Tuesday, October 2, 2012

U.S. Diplomats In Libya Pleaded For More Security, But US State Department Declined Their Requests

Deadly attack: The consulate, located in the city of Benghazi, was reportedly bombed twice in the months leading up to the attack, which occurred on the 11th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. Daily Mail

U.S. Officials Sought Security Before Libya Attack: Lawmakers -- Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. officials in Libya asked repeatedly for more security at their mission in Benghazi before the September 11 attack that killed four Americans there, but Washington denied the requests, leaders of a congressional committee said on Tuesday.

U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa and Jason Chaffetz wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding details of the requests for more security.

They said the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold an October 10 hearing on the Benghazi attack.

"Multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the committee that, prior to the September 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi," Issa and Chaffetz wrote.

"The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington," the Republican lawmakers said.

Read more ....

More News On US Diplomat Requests For More Security In Benghazi Were Denied

House committee: security requests denied in Libya -- AP
Diplomats' Libyan security requests denied -- The Australian
House: U.S. Embassy in Libya asked for extra security, request denied -- Washington Examiner
GOP demands answers on Libya security -- AJC

My Comment:
I hope that these Republican lawmaker claims are not true .... but if true .... this is a scandal .... and someone in the US State department has clearly dropped the ball. Individuals need to be held accountable starting with the US Secretary of State.

Update: This explains why US diplomats in Benghazi wanted more security. More news and info on this story is here.

Update #2: White House Has No Comment on House GOPers’ Assertions that Libyan Mission Requested Security Prior to 9/11/12 Attack -- ABC News

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