Posted on 10/03/2013 10:53:01 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The federal shutdown has disrupted a training program for diplomatic security officers that was ramped up after last year’s attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, U.S. officials confirmed Thursday.
The prolonged closing of a key training facility could mean significant delays in efforts to beef up protection for U.S. diplomats abroad, enhancements that were ordered after an independent review board criticized the State Department for its handling of the Sept. 11, 2012 attack, officials said.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, a facility operated by the Department of Homeland Security in Glynco, Ga., was shuttered Tuesday due to the congressional deadlock over spending. The center provides initial criminal justice instruction for recruits to the Diplomatic Security Service, whose agents protect the State Department’s missions and personnel around the world.
The halting of training for new agents comes on top of forced furloughs for intelligence personnel involved in assessing security threats against Americans, administration officials said. ....
A senior administration official, describing internal assessments of the furloughs’ impact, cited concerns about potential damage to the State Department’s ability to “look over the horizon and see threats” if the shutdown continues.
“The shutdown has created new vulnerabilities in an already risky world,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official noted that lawmakers who heavily criticized the State Department for security lapses during the Benghazi attacks have helped precipitate a financial crisis that undermines efforts to safeguard diplomats against terrorism.
“They are playing Russian roulette with our national security by forcing the furloughs of members of the intelligence community and closing schools that train the diplomatic security personnel necessary to reduce the chances of another Benghazi,” the official said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“The federal shutdown has disrupted a training program for diplomatic security officers that was ramped up after last year’s attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, U.S. officials confirmed Thursday.”
How much training does it take to tell them: If you ask for help you won’t get it, if you are under attack kiss your ass goodbye. Courtesy of obamaramadingdong.
I mean, this is the administration that let Benghazi burn. Get real.
With this admin’s record of keeping embassies safe I don’t think the funding is the problem.
Yup. When Barrycade decides he is done for the night, he shuts down all rescue attempts. You are on your own and sometimes must take matters into your own hands.
ALL HELL HAS BEEN UNLEASHED BY THE TEA PARTY!!!
Yeah, the bagmen who pay local Taliban to burn down our embassies and kill our diplomats don’t have anyone to do their wire transfers for them.
Hillary Clinton on State Dept. budget for FY 2012.
FY 2012 Budget Request March 10, 2011The second part of our request funds the extraordinary, temporary portion of our war effort the same way the Pentagon’s request is funded: in a separate Overseas Contingency Operations account known as OCO. Instead of covering war expenses through supplemental appropriations, we are now taking a more transparent approach that fully reflects the integrated civilian-military efforts. Our share of the President’s $126 billion request for exceptional wartime costs is $8.7 billion. So all told, we have a $47 billion operational account and an $8.7 billion Overseas Contingency Operations account.
(snip)
But let me just quickly walk you through this, because on this issue of our $8.7 billion Overseas Contingency Operations, we have the strongest support from Secretary Gates, from Admiral Mullen. And next week – I was speaking with General Petraeus last night. He will be here on the Hill strongly supporting the civilian effort that goes hand-in-hand with what he is doing so heroically in Afghanistan. So we are funding vital civilian missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq with this $8.7 billion.
adendum:
With this admin’s record of keeping secrets, soldiers and embassies safe I don’t think funding is the problem.
Shouldn’t embassies and consulates be shut down now? Seems less diplomats would need to be protected at the moment.
And we’re at day 2 or 3 of the shut down. And they are already claiming new trainees won’t make it to the field? Even if this “shut down” goes on for a while, any effect due to the stoppage in the training would not be felt at foreign posts for months or more.
Yeah, cuz when Obama gets all the money he wants, he’s all OVER embassy security! Don’t they even THINK about this crap before they publish it?? [eyeroll]
Oh, yes, it takes millions of dollars to keep marine details on site. They’re so high maintenance.
The WaPo needs to get a clue.
BO has sent more reinforcements to barricade against WWII vets in the past two days than the few who chose to protect the Libyan embassy against orders.
No sale.
Is their any nonsensical claim they won’t make? Will the shutdown keep Santa from delivering the goodies later on this year? Is this going to stop kids from trick or treating? Will midnight basketball and lesbian carpentry classes cancelled?
As we heard the Hildabeast say, “what difference does it make?”
now they want to talk about embassy protection in Benghazi??
Does this mean the State Department isn’t buying any more Chevy Volts?
Since when did it take a government shutdown to undermine embassy protection? You can’t blame something after the fact.
Rest assured though, the WWII memorial is well defended against octogenarian wheelchair terrorists knocking down the gates.
A vice admiral and submarine expert with the U.S. Strategic Command was suspended from duties last week for alleged gambling. He's the latest casualty in what appears to be a year-long White House coup against top military leaders and former CIA Director David Petraeus.
It's almost comical to hear all these dire warnings related to the “shutdown” when Obama—whose strategic vision resembles that of Mr. Magoo—is drastically cutting defense spending and pandering to evil foreign powers.
More Obama-Wash. Post bullshit. This is an exempted operation so it can be funded in many ways, esp. since other money for diplomatic activities, such as Obama’s international golf tour to Asia, is cancelled.
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