The Truth About Benghazi

sharkman · September 1, 2013

Good points on the Arab response. A form of WMD's are used on citizens in Syria and nobody wants to intervene. I've heard one of the Saudi princes is channeling arms to the rebels, but nothing in response to this. It's almost like Arab leaders are afraid to officially attack another Arab nation for fear of retribution from the Arab community or something.

If Obama is using this to take attention off of domestic scandals, he could learn a thing or two from Bill Clinton.

Argus · September 1, 2013

What can actually be accomplished by military intervention in Syria? What's the ultimate payoff: an Egypt type situation where either a brutal regime wins or Islamist forces win? What's so great about either outcome that America ought to be investing its resources? Intervening is a no-win situation... no desirable outcome is likely and criticism and controversy is guaranteed. Who, other than Raytheon has anything to gain from US military action in Syria?

The world?

After world war one, the entire civilized world had a 'never again' attitude towards chemical warfare. That collective shudder of revulsion even kept Hitler from using it in his battles with the Allies and Soviets. Vladimir Putin, as brutal and murderous a leader as we've seen in a century didn't use them when he was slaughtering Chechins. and it wasn't because he had any stroke of morality. He didn't want the world coming down on his head.

Obamas initial 'red line' comment was, I think, more of a restatement of longstanding American policy, as well as a way of putting off any action. Syrians were being slaughtered, but he didn't want to do anything, while at the same time not wanting to appear like he was weak or uncaring or ignoring the pax americanus thing. When the Syrians used checmical weapons the first time he was able to ignore it, but this time, there were so many casualties, and so much video he really had no choice. He and other world leaders would either have to live up to their longstanding insistence that using chemical weapons was anathema, or show themselves to be weaklings and hypocrits.

And frankly, if the US doesn't take action against Syria for this, then it has lost any credibility on this issue (as the UK has). The Syrians will use chemical weapons again, only on a larger scale, and other dictators, such as Putin, will be emboldened to do the same at need or desire. More dictators will develop them now that their use is no longer considered impractical. The use of chemical warfare will no longer be a shocking and forbidden thing. It will become common practice. And when even the likes of Zimbabwe have them it won't take long before terrorists get them and they're being used in London and New York.

And, of course, the Iranians will just laugh at any threats against their nuclear program, knowing them to be hollow.

The other question to be asked is why can't countries in the Arab world take the lead on this? Why aren't Turkey and Jordan and Iran the ones who should be putting an end to the carnage in their own back yard? T

Because these countries do not act out of a sense of morality or responsiblity, any more than Russia does. Not ever. They never have. They never will. They are not part of the civilized world, and they don't care what happens elsewhere other than its use for personal enrichment or political propaganda.

Edited September 1, 2013 by Argus

GostHacked · September 11, 2013

A year later and another attack in Benghazi.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/11/world/africa/libya-benghazi-blast/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

GostHacked · September 25, 2013

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/25/theft-us-weapons-in-libya-involved-hundreds-guns-sources-say/

The recent theft of massive amounts of highly sensitive U.S. military equipment from Libya is far worse than previously thought, Fox News has learned, with raiders swiping hundreds of weapons that are now in the hands of militia groups aligned with terror organizations and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The equipment, as Fox News previously reported, was used for training in Libya by U.S. Special Forces. The training team, which was funded by the Pentagon, has since been pulled, partly in response to the overnight raids last August.

According to State Department and military sources, dozens of highly armored vehicles called GMV's, provided by the United States, are now missing. The vehicles feature GPS navigation as well as various sets of weapon mounts and can be outfitted with smoke-grenade launchers. U.S. Special Forces undergo significant training to operate these vehicles. Fox News is told the vehicles provided to the Libyans are now gone.

Hmm what was really going on in Benghazi?

Mighty AC · February 12, 2014

The Republican-led House Armed Services Committee is set to release a report on the 2012 attack in Benghazi that concludes that the military was never ordered to "stand down" during the attack and refrain from attempting to help Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the others who were killed in the attack.

Hmmm, I wonder how much air time Fox News and Glenn Beck will dedicate to this revelation. Fox News did happen to mention the "stand down" conspiracy 85 times during prime time broadcasts.

http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/02/11/3276171/gop-benghazi-military-hasc/

Edited February 12, 2014 by Mighty AC

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

I haven't heard about this issue in the MSM in awhile. Perhaps it finally died.

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

I haven't heard about this issue in the MSM in awhile. Perhaps it finally died.

Or they want to keep it quiet.

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

Or they want to keep it quiet.

Ha. No. They have been beating this thing to death even without much to go on, so I'm not sure why they would be keeping it quiet now. This is just another one of those pet projects of the conspiracy set - somewhere in between the government spraying fake snow on Atlanta Georgia, and GW Bush helping the WTC landlord plan 9/11. We can hope that it will now die a dignified death.

bush_cheney2004 · February 12, 2014

... We can hope that it will now die a dignified death.

Heavens no, as such things are an endless source of comical entertainment.....the stories themselves and the full complement of supporting nut cases.

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

Heavens no, as such things are an endless source of comical entertainment.....the stories themselves and the full complement of supporting nut cases.

The entertainment IS limited, though. It seems unlimited but even Rob Ford wears on your attention span after awhile. Also, people don't think the Free Silver issue is as funny as it once was.

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

Ha. No. They have been beating this thing to death even without much to go on, so I'm not sure why they would be keeping it quiet now. This is just another one of those pet projects of the conspiracy set - somewhere in between the government spraying fake snow on Atlanta Georgia, and GW Bush helping the WTC landlord plan 9/11. We can hope that it will now die a dignified death.

Well, this is not very becoming of a forum facilitator now is it?

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/05/why-is-team-obama-so-afraid-benghazi-survivors-stories/

For months there have been unconfirmed reports circulating in the shadows that Benghazi was an off the books, gun-running operation, like Iran-Contra in the Reagan years.

There are rumors it was a secret program to take weapons out of the hands of Libyan rebels and put them into the hands of Syrian rebels.

Remember, they denied the Iran-Contra affair at the start.

According to unconfirmed reports, U.S. contractors were there to find loose weapons the U.S. had supplied to rebel forces during the Libyan war, and unsecured weapons from Qaddafi's stockpiles.

According to these reports, the American contractors paid to get the weapons back and off the streets, similar to the gun buy-back programs used in some American cities. What would then happen to those weapons is anyone’s guess – maybe they were destroyed, maybe they were sent back to the US, maybe they were funneled to Syrian rebels.

These rumors could be just conspiracy theories and speculation. But something is making the White House nervous about having the Benghazi survivors testify.

Considering the Fast and Furious gun running the US did to Mexico, and the Iran-Contra affair, this is not that much of a stretch. It's happened in the past.

Edited February 12, 2014 by GostHacked

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

Well, this is not very becoming of a forum facilitator now is it?

How so ? There are some stories that I find ridiculous and it's well within my rights to say so. I'm not asked to censor my views on here.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/05/why-is-team-obama-so-afraid-benghazi-survivors-stories/

Ok, well then so much for the idea that the media (ie. "they") are "covering it up".

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

How so ? There are some stories that I find ridiculous and it's well within my rights to say so. I'm not asked to censor my views on here.

Ok, well then so much for the idea that the media (ie. "they") are "covering it up".

If you only have a couple sources talking about it, you have to wonder why it is not present in most of the other MSM. I am no fan of Fox, but they are the only ones really still following this story.

But there is more, if one decides to look.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/10218288/CIA-running-arms-smuggling-team-in-Benghazi-when-consulate-was-attacked.html

Up to 35 CIA operatives were working in the city during the attack last September on the US consulate that resulted in the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, according to CNN.

The circumstances of the attack are a subject of deep division in the US with some Congressional leaders pressing for a wide-ranging investigation into suspicions that the government has withheld details of its activities in the Libyan city.

The television network said that a CIA team was working in an annex near the consulate on a project to supply missiles from Libyan armouries to Syrian rebels.

http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/01/exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/

Speculation on Capitol Hill has included the possibility the U.S. agencies operating in Benghazi were secretly helping to move surface-to-air missiles out of Libya, through Turkey, and into the hands of Syrian rebels.

It is clear that two U.S. agencies were operating in Benghazi, one was the State Department, and the other was the CIA.

The State Department told CNN in an e-mail that it was only helping the new Libyan government destroy weapons deemed "damaged, aged or too unsafe retain," and that it was not involved in any transfer of weapons to other countries.

Now we have chemical weapons and other materials being removed from Syria. Where is that stuff going??

http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/cnn-confirms-wnd-reporting-on-gun-running-in-benghazi/

CNN is reporting lawmakers are speculating on the possibility U.S. agencies operating in the Benghazi compound attacked Sept. 11, 2012, were secretly helping to transfer weapons from Libya, via Turkey, to the rebels in Syria.

That possibility was first reported by WND two weeks after the Benghazi attack, when the news agency cited Egyptian security officials who said murdered U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens played a central role in arming and recruiting rebels to fight Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In November 2012, Middle Eastern security sources further described both the U.S. mission and nearby CIA annex in Benghazi as an intelligence and planning center for U.S. aid to the rebels, which included weapons shipments being coordinated with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Does not seem that crazy if some politicians are asking the same questions. And since we have confirmed that the Syrian rebels, in the form of the FSA was indeed helped with weapons and other material support as well as giving them a safe base to operate from in Turkey.

Connect the dots!

Edited February 12, 2014 by GostHacked

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

More on the gun running ..

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/10/miller-rand-paul-demands-answers-gunrunning-bengha/?page=all

Sen. Rand Paul suspects the U.S. was secretly running guns through the consulate in Benghazi to arm Syrian rebels. The Kentucky Republican said the Obama administration must provide answers about whether firearms trafficking through Libya was related to the terrorist attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.

.....

He added that, “I had a conversation with another congressman today who said that he asked someone within the leadership of Congress whether or not arms were being exchanged in Benghazi, and the response he got was, ‘That was classified.’”

Mr. Paul concluded that, “When someone tells me that — that’s not a denial — that’s saying that, ‘I’m not going to talk about that.’ To me, that almost sounds like yes.” The State Department did not respond to request for comment.

When Mrs. Clinton testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Paul asked her directly about gunrunning — via Turkey — to arm Syrian rebels.

“When I asked Hillary Clinton that question in the committee hearing, she never said, ‘No we weren’t involved with transferring guns out of Libya,’” he told Fox News. “She just said, ‘Oh I can’t imagine. That’s not under my — that would be the CIA. We would have to ask them.’ But she acted like she’d never heard of the question.”

In the Jan. 23 hearing, Mr. Paul asked her directly: “Is the U.S. involved with any procuring of weapons, transfer of weapons, buying, selling, anyhow transferring weapons to Turkey out of Libya?”

“To Turkey? I will have to take that question for the record. That’s — I — nobody’s ever raised that with me,” Mrs. Clinton responded.

To her it does not matter who did the attack at the consulate, but yet need to find those responsible.

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

If you only have a couple sources talking about it, you have to wonder why it is not present in most of the other MSM. I am no fan of Fox, but they are the only ones really still following this story.

Because Fox is the only channel that dares to give you the truth... I guess you're saying ?

Anyway, I have looked into the story and commented on it already.

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

Because Fox is the only channel that dares to give you the truth... I guess you're saying ?

No where did I say that, normally I can't stand Fox. I simply said they are the only ones essentially reporting on this anymore.

Anyway, I have looked into the story and commented on it already.

I gave you other sources too. I will continue to comment on this story.

Edited February 12, 2014 by GostHacked

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

I gave you other sources too. I will continue to comment on this story.

Those stories are from August aren't they ? Feel free to continue to comment, but this one doesn't move me to comment much.

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

Those stories are from August aren't they ? Feel free to continue to comment, but this one doesn't move me to comment much.

Says he as he continues to comment.

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

Says he as he continues to comment.

I'm not commenting on the story, I'm commenting on our discussion on the story.

GostHacked · February 12, 2014

I'm not commenting on the story, I'm commenting on our discussion on the story.

So you are commenting but not commenting. Got it.

Michael Hardner · February 12, 2014

So you are commenting but not commenting. Got it.

No - I'm commenting on the comment, not on the story. And I will continue to do so until we're on the same page.

Ok ?

Shady · May 1, 2014

Big news from the Benghazi scandal. Judicial Watch, through a federal lawsuit finally obtained sought after emails from the Obama administration. As it turns out, Obama administration deputy national security advisor instructed Susan Rice to insist that the attack was the result of a YouTube video. Even when Defense officials informed the administration the night of the attack that the assualt was in fact a terrorist attack.

Here's ABC News' Jonathan Karl trying to pry answers from Obama administration press secretary Stonewall Jackson...er...Jay Carney.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn0omavuL2A