who was president during benghazi
Barack Obama was the U.S. President during the 2012 Benghazi attack.
Event Timeline
The attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, unfolded on September 11, 2012. It began around 9:40 p.m. local time with militants overwhelming the facility, killing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith. A second assault hit a nearby CIA annex by 5:15 a.m. on September 12, claiming Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.
President Obama, in his first term, received briefings that night, including an 11:00 p.m. White House meeting with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey. He addressed the nation the next day from the Rose Garden, calling the assault "outrageous and shocking" and honoring the fallen.
Political Context
This incident sparked intense partisan debate. Republicans criticized the Obama administration for security lapses and the initial portrayal of the attack as linked to an anti-Islam video protest, rather than terrorism. Hillary Clinton, then Secretary of State, accepted responsibility for shortcomings but denied a "stand-down" order for rescue efforts.
Multiple probes, including 10 independent investigations, found no high-level misconduct by Obama, Clinton, or U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. Four mid-level State Department officials faced repercussions: one resigned, three were suspended. Still, Benghazi fueled years of hearings, notably exposing Clinton's private email use.
Key Facts
- Date : September 11-12, 2012
- Deaths : 4 Americans (Stevens, Smith, Woods, Doherty)
- Attackers : Ansar al-Sharia militants
- Response : No U.S. troops could reach in time; evacuations succeeded by 11:30 p.m.
"No act of terror... will shake the resolve of the United States of America." – President Obama, September 12, 2012
Investigations Overview
Probe| Year| Key Finding
---|---|---
Senate Intelligence| 2014| Security failures, no deliberate wrongdoing 7
House Select Committee| 2016| No stand-down; email scandal emerged 8
Independent Reviews (10 total)| 2012-2016| Cleared top officials 7
TL;DR : Barack Obama was president when Ansar al-Sharia attacked U.S. facilities in Benghazi on 9/11/2012, killing four Americans; probes blamed mid-level lapses but exonerated leadership.
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