U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton comments on Benghazi during her remarks on Democratic Transitions in the Maghreb at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., October 12, 2012. [Go to http://video.state.gov for more video and text transcript.]
Statement by Secretary Clinton on the Attack in Benghazi
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 11, 2012
I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed. We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack.
This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his government’s full cooperation.
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
In light of the events of today, the United States government is working with partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.
Op-Ed: “Libya’s Tale of Two Cities”
![Woman gather next to portraits of people killed or disappeared in Benghazi, Libya, June 5, 2011.[AP]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121018081106im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0605_libya_women_m.jpg)
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman recently published an opinion piece addressing recent events in Libya for Politico. You can read the text of his article here on Politico.com or below.
“I have visited Libya twice in the last six months: Tripoli in December, and Benghazi last week. I might as well have visited two different planets.
“My visit to Tripoli in December was full of dark threats and ominous portents. The fear was palpable. One Libyan official told me that if you so much as dared to speak of Qadhafi’s paranoia and quirks you would be killed. Qadhafi’s thugs had taken to harassing our embassy personnel. It was a harbinger of worse things to come — violence and vicious threats directed not at… more »
