HPSCIUpdateonBenghazi

TheHousePermanentSelectCommitteeonIntelligence(HPSCI)continuesitsextensivereviewoftheevents leadinguptoSeptember11,2012,andtheattacksinBenghazi,Libya. HPSCIBenghaziactivitiesthisweek: Thisweek,OversightandInvestigationsSubcommitteeChairmanLynnWestmorelandwillleadtwoCommittee eventswithseveraleyewitnessestotheattacks,thesecondeventoccurringafteralengthynegotiationwiththe witnessescounsel. o WitnesstestimonywillallowtheCommitteetocontinuetoevaluateifthereareanyfactualinconsistencieswith previousontherecordtestimonyreceivedbytheCommittee,includingthetimelineofeventsandanyissues surroundingnondisclosureagreements. EvidencecollectedandontherecordtestimonyreceivedbyHPSCItodateshowthat: TheHPSCIestablishedtimeline(attached)remainsaccurate. AllCIAactivitiesinBenghaziwerelegalandauthorized.OntherecordtestimonyestablishesthatCIAwasnot sendingweapons(includingMANPADS)fromLibyatoSyria,orfacilitatingotherorganizationsorstatesthatwere transferringweaponsfromLibyatoSyria. TheAnnexresponseteamactedheroicallytoevacuateAmericansattheTemporaryMissionFacility(TMF). o TheteamrespondedtoacallforhelpandalmostcertainlysavedlivesdespiteputtingtheAnnexatincreased riskandnotbeingapartoftheTMFsformalsecurityplan. o TheAnnexteamhadnecessaryauthoritytodepartfortheTMF.Onceprepared,officersengagedinatactical discussionaboutthethreattheyfacedattheTMF,andwhatweaponsandexternalsupporttobringtoTMF. Duringthediscussion,therewasadelayasthetacticalsituationwasdiscussed,buttheteamwasnotorderedor directedtostanddown. WehavefoundnoCIAofficerwhohasbeenforcedtoundergopolygraphsortosignnondisclosureagreements specifictoBenghaziorotherwisedissuadedfromorpunishedforwantingtospeaktoCongress.SeveralCIAofficials havestatedontherecordthatnosuchpressurewouldbetolerated. TheICprovidedsignificantintelligencereportingandanalysisthatwarnedofadeterioratingsecurityenvironmentin Benghazileadinguptotheattacks.Forexample,onApril16and17,asmuchasfivemonthsbeforetheattacks,the ICprovidedclearwarningabouttheactivitiesandthegrowthofterroristgroupsinBenghazi. TheAdministrationtalkingpointsaftertheattackswerechangedbyabureaucraticcoordinationprocessand overemphasizedformalintelligencereportingoverdirectknowledgeofofficerswhoassessedthatitwasaterrorist attackandnotaprotestgoneawry. TheIChascollectedextensiveinformationonmanyoftheBenghaziattackers,butearlycoordinationbetweenIC andDoDwaslacking,manyintelligencegapsremain,andtheAdministrationhasyettoestablishaplantobring knownattackerstojustice. TherehasbeennocontradictiontodateoftheCommitteesfindingscontainedintheInterimProgressReportfor 1

theMembersoftheRepublicanConferenceontheEventsSurroundingtheSeptember11,2012TerroristAttackin Benghazi,Libya,areportproducedatthedirectionofSpeakerBoehner. TheHPSCIinvestigationisstillopenandhasseveralimportantupcomingevents: Committeeinvestigatorscontinuetorevieweveryallegationofwrongdoingandseekoutanysourcewithpotential newinformation. Threeweeksago,HPSCIdeterminedthattherewasnomerittoallegationscontainedinaSeptember17,2013,Free Beaconarticleclaimingthataparticularemployeehadbeenpunishedforrefusingtosignanondisclosure agreementrelatedtoBenghazi.TheinvestigationdeterminedthatpersonwasnotinBenghazithenightofthe attacksoratallin2012.ThepersondidnotsignanondisclosureagreementrelatedtoBenghazi.HPSCIdetermined thathisongoingdisputewithhisemployerhasnothingtodowithanondisclosureagreementorBenghazi,but separatemattersincludingpersonalconductissues. FullCommitteeeventsandevidencecollectiontodate: TheCommitteehelditsfirstFullCommitteeeventtwodaysaftertheattacks,onSeptember13,2012,withMatt Olsen,DirectoroftheNationalCounterterrorismCenter.ThateventwasfollowedbyabriefingwiththenDirector oftheCIADavidPetraeusonSeptember14,2012. TheCommitteehasheldnumeroussubsequenthearingswithCIA,DOD,andODNIseniorofficialstodiscussthe specificsoftheattacks,includingtheintelligencewarningsandintelligenceactivitiesineasternLibyapriortothe attacks;theeventsonthegroundduringtheattacks;thefalloutaftertheattacks;andourgovernmentseffortsto findtheattackers. HPSCIheldtwoeventswiththemostseniorintelligenceofficialonthegroundduringthenightoftheattacksaswell asotherswithfirsthandknowledgeofeventsontheground. HPSCIhasheldmoreFullCommitteeeventsontheBenghaziattacksthanonanyotherissuebeforethis Committeesincethoseattacks. HPSCIhassentfiveletterstotheadministrationandhundredsofquestionsanddocumentrequeststoclarifythe timelineofeventsandtounderstandtheactivitiesoftheIntelligenceCommunitybeforeandduringtheattacks. HPSCIhascomparedtheontherecordtestimonywiththeIntelligenceInformationReports(IIRs)fromtheFBI interviewsoftheeyewitnesses,eachofwhomwereinterviewedbyprofessionalinvestigatorsinthedaysafterthe attacks. TheCommitteehassoughtallavailableinformationtodeterminewhetheranypressureorthreatsofretaliation weremadeagainstintelligenceprofessionalsonthegroundinBenghazi,andtoexaminewhethertherewereany unauthorizedintelligenceactivitiesineasternLibya. HSPCIinvestigatorshavereviewedthousandsofpagesofdocuments,includingemailsfromthenightoftheattack, andhundredsofintelligenceassessments.

TimelineasproducedinReportfortheMembersoftheRepublicanConferenceontheEventsSurroundingtheSeptember11,2012 TerroristAttackinBenghazi,Libya. TimelineofEvents MarchOctober2011 TheLibyanrevolutionwassupportedbytheUnitedStatesmostdirectlyintheformofNATOairoperations,whichlastedfrom MarchthroughOctoberof2011. Tuesday,December27,2011 AStateDepartmentmemorandumcirculatedattheendof2011recommendedthatU.S.personnelremaininBenghazi.Itexplained thatmanyLibyanswerestronglyinfavorofaU.S.outpostinBenghazi,inpartbecausetheybelievedaU.S.presenceineastern LibyawouldensurethatthenewTripolibasedgovernmentfairlyconsideredeasterninterests. Wednesday,March28,2012 AmbassadorCretzsentacabletoSecretaryClintonrequestingadditionalsecurityassets.Specifically,heaskedforthecontinued deploymentofbothMobileSecurityDetachment(MSD)teams,oratleastadditionalDSagentstoreplacethem,aswellasthefull fiveDSagentswhichtheDecember2011memorandumclaimedwouldbestationedinBenghazi. Friday,April6,2012 TheTemporaryMissionFacility(TMF)inBenghazicameunderattackwhendisgruntledLibyancontractguardsallegedlythrewa smallimprovisedexplosivedevice(IED)overtheperimeterwall.Nocasualtieswerereported. Thursday,April19,2012 StaterespondedtoAmbassadorCretzsrequestforadditionalsecurityassets.ThecableresponsetoTripolibearsSecretaryClintons signature,andspecificallyacknowledgesAmbassadorCretzsMarch28requestforadditionalsecurity.DespitetheAmbassadors Marchrequest,theAprilcablefromClintonstipulatesthattheplantodrawdownsecurityassetswillproceedasplanned.Thecable furtherrecommendsthatStatesBureauofDiplomaticSecurityandtheU.SMissioninLibyaconductajointreassessmentofthe numberofDSagentsrequestedforBenghazi. Wednesday,June6,2012 TheTMFwasattackedagainbyunknownassailantswhousedanIEDpowerfulenoughtoblowaholeintheperimeterwall.Again, nocasualtieswerereported. Thursday,June7,2012 AmbassadorStevensmadeapersonalpleaforanincreaseinsecurity.InaJune2012email,hetoldaDepartmentofficialthatwith nationalelectionsinJulyandAugust,theMissionwouldfeelmuchsaferifwecouldkeeptwoMSDteamswithusthroughthis period[tosupport]ourstaffand[personaldetail]formeandthe[DeputyChiefofMission]andanyVIPvisitors.TheDepartment officialrepliedthatduetoothercommitmentsandlimitedresources,unfortunately,MSDcannotsupporttherequest. Monday,July9,2012 AJuly2012cablefromAmbassadorStevensstressedthatsecurityconditionsinLibyahadnotmettherequisitebenchmarks establishedbytheDepartmentandtheU.S.MissioninLibyatoinitiateasecuritydrawdown,andrequestedthatsecuritypersonnel, includingtheMSDteams,bepermittedtostay.Afterbeingapprisedofthispendingrequest,DeputyAssistantSecretaryCharlene Lambexclaimed:NOIdonot[Irepeat]notwantthemtoaskfortheMSDteamtostay!TheMSDteamwaswithdrawn,thoughitis unclearwhethertheDepartmenteverformallyrejectedtheAmbassadorsJulyrequest. Monday,June11,2012 BritainsambassadortoLibyawasinaconvoyofcarsattackedintheeasterncityofBenghazi.Theconvoywashitbyarocket propelledgrenade(RPG).Twoprotectionofficerswereinjured. Monday,August27,2012 U.S.officialswereawarethatLibyaremainedvolatile.Theywereparticularlyconcernedwiththenumerousarmedmilitiasthat operatedfreelythroughoutthecountry.InAugust2011,theStateDepartmentwarnedU.S.citizensagainsttravelingtoLibya, explainingthatintermilitiaconflictcaneruptatanytimeoranyplace. ThesecurityenvironmentinBenghaziwassimilarlydeterioratingthroughout2012.FromJune2011toJuly2012,then

RegionalSecurityOfficer(RSO)forLibyaEricNordstrom,theprincipalsecurityadvisertotheU.S.AmbassadortoLibya, compiledalistofover200securityincidentsinLibya,50ofwhichtookplaceinBenghazi.Theseincludedviolentacts directedagainstdiplomatsanddiplomaticfacilities,internationalorganizations,andthirdcountrynationals,aswellas largescalemilitiaclashes. Inspiteofthesemountingsecurityconcerns,formostof2012theBenghaziMissionwasforcedtorelyonfewerthanthe approvednumberofDSagents.Specifically,whiletheStateDepartmentmemorandumsignedbyUnderSecretaryKennedy claimedthatfiveagentswouldbeprovided,thiswasonlythecasefor23daysin2012.ReportsindicatetheBenghazi Missionwastypicallystaffedwithonlythreeagents,andsometimesasfewasoneortwo. Monday,September10,2012 AmbassadorStevenstravelledtoBenghazionSeptember10,2012,bothtofillstaffinggapsbetweenprincipalofficersinBenghazi, andtoallowtheAmbassadortoreconnectwithlocalcontacts.Therewerealsoplansforhimtoattendtheestablishmentofanew AmericanCorneratalocalBenghazischool. SEPTEMBER11ATTACKTIMELINE AlltimesareEasternEuropeanTime(EET,Benghazi) Tuesday,September11,2012 ~9:42p.m. TheattackbeginsattheTMFinBenghazi.DozensoflightlyarmedmenapproachedtheTMF,quicklyanddeliberately breachedthefrontgate,andsetfiretotheguardhouseandmaindiplomaticbuilding.Theattackersincludedmembersof LibyabasedAnsaralSharia(AAS)andalQaidaintheLandsoftheIslamicMaghreb(AQIM),amongothergroups.AState DepartmentofficerintheTMFsTacticalOperationsCenterimmediatelyputoutcallsforhelptotheTMFAnnexanother facilityforU.S.officialstheU.S.EmbassyinTripoli,andStateDepartmentHeadquartersinWashington,DC.Atthetimeof theattack,AmbassadorStevens,SeanSmith,theinformationmanagementofficer,andone ofthefiveDiplomaticSecurity(DS)officerswerelocatedinVillaC,themainbuildingoftheTMF. 9:59p.m. Anunarmed,unmanned,surveillanceaircraftisdirectedtorepositionoverheadtheBenghazifacility. ~10:02p.m. Within20minutesoftheattack,Stevens,Smith,andtheDSofficersufferedeffectsfromsmokeinhalationinsidethemain diplomaticbuildingandtriedtoescapebycrawlingalongthefloortowardsawindow.TheDSofficerunknowinglylost touchwithAmbassadorStevensandMr.Smithsomewhere alongthesmokefilledescaperoute.AftercrawlingoutofawindowandrealizingthatAmbassadorStevensandMr.Smith werenotwithhim,theDSofficer,undergunfire,repeatedlyreenteredtheburningbuildingtosearchforthem.TheDS officerusedhisradiotocallforhelp.SecurityofficersfromotherpartsoftheTMFcomplexrespondedandsupportedthe DSofficerssearchforthemissingindividuals. 10:05p.m. InanOpsAlertissuedshortlyaftertheattackbegan,theStateDepartmentOperationsCenternotifiedseniorDepartment Officials,theWhiteHouseSituationRoom,andothers,thattheBenghazicompoundwasunderattackandthat approximately20armedpeoplefiredshots;explosionshavebeenheardaswell. ~10:07p.m. AU.S.securityteamdepartedtheAnnexfortheTMF.Thesecurityteamtriedtosecureheavyweaponsfrommilitia membersencounteredalongtheroute,andfacedsomeresistanceingettingtotheTMF.Eveninthefaceofthose obstacles,theAnnexsecurityteamarrived,underenemyfire,within25minutesofthebeginningoftheinitialassault.Over thecourseofthefollowinghour,theAnnexsecurityteamjoinedtheTMFsecurityofficersinsearchingforAmbassador StevensandMr.Smith.Together,theyrepelledsporadicgunfireandRPGfireandassembledallotherU.S.personnelatthe facility.OfficersretrievedthebodyofMr.Smith,butdidnotfindAmbassadorStevens. 10:32p.m. TheNationalMilitaryCommandCenteratthePentagon,afterreceivinginitialreportsoftheincidentfromtheState Department,notifiestheOfficeoftheSecretaryofDefenseandtheJointStaff.Theinformationisquicklypassedto SecretaryPanettaandGeneralDempsey.11:00p.m.SecretaryPanettaandGeneralDempseyattendapreviously scheduledmeetingwiththePresidentattheWhiteHouse.Theleadersdiscusspotentialresponsestotheemerging situation. 11:10p.m. ThedivertedsurveillanceaircraftarrivesonstationovertheBenghazifacility. ~11:15p.m. Afterabout90minutesofrepeatedattemptstogointotheburningbuildingtosearchfortheAmbassador,theAnnex

securityteamassessedthatthesecuritysituationwasdeterioratingandtheycouldnotcontinuetheirsearch.TheAnnex securityteamloadedallU.S.personnelintotwovehiclesanddepartedtheTMFfortheAnnex.Theexitingvehiclesleft underheavygunfireandfacedatleastoneroadblockintheirroutetotheAnnex.Thefirstvehicleleftaround11:15p.m. andthesecondvehicledepartedatabout11:30p.m.AllsurvivingAmericanpersonneldepartedthefacilityby11:30p.m. Wednesday,September12,2012 12:06p.m. InasecondOpsAlerttheStateDepartmentOperationsCenterreportedthatalQaedalinkedAnsaralShariaclaimed responsibilityfortheattackandhadcalledforanattackonEmbassyTripoli 12:002:00a.m. SecretaryPanettaconvenesaseriesofmeetingsinthePentagonwithseniorofficialsincludingGeneralDempseyand GeneralHam.TheydiscussadditionalresponseoptionsforBenghaziandforthepotentialoutbreakoffurtherviolence throughouttheregion,particularlyinTunis,Tripoli,Cairo,andSanaa.Duringthesemeetings,SecretaryPanettaauthorizes: AFleetAntiterrorismSecurityTeam(FAST)platoon,stationedinRota,Spain,topreparetodeploytoBenghazi,anda secondFASTplatoon,alsostationedinRota,Spain,topreparetodeploytotheEmbassyinTripoli.AEUCOMspecial operationsforce,whichistraininginCentralEurope,topreparetodeploytoanintermediatestagingbaseinsouthern Europe.AspecialoperationsforcebasedintheUnitedStatestopreparetodeploytoanintermediatestagingbasein southernEurope.Duringthisperiod,actionsareverballyconveyedfromthePentagontotheaffectedCombatant Commandsinordertoexpeditemovementofforcesuponreceiptofformalauthorization. 12:30a.m. AsevenmansecurityteamfromU.S.EmbassyTripoli,includingtwoDoDpersonnel,departsforBenghazi. ~1:15a.m. TheAmericansecurityteamfromTripolilandsinBenghazi. 2:30a.m. TheNationalMilitaryCommandCenterconductsaBenghaziConferenceCallwithrepresentativesfromAFRICOM,EUCOM, CENTCOM,TRANSCOM,SOCOM,andthefourservices. 2:39a.m. AsorderedbySecretaryPanetta,theNationalMilitaryCommandCentertransmitsformalauthorizationforthetwoFAST platoons,andassociatedequipment,topreparetodeployandfortheEUCOMspecialoperationsforce,andassociated equipment,tomovetoanintermediatestagingbaseinsouthernEurope. 2:53a.m. AsorderedbySecretaryPanetta,theNationalMilitaryCommandCentertransmitsformalauthorizationtodeployaspecial operationsforce,andassociatedequipment,fromtheUnitedStatestoanintermediatestagingbaseinsouthernEurope. 5:00a.m. Asecond,unmanned,unarmedsurveillanceaircraftisdirectedtorelievetheinitialassetstilloverBenghazi. ~5:15a.m. Ataround5:15a.m.,within15minutesoftheTripoliteamsarrivalattheAnnexfromtheairport,ashortbutdeadly coordinatedterroristattackbeganattheAnnex.Theattack,whichincludedsmallarms,rocketpropelledgrenade(RPG), andwellaimedmortarfire,killedtwoAmericansecurityofficers,andseverelywoundedtwoothers. 6:05a.m. AFRICOMordersaC17aircraftinGermanytopreparetodeploytoLibyatoevacuateAmericans. 7:40a.m. ThefirstwaveofAmericanpersonneldepartBenghaziforTripoliviaairplane. 10:00a.m. ThesecondwaveofAmericans,includingthefallen,departBenghaziforTripoliviaairplane. 2:15p.m. TheC17departsGermanyenroutetoTripolitoevacuateAmericans. 7:17p.m. TheC17departsTripolienrouteRamstein,GermanywiththeAmericanpersonnelandtheremainsofMr.SeanSmith,Mr. TyroneWoods,andMr.GlenDoherty. 7:57p.m. TheEUCOMspecialoperationsforce,andassociatedequipment,arrivesatanintermediatestagingbaseinsouthern Europe. 8:56p.m. TheFASTplatoon,andassociatedequipment,arrivesinTripoli. 9:28p.m. ThespecialoperationsforcedeployedfromtheUnitedStates,andassociatedequipment,arrivesatanintermediatestaging

baseinsouthernEurope. 10:19p.m. TheC17arrivesinRamstein,Germany. ENDOFSEPTEMBER11ATTACKTIMELINE Wednesday,September12,2012 FBIformallyopensaninvestigationintothedeathsofAmbassadorSevensandthethreeotherAmericanskilledintheattack. RelyingonanalyticalintuitionwithlimitedreportingonSeptember12,2012,ICanalystscorrectlyevaluatedsoonaftertheattacks thattheeventwasaterroristattackagainstaU.S.facility,likelyconductedbyIslamicextremists. Thursday,September13,2012 BeginningonSeptember13,2012,analystsbeganreceivingandrelyingonalargervolumeofdiverseintelligencereportingthat referencedprotestsanddemonstrationsinBenghazi.Analystsrevisedtheirassessmentsagaintodeterminefinallythattheattack wasdeliberateandthataprotestwasnotoccurringatthetimeoftheattack.TheICsmodificationofitsassessmentsreflectsthe reasonableevolutionoftacticalintelligenceanalysis. Saturday,September15,2012 HPSCIstaffreceivedtheICtalkingpointsontheBenghaziattack. Sunday,September16,2012 OnSunday,September16,2012,U.S.AmbassadortotheUnitedNationsSusanRiceappearedonfivemorningtalkshowstodiscuss theAdministrationsaccountoftheattack.Innearlyidenticalstatements,shestatedthattheattackwasaspontaneousprotestin responsetoahatefulvideo. Wednesday,September19,2012 TheNationalCounterterrorismCenterDirectortestifiedbeforetheSenateHomelandSecurityandGovernmentAffairsCommittee thatourdiplomatsdiedinthecourseofaterroristattackonourembassy.Thistestimonymarkedasignificantshiftinthe Administrationsrhetoric. Thursday,September20,2012 AfterDirectorofNCTCstestimony,Administrationofficialsbeganreferringtotheeventasaterroristattack.OnSeptember20, 2012,JayCarneystatedthat,itis,Ithink,selfevidentthatwhathappenedinBenghaziwasaterroristattack. Friday,September21,2012 SecretaryClintonstatedthat,WhathappenedinBenghaziwasaterroristattack,andwewillnotrestuntilwehavetrackeddown andbroughttojusticetheterroristswhomurderedfourAmericans. Thursday,October4,2012 DuetosecurityconcernsandbureaucraticentanglementsamongtheDepartmentsofJustice,State,andDefense,theFBIteam investigatingtheterroristattackdidnotaccessthecrimesceneuntilmorethanthreeweekslater,onOctober4,2012.TheFBIspent lessthanonedaycollectingevidenceattheTMF.FBIofficialsindicatedthatthesecuritysituationdelayedandunderminedamore thoroughinvestigationofthesite. SecretaryClintonconvenedanAccountabilityReviewBoard(ARB),headedbyThomasPickering,aretiredU.S.ambassador,to examinethefactsandcircumstancesoftheattacksandtoreportfindingsandrecommendations. Tuesday,October,9,2012 TheStateDepartmentheldaconferencecallbriefingforreportersinwhichtheDepartmentpubliclyacknowledgedthattherehad beennoprotestoutsidetheBenghazidiplomaticfacilitypriortotheassault.StateDepartmentofficialswouldtestifybeforethe HouseOversightandGovernmentReformCommitteethenextday. Tuesday,November27,2012 Administrationofficialshaveblamedtheirinitialstatementsonevolvingintelligencereports.Tothatend,AmbassadorRicestated onNovember27,2012,thatActingCIADirectorMichaelMorellexplainedthatthetalkingpointsprovidedbytheintelligence community,andtheinitialassessmentuponwhichtheywerebased,wereincorrectinakeyrespect:therewasnoprotestor demonstrationinBenghazi.