More Evidence Mounting: Cover-up in Benghazi

05.05.2013

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to the media in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, April 30, 2013. Caption/ Image Credit: REUTERS/Larry Downing
U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to the media in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, April 30, 2013. Caption/ Image Credit: REUTERS/Larry Downing

More Evidence Mounting: Cover-up in Benghazi

original article written by Net Advisor

Background:
In October 2012, I published our last report about signs of a cover-up over the 9/11 (2012) terrorist attack, where four Americans were killed at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Like probably millions of others, I read something in the Obama Administration’s behavior during their public speeches that something wasn’t quite right about this.

In college I did a senior research project studying and analyzing behavioral aspects of terrorists, studying behavior and policies over many Administrations, and wrote about some of the challenges terrorism became to the intelligence agencies back then.  I covered about 48 years of history from the end of the OSS to before the terrorist truck bombing at the World Trade center in 1993.

I  wrote a 5-part series of reports on Benghazi and related terrorists attacks. During the 9-11-2012 attacks, I began collecting global data on the events. So far we have 423 unique files on Benghazi, giving us a lot of information to study.

Why Benghazi Matters:
What makes Benghazi a high-profile event and different from 9/11, is that in 9/11 (2001) it was pretty obvious what happened. Terrorists hijacked airplanes and crashed them or tried to hit key targets. In Benghazi, we watched media video, and various reporting. Then the Obama Administration tried to re-frame what actually happened.

As more information came available, we found that pretty much most of what we were told by the Obama Administration was not accurate. One could argue that the Administration didn’t know what happened either. But as more data came available we discovered the Obama Administration knew a lot more than they were willing to admit. We also learned that many of their statements given to the public were false and misleading.

Why didn’t the Obama Administration just come out and call the event(s), a terrorist attack? Why did the Administration mislead and give false information? Was it because Obama’s re-election was less than 2 months away?

As we began releasing our analysis on Benghazi, and shared them on Facebook, (coincidentally?) our Facebook account was banned, and that has stayed that way to the date of this report. Can we not publish the truth anymore? Is it more important to protect people in power than it is to protect innocent American lives?

EXCERPT:
This new and updated report covers more details on what government knew and what they apparently hid from the public.

[1] BENGHAZI, Libya. The Apology
The Obama government tried to frame the Middle-east attacks on 09-11-2012 to about 9-21-2012. They seemed very overly sensitive trying not to hurt the ‘feelings’ of a particular religion. What started this horrible public relations mess is that the first action by government officials was not to protect the embassy staff – it was to issue a public apology directed to generally (Muslim) Islamic fundamentalists, and seemed to side-step the fact that innocent Americans were defenseless, attacked and killed.

The original U.S. government response (apology) originated from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The apology came shortly after the Benghazi attack, then deleted from their website. We have a copy of that document here (PDF) (Read the Full Report).

[2] Stand Down
A Commander in Chief’s first job is to protect and defend the people of United States from attack. An Embassy of any flag sitting on a host country’s land is sovereign territory of that nation’s flag. Thus, the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya is sovereign territory of the United States. And an attack on an U.S. Embassy is a direct attack on the people of the United States.

Did President Obama order to protect Americans or multiple U.S. Embassies under assault? No, the order was to not get involved, to “Stand down.” United States Four-Star General Carter Ham was relieved of his command when he reportedly defied the Presidential Order to “stand down” [Report, Points #12-13].

[3] Conspiracy to Cover-up
On October 24, 2012, we published our first report on the Benghazi cover-up. On November 5, 2012, the CIA released a timeline of what happened in Benghazi (Source: Portland Press, PDF). Two days later, the non-profit Heritage Foundation reported holes in the CIA’s timeline in Benghazi (Source: Heritage Foundation, PDF). The controversy of statements created serious discrepancies, suggesting that a conspiracy to cover-up what occurred in Benghazi.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice (PDF) made questionable (false) statements about what happened in Benghazi (Source: ABC News PDF). President Obama defended Rice blaming “Republicans” for criticizing Rice as an “easy target” (Source: DailyMail.UK, PDF). The facts are that some of Rice’s statements are not even close to being accurate. This gave way to the notion that Rice may have been told to by higher ups in the government of what to say, thus she also conspired to cover-up the truth about Benghazi.

Ms. Rice can’t go on the talk-show circuit spouting her political opinions. She is told what to say via “talking points” that are approved from the White House.

As the true events unfolded, the Obama Administration could not hide from the facts anymore. President Obama [Report, Point 10], Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (PDF) [Report, Point 11], and Ambassador Rice [Report, Point 5] all changed their story of what happened in Benghazi.

Then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified about Benghazi in fall of 2012. Under pressure from Clinton cracked under pressure over how 4 Americans died in Benghazi. Clinton said, "What difference at this point does it make."
Then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified about Benghazi in fall of 2012. Under pressure from Clinton cracked under pressure over how 4 Americans died in Benghazi. Clinton said, “What difference at this point does it make.” (Image Credit: ForAmerica.org)

[4] Former DCI Chief General Petraeus Testimony Seems to Conflict with Obama, Clinton and Rice. 
The former Director of Central Intelligence, General David Petraeus, testified in a closed-door meeting about Benghazi last fall. Contrary to the Obama Administration’s earlier statements, Petraeus said that the al Qaeda role was known early on and terrorist groups were involved in the U.S. Embassy attack.

“Petraeus told lawmakers “there were extremists in the group” that launched the attack on the diplomatic mission, describing them as affiliates of al Qaeda and other groups…

“He also stated that he thought all along he made it clear that there were significant terrorist involvement, and that is not my recollection of what he told us on September 14,” King said.”

— Source: Reuters, 11-16-2012

[5] Benghazi Talking Points Changed?
Petraeus reportedly testified that the “Benghazi Talking Points” were changed but he did not say by whom (Source: Examiner, PDF).

CBS News reported that it was Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and that the CIA and FBI agreed to the changes (Source: CBS News, PDF). Ambassador Rice first blamed an internet video as the cause for the Embassy attack, and then claimed that she was misled by the CIA about the talking points [Report, Point #5].

General Petraeus got caught up in a sex scandal (Reuters graphic) which led to his resignation from the CIA.

[6] White House: We Didn’t Edit The (Benghazi) Talking Points Much
The White House claimed in November 2012 that they didn’t heavily edit the Benghazi talking points.

“If there were adjustments made to them within the intelligence community, that’s common, and that’s something they would have done themselves,” Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, told reporters.

“The only edit … made by the White House was the factual edit as to how to refer to the facility.”

— Source: Reuters, 11-17-2012

Rhodes works for the NSA, talks to the media, and he has no clue what edit was done, or who specifically who made the talking points edit? Yet, he is then somehow able to give a very specific reference of EXACTLY what edit the White House (Mr. Obama etc.,) did, and what it said, otherwise Rhodes knows nothing about it. If you believe that story, I like to sell you some “low cost” ObamaCare insurance.

Information now shows that the talking points were heavy altered from their original versions.

Two U.S. government officials claimed:

Mike Morrell, deputy director of the CIA, made broad changes to the draft afterwards.

Morrell cut all or parts of four paragraphs of the six-paragraph talking points—148 of its 248 words…

Gone were the reference to “Islamic extremists,” the reminders of agency warnings about al Qaeda in Libya, the reference to “jihadists” in Cairo, the mention of possible surveillance of the facility in Benghazi, and the report of five previous attacks on foreign interests.

— Source: Weekly Standard, Official Release: 05-13-2013 (PDF)

Can we think of anyone in the Obama Administration who has any history of apologizing to a particular religion in the Middle-east, and who does not want to accidentally ‘offend’ that religion? That person would arguable would want to change the talking points if they want to protect and defend the religious war against U.S., Israel and generally western targets.

It seems that every attack by terrorists by definition in the Patriot Act [Point #3] under the Obama Administration are now called for example: rebels, protestors, misguided individuals, freedom fighters, conducting religious incitement, bombers, to troubled kids that could not assimilate in America [Point #12].

An example of these terrorists re-frames came from here (PDF); Full Report. Next thing you’ll know is that “Enemy Combatants” will be called “Defendants” (highlight added).

Now that we know the White House Benghazi Talking Points were dramatically altered than we were previously told, let’s take a look at them.

[7] Here Are the Talking Points
Mr. Obama, Ms. Clinton, Ms. Rice and the crew have all ducked from knowing anything about the White House Benghazi talking points, so here are the talking points:

2012-09-14 Talking points (leaked)
Click to enlarge image. White House Talking Points – Benghazi (Source: Weekly Standard)

[8] Killed Ambassador Stevens Sent Hillary Clinton Cable Warning of Attack
Hours before the U.S. Embassy was attacked by terrorists, Ambassador Christopher Stevens reportedly sent a cable to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the morning of 09-11-2012 (Source: RT, PDF). The cable was released by Congressman Darrell Issa, (R-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that includes some 160 pages of documents.

“In addition, multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the Committee that, prior to the September 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi. The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington.”

— Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, and Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, 10-02-2012 (HTML)(PDF)

ABC News published one email where security requests in Libya was denied (article: HTML)(PDF).

Hillary Clinton claimed she never saw the security requests. Usually the Secretary of State (SOS) is in charge of the State Department, which includes oversight of all Embassies and their security. If there is a threat or potential threat or a call to increase security, one might think that the Secretary would make sure the matter is handled and immediately notify the White House?

The House findings suggest that Ambassador Stevens did make multiple requests on the morning of 9/11/2012 and made several requests for increased security at the Embassy. Stevens was denied the increased security.

[9] Security Risks in Libya Known For 10+ Years
The knowledge about security risks in Libya was not something that was new. U.S. government officials stated that security risks in Eastern Libya have been ongoing for at least the last 10 years.

“…several former high-level (U.S. government) officials explained that eastern Libya was notorious in Washington’s counterterrorism community for more than a decade as a hub for jihadists leaving for or returning from insurgencies abroad…”

— Source:  The Washington Times (PDF)

“Benghazi and Darnah were always viewed as an Islamist hotbed,” said Mr. Zelin, noting that extremists are not the majority in either town.

— Aaron Y. Zelin, a scholar at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (PDF)

[10] Hillary Clinton Initially Declines to Testify Over Benghazi
Hillary Clinton had initially declined to testify as requested claiming an apparent “scheduling conflict” back in November 2012 (Source: Fox News PDF). Facing a potential risk of Contempt of Congress, she reluctantly testified (further reading).

[11] Hillary Clinton Testimony
Here is one part of Clinton’s testimony that arguably raises the question whether Clinton made a false statement to Congress.

Video: Link

Secretary Clinton makes it sound as if no one had a clue what was going on. The scary part about that she could be right. If that is true however, are these the people you want to protect you and your family in times of crisis?

 “…people were trying in real-time to get to the best information…”

— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in 2012 Benghazi Testimony

[12] U.S. Government Had Real-Time Information on Benghazi
Unfortunately for Secretary Clinton; this wasn’t some fact finding mercy mission this time. The U.S. Government knew EXACTLY what was going on while – when? days or weeks later? No, they knew WHILE the attacks were live.

FACT: The Obama Administration and 40 other top U.S. officials had real-time information both in print and in video.

A. First the Print:

41 top U.S. officials including the FBI (@ic.fbi.gov), the State Department (@State.gov), the Pentagon (@pentagon.mil), U.S. Military (@mail.mil), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (@dni.gov) and the “Executive Office of the President” (@nss.eop.gov)

all copied on the Benghazi, Libya attack on September 11, 2012.

the e-mails (PDF) Dated: September 11, 2012 4:05PM, 4:54PM and 6:07PM

B. Now the Video:
The U.S. had at-least one drone plane over the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi recording live video DURING the attack. Drones are manually controlled with a joy stick which means someone was watching it. It would be a surprise if this person(s) did not relay the live attacks back to top government officials. Video linked here, under [Point #7]. [Read more conflicts with Clinton’s testimony, PDF].

[13] Hillary Clinton’s e-mails Hacked
Forbes reported (PDF) that Russian Television was sent a copy of hacked Benghazi-related emails from Hillary Clinton.  Here are the emails (PDF).

[14] Vice President Joe Biden: “We Didn’t know…”
Obama’s Vice President shocked millions of Americans including Republican Senator Paul Ryan when VP Biden said that we (the U.S. government) “didn’t know” and were not told that there were security requests in Benghazi. Biden’s words seen here in this parody video with Hillary Clinton.

VIDEO: Link

“We weren’t told they wanted more security (in Benghazi) …We did not know they wanted more security…”

— Vice President Joe Biden said at the Vice Presidential Debate in 10-11-2012

Even Politifact said Biden’s statement was “mostly false.” It would be more accurate to say false, not mostly false. The House data shows the Obama Administration knew.

[15] House Investigation Outlines 13 Security Threats in Libya BEFORE the 9/11 Attack
The U.S. State Department previously said that security in Benghazi was adequate.

“State Department officials said Wednesday that security levels at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, were adequate for the threat level on the anniversary of 9/11 but that the compound was overrun by an ‘‘unprecedented attack’’ by dozens of heavily armed extremists.”

— Source: Boston.com/AP (PDF)

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform cited 13 security threats over the six months prior to the U.S. Embassy attack in Benghazi, Libya. The threats and attacks were all ignored by the State Department and the White House.

The Committee wrote a 4-page letter to the person ultimately responsible for U.S. embassy security, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A copy of the original letter can be read here in PDF format (Share link). Here are a few excerpts:

April 6, 2012, BENGHAZITwo Libyans…fired from…providing unarmed…security for Consulate Benghazi, threw a small IED over the Consulate fence…”

May 1, 2012, TRIPOLI…Deputy Commander of Embassy Tripoli’s Local Guard Force was carjacked, beaten and detained by a group of armed youth.  He escaped by climbing over a fence and notifying the Embassy by phone…

May 22, 2012, BENGHAZITwo RPG rounds were fired at the BenghaziRed Cross… approximately 1 km from Consulate Benghazi…”

June 2012 – Ambassador Stevens was in the habit of taking early morning runs around Tripoli along with members of his security detail…a pro-Gaddafi Facebook page trumpeted these runs and directed a threat against Ambassador Stevens along with a stock photo of him…”

June 6, 2012, BENGHAZI – … assailants placed an IED on the north gate of Consulate Benghazi, blowing a hole in the security perimeter that was described by one individual as, “big enough for forty men to go through.”

June 10, 2012, BENGHAZI – …a two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG…” (photos of RPG attack are below).

Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG. Source: U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform attached to 2012-10-02 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Original images converted from PDF file and re-sized by NetAdvisor.org® Staff
About the following 5 photos. Photo #1: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG. Source: U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform attached to 10-02-2012 letter to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Original images converted from PDF file and re-sized by NetAdvisor.org® Staff (Click image to enlarge photos).
Photo #2: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #2: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #3: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #3: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #4: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #4: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #5: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.
Photo #5: Benghazi, Libya. Two-car convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya from a conference on reforming Libyan military law was attacked in broad daylight by a militant with an RPG.

There was a subsequent attack against Red Cross building (ICRC) in late June 2012, where the Red Cross decided it was too dangerous to be in Libya and pulled out (PDF).

There was another carjacking in August 2012 of a vehicle displaying diplomatic plates in Tripoli (PDF).

WEEKS BEFORE September 11, 2012, BENGHAZI – The unarmed Libyan guards employed by British contractor Blue Mountain Group were being warned by their family members to quit their jobs guarding Consulate Benghazi because there were rumors in the community of an impending attack.”

— Source: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (PDF) (Share link)

The above 5 photos taken in June 2012. No need to increase security in Benghazi? Really?

[16] If We Just Ignore A Bully He’ll Just Go Away?
Clearly Libya and especially in Benghazi was not a safe place to be with multiple violent carjackings against high-profile personnel, RPG and other explosive attacks close to and directly against the U.S. Embassy.

For Vice President Biden to say he didn’t know is ridiculous. For President Obama or Secretary Clinton to ignore these ongoing attacks, somehow say they didn’t know, or that there was no need for additional security in Benghazi is absurd.

The 6 months prior to the 9/11 (2012) Benghazi attack suggests that the militants or terrorists figured that Washington DC was not going to come after them; not going to try and prosecute them; and the Obama Administration certainly was not interested in defending the U.S. embassy from ANY attack.

The Administration’s policy of ‘just ignoring a bully’ (militant terrorists) and think that he will eventually get tired of punching you (attacking you) will do nothing until you stand your ground, defend yourself and defeat the bully.

Go to a war zone, where you are especially hated (Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan for example). Then build a house (or an Embassy), advertise (fly the flag) so people know who you are, then pretend you live in a safe neighborhood. This is basically the Obama Administration’s foreign policy in Benghazi and U.S. Embassies world-wide (Report: U.S. Lacking Embassy Security).

[17] Carney to the Media: Stop Talking About Benghazi
White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney has tried to re-frame the Benghazi story from day 1 (PDF). Now Carney is trying to convince the media that this is an ‘old news story’ – as if it didn’t mater anymore – and we should all just forget about it, because the Obama Administration just wants us to forget about it.

VIDEO: Link

The new Secretary of State John Kerry who replaced Hillary Clinton doesn’t want to talk about Fight Club, I mean Benghazi either.

“I do not want to spend the next year coming up here talking about Benghazi.”

— Secretary of State John Kerry (Source: Daily Caller, PDF)

Unfortunately the Secretary is not running the House Investigative Committee. So he will have to hear more about Benghazi unless he, like others choose to bury their head in the sand and try not to realize that their nightmare foreign policy got people killed, when they could have increased security to help defend from known ongoing attacks.

The families of the four Americans killed by the terrorist attack on 9/11 (2012) in Benghazi deserve to know the truth, and since taxpayers are paying for it all, the public should know the truth too.

[18] Obama on Blocking Benghazi Whistle-blowers: ‘I’m not Familiar with it’
The White House has denied knowing anything about claims by an attorney who represents several state department and CIA employees who say they have been threatened if they testify about what they know about Benghazi.

“I’m not familiar with this notion that anybody’s been blocked from testifying…”

— President Barack Obama said on 04-30-2013

VIDEO: Link

What was not answered by the President was the allegation of higher level U.S. government employees being threatened, not just “blocked” if they testify of what they knew about Benghazi. Thus far there have been four officials with the U.S. State Department and the CIA who have retained legal consul to try and protect themselves under Whistle-blower laws [Sources: Fox News (PDF), Heritage.org (PDF)].

[19] Obama Skipping Intelligence Briefings
Assuming NO ONE told the President anything over the last 6 months leading up to the 9/11 Benghazi attack, perhaps if the President was reading his DAILY intelligence briefings, he would have understood a better assessment about risks in Benghazi?

“(a)…study covered the President’s first 1,225 days in office, running from January 23, 2009 through May 31, 2012. Of those, President Obama attended a total of 536 Presidential Daily Briefs.”

— Source: GAI (Government Accountability Institute, PDF)

In fact, the last time the President bothered to attend his Intel briefing was on September 5, 2012 – SIX DAYS before the Benghazi and other embassy attacks.

“According to the public schedule of the president, the last time the Obama attended his daily intelligence meeting was Sept. 5 (2012)…”

— Source: Washington Post, 09-13-2012 (PDF)

[20] Was Obama Asleep at the Wheel?
Five months after the terrorist attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, the outgoing Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta admitted that he spoke with the President at 5:00PM EST on 09-11-2012, and that meeting was about 30 minutes long. After that meeting, President Obama did not check in with the Defense Secretary for the rest of the night. The implication was that President Obama heard about the attacks, then went to bed.

The next morning President Obama flew to Las Vegas for his 2012 campaign fundraiser.

“This morning (09-12-2012), the White House announced that Obama will continue with today’s campaign schedule. He leaves this afternoon for Vegas, to attend a fundraiser for his reelection.”

— Source: Breitbart [Additional Sources: CSN, Fox News, White House.gov (PDF)]

[21] Jumping Ship
Several (low key) people have resigned over Benghazi taking some of the wrap for the Obama Administration’s failures to provide adequate security at U.S. Embassies.

[22] G8 Pledges $20 Billion For More “Arab Spring”
The Obama Administration including all members of the G8 pledged $20 Billion in aid for more “Arab Spring” uprisings that (they thought) would turn into democracies (Source: Reuters PDF). This is a waste of money and wishful thinking as we point out in our report: Foreign Policy Fantasy.

[23] Next Congressional Hearing May 8, 2013
I heard that there was going to be an upcoming House Hearing on Benghazi, so I thought the fastest way to find out was to try sending a Tweet to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman, Darrell Issa, hoping for reply. Here is the reply for those who want to watch the upcoming Benghazi testimony.

Congressman Issa, his Committee and staff have done an amazing job at informing the American public about Benghazi. It would be impressive if the Obama Administration was equally interested as they say they are at getting to the bottom of the Benghazi investigation, “finding those responsible and bring them to justice.” At this time, I’m not familiar with that.


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Video Credits: C-SPAN, Fox News, Liberty News, WhiteHouse.gov

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