Posted on 09/13/2012 7:10:53 PM PDT by barryobi
While Washington vacationed in August, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service issued a now prescient-sounding report warning that Libya's security concerns were an "immediate priority" that might require far more attention and resources than the United States had given it.
That self-restraint broke down severely this week as, according to U.S. officials, an apparently coordinated attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi emerged from a crowded protest, leading to the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and others. It was the apex of a string of concerning violent incidents dating back months.
The author of the report, Christopher Blanchard, specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, on Thursday told the E-Ring, "Security has deteriorated since the election [in July] and the government has not appeared able to stop attacks on religious buildings or an ongoing string of assassination attacks on former regime security officials. The attacks on the U.S. offices in Benghazi were the latest and most severe in a series of attacks on foreign diplomatic facilities and international organizations in Libya."
"This incident underscores what the State Department itself said in its late August travel warning: militia groups outside of state control are active in Libya and pose a direct threat to Libyans and foreigners."
(Excerpt) Read more at e-ring.foreignpolicy.com ...
How would we know? He was too busy playing golf.
Actually I heard today that the FBI still hasn’t secured the compound, because it is considered too dangerous.
Not sure why there wasn’t a platoon of marines on the ground surrounding our sovereign soil within an hour of the attack.
There was no Specter, there were no Marines, there were no extra special cautions taken despite the clear warnings of a possible attack on 9/11 this year.
It defies all logic that the ambassador would confide to his diary of the probability of danger and in specific danger to himself without cabling the State Department of the possible dangers. In addition the State Department had warnings from the government of Libya of possible unrest and danger of attacks.
My question is, “why did we not have a platoon of Marines at the consulate and Specter flying off the coast of Libya?” It makes a lasting impression on the leaders of the bad guys when all their minions die with cold, ruthless efficiency.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.