Bye, Bye Benghazi!

When Muslim terrorists attacked the US compound in Benghazi, Libya, the bodies of the four Americans killed were still warm, when Republicans tried to create a scandal, accusing the Obama administration of a cover-up.  They have relentlessly propagandized over the incent ever since, but now we know that the original assessment from Obama’s team was accurate, and everything on which Republicans have based their conspiracy theories is wrong.

…Months of investigation by The New York Times, centered on extensive interviews with Libyans in Benghazi who had direct knowledge of the attack there and its context, turned up no evidence that Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups had any role in the assault. The attack was led, instead, by fighters who had benefited directly from NATO’s extensive air power and logistics support during the uprising against Colonel Qaddafi. And contrary to claims by some members of Congress, it was fueled in large part by anger at an American-made video denigrating Islam.

A fuller accounting of the attacks suggests lessons for the United States that go well beyond Libya. It shows the risks of expecting American aid in a time of desperation to buy durable loyalty, and the difficulty of discerning friends from allies of convenience in a culture shaped by decades of anti-Western sentiment. Both are challenges now hanging over the American involvement in Syria’s civil conflict.

The attack also suggests that, as the threats from local militants around the region have multiplied, an intensive focus on combating Al Qaeda may distract from safeguarding American interests.

In this case, a central figure in the attack was an eccentric, malcontent militia leader, Ahmed Abu Khattala, according to numerous Libyans present at the time. American officials briefed on the American criminal investigation into the killings call him a prime suspect. Mr. Abu Khattala declared openly and often that he placed the United States not far behind Colonel Qaddafi on his list of infidel enemies. But he had no known affiliations with terrorist groups, and he had escaped scrutiny from the 20-person C.I.A. station in Benghazi that was set up to monitor the local situation… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

I have provided just a small outtake from an extensive article.  I strongly suggest reading it in its entirety to understand the full impact.

Of course Republicans have their panties in a huge bunch that their propaganda has been blown away.  This should prove that the Times article is accurate.

Just like clockwork. here we go with the push back on the New York Times and their reporting on the attack on our consulate in Libya. Fox "news" has got way too much time invested in pushing their misleading and outright lying talking points and fake outrage over their drummed up Benghazi "scandal" and they’re not about to let it go now…

Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>

If the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, makes a controversial claim, rest assured that the opposite is true.

As I see it, the American fault for the incident can be divided three ways.  Most responsible is Ambassador Chris Stevens, who should never have ignored security warnings he received and placed himself in such an exposed position.  Next come Congressional Republicans, who slashed the funding for diplomats’ security.  Next come Republican hate mongers, who created the video designed to ridicule Islam.  No doubt, Republicans will try to project their just share of responsibility onto Obama.