it is exciting times in tripoli. with election and new congress coming together. as i read libya's recent history it is a bit like we are reliving the post world war ii years. how right he was. that was chris. always thinking, always sharp, always ready. public service is too often looked down upon by some in this country. often my colleagues in the foreign service la meant they don't make them the way they used to anymore. today we remember a man, chris stevens, whose life and service just proves how wrong my colleagues really are. chris shows us they still make them the way they used to, only an awful lot better, thank you. [applause] >> chris's family would like to invite everyone to a reception after the ceremony. it will be held over there. you are all welcome. let us pray. oh lord, support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done. then in your mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last. may the author of all life bless us and k

>> a plane left from tripoli as i mentioned before. >> elicited in tripoli?> the chartered aircraft as soon as they found out -- >> would've a chartered airplane take off from? >> tripoli. >> so flew to benghazi? i wanted to sit on the tarmac? >> the team was better for three hours while they were trying to determine what happened to ambassador stevens. >> what time did we get them -- where did we fight back to? >> i'm sorry -- >> he said he flew from tripoli to benghazi, picked up our dead and wounded. wear them? >> dÉgas benghazi than tripoli, then the embassy nurse behaved heroically during that period. then they were evacuated to germany. >> when do we evacuate our people in tripoli? >> it was within a few hours. >> the time let's really get confused here. i think people we to your chameleons land. there's a great deal of time that evolved in between. i'm not blaming you to because you two really shouldn't be here today. secretary of state should be here today. she can't be here. i understand she's injured and i respect that. but there's something wrong h

when i was based in tripoli, we had no virtually no protection whatsoever.we wrote similar cables says, you know, can you please, yes, we understand gadhafi's security app rase toc is prevalent, but that mean we're not exposed? a lot of people were relieved when our tours were over for that reason. there's antedotes of not just me saying this, but from all over the place, all over the place is an exaggeration. the middle east, the state department's asked to put more and more people in more and more dangerous situations, and there's a limited budget. congress has a lot to do with that, people screaming at state department saying they are at fault here, some of the same people refusing to authorize funds for that. some of the arguments that were begin, -- given, you know, in favor of defense are not quite, you know, it's a complicated issue. the budget and allocations negotiation between, you know, the president, the congress, and with input from the state department, but to answer the question more directly, i don't know why, you know -- we were certainly co

when i was based in tripoli we have no protection whatsoever. we will -- wrote first cables. we understand that qaddafi is a security apparatus, but does that mean that we are not exposed. people who are really believed. is not just me. there were active smaller of the places. the middle east, the state department is being asked to put more and more people and more and more dangerous situations. there's a limited budget. many people are screaming at the state department saying their fault. people refusing to authorize funds. some of the arguments that were given in favor of -- in defense are not quite -- it's a complicated issue. budgets and allocations are negotiation between the president, the congress, and input from the state department. but to answer your question even more directly, i don't know why -- we were certainly concerned before we went and that it was the anniversary of september september 11th, not a great time. we didn't feel ourselves that we were prominent targets, but we are westerners. we stick out in a place like benghazi. there had been -- there was a p

civilians in northern africa or libya in particular and how that became a prelude to regime change in tripoli now we're being told that turkey needs patriot missiles for defensive purposes not least to protect civilians and i think it's fair to infer that this is the prelude to another attempt at regime change this time in damascus but if turkish civilians are being caught up in this doesn't have a right to protect itself therefore look at this plan and implement patriot missiles . the problem is turkey is not entering the situation with clean hands turkey on the one hand is helping to supply the rebels who are attacking damascus and damascus understandably is shooting back and then turkey claims that it needs defensive weaponry to protect civilians and now if turkey were to stand down from supplying the rebels perhaps they would not have the problem of protecting civilians on their side of the border the russian says the deployment of the missiles will only escalate the conflict nato says it will d.

, the embassy was evacuated in tripoli.et whether they have the injured people on the tarmac, they are severely injured, they send an airplane over to benghazi and they returned to tripoli -- instead of going to italy or to germany -- then the c-17 has to come -- it makes no sense. it makes absolutely no sense. >> greta: the irony and i have no sympathy for the administration's claiming this is politicized because if they would just simply answer these questions, not drag their feet, maybe we will get it in the next 6 or 7 days, but if they would fill in the blanks, nobody would be suspicious. we get silly answers that don't make sense -- that's the problem. that is created by those who hold the facts. >> that's right! i am not trying to politicize this. we have injured americans! in the worst case ttakes 25 hours to extract them to a facility, an american facility, they're in germany. at the best case, maybe 18 hours and the administration won't answer those questions. these are legitimate questions. i want to talk to that

>> as you know, senator, that team was in tripoli, it was not benghazi. that team visited benghazi a few times. the team, just to be clear was posted in tripoli. >> we only had a person there on the ground forty days a year. i assume they would have traveled and been there when we had the ambassador there? so i just don't understand. you talk about money, but you had sixteen people there free from the defense department, they asked they stay and you denied that. i don't understand that. >> they were extended three times, senator, and more importantly the team was in fact in tripoli. they did in fact visit benghazi a few times during their time. >> senator, let me say i think you asked good questions. and i would ask you to review admiral mullens and ambassador pickers' request as a specific set of requirements with respect to the funding they talked about. >> i have reviewed it. i will say there are have been eighteen arbs. not a single one of them has ever been fully implemented. i understand about the process, heim just saying that the culture within th

despite repeated requests and special mission in benghazi and embassy tripoli for additional staffing. judith miller, reconcile what was directly contradictory findings within a paragraph of one another. >> secretary of state clinton is going to have to answer that question. i think this is an incredibly damning report about the administration. the behavior and security posture in benghazi. questions are going to be asked and they will have to be entered. lou: whitewash an incredibly damning report. ambassador bolton? >> we don't know if it named any names like ttree people who was resigned today, but i can tell you that we had a lot of jobs that the state department posted. when someone is going to take the fall of the department, that is the price that they take. i can't tell you, they can't read this report are not included the secretary of state and the top people were either completely asleep at the switch were utterly unaware of what was going on in libya and the broader middle east. or maybe some commendation of both. lou: i want to challenge you both, if i may. out of deepest

tripoli asked if they could be extended. and you said no. >> that team visited benghazi a few times. that team was posted in tripoli. >> we only had a person there on the ground 40 days a year. i do not understand. you talk about money, but you had 16 people free there. i requested that they stay and you denied it. i do not understand it. >> the team was in fact in tripoli. they did visit benghazi a few times. >> let me just say that i would ask you to review the request. there is a very specific set of requirements. >> i have reviewed it and i will say that 18 arb's, not a single one of them have been fully implemented. i understand the process. cultureng that the within the state department is one that needs to be transformed. maybe the next secretary of state can help. there is a lot of work that needs to be done there. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to say to senator lugar that he is leaving behind an extraordinary career and a lasting legacy in so many different ways. we appreciate your service. we remember that amb

you can'm wondering if provide an update on what is happening in tripoli from your vantage point. caller: i just spent a couple of days up there. it is the second set of web and on. -- city of lebanon. sunni muslims car the prevalent population and prevalent rebel group. there's been periodic combat there between sunni gunmen and people who are part of the sect. the resident, a think, 14 or 15 people killed. -- there has been, i think, 14 or 15 people killed. the has been battles up there. it feels like a mirror image of syria right now. host: are u.s. intelligence officials or military leaders talking to these circassian rebel groups? is there a line of communication-- syrian rebel groups? is there a line of communication with these potential leaders? caller: it is a little bit unclear who is a moderate. the range of fighters goes from very conservative islamic to groups that are like al qaeda. it is not clear who exactly the americans are trying to deal with. they want to deal with defectors. there are defectors coming from the secular military. once you're in the country, it fe

who were in tripoli. who were in washington. we spoke to military and intelligence officials, including many state department personnel, and to experts who did not work for the united states government. throughout the process we enjoyed cooperation from the department of state, and the interagency partners. the decision to brief you on the report findings reflect a commit to transparency that the department's -- at the department's highest levels. but we give you a brief introduction to the events that night. then ask admiral mullen if he would then share the findings of the report. then i will return briefly to talk about the overarching recommendations. what happened on september 11 was a series of attacks in multiple locations by unknown assailants that ed and flowed over a period of almost eight hours. the u.s. security personnel were heroic and their efforts to protect colleagues, including ambassador stevens. they did their best that they possibly could with what they had. but they had was not enough. even for the -- eithe

why would he not go back and support his troops at the embassy in tripoli? i mean, libya is an arab spring country. there is there is an uprising in cairo another arab spring country why wouldn't you rush back to the safety and security. again we come back to the fact that stevens said he didn't feel secure why not go back to tripoli and be with your troops and make sure you they're in case anything happens. he didn't. he stayed in benghazi. >> bill: now, when you have -- those are legitimate questions. all americans would like answers to. we are not going to get them. the president won re-election. this was in play during the campaign. the american people haven't embraced the story you can't force them to. i don't think you are ever going to get answers to those questions. >> at the end of the day sciewfn rice comes out. hillary was there at andrews air force base on the 14th to receive the bodies along with the president and the vice president. yet 48 hours later she is gone. she can't do the sunday talk show circuit. this thing should haunt hillary clinto

this is kind of different element but one time he told me story when he was serving in tripoli and thenn benghazi. he walked on the street of benghazi and looked over his back and saw two people following. whereever he goes they follow him. hen he stop and he went up to them and he said hello, how are you. yeah, they speak with him. they invite for coffee. these people of course are service. maybe not to protect him in first days but see what he is doing, his contact. this is the type of government we need in this world. he didn't go to them to protest why you are following me. no, he became friends. they became friends. this is chris stevens. i really cry for my family and -- with my family for chris when they hear this news. we lost a friend. we lost a supporter and lost a hero. chris stevens is a hero and part of the libyan history. part of the libyan revolution. his name will never forget. we will never forget him. i'm sure that his name and his achievement will be part of the history. we again are sorry we cannot protect this professional diplomat who came to help us in a very crit

for tripoli and toward the benghazi. cairo, a high of 21. in the u.k., quite a bit of flooding as the system has pushed persons thursday. unfortunately, this is what it looks like on the ground. a lot of the areas here are flooded and the water levels are quite high. we have warnings in effect across the area. look at the forecast. as you can see, another system coming out of the atlantic so we will start with the lighter showers. by the target to tuesday, showers will increase. where the rest of europe, we're looking at an ice conditions. non-profite, pro-people. >> welcome back. the top stories are now the zeroth, wounded dr. 21 of his colleagues were found shot dead in a remote tribal region. the officers were kidnapped on thursday. hundreds of suny muslims -- sunni muslims protesting that they're getting targeted for arrest. they have been protesting for days. prayer is being held in india for a gang rape victim who died from her injuries. her body was cremated after being flown back from singapore. six men are being charged with her mur

we know that tripoli asked. the report said they didn't ask hard enough.really not their responsibility. so what happened was they had all this information, and they processed it through the state department, and that leadership just failed to note the security around that -- around the ambassador when he traveled to benghazi, and a security of the special mission. not that they had to have it as a standard mission security status because it was a temporary facility, but the physical security part of it was just so wrong to fit the security threat that it resulted in the death of four americans. >> should we stop relying on local militias? there's security cam video showing that the libyan militias got in their pickup truck and ran at the first shot that was fired. >> well, i argue whose ever decision it was to hire them in the first place it was an awful decision. you had a grood group that was ill trained, ill equipped. they were having work problems. i mean, sometimes they would show up. sometimes they wouldn't. sometimes their weapons would be in worki

>> as you know, senator, that team was in tripoli was not benghazi. that team visited benghazi to times. but the team just to be clear was posted in tripoli. >> we only had a person to on the ground 40 days a year. i assume they would've traveled and been there when we had our ambassador there. so i just don't understand but you talk about money, but you had 16 people they're free from the defense department that requested that they stay and you deny that. i don't understand that. >> they were sent three times, and more importantly the team was, in fact, in tripoli if they did, in fact, visit benghazi a few times during their time. >> let me just say, i think you ask good questions but i would also ask you to review admiral mullen's and ambassador to greece request that has very specific set of requirements with respect to funding a suspicion i have reviewed and i will say there've been 18 arb is, not a single one of them has ever been fully implemented. so i understand about this process. i'm just saying that the culture within the state department t

further east, this extends through north africa, so for both tripoli and benghazi, it will be cloudy, the chance of some showers. 19 degrees in cairo as a maximum. along the coast, for the west, whitely dryer -- likely dryer. solutions for america, friday, 7:00 p.m. eastern, 4:00 p.m. pacific. >> hello again. top stories on al jazeera, at least 30 people have been killed in southeastern kenya. the deaths in the delta region have been blamed on fighting between the orma and pokomo tribes. the first round of the draft for the egyptian constitution is planned for friday. u.s. president barack obama says he will work with congress to avert spending cuts and tax hikes in the new year. where republicans budget bill to avert the -- a republican budget bill to avert hit the fiscal cliff was killed in the house. 20 people have been killed in flash floods and landslides in sri lanka. 14 people are missing. tens of thousands of people have been affected. more now from miguel fernandez. >> the worst destruction seen in the center province of sri lanka. behind me, this was washed down by a wall of

a panel was highly critical of the state department saying they ignored arrests in tripoli for more guards and security upgrades relied who heavily on specific requests instead of security. and used unprotect militia to protect the compound. the report also found the attack was not the result of protests over anti-islamic video as first reported. in a letter to congress, secretary of state hillary clinton said she accepts all of the panel's 29 recommendations writing there is no higher priority for me or my department. >>> though there seems to be progress still no fiscal cliff deal in washington. house speaker john boehner said he has a backup plan. but that's not enough for one in three americans who according to a new survey are cutting back on spending due to fears of going over that cliff. nbc's tracie potts joins us now with more. good morning. >> reporter: mara, good morning. good morning, everyone. there is brand new evidence in that survey that americans are really feeling the squeeze before we've even gone over the cliff, plus republicans are changing their strategy. republicans

embassy in tripoli. there was confusion over who really had responsibility for making sure that the mission was to cheer. ultimately, the report primarily blamed the bureaucrats back in washington for not paying close attention to this mission even as the security was getting worse. >> also and the report was how the state department did not spend on security. >> they talked about a culture of saving money. it got down to the point where in benghazi they were arguing whether there should be 3 diplomatic agents on the ground or five. they were nickel-and-diming the officials in the field and they need to spend more money on marine guards as well as spending more money to secure these facilities. >> do you think that we will see more of the u.s. military protecting u.s. diplomats abroad? >> the deputy secretary of state went up to congress today told lawmakers that they are counting on an additional 225 marine guards going out to nearly three dozen embassies around the world. the bigger question the pentag

there are reports four people died in tripoli on sunday, 12 others were wounded. also u.s. and russian diplomats met in moscow again sunday trying to broker a cease-fire. as david martin reports there's growing concern that al qaeda is influencing the rebels. >> reporter: videos set to show the aftermath of a syrian air strike shows graphic evidence of a life-and-death battle, which high-level diplomats say is bad and getting worse. despite its air power, the assad regime appears increasingly defensive. it includes a global number of radical islamists. >> the jihadees are getting big and bigger. the longer the conflict goes on, the bigger it will get. >> reporter: the gee ha des are an offshoot of al qaedas in iraq. according to jeffrey white, a former analyst for the defense intelligence agency, they are now turning the tide against the assad regime. >> they are very good fighters. they are -- they give the rebels a combat edge. they're quite willing to die, they fight on all key fronts, they're involved in many of the key actions. these are not people we want to win. >> r