There are still some very big questions that remain unanswered regarding the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens — and the lack of security at the Benghazi consulate.
As Politico reports,
The consulate where the American ambassador to Libya was killed on Tuesday is an “interim facility” not protected by the contingent of Marines that safeguards embassies, POLITICO has learned.
… Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Kendra Motz said that Marines were not posted to the consulate, unlike the embassy in the capital, Tripoli. …
David Frum asks the obvious question: “The war in Libya ended in October 2011, almost a year ago. Why isn’t that enough time to fortify a US compound? And why no Marines?”
… But it gets worse. As Time reports,
There’s a disquieting report in Thursday morning’s NightWatch blog that claims the Marines 700 miles away in Cairo were barred from carrying live ammunition as the U.S. Embassy in Egypt came under attack.”
This is obviously unacceptable and shameful. At a bare minimum, America simply must be able to defend sovereign U.S. soil — and the lives of our diplomats.