thank you for please join me in welcoming ambassador deborah jones, our ambassador to libya. [applause] ambassador jones ticket special credit for coming to today's events. in addition to spending time with her daughters and college graduation and all of those things. extra credit. it is a particular pleasure to welcome a respected colleague and great friend, ambassador deborah jones. respected collea and a great friend, ambassador debra jones, who is our u.s. ambassador toibya sin she has previously served as the u.s. ambassador to kuwait. a true expert on middle east diplomacy in global affairs, having served not only in the middle east diplomacy and actua global affairs having served not only in the middle east, but in ethiopia, in argentina. she has searched in iraq, tunisia, syria, and united arab emirates. she's held important positions in the department of state headquarters. she's been a role model and mentor to up and coming male and tee mail foreign service officers and a true leader. deb remarks thank you so much for coming. this is not a news program. this is a dis

ambassador, deborah jones, active here in tripoli.ut and about, and meeting with libyans of all walks of life but in situations like this, as you know, diplomatic missions restrict movement and an embassy official i spoke to today say everyone is fine and so far, there did not appear to be any plans to evacuate. >> what is your sense of things? you have been there so long and done so much good work there. are things sliding into general chaos or a one-off situation, are they moving in the right direction? >> this is a very dangerous situation, especially what we're seeing happening here today in tripoli, which seems to be a parallel move to what's happened in benghazi over the weekend. these are different forces, militia forces, that are saying they are going to now stand up and fight islamist forces that seem to have gained more and more pow and influence. the groups, we're not sure how much coordination there is, they're saying this is it. they are going to stand up, fight, and they have started what they call as a battle to purge b

ambassador to libya, deborah jones.fitzgerald, the whole issue in washington, d.c., top adviser, calling for reinvestigation into what happened with the killing of u.s. ambassador -- the previous u.s. ambassador as well as three other americans. how is that understood in libya? >> well, that entire episode in the political tempest that continues to rage in washington. i have to say it hardly impacts the public debate here in libya over this issue. because apart from the attack on the diplomatic compound in 2012, people in benghazi have experienced a string of assassinations not just members of the security forces, but civil society activists, journalists, lawyers, and judges. we are talking about assassinations that have crept into the hundreds at this stage. so for those in benghazi, it is a wider issue than the debate raging in washington. to go back to what how the ambassador -- the u.s. ambassador's remarks were interpreted here, certainly, a broad range of libyans have been discussing this and have interpreted this

also, american ambassador to will on the deborah jones speak at the stimson center in washington aboutg violence in libya and the fall of muammar qaddafi. live coverage at 12:30 eastern. moments, a look at today's headlines, plus your calls live on " washington journal." the house of representatives back in the 10 :00 eastern with speeches and legislative business at noon. today's agenda, authorizing the defense department and another that would get the secretary of veterans affairs the ability to fire people. and in about 45 minutes, a look at the immigration issue in congress with republican representative lou gilbert of texas, a member of the judiciary committee. a democratjoined by from hawaii and member of the armed services committee. she will take your questions about veterans health care, defense programs and u.s. policy toward ukraine and syria. brian bergstein, deputy editor of the technology review will discuss the significance of past richter technologies. " washington journal" is next. you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. ♪ host: good morning. the house i