Article

2012-10-29 Africa North

Newsweeq: Was Benghazi Attack on U.S. Consulate an Inside Job?

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Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-10-29 09:48|| || Front Page|| [9 views ] Top

#1 Excerpt:
Certainly, some of the discrepancies could be explained by the confusion of battle or the faulty recollection of men under extreme stress. Miscommunication between Washington, Tripoli, and Benghazi almost certainly plays a part. Militia commanders on the ground had no direct contact with senior U.S. officials in D.C. or with the Marines who had arrived to evacuate their compatriots. In Tripoli, army chiefs were talking with U.S. military officialsLibyan Army Chief of Staff Yussef al-Mangoush was overseas but on the conversation by cellphonewhile the Libyan civilian leadership was in contact with senior State Department officials and the White House. With so many cooks in the kitchen, it is hardly surprising there was confusion.

But there are other holes in the story. No one has come up with a definitive explanation of how armed militants managed to gain entry to the consulates six-acre compound so easilywhich is critical to figuring out whether the Benghazi attack was an inside job....U.S. State Department briefers say the diplomatic security agent manning the CCTV monitors raised the alarm when he saw armed men already pouring through the compound.

Who were these attackers? In the immediate aftermath of the assault, Libyan leaders produced startlingly conflicting statements. They blamed the men of the Gaddafi regime and al Qaeda in quick succession. Then, after eyewitnesses fingered local extremists, they focused on a Benghazi-based Salafist militia called Ansar al-Sharia, which had been founded after the toppling of Gaddafi. The adviser to GNC President al-Magarief, who had initially blamed al Qaeda, now says Ansar al-Sharia is indeed behind the attack. They look to al Qaeda and have some contact with them, he says.
The Benghazi commanders were reportedly startled and disbelieving of the mens claims at first, but then grudgingly accepted their persistent disavowals. Still, an ops-room source stresses that the militiamen did not say whether others in their group may have been involved, and later showed no sadness over Stevenss death. There are scant signs of any serious investigation into Ansar al-Sharia at the moment...

Lt. Col. Tony Schaeffer has sources that say the President was in the Situation Room watching and other reports say this was a gun-running op to arm Syrian rebels. An inside job by AQ as they are being armed by the US, would certainly explain the confusion over who was friendly. I also note this is an independent foreign correspondent usually reporting in the Times of London and surprised Newsweak even picked up the story--maybe the public will finally pick up on how big this really is.

Posted by Lumpy Elmoluck 5095 2012-10-29 12:44|| 2012-10-29 12:44|| Front Page Top

#2 An inside job?

Ya think?

Posted by Bill Clinton 2012-10-29 16:05|| 2012-10-29 16:05|| Front Page Top

#3 When you have a local national guard force, you assume a great deal of risk. The Brit from "Blue Mountain Security" who held the security contract, unassed the AO a week or so prior to the attack. Might be instructive to lift a pint or two with him and his people. As of today, NO HEARD from him or them.

Posted by Besoeker 2012-10-29 16:11|| 2012-10-29 16:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Besoeker ... I actually passed a comment to him about the possibility of an inside job. I don't know him myself - but it went thru a third party. He's a sharp individual and I expect he will look into it.

Posted by Raider 2012-10-29 22:32|| 2012-10-29 22:32|| Front Page Top

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