The Fox-induced hysteria over Benghazi collapses
What happens when a lie goes astray?
You may recall the right wing’s hysteria last week over the way that events had supposedly played out in Benghazi, Libya. Stoked by inflammatory, deeply irresponsible misreporting on Fox News, they insisted that this scandal was bigger than Watergate, and that for his cowardice President Obama would be disgraced as commander in chief and impeached and removed from office should he win a second term.
Oh, they were in fine, fine form, braying like so many hounds certain they have finally treed the fox.
President Obama, we were told, had AC-130 gunships within an hour of Benghazi but refused to use them to try to intervene on behalf of his ambassador. We had Special Forces units ready to go just two hours away, at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, but a cowardly Obama again barred a rescue operation, fearful that it might endanger his re-election if it went astray.
And twice — TWICE!!! — former SEALs at a nearby CIA compound had requested permission to intervene in the assault on the U.S. consulate, but twice they had been ordered to stand down and do nothing. Finally, the ex-SEALS defied orders from Washington, made their way to the consulate and rescued some of their fellow Americans. Obama, in contrast, was ready to just let them all die.
Fox News also reported that upon returning to the CIA annex, those same ex-SEALs had “lasered” a mortar targeting their position in hopes that an AC-130 would arrive to take it out, but again no help came. That same mortar later killed two of those ex-SEALs.
But as predicted here, none of that turned out to be true. None. From beginning to end, and in all its details, that story has proved to be false.
– There were no orders from the CIA or anyone else to stand down. According to a CIA timeline released last week, once those at the CIA annex learned that the nearby consulate was under attack, an ad hoc rescue mission was quickly put together and launched within 25 minutes.
– As Pentagon spokesman George Little described it Friday, “there was no AC-130 within a continent’s range of Benghazi” that night. The closest gunship was in Afghanistan, some 2,500 miles away. The two surveillance drones that eventually reached the scene in Benghazi also had to be reassigned from elsewhere; neither was armed.
– Contrary to the Fox report, there were no Special Forces units available for insertion into the situation. Soon after word of the attack reached Washington, a special ops team was scrambled from a training facility somewhere in Central Europe — some sources have reported Croatia — and transported to Sigonella.
In addition, a second special ops unit was immediately alerted and transported from a military base here in the United States to Sigonella, as an option should a hostage situation develop. In other words, major preparations were underway to provide a military option should the opportunity arise to use it.
But as Little put it last week, the units “did not arrive until after the entire sequence of events was complete. … They were in Sigonella many hours after the attacks.” Two platoons of specially trained Marines had also been hustled to Sigonella, but again too late for intervention.
– Finally, there had been no “lasering” of the mortar position used to attack the CIA annex in the second phase of the assault. (That second phase occurred more than seven hours after the attack on the consulate had ended). There was no reason to use a laser in that fashion — the SEALs knew they had no air cover to intervene — and more importantly, no opportunity to do so.
According to the CIA, its personnel at the annex were not even aware that the mortars existed until mortar shells began falling on their position; from beginning to end, the deadly mortar attack lasted all of 11 minutes.
In conclusion, last week’s entire controversy was spectacularly, embarrassingly wrong-headed. No facts exist to justify the overheated rhetoric and allegations directed at Obama and top officials in his administration, but no apologies will follow either. Quite the contrary, I’m sure.
– Jay Bookman
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749 comments Add your comment
Billybob
November 5th, 2012
1:27 pm
joe,
was the attack b/c of that video?
after you answer that question, your next thought is that the white house reasoning was a lie since the attack was not b/c of any video…….authority absolutely
older1
November 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
Everybody needs to step back and take a deep breath , could be both sides are being played for a fool. I think PROVERBS chapter 10 verses 10 thru 14 might apply, that is found in the Bible. Don’t forget JEREMIAH 10:23. Have a good day.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
Billybob — “everyone get a valid picture id….problem solved……..”
Nope. Several states have a big problem with ID forgery. Problem NOT solved.
“and your elected democrat representatives are absolutely not for verifying voter rolls because it ‘disenfranchises minorities’ which is just another strawman argument”
If y’all care so much about verifying voter rolls THEN START ON WEDNESDAY. Don’t wait to do it until six months before the election.
“that your ilk leaders peddle as a reason to let anyone with a pulse, regardless of nationality vote…”
If you’re saying a picture ID is sufficient, then YOU are part of the problem. If you’re going to allow voting only with picture IDs, then you’re saying that any illegal who can buy a good forgery should be allowed to vote — because your verification process is insufficient.
“…..you my believe in this, but your elected dems do not”
And you know that how, exactly?
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
1:32 pm
” We just want no part of the Republican plans to do it over the last few years.”
You are correct! You do not believe in compromise unless the conservatives give up their rights, morals, beliefs, and values and accept the progressive liberal/communists beliefs and values. If the voting law does not guarantee the progressive liberals victory in the elections they are against it. So entrenched in their ideology the progressive liberal/communists would allow the dead to vote, illegals to vote, and the mentally insane or incompetent.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:34 pm
Billybob — “joe, was the attack b/c of that video?”
I don’t know. And neither do you. The difference is that I’m willing to admit that I don’t know; whereas you’re claiming to be an authority despite your ignorance.
“after you answer that question, your next thought is that the white house reasoning was a lie since the attack was not b/c of any video…”
Not my thinking at all, but thanks for trying and failing to read my mind.
“….authority absolutely”
Authority not in the least. We don’t have all the facts, but you’re going to rush to judgment anyway.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
williebkind — “You are correct! You do not believe in compromise unless the conservatives give up their rights, morals, beliefs, and values and accept the progressive liberal/communists beliefs and values.”
Oh, horsespit.
Take a nitro pill before you have a heart attack and die.
“If the voting law does not guarantee the progressive liberals victory in the elections they are against it.”
Absolutely incorrect.
“So entrenched in their ideology the progressive liberal/communists would allow the dead to vote, illegals to vote, and the mentally insane or incompetent.”
Denied. But you can jump all over Billybob if you want. He thinks that anyone with a picture ID should be able to vote. Whereas I want to impose a *higher* standard than that so that illegal immigrants with forged drivers’ licenses *can’t* vote.
You are simply wrong.
Mickey
November 5th, 2012
1:38 pm
Jay is a member of the press that has no accountability for their daily lies and even worse the untold stories! They elected this unqualified disgrace and now with all of the evidence to prove this his arrogance is even stronger! The press is our problem and we must find a way to hold them accountable for their lies! Obama is a lie, ask his rev from way back, you know the one he never listened to for 20 years! This is ok for you guys though as your real leader Clinton ABUSED a young lady in the whitehouse and you still worship him!!!! Explain that one, he is still out their speaking for all of you!! My take on that is you all suck! Agreed ??
@eidsonb
November 5th, 2012
1:57 pm
Monroe…Sorry to spoil the party but Romeny wins easily
Don
November 5th, 2012
2:00 pm
I can buy all that. I guess. So long as we continue to talk about the fact that the administration flat-out lied to our faces for days about the attack being a instantaneous reaction to a youtube movie about mohammed.
Did we all forget about that? Or was it a bad dream.
For that, The O is toast. Vote ROMNEY 2012!
Glenn Farrar
November 5th, 2012
2:44 pm
The attack lasted 7 hours. The White house knew about the attack in less than 2 hours. Reinforcements in Italy were 1 hour away. The General in charge of all forces in North Africa requested permission to respond and was told to stand down. The Seals were told twice to stand down. The day before the attack the Ambassador sent an eamil to the adminstration saying Benghazi was a terrorist hotbed and the embassy was “impossible” to defend. An hour before the attack the terrorists were blocking off streets. There is a ton of emails, recorded phone calls, etc backing this up, but the media is quashing it. CBS interviewed Obama the next morning and he said the “attack was not like in Egypt”(ie, spontaneous, but was orgaized by “folks that dont like us”. CBS cut that remark from the interview, but it surfaced later. I have heard it. Then for the next 9 days the Obama Aministration said the protest, in response to a video no one had even heard of until the White House brought it up, escalated into an attack. Within 24 hours Intelligense sources were saying it was a planned attack. Now, 2 months later, still no timeline of who knew what and when they knew it. 2 MONTHS. Obama and the media are stalling until after the election when the true story will no longer matter as far as the election is concerned, but when it does I want all of you to write in saying, “I was wrong”.
Debra Elliott
November 5th, 2012
2:52 pm
I do not find your source for slamming Fox News all that reliable Jay…we have the chickens guarding the Hen House here. If there truly is a “cover-up” – do you seriously believe you’re going to get the real scoop from DC? Don’t flatter yourself. There have been many senators and high ranking military leaders coming forth on Fox – difficult to believe they are a bunch of liars looking to take the President down. I mean -come on-it makes no sense, election or not! I blame much, if not all, of the criticism on this administration – on the President and Hillary. They lost much of their credibility feeding the nation that bogus mob/video story over and over and over again. Anyone with half a brain questioned the hell out of that whooper…which is what we now know it to be. The actions of the President (or lack thereof) have fueled these reports by is decision to not address the nation after the attack. If these are all baseless rumors (which I doubt) – he and Hillary had the power to put those rumors to bed a long time ago- but have not. The only way any of us – You or Fox News is going to know the truth, is a via an independent investigation. Personally – I think Fox News deserves kudos for keeping this story front and center – where it still belongs!
Spokane
November 5th, 2012
2:57 pm
Facts??? We don’t need no stinking facts!
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
November 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
92 killed at American embassies under Reagan.
33 killed at American embassies under Bush.
4 killed at American embassies under Obama.
President Obama was right. He has the BEST record of defending our embassies.
lefty_316
November 5th, 2012
3:27 pm
MORALITY: I see you called me a “nut job” for simply stating the fact that Roger Ailes, the born-again social conservative president of Fox, a professional liar and morally corrupt individual.
1st of all you misconstrued my statement. I did not attack Christianity or all Christians. I simply pointed out the complete lack of intellect, common sense and rational thinking inherent to that cult of Christians that believe the Bible is word-for-word true. And, at the same time, their boundless stupidity has them thinking since they’ve experienced a spiritual rebirth (a dubious claim) they have a free ticket to paradise. Hey could I get 72 virgins to along with that too? Please. Stop the stupidity.
As for that “good Christian” Roger Ailes who runs Fox his track record speaks for itself – obstruction of justice, abandoned his first wife, divorced his second wife to marry a younger woman, etc. etc. etc. In other words a track record that mirrors that of so many of the “good Christian” social conservatives with high profiles.
Now let me ask you MORALITY – do you think it’s important to keep religious issues – gay marriage, abortion, birth control and so forth – out of the decision makers in Congress? I’m inclined to agree with the most brilliant political thinker in the history of our nation on this topic.
“What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people.” James Madison, 1785.
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
Now if this were all white band members Jay would be reporting this:
The halftime show featured a dance-off between someone dressed like Romney and someone dressed like President Obama. At some point, the public address announcer begins narrating a skit.
“I got somebody for you, Mr. Romney,” the announcer said. “Mr. Big Bird is in the house.”
The bird character begins dancing as the Romney character watches.
“You not going to get rid of Sesame Street, Mr. Romney,” the announcer declared.
At that point, the bird punches out Romney – and the character falls to the ground as the crowd cheers.
Several school board members said the performance crossed the line.
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
3:40 pm
lefty_316 :
You are an atheist! No christain should argue with you. It is like talking to a stop sign. Now since you are so knowledgeable about the forefathers or is it just the one or two who believes like you, how many faith institutions carry their name or were founded by the forefathers of this great country. How many did profess to be christain or believe in a creator. You might want to read some more of James Madison there sport.
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
resource please!
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
3:45 pm
Debra Elliott
November 5th, 2012
2:52 pm
Well stated and I totally agree.
4 More!
November 5th, 2012
3:46 pm
relax–Obama will win Ohio and Pennsylvania and wrap up the electoral votes. Romney’s going down big!!! 4 more years!!!!
williebkind
November 5th, 2012
3:52 pm
The world wont end because of Obama if he does win the election. He might add to the misery of it getting here but we will eventually correct all that he does to harm this country’s path to higher morals, financially sound balance sheets, and a military that guarantees our rights and freedoms stay in place.
However if Romney wins, we will see the misery lifted and a real American as president.
Betty Jenkum
November 5th, 2012
3:58 pm
The ten day lie about a spontaneous riot cost Bam all his administrations credibility. This is not going away. The moral cowardice of not telling the truth to the American people must be investigated. This was the most blatant serious lie in the history of the country.
marcdg9
November 5th, 2012
4:19 pm
During the second debate Obama vehemently declared that he called the Benghazi attack an act of terror when he spoke from the Rose Garden on the morning of September 12th. Just a few hours ago CBS releases a previously unreleased portion of a September 12th 60 minutes interview and when directly asked if he believed if it was a terrorist attack he replied: “Well it’s too early to tell exactly how this came about, what group was involved, but obviously it was an attack on Americans.”
“Obviously it was an attack on Americans”, the question of intent was not asked. The question again was; “was this a terrorist attack” which the president did not answer. Did the president contradict himself? Did he say one thing in the morning and something else in the afternoon? The more new information is revealed the more we see and hear conflicting information from this administration.
Xavier
November 5th, 2012
4:59 pm
Yeah, we’ll see when Congress looks into this, won’t we? Don’t kid yourselves: It’s coming.
sam
November 5th, 2012
5:19 pm
why would Fox ‘News’ apologize? They completeed their mission, they are no more than a propoganda machine. they did exactly what they’re built to do, misinform people who are asking to be misinformed. anyone who honestly believes Fox is set up as a news organization deserves to be as ignorant and misinformed as they are.
sam
November 5th, 2012
5:21 pm
and also, what does it matter if Obama went around acreaming terrorism 5 minutes after it happened? what possible difference would it have made? got forbid we get our facts straight before sending in the bombs..
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
November 5th, 2012
5:41 pm
Do not have time to take apart your argument today, Jay, although I am sure I could. Under the false assumption you are correct, Fox would only have to get about 10,000 more stories wrong to catch up with the state-controlled media, of which the ajc is a part.
marcdg9
November 5th, 2012
5:43 pm
Any chance of a cover up?
Susan
November 5th, 2012
5:58 pm
Very convenient that you, Jay are publishing this 1 day before the election.
Obama AND the mainstream media have had 2 months to clear this up with the American people. Try convincing the families who lost their loved ones in the attack of these lies and coverups. Also, how very convenient that 1) there were no gunships or special forces in the area, 2) units did not arrive until “entire sequences were complete.
Something went terribly wrong in Genghazi and I find it very hard to believe that there wasn’t anything that could’ve been done to help the Americans in Benghazi. Come on, Jay! Why are you the mouthpiece for Obama’s regime and the rest of the mainstream media? Who’s back pocket are you in?
I happen to trust FOXNEWS and have found them to be far more forthcoming, professional, and accurate in their reporting than the mainstream media. They at least do their jobs.
Barbara in the Woods
November 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies is still flogging the story; then again, it is run by neo-cons.
http://pjmedia.com/claudiarosett/benghazi-and-the-missing-obama-911-timeline/?singlepage=true
The Fox-induced hysteria over Benghazi collapses
November 5th, 2012
7:48 pm
[...] [...]
lefty_316
November 5th, 2012
9:15 pm
WILLIEBKIND you made an inquired about faith of our Founding Fathers. Based on the 180 to 200 books I’ve read on the history of America between 1760 and 1810 let me share my conclusions.
The historical community considers that there seven core Founding Fathers, upon whom I will focus. Note that in all instances it is not entirely clear what their beliefs were.
John Jay of New York – Jay was what we would consider today a fundamentalist Christian. He was a staunch believer in the inerrancy of the Bible. He was also noted for his deep hatred of Catholics, and as governor of New York tried to get the state legislature to pass laws that would prohibit Catholics from holding state jobs or serving in the New York Congress. He failed in that quest.
Ben Franklin – By his own description Franklin was a Deist. He once said “When I was 16 somebody gave me a book describing the evils of Deism. The more I read the more I realized it was describing my personal beliefs.”
Thomas Jefferson – He’s been called a Unitarian but was actually a Deist as well. Among other things he was well known for his hatred of fundamentalist preachers.
John Adams – In a letter to Jefferson in 1816 (see the Collective Correspondence between Jefferson & Abagail and John Adams) he described himself as a Unitarian. In another letter to Jefferson he wrote “What pain and misery these gospels have caused over the centuries!”
James Madison – Little Jemmy, as he was known, may have been a Deist but most evidence points to him being an agnostic.
Alexander Hamilton – Until 1801 Hamilton’s only interest in religion was its use as a tool used to manipulate voters. When he his son died in 1801 he found religion and was of course killed himself 3 years later in a duel with Aaron Burr. Contrary to popular belief at the Constitution Convention in 1787 Hamilton did not actually say “we are in no need of divine intervention” when Franklin suggested a prayer to open the proceedings one day. However Franklin’s motion was soundly defeated.
George Washington – Many claims as to Washington’s Christian beliefs have been made over the years. Washington famously never spoke or wrote about his beliefs. He most likely a disinterested Christian or a Deist. William White was the pastor at the church Washington attended in Philadelphia during his first term as president. GW went to church services every Sunday but never took communion and usually left early. In 1795 Pastor White said “I never saw anything that lead me to think Washington was a believer.”
These Founder all came of age during the Enlightenment, which valued logic and reason over the supernatural. And at one time or another they all, except Washington, acknowledged the tremendous influence of John Locke on their political thinking. Much more so than the Bible.
JKL2
November 5th, 2012
9:30 pm
What happens when a lie goes astray?
We end up with President obama.
Vote obama: You were dumb enough to fall for it last time!
The Truth
November 5th, 2012
10:52 pm
Bye, bye Barry. The party’s over!
old timer
November 5th, 2012
11:34 pm
Jay, I’m convinced now that you don’t care about the truth at all. Your either stupid or as big a liar as Obama. Oh yea, I meant to ask you. Who is usually on top? You or luckovich? Does he give you a reach around?
Frank
November 6th, 2012
4:24 am
Here’s a simple question to the left… Why are you voting for Obama?
Frank
November 6th, 2012
4:34 am
It is pathetic on what is happening to this great country. I hope we win tomorrow but voting Romney just isn’t the cool popular thing to do. With so many uniformed, uneducated people out there voting on a President of this once great country simply because of the color of his skin is just sad. And yet, we here on the right are the racist ones. Millions of WellCare collecting, food stamp using people voted in 2008 and will probably do it again this year. It’s sad that people who can’t even spell politics are voting to “make history” or because “Romney sucks.” Please tell me what has Obama actually changed for the better? What has he done to help this nation? What good is moving forward if you are traveling in the wrong direction?
Daniel
November 6th, 2012
2:34 pm
Where did this information come from? Did Bookman cite any sources? I have tried to find more information…..
Vladimir
November 6th, 2012
2:37 pm
Da! You tell them Comrade Bookman! We will have Stars and Stripes stripped from American flag and have sickle and hammer in its place.
Our father, Karl Marx would be proud of you for spreading Socialist propaganda! You should get the Star of Lenin for superb brainwashing you have done to imbeciles in Georgia!
Long live Socialism! You are much closer to Communism! You come to Russia. We have borscht…
-Vladimir Putin
Bozo Bookman
November 6th, 2012
5:08 pm
Look at me – I like to distort what Fox News reports into my own twisted version of what was reported because I work for a liberal newspaper and can get away with it. My liberal readers have no idea what was reported because they don’t listen to or watch Fox News! How fascinating!
jim
November 7th, 2012
2:29 pm
Looking for some photo opps for New York and New Jersey oh!! don’t need that now.Chris Stevens last call isn’t BS but now it’s a mute point, wait you will see,
CB
November 7th, 2012
2:53 pm
Where’s your information that its a lie? Facts are facts pal. And your reporting lacks anything close to resembling a fact.
Craig Smith
November 8th, 2012
11:08 am
Mr. Bookman, your sad attempt to discredit Fox News was second rate at best. First of all, I work in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Aid for a Committee on the Hill and I can verify that what Fox reported was true. The State Dept did deny all requests made to them for a security detail. I don’t know how someone like is able to keep a stable job because you are wrong. Your liberal media bias is alive and well encompassed with you pathetic agenda. Obama should be impeached, this is worse than Watergate.
ebecca79
November 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
So are you calling the dead Nave SEALs father a liar??? Are you calling those that were talking under oath liars???
Look I agree Fox News sensationalized the story; however, the American people need answers as to what happened. When answers are not given or stories are not straight then the American people begin to smell something fishy.
Mona
November 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
this investigation has just begun It will soon be known who lied and who covered up.
Tim
November 10th, 2012
9:27 am
This propaganda won’t fly, and this administrations failure will become painfully clear.
It doesn’t make sense that we had gun ships in the area, and refused to use them, but how can we possibly believe this administration?
The bottom line is that Americans, good Americans, were raped and murdered, and to think that we refused help is almost too difficult to comprehend.
We may eventually get the answers to what really happened, but the administration has so much work to do to get our economy back on track, that when the investigation starts to get answers, the administration will scream that it’s nothing more than a witch hunt.
The truth is what the American public deserves, non partisan inquiries into what really happened, and good people shouldn’t fall, to protect anyone.
Margaret McIntrye
November 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
Jay, what are you supposed to be? What is the value of your blog if you are so uniformed or just a liar. We now know from emails and real time –recorded information from the CIA, Dept of Defense, that all of the FOX News was true. Further, General Patraeus has now resigned the week before hearings are to begin. Do you also want to pre-empt the hearings and say Patraus is also a liar. You’re a fool. Thank God for FOX News…. they do have the largest audience…..
iratior
November 11th, 2012
8:52 pm
Enter your comments here
iratior
November 11th, 2012
9:03 pm
Where are all the comments made on dates after November 5th? Didn’t anybody get to needle the rightwingers about losing the election? They were SO arrogantly sure their man was going to win, but he LOST! LOST LOST LOST! Now all they’re left with is this nonsense that Obama “murdered” someone by not conducting military operations right. Of coulrse, well over 2700 people died because of a terrorist attack in 2001, but that’s OK because a Republican conservative was in power then. Such a stinking double standard.
Dan
November 12th, 2012
7:15 am
Talk about propaganda, this site is full of propaganda. The facts are 4 people are dead and the left has no concern about that. The left will keep their heads buried in the sand. I predict that Obama will be impeached over this.
I also predict that unemployment will jump to 10% by Jan 1, 2013.