Clinton's circle involved in Benghazi "cover-up"

[lostinblue 1,989]

By

Lindsey Boerma /

CBS News/ May 6, 2013, 8:19 PM

Issa: "No question" Clinton's circle involved in Benghazi "cover-up"

There's "no question" someone from Hillary Clinton's circle - if not the former secretary of state herself - was involved in the "cover-up" of any missteps by the administration following an attack on a U.S. consulate last Sept. 11 in Benghazi, Libya, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told CBS News on Monday.

"If Hillary Clinton is not responsible for the before, during and after mistakes... it's somebody close," Issa told CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes on Monday. "There certainly are plenty of people close to the former secretary who knew, and apparently were part of the problem."

Ahead of a hearing on Benghazi in Issa's committee this week, Fox News reported that Mark I. Thompson, the deputy coordinator for operations in the State Department's counterterrorism bureau, will testify that Clinton attempted to cut out the bureau from communications about the attack. Such charges would likely cripple not only Clinton's pristine record as secretary, but also the chance that she'll decide to launch a presidential bid in 2016.

• Official: We knew Benghazi was a terrorist attack "from the get-go"
• Diplomat: U.S. Special Forces told "you can't go" to Benghazi during attacks

Those close to Clinton who may have engaged in "deliberately, premeditated lying to the American people," Issa said, could include Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy or Beth Jones, acting assistant secretary for near eastern affairs at the State Department.

In excerpts of an interview with investigators released Sunday, Greg Hicks - the No. 2 official in Libya at the time of the attack that killed Amb. Chris Stevens and three other Americans - claimed that "everybody in the mission" thought the strike was a terrorist act "from the get-go." One day after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice hit the Sunday show circuit Sept. 16 to make the case that it was not a premeditated terrorist attack but began "spontaneously" out of protests in Egypt, Hicks said, he called Jones.

"I asked her... 'Why did Amb. Rice say that?'" Hicks said. The tone of her answer - "I don't know," he continued - indicated that "I perhaps asked a question that I should not have asked."

Issa suggested Monday the ever-evolving talking points that guided Rice were likely perpetrated by political worries three weeks before a major election. Or, he added, "it could be a general want to believe that we're closer to the end of the war on terror than right in the middle of it."

© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57583149/issa-no-question-clintons-circle-involved-in-benghazi-cover-up/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Oh well, if Darrell Issa says so, it must be true. It's not like he's got some kind of agenda.

[BatmanUSA 105]

They all have their own agenda.. Obama had political reasons to make this seem like a spontaneous attack because of an old anti-muslim movie.. I hope we eventually get to hear the various stories of what really happened... Or like Clinton said, it really doesn't matter...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Where was Darrell Issa when all this went down? Yeah, Clinton was right after all: It really doesn't matter.

[Pooky 3,850]

Where was Darrell Issa when all this went down? Yeah, Clinton was right after all: It really doesn't matter.

Darrell Issa, I would guess, wasn't chair of the committee when these incidents happened. Perhaps you should look to see who was and whether they did anything.

As for whether it matters, that depends on the testimony from the whistleblowers coming forward tomorrow. If it implicates the State Department in any "stand down" order, Hilary Clinton can kiss any hope of the White House goodbye.

But that's the next Presidential election. Where this doesn't matter is the last election. That is safely tucked out of the way now, with Benghazi no longer a potential deal-breaker for the American electorate.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Darrell Issa, I would guess, wasn't chair of the committee when these incidents happened. Perhaps you should look to see who was and whether they did anything.

The Republicans had a majority in the House until Jan 2007 so most of these incidents happened while a Republican chaired that committee.And they did NOTHING when any of this happened. Not a single sign of outrage when American interests were attacked under a Republican President time and again. But now it's outrageous when it happens. Big fcuking deal. I'm sorry but I can't take these bozos seriously.

[Pooky 3,850]

The Republicans had a majority in the House until Jan 2007 so most of these incidents happened while a Republican chaired that committee.And they did NOTHING when any of this happened. Not a single sign of outrage when American interests were attacked under a Republican President time and again. But now it's outrageous when it happens. Big fcuking deal. I'm sorry but I can't take these bozos seriously.

The outrage is less about the actual deaths of four Americans and more about the timing, the preceding actions and the suspicion of a political cover-up.

The incidents under BushBaby's presidency were not, to my recollection, subject to political misdirection, intentional or otherwise. BushBaby's administration just wasn't that sophisticated.

As for taking Darrell Issa and his committee seriously, Hilary Clintonay soon have no choice but to.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The outrage is less about the actual deaths of four Americans and more about the timing, the preceding actions and the suspicion of a political cover-up.

The incidents under BushBaby's presidency were not, to my recollection, subject to political misdirection, intentional or otherwise. BushBaby's administration just wasn't that sophisticated.

As for taking Darrell Issa and his committee seriously, Hilary Clintonay soon have no choice but to.

Republicans want to manufacture a scandal. That's what this is. Nothing more and nothing less. They are wasting taxpayer money for this nonsense. It's what they do best.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Obama's been re-elected. At this point, I'd be more than happy to see "revelations" come out that bury the Clinton family's political fortunes once and for all.

Say NO to Hillary 2016.

[lostinblue 1,989]

“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night decided to go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?!”

And that, in a nutshell, sums up the frightening Democratic mindset.

"manufacture a scandal".... 3 AM and NO one wakes up. Why did this administration allow or even want these americans dead. The scandal rest with the kenyan and the witch

[mota bhai 2,675]

“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night decided to go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?!”

And that, in a nutshell, sums up the frightening Democratic mindset.

"manufacture a scandal".... 3 AM and NO one wakes up. Why did this administration allow or even want these americans dead. The scandal rest with the kenyan and the witch

It doesn't matter what really happened. "The Kenyan", as you call him, will not be touched. It's no longer worth the effort There is no longer any real value in that. He can't be elected President again. The actual target at this point in time is Hillary Clinton.

Republicans want to destroy Hillary Clinton because she can beat Cruz or Rubio or Paul. Or all three of them together.

And many Democrats want her gone, too. The one's that don't want to fight her during a primary, and others.

There are enough people and groups who want Hillary's reputation tarnished to guarantee that a good effort will be made to do just that. Benghazi provides the perfect vehicle.

Personally, I hope they succeed. I do not wish to see Hillary be President.

Edited May 8, 2013 by amriki bhai

[one...two...tree 2,762]

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is that what Issa is hooked on?

[mota bhai 2,675]

I, for one, hope there is something to this. I can't think of a better way to finally end the Clinton era of American politics.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I, for one, hope there is something to this. I can't think of a better way to finally end the Clinton era of American politics.

So you'll be voting for Jeb, then?