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Emails: White House Told Two Hours After Benghazi Attack Began That Radical Islamic Group Claimed Responsibility

Oct. 24, 2012 12:33am Jason Howerton

Emails Show Ansar al Sharia Claimed Responsibilty for Benghazi Attack Within Two Hours

A vehicle (R) and the surround buildings burn after they were set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

UPDATE: The White House responded to the emails Wednesday, with press secretary Jay Carney saying “there was a variety of information coming in.”

White House and State Department officials were informed just two hours after the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11 began that a radical Islamic militant group had claimed responsibility, according to official emails obtained by Reuters.

The emails, reportedly put out by the State Department, specifically mention that the Libyan militant group Ansar al-Sharia had taken credit for the attack almost immediately and called for additional terrorist acts.

The correspondence provides a glimpse into how U.S. diplomats described the fiery assault, as it was happening, to officials in Washington, D.C.

The terrorist attack claimed the lives of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, including two former Navy SEALs and a State Department official. It took the Obama administration nearly two weeks to completely rule out an anti-Muslim video as the cause of the attack.

Numerous Obama administration officials, including White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and even Obama himself, went on TV at different times and told millions of American citizens that the attacks were due to a spontaneous protest sparked by the video. Now it has been uncovered that the administration knew within hours that a terrorist group had proudly admitted they attacked the U.S. compound.

Reuters has the details on the emails sent to the various Obama administration officials:

The first email, timed at 4:05 p.m. Washington time – or 10:05 p.m. Benghazi time, 20-30 minutes after the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission allegedly began – carried the subject line “U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi Under Attack” and the notation “SBU”, meaning “Sensitive But Unclassified.”

The text said the State Department’s regional security office had reported that the diplomatic mission in Benghazi was “under attack. Embassy in Tripoli reports approximately 20 armed people fired shots; explosions have been heard as well.”

A second email, headed “Update 1: U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi” and timed 4:54 p.m. Washington time, said that the Embassy in Tripoli had reported that “the firing at the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi had stopped and the compound had been cleared.” It said a “response team” was at the site attempting to locate missing personnel.

A third email, also marked SBU and sent at 6:07 p.m. Washington time, carried the subject line: “Update 2: Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack.”

The message reported: “Embassy Tripoli reports the group claimed responsibility on Facebook and Twitter and has called for an attack on Embassy Tripoli.”

Here are images of the emails courtesy of CBS News:

Watch CBS News’ report:

Fox News reports that the emails were sent to a “variety of national security platforms, whose addresses have been redacted, including the White House Situation Room, the Pentagon, the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence.”

Additionally, sources told Fox News that around 300 to 400 national security officials received the emails “in real time.” The officials on the email recipient list work under the nation’s top national security, military and diplomatic officials, according to sources.

The revelation, if confirmed to be legitimate, also calls into question why President Obama decided to take off on campaign trip to Las Vegas if his State Department the day before informed his national security team that a group of radical Islamic terrorists was claiming responsibility for killing four Americans.

The other question that demands answering is whether the U.S. military could have intervened if the White House knew two hours after the seven hour attack began that a terrorist group was overwhelming the U.S. Consulate, putting the lives of Americans in danger.

CBS News’ Sharyl Attkisson reports:

CBS News has been told that, hours after the attack began, an unmanned Predator drone was sent over the U.S. mission in Benghazi, and that the drone and other reconnaissance aircraft apparently observed the final hours of the protracted battle.

The State Department, White House and Pentagon declined to say what military options were available. A White House official told CBS News that, at the start of the attack, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta “looked at available options, and the ones we exercised had our military forces arrive in less than 24 hours, well ahead of timelines laid out in established policies.”

But it was too late to help the Americans in Benghazi. The ambassador and three others were dead.

~~No word from the Obama administration on the emails.~~ See the White House’s response here.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Comments (370)

TeaPartyanimal
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:38am
lying benghazi biotch! Your president is a liar. plain and simple. no transparency whatsoever. no economy to speak of and no defense of Americans in trouble.

Blood on the hands of President Obama. People who vote for this guy are thugs too.

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jamestoms
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:30am
America you KNOW Obama, his staff, Holder, CIA, FBI CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, are all complicent as TRAITORS, LIARS, and supporters of the enemy, and let me add the Pentigon Staff, never trust the whimpy lying top brass, traitors all. If Romney wins I want to see these people in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Liekiller
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:26am
It’s what you get, Mr President, when you try to take credit for the hard work and sacrifice made by our military for your own political gain…political LOSS!

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Gary_K
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:24am
This should upset barry’s (father unknown) base but sadly it wont make any difference to them at all. The progressive/socialist/marxist left will just attack the messenger like they always do.

I swear if barry (father unknown) told his base that a pile of dog poo was good to eat they would have some for dinner and say it was great.

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Hoax And Chains
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:21am
Obama will be known in history as the worst president ever…

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FightingBear
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:20am
Sadly, this new damning information will not make any difference at all to:

The “Obama phone” recipients
Blacks
Those who want me to pay for their condoms
Those who want to maintain the right to kill their babies without legal consequences
Family pets who are registered voters
Dead people who continue to cast their vote

and many other groups who … too many to list here.

In their eyes, the only thing the administration did wrong was get caught lying. The blood of four Americans are on the hands of Obama and his administration….but the leftists won’t give a damned about it…the important thing is to get their messiah re-elected so he can finish his mission of completely destroying this once great nation.

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BehindBlueEyes
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:13am
This is more evidence how sick this muslim communist administration is. Someone made the decision not help the ambassador and the other Americans in the area. There are assets in the area that could have made an attempt to rescue those people. They still haven’t gone in to arrest those responsible.
The media is the problem and they are nothing but the propaganda machine for the fundamental transformation of America.
Things are about to get real nasty. Americans be prepared, communist do not go quietly.

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Delores at CH WV
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:53am
Additionally, 12 Agencies reports on President’s desk concerning Libya attack as he flies out of DC for his another trip to CA and fun, fun, fun with his hot friends.

Then, he flies the four bodies into Andrews Air Force Base for Photo Ops; quickly getting out of DC to NYC for fund raising and lying to the world at the UN about Libya.

Finally, letting Iran’s Airplane stay at Andrews Air Force Base and using the US taxpayer’s money to fly all the Iranians to and from NYC free of charge by our air force planes. It mush have been a shock for the family to see that Iranian plane sitting near their love ones memorial service. This President has some class!!!!!

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What the Heck
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:53am
.The congressman they yelled YOU LIE in Obama’s first address to nation was right.
He told the truth and was Chastised.
He told the truth then, sort of prophetic about this whole administration.
Coverup is to bland. LIE is correct.

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- Gary_K
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:34am
  The Congressman was Rep. Joe Wilson from S. Carolina. Yes Joe told the truth and was crucified by the LOONY left for speaking out and saying “you lie” when barry (father unknown) was giving a speech to a joint session of CONgress about obamacare.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:13am
  From the questionable birth certificate to the hidden school records, this administration has had an aura of Big Lies from its inception. Only because the media was in their pocket excusing and ignoring all of the signs.
  
  Report this comment
AllLost
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:48am
Yep the administration directly lied, and this time it was not about abusing one’s power to get a ******** from an intern. I have discussed this with liberals at length and they are not phased by this fact. These people will accept anything in the name of their religion.

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Hanna
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:39am
I was just thinking of the woman who has been on TV talking about wanting to know how her son was killed and has been waiting for an answer from Obama et. all. I can’t help but wonder how she must feel tonight, knowing that her President sat and watched for a while, I guess then got bored with the show and went to bed, while her son was being murdered. I cannot imagine:((

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rebelguns
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:30am
You can bet on that October surprise. Obams will definitely flex his muscles to save his presidency, and go ahead with a military strike of some kind. These emails will become a distant memory by Nov. 6th. Too much heat in the kitchen. I’m not fooled however.

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Badjohnny
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:22am
All these top level officials don’t even read there own emails. They are first prioritized by a staff official and placed on a read board for the next available reading. The staffer is the real decision maker on what makes it to the person the email is addressed to. Too much bureaucracy, and too many level of government, that is why so many addresses where on the email, it was in hope that it would find it’s way in to the hands of someone who would, could help them.

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South Philly Boy
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:14am
Guilty As CHARGED

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LovinUSA
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:02am
And NOTHING will be done about it and NO ONE will be prosecuted, why bother to report this to the people?

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rickroland
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:43am
Barack, Hillary, Ambassador Rice and Jay “The Mouth” Carney have some very, serious, explaining to do.

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hardiepiper
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:39am
I’m glad the Blaze didn’t waste any valuable space reporting on the 3rd Party Debate last night hosted by Larry King. After all, I wouldn’t want Beck’s mormon buddy to lose any votes. Doing a story on the new Iron Man 3 trailer is much more important!

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Diane TX
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:23am
I don’t think I’m “nuts” to question why we would we even allow the crazy Muslims in this Country. They clearly do not belong here. Our Constitution is totally based on Judea/Christian concepts, of which the Muslims do not accept.

It’s a joke that Islam is a religion of peace when it’s clearly not. Islam is a “religion” of stupidity. It’s a farce, just as Obama is a farce. Overseas, 50% of Muslims are uneducated. They may have Obama phones, but Muslims are a stupid people.

The Arabs invented the concept of zero, but they weren’t Muslims. Most Muslims are incredibly stupid and uneducated. Islam is a man “religion” designed by men for men. This “religion” keeps it’s women barefoot, pregnant and uneducated. They shoot girls for wanting to be educated. It’s time that Islam is banned from the USA. Dearborn, Michigan is the first place that this should happen.

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franny1951
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:09am
Three cheers to CBS.

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StormRider
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:49am
“The revelation, if confirmed to be legitimate, also calls into question why President Obama decided to take off on campaign trip to Las Vegas if his State Department the day before informed his national security team that a group of radical Islamic terrorists was claiming responsibility for killing four Americans.”

He doesn’t give a flying Fluke for anybody else Easy answer, if it doesn’t affect Barry he doesn’t really care. We have a total sociopath for President, maybe even a psychopath. Definitely a warped individual without feelings for others.

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Diane TX
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:38am
So, with all of Obama Ben lying, lying, does anyone with a brain in their head believe that Obama has Israel’s back?

Another thing. Why should we believe that Osama Bin Laden is really dead? With this moron in the White House, he’s probably living the high life in South America.

Last thing. Why are we allowing anything – Muslim Brotherhood, entry or standing in the USA?

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OccamsSword
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:37am
Who knows what BO is capable of ? If the heat starts getting to him…I don’t feel comfortable that he could start pushing buttons…

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k8ti
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:36am
I CANNOT believe the MSM is covering for the American bloodshed Obama LET happen! Our American citizens had NO protection over there, even after requesting it time and time again. Valarie Jarette had more secret service with her on a regular hunky dory day than our ambassador had on the anniversary of 9-11 in a very hostile part of the muslim world! Why are people (besides conservatives) turning a blind eye to this???….if Bush did something like that….I’d be just as mad and demanding answers!)

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maxarma1
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:19am
everyone needs to take action and demand their congressmen and women call for this POTUS POS to immediately give his resignation!

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pwatkins
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:44am
I believe this article is based on lies or may be hardcore radicals speaking up for the president.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/us-presidential-debate_n_2005283.html?ref=topbar

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