So what if the CIA was part of the Benghazi operation?
That still doesn’t explain or excuse the fact that from day one Obama and Clinton knew this was a coordinated terrorist attack and not a spontaneous uprising in response to a video. Yet they lied about it for weeks and in the process, actually incited uprisings all across the ME.
And it still doesn’t explain or excuse why, despite repeated requests for additional security in Benghazi, none was supplied.
Milbank’s spin is a trial balloon, a transparent attempt to change the subject and disparage Republicans and the CIA.
“That still doesn’t explain or excuse the fact that from day one Obama and Clinton knew this was a coordinated terrorist attack and not a spontaneous uprising in response to a video”
It kind of does explain it.
The excuse being - we couldn’t tell you that they targeted a CIA operation so we are going to make up some BS as cover.
After watching the full hearing yesterday, I believe Chaffetz knows quite a bit of what happened since he went to Benghazi. He probably talked to CIA there.
He is clearly upset.
Notice that Lamb said that it wasn’t money that kept them from providing more security.
In the murky world of intelligence- it is possible that the CIA told them not to bring in more of a presence because it would thwart some plan.
I don’t know if that happened...but it is possible.
Quite naturally, Milbank only takes his argument to a point that serves his purposes.
The CIA has a presence at virtually ALL U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. If they had a safe house/compound near the consulate, it would hardly be a surprise.
Here’s a better question: if the CIA had a presence in Benghazi, where were the operatives/security personnel on the night of September 11th? If the spooks had bugged out, why was Ambassador Stevens allowed to travel to Benghazi—without security—knowing the risks involved? And if there was a CIA presence in the city on that fateful day, why didn’t they come to the rescue of the consulate?
At least one of the dead SEALs was working on a project with the agency, attempting to track down missing MANPADs. He ran to the sound of gunfire and with his fellow SEAL, held off the attackers for a couple of hours. So, Mr. Milbank, where was the rest of the CIA contingent?
[crickets]