Indeed. CBS’ Sharyl Attkisson is continuing her fierce and fearless coverage of Benghazi.
MUST SEE > The terrific@SharylAttkisson is RIGHT NOW tweeting about Greg Hicks, the Libyan Embassy #2 & whistleblower who will testify
— Joe the Dissident (@joethepatriotic) May 5, 2013
As Twitchy reported, whistleblowers have stepped forward. Ms. Attkisson took to Twitter to review first-hand reports given by the whistleblowers, including Gregory Hicks and Mark Thompson. They are expected to testify at a hearing on Wednesday, May 8.
CBS Exclusive/Attkisson: Details on 3 more officials to testify over Benghazi attacks http://t.co/fwyyzSCVNK via @CBSNews
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
CBS/Attkisson:Three more officials to testify over Benghazi attacks http://t.co/fwyyzSCVNK via @CBSNews
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
CBS: The 1st public eyewitness Benghazi testimony… coming… http://t.co/fwyyzSCVNK via @CBSNews
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
More from Ms. Attkisson’s report:
It’s been a remarkably long period of silence from the dozens of American survivors and eyewitnesses who were in Libya the night of the attacks. It’s not publicly known what testimony the witnesses will give at this week’s hearing, but in a series of interviews and communications, CBS News has obtained information about some of areas of knowledge the witnesses can address.
Hicks was number two to Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed in the attacks. With Stevens in Benghazi on September 11, Hicks was the top Foreign Service official at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. When the first U.S. compound in Benghazi fell under attack, Hicks reportedly took the frantic call.
With Amb. Stevens in Benghazi on September 11, Greg Hicks was the top Foreign Service official at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
When the first U.S. compound in Benghazi fell under attack, Hicks reportedly took the frantic call.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Last words from Ambassador Stevens.
"Greg, we are under attack," Ambassador Stevens told Hicks on the phone. Those were the last words he heard from Stevens.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Heartbreaking.
Hicks: "I never reported a demonstration. I reported an attack on the consulate…I thought it was a terrorist attack from the get-go.."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
… I think everyone in the mission thought it was a terrorist attack from the beginning." (Hicks)
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Huh. Not a crappy YouTube video protest? Shockah!
Hicks was also on the receiving end of calls when Stevens went missing… and later when an unidentified man called the U.S. Embassy…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
…using Stevens' own phone to say the amb. was at a Benghazi hospital. Sources believe that may have been a trap to entice a rescue attempt
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Hicks was on duty later that morning when Stevens' body was turned over to U.S. personnel under circumstances that still remain mysterious.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Throughout the night, sources say Americans on the ground in Libya at times felt helpless and abandoned.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Americans on the ground in Benghazi felt helpless and abandoned. They reportedly asked for help.
And it was denied.
"We relied on Washington for dispassionate assessment," one eyewitness told CBS News…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
"…Instead, they [Washington officials] were asking us what help we needed. We answered: 'Send reinforcements!' "
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
But they were told immediate help wasn't available. Embassy personnel say they repeatedly asked the Defense Attache for military help.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
"Isn't there anything available?" one Embassy official says he asked. "But the answer was 'no.'"
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
"What about Aviano?" the official pressed, referencing the NATO air base with US assets in northeastern Italy. "No," was the answer.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Two of the four Americans killed that night died hours after the first attack began.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Some have complained the Obama Administration has not explained why there were no military resources available to turbulent North Africa…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
…on the Sept. 11 attacks, even at the large Souda Bay U.S. Naval base less than an hour's flight from Libya.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
The State Dept's independent Accountability Review Board said government officials did everything they could, considering the challenges.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
The Defense Department has since reported implementation of improvements to make military resources more readily available if needed.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Another witness for Wednesday's hearing, Mark Thompson, is a counterterrorism expert.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Counterterrorism officials were not consulted, even though it was clear from the start that it was a terrorist attack.
He's likely to address another sore spot surrounding the night of the attacks: the fact that the Obama Administration did not convene…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
… its top interagency counterterrorism resource, the Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG).
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Thompson reportedly to testify he was locked out .. "even though he was the individual who was supposed to react to these kinds of things."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 5, 2013
Counterterrorism sources and internal emails reviewed by CBS News express frustration that key responders were ready to deploy, but…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
..were not called upon to help in the attack. National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor told CBS News the CSG was not needed.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
Vietor: "From the moment the president was briefed on the Benghazi attack, the response effort was handled by the most senior national…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
…security officials in governments. Members of the CSG were of course involved in these meetings and discussions to support their bosses."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
Absent coordination from Counterterrorism Security Group, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official says the response to the crisis became…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
more confused. "The response process was isolated at the most senior level," says an official referring to top officials in the executive..
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
..branch. "My fellow counterterrorism professionals and I (were) not consulted."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
Unreal. The whistleblowers say they feel marginalized and intimidated.
Hicks and several others whose accounts are at odds with official government statements about Benghazi have reported feeling marginalized…
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
… intimidated and/or subjected to threats of retaliation.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Dutch Ruppersberger,told Bob Schieffer on Sunday's "Face the Nation:"
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
"Let's get the facts.This should not be a partisan issue at all. This should be to get the facts, an open issue, and to hear from everybody
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
And when you hear allegations that people are told not to talk, I would hope those issues would come out and if that's the case …
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
…we should be held accountable."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
Full article here: http://t.co/8wKGXfT3As
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 6, 2013
This is a MUST READ bombshell. See also her Twitter feed. #journalism RT @SharylAttkisson: Full article here: http://t.co/ZWOSNeDJ28
— Will Antonin (@Will_Antonin) May 6, 2013
Americans praise Attkisson for her tireless efforts.
Well, if she keeps trying to ask those questions we should follow her- DO NOT GIVE UP, SHARYL! @SimonTemplarPV @sharylattkisson
— SeldenGADawgs (@SeldenGADawgs) May 6, 2013
@IdeasBelief @SharylAttkisson It breaks my heart to read it… I simply can't understand how our administration could have said NO
— ColorMeRed (@ColorMeRed) May 6, 2013
@SharylAttkisson Thank you for your work.
— Clarence Beeks (@1ClarenceBeeks) May 6, 2013
@SharylAttkisson Thank u 4 your investigative reporting on the #Benghazi attacks. I can only imagine that the victims families r thankful 2.
— Dawn Rising (@DawnRising2) May 6, 2013
@SharylAttkisson You are to be congratulated for your never ending quest for the truth about #Benghazi. You deserve a Pulitzer
— Melody (@prfekrdumbrella) May 6, 2013
I give big kudos to Sharyl Attkisson @SharylAttkisson she has been tenacious re#Benghazi and deserves a Pulitzer.
— Melody (@prfekrdumbrella) May 6, 2013
Thanks to @SharylAttkisson's timeline and article (http://t.co/wykEQenf4a), I've now used "#journalism" in a non-derisive way. A first.
— Will Antonin (@Will_Antonin) May 6, 2013
What Bob Woodward was to Watergate, @SharylAttkisson is to #Benghazi. She is currently tweeting info that will be part of history's record
— Joe the Dissident (@joethepatriotic) May 6, 2013
Amen.
If you aren't following @SharylAttkisson you are doing Twitter all wrong. #FF #Benghazi
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) May 6, 2013
Keep up the fantastic work, Ms. Attkisson. Thank you for doing the job that many journalists won’t do.
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