The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Foreign Policy is reporting this evening that on October 26th, more than six weeks after the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, its reporters discovered additional documents in the burned out remains of the compound indicating that the Obama administration was aware of possible attack planning before the events that claimed the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others.
One letter, written on Sept. 11 and addressed to Mohamed Obeidi, the head of the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' office in Benghazi, reads:
"Finally, early this morning at 0643, September 11, 2012, one of our diligent guards made a troubling report. Near our main gate, a member of the police force was seen in the upper level of a building across from our compound. It is reported that this person was photographing the inside of the U.S. special mission and furthermore that this person was part of the police unit sent to protect the mission. The police car stationed where this event occurred was number 322."
The account accords with a message written by Smith, the IT officer who was killed in the assault, on a gaming forum on Sept. 11. "Assuming we don't die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police' that guard the compound taking pictures," he wrote hours before the assault.
Libya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs may have played a role in the attack by, at a minimum, failing to provide promised security in the days leading up to the attack.
The document also suggests that the U.S. consulate had asked Libyan authorities on Sept. 9 for extra security measures in preparation for Stevens' visit, but that the Libyans had failed to provide promised support.
"On Sunday, September 9, 2012, the U.S. mission requested additional police support at our compound for the duration of U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens' visit. We requested daily, twenty-four hour police protection at the front and rear of the U.S. mission as well as a roving patrol. In addition we requested the services of a police explosive detection dog," the letter reads.
"We were given assurances from the highest authorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that all due support would be provided for Ambassador Stevens' visit to Benghazi. However, we are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all."
The letter concludes with a request to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to look into the incident of the policeman conducting surveillance, and the absence of requested security measures. "We submit this report to you with the hopes that an official inquiry can be made into this incident and that the U.S. Mission may receive the requested police support," the letter reads.
There can be no doubt that the Obama administration knew or ought to have known from the outset that the assault on the Benghazi mission was a premeditated attack, not a spontaneous protest over an obscure video. This can only mean that the subsequent PR campaign, including President Obama's speech to the United Nations, was a complete fabrication.
Fortunately, the electorate has a chance to render its judgment ahead of the investigation report President Obama is supposedly awaiting; the one that will tell him what he himself did on and about the evening of September 11, 2012.
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Mar '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
The thing that really lights me up is that these documents were discovered AFTER the FBI had been there.
Jan '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
The Obama administration seems to have irritated the CIA.
Oct '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Not to throw a wet towel on the everyone's outrage, but weren't these drafts of letters that might or might not actually have been sent? And, regardless, weren't the intended recipients the Libyans? I don't think they prove that Obama knew anything prior to the attack. They do prove that Stevens was concerned about the security situation!
Like Illiniguy, I am disturbed that these documents were lying on the ground 7 weeks after the fact.
The other extremely disturbing report that came out today, that I read on CBSnews.com, is that Obama did not convene the Counterterrorism Security Group on the night of the attack. Now, I admit, I'd never heard of the CSG until today. I'm not a national security expert. But read the article and draw your own conclusions.
Jul '12
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
CBS News is finally on this story and not insignificantly. They seem to have sources that Fox and the Blaze don't have.
Where is Hillary these days? Shopping with Huma?
Jun '10
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
This is what I heard from a security guy (authentic? who knows?) calling into a radio show: Because American sovereignty of the consulate doesn't extend out to the perimeter posts, they had to employ Libyans to guard the perimeter. That's why they had to employ some Libyans. What I suspect is, somebody up the chain, somebody not too bright, decided that as long as we have to hire all these Libyans, just let them take over the security. Well, we see how well that worked. They very likely were infiltrated by jihadists who convinced them that they don't owe the Americans anything. You have US Marines because they're loyal to the end. Host country police, not so much.
Nov '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Albert Arthur: Not to throw a wet towel on the everyone's outrage, but weren't these drafts of letters that might or might not actually have been sent? And, regardless, weren't the intended recipients the Libyans? I don't think they prove that Obama knew anything prior to the attack. They do prove that Stevens was concerned about the security situation!
Like Illiniguy, I am disturbed that these documents were lying on the ground 7 weeks after the fact.
The other extremely disturbing report that came out today, that I read on CBSnews.com, is that Obama did not convene the Counterterrorism Security Group on the night of the attack. Now, I admit, I'd never heard of the CSG until today. I'm not a national security expert. But read the article and draw your own conclusions. · 10 minutes ago
Sounds like Valerie Jarrett couldn't make up her mind.
Jan '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
An interesting take on this by John Hudson at the Atlantic Wire:
In essence, Hudson argues that the three important players in this episode (the White House, Pentagon, and CIA) have all denied the stories coming from FoxNews that allege wrongdoing or conspiracy.
You'll be happy to know, Hudson assures us, that the three agencies probably aren't involved in a conspiracy. Instead, the fog of war means that they just can't be expected to know what's going on while Americans are being killed, even though a month has passed and there's an investigation going on.
Gosh, I feel so much better that three of the main government agencies charged with protecting this country aren't deliberately malicious. They just haven't got a clue.
I can't wait for Tuesday.
Jan '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
For all the explanations and claims of war fog, we can't forget the bottom line: no help was sent.
While the various government players point fingers and ask us to understand how they can't be held responsible, the basic task of protecting American personnel and facilities overseas was a failure.
This administration has yet to acknowledge any failure.
They're stonewalling behind the "I can't say anything because there's an investigation" comment, which usually means someone is going to be charged with a crime and therefore their right to a fair trial need to be preserved. Those of us who have worked in large organizations know what "investigation" means: they're looking for someone to blame it on, and every individual is hoping they won't be sacrificed, so they keep quiet.
There are repeated denials that that assure us that some stories didn't happen, but they're not telling us what did happen.
Four men are dead.
Each agency is telling us they did nothing wrong. Did they do anything right? That's what leadership is about.
President Obama went to Vegas.
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Would Ambassador Stevens and his team in Benghazi--on September 9th and 11th, mind you-- write these letters without bothering to inform their own government of the deteriorating security situation? I think not.
One thing is certain given Sean Smith's chillingly prescient "Assuming we don't die tonight" post--the moment the shooting started he, and presumably his colleagues, knew exactly what was happening. Hint: they weren't worrying about an anti-Mohammed video.
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
The Foreign Policy story also provides a possible explanation for an item that has troubled me from the start: Why were one or more surveillance drones in the air over Benghazi at the time of the supposedly unexpected attack on the U.S. consulate? Drones are relatively slow aircraft, so they must have been nearby before the shooting started.
The drone presence makes perfect sense if, as I now suspect, Ambassador Stevens had alerted his chain of command of the worrisome surveillance and missing security in the runup to September 11th.
I think John McCain is right on this one: Benghazi is looking more and more like a massive coverup.
Edited on November 2, 2012 at 6:04amJul '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
I discussed this whole case today with someone who was in the State Dept for 20 years and only retired last decade. Her observations were that all cover ups regarding major issues eventually unravel in a free society. This one will as well of course, and the reputations of all who participated will be tainted to various levels depending on the actual reasons for the stand down and cover up. Eventually they will be under oath.
The truth may be as simple as folks too scared to engage hostiles in a foreign country, especially where we are running arms. The end result will be worse though because of the cover up, and who turns on who first may well depend on this election.
Jul '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
George Savage: The Foreign Policy story also provides a possible explanation for an item that has troubled me from the start: Why were one or more surveillance drones in the air over Benghazi at the time of the supposedly unexpected attack on the U.S. consulate? Drones are relatively slow aircraft, so they must have nearby before the shooting started.
The drone presence makes perfect sense if, as I now suspect, Ambassador Stevens had alerted his chain of command of the worrisome surveillance and missing security in the runup to September 11th.
I think John McCain is right on this one: Benghazi is looking more and more like a massive coverup. · 1 minute ago
This will make Iran-Contra look like a BB gun swap for baseball cards.
May '10
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
...too bad most voters will be unaware of this damning evidence of malfeasance of the C-I-C. The press must pay for their part in this cover-up as well.
Jun '12
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
I wish the coverup were unraveling. Will we get a fuller picture or see consequences before next Tuesday? I think not. After the election maybe we will see the truth, but I'm not so sure. Still waiting to find out about Fast & Furious.
Oct '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
George, I totally agree with you that Stevens would have alerted his own chain of command as well as the Libyans.
Jul '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
People died!
Obama lied!
Aug '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Barack Obama, in his eyes, was telling the truth about the Libyan attack being caused by a YouTube video. How is this possible? Because Obama first deluded himself into thinking it was the truth. Self-delusion makes lying to others all the more sincere.
Jun '10
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
Those who crave justice shall have their fill. I can see the end game now. When Obama loses on Tuesday, the media will turn on him like Bacchantes at the sudden appearance of Pentheus. They will rend him limb from limb and Nemesis will feed on his bones. Could such monumental hubris end any other way? This story has all the stuff of a Greek drama. Enjoy the catharsis.
Jun '10
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
It would be cathartic if the lying Media Hydra were slain but I don't see it. They will still run amok. We'll get stories about how lousy the economy is when we are at 3% unemployment. If only Newt would be press secretary...
Feb '11
Re: The Benghazi Coverup Unravels
I suspect a large percentage of Obama voters are not the least bit concerned with or informed about this issue. The lick spittle MSM has done it's job well. Nothing to see here...