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Seems like the intelligence community has avoided a lot of scrutiny for this Benghazi fiasco; all the focus on State Dept.
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) October 10, 2012
FROM THE jump, Rep. Jason Chaffetz jumped out putting politics first. He accused the State Department of revealing classified documents. It clearly took Rep. Issa by surprise.
It didn’t take long before the hearing turned into Darrell Issa’s circus.
Chaffetz accusing State Dept. officials testifying of revealing classified info. They again state it’s available for “public dissemination.”
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
The State officials reprimanded Chaffetz, saying they were showing “commercial digital imagery.” Issa eventually gets involved again, trying to recover and back up Chaffetz.
Later, one of the State Department officials detailed one of the problems.
“We had been training local Libyans and arming them for almost a year.” – Charlene Lamb, deputy assistant secretary of state for international programs in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Lamb has been on the hot seat throughout the hearing today.
“No one in the administration has claimed to know all the answers,” Kennedy said in his written testimony for the hearing. “We have always made clear that we are giving the best information we have at the time. And that information has evolved.” [Bloomberg]
Wood: The 16 members of the SST traveled to Banghazi two times to support the principal officers there.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) October 10, 2012
Lamb: The extension of the SST team in Tripoli “would not have made any difference in Benghazi.” #true #notthepoint
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) October 10, 2012
State Leg Affairs told Nordstrom not to talk to Congress without going through them first, so he stopped Returning Issa’s calls.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) October 10, 2012
When it was Rep. Kucinich had his turn he ripped U.S. policy. Blamed U.S. policy. Said it was ridiculous to blame State Department officials, when we “should start at the beginning.” The only politician who addressed the absurd Obama administration policy on Libya.
Kucinich: Libya was not in meltdown before war…our intervention led to greater instability..Interventions do not make us safer
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) October 10, 2012
Chaffetz again goes after Lamb. Lynch slams show-boating Chaffetz, “you’ve gotta be kidding me!”
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
Since when did Chaffetz assign himself to be in charge of determining what is classified from executive branch? Sheesh.
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) October 10, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy “I’m not going to speculate on numbers I don’t firmly have in my head.” The man won’t bend to Republican hackery. Bravo.
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
“We were the last flag flying. It was only a matter of time.” – Lt. Col. Wood on Benghazi. In charge of security through August 2012.
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
Lamb: “no sir,” budget was not an issue.
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
Lamb now says it’s true they had “limited resources.” Budget is a reality.
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
“The Taliban is on the inside of the building.” – Nordstrom
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
Issa closes by rightly saying Lt Col Wood & Nordstrom should speak to committee if careers threatened because of their testimony.
— Taylor Marsh (@taylormarsh) October 10, 2012
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