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Secretary of state addresses assault on U.S. consulate that killed 4 Americans
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Pilots.
-- -- -- -- secretary of state Hillary Clinton armed militants assaulted the compound.
And set fire to our buildings.
American and Libyan security personnel battled the attackers together.
Four Americans were killed.
Included Sean Smith any foreign service information management officer.
And our ambassador to Libya Cris Stevens.
We are still making next of kin notification split the other two individuals.
This is an attack that should shocked the conscience of people of all -- around the world.
We condemn in the strongest terms.
This senseless.
Act of violence.
And we send our prayers to the families friends.
And colleagues.
Of those we lost.
All over the world every day.
America's diplomats and development experts risk their lives.
In the service of our country and our values.
Because they believe that the United States must be a force for peace and progress in the world.
That these aspirations.
Are worth striving and sacrificing.
For.
Alongside our men and women in uniform they represent the best traditions of -- And generous nation.
In the lobby.
This building the State Department.
The names of those who have fallen in the line of duty are inscribed.
In marble.
Our hearts break over each one.
And now because of this tragedy.
We have new heroes to honor.
And more friends.
To -- Chris Stevens fell in love with the Middle East.
As a young peace corps volunteer teaching English in Morocco.
He joined the foreign service learn languages.
Won friends for America in distant places and made other people's hopes his own.
In the early days of the Libyan revolution.
I ask Chris to be our.
Envoy.
To the rebel opposition.
He arrived on a cargo ship in the -- and -- -- -- And began building our relationships.
With Libya's revolutionaries.
He risked his life to stop -- tyrants.
Then gave his life.
Trying to help build a better Libya.
The world needs more Cris Stevens -- I spoke with his sister and this morning and told her.
That he will be remembered as a hero by many nations.
Sean Smith.
Was an air force veteran.
He spent ten years as -- information management officer in the State Department.
He was posted at The Hague.
And was in Libya on eight brief temporary assignment.
He was a husband.
To his wife Heather with whom I spoke this morning.
He was a father to two young children.
Samantha and Nathan.
They will grow up being proud of the service their father -- to our country.
Service that took him from Pretoria.
To Baghdad.
And finely -- and -- The mission that drew -- and Sean and their colleagues to Libya.
Is both noble and necessary.
And we and the people of Libya honor their memory by carrying it forward.
This is not easy.
Today many Americans are asking.
Indeed.
I asked myself.
How could this half.
How could this happen in a country.
We helped liberate.
In a city we helped saved from destruction.
This question reflects just how complicated.
And at times.
How can founding.
The world can be.
But we must be clear -- even in our -- This was an attack.
By a small and savage group.
Not the people or government of Libya.
Everywhere Chris and his team went in Libya.
In -- country scarred by war and tyranny they were hailed as friends and partners.
And when the attack came yesterday.
Libyans stood and fought to defend our post.
Some were wounded.
Libyans Kerry prince's body to the hospital.
And they helped rescue and lead other Americans sake.
And last night when I spoke with the president of Libya he strongly condemned the violence and pledged every effort.
To protect our people and pursue those responsible.
The friendship between our countries.
Worn out -- shared struggle.
Will not be another casualty.
Of this attack.
A free and stable Libya is still.
In America's interest.
And security.
And we will not turn our back on off.
Nor will we rest until those responsible for these attacks are found and brought to justice.
We are working closely with the Libyan authorities to move swiftly and surely.
We are also working with partners around the world to safeguard other American embassies.
Consulates and citizens.
There will be more time later to reflect but today we have work to do.
There is no higher priority than protecting our men and women wherever -- they serve.
We are working to determine the precise motivations and methods of those who carried out this -- solved.
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior along with the protest.
That took place at our embassy in Cairo yesterday.
As a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet.
America's commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.
But let me be clear.
There is no justification.
For this.
None.
Violence like this.
Is no way to honor religion or faith.
And as long as there are those who would take innocent life in the name of god.
The world will never know it's true and lasting peace.
It is especially difficult.
That this happened on September 11.
It's an anniversary that means a great deal to all Americans.
Every year on that -- we are reminded that our work is not yet finished.
That the job of putting an end to violent extremism.
And building a safe and stable world continues.
But September 11 means even more than that.
It is -- day on which we remembered thousands of American heroes.
The bonds that connect all Americans.
Wherever we are on this earth.
And the values that see us through every storm.
And now it is today and which we will remember that -- -- and their it's.
May god bless them.
And may god blessed the thousands of Americans working in every corner of the world.
Who made this country.
The greatest.
Force.
Peace prosperity.
And progress.
And they force.
That has balls -- stood.
For human dignity.
The greatest force the world has ever -- And may god continue to bless the United States.
And thank you.
