Senate report: Benghazi attackers tied to Al Qaeda groups

A comprehensive report by the Senate Intelligence Committee definitively declared that individuals
tied to Al Qaeda groups were involved in the Benghazi attack, challenging recent claims that the
terror network was not a factor.
The report was released Monday, nearly one year after then-Secretary bulk invoice delivery of State
Hillary Clinton, under congressional questioning over the nature of the attack, shouted at
lawmakers: "What difference, at this point, does it make?"
The administration initially claimed the attack sprung out of a protest, but has since given a more
complicated assessment. Still, administration officials all along have downplayed Al Qaeda
involvement, recently seizing on a New York Times report that supported those claims.
While the report does not implicate Al Qaeda "core" -- the leadership believed to be in the Pakistan
region -- it does blame some of the most influential Al Qaeda branches, including Al Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
"Individuals affiliated with terrorist groups, including AQIM, Ansar al-Sharia, AQAP, and the
Mohammad Jamal Network, participated in the September 11, 2012, attacks," the report said. The
militant Ansar al-Sharia was, separately, labeled by the State Department as a terror group last
week, in part over its alleged involvement in the Benghazi strike.
The Senate committee report stressed that the intelligence still suggests the attack was not "highly
coordinated," but rather "opportunistic" - possibly put in place in "short order" after protests over an
anti-Islam film elsewhere in the region.
"It remains unclear if any group or person exercised overall command and control of the attacks,"
the report said. The report, though, reiterated that there was no protest in Benghazi before the
attack.
The Senate panel report also dove extensively into what went wrong at the U.S. mission in Benghazi
before the attack. The committee determined the attack was "preventable" and the administration
failed to respond to "ample" warnings that security was deteriorating before Sept. 11, 2012.
The report faulted the State and Defense departments. It also cited the failure of the Obama
administration to "bring the attackers to justice."
Specifically, the report said the intelligence community provided "ample strategic warning" that
security in eastern Libya was deteriorating and U.S. personnel "were at risk." The report said
multiple "tripwires" were crossed signaling security problems, and the State Department should
have increased its security posture in response. This included an Aug. 16, 2012, cable from Crystal
Reports Ambassador Chris Stevens raising security concerns, and prior attacks on westerners in
Benghazi.
The report also detailed a possible failed ambush, where attackers tried to lure the CIA into the
hospital where Stevens' body was document burster being held.
The CIA did not take the bait.

"The committee worked on a bipartisan basis to investigate the various allegations that have come
out since the terrorist attacks in Benghazi in September 2012 and to get to the truth about what
happened leading up to, during and after the attacks," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement, adding she hopes the report puts "conspiracy
theories" to rest.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., top Republican on the panel, also said the report provides "needed and
deserved answers."
"In spite of the deteriorating security situation in Benghazi and ample strategic warnings, the United
States Government simply did not do enough to prevent these attacks and ensure the safety of those
serving in Benghazi," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/15/
senate-intelligence-committee-releaes-comprehensive-benghazi-report.html