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  1. #111
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    State Dept. officials resign after release of Benghazi report:
    ‘Systemic failures’ left consulate inadequately protected;
    attack coordinated, not result of protest over a video

    By Doug Powers • December 19, 2012 12:03 PM

    As I was about to post all that stuff below, the AP Tweeted that a State Department security chief and two others have resigned. More details on that as they come in. (Update: So far there are only details about one resignation http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_16...nghazi-report/ )

    Now, to the report that precipitated those resignations, and maybe others to come…

    From Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...ms-no-protest/

    A State Department-ordered investigation into September’s attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, concluded that “systemic failures” left the facility inadequately protected, according to the independent review board’s report, which confirmed that no protest preceded the deadly attack.

    The report, posted Tuesday night on the State Department’s website, also identified “leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus.” It suggested 29 ways the department can improve its operations, but recommended no disciplinary action.

    The Accountability Review Board’s report comes after more than three months of intense debate in Washington over who was behind the attack, what motivated the attackers and why U.S. authorities weren’t able to stop the violence, which took the lives of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
    The ARB’s report on Benghazi does not assign responsibility to any specific individuals, and it also doesn’t make a single mention of the YouTube video. Also, the report specifically says there never was a protest in Benghazi that day, which was another initial claim of members of the Obama administration.

    More:
    Although the motive for the attack remains unclear, the report released Tuesday confirms what quickly became evident — that the attack was the coordinated work of heavily armed terrorists.

    The report confirmed that the attack involved “arson, small arms and machine gun fire, and the use of RPGs, grenades, and mortars.”

    The security failures, though, were singled out repeatedly in the report.

    Despite clear and present threats, the review board found the security staffing at the Benghazi consulate was “short-term, transitory” and “relatively inexperienced” — and ultimately “inadequate.”

    It also found “a pervasive realization among personnel who served in Benghazi that the Special Mission was not a high priority for Washington when it came to security-related requests, especially those relating to staffing.”

    Clinton vowed Tuesday to address the deficiencies identified in the report.
    Even though no individuals were named in the report, the fact that Susan Rice was the point-person in the “blame the video” effort makes it even clearer why she either removed herself or was removed from the list of potential secretary of state nominees.

    The report may provide officials with insight as to why the attack happened and how to prevent something like it from happening again, but it doesn’t explain the reason(s) for the administration’s baffling and ever-evolving narrative: http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affa...ontradictions-

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=uFf0dUH3OtU


    **Written by Doug Powers http://michellemalkin.com/2012/12/19/benghazi-report/
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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  3. #112
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    nothing to see....move along.....
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  4. #113
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge View Post
    The White House SITUATION ROOM got an email indicating the attack on Benghazi was a terrorist attack AS IT HAPPENED.

    Email to White House Situation Room at 6:07 PM on 9/11: "Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack"


    Multiple MSM outlets are reporting tonight that they recovered emails from anonymous government sources showing that both the State Department and White House knew within two hours of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that an Islamist militant group had claimed responsibility. Via Reuters:

    White House told of militant claim two hours after Libya attack: emails

    By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON | Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:11pm EDT

    (Reuters) - Officials at the White House and State Department were advised two hours after attackers assaulted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11 that an Islamic militant group had claimed credit for the attack, official emails show.

    The emails, obtained by Reuters from government sources not connected with U.S. spy agencies or the State Department and who requested anonymity, specifically mention that the Libyan group called Ansar al-Sharia had asserted responsibility for the attacks.

    The brief emails also show how U.S. diplomats described the attack, even as it was still under way, to Washington.

    U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the Benghazi assault, which President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials ultimately acknowledged was a "terrorist" attack carried out by militants with suspected links to al Qaeda affiliates or sympathizers.

    Administration spokesmen, including White House spokesman Jay Carney, citing an unclassified assessment prepared by the CIA, maintained for days that the attacks likely were a spontaneous protest against an anti-Muslim film.

    While officials did mention the possible involvement of "extremists," they did not lay blame on any specific militant groups or possible links to al Qaeda or its affiliates until intelligence officials publicly alleged that on September 28.

    There were indications that extremists with possible al Qaeda connections were involved, but also evidence that the attacks could have erupted spontaneously, they said, adding that government experts wanted to be cautious about pointing fingers prematurely.

    U.S. intelligence officials have emphasized since shortly after the attack that early intelligence reporting about the attack was mixed.

    Spokesmen for the White House and State Department had no immediate response to requests for comments on the emails.

    MISSIVES FROM LIBYA

    The records obtained by Reuters consist of three emails dispatched by the State Department's Operations Center to multiple government offices, including addresses at the White House, Pentagon, intelligence community and FBI, on the afternoon of September 11.

    The first email, timed at 4:05 p.m. Washington time - or 10:05 p.m. Benghazi time, 20-30 minutes after the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission allegedly began - carried the subject line "U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi Under Attack" and the notation "SBU", meaning "Sensitive But Unclassified."

    The text said the State Department's regional security office had reported that the diplomatic mission in Benghazi was "under attack. Embassy in Tripoli reports approximately 20 armed people fired shots; explosions have been heard as well."

    The message continued: "Ambassador Stevens, who is currently in Benghazi, and four ... personnel are in the compound safe haven. The 17th of February militia is providing security support."

    A second email, headed "Update 1: U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi" and timed 4:54 p.m. Washington time, said that the Embassy in Tripoli had reported that "the firing at the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi had stopped and the compound had been cleared." It said a "response team" was at the site attempting to locate missing personnel.

    A third email, also marked SBU and sent at 6:07 p.m. Washington time, carried the subject line: "Update 2: Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack."

    The message reported: "Embassy Tripoli reports the group claimed responsibility on Facebook and Twitter and has called for an attack on Embassy Tripoli."

    While some information identifying recipients of this message was redacted from copies of the messages obtained by Reuters, a government source said that one of the addresses to which the message was sent was the White House Situation Room, the president's secure command post.

    Other addressees included intelligence and military units as well as one used by the FBI command center, the source said.

    It was not known what other messages were received by agencies in Washington from Libya that day about who might have been behind the attacks.

    Intelligence experts caution that initial reports from the scene of any attack or disaster are often inaccurate.

    By the morning of September 12, the day after the Benghazi attack, Reuters reported that there were indications that members of both Ansar al-Sharia, a militia based in the Benghazi area, and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the North African affiliate of al Qaeda's faltering central command, may have been involved in organizing the attacks.

    One U.S. intelligence official said that during the first classified briefing about Benghazi given to members of Congress, officials "carefully laid out the full range of sparsely available information, relying on the best analysis available at the time."

    The official added, however, that the initial analysis of the attack that was presented to legislators was mixed. "Briefers said extremists were involved in attacks that appeared spontaneous, there may have been a variety of motivating factors, and possible links to groups such as (al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Ansar al-Sharia) were being looked at closely," the official said.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...89N02C20121024

    comments

    If this report is true,then the President, Secretary of State and Susan Rice ought to resign immediately. Remember, we impeached Clinton because he lied to us.

    ..

    I want to know why Reuters is keeping this important piece of news so obscure and which has also affected global politics so much? This is enough for a few sackings in the State Dept and elsewhere.

    ..

    The administration knew about it DURING the attack. The only person who had to authority to allow the military to intervene is The President and he did nothing. This is borderline criminal. This better be on the front page of The New York Times tomorrow. This is too big for even them to ignore.

    ..

    Yes on TV tonight it said our Ambassador went through 7 hrs of hell as the Pres, VP were in Oval Office receiving calls. Help overhead in drones & it would have only taken 1 hr to get help from base in Italy... If I were the families, I'd sue the hell out of the Govt. BTW...no mention of the only person who half way took blame, Hiliary with Pres, VP. If people stil vote for this idiot liar, nothing will change their minds, they are too in love with him and he could do no wrong in their eyes.

    ..

    And yes, Candy Crowley, you were a part of it by lying during the debate and assisting in the distortion of anything near the truth.

    ..

    This is lightyears beyond Watergate. one died during Nixon's coverup of Watergate. Nixon covered up a burglary. Obama and his ilk are covering up a terrorist attack. The question is, why?

    ..

    When I think of the weeks and weeks of front page stories of the anguish that was ABU GHRAIB, it makes me wonder how much effort our "intellectually curious" cheerleading media will devote to this.

    I'm really trying hard to think when we last had a presidential/administration scandal of this magnitude. And silence from the lapdogs. Disgusting.

    ..

    Yes. And the "demeaning" poses of the prisoners were portrayed as "torture."

    Yet, our CinC ignores his own Ambassador being attacked by Islamists and not only ignores it, but spins the story to keep him from looking bad.

    Oh yeah...the video.

    ..

    This confirms what anyone with a brain already knew. News of an attack on an American Embassy is going to reach the white house, state and the intelligence community immediately. I just wonder if this will get any MSM play at all. The media has been shockingly derelict thus far, and I don't expect anything better.

    ..

    I am sure this falls in the area of an impeachable offense, but he will be voted out before proceedings could begin. Could he possibly face criminal charges after he is escorted out of the White House?


    "Now we know the story and it was al Qaeda. The Obama Administration knew the Salafi Jihadi militias in Benghazi and eastern Libya had training camps. When the Jihadists attacked the US sites in Benghazi, it was known within an hour it was waged by al Qaeda linked terrorists. "The White House Situation Room knew about it. Why was an order given to stand down and not strike back at the Jihadists as they attacked, and after they attacked?

    "Since we know it was ansar al Sharia, an al Qaeda linked group that attacked the US sites, why has there still been no response? Why is there no statement explaining the entire situation to the American people? There are key questions still awaiting answers." - Dr. Walid Phares of Fox News.
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

  5. #114
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    Obama lying nothing new here. All Politians are lies and are corrupt not only in USA but in every country in this world. The very moment a country puts their peoples needs and well being over another country, that breeds corruption.

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    This story is "supposedly by a 30+ year retired CIA. If this proves to be true, it is impeachable grounds. It also may help explain why Petreaus was forced out a few days before the Benghazi hearings coming up. It explains a lot of behavior by Obama and his administration - the "pulled security", the "stand down" orders, and blaming that stupid video.

    The fireworks are coming. It will be the first of many disasters ahead.

    According to sources in the State Department and the CIA, an intercepted communications from the Muslim Brotherhood, Obama "staged" the attack in Benghazi in order to create a monumental "October Surprise" that would guarantee him re-election. Yes, you read that right, and no, I'm not making this up. Obama, we now know is and has been working with the Muslim Brotherhood secretly to engineer the release of the "Blind Sheik," Omar Abdel Rahman, the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center attack.

    In Obama's October Surprise, he intentionally set up the consulate to have no security so that Chris Stevens could be kidnapped, and held for ransom by Al-Qaeda (and the Muslim Brotherhood). Then, several days before the election, the plan was to trade Chris Stevens for the Blind Sheik, making himself look like a hero, and all but guaranteeing re-election.

    This was one of the top reasons why Obama was so insistent on the Muslim Brotherhood getting $1.2 Billion in U.S. Aid. They were to have primary role in getting Obama re-elected. That is why, even though they knew days before the attack that it was going to occur, no effort was made to bolster security. It was intended to be non-existent,

    The Libyan security forces were intended to quietly slip into the night when the attack began. And they did, just as planned. That is why, even though 2 C-130U gun ships, which were built SPECIFICALLY for this kind of attack, and which could have saved the lives of our people there and were a mere 45 minutes away, were never scrambled at any time during the attack. There was to be no resistance whatsoever.

    That is why there were not one, but TWO armed drones flying over the consulate during the conflagration... our CIA operatives on the ground were painting targets because they knew air cover was available.

    That is why, even though requesting support and backup three times, their requests were NOT ignored, but were intentionally, specifically DENIED three times, and they were told to "stand down, " which basically means to "surrender."

    That was part of Obama's plan. They were not to fight back. That would potentially undermine the kidnapping effort and cause unnecessary "complications."

    That is why, even though the CIA operatives and ex-Navy Seals were on the ground, providing real-time reports, and even though they were "lighting up" the source of the mortars attacking the compound with lasers, no gunships or support ever came. They weren't supposed to resist. That wasn't "part of the plan." It also wasn't part of the plan for one of the CIA operatives to intentionally defy Obama's orders, and who rescued the body of Sean Smith and then stood up against orders and engaged the enemy who was attacking American soil.

    It was supposed to be "clean." Quick. Efficient Kidnap the Ambassador and get out. Then Save The Day in the "nick of time." They didn't factor in a tiny group of highly trained ex-Navy Seals/CIA operatives... American Patriots and heroes. Even though they eventually lost their lives in the firefight, they managed to employ the full measure of their skills, and took out over 80 attackers in the process... which enraged the attackers, who were led to believe that they would encounter no resistance.

    THAT is why Ambassador Stevens was raped (sodomized), murdered, and dragged through the streets. In their warped minds, they believed that they had been betrayed by the U.S. yet again.

    They believed that Obama was their friend. They believed that they were going to get their beloved Blind Sheik back. And yet, here were 80 of their own... dead by American hands.

    Obama was asked directly in an interview if he denied their request for assistance, he refused to answer, and instead droned on with a canned response promising to "bring those responsible to justice." Former CIA and State Dept. personnel are coming out now with damning evidence that indicts President Obama, and reveals the truth about what is going on. Hillary Clinton, who is now openly laying the blame at the feet of the President, after falling on her sword in a premature show of loyalty for the Administration.

    The "Video" defense was carefully crafted WEEKS in advance, to explain the attack. If this doesn't outrage you, If you are not moved enough to contact your congressman about this, you are not worthy of your citizenship.
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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    Muslim Brotherhood getting $1.2 Billion in U.S. Aid.
    Why?
    Mrs Pepperpot is a lady who always copes with the tricky situations that she finds herself in....

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    The Blind Sheik and our mute president
    By Michelle Malkin • January 9, 2013 09:12 AM

    Egypt’s terror-coddling President Mohamed Morsi has repeated his arrogant demand that America free convicted 1993 World Trade Center mastermind Omar Abdel-Rahman. I’d like to report that President Obama repeated his unequivocal rejection of the Muslim Brotherhood leader’s entreaties. But as of this writing, no such public statement or restatement yet exists.

    That’s right. Obama has kept mum about Morsi’s vociferous lobbying on behalf of Abdel-Rahman, the “blind sheik,” who is serving a life sentence at a maximum-security prison in North Carolina for seditious jihad conspiracy. The commander in chief’s silence speaks volumes.

    Morsi started publicly haranguing the U.S. to have mercy on the ol’ blind sheik back in September. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., confirmed to the New York Post at the time that the Egyptian government had “asked for his release” and that the request was being considered by the Obama administration.

    Underlings denied any talks were underway, but pressure on the White House had been building since at least last June, when the State Department granted a visa to a member of the radical Egyptian terrorist group Gamaa Islamiya (the very group the blind sheik is alleged to lead). The Gamaa Islamiya representative joined an entire delegation of Egyptian lawmakers who met with top State Department and White House officials. They reportedly discussed the possible release of the blind sheik with at least one Obama national security official.

    In late August, Gamaa Islamiyya went on to schedule and organize a protest at the Cairo embassy to further ratchet up public pressure to free the blind sheik. Not coincidentally, a terror mob attacked the Cairo embassy on 9/11/12. While Obama minions were busy blaming an obscure YouTube video, the Department of Homeland Security had warned two days before the Cairo attack that jihadists were inciting the “sons of Egypt” to attack the embassy over Abdel-Rahman. “Let your slogan be: No to the American Embassy in Egypt until our detained sheikh is released,” the incitement thundered.

    Morsi has now amended his plea to include an array of “humane” benefits and visitation privileges for the murderous Islamic cleric “(b)ecause he is a man, an old man, and he deserves full care.”

    Lest you need reminding, the wily blind sheik has used his visitation privileges to wreak more terror from behind bars. His radical left-wing lawyer Lynne Stewart was convicted in 2005 of helping her client smuggle coded messages of Islamic violence from the imprisoned sheik to outside followers in violation of an explicit pledge to abide by her client’s court-ordered isolation.

    This “old man” is a virulent anti-American propagandist who condemned Americans as “descendants of apes and pigs who have been feeding from the dining tables of the Zionists, Communists and colonialists,” called on Muslims to “destroy” the West, “burn their companies, eliminate their interests, sink their ships, shoot down their planes, kill them on the sea, air or land,” and issued bloody fatwas against U.S. “infidels” that inspired the 1993 WTC bombing, the 1997 massacre of Western tourists in Luxor, Egypt, and the 9/11 attacks.

    As GOP watchdogs call for Obama to keep the blind sheik locked up, we will no doubt hear more slick protestations that the White House has “no plans” to release the terror preacher. But I’m with Andrew McCarthy, the former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Abdel-Rahman, who warned last fall, “There’s no way to believe anything they say.”

    This is the administration, after all, that endorsed the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, whose terrorist act resulted in the murder of 189 Americans. The Obama White House feigned “surprise” over the release, but documents obtained by The Sunday Times of London in 2010 revealed that the administration “secretly advised Scottish ministers that it would be ‘far preferable’ to free the Lockerbie bomber than jail him in Libya.”

    This is the administration whose attorney general was a senior law partner for Gitmo detainee cheerleaders Covington and Burling.

    This is the administration that tried to shove Cirque du Jihad civilian trials in NYC down America’s throat over objections from 9/11 families and national security experts.

    This is the administration that has rolled out the red carpet for scores of visitors belonging to groups serving as fronts for the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and other militant Islamic outfits.

    This is the administration that lied and blamed pretextual Internet movies for its own dereliction of duty at our consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

    This is the administration that suffers from chronic and deadly apologitis when it comes to dealing with the demands of the Religion of Perpetual Outrage.

    This is the administration that continues to deny plans to shut down Guantanamo Bay and transfer inmates to the U.S., while it quietly moved forward to purchase the Thomson Correctional Center in western Illinois “to provide humane and secure confinement of individuals held under authority of any Act of Congress,” i.e., Gitmo detainees.

    Denial is a river that runs through 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., but the Obama administration’s tone-deaf acts of jihad-appeasement speak for themselves. Concern is more than warranted. It’s de rigueur.

    http://michellemalkin.com/2013/01/09...ute-president/
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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    Quote Originally Posted by pepperpot View Post
    Why?


    http://www.bigbigforums.com/search.php?searchid=526198

    Last edited by Jolie Rouge; 01-09-2013 at 12:55 PM.
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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    Hillary Clinton Testifying About Benghazi; But Don't Expect Much
    January 22, 2013 02:10 PM EST (Updated: January 22, 2013 03:55 PM EST)
    http://politics.gather.com/viewArtic...81474981841204

    If this author was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the focus would be not only on the sickening bungling of the security situation in Benghazi prior to the attack, it would also focus on why the consulate was not secured after the attack (destroying valuable evidence), questions regarding the "stand down" order that the murdered Navy Seals disobeyed, who specifically said that the terrorist attack was a "spontaneous protest" resulting from an anti-Muslim YouTube video (a lie that persisted for weeks), who, specifically, changed UN Ambassador Susan Rice's talking points to deliberately remove references to al Qaeda and terrorism, and importantly, what happened to the survivors of the Benghazi attack? It was reported that there were 20-30 people flown out of Benghazi. Where are they? What happened to them?
    Mrs Pepperpot is a lady who always copes with the tricky situations that she finds herself in....

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    Clinton's Opening Remarks at Benghazi Hearing
    9:20 AM, Jan 23, 2013 • By DANIEL HALPER

    Here are Hillary Clinton's prepared remarks for today's Senate Benghazi hearing:

    SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
    SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
    WASHINGTON, DC
    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013

    Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity.

    The terrorist attacks in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 that claimed the lives of four brave Americans -- Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty -- are part of a broader strategic challenge to the United States and our partners in North Africa. Today, I want to offer some context for this challenge and share what we have learned, how we are protecting our people, and where we can work together to honor our fallen colleagues and continue to champion America's interests and values.

    Any clear-eyed examination of this matter must begin with this sobering fact: Since 1988, there have been 19 Accountability Review Boards investigating attacks on American diplomats and their facilities. Benghazi joins a long list of tragedies, for our Department and for other agencies: hostages taken in Tehran in 1979, our embassy and Marine barracks bombed in Beirut in 1983, Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996, our embassies in East Africa in 1998, consulate staff murdered in Jeddah in 2004, the Khost attack in 2009, and too many others.

    Of course, the list of attacks foiled, crises averted, and lives saved is even longer. We should never forget that our security professionals get it right 99 percent of the time, against difficult odds all over the world. That‚ is why, like my predecessors, I trust them with my life.

    Let's also remember that administrations of both parties, in partnership with Congress, have made concerted and good faith efforts to learn from the tragedies that have occurred, to implement recommendations from the Review Boards, to seek necessary resources, and to better protect our people from constantly evolving threats. That's what the men and women who serve our country deserve. And it's what we are doing again now, with your help. As Secretary, I have had no higher priority, and no greater responsibility.

    As I have said many times since September 11, I take responsibility. Nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure.

    Taking responsibility meant moving quickly in those first uncertain hours and days to respond to the immediate crisis and further protect our people and posts in highthreat areas across the region and the world. It meant launching an independent investigation to determine exactly what happened in Benghazi and to recommend steps for improvement. And it meant intensifying our efforts to combat terrorism and support emerging democracies in North Africa and beyond.

    Let me share some of the lessons we have learned, the steps we have taken, and the work we continue to do.

    First, let's start on the night of September 11 itself and those difficult early days. I directed our response from the State Department and stayed in close contact with officials from across our government and the Libyan government. So I saw firsthand what Ambassador Thomas Pickering and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen called "timely" and "exceptional" coordination. No delays in decision-making. No denials of support from Washington or from the military. And I want to echo the Review Board's praise for the valor and courage of our people on the ground -- especially the security professionals in Benghazi and Tripoli. The Board said our response saved American lives in real time -- and it did.

    The very next morning, I told the American people that "heavily armed militants assaulted our compound" and vowed to bring them to justice. And I stood with President Obama as he spoke of "an act of terror."

    You may recall that in that same period, we also saw violent attacks on our embassies in Cairo, Sanaa, Tunis, and Khartoum, as well as large protests outside many other posts where thousands of our diplomats serve.

    So I immediately ordered a review of our security posture around the world, with particular scrutiny for high-threat posts. We asked the Department of Defense to join Interagency Security Assessment Teams and to dispatch hundreds of additional Marine Security Guards. I named the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for High Threat Posts, so Missions in dangerous places get the attention they need. And we reached out to Congress to help address physical vulnerabilities, including risks from fire, and to hire additional Diplomatic Security personnel.

    Second, even as we took these steps, I also appointed the Accountability Review Board led by Ambassador Pickering and Admiral Mullen so that we could more fully understand what went wrong and how to fix it.

    I have accepted every one of their recommendations -- and I asked the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources to lead a task force to ensure that all 29 of them are implemented quickly and completely ... as well as to pursue additional steps above and beyond those in the Board's report.

    Because of the effort we began in the days after the attacks, work is already well underway. And, as I pledged in my letter to you last month, implementation has now begun on all 29 recommendations. Our task force started by translating the recommendations into 64 specific action items. All of these action items were assigned to specific bureaus and offices, with clear timelines for completion. Fully 85 percent are on track to be completed by the end of March, with a number completed already.

    We are taking a top-to-bottom look, and rethinking how we make decisions on where, when, and how our people operate in high threat areas, and how we respond to threats and crises.

    As part of our effort to go above and beyond the Review Board's recommendations, we are initiating an annual High Threat Post Review chaired by the Secretary of State, and ongoing reviews by the Deputy Secretaries, to ensure pivotal questions about security reach the highest levels. And we will regularize protocols for sharing information with Congress.

    All of these actions are designed to increase the safety of our diplomats and development experts and reduce the chances of another Benghazi happening again.

    Now, in addition to the immediate action we took and the Review Board process, we have been moving forward on a third front: addressing the broader strategic challenge in North Africa and the wider region.

    Because Benghazi didn't happen in a vacuum. The Arab revolutions have scrambled power dynamics and shattered security forces across the region. And instability in Mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we saw just last week in Algeria.

    And let me offer my deepest condolences to the families of the Americans and all the people from many nations who were killed and injured in the recent hostage crisis. We remain in close touch with the Government of Algeria and stand ready to provide assistance if needed. We are seeking to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so that we can work together to prevent terrorist attacks like this in the future.

    Concerns about terrorism and instability in North Africa are not new. Indeed they have been a top priority for our entire national security team. But after Benghazi, we accelerated a diplomatic campaign to increase pressure on al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other terrorist groups across the region.
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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    In the first hours and days, I conferred with the President of Libya and the Foreign Ministers of Tunisia and Morocco. Two weeks later, I met with regional leaders at the United Nations General Assembly and held a special meeting focused on Mali and the Sahel. In October, I flew to Algeria to discuss the fight against AQIM. In November, I sent Deputy Secretary Bill Burns to follow up in Algiers. And then in December, he co-chaired the Global Counterterrorism Forum in Abu Dhabi and a meeting in Tunis of leaders working to build new democracies and reform security services. In all these diplomatic engagements, and in near-constant contacts at every level, we have focused on targeting al Qaeda's syndicate of terror -- closing safe havens, cutting off finances, countering extremist ideology, and slowing the flow of new recruits. We continue to hunt the terrorists responsible for the attacks in Benghazi and are determined to bring them to justice. And we’re also using all our diplomatic and economic tools to support the emerging democracies of the region, including Libya, to strengthen security forces and provide a path away from extremism. The United States must continue to lead… in the Middle East and all around the globe. We have come a long way in the past four years. We cannot afford to retreat now. When America is absent, especially from unstable environments, there are consequences. Extremism takes root, our interests suffer, and our security at home is threatened. That’s why Chris Stevens went to Benghazi in the first place. Nobody knew the dangers better than Chris, first during the revolution and then during the transition. A weak Libyan government, marauding militias, even terrorist groups… a bomb exploded in the parking lot of his hotel, but he didn’t waver. Because he understood that it was critical for America to be represented in that pivotal place at that pivotal time. Our men and women who serve overseas understand that we accept a level of risk to protect this country we love. They represent the best traditions of a bold and generous nation. And they cannot work in bunkers and do their jobs. It is our responsibility to make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs and to do everything we can to reduce the risks they face. For me, this is not just a matter of policy… it’s personal. I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to lead the men and women of the State Department and USAID. Nearly 70,000 serving here in Washington and at more than 275 posts around the world. They get up and go to work every day – often in difficult and dangerous circumstances thousands of miles from home – because they believe the United States is the most extraordinary force for peace and progress the earth has ever known. And when we suffer tragedies overseas, the number of Americans applying to the Foreign Service actually increases. That tells us everything we need to know about what kind of patriots I’m talking about. They ask what they can do for their country. And America is stronger for it. Today, after four years in this job, after traveling nearly 1 million miles and visiting 112 countries around the world, my faith in our country and our future is stronger than ever. Every time that blue and white airplane carrying the words “United States of America” touches down in some far-off capital, I feel again the honor it is to represent the world’s indispensible nation. And I am confident that, with your help, we will continue to keep the United States safe, strong, and exceptional. So I want to thank this committee for your partnership and your support of our diplomats and development experts around the world. You know the importance of the work they do day-in and day-out, and that America’s values and vital national security interests are at stake. It is absolutely critical that we work together to ensure they have the resources and support they need to face increasingly complex threats. I know that you share our sense of responsibility and urgency. And while we all may not agree on everything, let’s stay focused on what really matters: protecting our people and the country we all love. Now I am now happy to answer your questions. ###

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ng_697527.html


    Clinton Shouts: 'What Difference ... Does It Make?'
    10:35 AM, Jan 23, 2013 • By DANIEL HALPER


    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked about ascertaining whether the Benghazi terror attack was the result of a protest by Senator Ron Johnson. "What difference, at this point, does it make?" Clinton shouted, seemingly losing her cool.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u5fR...layer_embedded

    "With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night decided to go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?"

    UPDATE: And earlier Clinton choked up:

    http://youtu.be/jgcu-j_G0eo

    "For me, this is not just a matter of policy, it's personal," said Clinton, holding back tears. "I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to lead the men and women of the State Department and USAID. Nearly 70,000 serving here in Washington and at more than 275 posts around the world. They get up and go to work every day -- often in difficult and dangerous circumstances thousands of miles from home -- because they believe as we believe the United States is the most extraordinary force for peace and progress the earth has ever known."

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ke_697536.html

    ‘Dozens’ of Terrorists, Zero Protesters
    6:40 PM, Oct 10, 2012 • By THOMAS JOSCELYN
    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...rs_654147.html

    Investigating ‘Command and Control’ in Benghazi Attack
    9:15 AM, Dec 20, 2012 • By THOMAS JOSCELYN

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...ck_690761.html
    Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

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