Benghazi Attack

[flyboy56]

I still say she's just falling on the sword for Obama.

Yes SoSad I also believe that. Eric Holder with Fast and Furious, Gen. Patraeus and now the EPA director has something to possibly hide. Way to many suspicious activities surround this president but no one seems to be able to pin anything on him, yet. And he just approved the extension of the NSA surveillance program without addressing the concerns of representatives who feel this program goes to far. I do not trust this President or his administration. Where is the transparency he has promised so many times? It is truly amazing to see the hold he has on his following. I believe Obama is nothing more than silver tongued devil who will eventually be forced to show his true designs on America and the world.

[Omaha Beach]

I doubt that! The security issue seems to me to be the 'smokescreen' being used by Washington by both sides to cover the real issue of what was going on in Benghazi with the CIA in general and what Ambassador Stevens role might have been in particular.

It allows the Republicans some red meat to chew on for their political advantage whilst conveniently keeping the spotlight off of the White House and the CIA and what was actually happening in Benghazi which is obviously to their advantage.

I am not disagreeing that there was a security issue in Benghazi, but that had already been taken care of on the ground by the Ambassador by removing all State Department personnel from the Consulate in Benghazi to the safety of the Embassy in Tripoli. So outside of the bricks and mortar there should have been nothing left in Benghazi to secure. Stevens under his more normal State Department duties should not have been in Benghazi with no security and if the CIA were using the vacated facility to conduct clandestine operations they would have been responsible for their own security both at the Facility and at the Annex.

Stevens met with the Turkish Ambassador to Libya just before the attack so that provides validity to those that are suggesting that the CIA were involved in shipping arms to Syria via Turkey. But what puzzles me is why did that meeting need to take place in a vacated Consulate in Benghazi rather in the safety of our Embassy in Tripoli as would be more normal? So it tells me that Ambassador Stevens had other reasons that he felt that he needed to be in Benghazi and place himself at such risk.

The State Department are going to take the fall for this when in fact the fault probably lies with Stevens himself, the CIA and probably the Administration depending how much they knew of the details of what was transpiring in Benghazi.

The telling thing for me at the moment is the deafening silence from General Petraeus and the CIA. I can only conclude that he has told those with the clearances in the closed hearings enough where they have decided that they should not ask anymore questions.

Boxing Day was nice and relaxing thank you, and today I have a little problem with my left eye which I have embellished to the point where I think I have managed to get out of a trip North to Wilmington in the rain/sleet/snow for a Family gathering. So today will be relaxing to!

Even assuming your theories(with no facts at this point to back them up) that Stevens and the CIA were involved in some nefarious plot to ship arms to Syrian rebels, real Ian Fleming stuff what, that did not relieve the Administration and or State to send help ASAP as soon as it became apparent they were in danger. There was a Marine Force Recon unit in Sigonella that was on standby and could have been there long before those men were killed. Just as at Balaklava : someone blundered!

[zenwalk]

That's the first time I've seen that suggested as a possibility.

When seeking bats find a belfry.

[Byng]

When seeking bats find a belfry.

Exactly?Happy and Healthy New Year my friend.

[Byng]

Even assuming your theories(with no facts at this point to back them up) that Stevens and the CIA were involved in some nefarious plot to ship arms to Syrian rebels, real Ian Fleming stuff what, that did not relieve the Administration and or State to send help ASAP as soon as it became apparent they were in danger. There was a Marine Force Recon unit in Sigonella that was on standby and could have been there long before those men were killed. Just as at Balaklava : someone blundered!

I would respectfully suggest that the fact that the CIA Operatives, 1 mile away broke cover and acted as a Commanders in Extremis Force, or CIF, to go to the Ambassadors rescue is proof positive that this was indeed a CIA Operation that went bad. We seldom if ever send in outside forces to assist/defend/rescue CIA Agents conducting clandestine operations and the only reason we even heard about the deaths involved was because Ambassador Stevens died during the attack from smoke inhalation. If the Ambassador had not died we would only have heard about an attack on a vacated Consulate and nothing of the other 3 that were killed. Ian Flemming or no Ian Flemming!

[Byng]

That's the first time I've seen that suggested as a possibility.

It's okay 'sleeping beauty' we understand! Please take care.

[Creekman]

Yes SoSad I also believe that. Eric Holder with Fast and Furious, Gen. Patraeus and now the EPA director has something to possibly hide. Way to many suspicious activities surround this president but no one seems to be able to pin anything on him, yet. And he just approved the extension of the NSA surveillance program without addressing the concerns of representatives who feel this program goes to far. I do not trust this President or his administration. Where is the transparency he has promised so many times? It is truly amazing to see the hold he has on his following. I believe Obama is nothing more than silver tongued devil who will eventually be forced to show his true designs on America and the world.

You and SoSad make a great couple. Two conspiracy theorists that always end up on the losing side. You will still be trying to find a ch*nk in Obama's hide when they shovel dirt in your face.

[Joy in Mudville]

There was a Marine Force Recon unit in Sigonella that was on standby and could have been there long before those men were killed. Just as at Balaklava : someone blundered!

That's not true and has been debunked repeatedly. It's like a game of whack-a-mole with some of these falsehoods.

[Creekman]

That's not true and has been debunked repeatedly. It's like a game of whack-a-mole with some of these falsehoods.

Truth and facts are foreign to some posters.

[SoSad]

When seeking bats find a belfry.

I would if that were in fact what I was seeking...

[SoSad]

It's okay 'sleeping beauty' we understand! Please take care.

I've read most of the posts on this thread, but my job has been keeping me busy. Who is "we" by the way?

Thanks for caring so much about my personal life.

[SoSad]

You and SoSad make a great couple. Two conspiracy theorists that always end up on the losing side. You will still be trying to find a ch*nk in Obama's hide when they shovel dirt in your face.

I'm married, so I can't pair off with anyone, sorry about that.

There is a difference between a conspiracy theory and an opinion.

[SoSad]

I would respectfully suggest that the fact that the CIA Operatives, 1 mile away broke cover and acted as a Commanders in Extremis Force, or CIF, to go to the Ambassadors rescue is proof positive that this was indeed a CIA Operation that went bad. We seldom if ever send in outside forces to assist/defend/rescue CIA Agents conducting clandestine operations and the only reason we even heard about the deaths involved was because Ambassador Stevens died during the attack from smoke inhalation. If the Ambassador had not died we would only have heard about an attack on a vacated Consulate and nothing of the other 3 that were killed. Ian Flemming or no Ian Flemming!

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

[Omaha Beach]

That's not true and has been debunked repeatedly. It's like a game of whack-a-mole with some of these falsehoods.

Debunked by whom?

[Omaha Beach]

I would respectfully suggest that the fact that the CIA Operatives, 1 mile away broke cover and acted as a Commanders in Extremis Force, or CIF, to go to the Ambassadors rescue is proof positive that this was indeed a CIA Operation that went bad. We seldom if ever send in outside forces to assist/defend/rescue CIA Agents conducting clandestine operations and the only reason we even heard about the deaths involved was because Ambassador Stevens died during the attack from smoke inhalation. If the Ambassador had not died we would only have heard about an attack on a vacated Consulate and nothing of the other 3 that were killed. Ian Flemming or no Ian Flemming!

But, but he did die and he and the others did not have to!.
Have a healthy New Year. My wife and I looking forward to going back to England in June.

[soulflower]

But, but he did die and he and the others did not have to!.

Given that they had no advance knowledge that an attack was imminent, I'm not sure what could've been done prevent the loss of lives that evening.

The loss of life could have been worse if not for the bravery of the CIA's paramilitary force.

[BlandFood]

Given that they had no advance knowledge that an attack was imminent, I'm not sure what could've been done prevent the loss of lives that evening.

The loss of life could have been worse if not for the bravery of the CIA's paramilitary force.

With an 8 hour time frame ..... plenty could have been done.

[flyboy56]

Given that they had no advance knowledge that an attack was imminent, I'm not sure what could've been done prevent the loss of lives that evening.

The loss of life could have been worse if not for the bravery of the CIA's paramilitary force.

Maybe there was no indication of an actual attack getting ready to take place but the threat level had been extremely high for several months prior to the attack. The report made it clear the state department failed to fully comprehend the threat level even after attacks on the Red Cross and the British Embassy that forced both to the leave the area.

It also may have been worse if not for the State Department providing 5 Diplomatic Service agents at the request of the state department's own security supervisor. He also asked for the extension of the DOD security team as well but was denied twice.

[Byng]

With an 8 hour time frame ..... plenty could have been done.

That my friend is not true!

CIA Operatives at the CIA Annex responded to the attack within 25 minutes, nobody could have got there quicker from inside Libya or outside Libya.

Ambassador Stevens and computer expert Sean Smith were already dead before the response team could do anything.

What people are describing as a failure to respond, was in fact an amazing success. That such a small group of former and active Special Operations personnel were able to successfully defend, rescue and evacuate between 35 and 50 Americans (depending on what reports one reads) from the CIA Annex to a local airport and have them safely airlifted out of Benghazi is nothing short of miraculous. Especially when you take into consideration they would not have evacuated the Annex before all sensitive material and equipment had been destroyed or packed up and taken with them. These CIA Operatives did an extraordinary job and should be commended for the job that they did.

[soulflower]

With an 8 hour time frame ..... plenty could have been done.

The attack didn't last 8 hours. Go read the timeline of the attacks.