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Ben-GOT-zi!
Author: BobR    Date: 2014-06-18 10:35:37

Big news yesterday - we got the guy responsible for the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi:
Ahmed Abu Khattala was taken into custody in a secret US military raid in Libya on 15 June.

He is now being held in a secure location outside the country, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed.

US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed in the attack.

"There were no civilian casualties related to this operation, and all US personnel involved in the operation have safely departed Libya," Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm John Kirby wrote in a statement.

He refused to give further details about the US raid, only to say it happened "near Benghazi" and on Sunday afternoon US east coast time.

This is great news, especially for those who considered the attack proof of the poor foreign policy credentials of President Obama, despite the fact that embassies have been attacked and US citizens killed under several previous US presidents.

The big "controversy" that's been beaten like a dead horse by conservatives is that the White House initially said the attack was prompted by a video, then changed the "story" once new evidence was available. Conservatives screamed COVER-UP!, despite there being no real advantage of one explanation over the other. What's interesting is that now that the leader of the attack is in custody, we're learning about the real reason for the attack:
An earlier demonstration venting anger over the video outside the American Embassy in Cairo had culminated in a breach of its walls, and it dominated Arab news coverage. Mr. Abu Khattala told both fellow Islamist fighters and others that the attack in Benghazi was retaliation for the same insulting video, according to people who heard him.

What? So it was the video after all? What about the terrorist aspect?
Several witnesses to the attack later said that Mr. Abu Khattala’s presence and leadership were evident from the start. He initially hung back, standing near the crowd at Venezia Road, several witnesses said. But a procession of fighters hurried to him out of the smoke and gunfire, addressed him as “sheikh,” and then gave him reports or took his orders before plunging back into the compound.

So - in essence - it was both, which is why the explanation seemed inconsistent and changing.

And for all this, the GOP has conducted 8 (count 'em - 8) "special investigations" to get to The Truth. What they think the administration is being untruthful about, they can't really say, but they're determined to find something to hang on Obama. Of course ridiculous overkill is par for the course for the GOP Congress.

So naturally - the can't let him have this. They can't let their BENGHAZI! chew toy be taken away, so they are trying to tarnish this with absurd claims like it's a conspiracy to help Hillary before an interview on FOX "News" (can't make this stuff up). A FOX "journalist" - implying that the Obama Administration took too long - also had the bright idea that soldiers should have disguised themselves as reporters to apprehend him. Besides the reality that it would put all REAL journalists in danger, there's a little thing called the Geneva Conventions. If a soldier is caught disguised as a citizen, he loses any protections, and it paints the US in a very bad light. Drudge Report wasn't about to let his website feature a story that put the president in a good light, so they buried it on their page

Others who have attacked us in the past were tried in Federal Court and put in Federal high security prisons (including Zacharias Moussaoui, the shoe bomber Richard Reid, the first World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef, and dirty bomber Jose Padilla). The Obama Administration plans on following the same protocol. Republicans just love Gitmo for some reason, and are proclaiming that's the only place for him:
On Tuesday, hawkish Republicans swiftly called for Abu Khattala to be held and interrogated at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“Obviously, he should be put on trial. I’d bring him to Guantanamo,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “Where else can you take him to?”

U.S. officials said Abu Khattala was captured Sunday and is in U.S. custody “in a secure location outside Libya.” In past cases, such suspects have been initially held aboard U.S. military ships.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a leading critic of the administration’s handling of the Benghazi episode, praised the capture on Twitter but quickly followed up with a broadside.

“Holding Khattala on a ship shows the haphazard approach which comes from not having rational detention & interrogation policies,” Graham tweeted.

“Naval vessels were never meant to be detention and interrogation sites,” Graham added.

That prompted Tommy Vietor, a former Obama aide and current adviser to Clinton, to tweet in reply, “Nor was Cuba.”

And with 3 words, he showed the Republicans for what they really are - petty, childish, stupid, vengeful power-hungry idiots. Benghazi was a dead horse - the Obama administration just sent it to the glue factory. Good riddance.
 

48 comments (Latest Comment: 06/19/2014 01:09:36 by livingonli)
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Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2014 12:53:56
John McCain & Lindsey Graham! You both need to shut the fuck up. You have no valid opinions. SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 12:55:51
I loved how drudge led with Beefghazi…

Thanks for mentioning all those other dudes we actually prosecuted here at home. (Key word, PROSECUTE) As I mentioned last night, intelligence does not equal evidence. We had the evidence to arrest this guy. Obama did the right thing -- AGAIN.

Happy hump day!

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 12:57:56
Mornin' all..

Uhh.. holding him on a naval vessel as he's transported to this country to stand trial is perfectly logical. That's what the GOP idiots don't understand - logic.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:19:46
Morning

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:24:52
Hrm.. Hey Raine I'm trying to figure out the bus timetables going out to Dulles Expo and I can't find a timetable for the bus I need.. Here's the map it too long enough to figure out the route (FX641 or 651) now I just need to find the timetables heh.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 13:28:49
Quote by Scoopster:
Hrm.. Hey Raine I'm trying to figure out the bus timetables going out to Dulles Expo and I can't find a timetable for the bus I need.. Here's the map it too long enough to figure out the route (FX641 or 651) now I just need to find the timetables heh.
that map is crazy!


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 13:29:16
What time do you want to get to the expo center?

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:32:07
Quote by Raine:
What time do you want to get to the expo center?

Well the player meeting starts at 10am sharp so I figure 30-60 mins before.

And ugh.. Found the schedule. Weekdays only.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 13:33:43
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
What time do you want to get to the expo center?

Well the player meeting starts at 10am sharp so I figure 30-60 mins before.

And ugh.. Found the schedule. Weekdays only.
I know that the Silver line is supposed to open up this week, that goes to Reston, I believe, Let me and bob try to figure something out for you.



Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:36:15
Oh jeez I misread it.. only one of those routes says weekdays.

(or did i? Dropped them an email to be sure)

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:44:57
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Hrm.. Hey Raine I'm trying to figure out the bus timetables going out to Dulles Expo and I can't find a timetable for the bus I need.. Here's the map it too long enough to figure out the route (FX641 or 651) now I just need to find the timetables heh.
that map is crazy!



to be honest Scoop, I've never seen buses go out the Expo on weekends - they kind of cut off public transit to the west for some reason.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:46:28
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
What time do you want to get to the expo center?

Well the player meeting starts at 10am sharp so I figure 30-60 mins before.

And ugh.. Found the schedule. Weekdays only.
I know that the Silver line is supposed to open up this week, that goes to Reston, I believe, Let me and bob try to figure something out for you.




Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

Comment by BobR on 06/18/2014 13:46:28
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh jeez I misread it.. only one of those routes says weekdays.

(or did i? Dropped them an email to be sure)

There are always buses going to the airport. I know they depart from Rosslyn station and from West Falls Church. As Raine mentioned, the Silver line is supposed to be open, which means there will be local buses going from Reston station.

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:46:55
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Hrm.. Hey Raine I'm trying to figure out the bus timetables going out to Dulles Expo and I can't find a timetable for the bus I need.. Here's the map it too long enough to figure out the route (FX641 or 651) now I just need to find the timetables heh.
that map is crazy!

to be honest Scoop, I've never seen buses go out the Expo on weekends - they kind of cut off public transit to the west for some reason.

It's a shame that public transit is so looked down upon in this country..

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 13:48:19
The Rude Pundit has totally lost it!!!

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:49:01
Quote by wickedpam:Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

The same day as our gathering - Saturday the 27th. (I'm secretly hoping I scrub out of the tournament )

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:49:02
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Hrm.. Hey Raine I'm trying to figure out the bus timetables going out to Dulles Expo and I can't find a timetable for the bus I need.. Here's the map it too long enough to figure out the route (FX641 or 651) now I just need to find the timetables heh.
that map is crazy!

to be honest Scoop, I've never seen buses go out the Expo on weekends - they kind of cut off public transit to the west for some reason.

It's a shame that public transit is so looked down upon in this country..


its not really looked down on its just they don't think people will use it on the weekends. I would kill for the VRE to work on weekends cause its like a 10 minute drive from the house and its an awesome train to take to the city but they won't spend the money to run it.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:51:50
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

The same day as our gathering - Saturday the 27th. (I'm secretly hoping I scrub out of the tournament )



hmmm - if it were Sunday I could give you a ride on the way home - check Omnibus see if there's anything that will meet up with WMATA or the Dash buses (do we still have Dash buses?)

Comment by BobR on 06/18/2014 13:55:26
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

The same day as our gathering - Saturday the 27th. (I'm secretly hoping I scrub out of the tournament )



hmmm - if it were Sunday I could give you a ride on the way home - check Omnibus see if there's anything that will meet up with WMATA or the Dash buses (do we still have Dash buses?)

Saturday is the 28th - the day of our party. The 27th is Friday.

You could always take the bus to the airport, then catch a cab to the expo center. Getting a cab from the expo center afterward might be more of a challenge, though. If you have Uber installed on your phone, that might be an option to/from the airport as well.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 13:57:54
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

The same day as our gathering - Saturday the 27th. (I'm secretly hoping I scrub out of the tournament )



hmmm - if it were Sunday I could give you a ride on the way home - check Omnibus see if there's anything that will meet up with WMATA or the Dash buses (do we still have Dash buses?)

Saturday is the 28th - the day of our party. The 27th is Friday.

You could always take the bus to the airport, then catch a cab to the expo center. Getting a cab from the expo center afterward might be more of a challenge, though. If you have Uber installed on your phone, that might be an option to/from the airport as well.



what about a Zip car - don't we have those around here somewhere?

Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2014 13:58:50
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:Reston is the opposite direction of the Expo sadly

what day do you need to be there by 10am?

The same day as our gathering - Saturday the 27th. (I'm secretly hoping I scrub out of the tournament )



hmmm - if it were Sunday I could give you a ride on the way home - check Omnibus see if there's anything that will meet up with WMATA or the Dash buses (do we still have Dash buses?)

Saturday is the 28th - the day of our party. The 27th is Friday.

You could always take the bus to the airport, then catch a cab to the expo center. Getting a cab from the expo center afterward might be more of a challenge, though. If you have Uber installed on your phone, that might be an option to/from the airport as well.

Sorry I meant the 28th. I didn't even think of using Uber either good idea! You'd think with all the controversy they've got in the tech media I would've looked into it.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 14:00:28
Whoa! US Patent Office Cancels Trademarks for the Washington Redskins

well this is going to hurt Danny-boy's pocket

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 14:04:49
Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 14:10:04
Quote by wickedpam:
Whoa! US Patent Office Cancels Trademarks for the Washington Redskins

well this is going to hurt Danny-boy's pocket
Wow!


Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 14:15:59
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Whoa! US Patent Office Cancels Trademarks for the Washington Redskins

well this is going to hurt Danny-boy's pocket
Wow!



the Trademark is how Danny makes his money on the team, its one of the most lucrative in the country. I bet he's stamping his little elfin feet and refusing to make any cookies.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2014 14:18:21
Quote by wickedpam:
Girl Mets Squirrel






Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 14:24:26
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Girl Mets Squirrel







Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2014 14:30:37
Quote by wickedpam:
Whoa! US Patent Office Cancels Trademarks for the Washington Redskins

well this is going to hurt Danny-boy's pocket




Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 14:42:10
Interesting to watch all the suburban white people flail about in panic over a billionaire's losing of trademark

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 14:45:15
SNAP!

"If there is one thing that this country does not need, it's that we should be taking advice from Dick Cheney on wars," Reid said. "Being on the wrong side of Dick Cheney is to be on the right side of history."


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 15:22:48


They need to replay that segment!

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 15:33:40
Holy shit. That is some serious messed up stuff. That poor child.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 15:33:42
OMG the comment thread to the WTOP- trademark story

Oh the Outrage! Oh the Humanity! Oh the utterly dumb and hit by the stupid stick

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 15:35:44
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG the comment thread to the WTOP- trademark story

Oh the Outrage! Oh the Humanity! Oh the utterly dumb and hit by the stupid stick
The new America.... Government doesn't like your business and takes your trademark. Thanks President Obama.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 15:38:06
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG the comment thread to the WTOP- trademark story

Oh the Outrage! Oh the Humanity! Oh the utterly dumb and hit by the stupid stick
The new America.... Government doesn't like your business and takes your trademark. Thanks President Obama.


The ones that are claiming that Obama personally had something to do with it are the best,

Comment by BobR on 06/18/2014 15:45:43
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG the comment thread to the WTOP- trademark story

Oh the Outrage! Oh the Humanity! Oh the utterly dumb and hit by the stupid stick
The new America.... Government doesn't like your business and takes your trademark. Thanks President Obama.


The ones that are claiming that Obama personally had something to do with it are the best,

Per the US Patent Office website, the Chief Administrative Trademark Judge is Gerard F. Rogers., who took that position at the end of the Clinton Administration.

EDIT: According to the Wiki, they are actually appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. At that time, it was William Daley.

Yeah - it's all Obama's doing...

Comment by TriSec on 06/18/2014 15:58:29
BBC is reporting that the government of Iraq is asking us for airstrikes. OK dudes, F-15s drink $2,000 of JP-9 an hour. Cash only, all up front.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2014 16:00:05
A few of my faves


Bill Bill OH HOW I WISH the US Constitution had a provision to protect speach so that a person who owned a football team could call it whatever they wanted instead of what some no name federal employee wanted it named. Maybe something like "Congress shall make NO LAW resprecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting thefree exercise thereof; or ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. It is seems the US Constitution does not have any such thing in it



Kathleen Karnei Hammett The IRS has probably been directed to audit Dan along with extra pat downs by the TSA. #obamanation
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr





Comment by BobR on 06/18/2014 16:15:12
Quote by wickedpam:
A few of my faves

Bill Bill OH HOW I WISH the US Constitution had a provision to protect speach so that a person who owned a football team could call it whatever they wanted instead of what some no name federal employee wanted it named. Maybe something like "Congress shall make NO LAW resprecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting thefree exercise thereof; or ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. It is seems the US Constitution does not have any such thing in it



Kathleen Karnei Hammett The IRS has probably been directed to audit Dan along with extra pat downs by the TSA. #obamanation
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr



I responded to the first one. Idiots.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 16:46:02
Quote by TriSec:
BBC is reporting that the government of Iraq is asking us for airstrikes. OK dudes, F-15s drink $2,000 of JP-9 an hour. Cash only, all up front.
I like how you think.


Comment by BobR on 06/18/2014 17:04:31
Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 18:45:47
Ugh. Summer is here. it is official.


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 18:46:13
Wow, want one for Christmas?


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 21:07:06
I suppose everyone is watching futbol/....

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2014 21:20:46


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2014 21:45:30
Quote by Raine:
I suppose everyone is watching futbol/....



I was earlier. Holland beat Australia. I hate Robin Van Persie. I hate him with the white hot intensity of 100s of suns exploding.

Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2014 01:09:36
I'm finally back online at home. I got tired of waiting for roomie because his money problems are a bitch because his boss is a dick. So, today I got my own FiOS installed and I have the Quantum speeds and I can see if it makes a difference on the computers.