Documents: Consulate Warned of 'No Police Support'

Documents found by Foreign Policy in the wreckage of America’s consulate in Benghazi show that letters were being written from the consulate about “troubling” surveillance of the building by terrorist groups. One letter, written on September 11 and addressed to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, read:

“Finally, early this morning at 0643, September 11, 2012, one of our diligent guards made a troubling report. Near our main gate, a member of the police force was seen in the upper level of a building across from our compound. It is reported that this person was photographing the inside of the U.S. special mission and furthermore that this person was part of the police unit sent to protect the mission. The police car stationed where this event occurred was number 322.”

Just hours before his death, Sean Smith, one of the US diplomats killed in Benghazi, wrote on a gaming message board: “Assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures.”

In other words, it seems that the Libyan security forces supposedly working with the Obama administration were actually working with the terrorists. The State Department once again refused to answer questions on the letters, continuing a chain of stonewalling that has reached up to the White House.

The documents show that on September 9, the US consulate requested more security for Ambassador Chris Stevens form the Libyan government. None was provided. The relevant letter says:

On Sunday, September 9, 2012, the U.S. mission requested additional police support at our compound for the duration of U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens’ visit. We requested daily, twenty-four hour police protection at the front and rear of the U.S. mission as well as a roving patrol. In addition we requested the services of a police explosive detection dog.

We were given assurances from the highest authorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that all due support would be provided for Ambassador Stevens’ visit to Benghazi. However, we are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all.

A second letter was directed to the head of Benghazi’s police, who was fired after the attacks on our consulate. He has refused to leave his job. The FBI, too, has refused to answer questions on the letters.