Answers needed on what occurred in deadly attack

Was the attack on the American consulate in Libya that left the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans dead a deliberately planned terrorist attack or a protest that converged into deadly violence?

It is a question that many Americans want answered, but as yet there is no definitive answer from the Obama administration, and we need to get one.

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, told reporters it was a terror attack. And that explanation seems plausible. It occurred on the anniversary of 9/11 and the attackers were knowledgeable, well-armed and deliberate in their actions. They did not seem like members of a random mob.

President Obama on the other hand declined to use that term, referring to the attackers as extremists. When asked if al-Qaida was involved, he said, “We don't know yet.”

There is a lot the American people don't yet know about the events of that day, including how the attack unfolded and how it was achieved so successfully. There are also questions about the lack of adequate security, especially on a day when terror attacks are always a bigger threat.

The president has vowed the killers will be brought to justice, and he has a track record of doing that with our enemies.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was questioned behind closed doors by U.S. lawmakers Thursday about the attack, but there apparently was little more detail provided than what is already known.

She said she is going to appoint a investigative panel to get answers. We hope it includes a review of the security policies for embassies and consulates. It is important once the results are known that they be fully revealed to the public, even if it turns out to be critical of the actions of the administration.

There is an obligation to protect as best we can those who serve us in foreign lands. Getting to the truth of what happened in Libya is the beginning point to ensuring that is happening.