Intel quickly saw signs of al Qaeda links in consulate attack
By Barbara Starr
Within a day or so of the attacks on the U.S. diplomatic post in Libya earlier this month, the U.S. intelligence community began to gather information suggesting it was the work of extremists either affiliated with al Qaeda groups or inspired by them, a senior U.S. official told CNN Thursday.
"We started to get a strong sense of it," the official said. He declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the information.
A law enforcement source told CNN National Security Analyst Fran Townsend that this was the understanding of the intelligence community within 24-hours after the attack on September 11.
"The law enforcement source ... said to me, from day one we had known clearly that this was a terrorist attack," Townsend said on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" Wednesday night.
The efforts by al Qaeda, especially the Mali-based al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), to extend its reach into Libya and elsewhere has been of concern to the United States.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted the group's connection to extremists in Benghazi, where the U.S. compound was attacked and four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed.
"What is happening inside Mali is augmented by the rising threat from violent extremism across the region. For some time, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other groups have launched attacks and kidnappings from northern Mali into neighboring countries," Clinton said. "Now, with a larger safe haven and increased freedom to maneuver, terrorists are seeking to extend their reach and their networks in multiple directions. And they are working with other violent extremists to undermine the democratic transitions underway in North Africa, as we tragically saw in Benghazi."
That comment has been interpreted as Clinton tying those behind the Benghazi assault to al Qaeda. But a senior State Department official said late Wednesday night that Clinton was speaking more generally about how AQIM is working to undermine democratic transitions such as the one in Libya.
"But with regard to the specific issue of who was responsible for the Benghazi attack, as everybody in the administration has said, we can't go beyond our preliminary statements until we have the results of the FBI investigation," the State Department official said.
The FBI's probe has been hampered by a lack of access to Benghazi and to suspects who have already been arrested by Libyan authorities.
The Obama administration was criticized after several officials described the attack as being an assault launched to take advantage of a spontaneous demonstration over an anti-Muslim film. But others, including National Counterterrorism Center Director Matt Olsen and Clinton, have referred to the incident as a terrorist act, as has White House press secretary Jay Carney.
Much of the initial intelligence about the incident came from intercepts of communications. But even at that point, the information was "bits and pieces" and needed to be verified, the senior U.S. official said. Even now inside the national security community, there is no firm consensus on several key points, the official emphasized.
U.S. intelligence analysts are still looking at the question of whether local extremists quickly took advantage of an opportunity to attack the consulate as they saw the initial demonstrations unfold outside the gate. It also may be the case, according to the official, that there was no central "command and control" directing or ordering the attack.
A key analytical question also now being posed is whether this ability to establish a stronghold and then rapidly attack targets of opportunity is potentially a new trend or capability by al Qaeda affiliates, especially in North Africa.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
Remember when democrat candidate Michael Dukakis had his campaign derailed because it was discovered he had furloughed rapist Willie Horton who then went on to rape again, while the victim's fiancee lay stabbed and bleeding? This is worse. Obama released a captured Al Qaeda from Guantanamo who – surprise! – rejoined his terrorist buddies to plan and execute the 9-11 attack on the Benghazi consulate. Arab media is reporting Chris Stevens was raped before they killed him. And there is silence. Americans have become so dependent on government welfare they don't care that their leader is a bumbling incompetent, so long as free stuff keeps flowing.
But Obama said that there was nothing confirmed that it was related to 9/11 Anniversary, but then again it is Obama leading the cheer.
THIS PRESIDENT IS A LIAR , SOURCES NOW CONFIRM THAT GOVT PERSONNEL KNEW 24 HRS . IN ADVANCE . THE MOVIE WAS A HOAX AND A "FRONT " A DIVERSION IF I MAY . I'LL TELL YOU WHY CAN'T SOMEONE FIND A WAY TO IMPEACH THIS FOOL . THIS MORON HAD BETTER LOSE COME NOV. 6 , PEOPLE IN THE US ARE TIRED OF THIS MUSLIM MORON .
It's a shame one of those ambulance chasing lawyers don't do something productive like get a class action lawsuit for the American people against the Media for trying to influence the outcome of an election. That use to be illegal.
I like older women, and I find the perfect place to meet them, Cougarloving_c_o_m ,Safe and interesting, you should have a try.
You will have to clarify that, as I don't see how the elections were influenced one way or another over this attack. I truly don't.
If this was a republican administration it would be splashed on the front page of every newspaper and media website, but because Obama lied about everything involving this attack, they give him a pass and bury it.
It's really quite simple. The WH said the attack on the safe house was spontaneous and in anger due to the anti-islam film. The opposite is true, the WH knew within a day that it was not spontaneous, that it was pre-planned and that it was terrorists, oh and that it had NOTHING to do with the film. That is an outright lie.
OBAMA has to go, we have to win this one....get out and vote!!! Tell all your friends and family to vote him OUT!
This is a scandal of Watergate proportions and CNN chooses to embrace an obviously false "wag-the-dog" narrative. Here are some key questions. 1. What Intel did the administration ignore in advance of the attack. 2. What evidence was used to admittedly attribute this attack to a stupid youtube video. 3. What are the implications to the current administration if this isn't because of the video. Bottom line. If this was a republican president, the media would have him for lunch. Grow a spine CNN.
Aye, and the fact that this video came out in July, and they're blaming a 2nd 911 attack on the video proves they think that americans are really, really stupid, the ones that get free phones and vote for Obama are truly stupid, beyond epic proportions, the rest know what's going on.
Agreed. I watched a CNN mouthpiece (Erin Brunett) interview a Republican Congressman about the allegations of misinformation which CNN has no choice but to acknowledge because it's obviously newsworthy. But instead of delivering a hard hitting expose on what might be a very serious breach of public trust by this administration, she the interview into accusing the Republican Congress of being responsible for the attack because of recent cuts in the budget for security at embassies. I guess that would have been a fair counterpoint if at any point during the interview the Congressman had said that the Administration was to blame for the attack. All the Congressman was expressing was that the Administration needed to stop the secrecy and misinformation surrounding the facts of the attack and that the behavior was highly strange. It's a sad state of affairs when the rest of the media outlets actually make Fox News look like the most news-like organization in the US.
Wow. To listen to the Obama apologists you'd think Fox was the second coming of Beelzebub himself. TRUTH is, FOX broke the pretty-darned-important story of the cover-up and had it prominently displayed on it's website. What does CNN have? The Refs are back in the NFL!! Really? To their credit at least they had something. Any of the NBC/Obama PR departments had nothing of the sort. Obama fiddled while the US fell apart....
Do people enjoy being manipulated by CNN? Does CNN not think that a good many of us know exactly what they are up to in protecting Obama and not applying 1/100 of the scrutiny they placed on Bush? Obama has told so many lies and broken so many promises and has so many creepy friends, but we aren't supposed to know that. Obama's father, the one he idolized in his book, was a philandering drunk anti-westerner communist. Oh, and little Barry met him exactly once. Abandonment complex much? Ain't that grand?
Bridgitte Garbiel's website is "Act!foramerica.com" I left the ! after Act.
The Obama crew has pulled a lot of stunts and gotten a pass from the media consistently. This one is unbelievable, but look how CNN buries it. If this was Bush lying out his you-know-what about something like this....The media is essentially subjecting itself to a propoganda role covering for Obama while jumping on any thing Romney says–even when he is right! If anything the media should take a critical but fair view of any administration and put objectivity and fairness above all. That is far from the case with today's news media that openly collaborates to help Obama.
I agree – I don't get why the press props up Obama – the same thing with the "Romney Tapes" they did a piece on it, an audit that says they gave 11:1 more coverage on that than the old Obama Tapes... but they don't make it front page.
Perhaps the media figure thaey can cash in on stimulus money by playing favorites!
wait until Obama wins. we all saw the video clip in which Obama made promises to Russian president, asking him to wait until after the election. Well, wholesale sellout coming. New world order coming. US will be relegated to second power.
Wait for them to send the Blind Sheik to Egypt.
Funny how CNN isn't making a big deal of this, or making a more glaring description like "Opinion: Obama lying about Libya attack". You guys are the opposite of Foxnews.
The mistake here was not to evacuate the embassy uhhhh... before the "'civil war"! Al Qaeda involvement?... Seriously...? the whole country is Al Qaeda. Those people burn American flags all the time, and now Americans are somehow their friends now that they want to overthrow their government. Just like Bin Laden in Pakistan they only need our friendship when they need weapons. Tomorrow they'll hate us again.
Romney was correct. Obama was wrong on the day of the attack he did not know or gave a false impression to the American people.
Their should be IQ requirements to vote. "Romney was right!" LOL.....
But Obama did lie about the cause of the attack on the embassy and death of 4 Americans. Don't forget, he lied here and he'll lie again!
Well, UnFred – then you certainly wouldn't qualify – did you even graduate from high school?The word is "there" – not "their". And you might as well get used to it, Obama is going in for a second term. Educated, successful, white, older women such as myself will help vote him back in.
Bridgitte Gabriel (actforamerica.com) testified on Sonlife Broadcasing network that Our ambassador was kidnapped, tortured for 12 hours, then killed and was dragged thru the streets of Lybia. Go to Sonlife Broadcasing.com, and
download the program with her from the archives of Sept 26, 2012. Quit quarreling about what initiated the attack,
and find the people who kidnapped the Ambassador.
I dont believe the issue at hand is the CAUSE of the attack, the real issue is the fact that the administration LIED about the facts they had! They continued to tell the American people that the attacks were a result of an anti-muslim film, when they knew the TRUTH was it was the result of a coordinated al qaeda attack!!!!! This president and his administration have been lying and telling mis-truths and half-truths for almost 4 years now! And the liberal media protects him like he is the chosen one or something. I am truly surprised cnn even ran this story!
didn't they already got the guys last week?
If the intelligence community knew it within 24 hrs, the president knew it too, yet he chose to continue with his campaining in Las Vegas, then on to Letterman and the Beyonce party. He owed it to the American people to level with us and show a little outrage that we had another t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k against us AND on 9/11. We could have used a little comfort at the time. Instead, he sympathized with the m u s l i m people about some stupid film that Americans didn't even know about. If CNN was a real news organization they would have called him on it but instead they were gleefully running a Mitt Romney fundraiser video. PATHETIC.
I agree, same way that Bush knew about 9-11 months before it happened and sat in a class room when the attacks began
So stupid you are.
Bush made mistakes, a big one, (Iraq War) but he knew how to comfort a nation after a t e r r o r i s t attac k. There was never a question about who came first with him, the American people. Of course he didn't know in advance there was going to be an attack and I don't think Obama did either, but what they did next, after the attack, is the difference between a real leader and a pretender.
BUSH DID NOT KNOW MONTHS IN ADVANCE ABOUT 911 , HE WAS TOLD THAT "SOMETHING " MIGHT TAKE PLACE . FOOL HE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING ,DO YOU HONESTLY THINK HE WOULD ALLOW OUR BUILDINGS BE HIT AND 3000 PEOPLE KILLED ? IF SO YOU ARE A MORON , WHOM I ALREADY SUSPECT THAT YOU ARE BY WHAT SIDE YO ARE ON . STEVE YOU BETTER WISE UP AND GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD ,YOU PEOPLE GOT ALOT AT STAKE THAT BACK MUSLIM OBAMA . YOU LIBERAL JACK AS ARE SOMETHING . WHAT ABOUT GAS PRICES ? WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT GAS HAS DOUBLED . WHERES CNN, CBS , ABC , MSNBC . NO ONE WILL DISCUSS IT ............????????
The attack was probably backed by the Saudis. The Bush family, staunch Republicans, and connections in the CIA.
They want to change the election since Romney is losing so bad. It won't work though.
MORE LIES AND COVER UPS from the regime!!!!! This guy cannot be trusted! He and his entire administration are CROOKS!!! dems feel if they tell a lie enough times it automatically becomes the truth! And unfortunately, as weak and feeble minded as most liberal voters are, they buy right into it! Its very sad, really!
LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES......MONKEY FACE MAN KING OBAMA WAS A CHICAGO LAWYER (LIER),HE WAS A LIER THEN AND IS NOW A BIGGER LIER!! ....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! WHERE IS THIS MANS INTEGERITY?? HE HAS NONE!! GOOD-BYE MONKEY FACE MAN!! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!
BTW: LOOK UP THE PICTURES OF A SQUIRREL MONKEY AND YOU SEE KING OBAMA!! HAHAHAHAHA
Emmanuel Goldstein has operatives everywhere.
What a gaffe, that story would have sounded more sincere coming from Joe Biden!
There was no Al-queda in Libya when Gadhafi was in power. None. Relationships were at an all time high between the two countries before the fabricated Arab Spring. We armed terrorist, bombed Libya back 40 years, spent a billion dollars and gave our enemy another strong hold. Libya was no a success, it was a complete failure. Neither Obama or Romney are fit to lead which is why I will abstain this year after regrettably voting for Obama in 08.
Silly, Qadaffi was himself a terrorist who murdered hundreds of americans and who was FUNDING TERRORISTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. So you need to get a grip instead of claiming he was some kind of harmless saint.
It is very kind of CNN to provide an outlet for the lunatics kicked off the Fox message boards.
Your concocted conspiracies are, as usual, pitiful.
Since when is it a bad thing to gather all of the relevant evidence before making a statement or taking action? Or would you prefer a leader who starts wars that last ten years upon speculation or conjecture?
since the administration was trying to cover it up because anything negative would be bad for his reelection campaign, that's when. he didn't waste any time at all taking credit for OBL, as well as throwing the (SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE SHADOWS) SEALS under the bus by confirming their presence & hand in it.
SOeone blamed it on a movie before the eveidence came out. And Iraq – they'd been at war with us for 12 years before we finally invaded the second time. Imaigine the mess we'd be in now if Saddam was still there??
Obama Lied. People Died.
Pull your head out of your rear end. Good grief what a kook aid drinker!
Yeah, and might as well send the UN ambassador out to half dozen Sunday talk shows to build up the lie while trying to get to the truth of it. Good idea.
Didn't Bill Clinton bomb a aspirin factory in Iraq yep sure did! Even he belived Iraq was into NBC warfare.
Nothing more funny than to hear liberals preach about transparency in government when it came to wikileaks, but as soon as their President (King Obama) gets caught covering up his administrations screw up at election time all the liberals see the need for secrecy. Geez, at least stick to one side of the fence. You wouldn't look so uneducated that way.
It' funny how Fox and CO. are critical of the President and the Administration for not going to the National media with their actual thoughts and intelligence about what happened. I appreciate the government spinning a story to the public because if we are told so are our enemies. Maybe the administration had a chance for a drone strike or some other move that could be ruined if Fox etc. got a memo about the govenrments thoughts. This argument is silly BS to try to stop the rise of the Obama run.
Yeah, King Obama was really trying to protect secrets...my god man, have you hear any current events lately. King Obama tell ALL secrets when it suits his election bid!!! Oh, but not when he screws up and gets an Ambassador killed. What a bunch of crap. Obama is worthless.
I guess you didn't hear how he divulged what was supposed to be a clandestine organization (SEAL Team 6) in order to make him look macho & tough on terrorism & to help him in the polls.
Dfor, you are such a gullable fool, your own government is selling you out and you don't even know it.
A couple Americans were killed by Islamists in Afghanistan yesterday, a couple more a few days before that and 4 a couple days before that. So, four Americans were killed in Libya by Islamists. It's a terrible thing, and requires a response in kind. But, there is no side story here, Fox's usually attempt to brew some conspiracy that always whips their sheep into a frenzy is to be expected.
The closest thing to a true side-story here is Romney's loathsome statement saying the President of the United States sympathized with the attackers. Romney is a disgrace.
Paul, you are the disgrace...your a fool, your government is selling you out and you are playing right into thier hand.
These GOP posters show their derangement everyday. Like Romney Fox and Newt nothing they say makes sense or is based on truth.
Well Duh. and here I thought it was public outrage over a movie. Isn't that what the media AND the White House AND the state department told us?
The moslems did this and it is obamas fault.
So the Secretary of State on the President's spoke person Carney have said it was terrorist attack from day one yet FoxNews and the GOP insist that our POTUS lied. Hmm, where was their outrage at Bush and the lie of WMD's costing 4K lives?
I want to know where you get you news. The only thing I heard the POTUS's press and the SoS and the Ambasador in Egypt say early on was that the Muslim public was offended by this terrible movie and we were appalled by and disavowed any disrespect for this great peaceful religion. Like you always end a negativer movie review with RPGs.
Jay Carney-Worker NEVER said from "day 1" that it was a terrorist attack. Where do you get your news, Mucho Socialist National Barack Channel (MSNBC)?
OMG you just can't stop bringing up Bush. Incase you forgot, our Congress and Senate, and other wolrd leaders, also believed intelligence info about the WMD's. This is why this adminstration is above the law, and do not have accountability.People like you will keep changing the subject and making excuses for them. Obama needs to change his slogan form moving forward to living in the past, because that's what his adminstration and his followers like you do when you don't want to admit a mistake.
Kay, totally agree...we have to win this one for the USA
Billy,
Don't post unless your IQ is higher than 2
What is this crap about due to the sensitivity the official declined to be identified. If this stuff is so sensitive why is s/he talking in the first place?
This story should be at the top of CNN's front page, right in the middle. Of course it will never be there since it would hurt Obama's re-election campaign.
II feel the same way. I looked on MSNBC's site to. You really have to search to find this story on their's.
Rob Mes tax and trickle down plans should be front and center.
CHRIS B You are right. Alot of issues with this Adminstation has been put on the back burner by most of the media. They think if they don't mention it the issues will just go away. What's bad is that they ususally do. That's why this Adminsistration gets by with so much. There's no accountability, and no one questions them.
So much for the transparency this administration promised. From the start, given the firepower used in the attack and the timing, it's very obvious this was planned attack. Just like Fast & Furious, this has coverup all over it and I'm really shocked CNN didn't run this as a headline. There's not one news outlet that's right all the time. I like to look at all the news outlets and then make up my own mind. This is an important event.
I don't know what you saw in the firepower used in the attack that allows you to reach such sweeping conclusions. In Feburary, I was in both Tripoli and Benghazi. I saw Bofors cannons and RPG's all over the both cities. There was an endless parade of Technical vehicles on the 17th. I think those weapons are in the hands of all kinds of people in Libya – good and bad.
I don't know if you've heard, It has been confirmed as a planned terror attack.
So you are saying that whatever happens concerning our nation's security, the world should know all about it ASAP? Let's just disband all aspects of the military, the diplomatic corps, and who in Congress should be getting top-secret information and just let the media take over. Oh, they already have.
How about "We acknowledge that this is an act of terror on the United States of America and vow to react in kind." That may be a bit better than turning the other way and pretending that it didn't happen at all.
I dont think anyone thinks the government should put all the top secret info out there. People think they shouldn't outright lie. there are ways to not confirm a terrorist attack without saying it wasn't one. Maybe, "we're not sure yet" or "we dont know" not "this wasnt a terrorist attack it was a response to that movie." or "we have no intel backing that up" a government in the free world should not lie to their people. especially when they're so good at dancing around issues, the left should be concerned. the last few weeks leading up to election and all this is going down while your leader is chilling in vegas raising money for his campaign. Doesnt look good.
There's no cover up dumb dumb. Why are you so accepting of the lie of WMD's and the loss of 4K Americans and 700K Iraqi's? Oh that's right the FoxNews talking points gets dummies al the time.
And the DEAR LEADER and his minions DENIED it was so. Only to hide their complete and utter incompetence. Sickening.
There are REASONS why we all shouldn't know about things that affect our national security. Geez, if we had run WWI and WWII telling you all about it, we would have lost both wars. Stop bad-mouthing your president! If you can't act like an adult, then just shut it! BTW, go find a job!
It's fairly obvious that you would have us pretend that this didn't happen and bury it on some back page somewhere. If the tables were turned and we attacked another nations embassy I am fairly sure that they wouldn't pretend that it was caused by an internet video and do nothing whatsoever about it. True?
It is amazing in light of the fact that Rice was going from Sunday show to show and lying that to the best of their knowledge it was blah blah blah. How can dems still believe this lying admin I will never know unless they just don't care about the truth. OK then I do know.
So what should they have done creamed terrorist when it happened or wait until it was a confirmed terrorist attack then say it was terrorist? I guess you like the Bush strategy of lying about WMD's since that doesn't sicken you.
Obama lied. He always lies. It's the one thing that he does really well
Obama lies, yes. I would not say he lies very well though
Not hard to figure out. He was already booked on Letterman and The View. He couldn't let his job interfere with these campaign events.
Do you suggest he should have gone over to Libya and get to the bottom of it himself? Should he have sat silently for 6 minutes at an elementary school then run for his life like Bush. Or should he do what a President should do. Condemn the attacks, investigate and then DRONe the perps? That's right you'd prefer he'd fire, aim, ready...
I think we in the West are much better off when these tribal Muslim countries are run by a 'strong man.'
Peaceful democracy simply doesn't seem to be possible in those places.
Do a little research and see who is responsible for these...."strong men".
You may not like what you find.
I know the point you are trying to make is that America is responsible for these "strongman" and you are of course right. But still the fact remains it was often in the United States best interest that these strong man stay in power and after all shouldn't that be the main point of US foreign policy?
We've been led to believe, Mark, that our involvement in foreign affairs has been solely for reasons humane and altruistic. We've been lied to. All of us. For many decades.
George W. Bush!
I do not know, have you followed the GOP lately?
Wow, burried way down there at number 20-something, I actually found what SHOULD be the headline story! Even the Lybians have come out and said that this WAS a terriorist attack! What more proof do you need? The President has lied to the American public yet again and CNN stands with him and tries to hide the story. What has happened to our country? What has happened to what use to be journalism? CNN, I'm disappointed, I'm switching the channel and I will never change it back.
As if anyone gives a sh!t.
It's SNAFU with this administration. Liberals and democrats put politics first, before country, values and then everything else...even their own pocketbooks, after politics.
No Ally, buried toward the bottom was what YOU wanted to hear...something you could use in the ongoing (and increasingly desperate) hate campaign against the President. He did not lie. As someone who works in the world of Washington, the facts are not always obvious and there are many reasons for waiting until there is complete confirmation. Or, you could do what Mitt Romney did...jump toward a microphone and once again make a fool of himself. Also, what would at this time be different if he had jumped out and said, Oh my God, it must be al Qaeda? These are complicated times which complicated situations and there are many reasons for keeping something under wraps for a while....despite what Wiki-leaks says.
It was clear to everyone but the President. I agree this should be the top story and you call yourselves "Top stories"
As long as they favor Obama – what a joke
No RLS. You just wished that was the case. Obama still refuses to confirm a terrorist attack. He does not want to acknowledge that terrorists killed Americans on his watch, so he can continue to lie about how great of a job he's doing against the terrorists.
The only "complication" resides in the White House.
HUH??? Burried near the bottom is "what I wanted to hear"??? What the? No, that's where CNN put the story. My hearing is just fine. Maybe you should have your eyes checked though.
Your dear president did not wait for the facts... He threw out what he wanted everyone to think (sheep). He is a politician of the most amazing kind.
You are freaking high! How long did King Obama wait to tell the world HE killed Bin Laden? How long? They had not even confirmed it was him yet. But NOW you say there is a need to wait and get stories straight. You people are under the anti-Christ's spell and need to wake up!!!!
It's disappointing to see how CNN manages to spin all of the mistakes of this President and administration. You have a responsibility to report the truth and you are not all in the sake of political expediency. This country is going down the tubes thanks to the poor policies of this administration and instead of revealing you are hiding. It's truly pathetic how low this once respected media house has stooped.
Not just CNN, but mainstream media in general. We are inundated with bullsh!t and propaganda as never before. All that matters is that the sheep be kept fat, stupid and frightened.
Your statement is so true it brought tears to my eyes. I never thought I could throw in the towel but the fight has gotten too ugly and blurred. Anyone who believes what the media feeds them, either side, is the biggest fool of all.
Libera media: 10 reports on Romney's 47% for 1 report on Obama's "redistribution".
No worries. FauxNews has already done 800 stories on this. They even did a story claiming Obama personally shot the rocket and celebrated with the perps.. FauxNews, "They lie, You Decide"
I guess it is not surprising that all the conspiracy crazies have come out in force. The administration has from very early on indicated the obvious, that the type of weapons used during the attack on the embassy in Libya indicated that this was no simple protest. However, whether it was a previously planned attack or an opportunistic attack is yet not clear. Keep in mind (especially you conspiracy loonies) that there were CIA agents working from within the Libyan embassy. If they had had an early warning about a possible attack they would have surely taken measures to protect the ambassador and other embassy personnel. Our intelligence services and the administration probably have more information regarding the attack, but they would do well in keeping it secret until we have a clearer picture of what really happened, so as not to jeopardize the investigation, and the perpetrators are brought to justice. So the reporters trying to make a name for themselves and the loonies foaming from the mouth should just pipe down and let our intelligence services and the FBI do their job.
That logic is nonsensical to the rabid GOP'ers and FoxNews zombies.....
I don't think there's any doubt the Egyptian TV network, al-Nas, broadcasting excerpts off YouTube's "Innocence of Muslims" trailer, precipitated those attacks.
However the policies under this Administration, most notably drone strikes on the sovereign soil of predominant Muslim countries; they have also been controversial in their own right, precipitating this large number protests worldwide. What exactly triggers something, might not necessarily be a single event on any given day, non?
To Iran's credit, their leadership also did try to diffuse a self-perpetuating violence, chiefly in part from religious sentiment not only in the Middle-East, but also the West. Piers should be commended for an interesting interview, and the timing of it. I was taken back at Ahmadinejad's deference to the Palestinian Authority in their own geopolitical matters, which I found very positive.
President Obama at the UN, however, not wanting to jeopardize his already tense relationship with an overtly hawkish Israeli Prime Minister; defined himself as our country's leader in front of the umbrella of countries, shielding both Iranian and Syrian ambitions.
CNN hasn't been fawning/biased towards anyone in this matter, but I question the relevancy of a public's need for everything to be made known like this in real time. For example like who in our government at these levels; knows what, knew it when, and for what reason (why) they knew it. Even with such detailed journalistic analysis, an already difficult diplomatic job could be made more difficult for everyone, if State needs to worry about messaging. Politics stops with certain discourse. CNN also should not have made that deceased ambassador's diary public, agreed?
You invalidate your the entirety in your argument when you say (1) that the attacks were the result of the video. Protests maybe...the attacks were planned well ahead of time. (2) You assign any credibility to Iran for tamping down any protests. That's absurd and doesn't even line up with facts. Your additional drone strikes comment is also without validity. Drone strikes in sovereign countries happen because those countries both harbor terrorists and refuse to engage them in any way. I prefer drones to boots on the ground. Your sovereignty is not absolute if your citizens or residents attack Americans (or anyone for that matter). They already ignore our borders and our "rights" we should and will continue to ignore theirs as they've surrendered their right to live without fear of being killed by America.
One detail that seems to have fallen through the cracks here: Morris Sadek, the person who promoted the anti-muslim film, the person who shopped that film to Egyptian tv, is a member of the Republican Party, and an associate of Frank Wolf, one of the Congrsssman loudly shouting for more details, loudly criticizing the administration.
Darn that film maker for using his freedom of speach to make a film. Yay, for Obama for having him hunted down and yanked out of his home in the middle of the night by the FBI and the Police and paraded in front of the press. Taken into custody and questioned for hours and hours. Screw his rights and the right to freedom of speech. Hopefully they tortured him like the KGB would have done. Sarcastic switch off...
I always said I thought this whole fiasco had Romney's hands all over it. Why else would he immediately complain before details were out and before the deaths even happened? Because he planned it.
Still thinking the movie was the cause huh? Good lord you Dems are all the same.
Brian, I think you have OD'd on the Koolaid. CNN and all the media outlets have gone along with all the lies Obama and his counterparts have told.
All of the Faux News fans are here bashing the President because "their" network will not let them comment on the news items. I don't care who it was, just get them and make them pay. To expect anyone half a world away to know exactly what happened within moments of the event is just not realistic. I don't care if they are republicans or democrats.
The Libian Govt. itself has said "This WAS a terriorist attack" so you see, everyone half a world away DID know exactly what happened. Our own Intel. said the same, within 24 hours of the attack. The only ones who still have NOT acknowledged this fact is Obama, his administration and the Obama drive by media.
Rick, That's not the problem. Of course, if they didn't know what happened, they should say so. But they did. And they covered up. Let me put it in simple terms. 1. This administration knew what had transpired on day one, that it was a terrorist attack on Americans. 2. This administration knew it was a possibility it was going to happen, and did not properly prepare for it. 3. This administration lied about who made the attack. 4. Obama still does not admit it was a terrorist attack. 5. Obama is refusing to confirm it was a terrorist attack on Americans... and is doing so for political reasons. If you did not understand no. 5, then I will explain....Obama does not want to admit that there was a terrorist attack on Americans on his watch.
I never thought it was anything but a terroist attack – and anyone who belived otherwise is either a fool or just blind. The media covered well for our pres...
BO looked at America and lied. And, I had heard of media bias but never had such clear proof. What is especially sad about this situation is that politics took a more prominent seat over four American lives! BO and CNN, this was a clear act of terrorism and America deserves better than your attempts to cover it up or hide it away. Shame on BO and CNN – you let America down!
I find myself to land left of center on most issues, but I'm not real impressed with the administration's handling of this one. That was an act of terror, plain and simple. Not saying military option is valid or should be exercised, either, but the administration should have called a spade a spade since they knew day one what had happened.
Just sayin'...
Bristol, thank you for your honesty. I am sick of party lines at any cost. You are a breath of fresh air in this environment of just hate the other side, not to mention you are absolutely right.
Just another example of CNN and the liberal press acting as the mouth-piece of the Obama administration instead of doing their jobs as jurnalist and find out the truth. They just repeat Democrate's talking points. How pathetic.
What a shock!! The Obama administration lied to us? Surely not. After all, he imediatly called the Fort Hood shotting a terrorist attack, oh that's right, he called it work place violence. Obama said the war on Terror was over now that Bin Ladin was killed – right? Oh yes he doesn't call it a war on terror, he called it 'Man caused events". Obama is a lying sack of bovine excreetment.
Maybe Obama should stand outside a county Social Services Office and declare "Mission Acomplished".
Once again CNN has FAILED.
i used to watch them 2 hours a day now, about 30 minutes and thats just to see their spin on the TRUTH.
pathetic!
Say it's not so, was it not mentioned early on that this was an anniversary attack by al qeada. But as expected the Obama administration didn't want what the people already had an idea off to be leaked out. But here we have someone that the people still back, especially the side that he just lies.
I can't believe it. Barry Soetoro and his long line of policitally correct and diverse minions stated that it was a 100% random act.
The video that 80% of the rioters had no access to and 100% hadn't seen enraged the random group of military aged men who just happened to be walking by with RPGs and mortars and blueprints to the consulate and safe house.
The President hasn't even attended half of the security meetings – that alone should disqualify him from running for a second term.
If a Republican were in office during this attack, he/she would have been ripped a new one by the media. The bias is so blatant.
The democrat hypocrites would be calling for impeachment by now.
And to think that what has been in the front lines all the time has been the supposedly "hurried" comment that Romney made right after the attack. An ambassador and four functionaries were murdered because our govrnment was "out to lunch" our president too busy campaigning to take care of his own people, but all you and the liberal press report is about things without any consequence. I am also appalled that your station, your reporter, discovered the journal and except for the comment Anderson Cooper made NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THAT. Hello, the ambassador was fearing for his life, one of the others said he did not know if he would survive that night and all your report is what Romney said, which by the way, HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I AM SICK OF YOU AND THEREST OF THE LIBERAL PRESS IN THIS COUNTRY. A COUNTRY WHERE THE PRESS IS IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POCKET IS NOT A FREE COUNTRY.
These Al Qaeda (Free Libyan fighters) were armed and funded by Obama during the Libyan war. Obama's Arab spring has turned into HELL! Obama 2012? I don't think so!
For those looking to vote Obama again....you really want this?
Not 100% of this but the alternative is just too scary.
Yeah, let's get back to "weapons of mass destruction." That was harmless.
A lying president is not one I could ever vote for. Romney is an honest guy and knows what he's doing. Obama has shown he does not. I cannot afford 4 more years of Obama.
– Signed, an Independent
That is Romney's ball and chain, every time he states the obvious and harsh truth the media rakes him because he offended someone. Get a fricken grip America. It is time for the harsh realities, it is the only way to solve the tough problems this country faces.
Romney is an honest guy? Baaaaaaahahahahahahaha. .. So honest he won't show his taxes, he lied about still running Bain in 2001, These are things Romney personally did. The POTUS depends on information from others in situations like this. Maybe Obama should have just declared weapons on Mass Destruction and started a war on a lie and you would be happy then.
The Obama supporters are zombies of the mainstream media and they believe and vote the way the media stears them.
CNN the "TRUTH" machine. Where is the apology to Mitt Romney for trashing him, because he dared question the truthfulness of the Chicago liar in chief.
Well said.
CNN, you should be ashamed of yourself. Weakness is provocative in the radical world and the terrorists are feeding off of our lack of leadership and you are aiding and abetting in the cover up. Let Americans see what Obama is really doing.
Our Embassador is killed by an Al Qaeda attack, our administration covers it up and the cover story at CNN is Phone Aps and Replacement Refs. Is this what brainwashing looks like?
You apparently have swallowed the Foxfabrication hook, line and sinker.
Why do you say that? It clearly says here that the administration know within 24 hours that it was a terrorist attck, and yet for nearly a week, they denied it ans apologized for the video.
No fabrication here. Read the article again. Obviously the brainwashing has worked. This is not the first time CNN has attempted to hide the truth.
There is NO fabrication at all. A relative of mine is an expat over there and he knew immediately it was a terrorist attack and there was warning. Have you no shame.
So our administration knew, or should have known, this was a terrorist attack but continued to tell us this was from protests about the anti-muslim movie? Its all about leading the polls. Rather than be honest just tell the public something that won't hurt your ratings. Yeah, this is who I want running the country.
Absolutely. That’s why they are called zombies. They all believe what they are told to believe.
WOW. CNN goes extreme to protect Obama.... and fails to report the actual real story. The Obama administration knew from day one that it was a terrorist attack and not spontaneous demonstration. You liberal have to be careful with what you read..."But others, including National Counterterrorism Center Director Matt Olsen and Clinton, have referred to the incident as a terrorist act, as has White House press secretary Jay Carney." Here, CNN covers up the fact that Jay Carney did not refer to the incident for about a week. Obama still refuses to tell the truth, and continues to refer to the incident as a spontaneous demonstration over a film. Liberals, DON'T EAT THE CHEESE.
Does Fox actually order you people to repeat their fantasies?
this is indefensible. And all you can talk about is fox news? didn't we all just read the CNN article? what is wrong with people? you simply CANNOT deny that we've been lied to. You CANNOT deny that this is slimey and ugly and ultimately political. You cannot deny that our President doesn't think it's important to meet with his national security team after a US AMBASSADOR was killed for heavens sake. You simply CANNOT defend the President's failure to meet with world leaders by saying "the white house has phones." How can every American not be outraged?
Oh man, well said Dalsea.
Agreed... The media is a huge influance on the outcome of the election.
This great Contry is in deep DO DO if BO is re elected!
WHAT?! This is an outrage!!! White House misleads AGAIN! and no action was taken and STILL no action is taken!!! The sad thing is they definitly show their weakness!!! Al Queda 1 .... US 0 . I feel so aweful for the 4 Americans and their families.
Too bad you didn't feel that way before Bush sent 4000 to their deaths in Iraq!
Check your numbers. three-forths of the afgan war deaths have occured under BO.
the war started under bush so he gets credit for all, win or lose Most of you should do work for the police since you got this attack all figured out from your living rooms We should just kill the millions for the actions of thousands? Kill em all let god sort em out?
again, you refuse to address the issue being discussed and shift focus to something else. where have we seen this tactic before??? oh yeah, obama's response on 60 minutes to the question of how to respond to critics of his national security "policies"
If the totals of war go to the President in office ay the start, why is this "under the current administration's watch"? Shouldn't the one responsible be in command til the end? I don't think so. This ain't baseball.
The problem is that this makes Obama and the administration look bas to CNN and the rest of the mainstream media will work tirelessly to suppress it and anything relating to it. They have the nerve to call themselves a journalistic organization.!
CNN = tablid "news"
This is such a joke of an article and it's tucked away manner is tasteless.
Will the last true journalist who leaves CNN center please turn out the lights?
I was just checking to see how far down the page and how small the print was on yet another Obama coverup. CNN is as liberal as Pravda was Communist. Unbelievable!!
I'm guessing there is A LOT more in the journal CNN got, but they released one detail to try to make them look like a "credible" news source. Too bad they are showing they still have zero credibility with this one.
The fact is that quick histrionics decrying "terrorism" does little to counter the threat. The US government moved very quickly to quietly saturate the Benghazi area with sensors to identify and track the perpetrators. Shining too bright a light on the situation only emboldens other wannebe terrorists and undermines efforts to find and punish those who committed the acts. It may make Americans feel good to display outrage, but the more effective approach is to do just what the Obama administration is doing. Portraying the US as yet again the 'victim' does little to address the problem. A true measure of the impact of the Obama administrations response will be when the culprits are identified and eliminated...which will happen.
Really? what's your source for this new information? It wasn't here at CNN...
I agree. Fox is the guilty party with the hysterical reaction by many posters here. These are extremely complex situations that require a level headed response that considers all related implications, not a stupid bomb now, ask questions later approach. That Cheney method has cost the lives of thousands of Americans, destroyed our credibility as leaders, and also cost the lives of many thousands of innocent people. Ignorance, followed by emotional reaction is not productive.
I don't want to bomb first and ask questions later. i want the President to tell the truth!
I found it on Newsweek. IT IS A BIG DEAL WHEN A PRESIDENT BLATANTLY LIES TO AMERICANS. He should not have the "freedom" to do that.
don't shine too big a light? don't act like victims?? A US AMBASSADOR WAS MURDERED. Again for those who don't read well. A US AMBASSADOR WAS MURDERED. you don't think a light was going to shine on that? by the way in case anyone cares, A US AMBASSADOR WAS MURDERED!!
Hmmmm – I guess this doesn't meet the CNN criteria for a major headline, especially if it endangers the re-election of the POTUS. Move along people, nothing to see here, there is no Al Quaeda threat.......
Exactly... Everything will be dealt win in due time. After the elections of course.
Why is Romey displayed boldly on the headline? I think this story, the events that cost four Americans their lives, should be in big bold letters – The adminstration KNEW within 24 hours what really happened. Why were we not told the truth? Could it be that this would not jibe with Obama's America? Wake up people! Vote this guy out of office before its too late for all of us!
CNN can't make a big issue because there was unethical use of the Ambassador's journal found by CNN reporter – they used the story he knew he was a target based on information from his journal. Its my understanding the journal was turned over to the Italians. The family should have had the journal and no one else.. CNN will probably never report much more on this "bump in the road."
CNN is in cahoots with Obama but they want it to appear they are being true journalists, which they are not. This should be big, front and center.
So hammering Romney on his 47% comment was top news for at least a week, and this story is buried with a positive slant for Obama. It is getting comical how the liberal media hides important stories like this to help Obama in his re-election. I saw the story on Fox News, and have been searching to find the story on every other news site with no success. This is why Fox dominates in the ratings! The American people have lost trust in the media to do their job!!!
You are so, so right!
couldn't agree more...... what a joke CNN has become... such bias reporting...
Why isn't this story one of the top stories of the day on CNN? I view multiple news sites on the web so that I can try to see the issues from "all sides".....It is rough when you guys bury stories because of it goes against your political agenda.....Just like during the RNC, some networks did not show Condoleezza Rice's speech because she was a Republican African America.....You guys are losing credibility.....If you don't believe me check out your web analytics......What websites are your visitors going to after leaving CNN.com?
The move to their favorite site to complain about "liberal news media" – Fox News
Silly person, this article wasn't hidden, even you found it. Unlike others, like Fox which thrives on sensationalism over truth, CNN reports "just the facts, ma'm".
It should be front and center. If you think a president blatantly lying to Americans should be story #20, something is very wrong there. Thomas spread the word to others in VA because CNN clearly isn't trying to. Such a disgusting cover up both by Obama, the White House, and the media.
'Even I found it'........So I supposed to be stupid if I do not agree with you.....Congrats, Train, your are helping an undecided voter in a battaleground state lean Republican......
As someone intimately involved in the monitoring and analysis of events associated with terrorism, I can unequivocally state that the terrorist connection was known within hours of the event, and the Obama administration moved quickly to develop a complete understanding of the event and identification of the perpetrators. Efforts were underway immediately to exact justice upon those who conducted the attacks, and that justice will be delivered. You can take that to the bank.
The Admin should and could have simply issued a statement as to origins unknown, looking into, etc. Using the video and slant on free speech was a mistake. The statements issued actually brought more attention in the area to the video. In most investigations, early on at least, it is better to keep information to a minimum. However, again, the response linking the act to the video created more problems, in my opinion, than it obviated.
It's election time and it seemed inconvenient for Obama to acknowledge this as a terror attack. Only now after things are settling are we hearing peeps about it from the administration, that way later on they can say they weren't trying to cover it up when it seems they did. Not all that surprising but what is surprising is the way the media is covering for it. They have forgotten their responsibility and now take sides in the realm of politics.
It seems that Stefanie Cutter who is known to have a problem with telling the truth is now handling communications for both the White House office and the State Department. Bottom line do not believe anything this administration tells you until it is independently verified.
Way to hide the article and downplay the story CNN. You continue to show you're not true journalists. Such a disappointment because at one time I thought you were real news and now you're clearly not. What happened to news that demanded answers for Americans? Isn't that your job.
So the campaigner in chief clearly lied and covered this terrorist attack up because he was afraid it might hurt his re-election chances? How about reporting this impeachable scandal CNN instead of buring it below a slew of anti-Romney articles? CNN is an embarassment to honest journalism.
Let me guess.... It's Bush's fault. Give me a break CNN
CNN still can face that fact that the President and his cronies lied to the American people, again! When will you, CNN, stop being biased? I always see lots of negative articles on Romney and Sarah Baby (and her family) but BO lies to the American People and it's not your lead story? Unbelievable!!!
America let him die, because america hates, and wants to bring the world into chaos and ww3. Same with isreal.
Make sure you vote on November 7th!!!
Vote Obama November 7!!!!!!!
Why the heck is this not the top headline? Oh yea, that's right. Obama 2012. CNN wants to be selected as the OFFICIAL STATE MEDIA when the Democrats rule America. Right Comrade?
Obama and Stalin 2012!
Right!
I had to look to find this story and even then it covers for the Admin. Is there a true "unbiased" media source left? I think not, just choose your side and then drink the Koolaid, CNN and MSNBC for Obama and FOX for Romney.
BREAKING HEADLINE NEWS-PHONE APPS AS "SARROGATE THERAPIST"
bye the way...admistration lies about... IN OTHER NEWS, THE RETURNING REFS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR EXTRA SCRUTINY.
what a joke
This should be the top story on CNN and in the media, in general. I wonder why it isn't... (That's sarcasm, for you double-digit IQ havin' dopes out there.)
As usual CNN makes no attempt to hold the administration accountable for their "misinformation" about the true nature of this attack. Neither do they express any concern that the administration knew this but perpetuated a lie for several days.
Imagine if GW Bush was still in the White House. It would be headlines on the main CNN page, not buried under several layers of BS as this story is.
It is still shocking that no one cares that the media continues to help Obama ! Do you liberals ( in and out of the media) really want to support Obama with out regard to the truth?
Truth? TRUTH? YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
So true! All the lies going on and the media bias has no policing. Obama's UN speech comments didn't make it here where he supports the violent Muslims...where is journalism and where are morals in the White House.
"Morals"?.......in the White House?
What f*****g planet are you living on?