Democrats say Trump team fails to protect diplomats in Middle East

The senators criticised the decision to order departures from only one embassy, in Lebanon, during the week before the war began. Read more at straitstimes.com.

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats accused the Trump administration of failing to ensure the safety of State Department personnel in the Middle East in the leadup to US and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Despite the American military buildup in the region over several weeks and warnings by US President Donald Trump of possible attacks, the department didn’t take precautions to protect its employees, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that was seen by Bloomberg News.  

The senators criticised the decision to order departures from only one embassy, in Lebanon, during the week before the war began.

Diplomats in Israel were authorised to leave one day before the first attacks, forcing them to shelter in place because commercial airspace was closed, the lawmakers said.

“Simply put, abrupt decision-making and lack of planning by State Department leadership to ensure the safety and security of its own staff left our personnel and their families unnecessarily at risk,” according to the letter from the senators, including Ms Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

Congress was also insufficiently briefed, a situation that is “unacceptable,” they said.