As Americans go to the polls to elect a new President, few would have guessed that the tragic events of two months ago in Benghazi might be the deciding factor in determining who will win.
But whatever the truth about these events, it's clear that security will be the biggest challenge for the incoming administration. Huge arsenals of weapons have found their way into the hands of the various militia, who, in the absence of proper policing, have embarked on their own power struggles; five people were injured on Monday in a clash between rival militia.
A return to an authoritarian regime would not be welcomed by many, so the new government must steer a careful path between the two extremes, but ultimately it cannot shirk its duty to bring the function of policing under state control.
