Susan Rice, our ambassador to the United Nations, appeared on Capitol Hill yesterday to meet with several senators. The goal was a charm-campaign to discuss her statements about the attack upon on consulate in Benghazi, Libya back on September 11, 2012. Her three most vocal critics, John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte, have said that they would oppose her replacing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. But instead of relieving concerns about Benghazi Gate, Rice′s testimony left the Republican senators more ″troubled″. This was compounded when acting CIA Director Michael Morell, who accompanied Rice, also added more confusion over the talking points memo Rice used for her five Sunday morning talk show appearances on September 16. Morell claimed that the FBI was behind some of the editing, but later, his office retracted that putting the blame back on the CIA. Last week, James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, admitted that it was his office that did the editing.
The excuse for the editing is that it was meant to conceal classified information. But, we now know that most of what Rice parroted from the memo was inaccurate. There was no ′spontaneous′ mob protesting the You-Tube video as some allege was the cause behind the protests earlier that day in Cairo, Egypt. We also know that terrorist groups associated with Al Qaeda were responsible for the attack on our consulate and the CIA annex compound, which claimed the lives of four Americans. There is also information that connects Al Qaeda to the protests in Cairo, as well as a similar protest in Yemen. That the terrorists have as a goal to attack our embassies, as well as either kill or kidnap embassy officials.
Democrats and their allies in the Media are attempting to paint any criticism of Susan Rice as racist. But even Barack Obama admitted during his last press conference that Rice is out ambassador to the United Nations and had little to do with our consulate in Benghazi, Libya. So why was she trotted out instead of Hillary Clinton, who was in town that weekend and far more responsible? Rice′s appearance on Capitol Hill just left her critics more confused and ′troubled′ by her testimony. Republican senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte had been walking back their opposition to promote Rice to Secretary of State after initially stating they would block the move. Now, after yesterday, it would seem that the GOP senators have returned to their original position and will filibuster the promotion in the Senate, should Obama go through with this. The mystery of Benghazi gate continues.
November 28th, 2012 at 9:25 am
Oh, heck, just pick someone else for Secretary of State.
She can’t be the only one that is qualified and there is no sense choosing someone that will face this much opposition.
In addition, at the risk of being incredibly sexist, can we simply pick an old white guy?
Why?
Perception in the rest of the world.
Do many of the countries we are embroiled with have sexist attitudes? Yes.
Are many of them racist? Yes.
Is that wrong? Sure, but it is reality and if it furthers our cause to comply with the somewhat backward thinking of other countries, so be it.
If Obama insists on pushing her forward it is nothing but stubbornness.
November 28th, 2012 at 9:43 am
GOP senators are suggesting he appoint kerry. I’d guess that this will only happen if brown says he won’t run for senate.
I’ll never figure why ayotte agreed to be the 3rd amigo (amiga?). She has a real future in the party.
November 28th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Good point Arriba.
Politically, this is a fool’s errand.
It doesn’t really effect McCain’s political ambitions (or lack thereof).
November 28th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Rice has been ambassador to the UN for 4 years and I doubt you’ve read the rest of her VERY impressive resume. She IS the best suited for the job.
To your points:
1.) The diplomatic elite around the world are mostly people of color.
2.) These same people are used to negotiating with women in high positions. And some think women make better negotiators anyway.
3.) Countries don’t give a rats azz about who the diplomat is, they care about the leverage they bring with them from the country they represent.
Source: My cousin in the State Department.
Also, no way Obama should let a couple of Senators with “issues” dictate the make-up of his cabinet.
And personally, my respect for McCain’s “judgement” flew out the window when he selected Palin as his VP running mate. And Graham is just doing his “opposition party” duty, which is to say SOMETHING anytime Obama puts up an appointee.
I say run her through.
P.S. I did hear that McCain may be doing a “loyalty” thing on Kerry’s behalf. Kerry’s evidently Obama’s second pick.
November 28th, 2012 at 10:29 am
What a tangle web we weave when we try to deceive. That is basically it. Susan Rice will probable be confirmed. Obama always gets what he wants. Lets face it the democrats rewards incompentance. So what US embassy was destroyed and 4 were murdered. Obama does not care. Destroying the US is the goal. Reward the hood and destroy the virtue.
November 28th, 2012 at 10:48 am
If Rice fights like she walks I’m all for her.
Aside from all the intel screw ups, her being a liberal, she projects a “dont f with me” impression.
I may be given her to much leeway, but I believe shes more a victim of a screwed up administration than her own aspirations or politics.
In my own mind, I believe at this point she hates Barrys guts for putting her on a stick for the world to lick and then acting the macho hero after she got spat out.
“Come after me”
We will.
November 28th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Buzz -
“Is that wrong? Sure, but it is reality and if it furthers our cause to comply with the somewhat backward thinking of other countries, so be it.”
I get your point. But we – not to mention the rest of the world – also have something important to gain in some of these backwards-thinking places. I can’t help but wonder what women who are legally prohibited from driving a car or attending school must think when a Condi or a Hillary arrives in their country.
November 28th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Embassy Attacks and Casualties Under Bush:
June 14, 2002, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide bomber kills 12 and injures 51.
February 20, 2003, international diplomatic compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Truck bomb kills 17.
February 28, 2003, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Gunmen on motorcycles killed two consulate guards.
July 30, 2004, U.S. embassy in Taskkent, Uzbekistan
Suicide bomber kills two.
December 6, 2004, U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Militants stormed and occupied perimeter wall. Five killed, 10 wounded.
March 2, 2006, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide car bomber killed four, including a U.S. diplomate directly targeted by the assailants.
September 12, 2006, U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria
Gunmen attacked embassy with grenades, automatic weapons, and a car bomb (though second truck bomb failed to detonate). One killed and 13 wounded.
January 12, 2007, U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the embassy building. No one was injured.
July 9, 2008, U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Armed men attacked consulate with pistols and shotguns. Three policemen killed.
March 18, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana’a, Yemen
Mortar attack misses embassy, hits nearby girls’ school instead.
September 17, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana’a, Yemen
Militants dressed as policemen attacked the embassy with RPGs, rifles, grenades and car bombs. Six Yemeni soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Sixteen more were injured.
Source: US State Department.
If only Obama’s detractors weren’t so lazy, and actually looked up the issues and got the FACTS, actually put his performance in FACTUAL perspective, they wouldn’t criticize him IN IGNORANCE so much. Sorry but while the consulate deaths were tragic and unfortunate, the GOP is just playing grandstanding politics with Ms. Rice and the Obama administration on this issue.
They just lost an election and have to do “something” to try to show they’re still relevant.
November 28th, 2012 at 11:21 am
“Obama does not care. Destroying the US is the goal.”
Yup, broke the senseless hyperbole meter again.
November 28th, 2012 at 11:29 am
buzzbee – “Yup, broke the senseless hyperbole meter again.”
Think of it this way Buzz. At least the poster didn’t call Obama a Marxist, Kenyan Anti-Christ dictator. So that’s “some” progress.
November 28th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Most women in her position have slept around to get on top. Buzz is right. There have to be other more qualified candidates out there. She is not worth anyone’s time.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Oh, there is no doubt this Benghazi (no gate) affair is politically motivated and the GOP is starting to realize it is not proving to be as beneficial as they thought, which is why Ayotte would be wise to get away from it.
I have never heard so much chatter about something that is so deeply rooted in semantics. Who said what, when?
Of course if a person mentions any objection to this witch-hunt you can count down on one hand, 5,4,3,2,1…waiting for the inevitable forthcoming response, which will be additionally steeped in righteous indignation, “But what about the 4 dead Americans?” Yes, they surely have a “special” empathy and if anyone offers an objection to this investigation it is tantamount to being complicit in their deaths.
The dishonesty in this examination, by politicians and the right wing media is astounding.
Even with that description, ….5,4,3,2,1…
November 28th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
“You know if it happened under a Republican you know the media….yada, yada, yada…”
The right wing victim card.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
“Embassy Attacks and Casualties Under Bush:”
Mmmm..thats not really the point.
There were no cover ups in an attempt to hide an agenda of minimizing our enemies to further the needed impression that “Al Queda has been decimated” or “on the run”.
There was no misrepresentations that lead to these deaths you mention.
Pakistan has always been a hot bed, a hide out from those we were officially at war with as is also the case in many Arab nations
Libya, according to the media and white house BS was on its way to being a free democratic sovereign nation
There was no confusion on the part of the Bush administration as to who the enemy was.
The reports and briefings related did not have all damning proof redacted by magic marker.
If you’d like to draw these kind of comparisons we could go way back starting with Clintons dereliction’s contributing to 911, Somalia etc to Carters idiocy resulting in Sadats assassination.
Maybe even look as far back as the failures to see the proxy intent behind the Muslim Brotherhood adopting much of the Nazi doctrine so it could be applied to committing genocide once the Jews were all in one neat little place called Israel, making it that much easier to exterminate the whole lot in one sweep.
The list would be quite extensive if you want to discuss embassy and consulate attacks during any administration as this shts been going on for decades.
The list is very short when you look for intelligence cover ups, or covering up lack of intelligence.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Why do (did) we have an embassy in Libya, which was a cauldron at the time, or Tunisia, or even Egypt at this point?
Designate bulls eye, insert human target and wait for the inevitable tragedy.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
““You know if it happened under a Republican you know the media….yada, yada, yada…”
The right wing victim card.”
We are the hawks.
You guys are not.
With the right we engage in the messy fight.
With that comes alot of collateral damage we have to and had to live up to.
So spare me, because my mind is swelling with all the crap you guys dished out right after Afghanistan became the bad war(after y’all voted yes on it) only because the elections were rolling around.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
“Why do (did) we have an embassy in Libya, which was a cauldron at the time,”
Yes, but the reports of at least ten radical tribes jockying for power were either ignored or very ignorantly dismissed.
” even Egypt at this point?{”
At this point its closed.
Maybe Obama should be answering your questions.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
“There were no cover ups in an attempt to hide an agenda of minimizing our enemies to further the needed impression that “Al Queda has been decimated” or “on the run”.”
No cover-ups? How do you know? Most people have never even heard of these attacks. Can you name anyone in the Bush administration who got fired over them? Anyone who resigned? Charges filed? Do you recall a SINGLE hearing being held? Did Condi Rice or Rumsfeld give testimony?
Sounds like they were “covered up” to perfection.
“The list would be quite extensive if you want to discuss embassy and consulate attacks during any administration as this shts been going on for decades.”
Exactly. Then why is the GOP trying to turn this into the next Iran-Contra (care to go there?..lol), or Watergate?
Post election B/S by the GOP to stay relevant in the news is all it’s about.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
“There was no misrepresentations that lead to these deaths you mention.”
Regarding the “Bush” Embassy attacks list, I’ll bet that:
1.) You have never heard of any these attacks before.
2.) Can’t name a SINGLE official involved.
3.) No nothing of the facts/circumstances involved.
4.) COMPLETELY “made-up” the remark I quoted from you (above) as you have no knowledge at all to base it on.
You’re just throwing “stuff” out there to try and make a point. Not buying it dude.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
That’s true Ron.
Thankfully these extremist clowns on the right will become irrelevant as they continue display what a bunch crazies they’ve become. Nobody with any hint of intelligence takes them seriously anymore. The Grumpy Old Party has had it’s day. Newer, less insane Republicans need to emerge before they will see the office again.
They are more desperate than ever, and it shows.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
“No cover-ups? How do you know? ”
Cant prove a negative my friend
“Most people have never even heard of these attacks. Can you name anyone in the Bush administration who got fired over them? Anyone who resigned? Charges filed? Do you recall a SINGLE hearing being held? Did Condi Rice or Rumsfeld give testimony?”
Mmmm… I remember some pretty serious accusations and inquiries over WMDs not being found.
Then theres all the crap liberals accused our troops of in Afghanistan.
Kerrys disgusting mouth…
And after all that, yeah, no one quit or got fired.
Do the math.
“Sounds like they were “covered up” to perfection.”
From a biased perspective, yeah.
But, you’re not a truther are you ?
“Exactly. Then why is the GOP trying to turn this into the next Iran-Contra (care to go there?..lol), or Watergate?”
Well, as I explained this is relevant to a need for image being more important than human life.
No one died because of Watergate, and the man did resign in the face of truth n fact.
“Post election B/S by the GOP to stay relevant in the news is all it’s about.”
No, by 2016 the failing economy will be enough to put conservative fiscal policies in office.
Although another 911 is becoming to look like a reality, our present foreign policy is obviously a disaster. The very same kind of policies that bred the complacency leading to 911 and all the previous attacks that basically went unanswered an unheeded.
Yeah, there’s opportunistic jerks everywhere, but I’m one to believe that there’s still folks, true patriots, who dont like dead Americans.
I’m sure Obama treasures our citizens lives as well but that cant change the fact that hes going about showing it in a very wrong way.
And that his priorities may well be up his ass.
November 28th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
“Regarding the “Bush” Embassy attacks list, I’ll bet that:”
Be careful Ron.
The Bush era is a drop in the bucket.
It was also the first “official” war waged on Radical Islam and terrorism, its no wonder the cells and groups across the planet from the Philippines to NY to the middle east and N. Africa came to life.
My Jewish dad adopted me by way of marrying my Danish mother in Denmark.
He was born shortly before WW2, did not know who his parents were, they disappeared when he was very young.
Was raised in a U.S. orphanage, sent to military school by his adoptive Jewish parents.
My mom (12 at the time) and granma were both beaten, raped, tattooed, and jailed by N@zis for hiding American allies from the Germans in their closet.
My upbringing by my father involved extensive discussions and inquiries into radical Muslims past, belief system and all the history, activities and results of the movement up until this very day.
Sht you’ll never get from a book.
My knowledge on these ass holes is quite extensive and I dont dare say my forte` in political debate.
Save your money.
On this issue, I’m firmly conservative and am actually disappointed that the conservative response was not more severe.
These people are the pi$$ of the earth and them getting their asses kicked til they bleed red white n blue will not take a backseat to ideological bickering.
November 28th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
“That’s true Ron.
Thankfully these extremist clowns on the right will become irrelevant as they continue display what a bunch crazies they’ve become. ”
Next time you’re in a high rise I’ll fly a jet into it and right up your rump.
Then you’ll look halfway sane in calling anyone “crazy extremist radicals”
November 28th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
In listening to right wing media it is quite puzzling how they get “from here to there”.
There is much discussion on the semantics surrounding Benghazi, but somehow the discussion always ends with a loud (and always out of context) “four dead Americans”.
There is a muted inference, but I swear they really want to say, “Obama killed four Americans”.
Maybe it is just me.
Oh well, if this is where they choose to put all of their chips, so be it.
Meanwhile the electorate made it clear they would rather the government tried to deal with the fiscal cliff.
Of course, “Four dead Americans” does have more ratings traction than an economic discussion.
Maybe if it was called “Fiscal Cliff” ummm…Gate?
November 28th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
“That’s true Ron.
Thankfully these extremist clowns on the right will become irrelevant as they continue display what a bunch crazies they’ve become. ”
Next time you’re in a high rise I’ll fly a jet into it and right up your rump.
Then you’ll look halfway sane in calling anyone “crazy extremist radicals”
Can you please explain what that has to do with Snow Crash’s comment?