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Independent Inquiry Faults State Dept. in Benghazi Attack
New York Times ^ | December 18, 2012 | ERIC SCHMITT and MICHAEL R. GORDON

Posted on 12/18/2012 6:49:57 PM PST by lbryce

WASHINGTON — An independent inquiry into the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Libya that killed four Americans on Sept. 11 sharply criticizes the State Department for a lack of seasoned security personnel and relying on untested local militias to safeguard the compound, Congressional and State Department officials said Tuesday night.

The investigation into the attacks on the diplomatic mission and C.I.A. annex that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others also faulted State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests from officials at the American Embassy in Tripoli for more guards and safety upgrades to the diplomatic mission.

The panel also blamed the State Department for waiting for specific warnings of imminent attacks to act rather than adapting security procedures and protocols to a deteriorating security environment. By this spring, Benghazi, a hotbed of militant activity in eastern Libya, had experienced a string of assassinations and attacks, including one on a British envoy’s motorcade.

Finally, the report also blamed two major State Department bureaus — diplomatic security and Near Eastern affairs — for failing to coordinate and plan adequate security at the mission. The panel also determined that a number of officials had shown poor leadership.

In response to the panel’s findings, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a letter to Congress that she was accepting all 29 of the panel’s recommendations, several of which are classified.

Mrs. Clinton is taking specific steps to correct the problems, according to officials. They say the State Department is asking permission from Congress to transfer $1.3 billion from funds that had been allocated for spending in Iraq. This includes $553 million for additional Marine security guards; $130 million for diplomatic security personnel; and $691 million for improving security at installations abroad.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: benghazi; benghazireport; hillary; hillarybenghazi; hitlery; libya; obama; statedepartment; waronterror
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To: All; lbryce
An independent inquiry?

If any can answer the following, please do do -thanks.

How many inquiries are going on? Who exactly formed and is sitting on this panel? It sounds more like a rubber stamp cover up than a fact finding inquiry.

It seems to find fault with the way the incident went down HOWEVER does not question why there was an incident -what were they doing in Benghazi?

21 posted on 12/18/2012 8:26:07 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: kabar
The report blames Ambassador Stevens for not demanding loud and long enough for proper security in Benghazi:

Security in Benghazi was not recognized and implemented as a “shared responsibility” by the bureaus in Washington charged with supporting the post, resulting in stove-piped discussions and decisions on policy and security. That said, Embassy Tripoli did not demonstrate strong and sustained advocacy with Washington for increased security for Special Mission Benghazi. (Bold added.)

22 posted on 12/18/2012 8:34:04 PM PST by kristinn (Welcome to the Soviet States of Obama)
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To: kristinn; annieokie; penelopesire; maggief; Protect the Bill of Rights; thouworm; SE Mom; Nachum; ..
We already know the exact opposite is true. This is nothing less than what we expected from an obama/clinton FUBAR administration.

Anyone wanting on or off this ping list, please advise.


Benghazi Index

23 posted on 12/18/2012 9:12:16 PM PST by MestaMachine (It's the !!!!TREASON!!!!, stupid!)
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Attending Thursday’s hearing instead will be Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Thomas Nides.


24 posted on 12/18/2012 9:56:22 PM PST by thouworm (.)
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To: lbryce

Hillary was not qualified for Sec. of State. She’s a walking ambition machine, nothing more. Shame on all who promote her. She female and studied with evil Alinsky. That disqualifies her from federal jobs, in my opinion.


25 posted on 12/18/2012 11:47:27 PM PST by Best and Brightest
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To: animal172

Independent Panel determines: “Dog ate my homework” in Benghazi, and “please excuse Johnny from school today he is not feeling well”, so there is nothing to see here folks , move along now


26 posted on 12/19/2012 1:24:45 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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To: animal172

Independent Panel determines: “Dog ate my homework” in Benghazi, and “please excuse Johnny from school today he is not feeling well”, so there is nothing to see here folks , move along now


27 posted on 12/19/2012 1:24:45 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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To: Strategerist
Wasn’t anyone or anything close enough to effect a rescue.

well that may be a good thing , because anything that flew over would have been shot down by the 400 tons of surface air missles and RPGs being transferred by Stevens a few weeks earlier

28 posted on 12/19/2012 1:30:47 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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To: kristinn
the rest of the story:

http://www.examiner.com/article/was-stevens-murdered-to-coverup-u-s-gun-running-from-libya-to-alqaeda-syria

29 posted on 12/19/2012 1:38:15 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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To: lbryce

It gets interesting in the last three paragraphs.

“Mr. Stevens was making his first visit to Benghazi in 10 months. But his plans for taking only two American security agents “were not shared thoroughly with the embassy’s country team, who were not fully aware of the planned movements off the compound,” the report determined.

“Officials said the review did not address the limitation in the capabilities of the American military command responsible for a large swath of countries swept up in the Arab Spring.

“On the night of the attack, the Pentagon was able to divert an unarmed Predator drone operating 90 miles away to Benghazi, and the C.I.A. later used it to help plan an escape route for the surviving Americans. But other military forces were too far away or could not be mobilized in time.”

Why was Stevens there for the first time in 10 months? He obviously did not share the visit with the “Embassy’s country team” because the visit was somewhat suspect.

“a large swath of countries swept up in the Arab Spring” and its complications that Obama is incapable of dealing with.

And, finally, the outright lie: “But other military forces were too far away or could not be mobilized in time.”

When will the Times admit that Obama refused to give the call to have our military rescue Stevens and the others?


30 posted on 12/19/2012 3:40:41 AM PST by Republicanprofessor
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To: SunkenCiv

The problem of hiring local militias was being shouted from some rooftops BEFORE this incident. It was a known issue THEN,,,this report is saying the same thing that has already been said. The Washington Free Beacon had a report on how old THAT news was at the time of the Benghazi assassinations.


31 posted on 12/19/2012 4:02:59 AM PST by austinaero
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To: Republicanprofessor
But other military forces were too far away or could not be mobilized in time.”

How could they have known, at the time, how much time would be needed to assist or perform a rescue these people. Would they have been able to hold out 8 hours or 8 days or 8 weeks? They could only know that after the event terminated....not in real time.

This report is a pantful.

32 posted on 12/19/2012 5:51:07 AM PST by Texas Songwriter ( i)
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To: kabar
about violating Libyan airspace and the possibility of collateral damage.

Obama didn't give two wits about violating Libyan airspace when he was trying to blow up Gaddafi.
33 posted on 12/19/2012 5:51:08 AM PST by Eagle of Liberty (Be the Enemy Within the Enemy Within...)
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To: lbryce

“The panel also blamed the State Department for waiting for specific warnings of imminent attacks to act...”

THEY DIDN’T F@#$@#ING ACT! THEY LET THEM DIE! What a bunch of worthless @#$#s the panel turned out to be.


34 posted on 12/19/2012 6:14:23 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
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To: kristinn
Pretty outrageous. Blaming the victim. There had to be a Washington wavier for the Mission to occupy a facility that did not meet security standards. Congress mandated that such a written wavier be done for such facilities. Boswell (DS), Kennedy (M), or Hillary must have signed it.

I read the 39 page report and there is no doubt that this is not worth the paper it is printed on. Pickering and Dick Shinnick are homers who are protecting the Department and the 7th floor--not to mention the WH.

35 posted on 12/19/2012 6:33:52 AM PST by kabar
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To: Gator113

BTTT


36 posted on 12/19/2012 6:38:58 AM PST by Eagle of Liberty (Be the Enemy Within the Enemy Within...)
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To: Republicanprofessor
Why was Stevens there for the first time in 10 months? He obviously did not share the visit with the “Embassy’s country team” because the visit was somewhat suspect.

The Amb doesn't have to share his movements with the CT. They work for him. It would have been useful to share his movements with them, especially DAO and the station chief, to get some imput on security conditions. But the CT doesn't have any approval function over the Amb's movements nor does it have to be informed about them.

37 posted on 12/19/2012 6:40:10 AM PST by kabar
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To: Eagle of Liberty
Obama didn't give two wits about violating Libyan airspace when he was trying to blow up Gaddafi.

Of course not. We were trying to overthrow him. Now we are alleged allies of the current regime. Obama didn't want to offend them. Look how long it took for the rescue team from Tripoli to get out of the airport in Benghazi.

38 posted on 12/19/2012 6:43:36 AM PST by kabar
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To: kabar
I believe Stevens was assasinated by Obama to cover up gunrunning to Syria and thats why Hillary and Petraeus resigned

all the circumstantial evidence is there

39 posted on 12/19/2012 11:42:01 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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To: Republicanprofessor
Stevens gangsta hit by Mercenaries to Cover up Gunrunning

the same mercenaries funded to take out ghadaffi and loot Libyan wealth, led by the terrorist released from Gitmo by Holder

40 posted on 12/19/2012 11:52:53 AM PST by KTM rider ( , you'd be lucky to get= $7....LOL !)
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