Susan Rice ‘grateful’ for Obama’s support during Benghazi uproar

Rice became a lightning rod for Republicans after she inaccurately linked the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi to a peaceful protest gone awry. Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed in the attack last Sept. 11.

{mosads}A longtime ally and adviser to Obama, Rice had been a lead contender to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of State. She dropped out of contention last December amid growing evidence that Republicans would try to hold her up over Benghazi.

“When they go after the U.N. ambassador, apparently because they think she’s an easy target, then they’ve got a problem with me,” Obama said at a Nov. 14 press conference. “Let me say specifically about Susan Rice: She has done exemplary work. She has represented the United States and our interests in the United Nations with skill and professionalism and toughness and grace. 

“And should I choose, if I think that she would be the best person to serve America in the capacity of the State Department, then I will nominate her.”

In the Vogue interview, Rice rejected impressions that she favors U.S. interventions abroad. “That’s not how I would boil myself down.” 

She said theories that her policy views were shaped by regrets about her opposition to forceful action in Rwanda as a young White House official 20 years ago were “overstated.”

Pressed on her views on what the United States should do to quell the violence that has been rocking Syria for more than two years, Rice reportedly bristled.

“Let me make this simple,” she sternly told the publication. “No national-security adviser worth his or her salt has an independent agenda.”

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