveal that the administration may have known within hours that this was a terrorist attack. Despite this information, administration officials continued to tell the American public the attack was a spontaneous response to a video filmed in America.
Then there is the question of security at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi. In the months leading up to this year’s anniversary of September 11, there were two attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Additionally, the British consulate closed its doors after an attempted attack on their ambassador. The Red Cross left as well due to deteriorating security. Americans were the last ones with a flag flying in this region of Libya and yet did not have an increased security presence. In recent testimony before a congressional committee, officials confirmed that the State Department refused requests for more security in Benghazi despite the growing unrest and violence.
Unfortunately, more than one month after the attack, there remain many unanswered questions that this administration must address. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I will be actively pushing for answers and information. The Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled to hold a classified hearing on November 15. Some of the many questions that must be addressed include:
1. Why was an alleged request for more security at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi denied?
2. What intelligence assessments were made about Libya before the attack?
3. What information was provided to senior U.S. policymakers and the President immediately after the attack?
4. Were intelligence assessments shared with Ambassador Stevens before the attack?
5. Why did the administration respond to the attack by blaming an anti-Islam video despite knowing within hours that this was a terrorist attack?
6. Did the administration knowingly mislead the public?
7. Did the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi request military support during the night of the attack? If so, what was this administration’s response?
8. What are the lessons learned from this incident that will be applied to future events?
While we continue to mourn the lives lost in Libya, we must not tolerate these outrageous attacks on our people and the international diplomatic community. I am committed to obtain answers from this administration and work to ensure the safety and security of our diplomatic officials serving across the globe.
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I guess I am getting pretty leery of our leaders because my attitude after reading this “yeah, yeah, tell us another story.” It seems like for so long we been told “we’re getting this and that done”. Okay where is it that is getting done. I don’t see anything. Do you? Nobody is charge in Operation Fast And Furious fiasco. Nobody is going down for Benghazigate? Nobody has gone down for the insider tradergate? What are they doing? ARE THEY JUST GIVING US LIP SERVE? AND NOT DOING ANYTHING? Am I the only one that feels this way?
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