Terrorism

Two critics of the administration's handling of Benghazi offered a preemptive defense of former State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.

The House oversight panel chairman is requesting the officials appear voluntarily for a closed-door deposition.

The United States must clarify its drone policy and close the prison at Guantanamo Bay to restore global trust in America, Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday in response to President Obama's speech.

The unusual statement – such responses are usually delivered by lawmakers – applauded the “clear vision” laid out by Obama in his speech at the National Defense University in Washington. The president defended drone strikes abroad but said he had declassified new guidelines for strikes against a “continuing and imminent threat” and called on Congress to lift restrictions on transferring detainees who have been cleared for release, notably to Yemen.

“Building people to people relationships is in our national interest because it means we can solve problems before they turn into ‘boots on the ground’ crises,” Kerry said. “As we build trust, it will be necessary to make clear our criteria for deploying drones overseas and to finish the work of closing the Guantanamo detention center. These are vital objectives in showing the world that we are who we say we are.”

Here's the full statement:

The former secretary of State has yet to testify about the attack before the House Oversight Committee.

The State Department said Thomas Pickering will also press Chairman Issa for a public hearing on the Benghazi report.

President Obama announced steps that could reduce drone strikes, even as he defended their legality.

A deal between Issa and Pickering will allow the diplomat to appear for a transcribed interview.

Rice merely gave the “best estimate” from the intelligence community about what happened in Benghazi, according to Rep. Adam Schiff.

A staffer declined to comment as to how soon that U.S. special operations team could come before the oversight subcommittee.

The bipartisan delegation will be led by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.).