On September 11, 2012, armed Islamist militants launched an attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The organized attack set fire to buildings before U.S. personnel could escape and reinforcements could arrive on the scene. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed. This was the first time since 1979 that a U.S. ambassador was killed in the line of duty.
On October 22, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who was Secretary of State at the time of this attack was questioned about it by the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
The Republican-dominated hearing put Clinton under repeated criticism, who rejected her explanations and tried to prove that her "ignored pleas from U.S. diplomats in Libya for better security played the dominant role in the U.S. intervention in Libya, which was an initial success but left a chaotic failed state behind.”
As the day wore on, many Democrats became impatient, waiting for the eventually 11-hour hearing to end.
"We are better than using taxpayer dollars to try to destroy a campaign," said ranking committee member Elijah Cummings. "That is not what America is all about."
This event is being used as a political football to weaken Clinton’s stature, which is completely disrespectful to the Americans who lost their lives that day. And it is not coincidence that this hearing conveniently took place as Americans are deciding on a Democratic presidential candidate. It seems to me that Republicans are extremely threatened by Hillary.
Just to add, it was Republicans who cut funding for ambassador security back in 2010, and 13 American embassies were attacked during Bush’s administration but did not receive nearly as much attention.
And how about we direct our energy to domestic terrorism? Where is the outrage and hearings for Newtown, Aurora, Navy Yard, Charleston, and Oregon? When will we realize that fellow Americans are the number-one threat to Americans, not international terrorists?
It’s time to be respectful to the victims of the tragedy in Benghazi and stop using this as a political gain for Republicans. What is important now is to ensure U.S. embassies have sufficient security and that we address domestic terrorism as well.
