Criticism of President Obama's foreign policy is roiling around the Capitol, as devastation and terror quickly creep through Iraq and House Republicans prepare for yet another investigation of the 2012 attack that killed four Americans in Libya. But for all their highly charged rhetoric aimed at the administration, Republicans have one point of praise: Obama appears to be building on lessons learned in Benghazi in working to keep Americans in Iraq secure.
"What I see is a learning from Benghazi," Sen. Lindsey Graham told National Journal this week, saying that the administration is "absolutely" doing a better job protecting Americans there than they did in Libya just two years ago.
Although Graham said that the administration should have seen the issues in Iraq coming sooner, he largely praised their response in trying to protect Americans in the country, calling it a direct response to what happened in Benghazi.
"To the extent that they've been trying to provide some security, you know, trying to talk to the regional players about security is a smart thing to do."¦ We have a security situation that is really deteriorating by the hour," Graham said. "So I think they're trying to consolidate security and they're sending in people to beef it up, I think they're reaching out to some regional players, including Iran, who have some influence.... I think they have learned some lessons."