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The Spectacle Blog
Following up on Jed Babbin’s excellent article today on Benghazigate, Fox News is reporting new and very interesting information this morning:
According to Fox, the FBI and National Counter-Terrorism Center briefed members of Congress within 48 hours after the Benghazi attack that it was likely the work “al Qaeda or al Qaeda-affiliated” terrorists.
Interestingly, and perhaps to eventually be seen as an unfortunate black mark on an otherwise remarkable legacy, Fox also reports that CIA Director David Petraeus had offered briefings suggesting that the attack “was more consistent with a flash mob” and that “Petraeus seemed wedded to the narrative that the attack was linked to a demonstration.”
Democrats may lean on that part of the story, saying they were told by the CIA that the version of the story blaming a video was credible. However, given that the FBI and NCTC told a very different story (probably the day before the CIA briefings), it was beyond unacceptable and irresponsible for the administration to run with just the version of events which they hoped was true. In effect, as former UN Ambassador John Bolton has said, the administration’s ideological blinders kept them from admitting the truth to themselves, and caused them to lie to us.
View all comments (21) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Ross Kaminsky
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/10/29/benghazigate-update
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buckeyeman| 10.29.12 @ 11:01AM
I love John Bolton but he is dead wrong. The administration knowingly lied. This is vastly different that suffering from "ideological blinders". I might add that they will get away with it. If Obama is re-elected it will go the way of Fast and Furious, which is going nowhere. If Romney is elected he will disregard it. Criminals all!
Oldefarte| 10.29.12 @ 12:00PM
This is pure BS! Read what Frank Gaffney etc are reporting about this. This was a Iran-Contra styled operation being conducted by our government in Lybia supplying arms etc to Syria etc. Tell/report the truthful facts which is out there. If Patreaus is now crawfishing like Clinton, Panetta etc have previously done to protect their boss, then all of them are guilty of treasonous activities possibly. This is a massive fraud!!!!!!!!!
CJW| 10.29.12 @ 12:26PM
Petraus seems to have morphed into a politician, like Colin Powell, who want to keep his job as CIA Director, and is now part of the obama team.
R Martin| 10.29.12 @ 1:07PM
It happens. My favorite morph is John Glenn, a legitimate national hero turned cheap political hack by blocking the Senate investigation into Chinese money flowing to the Clinton campaign.
CJW| 10.29.12 @ 2:42PM
also, Jim Webb. Imagine a Vietnam War hero, supporter of Reagan, siding with Obama.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.29.12 @ 4:15PM
I concur regarding Mr. Webb. Having read many of his books, I detected a theme in most that he held honor in high regard. In one of the last that I read, "The Emperor's General", the lead character betrays those closest to him, and does the wrong thing, in order to further his own career and ambition. I didn't realize at the time it was (at least to those points) semi-autobiographical.
CJW| 10.29.12 @ 6:20PM
I got the same impression reading his novels, especially Fields of Fire and A Country Such as This, and his non fiction Born Fighting, about the Scotch Irish that settled West Pa and Appalachia. Honor seemed very important to him.
He appeared very bitter about how the military was treated after Vietnam, and how they were sent to fight without the support of the political class. In view of his beliefs to run as a Dem and supporter of Obama was completely illogical.
I try to remeeber his brave service, he wrote a terrific Wall Street Journal article about Vietnam dated 4/28/2000 "History Proves Vietnam Victors Wrong" , and was famous for saying that if Jane Fonda was on fire he would not cross the stree to piss on her.
Butch| 10.29.12 @ 7:49PM
My guess is it's because all the Navy/USMC top dogs remember him as the guy who got his ass whipped by Ollie North. Last I heard, Annapolis was still showing that video (film) as an example of how they wanted them to fight.
doramin| 10.30.12 @ 4:33AM
Oh yeah!
Jim Webb did a great job of selling himself as a maverick, conservative Democrat while a candidate. But when push came to shove, he voted for Obamacare like all the other obedient myrmidons.
doramin| 10.30.12 @ 4:31AM
I agree about John Glen. I recall wondering at the time what his payout was going to be for so shamelessly protecting Clinton's behind while chair of the Senate Banking Committee.
We found out a few years later. He got another ride into space!
doramin| 10.30.12 @ 4:36AM
In Colin Powell's case, it's a matter of personal vendetta. As Secretary of State he was forced to argue the GWB administration's case before the U.N. I knew he was enraged at having to do that, and he has dedicated his life to getting even. He's just a Gergenesque political whore nowadays. Look to watch him toadying to Romney as soon as he scents which way the wind is blowing.
Indy| 10.29.12 @ 1:03PM
What was Stevens doing on September 11th, the real mission? Did part of his duties include brokering arms to the "rebels" in Libya and Syria? Who are the rebels? Why won't anyone ask basic questions and start with the real mission of those on the ground in Libya, what were they doing?
JD| 10.29.12 @ 1:38PM
Obama should not be able to use "misled by the CIA" arguments, given how thoroughly the Left rejected such arguments made in defense against "Bush lied" Iraq claims.
Texan in Alberta| 10.29.12 @ 2:42PM
In one sense, it hardly matters whether the Benghazi mission was attacked by organized fighters or a "flash mob" (or even a combo of the two). What matters is that our people in Benghazi were under attack, and - except for a small detachment of aid from the Tripoli embassy - we sent them no aid. I am confident that the President is having the causes of this massive screw-up looked into, as he says, since as CIC he couldn't possibly have ordered say an emergency strike team into the air post-haste. Intel doesn't matter so much to these guys, they are trained to run ops in extremely adverse situations. A general, a colonel, or heck even Secretary Panetta could have remanded the President's order if he DID give it, anyway.
(Yes, I am being just a teensy bit sarcastic.)
JP| 10.29.12 @ 3:53PM
What is it with out 4 star generals, lately? From Powel to Clark, Casey, and now Patreous -something is obviously rotten in Denmark.
Pecos Pete| 10.29.12 @ 4:00PM
Bush did it!
JP| 10.29.12 @ 4:00PM
Another problem with this scenario is that Obama, Biden, Panetta, and Gen Dempsey had front row seats to this butchery. They saw and heard everything in high def. Did they really believe that flash mobs conduct infantry assualts with RPGs, mortars, and heavy weapons?
This doesn't remove the responsibility from either the President or Panetta. My only conclusion is that the DCI is closer to the President than people realize.
Hardcard| 10.29.12 @ 6:45PM
Is hilary still in Peru with her moslem lady in waiting ? Maybe she's at the commodities exchange working those cattle futures.
Chris Kuruda| 10.29.12 @ 7:02PM
Watergate was the name of the actual hotel. It's understandable that you'd want to coin an act of violence in a predictably violent area after, unquestionably, the worst act of betrayal of the American people. The Watergate scandal toppled the imperial presidency of Nixon. Referring to the Benghazi turmoil as "Benghazigate" shows the ignorance on your part is twofold: 1) Your displaying youthful ignorance of American history.
2)Violence in the Mideast can at best be managed, not ended. Why the GOP would choose to champion the likes of Mitt Romney escapes the rational mind. Romney is married to the love of money-a pitiful and perennial disappointment.
Commander Kelly | 10.31.12 @ 6:14AM
Libya just keeps getting uglier and uglier. What will we learn after the election...? http://americanconservativeinl.....pot.co.uk/