Multiple MSM outlets are reporting tonight that they recovered emails from anonymous government sources showing that both the State Department and White House knew within two hours of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that an Islamist militant group had claimed responsibility. Via Reuters:
The records obtained by Reuters consist of three emails dispatched by the State Department’s Operations Center to multiple government offices, including addresses at the White House, Pentagon, intelligence community and FBI, on the afternoon of September 11.
The first email, timed at 4:05 p.m. Washington time – or 10:05 p.m. Benghazi time, 20-30 minutes after the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission allegedly began – carried the subject line “U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi Under Attack” and the notation “SBU”, meaning “Sensitive But Unclassified.”
The text said the State Department’s regional security office had reported that the diplomatic mission in Benghazi was “under attack. Embassy in Tripoli reports approximately 20 armed people fired shots; explosions have been heard as well.”
The message continued: “Ambassador Stevens, who is currently in Benghazi, and four … personnel are in the compound safe haven. The 17th of February militia is providing security support.
…
While some information identifying recipients of this message was redacted from copies of the messages obtained by Reuters, a government source said that one of the addresses to which the message was sent was the White House Situation Room, the president’s secure command post.
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About that “spontaneous protest” over a YouTube video? The one Amb. Susan Rice was telling all the TV networks about five full days after the attack?
And it all falls to pieces. http://t.co/FNXJsZGA
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) October 24, 2012
So. White House told 2 HOURS after Benghazi that it was likely a terror attack. 4 dead Americans. Obama: "Vegas, baby!" http://t.co/fxyY3PZC
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) October 24, 2012
Now we know Obama lied! He went on to Vegas knowing this! http://t.co/yVHKMmEz It's time to resign @BarackObama!
— Bill ⭐⭐⭐ μολὼν λαβέ (@Patriot1059) October 24, 2012
https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/260922301439172608
Gloria Allred can squeeze to find an October surprise all she wants, but Obama can't be saved… #liar http://t.co/FYB9dqxl
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) October 24, 2012
Email to White House Situation Room at 6:07 PM on 9/11: "Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack" http://t.co/DjEnHiKy
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 24, 2012
This does not look good for the president. It does not look good at all: http://t.co/RPpGv824
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) October 24, 2012
#Benghazi has gone from a bungle to an outrage and now to the unthinkable. http://t.co/zRh9ZduH #tcot
— TexAmerica (@TexAmerica) October 24, 2012
White House told of militant claim two hours after Libya attack: emails http://t.co/5sfSrpSX Hey Candy can you repeat THIS a little louder??
— ?? Afterseven ✝️ (@Afterseven) October 24, 2012
YOU CAN'T COVER IT UP ANYMORE.
you cant blame it on a YouTube video because there's proof here that you knew. http://t.co/cCxn4DRo— ?? Salsa en Chile ?? (@SalsaEnChile) October 24, 2012
The White House SITUATION ROOM got an email indicating the attack on Benghazi was a terrorist attack AS IT HAPPENED. http://t.co/KvxDXy1u
— RBe (@RBPundit) October 24, 2012
REUTERS story on WH emails on Benghazi abt to blow whole Obama line (lie) on Benghazi out of the water. No horses or bayonets needed. #tcot
— Scott Jones (@POPSradio) October 24, 2012
Update:
Jake Tapper reports that the White House attempted to downplay the significance of the emails.
White House Responds to Release of Real-Time Emails About Benghazi Attack > http://t.co/HQoDEfhA
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 24, 2012
White House officials maintained that the emails don’t contradict what the White House believed at that point, based on the intelligence community’s assessment of the attack. The views of the intelligence community are valued far more than Facebook and twitter claims, officials said, describing that email as an unclassified ops alert email, not a vetted intelligence assessment. It was not definitive, but rather the act of flagging open source reporting referencing a Facebook post, and – officials noted — on September 17, Ansar al-Sharia denied responsibility for the attack.
Carney today told reporters that there were emails about all sorts of information that was coming available in the aftermath of the attack. “There was a variety of information coming in,” Carney said. “The whole point of an intelligence community and what they do is to assess strands of information and make judgments about what happened and who was responsible.”
Moreover, officials said, the intelligence community still believes there wasn’t a tremendous amount of planning before the attack.
Disgraceful.
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