Article

2014-09-14 Africa North

UK's Blue Mountain Group report local guard force placed Benghazi facility at risk

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Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 Alternate link to Hot Air story

Fixed. Thanks for catching that!

--trailing wife at 7:35 ET

Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 01:26|| 2014-09-14 01:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Someone at Foggy Bottom obviously wanted the local guard force contract continued in spite of the warnings and pleas. The argument centering around the requested U.S. Special Forces personnel not being covered by a SOFA appears to be a red herring. Interestingly, the absence of a SOFA agreement has not hindered current troop deployments to the USEMBASSY Baghdad.

The arrow continues to point back to State. I'd like to get Bangkok Billy's take on all of this.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 01:43|| 2014-09-14 01:43|| Front Page Top

#3 The arrow continues to point back to State.

1. "Temporary facility" designation.

2. Refusal of requests for additional security, security improvements, etc.

3. Refusal to make physical security improvements.

3. Blame Congress for not providing money, while doing such necessary improvements at other State facilities as solar charging stations for embassy vehicles in Austria.

4. Blame Congress for not providing money, yet build a "media center for public use" in a "temporary facility" (the ambassador was ostensibly there for opening ceremonies for the new media center.)

4. Contracting with a small, relative unknown UK firm that had little to no experience in embassy security over other, more experienced security firms.

6. Refuse to extend rotation of US military security teams to the temporary facility . Pull back to Tripoli what US military security teams were present.

I've probably left a few out.

Posted by Pappy 2014-09-14 08:59|| 2014-09-14 08:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Perhaps this will explain why some Republicans object to the Benghazi hearing: From Daily Caller:

"Sussing out the White House’s response to Benghazi is a critical step in clearing the shadows from the incident, but there are other players in the drama as well, including Rep. Rogers, and possibly also including a private military contracting firm that until recently was run by his wife, Kristi Rogers. Mike and Kristi Rogers are quintessential Washington insiders. A seven-term Republican from Michigan, Mike Rogers climbed the political ladder to become chairman of the Intelligence Committee in January 2011. Kristi Rogers, after years of government service in mid-level administrative positions, moved to the private sector, joining the British-based security contractor Aegis Defense Services to help open its U.S. subsidiary. The newsletter Intelligence Online noted that thanks to Ms. Rogers’ efforts, “Aegis won several major contracts with the U.S. administration.”

Posted by Beldar Sloque3832 2014-09-14 10:08|| 2014-09-14 10:08|| Front Page Top

#5 4. Contracting with a small, relative unknown UK firm that had little to no experience in embassy security over other, more experienced security firms. Pappy

Thanks Pappy.

THIS my friends, is the rock that very desperately needs flipping over.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 11:08|| 2014-09-14 11:08|| Front Page Top

#6 And thanks to Beldar Sloque as well.

Yes! Please start flipping rocks and dig here !

Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 11:19|| 2014-09-14 11:19|| Front Page Top

#7 Check out BMG's charming new website.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-09-14 11:46|| 2014-09-14 11:46|| Front Page Top

#8 Interestingly enough, information obtained so far is all open-source. It didn't take much to find out that BMG's (first?) on-scene management had experience in "personal security" and no mention of being able to manage security of a government installation - in a threat zone with a history of attacks against embassy/NGO personnel - that involved foreign nationals (and local militia to boot) as part of the security force.

Then again, I'm not a journalist. Maybe there's a secret handshake involved.

Posted by Pappy 2014-09-14 12:32|| 2014-09-14 12:32|| Front Page Top

#9 "Then again, I'm not a journalist."

And we thank God for it, Pappy!

Posted by Barbara 2014-09-14 12:55|| 2014-09-14 12:55|| Front Page Top

#10 Maybe that should be "professional journalist." People like badanov do a pretty good job of doing what a journalist should be doing. We just need a lot more of them.

Posted by Pappy 2014-09-14 14:09|| 2014-09-14 14:09|| Front Page Top

#11 People like badanov do a pretty good job of doing what a journalist should be doing. We just need a lot more of them.
Agree with that. The rest of us can help spread the word by posting links to the useful stuff & poking holes in the silly stuff.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-09-14 18:02|| 2014-09-14 18:02|| Front Page Top

#12 Agreed, Pappy - that's how I took it.

But I think it shoult be written "professional" journalist.

Posted by Barbara 2014-09-14 18:31|| 2014-09-14 18:31|| Front Page Top

#13 I'd write it as "media shill".

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-14 19:05|| 2014-09-14 19:05|| Front Page Top

#14 #13 Steve wins!

(As least for something you can print on a family blog)

Posted by Barbara 2014-09-14 20:53|| 2014-09-14 20:53|| Front Page Top

22:54 JosephMendiola
22:47 Bill Slans2831
22:03 KBK
21:48 KBK
21:47 Frank G
21:18 OldSpook
21:11 OldSpook
20:53 Barbara
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20:13 TopRev
19:05 SteveS
18:31 Barbara
18:30 49 Pan
18:17 Barbara
18:02 Anguper Hupomosing9418
17:47 trailing wife
17:39 rammer
17:35 Pappy
17:30 rjschwarz
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17:01 SteveS
16:42 phil_b