Susan Rice defends initial comments on Benghazi

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, defended her early account the attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, responding to critics who say she gave misleading information about the nature of the attack and the motive behind it.

Rice said Wednesday she "relied solely and squarely" in preliminary information given to her by the intelligence committee shortly after the assault that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

Asked about her initial comments by CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk at the U.N., Rice said she "made clear that the information was preliminary, and that our investigations would give us the definitive answers. Everyone has worked in good faith to provide the best assessment based on info available."

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She also said the FBI and the State Department were still investigating the attacks on the anniversary of Sept. 11.

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"They will look into all aspects of this heinous terrorist attack, to provide what will become the definitive accounting of what occurred," she said.

Rice appeared on CBS News' "Face the Nation" five days after the September assault and suggested that there was no evidence the incident was a pre-planned act of terrorism. She said the violence appeared to be a spontaneous flare-up by protesters enraged over an anti-Muslim video posted on YouTube.

The White House later scrapped that theory and said the assault was actually a calculated terrorist attack.

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Rice has been under the microscope in recent days because she has been mentioned as President Barack Obama's potential choice to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Her Benghazi remarks drew fire from Republicans who accused the ambassador of misleading the American people. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsay Graham were particularly critical of Rice, saying she did not deserve the promotion and could not be trusted.

Rice said that she respects Sen. McCain, but found his criticism to be "unfounded" and said looks forward to the opportunity to discuss all of this with him.

"Let me end by saying I knew Chris Stevens," Rice added. "I worked closely with him and had the privilege of doing so as we tried together, as a government, to free the Libyan people from the tyranny of Qaddafi. He was a valued colleague, and his loss, as well as the loss of his three colleagues, is a massive tragedy for all of us who serve in the U.S. government, and for all the American people.

[dixt1]

Everyone seems to forget how the LEFT and the MEDIA skewered Condoleezza Rice, back in 2004&#8212;with RACIST cartoons, as well! (Remember: Rice is black, and she's a woman)

Susan vs. Condi
Dems crying 'racism' forget 2004.
(National Review Online)

[maltedmilkballs]

My thought is, she better keep saying what she is told to say or,

I understand there is a opening for ambassador in Libya.

Hey Suzy, just a heads up, your bosses would not think twice about tossing you also under the buss.

[cbunite]

Brainwashed Fox addcits need to realize that Fox was wrong from the start. They were just as shocked as Romney when they realize that the President used the phrase "act of terror" to describe the attack in Benghazi. Fox reported incorrectly, with deadly consequences, that the anti-Islamic film was made and financed by Jews. No question that false story angered Muslims even more. The protest spread to 30 countries. 50 people killed in response to the film, including an Israeli soldier.

An Israeli filmmaker based in California went into hiding Tuesday after his movie attacking Islam's Prophet Muhammad sparked angry assaults by ultra-conservative Muslims on U.S. missions in Egypt and Libya, where a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location, writer and director Sam Bacile remained defiant, saying Islam is a cancer and that the 56-year-old intended his film to be a provocative political statement condemning the religion.

Protesters angered over Bacile's film opened fire on and burned down the U.S. Consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others on Tuesday. In Egypt, protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and replaced an American flag with an Islamic banner....

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/09/12/filmmaker-sam-bacile-in-hiding-after-anti-muslim-film-sparks-violence-in-which/#ixzz2C81Hmkyn

U.S. Missions Stormed in Libya, Egypt
Movie Critical of Prophet Muhammad Spurs Attack in Benghazi, Killing American; Protesters Breach Wall of Cairo Compound
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444017504577645681057498266.html

Note both Fox and the Wall Street Journal are owned by Australian born Rupert Murdoch.


From the Australian Jewish News.

THE terror attack on the Egyptian border that claimed the life of a 20-year-old Israeli soldier was carried out in revenge for the anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims, which the group responsible claims was produced with Jewish help.

Netanel Yahalomi was shot dead last Friday while he and his patrol were giving water to African refugees.

Three terrorists, armed with rifles, grenades and a suicide belt, lay in wait for the soldiers to approach before they started shooting.

They themselves were killed in an ensuing firefight.

The terror group Ansar Beit al-Maqdes said on Sunday it had carried out the attack. The group claimed it was in revenge for the controversial film, which has sparked outrage in the Muslim world over its depiction of the prophet Muhammad.

In a statement posted online, the group claimed it was behind the deadly attack.

The statement said: "After finding out that Jews were involved in this matter, are motivating the hostile group of foreign pigs [the film's producers], took part in the film's production and encouraged this shameful crime, and because protecting the prophet's honour is one of our duties, your brothers from the Ansar Beit al-Maqdes organisation decided to punish the Jews for their heinous crimes".

The group, also known as Ansar Jerusalem, has previously claimed responsibility for blowing up an Egyptian gas pipeline to Israel and for rocket attacks on Eilat.

Yahalomi, who was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal, was remembered by his sister Avital as "a smart and successful guy" who "helped everyone in whichever way he could". She added, "He went to defend the state and land. That is what he fought and was killed for. He died so we could live here. It was not an unnecessary death. God will give us the power to cope."

Extending his condolences to the family during the Sunday cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attack "underscores the importance of constructing a border fence".

"Without a fence," he said, "there will be more terror attacks".

http://www.jewishnews.net.au/anti-film-reaction-claims-israeli-victim/27755


If terrorist killed an Israeli soldier because of the film, then can we conclude that no one in Libya sought to kill Americans because of the film?

[dixt1]

You evidently DID NOT read the entire transcript of his Rose Garden speech! When he used the term "terrorist," he was speaking of the "original" 9/11 in 2001!!! Go back and READ THE WHOLE THING!

[cydygitt2]

THUGDRIVER says: "It's the same old dirty politics.....old white guys are attacking a black women"


---



Yes THUG, it sure is the same old dirty politics, except when kindasleezy rice was completely wrong about "mushroom clouds," or when Colin Powell was trotted out at the U.N. to speak about WMD, it was fine, and the GOP supported both of them for being completely wrong.

Now, because Obama is a black President, and Susan Rice used DNI talking points approved by both the CIA and the FBI, you republiCONS are acting just like GOONS and THUGS, just like you did with the 24/7 propaganda by the fox political network and conservative hate radio when Eric Holder was attacked for political points.

Oh yeah.....both Rice and Holder are also black, just like the President!

You racist republiCONS are sickening and the problem with America today!

[cydygitt2]

No wonder the mormon cultist didn't get any black votes! LOL!

[heyjoeyb]

Senator McCain is beginning to appear a bit goofy in his recent statements. He is wrong about Rice and, as a citizen of Arizona, his comments scare me.

[empirebuilder]

Rice should have known to check out her sources and following up on changes before committing to speaking on them knowing the intelligence was changing. That is a freshman mistake. Never take anything for granted. She did or she is another liar trying to save her skin. I cannot believe her comments.

[PSFalk]

Also see full coverage:

CBSNews.com http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57553436/susan-rice-defends-initial-comments-on-benghazi/

CBS Evening News: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50135673n

Up to the Minute: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50135676n

UN Webcast @4:16 : http://webtv.un.org/watch/susan-rice-usa-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-security-council-media-stakeout-21-november-2012/1982231666001

[cubscout09]

I tracked down where the Benghazi lie came to a head.

Conservative Talk Radio host, Lars Larson, was ranting about the Fox version of events, and Tyrone Woods' father, Charles Woods, happened to be listening. Charles Woods immediately called Lars, then called Glenn Beck and a couple of other talk hosts and the whole thing went viral.

Four days later, Charles Woods realized that Lars Larson had lied to him.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/10/charles_woods_conservative_groups_are_trying_to_use_the_tragic_story_of.html

Lars Larson's wiki conveniently leaves out the part where he was forced to resigned as a local news anchor, at the apex of his career.

[THGdriver2]

It's the same old dirty politics Nobama learned in Chicago.

Nobama trotted Rice out to lie her aiss off on 5 national talk shows.

He knew if she gets away with the lies that's a great thing.

He also knew if the liar got caught he could just claim that a

few old white guys are attacking a black women, that's exactly what

he planed and exactly what he did.

[sickofwhiners]

Sort of like how Bush trotted out Colin Powell to talk about WMD in Iraq?

[tafhdyd]

MURKYMOOK replies: Seeking and recognizing the truth is not hating.

.....

It is also something that the right wing will never understand or accept.