Benghazi talking points omitted link to al Qaeda
By Jennifer Rizzo, with reporting from Pam Benson
Former CIA Director David Petraeus testified on Capitol Hill on Friday that the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was an act of terrorism committed by al Qaeda-linked militants.
That's according to Rep. Peter King (R-NY), who spoke to reporters after the closed hearing, which lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
The account Petraeus gave was different from the description the Obama administration gave on September 14, King said.
Then, the attack was described as "spontaneous," the result of a protest against an anti-Muslim film that got out of control outside the compound.
Petraeus told lawmakers Friday that he had discussed the possibility of it being a terrorist attack in his initial briefing in September, according to King.
"He had told us that this was a terrorist attack and there were terrorists involved from the start," King said. "I told him, my questions, I had a very different recollection of that (earlier account)," he said. "The clear impression we (lawmakers) were given was that the overwhelming amount of evidence was that it arose out of a spontaneous demonstration and it was not a terrorist attack."
The "spontaneous" adjective was "minimized" during Petraeus' testimony Friday, King said.
The cause of that discrepancy is unclear, King said.
Earlier an official said that Petraeus' aim in testifying was to clear up "a lot of misrepresentations of what he told Congress initially."
The former CIA director was expected to tell the congressional committees that he did develop unclassified talking points in the days after the attack but had had no direct involvement in developing the ones used by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Rice has been under fire for suggesting the attack on the consulate was a spontaneous event spurred by a protest against the anti-Muslim film.
King said the original talking points were much more specific about the involvment of Al Qaeda.
"Final ones just said indications of extremists," King said. "It said indicate even though it was clearly evident to the CIA that there was Al Qaeda involvement."
Questions still remain over the development of the talking points.
“Basically it is still not clear how the final talking points emerged. (Petraeus) said it went through a long process involving many agencies including the Department of Justice, including the State Department and no one knows yet exactly who came up with the final version of the talking points other than to say the original talking points prepared by the CIA were different from the ones that were finally put out,” said King.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee disagreed with King, saying that the talking points did not change.
"The talking points were not changed," Smith said. "The talking points were very basic and straight forward."
Several democrats who were briefed said Petraeus explained the unclassified talking points did not make mention of extremist elements because it was still classified – and could have compromised intelligence sources, CNN's Dana Bash reported.
Smith took part in a separate briefing with the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper.
Clapper read to the group the original three talking points used by Ambassador Rice. There was no mention of al Qaeda or Ansar Al Sharia in those points, according to Smith.
"This has become so partisan and so political," he said.
A senior U.S. official told CNN that the talking points were drafted by the CIA and "reflected what it believed at that point in time." The memo was reviewed "CIA leadership and coordinated in the interagency at a senior level," the official said.
The first draft of the CIA unclassified talking points stated there were indications the attack was linked to al Qaeda, but during the interagency process when the talking points were reviewed, al Qaeda was changed to extremists. The official said the change “was not a political decision.”
"The points were not, as has been insinuated by some, edited to minimize the role of extremists, diminish terrorist affiliations, or play down that this was an attack. There were legitimate intelligence and legal issues to consider, as is almost always the case when explaining classified assessments publicly." the official explained. "First, the information about individuals linked to al-Qaeda was derived from classified sources. Second, when links were so tenuous—as they still are—it makes sense to be cautious before pointing fingers so you don’t set off a chain of circular and self-reinforcing assumptions. Third, it is important to be careful not to prejudice a criminal investigation in its early stages.”
The official said the controversy over the word "terrorist" caught the intelligence community by "surprise."
“Most people understand that saying “extremists” were involved in a direct assault on the mission isn’t shying away from the idea of terrorist involvement," the official said. "People assumed that it was apparent in this context that extremists who attack US facilities and kill Americans are, by definition, terrorists. Because of the various elements involved in the attack, the term extremist was meant to capture the range of participants."
The talking points, the senior U.S. official explained, "were a reflection of the understanding at the time that could be provided at an unclassified level. They were preliminary and were never meant to be the final word on the issue."
On who authorized the final version of the talking points, a US intelligence official said, "We're reviewing the coordination trail."
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
In the meantime, the President badmouthed an American citizen in front of the United Nations and the whole world for doing nothing more than exercising the most sacred of American rights, the right to free speech.
When did this happen? He was in Staten Island yesterday. The UN is in Manhattan.
Real Americans want to get the terrorists not our President.
cons are terrorist sympathizers.
Have you ever heard of Osama Bin Laden?
And when the guy that was identified from the recording was stopped in TUnisia, the President failed to send in the FBI to question him for 3 days but in 24 hours, Senator Graham made a couple phone calls and got them in.
@joe you whine about one guy. And you're probably lying about that. Prez Obama has killed more AL-quida leaders than BUSH and CLINTON could dream of.
People in power have to be looked at whatever party. My mom worked her butt off for Johnson back in the day just to get treated to a little "police action" over in Asia. Getalife, don't act like on of those "my President, right or wrong" hillbilies that helped us get into that little action.
Rice will replace Hillary.
Deal with it cons.
it was the video...It will be funny to watch her stammer over that one.
Don't have much to add other than this whole situation stinks to high heaven. Especially with this administration trying to minimize the effects of the attack for political purposes. And the republicans are no better about it after the fact, and I am an independent voter before being called a right-winger! One of these days we will get to honesty no matter the result. But unfortunately probably not in my lifetime. And don't get me started on the whole presidential election.......from both sides. Quite frankly I have become truly scared for this country that I loved and have served for. The recent election just proved a whole host of things to me.
What did it prove? That you are paranoid? We were at war before this president and we will be at war after this president. The fact that we have not had a successful terrorist attack in this country during his presidency doesn't mean anything to you? What about the stock market doubling during his time in office. Relax, go outside and enjoy a ball game.
You can't blame Bush for everything wrong and not give him credit for everything right. The fact that we haven't been attacked is all to Bush's credit with his restructuring of all intelligence communities and the establishment of Homeland Security. Sorry, this isn't Obama's. What you can give him credit for is his Arab Spring. Saw on the news today that the Islamic Brotherhood is calling for Israel to stop it's terrorist attacks on Gaza. Imaging that. Israel get's attacked first, gets over 100 missiles (most Russian) fired at its citizens daily and Egypt is now siding with the terrorist backed Hamas. Way to go Obama. Your plan is almost complete.
I didn't mention BUSH, YOU DID. But keep that train of thought, When the economy tanked who was president? BUSH
Who started a war in Iraq? BUSH Who got budget that was in surplus and left it in a deficit? BUSH.
One more thing Israel and Palestinians have been fighting for centuries. How is that Obama's fault? This is not the first time they have gone to war and I guarantee it will not be the last.
Backing the Arab Spring instead of our long standing Allie is Obama's fault which has now lead to more problems in the middle east with all the Arabs ready to destroy Israel using OUR MONEY. (Egypt) Do you really think that Hamas just up and decided to attack Israel for no reason? They attacked Israel in an effort to show that they can now take the lead of defending the Palestine with Egypt's support. Support that wasn't there prior to the Obama backed Arab spring.
You guys all backed Bush when we were attacked on America soil. Everybody had their flags out and wanted to kick a$$. Well we did and then everyone on the left starting attacking Bush because an election was coming up. Wow what great Americans. I didn't see Americans calling Roosevelt a war monger the last time we were attacked but you people just don't understand that we ARE at war and still are at war. When we went into Iraq, the majority voted for it. If you really do your research about the economy during the Bush years, it wan't all his fault.
IRAQ DIDN"T ATTACK US!! To prove it, when we caught Saddam. We gave him to the IRAQIS. We didn't execute him. You can't attack innocent countries because you feel like it. BUSH is as much a terrorist as Bin Laden!
The ARAB SPRING STARTED UNDER BUSH. BUSH SUPPORTED IT, SO DID OBAMA. Who led the killing of Khadafy? OBAMA. Stop talking out your azz.
I have a suggestion, Gary. Go to bed, pull the covers over your head, and hope that the big, bad world will keep its distance.
Give it a rest, King. Let's look forward and not backward.
"give it a rest"? leftcoastrocky, 4 Americans were murdered in Benghazi including a US Ambassador! Do you want us to just sweep it under the rug and move "forward"?!
They had hearings yesterday and today. The top whiner McCain didn't bother to show up for yesterday's hearing. Maybe he went to have his age spots removed.
sebastian, people are murdered every day, often by the hundreds. dig it... the world today is a very dangerous place. especially Middle Eastern countries that have just had a revolution and in which no legitimate government has yet established itself.
why is this a hard concept to understand? the brave people who were in our embassy were there because they wanted to help the country's people and they knew the risks better than you or I.
The one thing that still to this day get me is all the people talking about the 4 Americans killed in a forigen land and scream about a cover up. Where was this out cry when we were attacked on our own land and thousand was killed? Where was the demand that the administration of the time explain how and why that happened? think about all the lives that was lost then and still today? Why was that administration not held accountable for allowin us to be attacked in our own back yard?
I'm sure the families of the two seals that disobeyed orders, that didn't stand down. ended up saving countless lives aren't going to get over it. I'm sure the families of those they saved aren't going to get over it these mens saved their lives and if that was my son, you better believe I wouldn't get over it.
What?? "Hey I'm sorry I ran over your family. But that was last month. Can't we just move on?"
Liberals are a disgusting type of human. Their slavish devotion to a Politician is not right and really pathetic.
Are you feeling ok? Where did that off the chart remark come from???
He's talking about you. That comes to mind reading the mindless posts here blindly giving excuses and trying to pass the blame from those responsible..... where the buck stops and in this case seems to have been returned to sender.
JOe you exemplify blindness. Any rational person would not jump to conclusions at this point. Let the investigation be completed and lets get all the facts before we accuse anyone of trying to hide anything. McCain has lost all credibility with me.
Calm down. I answered the question raised. You may only have started paying attention to this issue lately. THose that have followed it from the beginning see things don't line up.
I'd call this a particularly "mindless" remark, eh?
"Liberals are a disgusting type of human. Their slavish devotion to a Politician is not right and really pathetic."
Get a life a and you are no better then anyone
pizzacorner... I don't even recognize most Republicans as "human" anymore.
Is there any other angle in this story why the administration suppress the facts, is any body wants the Ambassador to be dead, who instructed he should be in benghazi while he should be at Tripoli, Is there any financial interest acted in the distribution of money for various counter insurgencies in that country involved and try to divert into vested interested peoples, Is the Ambassador acted against it............. Why the administration watch the attack in the real time , is it to make sure every thing end in a calculated way.......God knows.
Nice revelation, confusion arise out of 20 or such reports from different parts, BUT THEY ARE WATCHING DIRECTLY IN BENGHAZI IN REAL TIME THERE IS NO DEMONSTRATION, HOW COME THEY THINK AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Its easy to make people stupid so as the election result. But there is almighty is there whoever involved in the blood of these 4 innocent people will get their punishment from god no matter what.
G-od should have shown up before those brave men were killed. If he wasn't there then, he wont be around later.
People stop over analyzing the situation. Libya is known as a hot spot because it is a violent place a war zone. This isn't paradise island in the Bahamas. Sometimes the bad guys do win. Have the hearings, learn from mistakes and move on. We have violent shootings here in malls, movie theaters, schools, etc. Yet the very same "upset" republicans refuse to pass common sense gun laws. Stop falling for the McCain phony concern and focus on the issues.
to all you people blaming republicans for this because of the propsed "cuts"(even though they werent cuts just less money than the administration asked for) go and google charlene lamb benghazi testimony. See what she said when asked if the cuts had anything to do with the level of security.
Brilliant answer Ken. The bad guys shouldn't have won here. Concerns were raised over the security at this Consulate well in advance. And if you acknowledge that bad guys do win, then you should plainly think about the fact that this "COULD" have been another series of synchronized attacks by Al Qaeda against Americans. So misleading the public to gain political momentum was a dangerous game in this case. This administration lies as much and as severely as the Bush Administration. Both held intelligence and memos, both failed to act, both resulted in the death of Americans.
When things like this happen it takes a while for all the facts to evolve. Different people said different things at different stages in the aftermath, so I don't try to "predict" as many people posting here. The Middle East is a very, very dangerous place, and this will happen again, regardless of who is president.
You know, it really seems like all of the hysteria is over what was said and done in the first few minutes following the attack on our embassy. Is no one willing to admit that the siutuation may not have been clear at that point?
Then why was it "clear" enough for them to call it a protest to a video??? Just saying!
Does it dawn on you that this was a terrorist attack? And that four Americans died pleading for help? And that the President is suspected of covering this up? What does it take for you to open your eyes to the devious deception is being played out by this administration? Perhaps another World Trade incident will wake you up. We need answers as to why it happened and why our response failed. We need a 911 type commission to get those answers because this administration will never present the truth!
If you have read the news this week you would see that the issue is being discussed with top officials., military included. Nobody is trying to cover this up. There was, initially, a lot of confusion and all the facts were not present. But in any case, people are trying to say this was a coverup. Patreus will be able to give an accurate account and timeline.
Where was your false outrage when this happened on Shrub"s watch? Many streams of intelligence and in our "I have to have it now" 24 hour news cycle and these were the unclassified talking points...continue to read below and demand the same things about these acts...the tin foil stuff gets that gets screamed about now...makes me glad I used to be a Republican
Like in 2002 when the US Consulate in the Karachi, Pakistan, was attacked and 10 were killed?
Or in 2004 when the US embassy in Uzbekistan was attacked and two were killed and another nine injured?
How about in 2004, when the US Consulate in Saudi Arabia was stormed and 8 lost their lives?
There is more: In 2006, armed men attacked the US Embassy in Syria and one was murdered.
Then in 2007 a grenade was thrown at the US Embassy in Athens.
In 2008, the US Embassy in Serbia was set on fire.
In 2008, bombings in the US Embassy in Yemen killed 10.
Gentlemen, This a WAR. people are going to die. I'm sorry but the truth is bad guys do win one. Please don't compare this to Bush. Over 5000 troops killed. Over 30,000 injured in the Iraq war that never should have happened. I'm sorry about the loss of life, but as i said before, this is not paradise island.
Thank you for your sane comment. It is mind boggling listening to the unreasonable comments here. Another thing is that the Middle East is a terribly dangerous place, and, as I said in a previous comment, this will happen again, regardless of who is president.
Then compare it to Watergate. Oh sorry no one died in Watergate!
Obviously you have a lot of free time. you can compare it to french fries if you want. It wont change anything and it certainly wont make you feel better.
This is what you get when the muslim world doesn't act like the President's narrative of "our enemy is in retreat". Incompetence or coverup. Tell the truth this time President Obama. ALso tell us why you stopped saying "our enemy is in retreat" in your stump speech starting October 17th?
What he's doing is so transparent that it's evident his arrogance leads him to believe he's untouchable. News Flash Mr. President, 1/2 of America didn't vote for you. The Senate will go to the Republicans in 2 years due to your arrogance.
@joe truth.......Stop watching fox news, it has corrupted your brain. Maybe you should be his speech writer?
its not that easy to just "have the hearings and move on", especially when the Obama administration is trying to cover-up the whole mess. THis is not about politics, 4 Americans were murdered, get off your ideology spin.
See above reply to tony, please read it carefully the light might just come on. Google "Embassy Deaths Under Bush Administration"
The hearings will get to the truth. Let the facts come out. Jumping to unwarranted conclusions just feed paranoid thoughts. People act like no one has ever died at war before. This is why I support the prez use of drones. NO SOLDIERS KILLED.
Jumping to unwarranted conclusion like it was a protest to a video???
Jumping to unwarranted conclusions when we find out the CIA assessment was changed to it was a video that caused the attack instead of Terrorist? Coincidentally right before the Foreign policy debate? Coincidentally right before the election? Nah...it's not a coincidence.
Can't stand it when your messiah is caught red handed can you? His time will come but probably not any time soon. He will sacrifice those around him just like he sacrificed those brave folks in Benghazi before he takes the fall.
What has he been caught at? What smoking gun do you have? Call the Whaaaaaaambulance we have a whiner going nuts here!
He hasn't been caught doing anything. He's not my messiah (I'm not religious) You sound like a republican. How many did BUSH sacrifice, and when will he get his?
How about caught lying to the American people and to the World during his UN speech? He knew from day one from the initial CIA assessment that was CHANGED by the White House before Susan Rice spoke to the World on what happened. You'll probably say the president doesn't know everything. If he didn't know when the CIA knew, didn't know what Susan Rice was going to talk about, didn't know the initial assessments were altered, then he's incompetent and should step down from office.
Seriously? The president's campaign was making decisions on talking points? What else have they been making decisions about? Perhaps the safety of those in Bhengazi so the real truth doesn't get out?
We need to know the truth, come on CNN, do some real investigative reporting.
We get involved in a foreign war, don't know what the heck we want over there. The Administration is starting to lie, mislead, and cover up. This sounds like a combination of the worst aspects of the Johnson and Nixon administrations. We need to get past the partisan finger pointing, find out who is messing with us and hold them to account. If we don't more people are going to die. I voted for Obama thinking this kind of stuff would not happen...beginning to feel a little used.
Used, perhaps, but by whom? By the Obama administration, or by Republicans in Congress who are determined to make you believe that the Obama administration was lying or covering up known information? Think about what happened over there and the context within which it happened. Think about the fact that no group claimed responsibility for the attack. We had an administration recently that seemed determined to jump to whatever conclusions sounded most dire and most likely to get the public behind its war plans. Personally, I'm glad the Obama administration isn't making mushroom clouds out of molehills.
The group Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibilty by the next morning. It was in one of three emails sent from officials in Lybia. Do you choose to be blind and ignorant? Your slavish devotoion to the President is sickning.
The Bush administration went on the intelligence we had. We didn't just jump into Iraq with mushroom bombs. People like you don't seem to really like to know the truth, unless of course it's a republican administration, then the truth be damned.
Anybody looking at this from the beginning should be concerned. The official line has changed more times than that of a 5 year old caught stealing cookies. Yeah, there is a fairly good indication the Obama administration is lying. That means we need to look at this. Any time people in power get into illegal foreign wars and start lying it's time to take a look at what's going on. Whether it is our guy or not. Sometimes we have to look at things beyond the prism of partisanship. To not do so makes us the progressive equivalent of some " my country right or wrong hillbilly "
Those are not molehills. They are 4 grave mounds.
For 7 hours, Performing for the Drones overhead,
-el-CIA-duh done it - Neo-Con attempt to derail Obama election - Hilary ordered the stand down.
General disagreed with the stand down, However,
Did not disobey orders, and let the Arabist, arms transferring, ambassador die
Nice peice of fiction you got there.
Yes, and there is a ton of fiction in the posts! Where do people get their so-called facts??? Glen Beck, FOX, Limbaugh, Palin? Ted Nugent?
Listen beginning at 1:14
"Alex Jones Show: Tuesday (11-13-12) Steve Pieczenik"
Why are the Republicans pushing this? What is the real reason behind their actions? So early in the investigation there were conflicting reports and the administration ordered an investigation. So what? That's what you normally expect, early conflicting reports followed by an investigation.
Is the idea to discredit Susan Rice so John Kerry leaves the senate to become Secretary of State? Is it thirst for a scandal to disrupt the President? What's the real reason? Republican accusations are so lame they don't come close to passing the laugh test.
Another official, Eric Nordstrom, who was responsible for protecting US diplomats in Libya, said that he too sought additional resources. But he said he was told over the phone by a senior state department official responsible for handling the request, Charlene Lamb, not to make any more because "there would be too much political cost".
I hope what happened to Ambassador Steven's happens to you. Then we'll tell your family it did not pass the laugh test. Seems fair to me.
You are way out of line Sir. WAY out of line!
Laugh test? You find this funny? Four Americans are attacked at a US Consulate on the anniversary of 9/11 and the current administration tries to sell it as a spontaneous protest against a video. Why? Well, one guess is that it wouldn't look to good during campaigning time, but that's all speculation and that is why there should be a thorough investigation.
Laugh test, indeed. Nice to know you feel that accusations should pass some type of laugh test. How disgusting that life is so cheap to you.
Who are you, Glen Beck? Your faux outrage is pathetic. Would "smell test" be a more appropriate turn of phrase? Or would you just shake your fist in disgust, crying "This is too serious to leave to the judgements of your nose!"
I find it HILARIOUS the extent to which the rethuglicans will go to try to discredit the president. This is SUCH an important issue that McShame didn't even attend the briefing chosing instead to give a press confrence. Partisan hacks the lot. And WHEN it is found to be nothing like they claim same as every "scandle" they have touted, they will deny the results, claim cover up and move on to anther manufactured bruhaha. The information changed because early in a chrisis reports tend to not be accurate, morons.
So the White House knows more than the CIA about what happened? It's people like you that vote for a guy based on emotion than performance. Ever done any research on where he sends money to? On who his mentors were before he ran for office? Ever looked at his history when he was a lawyer representing rich landlords that evicted the poor? This guy is a fraud and you guys follow him like blind sheep.
4 people are dead...including out ambassador and yet you are more skeptical of republican motives than of the administration....
I suppose you think it's more likely that the administration wanted four of its employees dead than that Republicans in Congress want the administration to look bad?
G.W. Bush did quite well for himself by scaring the public about terrorism. Remember Code Orange and "Shelter in Place" drills? Remember smoking guns and mushroom clouds? Why wouldn't the Obama administration revel at the opportunity to use a terrorist attack as a campaign rallying point, the way Dick Cheney did?
because the motto of the DNC convention was GM is alive and Bin Laden is dead. ...it was counter to their narrative....
More than 2000 Americans died looking for arms of mass destruction.
I remember perfectly well the CNN interviews to people who witnessed the incident the day after the attack. The witnesses, one of whom lived across the street from the embassy, talked about a demonstration that turn into something different as another group appeared. It seems to me that the more we investigate, the closer we will get to the truth, and the final account maybe different from the initial one that came up in a violent world very far away. And it may be that somebody will have to be fired. What gets me is the people who just discover their sensitivity to deaths and forget the past.
Yup. Because those rethuglicans didn't seem to mind the thousands of dead their war for WMDs that weren't real killed. You bet I question their motives.
Surely government officials would never lie concerning warfare and espianage! Let's investigate; it keeps us from taking action on economic issues.
You should be asking:
Why did President Obama not know the consulate needed security?
Who denied the requests for security and why?
Its been 60 days since the attack. Why doesn't Obama know evreything about this? How can the investigation of this incident proceed so slowly?
Why 5 days after the attack was Susan Rice saying this was the result of a video when the Libyan President was saying it was a coordinated attack and even the news media was saying this?
And another 100 questiona about what happened.
Instead you are asking why the GOP is asking these questions? You should post under the avitar Ostrich.
Sorry to burst your bubble, even though he is the president. He will NOT know everything. The prez stated awhile ago there are decisions made before something can get to his desk. He's not the only person there, that's why he has an cabinet.
To all of you- I suggest you google the cpan hearings on this matter that lasted about 4 hours when the head of security in Libya TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THAT SEVERAL REQUESTED FOR HELP WERE IGNORED WITH NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. CSpan with NO connection to either side, plahyed the hearings LIVE where several government employees testified under oath. NONE OF THIS WAS REPORTED BY CNN OR ANY THER MAIN STREAM MEDIA. Google it, you will be shocked what you learn
Request for help ignored? Did he speak to someone? What was his/her name? Did he or she say no? You left out a lot of info.
Ken, you should go to work for CNN or MSNBC. You have a gift of spinning facts into fiction and protecting your anointed one. Don't you give a damn about those heroes fighting till their last breath with everything they had while Obama watched it all on TV? Why was the CIA assessment changed by the White House for Susan Rice to air it to the Nation and apologize / blame it on a stupid video? But you won't answer that question. I know when you respond to this quote (if you do) you'll spin it into something else just like the White House has been doing for the last 2 months hoping that we're all too ignorant to understand what is going on. We're better than that.
I'll tell you what's laughable,your blindness to this administration. Remember that line "you can't handle the truth"? Yours should be " I don't want to know the truth"
Here's why they are pushing this. God help us if we find out that the White House denied assistance and lied about the attack being a terrorist attack just to make the President's foreign policy look good right before the Foreign policy debate with Romney and right before the election. See anything wrong here? 4 people dead to keep the President looking good before the election? This is not going away despite the Liberals wishes for it to.
You got proof he caused these things to happen or not happen? I didn't think so.... so shut up!
I don't have proof that a female bear wouldn't attack me if I stole one of its cubs but I'm not ignorant.
"What's the real reason?"
Cover Story - not a Honey Pot - Military vs CIA (Steve Pieczenik on Alex Jones)
Generals did not ignore Hilary Stand Down, and protect US ambassador.
so now the question is why did obama send out susan rice to lie?
I take it this is a retorical question.
Don't forget that the republicans also cut funding for VETS too in that appropriations bill, you know the ones they pretend to love to their face but call the 47% behind their back because their paycheck says US gov't on it.
That's a lie. Besides it has nothing to do with vet funding. I hope what happened to Ambassador Stevens happens to you or your family members. Then let's see how you feel about.
Wishing death upon another and their family again Sir? You have some issues you need to resolve and until then your comments should be erased! Where is the moderator on this one CNN???
First of all, if you are a 47% shame on you. It appears you have enough disposable income to surf the net, so why are you receiving government assistance, unless there is some legitimate reason, but I figure you are just on the dole.
Obama cut healthcare benefits to Vets, fact.
If you were right I would switch parties today. Unfortunately you are so biased against republicans you believe only what you want to believe making your opinion useless.
after reading these post it is hard to face the fact that Americans have become such fools. most of the country accept any garbage feed us.Just make sure it is pretty and entertaining like a sitcom. so many of our fellow citizens accept shadows on the wall, because they do'nt know there is a sun.
If Americans spent as much time voicing their frustrations to their Representatives as they do on comment sites calling each other names, blaming everybody but people in their own party, cherry-picking facts to lob at one another and willfully spreading misinformation, maybe our country wouldn't be in the shape it's in. Voicing your opinion on a web site to showcase your intelligence, or lack thereof, or find support for your opinion or just to pick a fight with the opposition is fine, as long as you give equal time to letting your Representatives know how you feel. Here, you are either preaching to the choir or acting like a school yard bully and are doing nothing to solve any of the problems you come here to complain about. Search your heart and decide if you are a Democrat, a Republican or an American. If you are an American, please use some of your time to channel your frustrations in a direction where a solution can be found. We have become a nation of fools who have been led down a divisive and destructive path by the very people we have elected to keep our country strong. We are more at war with ourselves than we are with the terrorists. Demand the facts. Be just as skeptical of your own party's position as you are the oppositions. Ask yourself what their agenda is in getting you to believe it. Judge with you conscience and not your emotion. If Americans don't step from behing the coat tails of rich and powerful politicans who have an agenda to get richer and more powerful, history will ultimately show that Bin Laden succeeded in destroying America, and he did it from within. Please be a part of the solution by demanding that our leadership lead, and stop acting like children fighting over toys in the school yard. Perhaps it is time we all – including our leaders and journalist – took a refresher course in early American history and revisit the ideals our Forefathers envisionsed for us. This certainly is not it.
I remember when Crowley lied about these talking points in the Presidential debates.
That debate was a joke. Never before have I seen the liberal mainstream media craft an election as bad as this last one. I've lost all respect for the Communist News Network. Yesterday I watch Wolf Blitzer try to demonize Israel during his interview with Israel's Ambassador. All he kept going back to was asking the Ambassador about how an Israel air strike killed a baby. Didn't ask about or comment on the people they killed first in the unwarranted attack on Israel. I guess he expects them to just sit there and let people die while Gaza fires rockets at Civilians. I hate watching just one news channel but I had to change the channel for the rest of the day.
Goodbye Peter King. You've BURIED yourself.
It's people like King who are ruining America. Instead of doing his job, he seeks to prevent Obama from doing his. In the end, King will be seen as a very small and utterly useless imp.
Yeah I guess the best journalist just fall in line
When bush was in office Hillary Clinton said rebellion was a form of patriotism. Why the change now? Typical lib hypocrite.
If this was a republican administration the democrats would be foaming at the mouth, Come to think of it, they already are.
There was plenty of money to fund embassy security – the decision was a political one, not financial.
How much money is $430 Million??? Last year repubs robbed embassy security of $130 million. This year in march they robbed embassy security of another $300 million. These are HUGE cuts, to the bone cuts. Suppose they had the money they should have had this wouldn't have happened.
DId the democratic controlled Senate and President approve those cuts?
The appropriations bill was decimated in committee, it was tabled by republican vote.
Dear freeloader who does not pay taxes...yeah you 47%...the only thing greater than the shallow depths of your ignorance is your intelligence. Obama's budget plan was unanimously voted down in the senate 99-0 and the house 414-0. He was rejected by both parties fool. What does that say about your great leader. Foolish follower.
Please tell me how it helped any political party to unfund security? Hahahahahahaha
The gop killed those folks, not terrorist.
"For fiscal 2013, the GOP-controlled House proposed spending $1.934 billion for the State Department’s Worldwide Security Protection program — well below the $2.15 billion requested by the Obama administration. House Republicans cut the administration’s request for embassy security funding by $128 million in fiscal 2011 and $331 million in fiscal 2012. (Negotiations with the Democrat-controlled Senate restored about $88 million of the administration’s request.) Last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that Republicans’ proposed cuts to her department would be “detrimental to America’s national security”."
Yet State Department Official Charlene Lamb testified under oath that the requests for security denied by the State Dept were not denied due to funds.
so if the congress didnt give as much as obama asked for then thats a cut? it is truly amazing how people are defending this. I think democrats are starting to realize that this is a real story not something made up by republicans...the election is over...there is nothing to gain from dragging this out for republicans, unless you are cynical enough to believe they would do this to influence an election 4 years away.
Zeke, they are calling for Watergate type investigations. What does that mean? Impeachment. That is what they are after now since the American people re-elected Obama that's all they have left to hold on to their power. 2014 is going to be a tough year for the GOP unless they start working for Americans and not against our President.
Show proof of your statement. Note, it must be valid proof and not from some whack job blog nor fox noise.
the proof of the statement is in Petraeus's testimony ya dumb jackwagon. Nothing confuses liberals more than the facts!
This was not an embassy, this was a consulate. Entirely different animals with entirely different amounts of security. Surprised at such outrage over this and the apparent lack of concern over 9/11/01. 9/11/01 was used to bring about American unity behind our President and then go attack Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11/01. This incident for the GOP is to bring about the demise of our President instead of unity. The same thing they have been trying to do for the past 4 years. Watch out GOP in 2014. The majority of the American people see you for who and what you are. Time to change your tune. Just ask Newt and Jindle.
Obama lies
Obama will be known as one of the top 10 greatest presidents. In 100 years, history will look very scornfully at the gop in the 21rst century. Smart voters on the other hand, are not waiting for history.
There will be entire chapters devoted to the Racist Rennaisance of the New GOP. I'll be telling my grandchildren about their "Reign of Error"
I guess you still have not had your lesson on thinking. If his second term doesn't get dramatically better he won't make the top 43,
One thing for sure, Obama will be noted for having an unemployment rate of 8% or higher for 43 months compared to the last 11 presidents who totaled 39 months combined. Yes, this is a great resume for a great president. I'd say you were blind, but you'd only turn a blind eye to it.
The janitor at the Circus is derided for all the crap he has to clean up from more elephants than history has ever seen at the Circus.
"This janitor will go down as the worst in History! He waded through more crap than the last 10 Janitors before him!"
why do you hate america?
What evidence do you have that Mike58 hates America?
No fool your Marxist President hates America and white people. Your just one of his parasitic followers. People like you worked the gas chambers for Hitler. Prepare for the backlash fool.
Hi, puppet.
Can you name a politician who doesn't?
Democrats thought it better to put a $100,000 swimming pool in the Paris Embassy rather than spend money on Benghazi security.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/jason-chaffetz-embassy_n_1954912.html
For the past two years, House Republicans have continued to deprioritize the security forces protecting State Department personnel around the world. In fiscal year 2011, lawmakers shaved $128 million off of the administration's request for embassy security funding. House Republicans drained off even more funds in fiscal year 2012 - cutting back on the department's request by $331 million.
Still plenty to get the job done.
the huffington post? really steve. why not a MSNBC website. How about the DNC website.
That would have bought probably 1/2 hour of security from 10 marines. If republicans hadn't deciminated the embassy security budget directly this wouldn't have happened period. You are told to make cuts, deep cuts, to the bone cuts, so you do. When consequences happen the congress who told you to destroy your security budget is no where to be found.
Marines do not get paid anything extra, just their base salary plus 225.00 a month combat pay
Terry Williams had the whole place targeted but no drone was set in. He held his position until he was taken out by mortar fire. Your president is a murder of his own people. I wish you were blown up instead of Williams.
the folks who worked in the STATE DEPT providing security in libya gave testimony to congress stating that the cuts had nothing to do with the amount of security at the consolate. They also admitted requests for more security were denied. They made a judgement that the security was accurate. This has nothing to do with cuts...
The fact that obama was re-elected in the midst of this is proof that being black is the greatest asset a politican can have
Republicans want to spend Hundreds of Billions to go to war with Iran (totally off the books of course) instead of giving it's citizens health care. Hahahahahahahah
There is no war with Iran you laughing fool.
Nothing is stopping you from getting your own healthcare, or are you too helpless, and only the government can provide it for you. Do something that will help this country and quit feeding at the trough.
Okay ONE MORE TIME! It was the GOP HOUSE that cut funding to embassy security. The Benghazi incident rests with them–the blood and responsibility is in/on their hands.
And ONCE AGAIN, GOPers are playing politics with this situation–smear Rice in order to appoint Kerry in order to free up a Dem senate seat so that Scott Brown can be appointed. This is disgraceful!
No fool. The bottom line is your leader is a gutless fool, who got 4 people killed, period. Al Qaeda still exist in spite of the death of Bin Laden. Seems that Bush was right all a long. killing Bin Laden does not seem to make a difference to stopping Al Qaeda. Your emperor is just a Marxist who hates you his followers, white people and this country. But, he loves barbarian Muslims and nonwhite Jew haters
And your Idol GWB darkhorse got 3000+ killed on 9/11/01 and then another 5000+ in Iraq over non-existent WMD. What play the comparison game, who is more of an idiot?
You mean Clinton got 3000 civilians killed by boning his intern instead of attending security briefings. He also killed the economy by changing regulations in the housing industry so that people who couldn't afford 250,000 dollar houses could buy them anyway. The economy was crashing right before Bush took Office and then his incompetence showed it's ugly head when New York was attacked by Bin Laden despite security briefings telling him to take the guy out 2 years prior to him leaving office. Democrats will stop at nothing to turn a weed into a Rose as long as they still keep getting their food stamps and rent paid.
4 people died. Do any left leaning people, care what what happened? Where was Obama? He's said he said, do whatever you have to do to save our people. Did he stick his head in the room then go on the View? Aren't you at least curious what the President was up to? Do you think the spouses and families of the deceased might be curious? Do you think they are owed that honesty? Or is that just the cost of doing business these days. Win some, lose some.
Why did repubicans vote to decimate the embassy security budget? Don't you think if they had $300 million extra dollars (yes that is a lot of money they cut $300,000,000) they might have been able to put some marines there instead of local security.
Your comment is baseless and aligns with many democratic talking points that ignore the facts. They had PLENTY of money to protect the Embassy. If they were so broke, why did they instead protect the embassy in France with 100 soldiers instead of Benghazi? Where did the money come from to have a whole strike force standing by in Tripoli? To have war ships sitting off the coast? The list goes on and on. There was plenty of money but it wouldn't align with Obama's spin that Libya war went flawless and then Al Queda was on the run.
3,000+ Americans died. Bush read a book about a pet goat then sent 4,000 more Americans to die for Iraqi oil. Army suicide rates hit all time highs.150,000 Iraqi civilians were killed. etc...
Instead if sitting on the couch listening to Chris Matthews, how about you read a book instead? There is mountains of evidence to make your comment look ignorant and biased just like your mainstream media.
We absolutely care. We simply believe in waiting for the investigation to be completed and ALL of the facts to come out before making a judgement. Just like we thought we should wait before invading Iraq. Remember how that turned out for the Right Wing Nuts who like to shoot from the hip?
37 of 49 Senate Democrats and 216 of 231 House Democrats Voted for the Iraq War. If you're going to starting pojnting fingers, point at your party as well.
I lean left, and I would like to know exactly what happened. So far, I suspect additional security was refused due to budget constraints (you asked for it, Tea Party), and then there were some communication screw ups internally that led to external communications that were conflicting. Furthermore, I think much of the intel that led to those communications was classified, so it couldn't be brought to the public. Do I think there is an elaborate cover up? No. I don't see a plausible reason for cover up. If a viable motive for cover up is raised, I leave my position open for reversal. Do I think the situation could have been communicated better? Absolutely.
So what's your spin job on why the CIA assessment was changed by the White House?
Don't quite understand why you're shrieking over these 4 lives more than the ~ 5000 soldiers in Iraq, etc. Tragic consequence of war.
Because their lives weren't sacrificed for an election.
Can someone explain to me how according to Obama he called it an act of terror on September 12th yet he sent out Rice 5 days later to read the talking points where she called it a "spontaneous attack" ? He said yesterday he sent her out. He called it an act of terror yet she called it a "spontaneous attack". That's pretty clear that something is being hidden. Obama could murder someone but Republicans can't question it because "they are upset they lost". Even if they are let them find the truth. If they are wrong they look even worse. If they are right then we got the truth
You are forgetting that in testimony this week, the CIA and Intelligence head said they did not produce briefings indicating it was a spontaneous mob. THeir briefs said it was a terrorist attack. ... likely al-quaeda. Evidence confirms the WH changed the talking points to fit their naive narrative.
Was Obama lying then or is he lying now?
Don't you think it could be a "spontaneous terror attack"? There's plenty of Towel Heads that want to kill people from the US. Idiot. Hahahhaahahahha
Not one with Mortars and RPGs
Why can't a spontaneous act of violence also be an act of terrorism? You Right Wing Nuts love to twist words to suit your agenda. Always jumping to conclusions.
After reading most of the articles that have appeared today. I have gotten the impression that there were by far too many cooks in the kitchen I sincerely think that they weren't sure at the time that it happened of what really had transpired.
But, can you imagine if Obama had actually stated Gee, we really don't know what happened?
I think it is good the "people" (e.g. Republicans) are "questioning" (making partisan attacks) our "government" (Pres Obama). The more the Republicans focus energy on issues that in the end have ZERO relevance, the more they will continue to get their butts kicked on Election Day. I think the Republican Party and Fox News should focus 24/7 on this! Let's face it, they are a party without ideas, without viable leaders, and without anything constructive to say about how to move the country forward. Having once been a loyal GOPer I look at the party now and honestly think it is a pathetic caricature of everything Americans hate about the system. All you GOP apologists out there, just keep foaming at the mouth about this issue for the next year or so – meantime, the rest of us will continue the difficult and important business of moving the country forward.
Republicans blame Obama for lack of security but Republicans voted to cut funds for embassy security. Hypocrisy!
State Department Official Charlene Lamb testified under oath that the requests for security denied by the State Dept were not denied due to funds.
why did republicans vote to kill americans?
They didn't. The dems will have to give up their $15 muffins.
It's one thing to cut funding globally (which actually includes money to build new and upgrade current embassies), it's another to question cutting security after an embassy had been bombed twice in the previous months
cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/10/rep-chaffetz-says-he-absolutely-cut-funding-for-embassy-security/
Watch the video and hear a republican congressman with your own ears ADMIT to decimating the US embassy security budget for this year.
Austerity has consequences
FACT: State Department Official Charlene Lamb testified under oath that the requests for security denied by the State Dept were not denied due to funds.
why did republicans vote to kill americans?!?!? You decimate their budget, tell them to cover everything with what they have before 9/11 even, so they make cuts. Then look what happened?
They didn't. There was plenty of funding for an administration that knows what it's doing and has ethics.
FACT: House Republicans voted to cut nearly $300 million from the U.S. embassy security budget. When asked if he voted to cut the funds this morning on CNN, Chaffetz (R – UT) said, “Absolutely“:
Repubicans now realize that Austerity has consequences which sometimes means lives.
FACT: State Department Official Charlene Lamb testified under oath that the requests for security denied by the State Dept were not denied due to funds.
FACT: Bills cannot become law without an approving vote in both the US Senate (controlled by Democrats) and the US House of Representatives (controlled by Republicans). The final bill must be signed by the President or his veto overridden by votes in both houses of congress.
Lies of omission are still lies.
The latimes has a very well balanced story but won't help those incapable of reading or those too full of hate to seek the truth.
snippits...
The recently resigned spy chief explained that references to terrorist groups suspected of carrying out the violence were removed from the public explanation of what caused the attack so as not to tip off the groups that the U.S. intelligence community was on their trail.
Schiff said Petraeus said Rice's comments in the television interviews "reflected the best intelligence at the time that could be released publicly."
"There was an interagency process to draft it, not a political process," Schiff said. "They came up with the best assessment without compromising classified information or source or methods. So changes were made to protect classified information."
ref: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/la-na-petraeus-believed-terrorists-behind-libya-attack-20121116,0,4711216.story
Compare the above story, and the tilted story full of spin on the fox news site. Propaganda is a wonderful tool and fox news are masters of the trade.
Conservatives are ignorant or just treasonous. You can't say what you know always because of security issues. These are called "methods and operations? We have people who are so ignorant they can't figure out if believed your spouse was going out on you the best move it to say nothing. If you bring it up they know you are collecting intelligent on them and they can take counter measures against you collecting intelligence. If you tip off a terrorist group that they are suspected, they can go into hiding making it harder to take them out. Treasonous conservatives would out intelligence to make Obama look bad. These people are little more than the enemy within.
The LA Times? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Might as well been Chris Matthews.
"Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) said today that he voted to cut funding for U.S. embassy security amid political attacks from Republicans"
O’BRIEN: Is it true that you voted to cut the funding for embassy security?
CHAFFETZ (REP): Absolutely. Look, we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have — think about this — 15,000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, private army there for President Obama in Baghdad."
Republicans have the blood of 4 dead Americans on their hands. No wonder they are crying and whining on here.
LOOK IN THE MIRROR and you'll see who is responsible for Benghazi.
And we’re talking about can we get two dozen or so people into Libya to help protect our forces? When you’re in tough economic times, you have to make difficult choices how to prioritize this.
Nonsense. State Department Official Charlene Lamb testified under oath that the requests for security denied by the State Dept were not denied due to funds. The warnings were there and plenty. They went to the Obama administrations State Dept and he failed to respond because that didn't fit his view that "Our enemy is on the run". Oh by the way, he removed that from his stump speech on October 17th. Geez, wonder why.
God bless you Sly, you are patient and wise... It's a pity we live in a world of illiterates who prefer hate to truth. Now, the misguided, illiterate right will have to dig deeper, double down, and find a new angle on this whole thing. It is a pity, we as Americans never used to politicize death of our countrymen. Times have changed and now we have "truff seeking "patriots" ". Their lapel flag pins prove their patriotism and their only sacrifice for our country; plastic patriots.
Perhaps they can revisit the Bush era weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that caused us to spend trillions of dollars and send hundreds of thousands of American soldiers into harms way, with thousands upon thousands sacrificing their lives...I believe we heard SEVERAL STORIES from the REPUBLICANS during that timeframe. All things considered, I think the Republicans LOSE THAT comparison as well.
Get off your freaking high horses. Things happen, and they are being checked out. Does anyone HONESTLY believe our Government INTENTIONALLY put our people in harms way? I might add that if our intelligence was good enough to track down Osama Bin Laden, that, perhaps, if they would have had PRIOR knowledge of the event, they would have WARNED our people and kept them out of harms way.
In this case, it was just a week or so. Iraq? How long did the Bush White House INSIST there weapons of mass destruction in Iraq????? Have they ever REALLY said how they SCREWED UP THAT INTELLIGENCE SO BAD??????
Reinventing history for your own benefit? Your comments are as baseless as the writing on the Bathroom wall.
cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/10/rep-chaffetz-says-he-absolutely-cut-funding-for-embassy-security/
Republicans admit cutting embassy security by over $300 million for 2012.
Susan Rice continually prefaced her statements with "at this point in time," "our information is not yet complete," "the investigation is continuing," "we believe" and "it's too soon to know for sure." Clearly, she is saying no one is sure. Where is the conspiracy? She is only giving talking points given to her! Condoleeza Rice did the same and was completely wrong. Thousands of American lives were lost due to Condi's and Powell's faulty information. Why didn't McCain and Graham hemmorrhage then?
They didn't go ballistic then because they had their boy Bush Jr. in office and wouldn't want to make him look bad. Now that Obama is in office and beat them not once but twice they have to do whatever they can to bring him down. Let's make it clear, they are for the party before the people. 2014 is going to be a bad year for the GOP! I wish they would stop this BS and get with the times so they won't lose the house as well. One party with too much control is NOT a good thing.
If we as Americans spent as much time holding our representatives to a higher standard as we do acting like children in the comments section of every article, maybe we could get our country back. Like rabid fans of a football team, citizens of this country have chosen sides and blindly follow a chosen team, regardless of the consequences. But this is not a game. The rich and powerful in government have successfully divided and conquered the populus and we have let them. While we fight among ourselves, flinging blame and insults, most of which are not based on fact, but rather on the talking points each party gives us, the rich and powerful in government get richer and more powerful. The fringe element of each party has taken over and forced everyone to take a side, even when we don't completely agree with either one. Look at the comments here. Are any of them constructive or are they just the frustrated rantings of a society that has finally realized we have lost control of our own country? Stop blaming people no longer in office and stop focusing on the past. Focus on the problems at hand right this minute and demand solutions fof the future. We can't change what was, but we have the power to change what will be is we stick together and let our leaders know that we need better than what they are giving us if we are to survive. The reason we have more than one party is to help keep a check and balance on government as a whole in order that ALL are represented in some way. But these two parties, and make no mistake about it – one is just as guilty as the other – have set out to destroy one another, and our country in the process. Wake up people, and use these comment sections to do some good instead of continuing to stir the pot with your vitriol and insults. Stick together and demand that our representatives work together to FIND the truth, then SPEAK the truth, even if it may be hurtful to their "side". We should all be on the same side, but thanks to power hungry politicians and a media that has turned it's back on honest journalism, we are more at war with ourselves than we are the terrorists. I have tried to read every article I can today from a cross-section of sources, and the descrepencies in the reporting is mindboggling. You have to wonder if the representatives speaking were actually in the same room together, given their differing accounts of the same conversations. And you can tell which side each media outlet is on by which account they chose to focus on. Wake up people. Are you a Democrat, a Republican or an American? If you are an American, use the resources available to you to let our so-called leaders in both parties know they are going to be held to a higher standard. If you can't be part of the solution, at least don't perpetuate the problem. Try speaking up instead of lashing out.
"takebackamerica" You must be a native american!!!!!! Hahahahahhaah
Well written. But being silent in the face of silly Republican conspiracy theorists is very difficult.
I know that it's difficult for each side to keep quiet, because each side thinks it is right. Nobod wants to be on the losing team. That's why I propose we form a team of our own to let them kmow there is a growing number of us who do not like the extremism, bickering and divisivness. The truth always falls somewhere between the extremes, but these two parties are determined to fight to the death to declare a "winner". If we the people can't find common ground to demand the truth and accept it, whatever it turns out to be, how can we expect either of these parties to behave any differently. There are a lot of unanswered questions. We need to start looking at the facts as they are revealed through our own eyes, not through the glasses supplied to us by whichever party we may favor.
The Bush Family funded the Nazi's and had JFK murdered using EH Hunt as the hit man under the supervision of GH Bush because JFK wanted to stop funding the MIC and abolish the FED. You mean the truth like that?
From your comment, it would appear that the Republicans don't have a monopoly on conspiracy theories, which reinforces my point that by standing togetheras Americans instead of dividing ourselves into D's or R's, we would have more power to demand FACTS from our government. In doing so, we might just be able to find the truth behind those theories, regardless of which side is doing the theorizing. Thanks for proving my point.
Well written. It is time for our reps in Washington to realize they represent the people. They are elected to office by people from both parties. Its like two football teams trying to win the Super Bowl. The country is the looser. You when you are elected both political parties voted for you. You represent every body.
takebackamerica- Thank you for comment. United we stand, divided we fall. Simple words that have lost their meaning in this country. We spend so much time, energy and money fighting against the "other side". People have forgotten that compromising is not a betrayal of everything they believe in but a necessary ingredient for progress to be made.
Well Put!
I love my country. It was founded on enabling the free spirit of an individual to pursue his dreams through hard work. Sadly, the Democratic party has changed in the last 20 years to taking that away from me just to garner votes.
why would republicans block a bill to increase funding for embassies and then try and blame democrats when the security gets breached? Do these republicans not realize that Austerity has consequences? The blood is on their hands.
The head of Budgets for Embassies says specifically a month ago that budget cutbacks had NOTHING to do with Benghazi. They had plenty of budget to have proper security. They just didnt have it for some other reason.
one word...Iraq
And where in Petraeus' testimony did he say Rice misspoke? Where? It seems Rep. King-whom the Republicans prefer to believe-and Representative Smith have very different views of what Petraeus testified. How can you blame Rice who simply read what she was given? With this coverup theory composed by Republicans, how can you then ignore what Condoleeza Rice did with the WMD testimony?
This is really easy. Who gave Rice the talking points. She must know. I suspect the talking points originated with Axelrod.
Who gave C. Rice and Powell theirs? That person or persons cost us thousand and thousands of American lives.
trying to explain something to a repub is like talking to a rock
I think you have that reversed. I'm very liberal in super liberal Canada and we are all laughing at how the left down there are being so ignorant to the facts. This story doesnt say it clearly. Patreaus specifically said he said it was terrorism in his talking points and it was scrubbed there after. It wasnt classified.
It should not matter if you swing left or right, what really matters is the truth. Stop spinning the story one way or the other to get your political views accross. Here is a concept, let's honor those who died and their families by coming together to let our leaders know (be it Republican, Democrat, or Independent) that we want the truth.
Here's the truth. Towel Heads hate the US. Towel Heads killed someone in a country that hates the US. Is that so hard to believe? Hahahahahahaah
Well said!
Poor Republicans. Just can't accept their loss. Get over it. You lost the election. Benghazi won't change that.
remind them that these were terrorist acts, done by TERRORISTS.
THis has nothing to do with the election. Why would you even think that?
@JOEtruth...Oh yes, it does. Has everything to do with hurt feelings from the election. Post-election hate. Quite obvious.
Nonsense. This has been going on since before the election. You are only upset now because you are so late to the conversation
Well, the lost the White House but they won the House. They are not out of "power". A lot of the same people that voted for Obama voted for a GOP rep.
Who is speaking of power? You did. I was speaking of childish feelings being hurt in a loss.
so itls ok to cover up inconvenate attacks if your a democratic. Would you feel the same if Bush had tried it?
I read comments from congress regarding David Petraeus' testimony. I didn't read anything about there being a warning that led to this. I didn't read any statement that he made against Susan Rice. There were multiple incidents happening at the same time. So, it took time to clear everything up.
McCain and Graham are bitter old men that haven't said exactly what Rice said wrong!
She said this was the current information, and deferred to the FBI for the FULL story!!!!
YOu Chicken Noodle Newsers are so far behind the information curve on this. You are so 30 days ago. Keep reading. You'll find a plethora of cables from the ambassador and others BEFORE the attack asking for more security. Cables about how the Red Cross and Brits left town. Cables about how "somebody" blew a 12' hole in the embassy wall a week or so before the attack. How the Libyans supposedly assigned to the embassy were acting strange and doing recon on the embassy the day before the attack. Oh, and did I mention the cable about how the al-qaeda flag was being raised on buildings around the city? Geez, you are so pompous.
Citations?
@tomnicoly
Do a search. Its been in the news for 2 months. You folks on here just follow the MSM and I don't mean that as you don't watch Fox, I mean its been carpeted everywhere, you all just ignored it.
Are there two "Johns" posting here?
You seem to be saying things quite different from another "John" who is writing nonsense.
I just changed to John316.
My reply is threaded in response to the John that said he didn't read anything about there being warning of an attack or something like that.
Just got my "Presidential Gift Package" in the mail from the fed ex guy. delivered straight from the white house. Kind of P.O. though, cuz i voted like 8 times and only have 3 of these "Presidential Gift Packages" thus far. Have any of you other democrats received a gift for all of the votes you made or just for the first one?
Yes. I got mine!! It was called Romney! Hahahahahahaha
Republicans think we keep national security secrets in Paula Broadwell's p_s_y. Because that's the only thing compromised in this case. Hahahahahah
Anyone wonder why the CIA knew it was an al-qaeda attack but that Petraeus testified under oath that it was a flash mob? Kinda smells like Holder and the President were holding a certain secret activity of his over his head.
petraeus is a republican, what do you expect?
He wasn't under oath the first time. Now he was. And he'd mentioned it, it was just taken and ran with by the WH Admin to be the lower emphasized video. It MAY have had the video cause a disturbance as a back drop for the terror attack, but it was a terror attack by AQ affiliates. Who ever edited the talking points later, took out the AQ part and said the video as fact when it was maybe used as cover and within a few days was clearly put as just AQ yet Rice even after that still had talking points stating it was the video. Real time video they saw today shows obviously no video protestors, just pure violence coming from an AQ attack
all lies. the movie trailer came out weeks before the protest and it was even admitted earlier that there was no protest.
Just wondering, my company just increased our health care rates by 30% for next year... Is it costing anyone less money now that Obamacare is coming??
Most of the Affordable Care Act hasn't come on-line yet. Did your employer specifically blame Obamacare for the increases? Doubtful. It's called inflation, it's called rising healthcare costs. Programs don't just get passed and magically days later our economy is saved. These programs take time to get put together, get organized, and get results. Even when the switch does get flipped I don't imagine we'll see the major savings for some time until the market adjusts. You're worse than a 5 year old who wants their candy NOOOOOOOOOOOOW. Quit whining.
Your company did not raise rates–the sc*mbag insurance company did. The insurance industry hates the idea of actually having to provide coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They are the primary reason why we all have to "put in "more–so they don't earn less profit (note: less profit, not more of a loss)
health care costs by employers have gone up a pretty steady 30% every year for the last 10 years. Since obama care it reduced it to 22%, once the actual watered down gov't option comes online additional increases should be realized for those within the umbrella of the gov't plan. One the plus side, once the insurance companies go bankrupt, single payer will already setup and ready to take the entire nation on.
Condoleezza Rice claimed that Iraq had nuclear weapons, not simply generic WMD. But I guess it's OK if the Republican Rice can be wrong and her "error" was used to justify invading Iraq which ultimately resulted in 4,000 U.S. servicemembers being killed and thousands maimed (not to mention tens of thousands of Iraqi deaths and injuries). But that's OK – she's a Republican so, of course, any errors are understandable. But for the Democrat Susan Rice to be even slightly wrong is inexcusable. I'm sold. Where do I sign up to join with the anti-American faction of the Republican Party?
Do you have a source for that?? Because i believe that is total BS.. But thats what your party is all about.. Lies lies lies... keep them coming... the election is just proof the majority of americans are idi ots.. like you...
Who needs a source? It's pretty common knowledge, isn't it? Do you need a source for the discrepancy between nuclear weapons and WMDs?
Actually, most of the Bush people (including Powell) either testified or spoke of WMD in Iraq. Most of America is smart enough not elect a sc*mbag like Mittens
And your party is about "truth, truth, truth"? That's a great laugher.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/23/opinion/why-we-know-iraq-is-lying.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/08/iraq.debate/
Every intelligence organization in the world said Iraq had WMD. The Bush administration didn't change the intelligencetalking points to say something different as it appears President Obama's White House did.
Amazing how Republicans now think it's okay to agree with "every intelligent agency in the world" as opposed to requiring our own intelligence agency to do its job. Condoleeza Rice gave faulty intelligence that convinced the American people and Congress to take us into an unnecessary war that has cost us over 3000 lives. Unforgivable.
That is absolutely not true.
No, J0e Truth, every intelligence organization in the world DID NOT say that Iraq had WMD. There were even intelligence agencies in this country that said that Iraq did not have active WMD programs. Further, the international inspectors in Iraq who were looking for evidence of active WMD programs, many of whom are Americans and people I know personally, said there was no evidence of active WMD programs. Even further, technical experts (engineers, etc.) in the processes required to refine uranium were adamant that the aluminum tubes, repeatedly cited by Bush Administration officials as suitable only for use in centrifuges, were in fact completely unsuitable for that use. They were for what the Iraquis said they for – mortars. This information was known to and buried by the Bush Administration because it would weaken their case for the unjustified war they were bound and determined to have. Finally, one of the Bush Administration's key sources for info on conditions inside Iraq, Ahmed Challabbi, turns out to have been an Iranian sympathizer or agent. Is it any wonder that the only ones who are better off as a result of Bush's misadventure in Iraq is Iran?
You took the words out of my mouth.
nearly 110,000 dead in that war, Over 66k of those were civilians, over 6500 total US lives lost (combatant and civilian support)
All of that for completely inaccurate false and yet continuously defended bad intelligence. It took over 4 years for the administration to even begin to admit they were wrong about WMD's but remained in complete denial of any wrongdoing.
The Obama administration corrected their statements almost immediately.
See the difference?
Thats ok, just leave out the estimated 1 million women and children that have also died.
I saw Susan Rice's on Meet the Press, and she did fine in terms of not putting out misleading information. She said the attack was initially a response to a video that touched off a series of events in Cairo.
But deferred to the FBI investigation for a more definitive answer.
What's wrong with that??
There was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong in what she had said in any of her appearances.
Every time she said anything based on the information she had, she was careful to add that "there was an investigation going on" and that we would have the complete picture after that.
Which part of "There is an Investigation Going On" don't people understand?
Um.. because it is now known that they knew it wasn't because of a video... have you had your head in the sand for the last 2 months or something???? It is pretty obvious to anyone who isn't a idi ot or kool-aid drinker that they lied....
Right, so were you this upset when you found out that Iraq didn't have WMD's? Not in the slightest I'm quite sure.
4 Americans dead this past September. A tragedy by all measures.
6500 Americans dead and over 100k lives lost in Iraq. Somehow that's just the cost of war where our brave soldiers gave their lives defending our country from a threat of chemical/biological/nuclear attacks that ended up being completely false.
There's Kool Aid and then there's right-wing nutjob crystal meth. Both will rot your teeth but one will also make you insane.
People know NOW. Exactly NOW. There were multiple incidents taking place at the same time.
Rice said "currently", and deferred to the FBI investigation.
John
Why don't you go post on Fox News? Oops, wait–you can't. Fox News disabled their comments section early this year because of the caustic, racist, ignorant comments by their viewers like you. Mittens lost, the conservative right are a total joke.
What is wrong with that? It is simply not true. There was never any sort of demonstration in Benghazi that day. The attack had NOTHING to do with the video.
Look, there were DEFINITELY protests about the videos going on throughout the middle east. Even Pertraus has referenced the riots. However, the riots and the actual attack on the embassy were 2 separate things that overlapped. The groups rioting and the group that planned to attack and raid the embassy are completely unrelated.
I really don't think the administration had enough information to know one way or the other for sure and they made a bad decision to ASSUME the attack AND the riot were one in the same. They have since retracted their statements.
It took over 4 years for the Bush administration to even comment on the absence of WMD's in Iraq. They also said the Iraq combat operations would last "Mere months".
There are always mistakes, half-truths and flat out lies from presidential administrations. ALWAYS. I just feel that this particular misnomer by the Obama administration is both par for the course and frankly is being handled with far more cooperation and honesty after the fact than we've seen from any of the last 4 presidents. Clinton and Monica included.
You may not like Obama but do us a favor and go get in touch with actual reality here.
I watched the Libyan Riots on TV.... LIVE. ON CNN and FOX NEWS.
There is something VERY wrong with her answer. Obama's ONLY international cred was that he "killed" Bin Laden, and thus neutered Al Qaeda. When all the evidence, and all the reports, made it clear that Al Qaeda was not only still around, but very active, and had managed to storm our embassy and murder our ambassador, the political fallout for Obama could have been devastating.
So the Obama administration apparently decided to lie, instead. They sent Susan Rice out to tell a lie ... with a condition. This political corruption is worse than Watergate. It not only reveals the Obama administration's incompetence (they were told an attack was coming, and they sat on the information ... so 4 people died), but their honesty (spinning it later by saying it was a film, not Al Qaeda.
And for those of you Obama lemmings who want to compare this to WMDs in Iraq, remember: Your favorite Democrat member of Congress most likely saw the same intelligence, and voted FOR invading Iraq. Obama wasn't a US Senator at the time.
Watergate??? That was moths after the fact. This was happening in real time.
Thank you James for pointing out that Republicans voted down a bill to fund Embassy security.
Of course intelligent people know that any American living surrounded by thousands who hate Americans are at risk.
But, at least we know exactly who's blood is on their hands: Republicans didn't feel like paying to protect those 4 Americans. Those 4 lives, like the 500,000 lives in the Middle East, were not important to them.
socerraus15
Is there any other angle in this story why the administration suppress the facts, is any body wants the Ambassador to be dead, who instructed he should be in benghazi while he should be at Tripoli, Is there any financial interest acted in the distribution of money for various counter insurgencies in that country involved and try to divert into vested interested peoples, Is the Ambassador acted against it............. Why the administration watch the attack in the real time , is it to make sure every thing end in a calculated way.......God knows.
Nice revelation, confusion arise out of 20 or such reports from different parts, BUT THEY ARE WATCHING DIRECTLY IN BENGHAZI IN REAL TIME THERE IS NO DEMONSTRATION, HOW COME THEY THINK AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Its easy to make people stupid so as the election result. But there is almighty is there whoever involved in the blood of these 4 innocent people will get their punishment from god no matter what.
There was plenty of funding. The state department testified under oath that the requests for additional security were not denied because of funding. They had the resources. Republicans are the only party who does care about those 4 lives as well as unborn ones. Find another conspiracy theory to use in your uninformed propaganda.
If this does not smell like impeachment I do not know what does....I can not believe this administration,if he did not know he should be impeached for not doing his job of protecting American citizens,and if he did know he should be impeached for not doing his job,how hard is this ? As my Mother would say ...this stinks to high heaven....this is so political and where is the transparency Obama said in his first time around,I do not believe anything a politicain says....you know when they are lying ....when their lips move!
Ruth you are so biased. Then Bush should have been impeached for not protecting Americans on 9/11 and impeached Reagan also as there were attacks on servicemen in Lebannon when he was President.
Uhm... the whole reason there is anything for you to complain about is because they were trying to be transparent. It's pretty obvious that you have never worked for a company with more than 2 people in it. If you had, you'd understand that as information gets passed along up the tree, it changes... ever play the whisper game? where you whisper something in the person next to you's ear? by the time your message hits the end of the line, it's completely different than what you said. Finally, as for impeachment, there must be "high crimes and misdemeanors" in order to even get an impeachment hearing in place. Exactly which high crime and misdemeanor are you going to impeach him on? And where were you when Bush was telling us all about the WMDs in Iraq? When we found none, were you screaming for impeachment?
Clearly you are an idiot!
Did your parents have any children who survived? Obama should be impeached for calling a terrorist attack an "act of terror" twice? How stupid can you possibly be? There is still exactly ZERO evidence to suggest the attack was not in response to the video which also caused protests at embassies in 23 other nations, or that it was preplanned and wasn't a "spontaneous attack" to protest the video. That you teabaggers are taking such delight in the deaths of 4 brave Americans to manufacture a "gotcha" moment is beyond the pale of rationality and borders on insanity.
The Republicans will not even try to impeach Obama over this, they are not that desperate or stupid to do that. It probably does mean that Rice will have to take one for the team and not be put up for Sec. of State but that's the worst that will happen. Too bad for Susan but that's the price you pay when you agree to be the frontman for this sort of thing. There is a reason it was Rice and not Hillary going on the talk shows and that reason is likely that she knew she was not giving an honest account. Yes it's just the same as Powell at the U.N. and Condi going on tv and saying they never dreamed terrorists would fly airplanes into buildings even after Mousaaoi ( or however his name is spelled) had been jailed and another similar plot had been uncovered a couple of years before the 9/11 attacks. But if you think about Powell is basically a private citizen and Condi is still fantasizing about being married to George so it didn't work out too well for them either.
To all you lib-tards: Whether it was a sponteneious riot or coordinated terrorist attack is not really the point here. The reason all us "right wing nuts" are concerned about this all boils down to one very simple principle that is completely foreign to you liberals – WE WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH. That's it. Is it too much to ask that our government nanny state not try to sugar coat events so that their re-elections aren't jeopardized? Our government has turned into a parent trying to explain something to a child so they try to make up some "easy" story and move on. You liberals would be saying the same thing if it had been Bush, but since it's one of your own, you just want to pretend it doesn't matter.
WMD
I agree they were super truthful about WMD's in Iraq when they were in power. Your screen name is very apt. Rat.
And what don't you get about ongoing investigations?
"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Like the truth that George W. Bush, following long standing Republican ideas about how the economy should run, came close to destroying the global economy.
Like the truth that George W. Bush, and his good buddy Darth Cheney, lied us into an unjustified and unnecessary war that will, before we are finished paying for al the disabled veterans, ruined euqipment, interest on the credit card debt run up to pay for the war, etc., cost us something over $3 TRILLION!
Like the truth that Republican policies can only be justified if you ignore truth and invent false data and magical theories (e.g., "...a woman's body has ways of shutting that whole thing down...")?
Like the the truth that the future has no use for mindless fools who, for example, insist that the world is only 6,000 years old and who, not unlike the medieval Inquisitors they resemble, would gladly burn scientists at the stake for accepting truth?
I don't think you would have voted Obama had he said from the beginning this was a terrorist attack, would you ?
It's amazing to see how some very biased right wingers are trying to make a non-issue into something.
The investigation of what really happened is still going on !
Explain to me how it makes a difference to those dead Americans whose deaths you're delighting in, what the attack is called? "Act or terror" or "terrorist attack" or "spontaneous attack" they're still dead. Personally, I believe it should be called an act of war, but I'm not crying for someone to be impeached because they don't classify things to conform to my idiosyncratic desires.
Anyone who has followed this story in the news now knows for sure that Obama is a liar. He should be removed from office. He killed those four Americans with his gross negligence. He is unfit to serve the people of the United States. He should be court martialled by the military and sent to Leavenworth Prison for 25 years.
Ho ho ho ... now that's pretty funny.
The President also lied when he said Hurricane Sandy was a natural distaster. President Obama created Sandy, and all those dead from that storm are all President Obama's fault.
All those guys who died in WWII is also President Obama's fault: Karl Rove has video of Obama actually throwing Jewish people into ovens.
Yep ... we all know the President should have gotten on his cape, and flown to that civil war, and saved those 4 guys.
Really??? It's everyone's business what happens the very minute it happens, is that right? It use to be (before the hate groups started) that we understood that were things that were KEPT QUITE until an investigation came to conclusions. However, since this President was elected in 2008 he is expected to have the answer before the investigation. Again, my fellow party members are being the "stupid party"
Please enlighten us and tell us what really happened.
I agree ,just once I would like obama to admit it was him,how can you cover this up and the American citizens even knew the truth and that Obama is a liar
Ruth...are you so ignorant as to believe that the ongoing investigations and hearings mean nothing? Who is covering up what?
I heard the same response from my 2nd graders. Luckily they have no input into the checks and balance of this country.
Dear dd, if i understand you correctly you are proposing same thing for Obama as our Right Wing Country did with G.W. Bush right? I mean 4 vs. ???? i am sure you remember the count?
King supported a terrorist group. How did he get this job??? We have a dysfunctional Congress if King is the best man for the job. Wait, according to King the IRA didn't kill Americans. What a screwball!
Amazing, not only did the 'nutty left' voted in this incompetent Pres for another four years but they are still in denial that this is the most corrupt Administration EVER! We all know why Rice, Clinton and the Pres himself tried to sell the story that this was caused due to the idiotic video. Obama even went in front of the UN and made that sales pitch when we all know by then he knew the truth – but wait – the election wasn't over so they kept up this farce until after.
Peter King is all over the News with this, he seems to be the only one talking and spinning. CNN is there another more reliable source to talk to and to report?. For years now Peter King is trying to pin some international accident to Obama. Remember back in may when terrorists in Yemen planned to smuggle an experimental bomb aboard an airplane? Peter T. King first accused the administration for NOT Telling the story then accused them of Telling the story thus endangering US travelers? This guy is the biggest loser in Washington.
One look at King tells us that that is what he is best at: Hatch conspiracy theories in his own mind and then spend his time going after the imagined conspirators. Even after he has been given a complete Time-Line of events and all quotes from Susan Rice etc., he finds scope for unearthing something that isn't there. Now he is after some loose ends in so called "talking points".
Newsflash: After America killed 500,000 in the middle east, the middle easterners hate us.
Newsflash: Those who live in anarchy and civil war surrounded by angry hateful mobs, are not safe.
Newsflash: 4000 Americans died in the Bush Oil wars.
Waaaahhhh ... I wanna see His Birth Certificate again. Waaaaahhhh.
Rumor has it that Bush was born in Saudi Arabia and when he was young he was bullied and traumatized by his Arab classmates, hence the resolve to revenge when he gets in power.
For more accurate details, please check with Donald (Trump)
Sly,
Obama LIED about our intelligence in Bengazi to HIDE his failures. Obama LIED to get re-elected.
People in the middle east hated American's BEFORE GWB. Do you recall 9-11-2001? Thousands of American civilians killed by muslims, and muslims around the world celebrated. This happened BEFORE Bush sent troop after the Taliban and AQ.
Iraq had WMD's. FACT. How do we know this, because Iraq military USED WMD's against their own people, killing 5,000 to 10,000 Iraqi Kurds in a shport period of time. Did Saddam destroy or sell his WMD's in the build up of Operation Desert Shield, yes probably. But we KNOW that Iraq HAD WMD's because they USED WMD's. This was what all of the major intelligence services thought and reported.
talking points came from.......the President!!!!
I don't understand what is going on the Bengazi issue. Americans died in the hands of bloody hands who wanted to kill them be it terriorist or riot people. they are both the same for me. The point is to find out the clown who performed that activity and brought into justice. We haven't seen a nasty murderous person like Bilanden in history. Even this guy at the moment brought into justice and paid the price. The same thing will follow on the Bengazi broad day light killers. Period. Don't politicize everything here. Even Mitt Romney don't want to talk about the Bengazi. He kept silent after his second debate with the Obama. Okay.
Extremely insightful and well written commentary. idiot.
Don't you Republicans have other more important issues to address?
After all, can't we see the Presidents Birth Certificate again? I wanna see it again.
And, what about hurricane Sandy – there is evidence that President Obama was responsible.
Don't forget about the Secessionist Rallies either ....
4 american died. Someones sons. Obama threw them under the bus.
Yes, its always Obama's fault isn't it ? Unless, you know, something happened like the Republican majority in Congress voteing down 315 million dollars in supplemental funds for Embassy security last year. Oh, they did ? Well, its still Obamas fault !
Someday you people are going to get wise to reailty.
Just bumps in the road.
That's absurd. Why does it matter that the initial reports were inaccurate or incomplete – the information was still coming in. And even if the report of what happened was inaccurate, how does that equate to throwing anybody "under the bus"?!
All your sentimental talk devoid of any reason didn't get you the elections. It won't get you anything now that the elections are over either.
Well I guess then, Bush threw my son under the bus in Iraq, is that right? Until you have lost a son or daughter, you really need to keep your mouth shut. Our sons and daughters sign up knowing going to war and dying is a possibility, they understand what it means to love this country through servive, they also are aware that the President elected by the people for the people is their Commander in Chief. Those who lost their lives knew the risks .. and those who blaming a President is the one who takes the honor in serving in the military...You Sir dishonor them, and our country
The people that think that way Sly are idiots. The majority of conservatives don't buy into any of that crap. When you have that dipstick Rick Perry calling secessionist morons, you know their out of their mind. Dems and Repubs are all liars. This is different because it diminishes our ability to understand the dynamics of the region. There is a huge difference between a spontaneous demonstration and a coordinated attack by terrorist. If we don't get the truth, we can not make educated decisions on what policies we should back. We need the truth on why and who came up with this rediculous video story. It's not right, and the families of those lost do not appreciate it. We need to stand behind them.
Doanld, with all due respect, most of us listen to the Republicans representatives and we do believe that Republicans think they should seceed from the union, that we should kill the Democrats in office, that God thinks it is ok to rape women, and that women should sit back and enjoy getting raped because that will kill the sperm cells.
You probably don't believe those things, but I think the majority of Republicans do.
Benghazi? Anyone who reads the story immediately see's that this was both a terrorist attack, as the President said the next day, AND that thousands were rioting at the embassy over the insult to their God.
It is called: 2 things happening. It sounds like many Republicans on here are not quite able to grasp the concept of 'more than one'.
Is there any other angle in this story why the administration suppress the facts, is any body wants the Ambassador to be dead, who instructed he should be in benghazi while he should be at Tripoli, Is there any financial interest acted in the distribution of money for various counter insurgencies in that country involved and try to divert into vested interested peoples, Is the Ambassador acted against it............. Why the administration watch the attack in the real time , is it to make sure every thing end in a calculated way.......God knows.
Nice revelation, confusion arise out of 20 or such reports from different parts, BUT THEY ARE WATCHING DIRECTLY IN BENGHAZI IN REAL TIME THERE IS NO DEMONSTRATION, HOW COME THEY THINK AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Its easy to make people stupid so as the election result. But there is almighty is there whoever involved in the blood of these 4 innocent people will get their punishment from god no matter what.
Time to take your pill, put your teeth back in and go lay down!
Who cares? What changes if the attack was spontaneous or terrorist? This is just semantics, in both cases the people who attacked are idiots who need to be brought to justice. Republicans are are all idiots. Tyranny wrapped in the flag is still tyranny.
That is true. The bottom line is 4 people lost their lives while the White House watch and did absolutely nothing. Nothing will happen to anyone. The absolute couurptness of Washington permeates both parties. Washington (both parties) will throw "we the people" under the bus and nothng changes.
Innocent Americans die by the hundreds every day terrorist thugs commit murder. Do they call the police up to Capital Hill and demand to know why the failed to protect citizens? NO they don't. I'm sorry these people died but they at least knew the risk in a country that volitaile. Here in this country we can be killed going for bread and no one cares.
You STILL believe that they were watching a LIVE VIDEO of everything going on in Benghazi? I thought the elections were over one week ago.
Truly, the brain-washing was complete and entirely successful.
commonvoice =no common sense
@ linda operle
You cannot drive home this simple fact in these guys' heads.
@tuscany590
I can see that you are loaded with "common sense".
So, it was your "common sense" that told you that they were watching a "Live Video of the Killings at Benghazi" – not "facts" but just your "common sense"?
It never occurred to you to question that information?
Wait, CNN is covering this story now. Oh yeah, the election is over...
Hey CNN – we could care less what Peter King has to say about the Benghazi talking points. The only point of view on those talking points that matters here is that of General Petreaus.
Do we really need to be wasting the time of all these people in a hair splitting exercise over whether we should have been saying "extremists" instead of "extremists connected to Al Qaeda" or "Al Qaeda elements?" This is what has some rightwing nuts screaming "impeach Obama?" In what sort of alternate universe do we now call for impeachment based on semantics? Do Republicans really expect the country to get excited about this? Yes, 4 people died, but they weren't killed because of anything that was SAID after the attacks.
Come on Joe – Obama caused hurricane Sandy just to get re-elected, and He certainly could have flown over to Libya when he heard the embassy was being attacked, and then he could have stood and deflected all the rocket powered grenades.
Bush woulld've gotten on his cape and robe and brought his Kryptonite, just like Bush prevented any Americans from dying in Iraq.
You're an idiot who should stop typing the moronic thoughts that illogically form in your head. The more garbage you spew the more I've convinced Liberals couldn't care less about America. If this attack had occured during President Bush's term, the media and their liberal posse would be pressing for "Watergate" like hearings. How do I know that? Look at the press coverage and outrageous assaults on Pres Bush in the wake of 9-11 that prompted a "9-11 Commission". Look at the different responses in the hurricanes. Pres Bush blamed for Katrina and Obama gets a pass though the devastation was nearly equal. Obama made a photo-op before the election and only just yesterday appeared for another. People in NY and NJ still don't have power.
It does matter. American soil was attacked by terrorist and the American people were told, "Don't worry, everything is fine. It was just over a video that a some man made in Costa Mesa that at the time 3,500 had seen. Everything will die down and be fine" They even spent 70,000 on an ad campaign in Pakistan denouncing the video. We deserve to know dynamics of the region so when the politicians discuss policy we can make an educated decision on if to back their decisions. We MUST not think Dem or Repub in this situation. We must think as Americans.
First of all, Libya is not US soil. It was not the American Embassy in Tripoli, it was an outpost in Benghazi. The attack came and we are still looking for the right answers.
Hmmm ... didn't hear you whining about 500,000 dead in the middle east because Osama Bin Laden had brought WMD's to Iraq and was hiding there.
Actually, all I heard was Republcians cheering: "Shock and Awe" ... "Rape and murder some more little brown girls".
Y'all were quite happy about those 500,000 dead, and you didn't even care that 4000 Americans died. "Its ok if they died, cause at least we're killing 500,000 brown people".
Get a life. But somewhere else, cause this is OUR country now.
How about we find out who knew what about 9/11 1st ?
And All those dead soldiers in Iraq ..... for what ?
Anyone serving in some way and who is sent somewhere like Libya knows they are at risk. Bad things happen.
There were many attacks on embassies through the world while Bush was Commander In Chief by the way.
Keep splitting hairs – you sound like a idiot
Sorry, you are right Bill. A consulate is not American soil. I apologize. Our ambassador was still in there and he was murdered. I am not trying to be political, I hope that we get the truth. It is amazing the hate a person receives for just wanting the truth.
Hey Joe,
I actually think this is important because I'm still wondering if were actually attacked on September 11th (note the significance of the date) as a result of a pre-planned terrorist attack or by some uprise due to a video. If it's a planned terrorist attack, I'm a bit concerned that we're vulnerable at a time where we typically increase our security to prevent another attack. Again, this may not be a big deal for some but I just don't want it not being answered and for the rest of the country to just move on.
Now, regarding the family of those that died as a result of this attack. The cause of their loved ones death is more than likely a pressing matter. I believe they deserve to find out whether their loved one was killed as a terrorist attack or casualties of an uproar due to a video – I think these two causes of their loved ones death is significant. On a similar topic, I think the outcome of such semantics effect the long term benefits the family receives. I'm not 100% sure if this applies to this attack, but the Fort Hood instead is being challenged because it's been labeled workplace violence as opposed to a terrorist attack. Calling this incident 'workplace violence', I believe, reduces the benefits the victims will receive especially to those heroes that stopped the attack. If this is applicable to the Benghazi attacks (again, I'm not an expert on this), then it's even more reason why these details should be ironed out.
I wholeheartedly agree with you though, about the grand-standing the GOP party is making. I'm not a big fan of it even though I lean more towards the right and I think this is just political BS for the GOP. But hopefully, you understand (maybe more sympathize) as to why people like me are watching this issue.
And yes, I look at Fox News but don't worry I also read CNN and other news sites to try to better understand the issues (someone always throws a comment out there about news sources ;-).
typo: meant '...Fort Hood incident...'
Arthur, the story says the CIA is still investigating what they believe was a 2-pronged attack: Terrorists and religious rioters. I trust our CIA, and they will tell us when they have completed investigating.
Just curious – what did you think when the Republicans voted down money for extra security for US Embassies? You mention security, but your party did not want it.
It was not important to Republicans to fund better Embassy security – and this is what happened because of that.
Hi Sly,
I'm not happy about that either, but being a registered republican doesn't necessarily mean I'm happy with everything they do or always vote republican ;-). I hope you don't always vote by party lines and actually try to look at both sides or even multiple sides of the issue – but to each his own.
BTW, do you still think the CIA is still investigating the cause of the attack after this article? Please let me know your thoughts whether or not this is a terrorist attack or if a video caused it – I'm just as curious about your opinion. Don't worry I'm not here to mock your or past judgement, just curious as to what you think.
yikes. another typo: meant '...pass judgement...'
Screw them all. Repubs and Dems can all go to hell. Don't all Americans want the truth. Anyone with any intelligence and honesty can see that the video story was fabricated. We should ALL care about who released that story. It was a lie and it hurts the country. The families of those lost sure aren't buying this crap. Maybe we should back them as fellow Americans so they can get the truth.
Totally agree, Donald. This is an American issue. We need answers.
Why do we need "talking points"? What are we, children?
Because the truth hurts Jeff.
They need talking points because there are "classified" and "unclassified" information that the public should not hear about. For example, if the CIA had classified mission that was secret why would the US government (DEM or GOP) let everyone know about them? Obviously there are certain things that need to be a secret. Just like, do we need to know the exact details about how we killed OSAMA. This is all GOP trumped up politics.
Congressional Republicans have the Obama Administration over a barrel because the classified and unclassified talking points don't match up. Of course we can't verify that because we can't see the classified talking points so we have to take the word of Congress which has a 13% public approval rating.
13% and dropping. Why is it that republican controlled house of Reps is always trying to get a democratic president. Did it with Carter, did it with Clinton, now with Obama. We can't beat him, let's drum up an impeachment!
You make no sense!! Classified and unclassified talking points are NOT suppose to match up. That is why they are "classified". By definition, they are not suppose to be the same!! IDIOT!
Don't tell me, tell King.
Wow – 4 guys die in a country in anarchy and civil war, where everyone there hates Americans (for good reason of course).
Y'all act surprised? I got news for you – over 500,000 folks have died in the mid-east wars. That included 4000 Americans, but I didn't hear ANY GOP whining about them. Wow – you Republicans are heartless to your soldiers.
This isn't whining. This is trying to find out if we were lied to by our government. And by the way... from what I've seen over the years.... Republicans are the ones honoring and paying homage to our war dead far more than Dems. Just ask any soldier. Also Sly... your President was 45 minutes late to greet Ambassadors Stevens flag drapped coffin. Nice he could make the family wait that long while he was coming back from a campaign stop. You need to go away to. You do no good here.
Ah, now I am beginning to understand all the fuss: Obama was late to the funeral.
Can we form some Committee to investigate whether Obama could've saved that guy if he had arrived to his funeral on time?
I think that all americans can agree that Sly is a troll. A useless resident of mom and dads basement who posts here because he has no other social outlet.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
I wonder how it feels to be a four star general and then Director of the CIA and find your intelligence report completely re-written by Daivid Axlelrod or Obama himself. And then when you complain about it they wait til the election is over make your affair public and force your resignation. Just a wild conspiracy theory right. Nothing to see here. Move along folks.
You whine and cry about the death of foreigners as opposed to Americans!! Enough said! With each idiotic sentence you prove my point about new radical left that hates the US.
Where is President Obama's testimony? President Obama on September 20, 2012 at a town hall said that extremists took advantage of the natural protests to the anti-Muslim video to attack the consulate in Benghazi . . .knowing from day one that there were no protests in Benghazi, the President also liked the issue of the non-existing protest in Benghazi with the Ambassadors death at his UN speech on September 25, 2012 when we no he knew on September 11-12 that there was no protests in Benghazi but a terrorist attack. . . Why did the President send Dr. Susan Rice to all the Sunday talk shows to link the attacks of Benghazi with the non-existing Protests 5 days after the attack?
Where is Secretary of State Clinton's testimony? Secretary Clinton's State Department actually created a commercial explaining that the US had no part in the Anti-Muslim video which aired on September 20, 2012 in Pakistani television and in the Arab media linking the Benghazi attack to the video when we now know they knew this was a terrorist attack from day one.
Why isn't the media asking these simple questions? Why did you and your administration link the attack in Benghazi with protests from an anti-Muslim video for several weeks after the attacks when you knew that there were no protests in Benghazi in the first day?
Let me guess...Susan Rice funded and authorized the Benghazi attacks right from the MBC studios! Have any doubts? Just ask John McCain!
Susan Rice is an Obama sycophant sent by her master to cover his lies.
You make fun of a very serious matter Sir. Would you be so smug to if you were face to face with one of the 4 families who lost a loved one? What if it were your son or daughter? Would you want to know the truth? If it were one of your family members... my guess is your partisanship would go out the window. Go away. You do no good here.
Chris. Our president has already had to write thousands of letters to parents of soldiers who died in a war that should never have been started. Four Americans are dead. Stop making it a political issue. Get McCain and King off the news channels until we get the truth.
Right-on, Shaka. They will all be called to testify, including Hilary Clinton and the president. No getting around it. Even if our president doesn't believe in accountability, the government has safeguards for this. He will have to answer to the American people eventually.
with all the REAL problems we have, these clowns are worrying about who said what when??? who cares!?
Is there any other angle in this story why the administration suppress the facts, is any body wants the Ambassador to be dead, who instructed he should be in benghazi while he should be at Tripoli, Is there any financial interest acted in the distribution of money for various counter insurgencies in that country involved and try to divert into vested interested peoples, Is the Ambassador acted against it............. Why the administration watch the attack in the real time , is it to make sure every thing end in a calculated way.......God knows.
Nice revelation, confusion arise out of 20 or such reports from different parts, BUT THEY ARE WATCHING DIRECTLY IN BENGHAZI IN REAL TIME THERE IS NO DEMONSTRATION, HOW COME THEY THINK AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STUPID. Its easy to make people stupid so as the election result. But there is almighty is there whoever involved in the blood of these 4 innocent people will get their punishment from god no matter what.
There WERE protests AND a terrorist attack. This is all such a colossal waste of money. I mean who cares. Who is surprised? The freaking election is over. Get to the real business, your real jobs, and stop wasting our money on BS.
Hey Earth to moron, this isn't about the ELECTION its about 4 AMERICANS that died NEEDLESSLY and an administration this is in cover-up mode. That have yet to present ANY shred of truth. You little radical lefties believe anything and everything you're told to believe. You're mindless voters!
Can someone tell me why so much time is being spent on this Benghazi affair? What's the worse case scenario? Are we going to display our"intelligence" strategy and fact gathering techniques to our enemies? If the administration did, actually,know the nature of the attack and had already identified the perpetrators, but did not want them to know this, should that fact have been made public, at that time? It is about time that we let those in charge do their jobs, instead of politicizing the issue. It is bad enough that 4 valiant souls were lost. Do we now have to suggest that the administration was complicit in this unfortunate accident? Satisfying one's thirst for political vengeance generally backfires!
This is all so ridiculous.
If the government had early warning of an immanent attack on the consulate but failed to act, then it is a big deal and heads should roll. For example, in August, 2001, GW Bush was handed credible evidence from Secretary Rice that terrorists might try to fly an airplane into a high-rise building in New York. His response was, "I'm on vacation," and he went back to playing golf. Oh, wait a minute.... No heads rolled after that one. Never mind.
All we have in the Benghazi situation is that there was conflicting evidence of what happened...huge intelligence and military agencies with conflicting information about an attack after the fact. This is nothing more than the "fog of war."
How is this "fog of war" when the CIA director very clearly keeps saying he had no doubt it was terrorism from the start, but the White House sends our UN Ambassador out to 5 shows 5 days later with talking point that say it was a demonstration, not terrorism? At best, Obama ignored his CIA director and never even bothered to correct the record while Republicans were screaming "what's going on?"
You can thank Obama for the partisan, political, talking points debacle. Four Americans were murdered. Obama only wanted to get re-elected. Disgrace.
Don't you have a secession rally to attend?
You are whining about 4 people?
Wake up fool: 500,000 died in the Bush wars, and YOU supported those deaths. You are your ilk are responsible for 4000 dead Americans – own up to your own responsibility.
Guess what folks: People around the world hate us, and those 4 Americans were toast the minute they decided to live in the midst of anarchy.
Get over it.
People were hating us all over the world during Clinton's admin. And we all know what he was doing instead of his job. Then we got hit with the first 9/11. Bush kept this country safe for 7 years after that. I doubt Obama will do the same.
More useless drama from the idiots! Can we just stipulate that Republicans cannot stand Obama and will stop at nothing to interfere with the real work of undoing the damage they did during the CHENEY tyranny.
@ Blah, sly Can't keep whining about Bush days. This is ALL on Obama's watch and will go down in history this way – and we have yet to see the consequences he'll face.
I do not care about the talking points. The problem is we had folks under attack that we knew about in real time and we gave them no help. There were no contingency plans to react to the attack. The State Department, the CIA, the White House, The Defense Department, and the President. You are failed, admit it, learn from it, and fix the problems. The buck stops at The President, show some leadership, tell the American people we failed and what we are going to do to make corrective actions where it never happens again.
Don't you have a secession rally to attend???
If you folks would listen you'd know that he has already said the response to the situation was unacceptable and there is an investigation underway to determine how such a debacle can be avoided in the future. And he said all of this long before election day and even in the 2nd debate. He has admitted there are problems.
Opinions fed off of politicians comments, news outlets and other opinions. I heard someone say they know someone that has a friend who heard of a guy that was indirectly involved and was informed of a insider who knows a girl that has a source about the truth. Well....now we are getting somewhere.
You say potato...I say pitayta...
And now surprise surprise! Iran it turns out has now been found to be much closer to having a nuke than previously thought. They have been sooooo affected by the tough Obama sanctions.
Like how close? 4 years closer? LMAO
Maybe Mormon Bishop Mittens should stop investing in Chinese companies doing business with Iran.
And when their nuclear ambitions are eventually haulted and the conflict is over, what are you going to say about our President's leadership? Perhaps you'd cry that he had nothing to do with it right? No, Mr. President, you didn't kill OBL, GWB did so while sleeping in Crawford Ranch.
HAS AL QUEDA OFFICIALLY CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY?
And I don't mean via twitterposting or facebook.
Perhaps by claiming the video it bought us enough time to flush out the perps?
Who cares, Obama did it. Right, cons? Big F for senile McCain and Flimsy Graham.
It matters little what the initial speculation was as provided by the intel community, from the very beginning the Obama administration said a complete investigation would be done and the perpetrators would be brought to justice. We all now wish Republicans has not blocked legislation to increase diplomatic-related security funding increases. Just as they vote down bills to benefit vets, they are the most unpatriotic party going as the American people told them a week ago last Tuesday.
Wow, so much time is being spent on nonsense. I mean, come on folks, during a fluid situations whether it’s a terrorist attack or a hurricane the initial assessment is usually wrong or never fully correct because so much of the facts are not known for days, weeks, and sometimes months. That has always been the case no matter which party is in charge. In the end, what difference does this make? Can we look forward; address what needs to be done next.
No we can't move forward Common Sense... BECAUSE THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT YOU WERE PURPOSELY LIED TO FOR 2-WEEKS! People like you are amazingly partisan. It's actually facinating to me. Obama could stand on a pile of dead puppies and delcare anarchy and folks like yourself would say..."hmmm... maybe anarchy isn't that bad. Lets give it a chance." The left has absolutely no honor when it comes to trying to find out the truth of why these guys 'had' to die!
Lied to? For what purpose?
Nine years later, have you been told the truth about WMDs in Iraq? Four Americans died in Benghazi but over 4,000 U.S. troops died in an illegitimate Iraqi war over a blatant LIE. And at least 1000 more of U.S. and NATO troops died in an Afghan war that was delibeartelt and recklessly abandoned and prolonged for the illegitimate invasion of Iraq, not to mention 1 million innocent Iraqi civilians who have been the unfortunate victims of a civil war ignited when we invaded and destabilized their sovereign nation in PEACE time to start a war. please get your right wing head out of your pie hole.
So far nobody has produced a single memo, email, etc. that claims the attack was spontaneous and due a video. You are not the least bit curious how the administration came to their conclusions during the first two weeks after the attack?
Do Dems think that intelligent Americans just fell off a turnip truck or what? The Obama campaign "crafted" the talking poinst to minimize the effect on the election and bad press on poor security at the embassy....... what is happening now is a coverup .....but why should anyone be surprised at these tactics by Obama and the Dems – they are his trademark. I suspect that the majority of Americans do not trust Obama. he is a gifted twister of fact, and very slick at creating straw demons and then attacking them like Don Quiote..... pathetic.
Fortunately for America, unintelligent incompeten fools like you voted for Romnesia and you lose!
Yeah a majority "do not trust Obama" yet he won the majority of the electoral and popular votes...
2 months before an election... and the President's message to the American people was that Al-Qaeda was descimated and non-functional. Being truthful off the top of a pre-meditated terror attack by Islamists would of directly contradicted Obama's political message. That's it... plain and simple. A cooperative, deliberate attempt to cover up the truth for political reasons. Congrats Dems... this is the type of heartless person you re-elected.
Silly RIGHT-WING nut! You are never going to get rid of very person affiliated with Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda will always exist in some form or another, especially in Muslim countries with little governance and security like Libya.
Al Qaeda will never be able to attack the US on US soil ever again because the leadership and core group has been decimated thanks to Obama's leadership.
There was no cover-up to win the election. Obama called it an act of terror and the intelligence conclusively confirmed it was indeed an act of terror once they had all the facts ... about 2 weeks later. If Obama wanted a cover-up, he would have covered-up it up until after the election.
Chris, you are obviously a moron if you think every terrorist in the world is dead.
Guess what? America has the blood of 500,000 dead in the middle east, and because of that, Bush created thousands of new terrorists.
The best question is why these 4 Americans were foolish enough to live in the middle of a civil war where everyone hates us.
Don't you have a secession rally to attend?
"Petraeus told lawmakers Friday that he had discussed the possibility of it being a terrorist attack in his initial briefing in December, according to King."
DECEMBER?? The attack happened in September. King can't even get his months straight.
Um... Thats a typo on CNN part.. go d you are an idi ot....
The paragraph you quoted was not a quote from King, but the writing of this article's author. In other words, Kind didn't say the word "December," the author of this article did, obviously mistakenly. Nevertheless, if you had a brain, you'd realize that.
First, lets get some things straight... There were materials to produce WMD in Iraq, just no Missle with WMD on it, which is what you idi ots wanted to see for some reason... Second, do you really think Bush didn't get a bad rap for Iraq?? He obviously did... SO if we can give Bush a bad rap for Iraq, why not Obama for this lie?? It seems pretty obvious they new it was a terrorist attack from the start, but for some reason, didn't want the american people to know... Probably because he thought it would mess up his chances at a second term...
Well Said John! You are more reasonable than any other posting here...
1. Bush DID NOT get a "bad rap" as it has been PROVEN many times over now that Bush AND Cheney BOTH knew that the WMD claim was purely for the P.R. purpose of gaining support for a war even though there was NEVER ANY truth to it! This BLATANT LIE resulted in the unnecessary DEATH of over 4 thousand US Troops!
2. There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE to show that Obama has spoken ANY lies regarding this attack!
Do YOU "think" you know something that the Pentagon, the White house and Congress do not know, hmm?
I didn't think so...
2. There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE to show that Obama has spoken ANY lies regarding this attack!
Well... given the FACT that he went on spewing the 'video' as the cause for 2-weeks in T-V interviews, just like Rice did, can only mean that he didn't care to find out what really happened (because if he cared enough to ask he would of found out the truth that it was a terorists attack from the CIA in the first 24 hours) The other explaination to your assertion is that he is simply incompetent. Which one is it? Bottom line is the President didn't want to know the truth because it would of hurt him politically.
amused..... No evidence that Obama lied?? Are you serious?? Do you have your head in the sand?? You are drowning in the kool-aid... if you don't get out soon, there is no helping you....
And even if President Obama or Ambassador Rice stated that the attack was the result of the web video as the whole world was made to believe coming from what the thousands of protesters and world media were saying, their COMMENT about what may have triggered the uprising did NOT cause the attack. But the blatant WMD LIE did result in an illegitimate deadlt and costly Iraqi war. There's a big difference here.
@blah... Can you put that in English.... If that is possible for you....
Probably knew it was terrorist attack before it happened even. Probably know about the next one too already and just not telling us. Jeez what is wrong with these guys. In the very early going there was someone claiming responsibilty on facebook. So don't tell me the intelligence community wasn't informed. 50 million people on facebook and the CIA not pulling facts from there. Come on. Think we were born yesterday.
Really – you don't think a preemptive war on a sovereign nation that cost us trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives based on cartoon drawings of mobile chemical factories is a little different than what this administration initially reported in the immediate aftermath what the catalyst of this attack was?
Obama didn't have to cover anything up to get a second term, the GOP ensured that as soon as they elected Romney as their candidate.
Because the result of Bush's lie ended up getting us to an unjust war for the profit of a few, killing thousands of civilians and thousands of our own servicemen and women (not 4).
The result of Obama's lie (if it is one), is that we're not at war or involved in a conflict because we didn't react off the very few facts known at the time. Had Obama come out and said it was an act of terrorism by an al Qaeda-related group, you bet some from the right would insist it is an act of war. By treading lightly until all the facts are in, he was able to divert a potential larger escalation. Now the escalation is limited to those same people yelling "impeach" and "he's worse than Bush" when they would have said that regardless of how he handled it.
This was a very sad and unfortunate event to have 4 of ours killed for nothing. All said, this isn't even close to being the same thing as Iraq. Magnitudes of difference in every facet. The same people who are birthers, college-transcript demanders, accusers that Obama is a Muslim, etc. are the same people politicizing this. I'd recommend those people stop crying wolf, because we still have 4 more years. You keep doing it, and nobody will care/take you seriously when it is a legitimate concern. Benghazi is not a legitimate reason to get all bent out of shape to this extreme. This whole thing is simply semantics.
@jamesmadison
Thank you!
Yea, Bush got such a bad rap for Iraq that he was given a second term just to lead us into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression! Some bad rap! Right wing idiots.
Move on, nothing to see here..... just a bunch of BS by McCain and others of the GOP. McCain is totally losing it and he's obviously senile. He should go ahead and resign.
Unbelievable BS for you guys on the left... If this was bush and he lied like this, you would be all over him... But since it is your dear leader, its a non issue... Man, the hypocrisy on the left knows no bounds…
How can you compare Iraq with Benghazi. You don't have to have a full fledge Al Queida to fire some rockets an a consulate, it only takes several individuals to accomplish that. This is being blown off way out of proportion for political reasons. Were you speaking up when thousands died in Iraq to now be so outraged when tragically 4 loss their life?
Obi... Again, you miss the point.. They knew it was a terrorist attack but lied about it... Why did they lie about it?? Obviously for political gain... which is what you are now crying about.. Man, the hypocrisy on the left knows no bounds…
@ John
If this was Bush and he had lied??? Are you trying to be sarcastic or are you that dumb? Haven't you heard about the WMD fiasco in Iraq which has resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 U.S. soldiers and the deaths of over 1 million Iraq civilians??? Thanks for the laught John.
@blah... and you are an idi ot... guess school got out early?? Go outside and play... You bring nothign to the table.....
So noteasilyswayed... YOU'RE OK W/ THIS? 4 Americans begging for help for 8 hours dead. Cut loose by your government? I don't care who the President is. If this were Bush I'd be calling for his head too! Being lied to in political ads is one thing. Being lied to for 2-weeks straight about the death of these guys is quite another. We owe it to them to find out if the cover up was politically motivated.
You hear what you want to. Then you try to make it fit in to your predetermined conclusions. Not very good at finding a truth.
Hey Peter King, who cares who said what. Seems you are hell bent on dragging this out and not starting to work on the economy. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Bengahazi was a tragedy. The deaths of our people will not be forgotten. Hunt those down responsible and prosecute them with bullet or jury. No one in the administration is guilty of a crime. Move on to the economy and lets get America to work again. There will be time to do this in the future.
Whew! good thing Jerry is here to provide us all with the truth! So, what exactly is your position within the government Jerry that you are so confident no crime was committed?? I'm also sure YOU never ever called for any investigations during the Bush years. You trusted them just as much, right, Jerry????
Wow, Jerry, it is obvious that you have already forgotten four dead American heroes. If this had been a Republican coverup, you would want to impeach Nixon for his coverup that didn't get anyone killed. Oh, wait....
What I really want to know is why, when they made it to the "safe" house and were taking heavy artillery fire from assault weapons that had NO reason to be at a "spontaneous uprising", and those SEALs had a target bead on the source of the artillery, they were told to "Stand down!" That was murder. I want whoever sacrificed those heroes with that order to be drug out like the ambassador was, bloody and injured, and subjected to heinous abuse.
You libs have NO possible, reasonable defense for the final, issued "talking points". Nothing.
These hearings are all a waste of tax money. The FACT is that the WH had to downplay that this was a terrorist attack because if failed to heed warnings and requests for protection that then resulted in deaths. The LEFT will never admit this is the case; the RIGHT will keep beating this dead end attack on Obama to no good result. The Press supports Obama, thus this story will never go anywhere, so the Right should stop wasting its energy. We have Obama Claus re-elected by half of America that believes the free money and services comes from a magic bag that the rich are hiding in their closets and Obama is able to access. America is officially a welfare state. I have a job and tried to vote for someone who would work to give people a “hand up” instead of a “hand out”. For all the people at Hostess that voted for Romney I'm sorry and am confident your work ethic will find you a new job but for those who voted for Obama, welcome to your Obama world, food stamps and unemployement.
If you ad Walker to your name I'd swear you were drinking.
So why does King get to go blabbing to the press about what was said in a secret meeting. Isn't that the sort of thing he's criticized Dems for doing int he past?
Not sure, but I believe he is the chair of the committee and thus the official spokesperson. Just surmising....
King also said the White House changed the talking points several times. When challenged on it he said "Well no one said that in the meetings, but it must have been the White House" Kings not someone that should be challenging facts when you make them up that quickly to defend your position. Just let the truth come out, that's all that is required. Not what you want it to be.
People say Obama lied....I say King lied!
the descriptions that the white house – and everybody else – used to characterize the attack evolved as facts became available. remember, that even though al-quaeda was involved, this happened during the film protests. in several other locations protesters broke into us – and other western – compounds. the first assumption was that this was another protest boiled over. when it became evident – through investigation – that al-quaeda operatives took advantage of the protests/riots to carry out an attack, that was the portrayal adopted by the white house, the diplomatic corps, the military, the fbi, the cia and everybody else. i fail to see what all the fuss is about – this white house does not “shoot from the hip.” This president conveys the facts as they are known.
They knew it was aterror with 24 hrs according to petraeus. Obama claims he siad it wa sterror act in Rose Garden on 9/12. So why did he send her out on 9/16 with FALSE talking points about the video? Obama lies constantly. What an incredulous liar and he acts indignant when anyone questions him.
What were ou doing when the news broke Obama? Who did you give orders to to save American lives? What were those orders?
"Obama claims he siad it wa sterror act in Rose Garden on 9/12" Not true! Obama said that it COULD be a terrorist attack and that the incident was under investigation. This was an ENTIRELY TRUE statement. Please stop putting words in the President's mouth and spreading false information!
Your comment is patently false. Al Qaeda had been planning this attack for months to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary and the embassy had been asking for more security for months before in case of a high profile attack which they felt they were vulnerable against. Why did the administration never say the day they knew it was Al Qaeda that it was Al Qaeda – for nothing more than for us to believe our government is somewhat transparent?
Jake, they WATCHED IT LIVE from a drone camera in the Situation Room. There was no mob to spontaneously aspire to riot. The consulate was stormed with heavy weaponry that would not have been present at a simple protest. Some of the consulate managed to make it to the "safe" house, where they began taking more heavy artillery. They had the source of the barrage in their scopes and were told to "Stand down!" Instead they were shot down. I could warn to be careful believing everything you read, but more and more the media errs in what you DON'T read, because apparently some news agencies haven't reported all the facts that have come out.
Despite what CNN and Fox are claiiming, we do not know whatr General Petreaus said in the hearing today.
We only know what Rep King SAYS Petreaus said.
There is a difference. It is the difference between objective reality and the wishful thinking of a hyperpartisan King.
You are an idiot
of course he's an idiot to you, he made a factual statement – facts are bad to the right wing, as 53% of the country knows
CNN blogs are full of liberal dimwit morons.
Keep in mind that it was only the SENATE meeting that was closed today, while Patraeus' testimony to the House of Representatives was open, yet Patraeus said the same in both. Think about what you're saying before you say it or risk sounding dumb, as you do.
The general's testimony: Well Miss Fienstien, first I started rubbing miss Paula's shoulders. Then I started kissing and licking her ear lobes. She let out a big sigh and pressed her round bottom into my hard gun. That's when I knew she wanted more. So I move my hands from her shoulders and started to slowly unbotton her blouse revealing her firm ample................Miss Fienstien!!!!.........You look flush............Should we continue after a short break? Hahahaahahahha
this country reminds me of Germany back in the late 30's 40's... much like Nazi Germany.... you have a leader whose propaganda machine is the Mass Media.... America you better wake up! if you dont there will be a wake up call Sent your way... Corruption and Lies... thats all that surrounds this Administration... and the corruption trickles down from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... and the Benghazi murders are just a part of it... the Mass Media has become the PROPAGANDA ARM of this Adminsitration and 1600 Pennsyvania Avenue.. this is the One thing our Founding Father's warned of... Next thing u ll have is they will try to get term limits for the President 'removed'.. because the country is just 'fascinated' with Obama's charisma and 'charm'.... lets let him lead forever... German's living in Germany... did the same thing.. 'see where it got them'... America.. Wake up!
Paranoid much?
this country is so not like germany in the '30's and '40's. you are a sour grapes rightie who still cant believe that a n***** is in the white house and not serving drinks. this incident is not a "scandal." it is an unfortunate tragedy. the ambassador died trying to help people he cared about.
how about you encouraging and supporting the fbi, cia and us military intelligence orgs as they track down and bring to justice the thugs that did the killing?
Wow, you are ignorant on so many levels! (I'll refrain from "stu pid", I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you may one day be cured.)
"this country is so not like germany in the '30's and '40's. you are a sour grapes rightie who still cant believe that a n***** is in the white house and not serving drinks."
You rank up there with "Most Racist Post Ever".
" this incident is not a "scandal.""
Really? Then why the mass confusion from the administration? Why can't anyone answer the simple question of who removed the Al Quaeda reference? High ranking officials haven't said that the line wasn't in the initial report, they testified they did not know who removed it.
" it is an unfortunate tragedy. the ambassador died trying to help people he cared about."
I take it back, the "s" word is much too lenient for you. The only difference between this 9/11 attack and the original 9/11 is the number of corpses, the intent in both attacks was identical.
Want some cheese with your whine?
To those who say "wake up [insert lame play on the word 'people']", I say that you need to figure out how to think on your own and come up with something, anything, new and creative to get the same message across. Every single time I read one of these "wake up sheeple" comments (both republican and democratic leaning), I can think of a time I read the same extreme BS that is regurgitated on my facebook wall from all the dumb kids in high school who never amounted to anything but feel their opinions are better than everyone else. They tend to leave out the "wake up people" and for that, I can at least look at the comment from a neutral perspective instead of automatically classifying it as dumb, not-original, and from a paranoid extremist.
Stop it. Even if you would follow a "wake up" with a detailed explanation of the Higgs Boson, a mathematical proof for faster than light speeds in nature, and a breakthrough in medicine, you still sound really, really stupid.
Republican Peter King certainly seems to feel very free to make public pronouncements about information provided in a closed session hearing. Forgetting for a moment that this may be illegal under the National Security Act, or even potentially treasonous if that information provides assistance, material or otherwise, to enemies of the United States, this demonstrates the cancerous nature of the Republican Party..
Mr. King is a coward who is only speaking because he feels that other people will abide by the law and not correct or dispute any wild misrepresentation or lies he chooses to promote. This is the essential danger that the Republican Party poses to our democracy.
King is a political blowhard motivated by his own perceived self interest, not the truth.
Whether it was a video response or Al Queda... these are not mutually exclusive, as the right would have you believe.
Whether it was a video that stimulated the attacks, or if it was Al Queda... they are not mutually exclusive.
I don't understand the right's argument. Whether he said or she said it was Al Queda, or if he/she said it was a terror attack or not... there are four dead Americans, and there are no mutual exclusions here. You cannot use four Americans as leverage in politics. If you want to play that game, then well... what about the 3000+ people you killed in Iraq?
And no one understands your point... Obama lied... it's pretty clear to anyone who doesn't drink his kool-aid... He said he said it was a terrorist attack teh day after, but then gives Rice talking points saying it wan't... O and lets not forget the 60 min interview on CBS, which they didn't air in which he says it was because of a video... All this president does is lie a pander to get votes... and teh media hides it for him...
Peter King has put his own spin on things.
I'll wait for a transcript of what Petraeus actually said.
.
The country is currently like King Kong on the Empire State Building clutching Barry.
Thank you Wade and Tee. We now have more information - no thanks to Obama.
Yes, it has become "so partisan and so political" as Adam Smith stated. Unfortunately for Smith, his assessment applies to Obama. Obama lied in order to avoid any glitches on his way to a second term. He is a fraud, a liar, and has tainted the office of the presidency. This is a tragedy and Obama is a disgrace.
Your comment is nothing but tripe.
Right on, Pat.
Tee... do you even understand the problem that Nixon caused? It wasn't just a minor break-in cover up.. He participated in ELECTION FRAUD.. You know that little thing that is the absolute basis of our representative government... He knew about the break-in! It was his people that did the break-in... The really crazy thing, is he did not have to. He was going to win without comitting ELECTION FRAUD...
Do you think Obama would have won if he told the truth about Benghazi and the unanswered pleas for help, both months before and during the attack?
Would I be safe in assuming that your mind was made up on this before any facts came out?
And is the fact your comment is idiotic also Obama's fault?
The truth of what you say will, no doubt, find you being flayed for honesty.
Rep Adam Smith said "This has become so partisan and so political." That has to be the truest statement anyone has said so far about this entire issue!
To be politically correct on the term of one party, truth needs not prevail??
Ain't that the truth?
They came from the EVIL in the White House! Thanks AmeriKA for this!
Since we just re-elected that "EVIL", are you saying that the majority of the American people are "evil"?
Is the Republican issue with Benghazi the semantics used in the characterization of the attack, or is it because they are much more concerned with the 1 attack under Obama than they are with the 7 under Bush?
2002 US Consulate in the Karachi, Pakistan, was attacked and 10 were killed
2004 US embassy in Uzbekistan was attacked and two were killed and another nine injured
2004 US Consulate in Saudi Arabia was stormed and 8 killed
2006 US Embassy in Syria attacked and 1 killed.
2007 a grenade was thrown at the US Embassy in Athens.
2008 US Embassy in Serbia was set on fire.
2008 bombings in the US Embassy in Yemen killed 10
Are you suggesting because there is a history of war related deaths in the U.S. that Obama should not be held accountable for allowing the deaths of four Americans as he selfishly considered himself more important and worthy of life than they were?
Or, that he felt if he was "exposed" for the person he is that he would be denied a second term of vacation time for Michelle and golf games for himself if he allowed the truth to be heard by the American people?
Beyond disgusting that you would think that your perceived bad policies in the past would excuse Obama for his clear betrayal of these four Americans. Really sad.
No, but we are saying that this should be put in context and perspective, and not politicized any more than those previous incidents were.
I think he is saying where was the Republican outrage when attack happened under Dubya? Of course such a balanced view would be impossible given the rabid dislike the right shows for the current CIC.
Pat – please explain (using facts) how the President "selfishly considered himself more important and worthy of life than they were"? Fact is folks serving abroad have ZERO expectation of security...they know this going in. It's too bad some die...it happens. Grow up and get over. Move on. Loser.
3000+ in Iraq.
So Obama is a liar but you think he should not be held accountable for our current status in the world?
How weak do you think the US should be?
3000+ dead on 9/11/2001
4 dead on 9/11/2012
The only difference is the number of coprses, the intent remains the same: Kill Americans. As an American, I have a beef with that, and I can't understand why the administraion is playing "Dancing With The American People" by shuffling their feet with doing ANYTHING about the attack? Why did it take 24 days for FBI to get access to the site? I may have some concerns about the FBI, the State Department, the Department of Justice, the Administration, but that doesn't mean I believe they are keystone Cops. So why does the whole handling of the entire situation, response, and followup from these groups just shriek "UTTER INCOMPETENCE and STUPIDITY"! I don't think they're stupid, every finger pioints to they are hiding something.
Oh so if the body count is less then we should just give him a mulligan?
Thats not the point you idi ot... Did Bush lie about those attacks?? No just this president lied about those attacks... to trick idi ots like you to vote for him....
Bush didn't spend weeks having his staff claim they were a result of a spontaneous attack due to a video. He didn't watch via a drone for 7 hours and do nothing. He didn't have his admiral standdown who wanted to send in troops. Those were terrorist attacks – they attacked without warning and killed. We sent help as quickly as possible.
Here – no just a terror act. Still investigating. Tell all news that it due to video. Spend 70k on commercial – sorry for video. (All the while, knew it was happening in real time. Did nothing to try – nothing!!!) It would be one thing for these 4 to die and we just couldn't get there quick enough, but we could and we didn't do a thing.
That is the difference you mindless lib. Yet , where we will admit error and mistakes you people blame and blame and blame... Please God _ i want us to go over the cliff. Maybe you will wake up before he hit the ground.
sniff. sniff. Yep, this post reeks of Faux news and all of its misinformation.
Get a grip, pal.
Faux News of course!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha
Really? Even assuming that is true, which is doubtful, when Bush & Cheney & company said Saddam had WMD's and turned out to be wrong, several thousand American's subsequently died in a needless war, and no one seems to want to drag them up on the Hill to testify.
So your point is? Is this a defense of Obama? Are you serious?
He is trying to put things in perspective, but a lot of posters here have brainlock.
I know CNN, MSNBC,etc. where you get "your" news is so open and honest, but I am sure they didn't tell you about the satellite images and the stories from the Iraqi's themselves of taking truck loads of material to Damascus before the final UN team was to come in before we attacked. Talk to Israel. You all think WMD are nukes – they are bio too and Israel knows Syria has them and is in fear of the rebels getting them and using against them. Wake up from your sleep.
So here we have an administration knowing for 7 hours and watching in real time and they did nothing. But hey, that's okay. It is a Democrat administration. Blame the video. Blame others. Blame Bush. Redirect the discussion to what Bush did wrong..... Simpleton.
It's not a discrepancy, it was bold faced lies told to the American people!
Wrong!
You will believe it was a lie regardless of what facts come out.
Obama and Co. lied, lied and lied. Nixon wasn't this bad. At least nobody died because of Watergate.
and i guess when Ms. Condi Rice said that there were weapons of Mass Destruction..that wasn't a lie..???.and thousands of our soldiers were killed trying to look for the "so called weapons of mass destruction" And Tee..Nixon was faaaaaaaaaaaar more worse...there is no way you can compare the two. I sure find it strange how Petraeus is changing his story now...hmmmmmmmmmmm interesting ...
If you read carefully, it's the rampaging Republican who claims there is any change in the story. The Dem at the meeting says not.
Petraeus was not under oath today at the Committee hearing! Maybe that says a lot!
jnpa said "Petraeus was not under oath today at the Committee hearing! Maybe that says a lot!"
Obama isn't under oath everyday, Maybe THAT says a lot
Your argument is that if you disagree with anything in the past, that now whatever Obama does is forgiven no matter how reprehensible? At what point do you think he should be held accountable? Maybe when the damage to our economy, jobs, just basic freedom and liberty are gone?
Socialists will agree with you - he is the best thing that ever happened to people who believe that the USA owes them a living......and Obama as dictator.
Even other nations believed the intelligence then available on WMD. Saddam wanted the world to think he still had WMD in order to keep Iran away from the border. No one has ever proved that anyone LIED about WMD. Your are just parroting what others say with no knowledge of what actually happened.
to JNPA: Patreaus WAS under oath.
@Nora.....Google it! Rep King said that Petraeus was NOT under oath.
Nobody died because of talking about the Bengazi attack either.
No, they didn't die because of talking about Benghazi, they died in the attack on Benghazi and no one helped them.
NO they died because Obama got us into a liberation war that yielded terrorists all over Libya and then put Americans in harm's way without adequate security at the embassy --- and now he is covering his tracks -
Drama queen.
if you want to draw parallels with watergate(nixon) then how about this one: nixon invaded cambodia. many lives lost. you simply cant have it both ways. on one hand antiobama folks say "it doesnt matter what bush did, obama must be held accountable" and in the next breath draw a straight line from obama to nixon and call for watergate hearings. they simply do not understand that this will not impeach the president. it will not cause him to resign. they could give two _____ about the 4 dead. all they want is obama gone. america decided to keep him and they will grasp at any straw to change that.