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| Obama calls for extra funds to beef up US embassy security abroad | Obama calls for extra funds to beef up US embassy security abroad |
| (4 months later) | |
| Barack Obama attempted on Thursday to draw a line under a series of scandals that have buffeted his administration, calling for more funding to beef up embassy security in the wake of the Benghazi row and insisting he had taken decisive action over the IRS affair. | Barack Obama attempted on Thursday to draw a line under a series of scandals that have buffeted his administration, calling for more funding to beef up embassy security in the wake of the Benghazi row and insisting he had taken decisive action over the IRS affair. |
| The president also said there was a need to seek a balance between national security and the freedom of the press, amid fury from the media about a decision by the Department of Justice to sweep up the phone records of more than 100 reporters and editors at the Associated Press. | The president also said there was a need to seek a balance between national security and the freedom of the press, amid fury from the media about a decision by the Department of Justice to sweep up the phone records of more than 100 reporters and editors at the Associated Press. |
| Obama has been forced to spend much of this week shaking off claims that he has failed to act decisively against problems that have threatened to derail his second term, barely six months after he was re-elected. | Obama has been forced to spend much of this week shaking off claims that he has failed to act decisively against problems that have threatened to derail his second term, barely six months after he was re-elected. |
| Instead of focusing on Syria, the topic of discussions with the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he took questions in the Rose Garden on a range of domestic political troubles. He focused particularly on Benghazi, calling on Congress to work with the White House to provide more funding to strengthen US diplomatic missions overseas. | Instead of focusing on Syria, the topic of discussions with the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he took questions in the Rose Garden on a range of domestic political troubles. He focused particularly on Benghazi, calling on Congress to work with the White House to provide more funding to strengthen US diplomatic missions overseas. |
| "We need to come together and truly honour the sacrifice of those four courageous Americans and better secure our diplomatic posts around the world," Obama said. "That's how we learn the lessons of Benghazi. That's how we keep faith with the men and women who we send overseas to represent America." | "We need to come together and truly honour the sacrifice of those four courageous Americans and better secure our diplomatic posts around the world," Obama said. "That's how we learn the lessons of Benghazi. That's how we keep faith with the men and women who we send overseas to represent America." |
| Obama's administration has been in trouble on several fronts in the past two weeks. On Wednesday Obama fired the most senior tax official in the US, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, after it was revealed that agents had imposed greater scrutiny on conservative groups that had applied for tax-exempt status. | Obama's administration has been in trouble on several fronts in the past two weeks. On Wednesday Obama fired the most senior tax official in the US, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, after it was revealed that agents had imposed greater scrutiny on conservative groups that had applied for tax-exempt status. |
| Also on Wednesday, the White House released a trove of emails relating to the aftermath of the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Libya last year. Republicans have accused the administration of covering up what it knew about the reasons for the attack, which killed four Americans including the ambassador, Christopher Stevens. | Also on Wednesday, the White House released a trove of emails relating to the aftermath of the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Libya last year. Republicans have accused the administration of covering up what it knew about the reasons for the attack, which killed four Americans including the ambassador, Christopher Stevens. |
| The administration has also come under fire from the media over the Associated Press phone records trawl, which came after the news agency published a story about a foiled Yemeni terror attack, thought to have been based on a leak. | The administration has also come under fire from the media over the Associated Press phone records trawl, which came after the news agency published a story about a foiled Yemeni terror attack, thought to have been based on a leak. |
| Asked by reporters how his problems compared with those of previous administrations, Obama said: "I'll let you guys engage in those comparisons. You can go ahead and read the history and draw your own conclusions. My concern is: if there is a problem in government, we fix it. That's true in respect of the IRS, and that's true in respect of the security of our diplomats." | Asked by reporters how his problems compared with those of previous administrations, Obama said: "I'll let you guys engage in those comparisons. You can go ahead and read the history and draw your own conclusions. My concern is: if there is a problem in government, we fix it. That's true in respect of the IRS, and that's true in respect of the security of our diplomats." |
| In relation to the Benghazi affair, Obama said his administration was reviewing security, improving training and increasing intelligence and early-warning capabilities at diplomatic outposts. Obama called on Congress to "fully fund" a budget request in respect of embassy security. | In relation to the Benghazi affair, Obama said his administration was reviewing security, improving training and increasing intelligence and early-warning capabilities at diplomatic outposts. Obama called on Congress to "fully fund" a budget request in respect of embassy security. |
| On the IRS issue, the president is expected to nominate a new acting commissioner later this week to replace Steven Miller, who was forced to resign on Wednesday. Obama vowed to make sure the agency is "doing its job scrupulously and without even a hint of bias". | On the IRS issue, the president is expected to nominate a new acting commissioner later this week to replace Steven Miller, who was forced to resign on Wednesday. Obama vowed to make sure the agency is "doing its job scrupulously and without even a hint of bias". |
| Asked about the AP phone trawl, Obama said he would not be drawn into commenting on specific cases. But he said there was a balance to be struck. | Asked about the AP phone trawl, Obama said he would not be drawn into commenting on specific cases. But he said there was a balance to be struck. |
| "Leaks related to national security can put people at risk. They can put men and women in uniform at risk. They can put some of our intelligence officers at risk. US national security is dependent on those folks being able to operate with confidence that folks back home have their backs. | "Leaks related to national security can put people at risk. They can put men and women in uniform at risk. They can put some of our intelligence officers at risk. US national security is dependent on those folks being able to operate with confidence that folks back home have their backs. |
| "So I make no apologies, and I do not think the American people would expect me as the commander in chief not to be concerned [about leaks]." | "So I make no apologies, and I do not think the American people would expect me as the commander in chief not to be concerned [about leaks]." |
| Obama said he thought there should be more debate about how to balance press freedom with national security, including the possibility of a media shield law. "To the extent that this case has prompted new interest about how do we strike that balance properly … I think that's a worthy conversation to have." | Obama said he thought there should be more debate about how to balance press freedom with national security, including the possibility of a media shield law. "To the extent that this case has prompted new interest about how do we strike that balance properly … I think that's a worthy conversation to have." |
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