Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who is in charge of policy, left, and Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides, who is in charge of management, are sworn in during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, where the ambassador and three other Americans were killed Sept. 11, on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 in Washington. An independent review panel charged this week that serious bureaucratic mismanagement was responsible for inadequate security at the mission. (AP)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) on Thursday lamented the partisanship surrounding the deadly assault in Benghazi, Libya, saying the “preoccupation” over the attack is because one side is seeking to score political points over another.
“We’ve lost 11 diplomats in the 10 years before Benghazi and our focus on diplomatic security was modest,” Sherman said during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the attacks. “But now it becomes the preoccupation of this committee…and those concerned with foreign policy nationwide. Why now?”
He continued, “Well partly because this time we lost an ambassador and a great man. But mostly it’s now Benghazi is not just a loss of diplomats, we’ve lost 11 before, but now because now there’s a partisan advantage to be sought by one side or the other.”
Ambassador Christopher Stevens was one of four Americans killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks against the U.S. diplomatic mission.
“This incident in Benghazi was important, but is it really more important than the North Korea nuclear program?” Sherman asked. “Is it really more important than many of the other subjects that have not been the subject of so many hearings by this committee?”
Instead, he said, diplomatic security is convenient because it can be blamed on one party or another, the State Department or the Republican Congress for not allocating enough resources.
“We should do more for diplomatic security, the State Dept should follow its own procedures, and we haven’t done so,” Sherman said. “The fact is bad things are going to happen to good people even if we are prudent and careful.”
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Comments (55)
Daddymac10
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:50amA kabuki show on steroids, this is the US government so-called investigation. That event happened months ago, how long do it take to finish an investigation?? Grab the people responsible and get answers from them today, not next year ..how hard is that?? Porky Pig claimed she got a concussion and is unable to testify?? Bullsh*t, she is not special, she must be forced to testify for many reasons. Congress, please do your job. Is that too much to ask for??
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yougottabekidding
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:10amCREDABILITY
The total lack there of from this regieme
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HKS
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:05amSmells a lot like Iran-Contra to me.
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taintso
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:08amBoth are still very important as they each involve a Clinton, Billy boy promoted Korea’s nuclear reactor program and Hillary as Sect. of State during Benghazi. And now for a question that must be answered was the reason Benghazi was not protected, that it was not a Consulate but a distribution point for the weapons taken after the fall of Kadaffy? Were there weapons deals going on at Benghazi? A simple yes or no from Hillary please.
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notatoomah
Dec. 20, 2012 at 11:16pmI don’t give a rat’s behind about North Korea. What I do care about is we had a soldier lasing a target for a Specter that never showed. Our guys don’t go about lasing targets if they have no good reason to believe someone is going to blowing it to smithereens in a few seconds. Either the President or Sec of Defense told General Hamm to stand down, and as you can see, General Hamm handed in his resignation and retired within a week. This guy in the White House gets no respect from me for that reason. He doesn’t care about anything but how the world sees HIM. Those of us who choose to pay attention know what he really is, the rest are just fodder for his ego.
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raderby
Dec. 21, 2012 at 4:15amyes, it is about the guy hung out to dry. The ambassador? He was fast and furious-ing and got nailed for it. Another example of oh-so-clever progs messing in areas they should not. (like most of what King Zero does)
Our guy on the roof? (or wherever he was) That’s what is important. Chillary needs some jail time. And go dig up the adviser S. Powers – notice how she and creepo hubby Sunsplat have disappeared?
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Satellite309
Dec. 20, 2012 at 11:12pmSPECIAL MESSAGE FOR COLONEL ALLEN WEST, PLEASE READ…
Dear Sir,
I am half black and half white like the President. As a member of the black community I THANK YOU for being one of the only blacks in America to speak out against Barack Obama.
Sir, there are many people on this website, including myself, who want to go to Washington DC and stage protests to demand that Obama STEP DOWN AND RESIGN due to Benghazi. The problem is, we can’t go there to DC all by ourselves acting like a bunch of rag-tag goofballs walking around unorganized, and thus be easy pickings for harsh criticism from CNN and MSNBC.
Sir, if you happen to read this message, please know that we need a leader to lead us to DC. I nominate YOU. Please consider my special request.
If you call us to DC for protests, WE WILL COME. WE WILL COME IN THE SAME NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW DURING GLENN BECK’S MEETING AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
Thank you, Colonel, for your time. God bless you and may God watch over us all.
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TurboCat
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:17amI like that idea a lot. Allen West is someone I really respect. I think we should also have signs that all read “Fast and Furious” if they mess with our gun rights. That would send an unmistakeable message to certain corrupt people who need to answer for that as well.
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raderby
Dec. 21, 2012 at 4:18amplease do not yank Col. West into a useless action. Never let them see you coming unless you have superior numbers, and even then, never let them know your numbers.
The time will come for action soon enough.
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ICEDRAGONNITE
Dec. 20, 2012 at 11:09pmHe was going to be kidnapped and then traded for the blind sheik. Also the guns to Syria had been completed. There is so much corruption in DC it makes your head spin.
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Wyerd_001
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:59pmOf course it is, an what’s more, they won’t do anything about North Korea either. Obama can only bully people in the US.
Another question? Why did Iran put their nuclear program on hold in 2007 until the new administration took over?
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G-WHIZ
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:34amAccording to Drudge and WND, The IRANIANS HVE NUCLEAR MISSELS! They came from a delivery from RUSSIA a few years ago!! They donna havta build them!! This is all a ruse to keep uber-spending OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!
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sngnsgt
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:36pmAnd we just elected this idiot’s boss. What a stupid thing to say.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:54pmHere we go again. Add one more culture changing, rights-restricting, Jewish politician to today’s long list, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) When will you see the light. They are taking us apart. Churchill was correct.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Zionism_versus_Bolshevism
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Walkabout
Dec. 21, 2012 at 8:50amI read his wiki entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Sherman
“Sherman and his wife have been members of a conservative synagogue in Encino, California – for many years.” Yet Brad has a 100% liberal rating from NARAL & every other liberal group.
So conservative values makes his family strong but he makes sure he votes liberal for 1/2 his constituency. So he smooth the bumps in the road that they make.
His kids have a daddy (conservative), his constituent’s kids have Uncle SLAM for a daddy (liberal).
His kids go to college & are able to compete for jobs, his constituent’s kids will have the union.
& the beat goes on.
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StandingOnMyHead
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:33pmShort answer; uhmmm, yep!
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RayOne
Dec. 20, 2012 at 9:57pmThe BenghaziDeception reveals a pattern. Trust is Stupid.
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adimeroll
Dec. 20, 2012 at 9:08pmAre all democrats affirmative action graduates………..
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Walkabout
Dec. 21, 2012 at 8:52amBrad Sherman is a conservative. He just insures that his constituents can live liberal.
Isn’t that schizophrenic? Isn’t that a dichotomy?
“Sherman and his wife, who are Jewish, have been members of Valley Beth Shalom – a conservative synagogue in Encino, California – for many years.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Sherman
Why? So he can obtain & maintain … POWER!
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RayOne
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:00amSome are ivy league elitists with an endowment to look forward to.
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aproudinfidel
Dec. 20, 2012 at 9:03pmTo a bunch of American families, responsible citizens and me Benghazi is vastly more important than speculating about what North Korea can or can’t do. To many of us the legitimacy of our government hinges on it.
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Walkabout
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:19pmNorth Korea is in the Chinese sphere of influence. The only way they would give that up is thru a war.
Once all of Korea was in the Chinese sphere of Influence. But they lost a war to the Japanese in 1894 to 1895.
In the 1950s China fought to keep North Korea in the Chinese sphere of Influence, they bloodied the Marines at the Frozen Chosin. They bloodied the army too.
So we can engage in an embargo, espionage & other items. We already are doing that. So what more can we do?
What we should not do is bring up Libya during Korea hearing & Korea in Libya hearings.
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Exrepublisheep
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:33pmAgreed.
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Walkabout
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:13pmRep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) ” ‘Benghazi Was Important, But Is it Really More Important Than the North Korea Nuclear Program”
What are we going to do Brad? Attack North Korea & then its’ protector China?
President Bubba Clinton (a.ka. I didn’t c/m in Monica’s mouth & finished myself off in the presidential bathroom) scr/wed the pooch on that one.
How did Clinton solve North Korea? Oh yeah Madeleine Al(l)”bright” gave Dear Leader a basketball autographed by Michael Jordan. We gave them fuel oil, grain shipments & a promise to build a light water reactor for energy needs that could not be used for making nukes. It dud not slow North Korea one bit
Really Brad?
You are just deflecting, delaying, denying, dissembling
Dante would know what circle you belong in Brad Sherman,.
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Walkabout
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:25pmCongressman Sherman “led the House revolt” against the original $700 billion bailout plan, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).[34] Sherman introduced the “Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Exist Act,” with regard to large financial entities
That & few other things are all I can find positive about Brad. He certainly carries the water for the Demcrats. 100% rating for almost everything left.
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BasketFullOfPuppies
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:12pmWhy would we care about the North Korean nuclear program, when you’re not worried about 4 Americans that have already been murdered? How about an Iranian nuclear program that you’ve been talking about for many years, and have done effectively nothing about? BTW, the NK’s have already popped two off, and you’ve done nothing about that, that has had any sense of effectiveness.
Perhaps, if you were more worried about the needless deaths of Americans that have already occurred, we might take you more seriously when you speak about preventing future deaths. Until then, your empty words and intentional obfuscation in the face of facts, will be ignored.
REMEMBER BENGHAZI !
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wordweaver
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:07pmLame attempt at misdirection, Mr. Sherman. They are both important, you knucklehead, but we are talking about this debacle in Libya right now. If the government was forthcoming with answers about this and taking ownership for the mess, then we could get on with firing a few folks and talk about North Korea and other things. Where is Hillary? She has some ‘splaining to do. I suspect she will ultimately dive under the bus on this deal as she is on the way out the door of the State Department. Let’s get some answers so we can move on.
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BasketFullOfPuppies
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:15pmShe won’t be diving under any buses. She still has presidential aspirations and she can’t have that on her resume’. She will do everything she can, to keep from having her name attached to any responsibility. She “said” the buck stops with her. But, those are just more empty words.
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Satellite309
Dec. 22, 2012 at 9:03amTo WORDWEAVER:
Well said. Let’s get some fricking answers so we can move on.
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denkat56
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:01pmGod knows the truth, maybe you can lie to us the people. Just try explaining the lies and your rationale to god. You political pukes will all rot in your lies and half truths, gnashing of teeth and wailing of tears will be your legacy. I hope you can live with it. You sure going to die with it around your neck..
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quiltgal
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:00pmFrom the Democrat Political Manual:
Mention the urgency of dealing with North Korea’s Nuclear Program whenever you’ve been caught being incompetent elsewhere.
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Walkabout
Dec. 20, 2012 at 8:20pmShort, simple, TRUE >> Memorable
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:57pmHere is the differences:
Benghazi is due to the treasonous actions of Obama and his administration. Arms smuggling to the enemies of the nation – thus we have an enemy from within.
North Korea is important as they are an enemy from without, who is allied with the enemy within the White House via his loathing for America.
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Exrepublisheep
Dec. 20, 2012 at 10:35pmIran-Contra.
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Daddy Hawg
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:55pmSo Mr. rep, how many American lives have been taken by the North Korean nuclear program to date? I believe it to be ZERO to date!
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oxycontinxx
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:54pmrep sherman……………dont be such a GD dumbmass by trying to compare benghazi to north korea. stick to the subject at hand………….and try really hard not to show your stupidity.
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denkat56
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:54pmThese so called politicians are just showing who they really are. They didn’t lose any family in lybia, so they don’t care. This is why the the people will revolt against higher taxation, while our pols are living high and mighty off our money. This is just a fine example of how they really feel about the military and the state department personnel. We’re all expendable, and they don’t hide their lack of concern. This is what will set it off.
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Kiba
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:52pmYea man dont yall know, that North Korean nuke program just started a few months ago, remember? lol…Gotta start keeping an eye on them now huh?
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RJJinGadsden
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:40pmAnybody remember Comet Kohoutek?
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Crazy-Horse
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:45pmIt happened again.
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FISH_BONE
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:48pmOf course… How could we forget?
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kickagrandma
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:38pmWhat’s important is the stolen election and the crooks in charge at this point.
BENGHAZI is a millstone around their collective necks, thank you very much. WE THE PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET BENGHAZI OR 9-11!
“GOD IS NOT MOCKED FOR WHAT A MAN SOWS, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP….”
Our GOD IS A MIRACLE WORKER. We, HIS kids, need HIS MIRACLES WORKING every minute of every day in our lives. We, as HIS kids, do pray for our enemies. And, until you have done that, you have no idea of the depth of meaning of the words submission and obedience.
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:37pm“Dem. Rep.: ‘Benghazi Was Important, But Is it Really More Important Than the North Korea Nuclear Program?’”
Only if you want to hide something and you can’t multi-task….
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kickagrandma
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:52pmFunny! Nice response.
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chips1
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:57pmGive a Democrat a stick of gum and he loses his whole train of thought. In fact, it could cause her to fall down and get a concussion.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Dec. 20, 2012 at 7:57pmExactly.
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Satellite309
Dec. 22, 2012 at 8:57amMessage for Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Ca.,….
Wow. You are no Mensa member are you? Yes, we are “obsessed” with Benghazi. Why?
Because your Lord and Savior, King Hussein Obama proceeded to use Muslim Brotherhood talking points and flushed our Constitution down the toilet in front of the United Nations, not to mention the fact he sent his little bitch Susan Rice out to do his dirty work as well.
So why don’t you resign now. Please. Go the **** home, assho*e, Democratic a*s-kissing low-IQ’d NEANDERTHAL knuckle-dragger
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