[Andy from Chapel Hill]

I agree. This is about Saddam Husein’s WMD’s.

After the Soviet Union fell, we bought quite a few USSR nuclear bombs for cash (several hundred million $ each)and disarmed them at Oak Ridge.

I think (pure speculation) that we were buying the Iraqi WMD’s from Syrian rebels in exchange for various armaments and intelligence reports.

If the WMD angle is true, GWB was fully justified in invading Iraq. The Democrats could not tolerate this news getting out.

The monthly polygraphs, name changing, etc. is pretty extreme. Just running guns would not be enough to cause this reaction.

I have no specific knowledge to verify all of this, but it is my hunch from reading FR since 1998.

[penelopesire]

Glad to know I am not the only one...lol. Something stunk to high heaven during Iraq war and the WMD story and still does. I also seem to remember Kerry, Pelosi and other dem operatives visiting Assad a whole lot during that time and singing his praises. Hmmmm......

[InterceptPoint]

I think (pure speculation) that we were buying the Iraqi WMD’s from Syrian rebels in exchange for various armaments and intelligence reports.
************
And what a charming speculation it is. Historical if true. Of course it would be history making, vis a vie the rationale for the Iraqi War, to the Freepers and a few others. The masses will never know the truth.

I’m not sure whether to hope you are right or wrong.

[VerySadAmerican]

If your theory is true, wouldn’t Bush and his people know what’s going on? Or are you saying we didn’t start buying from Syrian Rebels until after obama took over.

[Cyber Liberty]

Just running guns would not be enough to cause this reaction.

I agree. It's worse. I think the regime was planning on a prisoner exchange, and were cooperating with the enemy to make sure they had a prisoner to exchange. Very dirty business.

[rodguy911]

We know there are tons of WMDs in the form of poisonous gas inside Syria. Gen. Georges Sada supervised many flights of a gutted 707 and 727 that flew mission after mission to Damascus along with tractor trailer loads photoed by cia satellites. That's a given. This huge amount of gas has been there since the early 2000’s.

[okie01]

The monthly polygraphs, name changing, etc. is pretty extreme. Just running guns would not be enough to cause this reaction.

I agree. If a gun-running operation was all it was, upon being revealed, the immediate response would be "remember Iran-Contra!"

Recall there was also a rumor about the Benghazi raid being a pre-arranged, but botched. kidnapping operation. Ambassador Stevens would've then been exchanged for the Blind Sheik.

Subsequently, it has been reported that Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood were in on the deal -- and that Morsi would personally "negotiate" the exchange with Obama. Political points all around.

This theory fits certain odd elements of the night's events. For example, the consistent "stand down" instructions to security people in the CIA Annex and the Tripoli embassy. It also tends to explain Obama's disengagement from the events -- as if he already knew what was going to happen.

As it happened though, Tyrone Hill and Glen Doherty disobeyed their orders and helped put up a bloody resistance -- that was unexpected. And Stevens didn't live to be kidnapped.

I'm now inclined to think there might be something to this theory.