U.S. intelligence set back when Libya base was abandoned

Reuters ^ | 10/12/2012 | Mark Hosenball

[mojito]

U.S. intelligence efforts in Libya have suffered a significant setback due to the abandonment and exposure of a facility in Benghazi, Libya identified by a newspaper as a "CIA base" following a congressional hearing this week, according to U.S. government sources.

The intelligence post, located 1.2 miles from the U.S. mission that was targeted by militants in a September 11 attack, was evacuated of Americans after the assault that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Three other Americans died in the attacks on U.S.-occupied buildings, including two who were hit in a mortar blast at the secret compound.

The publication of satellite photos showing the site's location and layout have made it difficult, if not impossible, for intelligence agencies to reoccupy the site, according to government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The post had been a base for, among other things, collecting information on the proliferation of weaponry looted from Libyan government arsenals, including surface-to-air missiles, the sources said. Its security features, including some fortifications, sensors and cameras, were more advanced than those at rented villa where Stevens died, they said.

[mojito]

It's been a month since the attack, and no retaliatory response from the US.

This could be why.

On the other hand, Zero could be saving it. But at this point the Libya scandal is spinning out of control, and if Zero had anything I'm pretty sure he'd use it before the next debate.

We'll see what the next 48-72 hours brings.

[NonValueAdded]

OK, so the secret base that was mortared by the bad guys had its location exposed in the Congressional hearings? Hello! McFly? I believe the bad guys had an inkling as to the nature of the facilities as they planned and executed their attack.

Seriously, a newsie with a modicum of intelligence could eviscerate these government sources, day in, day out.

[Gaffer]

Well, based on what Biden, Clinton and Obama have repeatedly said (insisted), you can't miss what you never had (i.e., Intelligence).

It then brings into question, were they - are they lying? Or, there was 'intelligence' and they simply ignored it because it didn't fit the Obama Re-Election Campaign's vision of Obama's nonexistent Foreign Policy.

[massmike]

[Gaffer]

That plastic surgeon he used should have his butt kicked.

He gave him creepy eyes and did some really nefarious eyebrow work there....almost Beelzebubish....

If I didn’t know better I’d say it was on purpose...

[Sacajaweau]

It just gets worse and worse...He won’t do anything...He NOW needs international support for EVERY LITTLE THING...he’s lost the USA edge.

[blueunicorn6]

There were two more people killed that were in the group that came to Benghazi after the fight started. I haven’t seen anything about their nationalities. Were they Americans?

[blueplum]

After the diplomatic complex was overrun, U.S. and Libyan personnel rushed by car to the second

the ambassador was alive - we saw the video of him being mistreated and we've been told he died of smoke inhalation - so somebody please tell me why HE wasn't in party of those 'rushing' to the 'safe house' where some 37 people then escaped to the airport ?

[trebb]

It then brings into question, were they - are they lying? Or, there was 'intelligence' and they simply ignored it because it didn't fit the Obama Re-Election Campaign's vision of Obama's nonexistent Foreign Policy.

Probably a combination of both. They bucked what info they bothered listening to in order to "demonstrate" that Zero's "policies" were going to defang the terrorists, then had to bring in the arsenal of lies to try to cover his sorry a$$ when it hit the fan. I'm still waiting for his final last gasp "stategy to perform some sort of "kinetic" action about 5 days before the election.

[Baynative]

[Gaffer]

The conceived, fostered, planned, financed, armed, and backed up this ‘revolution’ with American Forces acting under ‘coalition’ orders led by Obama (from behind).

In fact, some of the security teams were there to buy back some of the nasty weapons Obama gave the rebels before.

Nothing about this terror plan could be revealed to be an actual ‘plan’. That’s why our embassy team was abandoned in-place. Couldn’t chance the public finding out the truth. And, that’s why the horseshit YouTube movie excuse. Nope, not OUR fault...some crazy racist caused all this -— totally spontaneous...ha.

[oldfart]

Sorry, but our “intelligence” suffered a huge setback when we elected Obama. Anything after that has been merely cosmetic.

[MissMagnolia]

Stevens and Smith didn’t make it out, the officials said. The agent, suffering severely from smoke inhalation, went in and out of the building several times to look for them—in vain. He then climbed a ladder to the roof of the building and collapsed, radioing the other agents in a barely audible voice to alert them to the situation there.

The other four agents were able to then reunite, taking an armored vehicle to Stevens’ building. They reached the collapsed agent and tried to set up a perimeter, taking turns going into the building and searching on hands and knees for the missing Americans. Smith was pulled out, dead. Stevens could not be found.

Read more: State Dept reveals new details of Benghazi attack - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_21738382#ixzz29CbAswYx

[mojito]

I don't know. The US dead were the ambassador, the information officer, and two private US security ex-SEALs. If there were other casualties, I would assume they were Libyan security personnel, but at this point I'm not sure what the facts are.

[GOPJ]

Ummm, the Muslim Brotherhood has taken over the ME - how is any other ‘set back’ of concern?

[trebb]

In fact, some of the security teams were there to buy back some of the nasty weapons Obama gave the rebels before.

I've heard rumors of this, but nothing concrete - revelation would take the wheels and axles off Zeros bus.

[GOPJ]

OK, so the secret base that was mortared by the bad guys had its location exposed in the Congressional hearings? Hello! McFly? I believe the bad guys had an inkling as to the nature of the facilities as they planned and executed their attack.

The 'secret' was only to be kept from the American people. Our enemies seem to have full access to all pertinent intelligence. The Muslim Brotherhood is fully ensconced in the State Department, Homeland Security and the Pentagon. That's my take... It's like drunk Secret Service agents - a sign of the times. If we're too stupid to keep the ME from being split between the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah what are we paying these blowhards for?

[mass55th]

"OK, so the secret base that was mortared by the bad guys had its location exposed in the Congressional hearings? "

This is from the article: "The State Department displayed a satellite photograph showing two locations - the rented villa that served as a special diplomatic mission and the compound that officials had cryptically described as an 'annex' or 'safe house' for diplomatic personnel."

Then there's this:

"When the satellite photo was displayed, a senior committee Republican, Representative Jason Chaffetz, complained that the discussion was drifting into 'classified issues that deal with sources and methods,' and the photo was removed from public display. No one at the hearing used the term 'CIA base' to describe the facility."

It would appear that the State Dept. is actually to blame for this photo even being introduced in a public hearing. No wonder we're in such deep doo doo.

[Gaffer]

Stingers, or the updated equivalent, I’m guessing.

[blueunicorn6]

There was a story about a sniper getting blown off a roof. There’s been stories that two more people were killed. They were from the group that helicoptered in. I haven’t seen anything about their nationality.