The mundane facts behind Benghazi tragedy emerge
A gunman preens for the camera while the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi burns in the background. (AP)
As expected, the independent Accountability Review Board investigation into the tragic death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi has found more than enough blame to go around.
But before we get into the details, let’s get the various conspiracy-theory stuff out of the way:
– The board, led by retired diplomat Thomas Pickering and retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, once again made it clear “that there was no protest prior to the attacks, which were unanticipated in their scale and intensity.” However, because its work was focused on the attack itself, rather than its aftermath or the politics involved, the board did not discuss whether U.S. officials had legitimate intelligence reasons to believe that such a protest had occurred or whether politics played any role in how the tragedy was presented to the American people.
– Contrary to claims by some, including Fox News, “The board members believe every possible effort was made to rescue and recover Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith. The inter-agency response was timely and appropriate, but there simply was not enough time for armed U.S. military assets to have made a difference.”
In fact, the investigation found, armed reinforcements from the Tripoli embassy had reached the facilities in Benghazi by the time the second deadly wave of attacks was launched early the next morning.
– Contrary to claims by some, including Fox News, no one in Washington or elsewhere issued orders to “stand down” or delay efforts to rescue Stevens. As the report states clearly, “The board found no evidence of any undue delays in decision-making or denial of support from Washington or from the military combatant commanders.”
With that behind us, we can turn to more important questions: How did this happen, who was at fault, and most importantly, how can we prevent a recurrence?
Let’s take a look at the players identified in the report:
THE BUREAUCRACY: The board points out that the Benghazi facilities were never officially designated as either a consulate or as a permanent State Department station. Within the State Department, its designation as a temporary “special mission” made it difficult to find the financial resources to secure the Benghazi facility or assign enough security personnel to the site. It got caught in a Catch-22 that no one in leadership stepped up to correct.
CONGRESS: The State Department was denied the financial resources that it needed and had requested to improve security at its facilities around the world. In the words of the report:
“The solution requires a more serious and sustained commitment from Congress to support State Department needs, which, in total, constitute a small percentage both of the full national budget and that spent for national security. One overall conclusion in this report is that Congress must do its part to meet this challenge and provide necessary resources to the State Department to address security risks and meet mission imperatives.”
STATE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP: According to the report, “The board found that certain senior State Department officials within two bureaus demonstrated a lack of proactive leadership and management ability in their responses to security concerns posed by Special Mission Benghazi, given the deteriorating threat environment and the lack of reliable host government protection.”
The senior officials were not identified by name. However, the two bureaus in question are the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, responsible for overseeing operations in that region, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, responsible for security staffing and facility hardening. Three State Department officials resigned today in the wake of the report.
“Board members found a pervasive realization among personnel who served in Benghazi that the Special Mission was not a high priority for Washington when it came to security-related requests, especially those relating to staffing,” the report states.
It goes on to point out, however, that repeated denials of funding requests from Congress “has also had the effect of conditioning a few State Department managers to favor restricting the use of resources as a general orientation. There is no easy way to cut through this Gordian knot, all the more so as budgetary austerity looms large ahead.”
Ambassador Chris Stevens (AP)
AMBASSADOR STEVENS: It’s a delicate issue, but the board clearly found fault with Stevens’ judgment as chief of mission in Libya. It noted:
“As the president’s personal representative, the chief of mission bears ‘direct and full responsibility for the security of [his or her] mission and all the personnel for whom [he or she is] responsible,’ and thus for risk management in the country to which he or she is accredited….”
“The Board found that Ambassador Stevens made the decision to travel to
Benghazi independently of Washington, per standard practice. Timing for his trip was driven in part by commitments in Tripoli, as well as a staffing gap between principal officers in Benghazi.Plans for the ambassador’s trip provided for minimal close-protection security support and were not shared thoroughly with the embassy’s country team, who were not fully aware of planned movements off compound. The ambassador did not see a direct threat of an attack of this nature and scale on the U.S. mission in the overall negative trendline of security incidents from spring to summer 2012. His status as the leading U.S. government advocate on Libya policy, and his expertise on Benghazi in particular, caused Washington to give unusual deference to his judgments.”
The report, available here in full, also details the extraordinary heroism and good decision-making of security personnel on the ground in Benghazi, which prevented a very bad situation from becoming even worse.
Overall, though, the board’s findings aren’t particularly sexy or politically explosive. They document mundane bureaucratic mistakes by generally well-meaning people, including Stevens himself, that ended up having tragic consequences, and they suggest ways to minimize chances that such tragedies will be repeated.
– Jay Bookman
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572 comments Add your comment
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:02 pm
williebkind — “Ok, I see a drive by statement when one comes along.”
Given all the practice you have had in *making* them, it shouldn’t be hard for to you *spot* them, now should it?
GT
December 19th, 2012
3:02 pm
How about first to report and then get it wrong like the healthcare decision in the Supreme Court. Being less informed may be better than being misinformed. The trouble with misinformed people is you sometimes can’t tell if they are lying or just stupid. No doubt the truth is not there the reason for the lack of truth seems to be higher ratings, which tells us what about its listening audience?
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:03 pm
Thomas heyward Jr
December 19th, 2012
2:57 pm
Yep it is clear Hillary should have been mentioned and questioned about the Benghazi disaster,
but she has a headache and should not be bothered.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
3:03 pm
first to report and then get it wrong like the healthcare decision in the Supreme Court
CNN shared that honor, actually.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:04 pm
T. Heyward — “The fact they didn’t ask Clinton anything makes this whole “board” a sham.”
In your opinion.
Just hazarding a wild guess here, but were you one of those folks who claimed that without the President releasing his “long form” birth certificate, then there was no evidence that he was actually born in the US?
I ask that because the Republican Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, verified and validated the President’s BC *herself* before the 2008 election and — just a guess here — if she’d seen something funny on it or about it, I’m betting she wouldn’t have said ‘nope, looks right to me.’
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:05 pm
williebkind — “Yep it is clear Hillary should have been mentioned and questioned about the Benghazi disaster”
Your evidence, please?
alittlecommonsense
December 19th, 2012
3:07 pm
Joe Hussein – Have you missed the fact that Jay writes an opinion blog for the AJC? The last I noticed, that is a news organization just like Fox News. Both have news operations plus opinion content. I can tell you are a little slow sometimes so I will try to spell these things out for you in simpler terms in the future.
Jack ®
December 19th, 2012
3:09 pm
I knew the whole thing was cooked up by Fox News. Just like the moon landing…all Hollywood. But Hillary should’ve known all that before she fell down and broke her crown just to get out of testifying.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:09 pm
Joe Hussein – Have you missed the fact that Jay writes an opinion blog for the AJC?
Ruh, roh.
Pwning in 3…2…1….
indigo
December 19th, 2012
3:09 pm
If Bush can be a deer in the headlights while 3,000 die on 9/11, and then get re-elected, Hillary should be able to get elected after 4 die in Benghazi.
I’d say that’s way more than fair.
Right cons?
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:11 pm
Your evidence, please?
Because she’s the boss ..Romney never got a pass for anything that Bain did or didn’t do. Why hold Hillary to different standard when the State Dept buck is suppose to stop with her
Thomas heyward Jr
December 19th, 2012
3:14 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:04 pm
T. Heyward — “The fact they didn’t ask Clinton anything makes this whole “board” a sham.”
In your opinion.
Just hazarding a wild guess here, but were you one of those folks who claimed that without the President releasing his “long form” birth certificate, then there was no evidence that he was actually born in the US?
I ask that because the Republican Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, verified and validated the President’s BC *herself* before the 2008 election and — just a guess here — if she’d seen something funny on it or about it, I’m betting she wouldn’t have said ‘nope, looks right to me.’
——————————————————————————-
.
I could care less where Obama was born.
He’s a despicable person nonetheless.
.
I would take a true man like Frenchman Gerard Depardeau anyday over the “man country” community orgarnizor.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
3:15 pm
“Why hold Hillary to different standard when the State Dept buck is suppose to stop with her”
Maybe you should contemplate the difference between taking responsibility…which she has already done, and being to BLAME for something – which she isn’t
Thomas heyward Jr
December 19th, 2012
3:15 pm
Real American hero………………………………………..Depardeau.
.
lol
They BOTH suck
December 19th, 2012
3:15 pm
Can the House not subpoena the SoS to testify?
If they can, have they done so?
I wouldn’t have a problem with her being subpoenaed.
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
3:16 pm
“Can you give me a name of a good news source. I am very interested.”
“Good” is subjective – different sources have different strengths. I would suggest trying a few news aggregators until you find something you like. Beware, however, of the words “sources said” and similar – that generally means that what’s to follow is unverifed and has a high probability of being BS. Look for a source that demonstrates more journalistic integrity, and acts like they’re not invested in pushing a particular viewpoint.
Facts are facts, and can be verified. The higher the percentage of facts, the more journalistic integrity is likely to be found.
Glad to help!
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
3:16 pm
she has a headache and should not be bothered.
[...]
she fell down and broke her crown just to get out of testifying.
Come on, you can do better. Work in a “cankle” or a “hildebeast” or “hitlery.”
Your Man Cards depend on it.
alittlecommonsense
December 19th, 2012
3:17 pm
Kamchak – why don’t you just go ahead and pwn me yourself. I don’t think I have time to sit around waiting for hussein to think of a bright response.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
3:18 pm
“she has a headache and should not be bothered.”
If she was a man, and had a concussion would you be so cavalier about it?
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:19 pm
Maybe you should contemplate the difference between taking responsibility…which she has already done, and being to BLAME for something – which she isn’t
I never said either..I was commenting that because she’s the boss she should be required to testify regardless of blame or responsibility
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:19 pm
I would take a true man like Frenchman Gerard Depardeau[sic]…
Man crush.
Can a bromance be far behind?
Grasshopper
December 19th, 2012
3:19 pm
So Ambassador Stevens death is not the result of “a spontaneous — not a premeditated — response to what had transpired in Cairo,” as Susan Rice stated repeatedly but instead is the fault of Obama’s bureaucrats?
Is there any mention in the report about who actually pulled the triggers?
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
3:19 pm
Thomas – you can’t think of a single question they should have asked Hillary? LOL!
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:20 pm
You are right but whoever whould have thought that Roberts would turn liberal. However, no one mentioned it to be a taxable choice.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
3:20 pm
i>Because she’s the boss ..Romney never got a pass for anything that Bain did or didn’t do
Really because I thought there was that defense of “it was after I left”. And then there was the changing of tax returns because someone else mistakenly indicated he was a Utah resident. And then there was that whole living in the kids basement thing. Oh I am sure we could go on… but really you’re point was very silly.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
3:21 pm
“..I was commenting that because she’s the boss she should be required to testify regardless of blame or responsibility”
As I recall, she was scheduled to testify before the Congressional committee but she got sick and it has been postponed.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:21 pm
notthefirstfragmentofcommonsenseatall — “Joe Hussein – Have you missed the fact that Jay writes an opinion blog for the AJC?”
Nope. Have you missed the fact that the AJC and FNC are both *news* operations?
“The last I noticed, that is a news organization just like Fox News.”
And yet your argument fails because you rage at Jay rather than raging at the AJC. Jay is not the AJC and the AJC is not Jay. If you have a gripe with Jay, then man up and make it instead of trying to misrepresent Jay and his work as emblematic of what the AJC does.
“Both have news operations plus opinion content.”
Really? Where’s the FNC *news* reportage about Benghazi? Because all I see you apes screaming about is how come FNC’s claims and objections haven’t been answered — yet I see absolutely no evidentiary proof that any of them have a factual basis in the first place.
“I can tell you are a little slow sometimes so I will try to spell these things out for you in simpler terms in the future.”
Son, bring it on at full speed. I’ll still leave you in the dust.
Quite simply put, you’re either deluded or dishonest when you compare *Jay* to FNC. I’ve already made up my mind which one you are.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 19th, 2012
3:21 pm
Test
Hollywould
December 19th, 2012
3:21 pm
@Steve, I do think we should be able to defend every ambassador in every third world country. They seemed to have asked for money 3-4 times and it looks like nothing ever happened. Not saying if it would have helped but that should be the number one priority. Kinda funny when all of Jay’s minions put all the repubs in the same group but yall do the same exact thing with your thinking. I agree that much of this was overblown at the time but when pretty much every news outlet is left bias
it should make you wonder also.
ATL Born and Raised
December 19th, 2012
3:21 pm
“If she was a man, and had a concussion would you be so cavalier about it?”
Only if he were in the NFL.
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:22 pm
“Is there any mention in the report about who actually pulled the triggers?”
Great question! Who did pull the trigger on blaming the video?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:22 pm
I don’t think I have time to sit around waiting for hussein to think of a bright response.
Too bad.
I think it will be worth the wait.
Your loss, I suppose.
Jay
December 19th, 2012
3:23 pm
I love how suddenly “true man” = French actor tax dodger.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:23 pm
E. Cat — “Because she’s the boss ..Romney never got a pass for anything that Bain did or didn’t do. Why hold Hillary to different standard when the State Dept buck is suppose to stop with her”
If you’re going to engage in this kind of equivalency, then I’d like to see Romney’s taxes, please. Hillary would have undergone a thorough financial vetting before becoming SOS, so if you’re going to compare Romney and Clinton on the basis you’ve chosen, then I’d like to see Romney’s taxes now.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
3:23 pm
If she was a man, and had a concussion would you be so cavalier about it?
plus ça change, baybee. Now that the election’s over and they can put away their “we would’ve actually SUPPORTED Hillary as a candidate for realz!” talking point, one can go back to the expected thick-as-pigsh#t misogyny one comes to know and love, whenever her name comes up.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
December 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
Did the report tell about how Obama and his buddies watched the attack and laughed? Or how he told our military that was just a couple miles away to mind their own business and not interfere? Or how he used the funds meant for security for the embassy to play golf with?
See, I watch Fox News ’cause it’s the only station that will tell the truth. I know all about this attack.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
T. Heyward — “I could care less where Obama was born. He’s a despicable person nonetheless.”
In your opinion.
.
“I would take a true man like Frenchman Gerard Depardeau anyday over the “man country” community orgarnizor.”
Get moving, then. Let me know if you need airfare to France; I’ve got a boatload of Delta Skymiles.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:25 pm
Now that the election’s over and they can put away their “we would’ve actually SUPPORTED Hillary as a candidate for realz!” talking point, one can go back to the expected thick-as-pigsh#t misogyny one comes to know and love, whenever her name comes up.
THIS ^^^^^^
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
3:25 pm
Joe
So I guess Hannity is not Fox News and Fox News is not Hannity? Or is that different?
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:25 pm
“Quite simply put, you’re either deluded or dishonest when you compare *Jay* to FNC. I’ve already made up my mind which one you are.”
Comparing Jay to FNC? How about comparing Jay to Hannity?
Butch Cassidy (I)
December 19th, 2012
3:25 pm
I have to admit, it’s been a brutal year for the party faithful let’s re-cap:
No Obama Birth Certificate! – There was
Healthcare Reform will be struck down! – It wasn’t
Gas Prices at record highs! – They’re not
Romney will win in a landslide! – He didn’t
Elmer Fudd could beat Obama – See above
Obama did nothing to help the Americans in Benghazi! – Not true
Don’t feel bad kids, you might get lucky over the next 4 years.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:26 pm
aintgotnocommonsenseatall — “I don’t think I have time to sit around waiting for hussein to think of a bright response.”
Good things come to those who wait, Buckaroo.
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
“Redneck Convert (R–and proud of it)
December 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
Do you have a tv in your beer truck?
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
Who did pull the trigger on blaming the video?
duh. it was clearly a campaign committee vote. They figured it’d be GRRREAT strategy to let the voters believe that the Muslim would had become so unhinged that random violent protests were breaking out EVERYWHERE, for the most ridiculous reason imaginable, and who knows when and where the next ultra-violent protest would occur?
Or so the theory goes. I guess.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
3:27 pm
“THIS ^^^^^^”
Amen to that!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
Do you have a tv in your beer truck?
You don’t?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
DIA — “Joe So I guess Hannity is not Fox News and Fox News is not Hannity? Or is that different?”
Have you ever seen or heard me make any sort of claim that they were the same?
Or are you just overreaching a bit?
getalife
December 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
“Man crush.
Can a bromance be far behind?”
Ew, thomas.
Get a room.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
williebkind — “Comparing Jay to FNC? How about comparing Jay to Hannity?”
How about you admitting that you’ve never seen or heard me do such a thing?
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
Butch Cassidy (I)
You are correct! We might get lucky in 4yrs. But we have four years of blaming the east and west coast and the north for being morons.
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:30 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
No I have not I was just asking.
alittlecommonsense
December 19th, 2012
3:30 pm
“your argument fails because you rage at Jay”
I don’t rage at Jay. I think I would enjoy having a beer with him. We disagree politically and I engage him because I enjoy political discourse.
“all I see you apes screaming about”
For instance I would never call Jay an “ape”. I leave that kind of “rage” to you guys on the left.
“when you compare *Jay* to FNC”
See, you have still missed the point. Let me talk a little slower……
I compared AJC to FNC, and I compared Jay to the opinion broadcasters on FNC.
“Son, bring it on at full speed”
Oh, it’s already been brought-en
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:30 pm
williebkind — “But we have four years of blaming the east and west coast and the north for being morons.”
That’s three to one, so they outnumber you.
Go ahead, keep calling them “morons.” See where it gets you.
Li'l Aynie
December 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
Only fools believe that all surprises can be foreseen, and that absolute security can be provided for everyone in the world.
Whenever a deadly surprise attack is launched, and American lives are lost, posturing politicians blame faulty intelligence and inadequate security. Benghazi, Columbine, and Sandy Hook are prime examples.
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
“You don’t?”
ALL my beer trucks have TVs…
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
3:31 pm
[takes bow]
aw shucks.
/drive-by
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
December 19th, 2012
3:32 pm
Do you have a tv in your beer truck?
No, but I watch TV at all the bars I deliver to. It’s hard work lugging those cases, you know, and a man needs to take lots of breaks.
And it’s strange how bar owners always keep the TV tuned to Fox. I guess it’s because there’s so many redneck customers that won’t watch any other channel. And so do Drs. I wonder why Drs. want Obama blasted 300 ways from Sunday? It sure beats me.
Williebkind
December 19th, 2012
3:32 pm
“Go ahead, keep calling them “morons.” See where it gets you.”
They are morons!
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
3:33 pm
“But we have four years of blaming the east and west coast and the north for being morons”
Really – only morons would keep paying taxes to support the “47% moochers” in the south.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:33 pm
williebkind — “No I have not I was just asking.”
No, I *don’t* think that Sean Hannity is emblematic of FNC’s reportage, but I *do* think that FNC’s reportage is sloppy — and I personally think that some of it might be political in nature.
For a while several years ago, misbehaving prominent Republicans were REPEATEDLY labeled as Democrats on FNC (Mark Sanford and Mark Foley being two examples). And let’s not forget the palm-trees-in-wisconsin-footage that FNC tried to pass off as ‘live coverage.’
Sloppy’s one thing, but when it continues to have a political slant that only goes one way, I start to wonder.
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
3:37 pm
” but I *do* think that FNC’s reportage is sloppy — and I personally think that some of it might be political in nature.”
Remember the “Obama’s baby-mama” caption for Michelle in (I think) 2008? That MIGHT have been political…
Nero
December 19th, 2012
3:39 pm
Hmmm? So Stevens was responsible for his own death, and Hillary can’t testify before Congress about the whole thing because of a “concussion”. Thanks for clearing all that up Bookman. I’m sure Carney will award you with that brand spankin’ new shiny pail. You carry water so well that they’re bound to offer you that job you want.
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
then I’d like to see Romney’s taxes now.
why you haven’t seen Hilliary’s…. speaking of equivalence
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:40 pm
notabitofcommonsense — “I don’t rage at Jay. I think I would enjoy having a beer with him. We disagree politically and I engage him because I enjoy political discourse.”
You *did* rage at Jay, you *did* compare him to FNC and I think you’re being disingenuous.
For someone who is in the business of writing a politically biased opinion blog, Jay sure seems to hate a lot on Fox News for doing the same.
You quite clearly compared an opinion columnist (Jay) with an ostensible news operation (FNC). IMO, you’re being dishonest in your criticism.
“all I see you apes screaming about”
For instance I would never call Jay an “ape”. I leave that kind of “rage” to you guys on the left.
Your failure to engage on your Jay-FNC connection has been noted. If I were in your place, I’d be looking to explain my way out of it, too.
“when you compare *Jay* to FNC”
See, you have still missed the point. Let me talk a little slower……
I compared AJC to FNC, and I compared Jay to the opinion broadcasters on FNC.
Nope. YOU have still missed the point. I have already reposted what you ACTUALLY said.
You directly compared JAY to FNC. You either misspoke and need to apologize for it, or you’re lying now.
“Oh, it’s already been brought-en”
And it lies alongside the rails, having fallen off the track.
josef
December 19th, 2012
3:41 pm
The report? About what was expected.
Mundane? That word was used correctly and is most appropriate.
Depardieu? Mon Di-u! Eeeeewwww…not a half bad actor, but a “real man…?” Just eeeewww…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
williebkind — “They are morons!”
I don’t think that’s going to win your side many votes in 2014, willie.
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
3:42 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:28 pm
DIA — “Joe So I guess Hannity is not Fox News and Fox News is not Hannity? Or is that different?”
Have you ever seen or heard me make any sort of claim that they were the same?
Or are you just overreaching a bit?
No more than underreaching (is that a word?) by totally separating Jay from the AJC. I thought (there I go again with THAT word) it was a logical transgression. Maybe not?
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:43 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/hillary-clinton-tax-retur_n_95127.html
JHM…well not all of them
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:45 pm
E. Cat — “why you haven’t seen Hilliary’s…. speaking of equivalence”
Congress would have during the confirmation process. Let’s give them Romney’s original tax returns, plus any amendments, for the last five or six years, whatsay?
alittlecommonsense
December 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
“You directly compared JAY to FNC”
Um, no. I compared Jay to the opinion content of FNC. If you chose to read it differently, that probably speaks to your reading comprehension level.
I’m out. No more time for this inanity.
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
Enter your comments here
josef
December 19th, 2012
3:46 pm
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus and two weeks off! G-d I love mixing church and state!
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 19th, 2012
3:47 pm
Our only hope is that Chris Steven’s death will serve the same cause of basic decency as Mary Jo Kopechne’s did.
.
Tragedies that prevented even bigger tragedies.
.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
I’m out. No more time for this inanity.
Pwned.
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
JHM – it’s a stupid argument on both sides.
I just think if a Dept screws up…everyone involved needs a good “look see”…from top to bottom or bottom to top…but the boss for sure
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
Welcome to the Occupation wrote, in part:
So, what exactly were these people doing there? This is a question that no one, including Jay, seems to be inquiring into.
Just hush. All you need to know is what Jay wrote. It was a temporary “special mission”.
My guesses:
Was the mission a recruiting station for Syria…??
Or maybe they were torturing suspects…?
Or doing a brisk business selling fake (Chinese) Viagra…??
“We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know and shouldn’t.”
~Katherine Graham: publisher of the Washington Post, speaking at the CIA’s Langley, Virginia headquarters
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
From the Associated Press: An Obama administration official said Eric Boswell, the assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, Charlene Lamb, the deputy assistant secretary responsible for embassy security, and an unnamed official with the Bureau of Near East Affairs, had stepped down. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss personnel matters publicly.
But the Cons get blasted for “unnamed sources”, “sources report”, etc?
getalife
December 19th, 2012
3:50 pm
thomas loves him some Depardieu.
In public no less.
Does he get the boa?
Drudge
December 19th, 2012
3:51 pm
Glad it only took 4 months to get this “mundane” information out of the most transparent administration in history…
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
3:51 pm
Congress would have during the confirmation process. Let’s give them Romney’s original tax returns, plus any amendments, for the last five or six years, whatsay?
too bad he lost…you would have got some of that
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
Erwin’s cat wrote:
The magazine’s short list for this year’s Person of the Year cover was revealed on TODAY,
included
Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!
(the very first female engineer hired by that fairly new company…Google.)
Another “homie” (Wausau, Wisconsin) movin’ on up!
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:54 pm
DIA — “No more than underreaching (is that a word?) by totally separating Jay from the AJC. I thought (there I go again with THAT word) it was a logical transgression. Maybe not?”
I can see that I’m not getting through. No problem; I’ll try again.
Yes, Jay’s an opinion columnist. And yes, Sean Hannity’s an opinion commentator. I think we can agree on that, right?
However, Jay’s opinion writing is not *typical* of the AJC’s reportage. The AJC offers a lot of state, local, national and international hard and feature news, much more than Jay writes. Same thing with Sean Hannity. FNC offers a lot of assorted news that’s not commentary of the sort that he presents on his show.
We still in agreement, DIA?
So I think that when someone makes Jay’s opinion columns out to be *typical* or *emblematic* of the work the AJC does — and compares him with an entire news operation like FNC, I think that’s disingenuous at best and outright dishonest at worst. That’s what I saw going on here, and that’s what I’m arguing about. We could certainly discuss Jay’s commentary with respect to say, Jonah Goldberg or Dinesh D’Souza or Ross Douthat or any other conservative writer, and I think that would be *much* more fair and reasonable. But dissing Jay because he’s partisan (which I’m pretty sure he’s PAID to be) and giving FNC a pass for being partisan because of that just strikes me as perverse.
We can compare FNC with the AJC — sure, they’re both news operations. And we can compare Jay with Sean Hannity — they’re both scruffy, biased, opinionated olden-time pharts.
But I can’t see how you can reasonably compare one man with an *entire* news operation.
Is that more clear, DIA? Does that make more sense?
josef
December 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
getalife
No boa.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
If you know boa like I knew boa….
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 19th, 2012
3:57 pm
“The board, led by retired diplomat Thomas Pickering and retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, once again made it clear “that there was no protest prior to the attacks, which were unanticipated in their scale and intensity.” However, because its work was focused on the attack itself, rather than its aftermath or the politics involved, the board did not discuss whether U.S. officials had legitimate intelligence reasons to believe that such a protest had occurred or whether politics played any role in how the tragedy was presented to the American people.’
O.K ……………………… so when does THIS report come out. Does the President want “concrete” answers on this by the end of January like he does regarding the new “Gun Violence Commission” ?
getalife
December 19th, 2012
3:57 pm
josef,
“Our only hope is that Chris Steven’s death will serve the same cause of basic decency as Mary Jo Kopechne’s did.”
Yeah, does not deserve the boa.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
3:58 pm
taintgotabitofcommonsense — “Um, no. I compared Jay to the opinion content of FNC.”
Um, no. You directly compared Jay to FNC and stood on the point at least twice when directly questioned about it. You might have MEANT to make the comparison you claim, and you might well have INTENDED to do so, but I assure you, you didn’t actually do it.
“If you chose to read it differently, that probably speaks to your reading comprehension level.”
Actually, it speaks more to your writing skills and your inability to recognize when your message isn’t coming across as you intended. Remember, Grasshopper, regardless of how wonderful you think your writing skills are, the best writer is the person who knows how to REWRITE what they’ve already written in order to improve it or target it more accurately at your audience.
Since you failed to take advantage of multiple opportunities to do just that, I can only conclude that you’re not the writer you seem to think you are.
paulo977
December 19th, 2012
3:59 pm
Jay ….”How did this happen, who was at fault, and most importantly, how can we prevent a recurrence?”
Why don’t we try leaving them to their own path (paths) of development?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
4:00 pm
E. Cat — “JHM…well not all of them ”
Not sure what you’re getting at. They appear to have released their 2000 – 2007 taxes and your report is dated 2008. I must be missing your point, sir.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
4:02 pm
E. Cat — “I just think if a Dept screws up…everyone involved needs a good “look see”…from top to bottom or bottom to top…but the boss for sure”
I’m not opposed to that at all. I simply think that the crazed INSISTENCE that Secretary Clinton MUST TESTIFY is more than a little overwrought and unreasonable. I think that people taking that line or argument are convinced that she ‘knows something’ that will do the President in or whatever.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
4:04 pm
E. Cat — “too bad he lost…you would have got some of that”
There’s still time! Let’s make him Secretary Of Putting MFers Back To Work!
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
4:05 pm
Joe, had to read it a couple of times, but, yes…we agree on several statements.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
4:05 pm
Senior Digits, remember to check box 23 when making your request for another report.
paulo977
December 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Indigo …”If Bush can be a deer in the headlights while 3,000 die on 9/11, and then get re-elected, Hillary should be able to get elected after 4 die in Benghazi.” !!!!!!!!
___________________________________________
That little thing about ‘double standards ‘ operating here, you think?
getalife
December 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
“Gun Violence Commission”
It’s a moral test for the American people because other countries united for change and got it.
The majority wants action.
The majority are passing the moral test.
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Posted on Jay’s previous blog.
Looks like gun control isn’t going to be solved here today.
Let’s revisit Benghazi.
Huff Post, Dec 19, 2012
“Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) acknowledged on Wednesday that House Republicans had consciously voted to reduce the funds allocated to the State Department for embassy security since winning the majority in 2010.
On Wednesday morning, CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien asked the Utah Republican if he had “voted to cut the funding for embassy security.”
“Absolutely,” Chaffetz said. “Look we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have…15,000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, a private army there, for President Obama, in Baghdad. 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. You have to prioritize things.”
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. ”
Where is the outrage? To parahase USMC, I think.
Tea party prioritized; people died.
Owl
December 19th, 2012
4:08 pm
bureaucratic mistakes by generally well-meaning people, including Stevens himself.
Whew, that makes this all go away. Nothing to see here folks…move along.
So why still asking about tax returns?...
December 19th, 2012
4:09 pm
…Romney is rich, he paid SOME taxes, and knows how to shelter money – that is the American way, except for those who have “money” envy…it really is a non-issue, now, and before now, too…
The tax codes are what they are so EVERYONE has the chance to benefit from them IF they know how, or atleast have an accountant or two who know how…
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
curious: but, apparently the State department had funds to purchase Chevy Volts and install charging stations at other consulates?
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
paulo977
December 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Indigo …”If Bush can be a deer in the headlights while 3,000 die on 9/11, and then get re-elected, Hillary should be able to get elected after 4 die in Benghazi.” !!!!!!!!
___________________________________________
“That little thing about ‘double standards ‘ operating here, you think?”
Sounds like the same standard to me.