# With trepidation, Benghazi **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535 "2014-05-02T20:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/521 "2014-05-23T01:10:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Irrelevant to whom? You? How is that relevant to my questions? > > Are you suggesting that I should not be asking questions just because I want an answers to those questions? No, I am suggesting that any answer to your question would be irrelevant to any question of culpability in the Benghazi business – **unless** Obama somehow knew the attacks were coming, then where he was at the time might be relevant; but not even you believe he knew – do you? If he did not know, then presumably he was just going about whatever was his scheduled business that day, as he should have been. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/522 "2014-05-23T01:19:34Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Considering it was like 3:00 in the morning over here when the attack happened, it’s likely Obama was sleeping. Where did you want him to be? Hovering over Lybia with a parachute and a motorcycle just in case he to drop in and kick a little ass? Hey, that’s a _directional_ parachute! And I’m not sure you can hover an F16. But yeah, something like that, 'cause _Muh-rica!_, hell yes! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/523 "2014-05-23T02:54:16Z")
This is like someone gleefully digging out a pile of horsecrap by hand because they’re ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED there’s a pony in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/524 "2014-05-23T14:31:01Z")
Hm. Darryl Issa, of all people, [discusses an email that undermines the coverup-theory.](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/white-house-contacted-youtube-during-benghazi-attack-darrell-issa-says/) > [@](#): > > A still-classified State Department e-mail says that one of the first responses from the White House to the Benghazi attack was to contact YouTube to warn of the “ramifications” of allowing the posting of an anti-Islamic video, according to Rep. Darrell Issa, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. > > The memo suggests that even as the attack was still underway — and before the CIA began the process of compiling talking points on its analysis of what happened — the White House believed it was in retaliation for a controversial video. > > The subject line of the e-mail, which was sent at 9:11 p.m. Eastern Time on the night of the attack, is “Update on Response to actions – Libya.” The e-mail was written hours before the attack was over. > > Issa has asked the White House to declassify and release the document. In the meantime he has inserted a sentence from the e-mail in the Congressional Record. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/525 "2014-05-24T00:36:37Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “Mocked”? Are you threatening me? Your passive/aggressive suggestion that I stop asking questions at the risk of being “mocked” doesn’t seem to be working. Shoo. I guess some people have a higher tolerance to being justifiably mocked. There is no “there” there, and anybody without a frankly bizarre worldview knows it. > [@andros](#): > > If I understand the point correctly, something is happening somewhere in the world, therefore POTUS must be directly hands-on. Possibly in the [War Room](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Dr._Strangelove_-_The_War_Room.png). > > There is no delegation in **doorhinge** -land. There is no threat assessment. There is no room for anything but direct Presidential involvement, in all things, at all times. Especially if there’s brush to be cleared. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/526 "2014-05-24T02:14:11Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Especially if there’s brush to be cleared. If the brush is allowed to grow all over Crawford, the terr’rists have already won. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/527 "2014-05-24T07:04:36Z")
[Here’s a video](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/16/1299492/-Cartoon-Learn-to-Speak-Benghazi) that gives insight into #Benghazi-gate ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/528 "2014-05-24T14:18:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hm. Darryl Issa, of all people, \*“We actually think this proves what we’ve said. We were concerned about the video, given all the protests in region,” the official said. And the intelligence community “was also concerned about the video.” Issa has an entirely different view. He contends the document contradicts the White House assertion that it was the CIA who first pinned blame for the attack on protests in response to the anti-Islamic video. “The e-mail shows the White House had hurried to settle on a false narrative — one at odds with the conclusions reached by those on the ground — before Americans were even out of harm’s way or the intelligence community had made an impartial examination of available evidence,” Issa said. Issa is still calling on the White House to release an unclassified version of the document\*. SuRpRiSe!!! Issa and many others have been repeatedly repeatedly requesting unredacted (ie readable) documents from the White House and State Dept that would explain the State Dept and White House actions for all things Benghazi. The White House and State Dept continue to insist that unreadable documents are all that the public/voters need to understand what had happened and when. The new bipartisan Congressional investigation will also be requesting readable documents from the White House and State Dept. Questions will be asked. Will answers be forth coming? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/529 "2014-05-24T14:25:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, I am suggesting that any answer to your question would be irrelevant to any question of culpability in the Benghazi business – **unless** Obama somehow knew the attacks were coming, then where he was at the time might be relevant; but not even you believe he knew – do you? If he did not know, then presumably he was just going about whatever was his scheduled business that day, as he should have been. It’s not irrelevant to me and that’s what’s important to me. We simply have a difference of opinion. I still want to know what Obama was doing and where he was doing it. I want answers and you don’t want questions to be asked. Life goes on. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/530 "2014-05-24T14:44:52Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > It’s not irrelevant to me and that’s what’s important to me. We simply have a difference of opinion. I still want to know what Obama was doing and where he was doing it. I want answers and you don’t want questions to be asked. Life goes on. Except for the four brave Americans who died while Obama was eating a sandwich, right? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/531 "2014-05-24T16:23:13Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I still want to know what Obama was doing and where he was doing it. And why do you want to know that? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/532 "2014-05-24T16:23:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Yes, I’m betting a tennis game. That will sure shake up Washington. yawn. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Except for the four brave Americans who died while Obama was eating a sandwich, right? Eating a sandwich while playing tennis would be an extraordinarily stupid thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/533 "2014-05-24T16:37:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And why do you want to know that? For the same reason you ask questions. Curiosity and to know the answer. Why are some people so determined to stop taxpaying voters and their elected representatives from asking questions and expecting readable documents from the most transparent administration? Contrary to the opinion of some people, redacted documents are not readable. The latest Congressional committee investigation IS going to take place. You can’t stop it. Pelosi couldn’t stop it. Bloggers can’t stop it. MSNBC can’t stop it. Maybe you could compile a list of questions, related to Benghazi and its aftermath, that you would like answered? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/534 "2014-05-24T17:50:08Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > For the same reason you ask questions. Curiosity and to know the answer. Yeah! I’ve been pissed off at Obama ever since he refused to tell me how many sheets of TP he uses per wipe on average. I think we should shut everything down until we all get answers to each and every question we have! We’re taxpayers; they owe us! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/535 "2014-05-24T17:51:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yeah! I’ve been pissed off at Obama ever since he refused to tell me how many sheets of TP he uses per wipe on average. I think we should shut everything down until we all get answers to each and every question we have! We’re taxpayers; they owe us! > > :rolleyes: So the point of this bit of sarcasm, for those who miss it, is that not every question deserves or even needs to be answered, not even when it comes from a taxpaying citizen and is directed at an elected official. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/536 "2014-05-24T18:02:00Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > For the same reason you ask questions. Curiosity and to know the answer. > > Why are some people so determined to stop taxpaying voters and their elected representatives from asking questions and expecting readable documents from the most transparent administration? Contrary to the opinion of some people, redacted documents are not readable. I’m sure you were just as determined to get answers, whatever the cost, True Patriot-style during the last administration, too. 'Cause let me tell you, them cats were redaction-_ha_ppay. But hey, let’s hear it from you dog, you’re the man, how did all your questions of the last administration go ? Did you get the answers The American People deserve ? > [@](#): > > The latest Congressional committee investigation IS going to take place. You can’t stop it. Pelosi couldn’t stop it. Bloggers can’t stop it. MSNBC can’t stop it. Yup, yup, sure IS. And everybody is quaking in their boots right now. This eigth one is gonna be a **BOMBSHELL**. Not like the other seven ones. My condoleances to that chicken, BTW. Poor, sore thing. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/537 "2014-05-24T18:17:32Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > For the same reason you ask questions. Curiosity and to know the answer. What is the FASCINATION about where he was, though? How does the answer to the question change the outcome, the culpability, or the response next time? If the answer doesn’t change anything, what is the justification for spending millions of dollars in tax money to satisfy your curiosity? (Are you willing to pay higher taxes to know the answer? I don’t want to, because I don’t see any remaining unanswered questions about his whereabouts as being worth the money. If you do, tell us why they are important and worth spending everyone’s time and money to answer.) [At least some of his time is already accounted for: the first attack started at 4:40 pm Washington time, while the president was returning to the White House; he met with the Secretary of Defense at 5. By the time that meeting was over, so was the initial attack. The rescue team from the annex had been to the consulate and was returning, drones had been repositioned, and the Defense Dept and State were trying to figure their next move. The second attack, the mortar attack on the annex, started at 11:15 pm Washington time and was over eleven minutes later. At that hour, I expect the president was either asleep or preparing for bed, and I don’t really care which. Why do you? What would you rather he have been doing?] ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/538 "2014-05-24T18:31:03Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > The second attack, the mortar attack on the annex, started at 11:15 pm Washington time and was over eleven minutes later. At that hour, I expect the president was either asleep or preparing for bed, and I don’t really care which. Why do you? What would you rather he have been doing?] Look, you didn’t hear this from me, OK ? I’m serious, this is Deep Throat shit, all right ? You cannot quote me, you cannot put my name on any piece of paper, and I do NOT know you. We are not having this thread right now, and I don’t know your username. Is this clear ? What I’m telling you is strictly off the record. All right, listen, there’s this guy, right ? Well, this guy hears things, and tells me that at 11:16pm, are you writing this down ? At 11:16pm, Mr. Obama could have been greeting the Little POTUS. With not so open hands. You hear what I’m saying ? Apparently he’s got a regular scheduled appointment, I don’t know the details. How’s that for a national scandal, huh ? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/539 "2014-05-24T19:50:03Z")
I thought he was re-introducing his hot wife to the Little POTUS. I’ve heard it’s a game they play. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535/540 "2014-05-24T19:55:11Z")
Ah HA ! And that’s you buying into the MSM liberal media manufactured narrative, mate. You don’t know the real story. This guy I was talking about ? The insider ? Yeah, I actually met him, alright. At a bar. Anyway, he’s telling me, that “hot wife” of Obama’s ? She’s got teeth. No, I mean, like, down _there_, she’s got teeth. Hey, you didn’t hear that from me, OK ? I don’t want my name in your noosepaper. Get it ? Get it ? But, yeah, you can write that down. Teeth. Down there. And so, Benghazi, right ? Connect the whatchamacallits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535.md?page=28)