In that exchange, McCain and Dempsey are talking about placing forces in the region in advance of the attack, not the response to the attack. The assessments they are referring to are assessments of likely threats, and not an assessment of the response after the attack.
On the subject of the response to the attack, however, Dempsey has this rather persuasive trump card:
A team was sent, from Tripoli, and you know that.
Back that train up a moment.
I’ve asked for the same information and made the same comments as those in Congress. It’s not been forth coming. That’s a fact. There is no conspiracy theory here. If you look at the report cited multiple times about what happened it goes into detail about the events that happened yet it completely ignores the decision making process in the WH. Notice I’ve been referring to the WH and not Obama.
What I’ve gotten in response in this thread is that those in charge said it couldn’t be done and therefore it must be true. That’s great but the details behind those statements have not been made. Could be true, could be total bullshit. I’ve then had to put up with how hard it is to get an airplane in the air, load an airplane, parachute out of an airplane, land in the same location,or that there might have been traffic or a host of other pointless “what-if’s”. This is nonsense and I’ve painfully walked through how easy it is to get a plane off the ground and land in a tight grouping with supplies. Again, doesn’t mean they had the resources where they needed to be but that information has not been released. They just skipped over the details in the report.
Look at the report again and how much detail is in it and then look for the detail on rescue efforts. There isn’t any beyond a cursory agreement it took too long. Congress asked for these details and they have yet to be provided.
It’s not hard information to provide.
So instead of repeating the request for this information I’ll ask you why you think the WH should not have to provide it. Congress is entitled to an answer and so are we as part of the FOIA. It doesn’t mean we get secret information but it does mean we get an accounting of what happened.
If Congress asked for details and the White House is defying Congress then why is the Republican controlled House not making a big political, legal and constitutional stink about it?
Why are you focused on the State Department and DOD since Woods and Dougherty were killed on the premises of a CIA clandestine operation of some sort.
The deadly attack on State Department property did not last long enough for a response from outside of Libya?
You appear to be conflating the two deadly incidents that are seven hours apart in your argument purely for political motives.
Let me be sure I understand you here: you are saying that it is a fact that Congress has been denied information relating to why the military didn’t send a rescue mission to the compound, correct? You’re saying that Darrell Issa, Buck McKeon, and all other (primarily Republican) congressmen doing oversight on the events of September 11, 2012, have not been able to reach a conclusion on why more help wasn’t sent? And that the primary reason for that is that the White House is stonewalling?
Is that what you are saying? Please feel free to correct, clarify, or expound as needed.
I’m sure the Defense Department knows what assets are available to spring into action, and how long it takes to mobilize those efforts. I surely hope they don’t make that information public, despite repeated requests by Magiver.
Not really - they were saying it couldn’t be done safely or usefully. I can buy that it was physically possible to scramble any number of resources, but the people in charge used their experience, training and discretion to be selective about what would actually be deployed in light of the lack of hard information.
And if more men had been sent in to be uselessly killed, people would be blaming Obama for that, too.
Feel free to ask the WH to your heart’s content, and to ask your congressman to ask the WH on your behalf. I’m personally satisfied the situation was handled as best it could be under the circumstances, and if it wasn’t handled better, it’s only because people are not psychic.
…can we have a cite that congress has asked the question you asked? Can we have a cite that the White House has not provided the information requested?
I assumed you were aware of this but the holdup of every appointment is due to the Benghazi investigation.
No, it’s due to Lindsey Graham being an McCain’s errand boy.
Congress isn’t asking for this. One dingbat is. So you won’t accept the words of two SoDs and working generals unless Lindsey-Fucking-Graham gets what he wants?
What kind of standard is that?
There have already been investigations. You’re scrambling now.
Which is directly attributable to a debunked 60 Minutes report.
Please answer my previous questions, whether you think that I have characterized your views fairly.
That stunt is being pulled by Lindsay Graham who is a Senator. I specifically asked you about the GOP controlled House. If you don’t know why Boehner is not pursuing what you think should be pursued then we must assume you are chasing ghosts.
are you suggesting that McCain and Graham don’t have the backing of other Republicans (that’s two by the way)? Again, you didn’t research anything before posting. Here is an article listing Republicans on board with this.
The standard, thanks for asking, is that people justify their testimony. Otherwise there’s no point in investigating anything.
So if googled “Boehner,benbhazi attack” what would I find?
Here’s Boehner’s position on the matter:
“We mourn the loss of four Americans who gave their lives in Benghazi exactly one year ago tomorrow. We remember their sacrifice, and that of their families, and we will not rest until we have answers about what happened. It is disgraceful that one year later, even though a number of the terrorists who participated in this attack have been identified, not a single one has been brought to justice.
“For the past year, this administration has failed to provide sufficient answers, fully comply with subpoenas, and make available relevant individuals to provide testimony. In short, this administration hasn’t been upfront with the American people or this Congress. Republicans will not stop until we get to the truth. We will press forward with our investigation until we have answers, full accountability, and justice.”
Look at what you just said. You can buy that it was physically possible to scramble any number of resources, but the people in charge used their experience, training and discretion to be selective about what would actually be deployed in light of the lack of hard information.
So can I. So can Congress. All it takes is the information to back up the statements made.
You’re satisfied on the word of the people who did not justify their decisions. Yes, they’re not psychic. They didn’t know how long it was going to last or the strength of the forces at the outset. That changed over time with the addition of a drone and the reports of the people on the ground. The only way they would have assets available would be to launch them immediately. A special ops team brings with it the advantage of advanced training, snipers, specialized night operations, drones, satellites, stand-off-and-deliver air support… They held a tremendous advantage before anyone assessed the situation. After launching they had the advantage of time and planning support from the intelligence community on the ground.
So yes, they may not have had a viable mission upon arrival but that call couldn’t be made at the start of the attack. You have taken the word of the very people being challenged to support their decisions and you’re personally satisfied with their opinion of the situation.
What subpoena is the WH ignoring? Specifically, please. Grandstanding politicos that are trying to sway gullible voters aren’t something that needs to be answered. Specifically, what legal summons are they ignoring.
Specifically.
What testimony. Who exactly needs to substantiate their testimony?
They are free to call the general back, if that’s who you mean. The reason they don’t, is that they understand that this issue makes them look worse. Because there is no there there.
I gave you that information several times. They didn’t have intelligence on the scene.
Why are you ignoring that?
What evidence do you need for no intelligence?
Specifically?
The trouble is, you have no idea what you want. That’s why you can scoff at whatever evidence you’ve given.
Two SoD and at least two generals have no problem. You have the conspiracy theory that they are lying.
Yet none of the GOP witchunts have found anything at all. But since you want the witchunts to work, you demand more and more and more.
They sent a drone to the area. You know this yet you keep posting the same false information.
They’ve provided an opinion without any substantiation.
All it takes is the information backing up their opinon. That’s it. Done.
The drone did not provide the level of intelligence they needed. Drones aren’t magic.
One drone. One. In a city. Do you expect the drone to float down to the city and look in windows and hallways? Is the drone gonna tell the generals how much local support the attacking militias have?