[palmer]

This kind of fits the weasel words of the state dept weasels. See http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/09/197694.htm (cut and paste into browser if you want to go to that site). They say "I think in the accounting that I gave, I made clear that security personnel were endeavoring to get him out of the building when they got separated by the incredibly thick smoke and fire – if you’ve seen the pictures from the building you can have some sense of how awful the conditions were – and that they then turned right back around, got more help, and went back in to look for him. So this was really a quite – a heroic effort."

"Frankly, we are not clear on the circumstances between the time that he got separated from his – from the rest of the group inside the burning building, to the time that we were notified that he was in a Benghazi hospital. And again, we were not able to see him until his body was returned to us at the airport."

"With regard to the security arrangements, I think you will understand that we never talk in detail about how our security is arranged. And we particularly don’t talk about security arrangements for – personal security arrangements for senior level personnel."

"What I can tell you is that security in Benghazi included a local guard force outside of the compound on which we rely, which is similar to the way we are postured all over the world. We had a physical perimeter barrier, obviously. And then we had a robust American security presence inside the compound, including a strong component of regional security officers. But I’m not going to go any further than that on the specifics."

"There are reports out there that I cannot confirm that he was brought to the hospital by Libyans who found him. Obviously, he had to get there somehow. No Americans were responsible for that. But again, I’m not in the position to confirm because we frankly don’t know how he got from where Americans last saw him. And again, we were told that he was at the hospital, but we didn’t see him there ourselves."

[Mygirlsmom]

the quote continues..."oh, and that warm liquid running down your leg? Here's an umbrella. It's raining."

[GreyHoundSailor]

I’ve seen these ‘local guards’ in another Middle Eastern country - they come from the poorest regions, have no education and minimal training, and are usually asleep after 0100. We used to wonder if they’d at least leave their weapons behind for us if anything happened.

[porter_knorr]

The photos that are going around make it pretty clear he was dead while still surrounded on the streets. I’m not saying this is wrong, I’m just curious if he did actually make it to a hospital.

[bcsco]

"What I can tell you is that security in Benghazi included a local guard force outside of the compound on which we rely, which is similar to the way we are postured all over the world. We had a physical perimeter barrier, obviously. And then we had a robust American security presence inside the compound, including a strong component of regional security officers.

The Marines have already posted they had no presence in Benghazi. The American consulate was dependent on local "police" and security forces. Whatever "robust American security presence" means is a big question based on the Marine statement. I suspect this is a CYA moment.