Report offers gripping account of Benghazi assault

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An independent panel's report on the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, cites management failures at senior levels in Washington that resulted in "grossly inadequate" security. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports. By Isolde Raftery, NBC NewsIn addition to apportioning blame for the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, the independent report released Tuesday provides a gripping and authoritative account of the assault, detailing the hours leading up to the deaths of four Americans -- including Ambassador Chris Stevens -- and the heroic efforts of American security agents to save the besieged envoy and his support staff.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld The report by the independent review panel, commissioned by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, states that while there was no specific threat to the diplomatic post known as “Special Mission Benghazi” timed to the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Stevens and his staff were well aware that the city was essentially a lawless zone that had seen an increasing number of security incidents in the preceding months.




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