Benghazi politics hampers US-Libya relations

Julian Pecquet

Apr 14, 2014

U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) (L) speaks with Representative Trey Gowdy (R-SC) (R) during "The Security Failures of Benghazi" hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. October 10, 2012. Diplomatic security in Libya was drawn down ahead of last month's fatal attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi and U.S. officials did not have enough protection, the former head of a U.S. security team in Libya told lawmakers on Wednesday. REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RT — US Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah (L), speaks with Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., during "The Security Failures of Benghazi" hearing in Washington, Oct. 10, 2012. — REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana

Republican lawmakers are seeking to punish Libya over its failure to bring anyone to justice for the 2012 attack against the US mission in Benghazi.

Congress approved a spending bill earlier this year that ties US aid to the country on progress in the investigation. And House Republicans are threatening to undermine the Obama administration's bid to eliminate Cold War-era visa restrictions that the State and Defense departments have been pushing for since before the fall of Moammar Gadhafi.