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Report: Counter-Terrorism Crew Was Sent to North Africa Just 6 Months Before Libyan Embassy Attack

Oct. 3, 2012 10:00am Billy Hallowell

Anti Terror Crew Reportedly Sent to North Africa Before Libyan Embassy Attack

Ambassador Chris Stevens (Photo Credit: AFP / Getty Images)

In the wake of the attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, questions continue to emerge surrounding how the U.S. government handled the situation.

A new report claiming that small teams of special operations forces had already arrived at U.S. embassies across North Africa months before the attack adds further curiosities, as do claims that the U.S. ignored calls for increased security. While the soldiers who had arrived were intended to create a network that could halt terror attacks and rescue hostages in contentious situations, the terrorists in Libya carried out their attack unfettered.

According to The Associated Press, three counter-terror officials and a former intelligence official claim — all on condition of anonymity, of course — that the White House signed off on the North African plan more than a year ago. Surprisingly, teams have been in the region for six months, these sources claim.

As of early September, though, the special operations teams still consisted only of liaison officers who were assigned to establish relationships with local governments and U.S. officials in the region. Only limited counterterrorism operations have been conducted in Africa so far.

The implication of the revelation that these teams exist is that officials’ fears were prevalent enough for them to enact a plan to combat al-Qaeda off-shoots that are operating and, in many instances, overtaking portions of the region. Considering the violence that has been increasingly prevalent in the area, it’s no surprise that the Obama administration felt it necessary to take action — but some may wonder what has taken so long for these teams to mobilize.

Mohammed Megaryef, president of Libya's ruling General National Congress (GNC), attends a memorial service for the late US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens (portrait) on September 20, 2012 at the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli. (Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In Libya, where the US. consulate was not heavily guarded, this military organization clearly wasn’t ready to fend-off the threat from militants who surrounded the compound. And, unfortunately, the teams, despite having six months of placement in the area, were too new to respond to the Benghazi attack.

The presence of these teams is the latest information to emerge about the terror attack, as a plethora of debate has also unfolded in recent days surrounding how much the Obama administration knew and which portions of information were potentially withheld from the American public.

Earlier this week, a congressional committee claimed that requests for added security at the Benghazi compound were repeatedly denied. In contrast, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that security, which was increased for the September 11 anniversary, was adequate.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to the Strategic Dialogue on Travel and Tourism, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington. (Photo Credit: AP)

Clearly, the security situation in the country was less-than-stellar or the attack would have been warded off in the first place. Also, the security scenario had apparently been a concern for some parties involved as early as July 2012. Fox News has more:

Letters obtained exclusively by Fox News appear to show the State Department refused to get involved when the company tasked with protecting the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, raised security concerns, the latest indication that warning signs may have been ignored in the lead-up to last month’s terror attack.

The letters pertain to a dispute between Blue Mountain Libya, the security license holder in Libya, and its operations partner Blue Mountain UK, which trained and provided the local guards.

A source with knowledge of two State Department meetings — one in June and a second in July — told Fox News that Blue Mountain Libya felt the security provided by the UK partner was “substandard and the situation was unworkable.”

However, when the Libyans tried to bring an American contractor in to help improve security, Fox reports that a State Department contract officer declined involvement. Officer Jan Visintainer wrote a note to Blue Mountain Libya on July 10. It read, in part, “The U.S. government is not required to mediate any disagreements between the two parties of the Blue Mountain Libya partnership…contract performance is satisfactory.”

Questions will likely continue, as will investigations into these important issues. In the wake of the attack, some lawmakers have also called for the resignation of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice after she gave out the “misleading and wrong” information that the assault on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was “spontaneous” and in response to an anti-Islam film. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) is among those calling for her removal.

Numerous sources have reported that the administration knew within 24 hours that the attack was terror-related, yet it took officials quite some time to admit their belief that it was pre-planned and coordinated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: NJ.com)

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Comments (28)

thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 5:06pm
Can you imagine being the ambassador to some sandpile country with batsh*t crazy people? You know they keep circling and watching your offices and you hear warnings that they are going to attack you and kill you. You look to Washington and you see obama as president and Hillary clinton claiming to have your back. That is scary. Your few guards cannot carry real bullets and no one is coming to your aid. Then the day comes that they do attack. You would have the sickening feeling that you were going to die this day and no one in your government gives a dam*.

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Samwise636
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 2:57pm
Obama is either a fool, or complicit in Islamic jihad.

We NEED to get rid of this awful president, or this will be our fate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdnirTQVNX4&feature=related

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JEANNIEMAC
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 2:05pm
The truth is that there is a Muslim in the Oval Office, who has told us, “I will stand with the Muslims, if the political winds shift”. He has been standing with the Muslims since he was elected.
It is mind boggling that, with the evidence of his treason in front of our faces, he is still in power, bypassing our Congress, and ruling by royal decree.
Why haven’t our marshals arrested him? Why hasn’t he been removed from office for incompetence, treason, malfeasance, etc.?
The truth is, he has been playing his Ace in the Hole, the race card. Let us pray that Romney does not let him play it again.

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rdk
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 1:32pm
Was the Administrations ignorance “on purpose”?

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:52am
“Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that security, which was increased for the September 11 anniversary, was adequate.”

Adequate does not mean a dead Ambassador, State Department staff member and two American security contractors are dead and several injured after the counsulate was overrun and the safe house destroyed.

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moreteaplease
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:28am
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that security, which was increased for the September 11 anniversary, was adequate.
————————————————-
What’s her definition of “adequate”? Judging by what happened-security WAS NOT ADEQUATE.
Liberals never want to own up to their mistakes instead, it’s always someone else at fault.

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- dublinthewagons
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:06am
  It was adequate enough for her. She wasn’t there. The security forces were armed with a PC, cell phone and three french white flags left over from paris in WWll.
  
  Report this comment
starman70
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:18am
This is another examle of the inmates running the asylum. Put anti terrorism people in place BUT don’t allow them to implicate Islamics, so therefore the whole operation is useless. Obama and cohorts don’t want to equate Islam with terrorism.

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- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:53am
  Issue weapons but no ammo……Obama Admin. !!
  “I Got Your Back” HUH ?????
  
  Report this comment
HOOT_OWL
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:16am
I’m having a hard time putting a face on evil..
To many to choose from.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:40am
  Cheer up, the Spanish language is not under the thumb of the lily white a$$ liberals that run 90% of media in this country. They are taking this Failed President to task.
  
  Report this comment
- woodyee
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:40am
  Try doing it alphabetically – Clinton, Gaybama, Holder, Murtha, Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, Snowe…
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:06pm
  We have NO new INTEL since the Bush Administration..
  
  all we have now, are a bunch of CLOWNS running this
  
  White House..SMILEY and Miz.CHUCKY.. I think this
  Country is in deep shi* with these BOZOS in charge..
  
  Report this comment
- mcsledge
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 1:33pm
  Try putting it on the face in the middle — Barack Hussein Obama.
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:14am
More and more I have to wonder if Obama allowed the attack to happen for his own purposes; or his growing narcissm and insanity blinded him to it coming down the line, even when he knew of it.

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desert buckeye
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:12am
I wonder if Hillary would’ve considered the security to be adequate if it was her fat, Commie, ass on the line.

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- NOT A CRAZY
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:15am
  You mean the same woman who claimed she was shot at as she was leaving the airplane and then video proved she was a liar?
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:36am
  Snippers are notoriously hard to combat against. Snippers are like UFOs. The DoD neither confirms nor denies the existence of snippers.
  
  Now snipers on the other hand can be taken out be the DoD with the proper resources, but not snippers.
  
  There are not known defenses against snippers & they are extremely dangerous.
  
  Report this comment
- GodFearingMama
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:03am
  Not a Crazy
  Oh no, not a liar,she just misspoke.. I love how they’re caught again and again and again and it’s called a gaffe or completely ignored
  
  Report this comment
- dublinthewagons
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:10am
  She has 7 layers of ugly to protect her. Not even a Muslim would rape her.
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:08am
Wait a minute, hasn’t the POTUS bragged over and over again how HE has decimated Al Qaeda?

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- NOT A CRAZY
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:18am
  That was a simple slip of the tongue or a bump in the road. What he meant was that he has decimated America, not Al Qaeda.
  
  Report this comment
- M13
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:23am
  Stirring up Muslims one speech ay a time.
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 2:01pm
  In the words of Hillary herself, “I don’t recall”! Maybe Vince Foster was in charge!!!
  
  Report this comment
Individualism
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:05am
false flag o snap now 911 the truth now!

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- Walkabout
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:37am
  Trolling hard aren’t you?
  
  Louis Farahkhan is that you?
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:43am
  Trolling hard. You must be 1st to proclaim false flag or explosives planted in this building or that levee.
  
  You are a sad individual.
  
  Report this comment
- woodyee
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 11:21am
  @ Walkabout – Please do not feed the trolls. They are only here for viewing.
  
  Report this comment

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