Who decided to alter the Benghazi talking points?
Mike Morell's testimony to Congress under fire
It has been over 18 months since the deaths of my nephew Sean Smith, Ambassador Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods in Benghazi, Libya.
We are no closer to any real accountability than we were on Sept. 12, 2012, when we received the horrifying news of their deaths.
Without a doubt, the Senate and House Intelligence Committee reports on Benghazi, the testimony of some very courageous whistleblowers, some hard-hitting reporting by a few real journalists and some of the efforts of the various congressional committees on Benghazi have moved the conversation further down the field.
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But that is merely conversation and sound bites. There are still no arrests, no prosecution and a lot of political posturing that perpetuates the pain of the family members and insults the intelligence of any thinking American.
I remain committed to finding out the truth about what happened before, during and after the attack on the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi. But I am starting to question whether I will receive my answers historically or politically.
Ultimately, we will obtain some answers historically, as I believe Benghazi will be seen as one of the best examples of the delusional and amateurish foreign policy practices of the Obama administration.
Additionally, I predict Benghazi will be seen as one of the largest cover-ups in American history.
Politically, I believe Benghazi will be an issue for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she announces her seemingly inevitable bid to run for the Democratic nomination for the 2016 presidential election.
That said, I am still looking forward to the upcoming testimony by former CIA Acting Director Michael J. Morell about the Benghazi talking points and Mr. Morell’s role in the shaping of the administration’s narrative about Benghazi.
Mr. Morell will be testifying before the House Intelligence Committee in an open session on Wednesday.
Because of my research and the conversations I have had with various informed individuals, I have a few questions for Mr. Morell:
- The Senate Intelligence Committee report on Benghazi describes an email that the CIA Tripoli chief of station sent on Sept. 15, 2012, to Morell stating that the attacks were “not, not an escalation of protests.” Why did Morell ignore the statement of a person who was on the ground in Libya?
- Why did the chief of station feel it was necessary to insist emphatically that there were no protests that sparked the attack?
- Why has the CIA Tripoli chief of station not been called to testify, whether in a closed session or open session, before any of the committees investigating Benghazi?
- Was there a direct collaboration between White House and State Department personnel with Morell in the creation of these false talking points?
- Why does Morell state that he never, in essence, “cooked the books” about Benghazi when it is obvious that he has not been forthcoming about when he knew about the true nature of the attack?
When you lose a family member due to government incompetence, negligence and malfeasance, you experience a level of anger and despair that can become almost overwhelming. That anger turns to cold fury when you see the murderers of your loved one remain free.
It is further amplified when you see taxpayer-paid “serial liars” advance their careers, both in the public and private sectors.
Since retiring from the CIA, Michael J. Morell has become a commentator for CBS News and a counselor at Beacon Global Strategies.
Congratulations on your continued success, Mr. Morell.
Now, I am seeking a new career for you: a Teller of the Truth about Benghazi for the American people.
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