‘Real News’: Benghazi Report Leads to New Criticism of State Department

Dec. 19, 2012 7:52pm Christopher Santarelli

An independent inquiry convened by the State Department that investigated the Sept. 11 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Libya was made public Tuesday night, offering sharp criticisms of the department for its lack of security personnel and for relying on local militia to safeguard the compound. The unclassified report is thought to vindicate the criticisms made by Republicans like Arizona Sen. John McCain, and during an appearance on CNN Wednesday, Republican Rep. Tim Cole of Oklahoma called the review a “very damning indictment of the State Department performance.”

Now that the independent investigators have come down on the department, will any officials–say Hillary Clinton–face penalties or career consequences for their part in this incident? As is often the case in Washington, the blame for the failures seem to be diffused amongst enough bureaucrats to make it difficult place blame squarely on and single person or organization. While the report says those in the State Department provided “grossly inadequate” security, it also says that poor leadership could not be punished under department regulations in the near term:

“The Board recognizes that poor performance does not ordinarily constitute a
breach of duty that would serve as a basis for disciplinary action but is instead
addressed through the performance management system. However, the Board
is of the view that findings of unsatisfactory leadership performance by senior
officials in relation to the security incident under review should be a potential
basis for discipline recommendations by future ARBs, and would recommend a
revision of Department regulations or amendment to the relevant statute to this
end.”

The report, and whether anything will come of it, was discussed at the top of “Real News” Wednesday. Watch a clip from the segment below:

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

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Comments (11)

bikerdogred1
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 7:00am
Hillary say’s can’t blame me,I’am just a dumb hag,Hillary,if we are in trouble we can’t call you at 3AM is that what you are trying to tell us.You are not president material.

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nzkiwi
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 5:09am
Everybody should keep demanding an official answer to this question:

Who gave the “stand down” order, and why?

We all are sure what the answer will be, but a formal response is required. From that point everthing else will automatically follow and all will eventually become clear…

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casventures
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:34am
This nhation is directed by people who want their check, but do not care.

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kathy58
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:23pm
There has been nothing but lies,since we first heard about this.Unfortunately the main stream media has ignored this ,as well as fast & furious, Until we can hold the media responsible for their ineptness,when it comes to this administration, nothing will happen,no accountability, everynite,I try to think of ways to hold the mainstream media accountable for their neglect of the truth

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dbrockjohnson
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:58pm
This country is like the twilight zone!! I can’t beleive who leads this country now! Liars, crooks, thieves, and our president is the ringleader . I hate that bastard, he don’t care about any of us unless your a black Muslim !!!!

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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:09am
  Who, the President? He seems like a good guy. Us real Americans like him and we trust him. We can’t understand the irrational rage and hatred so many people seem to feel toward him.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 9:49am
  CHET: Oh, poor deluded soul. Where to begin….Never mind. If you don’t get it by now, you never will.
  
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- TEIN
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:06am
  @Chet..Don’t know if you are being sarcastic…but if you are not, do you understand even what happened?? USA soil was attacked!!! USA citizens were killed!! The Pres is the Commander in Chief..meaning in charge of the military !!! The military designed to protect USA soil and USA citizens!!! He did nothing!!! The complex was being attacked for 7 hours and nothing was done!!! Then he lied about the attack!!! He helped make a video based on a lie!!! Now underlings in the State Department are some being the major scapegoat from a report that basically says, Whoops…we messed up…now lets make a lesson’s learned list…Really?? Is this that what USA now expects from its elected Presidential leader??? To lie and then shrug the ole’ shoulder and say..”It wasn’t my fault and I did all I could do…”??
  
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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 5:45pm
  Lots of US embassies and consulates were under attack that day, in all other cases by unruly mobs of citizens. We know now that this was something more serious, but even if we knew that at the time, the rest of the world didn’t. Ordering a counterattack could have just aggravated the situation all around the world resulting in the loss of a lot more than four lives. It’s a sad situation, but the cynicism of the Republican’s who are trying to score cheap political points by trumping it up into some kind of phony scandal is truly despicable.
  
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WarMunger_Al
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:35pm
They white washed the report, claiming 7 hours wasn’t enough time for military intervention. BS.
Plenty of Assets stationed within less than 2 hours from Benghazi. No one is going to pay, there is no justice in this country, the traitors get away with it again.

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- SaturdaysWarrior76
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 4:05am
  Bingo!
  
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