Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/Ryan

Team O: Libya an Issue Because Romney Politicized It - National Review Online

Video of Stephanie Cutter on CNN, responding after CNN plays a timeline of events.

So apparently, the Obama campaign thinks the first assassination of a US ambassador in 30 years in a planned attack by al Qaeda on September 11th -- as well as the Administration's inability to explain what they knew when they knew it, if indeed they know what's going on at all, accompanied by inter-departmental backstabbing -- isn't worth getting concerned over.

I mean, how could those things be as important as Big Bird?

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

It will be interesting to see if it comes up in the next debate: will Obama try to defend the incident as (a) negligence, (b) incompetence, or (c) a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Diogenes said:

It will be interesting to see if it comes up in the next debate: will Obama try to defend the incident as (a) negligence, (b) incompetence, or (c) a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

Click to expand...

Obama's up to his neck in it... and just at the right time.
This thing has legs because they were incompetent and tried to deceive their way out of it.

Economic disaster combined with a failed foreign policy and you've got _ E T _ _ E M E _ T.

Obama lied (Clinton, Rice & Carney too), people died.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Diogenes said:

It will be interesting to see if it comes up in the next debate: will Obama try to defend the incident as (a) negligence, (b) incompetence, or (c) a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

Click to expand...

Hopefully it will come up tonight. One of Biden's favorite campaign lines had been GM's alive and Bin Laden's dead. But now we all know that al qaeda is alive and making a strong comeback across the Middle East. It's funny how their resurgence coincided with Obama's strategy of leading from behind during the Arab spring which the administration blindly supported.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

I got my 10 minute radio dose in my car going to lunch. As is my hobby, I listened to one of the 3 strongly conservative stations. I don't know who the guy was (not Limbaugh, not Hannity) but he was saying the same things that are in this thread.

His interesting comment was "I don't know what should have been done or what we should do in the future" but Obama sucks etc.

So, what does anybody suggest should have been done and what should be done in the future?

((remember folks, I'm non-partisan so bashing me is pretty pointless. Just answer the question))

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

This is a distraction and the intent is purposeful

If we're talking about Romney/Ryan "politicizing it" we're not talking about Obama and his cronies LYING ABOUT IT while the bodies were still warm after having been raped and murdered. This is the same tactic they used with the "felon" garbage and Cutter.

Not going to work libs. There is nobody else to throw under the bus for your failures except yourselves

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

That Obama bitch pissed me the **** off royally when she started laughing.

Goddamned Obama administration is "still studying" the situation. Bull****!! The only thing they are studying is how they can not look bad from their **** up.

Meanwhile, there's a mother out there whose son died in service to his country and Obama can't bring himself to tell her how it happened.

****ing Pathetic!!

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

jerry7 said:

Hopefully it will come up tonight. One of Biden's favorite campaign lines had been GM's alive and Bin Laden's dead. But now we all know that al qaeda is alive and making a strong comeback across the Middle East. It's funny how their resurgence coincided with Obama's strategy of leading from behind during the Arab spring which the administration blindly supported.

Click to expand...

I really, really, really, really hope Ryan doesn't go all tacky and say something like, "AQ's alive and Ambassador Stevens is dead, too."...in response to Biden's mantra. I don't really think he WOULD, but there's certainly room for it.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

specklebang said:

I got my 10 minute radio dose in my car going to lunch. As is my hobby, I listened to one of the 3 strongly conservative stations. I don't know who the guy was (not Limbaugh, not Hannity) but he was saying the same things that are in this thread.

His interesting comment was "I don't know what should have been done or what we should do in the future" but Obama sucks etc.

So, what does anybody suggest should have been done and what should be done in the future?

((remember folks, I'm non-partisan so bashing me is pretty pointless. Just answer the question))

Click to expand...

They should have provided the security requested and should have responded to the intelligence that existed. It's not rocket science.

Or maybe they should have removed our people from the region during the anniversary of the most significant terrorist attack in our lifetimes.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

OK, now what should be done in the future? I'm now speaking of overall policy, not embassy security. Should we leave completely?

tessaesque said:

They should have provided the security requested and should have responded to the intelligence that existed. It's not rocket science.

Or maybe they should have removed our people from the region during the anniversary of the most significant terrorist attack in our lifetimes.

Click to expand...

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Harshaw said:

Team O: Libya an Issue Because Romney Politicized It - National Review Online

Video of Stephanie Cutter on CNN, responding after CNN plays a timeline of events.

So apparently, the Obama campaign thinks the first assassination of a US ambassador in 30 years in a planned attack by al Qaeda on September 11th -- as well as the Administration's inability to explain what they knew when they knew it, if indeed they know what's going on at all, accompanied by inter-departmental backstabbing -- isn't worth getting concerned over.

I mean, how could those things be as important as Big Bird?

Click to expand...

Obviously the best thing to do is to throw delicate international situations into ridiculous political kabuki theatre.

Maybe a series of non-political appointees at the state department made a few decisions that were made in good faith and only look like mistakes in hindsight. And maybe the intelligence community was extremely conservative as to changing their initial assessment because a political hack tried to score points WHILE American blood was being spilt.

And maybe we should all put our big boy pants on and assess what's actually gone on. Four American's were murdered by an al Qaeda plot. It's a tragedy to be sure, but how many soldiers died last week in Afghanistan? How many people died on 9-11? How died in the war in Iraq?

Here we have a bunch of people who supported asinine policies that directly led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans, acting indignant about four. And their solution.....more asinine policies and sabre rattling.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

You know....World War II was only a big deal because Alfred Landon was running against FDR.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

specklebang said:

OK, now what should be done in the future? I'm now speaking of overall policy, not embassy security. Should we leave completely?

Click to expand...

Number one ....never support the overthrow of a stable government that's cooperating by supplying intelligence unless you are one hundred percent certain who's behind the uprising and that the action will benefit the US.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

The guy that ran that stable government was the guy who had Pan Am shot down. I celebrated his death.

Nobody knows the outcome of these military adventures. If we attack Iran under Romney, and that seems likely, how can we know who will take over? How can we be certain of anything? How can we determine what will benefit us?

jerry7 said:

Number one ....never support the overthrow of a stable government that's cooperating by supplying intelligence unless you are one hundred percent certain who's behind the uprising and that the action will benefit the US.

Click to expand...

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Wait a minute.

Is there no alternative explanation for why the administration would deliberately try to obfuscate the events? Has there been an explanation for why the Ambassador was in Benghazi? Oh wait I get it.

In the rush to politicize this tragedy, Issa recalls his committee to "get to the bottom it". An investigation is exactly what is required. As to the public nature of this enquiry - thats a purely political motivation because Issa and his committee have succeeded in seriously blowing the CIA's cover. Nobody found it odd that initial reports had a CIA analyst amongst the dead? The supposed "safe house" was a CIA station.

Could the administration actually be attempting to determine how the attackers a)knew the ambassador was there b) knew that the CIA station was there c) why the temporary unrecognized "consulate" was attacked first d) what operations were going on by the CIA at the time e) could those operations have prompted retaliation. could they have been reluctant to explain the role of the CIA operations in Libya?

Ya think maybe the new elected democratic government of Libya might take a modicum of offense and if not them, then you can be guaranteed the opposition would want to rip their government a new one. (you know republican like behaviour).

Seems there are no answers from the righties, just a bumbling rush to judgement that outs a major CIA operation, without them even being aware of this inexcusable security breach on their part. .

Dana Milbank: Letting us in on a secret - The Washington Post

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Mithros said:

Obviously the best thing to do is to throw delicate international situations into ridiculous political kabuki theatre.

Maybe a series of non-political appointees at the state department made a few decisions that were made in good faith and only look like mistakes in hindsight. And maybe the intelligence community was extremely conservative as to changing their initial assessment because a political hack tried to score points WHILE American blood was being spilt.

And maybe we should all put our big boy pants on and assess what's actually gone on. Four American's were murdered by an al Qaeda plot. It's a tragedy to be sure, but how many soldiers died last week in Afghanistan? How many people died on 9-11? How died in the war in Iraq?

Here we have a bunch of people who supported asinine policies that directly led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans, acting indignant about four. And their solution.....more asinine policies and sabre rattling.

Click to expand...

So, it all (not just the event itself, but the Administration's reaction to it, as recounted in the video) really isn't a big deal? Is that what I'm getting from you?

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

The Obama administration was flat out wrong to initially state the attack was over a movie when they had information to the contrary. Crap like that is why I believe Presidents should only sit one term. No sitting President should have to divert his attention and priorities to running for re-election. And the House GOP was flat out wrong to cut the funding for embassy and consulate security. As someone who works at embassies I have enough rage regarding this issue to go around.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Sarcogito said:

The Obama administration was flat out wrong to initially state the attack was over a movie when they had information to the contrary. Crap like that is why I believe Presidents should only sit one term. No sitting President should have to divert his attention and priorities to running for re-election. And the House GOP was flat out wrong to cut the funding for embassy and consulate security. As someone who works at embassies I have enough rage regarding this issue to go around.

Click to expand...

I guess it's a matter of priorities.

If funding for embassies gets cut, do you compensate by reducing security? Or do you compensate by not buying Volts?

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Mycroft said:

I guess it's a matter of priorities.

If funding for embassies gets cut, do you compensate by reducing security? Or do you compensate by not buying Volts?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately that isn't a tradeoff we can make as it is two different "pots" of money. The best State can do is reduce security at some embassies in order to increase security at others. Or make tradeoffs between security personnel and security equipment.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Sarcogito said:

Unfortunately that isn't a tradeoff we can make as it is two different "pots" of money. The best State can do is reduce security at some embassies in order to increase security at others. Or make tradeoffs between security personnel and security equipment.

Click to expand...

This whole funding charge by the Democrats is nothing more than an attempt at finding a scapegoat...something the Democrats are known for. Heck, Obama STILL blames Bush.

Comparing FY 2011 actual funding versus the FY 2012 estimate, there appears to be a reduction in Worldwide Security Protection and Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance. But that reduction does not account for additional funding in FY 2012 from Overseas Contingency Operations funds amounting to $236 million for Worldwide Security Protection (p. 63) and $33 million for Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance (p. 467). As a result, total funds for Worldwide Security Protection for FY 2012 are estimated to be $94 million higher than in FY 2011, while Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance is estimated to be $61 million less than FY 2011. Together, there is a net increase.

In terms of people, the budget justification reported that Worldwide Security Protection had slightly fewer positions budgeted (1,777 in FY 2011 versus 1,707 in FY 2012) and Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance had the same number of positions budgeted (1,014 for both years).

In its budget request for FY 2013, the Administration requested significantly more funding for embassy security—mostly through the Overseas Contingency Operations budget—but retained the same number of positions, apparently on the assumption that security staffing was adequate. Regardless, that budget, even if approved in its entirety, would have entered into effect after the events in Libya.

It is tempting to look for a scapegoat for the tragic events in Libya. However, if one exists, the overall budget for embassy security is not it. Funding for that purpose has risen sharply over the past decade. Moreover, the State Department has considerable latitude in allocating security funds based on current events and intelligence on possible threats. Why that latitude was not applied in Libya deserves further scrutiny.

Libya Security Lapse: The Budget for Embassy Security Is Not Responsible

Click to expand...

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Harshaw said:

So, it all (not just the event itself, but the Administration's reaction to it, as recounted in the video) really isn't a big deal? Is that what I'm getting from you?

Click to expand...

No the point is that the worst thing to do in a delicate international situation is to go around throwing rhetorical bombs and bringing the debate into a Kabuki theatre. Who does that help? Does it do anything to protect other diplomats and soldiers or does it inflame and confuse the situation making the world a more dangerous place? Who does it help when you say that the only difference between yourself and the president is that the president "lacks credibility"?

Here's a hint, not us.

Yes I want an investigation as to who knew what and when. But using American deaths to score political points? Disgraceful.

When the US is attacked abroad we stand together as a nation. ... Unless the President happens to be a Democrat.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Mithros said:

No the point is that the worst thing to do in a delicate international situation is to go around throwing rhetorical bombs and bringing the debate into a Kabuki theatre. Who does that help? Does it do anything to protect other diplomats and soldiers or does it inflame and confuse the situation making the world a more dangerous place? Who does it help when you say that the only difference between yourself and the president is that the president "lacks credibility"?

Here's a hint, not us.

Yes I want an investigation as to who knew what and when. But using American deaths to score political points? Disgraceful.

When the US is attacked abroad we stand together as a nation. ... Unless the President happens to be a Democrat.

Click to expand...

Lying about those deaths in order to save one's political campaign...no matter what Party one is from...is despicable and shows one does not deserve to be re-elected.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Mycroft said:

This whole funding charge by the Democrats is nothing more than an attempt at finding a scapegoat...something the Democrats are known for. Heck, Obama STILL blames Bush.

Click to expand...

Regardless of the Dems' motivations, the funding charge is real. The Republicans ****ed us by cutting our security funding. Then the President's administration ****ed us by ignoring our concerns. The lying afterwards doesn't bother me near as much as the actions before hand that got my friends killed. I knew AMB Stevens and I knew Sean. I used to work at the embassy in Tripoli. This shouldn't be fodder for the left and right to attack each other with. Both sides are at fault and everyone needs to man up and woman up and take their fair share of the blame, and more importantly, pay attention when people in the field speak.

I can't stand politicians and their partisan hack minions. **** em all.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Sarcogito said:

Regardless of the Dems' motivations, the funding charge is real. The Republicans ****ed us by cutting our security funding. Then the President's administration ****ed us by ignoring our concerns. The lying afterwards doesn't bother me near as much as the actions before hand that got my friends killed. I knew AMB Stevens and I knew Sean. I used to work at the embassy in Tripoli. This shouldn't be fodder for the left and right to attack each other with. Both sides are at fault and everyone needs to man up and woman up and take their fair share of the blame, and more importantly, pay attention when people in the field speak.

I can't stand politicians and their partisan hack minions. **** em all.

Click to expand...

But it bothers those of us who grew up expecting the President to remain silent in lieu of lying to us for a couple of weeks. This is a cover up of an embarrassing error or a crime. Barack Milhous Obama must go.

Re: Watch the Obama Campaign tell us that Libya is only a big deal because of Romney/

Mycroft said:

Lying about those deaths in order to save one's political campaign...no matter what Party one is from...is despicable and shows one does not deserve to be re-elected.

Click to expand...

How does it help Obama's campaign to first say that it was a spontaneous terrorist attack and then later change the assessment to a pre-planned terrorist attack? Do you wonder why no took the fast and furious conspiracy seriously? This is more conservative underpants gnome logic.

It goes something like this:
Step 1: Convince the intelligence community to release an unclassified assessment saying that the attacks were spontaneous terrorist attacks.
Step 2:
Step 3: Win Re-election.

I mean you accuse the administration of being incredibly devious that they can perfectly carry out horrendously complicated conspiracies while at the same time pointing out the glaringly obvious flaw in their plan. It's just nonsensical.