Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice"

CBS ^ | 5/17/2013 | Sharyl Attkisson

[sheikdetailfeather]

Obama administration officials who were in key positions on Sept. 11, 2012 acknowledge that a range of mistakes were made the night of the attacks on the U.S. missions in Benghazi, and in messaging to Congress and the public in the aftermath.

The officials spoke to CBS News in a series of interviews and communications under the condition of anonymity so that they could be more frank in their assessments. They do not all agree on the list of mistakes and it's important to note that they universally claim that any errors or missteps did not cost lives and reflect "incompetence rather than malice or cover up." Nonetheless, in the eight months since the attacks, this is the most sweeping and detailed discussion by key players of what might have been done differently.

"We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots," said one Obama administration official who was part of the Benghazi response. "It's actually closer to us being idiots."

[sheikdetailfeather]

To sum it up in a nutshell, they want us to believe they menat well but they are clueless idiots.

[b4its2late]

Yeah, in the State Department, in the WH, in the NSA, and in the Defense Department.

[dirtboy]

it's important to note that they universally claim that any errors or missteps did not cost lives

Really? The families of the four dead Americans beg to differ.

[sunny48]

Lying idiots

[tet68]

John, I figured this was one of yours it’s so
outrageous it had to be satire, but NOOOOOOOO.

[Timber Rattler]

"We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots," said one Obama administration official who was part of the Benghazi response. "It's actually closer to us being idiots."

Well...we've known that for a long time now. Anything new to report?

[ConservativeStatement]

It is as the rock band the Jam once sang “A Town Called Malice.”

[chris37]

A think I have seen this ploy many times on ID channel.

When the cops finally track down the killer, he will often say ok I killed her, but I didn’t mean too.

Admit what you know they can prove but distance yourself from the criminality of the act at the same time.

BS, us government, you have nothing but plots and malice.

[Rennes Templar]

“incompetence rather than malice or cover up.”

Ditto for:

Fast & furious
AP phone records
IRS

They’re all patriotic folks, just a little dumb, they’ll do better next time. If only the POTUS knew, he could have stopped it.

[ken5050]

This is huge, adside from the admissions, for two reasons:

1. If Obama has IDIOTS working for him, shouldn't he fire them?

There is no way that the various House committees won't move heaven and earth to get these same people who spoke to CBS to testify. There will be a SELECT committee.

BTW..what's the over/under on how many minutes that Attkinson gets on the CBS Evening News tonight with this story..

[V_TWIN]

“To sum it up in a nutshell, they want us to believe they meant well but they are clueless idiots.”

That may very well be, but that does not mean THAT they are not ACCOUNTABLE, and that’s what it’s all really about isn’t it?.........And yes I do believe they are clueless idiots.

[phockthis]

WELL, that makes things better...

we’re too stupid to be responcible

[stanne]

Yep.

Doesn’t count. It’s the State Dept. They’re held to a higher standard than thuggery, at least by the Constitution.

This is just awful.

And where has that dopey congress been on this.

I hear a lot of complaints about Romney’s lack of follow through.

Makes me wonder if there are any brains at all.

It is not the job of a pres candidate (who might be a dope or a plant from the party in power or any other random guy) to hod the executive branch in check.

The House has been utterly wimpy on this and it’s not good enough.

They need to get the heck off the golf course, put the cocktails down and get to work.

They can start by reviewing the Constitution and continue with familiarizing themselves with their role in upholding it, and THEN they can find out what the other branches ar e doing to destroy our childrens’ future, as the Constitution is all they have to protect themselves.

[mad_as_he$$]

So the Sergeant Shultz defense continues and spreads.

[Diogenesis]

When did Holder and his terrorist law firms
and DO”J” HIRE (quid pro quo in other form) one of
the attackers of the benGhazi atrocity?

WHEN?

Where was Clinton? Where was Obama?

How many months then passed until the rape and
murder of the Ambassador?

[Mark17]

To sum it up in a nutshell, they want us to believe they meant well but they are clueless idiots.

They ARE clueless idiots, but I will never believe, not in a million lifetimes, that they meant well. Am I cynical, or what?

[Servant of the Cross]

I would hope Sharyl Attkisson is not buying this concocted story, eight+ months later, under the condition of anonymity, of mistakes not malice.

IF THIS WERE THE CASE, these "anonymous" officials (and even the public ones) would have been saying this from THE VERY BEGINNING.

That they were not, tells you all you need to know. This is pure CYA since 'mistakes' aren't criminal. Malice is and was.

[alloysteel]

Death is just about as much malice as you can visit upon an individual, and it came wrongfully not once, but four times, in just this one incident.

But, “it’s nobody’s fault”.

Unless, of course, the blame can somehow be shifted to either George W. Bush, or the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

It’s a stretch, but they are working on it.

[JaguarXKE]

Putting on socks that don’t match is a mistake. Deliberately lying to the American people is not a “mistake.”

[crosslink]

Ping

More of the Sgt Schultz defense and a toss of the Col Klink, I know nothing and I am an idiot.

Breath taking