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Democrats criticise 'bogus' new congressional Benghazi inquiry Democrats criticise 'bogus' new congressional Benghazi inquiry
(4 months later)
Allies of President Barack Obama on Sunday sharply criticised the latest Republican inquiry into his response to the deadly 2012 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, describing it as a “bogus” scheme to score political points that was fuelled by conservative media.Allies of President Barack Obama on Sunday sharply criticised the latest Republican inquiry into his response to the deadly 2012 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, describing it as a “bogus” scheme to score political points that was fuelled by conservative media.
David Plouffe, a former senior White House adviser to Obama, said: “What is happening here, and it’s stoked by the talk-radio personalities and Fox News, is an alternative reality.”David Plouffe, a former senior White House adviser to Obama, said: “What is happening here, and it’s stoked by the talk-radio personalities and Fox News, is an alternative reality.”
“This has been politicised like we’ve never seen before,” Plouffe added, on ABC's This Week. “There’s a very loud, delusional minority that’s driving our politics, that’s in control of the Republican party. There is no conspiracy here at all.”“This has been politicised like we’ve never seen before,” Plouffe added, on ABC's This Week. “There’s a very loud, delusional minority that’s driving our politics, that’s in control of the Republican party. There is no conspiracy here at all.”
Anita Dunn, Obama's first White House communications director, dismissed Republican claims that a newly disclosed email, sent after the incident in Libya by a White House spokesman, contained explosive proof that aides knew it had been a terrorist attack, and tried to hide the fact.Anita Dunn, Obama's first White House communications director, dismissed Republican claims that a newly disclosed email, sent after the incident in Libya by a White House spokesman, contained explosive proof that aides knew it had been a terrorist attack, and tried to hide the fact.
“It's been called a smoking gun – I think, if you look at this email, it's a lot more like a leaking water pistol,” Dunn said on NBC's Meet the Press, adding: “There's nothing in there that's inconsistent with the emails that have been released before, and there's nothing in there that is inconsistent with what the CIA had written.”“It's been called a smoking gun – I think, if you look at this email, it's a lot more like a leaking water pistol,” Dunn said on NBC's Meet the Press, adding: “There's nothing in there that's inconsistent with the emails that have been released before, and there's nothing in there that is inconsistent with what the CIA had written.”
Their remarks followed the announcement by the House Speaker, John Boehner, on Friday that he will convene a select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack, which killed the US ambassador, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans, as well as its aftermath. Their remarks followed the announcement by the House Speaker, John Boehner, on Friday that he will convene a select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack, which killed the US ambassador, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans, as well as its aftermath.
The work of the committee is likely to refocus attention on the Obama administration's handling of the attack in the months approaching November's midterm congressional elections, in which the Republican party, which controls the House, hopes to seize control of the Senate.The work of the committee is likely to refocus attention on the Obama administration's handling of the attack in the months approaching November's midterm congressional elections, in which the Republican party, which controls the House, hopes to seize control of the Senate.
Boehner's announcement came soon after the release, to a freedom of information request, of the email from Ben Rhodes, then deputy national security adviser for strategic communications. It was sent three days after the 11 September 2012 attack in Benghazi, which occurred amid protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa against a controversial online video clip about Islam that was made in America.Boehner's announcement came soon after the release, to a freedom of information request, of the email from Ben Rhodes, then deputy national security adviser for strategic communications. It was sent three days after the 11 September 2012 attack in Benghazi, which occurred amid protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa against a controversial online video clip about Islam that was made in America.
The email was not handed over with other materials subpoenaed by a congressional committee last year. During a discussion about the “talking points” administration officials should use in public remarks, Rhodes urged that regarding Benghazi, it should be stressed “that these protests are rooted in an internet video, and not a broader policy failure”.The email was not handed over with other materials subpoenaed by a congressional committee last year. During a discussion about the “talking points” administration officials should use in public remarks, Rhodes urged that regarding Benghazi, it should be stressed “that these protests are rooted in an internet video, and not a broader policy failure”.
The documents given to Congress last year showed that a list of talking points circulated by the CIA hours before Rhodes sent his email stated: “We believe based on currently available information that the attacks in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the US embassy in Cairo.”The documents given to Congress last year showed that a list of talking points circulated by the CIA hours before Rhodes sent his email stated: “We believe based on currently available information that the attacks in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the US embassy in Cairo.”
Susan Rice, then the US ambassador to the United Nations, characterised the attack as such on several Sunday morning political TV shows that weekend.Susan Rice, then the US ambassador to the United Nations, characterised the attack as such on several Sunday morning political TV shows that weekend.
The administration later said the attack in Benghazi had, in fact, been a planned terrorist strike. But senior Republicans have continued to allege that the White House orchestrated a cover-up of that fact, possibly in an attempt to shield Obama politically in the weeks approaching the 2012 presidential election, in which he eventually defeated Mitt Romney.The administration later said the attack in Benghazi had, in fact, been a planned terrorist strike. But senior Republicans have continued to allege that the White House orchestrated a cover-up of that fact, possibly in an attempt to shield Obama politically in the weeks approaching the 2012 presidential election, in which he eventually defeated Mitt Romney.
“They put out a narrative that was not supported by the evidence and that they knew was false,” Rick Santorum, the runner-up to Romney in the Republican presidential primary contest, said on ABC.“They put out a narrative that was not supported by the evidence and that they knew was false,” Rick Santorum, the runner-up to Romney in the Republican presidential primary contest, said on ABC.
“From the very beginning they knew this was a terrorist incident, the CIA knew it was a terrorist incident, it's very clear, the State Department knew. And they put out something that they knew, or at least a lot of people knew, was wrong.”“From the very beginning they knew this was a terrorist incident, the CIA knew it was a terrorist incident, it's very clear, the State Department knew. And they put out something that they knew, or at least a lot of people knew, was wrong.”
Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who sits on the House oversight committee, which has aggressively investigated the Benghazi attack, added: “We want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who sits on the House oversight committee, which has aggressively investigated the Benghazi attack, added: “We want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
“The White House has long denied any personal involvement in manipulation of those talking points,” said Chaffetz. “The reality is, you have the CIA, you have the military, you have the State Department themselves, that said it was not a video. That was a false narrative perpetuated at the time; to my mind it became a lie.”“The White House has long denied any personal involvement in manipulation of those talking points,” said Chaffetz. “The reality is, you have the CIA, you have the military, you have the State Department themselves, that said it was not a video. That was a false narrative perpetuated at the time; to my mind it became a lie.”
Dunn insisted the Obama administration had handled the crisis “transparently and [by] telling the truth”, adding: “The reality of this is when something like this happens, in the first 48 to 72 hours, you don't know, and you have to go with what your intelligence agencies tell you.”Dunn insisted the Obama administration had handled the crisis “transparently and [by] telling the truth”, adding: “The reality of this is when something like this happens, in the first 48 to 72 hours, you don't know, and you have to go with what your intelligence agencies tell you.”
Plouffe attacked Republicans in Congress for refusing to allow the US to spend more money on embassy security, as had been recommended in an inquiry by Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, following the Benghazi attack. Plouffe suggested the Republicans “start there instead of bogus committee investigations”.Plouffe attacked Republicans in Congress for refusing to allow the US to spend more money on embassy security, as had been recommended in an inquiry by Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, following the Benghazi attack. Plouffe suggested the Republicans “start there instead of bogus committee investigations”.
“This was happening in real time. As soon as information was identified, it was released. That's why over the course of those weeks, we knew exactly what happened. There was no politicisation of this at all,” said Plouffe.“This was happening in real time. As soon as information was identified, it was released. That's why over the course of those weeks, we knew exactly what happened. There was no politicisation of this at all,” said Plouffe.
“There's been 31 investigations, over 25,000 documents. What ought to be done here is not another bogus committee but real work to protect our embassies.”“There's been 31 investigations, over 25,000 documents. What ought to be done here is not another bogus committee but real work to protect our embassies.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, reacted furiously to claims his party was attempting to benefit politically from the saga.Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, reacted furiously to claims his party was attempting to benefit politically from the saga.
“Anybody who believes this is just about politics should go tell that to the family members,” Graham told CBS’s Face the Nation. “Go explain to the family members how it's OK for the White House to withhold information from the Congress and the American people.“Anybody who believes this is just about politics should go tell that to the family members,” Graham told CBS’s Face the Nation. “Go explain to the family members how it's OK for the White House to withhold information from the Congress and the American people.
“Anybody who plays politics with Benghazi is going to get burned, so if we're playing politics with Benghazi then we'll get burned. If our Democratic friends are shielding the administration, to protect themselves and their re-election because they couldn't stand the truth about Benghazi, then they'll get burned.”“Anybody who plays politics with Benghazi is going to get burned, so if we're playing politics with Benghazi then we'll get burned. If our Democratic friends are shielding the administration, to protect themselves and their re-election because they couldn't stand the truth about Benghazi, then they'll get burned.”