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| Benghazi attack: complex picture emerges over Libya security | Benghazi attack: complex picture emerges over Libya security |
| (6 months later) | |
| Joe Biden's claim that "we weren't told" of requests by US diplomatic security officials to increase protection in Libya ahead of the killing of ambassador Chris Stevens may be true in a narrow sense. The White House on Friday claimed Biden was speaking "directly for himself and the president". | Joe Biden's claim that "we weren't told" of requests by US diplomatic security officials to increase protection in Libya ahead of the killing of ambassador Chris Stevens may be true in a narrow sense. The White House on Friday claimed Biden was speaking "directly for himself and the president". |
| But Republicans seized on the remark, made by the vice-president in Thursday night's debate. They said it flew in the face of testimony by US security officials who told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that repeated requests for more protection, including memos from Stevens, were rejected by Washington. | But Republicans seized on the remark, made by the vice-president in Thursday night's debate. They said it flew in the face of testimony by US security officials who told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that repeated requests for more protection, including memos from Stevens, were rejected by Washington. |
| So what's the truth? | So what's the truth? |
| Wednesday's congressional hearing was severely embarrassing for the Obama administration. | Wednesday's congressional hearing was severely embarrassing for the Obama administration. |
| The hearing exposed the administration to charges of incompetence over its initial failure to correctly identify the nature and scale of the assault on the Benghazi consulate, which led to the deaths of Stevens and three other Americans. | The hearing exposed the administration to charges of incompetence over its initial failure to correctly identify the nature and scale of the assault on the Benghazi consulate, which led to the deaths of Stevens and three other Americans. |
| It also provided a wealth of evidence that the state department ignored serial warnings not only from its own security personnel on the ground but two ambassadors to Libya – Stevens and his predecessor, Gene Cretz – about the growing threat from armed Islamist militias. The diplomats not only made failed appeals for more protection but had to fight to maintain existing security staffing levels. | It also provided a wealth of evidence that the state department ignored serial warnings not only from its own security personnel on the ground but two ambassadors to Libya – Stevens and his predecessor, Gene Cretz – about the growing threat from armed Islamist militias. The diplomats not only made failed appeals for more protection but had to fight to maintain existing security staffing levels. |
| However, no evidence was presented that the issue was ever aired outside of the state department, or that it was a matter that would or should have been referred to the White House. And the picture that emerged at the hearings was more complex than the Republicans portray it to be. | However, no evidence was presented that the issue was ever aired outside of the state department, or that it was a matter that would or should have been referred to the White House. And the picture that emerged at the hearings was more complex than the Republicans portray it to be. |
| The Republicans are also open to charges of having contributed to the debacle in Libya. They forced hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to the state department security budget over the past two years which contributed to the fight over personnel levels. | The Republicans are also open to charges of having contributed to the debacle in Libya. They forced hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to the state department security budget over the past two years which contributed to the fight over personnel levels. |
| At the congressional hearings, Eric Nordstrom, who was responsible for protecting US diplomats in Libya until July, said that state department officials in Washington were repeatedly warned about a perpetual and deepening concern over security. | At the congressional hearings, Eric Nordstrom, who was responsible for protecting US diplomats in Libya until July, said that state department officials in Washington were repeatedly warned about a perpetual and deepening concern over security. |
| "In spring of 2012 we noted an increasing number of attacks and incidents which appeared to target foreign affiliated organisations. In response to these incidents we implemented a number of changes to our security posture," he said. | "In spring of 2012 we noted an increasing number of attacks and incidents which appeared to target foreign affiliated organisations. In response to these incidents we implemented a number of changes to our security posture," he said. |
| Among them was an appeal to the Libyan government to provide better protection, and a request for a US military team that was due to be pulled out to remain while a Libyan security force was trained. | Among them was an appeal to the Libyan government to provide better protection, and a request for a US military team that was due to be pulled out to remain while a Libyan security force was trained. |
| "We reiterated our request at all levels of government for a consistent armed host nation security force to support the mission. We also requested security staffing and extensions of the DOD (department of defence) security support team. In my opinion, the primary security staffing issue that we dealt with was maintaining US security personnel, whether diplomatic security agents or security support team members, for sufficient amount of time to allow the full training and deployment of a local bodyguard unit," Nordstrom said. | "We reiterated our request at all levels of government for a consistent armed host nation security force to support the mission. We also requested security staffing and extensions of the DOD (department of defence) security support team. In my opinion, the primary security staffing issue that we dealt with was maintaining US security personnel, whether diplomatic security agents or security support team members, for sufficient amount of time to allow the full training and deployment of a local bodyguard unit," Nordstrom said. |
| Nordstrom said that requests in November and March to extend the temporary deployment of a unit of 15 "security professionals", in addition to the standing force of 24, were agreed by the state department. But appeals for more agents were turned down. | Nordstrom said that requests in November and March to extend the temporary deployment of a unit of 15 "security professionals", in addition to the standing force of 24, were agreed by the state department. But appeals for more agents were turned down. |
| "All of us at post were in sync that we wanted these resources," he said. | "All of us at post were in sync that we wanted these resources," he said. |
| Nordstrom told the committee that he was warned against pressing the request for additional personnel by a senior state department official responsible for handling it, Charlene Lamb, because "there would be too much political cost". | Nordstrom told the committee that he was warned against pressing the request for additional personnel by a senior state department official responsible for handling it, Charlene Lamb, because "there would be too much political cost". |
| But Nordstrom said he went ahead anyway. | But Nordstrom said he went ahead anyway. |
| He also recalled his frustration when he asked a regional director for more security forces. Nordstrom said the official replied: "You're asking for the sun, the moon and the stars." | He also recalled his frustration when he asked a regional director for more security forces. Nordstrom said the official replied: "You're asking for the sun, the moon and the stars." |
| Nordstrom said that he replied: "You know what is the most frustrating about this assignment? It's not the hardships, it's not the gunfire, it's not the threats. It's dealing, and fighting, against the people, programmes and personnel who are supposed to be supporting me. And I added to it by saying: 'For me, the Taliban is on the inside of the building.'" | Nordstrom said that he replied: "You know what is the most frustrating about this assignment? It's not the hardships, it's not the gunfire, it's not the threats. It's dealing, and fighting, against the people, programmes and personnel who are supposed to be supporting me. And I added to it by saying: 'For me, the Taliban is on the inside of the building.'" |
| Shortly before Nordstrom left Libya he sent a memo to the state department asking for a further extension of the 15-plus to keep a six-agent training team working with the new Libyan guard force the US was building. | Shortly before Nordstrom left Libya he sent a memo to the state department asking for a further extension of the 15-plus to keep a six-agent training team working with the new Libyan guard force the US was building. |
| Nordstrom said he and other officials were alarmed at the prospect that "we couldn't even keep what we had", let alone increase the size of the security force. | Nordstrom said he and other officials were alarmed at the prospect that "we couldn't even keep what we had", let alone increase the size of the security force. |
| The following month, Stevens sent a memo, presented to the congressional committee, asking for another 11 security agents to be added to the standing force. That request was not met by the time Stevens died. | The following month, Stevens sent a memo, presented to the congressional committee, asking for another 11 security agents to be added to the standing force. That request was not met by the time Stevens died. |
| However, the state department points out that the additional forces were all to be posted in Tripoli not Benghazi, where the assault on the consulate killed the ambassador. The hearing also heard that Nordstrom's memos did not press for additional security staff in Benghazi. | However, the state department points out that the additional forces were all to be posted in Tripoli not Benghazi, where the assault on the consulate killed the ambassador. The hearing also heard that Nordstrom's memos did not press for additional security staff in Benghazi. |
| But there is still a dispute about who wanted how many security agents at the consulate. | But there is still a dispute about who wanted how many security agents at the consulate. |
| Nordstrom's July cable requested a standing force of three US security agents in Benghazi, the crucible of last year's revolution, which was the number posted there at the time of the attack. However he said that there had previously been five. | Nordstrom's July cable requested a standing force of three US security agents in Benghazi, the crucible of last year's revolution, which was the number posted there at the time of the attack. However he said that there had previously been five. |
| "It was that number five which DS [the state department] had committed to which we continued to ask them to meet throughout my time there," he said. | "It was that number five which DS [the state department] had committed to which we continued to ask them to meet throughout my time there," he said. |
| Lamb said that the number of agents had fallen by two because one was being used as a driver and the other as a technician, and those are not roles normally filled by security personnel. So they were replaced with other people. | Lamb said that the number of agents had fallen by two because one was being used as a driver and the other as a technician, and those are not roles normally filled by security personnel. So they were replaced with other people. |
| Lamb said that was agreed by Nordstrom. "Post had agreed that three was sufficient number on the ground," she said. | Lamb said that was agreed by Nordstrom. "Post had agreed that three was sufficient number on the ground," she said. |
| The US under-secretary of state, Patrick Kennedy, told the hearing that two agents travelled with Stevens from Tripoli, bringing the total at the Benghazi consulate on the day of the attack to the five – the number Nordstrom told the committee he wanted. | The US under-secretary of state, Patrick Kennedy, told the hearing that two agents travelled with Stevens from Tripoli, bringing the total at the Benghazi consulate on the day of the attack to the five – the number Nordstrom told the committee he wanted. |
| "There were five diplomatic security special agents on the compound the evening of September 11 and there were three additional armed security personnel provided by the government of Libya," said Kennedy. | "There were five diplomatic security special agents on the compound the evening of September 11 and there were three additional armed security personnel provided by the government of Libya," said Kennedy. |
| Lamb said: "We had the correct number of assets in Benghazi on the night of 9/11." | Lamb said: "We had the correct number of assets in Benghazi on the night of 9/11." |
| She also noted that security officers at the embassy in Tripoli could have sent additional agents with Stevens had they wanted to. | She also noted that security officers at the embassy in Tripoli could have sent additional agents with Stevens had they wanted to. |
| However, the view that the permanent security staff at Benghazi was insufficient was backed by lieutenant colonel Andrew Wood, former head of embassy protection in Libya. | However, the view that the permanent security staff at Benghazi was insufficient was backed by lieutenant colonel Andrew Wood, former head of embassy protection in Libya. |
| "The security in Benghazi was a struggle and remained a struggle throughout my time there … Diplomatic security remained weak,'' he said. "The RSO (regional security officer) struggled to obtain additional personnel there, but was never able to attain the numbers he felt comfortable with." | "The security in Benghazi was a struggle and remained a struggle throughout my time there … Diplomatic security remained weak,'' he said. "The RSO (regional security officer) struggled to obtain additional personnel there, but was never able to attain the numbers he felt comfortable with." |
| The dispute over the numbers of American security personnel overlooks that the state department policy all along has been to train up a Libyan force for protection. | The dispute over the numbers of American security personnel overlooks that the state department policy all along has been to train up a Libyan force for protection. |
| Nordstrom said: "Our long-term security plan in Libya was to deploy an armed, locally-hired Libyan bodyguard unit." | Nordstrom said: "Our long-term security plan in Libya was to deploy an armed, locally-hired Libyan bodyguard unit." |
| In the meantime, Nordstrom told the hearing, the new Libyan administration was in disarray and could not provide security. He said a militia loyal to the government, the 17 February Martyrs Brigade, was doing so and were stationed inside the US consulate compound. | In the meantime, Nordstrom told the hearing, the new Libyan administration was in disarray and could not provide security. He said a militia loyal to the government, the 17 February Martyrs Brigade, was doing so and were stationed inside the US consulate compound. |
| "We could not rely on the Libyan government for security, intelligence and law enforcement help to identify emerging threats or to ask them for assistance in mitigating those threats. In Benghazi, however, the government of Libya through the 17 February Martyrs Brigade was able to provide us consistent armed security since the very earliest days of the revolution," he said. | "We could not rely on the Libyan government for security, intelligence and law enforcement help to identify emerging threats or to ask them for assistance in mitigating those threats. In Benghazi, however, the government of Libya through the 17 February Martyrs Brigade was able to provide us consistent armed security since the very earliest days of the revolution," he said. |
| Nordstrom suggested that it might in any case have been difficult to protect the consulate in any circumstance. | Nordstrom suggested that it might in any case have been difficult to protect the consulate in any circumstance. |
| "I had not seen an attack of such ferocity and intensity previously in Libya, nor in my time with the diplomatic security service," he said. "I'm concerned that this attack signals a new security reality, just as the 1983 Beirut marine barracks bombings did for the marines, the 1998 east Africa embassy bombings did for the state department – and just as 9/11 did for our entire country." | "I had not seen an attack of such ferocity and intensity previously in Libya, nor in my time with the diplomatic security service," he said. "I'm concerned that this attack signals a new security reality, just as the 1983 Beirut marine barracks bombings did for the marines, the 1998 east Africa embassy bombings did for the state department – and just as 9/11 did for our entire country." |
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