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I came across some interesting info/analysis/links via Allen West's website .... he's not your usual Conspiracy Theory type of guy so I think the info he is pointing to is likely credible or partly credible per his thinking. I will put all links down at the bottom for your reference, including West's.
Per the info, the Zero Footprint gun running operation was covert .... Ham didn't even know of the CIA annex ... FEST was called off because they would have uncovered the covert operation if they had made it to Benghazi. Many if not all of the pieces fall into place .... most if not all of the "why" questions answered.
One more thing - I was HOPING the gun running would come up in the hearing. When Pompeo started asking those questions, Hilly's body language changed, IMO. She got very still, her face was an inscrutable mask, her voice dropped and there was very little inflection .... Pompeo's questions were very dangerous territory for her. Frankly, I think he knew the answers already from closed-door testimony. Also, she didn't outright deny knowing Marc Turic (arms dealer) but claimed a 'recall' problem .... I think that was a lie with all that is going on with him (being prosecuted).
Ok - here are the links .... and one regarding Marc Turic as well - it is all WELL WORTH reading and a real eye opener when you see what was going on.
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The entire weapons operation was labeled “Operation Zero Footprint”. The intent is outlined in the operational title – to leave no visible record of U.S. involvement in arming the Libyan “rebels”. No visible footprint.
We know from congressional inquiry Ambassador Chris Stevens had asked for more security in the months prior to Sept. 11th 2012. Requests sent to the State Dept that were denied.
We also know that NO MARINE DETACHMENT was ever put in place to defend the Benghazi Mission.
We also know the Benghazi Mission was initially, and mistakenly by media, called “a consulate”, or a “consulate outpost”. But there was no State Dept record of any consulate office in Benghazi.
All of these seeming contradictions can be reconciled with the simple understanding that this “Mission” was unofficial. Remember the goal – No visible footprint.
Why were security requests denied? Remember the goal – No visible footprint.
We know from General Carter Ham (AFRICOM Commander now retired) the Department of Defense was not even aware the State Dept was operating a mission in Benghazi during 2012. Remember the goal – No visible footprint.
How could Hillary Clinton, Charlene Lamb, or Patrick Kennedy approve or request a marine security detachment knowing the entire mission around Benghazi was covert? Such a request would have travelled outside the small group of State/CIA insiders. The request would have gone to DoD. Short answer, they couldn’t.
Hence the disconnect between what seemed to be obvious and/or simple questions and the inability to accurately discuss in the public venues of congressional inquiry.
To the public Chris Stevens was a U.S. ambassador, a diplomat. To the folks inside the State Dept and CIA, Chris Stevens was a U.S. Ambassador, AND a CIA operative coordinating covert arms sales.
Even after death the public face of Chris Stevens, the official role, was able to be discussed. The covert, or unofficial role, was not. Again, we see the disconnect between inquiry that could be answered, and inquiry that could not be answered. Many irreconcilables surface because of this intelligence role – even through today.
The second role of Stevens, the covert and CIA aspect, still causes problems for people trying to understand the “why not” questions. The broader public asking why have we not seen, or heard from the survivors of the attacks?
The short answer is, we have not – but the intelligence community has.
Twice some of the survivors have given testimony to congress. The problem for the public is that those hearings are closed door, classified, intelligence hearings – led by Chairman Mike Rogers and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Again, go back to the beginning of Operation Zero Footprint and you see the congressional Intelligence Gang of Eight were fully aware of the intents.
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The links in this section & the one in the section above w/excerpts were the ones pointed to by Allen West:
Allen West: Operation Zero Footprint: The bombshell truth about Benghazi?
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Marc Turi: Arms dealer: Obama DOJ prosecuting me to protect Hillary
POMPEO: There was an e-mail that was from Mr. Blumenthal and (inaudible) before that, also discussing the same situation. Do you know who Mark Turrey (ph) is?
CLINTON: No, I don't recall that I know who that is.
POMPEO: He was a private trafficker in weapons. He was working with Mr. Stevens and attempting to develop an authorization with the State Department so that he could in fact deliver those weapons into Libya. Does that -- any of that ring a bell to you?
CLINTON: No, it does not.
POMPEO: So you never saw the e-mail that was from Mr. Stevens to -- I think it went to Mr. Sullivan, where he says to Mr. Turrey (ph), this is Mr. Stevens now, says to Mr. Turrey (ph): "Thank you for this information" -- this information about his attempts to get authority to ship arms into Libya. He says, "Thank you for this information. I'll keep it in mind and share it with my colleagues in Washington. Regards, Chris." Actually, "regards, Chris Stevens."
CLINTON: I -- I don't know anything about that specifically. I do know that you're referring to a document, and if you are, could you tell us what tab it's at?
POMPEO: Yes, ma'am. I'm not certain it's in there as a tab, but I'm happy to provide it to you.
thanks very much its going to take me awhile to go through all this
Sounds like she was answering the arms questions with legal deniability. Getting very close to the weapons sales.