Hillary Clinton apparently oblivious to dangers present in Benghazi?
Byron York:
...What this demonstrates is that Hillary Clinton is a poor manager who was apparently unconcerned about the dangers posed to people who worked for her. She also surrounded herself with a staff that was unwilling to bring the matter to her attention. Could that be because she was not receptive to bad news? The spin she engaged in after the attack also looks like someone not willing to accept responsibility.
But wasn't that Aug. 16, 2012 cable — warning of dire consequences should the existing violence in Libya target Americans — a pretty important communication? What struck Republicans investigating Benghazi is that, while they knew Clinton was indeed busy, other equally busy top Obama administration officials did read the cable. In an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, both former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey — two busy men with pretty big jobs — testified they knew about it.
"You were aware that Ambassador Stevens — of his cable that said that the consulate could not withstand a coordinated attack, is that right?" Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, N.H., asked Panetta.
"Correct," said Panetta.
"General, you had said that you previously were aware of that?" Ayotte said to Dempsey.
"Yes, I was aware of the communication back to the State Department," Dempsey answered.
Clinton, on the other hand, insists to this day that she knew nothing. And there is nothing in the newly-released emails to contradict her sworn testimony on the matter. That should not come as a surprise to anyone. After all, because Clinton kept her communications on a separate, secret system, the only emails that State Department officials possess are the ones Clinton has given them. Clinton and her lawyers, of course, chose the emails that she gave to the State Department and then destroyed all of her email communications, including backups. Could anyone possibly be surprised that nothing Clinton turned over to the State Department — and ultimately to the public — contradicted her testimony under oath?
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