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2013-08-02 Home Front: WoT

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Posted by Uncle Phester 2013-08-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 The write-in comments are better than the story itself.

A post operation or post deployment polygraph is Klingon common practice. They are a reminder to conduct accurate reporting, be honest with operational funding, and keep your yap shut. Failing a poly is bad ju-ju. Failing or coming up inconclusive, can result in a second or third session. One can get parked, pulled from prime-time, or run out the door. Frequent multiple poly's are NOT common practice. I suspect something very significant is being hidden.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-02 01:39|| 2013-08-02 01:39|| Front Page Top

#2 The axe could be swinging the other way B, to prevent another Snowden or Manning type event.

Posted by Skidmark 2013-08-02 02:38|| 2013-08-02 02:38|| Front Page Top

#3 B, what is going on here? The current environment is effectively post scandal. No sentient individual should be surprised at anything and none of this appears to have any meaningful electoral advantage component to it. Why all the pressure?

Posted by Classical_Liberal 2013-08-02 02:43|| 2013-08-02 02:43|| Front Page Top

#4 none of this appears to have any meaningful electoral advantage component to it. Why all the pressure?

Because The New Class are (in their minds) the intellectual elite --- regular philosopher kings --- and they are never (admit being) wrong.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2013-08-02 05:36|| 2013-08-02 05:36|| Front Page Top

#5 It there was that much CIA on the ground in Benghazi, obviously something very important was going on. AND if that very important going on was that secretive and that "hot," why was the US Ambassador there? The scenario I come up with tells me a CIA gig doesn't want State around.

The big question still is WHY Stevens was there.

BTW, I was at the US Embassy in Tripoli the other night for a function and met the new ambassador. A very impressive lady. When I was introduced to her, she immediately picked up on my Texas accent and asked me why I didn't have my cowboy boots on...she's from New Mexico. My Libyan lady was very amused by the exchange between us.

Posted by Bill Clinton 2013-08-02 05:50|| 2013-08-02 05:50|| Front Page Top

#6 One theory Bill [not my theory, but I'll go with it]....a typical agency squabble gone terribly wrong. The Klingon's wouldn't touch the weapons project due to a AQ and host-nation player turmoil. The Hildebeast insisted the project proceed and it did. With the exception of one Blue Mtn security guy, the Brits smartly unassed early on. Stevens made a last ditch, unsuccessful effort to unfok the mess for his boss. The Klingons were on hand to muscle the extraction. The rest is history. As the 2016 Dem lead, the Hildebeast was the principal.

Keep an eye on anybody who looks at your feet and tries to imitate a Texan.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-02 07:39|| 2013-08-02 07:39|| Front Page Top

#7 I don't blame Blue Mountain for that though. How's 4 guys do anything?

Something weird and beyond negligence is going on.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2013-08-02 08:47|| 2013-08-02 08:47|| Front Page Top

#8 I agree BP. The Blue Mountain lad turned out to be the only bright bulb on campus.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-02 08:54|| 2013-08-02 08:54|| Front Page Top

#9 Recalling that the Ambassador met with a Turkish representative for an hour and a half that evening, and then the attack started one hour after that meeting ended, my assumption is the meeting was connected to the CIA project there.

Posted by Mugsy Glink 2013-08-02 08:57|| 2013-08-02 08:57|| Front Page Top

#10 Is it possible that the Ambassador (and Hilly?) was kept in the dark about the CIA being there in force and what they were there for?

This regime is so paranoid, incompetent and arrogant (no those are not mutually exclusive) it wouldn't surprise me to find that the A$$hole-inC set this all up without looking at the big picture for his own bizarre reasons.

Posted by AlanC 2013-08-02 09:11|| 2013-08-02 09:11|| Front Page Top

#11 Possible Alan, the State Dept. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) guy or 'Regional Security Officer' (RSO) would be aware of that many operators in-country. If he knew, the AMBO knew. It's a small community, it's his job.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-02 09:25|| 2013-08-02 09:25|| Front Page Top

#12 Is it possible that the Ambassador (and Hilly?) was kept in the dark about the CIA being there in force and what they were there for?

No.

The scenario I come up with tells me a CIA gig doesn't want State around.

Given Amb. Steves' background in Benghazi, it's unlikely that there was no cooperation or 'lack of situational knowledge' between State and the Klingons. I'd go so far as to say that, given Mr. Stevens's history, he may have violated a diplomatic rule and played spook-on-the-side, or, his ambassadorship appointment was to be more than that from the start.

One theory Bill [not my theory, but I'll go with it]....a typical agency squabble gone terribly wrong.

Possible. Likely. Recall that at least one of the Klingon contractors was there ostensibly to acquire MANPADS in order to take them out of circulation. Nothing about disposition has ever been mentioned. One group may have had responsibility for that, to the displeasure or cross-objective of the other.

Another likely scenario was that the 'authorized' flow of weapons, or a deal to ship weapons, was ordered stopped by NCA; it did not sit well with the Benghazi militias (and the Turks and the Egyptian MB) and Mr. Stevens was called in to placate.

Too many possibilities at this point.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-02 12:17|| 2013-08-02 12:17|| Front Page Top

#13 Your theory Pappy, is clearly supported by the fact that the US is still [reportedly] providing only non-lethal aid to the Syrian rebels. A theory also validated by the long-standing animus btwn the Agency and State.
At this point, the Klingons have no choice other than insulate and support the Beast. Imagine the potential impacts on the Klingon mission and secret budget should an angry Hildebeast become POTUS.

I'm with Uncle Phester. A lot of sudden US Embassy closures throughout the ME. The next few days should be quite interesting.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-02 12:42|| 2013-08-02 12:42|| Front Page Top

#14 At this point, the Klingons have no choice other than insulate and support the Beast

I'm not sure if '2016' is the reason (though it is a valid one.) There are a few others within the Beltway who would be disturbed with a Klingon "lack of faith" (to mix sci-fi metaphors here) and who are able to provide immediate and painful impact.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-02 13:47|| 2013-08-02 13:47|| Front Page Top

#15 I'm beginning to wonder who the hell are all these people.

They certainly don't sound like Original Series or Next Gen Klingons to me.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-02 15:18|| 2013-08-02 15:18|| Front Page Top

#16 Thing, I think we have to start delving into "DUNE".

Think Bene Tleilax or Sardaukar or Harkonnen.

If you go deeper there seems to be some Honored Matres, without the sex.

Posted by AlanC 2013-08-02 15:59|| 2013-08-02 15:59|| Front Page Top

#17 Bene Geserets anyone?

Posted by Bill Clinton 2013-08-02 16:06|| 2013-08-02 16:06|| Front Page Top

#18 Too lacking in intelligence to be BG's, IMHO.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-02 16:47|| 2013-08-02 16:47|| Front Page Top

#19 And bad SF analogies aside, I really still have no idea who these people are if they don't act like an intelligence agency.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-02 17:14|| 2013-08-02 17:14|| Front Page Top

#20 BC, the BGs were generally not too bad so I don't think that they quite qualify. As Thing says this crew ain't got the smarts.

They think of themselves as House Corrino but I don't think they got the smarts for that either.

Posted by AlanC 2013-08-02 17:16|| 2013-08-02 17:16|| Front Page Top

#21 Cylons?

Posted by CrazyFool 2013-08-02 17:47|| 2013-08-02 17:47|| Front Page Top

#22 "Cylons" might be a good name, they did have a Plan, and that's kinda what we're trying to reverse-engineer here.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-02 19:47|| 2013-08-02 19:47|| Front Page Top

#23 given Mr. Stevens's history, he may have violated a diplomatic rule and played spook-on-the-side

Very plausible Pappy, but isnt the more likely scenario he was sanctioned to facilitate the exchange. Or, given the necessity for deniability, perhaps he was tasked to clean up a mess? After allsomebody has the ManPads and prolly someone else has the Colonels gold.

Posted by DepotGuy 2013-08-02 20:07|| 2013-08-02 20:07|| Front Page Top

22:51 JosephMendiola
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20:25 Frank G on the road
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