Dispute Over Nature of Libya Attack Continues; Witness Tells CBS There Was No Protest
Dispute Over Nature of Libya Attack Continues; Witness Tells CBS There Was No Protest
Witnesses of last week’s deadly attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya have told CBS News that the alleged anti-American protest that U.S. officials say morphed into the assault never actually took place.
The new details add to the widening rift between U.S. and Libyan accounts of the attack as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to brief members of Congress behind closed doors Thursday. On Wednesday, a top U.S. counterterrorism official told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the assault was “opportunistic,” but a “terrorist attack.”
Clinton’s briefing comes amid calls from Capitol Hill for more information on the attack, and complaints that the Obama administration has not been forthright.
“I’m just stunned and appalled that there wasn’t better security for all of the American personnel at that consulate given the high threat environment,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said during a congressional hearing.
The attack on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday that the execution of the attack showed it was planned far in advance. The Obama administration has called the attack more impulsive than planned.