Face Off - Susan Rice Confronted by GOP Law Makers

"Benghazi-gate" Settled?
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

Today concluded the anticipated meeting between GOP leaders within the Senate and potential aspiring Secretary of State - current UN Ambassador - Susan Rice on the threshold of scrutiny concerning her controversial statements following the Benghazi attack on September 11th of this year.

Senators John McCain of Airzona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire left their meeting with Ms. Rice and current acting director Michael J. Morell with more questions than answers.  Ms. Rice’s responses to further questioning today resulted in even further scrutiny.

Mr. McCain was “even more disturbed” at the conclusion of today’s confrontation, and Mr. Graham’s concerns are “greater today than they were before.”

Ms. Rice has been portrayed as everything from a sacrificial lamb to a possible willing accomplice by all entities of the media monster. However, regardless of the countless characterizations, Ms. Rice is definitely at the tip of the spear pointed down range at the American people expecting answers. 

Who is holding the spear? Both the White House and the Intelligence community are prime wielders.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Ms. Rice issued statements acknowledging her incorrect and misleading comments on several television shows claiming that the root cause for the coordinated attacks on the US compound and the CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya was over an anti-Islamic video.  Furthermore, she maintains her stance that the ambiguous comments on the multiple media programs were provided by enfolding information generated by the intelligence community.

In her statement, Ms. Rice said, “The talking points provided by the intelligence community, and the initial assessment upon which they were based, were incorrect in a key respect: there was no protest or demonstration in Benghazi.”

She continued and said, “While we certainly wish that we had had perfect information just days after the terrorist attack, as is often the case, the intelligence assessment has evolved.”

Interestingly, in reports produced by several of the media giants including an article presented by CNN on November 15^th, 2012, needs to be highly considered.

Concluding the initial testimony between lawmakers of the intelligence committee, members denounce that the unfolding events during the Benghazi attack were displayed in “real-time” in the President’s Situation Room. Democrat and Republican members of both the House and Senate received this information behind closed doors in early November. Some of these members included: Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, Republican Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, and Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.

Legislators were given the first hand glimpse of the horrifying events which displayed exactly what happened on September 11^th in Benghazi, Libya.  The “real-time” film began before the attack erupted “through the incident and the exodus,” said Feinstein.  According to one source, the video exhibited moments in which Ambassador Stevens being dragged out of the building.

Moreover, to highlight Ms. Rice’s comment, “While we certainly wish that we had had perfect information just days after the terrorist attack,” opens new doors worth venturing.  It appears that lawmakers are willing and prepared to take the next approach.  After Tuesday’s meeting with Ms. Rice, Sen. Graham said, “The bottom line is that I’m more disturbed than I was before…about how four Americans died in Benghazi, Libya.”

McCain told reporters, “It is clear the information she gave the American people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video. It was not, and there was compelling evidence at the time that that was certainly not the case.”

Ultimately, speculation regarding a possible cover-up, and it appears (despite President Obama’s full endorsement) Ms. Rice’s nomination to fill current Secretary of State Clinton’s role next year will not be a seamless step in.  Critics of Ms. Rice may obstruct this transition as Sen. Kelly Ayotte told reporters, “Absolutely, there will be a hold.  My view is we should hold on this until we get sufficient information.”