Clinton takes blame for Libya terror attack

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s pre-election bid to shoulder blame over the deadly terror attack in Libya failed to silence GOP criticism that President Barack Obama is not protecting U.S. diplomats overseas.

Her written statement was sure to re-emerge as a prominent issue in Tuesday’s second debate between Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney, and could have long-term ramifications given the persistent speculation that Clinton might run for president in four years’ time or stay in public life. And it prompted the Obama campaign to say the president joined Clinton in accepting responsibility.

“Every time an American dies abroad, everybody takes responsibility, from the top down,” said Stephanie Cutter, Obama’s deputy campaign manager. Asked in an interview whether that included Obama, she said: “Absolutely. ... He’s the president of the United States.”

In her statement, Clinton accepted responsibility for the safety of the State Department’s staff and diplomatic missions. It was quickly brushed aside by leading Republicans.

By becoming the first top administration official to assume blame for the attack last month on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, she sought to take the heat off Obama for the worst debacle at a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas in more than a decade. Four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, were killed in the Benghazi attack.

But her message left several lingering questions unanswered, such as whether the attack on the 11th anniversary of 9/11 occurred because of intelligence failures and why administration officials insisted for days afterward that the violence stemmed from protests against an American-made video ridiculing Islam.

“I take responsibility,” Clinton said, reiterating comments she made in an interview late Monday. “I’m in charge of the State Department’s 60,000-plus people all over the world [at] 275 posts.”

Clinton’s remarks may have been intentionally vague. Neither in her interviews or her statement does she spell out what exactly she assumes responsibility for, a tactic that may have been employed to avoid culpability for specific failings or tasks strictly outside her control.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Clinton “was extremely clear what she takes responsibility for, which is the operation of this department, all of the men and women here.”