LIBYA COVER-UP

In a previous blog I wrote that the Obama administration tried to blame the attack on the US embassy in Libya that resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the US ambassador, on a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Muslim video.  This fiction was fed to us repeatedly for eight days by Jay Carney, Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice and Mr. Obama, himself, through press conferences, talk shows and other venues.  I guess the Administration was hoping that if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth.  For those eight days, neither the mainstream press nor the Congress dug deeply enough to ferret out the truth.  Finally, on September 19, the Director of Counterterrorism released a statement classifying Ambassabor Stevenson’s death as resulting from a terrorist attack.  (I guess he didn’t get the memo.) Following that, the information dam burst.

Since then, the following pieces of information have become apparent with respect to this horrible incident:

1.  Two of the embassy’s security teams were withdrawn in August, leaving it vulnerable, particularly on the anniversary of 9/11.

2.  Following the attack, the Obama administration engaged in an organized cover-up to hide the truth.

Now that the truth, or at least part of it, has been exposed some questions still remain.  For example:

1.  Who authorized the removal of the security teams from Libya? Was it Mr. Obama, Ms. Clinton or some lower level functionary with or without their knowledge?  In any event, someone should have realized the potential danger of that action on the eve of 9/11.  Furthermore, one or both of those persons should bear the ultimate responsibility for the action.

2.  Who organized the cover-up?  I’m not sure what is worse for Mr. Obama, that he knew about it and knowingly participated in it, or that he didn’t know and should have known.

3.   How will this whole incident affect the election?  It should be a factor because it demonstrates one more example of lack of leadership as well as weakness in the face of international terrorism.  How much of a factor will probably depend on how the mainstream press plays it and how much the voters care about it. As we know, the mainstream press has been very sympathetic to Mr. Obama, so I wouldn’t expect a massive hue and cry about this from them.  As far as the voters are concerned, to the extent they are engaged, it is about the economy and jobs.  Perhaps, the GOP can get some mileage out of it if they can make an issue out of at the debates.  At the very least, it should give voters cause for concern about Mr. Obama’s leadership, truthfulness and lack of experience in foreign affairs.  In an election this close, anything can be the deciding factor.