Security of U.S. Diplomatic Facilities & Personnel Abroad

The United States maintains about 285 diplomatic facilities worldwide. Attacks on such facilities, and on U.S. diplomatic personnel, are not infrequent. The deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. personnel in Benghazi, Libya on 11 September 2012, along with attacks on U.S. embassies in Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen, drew renewed attention to the challenges facing U.S. diplomats abroad, as well as to the difficulty in balancing concerns for their security against the outreach required of their mission. Congress plays a key role in shaping the response to these challenges, such as by providing resources for diplomatic security and examining security breaches overseas. This book provides background information on the organisation, practice, and funding of U.S. diplomatic security efforts. It also provides summary information on the 11 September 2012, attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, as well as on the subsequent Accountability Review Board.