Inquiry Into Libya Attack Is Sharply Critical of State Dept.
Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2012, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: New York Times
WASHINGTON An independent inquiry into the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Libya that killed four Americans on Sept. 11 sharply criticizes the State Department for a lack of seasoned security personnel and relying on untested local militias to safeguard the compound, Congressional and State Department officials said Tuesday night.
The investigation into the attacks on the diplomatic mission and C.I.A. annex that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others also faulted State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests from officials at the American Embassy in Tripoli for more guards and safety upgrades to the diplomatic mission.
The panel also blamed the State Department for waiting for specific warnings of imminent attacks to act rather than adapting security procedures and protocols to a deteriorating security environment. By this spring, Benghazi, a hotbed of militant activity in eastern Libya, had experienced a string of assassinations and attacks, including one on a British envoys motorcade.
Finally, the report also blamed two major State Department bureaus diplomatic security and Near Eastern affairs for failing to coordinate and plan adequate security at the mission. The panel also determined that a number of officials had shown poor leadership.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/us/politics/inquiry-into-libya-attack-is-sharply-critical-of-state-department.html
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)To avoid getting flamed for speculation, I can only hope that SoS Clinton provides some illumination.
On a personal note: I detest the use of Blackwater, XE mercenaries.
Blackhawk44
(34 posts)'militia' is code speak for
a group of gangsters.
given the choice...
Executive Outcome,
Blackwater,
or just about anyone else,
would be better
Bumblebee
(3,446 posts)is quite a bit milder:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/benghazi-attack-review-finds-systematic-state-dept-failures-but-no-officials-breached-duty/2012/12/18/1b5bbd98-4983-11e2-8af9-9b50cb4605a7_story.html?hpid=z1
Despite those failures, the Accountability Review Board determined that no individual officials ignored or violated their duties and recommended no disciplinary action now. But it also said poor performance by senior managers should be grounds for disciplinary recommendations in the future.
The report appeared to break little new ground about the timeline of the Benghazi attack
judesedit
(4,439 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,460 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)ptownshend_fan_21845
(2 posts)not