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| Benghazi: Key task force not convened during Benghazi consulate attack | |||
| 2012-11-02 | |||
CBS News has learned that during the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Mission in Benghazi, the Obama Administration did not convene its top interagency counterterrorism resource: the Counterterrorism Security Group, (CSG).
Counterterrorism sources and internal emails reviewed by CBS News express frustration that key responders were ready to deploy, but were not called upon to help in the attack. As to why the Counterterrorism Security Group was not convened, National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor told CBS News "From the moment the President was briefed on the Benghazi attack, the response effort was handled by the most senior national security officials in governments. Members of the CSG were of course involved in these meetings and discussions to support their bosses."
Another senior counter terrorism official says a hostage rescue team was alternately asked to get ready and then stand down throughout the night, as officials seemed unable to make up their minds. A third potential responder from a counter-terror force stationed in Europe says components of AFICOM -- the military's Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany -- were working on course of action during the assault. But no plan was put to use. "Forces were positioned after the fact but not much good to those that needed it," the military source told CBS News. "The response process was isolated at the most senior level," says an official referring to top officials in the executive branch. "My fellow counterterrorism professionals and I (were) not consulted." The official says a protocol set forth in a classified presidential directive calls for the Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG) to be convened in the event of a possible terrorist attack. According to a public military document, the directive was designed to "synchronize the efforts of all the government agencies that have a role to play in the Global War on Terrorism." The Administration also didn't call on the only interagency, on-call, short notice team poised to respond to terrorist incidents worldwide: the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST). FEST's seasoned experts leave within four hours of notification and can provide "the fastest assistance possible." FEST Teams deployed immediately after al Qaeda bombings of US embassies in East Africa in 1998, and the USS Cole in 2000, but were not used for Benghazi, to the chagrin of some insiders. It's likely that the CSG task force, if contacted, would have recommended FEST aid. "First a tactical response was needed," says a senior U.S. counterterrorism official, "and while that was being implemented, the holistic response could have been developed and deployed within hours" which could have allowed the FBI investigate safely on site well ahead of the "24 days it took." When asked why the FEST wasn't utilized, a State Department official said it was used previously in East Africa because of damage sustained to a US embassy "to help restore communications and other infrastructure support. In this case, that was unnecessary at Embassy Tripoli."
Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans died in a protracted battle over the course of eight hours. It's believed two of the victims, Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, died in a mortar attack some six or seven hours after the US Mission was first overrun by a terrorist mob that burned buildings and used AK-47 rifles, bombs, and mortars. | |||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #7 I am SO with you Ebbang. |
| Posted by: warthogswife 2012-11-02 14:19 |
| #6 ^^^ This. |
| Posted by: RandomJD 2012-11-02 12:22 |
| #5 A conscience decision has been made to systematically leak bits and pieces of information to the media over time to diffuse and wear down the issue. They are certainly wearing me down. I think we all know by now that the response during the attack and the security that was in place before the attack were both inadequate. But the lack of MFM coverage makes me feel like I'm some kind of isolated right wing whacko because I'm seething about it but nobody else seems to care. Benghazi should be the lead story in all of the media every day (OK, Sandy was a big story, but still). There should be a nationwide outrage and Champ's poll numbers should be plummeting but it's not happening. Nobody talks about it. Nobody cares. I get tired of feeling that way. I wanna be normal. But all I can do is vote next Tuesday. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-11-02 12:20 |
| #4 I gather that 23 of the 30 people evacuated from the "consulate" in Benghazi were CIA folks working under dipomatic cover. Is it possible that there was confusion or conflict between State and CIA over whose turf it was - over which agency had primary responsibility to secure and respond? Yet - CIA says they did everything possible, and Hillary took responsibility. But it's kinda like the Administration doesn't want anyone asking why two dozen CIA people and the US ambassdor himself set up shop in a nondescript villa in AQ territory in the first place. As more details drip out, I am increasingly curious what they were all doing there. I am somewhat hopeful that we'll get to the bottom of this. Four US agents are dead and Ogabe has been a dick about it. Their colleagues, their families, and a number of senators are angry. The first group is, I presume, where all the leaked emails and cables are coming from, which I expect to continue so long as the Administration continues stonewalling. |
| Posted by: RandomJD 2012-11-02 11:51 |
| #3 A conscience decision was made early in the crisis to execute a CIA adhoc self-extraction vs classic off-the-shelf professional In-Extemis NEO evacuation. A conscience decision was made to link a video of Allah to the event as a cause and cover for action. A conscience decision has been made to systematically leak bits and pieces of information to the media over time to diffuse and wear down the issue. A conscience decision will soon be made to site "National Security Concerns" and lower the cone of silence. I am not hopefull anything will come of this. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-11-02 10:14 |
| #2 The key task force will be convened after Nov. 6th. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2012-11-02 10:00 |
| #1 The big question. Hussein has Panetta, Hillary, Holder and almost half of Congress in his back pocket. What do you say are the viable options to bring out the answers and hold people, even him accountable? |
| Posted by: Bugs Uleger6376 2012-11-02 02:10 |