Tate Zeigler (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today responded to President Obama’s comments on national security:

 

“With all due respect Mr. President, Benghazi and Boston are compelling examples of how our national security systems have deteriorated on your watch.

 

“In Benghazi, multiple requests for increased security were denied and numerous warnings from Ambassador Stevens about the growing threats from al Qaeda were ignored by Washington.  For over seven and a half hours during the attack our Americans in the field were abandoned.  After the attack, your Administration provided misleading information to the American people.

 

“In Boston, both the FBI and CIA were warned by the Russians about a radical Islamist in our midst.  Once enrolled in the system as a potential terror suspect, the older brother was able to travel back to Russia unimpeded by DHS or any of our intelligence agencies.  Agencies under your control were unable to coordinate the information they received on the Boston terrorists.

 

“If Benghazi is not an example of system failure before, during and after the attack what would be?  If Boston is not an example of a pre-9/11 stove piping mentality what would be?”

 

#####