Obama on Libya attack: "Justice will be done"

President Obama makes a statement on the killing of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three colleagues in Libya September 12, 2012 from the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama strongly condemned Wednesday the killing of Stevens, in a mob attack at a US Consulate in Benghazi, fueled by anger over a film mocking Islam.

/ MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages

Updated at 11:50 a.m. ET

(CBS News) President Obama on Wednesday morning said that the United States will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the attackers who killed four Americans in Libya overnight, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens.

"We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice will be done," Mr. Obama said from the White House rose garden. "Make no mistake, justice will be done."

Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack by Muslim protesters on the U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi, the U.S. government confirmed Wednesday.

Mr. Obama said he has ordered heightened security at all U.S. diplomatic offices around the world in the wake of the attack, as well as protests in Cairo on Tuesday. Both incidents were sparked by hardline Muslims protesting a film made in the U.S. that insults the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

The United States, the president said, is "a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others." However, he added, "There is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts."

Mr. Obama said that many Libyans have already joined the U.S. in condemning the violence and noted that Libyan security personnel fought back against the attackers alongside Americans. Libyans also helped some American diplomats find safety and carried Stevens' body to the hospital where he died.

"This attack will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya," Mr. Obama said.

In separate remarks at the State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated the administration's assertion that its relations with Libya will remain stable.

"The friendship between our countries, born out of shared struggle, will not be another casualty of this attack," she said. "A free and stable Libya is still in America's interests and security, and we will not turn our backs on that."

Assault on U.S. consulate in Benghazi leaves 4 dead
Romney doubles down on criticism of White House's response to Egypt, Libya attacks

The secretary said she spoke with the president of Libya Tuesday night and that he strongly condemned the violence and pledged "every effort" to protect U.S. citizens and pursue the attackers.

"This was an attack by a small and savage group, not the people or government of Libya," she said. "Everywhere Chris and his team went in Libya, in a country scarred by war and tyranny, they were hailed as friends and partners."

Clinton said the attack, in a city that the U.S. helped liberate, "reflects just how complicated and at times how confounding the world can be."

Mr. Obama hailed Stevens for his leadership in Libya, where he built partnerships with Libyan revolutionaries "with characteristic skill, courage and resolve." He led the diplomatic post in Benghazi during the height of the height of the revolution and served as ambassador after the Qaddafi regime came to an end.

"I think both Secretary Clinton and I have relied deeply on his knowledge of the situation on the ground there," Mr. Obama said.

Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith and the other two Americans killed in the attack -- who remain unnamed while officials notify their next of kin -- "represent the very best of the United States of America," the president said.

He noted that Tuesday was already a painful day for America, as the nation marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"As Americans let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases lay down their lives for it," Mr. Obama said. "Our country is only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those, both civilian and military, who represent us around the globe."

[CharitySmith]

The Obama lovers should be eating crow by now..... Looks like he was WAY wrong...... Even two weeks after the fact, he didn't know the truth????? OK

[RollotheNorman]

As of this post, four people have been arrested by the Libyans in connection with the attack on the Consulate. An FBI Interrogation Team has arrived or will be arriving shortly. I suppose the RepubliCONs will be whining for water boarding to extract information, but the FBI is more professional than that. At any rate they will round the turds up, and the Libyans will most likely cut off their heads.

[jcvetan31]

It is really disturbing that there are so many people on here willing to talk politics instead of talking about a distinguished group of human beings that lost their lives because some senseless idiot posted a homemade video on youtube that made fun of someones deity. The fact of the matter is that those people died for something happening 3000 miles away that they had no control over. That is the disgrace of it all!

[sjc_1]

The attackers in Libya were not part of the protest, they were well organized and well armed. They used the anniversary of 9/11 to avenge the killing of the second in command of Al Qaeda in June.

We lose people every day in Afghanistan day in day out week after week for years. When you are in the foreign service this is a possibility, they know this.

[baser13]

Do you know the definition of "Special Ops" aka ELITE( The only time such a word holds any value above others) Armed Forces, how about their M.O., weird I think it's being reported by all "biased"(your words not mine) news outlets such a TEAM being deployed F.A.S.T. or Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team. Don' worry citizens of America the Republicans have a sound proof tactic.
Also without undercutting the bravery, intellect, and strength of the soldiers serving in SEAL as Commander in Chief the POTUS "Green Lights" assets. NUFF SAID. Why swing violently and aimlessly to kill a fly when all it takes is the flick of a finger once target is stationary.

[baser13]

THE Republican's tactic BTW
Doppelganging on their economic plan of ignoring with indifference its repercussions and collateral damage they adopt as the President said "A strategy of "Shoot first Aim later".

[nayaritguy]

F...ing Obama hasn't got the balls to do anything, and he won't do anything to offend his muslim world

[formerlyluvnut]

"Justice will be done"
-------------------------------

No it won't.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

He means, ANOTHER apology will be done.....the weak Obama isn't doing anything against muslims, other than kiss their collective a$$3es.

[Mikexxxxxxx]

Quit smoking that 'chit George (W?).

[natsecwtr]

That character that is referenced for those who serve our country....does that apply to the allegations of perjury by a US secret Agent in the UK and DHS OIG refusal to investigate one of their own. The Obama administration didn't seem personally and professionally offended when they were informed their own investigator lied and filed false reports in the UK's highest court.

[baser13]

Jimmy can smile because he is a humanitarian now which is THE OPPOSITE OF what you are proposing. I'm not going to ask what party you hail from, I know the answer you're from the one that denounces government spending (apparently military isn't) the one who bashes the debt everyday yet looks to start unfunded wars at every chance, you are Republican and you wish to promote the image alot of the world not just Middle East has of the USA. Every war has civilian casualties but the way these Extreme Radicals entrench themselves among the civilian population is the same way Warlords do, they are not loved they are feared . No matter how advanced our military becomes civilian casualties will occur, and Extremists will exploit this to perpetuate an image of American hostility and imperialism. GROW UP
Zionist remember discrimination is not a one way street, if you wish to bash Romney there are numerous subjects on which but it is this type of insensitivity to our freedom of religion that promotes such as acts. I'm a non praticing catholic, 25, Mexican-American my profession was Banking and Financial Services have 2 sons and the insult that would incite me the most (foregoing family which anyone would die for) is my religion not my church my beliefs. So use one of Romney's other faults if that is what you wish but let's keep religion. BTW was my profession because I'm in the process of finding a new vocation, one were I don't exploit but serve a purpose.

[baser13]

*subjects on which to* and *keep religion out of it* LOL looks like it's breakfast time I'm losing focus

[bashdj]

I'll tell you this.....

...with Obama waging war the way he does .....the people who conducted this attack are in the cross-hairs now.

They should be afraid...very afraid.