Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Tue 08/06/2013 View Mon 08/05/2013 View Sun 08/04/2013 View Sat 08/03/2013 View Fri 08/02/2013 View Thu 08/01/2013 View Wed 07/31/2013
1
2013-08-06 Africa North
After Benghazi - Was there a Cover-Up?
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Pappy 2013-08-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ]  Top

#1 Does a bear, etc?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2013-08-06 05:30||   2013-08-06 05:30|| Front Page Top

#2 Nice write up Pappy.
Posted by Skidmark 2013-08-06 05:36||   2013-08-06 05:36|| Front Page Top

#3 The money quote: "business-as-usual in Washington: spin, turf-protection, egotism, bureaucracy, job protection, passing the blame and incompetence."
Posted by Glenmore 2013-08-06 07:56||   2013-08-06 07:56|| Front Page Top

#4 The only thing I'd add to Glenmore's list is "Turf expansion". This kind of incident offers many opportunities to grab more power and status. Since those two things are the be all and end all of the politico/bureaucratic mindset any opportunity will be siezed.
Posted by AlanC 2013-08-06 08:40||   2013-08-06 08:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Excellent assessment. Take the rest of the day off with pay.
Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-06 09:24||   2013-08-06 09:24|| Front Page Top

#6 With "damage control" being the operative condition, I don't think turf-expansion was an immediate objective.

It did come after the election (the WH's appointment of insiders to the CIA, for example,) but not at that time.
Posted by Pappy 2013-08-06 11:44||   2013-08-06 11:44|| Front Page Top

#7 Interesting analysis!

If there were 35 CIA operatives in Benghazi, maybe concealment of what they were doing gave no other option but deflection, even if viewed as a ham-handed coverup.

As for the DOD, what about the rumor of an officer, Gen. Carter Ham as I recollect, being abruptly relieved that night?
Posted by KBK 2013-08-06 11:52||   2013-08-06 11:52|| Front Page Top

#8 Oh, and if the CIA operations were to the benefit of Al Qaeda-associated rebels in Syria, why would the facility be attacked by Al Qaeda?
Posted by KBK 2013-08-06 12:59||   2013-08-06 12:59|| Front Page Top

#9 nice and tight, Pappy. I say "yes"
Posted by Frank G on the road 2013-08-06 14:31||   2013-08-06 14:31|| Front Page Top

#10 In this case I don't think it's the cover up that condems them anyway. Its not worse than the crime of denying the go ahead for units on standby to enter the area and assist.

I'm still amazed no high ranking military resigned right afterwards (or disobeyed orders and helped).
Posted by rjschwarz 2013-08-06 14:43||   2013-08-06 14:43|| Front Page Top

#11 Thanks, Pappy, well done.... appreciate your insight...
Posted by Sherry 2013-08-06 15:33||   2013-08-06 15:33|| Front Page Top

#12 A good, concise review of the facts. Thank you.

I read today on Breitbart that the film maker has been released from jail on "supervised" parole, or something like that. But I just looked again and I can't find the article or any link to it.

I feel badly about the people who died. I'm concerned and suspicious about what our people were really doing in Benghazi.

But for me, the most frightening aspect of this episode is the lack of respect for the first amendment. How can Clinton or Obama or any of them expect Egypt to become a democracy unless they understand the concept of free speech? Or, in reality, did they ever expect any such thing? Nonetheless I was appalled that officials in the United State government would apologize to anybody in Egypt or any other foreign country for anything, let alone free speech or U.S. Constitutional rights. The whole thing tells me that Obama is no better than Morsi or Putin and that is truly chilling.
Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-08-06 17:04||   2013-08-06 17:04|| Front Page Top

#13 why would the facility be attacked by Al Qaeda?

Why indeed. Could be if the mission was to destroy weapons, then the attack would work to save those weapons from destruction.

If this was operation 2Fast2Furious, what if it wasn't AQ but a Syrian/Iranian/Russian job to not only shut down the arms transfer to Team Syria Rebels but also a snatch & grab for proof of the USA involved in illegal weapon transfers but as bargaining chips to prevent any future plans with openly arming TSR, cutting a supply route and maybe even ending non-military aid.
Posted by swksvolFF 2013-08-06 18:49||   2013-08-06 18:49|| Front Page Top

#14 if the CIA operations were to the benefit of Al Qaeda-associated rebels in Syria, why would the facility be attacked by Al Qaeda?

I raised that question yesterday; it appears to also have appeared at a few other sites.

The one possibility is that an Al Qaeda-associated militia attacked the consulate, assuming the annex was an intel facility, or not entirely aware that the CIA was engaged in either the shipping of, or stopping the flow of, or restricting the flow of certain, weapons.
Posted by Pappy 2013-08-06 21:31||   2013-08-06 21:31|| Front Page Top

23:56 JosephMendiola
23:26 JosephMendiola
23:17 JosephMendiola
22:48 Nguard
22:24 texhooey
21:31 Pappy
21:13 Pappy
21:11 Pappy
20:47 49 Pan
20:45 trailing wife
20:38 trailing wife
19:54 JosephMendiola
19:37 Barbara
18:49 swksvolFF
18:44 lord garth
17:54 phil_b
17:44 Skidmark
17:43 lord garth
17:04 Ebbang Uluque6305
17:03 Bright Pebbles
16:37 Redneck Jim
16:07 Frank G on the road
16:04 Muggsy the Full Bosomed1713
16:01 irishrageboy









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com