Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Fri 10/26/2012 View Thu 10/25/2012 View Wed 10/24/2012 View Tue 10/23/2012 View Mon 10/22/2012 View Sun 10/21/2012 View Sat 10/20/2012
1
2012-10-26 Africa North
BREAKING: CIA Requested Help During Benghazi Battle, Were Denied Three Times
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 DarthVader 2012-10-26 11:47|| || Front Page|| [12 views ]  Top

#1 US government = Judas.
Posted by gromky 2012-10-26 12:35||   2012-10-26 12:35|| Front Page Top

#2 The responsible people in charge should be brought up on manslaughter charges at least.
Posted by DarthVader 2012-10-26 12:51||   2012-10-26 12:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Leon Panetta

Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

An Italian-American Democratic politician, lawyer, and professor, Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997.

A non-military left wing Obama hack in charge of life and death situations such as this.
Posted by Chaling and Tenille4169 2012-10-26 13:02||   2012-10-26 13:02|| Front Page Top

#4 I doubt the current administration will survive Benghazi.
Posted by Besoeker 2012-10-26 13:46||   2012-10-26 13:46|| Front Page Top

#5 When the men are in dire circumstances, and the "Stand Down" comes from above, then you find out who your real friends are.
Posted by Raider 2012-10-26 13:57||   2012-10-26 13:57|| Front Page Top

#6 now teh 0ne knows how McCain felt on september 15, 2008.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-10-26 14:01||   2012-10-26 14:01|| Front Page Top

#7 This is worse than Blackhawk Down. Our own senior people let our people in Benghazi die rather than make a decision.

This was a failure of nerve. Not of intellect; someone in the White House and State had to know what was going on, and there had to be a military advisor somewhere saying to the effect "give us the word and we'll respond." While there is always a 'fog of war', it is clear that there was enough good information to make the call.

The call wasn't made.

This was a moral failure. The people in charge of making decisions refused to make one. They dithered, they thought, they dithered some more, and then they did nothing. Four good people died as a result.

The people in charge of our government do not deserve to be in charge. However smart or clever they might be, they lack the basic moral rectitude and nerve.
Posted by Steve White 2012-10-26 14:02||   2012-10-26 14:02|| Front Page Top

#8 David Hunt:

"When the attack began, a Diplomatic Security agent working in the Tactical Operations Center immediately activated the Imminent Danger Notification System and made an emergency announcement over the PA. Based on our security protocols, he also alerted the annex U.S. quick reaction security team stationed nearby, the Libyan 17th February Brigade, Embassy Tripoli, and the Diplomatic Security Command Center in Washington. From that point on, I could follow what was happening in almost real-time.” Those are the words of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Charlene Lamb from her testimony before House Oversight Committee, Washington, D.C.on October 10, 2012.

When Ms. Lamb testified in front of Congressman Issa’s committee she was opening a window into the failed emergency notification and reaction system that has been in existence for decades in the United States and refined after 11 years of continuous war. Ms. Lamb, and the entire United States government, military, intelligence and counter-terrorism centers were listening in real time to a six-hour battle. From the president and vice president to the Secretaries of State and Defense, National Intelligence Director, the National Military Command Center and The White House Situation Room was tuned into or was being briefed about what was unfolding in Benghazi. Every Operations Center in every operational office in our government was fully aware of what was going on while it was going on in real time.
Posted by Pappy 2012-10-26 14:12||   2012-10-26 14:12|| Front Page Top

#9 This ugly can of worms is about to break out of the seams of the can containing it. It is a growing clusterfVck with each day. I doubt this administration will survive Bengahzi.
Posted by JohnQC 2012-10-26 14:47||   2012-10-26 14:47|| Front Page Top

#10 It will if the MSM have anything to do with it. I don't watch TV or read newspapers, but I doubt they are covering this story with the detail level like the Burg.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2012-10-26 15:19|| t  2012-10-26 15:19|| Front Page Top

#11 This isn't the first time the Obama administration has denied something three times. I can't recall what the other was off the top of my head, but it is getting to be a habit.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-10-26 15:42||   2012-10-26 15:42|| Front Page Top

#12 Specter gunships are commonly used by the Special Operations community to provide close air support.

According to sources on the ground, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from.

I just want this to be noted.
Posted by Shipman 2012-10-26 15:56||   2012-10-26 15:56|| Front Page Top

#13 They were left to die.
Posted by Shipman 2012-10-26 15:57||   2012-10-26 15:57|| Front Page Top

#14 The outrage here may be understandable ... but I have noticed that in this 21'st century world that "short term memory" dominates. The Nov elections are now a week-and-a-half away. The blame game on Benghazi stopped when it didn't become an upset during 2'nd Pesidential Debate. In November, a new series of critical issues will arise, and Benghazi will drift onto the back burner and become forgotten.

I hate to say that about the lives of good men. But we live in an era where whoever dominates the media wins, and the lives of good men are blurred away into nothingness.
Posted by Raider 2012-10-26 15:57||   2012-10-26 15:57|| Front Page Top

#15 I read on another site the JSOC QRF were tier one units. Amazing....
Posted by 49 pan 2012-10-26 16:59||   2012-10-26 16:59|| Front Page Top

#16 Instapundit and a couple of other sites posted that there were two AC-130Us gunships deployed to Libya. I don't know that this has been verified.
Posted by JohnQC 2012-10-26 17:25||   2012-10-26 17:25|| Front Page Top

#17 Just sent email to my Senator, John Cornyn to get on TV and scream loud... I'm sick about this..
Posted by Sherry 2012-10-26 17:32||   2012-10-26 17:32|| Front Page Top

#18 The whole thing is banned on the muslim controlled Obama media...it is just as if nothing had happened...no mention of it whatsoever...everybody knew on the internet when the muslims where rioting in Europe, yet, not a peep in the US media, ESPECIALLY at Fox(The Sheikh owning it forbade any mention of tens of thousands of cars burned in France)All you had to do to save your ride was to put a coran on the dash!...
Posted by Ebbusong Snaith6597 2012-10-26 18:45||   2012-10-26 18:45|| Front Page Top

#19 Petraeus Throws Obama Under the Bus
Posted by tipper 2012-10-26 18:50||   2012-10-26 18:50|| Front Page Top

#20 Petraeus should resign. He's in charge of the CIA and either he is responsible or he should resign in disgust at what his commander did.

Having said that this won't effect the election much at this point because folks who are pro-Obama are so because they are in love with him or because he is black and all the facts in the world are unlikely to change that.
Posted by rjschwarz 2012-10-26 19:26||   2012-10-26 19:26|| Front Page Top

#21 Obama Refuses to Answer ‘Repeated Questions on Whether Requests for Help in Benghazi Were Denied
Posted by tipper 2012-10-26 19:29||   2012-10-26 19:29|| Front Page Top

#22 And now we finally start to see the Why behind that lame attempt at a cover-up.

The blame game on Benghazi stopped when it didn't become an upset during 2'nd Pesidential Debate.

My initial feeling too, but in retrospect, Romney was right not to pursue it there. This story is starting to snowball. I don't think the press is letting go.

Posted by SteveS 2012-10-26 21:04||   2012-10-26 21:04|| Front Page Top

#23 An odd hypothetical crossed my mind today, and I'd love to see the 'burgers discuss if it's a possibility ...

Based on the reports of the calls to stand-down and that no other help was sent, is it possible that the Ambassador and/or his staff were planning or running some sort of off-grid operation that was not condoned by the admin? Maybe even went against or had been directly forbidden by the admin?

And so when things went bad they were left to burn and no more people were risked to rescue?

Something is hidden here that caused the folks at the top of the chain to purposefully suppress assistance (not just failed to give it a "go"). What are they hoping that no one notices so that looking like complete idiots is the better option?
Posted by ExtremeModerate 2012-10-26 21:27||   2012-10-26 21:27|| Front Page Top

#24 "This isn't the first time the Obama administration has denied something three times."

Has the cock crowed yet? :-(
Posted by Barbara 2012-10-26 21:45||   2012-10-26 21:45|| Front Page Top

#25 Obama is no Saint Peter....
Posted by Glenmore 2012-10-26 21:53||   2012-10-26 21:53|| Front Page Top

#26 Based on the reports of the calls to stand-down and that no other help was sent, is it possible that the Ambassador and/or his staff were planning or running some sort of off-grid operation that was not condoned by the admin? Maybe even went against or had been directly forbidden by the admin?

More realistic is running an off-grid that had a Mission Impossible 'if you or you're team are caught...' caveat.
Posted by Pappy 2012-10-26 21:55||   2012-10-26 21:55|| Front Page Top

#27 "Obama is no Saint Peter...."

More like Lucifer, Glenmore. >:-(
Posted by Barbara 2012-10-26 22:07||   2012-10-26 22:07|| Front Page Top

#28 There are new allegations that US personnel at Benghazi were painting ground markers for an anticipated US airtrike that was ordered but weirdly-n-mysteriously never came???
Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-10-26 22:29||   2012-10-26 22:29|| Front Page Top

#29 Re: #26 ... Thanks, Pappy ... that's exactly what I was wondering.

I remember there being something about if the Bin Laden hit had gone poorly it would all have been denied and disavowed. I'm wondering if Benghazi is an example of how that sort of thing works. :-/
Posted by ExtremeModerate 2012-10-26 22:33||   2012-10-26 22:33|| Front Page Top

#30 Blackfive is reporting:
Having a back and forth with a former legendary Delta operator. Here is the gist of what he is implying:

Everyone is reporting this but they are missing a key point. From the retired Delta operator:
Having spent a good bit of time nursing a GLD (ground Laser Designator) in several garden spots around the world, something from the report jumped out at me.

One of the former SEALs was actively painting the target. That means that Specter WAS ON STATION! Probably an AC130U. A ground laser designator is not a briefing pointer laser. You do not "paint" a target until the weapons system/designator is synched; which means that the AC130 was on station.

Only two places could have called off the attack at that point; the WH situation command (based on POTUS direction) or AFRICOM commander based on information directly from the target area.

If the AC130 never left Sigonella (as Penetta says) that means that the Predator that was filming the whole thing was armed.

If that SEAL was actively "painting" a target; something was on station to engage! And the decision to stand down goes directly to POTUS!
Posted by Sherry 2012-10-26 23:03||   2012-10-26 23:03|| Front Page Top

#31 More from that Delta guy at Blackfie:

Update 4: From quoted retired Delta operator, "Jeff is correct (about lasing without air asset) but the only reason you would do that is to determine a specific grid for indirect fire which the SEAL did not have available. You are in an active firefight against mortars and MGs; there is only one reason to cease returning fire and paint a target and it ain't because you thought it was a good time to pull a PMCS on your f**** GLD."

Yer damn straight, and for those who don't know, PMCS is maintenance and testing on a device you do during slack time back in garrison, not in the heat of some deadly shoot up.
Posted by Sherry 2012-10-26 23:15||   2012-10-26 23:15|| Front Page Top

#32 And I have a question -- in all of this, seems the Ambassador might not have been saved since the fire overran their location.... my question is... how long was it from when the SEAL Ty Woods knew of the shots before he and the guys ran to the rescue?

The report reads that it was the SEAL and the team he brought with him that saved the ones they got out... how long did they wait to disobey orders and rush to the scene?

If they had gotten the okay to go immediately, they were only a mile away, could they have made a difference?

If we are to believe the reporting by the Times reporting of the interviews with the Libyan guards, they were in that safe room, there was a period of time before the fire started and the smoke engulfed them.
Posted by Sherry 2012-10-26 23:35||   2012-10-26 23:35|| Front Page Top

#33 From Fox News:
Brett Baier: “…Jennifer, there will be people who question your sources. How solid are they?”

Jennifer Griffin: “As good as they get.”

Brett Baier: “On the ground?”

Jennifer Griffin: “On the ground.”
Posted by Sherry 2012-10-26 23:55||   2012-10-26 23:55|| Front Page Top

23:55 Sherry
23:35 Sherry
23:15 Sherry
23:09 SteveS
23:03 Sherry
22:55 Sgt. D.T.
22:33 ExtremeModerate
22:32 JosephMendiola
22:29 JosephMendiola
22:24 JosephMendiola
22:07 Barbara
21:57 Barbara
21:55 Pappy
21:53 Glenmore
21:52 Glenmore
21:51 Pappy
21:50 Glenmore
21:45 Barbara
21:39 Procopius2k
21:31 Perfesser
21:29 Procopius2k
21:27 ExtremeModerate
21:27 SteveS
21:24 SteveS









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com