# 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:** 26
**Author:** ![Habakkuk3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9a140/32.png) [@Habakkuk3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habakkuk3)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/501 "2013-05-18T22:02:54Z")
[http://conservativebyte.com/2013/05/obama-administration-its-actually-closer-to-us-being-idiots/](http://conservativebyte.com/2013/05/obama-administration-its-actually-closer-to-us-being-idiots/) this administration is so TOAST - so HISTORY ---
**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 18, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/502 "2013-05-18T22:14:11Z")
> [@Habakkuk3](#): > > [http://conservativebyte.com/2013/05/obama-administration-its-actually-closer-to-us-being-idiots/](http://conservativebyte.com/2013/05/obama-administration-its-actually-closer-to-us-being-idiots/) > > this administration is so TOAST - so HISTORY An anonymous official said something. Wow. It’s easy to have perfect knowledge after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Billy-o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Billy-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy-o)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/503 "2013-05-18T23:52:05Z")
> [@Habakkuk3](#): > > this administration is so TOAST - so HISTORY Fortunately, I like both toast AND history. Hooray for the administration! ---
**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 19, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/504 "2013-05-19T17:03:36Z")
[‘Scandals’ backfire on Republicans as Obama’s approval rating improves](http://www.politicususa.com/scandals-backfire-republicans-obamas-approval-ratings.html) > [@](#): > > These “scandals” haven’t hurt President Obama at all. The most logical reasons for this are that people aren’t paying attention, \*\*and those who are don’t believe the Republicans. \*\*President Obama has always been well liked trusted by a majority in this country. For years,Republicans have tried and repeatedly failed to damage the relationship that the president has with a majority of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/505 "2013-05-19T18:21:41Z")
True. He’s done all the damage himself. Republicans should learn to not stop someone when they are destroying themselves. ---
**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 19, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/506 "2013-05-19T18:31:25Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > True. He’s done all the damage himself. Republicans should learn to not stop someone when they are destroying themselves. Does this comment make any sense to anyone? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/507 "2013-05-19T18:34:43Z")
Let me do the math for you: came to office with the nation behind him, a 65% approval rating. Been mired around 45-49 ever since he tried to pass health care. ---
**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 19, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/508 "2013-05-19T18:47:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Let me do the math for you: came to office with the nation behind him, a 65% approval rating. Been mired around 45-49 ever since he tried to pass health care. So all your support for making Bhengazi into a scandal in this thread is and an example of what, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/509 "2013-05-19T19:00:08Z")
It is a scandal. People were left behind and we need a full accounting of why that happened. We also need to know why the administration wasn’t straight with the public from the start about what happened when they knew what had happened almost immediately. When talking points get changed from accurate to misleading, that’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/510 "2013-05-19T19:00:32Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I disproved him ten ways from Sunday, silly-billy. In real time they didn’t have the intel to move. We have it now though, since it is after. Sometimes you know more about a situation after, rather than during. > > Obama gave an order to do what is possible to save them. The generals thought that they couldn’t send anyone in because they didn’t have the intel. Sending soldiers in to die would be even worse. Remember that our soldiers are Americans too. Throwing them into a situation blind isn’t something smart or laudable. > > That’s a fact. So you can pretend it didn’t happen that way if it makes you feel better. But like religion, it’s ultimately just lying to yourself because the lies are comfortable. Hmmm. So actually, it is against the current newthink ( that US soldiers should not be sent into situations where they could die ) to continue with operations in Afghanistan, where they don’t have the necessary intel, and continue to be killed? Strangely, I thought being a soldier meant accepting that you might be maimed or killed while doing your job. Never stopped the top brass sending thousands of Americans to die unnecessarily in botched operations during every war they have been in. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/511 "2013-05-19T19:04:06Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It is a scandal. People were left behind and we need a full accounting of why that happened. We also need to know why the administration wasn’t straight with the public from the start about what happened when they knew what had happened almost immediately. > > When talking points get changed from accurate to misleading, that’s a problem. We also need to know what the president was doing while the attack was on. So far we don’t know, unlike when the Bin Laden raid was on. If he just had a good night’s sleep and went to a fundraising the next day, that would seem more than a little wrong. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/512 "2013-05-19T19:05:35Z")
Maybe. A problem. But you are trying to inflate a Japanese condom into the Hindenburg. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/513 "2013-05-19T19:06:34Z")
Exactly. The whole concept of not sending troops in unless you have good intel was made up on the spot. And no one can find a single example of that ever being done. “Help!” “Oh, we’d like to, but we need more intel first. Just hold out 8 hours or so and then we’ll come and help.” ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/514 "2013-05-19T19:08:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Maybe. A problem. But you are trying to inflate a Japanese condom into the Hindenburg. You might have gotten that impression, but I actually agree that it’s not a huge scandal. But it is something that has to be accounted for, and even a partisan inquisition can get to the truth. Besides, you should prefer a partisan inquisition. It builds up sympathy for the President. If the GOP were playing their cards right, they’d be much more dangerous. ---
**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 19, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/515 "2013-05-19T19:34:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Exactly. The whole concept of not sending troops in unless you have good intel was made up on the spot. And no one can find a single example of that ever being done. > > “Help!” “Oh, we’d like to, but we need more intel first. Just hold out 8 hours or so and then we’ll come and help.” So you think that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, General Dempsey and General Ham were all lying when they said otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/516 "2013-05-19T19:57:06Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > …Besides, you should prefer a partisan inquisition… Nobody expects a partisan inquisition. > [@](#): > > …It builds up sympathy for the President. If the GOP were playing their cards right, they’d be much more dangerous. And if a frog’s asshole weren’t water-proof, he might need the occasional enema. The problem isn’t smarts with the GOP, they got money, they can hire smart. Their problem is that the inmates have taken over the asylum, and smart isn’t much good when you’re nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/517 "2013-05-20T02:27:10Z")
> [@](#): > > “BHENGAZI-GATE” > [@](#): > > Bhengazi Where is “Bhengazi”? Is it anywhere near “Bhagdad”? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/518 "2013-05-20T03:47:43Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > So you think that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, General Dempsey and General Ham were all lying when they said otherwise? Sort of. I think it’s more a combination of post-hoc excuse making and Defense’s unwillingness to pull State’s chestnuts out of the fire. As I said before, if it had been a military unit under attack, the response would have been instant. Instead, State and the CIA screwed up, called for help, and I suspect Defense was going, “WTF?” It could even be that they didn’t have even the basic intelligence they needed because State wouldn’t share anything with them, which could have caused the military guys to drag their feet. And of course I also want to know if Obama’s orders were actually related to anyone down the chain. Or did Panetta simply disregard those orders? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/519 "2013-05-20T04:07:28Z")
Obama is not a fool. He has no medical training, he will not attempt to perform an appendectomy. He has no military experience, he does not give direct tactical orders, that is left to the men who have such experience. If he says “I want to rescue them” and his officers say “We can’t”, he is not going to say “Do it anyway!”. Where you getting this stuff from, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888/520 "2013-05-20T04:11:26Z")
Past Presidents have actually directly ordered military actions that their advisors said were, er, inadvisable. The Doolittle raid, for example. Not saying it’s a good idea for a President to do that, but that’s not really the issue here. If someone told the PResident, “We can’t”, we should know that. If the President was merely ignored, we should know that too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bhengazi-gate-screw-up-hitlerys-chances-in-2016/657888.md?page=27)