Rep. Schiff Statement on State Department Report on Benghazi Terrorist Attack

 

“The State Department ‘Accountability Review Board’ issued a thorough and objective report on the Benghazi incident, and I congratulate Ambassador Thomas Pickering and commission members for their analysis of what went wrong in Benghazi and what steps are necessary to prevent its recurrence elsewhere.

 

“Security at the diplomatic post was plainly inadequate, intelligence collection needs to be improved, and our reliance on local militias was sorely misplaced.  These are not mistakes we can afford to make again.  The events in Benghazi necessitate a serious review of our security in other dangerous locations throughout the globe.  But while that review takes place, we must be careful to strike a balance between securing our facilities and personnel, and also ensuring that our diplomats remain effective and not holed up in bunkers.

 

“Congress and the State Department will need to work together to implement the Board’s recommendations – already accepted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – and provide the funding needed to meet those objectives.  I have read reports that the State Department is looking to reprogram some unspent Iraq reconstruction money to augment the security of diplomatic posts in high threat areas.  I think that would be an excellent first step towards hardening our facilities overseas."