The New York Times on Benghazi

The New York Times on Benghazi

Mike Walker, Col. USMC (retired)

The “spin-meisters” are in full heat so here are some cold facts to dampen the bickering.

What we obtained from the Times was some very good information diminished by some not-so-good analysis.

 

For example, we now know that there was never any protest of any kind at the Benghazi “consulate” on 9/11 2012.

 

More importantly, we now know that Ambassador Stevens had publically arrived in Benghazi on 10 September on a routine visit and remained over for 11 September because travel on the anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks was considered unwise.

 

That arrival, it now seems apparent, set the events in motions. A High Value Target (HVT) was in a highly vulnerable location during a perfect jihadi political storm:

The uproar in Egypt over the “Innocence of Muslims” video was peaking simultaneously with the 9/11 Anniversary, and the day before, on 10 September, al Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri announced in an on-line video that Abu Yahya al-Libi [al Qaeda’s no. 2 leader and a Libyan] had been killed by the U.S. and called on Libyan Muslims to take revenge for his death.

That the situation remained calm in Libya actually made things worse. US Deputy Chief-of-Mission Greg Hicks in Tripoli described the video as “a non-event in Libya,” and official U.S. reports prior to the assault noted nothing unusual, an outcome that apparently gave the Americans in Benghazi a false sense of security. 

Dangerous warning signs were plain for anyone willing to see, however.

Ambassador Stevens had been specifically targeted for assassination and on the morning of 9/11 2012, a team was detected conducting a photoreconnaissance of main gate to the Benghazi “consulate” where the Ambassador was waiting. When the scout was approached, he fled in a waiting police vehicle.

 

As the Times reported, a police security vehicle, normally stationed on the street facing the consulate’s main gate, arrived late that night and then suddenly left a little after 9:40PM. Ominously, its departure left the street completely deserted (for anyone who served in Iraq, an empty street is a bad sign).

 

Immediately thereafter, a lone enemy scout cased the main gate one last time (a textbook tactical move taken prior to launching a deliberate raid). Seconds after the scout disappeared around the corner, the unnatural calm was broken when the attack was launched against the main gate by a platoon sized unit armed with assault rifles.

 

The enemy assault force quickly overwhelmed the inadequate security detail and the fates of Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith were sealed. This initiated over SEVEN HOURS of on-again, off-again firefights at the “consulate” and CIA Annex located about one half mile away.

 

In a sequence of events that reminded this Marine of his bad day near Fallujah on 31 March 2004 (when four Americans employees of Blackwater were killed in firefight there), as soon as the assault on the Benghazi “consulate” started to die down, an armed and violent mob descended on the site to do as much further damage as a lawless mob is capable of.

 

Fortunately this time, they looted and torched everything in sight but did not desecrate the bodies of the fallen Americans, perhaps only because they did not lay their hands on them.

 

Tragically, at around 5:00AM, during the last assault on the CIA Annex, an enemy mortar barrage killed Glen Doherty and Tyrone S. Woods. Many other Americans were injured, some terribly. No one has ever reported the losses for the attacking enemy.

 

The fighting was over.

 

I have been critical of the manner in which we dealt with the attack and the Times report only strengthens that conclusion.

 

It was stunning to read just how dangerous the Benghazi was and how woefully inadequate the defenses were at the “consulate.”

 

Why we never gave the launch order to the in-Theater rapid reaction forces after we learned of the attack, I will never understand. Equally bewildering, no one knew how long the fighting would last and after any major attack, extra security is rushed in as soon as possible, even if it is after the fact.

 

There should have been a palpable sense of urgency up and down the chain of command to act and even if we had gotten there late then at least we could live with the fact that WE TRIED.

 

Finally, on 16 September 2012, Ambassador Susan Rice was given a report from Libya President Mohamed Magariaf that stated: “the attack was pre-planned.” That, as they say, was a blinding flash of the obvious.

 

Yet inexplicably, she subsequently stated: “…the best information and the best assessment we have today is that, in fact, this was not a pre-planned premeditated attack, that what happened initially was a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired in Cairo as a consequence of the video…”

 

News Flash: That attack was pre-planned and they don’t get any more premeditated than the one that took place in Benghazi on 9/11 2012.

 

Semper Fi,

 

Mike

The Year Obama’s Statecraft Unravelled

Aw, the selfie… we know now that the world is much more dangerous now than it was in 2009, and it is set to get worst and the commandant is busy texting or taking a selfie… or some other self absorbed distraction.

The Year Obama’s Statecraft Unravelled
Grae Stafford, The Daily Caller (follow link to watch video)

Every week at The Daily Caller, special correspondent Ginni Thomas interviews people from across the spectrum, from grassroots heroes to some of the biggest names in Washington and around the world. In 2013 guests included Rep. Darrell Issa, author Mark Leibovich, conservative institution Phyllis Schlafly, and Becky Gerritson, who gave a human face to the targeting of conservatives by the IRS as well as many others.

Thank you to all who watch, share, and comment for making 2013 such a great year.

As a look back we wanted to highlight one of our guests from the other side of the world, a man from New Zealand who had some very strong words regarding America’s place in the world, Trevor Loudon.

In November The Daily Caller caught up with conservative New Zealand author and blogger Trevor Loudon, who declared President Obama’s statecraft and foreign policy stances “brilliant” — when it comes to working for America’s rivals, that is.

“I think his statecraft is brilliant,” Loudon said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller. “But, you’ve got to realize which side he is on.”

Loudon delved into Obama’s notorious hot mic incident with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev about missile defense — the incident in which Obama said, “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”

“I understand,” Medvedev responded. “I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

“What better indication of Obama’s loyalties can you have than that?” Loudon said.
Loudon said that for nations like New Zealand, the lack of a strong American foreign policy stance means that the geopolitical power balance in places like the Pacific is shifting, with China flexing its political will. As evidence, Loudon points to the fact that China, rather than America, is now training the Fijian military and displaying belligerence in the Pacific rim.

“A few months ago the Australian minister of defense was up in China for talks, and a top Chinese defense official said to him publicly, ‘Now is the time for Australia to choose, do you stay under American protection or do you come under Chinese protection? If you are smart, you will choose China, because we are the growing power in the region.’”

“He wouldn’t have been cocky enough to say that under a Bush or a Reagan or even under a Clinton,” Loudon continued, “but he’s cocky enough to say it now, because the bad guys of the world understand that your president loves them better than he loves your allies, and all of your allies, from Germany to Britain to Australia to Israel to South Korea to Taiwan are basically freaking out because they see this.”

Setup...

Hmmm, GQ sets up an interview. Does anyone think that it would have been a straight, give and take interview? Or, was it a setup? If GLADD wasn't using all their best NAS stuff then someone sure sent a transcript pretty quickly. This just re-enforces the notion that our media sources are corrupt.

Everyone knows where this guy stands, he sure isn't a shrinking violet… he was the guy that beat-out Terry Bradshaw. If you ask him a pointed question, he'll answer you straight up…. they knew  that.

Timing was perfect to deflect Obamacide issues and to get some GLADD headlines… look how quickly Jesse Jackson jumped on-board……… he saw where  he could get some Rainbow Coalition bucks.

The President's Special Trust and Confidence

The President's Special Trust and Confidence

Mike Walker, Col. USMC (retired)

Every Officer takes an oath of office and, in return, is given by the People a degree of special and trust and confidence to carryout out their service to the Nation.

This President has foolishly squandered a good measure of that precious quantity and if, as a result, he loses his credibility with the American people then he will give new meaning to the phrase “lame duck.”

For a long while, the President walked the razor’s edge without harm.

What about an Ambassador and three others killed by terrorists in what was basically an unprotected Benghazi compound (by State Department standards) at one of the most dangerous places on earth? The Administration’s response: We will investigate, get the perpetrators, and claim (falsely) it was caused by a mob upset over a film next to no one had ever seen. Who cares? Where in the heck is Benghazi?

What about the IRS improperly targeting the Tea Party? The Administration reacted with outrage, promised an investigation, and (falsely) blamed it on a few rogue agents in Cincinnati. Who cares? I don’t belong to the Tea Party.

The “who cares?” list went on (Spying on reporters, NSA spying, Fast and Furious, etc) and was largely irrelevant except to the political classes.

Then came the Obama Care fiasco.

Who cares about Obama Care? Today, millions of American’s care and are not happy. By this time next year, who will care?  Tens of millions of American’s will care and they too will not be happy.

“You can keep your plan. Period!”

“You can keep your doctor. Period!”

All the deceptions finally reached a breaking point because Obama Care touched Main Street and what was damaged was the President’s special trust and confidence. The ability to govern has already been compromised.

Senator Marco Rubio, who spent enormous political capital working on a rational fix to our badly broken immigration system, threw in the towel – not because he lost faith in his cause but due to the prior bad-faith acts by the Administration.

Many of the House Republicans he tried to enlist were willing to work the issue. The hurdle he could not overcome was trust and confidence in the Administration. They did not trust the President to honor any compromise he opposed. They argued: Yes, he would cheer on the bipartisan agreement and he would sign the bill, but later, he would issue executive orders to nullify the key compromises that had made the bipartisan agreement possible.

In good faith, Rubio would not deny that the President might do exactly that if they voted for a fix to the system. Immigration reform died in late 2013.

One of the most damaging stories about presidential dishonesty is currently a NON-STORY and relates to this 2009 Inauguration Day statement:

“President Obama has committed to making this administration the most open and transparent in history.” Here is today’s reality.

Over an insignificant foreign aid policy issue, the White House made an argument in Federal Court that would have effectively ended the Freedom of Information Act as it applied to the President, a concept that should chill the soul of any civil libertarian.

The District Judge, Ellen Huvelle – a Clinton appointee, found the theory so repugnant that she termed it governance by “secret law” and made a summary judgment against the Administration. For details see:

https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2013cv0414-23

The deception is almost Orwellian in context. The Administration publically claims to be open and transparent while quietly becoming the most closed and secretive administration in American history.

The President repeatedly misled the American people, the day of reckoning has arrived, and the cost will be tremendous. When the President speaks in the future, who will trust him? The road back to regaining the confidence of the American people will be long and difficult.

Special Trust and Confidence is not simply a phrase to be uttered; it is the lifeblood of effective leadership.