With Wednesday marking the one-year anniversary of the attacks on the American embassy in Benghazi, Florida Republicans continued to attack President Barack Obamas handling of it. Four Americans -- including Ambassador Christopher Stevens -- were killed in the attack.
Obama marked the solemn anniversary in passing when he spoke at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11th observance.
We pray for all those who have stepped forward in those years of war -- diplomats who serve in dangerous posts, as we saw this day last year in Benghazi, intelligence professionals, often unseen and unheralded who protect us in every way -- our men and women in uniform who defend this country that we love, Obama said.
But Republicans from the Sunshine State continue to question how Obama handled the incident. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., posted a piece on FoxNews which was published Wednesday. In the op-ed, Rubio, who is one of the leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, jabbed the Obama administrations handling of the matter.
One year ago today, on Sept. 11, 2012, we were reminded that despite our successes in the war on terror, al-Qaida and its affiliates continue to threaten the United States and our personnel and facilities around the world, Rubio wrote. We remember the lives and service of the four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, who were slain in Benghazi, Libya, while trying to help bring peace and stability to a country going through a difficult transition.
We pray for their families who still mourn the loss of their loved ones, Rubio added. Unfortunately, a year later many questions remain about this tragedy. Just last month, Secretary of State John Kerry absolved the four State Department employees, who had previously been removed from their jobs, of any responsibility for the security failures that put Ambassador Stevens and his colleagues at risk. This raises questions about the work of the Accountability Review Board and also means that no one at the State Department has been held accountable.
Rubio wasnt alone, as Republicans across Florida weighed in on the anniversary to demand action, with some congressmen from the Sunshine State demanding further investigations.
A year after the brutal attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and still no justice for the killings of four brave Americans who perished that night: its disgraceful, said U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla. I remain deeply outraged and saddened and underscore my call for a House Select Committee investigation into this tragedy. Separate investigations continue; however, clear answers on what exactly happened remain elusive. House Resolution 36 which calls for a Select Committee investigation would unite all efforts, research, and capabilities and I am a proud co-sponsor. The seriousness of this case demands a Select Committee, and I will continue to urge my colleagues to push for this course of action so we can once and for all learn the truth of what happened.
Former U.S. Rep. Allen West has been going all out attacking Obama on the matter. West, a favorite of the tea party who has opened the door to a political comeback in 2016, spent the first half of the week attacking Obamas handling of Benghazi and promoting a proposed monument to the victims.
West has also called for supporters to use social media to demand the White House take action, and insisted Obama and his administration abandoned the Americans in Benghazi.
This week we shall remember the four Americans who were abandoned by Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton as they came under attack a year ago on 9/11, West posted on Facebook over the weekend. I am imploring and encouraging those Americans who love this country to embark upon their own blitz. Starting Monday through Tuesday evening, melt down the White House phone lines, email, Facebook, and Obama's twitter with a simple message, Remember the Benghazi 4.' Where are Obama's exertions and media blitz over the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, IMO Sean Smith, Ty Woods, and Glenn Doherty? ... Remember the Benghazi 4!
Other Republicans, like Obama, included the Benghazi victims in their reflections on 9/11.
Today we also mourn the loss of the four brave Americans who gave their lives in Benghazi a year ago, said U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla. We must never forget their service and should not rest until questions are answered regarding exactly what happened when our consulate was attacked. The victims families deserve the truth, not a years worth of political stonewalling.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter:@KevinDerbySSN.
