From The Washington Times by James S. Robbins
“Sec. Of Defense Leon Panetta stated, "(The) basic
principle is that you don't deploy forces into harm's way without knowing
what's going on; without having some real-time information about what's taking
place," Panetta told Pentagon reporters. "And as a result of not
having that kind of information, the commander who was on the ground in that
area, Gen. Ham, Gen. Dempsey and I felt very strongly that we could not put
forces at risk in that situation."
The information I heard today was that General Ham as head
of Africom received the same e-mails the White House received requesting
help/support as the attack (in Benghazi) was taking place. General Ham
immediately had a rapid response unit ready and communicated to the Pentagon
that he had a unit ready.
General Ham then received the order to stand down. His
response was to screw it, he was going to help anyhow. Within 30 seconds to a
minute after making the move to respond, his second in command (Gen. Rodriguez
apprehended General Ham and told him that he was now relieved of his command.
General Rodriquez has been named to replace General Ham as
the head of Africom
These events contradict Mr. Panetta’s October 25 statement that
General Ham advised against intervention. But so far there is nothing solid to
back it up. Maybe Ham attempted to send a reaction force against orders, or
maybe he simply said the wrong thing to the wrong people. Perhaps he gave
whomever he was talking to up the chain a piece of his mind about leaving
Americans to die when there was a chance of saving them. At the very least U.S.
forces might have made those who killed our people pay while they were still on
the scene. The Obama White House is famously vindictive against perceived
disloyalty – the administration would not let Ham get away with scolding them
for failing to show the leadership necessary to save American lives. The Army's
ethos is to leave no man behind, but that is not shared by a president
accustomed to leading from that location.
The question remains why the repeated requests – which is to
say desperate pleas – to send a relief force were refused. Perhaps Mr. Obama
and his national security brain trust thought the terrorist assault would be a
minor skirmish and quickly blow over. When it became clear that the attack was
something more serious, they may have had visions of the rescue team getting
involved in a Mogadishu-like firefight, a “Blackhawk Down 2.” This would have
been too much for the risk-averse Mr. Obama, particularly in a Muslim country,
and less than two months before the election. Instead they simply watched the
live video hoped for the best. If there were American fatalities, they felt
they could shift blame for the circumstance to the supposed Youtube video which
they had already blamed for the riot at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo hours
earlier. In fact the Embassy had sent out its “apology” tweets even before the
Cairo riot commenced."
This has become the most outrageous display of incompetency, dereliction of duty, deceit and outright abandonment of American Forces since Robert McNamara betrayed the American people in Viet Nam.
This president and his keystone cop menagerie have betrayed this country and every citizen. They are obsessed with vindictiveness and totally void of integrity and honor.
posted by Allen Barrett | 8:45 AM
56 Comments:
"The information I heard today"???? That's your authority for this drivel? I sure hope you listened better than you did at the last school board meeting because you really screwed up in reporting on that.....oh wait....you weren't even there when you wrote that piece.
The Obama Administration is "famously vindictive" against al-qaeda. That is refreshing after 8 years.
5:33 Go back and read all of what Barrett posted about the school board meeting. You will see he did not state he was there and then posted from some one who was. Your obsession with Barrett is sickening so why don't you get a life.
5:33 is a loser with a very unhealthy obsession with Barrett and you are right 5:40 it is sickening but when you have no life of your own you tend to be come obsessively jealous of those who do have a life.
well, those last two blogs were enlightening....SO glad I checked in here tonight.
I guess 5:33 can now post about how obsessively supportive you both (or one) is/are of WAB.
Read it your self then compare:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/robbins-report/2012/oct/28/general-losing-his-job-over-benghazi/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/robbins-report/2012/oct/29/general-center-benghazi-gate-controversy-retiring/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/robbins-report/2012/oct/23/obama-sticks-it-romney-bayonets/
Bayonets?? Read it!
a blog citing a blog for authority. Really? That's the best you've got?
I hope to Heaven, no one cites this blog for authority.
A blog citing a blog for authority?? what is that even supposed to mean? 8:34 just give it up you continue to show how stupid you are with your nonsense.
5:58 just read a little more slowly. you'll get it. It really is not rocket science.
No kidding, you misused authority dumb ass.
Really y'all? With everything going on in the world, some of you want to make an issue about a bayonet statement? My God, people, get a life or a facsimile thereof. His point was we may have fewer numbers of forces, but the technology available to them is far more effective than horses and bayonets.
How much hand-to-hand fighting do you think goes on anyway? Freaking ridiculous.
Ray Lanier
5:58 maybe you need to get out more often the Washington Times is not a blog it's a broadsheet newspaper that's been around since the 1980's.
The removal of a highly decorated general who was only recently recognized as having successfully increased the readiness of his command should be big news but since it shows the incompetent cowardice of obama it doesn't make all the big news outlets. The media for the most part has totally sold out to this administration and the American people will carry the burden of that action.
Wrong again scooter. The Robbins article was not published in the paper. It was on the papers' blog....you know, the location for unverified writings. Just like yours.
Ha! You guys are arguing over the Washington Times? The paper owned by Sun Myoong Moon's unification church? I see now why Barrett is such a nut. He relies on the Moonies for his daily news.
At least we finally have a logical reason for it.
5:58 and 7:50 Buy a dictionary.
The thing you need to be concerned about is not me but the truth of the matter. Benghazi has been one lie after another, four dead Americans are still dead and Gen. Ham has been relieved, there is concern that the obama administration has given munitions to the very people who attacked and killed the ambassador and his helpers. Listen to the hearings a those who are involved and you will see the sheer folly of this administrations incompetence and lies.
And there were no Al Queda terror cells in Libya until we helped free them out of the prisons in Libya and started calling them revolutionists to get Gaddafi out of power. White House has even stated Al Queda is now our friend. Who to trust, who to trust?
4:51 and 5:15. Do you guys just sit around making up this stuff????
Get over your hatred and start acting like Americans.
7:24 And you are acting like an American? Read the news and quit believing the mainstream crap you are fed. When we were invading Libya there were many reports that stated there were no Al Queda cells operating in Libya. You have got to be the most ignorant uniformed enabler of wrong on this blog. I bet you think the Federal Reserve is part of our government as well. I bet you believe the embassy attacks were over a video some one put on youtube. When are you going to be happy? when we are all under a socialist umbrella and we live under a totalitarian government as opposed to a Constitution? No thank you to what you seem to be pushing.
What the H*ll are you babbling about? Better lay off the coffee and chocolate for a while. Those black helicopters may become real.
I agree, 8:47. Which does he want, read the news or stop listening to the mainstream reports? That's kind of like "shut your mouth and eat."
8:47 and your talking about some one babbling? Figure it out 10:49. If that is your take on my post you are every bit as stupid as I thought.
Infowars.com maybe you will learn something.
I simply read what you posted, 5:11. It's not my fault if you didnt' post what you meant, dumbass. Take it up with your therapist.
I have never been involved in an operation that didn't have a emergency evacuation plan or military back-up in order to conduct a NEO (non-combatant evacuation operation). In fact, I have spent hours working out (war gaming) possible scenarios to deal with any concievable contingency. Any quick reaction force has a company or battalion that is on lock-down for immediate response in case something happens and a reserve force that is less than an hour away from being deployed anywhere in the world. It is inconcievable to me that plans were not in place waiting on the go ahead of the POTUS. Tyrone Woods evidently expected support for the personnel at the Embassy and, when it was denied, went to help his fellow Americans and was killed in the process.
You are absolutely right 9:57. The responsibility fell on the shoulders of AFRICOM commander General Carter Ham who had the plan and the forces to execute the plan but was not allowed to give the order to evacuate the people from Benghazi. This four star general has now been relieved and forced to retire. It has been reported that he was ordered to stand down and refused to obey that order which led to his second in command General Rodiquez relieving him of command and placing him under arrest. General Ham when asked if he was order to send help, stated "no" but when asked if he had been ordered to stand down and not help he refused to answer.
This is what Kerry Patton, a veteran, military analyst, and author said: "General Ham took command of AFRICOM in March of 2011. It is a two year tour of duty. His tour of duty is quickly coming to an end and designating his replacement six months out is nothing unusual. An official Change of Command ceremony has not happened.
"General Rodriguez has been General Ham’s second in command. It is common for deputy commanders to take over command positions once their bosses move on in their careers. General Rodriguez has been identified as General Ham’s replacement.
"Four Star Generals must be confirmed by the Senate. To fire such an individual, and while there is no requirement to go through the Senate as well, its is completely rare for a Commander-in-Chief to conduct such action without notifying Senate personnel. General Ham is not getting fired nor is he in any trouble for the accusation of disobeying a lawful order.
"It is clear that some persons would love to spread rumor in an attempt to fuel an already socio-political inferno inside the United States.... to simply promote political fires.
"The rumor about General Ham is alarming. And so far, there is absolutely no clear evidence proving such an incident happened. In fact, much more evidence would suggest none of the rumor to be true.
"General Ham isn’t retiring. If these rumors were true, he would have quietly been asked to retire or he would have been fired. To date, it appears that General Ham will be taking over one of America’s largest commands in the very near future. "
This is a more credible source, and a more credible story than the one portrayed by the discredited, Moonie-owned Washington Times, which has also been linked with racist, white supremacist groups.
And where are you quoting your information from 3:12? Since you have more credible sources why don't you share them. No one believes you are the authority on the subject.
Who is Kerry Patton and what is his connection to the obama administration?
While he gives a very interesting account of some important facts they do not necessarily relate to the current events. While a two year tour in such a position is normal it is also just as normal to have that tour extended. Under no ordinary circumstance is a commander relieved six months ahead of schedule regardless of when a successor is name. To imply that they are normally transferred out six months ahead of time is an outright false statement. Under no ordinary circumstance is a commander, regardless of rank, removed from a command position without the usual change of command ceremony. There has not been a change of command ceremony held or planned for AFRICOM.
while senate confirmation is required to attain the rank of General (4 stars) there is nothing required of the senate or anyone else but the president for that general to be relieved of duty. You might remember the famous firing of General of the Army MacArthur by Truman.
Gen. Ham IS retiring, the paperwork has already been submitted even though he is two years away from the mandatory retirement age. This was involuntary on Gen. Ham's part.
I am so certain of this information that I am willing to put up one thousand dollars against anyone that can disprove it. Within the next few days it will all be confirmed.
Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican, said that General Ham told him during a visit to Libya that he had never been asked to provide military support for the Americans under attack in Benghazi. Former United States Ambassador to the U.N. John R, Bolton also mentioned Mr. Chaffetz’s account, and contrasted it with Mr. Panetta’s statement that General Ham had been part of the team that made the decision not to send in forces. “General Ham has now been characterized in two obviously conflicting ways,” Mr. Bolton concluded. “Somebody ought to find out what he actually was saying on September the
Keep in mind that not receiving an order to provide military support is very different from being prevented from sending military help.
Don't worry yall. Mitt will soon take over and all our worries will be over. Yep, heaven on earth, a chicken in every pot, and forty acres and a mule for everyone.
What no bayonets?
Well sha, you gotta have something to fight the chickens with.
Well, at least Romney didn't declare that with his election the oceans would be lowered and the tides would recede. How's that working out New Jersey, New York city. About the same way all obama's other promises worked out, I thought so.
Nope. The republicans and the oil industry made sure that no climate change legislation would pass.
How is that working for you coastal republicans?
Well billions was saved from algore stupidity. There is not one scientist that isn't connected with the government that even considers global warming as a subject of serious discussion. Those with the UN have been discredited long ago.
12:29 Are you saying something could of been done and Sandy wouldn't of happen? Some call a doctor quick.
EVERY Academy of Science in the world believes global warming is man made. Don't believe everything you hear on Faux News.
8:53 I challenge you to supply one statement from one legitimate agency that says definitively that "global warming is man made".
Scooter is right Mr. Smartypants. And while you are at it, I challenge you to find ONE reputable source for that silly notion that the earth is round.....or that the sun doesn't revolve around the earth.....or that we really landed on the moon. You probably believe all that nonsense.
"The “State of the Climate 2011” report, published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS), presents a peer reviewed tour through the weather and climate events of 2011. The overriding theme that emerges from the report is that the effects of human activities are readily evident, be it in the form of rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — global carbon dioxide concentrations hit a new all-time high of 390 parts per million last year, and will cross the 400 ppm threshold worldwide by 2016 — to the inexorable increase in ocean heat content."
9:50 Sorry but that agency of the federal government was caught with their collective pants down by using models that excludes vast amounts of time and data. Besides that nowhere have they claimed that humans are the cause of any global climate changes.
Some facts to help you along your way
since the beginning of time there have been cycles of global warming and cooling, even before man was on the earth. 2005 is the hottest year on record according to most all accounts so why has it cooled since then if we are warming up. The coldest year in recent memory in Europe was this past winter. Before the global warming craze these very same "partisan scientist" were whining about global cooling with the next ice age just a decade away. Weather is cyclic and influenced by the Sun's activity far more than anything that man can do. Have you ever been to Alaska and seen the great glaciers falling into the ocean, claimed to be the result of global warming, well it's not global warming is the effect of running out of land to move on. Glaciers do move you know and as they move they are growing on the upper sides. It's the same with the polar ice caps one is thinner and one is thicker, hummmm.
The "pseudo-scientist" and their bogus science has been caught in one lie after another including their own e-mail revelations of lying in order to gain more funding.
If global warming was a fact at the rate they claim the earth is heating up it will only take about 10,000 more years for the average temperatures to be changed less than 5 degrees. I don't know about you but I sort of like the idea of it being a little warmer, I like heat more than cold by far.
Hell B, I don't really have an opinion one way or the other, I just like to play devil's advocate. You have to have someone to debate with. I'll try to find stronger facts, you know, just to make things more interesting.
Ray Lanier
Did you skip over this part,"The overriding theme that emerges from the report is that the effects of human activities are readily evident..." Just checking to see if we're on the same page.
Ray Lanier
http://www.skepticalscience.com/human-co2-smaller-than-natural-emissions.htm
Heavy, man. Do any of you actually know what any of that means? Didn't think so.
I realize it is a lousy source....usually unreliable in anything he says. Or...wait a few days and he will say something different.
But I just finished Mitt Romney's No Apology. He writes:
"It's impossible not to take a look at our current energy policies without considering the question of climate change. I believe that climate change is occurring -- the reduction in the size of global ice caps is hard to ignore. I also believe that human activity is a contributing factor."
But Scooter, you are much smarter than Romney (I cannot believe I just conceded that!) and I am sure you will find fault with his statement.
No tooter, I'm sure you can find one of his stances on climate change to stand behind, since he changes so much.
As recently as June, Romney acknowledged a human impact on climate change, and even advocated for reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. But by August, candidate Romney was saying that he didn’t know whether or how much humans were contributing to global warming. And at fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, Romney reportedly put forth a still different view.
“My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet,” he said, according to CBS. “And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us.”
So pick on and go with it. The mittster seems to have a knack for saying what he thinks people at different rallies want to hear. How in the hell can you possibly believe anything he says about anything?
9:03
I have already forgotten more science and engineering than you'll ever know in your lifetime.
Oh 11:16, I have no doubt that your forgetfulness is a topic of great discussion around your household, but you probably shouldn't brag about it. Ah hell, what am I saying, you'll surely forget you even made that post before long. It's a win win, Hiding your own easter eggs yet?
In regards to the Ambulance Service spending more on tires, lubricants, etc. ... The reason is extremely simple. The school system has its own garage where they buy in bulk and have a plan for maintenance. The AS uses the local repair garages and those garages charge FULL PRICE for tire rotation, balanceing, oil changes, filter changes, etc.
The SO drives many less miles than the AS.
I don't think that the ambulances can drive more miles than 60 buses, but even so they know they cannot spend more than a set amount of dollars without bidding out items. The bus garage bids just like everyone else in the county is supposed to. How can you service 60 buses cheaper than a few ambulances even buying in bulk?
Problem is that the ambulance service has not been bidding out the tires etc according to the audit. Is it back scratching buddies or kick backs?
Where I buy my tires the rota them free.
I don't even know what rota is. Why would they rota them for free? Is it important?
Wise educated crabby, have you ever had your tires rotated? So they spelled it wrong.
Is that all you can do is correct people?
Oh 8:42, the poster obviously has zero to add to the discussion so he latches onto the only thing he can respond to. Don't worry, he purposefully kept his comment brief 'cause he was sure he would make a mistake if it were much longer.
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