Rice's letter to Obama comes in the wake of the top Rice's letter to Obama comes in the wake of the top Republican Senators going public against her and stating that they would oppose her Senate confirmation process. Many felt that this could result in a lengthy and possibly ugly confirmation process. Republican Senators have been speaking her on the statement she gave to television networks that that the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi on September 11, resulting in the death of the US Ambassador to Libya, and two other US nationals was a result of an "instant mob violence" and not a terrorist attack. The United States has since determined that this was a terrorist attack. Obama has defended Rice in public and expressed his outrage at the Republican Senators attacking his top diplomat. "I am grateful, as always, for your unwavering confidence in me and, especially, for your extraordinary personal support during these past several weeks," Rice said in the letter acknowledging Obama coming to her defence. On her letter, Rice said that the office of the Secretary of State should not be politicised. "The position of Secretary of State should never be politicised. As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting US national security official who has served in two US Administration, I am saddened that we have reached this point, even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people," Rice said. PTI LKJ DBR
