Perhaps Smedinghoff’s death couldn’t have been prevented no matter how tight the security or well-planned the movements of US personnel. Still, it does suggest an answer to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s irritated response when asked whether the Benghazi attack was the work of a spontaneous mob: “What difference, at this point, does it make?”
It makes a difference because the good men and women of our diplomatic corps continue to operate in some of the most dangerous spots in the world. No matter how tight our security, we cannot keep them in a militarized bubble.
It shouldn’t take two dead diplomats in just seven months (and seven other US fatalities) before someone in Washington understands that there’s a serious problem in keeping our envoys safe.
This is not about finding political scapegoats. It’s about protecting Americans who serve our nation.
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