Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The narrative wasn't created by Rice. What was the CIA telling people in Washington?
From the unedited CIA talking points.
We believe based on currently available information that the attacks in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protest at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and evolved into a direct assault against the U.S. Consulate and subsequently its annex.
The crowd almost certainly was a mix of individuals from across many sectors of Libyan society. That being said, we do know that Islamic extremists with ties to al_Qa'ida participated in the attack.
Susan Rice repeated that assessment.
Rice on ABC.
But our current best assessment, based on the information that we have at present, is that, in fact, what this began as, it was a spontaneous — not a premeditated — response to what had transpired in Cairo. In Cairo, as you know, a few hours earlier, there was a violent protest that was undertaken in reaction to this very offensive video that was disseminated.
We believe that folks in Benghazi, a small number of people came to the embassy to — or to the consulate, rather, to replicate the sort of challenge that was posed in Cairo. And then as that unfolded, it seems to have been hijacked, let us say, by some individual clusters of extremists who came with heavier weapons, weapons that as you know in — in the wake of the revolution in Libya are — are quite common and accessible. And it then evolved from there.
By the time of Rice's appearances, more was known. The evidence was accumulating that no protests occurred. Ben Rhodes had told Rice to underscore the protests and video.
Her comment that a 'mob was hijacked' had by the time she spoke on the tv circuit was virtually untenable. The only reason by that time the Intel community didn't 100% come around to the truth was they'd have to admit how wrong their initial intel was, imo. They still didn't know exactly which group[s] planned the attacks, but the protest/video scenarios were heading to the garbage.
By the time of Rice's appearances, more was known. The evidence was accumulating that no protests occurred. Ben Rhodes had told Rice to underscore the protests and video.
Her comment that a 'mob was hijacked' had by the time she spoke on the tv circuit was virtually untenable. The only reason by that time the Intel community didn't 100% come around to the truth was they'd have to admit how wrong their initial intel was, imo. They still didn't know exactly which group[s] planned the attacks, but the protest/video scenarios were heading to the garbage.
The analysts were asked if they wanted to change their initial assessment based on additional input from the Chief of Station in Tripoli, among others, and they said no.
It was an evolving situation. I agree that the analysts will tend to stick to their original assessment until there is clear intelligence that it is wrong. The bottom line however is that on the day Susan Rice appeared on the Sunday shows the CIA had not changed their initial assessment and Susan Rice based her comments on that CIA assessment.
FWIW, the Senate Intelligence committee report on Benghazi had been critical of the CIA for the length of time it took the CIA to revise the CIA's assessment.
By the time of the Sunday shows numerous protests against the U.S. had occurred and were occurring which were connected to the video. The Ben Rhodes prep email for Susan Rice was referring to those protests and correctly predicted that Susan Rice would be questioned about those protests. The Ben Rhodes email doesn't mention Benghazi.
As an example the first question to Susan Rice on the Fox News Sunday show was about the wider protests and not Benghazi.
WALLACE: Leland Vittert reporting from Cairo -- Leland, thanks for that.
Joining us now our ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice. Ambassador, welcome back to "Fox News Sunday." AMB. SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Thank you. WALLACE: This week, there have been anti-American protests in two dozen countries across the Islamic world. The White House says it has nothing to do with the president's policies.
Let's watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This is not a case of protests directed at the United States writ large or at U.S. policy. This is in response to a video that is offensive.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: You don't really believe that? RICE: Chris, absolutely I believe that. In fact, it is the case. We had the evolution of the Arab spring over the last many months. But what sparked the recent violence was the airing on the Internet of a very hateful very offensive video that has offended many people around the world.
Now, our strong view is that there is no excuse for violence. It is absolutely reprehensible and never justified. But, in fact, there have been those in various parts of the world who have reacted with violence. Their governments have increasingly and effectively responded and protected our facilities and condemned the violence and this outrageous response to what is an offensive video. But there is no question that what we have seen in the past, with things like satanic verses, with the cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, there have been -- such things that have sparked outrage and anger and this has been the proximate cause of what we've seen.
Wallace didn't bring up Benghazi until near the end of the interview.
'Cause us right-wing idiots know the real showdown is only now gettin' goin' with Rep. Trey Gowdy chairing a special congressional committee on Benghazi this winter. Trey Gowdy Captains Benghazi Investigation As The Anti-Issa
Of course, all you leftys knew about this new council, called by the House Majority Leader months ago, as a result of Issa's congressional investigation of Benghazi that just ended...You already knew that, right?
This is going to be so entertaining. We've got Boehner now spending even more taxpayer money on lawsuits and how many Benghazi investigations!"As Lindsey Graham would say "I do believe he's going for a record!" He's really lost it. Probably still soused from the election
They might as well just wrap up the 2016 presidency in a nice package with a bow and hand it to the Dems.
'Cause us right-wing idiots know the real showdown is only now gettin' goin' with Rep. Trey Gowdy chairing a special congressional committee on Benghazi this winter.
Of course, all you leftys knew about this new council, called by the House Majority Leader months ago, as a result of Issa's congressional investigation of Benghazi that just ended...You already knew that, right?
That's the spirit! You'll get that pesky roadrunner this time.
It's part of the GOP laser-like focus on jobs. Laser. Like.
Nah. Lasers are coherent.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
