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
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
JHM…I don’t think her smoking gun is a mushroom cloud. If Doggone is right (and I’ve heard it else where) she eventually will at a later date. I just want it for completeness sake. Sometimes I think the left purposely throws a bone to the conspiracy right folks either for entertainment or as a distraction
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
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?”
Congress has the ability to designate where funds are spent. They must not have been too concerned.
JamVet
December 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
“So Stevens was responsible for his own death…”
No, but according to that depraved pig you, scout, del and willie just voted for, he sympathized with his murderers.
Butch, that 3:25 is hysterical.
No wonder they are more despondent than a bunch of sixteen year old girls at the mall without daddy’s credit card…
getalife
December 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
“State department had funds to purchase Chevy Volts and install charging stations at other consulates?”
Hillary made a lot of changes at State.
barking frog
December 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
The concern should be about the time it took for the President to
be completely informed about the circumstances. That is the job of
the State Department and the CIA. Once he is informed it is his business
how much to reveal.
Christian Conservative
December 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
So Jay when will Hillary be testifying….
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:18 pm
getalife
December 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
“State department had funds to purchase Chevy Volts and install charging stations at other consulates?”
probably mandated by Congress.
Paul
December 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
I just scanned thru the posts, and unless I missed something, the Obama-haters:
- dismissed the report (”I don’t like the message so I shoot the messenger”)
- did not apologize for the the bogus claims they made about what really, really happened. (Applying the standard they applied to Ambassador Susan Rice, our conservative bloggers lied.)
No surprises there, at all –
-
-
Union
December 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
its a big crazy world.. you can only hope that people learn and do something with what they learn.
barking frog
December 19th, 2012
4:22 pm
It is a shame that Susan Rice had to suffer just for repeating
what she was told, if that is the case.
barking frog
December 19th, 2012
4:24 pm
If Stevens made an error in judgment, he paid the price.
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
4:26 pm
“Was Adam Lanza drugged and hypnotised by his handlers to make him into a killing machine as an excuse as the regime is itching to take all means of self defense from the populace before the economic collapse?” – Orly Taitz
Next up on FOX.
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
4:27 pm
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
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?”
Congress has the ability to designate where funds are spent. They must not have been too concerned.
Not according to the Wash Post…State Department designated the funds…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/kelly-libya-security-cut-while-vienna-embassy-gain/?page=all
Or is this drudgey spam?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
4:28 pm
DIA — “Joe, had to read it a couple of times, but, yes…we agree on several statements.”
I appreciate you sticking with me while I tried to bridge the gap, sir.
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
4:28 pm
Why don’t we try leaving them to their own path (paths) of development?
The Banksters/Oilsters disagree.
(the guy in the White House is just following orders)
Libya: All About Oil, or All About Banking?
by Ellen Brown Global Research, April 14, 2011
Several writers have noted the odd fact that the Libyan rebels took time out from their rebellion in March to create their own central bank –
this before they even had a government.
http://bit.ly/V85um0
Bilbo
December 19th, 2012
4:35 pm
I fully admired the Ambassador’s hands on approach to his job and willingness to learn the language & culture of Libya and to get out among the people. However, I wondered from the very beginning of this tragedy what he was doing in Benghazi – especially on THAT day with so little protection. He is the on the ground expert in Libya. If he thought it was safe to go to Beng, who was going to question his judgement? And yet, he misjudged the situation. Toss the blame around as you like but Chris was doing his thing and he paid the price.
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
4:35 pm
Several writers have noted the odd fact that the Libyan rebels took time out from their rebellion in March to create their own central bank –
this before they even had a government.
They had to set up a mechanism to receive financial aid
Joe Hussein Mama
December 19th, 2012
4:37 pm
E. Cat — “They had to set up a mechanism to receive financial aid”
Indeed. I know each time I’ve moved, I’ve gone to set up a new bank account before I went to get a new DL and plates for my car.
josef
December 19th, 2012
4:42 pm
The point on the mundane really does have significance in any such event. Something so mundane as a making wrong turn was pivotal in the explosion of WWI. If Ferdinand’s chauffeur had…and so it went, and so it goes.
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
4:48 pm
Several writers have noted the odd fact that the Libyan rebels took time out from their rebellion in March to create their own central bank – this before they even had a government.
They had to set up a mechanism to receive financial aid
This was back when Hillary claimed, “We don’t know who they (rebels) are.”
Strange, our private banking cartel, Fed Reserve, knew who “they” were.
They deposited $26 billion (in credit) in a Libyan-owned bank in Bahrain.
Real Scootter
December 19th, 2012
4:51 pm
I say we ban assault weapons in Libya.If it works here it will work there.
curious
December 19th, 2012
4:53 pm
DownInAlbany
Congress has the ability to designate where funds are spent. They must not have been too concerned.
“Not according to the Wash Post…State Department designated the funds…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/kelly-libya-security-cut-while-vienna-embassy-gain/?page=all
Or is this drudgey spam?”
The Times not the Post, but the fact is government agencies are mandated to purchase these “green” vehicles if they’re going to get any.
Some say the Times is the print version of Fox News,
appleseed
December 19th, 2012
4:56 pm
yep the lyban rebels kept up with their money. Not like Iraq losing money by the sacks full.Or was it sacks full of money lost in Iraq.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
4:58 pm
Not according to the Wash Post…State Department designated the funds…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/kelly-libya-security-cut-while-vienna-embassy-gain/?page=all
The Moonie Times does not equal The Washington Post.
Too funny!
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
4:59 pm
I thought the Fed only had 2 jobs (dual mandate)…err 3
From wiki
The Congress established three key objectives for monetary policy—maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates—in the Federal Reserve Act
WTH if tundra is right, why is the Fed involved?
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
5:00 pm
You know, curious, I knew it was the Times when I was typing and typed Post anyway. Regardless, without evidence to the contrary, Congress does not mandate State spending, at least not in this case. I hope you understand the dysfunctional nature of spending on Volts to further the green initiative, yet blaming Congress (which I have no love for) for decreased funding.
As I indicated before, folks blast Fox News, etc for “unnamed” sources, yet, an anonymous source is cited on here to trumpet the “fact” that 3 department employees resigned. Nary a peep from the regulars…
Cons Eat Crow AGAIN With A Side of Fried Rice...
December 19th, 2012
5:01 pm
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.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It’s CONGRESS FAULT.
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Nooooooo!
Yessssss!
DownInAlbany
December 19th, 2012
5:02 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
4:58 pm
Not according to the Wash Post…State Department designated the funds…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/kelly-libya-security-cut-while-vienna-embassy-gain/?page=all
The Moonie Times does not equal The Washington Post.
Too funny!
Any evidence to dispute the article? Naw, didn’t think so. Just snipe, that’s all.
pogo
December 19th, 2012
5:04 pm
No getalife, ENTITLEMENTS are the reason for “shrinking budgets” because the money to pay for them is gone. Pension funds are increasingly dry holes and incoming revenue is shrinking daily. AND, we are spending 4 million dollars per minute as a nation just running the government and all it gives out. The shrinking budgets are just a natural reaction to overspending dude and they won’t get better until spending is contained.
On another note, red state (Obama states) sales of guns, ammunition and and high capacity magazines has skyrocketed (even in California). Ironically, this administrations response to the shooting episode is putting record numbers of additional guns and large capacity magazines (and ammo) on the streets (as if we needed more of them). The Obama Whitehouse and the media have blown this entire episode. Wait and see. Even if the clip capacities are reduced to 10 rounds and the weapons aren’t cosmetically considered “assault”, without a culture change and a change in the political correctness arena these episodes will go on. I just hope that next time it isn’t done with something much more sinister than guns which can inflict even larger numbers of casualties. This is a country that is consumed and fascinated with violence. Everything around us is about violence and we are indoctrinated to be fascinated by it and to be attracted to it by the news media, Hollywood and television. Newspapers and their writers love nothing more than a good mass killing to cover and to milk until the next big violent act occurs to boost their sales. Novelists love violence and lot’s of the most popular books involve healthy doses of it. The biggest moneymaking movies produced by the liberals in Hollywodd are drenched in gore. Our favorite sport (football) is violent The most popular computer games are violent. And Obama’s drone killings are violent. On that latter one, at least we are spared by the Obama loving media the graphic collateral damage photos. They dare not show the women and children that are blown apart when Obama orders a drone strike. .
appleseed
December 19th, 2012
5:04 pm
Baby Bush” mission accomplished” how many lives lost after that lie?How many wounded after that lie.Obama quitely announced Saddam gone.
TaxPayer
December 19th, 2012
5:07 pm
An anonymous source stated that three department employees resigned! Wow! That is just soooo controversial. What if it were two or four.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:07 pm
Novelists love violence…
He was a dark and stormy knight.
She was sweltering.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
5:11 pm
“Sometimes I think the left purposely throws a bone to the conspiracy right folks either for entertainment or as a distraction”
Somehow I just don’t think she made herself sick so she could faint and get a concussion just to feed the conspiracy idiots some red meat.
Paul
December 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
DownInAlbany
” Regardless, without evidence to the contrary, Congress does not mandate State spending, at least not in this case.”
I read nothing to support that. What I read was “the State Department authorized the U.S. embassy in Vienna to purchase a $108,000 electric vehicle charging station for the embassy motor pool’s new Chevrolet Volts. The purchase was a part of the State Department’s “Energy Efficiency Sweep of Europe” initiative”
Congress does indeed appropriate funds in specific categories, such as ’security’ and ‘energy initiatives.’ In fact, if funds are appropriated in a specific category, such as construction or security, it is a violation of law to take money from those categories and spend it in another category.
So can it seem Congress is dysfunctional in where it appropriates funds? Sure. But the key here it’s Congress doing the appropriating, not the State Department or Pres Obama.
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
K’CHAK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c1sgug6prw
Erwin's cat
December 19th, 2012
5:13 pm
Somehow I just don’t think she made herself sick so she could faint and get a concussion just to feed the conspiracy idiots some red meat.
Assuming she is really sick
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
5:17 pm
“Assuming she is really sick”
Sorry, but a smiley face does not take the sting out of that. It’s ugly, and you can’t make it any prettier.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:18 pm
Sultry.
I new that sweltering didn’t seam quite write
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
5:20 pm
why is the Fed involved?
Don’t think Bernie ever got an answer, either.
Why Did the Fed Bail Out the Bank of Libya?
WASHINGTON, March 31 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today questioned why the Federal Reserve provided more than $26 billion in credit to an Arab intermediary for the Central Bank of Libya.
http://1.usa.gov/TZwkhn
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:20 pm
Oops.
“gnu” not “new.”
TaxPayer
December 19th, 2012
5:23 pm
Kam,
Your novels would make for some interesting interpretations.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:25 pm
TaxPayer
Bucky Katt is my muse.
Pizzaman
December 19th, 2012
5:25 pm
I’ll bet Limbaugh, Hannity, Fox News and the other right wing wackos are having a ball with this one. Without even listening I’m hearing the “Obama Administration” cover up. I’m also waiting for an apology to Ambassador Rice from John Mc Cain. His tirade, as expected, was more to get rid of another Democratic Senator than find the best person. The Repubs shine on!
Stephenson Billings
December 19th, 2012
5:28 pm
So I guess we now know for certain that the attack had nothing to do with that video. Maybe they can release that guy from jail now?
indigo
December 19th, 2012
5:28 pm
Kamachak – 5:07
And, in about 4 months, she will be swelling.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:29 pm
Maybe they can release that guy from jail now?
Maybe you know exactly why he is in jail?
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
5:31 pm
“Maybe you know exactly why he is in jail?”
Best guess: No, he doesn’t know
Cosby
December 19th, 2012
5:32 pm
Hmm..seems as if it was not a video at the root of the problem…Rice is the sacracificial lamd…Reading between the lines it appears as if the Obama administration failed to pay attention and got caught with their paints down…but then the annoited one can never do anything wrong even if it kills american citizens…Give “em hell Barry!
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
“Hmm..seems as if it was not a video at the root of the problem…Rice is the sacracificial lamd…Reading between the lines it appears as if the Obama administration failed to pay attention and got caught with their paints down…but then the annoited one can never do anything wrong even if it kills american citizens…Give “em hell Barry!”
I love how the cons have come here hellbent and determined to prove my prediction about the to be true
TaxPayer
December 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
Thanks, Kam. I’ve never read any Bucky Katt before.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
The Repubs shine on!
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:35 pm
…got caught with their paints down…
Dutch Boy?
Sherwin Williams?
Behr?
Benjamin Moore?
Jay
December 19th, 2012
5:36 pm
“Maybe you know exactly why he is in jail?”
I think the theory on the right is that if you make a video that angers millions in the Arab world, leading to a mob attacking the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, that somehow makes you IMMUNE to prosecution for violating your probation in repeated fraud convictions.
pogo
December 19th, 2012
5:36 pm
At Obama’s press conference today I thought Obama’s segue into using the Conneticut killings in trying to win support for his tax increases was a bit twisted and quite frankly, sad. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other but yet he spouted it out. He was openly politicizing a tragic event to further his own political agenda and nobody seemed to even take notice. Of course I am sure that you supporters of him will tell me how one is related to the other, won’t you? Afterall, you (and certainly not Jay) will ever critsize him for his use of this tragedy as a tool will you? For that matter, you will never acknowledge his use of you as “tools” to be used to further his agenda will you?
Hollywodd? Maybe I should have spelled it “Hollywad”.
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
5:36 pm
Regnad Kcin
December 19th, 2012
4:26 pm
“Was Adam Lanza drugged and hypnotised by his handlers to make him into a killing machine as an excuse as the regime is itching to take all means of self defense from the populace before the economic collapse?” – Orly Taitz
Next up on FOX.
___________________________
Do you have a link to that statement?
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:37 pm
K’CHAK
@ 5:35
beam me up
December 19th, 2012
5:37 pm
The only reason this story gets any play is that cons were desperate for something they could turn to their advantage in the month before the election. The polls said they were losing. Security is an area that had traditionally been an advantage for them, but Obama was perceived as being better. So, they grabbed hold of this unfortunate but not uncommon incident.
Investigate deaths at diplomatic missions during the Bush administration and you will find that there were a lot more than have taken place under the Obama administration. Being a diplomat in a part of the world where the US has a lot of enemies is a dangerous business. Yes, it’s a shame that the US Ambassador did not have better security and sad that he and his colleagues met such a cruel fate, but that’s about all there is to say here. The real blame lies with the bad guys.
However, I digress. Benghazi ceased to be of much interest as a news story within days for everyone except the FOX-heads. I was truly amazed a couple of weeks later I went to a restaurant with the poor taste to have that garbage on a television while people are trying to eat and it was all-Benghazi, all-the-time. LOL is what I thought, and really what I still think. These people are completely deluded.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
5:38 pm
So I guess we now know for certain that the attack had nothing to do with that video. Maybe they can release that guy from jail now?
Good god, the stupid, it burns.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:40 pm
I think the theory on the right is that if you make a video that angers millions in the Arab world, leading to a mob attacking the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, that somehow makes you IMMUNE to prosecution for violating your probation in repeated fraud convictions.
And I think that they are ignorant of the terms of his probation.
And will remain that way no matter how many times you tell them
Jay
December 19th, 2012
5:42 pm
TBG:
http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/?p=367385
getalife
December 19th, 2012
5:43 pm
“No getalife, ENTITLEMENTS are the reason for “shrinking budgets” ”
No, government and the banks screwed up the global economy so you want the Seniors to lose programs they paid for.
Don’t throw Grandma off the cliff pogo.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
5:46 pm
TBG:
http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/?p=367385
Why, oh why did I click on that?
Teh stoopid, it buuuuuuurrrrrrns. Oi!
getalife
December 19th, 2012
5:46 pm
“But before we get into the details, let’s get the various conspiracy-theory stuff out of the way:”
Lets not and just work around the cons.
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Orly Taitz is the personification of bat sh*t crazy….
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
5:48 pm
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
“Hmm..seems as if it was not a video at the root of the problem…Rice is the sacracificial lamd…Reading between the lines it appears as if the Obama administration failed to pay attention and got caught with their paints down…but then the annoited one can never do anything wrong even if it kills american citizens…Give “em hell Barry!”
I love how the cons have come here hellbent and determined to prove my prediction about the to be true
________________________________________
Sorry Doggone, your prediction was about as difficult as predicting fresh water freezes at 32 degrees.
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:48 pm
K’CHAK
I made the same mistake…I knew better, but I did it anyway.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
5:49 pm
holy crap, I thought that Oily Taint quote was a joke.
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
5:52 pm
Thanks Jay.
Sometimes you have to read “teh stooped” for yourself to believe people are “taht stooped”.
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
5:53 pm
Orly Taitz is the personification of bat sh*t crazy….
That’s not an accepted medical term.
Unlike “journalists”, she’s allowed to use her Inquiring Mind.
Is she a bit “differently normal”….? well. I agree.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
5:54 pm
No, government and the banks screwed up the global economy so you want the Seniors to lose programs they paid for.
almost there
They screwed up the economy, and this provides an excuse for the poors and the olds to make a “shared sacrifice” so that America’s richest don’t have to sacrifice anything of any consequence to them whatsoever.
the end.
pogo
December 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
What would happen if there was a video or a movie or a television program made critisizing Christianty? Oh that’s right, that has been done repeatedly and nothing happened to anyone and there were no riots. Madonna made millions off of one. I guess in the liberals minds as long as the video or movie or book is created in the name of art, no matter how many people it offends (just as long as it is about Christianty) then it is OK. Just don’t make it about Islam, even in the name of art because Muslims are scary and may just blow us up or riot. Salman Rushdie’s case comes to mind. There is some kind of unwritten guideline among the liberals that states that the threshold for insulting religious belief is different for certain religions. Insulting Christians is AOK but don’t even think about making something critical of Islam. Though for the most part hardcore liberals hold religion in disdain, they seem to only go after the one (Christianity) that they know won’t result in riots or bombings. Another words, they are scared little weaklings who have no REAL beliefs at all.
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
To everyone:
I am REALLY sorry I asked for that link.
Now even my computer feels dirty.
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
TUNDRA
She’s normalcy challenged?
Paul
December 19th, 2012
5:56 pm
josef
“Orly Taitz is the personification of bat sh*t crazy…”
When you start life having been given a name like that, it seems the g-ds of misfortune are already arrayed against you.
Only cause for thanks is she’s an ultracon so she doesn’t even know she’s nuts.
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
TBG
You’re forgiven!
Seriously, though, I thought when I read the post quoting her that it was a particularly tasteless bit of satire, too…
Paul
December 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
pogo
” I guess in the liberals minds as long as the video or movie or book is created in the name of art, no matter how many people it offends (just as long as it is about Christianty) then it is OK. Just don’t make it about Islam,”
Muslim fundamentalists are liberals?
I learned something new today.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
5:59 pm
aww, poor butthurt pogo.
Here’s some news that will lift your spirits. Enjoy!
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2012/12/10/fbi-anti-muslim-hate-crimes-remain-relatively-high/
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
Orly Taitz is taking con money to the bank. But I am sure its okay…she has TJ quotes and she says that they are going to take all the guns.
Everyone is invited down her elephanthole.
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
Now even my computer feels dirty.
But not oily?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
What would happen if there was a video or a movie or a television program made critisizing Christianty? Oh that’s right, that has been done repeatedly and nothing happened to anyone and there were no riots.
I’m sure that Martin Scorsese would have a different opinion about that.
JamVet
December 19th, 2012
6:03 pm
Hopefully someday in the future, Republicans will look back in amazement at how these post-Nixon lunatics not only became mainstream but actually took over and ran the GOP asylum.
The great news is that it is really starting to look like their once formidable, globally cooled, trickle down power is petering out.
Occupy that, cons.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
6:04 pm
So Pogo is upset that Mel Gibson was not arrested for The Passion of Christ. Oh wait, Gibson was arrested on some other pretext because of the video, right?
josef
December 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
In case anybody wants to know…where are the best five places to be come Friday?
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20121219/NEWS/121219014/Mississippi-scores-high-on-emergency-readiness-survey?source=nletter-news
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
“Sorry Doggone, your prediction was about as difficult as predicting fresh water freezes at 32 degrees”
No kidding!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
6:14 pm
Look Oirly does a Senior Digits impression:
[After a number of links to the death of someone in a case supposedly Obama related and pure speculation] I don’t know. What do you think? With the usurpation of the Presidency, with corrupt and treasonous officials and judges in power anything is possible. What do you think?
How funny and yet so very sad.
appleseed
December 19th, 2012
6:15 pm
at his press conference I thought sure he was going to bring up WMD.
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
6:16 pm
josef
December 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
TBG
You’re forgiven!
Seriously, though, I thought when I read the post quoting her that it was a particularly tasteless bit of satire, too…
________________________________
josef, me too. My first thought was, that’s got to be fake. No one would say something THAT mindnumbingly dumb in public.
That Black Guy
December 19th, 2012
6:17 pm
stands for decibels
December 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
Now even my computer feels dirty.
But not oily?
____________
getalife
December 19th, 2012
6:18 pm
The preppers will be depressed when the world never ends.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
6:20 pm
Speaking of Orly, wasn’t she behind that initiative to keep Obama off the ballot here in Ga. and pretty much demanding that he show up and answer her questions under oath?
I wonder how our good buddy David Farrar is doin’?
Tundra Dude
December 19th, 2012
6:21 pm
She’s normalcy challenged?
Hehehe!!
She thinks outside the box……waay outside…like down the street…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
I think I am going to start selling “Liberal detectors” to doomsday preppers…… bound to make a fortune. When disaster strikes, you sure don’t want a “liberal” in your bunker, right?
I am offering them for only 6 easy payments of $199.95 and if you order now, an entire book of the “Quotes of pure genius of Newt Gingrich”.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
December 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
She thinks outside the box……waay outside…like down the street…
She owns the batsh*t crazy tree.
She lives in the batsh*t crazy tree.
She fell out of the batsh*t crazy tree and hit every limb on the way down.
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
Didn’t we have some people here over the last few days calling for getting the “crazies” off the streets?
josef
December 19th, 2012
6:24 pm
TUNDRA
I never gave much thought to alien life forms…but she’s made me revisit that…
Paul
December 19th, 2012
6:24 pm
josef 6:11
For those concerned about the end of the world come Friday:
http://tinyurl.com/c7zvj93
Doggone/GA
December 19th, 2012
6:25 pm
“For those concerned about the end of the world come Friday”
It can’t end Friday…that’s my PAYDAY!
JamVet
December 19th, 2012
6:25 pm
For Orly…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLuHE-82o40
josef
December 19th, 2012
6:26 pm
GOOD FIGHT
@ 6:23
josef
December 19th, 2012
6:28 pm
I betcha if Big Daddy puts his mind to it, his FNM post could be Pulitzer material…