Guinta: Benghazi Report a 'Damning Summary of Obama's 'Naive Worldview'

MANCHESTER, NH – Today, a House Select Committee released its detailed report on events surrounding the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens, another diplomat and two security contractors at a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, soon before the 2012 presidential election.

Submitted by Team Guinta

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, slammed the actions of White House officials, who the report shows directed a public relations campaign at odds with facts on the ground – according to State Department and military personnel – to draw attention away from an Islamic terrorist attack.

“Even today, as the Orlando attack demonstrates, the President is waging a war on words, rather than the enemy,” said Guinta. “Despite obvious signs, including the anniversary of 9/11, the Administration was unprepared for another al Qaeda attack in a country where his ‘leading from behind’ strategy created a violent political vacuum.”

Guinta added, “Hillary Clinton, in private communications, admitted the assault was planned. However, we still don’t know the President’s whereabouts, as wave after wave of terrorists attacked Americans. With an election on the line, both he and Clinton told a much different story.”

According to transcripts in the Committee report, during the course of the hours-long attack, Administration officials debated the alternate theory that a YouTube video prompted spontaneous protests and potential diplomatic problems arising from a rescue mission.

The White House had already received word that Ansar al Sharia, an Al Qaeda affiliate, organized the attacks. U.S. military forces never arrived in Benghazi to help. Nor did Libyan rebels linked to U.S. intelligence operations.

House investigators also researched U.S. arms shipments to those rebels, shipments which possibly fell into the wrong hands, but the Administration refused to answer questions about the President’s strategy to arm local militants.

“This 800-page report is a damning summary of the naive worldview that produced the President’s failed strategy in Libya, one Hillary Clinton embraced and which endangers lives of Americans,” said Guinta. “Bravely serving in a warzone, Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods deserved the support of their country. I’m thankful for those who survived, as well as for this honest record of their struggle.”