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Reuters

Revealed: Major setback for U.S. intel when Libya base was abandoned

The intelligence post, located 1.2 miles from the U.S. mission that was targeted by militants in a September 11 attack, was evacuated of Americans after the assault that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Three other Americans died in the attacks on U.S.-occupied buildings, including two who were hit in a mortar blast at the secret compound.

The publication of satellite photos showing the site’s location and layout have made it difficult, if not impossible, for intelligence agencies to reoccupy the site, according to government sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The post had been a base for, among other things, collecting information on the proliferation of weaponry looted from Libyan government arsenals, including surface-to-air missiles, the sources said. Its security features, including some fortifications, sensors and cameras, were more advanced than those at rented villa where Stevens died, they said.

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This admin is lies based on incompetence.

rob verdi on October 13, 2012 at 8:18 AM

From the Rott,

This is stunning. A top State Department official (Charlene Lamb, Diplomatic Security) testified to Congress that not only did Obama and Hillary Clinton know about the attacks on the Libyan consulate — they watched it as it happened FOR FIVE HOURS and did NOT allow the military to rescue the ambassador and our people.

single stack on October 13, 2012 at 8:25 AM

This part of the Benghazi debacle has been unbelievably underreported.

Imagine if we had a media that could walk and chew gum when it comes to scrutinizing Obama.

BuckeyeSam on October 13, 2012 at 8:28 AM

Everything they say about it is training on how to spot a CIA safe house.

RBMN on October 13, 2012 at 8:28 AM

How convenient for the enemy.

Like the killing of the SEALs in the helicopter shoot down and the miraculous soft landing our most sophisticated drone in Iran and a pledge of flexibility and assurance of “standing with” Russian Communist leadership, these things are simply coincidences or misinterpretations.
/

Mimzey on October 13, 2012 at 8:33 AM

From the article:

When the satellite photo was displayed, a senior committee Republican, Representative Jason Chaffetz, complained that the discussion was drifting into “classified issues that deal with sources and methods,” and the photo was removed from public display. No one at the hearing used the term “CIA base” to describe the facility.

‘BONEHEADED QUESTIONING’

The next morning, Dana Milbank, a Washington Post columnist, wrote that the committee’s “boneheaded questioning” of State Department witnesses left little doubt that the compound in the pictures was a “CIA base.”

The Center for American Progress, a Washington think tank with ties to the Obama White House, followed up with a blog post accusing Republicans of revealing the “Location Of Secret CIA Base.”

On Friday, Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, accused Republicans of mishandling secret information.

WTF was Charlene Lamb doing when she brought in the satellite photos? And how do Democrats dump this in the GOP’s lap?

BTW: Does anyone else feel far less safe knowing that Charlene Lamb has any role whatsoever in our national security apparatus? I’d hire her to do little else aside from working a toll booth or a check-out line. I was stunned when I saw clips of her testimony.

She’s supposedly the one who was watching the whole damn thing on live feed. Starting with her, who then had that information? I don’t understand why Issa’s not simply walking up the chain of command to find out who knew what she knew immediately. Beyond that, I’ve read that the administration had to make a determination that this was a terrorist attack in order to “unleash certain assets.” I don’t see anyone asking at what level that determination is made, on the basis of what information was that determination made, and why didn’t that determination serve as the definitive characterization of the event from that point forward?

BuckeyeSam on October 13, 2012 at 8:57 AM

NO! You don’t say!

Why, it’s almost like they WANTED this to happen…

Leave the consulate unprotected.

Continue to unprotect after several attempts and attacks.

WATCH while it’s being attacked, do nothing, and go to bed.

Leave the site unprotected for at least TWO WEEKS…

UnderstandingisPower on October 13, 2012 at 9:23 AM

Its security features, including some fortifications, sensors and cameras, were more advanced than those at rented villa where Stevens died, they said.

Right there is the best argument for the “virtual fence” being constructed on our southern border.

“Stave off death and destruction from the Jihadi hordes…install ADT today!”

BobMbx on October 13, 2012 at 9:43 AM

Enemey-obama will do anything to help his muslim comrades – this is what a sleeper-agent does.

Pork-Chop on October 13, 2012 at 9:50 AM

Mimzey on October 13, 2012 at 8:33 AM

Context. “The murder of Amb. Stevens has been taken out of context”

Keep up.

/s

BobMbx on October 13, 2012 at 9:51 AM

BobMbx on October 13, 2012 at 9:51 AM

I forgot.

I blame Bush!
/s

Mimzey on October 13, 2012 at 9:54 AM

From the Rott,
…
single stack on October 13, 2012 at 8:25 AM

I can’t find a reference for the statement (i’ve elided: …) on google. What does “Rott” refer to. I didn’t see any of this in the Reuters article.

gh on October 13, 2012 at 9:58 AM

I think HotAir already called out Dana Millbank piece as a drama queen regarding the supposed outing of the “CIA base”, but if not, here’s the NYT piece that noted it on Sept 23rd.

BKeyser on October 13, 2012 at 10:37 AM