Clinton answers Congress' Benghazi questions
BY World's Editorials Writers
Friday, January 25, 2013
1/25/13 at 7:00 AM
Cliches are often handy because they clearly describe an event. Here's one that applies now: Hindsight is much clearer than foresight.
That has never been more true than the congressional hearings over the attack on the Benghazi consulate.
Should the consulate in Libya have been better guarded? Yes. If requests for more security were made today would they be approved? Yes. Knowing what we know now, would questions about the attack be handled differently? Yes.
That is hindsight.
Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her long-awaited appearances before Congress and by all accounts acquitted herself quite well. She was sincere and direct, often showing signs of remorse, sadness and a little anger.
She again took full responsibility. Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee raised serious issues concerning the approval of enough money to protect embassies and diplomats.
Unfortunately, there was too much political grandstanding and unwarranted attacks on Clinton.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called the Benghazi attack the "worst tragedy" since 9/11. We assume he had simply forgotten the deaths in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as a wave of domestic violence in recent months. He announced that if he had been president he would have fired Clinton.
Clinton also had to put up with Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., who continued the same attack Republicans used during the presidential campaign, alluding to some sort of conspiracy to cover up what "really" happened.
When Clinton had enough she replied: "With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest? Or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go and kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?"
The Republicans failed to derail President Obama's re-election with the same farfetched theory. It looks as though they plan to revive it for a possible Clinton presidential bid in 2016.
Clinton's committee appearances were informative and helpful, despite the politics being played.
Original Print Headline: Answers
