WSJ Report: Security Lapses, Bad Decisions Worsened Libya Attack

The Sept. 11 deadly assault on the U.S. embassy in Libya came after a series of misjudgments and security breaches and was made worse by poor decisions during the attack,  The Wall Street Journal reports.

While the United States issued security guidelines and precautions in Egypt ahead of Sept. 11, it largely ignored the possibility of trouble at diplomatic embassies across the region, according to the report. The United States asked Libya to beef up security there, and it did — just once in June.

And while the attack was ongoing, the United States failed to consider sending in the military, doing so only after Ambassador Chris Stevens was dead. The Pentagon waited for the State Department to make a decision since it oversees diplomatic missions and State doubted the Pentagon could mobilize quickly enough.

And because the attack involved a secret "safe house" used by Americans and security personnel, U.S. officials were concerned about even revealing its existence, which hindered the Libyans' ability to help and conduct the eventual evacuation of American personnel.

But according to the journal, "a detailed review based on interviews with more than a dozen Libyan and U.S. officials shows months of ominous signals suggesting the need for better security, along with missed chances for delivering it."