Posted on 09/15/2012 2:15:25 PM PDT by Libloather
White House says 'no intelligence’ could have been acted on to prevent attacks
By Jonathan Easley - 09/14/12 12:40 PM ET
The White House on Friday said a report stating the president failed to act on knowledge of a potential attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was “absolutely wrong.”
White House press secretary Jay Carney said there was “no actionable intelligence” ahead of the attack that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.
“There was no intelligence that could in any way have been acted on to prevent these attacks,” he said. “The report was false.”
Embassies in Egypt, Yemen and Tunisia have been attacked by mobs protesting an anti-Islamic video circulating on the Internet.
Republican lawmakers have said the attack on the Libyan consulate, which took place on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, looked more like a coordinated effort by militants.
But Carney on Friday said there was no evidence it was a planned terrorist assassination. He said it appeared that, like the embassy storming in Cairo, Egypt, the attack was sparked by a trailer circulating on the Internet for a supposed anti-Islam film.
“We have no information to suggest it was a pre-planned attack,” Carney said. “The unrest we’ve seen across the region was in response to a video ... not in response to a 9/11 anniversary, that we know of.”
A report in the UK newspaper The Independent on Thursday said “the U.S. State Department had credible information 48 hours before mobs charged the consulate in Benghazi, and the embassy in Cairo, that American missions may be targeted, but no warnings were given for diplomats to go on high alert and ‘lockdown,’ under which movement is severely restricted.”
The report cited anonymous senior diplomatic sources, and received wide attention in the United States after a link to the Drudge Report.
Carney put the full blame of the Middle East unrest on the video, saying the reason the embassies seemed unprepared to deal with the attacks was because of the unpredictable Muslim reaction to the obscure film.
“What we have seen is unrest around the region in response to a video that Muslims find offensive,” he said. “We have seen incidents like this in the past in reaction to other actions, cartoons, other actions taken that have led to protests and violence in the region and we have managed those situations and we are working to ensure that our diplomatic personnel ... are secure as we deal with response to this video.”
The administration has also been criticized by some who say Stevens, the ambassador to Libya, was not adequately protected. There are conflicting and still emerging reports about whether his security detail was sufficiently armed to deal with an attack.
“It was unfortunately not enough to resist the attacks that we saw,” Carney said. “And it resulted in a tragic loss of life, but there was security. It's also the case that in reaction to this, the president has ordered that we review all of our security arrangements for embassy facilities and other diplomatic facilities around the world.”
President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will make remarks at a return of remains ceremony for the Americans killed in Libya at the Joint Base Andrews this afternoon.
How would Obama even know if he did not attend the intelligence briefings?
Oh wait, it seems plausible that Hillary’s “body woman” Huma could have told Hillary, who then could have told Valerie, who then could have told Reggie, ...
Ohomo is a cowardly little fag, and no matter that he is the most powerful man in the world, he is impotent. He isn’t even a man, he is part of an aggrieved group, gays or blacks. Take your pick.
The question is: Why where there no marines there??
How soon they forget. Me, I'm still on high alert April 18th, 19th and 20th as well as Sept 11th.
BS
The Independent already uncovered this deadly show of incompetence. You had 48 HOURS notice about these attacks and did nothing.
White House and ‘no intelligence’...but I repeat myself.
“No intelligence” is the new SOP for the White House.
It's too easy for a management team like Obama's to dismiss "intelligence" as whiners and complainers.
-PJ
Well, you should have. For Heaven's Sake. It was a 911 anniversary; you got a 48-hour warning. Pretty worthless State Department. Worse than worthless.
A solemn memorial to the dead should never be combined with CYA speakings.
Wrong time; wrong venue.
If you want to be president or secretary of state, work your butts off to protect the country, including embassies.
Cut back on drunken dirty dancing, Hillary.
Show up for work and meeting with advisers, Obama.
POTUS and SOS are obviously above your pay grades. Too bad we had to see this confirmed with the assault in Libya with precious loss of life.
BS
I smell a lie. Hey, the Canadians had intelligence on this. Now obama says he didn’t? On Sept 11? He was probably drunk.
Notice the precise wording. I believe that statement to be quite true.
But there was significant intelligence that would have allowed us to repel the attacks and avoid the rape and murder of our innocent citizens and dignitaries.
“We have no information to suggest it was a pre-planned attack,” Carney said.
...other than it happening in multiple countries on Sept 11th and many people wearing Guy Fawkes masks saying “we’re all Bin Laden’s”! ...that doesn’t count! ;)
Somebody might want to tell them that the 2nd plane that hit the WTC wasn’t an accident, I’m not sure they’ve realized yet ;)
Seriously, the Bin Laden bragging was a total miscalculation, they didn’t see this coming (and weren’t paying attention either). Obama/Biden have blood on their hands. This is what happens when you’re an amateur and have proven that you’re not really going to do anything by force.
They think he’s weak....they’re correct. What now Obama? Please, put on a display of foreign policy genius for all the world to see! Because you’re soooOOOOooo intelligent, nuanced, wise and cultured. Tough $hit Mr President, you can’t be “absent” on this one, make a call - that’s what presidents have to do. He’s always been able to hide behind excuses, not this time!
If this were Bush in office the media would be tearing him apart.
rather curious statement....the Canadians, closed their Iran embassy a week before this incident....
Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised “Meet The Press’.
From Sunday’s 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised “Meet the Press” the THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann’ USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn’t follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, “Stand and Face It”.
NOW GET THIS !!’Senator Obama replied:
“As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides”. “There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression..” “The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing.”
(ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???)
Obama continued: “The National Anthem should be ‘swapped’ for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing’. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as ‘redesign’ our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love.It’s my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ......”
When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past”.
“Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country’s First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America “
Yes, you read it right.
I, for one, am speechless!!!
Dale Lindsborg , Washington Post
“We have no information to suggest it was a pre-planned attack,” Carney said.
...other than it happening in multiple countries on Sept 11th and many people wearing Guy Fawkes masks saying “we’re all Bin Laden’s”! ...that doesn’t count! ;)
__________________________________________________________________
No, doesn’t count. I always keep a stash of Guy Fawkes mask and RPGs in my closet in case neighbors drop by and we decide to party. It’s kind of like having that special bottle of scotch and wine on hand. /sarc
To paraphrase:
“We don’t need no stinckin’ security!”
To paraphrase:
“We don’t need no stinkin’ security!”
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