Judicial Watch, which has put pressure on the Obama Administration before, during, and after the Benghazi massacre of 9/11/2012, has released a new report titled: “On the Anniversary of the Benghazi Attack of September 11, 2012: Unanswered Questions and the Quest for Accountability from the Obama Administration.”
The new report is a follow-up to Judicial Watch’s January 22, 2013 Benghazi report, and details the new information revealed as a result of Judicial Watch’s 23 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Mandatory Declassification Review, and four lawsuits against the Obama Department of State and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The new report asserts that the story of Benghazi is a “story of political treachery in high places.” Part One is devoted to in-depth analysis, supervised by former State Department Security Special Agent Raymond Fournier. It details the critical time period before the Benghazi attack, when the numerous requests for added security by U.S. personnel were ignored by top State Department officials. In addition, the Obama’s ludicrous and misleading claim that “an obscure Internet video” triggered the attacks is reviewed.
Lastly, the report examines the possibility that the internal problems within the State Department could endanger U.S. diplomatic personnel in the future.
Part Two of the Special Report deals with new information accrued revolving around the aftermath of the Benghazi attacks. This section shows how the Obama administration withheld information about the attacks and how the Administration responded. It also includes a “Benghazi Chronology,” listing more than 30 violent incidents revolving around Benghazi all the way back to December 2011, and also details the cable Ambassador Christopher Stevens sent to Washington D.C. the morning of September 11, 2012, which stated Libyans’ “growing frustration with police and security forces who were too weak to keep the country secure.”
A section devoted to “Loose Ends and Unanswered Questions,” follows, which includes these quotes from the Report:
Almost immediately after the September 11 terrorist attack in Benghazi, the President pledged, “We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done” … Despite these vows of swift justice, no one has yet been arrested or killed for participation in the attack.
Of particular concern to lawmakers is the fact that CNN was able to conduct an interview with Ahmed Abu Khattala in July [2012]. Libyan officials identified Khattala as the ‘mastermind’ of the attack as early as October [2011].
The administration has also reportedly undertaken a concerted effort to keep government personnel who were on the ground in Benghazi on the night of the attack from testifying to Congress or providing information to the media. In July, Rep. Frank Wolf reported on the House floor that, ‘According to trusted sources that have contacted my office, many if not all of the survivors of the Benghazi attacks along with others at the Department of Defense, the CIA have been asked or directed to sign non-disclosure agreements about their involvement in the Benghazi attacks.
The activities of Ambassador Stevens on the day of the attack also raise questions regarding a possible weapons transfer being conducted out of the SMC at Benghazi [to Syrian rebels via Turkey. Stevens met with Mahmoud El-Mufti, the owner of a Libya-based shipping company Al-Marfa … Stevens’ final meeting of the day was with Ali Akin, the Turkish Consul General in Benghazi … So, while the official version of events holds that the Ambassador was in Benghazi for routine meetings and opening of a cultural center, it seems clear that he was working on something undisclosed that involved both Turkey and cargo shipments.)
Some evidence of the power of the FOIA law, and Judicial Watch’s persistence, came about with the release of the first US Government images of the aftermath of the attack on the Benghazi SMC. Judicial Watch’s lawsuit against the State Department compelled production of the images on June 21, 2013 – four months after going to federal court to get the Obama administration to obey the law. A total of seven (7) photographs were produced to Judicial Watch by the State Department.” Two of the images obtained by Judicial Watch are in the Special Report.
DOS hired a British firm, Blue Mountain, to manage its security in Benghazi, and Blue Mountain subcontracted the job to a local jihadist militia called the February 17 Martyrs Brigade who have known Muslim Brotherhood ties.”
The Report adds that [Regional Security Officer in Libya, Eric] “Nordstrom testified at the October 11, 2012 Congressional hearings that ‘in deference to sensitivity to Libyan practice, the guards at Benghazi were unarmed’- an inexplicable practice for a place as dangerous as Benghazi.” Nordstrom also “told Congressional investigators that DOS Deputy Assistant Director for International Programs Charlene] Lamb “wanted to keep the number of U.S. security personnel in Benghazi ‘artificially low.”
The Judicial Watch Special Report calls for the creation of a bipartisan House Select Committee to fully investigate everything related to Benghazi, saying,
Five different House committees have, each in their own way, conducted disjointed, uncoordinated inquiries. A single Select Committee appears to be the best forum for the American people to ever learn the truth.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton concluded: “Here we are, one year after the Benghazi attack, and there has been zero accountability. No military action, no drones, no arrests. No one has been fired for the Obama administration lies and malfeasance. Without a select committee, Congress will continue to drift on Benghazi accountability. Grassroots Americans want justice for the Benghazi Four but I fear, but for our independent investigations and lawsuits, the Washington Establishment would be happy to sweep Benghazi under the rug.”