Late on the night of last September 11, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens spoke to his deputy for the final time from the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. "Greg, we're under attack," Stevens told Gregory Hicks. Within hours, Stevens and three other Americans were dead, victims of an armed terrorist assault that has since become a political and foreign policy flashpoint in Washington's partisan wars. The dramatic narrative recounted by Hicks at a six-hour Republican-led House hearing on Wednesday reflected the knowledge of a high-level insider who was in Libya that long night and was deeply involved in trying to react to events.
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State Department official says he never believed the attack was a protest
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Key lawmaker says administration is not cooperating with investigation
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Rep. Elijah Cummings accuses GOP of trying to "smear" officials
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Another hearing witness said it was "inexplicable" attack review ignored key points
Greg
"I got the ambassador on the other end and he said, '@placeholder, we're under attack.'"
Gregory Hicks
Hicks
In fact, @placeholder said during the hearing that he was told by the Libyan president soon afterward that elements with possible terror links were thought to be behind the assault.
Benghazi
Analysis: State Department failed to understand dangerous situation in @placeholder
Gregory Hicks
Hicks
@placeholder has been "praised by everybody who counts, the president, the secretary, everyone above him," Jordan said.