Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Government

Panetta Justifies Benghazi Response Time: ‘You Cannot Simply Call and Expect Within 2 Minutes to Have a Team in Place’

Feb. 3, 2013 6:22pm Erica Ritz

Candy Crowley Interviews Leon Panetta, Gen. Martin Dempsey on Benghazi Failures

(Photo: CNN)

CNN’s Candy Crowley interviewed outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey on “State of the Union” Sunday, asking the men a number of questions many Americans have been curious about for months.

What were the authorities doing for a reported seven hours, as Americans called for help? Why wasn’t a strike team mobilized sooner? And why does the administration keep citing bad intelligence, when they had people on the ground relaying information?

After Panetta said he will likely have the “opportunity” to testify on Benghazi before leaving office, he said (all subsequent emphasis added):

…Frankly, intelligence did not provide any warning that this, in fact, was going to happen. I mean, we deployed. We knew there were problems there. We moved forces into place where we could deploy them quickly if we had to. They were ready to go.

But very frankly by the time we got the information as to what in fact was taking place there, just distance alone made it very difficult to respond quickly. That’s just the nature of dealing with the Middle East.

After a discussion of where the nearest available assistance was– Crowley noting that they “had an ambassador telling people that it was trouble” before and during the attack– Panetta stated:

This is not 911. You cannot just simply call and expect within two minutes to have a team in place. It takes time. That’s the nature of it. Our people are there. They are in position to move, but we’ve got to have good intelligence that gives us a heads up that something is going to happen.

After questions about basic security at the consulate and what we should have done differently in retrospect (not much), Crowley finally snapped:

“Why isn’t there better intelligence? It’s not like the intelligence community is underfunded. And it seems like any time we come into something where it has been a tragedy, it’s always the intelligence community…So it seems like it’s always the CIA’s fault.”

Crowley did not ask about the infamous YouTube video, however, or reports claiming urgent requests for military backup were denied and that CIA operators were told to “stand down.”

However, the clip is still worth watching:

(H/T: WeaselZippers)

–

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (150)

Apple Bite
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:30pm
They had teams in the area, Panetta is a shining example of incompetence in this administration. And he, just like the rest of them, are trying to treat the taxpayers as if they’re incapable of thinking…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Advection
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:13pm
  Massive incompetence.
  
  Panetta, explain why obama ordered forces stationed around the Mediterranean to stand down, or shut the eff up.
  
  These people are incapable of taking responsibility for their own actions!
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:33pm
  how about the brits all ready had people there . murder plane and simple
  
  Report this comment
- revelation2012
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 11:08pm
  he’s a lyin’ dawg ,,, all of them are so STUPID thinkin’ that they have gotten away with MURDER!
  
  Report this comment
- Hangman54
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 11:34pm
  Ok, somebody answer Me this question, something that hasn’t had much disscussion.
  Why the he!! did the FBI and whatever other alphabet soup group wait for two weeks,TWO WEEKS to start their (investigation)?? Oh yea, it was because it was too dangerous,
  I call shenanigans on the whole stinking mess…
  
  Heads need to roll for this “Remember Benghazi”
  
  Report this comment
- Alaskaninfidel
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:29am
  Depraved indifference is punishable by law.
  
  Report this comment
- toto
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:30am
  Prisms are amazing things, changes the way you look at things. Looking at Benghazi as a royal failure is one way, that our intelligence was failed, that Clinton and Obama were grossly lacking, that the military was unprepared to act in a lightning fast manner is one way. But try this one, see it through the prism of a black op (getting the Blind Sheik back to Morsi as Morsi wants) and how each action facilitates all the way through from beginning to end.
  
  1. Repeated denials to beef up the security. (Create a pathway with weakened security.)
  2. Remove 2 more protective units a matter of weeks before 9/11 (further weaken the ability to resist.)
  3. Ignore Ambassador Stevens requests in the face of knowing he has been threatened and is a target.
  4. Repeated denials for assistance throughout the ordeal. (Waiting for the unruly insulted mob to get Stevens to hold for ransom.) The 2 ex SEALS were the fly in the ointment they had not planned on, they fought valiantly and were denied permission to help which they, as real American heroes declined to obey.
  5. Video likely a set up for the operation as an excuse for the kidnapping. (Couldn’t have Obama seen as dealing with terrorists in securing the return of Stevens.) When the op failed, they doubled down on the video as the reason for everything.
  6. Not sending an investigative team in IMMEDIATELY, waiting weeks. (Time for all evidence to be completely degraded and destroyed.)
  7. Complete lies told for we
  
  Report this comment
- OccamsSword
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:50am
  TOTO, That is a very possible scenario. Gun and arms running and holding some Al Qeada hostages may play into it somehow, or not? But you are thinking well and logical, cause its not simply about OBs reelection. Return of the “blind sheik” is a bigger deal in multiple ways than we may know.
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:01am
  Here is another link to add to the stuff I posted above…
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dih1A0ZTzaM
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:11am
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heqYBf-Lev0
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:14am
  Well, it looks like “the stuff I posted above” didn’t make it. I hate it when that happens…
  
  Report this comment
- OccamsSword
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:08am
  NZKIWI…The links worked fine for me, thanks
  
  Report this comment
- Obama Been Lauding
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:13am
  Aviano, Italy is about 400 miles away.
  F-16 jets are stationed there, Speed–over 1000 mph= 1/2 hr. to Benghazi
  C-130 turboprops also there, Speed–about 350 mph= 1 hr. to Benghazi
  This was the anniversary of 9-11-01, not Lassies’ birthday.
  And yes, they had “Live” video.
  This Administration has “Created” such confusion, no wonder Hillary said, it was “Fog of War”, but they created the Fog. Like blaming it on a Video, knowing that it was another “Lie”.
  
  Report this comment
- KURT1010
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 6:50am
  What a cop out….cant call 911 , well it was 9/11 , they should have known that attacks would happen everywhere on that date. Ask for more security and did NOT get it…I have never heard so many excuses in my life…..
  
  Report this comment
- Leader1776
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:03am
  @ NZKIWI
  Links work. I saw the original interviews and most coverage with Bret Baier. Great coverage and will not let these murderous bastards off the hook for this fiasco. Yes, there were incidences under Bush, but none with these disturbing details and where the administration FAILED to respond to the situation.
  
  From what little we know the ONLY politicization of this disgusting event is on the part of BHO and his lies and stonewalling by what they did and said days before an election.
  
  Report this comment
- yosemitefan
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:22am
  @O B L
  You are dead on. Aviano is a short jet flight from Benghazi. The US Armed forces have “Standing Orders”
  when any of our Embassy’s are attacked, these orders are to be implemented – stat! They are ordered to act without waiting for a Washington hand wringer to save our people. Unless given a “stand down” order by SecDef or imPOTUS . Less than two days after the Benghazi attack the Admiral at Aviano was “reassigned” with extreme prejudice as not to make Soros’s puppet look like the coward he is…
  
  Report this comment
- lobster
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:34am
  We had TWO destroyers right off the coast of Libya. Each one has a helo on the fantail. Why? Those guys could have been there in 15 minutes if it weren’t for the leading from behind policy of the ones in charge in D.C. They also want the muslim brotherhood to rule the middle east, figure???
  
  Report this comment
- Charles Curtis
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:23pm
  @TOTO – TOTO is not in Kansas – He’s on point.
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:37pm
  Yes, those links work but I had posted a number which I think demonstrated the administration’s deceit over this matter, and brief explanations. Those are the links that didn’t arrive on the page.
  
  It doesn’t matter much as everybody has the idea anyway, I guess…
  
  Report this comment
Guitar Master
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:19pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Is that Candy Crowley again doing her Chris Christie mime?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:31pm
  she is doing Michael Moore dressed as a lesbian trucker
  
  Report this comment
- firman
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:46pm
  I think I know why her name is “Candy”
  
  Report this comment
MiCurmudgeon
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:16pm
Our military has always been ready to go until Obama started leading from behind.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- MDECKER
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:31pm
  It was 911 ! We have a bunch of people running the show that don’t give a damn about anything but their own political futures and fortunes.
  
  Report this comment
nov_284
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:09pm
That’s what a MEU is supposed to be for. They’re supposed to be rapid response units with the air and ground assets organic to the detachment, sufficient to fight a small war unsupported, or, if necessary, to be the first stroke of a larger conflict. Libya, anybody? Instead they get used as theatre reserves for an under-manned war effort or two (makes for a more exciting float, but that’s not what they’re supposed to be there for) and they’re not there when we need them.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:19pm
  it wasn’t 2 minutes, it was 7 hours.
  there is nowhere in the world we can’t get to in 7 hours. traitors need to hang!
  
  Report this comment
- nov_284
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:15pm
  I agree completely. If the Marine Expeditionary Unit in the area hadn’t been tasked to go somewhere else, this could have gone differently. Ever wonder how it is that when the SHTF there are Marines there within hours? Those miserable dudes get stuffed into the bowels of an LHD class ship, fed rotten food, denied access to the topside so they don’t get any sunlight, breathing nasty, foul air, taking showers with the crappiest low flow shower heads imaginable. When they get called in, it’s a synch that they can’t be driven back because they’d cut their own mother’s throat to get off that boat and stay off of it. The willingly subject themselves to this treatment so that they can be local when something goes down and they can intervene to protect America’s interests with tanks, apcs, assault helos and fighter planes. Unfortunately, our fearless leader has discovered that the media will support him by saying that fewer people were deployed the sandbox when people that were deployed to the sandbox specifically go home and are replaced by Marines that are on a MEU, but not specifically earmarked for that conflict. So it’s good politics to send the Marine in and play games with the safety of Americans abroad.
  
  Report this comment
wuggly ump
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:56pm
When I was in the military, we had perimeter security and a “Special Response Team” that would respond imediately. I find it hard to believe we didn’t have some form of reinforcements somewhere close. An Aircraft Carrier has Marines on it quick responses.
This is one of those issues the administration is going to dance around until it goes away and forgotten.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
spfoam1
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:55pm
The Ambassador was providing weapons to the Syrian opposition group (islamic radicals) who were attempting to topple Putin’s’ ally, Bashar Assad. Rather than rescue the Ambassador, and then have to admit they knew what he was doing there (at night, on 9-11, with no security, in the worst city in Libya) they chose to act as though they were taken by surprise. Failure to have military assets in place in the event of a problem makes it much easier to deny knowledge of the mission. They have to follow that story, even now, or they will be found guilty of a rather nasty scheme. They basically allowed Putin to carry out a hit on our Ambassador, using his own hired islamic radicals, and get away with it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Meowmeowoofwoof
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:05pm
  No, mr.defense secretary, you had hours to respond. Who ignored their calls for air support? Was it the Indonesian or the pig-in-a-pantsuit? All of you are accomplices to murder. You are complicit in helping rebuild the Sunni caliphate that was destroyed in WW1. Lenin had names for well meaning progressive dupes like you sir, ” useful idiots. ” Now retire and go F yourself sir. Blood is on your hands and hundreds of thousands will perish because of your treachery. ::::::::
  
  Report this comment
Strasser
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:52pm
Ok, Leon Pinheadda, I think we need to prop you up in front of some of these teams you supposedly command and have you tell them that 7 hours is not enough time for them to react. Do that and I think you’ll find exactly how fast America’s elite fighting forces can move. You are a pathetic disaster, and if justice is served you will go down in history as the second-worst Sec Def in American history after John Kerry.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
crawdad
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:41pm
Within the first few minutes, Mr. Magoo contradicts himself over and over. “Teams were in place, ready to go” Where? In Djibouti, 2000 miles away? That’s the closest we had troops or aircraft? Nothing in Italy, Turkey or Spain? Why not in Tripoli, an hour away? And, “Remember, it wasn’t 9/11 in just Benghazi – it was all over the world” What a silly argument and from a general. First I’ve heard that there was not a continuous battle but two 20-minute ones separated by six hours. Even if true, I don’t see what difference it makes. They sat on their hands. Crowley is all bark, no bite. She lets it go and asks what measures/changes have they made since. You can almost hear the sigh of relief. It doesn’t end here. There is a spiritual world and these people will come face to face with those they have betrayed.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MBA
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:35pm
Then let’s get someone in that position who CAN get support there when it is needed. General Patton, even General Eisenhower are rolling over in their graves right now. How do
WE THE PEOPLE fire these incompentents?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bvikay
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:31pm
How about 2hours? You people are truly incompetent. The bad news is that you are being replaced by people that are dumber than the outgoing (thank god) idiots.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
VetMike
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:25pm
Save us from political generals and from politicians in general. There are MEFs in the Med. Armed drones could have been overhead within two hours.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
denkat56
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:20pm
Maybe the drones would’ve helped with in minute’s, troops or ground support in 2 to 4 He’s. How long was the attack, 10 or 12 hours. Liars everyone of them. The poor families, and the 4 victims will never hear the truth or the reason no help was ever sent. I think and feel that those leaders in the situation room were and are cowards, nothing more nothing less. A complete breakdown in the white house by the coward in chief. Ineptitude running amok. The people are dying Mr. President. Real people nut bumps in the road you coward.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
firman
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:20pm
The corruption in government is growing as fast as the national debt. This country is going down hill fast and I believe we are in for some tough times soon. Save your money and be prepared to be self sufficient. It may get better eventually, but not for a while.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ares338
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:13pm
In Hillary’s words “what difference does it make”? Just like the man who was caught in bed with a young blonde by his wife…deny, deny, deny! Panetta doesn’t believe this…he is just doing what he was to say!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
kdshell1
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:09pm
Panetta is pathetic! Serving under Obama, he’s lost all credibility.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:02pm
  ALF had no credibilty when he served under Clinton either.
  
  Report this comment
- OccamsSword
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:54pm
  hehehe…Alf
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:32pm
  OCCAMSSWORD, can’t take credit for that. Somebody else said that here a couple of months ago. I liked it enough to steal it.
  
  Report this comment
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:57pm
I consider both of these morons traitors. Dempsey is a creepy Obama worshiper. They are both in their positions to play a role in the fundamental transformation of America. These people are going to compromise our military.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:56pm
“This is not 911. You cannot just simply call and expect within two minutes to have a team in place.”

Didn’t this attack last for 7 hours?

I guess he’s saying, “If we can’t get there in 2 minutes…. why bother at all?”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- honestynow
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:04pm
  Their comments contradict prior info:
  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/cia-and-state-department-accounts-benghazi-attack-contradict-gen-dempsey-s-explanation
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:11pm
  Hi MONK, Apparently, the only effort that the DC crowd committed to was to Stand Down!
  
  Report this comment
Katielee
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:51pm
From various chatter out there, Those who had been on, and were still on the teams in place to respond to these types of situations, thought there was a smorgasbord of intel. More than they’ve had on many occasions.

But—Panetta is not lying, they wouldn’t have been there, literally, in TWO minutes.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:11pm
  Democrats choose their scripted words well. Must take many hours of rehearsals !
  
  Report this comment
UNALIEN
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:44pm
ah Marxists, don’t just love how they pervert the context of everything

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
spirited
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:35pm
Ahhh, “two minutes”…. “seven hours”.

>Was that Panetta’s Fadder Gweedoo Sarducci act?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:43pm
  two minutes. seven hours,,
  
  what difference does it make Hillary
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:46pm
  Yes .. I couldn’t remember if it was 7 or 8 HOURS … and WHO GAVE THE ORDER TO STAND DOWN? From what I understand that can only come form the “top” aka the current occupant of the W.H.
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:35pm
When will obama be arrested and charged with treason for giving the “STAND DOWN” order which led directly to the slaughter of Stevens, Smith, Doherty and Woods?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:10pm
  Don’t hold your breath. The Chicago radicals . thanks to Soros, have the MSM in their pocket and they have smeared every conservative who has stood up to them. And the MSM carries the smears 24 / 7.
  
  Report this comment
johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:33pm
What a shame watching a grown man lie like a rug!

Panetta should be tried in federal court, found guilty and hung for treason against the USA. Same thing for the guy in the movie usher’s costume sitting next to him. And, let’s not stop until we’ve gone all the way up the food chain!

“Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:37pm
  Hear hear and Crowley should be hung for impersonating Chris Christie.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:53pm
  Haha, Dempsey looks like he should be a doorman at the Ritz. Embarassments, the both of them.
  
  Report this comment
- Maxim Crux
  Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:15pm
  Leon was no good even before he was confirmed. They should all go to prison, including the congress that confirmed him.
  
  Report this comment
- OccamsSword
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:56am
  Nice!
  
  Report this comment
- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:27am
  Benghazi is over. Trying to manufacture some kind of scandal out of the sad incidents there was just a dirty trick to try to swing the election. Since it didn’t work, the Republicans want to put the whole thing behind them so that people will forget how in the basest depths of their cynical opportunism they attempted to exploit a tragedy for political gain. Unfortunately for them, they made so much noise about it when they still thought their wicked ploy might work that they have to placate the stooges who are still listening to the echoes inside the far right feedback zone by letting the furor die down slowly instead of dropping it like a hot potato.
  
  Report this comment
- phil1765
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 6:14am
  Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  You are kidding right? Standing down any help to keep an ambassador and 3 others from being killed because you want to cover up another failed gun-running operation is a crime you freaking idiot and the perpetrators should be punished to the full extent of the law. You can’t be that stupid, as a matter of fact I would bet you are not that stupid, but the story doesn’t fit your little color by numbers picture of the current administration. You are everything that will absolutely continue the destruction of this country.
  
  Report this comment
- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 4:03pm
  Not doing something that you think should have been done is not a crime. If you think that it is, what crime would that be? What is the law against it?
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:32pm
Panetta’s continuing the lie because the regime knew about the attack yet did nothing,they wanted those men dead to keep the lid on their gun running operation. For a Marxist POS who hates guns he sure likes to spread them around huh? Just not to law abiding Americans that’s much too dangerous for the Marxist heathen to allow. That demographic must have it’s right infringed at all cost and we’re allowing the trash to do it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
banjarmon
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:28pm
Almost 8 hours of shooting….Who call the STAND DOWN ORDER???

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:40am
  If such an order was given, it was given t by the person who was responsible for deciding whether to give it or not give it. If it was the wrong decision that’s too bad, there’s nothing to be done about it now. It doesn’t matter now if they decided by flipping a coin; what’s done is done.
  
  Report this comment
kaydeebeau
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 6:27pm
Well Leon – if they aren’t ready at a moments notice perhaps more drills are in order for such scenarios rather than drilling for a tea party attack in South Carolina – good grief – that is the best you could come up with to say?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:11am
  Hey Kaydee,
  
  Yep, that’s the sad fact! This collection of fools don’t know “come here from sick ‘em!”
  
  The military is only one facet of this administration’s failures. How about a national security director who calls Al Qaeda “a largely secular organization that eschews violence.”
  
  Somewhere, a village(s) is searching for its idiot(s).
  
  “Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.