Hillary Clinton defends role in Benghazi, Libya attacks

'America must lead in a dangerous world and our diplomats must continue representing us in dangerous places'

Hillary Clinton faced the Benghazi Committee on Thursday and defended her role in the 2012 Benghazi, Libya attacks.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Despite ongoing investigations into Clinton's questionable email usage, Trey Gowdy, committee chairman and former federal prosecutor delivered his opening statement, in which he told Clinton, "Madame Secretary, I understand some people - frankly in both parties - have suggested this investigation is about you. Let me assure you it is not. Not a single member of this committee signed up for an investigation into you or your email system."

Clinton later stated, "Despite all the previous investigations and all the talk about partisan agendas, I'm here to honor those we lost and to do what I can to aid those who serve us still. My challenge to you, members of this committee, is the same challenge I put to myself: Let's be worthy of the truth the American people bestow upon us."

Republican Representative Peter Roskam told Clinton she is the main reason "things in Libya today are a disaster."

Clinton said attacks by suspected ISIS militants that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans should not discourage U.S. action and that dangerous times call for dangerous measures.

"America must lead in a dangerous world and our diplomats must continue representing us in dangerous places. When America is absent especially from unstable places there are consequences," Clinton said.

"As Secretary of State, I had the honor to lead, and the responsibility to support nearly 70,000 diplomats and development experts across the globe. Losing any one of them as we did in Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Haiti and Libya during my tenure was deeply painful for the entire State Department and USAID family -and for me personally.

"I was the one who asked Chris to go to Libra as our envoy. I was the one who recommended him to be our ambassador to the president. After the attacks, I stood next to President Obama as Marines carried his casket, and those of the other three Americans, off the plane at Andrews Air Force Base.

"I took responsibility and as part of that, before I left office I launched reforms to better protect our people in the field and help reduce the chance of another tragedy happening in the future."

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