Six months later, where are the Benghazi survivors?

Today marks six months since the September 11, 2012 terrorist attacks on the U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya in which four Americans were killed, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Some watchdog groups, members of the media and Republican members of Congress are asking: Where are the more than two dozen U.S. personnel who survived the attack but haven't been seen nor heard from in public since? There were also an undisclosed number of witnesses at the U.S. compounds in Tripoli but they also have not spoken publicly.

In a recent press report, Secretary of State John Kerry said he visited one survivor at "Bethesda hospital," and referred to him a "remarkably courageous person who is doing very, very well." Kerry added, "I've called his wife and talked to her." But the identities, condition and testimony of the survivors and witnesses have been closely held from the public.

• Source: Press officers partly responsible for Benghazi talking points changes
• White House declines to release images from night of Benghazi attacks

Republicans demanded more information about Benghazi in recent weeks before they would agree to allow Obama Administration nominees to move forward in the Senate. A source familiar with material turned over to the Senate Intelligence Committee by the Obama Administration in response tells CBS News that long sought-after FBI transcripts of some survivors were included but had been "blacked out" or redacted. Three Senate Republicans including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., say they want the survivors to be made available for interviews about what happened the night of the attacks.

Meanwhile, a State Department review board found that despite requests from Stevens for more security prior to the attack, there were no military resources in place close enough to come to the rescue of Americans during the attack. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey testified that troops have been placed on a higher state of alert since then.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified in January she was unaware of Stevens' unmet security requests. She said the highest ranking official who received them at the State Department was undersecretary Patrick Kennedy. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Dempsey said they were aware of Stevens' requests and concerns.

At a press conference on November 14, 2012, President Obama stated that his administration has provided all information regarding "what happened in Benghazi." Yet, when CBS News asked for White House photos from the night of the attacks, surveillance video that was promised last November, and answers to outstanding questions, a White House official told us that there would be no further comment.

CBS News has filed multiple Freedom of Information requests for Benghazi-related material, but none has been provided. Judicial Watch, a watchdog group, is suing the U.S. government in an attempt to receive some of the denied information.

[JT3151]

How does a story like this make it past the CBS censors? It reflects poorly on Obama. If this keeps up the other networks might start printing the truth also.

[schoolofcommonsense3]

Obama outright lied to to the nation to protect his chance at re-election. There is no way he should EVER get away with that. When you are comfortable with a president or any politician lying to you you need to do some soul searching.

[thinkingabovemypaygrade]

Hoping CBS drives this story forward...and HIGHLIGHTS it...(let's be real...who notices small stories???)

Night after night...THE HIDDEN BENGHAZI SURVIVORS...should be a BIG story...

Where ARE the Tough, Thorough Investigative Reporters? Or will they only RETURN when a president from the other party comes to office?

[dutch-mill-68]

"How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think."

"Tell a lie often enough, loud enough, and long enough (by everyone in your party) and people will believe it."

[tere1950]

Another cover up by this administration..people are slowly starting to put them all together.Hopefully in time to impeach and set his place in history for what it is.

[sharondvd]

Until the press quits cowering to Obama and we get some polititions with some guts things will keep getting worse.

[KoKoXYZ]

You surely do not expect the lapdog media ro turn on their ideological hero, do you? Nah....

[delmonico99]

Golly, if only there were some sort of constitutionally protected group of independent professionals who were dedicated to find the truth and present it to the American people, no matter where it may lead. Perhaps a group of people like that might work day and night to expose those who appear to be hiding something from the public and also appear to think that they can offer any convenient story, no matter how improbable or self contradictory. If or no other reason than simple curiosity. Y'kmow, I think I can reacall a time long ago when such things existed.

[thinkingabovemypaygrade]

Agree.

I avoid as much media news (including CBS) as I can. Too much of it is a joke. I sometimes respond to stories on my news feed, but otherwise...I'm tired of the blind trust they exhibit for this admin...

[catmomtx]

SnoopKK replies: linkicon reporticon emailicon He watched the entire thing play out in real time via a drone.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

That is an absolute LIE and you are well aware of that. It has been debunked on numerous occassions.

I'm curious, what responsibility do you put on the people who were on site and responsible for making decisions that day about the situation they were involved in? I understand some of you think President Obama has some sort of special powers and all and should be responsible for other people's decisions and actions, but get real. The people, including the victims all played a part in this incident with the decisions they made at the time and that has absolutely nothing to do with President Obama. How funny it is that with 12 similar incidents under George Bush, none of you people EVER blamed Bush but you all couldn't wait to blame this President.

[Amytens]

Please explain the cover up that followed. Why did obama blame the attack on a film and not on terrorists?

[zmonkee]

The victims played a part in this?? Seriously??

Why did obama, rice, and clinton ALL blame a video?

Please name the 12 incidents where Bush lied afterwards for the reasons of the attacks?

[wnymak]

More duck-and-dodge politics from the whole sheep heard. If I believe that our elections are truly open and fair (honest) then I have to believe we've become a nation of morons. This isn't going to end well.

[wnymak]

*"herd"

[Barry-been-inhalin]

An even more compelling question is where was Obama, why was he disengaged?

[zmonkee]

so, as usual, he was not doing his job??

[Amytens]

I loved "The Innocence of Muslims".

Excellent short film!