E-mails: White House knew of extremist claims in Benghazi attack

CNN ^ | 10/24/12 | Elise Labott, CNN Foreign Affairs Reporter

[UnwashedPeasant]

Washington (CNN) -- Two hours after first being notified of an attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, a government e-mail to the White House, the State Department and the FBI said an Islamist group had claimed credit, according to a copy obtained by CNN.

An initial e-mail was sent while the attack was still underway, and another that arrived two hours later -- sent from a State Department address to various government agencies including the executive office of the president -- identified Ansar al-Sharia as claiming responsibility for the attack on its Facebook page and on Twitter.

[UnwashedPeasant]

The link to this story is buried on CNN's very cluttered homepage like a Where's Waldo puzzle. They want to hide it, but they want to say later that they did not ignore it.

A number of relatively minor stories are featured (for example, Ann Coulter said "retard").

[kevkrom]

The White House’s response is essentially: we get a lot of emails, and this unclassified email doesn’t represent solid intelligence info, but just a rumor.

Frankly, that cover story will work unless there’s 1) other documented evidence that this was a legit lead that they ignored, or 2) proven that no other data was arriving in the time frame.

[canuck_conservative]

For the last 4 years, CNN has been one of the most devoted of Obama’s media shills.

So for them to report this AT ALL means even CNN realizes that the WH story is unraveling like a cheap sweater.

Remember a week ago - everyone thought that the story was finished. Wrong - more keeps coming out, all of it damning to the Obama Administration. This story is growing, not shrinking, and even the leftist “journalists” at CNN can smell it now.

With less than 2 weeks to go, this is the Democrats’ worst nightmare. Get more popcorn and enjoy.

[Triple]

“Frankly, that cover story will work unless there’s 1) other documented evidence that this was a legit lead that they ignored, or 2) proven that no other data was arriving in the time frame.” -KK

Nope - There are procedures and triggers associated with these alerts. The cover story will not hold. The press appears to be turning on Obama, and once that happens he is toast. The more questions that are asked the deeper Obama is caught in his lie.

[gaijin]

Letterman and now CNN —wow..!

Ever see that WWII movie about some allied commandos who infiltrate inside a well-protected German dam and blow it up but AT FIRST the blast produces almost no effect?

But theeen, slowly but suuuurely....!!!

[mountn man]

The more questions that are asked the deeper Obama is caught in his lie.

If you EVER talk to a lib, their fall back answer about one of THEIR politicians lying is "They all lie"

Never mind the fact that they just admitted that they are OK with THEIR politicians lying to them.

And Never mind that THEY are OK with believing those lies.

Lies are OK if its for the good of the party.

[mountn man]

Force 10 From Navarone.

It good, but I like The Guns Of Navarone better.

[randita]

Nope - There are procedures and triggers associated with these alerts.

Exactly and I'm sure we'll hear people in the know explain this.

The very idea that there are so many emails pouring into the WH situation room that they can't separate those advertising cheap Viagra, e.g., from those indicating a real time attack on an embassy is ludicrous.

What moron comes up with these excuses?

[Eva]

I have just been listening to Glenn Beck on the radio, it’s time delayed, here. He is really all over this and has a whole lot more information than I have read anywhere else.

For instance the ambassador was having dinner at the facility in Benghazi, with some Turkish official. The house in Benghazi belongs to the CIA, not the State Dept. He also said that an email was sent from the Benghazi house, saying that there were people watching the house and that they didn’t know if they would get out alive. A while later, the Turkish guy left, through the front door and was not accosted. Shortly after, the attacks began.

[randita]

You are correct. This timeline may be helpful.

Details of Sept. 11 consulate attack in Libya

By Bradley Klapper, The Associated Press

October 9, 2012

Updated: 8:10 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) Senior State Department officials provided a more detailed picture Tuesday of the consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. A look at how they say the attack took place:

Sept. 10-11, 2012

Stevens arrives in Benghazi and holds meetings on and off the consulate grounds on Sept. 10. He spends the night, and for the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. holds meetings only inside the compound. It is an enclosed area about 300 yards long by 100 yards wide, with a 9-foot outer wall topped by barbed wire and augmented by barriers, steel drop bars and other security upgrades. There are four buildings in the compound. Five diplomatic security officers are present, along with four members of a local militia deployed by Libya’s government to provide added security.

Around 8:30 p.m.

Stevens finishes his final meeting of the day and escorts a Turkish diplomat outside the main entrance of the consulate. The situation is calm. There are no protests.

Around 9:40 p.m.

Agents hear loud noises, gunfire and explosions near the front gate. A barracks at the entrance housing the local militiamen is burnt down. Agents viewing cameras see large group of armed men flowing into the compound. Alarm is sounded. Telephone calls are made to the embassy in Tripoli, officials in Washington, the Libyan authorities and a U.S. quick reaction force located at a second compound a little over a mile away.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good find.