Issa questions handling of attack

Planning for possible retaliation to the killing of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi, Libya, last month comes as the Obama administration finds itself under increasing criticism from Republicans for its handling of the attack and its aftermath.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter Tuesday detailing what he said were security incidents that preceded the attack, asking whether the State Department had been aware of them, whether requests had been made for additional protection and what steps were taken.

In a reply, Clinton promised to answer the questions “as expeditiously as possible.”