“Benghazi was a first-class military and moral disgrace”
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 19:31
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.
Another laughable Benghazi lie
“Benghazi was a first-class military and
moral disgrace”
moral disgrace”
- By MICHAEL A. WALSH
- Last Updated: 11:32 PM, November 25, 2012
- Posted: 11:00 PM, November 25, 2012
Michael A. Walsh
More
than two months after an Islamist attack on the American consulate in Benghazi
that left four Americans dead, including US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, we
still don’t know what really happened that night — and, thanks to a
secretive White House and an incurious Washington press corps, we probably
never will. Not officially, that is.
than two months after an Islamist attack on the American consulate in Benghazi
that left four Americans dead, including US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, we
still don’t know what really happened that night — and, thanks to a
secretive White House and an incurious Washington press corps, we probably
never will. Not officially, that is.
But
there’s no real mystery about it. From the evidence that’s emerged in dribs and
drabs since the Sept. 11 calamity, it’s clear that Ansar al-Sharia, a Libyan
al Qaeda-affiliated group coordinating with its allies elsewhere in the Muslim
world, used the cover of riots in Cairo to launch a preplanned assault on our
lightly guarded Benghazi consulate and a CIA safe house that may have been
doubling as a secret prison.
there’s no real mystery about it. From the evidence that’s emerged in dribs and
drabs since the Sept. 11 calamity, it’s clear that Ansar al-Sharia, a Libyan
al Qaeda-affiliated group coordinating with its allies elsewhere in the Muslim
world, used the cover of riots in Cairo to launch a preplanned assault on our
lightly guarded Benghazi consulate and a CIA safe house that may have been
doubling as a secret prison.
That
much was clear to our intelligence community almost immediately — and,
in any case, should have been the working hypothesis from the jump.
much was clear to our intelligence community almost immediately — and,
in any case, should have been the working hypothesis from the jump.
The
Arab Spring, falsely painted by a soft-headed US media as a purely
pro-democracy movement, has in fact prompted seizure of power by Islamists.
Benghazi, an armed hotbed of radicalism, was a fine target of opportunity for a
strike at the Great Satan.
Arab Spring, falsely painted by a soft-headed US media as a purely
pro-democracy movement, has in fact prompted seizure of power by Islamists.
Benghazi, an armed hotbed of radicalism, was a fine target of opportunity for a
strike at the Great Satan.
What’s
also heart-rendingly clear is that our diplomats and security personnel
understood the danger they were in, repeatedly requested more resources — and
were left to die, as US military and intelligence assets monitored
their deaths in real time, lacking the orders to protect them.
also heart-rendingly clear is that our diplomats and security personnel
understood the danger they were in, repeatedly requested more resources — and
were left to die, as US military and intelligence assets monitored
their deaths in real time, lacking the orders to protect them.
Benghazi was a first-class military and moral disgrace,
and one that the Democrats paid absolutely no price for in the recent election.
and one that the Democrats paid absolutely no price for in the recent election.
But the questions won’t go away. Who gave the
order to stand down as the consulate was under fire? Who came up with the
cockamamie story — so eagerly peddled by UN Ambassador Susan Rice and other
administration spokespersons right after the event — that the sacking and
looting were in response to an obscure video that lampooned the origins of
Islam and had been posted on You Tube for months?
order to stand down as the consulate was under fire? Who came up with the
cockamamie story — so eagerly peddled by UN Ambassador Susan Rice and other
administration spokespersons right after the event — that the sacking and
looting were in response to an obscure video that lampooned the origins of
Islam and had been posted on You Tube for months?
And
why did President Obama cling to such a risible explanation, and then
(with a timely assist from Candy Crowley in the second presidential debate)
turn on a dime and claim he knew the assault was terrorism all along?
why did President Obama cling to such a risible explanation, and then
(with a timely assist from Candy Crowley in the second presidential debate)
turn on a dime and claim he knew the assault was terrorism all along?
To
turn tragedy into French bedroom farce, the truth was further obscured by CIA
Director David Petraeus’ unaccountable public silence — until his affair
with his biographer, Paula Broadwell (which the administration surely had known
about for months and was holding over his head for just such an occasion)
caused him to resign in disgrace a few days after the election.
turn tragedy into French bedroom farce, the truth was further obscured by CIA
Director David Petraeus’ unaccountable public silence — until his affair
with his biographer, Paula Broadwell (which the administration surely had known
about for months and was holding over his head for just such an occasion)
caused him to resign in disgrace a few days after the election.
Finally,
to turn farce into insult, hapless Director of National Intelligence James
Clapper scuttled forth from his let’s-pretend lair to claim that his office
— nominally, the highest rung of the intelligence-community ladder — had
edited the CIA’s early talking points memo to remove all references to al Qaeda
and terrorism.
to turn farce into insult, hapless Director of National Intelligence James
Clapper scuttled forth from his let’s-pretend lair to claim that his office
— nominally, the highest rung of the intelligence-community ladder — had
edited the CIA’s early talking points memo to remove all references to al Qaeda
and terrorism.
That
claim was met with peals of incredulous laughter within the IC, where
Clapper (like Petraeus, a retired general) is regarded as a buffoon and his
office (created as part of the ham-fisted Bush response to 9/11) as a useless,
money-sucking bureaucratic appendage that does nothing to increase national
security — but is easily manipulated by a cynical president with a domestic axe
to grind.
claim was met with peals of incredulous laughter within the IC, where
Clapper (like Petraeus, a retired general) is regarded as a buffoon and his
office (created as part of the ham-fisted Bush response to 9/11) as a useless,
money-sucking bureaucratic appendage that does nothing to increase national
security — but is easily manipulated by a cynical president with a domestic axe
to grind.
And
here’s where the fog of war collides with the blinding clarity of politics.
Obama had already determined to run as the Slayer of Osama bin Laden, and a
horde of howling Arabs shouting, “Obama, Obama, there are still a billion
Osamas” as they pulled down the American flag in Cairo and attacked us
elsewhere was an inconvenient truth that had to be obscured by any means
necessary.
here’s where the fog of war collides with the blinding clarity of politics.
Obama had already determined to run as the Slayer of Osama bin Laden, and a
horde of howling Arabs shouting, “Obama, Obama, there are still a billion
Osamas” as they pulled down the American flag in Cairo and attacked us
elsewhere was an inconvenient truth that had to be obscured by any means
necessary.
With
the election safely behind him, the president and his allies are now trying to
rehabilitate Ambassador Rice’s shredded reputation, cheerily tossing around the
usual charges of “racism” and “sexism” as they smear conservative opposition to
her potential nomination as secretary of state in the second Obama term. They’d
rather not reopen the Benghazi can of worms.
the election safely behind him, the president and his allies are now trying to
rehabilitate Ambassador Rice’s shredded reputation, cheerily tossing around the
usual charges of “racism” and “sexism” as they smear conservative opposition to
her potential nomination as secretary of state in the second Obama term. They’d
rather not reopen the Benghazi can of worms.
But reopen it we must — either by open congressional
hearings or during Rice’s confirmation hearings — if Chris Stevens and the
others are ever to receive justice.
hearings or during Rice’s confirmation hearings — if Chris Stevens and the
others are ever to receive justice.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TIME’s Joe Klein: Libya Controversy ‘Really Isn’t an
Issue’
Issue’
“Have you ever in your life seen so many
so-called journalists dismiss the importance of American officials being killed
by terrorists?”
so-called journalists dismiss the importance of American officials being killed
by terrorists?”
TIME Political Reporter Joe Klein
Posted
on October 22, 2012
on October 22, 2012
TIME’s
Joe Klein weighed in over the weekend on the September 11 attack on the U.S.
Consulate in Benghazi, seemingly dismissing the entire situation in an effort
to downplay the controversial aftermath.
Joe Klein weighed in over the weekend on the September 11 attack on the U.S.
Consulate in Benghazi, seemingly dismissing the entire situation in an effort
to downplay the controversial aftermath.
“This
business about the…Libya consulate has been like the October mirage — it
really isn’t an issue,” he remarked on “Meet the Press.”
business about the…Libya consulate has been like the October mirage — it
really isn’t an issue,” he remarked on “Meet the Press.”
Klein
was likely trying to exclusively reference the Republican claims that the
administration has been misleading the country, but is coming under heavy
fire for being so dismissive about an event that resulted in the gruesome
deaths of four Americans.
was likely trying to exclusively reference the Republican claims that the
administration has been misleading the country, but is coming under heavy
fire for being so dismissive about an event that resulted in the gruesome
deaths of four Americans.
Klein
also said that President Obama and Mitt Romney have “essentially the same
positions on foreign policy,” so Monday’s debate will be “fascinating.”
also said that President Obama and Mitt Romney have “essentially the same
positions on foreign policy,” so Monday’s debate will be “fascinating.”
He
added:
added:
And
so, once again…Obama is going to have a very strong position because his
foreign policy has been largely successful in terms of substance, but in
terms of style, he still has to climb — re-climb the mountain and make a
convincing case to the American people that they will be more comfortable with
him in their living rooms the next four years.
so, once again…Obama is going to have a very strong position because his
foreign policy has been largely successful in terms of substance, but in
terms of style, he still has to climb — re-climb the mountain and make a
convincing case to the American people that they will be more comfortable with
him in their living rooms the next four years.
President
Obama cites the killing of Osama bin Laden as one of the cornerstones of his
foreign policy achievements and– until recently– credited the so-called “Arab
Spring” for bringing freedom and democracy to the Middle East. After the
attack in Libya, though officials have confirmed that the White House knew within 24 hours what really happened, the administration
spent more than a week saying a YouTube video caused a spontaneous protest that
killed four Americans.
Obama cites the killing of Osama bin Laden as one of the cornerstones of his
foreign policy achievements and– until recently– credited the so-called “Arab
Spring” for bringing freedom and democracy to the Middle East. After the
attack in Libya, though officials have confirmed that the White House knew within 24 hours what really happened, the administration
spent more than a week saying a YouTube video caused a spontaneous protest that
killed four Americans.
Newsbusters’
Noel Sheppard wrote: “Honestly, have you ever in your life seen so
many so-called journalists dismiss the importance of American officials being
killed by terrorists?”
Noel Sheppard wrote: “Honestly, have you ever in your life seen so
many so-called journalists dismiss the importance of American officials being
killed by terrorists?”
From: XXXX
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 2:33 PM
To: Dave LaRocque
Subject: RE: Joe Klein” “The Benghazi Circus”
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 2:33 PM
To: Dave LaRocque
Subject: RE: Joe Klein” “The Benghazi Circus”
“A good
laugh”??
laugh”??
Joe Klein
has a son in the Diplomatic Service. He takes the topic of
embassy/consulate security very seriously.
has a son in the Diplomatic Service. He takes the topic of
embassy/consulate security very seriously.
You really
expect me to query my son about “…the ex-SEALs left to die in
Benghazi.”? I’m not going about to lose all intellectual
credibility by posing such a blatantly loaded question.
expect me to query my son about “…the ex-SEALs left to die in
Benghazi.”? I’m not going about to lose all intellectual
credibility by posing such a blatantly loaded question.
Subject: RE: Joe Klein” “The Benghazi Circus”
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:52:51 -0800
Thanks – I needed a good laugh.
What does your son think about the ex-SEALs left to die in
Benghazi?
Benghazi?
DL
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Uncategorized
The Benghazi
Circus
Well, I’ve
been on a desert island since the election–and I return to find the tawdry
sadness of David Petraeus‘ resignation after a lifetime
of service to our country. And the even more tawdry attempts by various
Republicans to create a scandal over the tragic deaths of Ambassador Chris
Stevens and three others in the Benghazi terror attack.
been on a desert island since the election–and I return to find the tawdry
sadness of David Petraeus‘ resignation after a lifetime
of service to our country. And the even more tawdry attempts by various
Republicans to create a scandal over the tragic deaths of Ambassador Chris
Stevens and three others in the Benghazi terror attack.
Let me
just repeat this flat out: there is no scandal here–except for the reprehensible
behavior of politicians like John McCain and
Lindsey Graham who have conducted a scurrilous campaign against Ambassador
Susan Rice. (Even their usually knee-jerk amigo Senator Joe Lieberman has
refused to join them in this jihad). I tried to catch up on all the hoo-hah
since returning from the beach and it seems to me that Rice’s talking points
were accurate, if vague, in the way that talking points usually are.
just repeat this flat out: there is no scandal here–except for the reprehensible
behavior of politicians like John McCain and
Lindsey Graham who have conducted a scurrilous campaign against Ambassador
Susan Rice. (Even their usually knee-jerk amigo Senator Joe Lieberman has
refused to join them in this jihad). I tried to catch up on all the hoo-hah
since returning from the beach and it seems to me that Rice’s talking points
were accurate, if vague, in the way that talking points usually are.
There were
two attacks in Benghazi that night. The first was a spontaneous response to the
anti-Islamic film that had caused similar protests in Cairo and elsewhere. That
is important: there would have been no
terrorist attack if the film hadn’t provided the opportunity for
mayhem. Most of the protesters were members of local salafist militias, who
quickly realized that the security at the consulate was nearly nonexistent.
They organized a second attack with heavier weapons, including mortars. And so
we have four essential facts that do not contradict one another:
two attacks in Benghazi that night. The first was a spontaneous response to the
anti-Islamic film that had caused similar protests in Cairo and elsewhere. That
is important: there would have been no
terrorist attack if the film hadn’t provided the opportunity for
mayhem. Most of the protesters were members of local salafist militias, who
quickly realized that the security at the consulate was nearly nonexistent.
They organized a second attack with heavier weapons, including mortars. And so
we have four essential facts that do not contradict one another:
1. the
attack was a spontaneous reaction to the film
attack was a spontaneous reaction to the film
2. it was
followed by an organized attack.
followed by an organized attack.
3. both
attacks were populated and organized by terrorist militias, with loose ties to
Al-Qaeda.
attacks were populated and organized by terrorist militias, with loose ties to
Al-Qaeda.
4.
security at the consulate was inadequate
security at the consulate was inadequate
So there
are two questions: Did the Obama Administration make a political decision to
coverup the (rather tenuous) Al-Qaeda involvement? And why was the security so
lax?
are two questions: Did the Obama Administration make a political decision to
coverup the (rather tenuous) Al-Qaeda involvement? And why was the security so
lax?
Answer to
question 1: Ambassador Rice’s talking points were scrubbed by Director of
National Intelligence James Clapper, according to CBS.
The specific names of the militias involved were removed for security reasons,
apparently, so that our intelligence assets on the ground could continue to
monitor the miscreants. This is a minor, silly point in any case: the President
called the Benghazi attack an “act of terror” the day after it took place–which
proved a rather embarrassing moment for Mitt Romney in the third debate, when
Candy Crowley corrected him on the point (Romney’s information throughout the
campaign was defective, having been sourced by right-wing fantasy reports).
There was no coverup.
question 1: Ambassador Rice’s talking points were scrubbed by Director of
National Intelligence James Clapper, according to CBS.
The specific names of the militias involved were removed for security reasons,
apparently, so that our intelligence assets on the ground could continue to
monitor the miscreants. This is a minor, silly point in any case: the President
called the Benghazi attack an “act of terror” the day after it took place–which
proved a rather embarrassing moment for Mitt Romney in the third debate, when
Candy Crowley corrected him on the point (Romney’s information throughout the
campaign was defective, having been sourced by right-wing fantasy reports).
There was no coverup.
Answer to
Question 2: According to a really excellent piece by Bob
Worth in the New York Times magazine last Sunday, the level of security in
Benghazi was determined by…Ambassador Chris Stevens:
Question 2: According to a really excellent piece by Bob
Worth in the New York Times magazine last Sunday, the level of security in
Benghazi was determined by…Ambassador Chris Stevens:
In
the rush to assign blame after Stevens’s death, it was largely overlooked that
Stevens, as the top-ranking diplomat in Libya by that point, was the one
responsible for making final decisions about what kind of security was
appropriate there, how to use it and what qualified as safe and unsafe.
the rush to assign blame after Stevens’s death, it was largely overlooked that
Stevens, as the top-ranking diplomat in Libya by that point, was the one
responsible for making final decisions about what kind of security was
appropriate there, how to use it and what qualified as safe and unsafe.
Worth
wasn’t blaming Stevens. He was admiring him for trying to practice the sort of
hands-on diplomacy that has become more difficult in the era of terrorism and
amped-security. Indeed, Worth was raising a larger and very important
question–what sort of risks should we ask our diplomats to take? It is a
question that hits very close to home for me since, as some of you may know,
I’m the father of an American diplomat who has served in difficult places,
including a year in Baghdad.
wasn’t blaming Stevens. He was admiring him for trying to practice the sort of
hands-on diplomacy that has become more difficult in the era of terrorism and
amped-security. Indeed, Worth was raising a larger and very important
question–what sort of risks should we ask our diplomats to take? It is a
question that hits very close to home for me since, as some of you may know,
I’m the father of an American diplomat who has served in difficult places,
including a year in Baghdad.
It is also
the sort of question that John McCain might have asked back in the days when he
was an honorable public servant. But he’s now a political caricature, severely
debilitated by anger and envy. His trigger-happy foreign policy beliefs have
always been questionable, but this Benghazi crusade has put in the weird circle
inhabited by nutcases and conspiracy theorists like Michele Bachmann and Allen
West. He should honor the memory of those who lost their lives that terrible
night by putting a cork in his disgraceful behavior immediately.
the sort of question that John McCain might have asked back in the days when he
was an honorable public servant. But he’s now a political caricature, severely
debilitated by anger and envy. His trigger-happy foreign policy beliefs have
always been questionable, but this Benghazi crusade has put in the weird circle
inhabited by nutcases and conspiracy theorists like Michele Bachmann and Allen
West. He should honor the memory of those who lost their lives that terrible
night by putting a cork in his disgraceful behavior immediately.
Joe
Klein is TIME’s political columnist and author of six books, most
recently Politics Lost. His weekly TIME column, “In the
Arena,” covers national and international affairs.
Klein is TIME’s political columnist and author of six books, most
recently Politics Lost. His weekly TIME column, “In the
Arena,” covers national and international affairs.
Bob
Worth’s essay: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/magazine/christopher-stevens-and-the-problem-of-american-diplomacy.html?ref=robertfworth&_r=0
Worth’s essay: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/magazine/christopher-stevens-and-the-problem-of-american-diplomacy.html?ref=robertfworth&_r=0
NESARA- Restore America – Galactic News
2012-11-27 19:21:38
Source: http://nesaranews.blogspot.com/2012/11/benghazi-was-first-class-military-and.html
Source:
