Flags at half staff for fallen ambassador
 |
| U.S. Ambassador John Christopher Stevens |
"As a mark of respect for the memory of John Christopher Stevens, United States Ambassador to Libya, and American personnel killed in the senseless attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America," the president wrote, "I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, September 16, 2012. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations."
U.S. Senator Jim Risch, the ranking member on the Near East subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, immediately called for an investigation of this attack and another that occurred yesterday in Egypt by the Obama administration to see if the attacks were coordinated to take place on September 11, the eleventh anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and of the crash of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, brought down in a field in Pennsylvania by the actions of passengers who'd learned of the attacks earlier that day and refused to allow a fourth.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones in these vicious attacks. They made the ultimate sacrifice for America and the cause of freedom and I mourn their loss," Risch said in a statement. "The tragic events in Egypt and Libya are both shocking and senseless, and I share the outrage of my fellow Americans. America cannot tolerate attacks against our citizens and values. I have met Ambassador Stevens and found him to be a knowledgeable, talented, and well-spoken diplomat. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the families of those who lost loved ones in this attack.”