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What happened in Benghazi is an aggravation, ‘a craw in our side’, with many veterans still today. It is a sad story of Americans being abandoned by their nation, and it’s unfortunately been used by many politicians for political gain. Excuses were made to explain what happened and to somewhat justify it. Both Republicans and Democrats distort the facts during TV appearances and hearings. But the damage to those left behind - the families and survivors - seems forgotten, without explanation.
Many Americans don’t even understand what these men and women went through - they were living in hell for the thirteen hours preceding the final assault and the evacuation from the CIA annex. Many incorrectly think that the four Americans - Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty - died during the initial assault on the U.S. Diplomatic Compound. There was actually four separate attacks; the first attack on the compound and then three more on the CIA annex where everyone fled to after the first assault. Also, ten others were injured in these attacks. The compound was not an embassy, which means that it didn’t have the normal security detail or bunkering/protections that an American Embassy has. Only five diplomatic security special agents were in Benghazi at the time of the attack; two of them were there by chance, having traveled with Ambassador Stevens from Tripoli. One mile away, a CIA team at the annex was the quick reaction force for the compound, but no one was supposed to know that the CIA security team existed.
Ambassador Stevens was adored by many Libyans and had a great fondness for the country. He felt he could make a difference in the lives of those in Libya, and wanted to show the people that the United States stood behind them in establishing a new democracy. Eastern Libya, Benghazi in particular, was a key hub for intelligence operatives monitoring Ansar al-Sharia and members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Along with Ambassador Stevens, Secretary of State Clinton also wanted a more permanent post in Benghazi.
There was quite a bit of instability in the region prior to the attacks of September 11, 2012. There was frequent IED-related violence. The International Red Cross office in Libya was attacked and there was an assassination attempt on Dominic Asquith, the British ambassador. Requests were made for more security, but according to the regional security officer, Eric Nordstrom, they were rebuffed. Nordstrom told media that, for him and his staff, “it was abundantly clear that [they] were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident.” Lt. Col Andrew Wood, U.S. site security commander in Libya, testified that a regional security officer had tried obtaining more personnel, but was never able to attain a level of security that he felt comfortable with. It was pretty well known within the American intelligence community during the months preceding the attack that Benghazi was unstable and increasingly dangerous - and that a significant attack was imminent.
Top U.S. officials reported the attack as if it had been a spontaneous protest created by an anti-Muslim video...yet there were no such protests immediately prior to the attacks. There was, however, every indication that everything was premeditated. The assault began at nightfall, by militants swathed in flak jackets with covered faces. They were armed with RPGs, hand grenades, AK-47s, mortars, and machine guns. With that level of artillery, it’s quite apparent that this was not a spontaneous protest.
But for some reason...that is what we were supposed to believe.
Ambassador Stevens and State Department information management officer, Sean Smith - an Air Force veteran, died during the initial assault on the compound. The Global Response Staff team, which included former SEAL Tyrone Woods, left the CIA annex approximately twenty minutes later as the Quick Reaction Force in order to aid and/or rescue everyone at the compound. The Quick Reaction Force evacuated everyone from the compound to the CIA annex where they began preparing for potential continuing assaults.
In the ensuing hours, attacks continued as they bunkered at the CIA annex waiting for reinforcements or rescue. Meanwhile another former Navy SEAL, Glen Doherty, and six other men (five CIA operatives and two volunteer Delta operators) gathered at the Tripoli Embassy preparing to mount a rescue - 406 miles away from Benghazi. Since this was not a planned evacuation or rescue attempt by U.S. leadership, they had to figure some way to get to Benghazi. They somehow garnered $30,000 and, with a little persuasion of a couple of Libyan military pilots, they got them to fly from the airport in Tripoli to Benghazi.
At the Benghazi airport, they met up with supportive Libyan troops who took the team of seven men to the CIA annex. Upon arrival, Glen Doherty met Tyrone Woods on the roof of the annex. Within minutes, mortars were fired and both were mortally wounded - two more Americans killed in Benghazi within hours. After this final assault, everyone remaining was transported to the Benghazi airport with the help of the same Libyan troops who assisted Glen Doherty and his team.
The whole incident is very disappointing to me, and something I will never forget. We, as Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors, exist under an oath stating that we will “never leave our brothers and sisters behind”... but these people were left to die. They were left alone - abandoned by the administration, Congress, and in a sense, by their country. Their families also seemed to be forgotten as they never received any explanation regarding this incident. The names of everyone else who had been in Benghazi were also quickly forgotten. It seemed as though many Americans heard enough and didn’t want the truth regardless of the facts...and still don’t. Overall, the incidents that day were incredibly tragic, and I will continue to hope that someday everyone will have the answers they need!
Many Americans don’t even understand what these men and women went through - they were living in hell for the thirteen hours preceding the final assault and the evacuation from the CIA annex. Many incorrectly think that the four Americans - Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty - died during the initial assault on the U.S. Diplomatic Compound. There was actually four separate attacks; the first attack on the compound and then three more on the CIA annex where everyone fled to after the first assault. Also, ten others were injured in these attacks. The compound was not an embassy, which means that it didn’t have the normal security detail or bunkering/protections that an American Embassy has. Only five diplomatic security special agents were in Benghazi at the time of the attack; two of them were there by chance, having traveled with Ambassador Stevens from Tripoli. One mile away, a CIA team at the annex was the quick reaction force for the compound, but no one was supposed to know that the CIA security team existed.
Ambassador Stevens was adored by many Libyans and had a great fondness for the country. He felt he could make a difference in the lives of those in Libya, and wanted to show the people that the United States stood behind them in establishing a new democracy. Eastern Libya, Benghazi in particular, was a key hub for intelligence operatives monitoring Ansar al-Sharia and members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Along with Ambassador Stevens, Secretary of State Clinton also wanted a more permanent post in Benghazi.
There was quite a bit of instability in the region prior to the attacks of September 11, 2012. There was frequent IED-related violence. The International Red Cross office in Libya was attacked and there was an assassination attempt on Dominic Asquith, the British ambassador. Requests were made for more security, but according to the regional security officer, Eric Nordstrom, they were rebuffed. Nordstrom told media that, for him and his staff, “it was abundantly clear that [they] were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident.” Lt. Col Andrew Wood, U.S. site security commander in Libya, testified that a regional security officer had tried obtaining more personnel, but was never able to attain a level of security that he felt comfortable with. It was pretty well known within the American intelligence community during the months preceding the attack that Benghazi was unstable and increasingly dangerous - and that a significant attack was imminent.
Top U.S. officials reported the attack as if it had been a spontaneous protest created by an anti-Muslim video...yet there were no such protests immediately prior to the attacks. There was, however, every indication that everything was premeditated. The assault began at nightfall, by militants swathed in flak jackets with covered faces. They were armed with RPGs, hand grenades, AK-47s, mortars, and machine guns. With that level of artillery, it’s quite apparent that this was not a spontaneous protest.
But for some reason...that is what we were supposed to believe.
Ambassador Stevens and State Department information management officer, Sean Smith - an Air Force veteran, died during the initial assault on the compound. The Global Response Staff team, which included former SEAL Tyrone Woods, left the CIA annex approximately twenty minutes later as the Quick Reaction Force in order to aid and/or rescue everyone at the compound. The Quick Reaction Force evacuated everyone from the compound to the CIA annex where they began preparing for potential continuing assaults.
In the ensuing hours, attacks continued as they bunkered at the CIA annex waiting for reinforcements or rescue. Meanwhile another former Navy SEAL, Glen Doherty, and six other men (five CIA operatives and two volunteer Delta operators) gathered at the Tripoli Embassy preparing to mount a rescue - 406 miles away from Benghazi. Since this was not a planned evacuation or rescue attempt by U.S. leadership, they had to figure some way to get to Benghazi. They somehow garnered $30,000 and, with a little persuasion of a couple of Libyan military pilots, they got them to fly from the airport in Tripoli to Benghazi.
At the Benghazi airport, they met up with supportive Libyan troops who took the team of seven men to the CIA annex. Upon arrival, Glen Doherty met Tyrone Woods on the roof of the annex. Within minutes, mortars were fired and both were mortally wounded - two more Americans killed in Benghazi within hours. After this final assault, everyone remaining was transported to the Benghazi airport with the help of the same Libyan troops who assisted Glen Doherty and his team.
The whole incident is very disappointing to me, and something I will never forget. We, as Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors, exist under an oath stating that we will “never leave our brothers and sisters behind”... but these people were left to die. They were left alone - abandoned by the administration, Congress, and in a sense, by their country. Their families also seemed to be forgotten as they never received any explanation regarding this incident. The names of everyone else who had been in Benghazi were also quickly forgotten. It seemed as though many Americans heard enough and didn’t want the truth regardless of the facts...and still don’t. Overall, the incidents that day were incredibly tragic, and I will continue to hope that someday everyone will have the answers they need!
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 232
The saddest part is the families of all the Benghazi victims will never have full closure. Knowing more could have and should have been done. I personally still blame the Administration and especially Secretary Clinton for these deaths. No one will ever convince me otherwise.
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MSgt Lowell Skelton
Cripes, anyone watching Newsmax, OAN, or Fox will swallow any BS the right wing feeds them.
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SPC Les Darbison
MSgt Lowell Skelton - Ha Ha your pulling our collective legs aren't you? I do watch CNN so I know what the left is capable of. None of the left loveing media has apologized for their Russia false asslut on President Trump. Not one retraction voiced as loud as any of there false accusations.
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MSgt Lowell Skelton
SPC Les Darbison - Nothing fake about the traitor-in-chief's collusion with Russia. The Senate GOP chose to ignore the evidence in their partisan vote to condone treason.
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MSgt Allen Chandler
I’m not an expert but I have read about this incident if you go to whole Clinton responsible then what’s your attitude about the people responsible for Vietnam what about all the friendly fire deaths and the people the loud the burn pits and 1000 other stories. I’m not claiming Clinton did the right thing I’m saying that she did not intentionally do the wrong thing
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as Long as some one remembers them and honors them by Posting their names and faces ... they are not forgotten...
BHO and HRC Missed that 0300 call...
BHO and HRC Missed that 0300 call...
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CW3 Dick McManus
Franklin Graham on Judge Kavanaugh Accusation: 'Not Relevant'
Franklin Graham on Judge Kavanaugh Accusation: 'Not Relevant'
Words matter, especially when said by a crazy witch-doctor
Franklin Graham jumped into attacking Senator Feinstein during an interview, (see video below) saying they (the Democrats) are pulling a fast one at the last minute with what sounds to me like he is angry because the Republicans all but had the nominee they wanted.
Graham’s easy dismissal or minimizing an alleged attempted rape charge of rape (something he did some 40 years ago) against a nominee to the highest court carries disturbing implications for our democracy..something he did as a teenager…
Evangelical Christian leaders have a moral responsibility to condemn Graham’s response regarding it doesn’t count, cause Kavanaugh did “this as a teenager.”
Wait a minute!
Next Graham goes on to say Kavanaugh has not been a criminal since his teenage years.
“They (aka liberal who support a woman’s right to choose) could not find anything else in his record, so this is just an attempt to smear him.
What? Everyone has the right to be heard when they have been the victim of an attempted rape.
All honorable leaders have an ethical responsibility to condemn these remarks by Graham.
Watch Graham speak these words here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ljWlevaU0&feature=youtu.be
Franklin Graham jumped into attacking Senator Feinstein during an interview, (see video below) saying they (the Democrats) are pulling a fast one at the last minute with what sounds to me like he is angry because the Republicans all but had the nominee they wanted.
Graham’s easy dismissal or minimizing an alleged attempted rape charge of rape (something he did some 40 years ago) against a nominee to the highest court carries disturbing implications for our democracy..something he did as a teenager…
Evangelical Christian leaders have a moral responsibility to condemn Graham’s response regarding it doesn’t count, cause Kavanaugh did “this as a teenager.”
Wait a minute!
Next Graham goes on to say Kavanaugh has not been a criminal since his teenage years.
“They (aka liberal who support a woman’s right to choose) could not find anything else in his record, so this is just an attempt to smear him.
What? Everyone has the right to be heard when they have been the victim of an attempted rape.
All honorable leaders have an ethical responsibility to condemn these remarks by Graham.
Watch Graham speak these words here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ljWlevaU0&feature=youtu.be
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LTJG Sandra Smith
Missed? Or ignored? Help available and ready to go was ordered to stand down: sounds to me like someone wanted them to die.
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CSM Thomas Ray
CW3 Dick McManus - Last I heard, you are innocent until proven quilty, not the other way around. There were no witnesses that collaborated the charge and Judge Kavanaugh denied it . I quess you can believe what you want
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CW3 Dick McManus
Legends, Fictions, and the Manuscripts that Illustrate Christ's Story
September 22, 2011, The Getty Center Illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages are significant for the literary texts they preserve. But they are also imp...
The Harrowing of Hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99PN3NVNgyU&t=274s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99PN3NVNgyU&t=274s
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Benghazi became a hashtag and the story became peppered with half-truths and outright lies. It wasn't long before the word served only to rile up one side with one political agenda and cause eye rolls in others who had heard lie after lie.
Meanwhile, the victims of the tragedy can become forgotten along with the truth.
Thanks for sharing this.
Meanwhile, the victims of the tragedy can become forgotten along with the truth.
Thanks for sharing this.
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MSgt John McGowan
Sgt Ronald Wallace Whone size you think I am own?? I am on our warriors side.. 111111/
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MSgt Allen Chandler
Sgt Ronald Wallace - This is exactly what’s wrong with this subject just because he made a mistake does not excuse me just because I made a mistake does not excuse him don’t make BenGhazi a rallying cry for some agenda
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I feel sad for those who perished in Benghazi. I can't believe that President Obama ,Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and secretary Rice, misled or lied to the American people saying it was a spontaneous demonstration wen it was up complex planned attack. I am glad that she lost the election because she has blood on her hands.
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=9ry8_BlEI3A
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=9ry8_BlEI3A
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SGT Dean Yeazel
Nice job guys. Someone posts about how the fallen have been forgotten because this has been used for political purposes...then you all start using it for political purposes.
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LTC (Join to see)
Mother of Benghazi victim fires back at Hillary Clinton
Mother on Benghazi victim Patricia Smith with her response to Hillary Clintons allegations.
SGT Dean Yeazel that may sound unfair to you that you accuse us of using it for political purposes. I guess there's nothing wrong when the president, secretary of state, the American ambassador to the United Nations all told the media and the mother of one of the Fallen that the attack on Benghazi was caused by a video. We all know it was a complex attack. Secretary Susan Rice used to be the under Secretary of African Affairs and she had to deal with two Embassy bombings when she worked under Bill Clinton. The Mother of one of the fallen claims that they were lying to her. Hillary Clinton said she would get back with her and she never did. I think that the mother went to be part of the Republican National Convention because she was frustrated because she never got the answers and because she was never considered family. Maybe you consider this political; but, to this mother, her Son warned her about what may happen and it did happen. I am sure she is very angry and resentful. Nothing political about that, it's just the way it is since her son died in Benghazi.
https://youtu.be/DPJYBs-eX48
https://youtu.be/DPJYBs-eX48
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If I remember correctly a couple of months ago I saw an interview with Tyrone Wood's mother who said Hillary when she met with them after the attack said that she would be in contact with them at a latter time with more complete information. That was the last they ever heard from her in spite of attempts to contact her since then.
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Sgt Diane Jankowski
I totally agree, what do they have to say for themselves? Are they looking for some civilian side career after their service is up. Are they trying for career's in politics with payback from the democratic party?
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SGT Randy Kestner
The Secretary of State can't tell the families of Woods and Doherty anything because they were CIA Civilian Contractors and the CIA is not going to acknowledge anything. They never discuss the deaths of CIA employees. Clinton should have known that and never said anything to Mrs. Woods. Also, Woods mother should have known that her son's death will never be discussed with her. Woods and Doherty took their military skills and cashed in on a civilian payday. They knew the risks and their families should have also.
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Capt Bud Adams
I say this. Lives of every person is precious. But this is just a political thing thats being held over democrats. Not just Obama ro HR Clinton. I say that because thousands of lives were lost in said war and everybody bitching because 4 people got killed around war. 4 people versus thousands. How come the out cry isn't about the thousands being killed? Because of politics. Everyone of you that is using the deaths of these four people for political battering rams should be ashamed of yourselve.
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CSM Thomas McGarry
Capt Bud Adams - I agree with you Captain that all lives lost in war or otherwise are tragic loses. I think you need to be more specific when you talk about the lives loss because of politics and I'm not sure why one should be ashamed as long as one is merely stating the facts, I certainly don't have a political agenda in this. Also if you read what the CIA operatives said about them being sworn to secrecy after trying to mount a rescue operations against orders you have to be stupid to not question if some kind of coverup was in the works
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MSgt J D McKee
Me neither. Hopefully Jeff Sessions will get off his anti-drug and other issues long enough to go after the traitors like he went after the Klan in Alabama. He killed the leader of the Klan in the electric chair, and confiscated everything they owned. Game over for that set, anyway. I'd see that as a good result this time, too.
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MSG Louis Alexander
SPC Jerry Crain - Than those same true Americans need to vote those politicians out of office. That is the only way we're going to have Term Limits and prevent this type of idleness and irresponsibility.
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Suspended Profile
If you think this is tragic, and you think that you will not be hung out to dry, all I have to say is remember the USS Liberty and the 26 crewmen that died.
Suspended Profile
Yes, an attack by our Israeli "friends".....
SP5 Ronald R Glaeseman
I remember our President going on national television and stating that he was going to get to the bottom of the attack.
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CSM Charles Hayden
From Wikipedia: The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats, on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War.[2] The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship.[3] At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish.[1][4]
34 dead, 171 wounded. I once met Capt Butcher, CMH.
34 dead, 171 wounded. I once met Capt Butcher, CMH.
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Not only did the obama administration abandon them to die, they also Lied to the country by blaming the attack on a video, something only conceivable in their warped minds.
Question is Why, Why did they let them Die, Why did obama and the rest of his minions Lied for the next few days and weeks. Why was intelligence redacted, did they go rogue at this point to serve a new master?
Question is Why, Why did they let them Die, Why did obama and the rest of his minions Lied for the next few days and weeks. Why was intelligence redacted, did they go rogue at this point to serve a new master?
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
IMO they have always served the same master...the almighty dollar (their own greed outweighed their conscience). They feel no guilt, no shame-that scares the He'll put of me
S/F
S/F
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SGT Damaso V Santana
Appreciate the comments but Benghazi became the turning point for obama to push his agenda, the almighty dollar might have bought some but the ideology became central
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Benghazi is not forgotten by me. Politicians have attempted to use it for political purposes, which should be no surprise. Politicians have a tendency to think they are more important than anyone else, and anything that offers them more power, or at least another term in office is an acceptable reason to use it.
But I CAN NOT ABIDE flat out lying to the American people. Hillary Clinton is right up there with Jane Fonda, a bitch who will use, abuse, and sell out anyone and anything to advance her personal agenda. I hope both of them see the faces of those they betrayed and hear the cries of the mothers, wives, and children they left behind in their nightmares for the rest of time.
But I CAN NOT ABIDE flat out lying to the American people. Hillary Clinton is right up there with Jane Fonda, a bitch who will use, abuse, and sell out anyone and anything to advance her personal agenda. I hope both of them see the faces of those they betrayed and hear the cries of the mothers, wives, and children they left behind in their nightmares for the rest of time.
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SGT Randy Kestner
Every American President lies to the American public. What happened in Benghazi is no different than what's happened in the past. Because you hate Clinton, you make it sound as if her part in all this is the most tragic instance in American history. Ambassador Stevens has to take part of the blame, he should have alerted the State Department he was going there. The CIA plays a part in this also. What were they doing there? And Woods and Doherty knew what they were signing up for. They knew that signing up as civilian contractors would expose them to danger, but they did it anyway. This is whole situation is tragic, but when secretive operations are being carried out, the danger increases.
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SGM (Join to see)
SGT Randy Kestner - and some people will obviously make any excuse necessary to defend their leaders. You said it, "Every American President lies to the American public." We should just put up with it, right? We should all sit around and decide that Lie A is worse than Lie B, so Liar A is worse than Liar B.
Sorry, I cannot buy that. We deserve BETTER than liars, but we aren't going to get anything better as long as people will excuse liars from their party.
Sorry, I cannot buy that. We deserve BETTER than liars, but we aren't going to get anything better as long as people will excuse liars from their party.
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It sickens me how a nation can turn their back on our own. It demeans the term, leave no man behind.
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SGT Jim Arnold
Cynthia Croft - that's just it. the political investigation was a farce and at that time the DOJ was not interested in making the boss (Obama) go through another scandal.
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SGT Jim Arnold
Cynthia Croft - yes it is but I feel by the time someone in the DOJ gets around to investigating it, the powers to be will lack the will.
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SGT Randy Kestner
SGT Jim Arnold - If you want to re-open the Benghazi incident, then let's keep going and open up investigations during 43's 8 years and Clinton's term and Reagan's, even Carter's. There are things that happen that the American public does not need to know about. Certain operations need to be done in the dark. I find it interesting that everyone wants Clinton's head when her part in this was to misspeak concerning the cause. Why isn't anyone wanting to investigate the CIA? Oh, they can't, because the CIA can't have their secrets exposed.
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SGT Jim Arnold
SGT Randy Kestner - there is/was a huge difference. how many operatives and ambassadors were left out to dry?
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