The Foreign Service Journal, March 2014

18 MARCH 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL location decisions should be subjected to a broader interagency approval process. FINDING #13: The primary source of security for the Temporary Mission Facility, local Libyan militia members, failed to provide any significant defense of the compound from the attack. RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. gov- ernment cannot rely on local security in areas where the U.S. has facilities under high threat or where the host nation is not capable of providing adequate security. The committee supports the State Department’s initiative, working with DOD, to request additional Marines and to expand the Marine Security Guard Program to increase protection at high- viduals responsible for the attacks. Some of the individuals have been identified with a strong level of confidence. How- ever, insight into the current whereabouts and links between these individuals in some cases is limited, due in part to the nascent intelligence capabilities in the region. RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. gov- ernment must swiftly bring the attackers to justice, in spite of the unwillingness or lack of capacity of the Libyan government to assist in this effort. —This month’s edition of Talking Points was compiled by the Journal’s contributing editor and former editor in chief, Steven Alan Honley. n risk facilities beyond solely the protection of classified information. RECOMMENDATION: Based on the fact that Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith perished due to the smoke from fires lit by attackers, State and the IC should review the fire safety and high-threat training and equipment for all employees sent abroad to ensure that proper fire safety equipment is avail- able at all facilities, and personnel have proper protective equipment in the event of smoke and fire emergencies. FINDING #14: More than a year after the Benghazi attacks, the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks have still not been brought to justice. The IC has identified several indi-