Doubts surface over e-mail on claim of responsibility for Benghazi attack
By CNN's Tim Lister and Paul Cruickshank
The often fiercely political debate over who knew what - and when - about the September 11 assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi has taken another turn with the disclosure of a series of e-mails sent from the State Department on the night of the attack.
But the most explosive of the e-mails - which were released late Tuesday - may have been inaccurate, a "spot report" on a rapidly evolving and highly confusing situation.
The disclosure of the e-mail has given new life to the already fevered debate over when the Obama administration learned that the attack was more than a protest that turned deadly but was the work of terrorists.
The e-mail carried the subject line: "Update 2: Ansar al Sharia Claims Responsibility For Benghazi Attack." The message said: "Embassy Tripoli reports the group has claimed responsibility on Facebook and Twitter and has called for an attack on Embassy Tripoli."
That message was sent to a wide range of federal offices, including the FBI, from the State Department at 6:07 p.m. ET on September 11 - seven minutes into September 12 in Libya. At that time, the attack on the consulate was ongoing, and the subsequent assault on the annex building, in which two more Americans would be killed, had not begun.
Also: Some Bengazi attackers connected to al Qaeda in Iraq
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and two other Republicans in the Senate wrote Wednesday to Obama, saying: "These emails make clear that your Administration knew within two hours of the attack that it was a terrorist act and that Ansar al-Sharia, a Libyan militant group with links to Al-Qaeda, had claimed responsibility for it."
However, an examination of the known Facebook and Twitter accounts of Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi reveals no such claim of responsibility. Aaron Zelin, a research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, tracks dozens of jihadist websites and archives much of what they say. He told CNN he was unaware of any such claim having been posted on the official Facebook page or Twitter feed of Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi.
Zelin, who said his RSS feed sends him any new statement from the group, provided CNN with a copy of that feed. It shows no Facebook update between September 8 and September 12, when a posting late that afternoon first referenced the attack. Zelin notes that the posting referred to a news conference the group had held earlier that day in Benghazi in which it denied any role in the assault on the consulate, while sympathizing with the attackers.
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Accompanying a posting of the news conference on YouTube, a commentary says that the attack on the consulate was "a wave of rage for Allah and his Prophet, it came from the Muslim youths."
The posting continues: "Ansar al-Sharia brigade did not officially participate as a military body, nor received any orders directed from the brigade."
The group's Twitter feed tells the same story. The account, @anssarelshariea, bears the group's logo and a tweet on September 8 - and then nothing until four days later. And at no point is there a claim of involvement in or responsibility for the attack on the U.S. Consulate compound.
Perhaps the person who reported the claim of responsibility - and the threat against the consulate - was viewing another Ansar al-Sharia site, or one supportive of the group.
In the hours following such incidents, it is not unusual for "spot reports" from agencies and overseas posts to pour in to the State Department. They typically include intercepts, what's picked up on social media, witness accounts and what's being said by local officials. They often contain raw, unfiltered information that is then analyzed for clues, patterns and contradictions.
In the case of the Benghazi attack, there were plenty of contradictions. Such situations are frequently chaotic, with claim and counter-claim by witnesses unsure of what happened when, according to U.S. officials. Building a complete picture without access to first-hand-accounts and little visual evidence can be a major challenge to government experts working from thousands of miles away.
So too have been the attempts to pin down who represents Ansar al-Shariah and their movements on the night of the attack.
Wings of Ansar al-Sharia, which means "partisans" or "supporters of Islamic law," are based not only in Benghazi but in the Libyan town of Derna, east of Benghazi. The group's leaders in Derna are thought to include Abu Sufyan bin Qumu, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee.
A different Ansar al-Sharia is affiliated with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, and budding franchises are said to exist in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.
As Zelin wrote last month in Foreign Policy, the groups "lack a unified command structure or even a bandleader like the central al Qaeda command....They are fighting in different lands using different means."
Wherever they may be, members of Ansar al-Shariah are united by a shared outlook, one that is implacably anti-Western and in favor of the imposition of Shariah law across the Muslim world.
The description on the Ansar al-Sharia (Benghazi) Twitter feed proclaims: "The goals of Ansar al-Sharia brigade is to implement the laws of Allah on the land, and reject the human implemented laws and earthly made constitutions. There will be nothing ruling in this country other than the laws of Allah."
Zelin said he believes that the rise of the groups heralds the end of the dominance of global jihad by a single hierarchical organization such as al Qaeda - and returns the state of jihad to the jumble that characterized it during the 1990s.
"One key difference, however, is that jihadi groups are now more ideologically homogenous," Zelin wrote in Foreign Policy.
"In the 1990s, jihadis thought locally and acted locally, while many now talk globally and act locally."
CNN's Pam Benson contributed to this report
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
I think it would be a good idea o have this atricle in the front page.This is a PRIORITY
I have many american friends and it is very sad that these news stories are buried. This is a great injustice. I am a strong man but as I listened to MR. Woods story I teared up. Keep posting and start watching the news networks that talk about it. Fox maybe on the right but at least they care about america and it's people. Ted turner wants the Un to run your country, it is obvious.
You guys are totally incompetent. I would never watch or listen to CNN to get news. I have only looked at the web site to see if you are actually going to report about Banghazi. Obviously not. Nothing since Oct. 24. You are so biased and political. Why dont you hire some JOURNALISTS, to REPORT. All CNN is is just a left wing propaganda machine for the democrats and the most incompetent, narcisisstic, liar that has ever been allowed in the White House.
CNN is a joke. Why not change the name to the Selective and Biased News Network. You may once have been a real news network, but seems that not covering the real news is the MO for CNN.
I agree, it seems the liberal media would sing Obamas words in thier own political unchurch. Thier bias bull is only to influnce not to inform.
Front page news, folks.
Your founder, Ted Turner, recently said he was happy that our soldiers are committing suicide in increasing rates.
I see by your coverage of Libya and other issues that his old network is hand-in-glove with his ideals. Hopefully,
you will be out of business before the next election rolls around...
Shame on you CNN. Where are the true journalists who used to go after both parties in order to keep them honest and us informed? In the darkness people will head for any light – and the light of truth isn't here. No one party is always perfect or has all of the answers so for our government to work correctly we need a free press that is not under the influence of their own personal bias or government control.
It will take you years to gain back the trust of those you've let down and I hope that at the end of the day you feel that Obama was worth destroying your reputation for.
CNN
I just can not believe that a so called major news media representative would be so pro Obama in your reporting and spin on what is going on in this country. I don't see very many hard questions coming from you what happened in Libya. Good grief four Americans died, and your network is willing to sweep it under the political rug for the sake of Obama. Put your left wing political bias aside and do your job of finding and reporting all of the facts. If a Republican was in office you would be splattering evey CNN broadcast with all kinds of "facts" I tried watching your broadcasts,to biased .once again I gave you a chane and once again you let not only me but America down.
You are so right. It is very disappointing and scary to believe.
I can't believe CNN is not reporting that our military was asked to stand down and not help in the attack on the consulate.Four Americans are dead and maybe if the President did his job they would be alive. Report the news. It is important for the American people to know the truth before the election.
You must report the story that is all over Fox news about Tyrone Woods. Athough Anderson Cooper reported on his heroic actions (Sept. 23), the shocking story told by his father now is that these Navy Seals DISOBEYED stand-down orders to try to come to the aid of those in Benghazi. They were denied permission to go in and help several times. After bringing the bodies back, then finding themselves in danger, their request for help for themselves was also denied. All this was seen in real-time video from the drone overhead. Much more to the story. . . If you do not report on this and continue your pro-Obama stance, the cost is your journalistic integrity.
Not put troops in harms way? What does he think troops are trained to do? Troops are trained for WAR.
You made a very ignorant statement; in which I will lable you as an ignorant fool. Think before you speak.
You're the fool. My point was to that Panetta saying they couldn't send troops into harms way was a weak excuse. As the bravery of Tyrone Woods indicates, our soldiers would gladly have gone in to rescue those people. Unfortunately because of the ineptness of our current administration, help was not given. Thats what they are trained to do. My husband served in the military and my father served in World War II so I have a right to my opinion. Don't take my words out of context . Maybe you should take your own advice and think before you speak.
This is outrageous. I wonder if there were other American in Libya at the time who actually survived this attack...O probably has them under lock and key so he can continue lying to Americans and the families of these Navy Seals.
I'm appalled to go to the home page of Communist News Network and see NO coverage, what-so-ever, of the Benghazi attack. With so much dissenion in this adminstration, you can count on the next 4 years being a whole lot worse than the last 4 have been. They are so busy trying to blame someone else for what happened that you can clearly see how these large departments lack leadership. This country is in a world of hurt and the sooner we get this criminal out of office, the better. CNN do your job and report the news instead of trying to cover it up.
How on earth can you be dropping the ball on this story? CNN used to be the voice of authority on the news, and your suppression of this story marks a sad low point in your history. If you want to remain relevant – COVER THE STORY!!! Do you think you can get away with covering up for your guy? Do you think that we don't notice any other news sources? You should be ashamed of yourselves, and you will be made irrelevant by your own actions!!!!
CNN,
I couldn't even find this story as a blog on your front page (cnn.com). Four Americans are dead including an ambassador and two SEALs, and CNN puts the story on their "Security Clearance" page. This was a great network when Bernard Shaw telecasted from underneath a hotel table in Baghdad during the opening hours of Desert Storm. How far you've fallen. You protect a man who only cares about his own skin, and doesn't have a clue about the world outside. Start cross-examining the president in fairness. You've treated a hollow and now dangerous man with kid gloves.
Sincerely,
U.S. Citizen
CNN , If there was any question that you are in the tank for Obama and that you have no journalistic integrity you have certainly cleared it up for us this week. As you cover for "Your Guy" by not doing your job and reporting on the administration's response to prior, during and in the aftermath of the Benghazi attack its clear you have made the decision to protect Obama. Its truly disgusting. You should be pushing for answers. THERE ARE 4 DEAD AMERICANS, and all we have gotten is obfuscating and misinformation from the administration. And guess what- the terrorists are paying attention. Too bad you don't have a Jennifer Griffin or Catherine Herridge in your organization, real journalists who both who deserves a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on this story. Let me guess- no probing questions are put to the president in your "Obama Revealed" show coming up. The President has put politics and ideology before American lives- he has lied and covered it up because he knew he could count on you and other media outlets to cover up his cover up. Is this how you get promoted within your organization? What I want to know is how do you look at your kids in the eye, how can you teach them about ethics and doing the right thing and then go to work and not do the important job that journalists have in society? As I write this Anderson Cooper is breaking important news sharing a story about some reporter who was pooped on by a bird while on live TV. How fitting. Changing the channel .
I've been watching CNN lately just to see if your view is really slanted towards Obama. So disappointed to find that it is and that you withold truth. At least I gave you a chance – that's more than I can say for you.
I did the same, afraid we have a media that does not care about America 🙁
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724 Calling it for what it is.
It has been so hard watching CNN whicih I loved, not reporting anything about the truth on terrorist attack on Benghazi.
We deserve to know the truth about what happen and 4 heroic Americans who sacrifieced their lives for is country.
Hey. I'm not even an American. But It is just grueling to watch America, the leader of peace in America not standing up for their moral value? America, many across the world know is better thant this!
Please, Keep us honest about the truth.
Thank you! I, too, have always considered CNN to be a reliable source of important news....not any more. What choice do we have, anymore, other than watching FOX News? They are the ONLY source for breaking, up-to-the minute news, 24 hours a day.
Hey Anderson Cooper, nice piece on th President's interview with MTV. I really enjoyed your line at the end where you explained that you reached out to Romney/Ryan (to give them equal time). How 'bout just reporting the news....anything going on in the world?.... say BENGHAZI.
CNN, what has happened to you? At one time you were a trustworthy news organization. What happened to your journalistic integrity? What happened to you getting to the truth, being unbiased? It's a shame what you have become. Why do you protect this President and this administration so? If you dared to soul search you would see this administration has no use for you. They probably laugh daily at your stupidity. Get a moral compass and start reporting the truth about what happened when it comes to Benghazi. Requests for backup/for help were denied. Four people were murdered and you do nothing to get to the truth. What are you afraid of? The fact that the guy in the White House that you so desperately backed made a fool of you with his incompetence?
Do your job CNN! The opportunity for you to lead is at hand.
CNN, Why are you always 2nd in the ratings? Because, no one trusts you anymore!! It's a shame that America doesn't have a true media outlet anymore. Everyone's got an agenda!!
Sorry, I guess your a distant 3rd, behind MSNBC, WOW!! that's pretty poor.
Well looky looky the Clinton News Network tries to sweep it under the rug... Guess what!? NOT GONNA HAPPEN!! The longer CNN refuses to air this news of a stand down order being given the more it proves your lack of ethics or care for American lives. Keep it up you morons... Just look at this comment board, we will all stay on your ass till you air it and meanwhile have fun watching your pathetic ratings slip even further......
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724 Calling it for what it is. Share the truth!
Really? Nothing on the 3 denied requests by the CIA to help? Nothing about the orders to stand down? Nothing about Biden's "balls as big as cue balls" comment to the grieving family? Political hacks.
Can you bear more outrage? Over at PJMedia they are saying that the fact that our guys had the laser site on the mortar means that the C130 super gunship was on site and ready to fire. It was not given permission to fire.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/10/26/ac-130u-gunship-was-on-scene-in-benghazi-obama-admin-refused-to-let-it-fire/2/
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724 Calling it for what it is. Share the truth!
I applaud Fox News. The only station who is not afraid to let the American people know how bad this administration is. CNN wait up and start reporting news like it should be.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724 Calling it for what it is. Share the truth!
CNN Your not giving much time to this story. That says alot. I have CNN right now. There showing an MTV interview with the President. Guess what I am changing the channel.
I wonder if professional investigative reporters exist in the mainstream media. Question 1: why was the security at Benghazi reduced? Question 2: why did ambassador Stevens go to Benghazi and who told him to go? Question 3: why did the POTUS refuse to send help? Almost seems like a setup. Is anyone trying to connect the dots at CNN? Probably not. You're in BH0's back pocket with your lips firmly attached. YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE THE WATCHDOG THAT PROTECTS THE PEOPLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!!!!!!
CNN needs to FULLY investigate and report on this serious tragedy. The President should address the American people regarding Benghazi; there should be resignations over this. Come on CNN ... this is important ... do the right thing.
He was busy today with MTV
Hillary asked for additional security.
Obama denied, four brave Americans died, and then Obama lied!
Hillary requested additional security.
Obama denied, four bave Americans died, then Obama lied!
CNN = TASS(Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union). They are just a mouth piece for the current administration; they don't report news, just propaganda.
Hell with you guys I will call your advertisers and let them know I will NOT buy their product or service because it is advertised on CNN. A news service that will NOT report the truth and is covering for a treasonous administration.
By not reporting on this story, you are becoming the story. All I can imagine is that you are very beholden to some extremely powerful people.
Few words come to mind: Cover up, dereliction of duty, treason. IMPEACHMENT!!!
How about RESIGNATIONS!
You guys are pathetic. Is getting the president re elected so important that you would ignore a disgrace like this. This is very very sad
President Obama gave the "stand down" order. It is that simple. People don't want to believe it. But it is really that simple. For those who have not understood what this man stands for it is not hard. For people who have been getting their news from "mainstream" this is going to be very hard to accept and believe. Pray to God they find out before they vote. This should be impeachable.
Every one involved in this murderous coverup needs to be "immediately" arrested and proscuted as assessories to murder .... starting with obama ..... even though some think he was in bed during this cause he had to meet with letterman and the view the next day ...... Hang em all .... these 4 precious murdered American Sons deserve justice ... and NOW ... not after the election ... if it gets past the election ... no one will pay ... and you think the admin is covering up now, just wait !!! someone needs to raise hell (bombard their phone lines) of CNN, MSNBC, and the rest of them, they're assessories to the murders too... for hiding the truth ""for and to protect obama"
How is this not worse than Watergate?
Exactly...nobody died in Watergate.
I was thinkng the same thing except no one died in Watergate
CNN, who told Susan Rice and Jay Carney to tell the world the benghazi attack was about "a video".?
Thanks Spike! That would be a great first question for Obama to answer. #2 – WHO was in the situation room at the time of the attack, which was during the day, in DC? #3 – WHY did Obama leave for Las Vegas on 9/12? #4 – WHO gave the "Stand Down" order when back up was requested, THREE TIMES? Those are just a few, of many, questions that I would be asking if I was a true journalist.
Why does CNN insist on burying this story. You are making yourselves irrelevant. We WANT to know. We DESERVE to know
Americans deserve to FINALLY hear the truth from you about their President. Quit covering up for him!
Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. consulate and subsequent attack several hours later on the annex itself was denied by the CIA chain of command - who also told the CIA operators twice to "stand down" rather than help the ambassador's team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11.
Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was part of a small team who was at the CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. consulate where Ambassador Chris Stevens and his team came under attack. When he and others heard the shots fired, they informed their higher-ups at the annex to tell them what they were hearing and requested permission to go to the consulate and help out. They were told to "stand down," according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to "stand down."
Woods and at least two others ignored those orders and made their way to the consulate which at that point was on fire. Shots were exchanged. The rescue team from the CIA annex evacuated those who remained at the consulate and Sean Smith, who had been killed in the initial attack. They could not find the ambassador and returned to the CIA annex at about midnight.
At that point, they called again for military support and help because they were taking fire at the CIA safe house, or annex. The request was denied. There were no communications problems at the annex, according those present at the compound. The team was in constant radio contact with their headquarters. In fact, at least one member of the team was on the roof of the annex manning a heavy machine gun when mortars were fired at the CIA compound. The security officer had a laser on the target that was firing and repeatedly requested back-up support from a Spectre gunship, which is commonly used by U.S. Special Operations forces to provide support to Special Operations teams on the ground involved in intense firefights.
CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Youngblood, though, denied the claims that requests for support were turned down.
"We can say with confidence that the Agency reacted quickly to aid our colleagues during that terrible evening in Benghazi," she said. "Moreover, no one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate. In fact, it is important to remember how many lives were saved by courageous Americans who put their own safety at risk that night-and that some of those selfless Americans gave their lives in the effort to rescue their comrades."
The fighting at the CIA annex went on for more than four hours - enough time for any planes based in Sigonella Air base, just 480 miles away, to arrive. Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.
Watch "Special Report Investigates: Benghazi - New Revelations" on Fox News at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, 3 p.m. on Sunday and 10 p.m. on Sunday.
A Special Operations team, or CIF which stands for Commanders in Extremis Force, operating in Central Europe had been moved to Sigonella, Italy, but they were never told to deploy. In fact, a Pentagon official says there were never any requests to deploy assets from outside the country. A second force that specializes in counterterrorism rescues was on hand at Sigonella, according to senior military and intelligence sources. According to those sources, they could have flown to Benghazi in less than two hours. They were the same distance to Benghazi as those that were sent from Tripoli. Spectre gunships are commonly used by the Special Operations community to provide close air support.
According to sources on the ground during the attack, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday that there was not a clear enough picture of what was occurring on the ground in Benghazi to send help.
"There's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking going on here," Panetta said Thursday. "But the basic principle here ... is that you don't deploy forces into harm's way without knowing what's going on."
U.S. officials argue that there was a period of several hours when the fighting stopped before the mortars were fired at the annex, leading officials to believe the attack was over.
Fox News has learned that there were two military surveillance drones redirected to Benghazi shortly after the attack on the consulate began. They were already in the vicinity. The second surveillance craft was sent to relieve the first drone, perhaps due to fuel issues. Both were capable of sending real time visuals back to U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. Any U.S. official or agency with the proper clearance, including the White House Situation Room, State Department, CIA, Pentagon and others, could call up that video in real time on their computers.
Tyrone Woods was later joined at the scene by fellow former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, who was sent in from Tripoli as part of a Global Response Staff or GRS that provides security to CIA case officers and provides countersurveillance and surveillance protection. They were killed by a mortar shell at 4 a.m. Libyan time, nearly seven hours after the attack on the consulate began - a window that represented more than enough time for the U.S. military to send back-up from nearby bases in Europe, according to sources familiar with Special Operations. Four mortars were fired at the annex. The first one struck outside the annex. Three more hit the annex.
A motorcade of dozens of Libyan vehicles, some mounted with 50 caliber machine guns, belonging to the February 17th Brigades, a Libyan militia which is friendly to the U.S., finally showed up at the CIA annex at approximately 3 a.m. An American Quick Reaction Force sent from Tripoli had arrived at the Benghazi airport at 2 a.m. (four hours after the initial attack on the consulate) and was delayed for 45 minutes at the airport because they could not at first get transportation, allegedly due to confusion among Libyan militias who were supposed to escort them to the annex, according to Benghazi sources.
The American special operators, Woods, Doherty and at least two others were part of the Global Response Staff, a CIA element, based at the CIA annex and were protecting CIA operators who were part of a mission to track and repurchase arms in Benghazi that had proliferated in the wake of Muammar Qaddafi's fall. Part of their mission was to find the more than 20,000 missing MANPADS, or shoulder-held missiles capable of bringing down a commercial aircraft. According to a source on the ground at the time of the attack, the team inside the CIA annex had captured three Libyan attackers and was forced to hand them over to the Libyans. U.S. officials do not know what happened to those three attackers and whether they were released by the Libyan forces.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/#ixzz2ASVMBT21
Thanks for sharing liberty3, CNN now has no excuse for hiding the tuth.
Why not put the father of the Navy seal that was on Hannity on 10-26 on Anderson Cooper's Keeping them Honest program? Let him talk and tell that assistance was denied 3 times and his son saved many people after defying orders to help those in the Embasy.
DARE THEM DARE CNN TELL THE TRUTH!!! DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT IF OBAMA IS RE-ELECTED YOU WILL BE A SHARIA ENTERPRISE? ARE YOU REALLY UP FOR THAT? DID STEVENS DIE FOR SHARIA?
Agreed. Why is there a news blackout on this horrible event? Sorry its close to the election but CNN should still look at it and at least try to get the truth out. Have Anderson interview that brave man's dad.
This should be front page! People deserve to know the truth and have the truth reported.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/
Here is some news you all do not want to seem to cover. DO YOUR JOBS FOLKS! Get up off your knees and act like journalists and start asking Obama the hard questions!
Good ol CNN... Still can't get it straight..why am I still reading from their website?
Why isn't CNN doing any discussion about Bengazi and the death of our Ambassador and 3 other Amricans and the fact that Obama went to sleep knowing they were being killed and he did nothing except obfuscate over the cause. Where is CNN?? Silent Silent pushing Obama for Prez
Why didn't Fox News do a discussion on every military member that died hunting for GWB's WMD's that didn't exist? You be drinking way too much partisan kool-aid.
i thought you libs were above it all and Obama was the messiah?...guess not! oh well why did u vote you vote for him then, because of all that experience?
DEAR PAUL, if you don't see the difference between leaving military and intelligence officers and an ambassador to die at the hands of terrorists when you COULD have prevented their deaths you are in deep trouble. This is a HUGE cover-up and perhaps but certainly SHOULD cost Obama re-election. It's beginning to get smelly and no matter if you throw out the paper it was wrapped in the smell of the dead fish around Benghazi is not going away. WAKE UP. If Obama didn't protect them. Do you think he will protect little punks like you and me?
It's no wonder your ratings are what they are. After you are finally forced to report actual news that "could" become a scandal that bypasses Watergate. You'll look like the biased, Obama lackeys you are. I once watched CNN on a regular basis. NEVERMORE!
Scotty, I agree ! Evidently CNN has joined the communist party along with their pal Obama.
Absolutely correct Scott. This was a horrible event on our nation and I just can't understand why CNN isn't placing more coverage on it. I hope the management can read all of these entries so they may understand why their ratings are low. We the people questioning the government's lack of action on this trajedy IS NOT POLITICAL. Our American personnel cried for help and our country let them down. I still can't get the Ambassador out of my mind after seeing him paraded in the streets. As a 21 year veteran I just can't understand why our government turned their backs on those who served. It makes no sense.
Stinks to high heaven of a cover up
probably more serious than we know...
Should Mr. Obama lose this election = He is TOAST !
all the stories the media has swept under the carpet to keep him clean, wow
From the beggining I saw it, they just won't report anything that makes him look bad
Now I have to watch FOX news = pitiful state of our media
I am outraged at the absolute cleansing of coverage related to BENGHAZI....Why is this being ignored? Either our military is inept, the State Department is drunk with bureaucracy, the CIA and NGO's are ignorant cowards or there is a major effort to cover up a breakdown in policies that led to the death's of true American Heroes. Obviously it is not the Military or our intelligence services so where is the coverage. Boycott the coverage, boycott the news service! CNN deserves no patronage for their complicit actions. SHAME ON YOU...
cnn..................the undisputed OBAMA biased network.if this joker were to commit treason,you'd still cover for him.idiots
I rememberhow much fun we had Bush-bashing
My goodness, if this was Bush – wha-da-ya think ?
His head would be on a pole already...
Craig you say if he commits treason? What was Benghazi?
Please tell me you have more BREAKING news than Honey Boo boo??? CNN you have a responcibilty to report the truth! Give us the story on the events that took place in Libya!! Ask the questions that are supposed to be asked! You are greatly dissapointing me! It angers me that such a network like yours is not doing the right thing here! Or maybe your like a lot of other networks here..just turn your head & stick it in the sand & the problem will go away until the big story comes to cover up what happend there! SHAME!!!
Funny Republican's trying to blame CNN for not reporting the "truth". You do realize Fox News is just making stuff up right. I watched Fox News yesterday saying they were watching a live feed. No one in the White House had any live video feed of the attack until hours after the attack from a drone. The commander who was on the ground who has a lot more information than you clowns do, said he did not have a visual, did not have enough information, and was not going to put troops in harms way. This was not a case where 4 people were just left to die. There was about 30 people there fighting off the attack. It happens every day in the middle east. If you blamed the military for every death of every troop or personnel in the middle east we wouldn't have a military. It's embarrassing how you guys are trying to turn a tragic situation in to some partisan political issue. Disgraceful human beings!
Did that commander do a gut check? Has CNN interviewed the soldiers who could have been sent? Why not? Is there a reporters' strike? Has anyone interviewed Harzi who is in jail in Tunisia? He is the attacker who posted to Facebook during the attack, you know, the one whose very existence Hillary denied. (To interview him, one need only pay the bribes.)
Paul, is there any information about Benghazi that you might be willing to let us have before your ideal investigation is finished – just after the election?
By the way, Paul, it was CNN that identified Harzi to the American people. Why does CNN not follow up? Any ideas?
Paul who is the "commander who was on the ground"? Nobody was on the ground in command. They were in dc sitting on their hands. That's the problem. Why don't you check out the interview with Charles wood's father (you have to go to fox news to listen because communist news network won't cover it) then come back. Nobody seems to know exactly what happened but CNN's silence on benghazi is deafening. Pathetic.
Paul, either you're an idiot or you've never served in the military or any other government agency requiring a security clearance. Have you ever heard of the White House Situation Room? It's where the President sat and watched a LIVE FEED from a drone aircraft as it hovered over Pakastan during the Bin Ladin attack. You really need to do some research before commenting on someone else's thread.
Mark Levin believes this is a massive cover-up because Obama refused to do his duty as Commander-in-Chief. He says people are dead and Obama is running around campaigning and that we should be rising up as a people, demanding answers. Mocking Obama’s campaign slogan “move forward”, Levin says we need to get Obama the hell out of office and the sooner the bett
Paul ,
Back a few weeks ago, there was a hearing in the House of Rep. and the State Dept was testifying that they were watching this attack in real time . So, as you can tell from a non-Fox source, you did not get the correct info. So, let me get this straight, you think that the State Dept is sitting there looking at this attack and saying to themselves, no need to tell the WhitenHouse and the President. This is no big deal, there aren't that many people on the ground. Wake up!!
It just amazes me just how messed up these Fox news viewers are. They are so out of touch with reality. All other news sources, except Fox news, are reporting the same scenario, and these people think that it is a Global Conspiracy perpetrated in conjunction with the Obama administration.....OR....Maybe it is just that Fox news is not reporting the true facts to you all!...Duh?
I agree with you Paul. And I must say to all of these crazy Fox news fans, that I hope you do know that Fox news is just an opinion based news site don't you? None of their reporting is intended to be taken as factual! You did know that, right? Only in America can you even make a profit on reporting a "feeling or opinion" as the news, rather than actual facts! This spurious news source will be the main reason why the whole republican party will never regain it's true credibility with the bulk of the American media sources, or the trust of the American public, again! It was the source of information that provided the speech material for this year's RNC, with disastrous results for the Romney/Ryan campaign. And this news source is the sole reason why these misinformed viewers of Fox 's so called news are finding a lot of confusion when they happen to try out other news sources who are actually reporting the real facts. It will seem like a conspiracy of global proportions. It is also very sad that these people are now damaged from their association with that specious news service, which seems to be operating in a business as usual fashion. I know that I am now very cautious about what I accept as fact. And I won't lend my support behind any news report that I cannot find a consensus from two different reputable news sources. And NONE of them will be the Fox news channel! Wake up people!...Wow!...Only in America!
I too wanted to see if any other news outlets are reporting the latest information. Incredibly disappointed that all I see on CNN is this stupid article analyzing the lack of facebook and tweeter posts from groups with links to Al-Qaeda claiming responsibility. Oh, and I have to stare at an Obama ad posted on this site while I'm typing this....
Americans shouldn't have to search so hard to get real news. So many are just not informed about the truth.
CIA: "No one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate.” Look it up on a new link off of Drudge.
So if no one at the CIA gave the "stand down" orders, who did? I wonder if CNN could at least ask the question. Oh wait, CNN hasn't even reported a line about the stand down orders yet. What a joke.
CNN likes to 'selectively' report the news. It is doing everything in its power not to report anything that would shed a negative light on Obama. The press should call out any of our politicians regardless of party to keep them all honest and accountable.
Apparently NOBODY in the media will even try to cover this story–WHO told the folks in Benghazi to stand down and WHO refused to help them. WHO made that decision? WHO decided to cover it all with lies about a video? What does the man who was arrested have to say about his rights? The parents of slain seals are talking–why is the media not covering that?
What about that disgraceful comment Biden made to Charles wood? What about Hillary promising to arrest the fimlmaker? WhY is this not news? SHAME on YOU CNN and all the rest of our state media.
You need to read articles outside of .com sites. The stand down came from the Secretary of Defense, the Army General, and the Commander that was on the ground. They stated that they did not have enough information to put troops in harms way. They have said this multiple times. This isn't some crazy conspiracy. In fact, they said it again yesterday. You guys are funny.
so why put a smoke screen up and blame it on a movie for 2 weeks?
Paul, I don't think it's too funny. Today we know that there were also multiple calls to take out a mortar aimed and Americans. How is that not enough information? That mortar, hours later, killed our heroes. You think this if funny? That's creepy.
Not good enough.
Paul writes: "They stated that they did not have enough information to put troops in harms way." Paul, you might have no military experience but use a little commonsense here. Whenever combat troops go into action they go into harm's way. In addition, these particular troops are not young, innocent draftees but highly trained, seasoned, and professional killers.
What Panetta knows is that the decision maker did not have the nerve to make the decision. The decision maker dodged the decision. Who do you think that decision maker was? Hillary? Who was in the Situation Room? You can figure it out.
1st, Clinton alerted Bush of the WMD existed. Bush acted accordingly w/what Clinton told him. 2ndly, our highly trained troops are trained to be put in harms way. Our Military's enlistments are selfless, courageous young men and women, for the love of their Country, enlist knowing full well, they'll someday go to War. That's just common sense. 3rdly, if you don't like the 2nd comment, then listen to this. My Uncle is a Retired General, worked for the Pentagon and served his Country, still lives w/in minute of the Pentagon. My 24 y.o. Daughter, a Combat Medic, has served a year in Iraq. My 33 y.o. Nephew, a Captain and trained Sniper, has served 4 tours of duty in Iraq and a friend, a Sgt., and trained Sniper, on his 3rd tour of duty in Afghanistan as we speak, enlisted in the Army to serve/protect, so people like you can sleep better at night. All 4 knew what they were doing, knew the consequences, yet saves your sorry ass on a daily basis. Why? For the love of the American ppl and for the love of others in distress from other Country's. That's what they do. They take care of others. Just as we should here at home. If one votes for Obama, we'll have an even greater Communists President. He's already got our great Free Country headed in that direction. He's a Liar, a coward and Mr. Woods, father of Tyrone, Obama didn't even look him in the eye, saying in a school boy tone of voice, "I'm sorry"...Mr. Woods said Obama didn't even mean it and won't answer why his Son was murdered. It's a Cover Up. All the Media is Democrat kissing Obama's butt except for Fox news. I'm 54, single, lost my job, house, car, everything under Obama. W/Bush, I had it all. I'm living w/my Son, ugh! But I'm grateful for God, our Military, but Obama has got to go!!
Damn Straight they knew. Ask any you mentioned about "EYES"on the consulate as it happened. I am a former Communication Specialist Army so I know they had "EYES" on the attacks as they happened. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724
Were is the Follow-up on the attack in Libya on 9-11-2012, You say that you cover the world. I guess that means anything to cover up for President Obama. If You do not cover this attack on your Prime time News and on the Front page of your Site, Then everyone will know that you re Just like MSNBC. In the Tank for President Obama and your ratings will go to the Bottom. FOX News is kicking your Butts everyday because of your COVER UP. Do your job, and REPORT the news.
Absolutely right James!
Shamefull lack of reporting.
Tell them James Report They are resposible for murder. cover the damn story! http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-864724 put this on the News and tell the people the truth!
Just because you ignore the situation doesn't mean it will go away. CNN – your bias is showing. This is one girl in Ohio who is looking forward to going to the polls.
Thank you Kris>>>from Ohio as well.
Breaking statement by CIA spokesperson: "No one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate.”
You need to read articles outside of .com sites. The stand down came from the Secretary of Defense, the Army General, and the Commander that was on the ground. They stated that they did not have enough information to put troops in harms way. They have said this multiple times. This isn't some crazy conspiracy. In fact, they said it again yesterday. You guys are funny.
You keep referring to a commander on the ground. Who was the commander on the ground? Where was he, exactly? This is not the first time you have been asked this question. According to the commander on the ground, what did he know, what decisions did he make, and what orders did he give?
according to rep chaffetz, he asked general ham why the military did not send forces to support the personnel at benghazi..
his answer..
"no one asked"
enough of your insider info paul..
you are a troll for the obama admin, as are cnn and the msm..
CIA just stated that no one at any level of the CIA denied giving support to those who were asking for it. Thank goodness some in the government are more forthcoming than CNN. CNN's lack of reporting on this is becoming surreal.
The lack of coverage by CNN about the outrage in Benghazi is pathetic. How can you continue to cover for a liar like our current president. Any president who would refuse to help embattled americans while they are under fire, then lie over and over about the true cause of their deaths should be impeached!!! CNN is equally guilty for their backing of this horror!
This is a cover up of epic proportions by the media.
Obama needs to resign now. WE CAN'T WAIT!
maybe if everyone would flood the phone lines of CNN somebody might get the message
CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
Source(s):
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111
CNN this is a horrible situation that needs journalistic ethics to kick in. Remember Black Hawk Down- we didn't hold the military back from going after our men on the ground. I can't believe that the US press is not pushing for answers. There is no doubt that this is a "duck".
CNN will not comment on the latest news regarding the Obama Administration's LIES regarding Benghazi until they receive their talking points from the DNC and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. CNN is a JOKE.
Sources tell Fox News that CIA operatives twice asked for permission to help Ambassador Chris Stevens and his staff, and were told to 'stand down,' while a later request for military backup was denied,
Shame on CNN for not telling the full truth about what happened in Benghazi! You are complicit in the White House cover up to the detrimit of our men and women serving over seas. You are a propaganda machine for the White House just as in the old Soviet Union.
This just shows how Obama KNOWS the majority of the news media in this country are in the tank for him and assumes most people will buy his story. He's going around the country encouraging people to vote early, hoping he can lie his way through this tragedy and win the election. He and everyone in his administration, and most news agencies who are covering up this story are disgusting.
GOODBYE CNN!
CNN used to be my home page for news. I will be changing that as of today. How can you not cover the latest in the Libya story? Had this happened under the last administration, it would be the lead story on your homepage every day. How could a country as powerful as ours ignore calls for help and allow it's citizens and ambassador to be murdered? It's indefensible and you are not a credible news agency if you don't start asking the tough questions even if it hurts your candidate for President.
THIS WILL DESTROY CNN!
Tell the whole truth......
This article is about who started what. I'm more interested in when it started, who new what was going on, what was being done to protect those men, why they weren't helped, and what is being covered up by the White House. Is this another Fast & Furious cover up?
then you need to turn to fox, latest is that the seals who were killed were told to stand down 3 times, why? they finally went without clerance to protect the ambassador, sadly they were killed along with the ambassador. I have looked at nbc cbs cnn huffington post none of them are even mentioning this why? findthe news cnn
Two questions that Obama MUST answer:
1. When he went to bed the evening of 9/11, did he know that a terrorist act had occurred at the Consulate, if not
2. When he got on A/F1 the next morning, to continue his campaigning did he know a terrorist act had occurred?
Paul
"Lol, I don't get my info from .com sites. I listen to the actual sources that actually have the intelligence information and the power to make decisions at the time of the incident. Like the commander on the ground, the defense secretary, other army generals, etc. Nice try conspiracy theorists. It's time to get out of the bomb shelter and get some sun."
so paul since you are privy to all this information..
tell us what happened..
why three requests for "help" was ignored..
set the record straight so we will know..
and don't tell me that command was waiting for more information...
americans were being killed..
think of them as your own family..
Lol, go research .gov sites to hear the actual Congressional testimonies, the Secretary of Defense statements, the National Intelligence statements, etc, etc. There is a lot of information out there that comes directly from their mouths. The requests for additional security was denied by the Commander on the ground, the Army General, and the Secretary of Defense because as they said, there was not enough information for them to put anyone in harms way.
There is a detailed account of the timeline of events that happened that day. There was no special live feed, there was no intelligence of a planned attack. Once they got the cameras they did see a group of armed men converge on the embassy at about 10 o clock at night. Both the Commander on the ground and the Secretary of Defense said they had adequate positions and support.
The Director of Intelligence said specifically that the information they gathered was ongoing but at first they believed the attack was a continuation of the uprising in Cairo that was believed to happen because of this youtube video. There initial assessment and what they told the Administration was this information.
Two weeks later they said as more information became available they can assure that it was not a random gathering but a planned attack. They still say there was absolutely no intelligence of an attack on the embassy before Sept 11th.
They have answered all these questions, you just don't want to hear these answers. They also do not answer specific questions on security personnel and everything they do to protect embassies around the world. So most of the information you are getting is either made up, exaggerated, or just plain lies.
Everything you are asking has been answered by the people that have the most information on the subject. If you have more information than them, then you have some crazy inside intelligence!!
This administration states that it cannot trust facebook and emails....but we still do not know where they received the information that it was a video on facebook......that no one watched. WHERE DID THAT INFORMATION COME FROM? Its a lie........period. Its a shame that news groups like CNN does not cover this like they should....they are in the bed with Obama and everything they write, say or put online should be treated as suspect.
Yes, they do not trust facebook and emails. But they do have intelligence personnel on the ground that do interviews that they do trust. There is more than enough intelligence to confirm the gatherings in Cairo were in response to this video. That being said, they speculated at the time because they had no other prior intelligence of an attack, that this was just a continuation of this uprising.
All the information saying it was a terror attack was done by facebook posts and people outside our Intelligence community. The President does not make up his own stories... he listens specifically to our National Intelligence Adviser who at first said they speculated this was because of the video.
This really is not that big of a conspiracy. Who cares if they thought it was because a video and later found out it wasn't.
And the crazy thing is the Libyan witnesses on the ground told the investigators that they knew who did it and that they did it because the video. No one has even ruled out the fact that it wasn't in response to the video. The only thing they now know is it wasn't a random gathering that got out of control but they planned to go to the embassy to attack. And it wasn't a sophisticated attack that had to be planned for months in advance. Just a straight mob assault.
This whole conspiracy stuff is 100% generated by partisan media outlets. No one actually knows all the details because the people that do know all the details haven't said anything about it. No one knows it wasn't because the video.
You have your head in the sand. They (our gov) allowed those people to be killed. They talk about the fog of war and couldn't commit forces because of it. They had C-130 special ops aircraft that could have been there and could have protected our people. Why didn't they do it? If it was your child would you have denied their repeated requests for support? Hell no you wouldn't. This is what we get when you have people who will do anything to get Obama reelected, even at the cost of American lives. Wake up people. Ask the tough questions.
There was over 25-30 people present, numerous armed guards and Libyan forces. Four people tragically died, but you act as if they were left all alone to die. The commander on the ground and the Secretary of Defense say that we had adequate backup. What you are doing is being an armchair military strategist. You literally have no clue where, how, or why they would need backup or what would cause them to send them in!
We do not want another impeachment process. But it is inevitable if Obama does not come clean and is re-elected. I have an image of Monica Lewinsky burned on my brain. I do not want to suffer like that again. The country cannot suffer like that again. Nothing else gets done. The citizenry is demoralized. For the good of the USA, Barry, Hillary, and Leon should come clean or resign.
Paul,
I came to the CNN site this evening just to see if the protect Obama biases are really true and obvious. Wow.
For the record, I do not normally comment online, but after grieving the loss of honor and of life ibecause of our present government's reputation all day today, I have to ask you . . . are you employed by CNN or by the White House?
Sir, your full of crap. There were warning from Libyan Officials and others WARNING of a possible attack. Did your "sources" (MSNBC) forget to mention that?
My sources are direct quotes from the National Intelligence Agency. They have stated numerous times that there was no intelligence that lead them to believe the embassy was going to be attacked. So I guess you can believe your Libyan sources. I'll trust our Intelligence. You guys are funny. Trying so hard to turn this in to some political he says she says battle. You guys are disgraceful using four American deaths to push your political agenda. And the funny thing is, you are bashing are very military and intelligence community for it.
hey Paul......this white house told us that this was a spontaneous reaction to a video, not a planned terrorist attack....now we know differently. Where did the white house get this information? Seems they did not know anything for weeks.......until now when we find out the truth. Man when are u going to wake up and smell the stink that is all around u? The stench of lies and deceit.
Lol, the same people that came up with the Intelligence are the very same people that run our military all over the world. You act like no one has ever died in the military. It's a dangerous job and you can't plan for every possible event. The Intelligence community that is in charge of ALL our intelligence and the most sophisticated intelligence community in the history of mankind came to this conclusion. I'm glad you have doubts in America's military and intelligence. Accidents like these happen, to blame the military and say we don't know what we are doing is asinine. You guys are doing this just for political gain.
What is wrong with CNN? Are you completely sold out to Obama. What happened in Bengazi is treason. Make all the excuses you want. Are there any true journalists left there? Are you all just Obama boobs? Come on, DIG! That's what we expect from news organizations.
Used to be we, as a free society, could count on the media as an agency to protect against the Government taking over and controlling the chain of information. There was distrust of leadership adn the media would not stop investigating until they had the truth. Today the media doesn't start investigating. Who is there to protect us today? CNN and the other Media outlets are, by their own attempts to protect and shield the President disqualify themselves as a news source and reveal themselves to be nothing but a political arm of liberal administrations.
You would think that somewhere some journalism student would have some kind of ethics and realize what's going on and say ENOUGH! Well Guess not.
This is a direct quote from the spokesperson for our National Intelligence department. So if you guys know more than him, you are superior beings that have some crazy insider information! Sept 27th
"In the immediate aftermath, there was information that led us to assess that the attack began spontaneously following protests earlier that day at our embassy in Cairo. We provided that initial assessment to Executive Branch officials and members of Congress, who used that information to discuss the attack publicly and provide updates as they became available. Throughout our investigation we continued to emphasize that information gathered was preliminary and evolving.
As we learned more about the attack, we revised our initial assessment to reflect new information indicating that it was a deliberate and organized terrorist attack carried out by extremists. It remains unclear if any group or person exercised overall command and control of the attack, and if extremist group leaders directed their members to participate."
This statement makes no sense in light of the facts that are now known. For example, we now know that there were multiple requests to take out a mortar installation that ultimately killed Americans, requests that were denied, requests that would have made it to the highest authorities, including the President.
We obviously had a pretty good idea of what was happening. We obviously screwed up. And, more unfortunately, the President decided to mislead the people and all the news outlets (most of them) have decided to go along. Shame on CNN.
Paul, it's abundantly obvious that you are part of the Obama Administration or Re-election team tasked with spinning the Administration's story on new sites. Your shameless spinning won't obscure the truth. Funny how you are the only ,or nearly only, supporter of the Administration on this site. It. Must be awful lonely rooting for the bad guys.
Blah blah blah, I'm just spouting the truth. It's obvious you have a major agenda against this administration. I'm sure you were this dedicated to finding out the truth about the 3000+ American soldiers that died hunting WMD's that didn't exist. Did you go to FoxNews.com and bash them for not reporting about those deaths?
Highly doubt it. You are a disgusting coward!
on september 12, president obama said he called it an act of terror..
on the view and at the un general assembly speech he called it a spontaneous reaction from the video..
which one of the two above was a"lie"?
is he still lying to cover his butt?
Agreed. The media's purpose is and should always be anti-establishment. Therefore, it doesn't matter who is in office – they behave the exact same way.
I want to thank the NON informing media for single handedly motivating the non Obama voting citizens to get out and make sure this debacle of an excuse of our country's leadership... i just 12 days away from joining the more than 23 Million Americans on the unemployment lines.... We are MOVING FORWARD !!
I think its insulting that CNN and other news agencys are not reporting this and letting the americans know the truth. Have they also been asked not to by our President? Seems like he is asking too many people to hold off on a lot of issues until after the election.
I don't know about other news organizations, but FOX is keeping updated and reporting on it daily.
CNN....whats up with you guys.....quit drinkin obozox kool-aid!!!
Why is CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS not informing us about this event, isn't the murder of these four american citizens deserve an explanation by the media and the President of the United States. We are waiting to hear the truth. Are we going to hear about these attacks after the election? CNN, you have to step to the plate, tell us what your story is.
THIS is why I go to Fox to get my news! If I had to depend on the major news networks to give me the truth, I'd be as news ignorant as so many of our citizens How about reporting on the lack of support given to the men who died in Benghazi. I am watching Fox right now to keep abreast of the situations. Get it: YOU CANNOT SAVE OBAMA from this one!!
And that is why Fox always has the highest viewership
haha exactly.
look at the difference between fox news headlines on their web site today and that of cnn, and try and tell me that the most trusted name in news "cnn" is not trying to make this story go away
Why no mention of the WH refusing CIA requests to rescue of our ambassador? they were turned down 3x while the WH dithered they went in on their own! These brave lads were later murdered by the terrorists- huge news but not a peep on CNN or other news services – disgraceful ! Shame on everyone especially you media toadies
CNN please know that you have lost me as a viewer. Your total disregard for standards of journalism is appaling. If the stories of the events of Libya are true or if they are false I want to watch a group of reporters who are willing to go where the facts of the story lead them.
There are supposedly three "major cable news networks" – Fox which leans (clearly enough) center right, MSNBC, which has apparently been taken over by screaming Trotskyites, and CNN which supposedly "splits the middle" and tells it like it is. But CNN (along with the NY Times syndicate, the Washington Post, and Time, etc., and NBC, CBS, ABC) are all willfully refusing to cover the largest military, intelligence, State Dept., and White House scandal in decades.
Compare that to the unending coverage of photos of poor treatment of our prisoners in a prison in Iraq, which dominated all those worthy publications for days (or weeks) on end. Which was small potatoes by contrast.
And this is not ONE scandal – but now FOUR of them.
1. Negligence Beforehand: Having our ambassador in one of the least (if not the least) secure facilities in the entire diplomatic US operations in the world on the 11th Anniversary of 9/11. Not only should his repeated requests for more have been dealt with, he most certainly should have been in Tripoli on that day, and not Benghazi, and security in the whole "Arc of Crisis" area of the Islamic world should have been beefed up and on alert – if ONLY for that week.
This also – like the other three – had a "political calculus" – wanting to show how "normalized" things with all our new friends coming out of the Arab Spring, and upgrading the security could have "diluted" that "message." As the State Dept. testified before Congress that lack of funds was NOT the reasons the requests from our (I remind you, now unnecessarily deceased) Ambassador were ignored.
2. Straight out Cowardice and Political Calculations: Which left us – with live feeds from the Consulate, Annex and from drones for hour after hour going to all the major responsible agencies of our government, agents in the Annex requesting permission from their superiors to help (permission denied, though two were brave enough to go and sacrifice themselves anyway) and including a laser on a mortar. And our leaders simply sat on their thumbed and watched our people die, because it would have distracted from the President's "Osama is dead and GM is alive" continuing "victory tour," and made people aware that Islamic Terrorism is not on "its heels" but alive, well and dispersed across numerous countries – including this one – e.g., the thwarted attack on the Federal Reserve in NY by a man who had contact with known radicals.
But the requests for all outside help were – three times – denied.
This is the most shameful failure to take action we could have in my lifetime. Ops teams were in range, as were F-16's and Cobra helicopters – and yet not even a flyover that might have chased the attackers away before the Ambassador died, and certainly before two of the others did.
3. The Continuing Coverup by the White House, State and Defense Dept's: Refusing to comment meaningfully on all of this evidence, and the ridiculous song and dance about the video – when the timeline of the Ambassador’s activities shows for a fact there was NO demonstration in Benghazi about it – and that it was all pretext by Islamists to cause demonstrations around other countries, since it had out been on YouTube for months. With zero reaction from the Muslim world.
4. The Coverup of the Coverup by the Major Media: who seem to all care more about Obama's re-election than the entire security of the country and the integrity of its government.
It makes me very fearful about our future, and the diminishing value of freedom of speech. The one thing that heartens me, is that this thread shows that those of us who follow ALL the news that's "fit to print," are not "Foxoid drones" who only go there. And while I'd been starting to watch you to check my own prejudices, I'm moving much more to sources like the Christian Science Monitor for the fairest and most "journalistically neutral" coverage around from now on.
So one more time: there are four HUGE coverups here: 1. The negligence beforehand. 2. The astounding and intentional failure to try and save our people's lives. 3. The huge and continuing coverup in its wake. 4. The media's willing complicity in keeping all of this from becoming well-known at least until (and likely even after) they help President Obama be re-elected.
Refute ANY of that if you can. And meanwhile, CNN, take a good look in the mirror. Your article (the one I’m responding to) included NONE of this context, and only sought to minimize this side story which IS part of it.
JimK. Bravo! Too bad you just singlehndedly reported more facts and more truth about this cover-up than CNN and all the other so-called news organizations combined.
Jim K,
Just STOP It. Why are you trying to make sense and point out the obvious? That's just crazy talk.
Look at the armchair military strategist go!! Great job, maybe you can tell the military how to do it's job since you obviously have all the answers. Let's see if you can do this without knowing all the information beforehand.
And I see you have been diligently watching Fox News. Great job, Hannity gives you a high five!
Paul you are exactly the reason the country is in the shape it is in now. Because you believe the info they feed you. Open your eyes and get your news from sources other than the MSM.
And I see you've only been bathing in waters approved by the anointed. I read the news everywhere. I'm regularly on the Huff Post, Wash Post, CNN, Commentary, The Nation, RCP, Opposing Views, Nat Review, Salon, etc. and when I'm feeling masochistic and the need to shower later anyway, MSNBC to name just a few. Can you say the same?
PS: thanks to others for the props. I regret that I composed my comment in Word, and didn't notice that CNN's text editor removed all my paragraph breaks.
Lol, I don't get my info from .com sites. I listen to the actual sources that actually have the intelligence information and the power to make decisions at the time of the incident. Like the commander on the ground, the defense secretary, other army generals, etc. Nice try conspiracy theorists. It's time to get out of the bomb shelter and get some sun.
Well said Jim!
great comments jim..
cnn and the rest of the msm are falling asleep at the switch..
just like the wh did when some of our brave men were screaming for help..
i can see them holding off for more information if their family was in a house screaming for help..
our military members are well trained for these situations..
bureaucrats are obviously not..
Thanks to Jim K for accurately and succinctly summarizing this sorry situation. Shame on CNN for becoming an Obama lapdog. I too had been watching CNN to be sure I was not being unduly, or inaccurately influenced by Fox News.
Thank you, JimK. I don't know how CNN or any of the other commentators can discount what you have said. Everyone now has access to too many facts.
Fact: The president knew what was happening. Since this was an attack on foreign soil, the desperate please by our agents to take out the mortars attacking them would have made it to the president while the events were unfolding.
Fact: The president was a pansy and did not authorize action.
Fact: People died, including an ambassador and American heroes who were anything but pansies.
Fact: The president wanted a different narrative to come out and tried to spin this attack into something entirely different. There appear to be no security reasons for this spin, since everyone in Libya was talking about these events clearly (unless the president was trying to hide some sort of arms running).
Fact: This is newsworthy stuff. CNN is either incompetent, slow or covering for the president.
Make that 5 scandals. Surely skipping the presidential security briefing the next morning in favor of flying off to a fund raiser is a very strong statement on misplaced priorities! And a reasonable presumption is that neglecting to attend the daily security briefings is one reason for his ignorance as to the Libyan security situation.
2014: US embassy under attack. Ambassador left with little protection despite prior requests. 2 brave Navy Seals request air support and backup 3 times. Romney administration denies all requests. The Seals request permission to engage the hostiles and are told to 'stand down' by the Romney administration. The Ambassador & those brave soles die. CNN does not carry the story and doesn't demand any answers from the Romney admin. Is that how you would react CNN? Honestly?
GlennH. Honest people at CNN would answer your question... Honestly. Lets see just how many there are.
Amazing the military commander on the ground said he didn't have enough information to send his troops in to harms way. He also said he feels confident they did have enough support ready for any subsequent attacks. And the most amazing part of this whole thing, is that military commander is not part of Obama's administration. You guys are making the military look really bad by blaming this on the administration when the commands came from the actual military personnel on the ground.
and he's not going to cover his butt on this?
just follow the obama lead..
Paul, if the military made that decision, they deserve the scorn.
It is not logical.
We have drones, satellites, live camera feeds.
if you believe this BS you are HIGH.
There was no live camera feed at the time of the attack. You literally are just making things up. 99% chance you vote Republican.
Paul, the video feeds from the drone and security cameras on site have been verified by numerous sources. Sorry, but you aren't going to have much credibility if you can't get your facts straight. You can love the current administration all you want, but at least stick with the facts.
That's because he has to abide by Obama stupid rule that there cannot be collateral damage.
The Army's slogan, "No one left behind," because of the Benghazi Massacre, ObamaArmy slogan is now, "Stand down, we'll try to get your body back." This was an attack on American soil... and we did not protect and defend our citizens/military. Sickened by lack of media and government response.
Many of you guys need to stop listening to Fox News. There was no live video feed, there was no cover up. The Secretary of Defense, the Commander that was on the ground in Libya, and Army General Dempsey have all detailed what information they had and why they did what they did. They repeatedly have said they did not have enough information to put troops in harms way.
This Internet telephone game you guys are playing has ended up with this being some crazy conspiracy that includes Obama sitting in the White House watching the events on a live streaming video feed while on the phone telling the CIA and the troops to stand down. It is hilarious to watch this unfold. Read the actual transcripts from the people who actually know the details. There is no conspiracy here. Only in your heads.
paul..
you are an obama troll and you name is probably axelrod..
there was a coverup from the start and only fox is covering it..
we have not received answers and it is now 45 days since the killing..
we, and the murdered americans famiy deserve answers..NOW!
Forget about Fox news. Check out the sources. Our Seals were begging for help and told to stand down.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/#ixzz2AQF4OlER
Nice try Paul, unfortunately the cover-up is falling apart. This is worse than Watergate, noone died as a result of Nixon's lies. And the attempt by the MSM to assist in the cover-up won't work. I hope Obama got a good nights sleep Nov 11th while Americans were being murdered, and he knew.
IT'S MUCH DEEPER THAN YOU THINK - ALL REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN ARE IN FULL ACTION THROUGHOUT ALL THE STATES AS WE SPEAK –CNN IS UP THE YING YANG WITH TONS OF STUFF THEY ARE COLLATING BEFORE NEW RELEASE –CAN YOU SEE IT? CAN YOU FEEL IT? CAN YOU SMELL THE END OF OBAMA/CLINTON/AXELROD? SMELL IT BRO - AND WEEP OVER YOUR OWN MAKING. NO ONE WILL SHED A TEAR FOR YOU BABY GIRL.
Why weren't the hypocrites in "full action" after Bush instigated an unnecessary decade long war, based on lies, largely financed by loans from China and cost thousands of American lives? Perhaps Robme would have preferred Obama sit idly by reading Little Duck.
This administration is lying and covering up. Anyone who believes what they say must love being lied to. Drink the KOOLAID! What was the drone taking pictures of? Why did they fabricate the video story? Why did they tell the Navy Seals to stand down? Not enough intelligence??? The Seals were intelligence on the ground!!! This Administration is either grossly incompetent or intentionally deceptive. Either way, they need to go, and furthermore be brought to justice for gross negligence.
I guess you guys don't get how the military works or how reality works. The military commander on the ground said to stand down because they didn't have enough information. This happens every day in the military. You act like the military doesn't know what they are doing. The Middle East is a scary place where shi* happens. There was no conspiracy, this isn't Watergate... just another day in the Middle East for our military and security personnel.
Nice try though guys. Make sure you loosen up those tin foil hats so you get some oxygen to the brain.
Paul – I'm retired AF and even I know if they give you a laser designator it's not for use with your powerpoint presentation. Please get a clue. SEALS know how to identify a target for destruction. Obama is done.
Bologna, you can not possibly be this ignorant to the military if you were ever in it. The chain of command is simple. They said there was not enough information to proceed, so they didn't. Happens every single day in the Middle East. I'm glad you are using four American patriots deaths for your political gain. You should be ashamed of yourself!
No, Paul I am ashamed that I defended this country for 22 years for someone like you.
You were never in the military. Stop lying. You are a fat partisan nobody trying to use real patriots deaths for your partisan gain. You should be ashamed for something, but definitely not for the 22 years you spent playing Medal of Honor. Nice try though bud.
Paul – Please tell us where you got all of your military experience.
Your right. BO wasn't watching in the situation room. He was out golfing. He is a failure and only failures follow failures.
Paul,
The people who know the facts are starting to share the facts because they are uncomfortable with the evolving coverup. Do not write this off as the rantings of delusional righties. I suspect when ALL the facts come out you may regret your comments. All we ask is that these disclosures be analyzed in the light of day, rather than forcing people to explore other media outlets to secure comprehensive information.
I guarantee you when the facts come out it will be the facts everyone already knows. There isn't even a reason to make this a conspiracy. You guys are just using a tragic event and trying to make it political. This is the Middle East we are talking about. Bombs and attacks happen every day. You guys are disgusting and vile human beings. These are real American lives that you are using for your partisan nonsense. There was absolutely no conspiracy here. Nice try though. Fox News would be proud.
Paul, you should have watched the Congressional inquiry on CSpan....the employee of the State Dept. admitted that she and others were watching the Benghazi attack in real time from live feed cameras. You really do need to get your facts straight.
Disgusting bias by omission is rampant here. The story above is full of spin and excuses... "oh everything was so confusing and conflicting..."
I thought Obama was the greatest consumer of information we've ever had as president.
CNN you need to cover this story, do it for the Americans that gave their lives, and quit covering for this administration. Do your job or lose your credibility, whatever's left of it!
CNN and MSNBC will cease to exist when the truth comes out!!!!!
Thank you for your comment and true statement concerning CNN
CNN is a major disappointment, but not more than this administration. It amazes me that Valerie Jarrett gets more security going to Martha's Vineyard, than our own US Ambassador does in Lybia. Disgraceful. Thank God for FOX news.
Hoping for the ""perfect storm" to hit the White House and carry Mr. Obama and his cronies out with it. And may you, CNN go down with them. Your network is a disgrace to journalism.
I think you are right on the money, Susan. I pray everyday that these horrible people will be out of OUR White House soon. I'll even help pack, for free, just to be rid of them. I can't understand why people actually like him. I can understand the people getting something for nothing but I'm talking people who work everyday and own a home and pay their bills. Wow, whatever was in that Kool-Aid really worked. Thank God, I didn't drink any. Have a good day, Diane
i am from cnn. Please vote for Obama.
cnn headline news now is "obama 4 points ahead in ohio" yeah!!
cover up in benghazi? old news..
move along..
i have put cnn on my "delete" button..
along with nbc, cbs, and abc..
Your silence and refusal to report on the Benghazi tragedy speaks volumes. It’s pathetic that CNN chooses NOT to provide newsworthy coverage and inform it’s readers of the lies, deception, and cover-up this administration. Four lives have been lost; repeated requests for help were ignored; the administration chose to sit idly by and watch the events unfold in real time - and then lied to the American people. NO politician; NO election is worth the price of even one American life. CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC – you should all be ashamed of your lack of moral decency and biased reporting – or lack of reporting. The American people deserve to know the truth and the “news” networks should be reporting facts and the truth – unfiltered. “News” organizations: DO YOUR JOB!!
I'm sure you were this adamant about the 3,000+ lives that were lost during 9/11 and the 3000+ lives that were lost searching for WMD's that didn't exist. Partisan politics at it's finest... never let a tragedy go to waste.
You are so right. CNN needs to be removed as a trustworthy news outlet. They are complicit with the administration in hiding, dodging and covering up! This country is in real trouble and CNN's refusal to act on information that is out there that will uncover the truth is so very sad.
Where is your reporting on Benghazi developments.? This should not be a re-election of Obama decision. Unfortunate timing for Obama - very fortunate timing for the voters. Is this treason? Do you cover treason?
Good question. Looks like the media, along with CNN, are covering this 'bigger than Watergate' up.
Also would like to see more on the requests made for backup that Fox is running...are you going to present the news or not?
I was wondering the same thing. How long can they provide cover for Obama?
Where is the coverage of the denied help!! Where is the coverage of the dead SEAL's father!? I despise our 'Mainstream Media" I am personally boycotting any product that advertises on CNN & MSNBC.
What coverage do you want? The commander on the ground, the Secretary of Defense, and Army General Dempsey all have said that they ordered the stand down because they did not have enough information to put troops in harms way. The information is there for everyone to see. You guys just want this to be some grand conspiracy for political reasons.
If you actually were 'unbiased', you would act as if you care about Americans that gave thier lives while being attacked by Terrorists. Especially when the government agencies were watching these people die. They did nothing!!! Assets were poised and more than wiiling to assist, but were told to stand down. If your government is willing to allow this massacre to happen, and then come out and lie about the cause of it, don't you think that something else is going on? Iisn't it worth the air time to get it right. The problem is... You People Have Taken A Side, instead of doing your job. No wonder you are going out of business...
Thank God the likes of the administration are not in the military! With a quick thinking military like this administration we would have never won the Revolutionary War!!!
Oh, by the way Paul. I think this means tha BO failed the Commander-in-Chief test.
I guess you guys do not have an understanding of how our military works. 99% chance you guys vote Republican. There is this crazy correlation between conspiracy theorists and Republicans.
Special Ops Teams eat bullets for breakfast. Being place in harms way is what they do. Weak argument
when government looks after the interests of the people, they should be respected.
when they no longer do, we can no longer "stand down"
I wanted to post a comment questioning why CNN is NOT reporting today's news that multiple requests for back up during the attack were denied. Obviously many others share this frustration. I did go to the effort to contact CNN to ask why they were not reporting this....I was told they were aware of the reports but had no intention of discussing on air. I requested to speak with someone to explain why and was told this was not possible. Speaks for itself....
Please share the details on how you got in touch with them. We can add a few more 'questions' to make sure they hear us correctly!
I just googled them and called their number at 404-827-1500.
It is too late...for any more cover ups..We the American people are fed up with this as you can see in the emails above, and we all all aware!!! Your biased journalism is about to go down with President Obama...Mr. Charles Woods speaking out should be front page news, as it got me fired up as well to know the TRUTH...WE ARE ALL DEMANDING ANSWERS TO THIS COVER-UP...ALL SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE EMAILED OR CALLED DEMANDING ANSWERS, and not just another LIE from this administration. I cannot believe anything they say any more!!!!
It is really strange how FOX has been reporting on the Navy Seal Tyrone Woods who lost his life in the attack and how his dad has come forward with the truth....Where is the mainstream media?????? Please report the truth and stop hiding what has gone on...I think the American public has a right to know...STOP HIDING LIES......
the obama administration are acting as if "nothing happened"..
"nothing new here, just move on" "just a bump in the road"
we need answers NOW!
and where is the lame stream media..they are all in bed with the liberals...
they are all part of the cover-up and conspiricy with obama..
it's a conspiricy folks and we are being had..
CNN, news network? I don't think so. It appears FOX is the only true network and the rest are part of the Obama re-election campaign. This is really sad.
"We thought there was an issue, but then the nice man at the government told us that all was OK and there's no reason to keep asking. And that's good enough for us. We're glad the government cleared it all up for us. Now on to a story about the Kardishians."
Pretty sad that the truth about this situation has to come from links to foxnews while on cnn's website. Get a clue CNN!
wow hot story of day where are you now your equal to cnbc
I will tell you why CNN hasn't reported on the new story yet
as I'm writing this CNN NBC MSNBC ABC and CBS are on in a conference call with the Obama campaign trying to figure out they are going to spin this to make it go away
Why are you not reporting what Fox news is reporting. ..About Charles Woods, the father of slain navy seal Tyrone Woods. He will give the american people and earful. CNN seems to be pulling out all the stops in order to get Mr. O. re-elected.All that Big Bird, birthcontrol and binders malarky. The lying, and choosing to be the mouthpiece for team Obama. Just turns my stomach. Shame on you...And you call yourselves trustworthy?? And what was the word that the president used to describe Romney...oh yes...BSer
How tiring it is to hear our top military "experts" say they did not have enough intel.
CNN–what a pathetic example of a news organization you are. We the American people are not going to let Obama get away with this. This isn't going away, it is only going to get worse. CNN would be wise to get on the right side of it right now. Better a little late than too late.
CNN and every other major news media outlet except FOX is now complicit in this by their total lack of investigative journalism or silence in the face of overwhelming evidence of malfeasance in this matter. Today's report by FOX, and the radio/television interviews of murdered SEAL Ty Wood's father, should be enough to have every outlet scrambling for answers. But so far – crickets!!! For Shame!!!
Your bias and lack of integrity is now indisputable.
AMEN, JON!!!
Hey CNN – I just posted CNN Sucks on Facebook and then deleted it. Now, why would the terrorist group claim responsibility and then delete it? Because there would have been an expectation of a more severe response by the U.S. with the killing of an ambassador. Who knew Obama would do nothing?