“Visa problem” and all the other excuses are camouflage. The real reason for the 17-day delay had to have been on this end. The Obama administration was no doubt waiting and counting on evidence destruction.
Seventeen days should have been enough for sympathizers and hot heads to destroy cameras, videos, paper or electronic trails and physical evidence around the consulate area. Also to remove possible witnesses.
I’m glad it didn’t work very well. This mess and coverup are more outrageous with dangerous ramifications than any of the previous messes.
In a heated and dramatic congressional hearing today, witnesses who served with the U.S. diplomatic corps in Libya and pushed for a stronger security presence repeatedly faulted the State Department for standing in their way – one even referring to the State Department officials he described as obstructionist as if they were Taliban terrorists.
The former regional security officer in Libya, Eric Nordstrom, recalled talking to a regional director and asking for twelve security agents.
“His response to that was, ‘You are asking for the sun, moon and the stars.’ And my response to him – his name was Jim – ‘Jim, you know what makes most frustrating about this assignment? It is not the hardships, it is not the gunfire, it is not the threats. It is dealing and fighting against the people, programs and personnel who are supposed to be supporting me. And I added (sic) it by saying, ‘For me the Taliban is on the inside of the building.’”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/security-officer-on-state-department-blocking-requests-for-me-the-taliban-is-inside-the-building/