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Benghazi: A Symbol of Obama’s Leadership
National Review Online ^ | October 30, 2012 | Mona Charen

Posted on 10/30/2012 10:56:30 AM PDT by neverdem

The first statements from the Obama administration about what happened in Benghazi seemed plausible. There were, after all, protests throughout the Muslim world on the anniversary of 9/11 — some incited by Islamists using an obscure video to arouse anti-American fervor in the mobs, and some, no doubt, just pelting U.S. embassies on general principles. When the administration explained that one of those protests had spun out of control and led to the murder of our ambassador and three other Americans in Libya, there seemed no reason to doubt it.

For a day. But within hours, the administration account deflated like a punctured balloon. CBS reported that there had been no protest outside the consulate in Benghazi. Members of Congress who were briefed said the attack was a military-style assault. We learned that an al-Qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack. It was reported that Ambassador Christopher Stevens had noticed increased al-Qaeda activity, had feared for his safety, and had requested additional security, only to be turned down. Yet day after day, the administration continued to distort reality by referring to the Internet video.

Most of the press was willing to let the story fade, because the man in charge is their man and he is in a tight race for reelection. But Fox News, Eli Lake of The Daily Beast, and one or two others have revealed details about the administration’s handling of the crisis that are beyond embarrassing — they verge on malfeasance.

According to Fox’s Jennifer Griffin, former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, who was part of a small team at the CIA safe house about a mile from the consulate, heard shots fired at 9:40 p.m. He urgently requested backup from the CIA and asked permission to head to the consulate to help. The request was denied three times. He and his team were told to “stand down.”

Woods and others disobeyed orders and headed over to the consulate, where they rescued several people and carried away the body of Sean Smith. They did not find the ambassador. Upon returning to the safe house, they again requested military back-up and were again denied. They were soon under fire. The fighting there went on for four more hours. Washington was in constant touch with personnel in Benghazi through e-mail. In addition, Griffin reports, a special-operations force was stationed only 480 miles away at Sigonella air base in Italy. They could have flown to Benghazi in less than two hours. The New York Post further reports that a military drone aircraft was over Benghazi at the time of the attacks, relaying real-time information back to Washington.

President Obama told a Denver TV station that “I gave three very clear directives. Number one, make sure that we are securing our personnel and doing whatever we need to. Number two, we’re going to investigate exactly what happened to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Number three, find out who did this so we can bring them to justice.”

Investigations can stretch on for a long time — certainly past November 6. If the president gave such an order, why were urgent pleas for military support denied? Would the military defy the orders of the commander-in-chief? General David Petraeus says that the CIA never denied a request for help — which raises the question: Who else but the White House would have made such a decision?

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta may have answered the question — and exposed as false Obama’s claim that the White House directed that our personnel be secured. Panetta explained that the “basic principle is that you don’t deploy forces into harm’s way without knowing what’s going on, without having some real-time information about what’s taking place. And as a result of not having that kind of information, the commander who was on the ground in that area, General Ham, General Dempsey and I felt very strongly that we could not put forces at risk in that situation.”

Really? Is the Secretary of Defense really saying that we can’t put forces at risk when Americans are already at risk and are being shot at? Why do we have a military again? Tyrone Woods certainly didn’t have any doubt about what to do when Americans were under attack. He defied orders and rushed to help, sacrificing his own life. It’s what any member of the armed forces would normally do — unless restrained by incompetent civilian authority.

Mona Charen is a nationally syndicated columnist. © 2012 Creators Syndicate, Inc.



TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: benghazi; bhodod; bhostatedept; cicobama; obama; shadowwars; soshillary; threatmatrix
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1 posted on 10/30/2012 10:56:30 AM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

...he called it in, and hoped no one noticed


2 posted on 10/30/2012 10:58:21 AM PDT by Doogle ((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: neverdem

” The first statements from the Obama administration about what happened in Benghazi seemed plausible. “

Uh, not so much.


3 posted on 10/30/2012 10:58:32 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ((God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.))
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To: neverdem

OK. For the sake of argument, let’s say we couldn’t get the military there in time to stop the killing. Aren’t those facilities in Benghazi considered to be “American soil”? Shouldn’t we have sent in the tanks to secure it anyway? Why not?


4 posted on 10/30/2012 11:07:20 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: neverdem
Too bad somebody didn't show ∅ this excerpt from the U.S. Army Ranger creed when he got word of the attack:

I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

5 posted on 10/30/2012 11:14:39 AM PDT by QT3.14 (November 6: Remember BENGHAZI!!)
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To: neverdem
unless restrained by incompetent civilian authority

Is it incompetent? It seemed fully competent. A month and a half out from an election due to remove you from power and you have an extremely embarrassing incident that could reveal many unpleasant facts, so you write off everyone involved and then stonewall. Very competent.

6 posted on 10/30/2012 11:21:02 AM PDT by throwback (The object of opening the mind, is as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.)
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To: neverdem

At some point the bastards responsible for this are going to have to admit to one of two things: politicization of their response (which is undoubtedly the true state of affairs) or gross incompetence. They’ll probably choose the latter, because it’s the lesser of two evils.


7 posted on 10/30/2012 11:22:27 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Or some of both.


8 posted on 10/30/2012 11:25:07 AM PDT by O6ret
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To: neverdem
Once again it's all very simple.

WHO issued the ORDER to "STAND DOWN"... not once but supposedly TWICE.

Answer that question and you at the CORE of the entire issue.

9 posted on 10/30/2012 11:29:04 AM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: neverdem; All
In the Washington Times - we need to get this out - disseminate it!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/22/the-real-reason-behind-benghazigate/#ixzz2Aico0kxC

headline: “The real reason behind Benghazigate

Was Obama gun-walking arms to jihadists?”

'bummer 'job description" "reestablish the Caliphate" with the promise he'd be established as the new Mahdi?

10 posted on 10/30/2012 11:31:21 AM PDT by maine-iac7 (Christian is as Christian does)
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To: maine-iac7
Socialist anti american democrats can not be trusted to guard this nation. There whole IDEOLOGY is reduce our power and arms and lay low in hopes the enemy will do likewise. BENGHAZI can be looked at as a microcosm of how the FOREIGNERS REGIME handles our national security. We must boot these american impostors out on their keesters in November.
11 posted on 10/30/2012 11:42:15 AM PDT by spawn44 (moo)
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To: neverdem

This General announced he was NOT going to stand down - he was releived of duty within 30 seconds (And another officer - Naval - SAME THING. This refutes any claim by bozo that he ordered help -

post this everywhere - email to everyone and tell them to do the same

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/one-man-tried-to-save-benhgazi-lives-and-was-relieved-of-duty-within-30-seconds/question-3281377/

headline: “One Man Tried to Save Benhgazi Lives and was relieved of Duty within 30 seconds”


12 posted on 10/30/2012 12:12:59 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (Christian is as Christian does)
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To: neverdem

Here’s an interesting read for you, neverdem;

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/print-friendly/50586?fb_action_ids=513097095370227&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582


13 posted on 10/30/2012 12:25:55 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: neverdem

“— unless restrained by incompetent civilian authority.”

Incompetent? ....cowardly? ....or traitorous? Hmmmmm?


14 posted on 10/30/2012 12:54:23 PM PDT by Tucker39
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To: maine-iac7

Thanks for the link.


15 posted on 10/30/2012 1:20:30 PM PDT by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
Was Iran Behind Benghazi?

Thanks for your source about Iran. We can't post this one.

16 posted on 10/30/2012 2:10:15 PM PDT by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: maine-iac7

Thanks for the link about Gen. Carter Ham.


17 posted on 10/30/2012 2:14:54 PM PDT by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: neverdem; All
This segment on Hannity last might made me cry. Please share with others. Thanks!

Powerful Hannity Show - 10/29/12 - Father of SEAL Ty Woods killed in Libya demands truth from WH

18 posted on 10/30/2012 2:17:45 PM PDT by Larousse2 (The price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance. ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: neverdem

what do we know for a fact on Benghazi?


19 posted on 10/30/2012 2:21:47 PM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL; maine-iac7; Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
what do we know for a fact on Benghazi?

It depends on what sources you're willing to accept.

Benghazi and the Swing States: “In Real Time”

This source isn't welcome at FR. It also claims Gen. Carter Ham was relieved of command from Africom for wanting to mount a rescue mission. Other links on the thread implicate Iran. We do know the Obama administration has not been forthcoming, and that Panetta sounds like an idiot.

20 posted on 10/30/2012 3:11:08 PM PDT by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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