The State Department acknowledged Wednesday that it rejected appeals for more security at its diplomatic posts in Libya in the months before a fatal terrorist attack in Benghazi as Republicans suggested that lapses contributed to the deaths of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.
[…]
Democrats on the committee defended the administration, saying Republicans had voted to cut some of the very funding for security that they suggest was lacking in Libya.
[…]
President Obama […] said. “[…]I want us to get the folks who did it, and I want us to figure out what are the lessons learned and ask the tough questions to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
WaPo
[…]
Democrats on the committee defended the administration, saying Republicans had voted to cut some of the very funding for security that they suggest was lacking in Libya.
[…]
President Obama […] said. “[…]I want us to get the folks who did it, and I want us to figure out what are the lessons learned and ask the tough questions to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
WaPo
Yes, let’s look at that, shall we.
The [congressional oversight ] committee released a copy of a diplomatic cable written by Stevens on the day he died in which he catalogued concerns about rising violence and Islamist influence in eastern Libya.
[…]
Democrats on the committee defended the administration, saying Republicans had voted to cut some of the very funding for security that they suggest was lacking in Libya.
[…]
[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Charlene] Lamb said she opposed a request to extend the term of a special supplemental security team comprising mostly military personnel that had assisted Stevens and other diplomats from February until August.
[…]
Under tense questioning, she acknowledged that she had told the top security officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, not to bother asking for additional help when the military team was sent home.
[…]
Nordstrom said he interpreted Lamb’s refusal as “there was going to be too much political cost.”
[…]
“The takeaway from that, for me and my staff: It was abundantly clear we were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident. And the question that we would ask is, again, ‘How thin does the ice have to get before someone falls through?’ ”
[…]
[Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)] said an earlier bombing at the Benghazi post was a test by terrorists that went unaddressed by authorities.
[…]
Democrats on the committee defended the administration, saying Republicans had voted to cut some of the very funding for security that they suggest was lacking in Libya.
[…]
[Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Charlene] Lamb said she opposed a request to extend the term of a special supplemental security team comprising mostly military personnel that had assisted Stevens and other diplomats from February until August.
[…]
Under tense questioning, she acknowledged that she had told the top security officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, not to bother asking for additional help when the military team was sent home.
[…]
Nordstrom said he interpreted Lamb’s refusal as “there was going to be too much political cost.”
[…]
“The takeaway from that, for me and my staff: It was abundantly clear we were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident. And the question that we would ask is, again, ‘How thin does the ice have to get before someone falls through?’ ”
[…]
[Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)] said an earlier bombing at the Benghazi post was a test by terrorists that went unaddressed by authorities.
I think that pretty well sums up what lesson can be learned to “make sure it doesn’t happen again.” When they tell you they need more protection, give it to them.
Of course, we all know that political cost is a higher concern in Washington than the cost of lives, but how high is that political cost now? Mr. Rmoney should be able to make a lot of hay for the remainder of the campaign.
And now I wonder...if Obama gets to keep his seat, will he let Hillary keep hers?
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