I don't think the team that was flown into Benghazi was from the Military....
Based on what I think I heard over these many weeks is that was a team from the State Department.
And I think mention was made in that first Congressional Hearing to the Issa House Committee
I ave pinged our outstanding expert on that House Hearing....who has devoted countless hours to revealing the video of the hearing....
He will give us the straight scoop.
"He will give us the straight scoop."
Well thanks for the kind words Ernest. I would assure you however, like many here, we seek what appears to be the truth, and that is hard to dig up as stories change on this issue.
It takes quite a bit of time to wade through pieces of that original public HR hearing. Four hours worth.
What I have done is skip through the hearing and pick up on a few specific spots, where Congress members asked specifics on how many security forces where available specific to the Benghazi area, with potential support from the capital.
The short answer was. Barely enough even if the conditions on the ground where far safer and how should I say "stable".
NOTE: Nordstrom = State Department Regional Security Officer. LT. COL. Wood = State Department Site Security Team (SST).
A few examples:
1).
1:54:00 Rep Chaffetz directly to Nordstrom and LT. COL. Wood. He asks them if additional forces where added to help in Benghazi once the attacks where known to start.
Answer by both. No. SST and MSD Mobile Security Drivers) forces where then discussed. Charlene Lamb admits she was told to turn down any requests for additional forces to be sent in.
2).
1:42:40 Rep Jordan asks the four witnesses specifics on who and how many forces where assigned in or where denied in Benghazi. Lamb is challenged as to why requests for additional security where denied. Other three give additional info, on numbers requested, denied etc..
3).
3:01:00 Rep Meehen asks LT. COL. Wood if they had adequate security resources in Benghazi.
Answer is no.
4).
3:31:30 Rep Farenthold asks the four witness if the Libyan operations had adequate security forces in general and more specifically to what was available in Benghazi.
Answer. Lots of bull shit from Lamb and Amb. Kennedy in essence (IMHO).
There where other areas within the hearing where specific numbers where given that formed a total security force. Answers like well, we where training Libyans to take over the security needs for all US holdings in Libya. There where no mentions during the whole 4 hours that I can point to where there where was mention of any external American military forces that could have been moved in quickly.
We do have to remember that initial public hearing by the HR was well before all the stuff we have seen leak out and be broadcasted from Fox and some blog sites, and talk shows.
So we know much more now then was covered in that initial hearing. I don't discount some of the stuff that was addressed in that hearing. Lack of adequate security forces remains to be shown to have been wanting.
I hope I do not miss-lead anyone in what I wrote. The hearing can be found
CSPAN. In my case. Having an often slow INTERNET connection as well as to the length of this hearing, it took a lot of time to move about, mark down some brief notes starting at a given time frame. Sorry I cannot provide details much beyond what I wrote. It really requires one to be willing to sit through the video which I'm sure in many cases would not even be possible. The first hour plus is a mix of Democrats mostly just throwing bullshit around.