i want to acknowledge steve linick. inspector linick works closely with the diplomatic security on many issues some of which the committee has highlighted for discussion though. although i'm focused primarily on the benghazi arb today i hope to provide some insights into how the department works to ultimately improve security around the world. the task of keeping u.s. personnel overseas safe is dynamic and an ever-evolving process. we work constantly to improve our practices and protekt our people. the arb process is an important tool towards that goal and to y today, we are safer and more secure because of the recommendations of the benghazi panel and other arbs. our progress on the benghazi arb is measurable and sustained and importantly, many of the lessons learned are further incorporated into policy. of the 29 recommendations, we have now closed 25 of them. that includes three that we have closed since september, my last testimony, based on further work and analysis. we are committed to finishing that work, yet to

i want to acknowledge steve linick. inspector linick works closely with the diplomatic security on many issues some of which the committee has highlighted for discussion though. although i'm focused primarily on the benghazi arb today i hope to provide some insights into how the department works to ultimately improve security around the world. the task of keeping u.s. personnel overseas safe is dynamic and an ever-evolving process. we work constantly to improve our practices and protekt our people. the arb process is an important tool towards that goal and to y today, we are safer and more secure because of the recommendations of the benghazi panel and other arbs. our progress on the benghazi arb is measurable and sustained and importantly, many of the lessons learned are further incorporated into policy. of the 29 recommendations, we have now closed 25 of them. that includes three that we have closed since september, my last testimony, based on further work and analysis. we are committed to finishing that work, yet to

the state department in general steve linick also testified. and 40 minutes. >> welcome to everyone. i want to apologize to everyone who has been waiting. blame me for the delay it that would be the quickest and easiest thing to do. we apologize. i'll do my best to start our time henceforth. this is hearing number two. diplomaticorts for facilities and personnel. i will recognize myself. the gentleman from maryland. four of our fellower americans were killed. shaun smith, tyrone woods, glenn dougherty and chris stevens dies under circumstances most of us cannot fathom. fire, violence, terror, the weaponry of war. i want to read something and i want to ask my colleagues to listen to what i read, not just top the words but i want you to imagine having to live through or die through the experience. 2012 at er the 11th, 9:4520 men bretched the mission gate. several a shallry yeah members have been identified throughout the group. ak-47

. >> congressman, this is steve linick. just a couple of comments to add onto that. we haven't looked at the sufficiency of resources, but in other words, does the department know what its resources are? does the the department know what requests are made? do they know how to prioritize across the board? that's really the point of the report that we issued that's referenced -- that's been referenced already. and if the department cannot make a determination as to which projects are high priority, then it's going to be difficult to solve problems and develop budgets. as to the second question on the benghazi effect, you know, i think ultimately this comes down to good risk management. and the arb, the first recommendation discussed the need for the department to make sure there's a mechanism in place to weigh the policy concerns against risks. one of our recommendations was that this is so important that this should be elevated to the highest levels of the department so that someone who is in a position of weighing policy considerations, namely maintaining presence, i