Spoke about the report they offered on september 11 attack in benghazi, libya to cut u. S. Ambassador christina and three other americans. The report cited systemic failures, leadership and management efficiencies and Inadequate Security at the conflict facility. Three state Department Officials including eric boswell, assistant secretary of state in Diplomatic Security have resigned in the wake of the report. Next, senators on the Foreign Relations committee who received the report speak to reporters. How not [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible] my understanding is that the standard with which the accountability board looks at people is a very High Standard called breach of duty. But theres no question that there were people within the state department that were missed and did not execute in an appropriate way. There is also some cultural issues and i mean, there were no doubt a number of problems. I would just say to that end, i know that secretary clinton was unable to be able to testify in an open setting. I do think its imperative for all concerned that she testify prior to any changing of the machine. I think that is very important for her. I think its very important for a country and i think its very important to really understand certainly the inner workings of the state department itself. The foreign money hasnt been authorization for the state Department Since ive been here. So there is no doubt, you know, im not that we could have done if you vote to understand more the inner workings of the state department itself. But i do think its imperative that summer im sorry, secretary clinton to testify in an open setting prior to any secretary of state. Are we knowing who did this attack . Workgroup . Gosh, yeah. The culmination of groups of a number of them bear. I think we generally known from day one that is part of libya controlled by militias. They generally operate under a very loose umbrella and, you know, it was a number participated developed, but the area is full of folks that identify themselves as being affiliated with al qaeda and others. But theres one particular group. I dont know if its classified as to what the name of this group is, so i wont speak to that, but i think were pretty certain it is. Ibm lack and now, its really interesting. Everyone of these problems solution is more money. Ive heard much of that town in the hearing room just a minute ago. And no doubt, security takes resources. But think again a top to bottom review of the state department to ensure the resources that already are they are are being used in an appropriate way for a beginning point and then it complaint, you know, determine what the appropriate resource allocation should be. I understand and secretary clinton implementing all of the policy points so nothing is being done done. And at the same time, it is manders and a brief type numbers of accountability review boards that have made recommendations in this group looking back, you know many of those have never been implemented. Its kind of an interesting point that theres been a lot of review boards, but many recommendations have never been implemented. We can all do a better job in fairness. I really believe that. The Foreign Relations committee of should certainly do top to bottom reviews, should it have prior to talking about additional resource allocations. I think there are cultural issues and people they are carrying out their duties. Whats that . I think there were people there were very remiss in carrying out their duties no question. There are cultural issues. We as a country need to determine what we want to do without traditionary set of sleep this, where we are in a place for the country does not have control for militias are controlling it. We need to understand what the value to american diplomacy isnt having people in a place like to see, which is then not say. At the end of the day, its important for secretary clinton and hope she recovers quickly. Its very important to come before the committee. If they could be very help a candidate for the next secretary of state to fully understand from her than all of eyes, the cultural issues dealing with. Are the recommendations for funding security . You know, numbers are thrown out. But i dont know how anybody could possibly be in a position to analyze that yet without a beginning of a top to bottom review itself. But there were numbers and by the way, i think one of the highest priorities we should have been so they had these brave men and women doing what they are doing for our country, we should absolutely sure theres appropriate security. Believe me, i think thats number one. I met the two individuals who rescued rashard people injured from the roof at the consulate in benghazi. They truly are american heroes and we should do everything we can to support people who risk their lives in that regard. At the same time, we need to make sure resources allocated they are allocated properly with a with a culture in the department that understands the importance of security in that regard and with that, i thank you all. Thank you. I just let the classified refrain from the accountability review board on the incident occurred in benghazi, an incident which cost for american lives in life of our ambassador. The conclusion was very stark, very candid and honest and told us the following. Mistakes are made, lives are lost and lessons need to be learned. First, america cannot retreat from a dangerous world. It is important for us to be there, not only protecting values, but american citizens. Those who represent us overseas better protection. Not only does in uniforms, but this in site are to have Important Missions to perform. Third, a break down on September September 11 that is stark and challenging to all of us in public life. I went through the litany of things given to us by the accountability review board. Intelligence fell short. Security personnel were inexperienced and unprepared. Security systems failed. Our host nation was lacking in protection for our own people and senior state Department Officials unfortunately showed a lack of leadership in energy and ability. That is a challenge to all of us. Its a challenge to assess this in an honest fashion and change policy to the resources and please dont make a difference. Finally, we can provide protection for americans representing us in our nation require without adequate resources, without a security plan that is reliable and without leadership, which understand Security Threat we face. Let me speak about resources for a moment. We are discussing a deficit. Cutting spending is a common launcher and its understandable. We need to cut spending to reduce its deficit. But when he took a step back and make an honest assessment of the sinks absolutely essential for americas security. People talk about department of defense initiative. Let us not Forget Department of state. The role they prefer around the world is important to americas defense and assess important as anything else in terms of avoiding war and conflict in the future. But we learned in benghazi is we cant go with inadequate resources and inadequate preparation. Congress is going to face a new challenge and i hope it includes making certain americas strong not only to the department of defense, department of state as well. Last point if anyone who thought that an internal investigation and accountability review board will cost over what happened in benghazi needs to take a look at this report. Ambassador pickering is one of our best. Admirable it is also one of her best. The two of them have been extraordinary, candid and frank on a show that analyzing a delicate and tragic situation. [inaudible] yes. That was brought up several times. It was the conclusion of the accountability review board that there was no willful misconduct, which is the standard used to judge any breach in the department of state, but it is also clear there was a failure when it came to management and security in privacy. As a consequence, some of mr. Defections is being taken in the state department as a result of that. [inaudible] should she be held responsible for this . She accepted responsibility and said as much weeks ago and that showed the maturity we expected our leaders when things go wrong, not to run away from reality. Fishy face it honestly. She brought in this independent board have noted professionals and they come to a conclusion that is stark and traveling to her and all of us in government. We all need to do a better job. We await to ambassador stevens. [inaudible] i hope secretary clinton will be able to test. I know shes recovering at home and may not be any seeking to accomplish in my hope is only a few days left in the session. Ultimately we need to present this to the American People. Weve lost four of our best including our ambassador. It is a rare occurrence, thank god, but the fact that it occurred as a challenge to all of us. Tell the American People would have been in honest terms and make sure we do everything to make sure it doesnt happen again. Internal movements made in the state department to punish people who mightve been responsible. Did that come out of this briefing . Okay, thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] i just had a briefing on benghazi and would have ended my impression is that the state department clearly failed the boy scout motto is be prepared. They failed to anticipate what was coming because of how bad the Security Risk was there. They failed to connect the dots so they did not Adequate Security leading up to the attack. Once the attack occurred, security was woefully inadequate. Another report was thorough and thoughtful. My question is will actually be helpful to prevent further attacks and with the state department take the Lessons Learned and make sure in the future we can prevent things from happening like this. It was very, very critical in nature failures of the state department at very high levels. [inaudible] to discipline someone to the state department, you have show willful misconduct and i dont think there was any of that. Clearly there was very poor judgments made within the state department. There is a failure readership at a very high level at the state department and failure to make proper decisions. [inaudible] i think those are the questions will specifically ask in the opening hearing tomorrow. Thank you. [inaudible] i think there was a major failure in the state department that resulted in the deaths of four brave americans. This incredible stories of courage what happened during the attack, but they were in a situation which they were not going to be able to escape. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] how are you all doing . Good morning. The Foreign RelationsCommittee Just listened to a classified briefing, but in the unclassified component of it and all of that, for every member i think was an extremely impressive, very comprehensive and very professional presentation and members of both sides of the aisle we join together in congratulating secretary clinton for appointing the accountability board of such quality and for adopting every single one of its recommendations. I think that is an extremely positive step. I think it is a courageous step and one that fully recognizes her responsibility as head of the department to make sure that every further effort is made to provide security personnel serving abroad. The quality of the report i think is really exceptional and i think you have to look at the two leaders that this, admiral mullen and secretary ambassador Tom Pickering. Tom pickering has served as ambassadors several different locations. United nations, india, russia, israel, jordan, other places. And he served as undersecretary of political affairs. Ambassador admiral mullen was chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and had been extraordinarily distinguished career in the United States navy. These are two men who didnt mince any words. They didnt hedge. There was candid and direct and i think this report is a quality report. The state department can take pride in it. The country is well served for the process put in place. Secretary clinton said she would do this in david e. Completely unfurnished appraisal and thats exactly what it is and i think she and the administration deserve credit for doing what was required here and really going to Great Lengths to make this sure is a very professional presentation. So tomorrow we will hear from the department on how they are proceeding forward. But i think the most important step is the report itself in the presentation later today. What administrative actions are taken inside the state department as a what administrative actions are taken inside the state department as a result of this report . Everything the report has suggested has been embraced by the department and more. Secretary clinton has sent out additional measures she think can contribute to advancing the interests set out in the report itself. So i think that will become clear tomorrow. Secretary burns and secretary ninth will report in an open session and let open steps being taken. It is a huge step forward to address the Lessons Learned from them passe, which are important to everybody. Or 70,000 employees of the day 275 different posts. People are at risk. Its a dangerous world we are in any think this report is going to significantly advance the security interest in those personnel of our country. A major stop there if they will pick it up tomorrow. [inaudible] yes, the report specifically calls on resources. There is a need to put about 2. 5 billion a year over a number of years into efforts to strengthen our security sadness in various critical places that is, what will be talked about tomorrow also. Thank you are very much. The senate Foreign Relations committee holds a hearing tomorrow on the attacks of the u. S. Consulate in benghazi, libya. State Department Officials will testify about the security permission. Investigators in the attack that security staff was insufficient at the posts. That hearing begins at 8 00 a. M. Eastern. Now, master Tom Pickering, former joint chiefs of staff, mike mullins with her purse on the benghazi attacks and deputy secretary of state William Burns briefed reporters. This is about 30 minutes. Welcome, everybody. Thank you for joining us. As you know, the accountability review board on benghazi that the secretary established has now completed its work on the classified and unclassified versions have been released to the hill and it had a chance to see the unclassified version as well as the secretarys letter to members. Today we have embedded the chairman of the accountability review board, ambassador Tom Pickering and pace chairman of the review board, admiral mike mullen to join us here to address your questions and introducing them will be deputy secretary of state, bill burns. Thank you, very much and good afternoon. I thought they know, ambassador pickering and admiral mullen appear today before the senate Foreign Relations committee and the House Foreign Affairs committee to discuss findings and recommendations of the accountability review board on benghazi. Deputy secretary nides and ill testify tomorrow. Ill make two quick points and then give the floor to ambassador pickering and other want to the report and take your questions. First of secretary clinton said in her letter to congress, we expect each and every one of the board recommendations whenever he begun to implement them. In accordance with a lock on secretary clinton were to distribute to determine exactly what happened in benghazi because thats how we learn and improve and i want to convey appreciation to ambassador pickering, admiral mullen and their team for doing such a poor job. The boards report takes a clear eyed look at serious systemic problems, problems which are unacceptable, problems for which a secretary clinton has said we take responsibility and problems we averted because 26. In the hours and days after the terrorist attacks in benghazi at the secretarys direction we took immediate steps to further protect our people and our pose. We launched a worldwide review of the departments overall Security Posture. Interagency teams nx risk a particularly scrutiny to high threat posed to the pentagon agreed to dispatch hundreds of additional posts around the world. The u. S. Congress to hire new personnel and reinforce facilities. Rios in the firstever Deputy Assistant secretary of state for high threat posed up in the bureau of Diplomatic Security. And we are updating our deployment procedures to increase the number of experienced and welltrained staff serving up those posts. Tom and i will be discussing all of this work and more congress tomorrow. So for now, let me just make one other point. Ive been a very proud member of the Foreign Service for more than 30 years and have had the honor of serving as the chief and russian overseas. I know diplomacy by its very nature must sometimes be part just in dangerous places. Chris stephens, my friend and colleague understood their diplomats cannot work in bunkers and do their jobs. We have a profound responsibility to ensure the best possible security and support for diplomats and Development Experts in the field. Its important to recognize that our colleagues in beers of Diplomatic Security, Near East Affairs across the department at home and abroad get a pretty countless times a day for years on end in some of the toughest circumstances imaginable. We cannot lose sight of that. Do we have learned hard and painful lessons in benghazi, were arty acting on them. We have to do better. We