Republicans accuse Obama of cover-up over death of Chris Stevens in Libya

[DonViejo]

By Chris McGreal, The Guardian
Saturday, September 29, 2012 13:24 EDT


The killing of the US ambassador to Libya is rapidly becoming election fodder, as Republicans seize on confusion over Chris Stevens’ death in Benghazi

The killing of the US ambassador to Libya is rapidly becoming election fodder, as Republicans seize on confusion over the circumstances of Chris Stevens’ death in Benghazi three weeks ago and accuse the Obama administration of covering up an al-Qaeda connection.

US officials reiterated on on Friday that they regard the killing of Stevens and three other Americans working for the state department at the US consulate in Benghazi as an assault by terrorists who planned the attack. But a dearth of real information about the exact circumstances of the assault has left open the question of whether such planning was merely the work of a few hours, to take advantage of a spontaneous anti-US protest over a short internet video that prompted demonstrations across the Middle East by offended Muslims, or weeks and months, to mark the 11th anniversary of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks on the US.

Disagreement over that question is dividing along political lines.

Earlier this week, Republican senators wrote to the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, demanding that she explain her statement, five days after the killings, that they were part of a spontaneous anti-US protest. Four senators signed the letter, including John McCain, which said Rice made “several troubling statements that are inconsistent with the facts and require explanation”.

Read more:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/29/republicans-accuse-obama-of-cover-up-over-death-of-chris-stevens-in-libya/

[blm]

1. Yeah, McCain, and if Rice had jumped to the conclusion that Iraq did it, it would have been fine

by your standards, eh?

[monmouth]

2. They've got nothing and it's showing. Desperation..n/t

[Lisa D]

3. Didn't you just post this same topic in this same forum

like six minutes ago? What is the purpose for that?

In regard to the story: Republicans are getting more desperate and using the dead for political purposes. Disgusting tactics, as usual.

[DonViejo]

8. If you are addressing me, Lisa D, no, this is not a duplicate post

made by me. If someone has started a thread with this same info, I apologize.

I did comment on another thread about the existence of stories being posted yesterday, detailing why the FBI was not going to Libya as well as an explanation as to why Ambassador Rice was not lying in her first public comments about the attack. What I have posted here was released today.

[Lisa D]

10. Okay, thanks.

I must have been confused

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. What else have they got? I'm sure that PBO will acquit himself & his administration quite....

competently. He has a unique way of doing that, and I'm sure this will come up in the debates.

[courseofhistory]

5. I don't think it was an outright lie

I think it is entirely possible the administration spoke too soon about what happened and should have been more general in its response until more details emerged.

That said, the place is a chaotic hornet's nest with dishonest government and many who would like to see the US lose face. I think it's possible the Libyans are feeding us false info and that first story could have come from them and/or some very confused people on the ground.

As it stands now, Libya will not let US security or invesigative forces (FBI) into the country so we can try to learn more of what did happen. So in the meantime we have to take their word for things for the most part.

I don't, however, think they'd be stupid enough to outright lie since it could easily be proven they did.

[DonViejo]

9. There was a news article yesterday, posted on DU,

reporting the Director of the Security Office (not DNS) was apologizing to every one for the release of a mis-analysis of the situation. In the article, the director states they thought a peaceful demonstration was going to take place, not a terrorist attack.

[hrmjustin]

6. What bull!!! how can there be a coverup. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. More importantly.......

why?

[hollysmom]

7. that is disgusting and cruel -

this group is so immature, tehy obviously should have nothing to do with running a third rate country - which, so far, the US is not.

[timlot]

11. Politics

A cover up would be if our Ambassador and Seals where killed and they didn't want anyone to know about it. Trying to get the facts they had at the time out to the American people "prefaced with the fact information may change" is not a cover up.

I personal think the administration made it worst by not saying from the start "We don't have all facts yet and its under investigation" and say nothing else until they did have definitive evidence.

Fox News and the GOP are going to beat this drum everyday in October. They're telling Romney to get tougher about it so you'll start hearing him bring it up more.

As long as the President, the campaign, and other Democrats in Congress stays focus and doesn't respond to every right-wing call for resignations and investigations it will stay as noise on Fox News. But, by responding to it they elevate it and lets them claim its "bipartisan outrage" like they have been doing with John Kerry's senate intelligence letter requesting for more info. Keep your eyes on the prize. There is way too much at stake that will effect all of our lives for years to come if we get side tracked and Romney is elected.

[Democat]

12. The ambassador's family should demand that Romney stop trying to use his murder for politics

Sad to see this used as a political attack before the facts are known.

[NCLefty]

13. Of course they do

Blame is what they're best at.

Governing this country? Get back to us.

[HopeHoops]

14. Yeah, I heard that too. Short answer: The FBI couldn't investigate for security reasons.

I'm not sure why the FBI was charged with it, but they were hampered. My wingnut mom claimed it was Obama hiding stuff, but the reality is that they could only go with speculation (based on the type of weapons used) until they got feet on the ground to figure it out for sure. They're STILL just speculating, but with a little more evidence.

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

15. Such crap will only get worse

They are desperate and, as we well know by now, will not stop at anything to turn the tide. The accusations will get nastier, and more frequent, over the coming weeks, covering a complete range of issues, domestic and foreign.

[sofa king]

16. Yessss... because it is a sensitive matter.

When the CIA agent who helped overthrow Libya is appointed ambassador and then killed along with a couple more cloak-and-dagger types (and an Eve Online player), one probably wants to keep it quiet.

But part of me is hoping that the GOP can't help itself. You go ahead, pals, and try to blow this one like you blew Brewster Jennings. There's no Uncle Dick to protect you now. You'll do federal time, which is what you all deserved back then.