Panetta: 12 more U.S. troops sent to Libya

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pentagon has sent another dozen troops to Tripoli to help the State Department lay plans for reopening the U.S. Embassy.

Panetta told a news conference that it remains U.S. policy not to send combat troops to Libya. But he disclosed that after having sent four military personnel recently to assist the State Department in Tripoli, another 12 were deployed for the same purpose. He said no others would be sent.

The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli was heavily vandalized during the fighting between rebels and pro-government forces.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-20/American-troops-Libya/50481462/1

[ChandlerJr]

1. Every U.S. Embassy in the world has a contingent of Marines for security

This is nothing about nothing.

[gateley]

2. Doesn't that mean 12 people?

Kind of a small number, so it's refreshing and encouraging that he's reporting it - not trying to slip them in on the hush hush. Like maybe he DOES want to be upfront with We The People?

[ProgressoDem]

3. I am so ideologically rigid that I want our embassy to have no troops protecting it. n/t