# Guess what 60 Minutes decided to do last night? (Answer: Benghazi) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2013, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429 "2013-10-28T09:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/21 "2013-10-28T14:07:00Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > ETA: Looking at the desktop full version gives a hint as to what adaher might be referring to, but also reveals significant problems with his interpretations. You mean this: About 30 minutes into the attack, a quick reaction force from the CIA Annex **ignored orders to wait** and raced to the compound, at times running and shooting their way through the streets just to get there. Inside the compound, they repelled a force of as many as 60 armed terrorists\*\* and managed to save five American lives\*\* and recover the body of Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith. They were forced to fight their way out before they could find the ambassador. I believe **adaher** ’s “b) that lives were saved only because heroic individuals disobeyed orders or acted without orders” refers to this part of the transcript. Now - what is the “significant problem” with the interpretation that you see? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/22 "2013-10-28T14:07:30Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Looking at the desktop full version gives a hint as to what adaher might be referring to, but also reveals significant problems with his interpretations. The problem is that it’s being interpreted by **adaher**. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/23 "2013-10-28T14:12:35Z")
This could be just the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/24 "2013-10-28T14:16:41Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > [60 Minutes - Episodes, interviews, profiles, reports and 60 Minutes Overtime - CBS News](http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?pageType=60minutes&catid=57609479&feed_id=32) > > Here is the script. I don’t see anything consistent with your assertions in the script. Can you please quote what you’re referring to? The script is incomplete. Watch the video, starting at 09:25 and again at 11:39. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/25 "2013-10-28T14:17:16Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > You mean this: > > About 30 minutes into the attack, a quick reaction force from the CIA Annex **ignored orders to wait** and raced to the compound, at times running and shooting their way through the streets just to get there. Inside the compound, they repelled a force of as many as 60 armed terrorists\*\* and managed to save five American lives\*\* and recover the body of Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith. They were forced to fight their way out before they could find the ambassador. > > I believe **adaher** ’s “b) that lives were saved only because heroic individuals disobeyed orders or acted without orders” refers to this part of the transcript. Now - what is the “significant problem” with the interpretation that you see? Yes, that. There are two problems that I have with that. First, it is a completely unsourced assertion. What evidence is that based on? There’s nothing at all in the story that I can see. Secondly, it is said later in the script: “The Americans who rushed to help that night went without asking for permission…”. So, was there an order not to go, or was there simply no request made? The story doesn’t seem clear and the assertions don’t rest on any evidence in the story. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/26 "2013-10-28T14:20:24Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Yes, that. There are two problems that I have with that. First, it is a completely unsourced assertion. What evidence is that based on? There’s nothing at all in the story that I can see. Secondly, it is said later in the script: “The Americans who rushed to help that night went without asking for permission…”. > > So, was there an order not to go, or was there simply no request made? The story doesn’t seem clear and the assertions don’t rest on any evidence in the story. So then - you have a problem with the story. Yet you said that you had a problem with **adaher** ’s interpretation of it. Which one is it? That is, where did **adaher** interpret it incorrectly? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/27 "2013-10-28T14:22:02Z")
Okay, so how about actually pitting something, while you’re here? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/28 "2013-10-28T14:22:08Z")
Instead of “tick-tick-tick” they went “tock-tock-tock” ? Oh, wait, this is about Benghazi. Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/29 "2013-10-28T14:25:59Z")
what difference does it make? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/30 "2013-10-28T14:32:35Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > So then - you have a problem with the story. Yet you said that you had a problem with **adaher** ’s interpretation of it. Which one is it? That is, where did **adaher** interpret it incorrectly? He omitted the part that was inconsistent with his desired interpretation, and his characterization in part a) of his post is a complete fabrication. There is nothing to suggest that the administration lied about the knowledge it had at the time re: the initiation of the attack. Of course, since you have stepped in to serve as his proxy, you can explain his point a). Right? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/31 "2013-10-28T14:33:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > what difference does it make? It’ makes all the difference in the world to me. This latest revelation is the final nail in the coffin as far as I’m concerned. You just wait and see, no way this clown gets re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/32 "2013-10-28T14:34:28Z")
Why wouldn’t 60 Minutes run the piece? The election is safely in the past, Obama does not need their assistance any more (and won’t again). Plus they don’t even need a forger. Regards, Sho-damned ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/33 "2013-10-28T14:38:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Try to summon Cthulhu for an interview? > > Tore off Dick Cheney’s mask on camera to show that he’s really a lizard alien? > > Produced evidence that Obama isn’t really an American citizen, but is actually a lab rat driving an Obama-bot? Which would make Biden Pinky in a Biden-bot, probably… > > Produced evidence that Huitzilopochtli is the One True God, and sacrificed a member of the staff on-air? Do we have to pick just one? If I have to choose, I want #4, but #2 is a very close runner-up. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/34 "2013-10-28T14:39:05Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Of course, since you have stepped in to serve as his proxy, you can explain his point a). Right? Sure. Green Beret Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Wood, was one of the top American security officials in Libya. Based in Tripoli, he met with Amb. Stevens every day. The last time he went to Benghazi was in June, just three months before the attack. While he was there, al Qaeda tried to assassinate the British ambassador. Wood says, to him, it came as no surprise because al Qaeda – using a familiar tactic – had stated their intent in an online posting, saying they would attack the Red Cross, the British and then the Americans in Benghazi. Lara Logan: And you watched as they– Andy Wood: As they did each one of those. Lara Logan: --attacked the Red Cross and the British mission. And the only ones left– Andy Wood: Were us. They made good on two out of the three promises. It was a matter of time till they captured the third one. Lara Logan: And Washington was aware of that? Andy Wood: They knew we monitored it. We included that in our reports to both State Department and DOD. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/35 "2013-10-28T14:40:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, it wouldn’t be fair to call these revelations, since they have been known for over a year, but a lot of people might not have known what Benghazi was all about, since most of the reporting before 60 Minutes was about the partisan finger-pointing rather than the facts. Here’s my problem. What happened at Benghazi was clearly a tragedy. The security clearly wasn’t up to what should have been there, and people died because of it. That is clearly a bad thing. But that’s not what the Republican’s told us it was about. Rather than focus on the poor security, they pronounced it a grand conspiracy/coverup and instead of focusing on determining what went wrong and how to avoid it happening again, they turned it into a partisan witch hunt and blew whatever credibility they had on the issue. I suspect that the reason for that was that the Republicans didn’t want to have to answer questions about their voting to not fully fund the State department’s security requests, or have the spectre of the 13 attacks to embassies/consulates that occurred while Bush was in office be raised again. Rather than deal with something that was a bad thing as grownups and try to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, the entire Benghazi story turned into partisan pissing contest and a bunch of sound and fury. Benghazi should not have happened, but by pretending it was something it wasn’t, and by not dealing with it like grownups, the Republicans took the focus away from where it should have been, on protecting our State Department employees and military from terrorist attacks. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/36 "2013-10-28T14:42:37Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Sure. > > Green Beret Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Wood, was one of the top American security officials in Libya. Based in Tripoli, he met with Amb. Stevens every day. > > The last time he went to Benghazi was in June, just three months before the attack. While he was there, al Qaeda tried to assassinate the British ambassador. Wood says, to him, it came as no surprise because al Qaeda – using a familiar tactic – had stated their intent in an online posting, saying they would attack the Red Cross, the British and then the Americans in Benghazi. > > Lara Logan: And you watched as they– > > Andy Wood: As they did each one of those. > > Lara Logan: --attacked the Red Cross and the British mission. And the only ones left– > > Andy Wood: Were us. They made good on two out of the three promises. It was a matter of time till they captured the third one. > > Lara Logan: And Washington was aware of that? > > Andy Wood: They knew we monitored it. We included that in our reports to both State Department and DOD. How does that support his assertion a)? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/37 "2013-10-28T14:44:37Z")
I’m sorry, I’m not seeing anything wildly at odds with what is already known about the Benghazi attack, nor do I see anything that State might have done differently once the attack was launched. There cartainly are problems with how seriously intelligence was taken suggesting an attack was being planned, but that surely is already well-known to anyone who has followed the issue. > [@60 Minutes/](#): > > Andy Wood told us he raised his concerns directly with Amb. Stevens three months before the U.S. compound was overrun. > Andy Wood: I made it known in a country team meeting, “You are gonna get attacked. You are gonna get attacked in Benghazi. It’s gonna happen. You need to change your security profile.” > Lara Logan: Shut down– > Andy Wood: Shut down– > Lara Logan: --the special mission– > Andy Wood: --"Shut down operations. Move out temporarily. Ch-- or change locations within the city. Do something to break up the profile because you are being targeted. It has been widely reported that Amabassador Stevens was fully aware of the possibility of an attack on the compound, but went to Benghazi anyway. Did State advise against this? The CBS piece does not address this point. Regarding the “lives saved by defying orders” statement by the OP, we have this: > [@](#): > > About 30 minutes into the attack, a quick reaction force from the CIA Annex ignored orders to wait and raced to the compound, at times running and shooting their way through the streets just to get there. Inside the compound, they repelled a force of as many as 60 armed terrorists and managed to save five American lives and recover the body of Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith. They were forced to fight their way out before they could find the ambassador. OK, this doesn’t seem to have gotten much play previously. But orders from whom? Doesn’t say, nor does provide enough of a timeline to gauge wheter this action would have have any real influence on Ambassador Stevens’ sad fate. I’ve got to say, this is where I miss print journalism, where I have to think these sorts of significant details would more likely be addressed. Anyway, if someone believes that there is some sort of (forgive me) smoking gun here that indicts the administration, or perhaps just Mrs. Clinton, regarding the Benghazi attack, please explain what it is; I’m just not seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/38 "2013-10-28T14:44:46Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Don’t make us watch a video, just say what it is about and explain your beef with it. > [@bobot](#): > > **Guess what 60 Minutes decided to do last night?** > > I give up. What? I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. If you can’t take the time to present your case, don’t waste our time with the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/39 "2013-10-28T14:45:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > How does that support his assertion a)? Administration knew about the threats, and knew that this was the third threat out of three and the first two were already carried out. So when it happened, to claim that it was just a “spontaneous demonstration” was disingenuous at best. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429/40 "2013-10-28T14:49:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Guess what 60 Minutes decided to do last night? A feature on the world’s oldest written document (in neatly kerned Times New Roman)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-60-minutes-decided-to-do-last-night-answer-benghazi/672429.md?page=3)