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Panetta Says Risk Impeded Deployment to Benghazi (Admin has painted itself into a corner)
New York Times ^ | 10/25/2012 | ELISABETH BUMILLER

Posted on 10/28/2012 9:11:36 AM PDT by Tennessean4Bush

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Thursday that he and top military commanders “felt very strongly” that deploying American forces to defend against the fatal attack last month on the United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, was too risky because they did not have a clear picture of what was happening on the ground.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: benghazi; deptofdefense; libya; panetta; panetta4alqaeda; panettatheweak; waronterror; yellowpanetta
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To: Tennessean4Bush

The ex-SEALs were certainly capable of doing a threat assessment. Delta Force was two hours away! THey were doing training exercises in Europe. They really feel a group of locals with AKs could pose a threat to the most elite fighting unit we’ve got??

Total BS. Obama decided it was politically risky to have a failed rescue mission. They had the larger context of Cairo and other embassies facing protests. They LIED.

Obama lied six times to the UN blaming the video. Hillary lied to the father of one of the fallen. Lies lies lies.

Obama met at 5 pm with Panetta and made the call to NOT intervene.

His statement to the Denver reporter (nice to see there are a few left) was telling. He said his order was to intervene, then investigate, then hold the guilty accountable.

If the President ordered something to be done, who didn’t carry out his order?

Looks like they are setting up the Admiral (see ABC news story) to the fall guy. Gen Ham is also out.


21 posted on 10/28/2012 9:24:42 AM PDT by TigerClaws
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To: gleeaikin

“Whether or not this was handled well, the fear of a “Blackhawk Down” scenario could easily have been on someone’s mind. “

Yes, and how would that have looked before an election?

Best to let the Ambassador die and then lie about it on Letterman and The View.

Bumps in the road.

These people are disgusting and beneath contempt.


22 posted on 10/28/2012 9:24:42 AM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears (Don't sit around whining that the media is biased. YOU get the word out!!!)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

But wait. They did initially send 8 spec ops troops from Tripoli. Can’t have it both ways Panchetta!


23 posted on 10/28/2012 9:25:11 AM PDT by BarryM
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To: Tennessean4Bush
Leon Edward Panetta: Nancy Boy

24 posted on 10/28/2012 9:25:32 AM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
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To: Tennessean4Bush
Panetta said Thursday ... it was too risky because they did not have a clear picture of what was happening on the ground.
IIRC from another interview, Panetta also also said they were wary of sending troops into an ambush.
How many sponteneous protests come complete with heavy weapons AND an ambush plan?
25 posted on 10/28/2012 9:26:41 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: gleeaikin
Whether or not this was handled well, the fear of a “Blackhawk Down” scenario could easily have been on someone’s mind. If you haven’t seen that movie, you should, it is really scary, and I have a son in Afghanistan. If would sure make me think twice before committing more troops.
gleeaiken, you are missing my point. If we grant your point, and while I do not agree with it I certainly understand the reluctance, that the Admin was too concerned about safety in this situation of troops, then this totally cuts the knees off of why you would start 3 days later and for two weeks saying that this was a spontaneous demonstration sparked by a video when you knew it wasn't. In fact, you are using the fact now that you knew it wasn't to justify your position not to send in troops. Deceit.
26 posted on 10/28/2012 9:26:55 AM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

In other words, let’s do away with 9-1-1 because you never as a first responder what the heck you’re getting yourself into.

Good grief.


27 posted on 10/28/2012 9:27:25 AM PDT by bergmeid
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To: Tennessean4Bush
" . . .too risky because they did not have a clear picture of what was happening on the ground."

So I guess the gunship who had the attackers picture in their gunsight crosshairs didn't want to fire on the perps because the picture was too grainy or what????

Ask Obama. He supposedly was watching the gunship videos in real time and still refused to grant permission to fire, according to a new report.

So what's the story, dear leader?

28 posted on 10/28/2012 9:27:37 AM PDT by Eastbound (3-7-77)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

What ever happened to an event like this provoking an evening, televised speech made by the President of the United States of America? There has been plenty of time for the White House or the State Department to come up with an official version of what happened....complete with charts. There is even room for the president to say, “I made this decision because....”.


29 posted on 10/28/2012 9:27:43 AM PDT by FryingPan101 (2016 looms)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

So does this mean Panetta is admitting that he gave the order to stand down? I’m so confused.


30 posted on 10/28/2012 9:28:02 AM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: Tzfat

Multiple pleas for help from ‘boots on the ground’ at the consulate.

Real Time video of the attack which multiple administration officials watch in REAL TIME for over 6 hours!!!

How much more “INTELLIGENCE” does Panetta think he needs?

This is the worst cover up of all time.

This administration must think that not a single Republican voter has an IQ above 70 or so.

It is a further insult to all of us that they think this pack of lies will fly.

They are trying rea hard to get past Nov 6.

Watched Warner on Fox Sunday News duck & dodge every question that Chris Wallace asked him.

Bottom line?

“We will investigate after the election”.

Not good enough!!

Another reason NOT to have ‘early voting’. How many people have already voted who might change their votes with the fallout from Bangazhi???


31 posted on 10/28/2012 9:28:18 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: oh8eleven
How many sponteneous protests come complete with heavy weapons AND an ambush plan?
Bingo! If they knew it was sophisticated, or at least were concerned that it was, how could they decide three days later to blame it on a spontaneous demonstration and continue that blame for two more weeks?
32 posted on 10/28/2012 9:29:09 AM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: certrtwngnut

Those of us on this site are proud of the brave Americans that ths country has produced, who went into harm’s way to try to save fellow Americans, and who paid the ultimate price.

No matter what damage Obama has tried to inflict on this nation, he has not destroyed our pride in our military and in our country.

And believe me, he has tried his hardest. He and his ilk will never stop trying, so no matter how the election turns out, we must remain vigilant. Evil is hiding everywhere just looking for another way to destroy us.

I almost never write like this, but to paraphrase the mooch, I HAVE ALWAYS been proud of my country, and no treasonous cowards in DC can change that.


33 posted on 10/28/2012 9:29:31 AM PDT by SusaninOhio
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To: Tennessean4Bush

Risk aversion has been the singular characteristic of military policy since at least Mogadishu and arguably since our withdrawal from Vietnam. But, the risk has not been defined in military terms at all. This risk has been wholly political and largely short term political risk. The Democrats have been the leader of the pack in this regard, but the Republicans have not been immune to this disease.

Panetta has given us the reason for Obama’s decisions that directly led to this disaster: risk to the reelection of Barack Obama, President of the United States. They care about nothing else and are willing to sacrifice lives, world standing, and the future of the country for political victory.


34 posted on 10/28/2012 9:30:49 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: Tzfat
Someone else on FR posted this, and I shamelessly borrowed it so I could post it on other forums:


35 posted on 10/28/2012 9:31:19 AM PDT by Mr Rogers
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To: gleeaikin

You wouldn’t need to put boots on the ground. Air support would have aided.


36 posted on 10/28/2012 9:35:11 AM PDT by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

Remember, Obama has taken great pride in saying that Libya was liberated without American blood being shed. Obama did not want potential voters to wake up to our uniformed military being KIA.

So, DOD assets were told to stand down as CIA subcontractors, whose presence could be concealed, were tasked with extracting diplomatic assets from the Mission. Also, those operators were familiar with the battlefield and were leveraged with local friendly militia.

As the battlefield was so unshaped and on/off and populated by hostiles of unknown strength and unknown weapons, this was a reasonable tactical choice anyway.

Other rapid response units that could have gotten there would have been too little and too late.

General Ham and Africom, were frustrated that in this theater of their responsibility, they were not in position to act effectively.

The Ambassador’s loss was collateral.

The goals of the hostiles were to:

1. Exploit document and computer file intel regarding oil contracts and weapons movements.

2. Acquire the weapons that the Brits stored at our Mission after they shut down their Mission.

3. Revenge the death of Yahya al-Libi the AQ 2nd in command.

4. Take our Ambassador hostage to pressure the release of the “Blind Sheik”. The hostiles tried very hard to find Stevens but could not. He would have been far more valuable alive to the hostiles.


37 posted on 10/28/2012 9:37:00 AM PDT by gandalftb (The art of diplomacy says "nice doggie", until you find a bigger rock.)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

The TRUTH will come out!

Obama pounded the table and declared:

“We will NOT inject American forces into another mid-East country and create the impression we’re involved in a civil war!”

From there, the team set about blaming a video trailer.


38 posted on 10/28/2012 9:37:41 AM PDT by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
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To: driftdiver
Photobucket
39 posted on 10/28/2012 9:39:32 AM PDT by baddog 219
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To: driftdiver

Why yes. No reason to have a Predator drone ‘injured or killed’ now is there...after all they are kinda expensive. How much does an Ambassador and staff cost?


40 posted on 10/28/2012 9:41:33 AM PDT by yadent
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