Dozens of CIA operatives were on the ground during the Benghazi attack, agency in panic .......

Hot Air ^ | 6:31 pm on August 1, 2013 | by Allahpundit

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What kind of panic are we talking about here? Actual quote from agency “insider” communications obtained by CNN: “You don’t jeopardize yourself, you jeopardize your family as well.”

The word of the day is “unprecedented.” Phony scandal no more:

Since January, some CIA operatives involved in the agency’s missions in Libya, have been subjected to frequent, even monthly polygraph examinations, according to a source with deep inside knowledge of the agency’s workings…

It is being described as pure intimidation, with the threat that any unauthorized CIA employee who leaks information could face the end of his or her career…

Another [insider] says, “You have no idea the amount of pressure being brought to bear on anyone with knowledge of this operation.”…

Among the many secrets still yet to be told about the Benghazi mission, is just how many Americans were there the night of the attack.

A source now tells CNN that number was 35, with as many as seven wounded, some seriously.

While it is still not known how many of them were CIA, a source tells CNN that 21 Americans were working in the building known as the annex, believed to be run by the agency.

Thirty-five Americans on the ground, 21 at the CIA annex. Maybe the skeletal security crew at the consulate wasn’t as skeletal as thought. Is that what happened here — not so much a security vacuum as a security presence so secret that it couldn’t be revealed publicly, despite the White House being pounded over its failures for months afterwards? None of which is to say that they shouldn’t have had more security; the consulate and annex were overrun regardless, no matter how many people were there. But maybe that helps explain why the formal security presence wasn’t bigger: There was a lot of CIA in the area and maybe the White House didn’t want to attract attention to what they were doing there by inserting a squad of Marines to patrol the grounds. We already had an inkling of that, in fact, per this interesting but vague WSJ story from last November, which argued that the CIA’s role in the city appeared to be more important than thought. (“The consulate provided diplomatic cover for the classified CIA operations.”) CNN itself followed up in May by reporting that “the larger mission in Benghazi was covert” and alleging that there were more Americans there tied to the CIA — 20 of 30 in all — than to State’s diplomatic presence.

But what were they doing there to justify such agency paranoia now about people blabbing? Former CIA analyst Robert Baer tells CNN that agents are typically polygraphed ever few years, not every month. What could be so tippy top secret that it needs to be kept under wraps even if it means threatening agents’ families to buy their silence? On Twitter, Lachlan Markay points to this Business Insider piece, also from May, speculating that weapons were involved. Which isn’t surprising — everyone knows the feds are trying to round up loose arms from Qaddafi’s stockpiles before jihadis get hold of them. What’s surprising is where the weapons might, might have been headed. To a depot back in the U.S.? Maybe not:

Also in October we reported the connection between Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who died in the attack, and a reported September shipment of SA-7 surface-to-air anti-craft missiles (i.e. MANPADS) and rocket-propelled grenades from Benghazi to Syria through southern Turkey.

That 400-ton shipment — “the largest consignment of weapons” yet for Syrian rebels — was organized by Abdelhakim Belhadj, who was the newly-appointed head of the Tripoli Military Council.

In March 2011 Stevens, the official U.S. liaison to the al-Qaeda-linked Libyan rebels, worked directly with Belhadj while he headed the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

Stevens’ last meeting on Sept. 11 was with Turkish Consul General Ali Sait Akin, and a source told Fox News that Stevens was in Benghazi “to negotiate a weapons transfer in an effort to get SA-7 missiles out of the hands of Libya-based extremists.”

Syrian rebels subsequently began shooting down Syrian helicopters and fighter jets with SA-7s akin to those in Qaddafi’s looted stock.

This theory seems sound enough to CNN that they actually mention it in today’s bombshell, albeit as something that’s being kicked around on the Hill. Is that what happened here? The White House decided to secretly start arming the rebels a year ago with the sort of SAMs that everyone fears might eventually be used to shoot down western airliners? Did Congress, or at least the intel committees, know about it? Do note: Even now, after the U.S. announced that it would arm the rebels openly last month, we’re supposedly withholding SAMs from them because they’re too dangerous. If the “secret weapons shipments” theory is true, then in fact we’ve been giving them the dangerous stuff for at least a year. Beyond that, anyone recognize the name Abdelhakim Belhadj? I’ve written about him before. Belhadj is no “moderate” of the sort we’re allegedly working with within the rebel ranks. He’s a hardcore jihadi who fought with Bin Laden in Afghanistan. If he was the point man on helping to transfer dangerous weapons to the Syrian rebels, there’s even less reason to think that they ended up in “moderate” hands rather than in the hands of the mujahedeen.

One other point. As far as I know, it’s a lingering mystery as to how the jihadis who attacked the consulate in Benghazi knew where the CIA annex was. The consulate’s a public presence so it’s a sitting duck. The annex kept a lower profile, even though it was close by, and yet the attackers zeroed in on it later in the evening of 9/11/12. Why? Could be it was as simple as knowing that there was another building in the neighborhood that had lots of Americans working at it and therefore that building was worth hitting too. Or maybe they just noticed suspicious traffic to the annex on the evening of the attack and decided to take a closer look. But if the “secret weapons shipments” theory is true, it could also be that bad actors in the city had actually dealt with the CIA there about getting arms to Syria and therefore knew full well where the annex was and who was inside. If that’s what happened, it’s like Afghanistan in microcosm in terms of jihadis ultimately biting the American hand that fed them.

Exit question: What was the CIA doing in Benghazi?

[MestaMachine]

I am going to say this one last time, mostly because no one pays attention and doesn't realize the continuing US pattern here, but also because I'm going to be gone for a little while and people will contine playing these guessing games because THAT is what they want you to do to keep you as far fom the truth as they can.

The cia contractors on the ground were doing their jobs like they ALWAYS do, The pre-op 'plan' didn't involve them so they were taken completely by surprise...just like the Sailors on the USS Cole. Had THAT plan worked, we would have lost a ship and many more American lives and no one will admit it was a quid pro quo, a payoff for a political favor from mubarak who wanted satisfaction for Egyptair.

Why? Because bill clinton wanted a nobel prize VERY badly and he thought he needed mubarak to achieve it.

In that case, the ship didn't go down, but all the reasons for the ship being there in the first place were ridiculous and untrue, Still, we blamed the whole thing on a couple of guys in a rubber dinghy.

In this case, (Benghazi,) we got a VERY high ranking al qaeda leader, ya ya al libi, a Libyan, so we had to pay reparations. An ambassador and a few Americans...IN Libya...which had THAT plan worked, would have been blamed on a video produced by Israel which would have put Israel on the hook for nearly 40 American lives.

The quid pro quo before THAT was a Chinook helicopter, Extortion 17, full of SEAL Team 6 members because SEAL Team 6 supposedly got bin laden. And they blamed THAT on a 'lucky shot' from a couple of taliban fighters who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And exactly like the Cole, the pre-op made NO sense. Sudden changes, unknown persons on board, supposedly AFGHAN SOLDIERS, NOT PROVEN BECAUSE WONDER OF WONDERS, the manifest was wrong.

That's three. There are more. Are you seeing the pattern here? I can lead you to water....

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

[blueunicorn6]

Why did Hillary and Obama use US taxpayer funded personnel, equipment and facilities to overthrow the government of Libya? Why did Hillary and Obama produce and star in a commercial disparaging that phony video when they knew that video had nothing to do with what happened in Benghazi? Where is Qadaffi’s money?

[LucyT]

The cia contractors on the ground were doing their jobs like they ALWAYS do, The pre-op 'plan' didn't involve them so they were taken completely by surprise... just like the Sailors on the USS Cole. Had THAT plan worked, we would have lost a ship and many more American lives and no one will admit it was a quid pro quo, a payoff for a political favor from mubarak who wanted satisfaction for Egyptair.

Why? Because bill clinton wanted a nobel prize VERY badly and he thought he needed mubarak to achieve it.

In that case, the ship didn't go down, but all the reasons for the ship being there in the first place were ridiculous and untrue, Still, we blamed the whole thing on a couple of guys in a rubber dinghy.

In this case, (Benghazi,) we got a VERY high ranking al qaeda leader, ya ya al libi, a Libyan, so we had to pay reparations. An ambassador and a few Americans...IN Libya...which had THAT plan worked, would have been blamed on a video produced by Israel which would have put Israel on the hook for nearly 40 American lives.

The quid pro quo before THAT was a Chinook helicopter, Extortion 17, full of SEAL Team 6 members because SEAL Team 6 supposedly got bin laden. And they blamed THAT on a 'lucky shot' from a couple of taliban fighters who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And exactly like the Cole, the pre-op made NO sense. Sudden changes, unknown persons on board, supposedly AFGHAN SOLDIERS, NOT PROVEN BECAUSE WONDER OF WONDERS, the manifest was wrong.

Important Article, - then check out comments, esp # 18 , # 24 , # 29 , # 42.

Thanks, Mesta. ... A lot of information in your comment and on this thread.

.

[no-to-illegals]

I'm going to be gone for a little while

You will be in my prayers Mesta.

That's three.

We have the same count.

[Rushmore Rocks]

You are so wise and prescient. Thanks for all your informative posts and your past service to this country.

[Marine_Uncle]

RE: InfoWar's video.
Perhaps Jones' evaluation shall prove to be spot on.

[hoosiermama]

Good questions
Here are some of your answers starting at 749
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2151323/posts?page=741

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks.

[Larousse2]

This video has made my day!

Popular Egyptian music video tells Obama to screw himself and stop funding Jihad terrorists

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ha...I knew about DH at CF{ not welcome,...but not AJ,...but that figures.

He was wild and crazy during the Deep Water Horizon Blow out.

Think he was buying into the malarky and blowing a hole in the bottom of the Gulf.

That whole thing was really Crazy.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That is a hoot....thanks.

[little jeremiah]

MM - I’m dense, forgive me.

So what your are saying is that all these attacks and subsequent deaths of US military and others were planned in advance by the fedgov as bribes or paybacks to Mozlems?

Why does our gov do that? Please forgive me, but I cannot see their motive. Is it sort of a way to supposedly keep Mozlems from fighting harder? Or they’re just having fun playing a chess game with American lives?

[bayouranger]

The clinton’s have a half billion in the clinton fund which the filthy sowdi’s funded. Al gore sold his channel to the qataris. The chicoms funded too much for the 1996 filthy clinton who personally signed an executive order transferring control of satellite technology to the Department of Commerce; thus releasing restraints on a wide variety of sophisticated space and missile technology which were then exported to China.

And now we have walks like a duck who is everything that is disgusting about carbon based life on Earth.

Water, duck-fraud...jihad.

Talk about face palm......

[gonzo]

Heads-up .......................................................................... FRegards

[MestaMachine]

No, LJ. Same people over and over. Drugs, guns, money to be made and power to be had.

[marron]

Giving weapons to Syrian rebels would be such a yawn for most American citizens the New York Times wouldn't even have to build ‘plausible’ excuses around it... My guess is what went down could look like treason ... might or might not be - but could look like it.

In Libya we seem to have been recruiting, arming, aiding jihadis some of whom had been in Guantanamo. That was certainly a yawn for the press. When the target is Khadafi, maybe you can see why. We were recruiting and arming the same Al Qaeda folks to use against Assad. Again, like you say, its hard to see anyone particularly upset about it in the press. Again, of course, using one enemy (Al Qaeda) to bring down an Iranian puppet may simply be too abstruse for most people, and certainly the press isn't going to make a big deal out of it.

That might have been the treason, that might have been vaguely interesting during the election season, except that it wasn't interesting. Romney couldn't be bothered to make an issue out of Al Qaeda commanders being supported by us.

For me, the treason is in allowing Muslim Brotherhood to penetrate the US government and then acting to bring down governments on their behalf. Again, when someone tried to bring this up in the public square, the press was uninterested and Repubs like McCain rushed to shut down all discussion.

[little jeremiah]

Thank you - I read some links and the light is starting to dawn.

Just raw power and money.

What will undo this? What will bring justice? What will stop this evil?

Praying for you ——

[Delta 21]

PAGING MR. HASENFUS.
MR. EUGENE HASENFUS
PLEASE PICK UP A WHITE COURTESY PHONE.

[hoosiermama]

Power Money Drugs. Just as Mesta said!
The Mexican drug cartels set up the blackstone street gang
They become very powerful in Southside of Chicago
Gang converts to Islam change their name to El ruhk, are introduced to Quadaffi planning on terrorist attack get involved in gun rubbing to Libya
Jesse Jackson”s half brother Noah Robinson (as in Michelle Robinson O )gets involved in a large drug deal with eastern agents and the murder of the local community organier. (He’s doing life in prison
The head of the gang is still running it from prison. Some say its not functioning others that BO who took the place of the dead CO and later represented its territory in the state legislator is still under his influence

One article said they are responsible for the majority of black on black murders in Chicago. The still deal in drugs - male/female/child prostitution - mixer for hire. Money Drugs and a member/ or willing accomplice as POTUS

[zeugma]

Wonder how long it will be until the next airliner is brought down by a missile?
I’d ask if they press would even report on it, but that would be silly, they are too busy reporting on Zimmerman’s bowel movements.