Senate Committee - Attack Consulate In Libya The Work Of Terrorists - Says

WASHINGTON Al Qaeda , but it added that will no cleverness still demonstrates ?t had been thought out inside advance.

The brand new assessment came because congressional committees met in closed treatment to media Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , in conjunction with top intelligence in addition to criminal court officials, on whether or not your diplomatic outpost appeared to be effectively shielded by simply a drive of generally Libyan guards.

Libyan officers allowed FBI detectives to go to your burned-out mixture solely first this specific week, administrators said, a new hold up that could hamper your group within getting facts and interviewing witnesses.

Jay Carney, the particular White House media secretary, claimed a few of the intensely armed adult men whom stormed the particular consulate within Benghazi in addition to wiped out U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans "may have had connections" to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an offshoot on the terrorist system which is active in northern Libya.

"It is, I think, self-evident which precisely what took place within Benghazi was a terrorist attack," Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One. He said U.S. authorities are looking in to the "possible participation" of members of Al Qaeda or even it has the affiliates.

Asked subsequently regarding the Libya harm during a village hall interacting with inside Coral Gables , Fla., Moammar Kadafi last year, plus a current series connected with blasts on Western targets while in the location through extremist groups.

Carney claimed the late-night infiltration ended up being your "result regarding opportunism" rather then your structured operation. He echoed comments through the overseer with the National Counterterrorism Center, Matthew Olsen, who testified for a Senate committee on Wednesday.

"It shows up that will some well-armed militants arrested on the possibility because the situations unfolded of which evening," Carney said. "We would not have specific intelligence which there was clearly substantial state-of-the-art organizing or coordination just for this attack."

Sen. Senate Committee with Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs , stated in a cellular phone interview

But Collins reported your lady however experienced concerns regarding the "woefully inadequate" stability for the consulate. Libyan officials have got explained some of the Libyan protections on the compound may have made it easier for the attackers.

"Given your instability in Benghazi, the former harm on Western spots including each of our consulate plus the undeniable fact that there were an Al Qaeda reputation and also the city was awash around weapons, it appears in my opinion unwise which our stability has been consequently dependent on Libyan guards," Collins said.

Polls demonstrate Obama has sturdy court assist pertaining to his or her handling with country's security, a rarity to get a Democrat. Although GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney 's original criticism regarding Obama seemed to be extensively viewed as a misstep, any kind of evidences connected with your terrorist harm may well straight-forward the actual president's advantage.

"Now all of us find out 10 days and nights subsequently this Al Qaeda was involved?" expected Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

Romney's plan launched a thorough statement.

"Gov. Romney believes your fast main concern in Libya would be to observe straight down as well as bring in order to rights these terrorists whom brutally murdered each of our diplomats," plan spokesman Ryan Williams said. "The attack is often a clear reminder that will terrorists specially all those linked to Al Qaeda continue to be a new serious threat then one that may be growing inside North Africa. Gov. Romney is convinced we should remain vigilant and resolute in your determination to help defeat terrorists around that world."

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

kathleen.hennessey@latimes.com

Times staff members article author Ken Dilanian in Washington contributed to that report.