There will be a reply of Sec. Clinton’s remarks here: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/09/197630.htm
The attacks were made by "heavily armed" militants in the United States Embassy in Benghazi. Rocket propelled grenades were used, and the Embassy was set fire. There is no knowledge as to who these attackers were, or what their motivation was for this attack.
Just finished watching President Obama’s statement and it was quite and dignified. Here are some excerpts;
“the world stands together condemning these attacks”
The President asserted, more than once, that Libyan and America forces stood together to repel those attackers. The President has dispatched 200 Marines to Libya that should arrive by tomorrow. The President’s final remark was;
“Justice will be done.”
Earlier today Secretary Clinton made the first statement from the State Department. She spoke about Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens;
"In the early days of the Libyan revolution, I asked Chris to be our envoy to the rebel opposition. He arrived on a cargo ship in the port of Benghazi and began building our relationships with Libya’s revolutionaries. He risked his life to stop a tyrant, then gave his life trying to help build a better Libya. The world needs more Chris Stevenses. I spoke with his sister, Ann, this morning, and told her that he will be remembered as a hero by many nations."
Followed by comments about the other acknowledged victim of this attack Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information management officer;
"Sean Smith was an Air Force veteran. He spent 10 years as an information management officer in the State Department, he was posted at The Hague, and was in Libya on a brief temporary assignment. He was a husband to his wife Heather, with whom I spoke this morning. He was a father to two young children, Samantha and Nathan. They will grow up being proud of the service their father gave to our country, service that took him from Pretoria to Baghdad, and finally to Benghazi."
Then Sec. Clinton added clarity to the events of the previous day, saying;
"But we must be clear-eyed, even in our grief. This was an attack by a small and savage group – not the people or Government of Libya. Everywhere Chris and his team went in Libya, in a country scarred by war and tyranny, they were hailed as friends and partners. And when the attack came yesterday, Libyans stood and fought to defend our post. Some were wounded. Libyans carried Chris’ body to the hospital, and they helped rescue and lead other Americans to safety. And last night, when I spoke with the President of Libya, he strongly condemned the violence and pledged every effort to protect our people and pursue those responsible."
And, regarding the video that may have been a catalyst fort his attack, the secretary said;
"There will be more time later to reflect, but today, we have work to do. There is no higher priority than protecting our men and women wherever they serve. We are working to determine the precise motivations and methods of those who carried out this assault. Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior, along with the protest that took place at our Embassy in Cairo yesterday, as a response to inflammatory material posted on the internet. America’s commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear – there is no justification for this, none. Violence like this is no way to honor religion or faith. And as long as there are those who would take innocent life in the name of God, the world will never know a true and lasting peace."
Yesterday was a terrible day, for our country. However, I am shocked by the rhetoric coming out of the leader of the party, and the saber rattling hyperbole I heard from a Congressman of the Republican party, today. Talk of "war" is premature, seeing as we do not knowwho is responsible. Let us just keep the family, friends and colleges of the victims of these attacks in our hearts, minds and prayers.
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