Budget figures challenge Dem claims about lack of funding for embassy security (Jan. 2013)

FOXNEWS.com ^ | January 24, 2013 | Staff

[Brad from Tennessee]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeatedly cited a supposed lack of funding for embassy security during testimony Wednesday on the Libya terror attack, opening the door for congressional Democrats to suggest stingy Republicans contributed to leaving the post in Benghazi vulnerable.

Democratic New York Rep. Eliot Engel claimed Congress "slashed" diplomatic security requests over the past two years.

Budget numbers, though, show the overall diplomatic security budget has ballooned over the past decade. While there were modest decreases in funding in recent years -- and Congress has approved less than was requested -- the overall security budget has more than doubled since fiscal 2004.

Still, then-Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Charlene Lamb testified in October that the size of the attack -- and not the money -- was the issue.

Asked if there was any budget consideration that led her not to increase the security force, she said: "No."

[Brad from Tennessee]

By her own account, Hillary Clinton was unaware of the security posture or lack thereof at the Benghazi post.

[immadashell]

in liberalese allocations of less than requested amounts are considered tax cuts even though the amount spent currently is greater than in previous years.

[immadashell]

Liberals only like to dole out money to their supporters, terrorists and enemies of freedom (sorry if those three groups are redundant).

[TigersEye]

US Embassy Tokyo Embraces Solar Power; ABC Solar Japan Partners with Suniva to Deliver Creative Energy Solution Apr 12, 2013

Was it Hicks, Thompson or Nordstrum who said that there were still no changes to embassy security?

[ObozoMustGo2012]

How many TRILLIONS have been pissed away on failed jobs stimuli, green energy programs, aid to the MB???

They have absolutely NO room to talk about budgetary issues!!!

[ExTexasRedhead]

It’s time to sequester Air Force One vacation trips.
This is unbelievable. Watch this!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1Q1qzfL9rE

Meanwhile, no fleet week, Thunderbirds grounded, Blue Angels grounded, ships in dock, B1’s on the ground. The King and Queen party on as do members of Congress.

Yes, indeed, the Elitists need tax increases ASAP!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Brad from Tennessee.

[uncommonsense]

This needs to be kept front-of-mind when hearing the DemocRat's talking points about anything regarding Benghazi:

Issues:
1) the State Department had the necessary budget
2) wanted Benghazi to become a permanent consulate
3) it was 1 of only 15 sites out of 300 globally to be rated at the 2 highest levels
4) and MOST DAMNING - ignored multiple formal requests to bring it up to legal standards after multiple, serious security incidents

There are only 15 facilities around the world rated "high" or "critical" - out of almost 300. The Benghazi site was rated "critical" (the highest threat) and needed H.R. Clinton's authorization to operate it while at the officially documented, legally deficient state of security, before the attack.

H.R. Clinton told Stevens, presumably ordered by Obama, that this admin's goal was to make Benghazi a permanent consulate. But, career state department employees were threatened, and demoted, for using official channels to make basic requests for security before the mid-term election.