The REAL Benghazi Story: What the White House and Hillary Don't Want You to Know

by Aaron Klein

  6. Aaron Klein, “Who’s lying? Benghazi witnesses vs. State Dept.” WND, November 28, 2013, http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/whos-lying-benghazi-witnesses-vs-state-dept.

  1. THE REAL “SECURITY” SITUATION AT U.S. SPECIAL MISSION

  1. “U.S. Embassy Officially Opens Consular Section in Tripoli,” Tripoli Post, August 28, 2012, http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=9095.

  2. U.S. Department of State, “Unclassified” ARB Report, accessed February 26, 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf, hereinafter “ARB report.”

  3. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, with Additional Views, September 11–12, 2012 (January 15, 2014), http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/benghazi2014/benghazi.pdf, 27–28.

  4. Ibid., “Additional Views of Vice Chairman Chambliss and Senators Burr, Risch, Coats, Rubio, and Coburn,” 12.

  5. Jennifer Griffin, “EXCLUSIVE: CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack, sources say,” FoxNews.com, October 26, 2012 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/.

  6. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, 38.

  7. Ibid., 38, 39.

  8. United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, “Benghazi Attacks: Investigative Update: Interim Report on the Accountability Review Board” (September 16, 2013), http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Report-for-Members-final.pdf, 68.

  9. Ibid., 69.

  10. Ibid., 68.

  11. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Additional Views, 11.

  12. Full text, Majority Staff Report, House Foreign Affairs Committee, “Benghazi: Where is the State Department Accountability?” Available at http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/sites/republicans.foreignaffairs.house.gov/files/HFAC%20Majority%20Staff%20Report%20on%20Benghazi.pdf.

  13. Leigh Ann Caldwell, “GOP Rep: Benghazi Not a ‘Complete Cover-Up,’” New Day (CNN blog), November 18, 2013, http://newday.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/18/rep-westmoreland-weighs-in-on-hearing-with-benghazi-eye-witnesses/.

  14. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf.

  15. ARB report, 30.

  16. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

  17. ARB report, 18.

  18. Ibid., 5.

  19. Ibid., 19.

  20. Bill Roggio, “Ansar al Shariah issues statement on US Consulate assault in Libya,” Threat Matrix (a blog of Long War Journal), September 12, 2012, http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2012/09/ansar_al_shariah_issues_statem.php#ixzz2sT3f59rP.

  21. David D. Kirkpatrick, Suliman Ali Zway, and Kareem Fahim, “Attack by Fringe Group Highlights the Problem of Libya’s Militias,” New York Times, Middle East, September 15, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/world/middleeast/attack-by-fringe-group-highlights-the-problem-of-libya-militias.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.

  22. “US files charges against Benghazi attack suspects, official says,” FoxNews.com, August 6, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/06/us-reportedly-files-charges-against-benghazi-attack-suspects/.

  23. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, 39.

  24. Ibid., 6.

  25. Ibid.

  26. ARB report, 21, 24.

  27. Ibid., 21.

  28. House Foreign Affairs Committee, “Benghazi: Where Is the State Department Accountability?” Majority Staff Report, accessed February 26, 2014, http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/sites/republicans.foreignaffairs.house.gov/files/HFAC%20Majority%20Staff%20Report%20on%20Benghazi.pdf, 12.

  29. David Cenciotti, “This Is the DC-3 Plane the State Dept Denied to Stevens and Security Support Team at U.S. Embassy in Libya,” The Aviationist, October 5, 2012, http://theaviationist.com/2012/10/05/dos-dc3/.

  30. House Foreign Affairs Committee, “Benghazi,” 12.

  31. ARB report, 27, 28.

  32. Jamie Crawford and Jill Dougherty, “State Dept. denied plane request for security team in Libya,” Security Clearance (CNN blog), October 5, 2012, http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/05/state-dept-denied-plane-request-for-security-team-in-libya/.

  33. House Foreign Affairs Committee, “Benghazi,” 12.

  34. Ibid.

  35. Caldwell, “GOP Rep: Benghazi Not a ‘Complete Cover-Up’” (Video), http://newday.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/18/rep-westmoreland-weighs-in-on-hearing-with-benghazi-eye-witnesses/.

  36. “VIDEO: Rep. Lynn Westmoreland on Benghazi eyewitness testimony,” Fox News, November 26, 2013, http://video.foxnews.com/v/2871289782001/replynn-westmoreland-on-benghazi-eyewitness-testimony/#sp=show-clips.

  37. ARB report, 20, 21.

  38. Ibid., 21.

  39. Ibid., 21, 22.

  40. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Additional Views, 11.

  41. Ibid.

  42. Ibid., 1.

  43. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, 1n2.

  44. Jake Tapper, “Exclusive: Dozens of CIA operatives on the ground during Benghazi attack,” The Lead (CNN blog), August 1, 2013, http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/01/exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/.

  2. “FAST AND FURIOUS” OF THE MIDDLE EAST

  1. For more on this, see Aaron Klein, “Sources: Slain U.S. ambassador recruited jihadists,” WND, September 24, 2012, http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/sources-slain-u-s-ambassador-recruited-jihadists/.

  2. Olivier Knox, “Obama administration denies role in arming Syrian rebels,” ABC News, May 17, 2012, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obama-administration-denies-role-arming-syrian-rebels/story?id=16364484; and David Taylor, “US admits plan to arm Syrian rebels in aftermath of chemical weapons claim,” Times (UK), Middle East, May 2, 2013, http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article3753481.ece.

  3. Aaron Klein, “Did Hillary commit perjury?” WND, March 28, 2013, http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/did-hillary-commit-perjury/.

  4. Steven Lee Myers, “For Veteran Envoy, Return to Libya Was Full of Hope,” New York Times, September 12, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/world/middleeast/for-veteran-envoy-return-to-libya-was-full-of-hope.html?_r=1&.

  5. Mark Hosenball, “Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret help for Libya rebels,” Reuters, March 30, 2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330.

  6. Robert Fisk, “America’s secret plan to arm Libya’s rebels,” Independent (UK), March 7, 2011, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html.

  7. James Risen, Mark Mazzetti, and Michael S. Schmidt, “U.S.-Approved Arms for Libya Rebels Fell into Jihadis’ Hands,” New York Times, December 5, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/world/africa/weapons-sent-to-libyan-rebels-with-us-approval-fell-into-islamist-hands.html?pagewanted=all.

  8. Praveen Swami, Nick Squires, and Duncan Gardham, “Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links,” Telegraph (UK), March 25, 2011, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html.

  9. Robert Winnett, and Duncan Gardham, “Libya: al-Qaeda among Libya rebels, Nato chief fears,” Telegraph (UK), March 29, 2011, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html.

  10. C. J. Chivers and Eric Schmitt, “Arms Airlift to Syria Rebels Expands, with Aid from C.I.A.,” New York Times, March 24, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/world/middleeast
/arms-airlift-to-syrian-rebels-expands-with-cia-aid.html?_r=0.

  11. Ibid.

  12. Risen, Mazzetti, and S. Schmidtt, “U.S.-Approved Arms for Libya Rebels Fell Into Jihadis’ Hands,” New York Times, December 5, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/world/africa/weapons-sent-to-libyan-rebels-with-us-approval-fell-into-islamist-hands.html?pagewanted=all.

  13. Ibid.

  14. Ibid.

  15. See video, “Sen. Graham claims Benghazi survivors ‘told to be quiet’ by administration,” Fox News, March 15, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/sen-graham-claims-benghazi-survivors-told-to-be-quiet-by-administration/.

  16. Catherine Herridge and Pamela Browne, “Was Syrian weapons shipment factor in ambassador’s Benghazi visit?” Fox News, October 25, 2012, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/25/was-syrian-weapons-shipment-factor-in-ambassadors-benghazi-visit/.

  17. Jake Tapper, “Exclusive: Dozens of CIA operatives on the ground during Benghazi attack,” The Lead (CNN blog), August 1, 2013, http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/01/exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/.

  18. The Stimson Institute, “Spotlight: Assistant Secretary Shapiro Discusses Libya’s Missing,” February 2, 2012, http://www.stimson.org/spotlight/assistant-secretary-shapiro-discusses-libyas-missing-weapons/.

  19. Jessica Donati, Ghaith Shennib and Firas Bosalum, “The adventures of a Libyan weapons dealer in Syria,” Reuters, June 18, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/18/us-libya-syria-idUSBRE95H0WC20130618.

  20. Herridge and Browne, “Was Syrian weapons shipment factor in ambassador’s Benghazi visit?”

  21. Donati, Shennib, and Bosalum, “The adventures of a Libyan weapons dealer in Syria.”

  22. Ibid.

  23. Jennifer Griffin and Adam Housley, “EXCLUSIVE: Petraeus mistress may have revealed classified information at Denver speech on real reason for Libya attack,” Fox News.com, November 12, 2012, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/12/petraeus-mistress-may-have-revealed-classified-information-at-denver-speech/.

  24. Aaron Klein, “See video of Petraeus’ mistress YouTube yanked,” WND, November 12, 2012, http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/petraeus-mistress-speech-yanked-from-youtube/.

  25. “LIBYA: Petraeus Mistress Reveals CIA Annex Had Prisoners & Maybe the Reason for Consulate Attack,” YouTube video, 3:02, from a a keynote address at a University of Denver alumni symposium, given by Paula Broadwell, October 26, 2012, posted by “VexZeen,” May 11, 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDRi72r4yLk.

  26. Neil Munro, “CIA denies claim from Petraeus’ girlfriend that Benghazi annex held Libyan prisoners,” Daily Caller, November 12, 2012, http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/12/cia-denies-claim-from-petraeus-girlfriend-that-benghazi-annex-held-libyan-prisoners/.

  27. The Issa quotations in this section are taken from the interview transcript available at “Darrell Issa on Benghazi and the IRS,” HughHewitt.com, August 7, 2013, http://www.hughhewitt.com/darrell-issa-on-where-the-investigations-are-on-benghazi-and-irs-scandals/.

  3. WHY NO SPECIAL FORCES OR AIR SUPPORT WERE SENT

  1. Greg Richter, “Gen. Dempsey: No Stand Down Order Issued in Benghazi,” Newsmax, June 12, 2013, http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/dempsey-benghazi-stand-down/2013/06/12/id/509608.

  2. Adam Housley, “Special forces could’ve responded to Benghazi attack, whistle-blower tells Fox News,” Fox News Politics, April 30, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/30/special-ops-benghazi-whistleblower-tells-fox-news-government-could-have/.

  3. Mark Thompson, “Second-Guessing Benghazi (Cont.),” Time, June 14, 2013, http://nation.time.com/2013/06/14/second-guessing-benghazi-cont/.

  4. Housley, “Special forces could’ve responded to Benghazi attack.”

  5. “Transcript: Whistle-blower’s account of Sept. 11 Libya terror attack,” Fox News, May 8, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/08/transcript-whistle-blower-account-sept-11-libya-terror-attack/.

  6. Video available at Aspen Institute website, “AFRICOM: The Next Afghanistan?” retrieved February 2, 2014, http://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2013/07/19/africa-newest-global-terrorism-center.

  7. U.S. Department of State, “Unclassified” ARB Report, accessed February 26, 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf (hereinafter “ARB report”), 23.

  8. Kimberly Dozier, “CIA Benghazi team clash led to ‘stand down’ report,” Associated Press, December 14, 2013, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cia-benghazi-team-clash-led-stand-down-report.

  9. Ibid.

  10. Ibid.

  11. ARB report, 23.

  12. Jake Tapper, “President Obama Begs Off Answering Whether Americans in Benghazi Were Denied Requests for Help,” Political Punch (ABC blog), October 26, 2012, http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/president-obama-begs-off-answering-whether-americans-in-benghazi-were-denied-requests-for-help/.

  13. ARB report, 27.

  14. Cathy Burke, “Report: 400 US Surface-to-Air Missiles Went Missing in Benghazi,” Newsmax, August 12, 2013, http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/surface-air-missing-missiles/2013/08/12/id/520026.

  15. Ibid.

  16. Awr Hawkins, “Attorney for Whistleblower: 400 U.S. Missiles Stolen in Benghazi,” Breitbart, August 12, 2013, http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/08/12/Attorney-For-Benghazi-Whistleblower-400-U-S-Missiles-Stolen-In-Benghazi-Annex-Involved.

  17. Burke, “Report.”

  18. ARB report, 27.

  19. “AFRICOM and SOCAFRICA and the Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012” (transcript of unclassified witness testimony to the House Armed Services Committee), June 26, 2013, http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=AAEBCAA5-4C8F-4820-BACD-2DB9B53C3424, 46.

  20. Transcript of unclassified witness testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, May 21, 2013, http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=A5BE5DFD-FAA6-4485-9D40-BA30B550907C, 47.

  21. Aaron Klein, “Did senator drop Benghazi bombshell?” WND, March 18, 2013, http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/did-senator-drop-benghazi-bombshell/.

  22. The Stimson Institute, “Spotlight. Assistant Secretary Shapiro Discusses Libya’s Missing,” February 2, 2012, http://www.stimson.org/spotlight/assistant-secretary-shapiro-discusses-libyas-missing-weapons/; “A/S SHAPIRO: STIMSON REMARKS: Addressing the Challenge of MANPADS Proliferation 2/2/12,” http://www.stimson.org/images/uploads/Shapiro_Libya_Remarks.pdf, p. 1. The Shapiro comments that follow are from this transcript.

  23. A/S SHAPIRO: STIMSON REMARKS, 7, 8, 9.

  24. Ibid., 9, 10.

  25. Ibid., 10.

  26. Ibid., 12–13.

  27. Ibid., 10.

  28. Ibid., 15.

  29. Ibid., 17.

  30. Michelle Nichols, “Libya arms fueling conflicts in Syria, Mali and beyond: U.N. experts,” Reuters, April 9, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/09/us-libya-arms-un-idUSBRE93814Y20130409.

  31. Sharyl Attkisson, “Thousands of Libyan missiles from Qaddafi era missing in action,” CBS News, March 25, 2013, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-of-libyan-missiles-from-qaddafi-era-missing-in-action/.

  4. AMBASSADOR STEVENS KIDNAPPED?

  1. Aaron Klein, “Benghazi investigator won’t deny Stevens kidnap plot,” WND, September 25, 2013, http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/benghazi-investigator-wont-deny-stevens-kidnap-plot.

  2. Bill Gertz, “Possible Poisoning: Al Qaeda weapons expert says U.S. ambassador to Libya killed by lethal injection,” Washington Free Beacon, June 5, 2013, http://freebeacon.com/possible-poisoning/.

  3. Ibid.

  4. Ibid.

  5. Office of the Spokesperson, “Background Briefing on Libya,” U.S. Department of State, October 9, 2012, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/10/198791.htm.

  6. Bradley Klapper, “Timeline of comments on attack on US Consulate,” Associated Press, October 27, 2012, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/timeline-comments-attack-us-consulate.

  7. “Depu
ty Asst. Secretary of State Charlene Lamb testimony before House Oversight Committee,” October 10, 2012, http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012-10-09-Lamb-Testimony-FINAL1.pdf; and Jamie Dettmer, “The Truth behind the Benghazi Attack,” Daily Beast, October 22, 2012, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/10/21/truth-behind-the-benghazi-attack.html.

  8. U.S. Department of State, “Unclassified” ARB Report, accessed February 26, 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf (hereinafter “ARB report”), 21.

  9. Ibid., 22.

  10. Catherine Herridge, “Congressman: Benghazi attackers knew location of ambassador’s safe room,” Fox News, November 15, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/15/benghazi-attackers-reportedly-knew-location-ambassador-safe-room/.

  11. ARB report, 22.

  12. Ibid.

  13. Ibid., 26.

  14. Ibid.

  15. Ibid.

  16. Ibid., 27.

  17. “Transcript: Whistle-blower’s account of Sept. 11 Libya terror attack,” Fox News, May 8, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/08/transcript-whistle-blower-account-sept-11-libya-terror-attack/.

  18. Eli Lake and Josh Rogin, “Exclusive: Benghazi Whistleblower Says He Was Smeared,” Daily Beast, November 2, 2013, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/02/exclusive-benghazi-whistleblower-says-he-was-smeared.html.

  19. “Incident Report-new1.pdf,” the text of the Blue Mountain incident report at the U.S. special mission, dated September 14, 2012, can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.scribd.com/doc/181057020/Incident-Report-new1-pdf.

  20. Associated Press, “US ambassador Chris Stevens killed in consulate attack in Libya,” Syracuse Post-Standard, September 12, 2012, http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/us_ambassador_chris_stevens_ki.html.

  21. Kerry Picket, “AFP not behind report of purported rape of murdered U.S. ambassador to Libya,” Washington Times, September 13, 2012, http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/sep/13/picket-report-murdered-us-ambassador-libya-reporte/.