It is interesting to watch how carefully orchestrated Hillary Clinton’s book rollout is, with the effort as much about bolstering her image as it is about selling books. She has released the chapter dedicated to the attacks in Benghazi, and Politico has a write-up. It’s pretty much what you would expect. Part defensiveness, part sheer exasperation. Her biggest beef is with how the tragedy has been politicized, and she’s to the point about some of the conspiracy theories.
Clinton addresses lingering questions about how military assets were deployed to try to rescue personnel at the besieged compound, writing that Obama “gave the order to do whatever was necessary to support our people in Libya. It was imperative that all possible resources be mobilized immediately. … When Americans are under fire, that is not an order the Commander in Chief has to give twice. Our military does everything humanly possible to save American lives — and would do more if they could. That anyone has ever suggested otherwise is something I will never understand.”
Of course, I am sure that she fully understands why people have suggested something else. It’s because they want to gain some political advantage from the death of our ambassador.
“Those who exploit this tragedy over and over as a political tool minimize the sacrifice of those who served our country,” Clinton writes in the gripping chapter, “Benghazi: Under Attack.”
Casting doubt on the motivations of congressional Republicans who have continued to investigate the attacks, including with an upcoming House select committee, Clinton continues: “I will not be a part of a political slugfest on the backs of dead Americans. It’s just plain wrong, and it’s unworthy of our great country. Those who insist on politicizing the tragedy will have to do so without me.”
I fully agree with the former First Lady, senator from New York, and Secretary of State. It is “just plain wrong” and “unworthy of our great country.” I am confident that the vast majority of Americans agree, or will agree, with that sentiment. We will all have another debate about this matter, and by the time the campaign begins in earnest, we will all be sick to death of the whole discussion.
