Benghazi Refresher

~False. 4 individuals were identified to be at fault in the Accountability Review Board’s (ARB) report, and have been removed from their jobs.

"…all four individuals identified in the ARB have been removed from their job. Secondly, they’ve been placed on administrative leave while we stepped through the personnel process to determine the next steps.

Third, both Ambassador Pickering and Admiral Mullen specifically highlighted the reason why this is complicated, because under federal statute and regulations, unsatisfactory leadership is not grounds for finding a breach of duty. The ARB did not find these four individuals breached their duty.

So I have submitted legislation to this committee, to the Congress, to fix this problem so future ARBs will not face this situation.” ~Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

~False.

"As I have said many times since September 11, I take responsibility. Nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure.” ~Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

~False. Hillary launched an Accountability Review Board, removed the 4 individuals identified to be at fault, and implemented the 29 recommendations set forth by the ARB.

"Since 1988, there have been 19 Accountability Review Boards investigating attacks on American diplomats and their facilities. Benghazi joins a long list of tragedies, for our Department and for other agencies: hostages taken in Tehran in 1979, our embassy and Marine barracks bombed in Beirut in 1983 (this happened under Reagan and we lost over 100 U.S. servicemen), Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996, our embassies in East Africa in 1998, consulate staff murdered in Jeddah in 2004, the Khost attack in 2009, and too many others.
…
I have accepted every one of their recommendations — and I asked the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources to lead a task force to ensure that all 29 of them are implemented quickly and completely.” ~Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

~False. The intelligence community initially thought the YouTube video was related to the Benghazi attack. Hillary Clinton repeated the intelligence communities talking points.

Violent protests had erupted throughout the Middle East simultaneous to Benghazi. Many of the protests throughout the Middle East and in Cairo revolved around the YouTube video, which is why it was initially thought Benghazi was also related to the YouTube video. We now know that although the attackers in Benghazi weren’t directly connected to the protests revolving around the YouTube video, the unstable environment provided by the protests gave the Benghazi perpetrators an opportunity to launch their attack successfully.

~False.

Senator Joe Lieberman: “Let me begin by asking you whether you would say that Ambassador Stevens and the three other Americans died as a result of a terrorist attack?”
Counterterrorism Director Matthew Olsen: “Certainly on that particular question I would say, yes. They were killed in the course of a terrorist attack on our embassy.”

~False. 1.43 million cables are sent to the State Department each year. Security requests are handled by security professionals in the State Department. No cables requesting more security reached Hillary’s desk.

~True. Virtually all tragedies are “preventable” with 20/20 hindsight — including the Beirut bombings under Reagan, 9/11/2001, and the 13 embassy attacks under George Bush’s Administration.

~False. Hillary was referring to the Republican’s obsession with Susan Rice’s talking points, not Benghazi itself.

Republicans didn’t care when Bush lied about WMDs, nor did they express outrage over 9/11/2001, the Iraq War, or the 13 embassy attacks with 50+ dead under Bush. Their outrage over Benghazi is phony and they are essentially spitting on the graves of those lost in Benghazi for political gain. If Republicans cared so much about embassy security, why did they cut funding for it by millions of dollars? Why didn't they express outrage over the 13 embassy/consulate attacks under Bush?

1. The nonpartisan Accountability Review Board did not find Hillary Rodham Clinton responsible for the Benghazi attacks. Hillary never directly received the cables requesting more security from Benghazi.

2. Republicans cut millions and millions of dollars in “embassy security.” Cuts that Hillary Clinton called “detrimental” to our security overseas.

3. Over 50 people died from 13 embassy/consulate attacks under George Bush’s Presidency.

4. The Obama Administration did not “cover-up” the Benghazi attacks. Counterterrorism Director Matthew Olsen told Senator Joe Lieberman that Benghazi was a “terrorist attack”. This was only a few days after Susan Rice went on the Sunday morning talk-shows. Therefore, this would have to be the shortest “cover-up” in history.

Senator Joe Lieberman: “Let me begin by asking you whether you would say that Ambassador Stevens and the three other Americans died as a result of a terrorist attack.”

Counterterrorism Director Matthew Olsen: “Certainly on that particular question I would say, yes. They were killed in the course of a terrorist attack on our embassy.”

5. Hillary’s quote, "What difference, at this point, does it make" has been taken out of context. Hillary was referring to the Republican’s obsession with what Susan Rice said, not Benghazi itself. We now know the intelligence communities talking points that Susan Rice presented were incorrect. But to accuse the Administration of intentionally lying (when Counterterrorism Director Matthew Olsen called it a “terrorist attack” only a few days after Susan Rice went on the Sunday morning talk shows) is dishonest.

6. The reason the YouTube video was cited as a possible reason for Benghazi is because violent protests had been erupting throughout the Middle East when Benghazi took place. Some of the protests had to do with the YouTube video, which is why it was originally thought Benghazi was also related to the YouTube video.

Embassy attacks are an unfortunate reality in the world and have occurred under every administration in modern times. Security overseas is always risky business, and those who take jobs in dangerous places know the risks. Unfortunately, Republicans cut millions and millions of dollars from embassy security.