After weeks of avoiding discussing the deadly terrorist attack in Libya that killed four Americans, President Barack Obama took full responsibility for the intelligence failures that lead to the murder of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.
"I am ultimately responsible for what’s taking place there," Obama said Tuesday during a debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. "These are my folks, and I'm the one that have to greet the coffins when they come home."
More than a month after the deadly terrorist raid in Libya that spurred Congressional hearings, President Obama finally admitted that he is to blame for the failures that lead to the attacks.
"Not everyone aggress with some of the decision I’ve made" as Commander in Chief, but when it comes to attacks on U.S. interests. "We are going to find out who did this and we're going to hunt them down."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton first accepted responsibility for the attacks Monday, a move that drew criticism from foreign policy experts who felt that Clinton was wrongly taking the blame fore the White House.
Asked in a follow up question if Clinton should bear the brunt of the blame, Obama bristled.
"Sec. Clinton has done an extraordinary job but she works for me," Obama said. "I'm the president and I'm always responsible and that's why nobody's more interested in finding out exactly what happened."
Obama said that he would aggressively pursue those responsible for the terrorist raid.
"When folks mess with Americans, we go after them," Obama said, avoiding use of the term "terrorists."
"When it comes to this issue, when I say that we are going to find out exactly what happened, everybody will be held accountable," Obama said, later adding, "we are going to hunt down those who committed this crime."