What is the latest on this embassy coverup conspiracy?

[jollyreaper2112]

Need to straighten out right wing radio dad. Something about covering up that we were attacked or something but it was never a secret in the first place? Makes birtherism look sane. Only links I can find are to nut sites. The link he sent me was to Glenn Beck's cess pool.

So what the hell is this non-story?

[former-republican]

1. cluster fuck is the best word to use

conspiracy no......

[jollyreaper2112]

2. Yeah

That's what it looks like to me. Embassy attacked, CIA station house or something also involved, takes time to figure out just what the hell happened with no leaks.

The nutters are turning this into Rambo II with Obama watching the attack on video Nd deliberately withholding the rescue team from heading in so brave SEALs would drown in their own blood. He was likely having gay sex with a Kenyan imam the entire time.

I'm just trying to get down to the single actual fact they're twisting here. Can't even find it aside from general confusion.

[former-republican]

4. Your dad is probably talking about this video

<embed src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" background="#333333" width="425" height="279" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="si=254&contentValue=50131175&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7421538n" />


This video is from sept 12 next day but CBS never posted it and decided to hold it.

The one thing I will say about the whole thing is when you have automatic rifle fire , RPG'S and even mortar rounds.
it's pretty clear it wasn't some spontaneous protesters of a youtube vid.

Take want you want from my statement.

[JDPriestly]

9. The site that was attacked was a consulate, not an embassy.

A consulate is like a junior embassy. It's generally located in a busy tourist city, and takes care of minor diplomatic tasks such as issuing visas. The word consulate literally means office of the consul, who is a diplomat appointed to foster trade and take care of expatriates. You can read some pointed essays about the role of the modern day consulate at the American Foreign Service site.

Embassies are much bigger deals. The word embassy comes from the French ambassy, or office of the ambassador. Ambassadors are high-ranking diplomatic representatives who serve as spokespersons for their national governments. If one country recognizes the sovereignty of another, they generally establish an embassy there. Embassies take care of the same administrative duties as consulates, but they also represent their governments abroad.

http://ask.yahoo.com/20000824.html

With the exception of the word "ambassy" with which I am unfamiliar (although my French is pretty good), that is a good, simple explanation.

Tripoli is the capitol of Libya. Benghazi is located on the Mediterranean at the other end of Libya. Ambassador Stevens was visiting the consulate in Benghazi when it was attacked. There is a video of at least part of the attack.

The attack was quite confusing because some heavy equipment was used in it and yet it resembled a mob gone wild. I think the ambassador died of smoke inhalation.

The attack occurred on September 11.

On September 12, both Obama and Hillary gave speeches that ambiguously referred to the attack and appeared to suggest that the attack was terrorism.

The CIA apparently reported that it was a mob maybe reacting to the scurrilous movie about the Muslim movie that was broadcast around that time. On I think it was a Sunday talk show, our ambassador to the UN suggested that the attack was a demonstration. She based her remarks on CIA reports circulating at the time.

There was genuine confusion complicated by the fact that Libya has undergone a revolution in the past couple of years. That revolution is not completely finished since one of Ghaddafi's sons was killed in a town in Libya just this past week.

Apparently someone has been arrested in Egypt now who is suspected of maybe having to do with the attack.

Nothing has been hidden. The fog of war explains the confusion. Libya is not yet in a state of peace. Hope this helps a bit.

[grasswire]

3. here is a comprehensive review published today

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lorraine-devon-wilke/benghazi-emails-smoking-gun_b_2012418.html

[sorosland64]

5. Well

Essentially;

Embassy attack starts.

Obama learns of attack 2 hours later.

The Navy SEAL is killed 8 hours after attack started.

Help was 1 hour away.


That's why it looks bad for the President.

[former-republican]

6. That's over simplifying it a lot

We could have had a F18 there in an hour or less not troops on the ground.
no way , they were over 400 miles away.

[sorosland64]

7. Well

It still would have potentially saved lives. The issue is that nothing was done at all.

[sorosland64]

8. Even so,

They still would have had 6 hours to delivery help. That likely could have been done.

[JDPriestly]

12. Things that can be done are not always wise to do.

Situations like Benghazi require a lot of diplomatic finesse and a lot of precaution.

Bush and Cheney caused so much trouble with their bullying. It isn't how you get change. It isn't how you get things done in delicate situations.

The deaths are sad, but reacting with force probably would have made things even worse in the long run.

[former-republican]

11. Remember we are talking about a populated area

where the pilot would have no real clue where the mortar rounds were coming from.
Where the riflemen were firing from and on top of that confusion on the ground with civilians .

It's not an open battle field the pilot could just open fire on with missiles or a 20mm chain gun

[JDPriestly]

10. We have been trying to keep a low profile in Libya.

I believe that when Obama used our aircraft in airstrikes in support of a NATO operation in Libya supporting the revolution against Ghaddafi, Republicans objected big time.

Libya is a sovereign nation. They are supposed to reign in their population.

We would not like it if a foreign country flew planes in to protect a consulate in San Francisco that was being attacked. There are certain limitations on what you can do inside other countries without a lot of diplomatic rigamarole or alternatively without declaring war.

Flying in an F18 might have made things in Libya much, much worse. Don't worry. Obama and the CIA will get the people behind this. This is about their people and their station. Obama will take care of it just as he took care of Osama Bin Laden. And without the noise and intrusion of F18s.

Please keep the Republican concerns out of DU. This just is not the place for them. Thank you for your cooperation.

[former-republican]

14. I never said it was a good idea

I responded to the post. I agree that having an F18 open fire possibly killing civilians would have lost any support we have gained there.

The whole thing was a cluster fuck from the start like I said.
There were no easy options .
Best thing to come out of this is beef up security in volatile regions like this.

And don't cut embassy security budgets like the republicans proposed.

[monkeyofstick]

13. rumour control?

I really do not understand all of this.
I know that we have played in to lots of negative karma,with very much disrespect for the CIA,and basically all military intell.

This is crazy that it has not happened before now.
But many folks in other countries think of the US,and the CIA,they think of Bush,and all the terrorism that he started.
I really hate it,but to many of these terrorists were created and armed by us back in the Afghan war in the 70's.
So it really sucks.
I do not know many details,but as always,the net is full of disinfo.

[jollyreaper2112]

15. The amusing thing here

Republicans tell us about how there's nothing a liberal likes more than running this country down but here they are cheerleading anything that looks bad for the president.

Personally, I'm still deeply suspicious about the Libya intervention and feel it seems like more pnac crap. But I don't doubt it would have happened the same way if McCain were president. I also don't doubt the republicans would have his back in this time of mourning.

It gets so I want to punch a republican every time he opens his mouth. He doesn't even have to say anything, I'm already angry at whatever stupid thing he's about to say.

[doccraig67]

16. Try this link

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/26/panetta-on-benghazi-attack-could-not-put-forces-at-risk/?iref=allsearch