Emails show White House knew of terrorists’ Benghazi claim within two hours. So why blame a video for two weeks?
The Obama administration/campaign’s story about what happened in Benghazi on Sept. 11 keeps having run-ins with the facts. The latest comes from Reuters:
Officials at the White House and State Department were advised two hours after attackers assaulted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11 that an Islamic militant group had claimed credit for the attack, official emails show.
The emails, obtained by Reuters from government sources not connected with U.S. spy agencies or the State Department and who requested anonymity, specifically mention that the Libyan group called Ansar al-Sharia had asserted responsibility for the attacks.
The brief emails also show how U.S. diplomats described the attack, even as it was still under way, to Washington.
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the Benghazi assault, which President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials ultimately acknowledged was a “terrorist” attack carried out by militants with suspected links to al Qaeda affiliates or sympathizers.
Administration spokesmen, including White House spokesman Jay Carney, citing an unclassified assessment prepared by the CIA, maintained for days that the attacks likely were a spontaneous protest against an anti-Muslim film.
The story goes on to say officials referred to evidence that the violence “erupted spontaneously” — an apparent reference to the alleged protests about an alleged anti-Muslim video. But as we now know, there was no protest leading up to the attacks on the consulate, so it’s hard to understand what sort of evidence they could have been describing. A claim of responsibility by an al-Qaida affiliate, on the other hand, would seem to have been sufficient evidence not to frame the issue even once as a matter of First Amendment freedoms gone wrong.
Unless, of course, one happened to be running for re-election and basing one’s pitch to voters in large part on the idea that al-Qaida is on its way to defeat.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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382 comments Add your comment
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:38 pm
Well aren’t you an equal opportunity offender…..you should be so proud of yourself. I am guessing you don’t have the knads to go after Islam…..especially in person.
cc
October 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
“the loons are sticking tighter than his magic underwear”
Just how tight does it stick, and how do you know? Sounds as if some “up close and personal” observations have been made by you?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
I think the Cons keep saying offensive things about rape because they are slowly and subtly trying to remove rape from the list of criminal activities.
MarkV
October 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
cc @3:19 pm
“What are YOU? You are the consumate Obama surrogate, and you go to great effort to prove this time and again.”
And how did you arrive at this “brilliant” conclusion? Because I dispute the lies and absurdities that you and others like you present to defend Romney?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
Rush, in my view, Islamist fundamentalists are just as dangerous as christian fundamentalists.
Both are fueled by hate and both need to be monitored constantly.
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
cc:
Lay off of aquagirl and the Decatur softball team’s star catcher…..
Sara
October 24th, 2012
3:45 pm
Watch for the word “lie” in the anti-Obama comments. That seems to be part of today’s script for those trying to pretend this is a meaningful October Surprise. Mountain out of a molehill – IMO nothing was clear right after it happened and it was not a time for rash statements.
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:47 pm
Great Analogy, Finn. Those Christian fundementalist, Hasidic Jews, Hindu’s and Buddhist are all running around as suicide bombers. We need you in Homeland Security to monitor all threats as it appears you are wise beyond your “ears”.
cc
October 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
“And how did you arrive at this “brilliant” conclusion?”
Your posts are prima facie evidence.
UPGRAYEDD
October 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Bush administration would have simply said that this was an incident of national security and would therefore not be the subject of speculation or action until a final report was rendered.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Hasidic Jews, Hindu’s and Buddhist don’t kill doctors and blow up abortion clinics for doing something perfectly legal.
getalife
October 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
If cons want to make rape legal, catch them and throw them in prison so they can learn all about rape.
cc
October 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
“Lay off of aquagirl and the Decatur softball team’s star catcher…..”
I didn’t start this, she did!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 24th, 2012
3:51 pm
Rush, it’s less than 14 days till the election so I suggest you get a dr appt set up for some antidepressants pronto.
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:52 pm
When in doubt, blame Bush…..so trivial….
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:52 pm
Speaking from expierence, getalife?
UPGRAYEDD
October 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Oh Rush, see a reference to the Bush administration and extrapolate the tired “blame Bush” response.
No sir. Simply comparing and contrasting. Something someone does when they read and analyze.
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Try again, missy. Not a Romney supporter but he is lesser of the two evils by a long shot.
getalife
October 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
rush,
No but you will because rape is a felony .
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
In additon to Finn with Homeland Security we need UPGRAYEDD at the State Department based on brilliant analysis….It is so easy to connect the dots for these nuanced individuals. LOL
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
Sounds as if some “up close and personal” observations have been made by you?
Well, yes…in the military those up close and personal observations are commonplace. I never saw what was under them, though, they saved the side action for other Mormons. Keeping it in the family I guess.
Aquagirl
October 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
The horror of recall obviously affected my slanties.
Just Saying..
October 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
Amazing how, for cons, every function of gubment is incompetent and worthless, until….every State Department email is formed from Original Truth…
UPGRAYEDD
October 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
And we need Rush on the radio to blaspheme, obfuscate, marginalize and condescend.
Oh wait. You may need a new name.
cc
October 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Sara:
Obama’s October Surprise isn’t working out too well so far, but he is still trying! Now, if Obama can just get Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to go along with this . . .
There’s nothing like “secret deals” with Russia and Iran!
Rush
October 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Gotta run, you Decatur gals have fun before you head back over to Bookie man
Wilbur
October 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
People died and Obama lied.
It’s that simple. He was more interested in preserving that narrative that the terrorists are on the run than telling the American people the truth. We have a cynical, self serving narcissist President who is more interested in being on The View than in serving the country.
Just Saying..
October 24th, 2012
4:00 pm
“…catch them and throw them in prison so they can learn all about rape.”
An idea we can all get behind…
cc
October 24th, 2012
4:02 pm
“Well, yes…in the military those up close and personal observations are commonplace.”
Yes, I can see why the military would school you in regard to suspected Mormon combatants. Too bad Obama wasn’t schooled as well! Now he has to rely on his back-up, Biden.
POTUS Romney
October 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
Washington is burning and Obama is playing golf, well it won’t be long now.
Just Saying..
October 24th, 2012
4:08 pm
“Washington is burning and Obama is playing golf…”
Insulting, how he won’t go all fetal position for you…
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 24th, 2012
4:09 pm
Obama’s grandfather served in WW2. Did none of Romney’s relatives serve in the military?
No wars? Not one person served? Really? Not a one? Not even in the Civil War? They couldn’t be bothered to pick a side?
Cherokee
October 24th, 2012
4:14 pm
Amazing. A terrorist group claims something on Facebook, and the Administration is supposed to drop everything they have learned through their information networks, and parrot the terrorists?
You’re smarter than that, Kyle.
cc
October 24th, 2012
4:21 pm
“Obama’s grandfather served in WW2.”
Which grandfather was that, and for what country and which cause was he fighting?
Obama Does Not Love America
October 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
Finn, when someone blows up an abortion clinic or kills an abortion doctor it is done in direct contradiction to the views and teachings of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ. When a Muslim blows themselves or anybody else up they are being true to the founder’s teachings. Your hatred may not allow you to see the difference, but it’s there.
cc
October 24th, 2012
4:23 pm
“Washington is burning and Obama is playing golf”
Obama started the fire before he left for the his round of golf.
Obama Does Not Love America
October 24th, 2012
4:24 pm
When the administration gets asked for help to enchance security and do nothing as well as watch the attack in real time and does nothing, I believe that should be cause for concern for even the most ideoligically hardened Liberal. Shouldn’t the Administration done something other than blame it on a video? Really?????
MarkV
October 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
Kyle Wingfield @ 12:43 pm
I have noticed Kyle comment addressed to me only now, but I will still respond, and I will repeat: Can you, Kyle, really read? If you can, then explain, why you quoted the passage of Ms. Rice’s interview? Are you trying to say that it supports what you have written? Because that would be completely false.
POTUS Romney
October 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
Obama likes to lead from behind that way he can knife you in the back so much easier. Just ask Hillary about that.
Apillow Creed
October 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
I thought our nation was too broke to do anything. Now we suddenly want to invest in an anti-terrorist strike force. Until we DO invest in an anti-terrorist strike force. And then we’d hear that we were too broke to avenge the assassination of 4 measly Americans.
There’s no winning with you guys.
TOTUS
October 24th, 2012
4:34 pm
I will have to think of something smart for my master to say to you any moment now I will flash it across my screen and hopefully he can read it and sound intelligent. Wait just a minute.
Lambeau
October 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
It’s just funny watching MarkV do his thing. First it was “give me proof the obama administration blamed the video after day one!” and now that there has been SUBSTANTIAL evidence posted here as to complete evidence that the administration did in fact blame the video for 2 weeks… hes trying to say “Oh but it WAS because of the video!”… give me a break.
Cam
October 24th, 2012
4:37 pm
Obama and his administration are caught in a huge lie and this time the media has not been able to figure out how to spin it. I have seen some pretty desperate attempts by his supporters though.
getalife
October 24th, 2012
4:39 pm
Let us pray the gop lose and they will not destroy our country again for four more years.
Obama Does Not Love America
October 24th, 2012
4:41 pm
Let us pray that Obama doesn’t win and finish destroying our country.
Obama Does Not Love America
October 24th, 2012
4:43 pm
If Bush destroyed our country with his spending, what does that say about what Obama has done since he has spent more in four years than Bush did in eight? Think before you post.
Apillow Creed
October 24th, 2012
4:45 pm
The country I live in has not been destroyed. I started my own small business earlier in the year and it is thriving. I am not alone. Too bad most Americans – including the ones reading this post – want to dismiss America as a part of their pathetic political narrative.
Left is Right and Right is Rong
October 24th, 2012
4:47 pm
Obama spent us out of Bush’s death sentence for America.
Obama Does Not Love America
October 24th, 2012
4:52 pm
The only death sentence on America was the housing collapse caused by Democratic policies.I am happy for Apillow but an isolated example doesn’t mean Obama has done anything. The only people that benefitted from Obama’s spending are his Green Buddies and Unions. Pathetic talking points regurgitated by a clueless Lib.
Left is Right and Right is Rong
October 24th, 2012
4:53 pm
Democratic policies under a Republican President and a Republican Congress? Do you make this stuff up?