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Obama Was Absent During Benghazi Attack — Shocking Truths Emerge At Second Senate Libya Hearing

Feb. 7, 2013 3:00pm Mytheos Holt

The Benghazi scandal has been treated by critics of the Obama administration as an example of extreme administrative malfeasance up to this point. Given the swift appearance of a photo showing President Obama seemingly embroiled in discussing matters with his advisers on national security after the attack, such an interpretation is not at all surprising.

But what if it’s wrong? What if the problem on the night of Benghazi was not extreme incompetence, but simply extreme negligence? What if, in fact, the people treated as the two most relevant actors in this drama — President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton — weren’t made aware and didn’t do anything about it?

That is the interpretation that has emerged from a series of shocking admissions by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday. Each of these admissions — breathlessly reported by the Weekly Standard and CNSNews — paints a picture of a White House that was perilously disengaged from the crisis as it was happening in real time.

First, there was the bombshell that not only was President Obama not involved in the process except for a single phone call, but he was absent entirely from the White House during the attack. Video (all videos courtesy of the Weekly Standard) and reporting follows:

From CNS:

Panetta and Dempsey had a pre-scheduled meeting with Obama at 5:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Sept. 11. The meeting lasted about thirty minutes. After it was over, they did not hear from Obama again or anybody else at the White House.

“Did you have any further communications with him that night?” Ayotte asked Panetta.

“No,” said Panetta.

“Did you have any other further communications? Did he ever call you that night to say how are things going, what’s going on, where’s the consulate?” asked Ayotte.

“No,” said Panetta. “But we were aware as we were getting information about what was taking place there, particularly when we got information that the ambassador, his life had been lost, we were aware that that information went to the White House.”

“Did you communicate with anyone else at the White House that night?” asked Ayotte.

“No,” said Panetta.

“No one else called you to say: How are things going?” asked Ayotte.

“No,” said Panetta.

Barely twenty minutes later, under questioning from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, General Dempsey and Defense Secretary Panetta admitted that military assets had not been used at all in the attack. Why? Watch and read on:

The Weekly Standard:

“Was any DoD asset–aircraft or individual soldier–ever sent or put in motion to help these people before the attack was over?” asked Republican senator Lindsey Graham. “My question is did anybody leave any base anywhere to go to the aid of the people under attack in Benghazi, Libya, before the attack ended?”

“No,” Panetta responded. “Because the attack ended before they could get off the ground.”

“Okay, and we didn’t know how long it would last,” Graham added.

Ten minutes later, Dempsey admitted to being shocked that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hadn’t known about the diplomatic cable from Ambassador Chris Stevens pleading for help prior to the attacks, once more under questioning from Graham:

And speaking of Clinton, after another 30 minutes, another bombshell emerged: Secretary of Clinton hadn’t corresponded with the military or Department of Defense at all about the Benghazi attacks. In fact, neither Dempsey nor Panetta had any conversations with Clinton.

The Weekly Standard:

Republican Ted Cruz asked both Leon Panetta and Martin Dempsey, “In between 9:42 p.m., Benghazi time, when the first attacks started, and 5:15 am, when Mr. Doherty and Mr. Woods lost their lives, what converations did either of you have with Secretary Clinton?”

“We did not have any conversations with Secretary Clinton,” Panetta responded.

“And General Dempsey, the same is true for you?” Cruz asked. Dempsey confirmed this.

Given these revelations, one wonders in what possible context the previously photographed meeting between President Obama and his advisers on national security could have taken place. Or, if that meeting did concern Benghazi, why the President showed such little interest in responding to the crisis in real time.

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Comments (264)

spirited
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:45pm
Rubio is trying to go after the done-killings. (trying)

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1956
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:44pm
Personal opinion: These two were given the orders to say these things in order to some how “exonerate” Obama & Clinton. After all, if they didn’t know, how could they be held accountable?

Disgusting ball of worms.. all of them.

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edie1945
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:41pm
Really, did anyone believe this President was engaged on Bengazi. Obviously it was buried prior to the election, that is what the Dems are all about. Hey did anyone see Dr. Rodgers speech at the Prayer Breakfast???

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700P
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:31pm
This is the kind of info they wanted to keep suppressed before the election. Obama probably lost interest after the initial brief when he found out he couldn’t watch the Predator feed on his iPad so he figured Showtime’s Homeland would suffice.

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LBJDIDIT1963
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:22pm
Again, this was a staged kidnapping of the Ambassador arranged between Obama and the Muslim Brotherhood so as to exchange him for the Blind Cleric being held for the 1993 WTC Bombing. The Seals thwarted that kidnapping and is why such a stupid excuse was used and Obama conveniently out-of-pocket. THE TRUTH FITS!

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Inlandmar2
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:21pm
Something is very rotten here. I have a copy of photo released by the White house clearly showing Obama in the situation room reportedly observing the activities in Benghazi. Strangely enough Hillary Clinton is in the same picture along with Joe Biden.Yet, Leon Panetta claims that he had no contact with Hillary Clinton and that Obama was not present during the Benghazi incident. Just for the record, I did not believe the photo was real, because Obama was not sitting at the head of the table, but was seated in a chair along the wall. Maybe he was photoshopped into the picture. Once again, someone is lying BIGTIME!

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mcsledge
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:18pm
Acts of incompetence, gross negligence and treason!

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:17pm
deny, lie, lie, deny, lie…..deflect, deny, lie…round and round. Lying Cowards ALL.

Please SIGN – needs attention:
Petition to Stop the Witch Hunt against Rep Michele Bachmann…..Please sign
http://www.frontpagemag.com

Petition to reinstate Robert Spencer at Worcester event:
We should not passively accept demonization and marginalization of people working to defend freedom and get out the truth of what Islam is doing to USA
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/02/petition-to-worcester-bishop-to-reinstate-robert-spencer-tops-2000-signatures.html

THERE SHOULD BE MILLIONS OF SIGNATURES ON BOTH OF THESE PETITIONS!
IF YOU FB OR TWITTER PLEASE MAKE THESE VIRAL. These are 2 of our HEROS

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- spirited
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:33pm
  Signed for Bachman —loooooove her in Congress.
  
  >Note: Other site didn’t work.
  
  Report this comment
Soulphoenix
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:08pm
The answer is “blazingly” simple: Obama and Hillary DID … NOT … CARE.

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- spirited
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:37pm
  Chris Stevens and the others were expendable to the “mission”.
  
  >As was Brian Terry (screeeeeeeeam!!!!!!!!)
  
  Report this comment
tommytruck
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:06pm
One puts some breathing room between themselves and those carrying out the murders on their intended victims, while said murders are taking place. I’m not surprised.

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RightThinking1
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:05pm
MSM: “What difference does it make at this point?”
Subtext: The election is over.., too bad.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:04pm
You cannot tell me a drone could not have recorded the events both BEFORE and AFTER the events. That they could not track the culprits to and from. That they could not have gathered a buttload of intelligence is ridiculous. They either did not want to, or willfully did not in order to protect, aid and abet the terrorists. To forfeit intelligence that could do the enemy harm.
Do the math!~

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Plan B
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:02pm
I wonder how Carney will spin this one….

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- truthnstuff
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:18pm
  It matters not, Carny could say 0bama was climbing the beanstalk to gather golden eggs to pay off the debt, and the MSM and his sycophants will be laying palm branches in his path to the oval orifice.
  
  Report this comment
Exidor
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:01pm
Total incompetence. Total lies. Total failure.

Impeach Obama

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ghostsouls
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:57pm
Panetta said that Obama left operational details, including knowledge of what resources were available to help the Americans under seize, “up to us.” Are you kidding me, The President of the United States, KNEW what was going on, but had better things to do other than lead? Just turn his job and authority over to flunkies, so that if it went bad, and it did, he could blame them, instead of taking any responsibility? ” “In between 9:42 p.m., Benghazi time, when the first attacks started, and 5:15 am, when Mr. Doherty and Mr. Woods lost their lives, what converations did either of you have with Secretary Clinton?” “We did not have any conversations with Secretary Clinton,” Panetta responded” So where was Hillary???? Deserting her post and turning off her cell phone so she didn’t have to be bothered? “General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the State Department never requested “support” in Benghazi:” Ambassador Stephens sent plenty of requests. So did others. Not to mention they were watching it, live, in real time, as it took place, and could not determine that they needed help? Panetta, Clinton and Dempsey should all loose their jobs, and obama should be impeached for dereliction of duty. It has been said, to put forces ion there would take an order of the President who ran away from the tragic events, and could not be bothered. I would like to know where he ran away to, what was more pressing, that to stop the murder of Ameri

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:08pm
  It was an ‘aid and abet’ mission. That much is now clear. Of course obama had to have an alibi.
  Hillary’s is “What does it matter?” Obama’s is “I know Nuuu-thing”
  It was all pre-election too. And they knew the media would cover him. That is how corrupt the obama legacy is. They did not care about repercussions, appearances, OR terrorists running lose on American soil. And they proved it.
  
  Report this comment
thibx
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:48pm
his dumbass was probably off in a corner planning his golf trip or vacation or he was on the phone with hillary to make up the video lie. oboma needs to be impeached, hillary needs to go to prison with oboma.

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Jedrin
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:47pm
Really Obama hasn’t shown up, just like at college, he is absent. There is no Obama. It is all fabrication and lies. Who is the real Obama? I’ll bet the actor impersonation the character named Obama was born around 1961.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:45pm
These people are either lying are obama purely doesn’t care about anything. Obama doesn’t care nor want to know about anything. The less he knows (he deducts) the less he can be blamed for any mistakes. The only other scenario is that they are covering for the ineptness of hillary and obama. What has happened to the country?

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- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:03pm
  OMG..makes me ill!
  
  Report this comment
- spirited
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:10pm
  They’re up to espionage; what ever that means.
  
  >Arab Spring and all.
  
  Report this comment
GuruMeditation
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:44pm
The more testimony I’m exposed to and the longer I think about this fiasco the more angry I get. Put Obama on the stand and question him thoroughly… for days or weeks if it takes that long!

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- Plan B
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:04pm
  I feel the same way……..
  
  Report this comment
BehindTheMouth
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:44pm
Probably off eating banana’s with monkey Michelle

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- spirited
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:08pm
  Now, now.
  
  Report this comment
MIBUGNU2
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:37pm
Was Obama on Date Night with MO or Hillary ??
Only “The Shadow Knows” OOOOOOGH !!!

How would you like these BOZOs covering your back ??

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- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:05pm
  Never, never, never!!
  
  Report this comment
DILLIGAF-26
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:37pm
I have heard so many versions of this that we must be discussing 4 different events.

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jamestoms
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:36pm
Are you watching the Brennan confirmation…SAD….Sad…what a whimpy brown nosier, this guy should have been dumped years ago…America is in REAL trouble. Got to be a number one desk jocky coward!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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- revelation2012
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 10:17pm
  According to published reports, Stanley Inc. was awarded a $164 million contract to print new U.S. passports in 2006. Two employees of Stanley Inc., along with a third individual employed by another defense contractor identified as The Analysis Corporation, were identified as the perpetrators who breached the records of the U.S. passport office on three occasions in 2008 and “improperly accessed” the passport records of Barack Hussein Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The breaches occurred on January 9, February 21 and March 14, 2008.
  
  It is important to note that the CEO of the Analysis Corporation at the time of the passport office break-in was John O. Brennan, who served as a close advisor to Obama in 2008 on matters of intelligence and foreign policy. Brennan also contributed to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Brennan also had a 25-year career in the CIA.
  
  Report this comment
- revelation2012
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 10:25pm
  Presently, John Brennan is chief counterterrorism advisor to Barack Hussein Obama under the official title of Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and Assistant to the President.
  
  Since 2008, the accepted and unchallenged motive for the breach was that the perpetrators were looking at the passport and biological data on all three presidential candidates in some sort of “exploratory” mission. They were summarily fired from their jobs and disappeared into the night before they could be interviewed by investigators working on the case. What took place following this admitted breach, however, has an extremely sinister overtone.
  
  http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/49761
  
  Report this comment
- revelation2012
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 10:27pm
  perhaps ‘O’ owes brennan this appointment ,,,
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:36pm
Pass the buck stops here

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- Jedrin
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:48pm
  Or starts here?
  
  Report this comment
TRILO
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 3:36pm
I would say that I am shocked by all the information learned, unfortunately it is expected out of this entire administration. Panetta, Clinton, Dempsey and the entire administration have the blood of the Ambassador and others on their hand. They should all be held accountable. Unfortunately, nothing will be done, just as nothing was done in Benghazi.

I must also point out that from the looks and actions of General Dempsey on the video, he is too big a coward to answer the questions. He stumbled and looked around at Panetta and others in hopes of feeding him the answer to protect his sorry @ss.

Lindsey Graham you are a worthless piece of human flesh who promotes US war actions across the globe. How dare you talk about anyone having our soldiers backs when you are constantly sending our brave men and women to fight illegal and covert wars across the globe. Stretching our military and financial assets to the brink of ruin.

This hearing is nothing more than a publicity stunt by the republicans. They have accomplished nothing on Fast and Furious and this will go nowhere as well.

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- spirited
  Posted on February 7, 2013 at 4:13pm
  If nothing wlse, they’re setting the stage for the mid-tem elections and 2016 (party politics).
  
  >Can we imagine Joe Biden as President? or Harry ????? –God (please) forbid.
  
  Report this comment

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