# Will "BHENGAZI-GATE" screw up Hitlery's chances in 2016? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 9, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888 "2013-05-09T13:53:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/401 "2013-05-14T14:16:18Z")
> [@Habakkuk3](#): > > I only started this thread as a response to a video-tape You couldn’t just masturbate like a normal person?! ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/402 "2013-05-14T14:34:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You keep saying “3 hours” like it would have been a one-way trip. Were you expecting the pilots to swim back to Italy? > > Oh, and BTW, consulates aren’t “American soil”, and the Benghazi annex wasn’t a consulate anyway. Good grief, planes ( depending on what they are ) can fly for over 12 hours without refuelling, and why do you think they couldn’t refuel on the land in Libya? Whatever, they left Americans to die without even officially trying. The people that did help, apparently did so against orders and the ones that wanted to go and help weren’t allowed on the plane. So much for the “greatest military in the world”. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/403 "2013-05-14T14:38:55Z")
I’m sure we all appreciate Doggo’s Master’s Degree in Military Planning from the Tom Clancy Institute. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/404 "2013-05-14T14:43:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m sure we all appreciate Doggo’s Master’s Degree in Military Planning from the Tom Clancy Institute. Tom Clancy had some facts and research behind him. This is more like learning how the military operates by playing a bunch of First Person Shooters. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/405 "2013-05-14T15:20:30Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > Good grief, planes ( depending on what they are ) can fly for over 12 hours without refuelling, and why do you think they couldn’t refuel on the land in Libya? As mentioned upthread, Bob Gates, who was Secretary of Defense under two administrations, oversaw the troop surge in Iraq, the drawing down of our presence there, the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, and the early part of the air campaign in support of the Libyan rebels, and who is generally respected by both parties, says it couldn’t have been done. Can you please provide your credentials so we can judge your assessment of the military’s capability versus that of the man who ran the military for five years? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/406 "2013-05-14T15:30:17Z")
Bob Gates is a faggit noob. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/407 "2013-05-14T16:01:49Z")
Obama’s obviously a teamkiller. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/408 "2013-05-14T16:34:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Apparently, the latest spin is that [Obama deceived the American people by calling it an “act of terror” instead of a “terrorist attack”.](http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/05/13/2002871/issa-obama-covered-up-benghazi-terrorism-by-calling-it-an-act-of-terror/) Well, that makes all the difference in the world! Why didn’t they say so earlier? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/409 "2013-05-14T16:58:26Z")
And [Steve Benen notes](http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/14/18252482-start-by-looking-in-the-mirror) that the trail of responsibility for _Benghazi!_ goes back to the fact that the GOP has cut $600 million from funds for embassy/consulate security over the past three years, and that House Republicans voted for much larger cuts than that, that fortunately didn’t pass the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/410 "2013-05-14T17:11:03Z")
Ah, every bad thing in Liberalworld can be traced back to a funding cut. While Democratic Congressmen have enjoyed using that cudgel, there is no actual evidence from the State Department emails rejecting the requests for more security that resource shortfalls were a problem. MIght as well blame the Boston attacks on liberal attempts to gut the Patriot Act. but that would be a low thing to do without evidence. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/411 "2013-05-14T17:43:23Z")
And in **adaher** world, there is no such thing as a cause-and-effect connection, just as there’s no such thing as data strong enough to overcome hope. Looks like Clinton is going to have to get by without his vote after this. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/412 "2013-05-14T17:48:16Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ah, every bad thing in Liberalworld can be traced back to a funding cut. While Democratic Congressmen have enjoyed using that cudgel, there is no actual evidence from the State Department emails rejecting the requests for more security that resource shortfalls were a problem. Speaking as a gummint bureaucrat myself, our work right now is being noticeably affected by the sequestration cuts. You know how often I mention that in emails? Never. It’s just one of the facts of life. We all know about the cuts, and once word has gone out that X isn’t getting funded, you don’t repeat it over and over again for dramatic effect. I’m sure it was the same at State. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/413 "2013-05-14T17:57:34Z")
Meanwhile, **adaher** continues to ignore the question of how improving security at the embassy would have affected the status quo at a private residence 400 miles away. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/414 "2013-05-14T18:53:57Z")
Is there any word on whether or not the attackers knew the Ambassador was there? Did they stage their attack on the consulate precisely because it was a consulate and not an embassy, and hence could be expected to be lightly defended, if at all? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/415 "2013-05-14T23:58:11Z")
Here’s a new fun thing: [Leaked Benghazi Emails Were Edited to Make Obama Look Bad](http://www.politicususa.com/jake-tapper-destroys-republican-benghazi-conspiracy-turns-emails-paraphrased.html) > [@](#): > > Whoever provided those quotes and paraphrases did so inaccurately, seemingly inventing the notion that Rhodes wanted the concerns of the State Department specifically addressed. Nuland, particularly, had expressed a desire to remove mentions of specific terrorist groups and CIA warnings about the increasingly dangerous assignment. Rhodes put no emphasis at all in his email on the State Department’s concerns. > > Previous reporting also misquoted Rhodes as saying the group would work through the talking points at the deputies meeting on Saturday, September 15, when the talking points to Congress were finalized. While the previously written subject line of the email mentions talking points, Rhodes only addresses misinformation in a general sense. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/416 "2013-05-15T00:03:35Z")
I can’t believe that a thing that happened in every other time happened again! ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/417 "2013-05-15T00:17:37Z")
So this is what ABC wrote: > [@ABC](#): > > “In an email dated 9/14/12 at 9:34 p.m. -three days after the attack and two days before Ambassador Rice appeared on the Sunday shows – Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes wrote an email saying the State Department’s concerns needed to be addressed. (ABC then quotes the email as saying…)“We must make sure that the talking points reflect all agency equities, including those of the State Department, and we don’t want to undermine the FBI investigation. We thus will work through the talking points tomorrow morning at the Deputies Committee meeting.” This is what the email actually said: > [@Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes](#): > > “All – > > Sorry to be late to this discussion. We need to resolve this in a way that respects all of the relevant equities, particularly the investigation. > > “There is a ton of wrong information getting out into the public domain from Congress and people who are not particularly informed. Insofar as we have firmed up assessments that don’t compromise intel or the investigation, we need to have the capability to correct the record, as there are significant policy and messaging ramifications that would flow from a hardened mis-impression. > > “We can take this up tomorrow morning at deputies.” I assume the crazy folk will be in soon to apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Habakkuk3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9a140/32.png) [@Habakkuk3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habakkuk3)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/418 "2013-05-15T00:20:27Z")
happens every kalpa ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/419 "2013-05-15T00:27:15Z")
Look at that, they fucking lied again. I guess the question is, will anyone trust these dipshits next time, and if so, what the hell is wrong with them? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/420 "2013-05-15T01:12:37Z")
We could ask them what’s wrong with them, but could we trust the answer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888.md?page=22)