Attack on US Consulate in Benghazi (Photo: Reuters)
More Than Half U.S. Diplomatic Posts May Not Meet Security Rules -- Reuters
* Security under scrutinity following Benghazi attack
* Facilities at 153 posts may not meet current standards
* Can be difficult to find sufficient land in capital cities
WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - More than half the U.S. diplomatic posts overseas may not fully meet security standards, a senior U.S. official told a hearing on Thursday that follows an attack on the mission in Benghazi in which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans died.
Pat Kennedy, the under secretary of state for management at the State Department, told a House of Representatives appropriations subcommittee that the United States had a diplomatic presence at 283 locations around the world.
He said 97 safe and secure facilities had been completed since the 1999 passage of a U.S. law authorizing additional funding for security upgrades, including 70 full replacements of embassies or consulates, as well as some building of Marine guard quarters and office annexes.
"There remain approximately 158 posts that have facilities that may not fully meet current security standards," he said.
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My Comment: US Secretary of State John Kerry has noticed this, and has in fact said the following .... sequester will 'seriously impair' safety, security at U.S. diplomatic facilities. All good and well .... which is why (maybe) he should take the comments that he made here and here and advocate that this money be put for U.S. diplomatic security. Hmmmm .... I doubt that he will.
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