WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today issued the following statement regarding new information pertaining to the Obama Administration's mishandling of the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The more we learn about the response to the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, the more apparent it is that the Administration completely failed to adequately protect Americans in danger. They failed to provide a Marine detachment to defend our diplomatic facilities in Libya-one of the most dangerous places on the planet-and they failed to act when those facilities came under attack. Americans posted in Libya repeatedly expressed their concern to their superiors that it was unsafe and that they were not adequately protected. Where were the Marines?

The Consulate's annex in Benghazi was under siege for more than four hours, and this came after the first attack on the U.S. Consulate compound. Despite repeated requests for help, dozens of Americans were left to fend for themselves against heavily armed terrorists. With hours to respond, there was more than enough time to dispatch a Special Operations team from Sigonella Air Force Base in Sicily, but no attempt was made. And now, reports are coming out that CIA and special forces that may have been able to help were told to stand down and not intervene.

Four Americans were killed-including our Ambassador to Libya-but their lives might have been saved had we intervened. I ask again: Where were the Marines to protect American personnel in Libya?

Instead of sending Marines to defend Americans in danger, the State Department was focused on "greening" our Vienna Embassy and installing charging stations for its new electric cars.

Someone must be held accountable for this inaction. The American people and the families of those who were killed expect and deserve to know the truth behind the Administration's complete inaction and failure to protect its embassies and citizens abroad.

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