Senators cite CNN's Security Clearance reporting in call for answers in US Consulate attack
By Mike Mount
(CNN) - A day after CNN's Security Clearance reported that the diplomatic office in Benghazi, Libya, had less than standard security before an attack there killed four Americans, two U.S. senators have demanded details of the threats and security concerns ahead of the attack.
U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, and Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, penned a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday requesting that the she provide the committee with "all communication relevant to the security situation in Benghazi between the U.S. mission and the State Department leading up to the attacks, including any cables sent from Ambassador Stevens," according to a news release from the offices of the two senators.
Ambassador Christopher Stevens was one of the four Americans killed in the September 11 attack on the U.S. mission.
"We are extremely concerned about conflicting reports over events leading up to the attacks. Specifically, we are concerned over the apparent lack of security preparation made despite a demonstrable increase in risks to U.S. officials and facilities in Benghazi in the period leading up to the attacks," the letter to Clinton says.
In the letter, the senators cited a Monday CNN report about a waiver allowing the diplomatic office to have a lower security level as well as earlier reporting by CNN that Stevens was concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Benghazi. That reporting came from a diary found by CNN in the burned-out mission that was confirmed to belong to Stevens.
The letter to Clinton is the latest request by members of Congress asking how the attack happened and how it was able to become so violent.
In addition to the letter from Isakson and Corker, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has called for an investigation. And Sens. Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, Dan Coats, R-Indiana, Bill Nelson, D-Florida, and Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, have sent a letter to Clinton questioning host-nation perimeter security at State Department facilities overseas.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
You may wish to inquire into how many DS agents are collecting paychecks while doing very little, if any, work related to their official duties while sitting in DC waiting for the Department to discipline them for a host of offenses from the trivial to the criminal.
Many of these agents have 5-10 or more years in the service; they have, or would have (if not sitting at a desk), volunteered for service in Libya. Instead DS sends in inexperienced and junior agents.
This happens all the time all over the world – Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Mexico. DS is exposing its people to serious risks. Taxpayers are funding paid vacations for agents who don't want to sit at a desk and wait YEARS to be "disciplined", instead of serving their country overseas.
I've learn some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you put to make any such wonderful informative website.
This paragraph is funny, both that CNN printed it and they Senators actually responded this way:
"Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has called for an investigation. And Sens. Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, Dan Coats, R-Indiana, Bill Nelson, D-Florida, and Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, have sent a letter to Clinton questioning host-nation perimeter security at State Department facilities overseas."
I suggest the Senate, CNN and everyone who questions why there were not US military assets protecting the Embassy (besides Marines who actually are just there in very small numbers to control access and protect classified information) review the 1961 Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations which spells out the responsbility of host nations to protect diplomatic facilities. We would not let other countries deploy their military here in the US to guard their diplomatic missions and they won't do the same. This was not Baghdad and the Green Zone, which was a complete one-off.
2 repulican'ts call for answers, shocking
after the election they will get the truth about the terrorist attack..Obama has no shame!
Like anything is going to be done after the fact. Wake up America it started on 9-11. All government agencies should have been on a Heightened Alert to begin with. Resignation letters should be requested.
A day or so beforehand would have been a great time for Obama to actually go to one of the security briefings instead of relying on the written report.
Time for scapegoats....
Hey Kre,
Talking about the administration bringing out a scapegoat or are you saying holding the people responsible that were responsible is scapegoating?
I know three Americans were killed instead of the thousands killed on 9 11 but I hope we didn't have the advanced warning that the Bush Administration had, receiving memos that said terrorists who wanted to attack us were already in the country. And took no action.
Just like Bill Clinton took NO ACTION in 1999.
Yeah, right. And while Clinton wanted to focus on Osama Bin Laden even back then, the repubs were insistent that OBL wasn't a threat and that Clinton not obsess over him. Don't believe me? Try actually reading news reports and articles from that time.
hecep,
That is a lie.
Clinton was offered OBL 3 times and refused him based on his administration's thinking that we couldn't charge him like a civillian instead of treating him as as an enemy combatant that he stated he was.
Methinks in the Clinton years, bin Laden was considered an "asset" of the CIA.
Besides, who still thinks that Clinton was/is a liberal? This guy was/is loved by Big Business. Anyone keep track of how many countries he attacked while CIC?
That sound like a "liberal" to you? That just points to the fact that this so called two party system is just meant to keep YOU and your political counterpart separated and at each others throats. I refer you to these blogs for proof it works.
It's pretty obvious the security that was provided for the ambassador was woefully inadequate. It was known terrorists operated in this area and that it was getting more unstable everyday, yet on 911 security wasn't increased, which you'd think it would be. This will all be swept under the rug until after the election. Obama simply doesn't want americans to know that inadequate security was put in place, it would make him look like a bungler, which he is, so none of this will see the light of day until after the election.
Democrats do not want the specter of terrorism rearing its head in an election season. That is why they want to sweep it under the rug.
Whereas Republicans must ensure that it rears its ugly head by asking 'important questions' over and over again. "Why aren't you beating your wife Mr. President? You are? When did you start? Shame on you!"
Our Less Fortunate Friends are so predictable its just pathetically sad.
What is sadder is that the media is going to fall for it.
10 bucks says Obama has a trap to make the Media regret doing that...and the Republicans too.
When you are predictable, you are boring. The media is becoming boring.
Totally incoherent babel. Thanks for that...
Ya, the state run media has been asking some really tough questions lately, give me a break, if romney makes a gaffe it's talked about for years, if Obama makes one the media simply gives him a pass.
Mrs. Clinton is the worst Secretary of State we have ever had. She may work hard but she is really stupid and Mr. Obama is the worst President we have ever had, he does not work hard, never works in his office in the White House, just flys all over to campaign since the beginning of his presidency. Both Clinton and Obama should have been alert enough and smart enough to have provided security to the Ambassador Stevens and the three other men. There is no excuse for that, these Americans would be alive today if they had Marines and real bullets that fateful day in Libya. I don't know how Clinton and Obama can sleep at night, they know it was their fault, they would never admit it because Clinton wants to run for President, can you believe it? She should be fired for neglect of duties in protecting the Ambassador and the others???? And Obama is always asleep at the wheel, and only wants to hurt Israel and protect the enemy. Enough said, even if he wins re-election, he is over and hopefully, Clinton will be over too, let her stay home and bake cookies. The two of them should be ashamed of themselves for what happened in Libya, it could have been avoided. I believe that.
AND SO AM I , I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HUMAN WASTE AND HUMAN URINE ARE ALWAYS THERE , AMEN .
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz.
I'm sorry, was I supposed to read your whole rant? I already read it from the other paid PAC troll.
What, and your's made sense, Tim??
"We are extremely concerned about conflicting reports over events leading up to the attacks."
Oh come on now...it was just an everyday murder. The FBI is involved and it's called a crime scene. Nothing to see. Move along. Just a few "bumps in the road." In fact, the administration won't even say the word "terrorist" when referring to this attack. Wait...now they are saying it might, MIGHT have been preplanned? Still no "T" word from the POTUS. After all, those people who made the video are responsible, right? I mean, it just couldn't have anything to do with the fact the POTUS and the VPOTUS claim to fame that GM is still in business and Osama Bin Laden is dead! If you didn't catch that, play the clip where the VPOTUS shouts it out. Do you suppose it is payback, orchestrated by terrorist to coincide on the anniversary of 9/11? Noooooooo....
Wait – now they are saying Al Qaeda might have been involved – yes, Al Qaeda – but still no "T" word from the POTUS.
Sounds like the NFL refs are in charge of the White House...
Just. Some. Questions. Need Answers. ...
Well stroll on down to Gondor Gandalf. Meanwhile the rest of us here in Reality will go on with real important questions instead of your manufactured crap.
You can always tell the paid libs! Ther're high on insult, low on content! Stay to the talking points you received in your conditioning. You're less likely to come off sound like a gay dweeb!
A good news organization is supposed to report, not create news!
Wait, doesn't Obama have another talk show or hip-hop party to go to? Who cares that his ambassador was murdered and Obama continues to lie about the reasons and apologize to monsters.
hip-hop party. bit racist no?
Racist? How so? It seems to me hip hop is enjoyed by a great many ethnicities. Racist? Look in the mirror.
And we've wanted jobs like they promised 2 years ago, but that didn't work out so well with the baggers they put in, dit it?
nothing like a useless troll posting unrelated garbage in order to attempt to deflect away from an administration that refuses to acknowledge an obvious terror attack...
I thought the senators were on vaction until the elections Didnt these two get the e-mail
Let's send them on a fact-finding mission to Libya!
America is not hated world wide. More immigrants come here legally and illegally than any other nation in the world. Our culture is also the most imitated in the world. Stop being a hater on America and yourself.
There have been reports that Ambassador Stevens was tortured and raped and was also raped post-mortem. Nice religion they have over there. Of course, DOJ is "investigating", which means will be years before there is an answer. By the reaction so far, I'd say no one really cares, it looks like just an inconvenience in Washington DC.
People like you sound like you WANT that to be true. Perhaps, at this later date, you might point us to any report indicating your repeated (for obvious reasons) claim?
Why must you insist on this crap? You really that stupid as to what continuing this kind of talk does? All you do is come off looking like a blathering idio t.
Are you referring to the report regarding the allegations of what happened Chris Stevens? Or the post-mortum remark being made?
fillmein, you are tooo nice
" two U.S. senators have demanded details of the threats"
300 million Americans demand you senator bums get back to work...and actually do some actual work for a change.
thus is part of their job too....
That is part of their jobs. However the 300 million Americans should want to know why all of the Senators are not demanding this? That should be the question.
Their following the leader of American. The leadership of Obama the Bump on a log!!! You dont even have to go to the movies these days. Turn the TV on and hrs and hrs of These are the Days of Obama. Boy oh Boy we are in deep cr_p with this Frank Marshall Davis/Obama.
Concern trolls are concerned that their attempts at carterization aren't working so they're gonna keep accusing the media of being biased until they get some ATTENTION....they want ATTENTION NOW @#$@#$ IT!
How about you ask Obama to actually do his job and attend intel meetings concerning these matters, instead of shirking his duties doing nothing but attending fundraisers. These senators are on the oversight committee, this is what they're PAID to do. They're supposed to get intel briefings, you really should educate yourself on these matters before making nonsensical statements. Unfortunately half of america is so blissfully ignorant of everything these days they don't even know what gov't officials do apparently, but hey most don't even know who their local rep is.
yeah, because America doesn't care about terror attacks or that we don't take normal precautions to protect our people overseas....
The Libyan ambassador should have been asking for increased security. He was on the ground and in the midst of what was going. We'll never know since he is dead.
You don't know that he wasn't asking for this, so I wouldn't make that assumption.
I have a hard time blaming this guy when it appears to be a failure all around. If the Libyan embassy was the only one attacked and Chris Stevens had knowledge of the attack before hand, and did nothing – perhaps there would be some validity. But the guy wasn't even in Libya – he was out the week before and flew back in on 9/11 after he was told it was safe to do so by our government. And – if this was a failure on behalf of Mr. Stevens – what is the explanation for the other embassies that were attacked?
How our government did not feel it necessary to ramp up security around all embassies in the middle east on 9/11 is beyond me. I could understand if this happened on July 20 because there is no significance to that day – but on 9/11. There is no excuse. Sorry – this falls on our government – plain and simple. The buck stops at the top – Obama and Clinton.
yeah, yeah blame the dead guy his fault. know wonder this country is crazy and a nut job prez to boot!!! I will pray for you and I do really mean I will pray for you!!! wisdom and knowledge dear lord!!! GOD BLESS ALL!!!
America is hated world wide and we earned that hate and distrust. Bring our Troops home, quit bombing peoples houses and killing their children and they may like us again. Quit backing an Illegal state of Israel and there will not be a Muslim problem either. For 94 years America has been practicing our Imperial plan, it isn't working, we lost.
Um...black america is NOT hated world wide...
If you believe that a group of people just happened to show up in 9/11 with RPG's and automatic weapons to to protest a movie that 99% of them never saw then you are broken. On election day haul your extra wide but down to the 711, buy a food stamp snickers and then head off to the polls and vote.
There are plenty of folks willing to follow American propaganda on both sides of the aisle. Right wing or left wing, both sides are destroying America.
GIVE ME YOUR MONEY. I WANT YOUR MONEY NOW. I NEED YOUR MONEY. YOUR RICH THAN I AM. I POOR. I AM VERY POOR. GIVE ME YOU MONEY!!! THATS WHAT OBAMA PEOPLE SOUND LIKE. Well I had shoes with holes in them and had to go to school like that. I received hand me downs. mom and dad had six children. My oldest sister died of cancer, my niece died a day after surgery. I DO KNOW HARD TIMES AND GOOD TIMES!!! Now I have a very nice house, 3 children and 2 grandchildren. i am also expecting a winfall soon!!!
Anyone can make you believe something thats not true. OBAMA the LIAR!!!~
I have a 3 bedroom cape, needs TLC, we do not have to money to fix right now but I love my home!!! As for the winfall its an idea/a dream that they wanted $16,000 dollars to patent it. May be some day!!!!
you people need to get jobs
Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
The Witless Mindless Dummies are in the Democrat Party....where they have always been.
The Witless Mindless Dummies are in the Democrat Party....where they have always been.
The Witless Mindless Dummies are in the Democrat Party....where they have always been.
The Witless Mindless Dummies are in the Democrat Party....where they have always been.
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
The Worthless Moronic Dimwits are in the GOP... lol
wow pmmarion....the thought and originality that went into that one. Give you think out that all by yourself are did you call the obama 'Hotline for Your Momma Wears Army Boots Response-alikes'? Your descendants will know how you and yours sold out America and are the reason they are enslaved.
Funding 2 wars while giivng tax cuts and wondering why we have a deficit. So who is the dummy?
And you are what exactly?
Just google 'wikileaks and wmd in iraq' you'll be pretty surprised.
Notice that the Senators in question are both Republicans? More partisan nonsense from the Right as the election nears, nothing more.
Agree! If only they could tell us where the WMDs are hidden! Nine years after the illegitimate Iraqi war, and the GOP is yet to address the UN, the world community or the American people and put to rest, what ever happened to the WMDs. Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died in Iraq and more continue to die even today as a result of a war that has destabilized that country and given rise to sectarian violence and civil war, not to mention the thousands of American soldiers who have died in that war. And even more outrageous is that GWB and his cabinet are yet to be tried at the ICC for their war crimes. Appalling!
Are serious right now? Don't you remember all of the rumors that the WMD had been moved to Syria? And then – 10 years later, the Syrian PM slips and tells everyone that they have WMD and have been moving them to the borders?
You guys really need to start reading other news outlets.....
I think that the fact that no Democratic Senators are asking this is just as partisan. The administration is doing exactly what you would expect them to do I guess, stonewalling. They won't give an answer if no one keeps asking.
The world is still asking where are the WMDs while thousands of civilians are continuing to die daily in Iraq due to civil unrest caused by GWB and the GOP. I don't think the GOP has answered this pressing question 9 years later. And by the way, Americans are still dying in Afghanistan because GWB and the GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. I'm afraid we haven't forgotten. Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs? Where are the WMDs?
@ Blah blah – Changing the subject usually means you don't have an argument.
@blah blah, Just google 'wikileaks and wmd in iraq' you'll be pretty surprised
The administration should take their lumps on this one and move on. If they would stop skirting the issue, and come right out and admit that they made a mistake, it would look much more honest. With the information that continues to come to light, it's clear that warning signs were missed or ignored.
If the evidence was so obvious, then what's the point of the request from the Senate?
Since the administration won't give a clear answer, you start getting the "what they knew, and when they knew it" questions like this.
Because if they aren't being truthful about this – what else have they not been truthful about? If they are not held accountable for their actions (or their inactions) – this will just continue to happen. What other coverups and lies have we been told?. Don't let these people off the hook – whether this was an intentional mistake or not – they need to own up to it, accept responsibility and make sure it doesn't happen again. We elected these people to be our voice in government, not to play God and not to lie to us.
It is time that they be held accountable.
Am I missing something here, in this "logic" being bandied around? The MAN on the carpet here should be, and is, the career diplomat that was in-country for many months, in the midst of the overthrow of the leader of that country, abetting his death, arming the rebels and directing military and political aid to them, fomenting the very situation that HE (yes HE) not only helped create...but also put himself in.
Stevens. He WAS in charge and if there is anyone in the world that should have known what the situation was, it was him.
The man made poor decisions that night and it got him and others killed. This is so blatantly obvious, I wonder at this necessity by some to make this a political agenda.
Are you republicans that desperate?
Is that true? Was Ambassador Stevens to blame? We don't know because the WH has basically said it's being investigated, trust us.
Ind, I'm not trying to pass off blame on a dead man. I ask you to just look/analyze what I said, then determine for yourself where any blame is to be placed, NOT just go off on a politically biased rant.
I did not make this stuff up, it is on the public record and acknowledged by all as fact. NO ONE knew more about the situation and dangers that night than Stevens. No one. He WAS in charge. Why he went to this relatively unsafe temporary consulate instead of being at the EMBASSY in Tripoli, only he knows. Others there survived while he died of smoke inhalation hiding in a "safe" room.
I want ALL responsible for all our foreign policy and intelligence failures to be held responsible. But lets start with the obvious, first.
I agree! But with due respect for the deceased and condolences to his family, what I don't understand is why Ambassador Stevens and the other Americans didn't resort to plan B, which was to wave a white flag and taken a chance to escape the burning inferno? More often than not, these insurgents or terrorists don't kill Americans on the spot when the have the opportunity to take them as hostage. Or perhaps while outside the compound, I'm sure Mr. Stevens would have been able to use his communication skills to defuse any misunderstanding and bring the dispute to a peaceful end. But hiding out in thet burning building just wasn't the wise thing to do.
fillmein – I agree, so let's let this request for information play out. It's obvious we are not going to get anything from the WH or SOS.
That seems like a fair assessment.
Looking back at the incident at the consulate from start to finish, I really don't think Ambassador Stevens was directly target and the evidence has so far shown that the terrorist more or less wanted to scare the Americans rather tan kill them. For example, if the terrorists wanted to storm the compound and go for the kill, they could have done so because there was no return fire and no resistance by the Americans whatsoever. And according to pro Libyan forces, after the building caught fire, they were able to enter and remove the occupants and take them to a nearby hospital without any constrains or opposition from the enemy. That is why I felt it was a big mistake on the part of the Americans to stay in the burnt out building and not wave a white flag to exit.
Blahblah, the moment the WhiteHouse says what I said, Obama will be attacked as a heartless, non caring, shift the blame coward, certainly by the repugs and by most americans.
Shifting the blame for what happened that night to a dead man, they'll cry out.
That does not change the reality, the truth of what I said. That is why WE, as Americans, HAVE to rise above the political muck, find fault where it is due, and become the United States of America. This ugly divisiveness we all see, mainly on the part of the repuglicans but certainly with the same ilk in the demodonkees, is exactly what is wrong in this country.
I think something is missing here. Stevens was not even in Libya the week before. He flew back on 9/11 (when our government said it was safe to do so). They had already started protesting at the Embassy, so he was taken to a safe house right from the airport.
I think whatever public record you are referring to is not being clear with exactly "who" knew "what" and "when". That is the what we are trying to get to the bottom of.
After reading this again – this has to be one of most ridiculous posts ever. Really.
You think these guys could have waived a "white flag" to Muslim extremists and they would have let them walk away? The extremists wen in full assault – and you think you can waive a white flag? How naive can you possibly be?
Then – you're going to hold Mr.Stevens responsible when you have no idea what he knew, what he didn't know and who else knew this. In my mind – it would be much easier for our government to blame Stevens because he's dead and can't defend himself. Why do you our state department is so mad at CNN for stealing Steven's diary? They wree wrong for releasing this without family consent – but I think it's more than that. The government can't play around with the truth.
Anyone who makes this a Democrat / Republican issue is a moron. This is an issue about national security for all of America. You really need to get a clue.
The ambassador is an ambassador, not a soldier. Until the dimwits in the WH actually release the cables, which they probably won't until after the election we won't know what the ambassador was saying.
This is an election year and truth from Obama on the stupid, inexcusable lack of security there is not going to happen.
After the election they will not be asking for more answers.
Agree! I called up my cousin Fleetwood Mack last night and said how you doing sis? She replied...LANDSLIDE! Hehe.
Obama/Biden 2012!
So the president of Libya states that this was a pre-planned attack that had nothing to do with the film. Hmmm. Let's see, Obama uses military force without Congressional approval, attacks a nation that was no threat to us, helps depose the govt and then in the ensuing chaos a terror attack kills our ambassador. Yep, seems like Obama's fault to me.
Wow that is some imagination you have, are you still seeing purple elephants ?
I have an extra wheel, I'll send it to you.
Not advisable – giving away any of your "extra" wheels.
Pay no attention to proof and logic. We wouldn't want your self esteem to drop.
There was even a story on CNN about the messaging that went to the White House 3 days before the attack. How much of a Ostrich can you be?
I can't wait for the right wingers to blame this on the President. They are so whiny.
You sound like a left winger whining already. Both Republicans and Democrats are asking the same question!
Sure, both sides are asking the same question...what 47% are victims???
Well, if there wasn't such an obvious and blatant attempt to cover something up...I think most Americans are reasonable when it comes to responsibility for terrorist attacks, but it does sound like there were some major oversights here. What's worse is how the president and his team are spinning this by blaming it on a movie trailer. In doing so, he is not defending the First Amendment despite the lip service he gave it at the UN today. Actions speak louder and his words and actions in this case have not been in defense of free speech. CNN went a step further by basically putting a hit on the movie maker by publishing his picture. Real nice. Anything to help their master with the cover story.
I am waiting for Obama to come out and blame the Embassy attack on Bush and Cheney
Bush-Cheney's blame for the attack was anticipated in the ConocoPhillips Shareholder Proposal - 2012 published in January 2011 at http://UnCoverUp.net.
Obama did not have time to review the terror threats as he was doing TV commericals; appearing in Letterman and The View; and working with Bill Burton and his super Pac plotting more negative ads
And yet an attack on the consulate is still no where close to the failure of 911 presented to you by Pres Bush.
Thank you!
Totally different scenarios and no ridiculous attempt to cover up after 911 with an absurdity about some movie trailer as this president continues to do. Liberals are horrible at drawing valid comparisons. How Obama can get away with these ridiculous lies is unbelievable. His followers simply don't care that he is a liar because for some reason he's their guy. I don't get it at all.
Well, you would have thought someone would have learned from Bush's past mistakes and shortcomings. Obama is just lucky it was on a much smaller scale. But guess what? It was another Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Who had more of an indicator that this could happen?
Oh good, we're going to get to benefit from the top right-wing minds on the Middle East where republican politicians have "shocked and awed" the entire region with their litany of successes. We need republican "boots on the ground" so they can "lead from the front" tomorrow.
Now this is an idea that needs so consideration.
A small bit of leadership would help – at this point in time, I see nothing from Hillary or Oama. If someone is crying for help, a normal person would do something. I see no none nada leadership here.