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Here Are the Obama Admin’s Five Different Reasons Why Susan Rice’s Talking Points Were Edited

Nov. 28, 2012 3:54pm Jason Howerton

The Obama administration, it seems, has been unable to get its story on Benghazi straight from day one. In the days after the deadly terrorist attack on the U.S. Mission in Libya, UN Ambassador Susan Rice and other administration officials blamed the attack on an anti-Muslim YouTube video despite intelligence suggesting it was terrorism.

Rice went on a number of Sunday shows nearly a week after the attack and, reading from “talking points,” mislead the American public, unintentionally or not. It was later discovered that Rice’s CIA talking points were edited to remove references to terrorism and al-Qaeda. The Obama administration has since provided five separate answers as to why the edits were made in the first place.

BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski provides the list:

1. References were removed to not tip off al-Qaeda and were substituted with “extremists,” according to David Petraeus.

Here Are the Obama Administrations Five Different Reasons Why Susan Rices Talking Points Were Edited

From left, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, CIA Director David Petraeus, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats. (Credit: AP)

2. The links to al-Qaeda were too “tenuous” to make public by DNI because the source wasn’t trusted.

US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper leaves a briefing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill in Washington on November 15, 2012. Officials attended closed door briefings before members of House and Senate intelligence committees to speak about the attack on a US consulate in Benghazi. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

3. “The talking points were debated and edited by a collective of experts from around the IC,” not just DNI, according to a DNI spokesman.

(fbi.gov)

4. The CIA told Senators McCain, Graham, and Ayotte the FBI removed references to al-Qaeda from the talking points “to prevent compromising an ongoing criminal investigation.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, center, flanked by fellow committee members, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. Rice met with lawmakers to discuss statements she made about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead. (Credit: AP)

5. The CIA later called Senators McCain, Graham, and Ayotte back, saying they had misspoke to them and that they — not the FBI — had edited the talking points.

Acting CIA Director Michael Morell, center, arrives for a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, with U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, who could find her name in contention as early as this week to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and other prominent senators, have said they would block the nomination of Rice. (Credit: AP)

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Comments (105)

BlackCrow
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:15pm
My parrot can repeat “talking points” and Polly isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. So we need a Secretary of State who is incapable of thinking for themselves?

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- AvengerK
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:45pm
  No, no, no…we’re all ignoring something very important here. Hillary Clinton told Ty Woods’ father at that funeral that she would make sure the maker of the film that the administration was blaming at the time- would be arrested. Sure enough the man was arrested and whether an arrest was warranted or not, it was catalized by his making the film. This is just unthinkable and no matter where you stand on the laughable film or the man who made it, his arrested was catalized by this administration pointing fingers at him for his film.
  This cannot go unpunished.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:03pm
  None of those excuse the lie. Not warning al Qaeda, is something completely different than actively formulating a lie to tell the American people. Susan Rice lied at least 5 times.
  
  Report this comment
- tckid17
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:06pm
  Would that be too Polyana?
  
  Report this comment
- saved4ever
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:23pm
  Why not have a Secretary of State that cannot think for herself! We have a president that cannot think for himself….
  
  Report this comment
- November29
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 5:39am
  They didn’t seem to exhibit the same restraint in mentioning the video. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- For my Liberty!
  Posted on December 2, 2012 at 6:00pm
  And while ALL of this is going on…The CROOKS in the White House are TICKLED to DEATH that NO one is bringing up WHY Stevens was there in the FIRST place….To GIVE WEAPONS TO AMERICA’S ENEMIES! That should be shoved in their FACE every single DAY until SOME Congressman grows some B@lls and serves Obama with either TREASON or IMPEACHMENT!
  
  Report this comment
MFHorn3
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:14pm
Wow, there sure seems to be a lot of confusion over this. I’m sure they’ll get this all sorted out, and then they can get back to designing and implementing a healthcare system for all of us.

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- CatB
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:20pm
  Not very good at keeping their LIES straight ;-) Truth WILL win out if we continue to DEMAND it.
  
  Remember Benghazi .. AND Fast and Furious.
  
  Report this comment
- OniKaze
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:09pm
  Sorry CatB, but that comment is pure delusion….. I hope you really don’t believe that, or you are in for some HEAVY disappointment…
  
  When Obama used Voter fraud to win re-usurpation all hope of any of us learning the “truth” about Bengazi was lost…
  
  It won’t happen… Plain and simple. That ship has sailed and is probably somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle right now..
  
  Report this comment
- Voice1percent
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 6:36pm
  Check out “Canadian Free Press Benghazi.” Seems there is a lot going on the bamster and his buds want to cover up. Fact is bammie could put us in a real sling forcing the russkies to dump some nukes on us. Put that in your morning coffee and think about it……..
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 8:57am
  CATB I have to agree with ONIKAZE. This administration is extremely skillful at lying and misdirection. Without a legitimate mainstream press actively pursuing answers. the Benghazi cover-up will remain just that. We must face the fact that most Americans don’t even know where Benghazi is let alone care that we lost 3 Americans plus an Ambassador due to criminal negligence on the part of this Administration. The Benghazi story will remain important only to those in this country who can see Obama for the fraud that he is. The rest are more concerned about honey -bo-bo and who Kim Kardashian is sleeping with
  
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ZAP
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:10pm
Their father lies, too. He runs hell…

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:10pm
My dog ate that page that referenced Al Queda, but then Obama ate my dog. Sorry.

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- bannedfromCNN
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:25pm
  woof.
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:31pm
  LOL, that was worth reading!
  
  Report this comment
- KernelOfTruth
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:26pm
  That’s more believable than Susan Rice!
  
  Report this comment
TEIN
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:10pm
Sounds like bunch of shoot first aim later..blast statements like a shotgun….more proof that the Pres. administration lied and could have cared less as to what happened at Benghazi!!! The Pres. just letting the Muslim Brotherhood get even with the USA for Bin Laden’s death….

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- searcher619
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:30pm
  the phrase is “Couldn’t have cared less.” I don’t get why so many people have trouble getting that right.
  
  Report this comment
- Diane TX
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:56pm
  @ Searcher 619
  
  It drives me up the wall too. They don’t understand that, “could have cared less” means that there’s room for a little more less caring to come. While “couldn’t have cared less”, means that there isn’t any possibility of caring less.
  
  Oh well, there ARE bigger problems in the World. : )
  
  Report this comment
ElmerLiberty
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:09pm
OK, so items 1, 2, and 4 answer WHY they were edited. They are all good reasons, and not inconsistent with each other.
Items 3 and 5 answer WHO edited them. The CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies were all involved.
Would the Republicans like to put all of our intelligence agents on public television and expose all of our methods to our enemies?
Or are they satisfied enough that Darrell Issa already outed a number of our CIA assets in Libya and put their lives in danger?

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- HumbleMan
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:14pm
  So the Why and the Who decided it was best to LIE to the American public, for the “better good”?
  
  Report this comment
- TEIN
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:16pm
  Are you satisfied that radical enemies of the USA attack American soil, kill American citizens and the only solution offered by the current administration is to apologize and then sit on our thumb waiting to pull out a plum???
  
  Report this comment
- HumbleMan
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Perhaps it would have been more honest to say: “There is an ongoing investigation, and we will inform you as soon as it is safe to disclose what we know”.
  
  Instead, you make up a BS story that lands some poor guy in prison while apologizing to the world for his poor judgment.
  
  How do you explain Hillary telling Tyrone Woods father they will arrest the guy who made the video?
  
  Sorry … this raises more questions than it answers.
  
  Report this comment
- Cibolo
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Liberal Much?
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Crate this puke up and ship him / her to benghazi. Send the shipping charges to the the Jihad House in Washington.
  
  Report this comment
- bannedfromCNN
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:27pm
  You betcha – day is night, wrong is right, nothing to see here…
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:49pm
  As a former Military Intelligence officer, I can state with certainty that to use the words “suspected al-Qaeda attack” or the words “suspected terrorist attack” does not expose any intelliegence resources, means, capabilities and operations. Think back to 11 September 2001. Al-Qaeda was the group that crashed the Towers. It is not a significant leap of logic to suspect al-Qaeda attacked the Benghazi consulate on 11 September 2012.
  
  If you have ever heard incoming rockets or mortars, there is no confusion about whether or not you have been attacked. The CIA contract security officers (the former SEALS) in Benghazi provided the best intelligence because they were highly trained military with combat experience. The CIA reported it was a terrorist attack as it happened.
  
  The administration chose to lie.
  
  Finally, based on my personal experience, I don’t want means, methods, intentions, capabilities of intelligence exposed. This type of information needs to remain sub rosa.
  
  In the old language: Benghazi was a cluster f***. The administration’s performance was a goat rope.
  
  Report this comment
Hoax And Chains
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:08pm
If this were Bush, we would stilled be outraged at it as we are now. Difference is, the Liberals would also be outraged too. It’s their anointed one so they’ll just let that go. Liberalism is a mental disease. The gene is DRD4. Google it.

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republic2011
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:08pm
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/51346

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AllLost
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:08pm
And Scooter Libby is in prison for ‘outing’ a non-operative CIA employee.

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DZ-015
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:07pm
The administration must be cranking up its Fog of War Machine to warp speed.

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neverending
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:07pm
lies, lies, lies and more lies to cover up all the other lies and the beat goes on.

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1TrueOne55
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:06pm
What about the reason that the Ambassador was meeting a Turkish Ministry Official in Benghazi in the first place with all the danger surrounding the Missions location after 2 previous attacks by al-Queda affiliated militants that we gave weapons to to fight the Qaddafi regime. What about the Aide Shipment that weighed in at 400Ktons that went to Syria via Turkey? There is something fishy here and even Fox News is not pressing that piece of the puzzle.

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republic2011
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:06pm
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/51346 Nuff said

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- vic138
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:22pm
  Cant wait for part 2 later today.
  
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IndyGuy
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:05pm
Okey Dokey…

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doomytram
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:05pm
Two weeks after the 9/11/12 terrorist attacks ole Obozo had the youtube film maker in jail. The day after ole Obozo was re-elected the film maker was convicted to prison.

Two weeks after the 09/11/12 terrorist attacks ole Obozo, Jarrett, Rice and Hillary were going on Letterman, Gregory and the View saying that it was the video film maker that caused the attacks.

The lies, on top of lies, wrapped in misinformation, surrounded by disinformation, and drenched in government cover ups. The most telling thing that ole Obozo said that made himself look so pathetic was when he got up to speak to the UN after a night of campaigning with Jay Z. When ole Obozo said, that the United State Government had nothing to do with this disgusting, heinous video that virtually know one had ever seen. Remember that the Truth is Stranger than fiction and if Ole Obozo lips are moving then he is lying. It sounds like our corrupt government hired a shill in that film maker. Just saying Ole Obozo is treason on a soda saltine with snails on top.

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:03pm
Not to worry. We all know Joanne McCain, Linda graham and this other twit Toyota are Dems in drag.

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mrmikejohnson
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:03pm
The lie about not tipping off Al Queda is hilarious. Yeah, who would ever expect Al Queda? Lol.

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- Hoax And Chains
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:10pm
  On September 11 no less. Never occurred to me! What are the chances that one of the most advance intelligence communities lost that one, eh?
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:20pm
  Let’s see. If al-Qaeda did it what is there as a tip off? If al-Qaeda didn’t do it, wouldn’t they be happy to take credit. I mean it is just good advertising.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:48pm
  DISORIENTED VETERAN…it was an al Qaeda affiliated group. The Libyan government attested to the fact that al Qaeda surrogates were responsible, the Obama administration completely ignored them. One arrest has taken place but the detainee is not being extradited to the U.S. for questioning. Please try to keep up.
  
  Report this comment
- lobster
  Posted on November 29, 2012 at 9:49am
  To quote Ann Coulter, ” My first impression was that it was the Amish, that did it.”
  
  Report this comment
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:03pm
One thing I’ve noticed in life. When I tell the truth, I never have to revise my statements.

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- Lee_in_PA
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:21pm
  Thank you.Daddy used to say if you are unable to remember what you told to whom, best to tell the truth and not have to worry about you said previously.
  
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Countrygirl1362
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:00pm
SNAFU typical government action

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vic138
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 4:00pm
And if you give us a few days we can make up, err, I mean come up with some more.

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ResistSocialism
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:59pm
Here is a sixth reason. They downplayed the event via charade.

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REPUBLICANINCALI
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:59pm
Sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher

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DougHuffman
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:58pm
No one gets left behind. Every body comes home. Time wounds all heels.

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REPUBLICANINCALI
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:58pm
Bla, bla, bla

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Balrog28
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:57pm
ClusterF sir!

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