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Thanks for qualifying my claim.
All this crap is coming from the exact same people who were certain Obama was born in Kenya, how's the search for that real BC going there birther?
Thank you again for qualifying my claim.
To the thread author.....ok, drop the video stuff...more importantly is the Security question. Why wasnt this place secured better? After all the warnings prior to 9/11? And denied security...in fact had security taken away? Why? Shouldn't someone answer for that? Stevens himself was worried. And what about the lack of response to help them?
All this crap is coming from the exact same people who were certain Obama was born in Kenya, how's the search for that real BC going there birther?
Thank you again for qualifying my claim.
Gotcha you birther dupe, go look for Bigfoot and the Roswell aliens, the fresh air will do you some good.
Geezer, you're waaaaaaaaaaaay too retarded to converse with.
Thank you again for qualifying my claim.
Gotcha you birther dupe, go look for Bigfoot and the Roswell aliens, the fresh air will do you some good.
What ya' so nervous about?
In what can only be characterized as political revenge, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) skipped a closed door briefing to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on the Benghazi attack to hold a news conference blasting the Obama Administration for not giving the Senate information on the attacks.
Senator McCain and his two side-kicks, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) skipped the briefing to hold a news conference to demand for a Watergate-scale investigation to get information on the Benghazi attack. When asked why they skipped the briefing to hold a news conference, John McCain exploded.
So much for letting the facts get in the way of political theater.
What do eyewitnesses say about the events in Benghazi? Were they related to the insulting video, or is that a red herring? And was the assault planned for the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, or was it spontaneous?
According to reporting by David D. Kirkpatrick and Suliman Ali Zway of The New York Times, eyewitnesses have said there was no peaceful demonstration against the video outside the compound before the attack, though a crowd of Benghazi residents soon gathered, and some later looted the compound. But the attackers, recognized as members of a local militant group called Ansar al-Shariah, did tell bystanders that they were attacking the compound because they were angry about the video. They did not mention the Sept. 11 anniversary. Intelligence officials believe that planning for the attack probably began only a few hours before it took place.
Is it fair to link the Benghazi attack to Al Qaeda?
Only very indirectly. Ayman al-Zawahri, the leader of Al Qaeda, had called on Libyans to avenge the killing of a Libyan-born Qaeda leader, and American intelligence officials have said they intercepted boastful phone calls after the assault from the attackers to members of the Qaeda affiliate in North Africa, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
To the thread author.....ok, drop the video stuff...more importantly is the Security question. Why wasnt this place secured better? After all the warnings prior to 9/11? And denied security...in fact had security taken away? Why? Shouldn't someone answer for that? Stevens himself was worried. And what about the lack of response to help them?
... Americans [don't] see a cover-up,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Only 40% believe that the inaccurate statements that administration officials initially made about the Benghazi attack were an attempt to deliberately mislead the public. Fifty-four percent think those inaccurate statements reflected what the White House believed to be true at the time.”
But hidden beneath the GOP campaign is the fact that House Republicans voted to cut nearly $300 million from the U.S. embassy security budget. When asked if he voted to cut the funds this morning on CNN, Chaffetz said, Absolutely:
OBRIEN: Is it true that you voted to cut the funding for embassy security?
CHAFFETZ: Absolutely. Look, we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have think about this 15,000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, private army there for President Obama in Baghdad.
And were talking about can we get two dozen or so people into Libya to help protect our forces? When youre in tough economic times, you have to make difficult choices how to prioritize this.
The Minority Leader then pointed out that it was Republicans who may have some responsibility in the matter, as they turned down the administrations request for nearly $300 million for embassy security:
PELOSI: Its also important to note that the Republican appropriation in Congress gave the administration $300 million less than it asked for for the State Department, including funding for security.
BLITZER: Are you suggesting that there was a financial aspect to what happened in Benghazi, Libya. That the U.S. was not enough money to protect American diplomats?
PELOSI: No what Im saying is Congress has the right of oversight but it also has the power of the purse. We also have to look to ourselves for that funding question. $300 million less than what the administration asked for.
Watch the clip:
Later in the interview, CNN Anchor Soledad OBrien asks, Is it true that you voted to cut the funding for embassy security?
Chaffetz answers, Absolutely. Look we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have 15,0000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, a private army there, for President Obama, in Baghdad. And were talking about can we get two dozen or so people into Libya to help protect our forces. When youre in touch 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.
MYTH: There Was "No Security" At Libyan Consulate
Limbaugh: Ambassador Stevens Had "No Security" At Benghazi Consulate. During the September 21 edition of his Premiere Radio Networks' program, Rush Limbaugh claimed that Ambassador Chris Stevens had "no security -- none." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 9/21/12, via Media Matters]
FACT: There Were Multiple Teams Of Armed Guards At Libyan Consulate
WSJ: Consulate Security Included "A Four-Man Team Of Armed Guards Protecting The Perimeter" And "Five Armed State Department Diplomatic Security Officers." A September 21 Wall Street Journal article reported that security at the Libyan consulate included "a four-man team of armed guards protecting the perimeter and four unarmed Libyan guards inside to screen visitors." The Journal also noted: "Besides the four armed Libyans outside, five armed State Department diplomatic security officers were at the consulate." [The Wall Street Journal, 9/21/12]
WSJ: Prior To Attacks, "Embassy Personnel Conducted A Security Review." The same Wall Street Journal article reported that a security review was conducted right before the attacks on the consulate:
In the days before Sept. 11, intelligence agencies issued their annual warning of heightened security risks around the anniversary of the 2001 attacks. Many counterterrorism officials saw a lessened risk this year than last year, which was the 10th anniversary and the first one after the killing of Osama bin Laden.
In Libya, embassy personnel conducted a security review right before the anniversary. It determined there was no reason to think an attack was planned or the consulate in Benghazi was "insufficiently postured," said a senior administration official. [The Wall Street Journal, 9/21/12]
MYTH: There Was "No Storming" Of U.S. Embassies Under Other Presidents
Krauthammer: "There Was No Storming Of The U.S. Embassy In Cairo In Those Days." During the September 13 edition of Special Report, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer said:
KRAUTHAMMER: The irony is that it began in Cairo, in the same place where the speech he made at the beginning of his presidency in which he said he wanted a new beginning with mutual respect, implying that under other presidents, particularly Bush, there was a lack of mutual respect, which was an insult to the United States, which had gone to war six times in the last 20 years on behalf of oppressed Muslims in Kuwait, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
So to imply that we somehow had mistreated Muslims, which was the premise of his speech, and how the Iraq war had inflamed the Arab world against us -- well, there was no storming of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in those days. [Media Matters, 9/14/12]
FACT: There Have Been Numerous Embassy And Consulate Attacks Under Recent Presidents
There Have Been At Least 15 Attacks On U.S. Embassies And Consulates Since 1979 -- Including Seven Under George W. Bush. U.S. embassies and consulates were attacked at least 15 times under the presidencies of Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Seven of those attacks occurred during the presidency of George W. Bush. [Media Matters, 9/14/12]
GOP Rep: I 'Absolutely' Voted To Cut Funding For Embassy Security | ThinkProgress
Pelosi Attacks Republicans For Withholding Embassy Security Funding | ThinkProgressBut hidden beneath the GOP campaign is the fact that House Republicans voted to cut nearly $300 million from the U.S. embassy security budget. When asked if he voted to cut the funds this morning on CNN, Chaffetz said, “Absolutely“:
O’BRIEN: Is it true that you voted to cut the funding for embassy security?
CHAFFETZ: Absolutely. Look, we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have — think about this — 15,000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, 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 how to prioritize this.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9DJyoZqtkSE"]Pelosi calls out GOP for denying money for Benghazi security - YouTube[/ame]The Minority Leader then pointed out that it was Republicans who may have some responsibility in the matter, as they turned down the administration’s request for nearly $300 million for embassy security:
PELOSI: It’s also important to note that the Republican appropriation in Congress gave the administration $300 million less than it asked for for the State Department, including funding for security.
BLITZER: Are you suggesting that there was a financial aspect to what happened in Benghazi, Libya. That the U.S. was not enough money to protect American diplomats?
PELOSI: No what I’m saying is Congress has the right of oversight but it also has the power of the purse. … We also have to look to ourselves for that funding question. $300 million less than what the administration asked for.
Watch the clip:
GOP Cut Embassy Security Funding | Drudge Retort
Rep. Chaffetz says he "absolutely" voted to cut funding for embassy security – CNN Press Room - CNN.com Blogs
Jason Chaffetz Admits House GOP Cut Funding For Embassy Security: 'You Have To Prioritize Things'
Myths And Facts About The Benghazi Attack And Protests In The Middle East | Research | Media Matters for America
same pageMYTH: There Was "No Security" At Libyan Consulate
Limbaugh: Ambassador Stevens Had "No Security" At Benghazi Consulate. During the September 21 edition of his Premiere Radio Networks' program, Rush Limbaugh claimed that Ambassador Chris Stevens had "no security -- none." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 9/21/12, via Media Matters]
FACT: There Were Multiple Teams Of Armed Guards At Libyan Consulate
WSJ: Consulate Security Included "A Four-Man Team Of Armed Guards Protecting The Perimeter" And "Five Armed State Department Diplomatic Security Officers." A September 21 Wall Street Journal article reported that security at the Libyan consulate included "a four-man team of armed guards protecting the perimeter and four unarmed Libyan guards inside to screen visitors." The Journal also noted: "Besides the four armed Libyans outside, five armed State Department diplomatic security officers were at the consulate." [The Wall Street Journal, 9/21/12]
WSJ: Prior To Attacks, "Embassy Personnel Conducted A Security Review." The same Wall Street Journal article reported that a security review was conducted right before the attacks on the consulate:
In the days before Sept. 11, intelligence agencies issued their annual warning of heightened security risks around the anniversary of the 2001 attacks. Many counterterrorism officials saw a lessened risk this year than last year, which was the 10th anniversary and the first one after the killing of Osama bin Laden.
In Libya, embassy personnel conducted a security review right before the anniversary. It determined there was no reason to think an attack was planned or the consulate in Benghazi was "insufficiently postured," said a senior administration official. [The Wall Street Journal, 9/21/12]
MYTH: There Was "No Storming" Of U.S. Embassies Under Other Presidents
Krauthammer: "There Was No Storming Of The U.S. Embassy In Cairo In Those Days." During the September 13 edition of Special Report, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer said:
KRAUTHAMMER: The irony is that it began in Cairo, in the same place where the speech he made at the beginning of his presidency in which he said he wanted a new beginning with mutual respect, implying that under other presidents, particularly Bush, there was a lack of mutual respect, which was an insult to the United States, which had gone to war six times in the last 20 years on behalf of oppressed Muslims in Kuwait, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
So to imply that we somehow had mistreated Muslims, which was the premise of his speech, and how the Iraq war had inflamed the Arab world against us -- well, there was no storming of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in those days. [Media Matters, 9/14/12]
FACT: There Have Been Numerous Embassy And Consulate Attacks Under Recent Presidents
There Have Been At Least 15 Attacks On U.S. Embassies And Consulates Since 1979 -- Including Seven Under George W. Bush. U.S. embassies and consulates were attacked at least 15 times under the presidencies of Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Seven of those attacks occurred during the presidency of George W. Bush. [Media Matters, 9/14/12]