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BENGHAZI

Hillary Clinton Secrete Hacked Documents  

2016ER ATTACKS


State Department Stonewalling


Ted Cruz On Hillary Clinton And Benghazi: “She Has Deliberately Stonewalled.” “‘What I think is that she has deliberately stonewalled,’ Cruz said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ‘This Week.’ ‘The American people deserve the truth; our men and women in harm’s way deserve the truth,’ the Texas Republican added.” [ABC News, 6/1/14; Ted Cruz Interview, This Week, ABC, 6/1/14]

Political Messaging In Benghazi Response


Ted Cruz Said Hillary Clinton Had “Stonewalled” On Benghazi And Said Her Chief Political Aide Instructed Foreign Services Officers Not To Talk To Members Of The Press Or Congress.” “MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Rand Paul said her handling of Benghazi's disqualifying her from the presidency. Do you agree? SEN. CRUZ: What I think is that she has deliberately stonewalled. We know, for example, that her chief political aide, Cheryl Mills, went to senior foreign services officers and told them, don't talk to the press, don't talk to members of Congress.” [Ted Cruz Interview, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”, ABC, 6/1/14]

Inadequate Diplomatic Security And Preparation


Rand Paul Said That Hillary Clinton Admitted She Had Not Read The Cables From Benghazi And If He Had Been President, He Would Have Fired Her. “Paul also commented on what he said was the current administration’s failure in the handling the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. ‘Six months in advance, possibly nine months in advance, Hillary Clinton was asked for more security and it was denied,’ Paul said. ‘At the same time, $100,000 was spent for a charging station at the Vienna embassy for their cars, $5 million was spent on crystal wear for the embassies, $100,000 was spent to send three comedians to India. I asked Hillary one question, ‘Did you read the cables?’ She said, ‘No.’ I said frankly, ‘If I had been president you would have been relieved of your duties.’’” [The Lima News, 10/21/14]

Rand Paul: “Had I Been President At The Time” Of Benghazi, “I Would Have Relieved You Of Your Post.” “Ultimately, with your leaving, you accept the culpability for the worst tragedy since 9/11, and I really mean that. Had I been President at the time, and I found that you did not read the cables from Benghazi, you did not read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, I would have relieved you of your post.” [Senate Hearing on Benghazi Consulate Attack, C-SPAN, 1/23/13]

Rand Paul Said Hillary Clinton Should Be Precluded From Being Commander In Chief Since She Could Not “Protect Our Embassies.” “But Paul saved special scorn for Clinton, the prospective frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, specifically highlighting her role in the events surrounding the deadly 2012 attacks on American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. ‘If she wants to be commander in chief and she cannot protect our embassies, I don’t think that she could or should be,’ Paul said. ‘I think it precludes her from ever being considered as commander in chief.’” [Politico, 8/29/14]

Rand Paul Compared The Benghazi Incident To A 1993 Mission In Somalia In Which President Clinton’s Then-Secretary Of Defense Resigned Following The Death Of Americans, And Said That If Hillary Clinton Had “Worked For Bill Clinton, She’d Probably Have Been Fired.” “The first-term senator went on to compare Benghazi to the 1993 mission in Mogadishu, Somalia, in which 18 U.S. military members were killed. Two months after the tragedy, President Bill Clinton announced the resignation of Les Aspin, then secretary of the defense. Aspin had taken heat for denying security requests for U.S. forces in the region just a month before the attack. ‘He ignored the request and he resigned ultimately in disgrace,’ Paul said. ‘I think had Hillary Clinton worked for Bill Clinton, she'd probably have been fired.’” [CNN, 8/29/14]

Rubio On Obama’s And Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Foreign Policy: They Thought “America’s Problems Around The World Were Created By A Robust Foreign Policy Through The Bush Administration, And That His Job Was To Extract Us From These Things Around The World. I Think That’s Proven To Be A Disaster.”  MR: “The ultimate responsibility is on the President, and on the members of his cabinet, like Hillary Clinton, who guide policy and who make decisions on management and so forth with regards to the decisions that were made with security at this facility in Benghazi. And for the President, he’s the one who has failed to lay out a strategic view of what America’s role in the world is. To the extent that there is one, it seems to have been that America’s problems around the world were created by a robust foreign policy through the Bush administration, and that his job was to extract us from these things around the world. I think that’s proven to be a disaster.” [Hugh Hewitt Show, 6/9/14]

Rubio On The Number One Question He Would Ask Hillary Clinton About Benghazi If Given The Opportunity: “Think That Question Would Be Explain To Us The Process By Which The Decision Was Made To Keep That Consulate Open, Given All Of This Information That’s Out There.”  GB: “If you were in the House, hypothetically, and on this Select Committee…” MR: “Yeah.” GB: “And if Secretary Clinton were to show up, what is the number one question you think that she hasn’t sufficiently answered that you would put to her?” MR: “And I think that question would be explain to us the process by which the decision was made to keep that consulate open, given all of this information that’s out there, and I think it’ll be very important to see whether this Select Committee will be able to hold hearings in a classified setting, where the details about some of that reporting stream will be, they’ll be able to delve into.” [Hugh Hewitt Show, 6/9/14]

Rand Paul Said That There Was A Bar That Everyone Running For The Presidency Needed To Pass Of Would They Defend The Country And Our Interests, And If You Were Not Able To Do That Then You Should Not Be President. ED BERLINER: “Should all of this then disqualify her [Hillary Clinton] as a candidate for the presidency?” RAND PAUL: “I think the main thing, and I think there’s a bar that everyone who wants to run for the president and that’s will you defend the country? Will you defend our people? Will you defend American interests? And I think if you’re not able to do that or not up to the task, that really you shouldn’t be president. And that’s why I’ve said Benghazi should preclude her from consideration because it wasn’t just that she made mistakes that day, it was for nine months preceding that. She was probably asked 20 times for more security for that embassy. When I asked her did you read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, she acted as if she just didn’t have time, she was too busy traveling the world and showing that she was a great traveling secretary of state. But there’s a real problem when the ambassador is pleading for help and saying we’re in danger of being overrun and you continue to reduce the security forces there. And I think it was worse than that. I think it’s sort of this politically correct sort of thing where they didn’t want people to have arms, they didn’t want our people to wear their uniforms. They didn’t want our people even to wear their military boots because that somehow would defend the sensibility of the Libyans. It just shows poor judgment I think that she was unable to really get beyond that to say, you know what, our first mission is actually to protect our people in the field.” [Midpoint, Newsmax TV, 3/3/15]

Rand Paul Said That Benghazi Should Preclude Hillary Clinton From The Presidency Because It Was Not Just Mistakes On That Day, It Was Nine Months Of Ignoring Security Requests From The Ambassador. ED BERLINER: “Should all of this then disqualify her [Hillary Clinton] as a candidate for the presidency?” RAND PAUL: “I think the main thing, and I think there’s a bar that everyone who wants to run for the president and that’s will you defend the country? Will you defend our people? Will you defend American interests? And I think if you’re not able to do that or not up to the task, that really you shouldn’t be president. And that’s why I’ve said Benghazi should preclude her from consideration because it wasn’t just that she made mistakes that day, it was for nine months preceding that. She was probably asked 20 times for more security for that embassy. When I asked her did you read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, she acted as if she just didn’t have time, she was too busy traveling the world and showing that she was a great traveling secretary of state. But there’s a real problem when the ambassador is pleading for help and saying we’re in danger of being overrun and you continue to reduce the security forces there. And I think it was worse than that. I think it’s sort of this politically correct sort of thing where they didn’t want people to have arms, they didn’t want our people to wear their uniforms. They didn’t want our people even to wear their military boots because that somehow would defend the sensibility of the Libyans. It just shows poor judgment I think that she was unable to really get beyond that to say, you know what, our first mission is actually to protect our people in the field.” [Midpoint, Newsmax TV, 3/3/15]

Rand Paul Said It Showed “Poor Judgment” That Hillary Clinton Was Not Able To Get Over Political Correctness And Allow Security Forces In Libya To Have Arms And Their Uniforms, Even If It Offended The Sensibility Of Libyans. ED BERLINER: “Should all of this then disqualify her [Hillary Clinton] as a candidate for the presidency?” RAND PAUL: “I think the main thing, and I think there’s a bar that everyone who wants to run for the president and that’s will you defend the country? Will you defend our people? Will you defend American interests? And I think if you’re not able to do that or not up to the task, that really you shouldn’t be president. And that’s why I’ve said Benghazi should preclude her from consideration because it wasn’t just that she made mistakes that day, it was for nine months preceding that. She was probably asked 20 times for more security for that embassy. When I asked her did you read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, she acted as if she just didn’t have time, she was too busy traveling the world and showing that she was a great traveling secretary of state. But there’s a real problem when the ambassador is pleading for help and saying we’re in danger of being overrun and you continue to reduce the security forces there. And I think it was worse than that. I think it’s sort of this politically correct sort of thing where they didn’t want people to have arms, they didn’t want our people to wear their uniforms. They didn’t want our people even to wear their military boots because that somehow would defend the sensibility of the Libyans. It just shows poor judgment I think that she was unable to really get beyond that to say, you know what, our first mission is actually to protect our people in the field.” [Midpoint, Newsmax TV, 3/3/15]

Cover-Up And Continuing Investigation


Rand Paul: While The Administration Continued To Cover Up Benghazi, “I Will Continue To Seek The Truth Until Those At The Top Of This Two-Year Chain Of Deception Are Finally Held Accountable.” “This new Benghazi ‘intelligence’ report [from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence] is little more than a C.Y.A. attempt designed to protect incompetent politicians and government agents at the expense of justice for the victims of September 11, 2012. They will continue to cover up. I will continue to seek the truth until those at the top of this two-year chain of deception are finally held accountable.” [Rand Paul Op-Ed, Breitbart, 12/1/14]

Miscellaneous


Rand Paul Said “Politics Is What Happens To Discuss Whether People Are Fit For Office,” And Said There Would Be A Discussion About Whether Hillary Clinton Was “Fit To Lead.” “Addressing criticism that his scrutiny of Benghazi is politically motivated, Paul said ‘Yeah, politics is what happens to discuss whether people are fit for office. There will be a discussion over the next four years whether or not Hillary Clinton is fit to lead this country.’” [Politico, 8/29/14]

Rand Paul Blasted Hillary Clinton As Not “Fit To Lead The Country” For Her Response To Benghazi And Comments About Her Wealth. “Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Hillary Clinton is not ‘fit to lead the country’ Friday, mocking the former secretary of state's comments about her wealth and condemning her response to the September 2012 attack on a U.S. facility in Benghazi.” [CBS, 8/2/14]

Rubio Said Clinton Would Have To “Answer For Benghazi” If She Ran For President.  RUBIO: “I think she's going to have to answer for Benghazi. I know people want to push that aside, but here's a fact. The State Department knew that the risk level for that facility was extremely high. They should have either closed that facility or provided it adequate security. They did not, under her watch. She will have to answer for that.” [Situation Room, CNN, 2/25/14]


CLINTON DEFENSE


Secretary Clinton’s Cooperation With Investigations


SECRETARY CLINTON TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ATTACK IN BENGHAZI

Secretary Clinton: “I Take Responsibility” For The Consequences Of The Benghazi Attack. “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday tried to douse a political firestorm over the deadly assault on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya, saying she's responsible for the security of American diplomatic outposts. ‘I take responsibility,’ Clinton told CNN in an interview while on a visit to Peru. ‘I'm in charge of the State Department's 60,000-plus people all over the world, 275 posts. The president and the vice president wouldn't be knowledgeable about specific decisions that are made by security professionals. They're the ones who weigh all of the threats and the risks and the needs and make a considered decision.’” [CNN, 10/16/12]

SECRETARY CLINTON TESTIFIED BEFORE TWO STATE DEPARTMENT COMMITTEES INVESTIGATING BENGHAZI IN 2013, AND HAS AGREED TO DO SO AGAIN…

Secretary Clinton Testified Before The House And Senate Committees Investigating Benghazi In 2013. “In what probably was her final major public appearance as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton spent Wednesday delivering a forceful defense of the Obama administration’s response to the killings of four Americans in Libya last year and praising the commitment of the United States’ diplomats. Clinton, who returned to work this month after suffering a concussion and blood clot in early December, spent six hours testifying and answering questions. She started at 9 a.m. before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ended after 5 p.m. with the House Foreign Affairs Committee.” [Washington Post, 1/23/13]

CNN: Secretary Clinton “Has Agreed To Testify To The House's Select Committee Investigating Benghazi.” “Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has agreed to testify to the House's select committee investigating Benghazi, the panel's Democratic ranking member told CNN on Tuesday. Rep. Elijah Cummings said that Clinton agreed to testify before the committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attack in December after he contacted her months earlier.” [CNN, 1/28/15]

Secretary Clinton Answered More Than 200 Questions On The Record About Benghazi On The Record. “On September 18, 2014, one day after our Committee’s first hearing, an entity known as Stop Hillary PAC delivered more than 264,000 signatures to the Select Committee insisting that you issue a subpoena to compel Secretary Clinton to testify, despite the fact that she had already testified before the House and Senate about Benghazi and answered more than 200 questions for the record.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

…YET TREY GOWDY HAS DELAYED HER TESTIMONY FOR MONTHS

Secretary Clinton Agreed To Testify As Early As December 2014 But Trey Gowdy Delayed Her Appearance. “As a courtesy, the Ranking Member contacted Secretary Clinton, and she responded that she was willing to testify at a public hearing to answer the Select Committee’s questions. She agreed without hesitation, and she offered to testify as early as December 2014. The Ranking Member personally communicated all of this information to you in October 2014. On November 12, 2014, in a joint phone call with both Republican and Democratic staff, Secretary Clinton’s attorney again confirmed her cooperation and willingness to testify in a public hearing before the Committee as early as December. But instead of obtaining Secretary Clinton’s testimony in December, you decided to delay her testimony, explaining that you first wanted to obtain all of her documents related to Benghazi.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

Wasteful And Political GOP Investigations


MULTIPLE GOP-LED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BENGHAZI ATTACKS HAVE COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HAVE SOUGHT TO POLITICIZE THE TRAGEDY FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT

The Pentagon Said The Multiple Investigations Into The Benghazi Attacks Cost Millions And Thousands Of Hours In Personnel Time. “The Pentagon says Congress' multiple investigations of the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, have cost the department millions of dollars and thousands of hours of personnel time.” [Huffington Post, 3/25/14]

·         Assistant Secretary Of Defense Elizabeth King: The Six Investigations Into Benghazi Cost The Pentagon “Thousands Of Man-Hours” To Investigate “50 Congressional Hearings, Briefings, And Interviews.” “The Department has devoted thousands of man-hours to responding to numerous and often repetitive congressional requests regarding Benghazi which includes time devoted to approximately 50 congressional hearings, briefings, and interviews which the Department has led or participated in.” [Assistant Secretary Of Defense for Legislative Affairs Elizabeth King, Letter To Representative Adam Smith, 3/11/14]

·         Assistant Secretary Of Defense Elizabeth King Estimated The Total Cost Of Benghazi Related Congressional Requests To Be In The Millions Of Dollars. “The total cost of compliance with Benghazi related congressional requests sent to the Department and other agencies is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.” [Assistant Secretary Of Defense for Legislative Affairs Elizabeth King, Letter To Representative Adam Smith, 3/11/14]

In A May 2014 FOX News Poll, 63% Of Respondents, Including 38% Of Republicans, Said That They Thought Republicans In Congress Were Investigating Benghazi For Mostly For Political Gain. [FOX News, 5/14/14]

Lindsay Graham Consulted Lara Logan On The Now Discredited 60 Minutes Report On Benghazi. “What wasn’t known at the time was that Graham had consulted with CBS correspondent Lara Logan on the now-discredited Benghazi report that led to her being sidelined from the network for over six months. The Oct. 27 report started unraveling four days after airing, following revelations that security contractor Dylan Davies, the ‘60 Minutes’ eyewitness, had given conflicting stories about his whereabouts during the attack.” [Huffington Post, 5/4/14]

HEADLINE: “Republicans Raising Money Off Benghazi Effort.”  [Washington Post, 5/10/13]

HEADLINE: “GOP Fundraises Off Benghazi Attack.”  [Salon, 5/14/13]

The NRCC Used Benghazi To Raise Money.  “The National Republican Congressional Committee is using the debate over Benghazi to raise money.  On a new fundraising page, the committee asks for donations to keep up the fight, declaring it a ‘coverup’ and using pictures of President Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.  The page implores supporters to ‘demand answers.’” [Washington Post, 5/10/13]

·         The NRCC Bragged That Their Benghazi Fundraising Page Gave Them The Most Trafficked Day In The History Of Their Website.  “And it worked: the NRCC says its Clinton/Benghazi fundraising page made Friday the most trafficked day in the history of its Web site, and the Crossroads video has been viewed more than 100,000 times since Friday.”  [Washington Post, 5/13/13]

Salon: The NRCC Sent A Second Fundraising Solicitation From John Bolton Asking For “$5 To Support The NRCC In Their Goal To Hold The Administration Accountable For Benghazi.”  “Because no good scandal should go to waste, the National Republican Congressional Committee has enlisted John Bolton to turn the Benghazi attack into cash for Republican congressional campaigns.  ‘As an Under Secretary of State during the September 11, 2001, attacks, and later as Ambassador to the UN, I saw very closely what a terrorist event looks like,’ Bolton wrote in an email solicitation sent to supporters this morning. ‘What’s happened with Benghazi is not how it’s supposed to be handled and I think it could be a hinge point for the Obama administration.’  Then came the ask: ‘Will you give $5 to support the NRCC in their goal to hold the administration accountable for Benghazi? Your $5 will go a long way. Americans deserve an explanation — please help out,’ Bolton wrote.”  [Salon, 5/14/13]

RNC: “Stand With @tgowdysc & Click To Demand @HillaryClinton Turn Over Her Secret Server.” [@GOP, Twitter, 3/12/15]

Asked And Answered Questions


COMMITTEES INVESTIGATING THE STATE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO ATTACKS IN BENGHAZI CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT HAVE LONG SINCE BEEN ANSWERED

Boehner Said The Benghazi Select Committee Should Focus On “The Number Of Requests For More Security And Why It Was Not Provided.” “You know, I think that there are probably three areas that the Committee will look at—the events leading up to 9/11, 2012, the requests—the number of requests for more security and why it was not provided…” [Fox News, 5/11/14]

The Independent Accountability Review Board Concluded That There Was Inadequate Security Due To Systemic “Failures And Leadership And Management Deficiencies At Senior Levels Within Two Bureaus Of The State Department.” “The Independent Accountability Review Board concluded that the Special Mission in Benghazi had inadequate security because of ‘[s]ystemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus of the State Department.’ The Board found several factors that led to support gaps, including a misplaced reliance on local security forces, short-term staffing challenges, and the temporary nature of the facility. Multiple Congressional investigations have confirmed these findings.’” [House Select Committee On Benghazi Minority Website, accessed 9/16/14]

House Committee On Benghazi Minority Website Noted That A Number Of Investigations Have Already Answered The Question “Why Was Security In Benghazi Inadequate Despite Repeated Requests?.” “Why was security in Benghazi inadequate despite repeated requests?... SOURCES THAT HAVE ANSWERED THIS QUESTION:
The Independent Accountability Review Board
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Bipartisan Report
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Bipartisan Report
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Democratic Staff Report
Accountability Review Board Vice Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen
Accountability Review Board Chairman Ambassador Thomas Pickering” [House Select Committee On Benghazi Minority Website, accessed 9/16/14]

Benghazi-Related Emails


THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED SECRETARY CLINTON’S BENGHAZI-RELATED EMAILS TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE AND DESPITE HAVING HAD ACCESS TO THE EMAILS FOR MONTHS, TREY GOWDY HAS MADE FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT THEM

Secretary Clinton Handed Over 55,000 Pages Of Emails To The State Department, Who Turned Over The Relevant Benghazi-Related Emails To The Select Committee. “You have long been aware that Secretary Clinton used a personal email account. She provided her emails—55,000 pages of them—to the State Department, which in turn provided to the Committee those relevant to Benghazi. You are also aware, as we are, having read the responsive emails, that they are consistent with the findings of the nonpartisan Accountability Review Board. And you are aware that Secretary Clinton and her counsel have cooperated with the Select Committee in every way they have been asked, including the Secretary’s willingness to come back to Congress and testify yet again.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

·         2/27/15: The State Department Confirmed That It Had Finished Production Of Secretary Clinton’s Emails Related To Benghazi. “On February 27, 2015, during a meeting with Select Committee staff, State Department officials confirmed that they had completed their production of Secretary Clinton’s emails relating to the Benghazi attacks. Based on your statements, the Committee’s next steps should have been to hold a hearing with Secretary Clinton in March. Instead, this week, you rushed to issue a unilateral subpoena to Secretary Clinton with no debate, no vote, and no deliberation whatsoever by Committee Members.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

·         The State Department Reviewed The 55,000 Pages Of Emails From Secretary Clinton’s Personal Account And Produced 850 Pages, Or 300 Emails, Related To Benghazi. “In fact, the Secretary had produced to the State Department 55,000 pages of emails from her personal account relating to a number of topics, including Benghazi. On February 13, 2015, the State Department reviewed those 55,000 pages and produced to the Select Committee Secretary Clinton’s emails related to Benghazi from March 3, 2011, to December 21, 2012, which consisted of approximately 850 pages, or about 300 emails.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

Trey Gowdy Argued That Secretary Clinton Had Multiple Personal Emails. “The House committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi will issue new requests to Hillary Clinton for emails from multiple personal accounts she used during her tenure as secretary of state. Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) told reporters on Tuesday that lawyers for the Benghazi Committee would be issuing the new requests - which he didn’t rule out could come in the form of subpoenas - to Clinton and her email providers in the coming weeks. ‘It was not as if she had both an official and a private email account. She did not use personal email in addition to government email. She used personal email in lieu of government email,’ Gowdy said. ‘And she had more than one private email account.’”  [Politico, 3/3/15]

·         The State Department Disputed That Secretary Clinton Had Used Two Personal Emails. “The State Department has also refuted Gowdy’s claim that Clinton was using two personal email addresses. ‘There was just one email account,’ State Department Marie Harf said Wednesday.” [The Blaze, 3/4/15]

·         Select Committee Democrats Explained Trey Gowdy Had Long Been Aware That Secretary Clinton Used A Personal Email Address. “You have long been aware that Secretary Clinton used a personal email account. She provided her emails—55,000 pages of them—to the State Department, which in turn provided to the Committee those relevant to Benghazi. You are also aware, as we are, having read the responsive emails, that they are consistent with the findings of the nonpartisan Accountability Review Board. And you are aware that Secretary Clinton and her counsel have cooperated with the Select Committee in every way they have been asked, including the Secretary’s willingness to come back to Congress and testify yet again.” [Select Committee on Benghazi Democrats Letter to Trey Gowdy, 3/6/15]

Stand-Down Order


U.S. MILITARY OFFICERS DEBUNKED THE CLAIMTHAT A “STAND-DOWN ORDER” WAS ISSUED DURING THE BENGHAZI ATTACK

Associated Press: Military Officers Testified That There Were Was No “Stand-Down Order” That Prevented Them From Rescuing The Four Victims Of The Benghazi Attack. “Military officers testified that there was no ‘stand-down order’ that held back military assets that could have saved the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans killed at a diplomatic outpost and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya. Their testimony undercut the contention of Republican lawmakers.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

Associated Press: The “Stand Down” Theory Focused On A Team That Was Prevented From Flying To Benghazi And Told To Remain In Tripoli. “The ‘stand-down’ theory centers on a Special Operations team - a detachment leader, a medic, a communications expert and a weapons operator with his foot in a cast - that was stopped from flying from Tripoli to Benghazi after the attacks of Sept. 11-12, 2012, had ended. Instead, it was instructed to help protect and care for those being evacuated from Benghazi and from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

·         The Order To Remain In Place In Tripoli Allowed A Special Operations Team To Protect Embassy Personnel And A Medic To Save The Life Of An Evacuee From Benghazi. “The ‘stand-down’ theory centers on a Special Operations team - a detachment leader, a medic, a communications expert and a weapons operator with his foot in a cast - that was stopped from flying from Tripoli to Benghazi after the attacks of Sept. 11-12, 2012, had ended. Instead, it was instructed to help protect and care for those being evacuated from Benghazi and from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. The senior military officer who issued the instruction to ‘remain in place’ and the detachment leader who received it said it was the right decision and has been widely mischaracterized. The order was to remain in Tripoli and protect some three dozen embassy personnel rather than fly to Benghazi some 600 miles away after all Americans there would have been evacuated. And the medic is credited with saving the life of an evacuee from the attacks.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

Military Officials Agreed That No Help Could Have Arrived In Benghazi In Time To Rescue The Victims. “Military officials differ on when that telephone conversation took place, but they agree that no help could have arrived in Benghazi in time. They put the call somewhere between 5:05 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. local time. It would take about 90 minutes to fly from Tripoli to Benghazi. The next U.S.-chartered plane to make the trip left at 6:49 a.m., meaning it could have arrived shortly before 9 a.m., nearly four hours after the second, 11-minute battle at the CIA facility ended at about 5:25 a.m.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

Rear Admiral Brian Losey, The Special Operations Commander For Africa At The Time Of The Benghazi Attacks, Argued That There Was No Order To Stand Down. “Beyond questions of timing, the testimony of Rear Adm. Brian Losey, who was then Special Operations commander for Africa, also challenged the idea the team had the capacity to bolster security in Benghazi. Losey said there was ‘never an order to stand down.’ His instruction to the team ‘was to remain in place and continue to provide security in Tripoli because of the uncertain environment.’” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

·         Losey Challenged What The Special Operations Team At The Focus Of The Stand Down Theory Could Have Done To Secure The Benghazi Compound. “Losey questioned what the four could have done to aid the situation in Benghazi, where American personnel were preparing to evacuate as soon as possible.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

·         Losey Noted That The Military Would Have Lost Its Command Operation In Tripoli If The Special Forces Team Had Left. “Losey questioned what the four could have done to aid the situation in Benghazi, where American personnel were preparing to evacuate as soon as possible. He said assigning the small team to defend a perimeter wouldn't have been appropriate and would have meant the military's losing its command operation in Tripoli ‘for the benefit of four riflemen who weren't even riflemen.’” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

·         Losey Said That Only One Member Of The Special Operations Team Was A Rifleman And His Foot Was In A Cast. “Losey questioned what the four could have done to aid the situation in Benghazi, where American personnel were preparing to evacuate as soon as possible. He said assigning the small team to defend a perimeter wouldn't have been appropriate and would have meant the military's losing its command operation in Tripoli ‘for the benefit of four riflemen who weren't even riflemen.’ ‘The guy's command and control, he's communications, medical,’ Losey recounted. ‘I've got one weapons guy with his foot in a cast. Didn't make a lot of sense.’” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

The Commander Of The Special Operations Team At The Focus Of The Stand Down Theory Agreed That It Was The Right Decision To Stay In Tripoli. “The Special Operations detachment leader's name is omitted from the testimony transcript, but he previously has been identified as Lt. Col. S.E. Gibson. More than a year-and-a-half later, Gibson, who is now a colonel, agreed that staying in Tripoli was the best decision.” [Associated Press, 7/11/14]

NOVEMBER 2012: INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS NOTED THAT CIA OPERATIVES IN BENGHAZI MADE DECISIONS ON THE GROUND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM WASHINGTON

November 2012: Senior Intelligence Official: “There Was No Second-Guessing Those Decisions Being Made On The Ground, By People At Every U.S. Organization That Could Play A Role In Assisting Those In Danger.” [Washington Post, 11/1/12]

·         Intelligence Officials Said Washington Did Not Interfere With The Decisions CIA Operatives Who Were On The Ground Made During The Benghazi Attack. “Instead, U.S. intelligence officials insisted that CIA operatives in Benghazi and Tripoli made decisions rapidly throughout the assault with no interference from Washington.” [Washington Post, 11/1/12]

September 2014: New York Times: “American Officials Have Previously Acknowledged That The Central Intelligence Agency Security Team Paused To Try To Enlist Support From Libyan Militia Allies.” [New York Times, 9/4/14]

SEPTEMBER 2014: A SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL REITERATED THAT WASHINGTON DID NOT SECOND-GUESS THE DECISIONS CIA OPERATIVES IN BENGHAZI MADE ON THE GROUND

A Senior Intelligence Official Noted That There Was An Attempt To Secure Local Support To Defend The Diplomatic Compound And Argued That There Was No Second-Guessing Decisions Made On The Ground. “In an emailed statement on Thursday, a senior intelligence official said ‘a prudent, fast attempt was made to rally local support for the rescue effort and secure heavier weapons.’  The official said ‘there was no second-guessing those decisions being made on the ground’ and ‘there were no orders to anybody to stand down in providing support.’” [New York Times, 9/4/14]

REP. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER ARGUED THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM OF A STAND DOWN ORDER

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger Said The House And Senate Intelligence Committees Found No Evidence To Support The Claim Of A Stand Down Order. “Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) said lawmakers never came across evidence indicating the station chief had told his team to ‘stand down’ and abort a rescue mission. ‘After interviewing these individuals, including those writing the book, and all of the others on the ground that night, both Republicans and Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that there was not, in fact, an order to stand down and no evidence was found to support such a claim,’ he said.”  [The Hill, 9/5/14]

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger Said Senior CIA Officials On The Ground In Benghazi Waited To Send The Security Team To Gather Intelligence And Avoid A Potential Ambush. “Contractors and other security officers told the House committee about 25 minutes passed between learning about the attack and the time the commandos departed for their rescue mission, the congressman said. ‘The team said they were prepped and ready to go within minutes, but the senior CIA officers responsible for the welfare of all Annex personnel were concerned they might be sending their security team into an ambush so they tried to obtain better intelligence and heavy weapons before dispatching the team,’ Ruppersberger added.” [The Hill, 9/5/14]

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger Noted That A Senior CIA Official Had Told The House Intelligence Committee That The Outcome Could Have Been Worse If The Security Team Acted Earlier. “‘The team said they were prepped and ready to go within minutes, but the senior CIA officers responsible for the welfare of all Annex personnel were concerned they might be sending their security team into an ambush so they tried to obtain better intelligence and heavy weapons before dispatching the team,’ Ruppersberger added. He noted that a high-ranking CIA official told the committee the outcome could have been much worse if the rescue team had tried to act sooner.” [The Hill, 9/5/14]

THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CIA CHIEF OF BASE IN BENGHAZI GAVE A STAND DOWN ORDER

The Senate Intelligence Committee Found No Evidence That The Chief Of Base In Benghazi Intentionally Delayed Or Obstructed The Response To The Diplomatic Compound. “The Committee explored claims that there was a ‘stand down’ order given to the security team at the Annex.  Although some members of the security team expressed frustration that they were unable to respond more quickly to the Mission compound, 12 the Committee found  no evidence of intentional delay or obstruction by the Chief of Base or any other party.” [Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 11-12, 2012, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1/15/14]

THE SECURITY TEAM AT THE CIA ANNEX WAITED TO BUILD SUPPORT FROM LOCAL MILITIAS BEFORE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND

9/11/12: 9:40-10:03 PM:  Before Departing For The Compound, The Security Team At The CIA Annex Attempted To Secure Support From The 17th February Brigade And Other Allied Militias. “During the period between approximately 9:40 p.m. and 10:03 p.m. Benghazi time, the Chief of Base and security team members attempted to secure assistance and heavy weapons (such as .50 caliber truck-mounted machine guns) from the 17th February Brigade and other militias that had been assisting the United States.” [Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 11-12, 2012, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1/15/14]

9/11/12: 10:03 PM: The Security Team At The CIA Annex In Benghazi Responded To The Attack On The Compound 20-25 Minutes After First Receiving Notification. “Two armored vehicles were prepared so the security team could respond from the Annex. Approximately 20-25 minutes after the first call came into the Annex that the Temporary Mission Facility was under attack, a security team left the Annex for the Mission compound. In footage taken from the Annex's security cameras, the security team can be observed departing the CIA Annex at 10:03 p.m. Benghazi time.” [Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 11-12, 2012, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1/15/14]

When The Security Team Arrived At The Compound, The 17th February Brigade Refused To Provide Covering Fire For The Team Although Members Of The Militia Assisted The Team In Its Assault. “Outside the compound, the security team asked 17th February Brigade members to ‘provide cover’ for them to advance to the gate of the Temporary  Mission Facility with gun trucks. The 17th February Brigade members refused, saying they preferred to negotiate with the attackers instead. Eventually, the security team initiated their plan of assault on the Mission compound. Some members of the 17th February Brigade ‘jump[ed] into the vehicle’ and  ‘a few 17 Feb members follow[ed] behind on foot to support the team,’ according to the informal CIA notes provided to the Committee.” [Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 11-12, 2012, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1/15/14]

THE CIA STATION CHIEF IN BENGHAZI MADE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION TO PAUSE THE RESCUE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET HELP FROM LOCAL LIBYAN MILITIAS

September 2014: New York Times: “American Officials Have Previously Acknowledged That The Central Intelligence Agency Security Team Paused To Try To Enlist Support From Libyan Militia Allies.” [New York Times, 9/4/14]

Security Team Members Said They Waited Twenty Minutes In Their Vehicles While The Compound Was Attacked. “In a new book scheduled for release next week and obtained by The New York Times, the commandos say they protested repeatedly as the base chief ordered them to wait in their vehicles, fully armed, for 20 minutes while the attack on the diplomatic mission was unfolding less than a mile away.” [New York Times, 9/4/14]

The Security Team Claimed The Base Chief Prevented Them From Rescuing Ambassador Stevens In Time. “Five commandos guarding the C.I.A. base in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012 say that the base chief stopped them from interceding in time to save the lives of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and an American technician during the attack on the diplomatic mission there.” [New York Times, 9/4/14]


New York Times: The Security Team Members’ Account Suggested That The CIA Station Chief Issued The “Stand Down” Orders On His Own. “The commandos’ account — which fits with the publicly known facts and chronology — suggests that the base chief issued the ‘stand down’ orders on his own authority. He hoped to enlist local Libyan militiamen, and the commandos speculate that he hoped the Libyans could carry out the rescue alone to avoid exposing the C.I.A. base.” [New York Times, 9/4/14]

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