Correct . Yes. Would an attack on another diplomat coming into benghazi that caused the country to pull o out. Im assuming youre referring to the attack on the british ambassador. I am. I certainly thing think its indication of instability. So those are two trip wires that you would consider insignificant, would you not . Yes, sir. And what was done with the security after those two trip wires were tripped . Sir, as i said, i was not here at that time. Well, youve read reports. Im aware that the rsos were increasing physical security. They were engaged with training in the facility. They had run drills with the annex. I think from what i read they were doing the types of things an rso would do when he sees the situation beginning to deteriorate. Well, thank you for your testimony. Thank you all for being here. And lets hope we can get some results out of this tragic event. The chairman now recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Shift. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank you
As assistant secretary of state for Diplomatic Security, he testified about changes made to improve security at foreign posts. He was joined by members of the state Department Best Practices panel, which made security recommendations of its own. This is a little less than three hours. [no audio] we are experiencing an audio problem with this event. We are working to fix the technical difficulty and will continue running it. Hopefully, the audio will come back shortly, here on cspan. [no audio] again, we are experiencing audio difficulties. We apologize for that problem. We are working to fix it. We will have it corrected, hopefully, shortly, here on cspan. [no audio] again, experiencing some audio difficulties with this recording of this hearing on cspan. We have found another version of the recording. We are going to play that now for you from the top, on cspan. [no audio] come tomeeting will order. The chairquorum for persons taking testimony, percent to house rules. Without objectio
It is critical. Your first 30 days on the ground, you are just trying to figure out where you are, how things are operating, where the threats are. We absolutely concur with that recommendation of taking steps to ensure that the personnel we put on the ground are there for longer periods of time. And has the department been able to achieve those requirements in its practice . Yes, it has. The fact is we dont actually have any temporary facilities at the moment. I request give you an example, though, when we just entered bengi, we have mobile security agents on the ground with u. S. Marines that are there. Those agents are going to stay for a much longer period of time. Probably up to 90 days until were sure we have the proper security that we can then start replacing them with permanent personnel were going to have on the ground. The 30day rotations as the arb pointed out were not conducive to the security operation. Are there any other incentives that the department can provide or thi
Examined. Is that correct . Yes, sir. Mr. Starr, in our last hearing, the Inspector Generals Office released its 2014 reported on highthreat programs directorat. One of the Inspector Generals key findings in that report is that this newly created body was, quote, helped create a culture of share responsibility within the department and has forged strong partnerships with Regional Security officers and counterparts in regional and functional bureaus as well as within the inner agency community. I think thats an extremely positive finding given the fact that the accountability review board considered the lack of shared responsibility around Security Issues to be systematic failure just two years ago. Mr. Starr, could you discuss how you think the creation of the highthreat program has created a culture of shared responsibility and state department . And then my final question, to tell us, how does this culture of shared responsibility that the i. G. Praises at our embassies abroad. Thank
Understand like myself were a federal prosecutor focused on fraud type of batters. I was for 16 years. And in your finding that you undertook of the arb its my understanding that you felt and this is quoting, your most important finding was the oversight of the arb recommendations at the highest levels within the department. Is that correct . Thats correct. And what highest level were you referring to . Release of the deputy secretary level. And in your opinion is that where the implementation of the arb recommendations stands at this point . The. That remains an unresolved recommendation. We did receive revisions to the Foreign Affairs manual yesterday and we are looking at them now. And so there, that recommendation was made by the aig and the Foreign Affairs manual she specifically state to other employees of the department that these recommendations will be undertaken by the deputy at a minimum secretary of state or highest level like the deputy secretary . That is correct. You sta