We Know Who Cut 'Terrorism' From Benghazi Talking Points

Who's to blame for deleting 'Al Qaeda' from Susan Rice's notes?

It turns out that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is the culprit who cut "al Qaeda" and "terrorism" out of the talking points used by UN Ambassador Susan Rice after the Benghazi tragedy. According to CBS News, the White House and State department did not make the cuts.

Intelligence sources told CBS that the connections to Al Qaeda were thought too "tenuous" to include in the unclassified info shared with the public. The talking points were reviewed by DNI head James Clapper, whom Obama appointed, but it's not known who deleted the terrorism references.

Another senior official told CBS News that "the points were not, as has been insinuated by some, edited to minimize the role of extremists, diminish terrorist affiliations, or play down that this was an attack."

The controversy arose after Rice linked the Benghazi attack to a spontaneous protest over an anti-Muslim film, when in fact the violence was a premeditated act of terror.

Via CBS.

Does this news help dispel the idea that the White House covered up the role of terrorism?

[MRMacrum]

Probably won't help with the Right Wing lynch mob any. It is another step into the light though. I hope we continue to get more information.

[KoolD]

MRMacrum One would hope that the administration could at least try telling the truth for once rather than more of their lies.

[bsking]

@KoolD no they believe their lies are enough because their base believes it.
you have to understand they view everything in campaign mode, they figure if they can lie to 51% and those 51 believe it, that's good enough.

with all of them trying to stab each other in the back this is going to get very interesting.

[MRMacrum]

@KoolD - One would hope the folks on the Right would stop jumping to conclusions.

[AceLuby]

What cover up? I'm still confused as to what the purpose of a cover up would be and what exactly they are 'covering up'.

[MRMacrum]

Those have been my questions right along. But I gave up asking them because the angry voices on the Right were too busy trying to turn this into a political hit on Obama. We may never know the "complete truth" of what happened. But if the saner Republicans in Congress keep backing away from this I will assume there is not much that be construed as a cover up designed to deceive the American people. But I would like to know more.

[DerivePI]

@AceLuby and MRMacrum - a summary of this "cover up" - intentionally misleading the public by telling them that the reason behind the attack and execution of the US ambassador in Libya was due to a protest against a US made movie instead of due to a planned military action by terrorists. A possible reason for this cover up - election year with a president running on a talking point of being tough on terrorism (I killed Bin Laden) and finding out that the administration got rolled on the 9/11 anniversary by terrorists. Adding to that information are the requests for additional security (Security Support Team) from the Ambassador which were not approved.

[CanisCanemEdit]

You know how this will be received by the low info folks:

Clapper = Obama appointee = Obama coverup.

[MRMacrum]

I read that. One does not necessarily follow the other. But if it makes you happy to think so, go ahead with the fuzzy math.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

The obama does not believe in terrorists. He would not say the word during the '08 campaign. So could you imagine the surprise on his face when he found out that another terrorist attack happened on U.S. soil? He immediately wanted to make this seem like some spontaneous protest gone awry. Ooops, looks like that failed. Sorry obama, we know what you're up to. You've got four years left to ruin America. We won't allow it. And believe you me, next election you are out of office!

[DARSB]

@Neo_NtheMatrix "And believe you me, next election you are out of office!"

That would make sense, since the President is term-limited and he won't be running again.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@DARSB - Correct.

[Nat]

@Neo_NtheMatrix I keep hearing the Republicans try to make a mountain out of a molehill. The article said it was not President Obama but the top official of the DNA. He was appointed by President Obama, but that doesn't mean he's covering up something for him. It's the Republican lynch mob at work again.
If the DNA thought it was too explosive to use the words 'Al Queda', and it would be a security risk, why do you have a problem with that?

Clearly, there is no smoking gun. All Presidencies have things that are disagreeable to some. I saw the Democrat lynch mob in place the whole last term of President Bush. That wasn't any nicer than the Republican one now. Instead of trying to find solutions together, the two parties are separating people further and further apart. What do you think this will gain for Americans?

To keep the propaganda mill running is to undermine everything that America stands for.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Rice does not deserve a promotion for mishandling the Benghazi episode. The obama administration did not deserve a second term either. So based on the foolishness of the American people, I fully expect them to embrace the incompetent Secretary of State Susan Rice. Sad people, but unfortunately true. We still have 2014 to look forward to. If you drop the ball again, then you deserve obama's miserable failed leadership.

[Cheenoguy]

Please explain how Mrs Rice mishandled the Benghazi situation. She read a prepared statement from the Department Of Intelligence. She didn't write or edit it. She had no control of the embassy at any point. She was simply a messenger. I would live to hear how you rationalize that. Oh and since you are an expert on her competence level please tell me something about her other then that she is the UN ambassador who read a scripted message to the press. And don't use google. Just tell me something about her from your own memory banks.
Looking forward to a response.

[woodtick57]

yet you still cannot come up with one factual way anyone mishandled the situation. just more media soundbytes...

Wanna cracker?

[martydotcom]

Off with her head!! How could we permit a public servant who has done nothing wrong other than being part of the Obama administration to continue. Say Hallelujah for Lindsay Graham and John (I can't believe I lost to the black guy)McCain

[MBernard]

@Cheenoguy You'll never get a response. These guys talk until they're challenge to tell the truth, then they hide their face and never say anything again until it's time to come out of the woodwork to tell us their next talking points.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Four people died mercilessly at the hands of ruthless terrorists. Instead of being honest and leveling with the American people, obama sent Rice in to lie on his behalf. Isn't that enough? She knew there was no protest and yet she lied callously to the American people. How do you think the families of those four patriotic brave souls felt when Rice as on the Sunday circuit lying up a storm. So sicking sick.

[NormalFlora]

The GOP claims to be the party that supports our troops in harms way, but the GOP refuses to shut up about something that could harm CIA operatives. Please, some things are secret for a reason!!!!

[Sharpshooter]

And that from someone who obviously supports Axleshaft and his boy. Some secrets should be respected? You gotta be kidding. The CIA Operatives in Libya were outed long ago by the Axleshaft administration. Them respect a secret, like sealed court documents relating to a child custody case? Like medical records? PLEASE, don't make me spew more coffee on my keyboard.

[Sharpshooter]

CBS News and an Axleshaft/Jarret appointee said it so it must be so, based on the consistent display of integrity and truthfulness, right? The question has been on the table for WEEKS and they're just now coming up with this as an answer? Right, and Santa Claus will be providing healthcare to his elves including contraceptives provided by Roman Catholic Church Distributing Co. How can you tell a member of the Axleshaft/Jarret Conspiracy Crew is lying? Simple, they're breathing and have a pulse.

[Buckfan4life2]

Well I wonder whos next in line to throw themselves under the bus before finally getting to the one who everyone is protecting. Anyone with half a brain knows who the REAL culprits or culprit is. I hope and pray they don't give up on this until the truth is revealed. I can't believe that people can't see that this is how Dictators work,its never their fault!

[Bobolinsky]

Uh Oh... An old white guy. How is the Left going to label us haters if the culprit is an old white guy? I guess it makes sense though. Only white males are capable of telling lies or hating free speech. Right?

[Real4WheelDrv]

Don't forget white women and minorities who vote Republican, those poor barefoot, pregnant, and chained souls.

[Bobolinsky]

@Real4WheelDrv-- Yeah. They lie too but they must have a genetic defect or something that prevents them from voting according to their skin color and/or genitalia. Maybe the two are related... We could call it the "traitor gene."

[DARSB]

Obviously, Admiral Clapper is lying in order to hide the close ties the President has with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the governing party in Egypt, but why let geography get in the way of a good conspiracy.

[jessejaymes]

I knew it had to be one of the spook agencies. Rice is too far down the ladder to be speaking off the cuff and Obama was too far up the ladder to be instructing what was said at that early date. Had to come from a spook agency.

[mimi57]

They can point fingers til the goats come home...but this was on Hillary, and she lied, and it was known to the
President and he went on Talk Shows and he lied and it was all done because the election was coming up and
he didn't want a black eye...Two people are directly responsible, but the 'buck stops' at the president. Four men
were killed, they had pleaded for heightened security and Chris Stevens predicted his own death, the Red Cross and all
other agencies pulled out after due to the fear of another attack...the president has the blood of these men on his
hands. Oh, I'm sure he'll lose no sleep, it takes a conscience for that...he'll continue playing "Mr. Cool" to his fans.
But, in the end, he will be known for what he did, or failed to do, he knows it now and so does anyone else who
has watched this entire thing unfold. He'll go down in History for this and it's just the beginning...

[woodtick57]

Wxactly what is it you think they lied about?

[jessejaymes]

I bet you're still really bent about those 4,000 kids killed and those 40,000 maimed in Iraq behind the Bush lies huh?

[mimi57]

@jessejaymes A war is a war and that's just how it is...this was different and the two can't be compared...If
Bush "lied" so did, the Clintons, Reid, Pelosi, and every other Dem who believed that they had WMD's and
I'm sure they had them, they had plenty of time and ways to do it... don't tell me you trust those sick, twisted people Please...

[jessejaymes]

@mimi57 numbers are numbers and dead is dead. Don't even try sluffing off Iraq as "just a war". An unjustified war behind lies to make profit for Halliburton and Texas oil. But this is what I figured you'd say. You'll alibi 44,000 dead and wounded and go nuts over 4. The entire article makes it clear who took out the words terrorists and A-Queda. And it wasn't rice and it wasn't obama. The head of that agency needs to resign. But this wasn't some grand conspiracy like with the Bush admin.

[mimi57]

@jessejaymes So, then you agree, both sides of the aisle believed there were WMD's ?

[Ashstop]

What an insult!! First the goverment creates half the country that can't work or take care of theirselves then they act like we should believe anything they tell us!! Anyone that could think for themselves would see its a coverup, Obama said to come after him then keeps hiding behind scapegoats

[Kptpredsfan]

how can anyone see its a coverup? Where is your smoking gun? If you took this case to a courtroom you would be laughed out the door inside of 5 minutes. I can't see much of anything here except that press statements made before the facts come out are not always accurate. You do realize how many people are involved in the intelligence system, that is like holding a ceo responsible for one of the employees sending an unapproved email. Believe it or not sometimes its not a conspiracy.

[Ashstop]

@Kptpredsfan
Sigh...
Your right of course, the CEO ( Obama ) had no ideal what the press had told the nation, as soon as he found out 2 weeks later he set the record straight! Ugh!! Hopefully he will find out what else is going on and straighten it out too, he's obviously not in the information chain!

[Kptpredsfan]

@Ashstop I really hope this provokes a revamp of the entire intelligence system. We gather intel better than any country on the planet, then we turn around and lose all that good info in miles of red tape and beurocracy. I'm guessing after all the attention and press this got, president probably has someone keeping an eye on intel issues.

[Dan_Tien]

Even after the controversy about that press conference, Benghazi locals were saying that a militia in the area was shouting about the anti-Mohammed video and vowing revenge for it, the same ones responsible for the attack. There was plenty of conflicting stories going around, and no one familiar with gathering good intelligence amid the fog of war should be surprised that the view wasn't crystal clear. Armchair experts with 20/20 hindsight who get all of their information from Fox News can blather all they want, but they know nothing that hasn't been served.up to them.

[Realthinker]

Still skirting the real issue which is who gave the order to "stand down" and not attempt to rescue the consulate personenel.

[Hammertime]

The DNI is part of the Adm., I can't believe that they would delete using AQ without approval from the President. But, to go on for weeks blaming it on a video is a disservice to our people who work overseas in these countries. Especially when the Seals were killed 7hrs after the attack began, and with help only an hour away. We did nothing. That's the disgrace to all of us... They deserved better!!!! This Adm., needs to be held accountable.

[Everyman]

No. It idiotic to think that Obama didn't know EXECTLY what was going on and what was right and what was wrong. A lie is a lie. They Lied when they knew better.

[Everyman]

A movie my butt. Who put THAT in there? Why did they let Chris Stevens die? Where is the executive order to send people in to save him? There must be hundreds of copies.

[joyshusband]

I believe it's past time for everyone to take responsibility for their actions, if your boss hands you a piece of paper, and you know the words on the paper is a bunch of lies, refuse to go on tv and read it. Now the R's are attacking Susan Rice for the lies, and the D's are attacking the R's saying they're sexist and racist. It really is disgusting seeing our elected officials acting like kids on a playground arguing over who gets on the teeter totter next.

[Jeff_Woehrle]

Yet, the information was not 'tenuous' enough to not report that it was kids throwing rocks?

More lies from this administration...and it's getting pretty thick.

[woodtick57]

And they never reported anything near that, did they? in facxt, everything the WH has done on the Benghazi issue has been pretty open and up front, hasn't it? and this is from a conservative that has never voted for Obama, just someone tat looks at the facts objectively...

[Jeff_Woehrle]

@woodtick57 What they reported was nothing near what the facts are. What they DID say is that the whole affair was just some folks upset at some movie they never saw.

But, i guess that passes as 'credible,' right?

:-)

[PNWest]

The idiots on the right really don't care about the truth. To them it's all about the talking points. If it's not the birth certificate, college transcripts, teleprompter, wedding band, Benghazi or any of dozens of other ginned up controversies they would have to acknowledge that the country is doing at least a little better than it was 4 years ago and that life goes on pretty much normally in spite of a black man being President. To them it's much more fun to be outraged.