The Independent is reporting tonight that the United States had advance warning of the raid on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. The paper cites senior diplomatic sources who claim the State Department had credible information that an attack was imminent 48 hours before mobs stormed the consulate.
An @independent scoop! US was warned of pending embassy attack but did nothing http://t.co/VF5JB0to
— Guy Adams (@guyadams) September 13, 2012
The sources say that sensitive documents, including a list of names of Libyans who were working with the U.S., were looted from the consulate. Furthermore, the location of the “safe house” where the staff had retreated was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, suggesting that the attack was not a spontaneous uprising triggered by an anti-Muslim video:
Patrick Kennedy, Under-Secretary at the State Department, said he was convinced the assault was planned due to its extensive nature and the proliferation of weapons.
There is growing belief that the attack was in revenge for the killing in a drone strike in Pakistan of Mohammed Hassan Qaed, an al-Qa’ida operative who was, as his nom-de-guerre Abu Yahya al-Libi suggests, from Libya, and timed for the anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
We're learning via Drudge that Obama warned of coming attracks and did nothing. All I see corrupt media doing is RT'n NBC polls.
— Burn, Democrat-Run Cities, Burn! (@NolteNC) September 14, 2012
US was warned about attacks and did nothing.#Obama abject failure. Blood of the dead is on your hands. Resign today!http://t.co/TSVXTbMC
— Footsoldier for Christ (@ToupsFamily) September 14, 2012
But Bush, or something. RT @TheRickWilson Whoa: "America 'was warned of embassy attack but did nothing'" http://t.co/AHuPl51z
— SFK (@stephenkruiser) September 14, 2012
America may have been warned of the attack but Obama Admin did nothing. Or as media calls it, "LOOK! SQUIRREL! ROMNEY EVIL! BAD MAN!"
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) September 14, 2012
.@MarkHalperin Shine some "sunlight" on this– PAPER: U.S. WARNED OF EMBASSY ATTACK BUT DID NOTHING http://t.co/QnbIeu0L
— Ryan (@Faustulus723) September 14, 2012
https://twitter.com/mamawinger/status/246407425975009280
https://twitter.com/kenpasadena/status/246407679365480448
Noting that there is now credible discussion that the attacks are related to drone killings of terrorists. (Ideas I have put on the record.)
— Katrina Jørgensen (@Veribatim) September 14, 2012
While the Independent has not named its sources for the claim that the Obama administration was warned the consulate was being targeted, will the U.S. media at last turn its attention away from the film which supposedly sparked the protests and Mitt Romney’s response and toward this new development?
A movie didn't attack our embassy.
— Area Man (@lheal) September 13, 2012
Update:
Politico is reporting that Shawn Turner, spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, has flatly denied the Independent’s story, emailing, “This is absolutely wrong. We are not aware of any actionable intelligence indicating that an attack on the U.S. Mission in Benghazi was planned or imminent.”
.@mikeallen reports: Obama administration denies premeditation report on Libya attacks http://t.co/2IybNfBS
— POLITICO (@politico) September 14, 2012
Watch for the U.S. press to discredit the 48-hour warning story. The narrative is ALWAYS more important than the truth.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) September 14, 2012
Oh, I guess it’s just a false alarm, folks. The White House denied it. Nothing to see here. http://t.co/dTZ0jjcW #tcot
— RBe (@RBPundit) September 14, 2012
shock: @politico repeats Obama denial as authoritative and dispositive; no evidence offered
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) September 14, 2012
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