Hillary Clinton to testify on Benghazi

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. / AP Photo

Amid ongoing questions about the September violence in Benghazi that left four Americans dead, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to Capitol Hill next week to testify on the matter, appearing before both House and Senate committees to answer questions about the sequence of events that led up to the attacks, and how the State Department hopes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"We ask our diplomats and development personnel to operate in some of the most dangerous places on the planet," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she'll appear next Thursday morning. "We owe it to them, and we owe it to the memory of Ambassador Chris Stevens and his three fellow Americans who lost their lives in Benghazi to get past the politics and focus on the substance of what happened and what it tells us about diplomatic security going forward."

• Collins continues attacks on Rice, says Kerry would be "excellent" secretary of state
• Sources: Office of DNI cut "al Qaeda" reference from Benghazi talking points; CIA, FBI signed off
• Congress to investigate CIA talking points on Benghazi

Later in the day, Clinton will testify to the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the findings of a State Department review of the circumstances surrounding the attacks.

To date, Clinton has largely stayed above the fray of controversy that has dogged the Obama administration surrounding the attacks, even while UN ambassador Susan Rice, a top contender to take her place as Secretary of State, has become mired in criticism.

On September 16, five days after the attacks, Rice appeared on a handful of Sunday morning political talk shows to discuss the violence, which caused the death U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. Rice's comments on those shows were guided by CIA talking points that, according to a U.S. intelligence official, "were written, upon request, so members of Congress and senior officials could say something preliminary and unclassified about the attacks," and reflected the possibility that the attacks were a result of spontaneous protests spurred by an anti-Muslim video.

Rice ultimately clarified that there had been "no protest or demonstration in Benghazi" and that "the intelligence assessment has evolved" since her Sept. 16 comments. A spokesperson for the Director of National Intelligence told CBS News that "the intelligence community assessed from the very beginning that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack," and that Rice would have been privy to that characterization -- which was shared at a classified level -- since she's a member of the president's cabinet. But specific references to "al Qaeda" and "terrorism" had been edited out of the talking points Rice received ahead of her television appearances.

In the aftermath of the confusion, a handful of Republicans have gone after Rice for how she characterized the sequence of events in Libya, and have suggested her alleged errors in judgment disqualify her to be Secretary of State. Others have wondered why she was speaking on behalf of the White House about the Benghazi situation in the first place, when she likely would not have known the intricacies of the case.

The White House, however, has vehemently defended Rice, and says the administration is focusing its efforts on finding out what actually happened in Benghazi -- not on the political fallout surrounding it.

[yodipota]

Hillary should have testified earlier, to clear things up since she had acknowledge responsibility But whether she testifies or not,nothing will
happen. The GOP senators will not pressure her since McCain was actually
after Susan Rice,considers Hillary as a friend Obama and the White House
will not cooperate or furnish any paper the Senate will request and need,
the corrupt media will ignore the proceedings and only show what is they
deem beneficial to Obama image, Democrats will hem and haw and will try to
sandbagged the proceedings. Only the American people can demand the truth.
But if Americans can reelect perhaps the worst racist President in history
it is useless to expect any honesty out of this charade.

a

[bignard12]

My guess is that Clinton will not testify and if so she will only answer certain questions. This is an effort to save her a-s!

[COMMONSENSEUNCOMMON]

Every Body talks about lies. Who took credit for the attack? Why did we have CIA on the Ground? Why were Seals on the ground? (Seals have missions not search and destroy or Secureity Duty). Some times we are the Hunters and not the hunted. Any chance a mission went wrong? Any chance it was covert? Any chance there is a reason it is Top Secret!! Take the Politics out of it, and some things will make sense!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!

[DisappointedwithCBS]

"The White House, however, has vehemently defended Rice, and says the administration is focusing its efforts on finding out what actually happened in Benghazi -- not on the political fallout surrounding it."

REALLY? I think we all have a pretty good idea what happened, and why everyone including CBS is covering it up.
It's been 3 months...Hillary disappears before the election, General Hamm "retires," Admiral Gaouette is relieved of duty, General Petraeus steps down, Leon Panetta is leaving, Hillary Clinton is leaving, Paula Broadwell is being investigated for an "affair," ...oh...and guns from Libya miraculously appear in the hands of rebels in Syria. I am so disappointed in the State Run media. I didn't think I would see it happen in this country. Where are all the REAL reporters? I hold out hope that Ms. Clinton will tell us the truth....we shall see.......

[irishjew]

Why is this taking so long? I thought she was to testify tomorrow Dec. 14th.....why is the FBI investigating Benghazi? Why was the CIA annex sterilized within 12 hours of the attack and yet it takes FBI over 2 months to enter crime scene? Why was Gen Ham relieved of his duties 30 SECONDS after he refused to STAND DOWN? Why was his replacement so on top of the situation? Who was schooling him? WAS Obama suppling WEAPONS to our enemies? Can anyone trust Hillary Clinton? Why is her assistant tied to islamic radicals? Was Holder, Axelrod & Jarret watching the video in the situation room?????? Whose calling the shots for this corrupt regime????

[yodipota]

Who else ? This is the worst scandal since Watergate considering the implications. First time a U.S. President sat and ignored the
request for help from U.S. citizens about to be slaughtered.At best for Obama the American people will forget and move on till the next
scandal since you will never expect the corrupt media to cover anything that is against Obama or somebody will be made sacrificial again.

[yodipota]

Nothing to see here people. Media will suppress coverage or minimize importance, or release testimony favorable to Hillary or adminstration.
McCain being a good friend of Hillary will try to minimize her participation,
protect her butt and concentrate on Susan Rice. White House and Democratic
Senators will circle their wagon to protect Obama and Obama will maintain that air of indifference and above it all attitude.

[yodipota]

Nothing to see here people.