Benghazi: Seeking a Magic Bullet

Sunday, November 25, 2012

You know, there are a lot of legitimate concerns that could be raised about what happened on Sept. 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya, when our popular ambassador, Chris Stephens, and three other Americans were killed by a group that attacked and sacked the U.S. consulate there.

Was it a mistake to have so much of the consulate's security provided by local forces and a nearby group of CIA employees, rather than, say, the U.S. Marines? Should we have had a military response force located close enough to get there more quickly?

Republicans, however, seem to be determined to ignore these very real questions. This may be because "since gaining the majority in 2011, House Republicans have voted to reduce embassy security funding by approximately half a billion dollars below the amounts requested by the Obama administration."

That language comes from a report issued by the very committee investigating the attacks and the U.S. response to them. "You have to prioritize things," shrugged Utah Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, one of the lawmakers who voted to cut funds for embassy security - and who's now helping to lead the committee.

Well, that's true, and it's become crystal clear what the Republican priorities are: not getting at the truth, but desperately trying to find their "magic bullet," the scandal that will bring down the man they love to hate.

All of their previous attempts - Fast and Furious, Solyndra, the DOJ's settlement of a Bush-era civil action against the New Black Panther Party - none of these have managed to gain any traction. But this! This, they thought, was going to be the one.

Mitt Romney got the ball rolling. Before the bodies were cold, he was releasing critical statements in the mendacious and fact-free style that characterized the entire campaign. He accused Obama of expressing "sympathy" for the attackers and for responding to the attacks by "apologizing for our values." The fact that the president had done no such thing didn't matter to Lord Romney, whose disdain for the president was only exceeded by his disdain for the truth.

In the days leading up to the election, Benghazi became the right-wing obsession. Mention anything, anything at all, and they'd start yelling at the top of their lungs that "Obama lied about Benghazi."

"Obama is leading in the swing states ..."

"HE'S LYING ABOUT BENGHAZI!"

"The heads of the car companies say Romney's lying about moving auto jobs to China ..."

"THAT'S NOT AS BAD AS OBAMA LYING ABOUT BENGHAZI!"

"Would you like another piece of toast?"

"I BET OUR AMBASSADOR IN BENGHAZI WOULD HAVE LIKED TOAST, BUT OBAMA MURDERED HIM, THEN LIED TO COVER IT UP!"

And so on.

But as hearings ramped up and people who actually knew things began to speak, it became more and more obvious that there really was no scandal there. No one, as the conspiracy theorists claimed at first, had told U.S. forces to "stand down" rather than help the beleaguered ambassador. President Obama had immediately referred to the attacks as an act of terror, despite Romney's brazen attempt to lie about it at the second debate.

Then things just got silly. Sen. John McCain skipped a closed-door briefing about Benghazi to hold a press conference demanding more information about Benghazi. He threatened to hold up a hypothetical nomination for U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, because, he said, Rice "lied" about the motives behind the attack.

As it turns out, however, the "lies" Ambassador Rice were supposedly telling were actually information given to her by the CIA and vetted by "seven, eight, nine different agencies" before being approved in final form, again by the CIA. At least that's what Rep. Peter King described at the testimony from scandal-plagued former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus.

This led to some rumblings that Petraeus' recent sex scandal arose out of some attempt by the administration to blackmail him. That line of attack went nowhere, probably because it made no sense. Then there was a claim that the White House had changed the ambassador's "talking points" to take out references to al-Qaida and make themselves look better.

This was immediately shot down by the office of the director of national intelligence in an interview with CNN, leaving poor Honorable John nothing left to gripe about but the fact that he had to see his hoped-for scandal shot to pieces on CNN.

As this scandal-that-isn't fades away, to become just another one of the Zombie Lies the right trots out again and again no matter how many times it's debunked, what's next?

Will President Obama be blamed for the death of the Twinkie? Will some small detail of the White House Christmas tree lead to outraged calls for his impeachment?

Stay tuned.

Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@nc.rr.com.

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getreal 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks Dusty. You are a voice of reason in a sea of misinformation, bias and condemnation. I have been saying the same all along about Benghazi. The Benghazi tragedy is just that. A tragedy that cost the lives of 4 Americans. It should never have been made into a political football by the GOP. The families asked repeatedly for the Right to let the investigations be completed and let their loved ones rest in piece. The republicans refused to honor their requests. McCain has lost his mind on this and should step back and be quiet before he destroys what is left of his military legacy. The GOP supporters were wrong on the election and have yet to come to terms with the loss. This witch hunt only makes their party look less and less like they are willing accept the changes needed for the GOP to survive. If they keep this up, it will only hasten their demise. Keep them coming Dusty, I always enjoy reading your column. Happy Holidays!

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

This ridiculous piece will make good fertilizer. Who is "Dusty Rhoades", a 9-year old playing make-believe journalist?

On the legislation to cut funding for embassy security:

1) Per testimony, the budget had nothing to do with the ordered decrease in security in Libya.

2) The amount for embassy security requested by the State Dept was funded 100%

3) The legislation that you reference & know nothing about was bipartisan w/more Democrats voting for the cut than Republicans.

Anyone who thinks Fast & Furious, Solyndra, Benghazi, etc. do not deserve scrutiny should keep their nose out of politics and, most certainly, "journalism". And by the way, his name was Chris "Stevens", not Stephens. What a joke you are. You can't even get that right.

AFCHIEF 5 months, 3 weeks ago

HERE IS A GREAT IDEA

Susan Rice for Ambassador to Libya!!!

dustyrhoades 5 months, 3 weeks ago

getreal: thanks.

Starky: you're right about the spelling at least. Will do a correction next week.

dustyrhoades 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks, westside!

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

So, Dusty...

Now that you've discovered you couldn't even get the name of our deceased Ambassador right, when do you plan on doing some research & realize that your article is full of BS?

1) Chaffetz said that because we have over 200 embassies across the globe, we have to prioritize & provide more funding for embassy security in unstable areas like Libya.

2) FY Budget provided 100% of the State Department's funding request.

3) The vote on the House Bill you're referring to on cutting (re-prioritizing) Embassy Security funding was as follows: 149 Democrats - YES .. 147 Republicans - YES

Now go ponder on why Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Soledad O'Brien & others feed you horsecrap, but more importantly, why you buy it.

OldPilot 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Sounds like Starky needs to figure out what's fact and what he so delicately refers to as "horse****". Both parties voted to re-priortize funding by virtually equal numbers but somehow the fact that the ambassador and others were killed is entirely the fault of Democrats? Sorry Starky, but the point Rhoades was making as I read it was and is the usual misguided GOP overreaction to events without real knowledge as to the facts behind the events. Starky absolutely, completely and fully proves Rhoades point by coming off as Starky staring nuts.

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

OldPilot,

You're apparently lost at every angle. The outline I provided are called facts. And they're irrefutable. Or is it that you prefer to latch onto horse**** and/or diversion?

The State Dept's request for embassy security was funded 100% - FACT

More Democrats than Republicans voted 'Yes" on the House Bill to cut/re-prioritize embassy security funding - FACT

Per State Dept testimony, how the events unfolded at the Consulate in Libya had NOTHING to do with embassy security funding. It had everything to do w/who called the shots - FACT

It's clear who has the "real knowledge" and who's merely spewing the horse***. But, what do we expect from those who believe that record corruption, at the highest levels in our nation's history, even costing innocent American lives, is "overreaction"?

The blindness & stupidity displayed on this page by Dusty Rhoades & people like you is nothing short of disgusting.

JD 5 months, 3 weeks ago

The blindness & stupidity displayed on this page

by JD

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

"President Obama had immediately referred to the attacks as an act of terror, despite Romney's brazen attempt to lie about it at the second debate."

Wrong again.

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Wouldn't it be great if the left and/or the media really wanted to get to the truth on Benghazi or anything else for that matter. But its clear they don't want to poke into anything that might portray Obama in anything but the rosy image they adhere to. We have no real "press" in this country except Fox News. We have no DOJ in this country. Obama is Boss Hogg and Holder is Roscoe P. Coltrane.

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

More Liberal Brain Rot on full display, this time by "southernpinesupperwestside".

Perhaps explaining at the level one would to a preschooler will help:

The Ambassador and other Americans at the Libyan Consulate were afraid. Some of them begged for more security. For some reason, the Obama Administration said "no". At least two of them predicted they would be killed. And when they were under attack begging for the military to assist, they were again denied.

As far as your ignorant comment about "neo-cons" and "all out war" under Romney, you might want to recall the wars we are/have been engaged in UNDER OBAMA, most simultaneously:

Iraq - (Bush timeline; current talks of troops remaining)

Afghanistan - (record U.S. troop deaths on Obama's watch; recall Gen McChrystal's plea for a surge when our troops were being slaughtered in record numbers. Obama was too busy campaigning for the Olympics, hosting record White House parties, and towing the biggest entourage in American history to the Taj Mahal)

Pakistan - Under Obama, military operations went well past the border of Pakistan, record drone attacks & civilian casualties.

Libya - No congressional authorization; past deadline of congressional authorization. Obama's defense was 'no boots on the ground'. The Pentagon confirmed this was not the case.

Somalia - U.S. troops & drone attacks; Obama Admin tried to keep hidden

Yemen - U.S. troops & drone attacks; Obama Admin tried to keep hidden

Syria - U.S. troops now on border in Jordan

Iran - Obama has stated that military action is on the table if increased sanctions failed. This was Romney's position as well. But it's only bad when Romney says it.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA NOW HOW BRAINWASHED & IGNORANT YOU ARE?

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

DR, OP, JD and SP have 0% objectivity or credibility in matters involving President Obama. They never have and never will hold him accountable for anything. Its always going to be the fault of Fox, Bush, Boehner and the Repubs, Tea Party, Easter Bunny, Great Pumpkin, etc.

dustyrhoades 5 months, 3 weeks ago

The State Dept's request for embassy security was funded 100% - FACT

Lie.

According to Democratic House Oversight Committee staff, the amount that the GOP-led House passed for two accounts that pay for embassy security in fiscal 2012 ($2.311 billion) was $330 million less than the Obama administration had requested ($2.641 billion). A GOP House Appropriations Committee aide confirmed the House bill had less in these accounts than what the administration requested. However, the final bill, after being worked on by the Democratic-led Senate, put in more money than what had passed in the House. The final bill, which passed with bipartisan support, gave a total of $2.37 billion to these accounts for fiscal 2012 -- about $270 million less than what the administration had requested.

dustyrhoades 5 months, 3 weeks ago

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA NOW HOW BRAINWASHED & IGNORANT YOU ARE?

by dustyrhoades

DannySteen 5 months, 3 weeks ago

southside, I am afraid you will not recognize the truth if it walked up and hit you in the head. For what we have been getting from The Government and our Guardians of the Truth, none of us would. We all seem to look at the same apple and can't agree what color it is. Fear, hate, bigotry and many other reasons cloud our judgement and the Government and our beloved press feed and feed off of these feelings. I feel we will never know "The Truth" until its too late.

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

You seem a little slow, Dusty.

Claim: The Republican House cut embassy security in the budget $300 million below what was asked for.”

FACTCHECK: After negotiating with the Democrat Senate, it was a mere $264 million less than the administration requested. However, the requested funding wasn't just for security. It covered construction and maintenance as well. Prioritizing these funds for "security" in unstable areas such as Libya is precisely what Chaffetz referenced as proven during discussions aired on C-Span. "Security" was funded 100%.

Claim: "The Obama Administration wasn’t aware of security concerns among U.S. officials in Libya before the attack on the consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans."

FACTCHECK: “All of us at post were in sync that we wanted these resources.”-Eric Nordstrom, Top Regional Security Officer, Libya

"We felt great frustration that those requests were ignored or just never met.”-Andrew Wood

Oh, but Obama can move quickly in notifying Congress of $450 million in "emergency cash" to aid the Muslim Brotherhood.

You have a mental illness.

clarabelle 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Starky - you are very much the definition of a typical republican............ spend all of their energy trying to attach blame to a tragedy rather than work on any "real" problems. Perhaps you can next find fault with how many times Obama farts each day........... I am certain you can perpetuate that at least a few weeks...........

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

My feeling is that for the families of the dead, Benghazi is a "real problem". It seems the lefts only interest is to shield Obama from any responsibility. We all should be determined that the truth should come out, whomever is responsible held accountable and the situation being prevented in the future. It is clear that misinformation was spread in the beginning. It was either a deliberate deception or out of incompetence. Clarabelle, it is impolite for you to speak when the grownups are talking.

Starky 5 months, 3 weeks ago

clarabelle:

It doesn't take a lot of energy to post facts. People like you spend more time ignoring facts and making excuses, choosing to be completely oblivious to realities.

The root of the "real" problems are Obama, Democrats, and their uneducated supporters. Even Russia is perplexed at the number of ignorant people in the United States who somehow can't see the massive pile of sh*t that Obama/Democrats are creating. As I read today, citizens of Russia, North Korea & China have more freedoms than Americans in many areas. They laugh at the stupidity of Americans for allowing (and voting for) a government that mandates body searches & makes it illegal to consume raw milk.

If you would open your eyes & expand your tiny brain, you'd see that the Benghazi incident wasn't a mere a "tragedy". It was caused by deliberate actions, or lack thereof, by your dear leader.

Notice how you don't even try to refute any of the facts that I listed. But just keep being blind & dumb ... life must seem easier. You're in for a very rude awakening & it's coming very soon. Watch & see.

skylinefirepest 5 months, 3 weeks ago

SPUWS....you keep referring to a "tragedy". What would that "tragedy" be?? A tragedy is normally something beyond the normal control of people. The terrorists were the cause of your so called "tragedy" on 9-11 and 9-11. It was an act of terrorism, which YOUR president can hardly bring himself to say, in both instances...and it was a tragedy that YOUR president couldn't bring himself to respond to after the killing of American citizens....that should have had better protection provided and might have if YOUR president had gotten his incompetent butt off the golf course long enough to make a decision.

Courseaire 5 months, 3 weeks ago

SPUW - Was that support via10' poles or a 20' poles? We thank you for your appreciation. signed, us people.

moonchild7 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Ansar al-sharia are apparently Al-qaeda wannabes. This was the group that attacked the U.S. Consulate and are Libyian militants who don't care for "Western Ways". I wrote previously after reading an article in Reuters that the new Libyian government only allowed certain security groups into the country and the group that was "guarding" the Consulate (from Wales) weren't very good. So, after the "spontaneous" demonstration they (Ansar al-sharia) returned with mortars since they noticed the security was lacking. It's all a horrible tragedy but the worse tragedy is the reaction from the NASTY Republicans. They are sooooooooooo old, ignorant and bitter now. Thanks for your take on this subject, Dusty. These righties are going down in flames faster and faster. Looks like the "Anti" Susan Rice bunch are backing off. They seem to also now be backing off from Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge too. Now that's funny.

Middleman522 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Keep the Kool-Aid coming!

moonchild7 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, to your dismay 101jackson, I NEVER dropped any acid. I noticed back then that people who did do it, they'd either die young or weren't quite right after that. I also felt that if I ever did, I'd probably be the one who "thought they could fly" and off a building top I'd go, so I refrained. I was never pressured to do anything I didn't want to do. Doesn't mean I didn't have "other" experiences though. You do know, having unique and educational experiences makes a person smarter? I read a lot of books and experienced lots of things. Doesn't make me an expert but does make me a bit credible. Dusty also, since a lot of what we both said in the past has either been true or proven to be true. I almost did join the Army in 1971 to get away from my family but I don't think I'd have made it thru Boot Camp. I even talked to a recruiter but I had bad eyesight, was too short, not into physical education. Actually went to Canada for awhile that autumn, then began college a semester late. Oh well. It's been a great life and it's gonna be even greater with President Obama. 101jackson, you know nothing.

packwilleat 5 months, 3 weeks ago

SPUW ~ the same could be said for the liberals as well. Maybe that is why people like me have cast both parties aside. But keep your cheerleading up, you sound just as dumb as the republicans.

JD 5 months, 3 weeks ago

DR, OP, JD and SP have 0% objectivity or credibility in matters involving President Obama.

Yea Fugly is an idiot as usual with no credibility. He tends to skip over when I do make fun of Obama. I just don't make Kenyan, birth certificate, or racists comments. I tend to be more constructive with Government overreach.

But hey Fugly is an idiot that loves to announce that fact to the world and I will let him keep doing it. Hey Fug bring up Obama's college records that hasn't been done yet.

teufelhunden 5 months, 3 weeks ago

She is hilarious. I do admire her passion and that she stands by what she believes in. Even though I rarely agree with her, she rocks for that.

Thatcher 5 months, 3 weeks ago

I love MC7's posts. I don't agree with her, but she seems like a great mom. Cheers!

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

"Yea Fugly is an idiot as usual with no credibility."

Be careful, with all the hate you are spewing someone might acuse you of being a conservative. Sorry if the truth is a bitter pill. BTW, please repost where you made fun of Obama, I'd love to see it.

JD 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, I'm a Republican with a progressive view. Sorry if the truth is a bitter pill. Please repost one of the times you made fun of Obama that wasn't racist or tea bagger related, I'd love to see it.

Hint: His continuation of tax policies he decried while campaigning, bailouts, keeping Gitmo open and basically doing what Bush did that annoyed me. Oh and general impotence on creating any real reform, you know, like most politicians.

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

"Please repost one of the times you made fun of Obama that wasn't racist or tea bagger related"

JD, providing that you would stick to actual definitions of racism, I will donate $25 to a charity of your choosing if you can provide an example of anything racist about Obama I have posted. I will agree to let Thatcher or Geoff be the judge if there is ambiguity. Yes, I am calling BS on your assertion. There are so many legitimate criticisms of Obama, one need not use any racism.

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

BTW, I would still like to see that post where you made fun of Obama. Also, wth does "teabagger related" mean?

turntheothercheek 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Great Article Dusty!!! I'm not even going to waste my time to respond to most of these posts. The election is over, Obama Won, there is no huge cover up going on it is just another attempt to try to make Obama their Villain. It's sad to be honest, even more sad is that people keep posting these things against Obama, but the saddest part, they actually believe them. Oh well, Dusty, You know what they say, you can lead a horse to water...

fugitiveguy 5 months, 3 weeks ago

"The election is over, Obama Won, there is no huge cover up going on"

Lib after lib after lib continue to make such proclamations without any basis. Its clear they are not interested in finding out what happened. Maybe they are right, no way to know without an independent unbiased investigation. Blind faith from mindless, clueless drones.

JD 5 months, 3 weeks ago

I don't have the need or care to look though dead threads to appease your insanity Fugly. Do it yourself and quit having your hand out like a government beggar. I gave you hints on subject matter now pull yourself up by your bootstraps and search for your answers yourself, whiny teabagger.

moonchild7 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, fugitiveguy, looks like today will be ZERO HOUR for all of the Benghazi BS. Ambassador Rice will be heading to Capital Hill to "visit" with Sen. McCain and Sen Graham to sorta set them straight about the matter. She'll have the Acting Director of the CIA with her. Case will be closed with maybe apologies? Nice. Oh, and thanks guys for the "compliments". It's a bit interesting that my very adventurous teen-age and young adult years would sort of set me for life and how I tend to see things now. Having such a "Liberal" outlook has helped me weather the extreme negativity that I grew up with as a child. I made sure to NEVER be that way around my son, and he has excelled because of it. Thanks, Thatcher....He called me yesterday morning while riding his bike to work (9 miles over the Queensboro Bdg) and he said he just felt great but was a bit upset that so many people were really rather nasty and unhappy around the holidays up there. I told him maybe I made his childhood too happy and he laughed. His office is still without telephone service but he did say that NYC was going to hire 5,000 temps to help with all of the cleanup. It's still a mess.

Thatcher 5 months, 3 weeks ago

MC7-- You are welcome. Hope you and your son are doing great. Cheers!

clarabelle 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Conservative Election Loss Depression Syndrome

1.Fantasizes that the country is on a path to economic/moral ruin.

2.Boosts their fragile Ego by claiming ownership of the term "Individual Responsibility".

3.Thinks ALL the tax cuts should expire, in the vain (and self-destructive) hope that the republican party may benefit politically in 2014 from all the pain it will cause the middle class.

4.Complains that every dollar of their taxes is supporting lazy, ignorant minorities.

5.Attempts to inflate their societal value by threatening to stop working, "Because THEN Whatcha gonna do?".

6.Divides people up conveniently into two camps: Makers and Takers... Pounds chest with near sexual pleasure in believing themselves to be makers and enemies to be takers. Cue Angry Chimp Sound Effect

7.Still ranting in some fashion about Benghazi, Fast and Furious, or Solyndra.

8.Equates a 4.6% tax cut expiration with Bolshevism.

9.Vociferously complains that no amount of taxes on upper earners will even remotely effect the debt. Uses that as logic to exclude them from any deal on spending reduction. Wants to forget the election was about this issue.

Benghazi: Seeking a Magic Bullet

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