http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/from-video-to-terrorist-attack-a-definitive-timeline-of-administration-statements-on-the-libya-attack/2012/09/26/86105782-0826-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html
“Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts…No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for.”
— President Obama, Rose Garden statement, Sept. 12
OBAMA: “What we’ve seen over the last week, week and a half, is something that actually we've seen in the past, where there is an offensive video or cartoon directed at the prophet Muhammad. And this is obviously something that then is used as an excuse by some to carry out inexcusable violent acts directed at Westerners or Americans.
“And my number-one priority is always to keep our diplomats safe and to keep our embassies safe. And so when the initial events happened in Cairo and all across the region, we worked with Secretary Clinton to redouble our security and to send a message to the leaders of these countries, essentially saying, although we had nothing to do with the video, we find it offensive, it's not representative of America's views, how we treat each other with respect when it comes to their religious beliefs, but we will not tolerate violence.”
QUESTION: “We have reports that the White House said today that the attacks in Libya were a terrorist attack. Do you have information indicating that it was Iran, or al-Qaeda was behind organizing the protests?”
OBAMA: “Well, we're still doing an investigation, and there are going to be different circumstances in different countries. And so I don’t want to speak to something until we have all the information. What we do know is that the natural protests that arose because of the outrage over the video were used as an excuse by extremists to see if they can also directly harm U.S. interests.”
— President Obama, Univision Town Hall, Sept. 20
QUESTION: “I heard Hillary Clinton say it was an act of terrorism. Is it? What do you say?”
OBAMA: “We are still doing an investigation. There is no doubt that the kind of weapons that were used, the ongoing assault, that it wasn’t just a mob action. Now, we don’t have all the information yet so we are still gathering.”
“That is what we saw play out in the last two weeks, as a crude and disgusting video sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world. Now, I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity.”
— Obama, speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Sept. 25
This is what the President said at the town Hall debate on Tuesday October16th per the transcripts.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/2012-presidential-debate-full-transcript-oct-16/story?id=17493848&page=8
QUESTION: We were sitting around, talking about Libya, and we were reading and became aware of reports that the State Department refused extra security for our embassy in Benghazi, Libya, prior to the attacks that killed four Americans.
Who was it that denied enhanced security and why?
OBAMA: Well, let me first of all talk about our diplomats, because they serve all around the world and do an incredible job in a very dangerous situation. And these aren't just representatives of the United States, they are my representatives. I send them there, oftentimes into harm's way. I know these folks and I know their families. So nobody is more concerned about their safety and security than I am.
So as soon as we found out that the Benghazi consulate was being overrun, I was on the phone with my national security team and I gave them three instructions.
Number one, beef up our security and procedures, not just in Libya, but at every embassy and consulate in the region.
Number two, investigate exactly what happened, regardless of where the facts lead us, to make sure folks are held accountable and it doesn't happen again.
And number three, we are going to find out who did this and we're going to hunt them down, because one of the things that I've said throughout my presidency is when folks mess with Americans, we go after them.
I said that we'd go after al-Qaeda and bin Laden, we have. I said we'd transition out of Afghanistan, and start making sure that Afghans are responsible for their own security, that's what I'm doing. And when it comes to this issue, when I say that we are going to find out exactly what happened, everybody will be held accountable. And I am ultimately responsible for what's taking place there because these are my folks, and I'm the one who has to greet those coffins when they come home. You know that I mean what I say.
CROWLEY: Because we're -- we're closing in, I want to still get a lot of people in. I want to ask you something, Mr. President, and then have the governor just quickly.
OBAMA: Secretary Clinton has done an extraordinary job. But she works for me. I'm the president and I'm always responsible, and that's why nobody's more interested in finding out exactly what happened than I do.
The day after the attack, governor, I stood in the Rose Garden and I told the American people in the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened. That this was an act of terror and I also said that we're going to hunt down those who committed this crime.
And then a few days later, I was there greeting the caskets coming into Andrews Air Force Base and grieving with the families.
And the suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the Secretary of State, our U.N. Ambassador, anybody on my team would play politics or mislead when we've lost four of our own, governor, is offensive. That's not what we do. That's not what I do as president, that's not what I do as Commander in Chief.
CROWLEY: Governor, if you want to...
ROMNEY: Yes, I -- I...
CROWLEY: ... quickly to this please.
ROMNEY: I -- I think interesting the president just said something which -- which is that on the day after the attack he went into the Rose Garden and said that this was an act of terror.
OBAMA: That's what I said.
ROMNEY: You said in the Rose Garden the day after the attack, it was an act of terror. It was not a spontaneous demonstration, is that what you're saying?
OBAMA: Please proceed governor.
ROMNEY: I want to make sure we get that for the record because it took the
OBAMA: Get the transcript.
CROWLEY: It -- it -- it -- he did in fact, sir. So let me -- let me call it an act of terror...
OBAMA: Can you say that a little louder, Candy?
CROWLEY: He -- he did call it an act of terror. It did as well take -- it did as well take two weeks or so for the whole idea there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that.
CROWLEY: It did.
ROMNEY: It took them a long time to say this was a terrorist act by a terrorist group. And to suggest -- am I incorrect in that regard, on Sunday, the -- your secretary --
OBAMA: Candy?
ROMNEY: Excuse me. The ambassador of the United Nations went on the
OBAMA: Candy, I'm --
ROMNEY: -- this was a spontaneous --
CROWLEY: Mr. President, let me --
OBAMA: I'm happy to have a longer conversation --
CROWLEY: I know you --
OBAMA: -- about foreign policy.
CROWLEY: -- the transcripts and --
OBAMA: I just want to make sure that --
CROWLEY: -- figure out what we --
OBAMA: -- all of these wonderful folks are going to have a chance to get some of their questions answered.
Really, here's the big question Mr. President why did you not protect Americans?
Americans are appalled that this administration failed to protect Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the lives of 3 other Americans in Benghazi and instead blamed it on a video.
Yes Mr. President we do want our questions answered. Yes Mr. President all Americans are offended by your incompetence to keep them safe and the bevy of lies claiming it was caused by a video tape.
There is no excuse that can explain how the citizenry weeks after the attack were kept in the dark about this blatant and murderous planned terrorist attack in Libya. Did everyone in your administration including you show careless disregard for Benghazi or did everyone starting with you lie.
Even if it is a combination of incompetency and corruption Americans died and you continued to campaign as though it was just another headline in the news. You claimed to be offended at the assertion that your White House plays politics with serious Foreign Policy issues?
You want to take credit for Osama Bin Laden’s killing yet it was George Bush that put him and Al Qaida on the run. It also would not have been possible if Dr. Shakil Afridi in Pakistan did not inform our CIA of Osama’s whereabouts.
You rewarded that doctor’s courage with leaking his name to the New York Times causes him to be sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Why? Is the answer is simply for political gain to promote your prowess as a strong leader on the war on terror?
So why would you and your administration lie and cover-up the events of Benghazi? Well, since you have allowed all your minions to speculate that it was caused by a video prior to a full investigation (even though facts disproved that theory resoundingly) then Americans can speculate as to your obfuscations.
This is why shortly after Mubarak’s fall your State Department entered into negotiations with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt assuring detractors that they were both peaceful and not interested in forming an Islamic State.
Now, Egypt is a hostile environment as Israel’s neighbor and foments violence against Jews, Christians and pro-western ideals.
Your Foreign policy has failed America. Your foreign policy has made
America weak and has fomented resurgence in Muslim extremists groups throughout the Mideast. This is why you drone on about killing Osama Bin Laden while keeping us in the dark about the new heads of the Al Qaida serpent taking his place.
This is why your administration’s humanitarian and un-constitutional military engagement in Libya has resulted in the worse possible outcome, a dead Ambassador and 3 American officials that might have been killed by American weapons.
If those weapons that killed our diplomats in Benghazi turn out to be American or NATO supplied then it is “Fast and Furious Foreign Failure” that has caused your administration to lie and cover-up the truth.
However, the biggest failure you needed to cover-up was your administration’s inept or cold calculated dereliction of duty to protect our Ambassador and Consulate personnel with full knowledge of the real eminent danger they faced.
Explain that Mr. President. Explain why your administration left four Americans begging for protection to die!
Does anyone else worry about another attack on American soil closer to home in which Americans die while this administration dreams up political lies to keep us ignorant like lambs to the slaughter house?
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