Pentagon: First U.S. Military Unit Arrived in Benghazi More Than 14 Hours After Attack Ended

This Oct. 25, 2012 file photo shows Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gestureing as he speaks during a joint news conference at the Pentagon. New Pentagon details show that the first U.S. military unit arrived in Libya more than 14 hours after the attack on the consulate in Benghazi was over and four Americans, including the ambassador, were dead. (Credit: AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — New Pentagon details show that the first U.S. military unit arrived in Libya more than 14 hours after the attack on the consulate in Benghazi was over and four Americans, including the ambassador, were dead.
A Defense Department timeline obtained by The Associated Press underscores how far the military response lagged behind the Sept. 11 attack, due largely to the long distances the commando teams had to travel to get to Libya.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his top military adviser were notified of the attack about 50 minutes after it began and were about to head into a previously scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama. The meeting quickly turned into a discussion of potential responses to the unfolding situation in Benghazi, where militants had surrounded the consulate and set it on fire. The first wave of the attack at the consulate lasted less than two hours.
Ambassador Chris Stevens was killed in the attack. Intelligence, State Department and military officials have released details on the response in an effort to answer Republican criticism that the administration was holding back what it knew about the assault and when.
Panetta and other defense officials have repeatedly said that they did not have armed aircraft or military teams near Benghazi that could have gotten there quickly.
In a letter to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday, Panetta specifically addressed the claim that the military could have dispatched armed unmanned aerial vehicles, AC-130 gunships or fighter jets to thwart the attack. Such aircraft were not in the region and not an effective option, he said.
Panetta said that based on a continuous evaluation of threats, military forces were spread around Europe and the Middle East to deal with a variety of missions. In the months before the attack, he noted, “several hundred reports were received indicating possible threats to U.S. facilities around the world” and noted that there was no advance notice of imminent threats to U.S. personnel or facilities in Benghazi.
The attack began at about 9:40 p.m. local time in Benghazi. Less than 20 minutes later, the U.S. military began moving an unarmed drone to a position over Benghazi, so it could provide real time intelligence to the CIA team on the ground. The CIA team went to aid the Americans at the consulate. The drone arrived shortly after 11 p.m. By 11:30 p.m., a CIA team was able to get all the Americans out of the compound.
As that was happening, Panetta and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left the Oval Office and went into a series of meetings in the Pentagon with senior leaders to discuss how to respond to the Benghazi attack and assess the potential for other outbreaks of violence in the region.
Between midnight and 2 a.m., Panetta began to issue verbal orders, telling two Marine anti-terrorism teams based in Rota, Spain, to prepare to deploy to Libya, and he ordered a special operations force team in Central Europe and a special operations force team in the U.S. to prepare to deploy to a staging base in Europe.
As the military units begin moving, just before dawn, a CIA base less than a mile away came under attack and five mortars were fired at the building. Two missed, but three hit, killing two CIA security officers who were on the roof.
The Americans fired back and soon fled the CIA base for the airport. By 10 a.m., they have flown out, heading to Tripoli. Shortly after 7 p.m., the Americans are flown out of Tripoli on a military aircraft.
Not until just before 8 p.m., however, did the first U.S. military unit arrive in the region, as the special operations team landed at the staging base in Europe. An hour later, the Marine team landed in Tripoli.
“The U.S. Armed Forces did everything they were in position to do to respond to the attack in Benghazi,” Panetta said in the letter, obtained by The Associated Press. “The department’s senior leaders and I spared no effort to save the lives of our American colleagues, as we worked to bolster security in response to a series of other threats in the region occurring at the same time.”
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Comments (84)
raderby
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:28pmBS.
A SEAL doesn’t light a target if he doesn’t KNOW there are assets over head or nearby that can take out the target. He wasn’t confused, or panicked. Like ***** boy in the WH….
This is plain horse hockey. Couple this with Petraeus resigning……. and you have the “Don” Obloomers, completing family business in one day, – FRIDAY news dump day, BTW.
Is this our future- a lying coward commie who gets away with it in front of everyone?
Does that putz barry think we are stupid?
LIE. Benghazi, Mr. President. …..guilty as charged. Fire everyone if you want. You are still guilty of killing 4 Americans by your cowardly politically driven reaction to Benghazi.
Good night.
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raderby
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:35pmok, kittykat guy –
the words you blazers think are offensive. jeesh louise…… Look at who is our president- isn’t that offensive enough? You call Big Bar the commander in chief? Now that is offensive.
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Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 7:32pmAnd now Petraeus resigns. Obama just keeps digging Libya rabbit hole deeper and deeper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLtC2MMZFc
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starview
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 9:10pmHe is looking more like a Chicago thug, than commander in chief.
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Sick_Boy
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:53amThere is NO way an operator cquestions the status of fire support (Where the **** is the Spectre?) if 1) it was NOT on stand-by, 2) it was not already briefed to be on stand-by for support (IP- Initial Point). You do NOT laze and glaze a target for suppression/nutralization in the hopes that someone sees it from somewhere and might begin to orbit the target. This entire situation stinks to high heaven. The Ambassador was ALLOWED to be murdered period. What EXACTLY did he know, and why was he outside the wire so to speak? In the eyes of the non-operator world [current administration] the others killed were collateral damage…”…the fog of war…” as they have said in interviews regarding Bengazi.
What was/is Time of Flight and Time to Target from bases in Italy to Bengazi for fixed wings? (Italy is “Europe”.)
Where was LF6F (Landing Force 6th Fleet); which has an AOR of the Mediterrainian? Ospreys? CH-53′s? MSPF (Maritime Special Purpose Force)?
14 hours to get on site? Did MARSOC/Force Recon drive from Lejeune? Bravo Sierra period
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rickc34
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 1:06pmI am waiting for our military to wake up and turn on Barry.
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geneic
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:27pmOk, I get that U.S. troops may not have gotten there until late the next day. However, what happened to the anti-terrorism men that deployed from Rota, Spain and the the special operations force team in Central Europe? The timeline clearly states when the U.S. team arrived, but leaves the other two teams out. Or did I just miss that section? With this information and Petraeus resigning over an extramarital affair and not testifying next week over this is just sickening. How stupid do they think we are? Huh Obama? The half of the nation that voted for you may be blind or stupid, but the other half is not. As they say, timing is everything? Maybe Beck is right, and God really is on our side? Since Obama has been re-elected, the cookies are crumbling mighty fast!
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starview
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 7:49pmI thought I read somewhere that we have troops in Turkey, that could have responded???? We are a super power, and we can;t send reinforcement to an American Consulate? I find that disturbing! Also, read the attack went on for almost nine hours, how come the story keeps changing??????
Just did some research today, and it took Barry three days to decide to OK the mission to get Osama Bin Laden. THREE days, he could have escaped while Barry was playing basketball.
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 10:15amIt’s funny timing to be sure. This world is as screwy as can be anymore. Nothing makes sense.
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adumb12
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:21pmpleas help support my petition
http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-testify-before-u-s-congress-regarding-incident-in-benghazi-libya
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Female
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 6:50pmWhy bother? Do you think “eye candy” dl man who referred to himself as a puppet…….?
Sorry no petitions only hope somebody rich enough, credible enough, powerful enough to the liberals finds some balls and tells the truth….Yes, I am talking about Hillary.
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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:20pmStill will not comply!
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Tri-ox
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:18pm“Stand Down!” – B. Hussein’O
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honor007
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:15pmSo, we are left to believe the Military was on the scene 14 hours after and that they were so inept, they left behind and missed the Ambassador Stephen’s personal journal????
Remember, CNN found this 3 days after. Or was it 3 days after? Hard to believe anything anymore.
We are in deep trouble people!!.
Bet the new CIA Director will have some sort of ties to Muslim Brotherhood~
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just my opinion maybe not yours
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:28pmNo they didn’t land in Benghazi they landed in Libia, Trippoli to be exact!
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moreteaplease
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:03pm“In the months before the attack, he noted, “several hundred reports were received indicating possible threats to U.S. facilities around the world” and noted that there was no advance notice of imminent threats to U.S. personnel or facilities in Benghazi.”
_________________________________________
I don’t believe that one for a second.
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kindling
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 6:51pmHilary says she called for more security in Benghazi and was turned down. She is all but saying she knew something was going to happen. That is why she has hired a boat load of lawyers to defend her so she does not go down with the Obamabenghazi ship.
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MrKnowItAll
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:48pmPatton would have bitch slapped them all. Then Shot them.
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AJAYW
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:42pmgood job
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proudtobearepublicanwoman
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:40pmThey were blackmailing him. He was to honorable to lie.
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seriouslywhy
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:00pmHe has nothing further to lose when he testifies except his freedom.
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SonOfThunder
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:39pmFolks, did you see this? This has not hit the mainstream media yet.
Hundreds of thousand of military ballots were not counted! They arrived November 7th.
DEMAND A RECOUNT? THIS WOULD TURN THE ELECTION!
http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/11/military-absentee-ballots-delivered-one-day-late-would-have-swung-election-for-romney/
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seriouslywhy
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:46pmI think it’s too late…
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circleDwagons
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:47pm@son. The great white hope has already conceded. what matters now is that we all get along
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sparkyrules
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:08pmlets all bend over and say ‘thank you’.Follow the leader…………………….NOT
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HI_Don
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:20pmThey do this every election to the military. I know since I was a VAO (voting assistance officer) during my last tour. Of 120 members at my command requesting absentee ballots from their respective states, 2/3 of the applications were sent back for technical “questions”. They did nothing wrong in filling out the requests, their states decided to question if the requests were legitamate or if the member actually wanted the ballot they said they did (they would send them back and ask “we noticed you requested only the federal ballot, do you want the state ballot as well? You checked NO, but are you sure?” Since we were forward deployed the delays in mail service caused us to have to use “provisional” ballots for those members. Later after the election, a large bunch of the provisional ballots and even more of the ballot requests were sent back for “questions” again, rendering the votes null. But every year you hear – “Oh no, we respect the military’s right to vote, we do everything we can to make sure those fighting for their country can vote”. When you deployed – you can barely get mail in any reasonable time delay and the schedule alone for when you can request, when the state mails out the forms, and when you can start sending them back prevents a huge amount of service members from voting.
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HI_Don
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:38pm“Between midnight and 2 a.m., Panetta began to issue verbal orders,”
So the attack started 9:40 Libya time, it takes 50 minutes for the White House to be informed (are you kidding me?) so it’s now 10:30 local. The first drone arrives at 11:00 Libya time which means they caught at least the last 40 minutes of the initial fire fight with the drone camera, but were not sure of the situation? Without knowing where Stephens was or if he was alive, they choose to “think about” the options.
DC is 7 hours behind local Libya time, thus when it says they began issuing orders at 2am, that has to be Libya local time. They took 3 hours from when they began getting live drone video to “BEGIN” issuing orders folks. Think about it, people are dying and fighting for their lives and these guys take 3 hours to BEGIN making decisions. Decisions that will take ANOTHER 2 hours to have any impact if they ordered assistance since help was two hours away. Just think how long 5 hours is with people shooting morters, RPGs, and AK-47′s at you while you are wondering how ling your ammo will hold out.
I want MY president to face the camera and tell HIS American people what he knew, when he knew it, and what he did on Sept. 11, 2012. I don’t think it should take an act of congressional investigation to get answers Obama has from his own experience, or was he tucked into beddy-bye preparing for a hard round of campaigning?
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Small World
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 7:55pmOK I demand a recount. Why do you think the ballots were late???? I sure Ovonit will go along with that. I really want to RECAll 90% of everyone in Wash.Don’t they pledge to tell the truth????
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Delores at CH WV
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:39pmNATO was available: Obama failed to call London. British Special forces were in town and in reach of the CIA safe house; Obama failed to call the Turkey President, his big buddy for NATO; Turkey Special forces were just over the waters from Libya and could have been there within the hour. If NATO calls the US, the US forces respond to help them; that is what NATO was created to do.
I will not accept the lame excuse that this man has created to protect his A – -! These folks have never spent one day in the military and use our soldiers like a piece of refuge!
He doesn’t say a thing about the lies that were told or the cover up; To mislead Americans and the World at the UN is disgusting and these make up stories are an Act of Treason. The Federal Government /President first duty to the citizens are to secure our safety as laid out in the Constitution! To present a movie clip as cause when you are stirring up the entire Islam World is to endanger every American’s life. Sorry, but, this is a Federal Crime. Now, resign, and wait for an indictment. YOU are guilty for the murder of these 4 as others around the world for your LIES!
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raderby
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:30pmAgreed.
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starview
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 9:08pmI agree, resign, or suffer the consequences. There is no excuse for inactivity on his part, he is no better than a chicago thug!
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warrior21
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:37amYour are correct, Panetta was a U.S. Army Intelligence officer. However, I can find no where any proof he served in Vietnam. He entered the Army as a 2nd Lt. in 1964 and left after serving only 2 years as a 1st Lt. I doubt he had the slightest idea of the capabilities of a UC-130 gunship.
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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:38pmPanetta is a Vietnam vet and a US Army Intelligence officer. He knew the stakes. Assets not available is not plausible given the extent of our military and navy in the Med. He should also have known the value of Puff which I bet we have available. He did not keep the faith. This is why my son intends to resign his commission upon his return from Afghanistan.
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raderby
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:33pm“Panchetta” was one of the 2 types of commanders. He was the political back stabbing type. NOT a warrior type.
Too many like him in the Pentagon now. We need good men like yo uand your son back home, things may get nasty before it all shakes out.
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revelation2012
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 2:03amthat’s WHY their VOTES are being MISHANDLED!
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crazycat
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:29pmI can only say it as clearly as I believe it to be….. Mr. Panetta is not telling the truth and with the media in the hip pocket of Obama we will never know the whole truth no matter what the House does. Witness obama and his move within days of reelection of shutting down and exploration of our domestic energy in the West, the move to support the UN against our second amendment, the surrender of Bohener to obama (he has got to be one of the weakest leaders of the House in decades) put Issa in charge and watch obama cringe (it will never happen), the destruction of my country will soon be complete unless there are enough Dems in the Senate and the House with an independent backbone. Will all the Statesmen please stand up. Of course this is just one mans opinion and to be honest I still cannot believe that a majority of my fellow citizens are so stupid that they ignored the facts (not my opinons or the opinions of others like me) but the real facts and a fact is based on the real truth of what obama has done, has said and is doing. Got to give it to the man he is doing what he said he would and the people are selling their souls. One of the items that I really am bothered by is his voting to kill babies that were born alive during an unsucessful abortion. What kind of man is this? Sounds more like a Jihadist then a Christian in my opinion. Thanks for letting me vent.
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circleDwagons
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:43pmwe don’t need to know the truth, we can not handle the truth. All is good, there is no God
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Myth
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:00pmYou’re absolutely correct in that Panetta is not telling the truth.
Mr. Panetta, we ALWAYS had Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for daily work in the military. In times of attack we had Emergency Action Plans (EAP). You just told the world it took you 3 to 5 hours to come up with a plan. WTF????
If you had NO PLAN for emergencies, in times of attacks, you have NOT done your job. In fact, I’d say you Aided and Abetting the enemy by NOT being prepared. Treason. Period.
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sparkyrules
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:09pmI want YOU to run for office.
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starview
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 9:19pmIn other countries we call this infanticide, here the Dems call it late term abortion. Look on line and see what some of the nurses who were forced to participate with the Dr doing the abortion, Is sad. And Senator Obama voted numerous times for legislation on late term abortions to be passed.
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Lloyd Drako
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:27pmWhen all is said and done, you will find that mistakes were made, chiefly in not providing greater security for Americans in Libya before September 11. You will not find treason, betrayal, cover-up or any such thing. Bet on it.
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Carrie3570
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:21pmMore lies… we are suppose to believe this nonsense. 14 hours to respond? If this is the best America can do, we are in some serious trouble.
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Lloyd Drako
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:09pmNo “military” movements properly speaking, by Marines, AC130s, fighters or otherwise, were needed. A CIA response team from Tripoli arrived at Benghazi Airport about 4 hours after the attacks began. They were prevented from arriving at the annex for another 4 hours by negotiations with the Libyan authorities over how best to proceed. Once they arrived at the scene of the fighting, they had little trouble driving the attacking militias away and evacuating the surviving Americans.
Air power would have been useless in a situation like that at Benghazi; it would have been difficult to use it against hostiles without killing a lot of friendlies, not just Libyans but Americans as well. Even the Marines, if deployed in time, would surely have taken casualties trying to fight their way across Benghazi to the beleaguered CIA forces.
It’s a shame that 4 Americans had to die because prior warnings were not heeded and too much security was entrusted to the Libyans themselves. But on the actual night of the attack, it’s almost a miracle that we suffered only 4 lives lost.
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bdandsl
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:20pmI am tired of the lies and cover-ups. So sorry half the country wanted more of the same.
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:31pmHere’s a dose of reality: Half of the country (and probably more) just doesn’t care.
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Gonzo
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:29pm2Min. You’re right. However, when Snooki gets pregnant or Michael Vick gets arrested, the whole country can’t stop talking about it. As long as the bread and circuses keep coming, it’s not going to change either.
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EqualJustice
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:17pmThis is one reason Petreus resigned today. Everyone is saying that the BO administration knew abut the affair for a while and used it against Patreus, who would not fall into line over the Benghazi scandal! He probably did not want to testify under oath and tell lies! Yikes what a mess as all the RATS abandon the sinking ship! What else wil hit the fan now that BO got his second chance to destroy the country?
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seriouslywhy
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:02pmAll of it will hit the fan…and you know what happens when it hits the fan don’t you? It goes in all directions and hits everything! This administration is corrupt to the bone. Too bad there was no backbone involved.
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Militiaofone
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:16pmWe cannot let this go away. Write your Congressmen and Senators; stay cool and vent your feelings in an intelligent manner.
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Cavallo
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:42pmAnd what do you expect to be the outcome? Impeachment? Unlikely. The election resolved this scandal along with all the others. Might as well get used to it.
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Militiaofone
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:53pmApathy has never been one of my traits…”get used to it”…rethink this response; let’s try harder this time to make it most uncomfortable for this “Tyranus” (pun, not Nixon, a la Ferlinghetti), but Obama and his In-Justice Department. We need to turn on the heat now more than ever.
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The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:13pmTo more than 1/2 of our country, this means nothing compared to a shiny Obama phone and a brand, spankin’ new EBT card.
Can’t decide who I despise more…maybe all of you can help:
1) Obama voters
2) Paul-bot voters
3) Those who didn’t vote at all.
Personally, I’m leaning hard towads those who sat on the fence and didn’t vote at all. Total disgraces.
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circleDwagons
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:57pm@thealmightycreestof. How about those that said romney was the only electable canidate and that he would win in a landslide?
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starview
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 9:26pmI would say three too. Divide, and conquer, the Romans used this strategy often.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:08pmMr Panetta you work for a proven madman, why should we believe you?
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ResistSocialism
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:02pmYea well more pressing issues such as the election you know.
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:59pm“The meeting quickly turned into a discussion of potential responses to the unfolding situation in Benghazi, where militants had surrounded the consulate and set it on fire.” Translation: “The meeting quickly turned into a discussion of [how BOZO could cover his scrawny ass and blame someone else] for allowing this to happen.”
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dylan
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:57pmPanetta is a TRAITOR. He was in the house the’One’ squats in the whole time real time information was coming into the squatters situation room. So was BFD Biden. TRUTH WILL OUT!!
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huey6367
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:50pm… and then, after arriving in Benghazi, they had lunch, took in a movie and then went shopping before retiring for the evening. Work would have to wait until the next day – after they adjusted to the time difference.
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Carrie3570
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 4:19pmI need to correct a portion of your post:
… and then, after arriving in Benghazi via camel, they had lunch, took in a movie and then went shopping before retiring for the evening. Work would have to wait until the next day – after they adjusted to the time difference.
That’s better.
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