[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            BENGHAZI MATTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, Benghazi matters, and the American people 
deserve answers.
  On the evening of September 11, 2012, terrorist factions successfully 
attacked America in Benghazi, Libya, when they torched our consulate 
and killed four Americans. Early in the morning the following day, they 
attacked our annex.
  Secretary Clinton's response to the American people was that these 
attacks were in response to a video posted on the Internet. The 
following Sunday, on September 16, U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Nations Susan Rice repeated Secretary Clinton's assertion on five 
separate television talk shows.
  Today is July 10, 2013, and we now know that without question these 
attacks were strategically planned and had no relation to Secretary 
Clinton or Ambassador Rice's initial assertions. The investigation into 
our failure to protect those four Americans who were killed, our 
consulate, our annex, and the administration's abysmal explanation for 
informing the American public must continue.
  Mr. Speaker, Secretary Clinton appeared before a Senate hearing and 
was asked about certain facts surrounding the attack. She replied: What 
difference does it make?
  I suggest that Secretary Clinton may want to consult with the 
survivors of the four Americans who were slain and ask them what 
difference does it make. I take umbrage with her response, and I think 
it was done in a rather uncaring and very impersonal way.
  Investigating this scandal is our duty and obligation as 
representatives of the American people and protectors of the public 
trust. To date, congressional hearings have raised far more questions 
than answers. We have to look no further than the testimony of Mr. 
Gregory Hicks before the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform. Mr. Hicks is the former Deputy Chief of Mission in Libya, and 
his testimony is replete with contradictions from what Secretary 
Clinton and Ambassador Rice and others have told the American public. 
The matter, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, smacks of a coverup. We must 
continue to pursue and develop answers and explanations as to what 
happened so we will ultimately know what really did occur on that 
fateful night and ensuing days.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said at the outset, Benghazi matters, and we must 
continue thoroughly to examine this until the truth ultimately 
surfaces. It matters, and the American public, Americans taxpayers, 
here, there, and yonder, deserve a final resolution to this episode. I 
suggest that we continue to keep our eye on the ball, otherwise this is 
going to disappear into the wind and that would be inexcusable.

                          ____________________