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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBenghazi
I have to admit, this whole thing bothered me - although there is no way that Rmoney would have handled it any better.
In fact, the Republicans have politicized this when I just wanted answers. But, yes, I want to see Obama exonerated because I am prejudiced. But, we all have to remember that "people make mistakes".
And let's get some clear up front - when Biden said "we didn't know" during the debate, I thought it was clear that he was talking about "Obama and he" because Ryan was trying to make it a personal attack against Obama and Biden. If Ryan knows anything about governing or running a business, he should know that the Executives have to trust their sub-ordinates, and that executives cannot always be held responsible for their actions. If all aspects of "the Obama Administration" is fair game, then so is everything that Bain Capital has done since Romney left, since he set the bar and the examples.
Let's not forget that the Republican House is the entity that has DRAMATICALLY reduced the budget for protection of embassies. So if embassy members requested additional protection, the department in charge of allocations had to abide by the budget. If you have ever worked for any corporation, you would know how much easier it would be to do something if the bean counters would allow you to do it.
Then they did a Congressional investigation. At first, I was like "Yes, we need a serious investigation and some real answer!" Then, I realized it was all a political ploy to make Obama look bad. But then an amazing thing happened - the republicans inadvertently revealed that the mysterious annex that also received mortar fire and attacks actually belonged to "that other Government Agency" which means the CIA.
We also know that there was a mission launched prior to the attacks that succeeded in removing several CIA agents and "others" from that site.
Stevens was well-liked by the Libyans. His murder "back-fired" as he is considered a US martyr, as demonstrated by the multiple pictures of Libyan citizens. I have to wonder if he wasn't a "high -priority" rescue victim because of his status and the belief that he would be "left alone", as opposed to the CIA operatives in the annex. Stevens himself did not anticipate the results. If he did, he wouldn't have gone back. Even to the people that loved him so much, as they have shown (wiping a tear, here).
In conclusion, I would like some answers just so we can learn for the future. Politically, should we blame Obama? would Mitt Romney do any better?
Hell, no.
cheriemedium59
(212 posts)The good job #'s
Consumer confidence is up.
Housing is beginning to rebound.
And because Biden kicked their ass last Wednesday! They are reaching for anything...
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)and the request for security money was for Tripoli but most in Repukes and MSM conveniently overlook that fact in their quest for a point of attack
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)And please keep repeating that because the GOP and the media keep conflating these two...on purpose. It would not be that hard for someone in the media to correct this GOP meme, but it doesn't happen. Why is that? It suits a false narrative.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)for decades are capable of lying without blinking.
I guess they were always empty suits and dresses.
Maybe they live in a bubble and for that reason do not have proper ethical development.
I've seen so much lying in this October surprise momentum build up -- they MUST know
they're doing it, they're helping the cause of power hungry fascists.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)They morphed Osama into Saddam Hussein to take us to war and they sold that lie. So how easy is it to conflate Benghazi with Tripoli. Very easy apparently. I have my own thoughts on this whole episode which I am keeping to myself, but I think you know where I'm coming from and it involves neocons...like Andrew Wood of Utah.
Edit: typos.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)The Mormons are a kind of Neo Fascism. They want their cult to dominate and the pieces are in place plus the ultra loyalty to make it air tight. They know no limits because they are driven by an ideology that has worked very well to push the clan forward.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)article yesterday. It answered a lot of my questions, concerns, as well as being quite informative:
By JAMES RISEN
Published: October 12, 2012
WASHINGTON Lost amid the election-year wrangling over the militants attack on the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya, is a complex back story involving growing regional resentment against heavily armed American private security contractors, increased demands on State Department resources and mounting frustration among diplomats over ever-tighter protections that they say make it more difficult to do their jobs.
The Benghazi attacks, in which the United States ambassador and three other Americans were killed, come at the end of a 10-year period in which the State Department sending its employees into a lengthening list of war zones and volatile regions has regularly ratcheted up security for its diplomats. The aggressive measures used by private contractors eventually led to shootings in Afghanistan and Iraq that provoked protests, including an episode involving guards from an American security company, Blackwater, that left at least 17 Iraqis dead in Baghdads Nisour Square.
The ghosts of that shooting clearly hung over Benghazi. Earlier this year, the new Libyan government had expressly barred Blackwater-style armed contractors from flooding into the country. The Libyans were not keen to have boots on the ground, one senior State Department official said.
That forced the State Department to rely largely on its own diplomatic security arm, which officials have said lacks the resources to provide adequate protection in war zones.
much more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/world/africa/private-security-hovers-as-issue-after-embassy-attack-in-benghazi-libya.html?pagewanted=all
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I don't know all the answers but it took a little while to get the investigators on the area because of dangers in the area. Issa is pushing anything to get in the news, don't trust him on anything. He has performed terribly on the Fast and Furious and does not want to give the correct story on that investigation.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)There is no American embassy in Benghazi. The American embassy in Libya is located in Tripoli.
http://libya.usembassy.gov/
Our consulates do not normally have the staff or security that an embassy would have. And a number of countries in the Middle East would, I should think, be extremely sensitive to having numerous American military troops stationed in their cities.
We are not occupying Libya at this time. Even if the Congress had not cut funding for security for our foreign service, it is unlikely that we could have had enough security in that consulate to protect the ambassador who was visiting the consulate and not stationed in that specific city.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)When that bold and brassy couple crashed the White House party, the woman in charge was forced to resign.
Isn't this is a State Department issue? Whoever didn't notify Mrs. Clinton should admit their failure and resign, and I haven't seen any news conference explaining State's position as yet...I don't know what country Clinton was in at the time, but it sure wasn't Benghazi, Libya.
The Marines who later assisted were not stationed at the embassy, so they weren't to blame.
timlot
(456 posts)Republicans could care less what really happen. These are the same folks that took us to a war in Iraq that cost thousands of American lives based on weapon of mass destruction that were never found. Republicans believe in winning at all cost, and playing politics with a terror attack that happen in a very dangerous part of the world is par for the course with them. I personally believe the Obama administration should have just waited for the full results of the investigation instead of blaming it on that stupid video, but we can have that argument on Nov. 7 after the president is re-elected. What happen in Benghazi was unfortunate but a President Romney is not the answer. I choose to stay focus on the big picture.
flyguyjake
(492 posts)Why do we need embassy's in every country?
I'd cut that shit out of the budget and spend that money back here at home!
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)What would you do with the money? Tax cuts?
flyguyjake
(492 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)The media and the Republicans (purposefully) are leaving that fact out of their talking points.
brush
(53,784 posts)The repugs cut the funds for embassy and consulate security months before. I do feel that the attackers took advantage of the multiple protests around the region against that anti-muslim film to launch their attack and the ambassador just happened to be there at the time. Benghazi facility was a consulate and didn't have Marine-level security like an embassy. It's so unfortunate. Funny how the repugs are trying to blame the President for not knowing this consulate out of thousands around the world needed more security. I hate to say this but isn't it strange that State Department which the Foreign service is a part of has been completely bypassed in the "blame" department by the repugs? There's no mention of Hillary, just that the President is to blame.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)fadedrose
(10,044 posts)and it's also on many other websites.
It is a State Dept. matter and somebody over there should be fired for not making more noise before this happened.
I'm glad she took full responsibility because if she decides to run in 2016 her admission may prevent her from being dragged thru the mud, and the whole experience will make her a far better administrator....
So sad for all involved...