As more details emerge about last month's attack on the US Consulate in Libya, one public exchange people should familiarize themselves with is this one from September 13th, when CNN's Elise Labott asked for answers and State Dept. spokesperson Victoria Nuland (below) spun and lied.
Elise
Labott: Can you talk a little bit more about the security that was at
the Embassy? It seems that for an area such as Benghazi, where there
was a lot of instability, there were very few guards there. And can you
talk about whether the U.S. asked Libya, the Libyan Government, earlier
in the week for extra security precaution and whether that – extra
security precautions or security personnel and whether that request was
fulfilled?
Victoria
Nuland: Well, let me start by reminding you that we are extremely
cautious in any circumstances about talking publicly about our security
arrangements. You can understand that the more you talk about these
things, the more difficult it is to maintain security at your
facilities. So --
Elise Labott: It does seem though that there were very few security personnel at this location.
Victoria
Nuland: I'm going to reject that, Elise. Let me tell you what I can
about the security at our mission in Benghazi. It did include a local
Libyan guard force around the outer perimeter. This is the way we work
in all of our missions all around the world, that the outer perimeter
is the responsibility of the host government. There was obviously a
physical perimeter barrier, a wall. And then there was a robust
American security presence inside the compound. This is absolutely
consistent with what we have done at a number of missions similar to
Benghazi around the world.
Elise
Labott: Could you talk about whether a request was made to the Libyan
Government as early as Sunday or Monday and whether that – for
additional security precautions, given the fact that there was some
trouble in the area, and whether that request was fulfilled?
Victoria
Nuland: I'm not prepared to talk about specific diplomatic engagements
between us and the Libyans on security, either before or after.
As Norah O'Donnell (CBS News -- link is video) reported last Thursday,, requests (plural) had been made for better security.
Elise
Labott: Well, I mean, I have to take issue with that, because there
have been several incidents, including you from the podium, throughout
the Arab Spring where you've said –
Victoria Nuland: Right.
Elise Labott: -- that you've talked about discussions with the various governments –
Victoria Nuland: Right.
Elise Labott: -- about needing additional security precautions – the Syrians, for instance –
Victoria Nuland: Right.
Elise
Labott: -- which was one of the reasons that you closed your Embassy,
because those precautions were not taken. So why would this be any
different?
Victoria Nuland: Elise, I'm happy to see whether there's more that we can share on this, but I don't have it today.
When Labott asked about whether there had been a request for additional security, Nuland lied and stated she was going "to reject that." Nuland was already aware of the requests. She was informed on September 12th.
Susan Rice wasn't the only one lying to America.
