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Requests for Bolstered Security in Libya Were Denied, Republicans Say Requests for Bolstered Security in Libya Were Denied, Republicans Say
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Republicans on the House oversight committee charged on Tuesday that officials in Washington turned down repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi, Libya, before the fatal attack on the diplomatic compound there last month.WASHINGTON — Republicans on the House oversight committee charged on Tuesday that officials in Washington turned down repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi, Libya, before the fatal attack on the diplomatic compound there last month.
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, leaders of the committee listed more than a dozen episodes, several of them violent, in the past six months that they said formed the basis for repeated requests for more security resources. In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, leaders of the committee listed more than a dozen episodes, several of them violent, in the past six months that they said formed the basis for repeated requests by the diplomatic mission in Libya for more security resources.
Representatives Darrell Issa of California, the committee’s chairman, and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chairman of the subcommittee on foreign operations, said in the letter that unnamed officials had told them of the requests. They asked for details and a briefing before a hearing that they have scheduled for Oct. 10.Representatives Darrell Issa of California, the committee’s chairman, and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chairman of the subcommittee on foreign operations, said in the letter that unnamed officials had told them of the requests. They asked for details and a briefing before a hearing that they have scheduled for Oct. 10.
Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, said the administration would cooperate fully with the committee, but was not yet ready to answer the specific questions posed by the committee or comment on its assertions.Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, said the administration would cooperate fully with the committee, but was not yet ready to answer the specific questions posed by the committee or comment on its assertions.
“We want to get to the bottom of precisely what happened and learn any lessons that we need to learn from it,” she said. “We’re taking this very, very seriously.”“We want to get to the bottom of precisely what happened and learn any lessons that we need to learn from it,” she said. “We’re taking this very, very seriously.”
The attack, on Sept. 11, killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.The attack, on Sept. 11, killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
“Based on information provided to the committee by individuals with direct knowledge of events in Libya, the attack that claimed the ambassador’s life was the latest in a long line of attacks on Western diplomats and officials in Libya in the months leading up to Sept. 11, 2012,” the letter said.“Based on information provided to the committee by individuals with direct knowledge of events in Libya, the attack that claimed the ambassador’s life was the latest in a long line of attacks on Western diplomats and officials in Libya in the months leading up to Sept. 11, 2012,” the letter said.
“Multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the committee that, prior to the Sept. 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi,” it said. “The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington.”“Multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the committee that, prior to the Sept. 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi,” it said. “The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington.”
In June, the letter asserts, Mr. Stevens was threatened in a posting on a Facebook page supporting the old regime in Libya.In June, the letter asserts, Mr. Stevens was threatened in a posting on a Facebook page supporting the old regime in Libya.
Other episodes included harassment, beatings, unsuccessful bombings, gunfights and attacks with rocket-propelled grenades, directed not only at Americans but also at other international representatives and the new Libyan authorities.Other episodes included harassment, beatings, unsuccessful bombings, gunfights and attacks with rocket-propelled grenades, directed not only at Americans but also at other international representatives and the new Libyan authorities.
“Put together, these events indicated a clear pattern of security threats that could only be reasonably interpreted to justify increased security for U.S. personnel and facilities in Benghazi,” the letter said.“Put together, these events indicated a clear pattern of security threats that could only be reasonably interpreted to justify increased security for U.S. personnel and facilities in Benghazi,” the letter said.
The events in Benghazi have been seized upon by Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, and by other critics of President Obama as evidence of weakness in his foreign policy.The events in Benghazi have been seized upon by Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, and by other critics of President Obama as evidence of weakness in his foreign policy.
The administration, for its part, has varied its descriptions of the attack, first saying that it appeared to be a spontaneous or opportunistic escalation of a riotous protest, then saying that it seemed to be an act of deliberate terrorism.The administration, for its part, has varied its descriptions of the attack, first saying that it appeared to be a spontaneous or opportunistic escalation of a riotous protest, then saying that it seemed to be an act of deliberate terrorism.
The lawmakers’ letter asserts that “it was clearly never, as administration officials once insisted, the result of a popular protest.” Representative Issa’s inquiry, like others he has conducted on hot-button issues like the Solyndra solar energy loan and the Fast and Furious gun operation, is likely to fuel the political debate, this time on the matters of embassy security and, more generally, the handling of foreign policy, especially in the roiled Middle East. The lawmakers’ letter asserts that “it was clearly never, as administration officials once insisted, the result of a popular protest.” Mr. Issa’s inquiry, like others he has conducted on hot-button issues like the Solyndra solar energy loan and the Operation Fast and Furious gun operation, is likely to fuel the political debate, this time on the matters of embassy security and, more generally, the handling of foreign policy, especially in the roiled Middle East.
One episode cited by the committee was the firing in May of rocket-propelled grenades at a Red Cross office less than a mile from the United States diplomatic office in Benghazi, an attack that occurred in the early morning hours and caused no casualties. A Facebook posting that claimed responsibility said, “We announce that Libya is an Islamic state,” adding, “Now we are preparing a message for the Americans for disturbing the skies over Derna,” a port city in eastern Libya. Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raising parallel concerns about security in Benghazi, have also asked Mrs. Clinton for the relevant cables.
In early June, vehicles carrying the British ambassador came under rocket-propelled grenade attack, “an important escalation,” the letter said. One episode cited by the House committee was the firing in May of rocket-propelled grenades at a Red Cross office less than a mile from the United States diplomatic office in Benghazi, an attack that occurred in the early-morning hours and caused no casualties. A Facebook posting that claimed responsibility said, “We announce that Libya is an Islamic state,” adding, “Now we are preparing a message for the Americans for disturbing the skies over Derna,” a port city in eastern Libya.
In late June the Red Cross was attacked again. The Red Cross pulled out, leaving the American compound with “the last Western flag flying in Benghazi, making it an ideal target for militants,” the letter said. In early June, vehicles carrying the British ambassador came under rocket-propelled-grenade attack, “an important escalation,” the letter said.
In late June, the Red Cross was attacked again. The Red Cross pulled out, leaving the American compound with “the last Western flag flying in Benghazi, making it an ideal target for militants,” the letter said.