Those Altered Benghazi Talking Points

At a recent news conference, President Obama called the investigation into the altered Benghazi talking points a “sideshow,” and for once I agree with him. If House Republican leaders allow this investigation to bog down in a discussion of who was lying and when, the country will lose sight of the larger issue.

That issue is what policy and which individuals allowed the ambassador to Libya — along with three other Americans — to be murdered during a terror attack? And is this policy still being implemented and are those individuals still employed by the government?

Simply put, an incompetent and deluded White House and State Department did not believe American personnel needed any additional security measures on the anniversary of 9/11 — and this in countries where Islamists were running free.

Arrogant political functionaries allowed Americans to be murdered because defending them would have been bad publicity during the presidential campaign — and would have called attention to just how hopeless the Obama Middle East policies have been.

Now these same functionaries and officials are hiding behind the caskets of dead Americans as they try save their jobs and reputations.

Here are just a few of the important questions that must be answered if the American public is ever to know the full extent of this unnecessary and craven disaster.

How high up the State Department management ladder did the Ambassador Stevens’ request for additional security go?

What individual denied the ambassador’s request for additional security?

Was hiring untrained, local militia —without background checks — to provide security for the Benghazi consulate a State Department policy or a White House policy?

Who approved the hiring of the militia in Benghazi?

In the wake of that same militia’s participation in the Benghazi attack, is the person who approved the hiring still employed by the State Department?

Was Secretary Clinton aware of this decision?

When the consulate came under attack how long did it take to notify President Obama and Secretary Clinton?

Did the president issue any orders regarding a rescue attempt?

Did the secretary issue any orders regarding a rescue attempt?

What did the president do after he was informed of the attack?

How long before he was given an update on the situation?

Did he give any orders then?

What did the secretary do after she was informed of the attack?

How long before she was given an update on the situation?

Did she give any orders?

Were the president or secretary told Air Force jets were within range of the consulate? Did they give any orders regarding the use of the jets? Were they notified when the jets were not sent to Benghazi? What official refused to send the jets?

Were the president or secretary told there were Marines within a few hours of the consulate? Did they give any orders regarding deployment of the Marines? What official made the decision not to send the Marines on a rescue attempt?

Were the president or secretary told there was a small detachment of military personnel within Libya? Did they give any orders regarding the use of these assets? What official ordered the detachment to stand down and not make any rescue attempt?

Have the officials who abandoned Americans to their fate without any attempt at a rescue suffered any adverse consequences to their career?

And finally, has the State Department issued a memo to employees in dangerous postings that in the event of an attack or other incident they are on their own?