SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

 

U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, made the following comments after Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed the subcommittee on the events of September 11 and 12, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya.

 

“I am grateful to General Dempsey for spending the morning with us at this difficult time to discuss a very important issue.  General Dempsey confirmed my belief that there was no amount of heroic action on the part of our men and women in uniform that could overcome our lack of preparedness during the horrible Benghazi attack.  We simply were not postured to respond in time.  I continue to be concerned that more than a year after the attack, our posture has not improved enough to sufficiently mitigate the risks to Americans serving overseas and in harm’s way.

 

“Of particular interest was General Dempsey’s impression of the Administration’s preparations in the days before September 11, 2012.  We were eager to understand what consultations took place between General Dempsey and the National Security Staff prior to the White House’s announcement on September 10th that John Brennan had concluded a review of U.S. Security posture to ‘prevent 9/11 related attacks as well as the steps taken to protect U.S. persons and facilities abroad, as well as force protection.’  General Dempsey confirmed that while he was not personally involved in that review, elements of the Joint Staff were.  His description of the process leads me to conclude that while it may have allowed the White House to issue a comforting press release, it was far from the rigorous examination and preparation the security of the American people deserved.”

 

The briefing, which was classified, took place Thursday, October 10.