‘Security in Benghazi Was a Struggle… Diplomatic Security Remained Weak’
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee yanked headlines back to Benghazi today by bringing a recessed Hill alive as it exercised its authority to call a full hearing during the campaign break.
At issue: Why did the Benghazi compound not have more security, even under warning of a deteriorating situation from the late ambassador? Why was a specialized security force pulled out of Benghazi in August? What was deemed a “request” for reinforcements? And why is “terrorism” still a four-letter word in the administration?
Committee Democrats, however, accused the GOP of calling the hearing to probe the security failures that led to the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, in order to score political points during campaign season.
“I certainly hope that today’s hearing is not going to be perceived as effort to exploit a tragedy for political purposes 27 days out from the election,” quipped Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), declaring “that is simply not the case” that the congressional probe was being conducted on a “bipartisan basis,” even accused Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) of violating House rules by withholding documents from Dems. “It is a shame that they are resorting to such petty abuses in what should be a serious investigation of this attack,” he said, accusing Republicans of drawing conclusions then looking for facts.
“Do you have a rule that you believe that I violated?” Issa said.
“We will provide you with that,” Cummings answered. “I want to get on with the hearing.”
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), while suggesting that GOP budget cuts could have undermined embassy security, conceded that it “is important to hold a hearing now when memories are fresh.”
Ambassador Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary for management at the State Department, and Charlene Lamb, deputy assistant secretary for international programs at the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, faced a four-hour onslaught of questions about those recollections — and the sustained claims of the administration that the Sept. 11 assault was a terrorist attack.
“I have been a foreign service officer for nearly 40 years. I have served every president from Nixon to Obama. No one is more determined to get this right than the president, the secretary and the men and women of the State Department. And nobody will us hold us more accountable than we hold ourselves,” Kennedy testified.
He noted there are two investigations of the deadly attack currently under way, one by the FBI and the other by an Accountability Review Board appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (who was not called to testify today). That panel, which began its work last week, is led by former UN Ambassador Thomas Pickering and includes former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen.
“Until these investigations conclude, we are dealing with an incomplete picture. And, as a result, our answers today will also be incomplete,” Kennedy said. “No one in the administration has claimed to know all the answers. We have always made clear that we are giving the best information we have at the time. And that information has evolved.”
Lamb walked through a timeline of the events that night in Benghazi, with a large aerial view of the U.S. installation propped on an easel. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who opened the hearing showing slides of previous attacks in Benghazi that should have put the State Department on guard, protested that the department was now showing borderline sensitive information — that lawmakers had been asked not to use — in an open forum.
Lamb testified that after acquiring the Benghazi compound in mid-2011 her department made a number of security upgrades, including reinforcing locks and the installation of an “Imminent Danger Notification System.”
She said there were five diplomatic security agents in the compound on Sept. 11, and three Libyan security officers, along with a “well-trained U.S. quick reaction security team” at the nearby embassy annex.
“The attack began at approximately 9:40 p.m. local time. Diplomatic Security agents inside the compound heard loud voices outside the walls, followed by gunfire and an explosion. Dozens of attackers then launched a full-scale assault that was unprecedented in its size and intensity,” Lamb testified. “They forced their way through the pedestrian gate, and used diesel fuel to set fire to the Libyan 17th February Brigade members’ barracks, and then proceeded towards the main building … two local Libyan security personnel were beaten, and two were shot.”
The Imminent Danger Notification System was activated and the security agents were apparently scattered with gunfire in “multiple locations on the compound.”
“One agent secured Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith, the information management officer, in the safe haven. The other agents retrieved their M4 submachine guns and other tactical gear from Building B. When they attempted to return to the main building, they encountered armed attackers and doubled back to Building B,” Lamb said.
The building in which Stevens and the others were taking shelter was set ablaze with diesel fuel by the attackers. The agent with Stevens and Smith became separated from them in the thick smoke as attackers began breaking into compound buildings. Agents who arrived to help the one guard later found Smith deceased. “They still could not find the ambassador,” she said.
Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed by a mortar attack on the embassy annex later. After the remaining Americans were evacuated to the airport, Lamb said, State Department officials were able to confirm reports that Stevens’ body was at Benghazi General Hospital.
Eric Nordstrom, the regional security officer in Tripoli from September 2011 to July 2012, testified that he believed “having an extra foot of wall, or an extra-half dozen guards or agents would not have enabled us to respond to that kind of assault.”
“I’m concerned that this attack will signal a new security reality, just as the 1984 Beirut attack did for the Marines; the 1998 East Africa bombings did for the State Department, and 9/11 for the whole country,” he said. “It is critical that we balance the risk-mitigation with the needs of our diplomats to do their job, in dangerous and uncertain places. The answer cannot be to operate from a bunker.”
Rounding out the witness table was Utah National Guard Lt. Col. Andrew Wood, who served as Site Security Team commander in Libya from this February to less than a month before the Benghazi attack, when his team was pulled out by the State Department. After Stevens’ death, Wood tried to reach out to Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) office with “intimate knowledge of the security situation prior to the attack.” When he didn’t receive a response, he reached out in a Sept. 28 email to his congressman: Chaffetz.
“Ambassador Stevens was an avid runner and played tennis as well. The SST was heavily involved in performing his personnel security detail when he ran. I ran with him on several occasions,” Wood said, pausing briefly as he appeared choked up.
“The security in Benghazi was a struggle and remained a struggle throughout my time there. The situation remained uncertain and reports from some Libyans indicated it was getting worse,” Wood testified. “Diplomatic security remained weak. In April there was only one US diplomatic security agent stationed there. The RSO struggled to obtain additional personnel there but was never able to attain the numbers he felt comfortable with.”
Still, Lamb stood by her office’s decision to not supplement Benghazi security with more personnel, even when Issa asked her about a July 9 cable from the ambassador in which more assets were requested but the State Department didn’t brand it an official request.
“Does the word ‘request’ mean ‘request’?” Issa asked.
“We discussed that there was no justification that normally comes with a request,” Lamb said, calling it a “detailed, complex cable.” Two of the five security personnel at the compound on Sept. 11 were Stevens’ traveling detail, meaning just three armed guards were stationed there.
Reality Check: The U.S. Government Created Al Qaeda?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcZKso_Z6M8&feature=plcp
The security and the safety of the United States of America are in the hands of these schmucks????????? Are you sleepy and restfull tonigth??? If you are, you are toked out or terminally retarded.
Carla, a few of my sources have been floating a theory, and I am putting it out here at this point. They say they have evidence to support their theory.
It is entirely possible, the Islamist-in-Chief approved a weapons running operation through Libya to aid the Syrian opposition. In other words, the Ambassador was much more than a diplo, he was involved with arms traffickers at the behest of the CIA etc.
Now, isn’t it more than possible, the POTUS latched onto the video scenario, hoping it wouldn’t lead to other sticky goings on behind the scenes?
Obviously, much of what the gov’t does for national security must stay secret.But what if they picked the wrong horse to back? In other words, it is not well known to the general public, the Syrian opposition is chock full of Al-Qadea and its offshoots!
So, since the POTUS is honing his foreign policy chops on killing Osama, how would it look if a behind the scenes operation was revealed, even loosely connected with Al Qaeda?
While Assad the Butcher surely has to go, the ones who are looking to replace him are no less dangerous to western interests. They are a mish mash of Muslim Brotherhood operatives & Al Qaeda. I know this for a fact.
There are no easy answers, but this much is sure – http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/08/31/islamists-whatever-their-stripes-are-bloodthirsty-assads-butchers-his-opponents-too-six-of-onehalf-dozen-of-another-addendum-toislam-blood-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/
Therefore, without stating forcefully – ‘Islamic doctrine is incompatible with the west, thus a reformation is the only answer to the carnage’, nothing, nada, zilch, zippo will change.
This is why the policy paper I reviewed for Professor Paul Eidelberg, ‘Islam & Blood, is the place to start the conversation.
No, the US government did not create Al Qaeda. It does not knowingly support AQ.
The media is lying in an attempt to gain more money. During the Soviet Union’s adventure in Afghanistan, the CIA armed ‘ganies who would later become AQ.
While there are AQ in Syria, I seriously doubt they are having problems getting small arms and munitions.
““The post had agreed that three was a sufficient number to have on the ground,” Lamb argued, adding that the goal was to train Libyans to assume greater security roles.”
Germans, I can trust to guard our embassy in Berlin. Libya, not so much.
America, wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!111. Our soldiers are dying for this political hack. This third rate Chilago pol who, off the teleprompter has difficulty remembering his home address, this wunderkind; my cat is smarter than this loser
Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. After all, the US was fighting the Soviet Union at every turn. Personally, given the history of the Afghan people, I think doing nothing to hinder the Soviets would have worked out just as well. But, there was always a chance the Afghans might accept our help and friendship thus becoming an ally. The “Law of Unintended Consequences” comes immediately to mind since hindsight is, supposedly, 20/20.
– the faux committee hearing was a campaign stunt.
– Sandra Fluke.
The statement that chilled MY blood was the revelation that there are somewhere between 10 and 20 THOUSAND of our manpads (Stinger-type shoulder-fired surface to air missiles)loose in that part of the world. Considering the efforts of our government to NOT secure our southern border, and considering the fact that Al Quaida almost certainly is now in posession of a sizable number of those manpads and taking into account that we have already discovered ‘jihad-related’ materials and literature in northern Mexico and southern Arizona would it not be reasonable to think commercial airliners will soon start falling out of our skies right here at home? Don’t think I”ll be getting on a commercial flight any time in the foreseeable future.
It’s semi-amazing it hasn’t happened already.
At least as far back as 2008, LTC Allen West was reporting the existence of at least 36 known terrorist training camps within the geographic confines of the United States. How many do you suppose there are now?
BTW, a True the Vote e-mail soliciting requests for funding noted yesterday that Col. West was running 9 points behind in the upcoming FL election. This may or not be true, but what is true is that the Dems have targeted him for defeat at all costs, and he needs our support. He is, among many other fine things, the absolute antithesis of the perfumed princes with which our general officer ranks are currently riddled.
“…GOP budget cuts could have undermined security…”
This is ripe – what budget?!? Senate Democrats have impeded passage of a budget for the last four years. What do these people see when they look in the mirror? Are any of them capable of opening their mouths without lying?
I liked how the “diplomats” perked up at the suggestion that they require more money. Because, isn’t that what their jobs are about? More money?
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs to call CIA Director David “Holy Qur’an” Petraeus before it’s committee, put him under oath, and ask him why he flat out lied through his teeth to the House Intelligence Committee. Then the House Intelligence Committee needs to do the same thing.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs to call CIA Director David “Holy Qur’an” Petraeus before it’s committee, put him under oath, and ask him why he flat out lied through his teeth to the House Intelligence Committee. Then the House Intelligence Committee needs to do the same thing.
Yet a congressional source told Fox News that CIA Director David Petraeus, during a briefing with members of the House Intelligence Committee three days after the attack, also espoused the view that Benghazi was an out-of-control demonstration prompted by the YouTube video. According to the source, this was “shocking” to some members who were present and saw the same intelligence pointing toward a terrorist attack.
At this point it seems safe to say that this man has herewith lost whatever shreds of credibility he may have had left with the American public.
I can just see Lamb and Kennedy retiring from State and going to the IPAB when Obamacare is finally instituted so they can be just as big assholes as they are now. Neither one has an ounce of common sense and for that idiot Lamb to say they had the correct number of security at the Consulate is insane! Can’t you just see the two of them making medical treatment decisions without knowing one single thing about your health? The arrogance of these people never ceases to amaze and disgust me.
In my company Ms. Lamb might be a secretary until somebody figured out that she was a loser. Then she’d be in the soup line.
‘Toon of the Day: Big Bird: The Letter of the Day Is “Y” As In Yemen
http://predicthistunpredictpast.blogspot.com/2012/10/toon-of-day-big-bird-letter-of-day-is-y.html
Eric Nordstrom, the regional security officer in Tripoli from September 2011 to July 2012, testified that he believed “having an extra foot of wall, or an extra-half dozen guards or agents would not have enabled us to respond to that kind of assault.”
>> A counsel of despair ? ‘That kind of assault’ was predictable, and preventable
_IF_ one accepted the reality of the situation on the ground in Libya.
“I’m concerned that this attack will signal a new security reality, just as the 1984 Beirut attack did for the Marines; the 1998 East Africa bombings did for the State Department, and 9/11 for the whole country,”
>> All of those attacks succeeded because the diplomats could not accept or
chose to ignore reality; The Beirut attack succeeded because our diplomats
convinced President Reagan that installing our own security would be an
insult to our Lebanese hosts. The morning after the attack, a Marine manning
a 105mm recoilless rifle was stationed in the street leading to the hotel;
Had he been here the night before, the attack would have failed.
He said: “It is critical that we balance the risk-mitigation with the needs of our diplomats to do their job, in dangerous and uncertain places. The answer cannot be to operate from a bunker.”
>> US diplomats operated from a ‘bunker’ known as the Green Zone in Iraq.
Who is ‘we’, Nordstrom; Were you exposed to the same level of risk as Stevens ?
P.S. Conspiracy theories are generally unconvincing, or at least unprovable, but
If this attack, like the one in Beirut, is used as an excuse to avoid further
action in the area, one must wonder who could gain, and why, from the deaths,
and watch closely to see what information is revealed, or concealed, during
the investigation.
The sooner Washington D.C. allows U.S. to develop our own resources we will continue to send our sons and daughters to die in foreign country. This makes absolutely no sense!
Published October 10, 2012, Application for ND oil refinery approved, would be first built in US in 30 years NEW TOWN, N.D. – Plans for an oil refinery on the Fort Berthold Reservation, the first major refinery to be built in the United States in more than 30 years, cleared a milestone Wednesday. By: Amy Dalrymple, INFORUM
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/376913/
This is one of the most significant failures of our government to protect it’s citizens…. remember, they had warnings from several sources including the ambassador himself. If our current administration cannot protect our state department people when they have so many warnings, how can we expect them to protect us here at home. Fly drones over our own territory to spy on us?
“I certainly hope that today’s hearing is not going to be perceived as effort to exploit a tragedy for political purposes 27 days out from the election,” quipped Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
Yes, that’s the main concern, you two-bit party hack. What the hell is the matter with you? Wait til after the election to find answers, when everyone’s memory has faded and/or other party hacks have had time to be properly briefed on what to say/not say during the inquiry?
My god these people are completely unfazed. Their lack of reality-grasping is truly phenomenal. I really do feel like I’m living in a third-world hellhole when idiots like this start talking. Especially coming from the party where everything they do is to make political points.
OK..well…rant off. I’ll just spend the rest of today shaking my head.
Ambassador Stevens was a good diplomatic soldier. A good sport, he knew the risks and that sacrifices sometimes are required to go green with limited resources; the American Embassy in Vienna got their Chevy Volts and charging station, PBS gets their Big Bird, and California gets their bullet train to nowhere.
Isn’t hiring local militias to provide security for U.S. facilities in Libya like hiring the Hell’s Angels to provide security for rock concerts in California?
Published on Aug 23, 2012
William Binney is among a group of N.S.A. whistle-blowers, including Thomas A. Drake, who have each risked everything — their freedom, livelihoods and personal relationships — to warn Americans about the dangers of N.S.A. domestic spying; A top-secret program he says is broadly collecting Americans’ personal data.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OemwW60VxDY&feature=plcp