re: Politico: Republicans stick with Benghazi cash grab

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Does that invalidate those issues too?

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I never said those weren't political. I specifically said

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I've posted this for those who suggest this is some sort of pious "quest for the truth".

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There are those who deny that this is political. They think this is for the good-ole red white and blue.

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Oh, I lean left on most issues, but I assure you I'm on no team. I think both parties are corrupt to the core. If we want to be honest about an investigation into Benghazi, we should be investigating why we've been running guns there since 2006. Guns that have gone to Al-quaeda in the Syrian war. The consulate there was only created to provide cover for the CIA operation. That won't be investigated though. Why? Because it would also implicate a lot of Republicans in wrongdoing. I dislike Obama nearly as much as most of you, but for very different reasons. He's continued, and even escalated, a lot of the neo-con policies of the Bush administration, and the Benghazi situation is just one example of that.

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So, we drone AQ in one part of the World, and give them guns in another? I suppose it could make sense; but highly problematic.

BTW, do you leave an AMBASSADOR as low hanging fruit, in such a highly problematic scenario? I've heard that the AQ plan was to kidnap the guy and demand a trade for the Blind Sheik; what the hell was Obama/Clinton thinking up there? I could do a better job of cya!

At the very least, Bush would have never allowed such an atrocious policy; even if he were in bed with AQ. This event is a example of EXTREME INCOMPETENCE...and a lame and nationally injurious attempt to cover up that fact for electoral gain.

The damage to national unity, governmental credibility here and abroad, and a basic faith that Obama - and Hillary re '16 - are fit to be at the helm, is the real issue.

IMO...they ain't. And if all the evidence ever comes out...that assessment will be validated. Like the collapsing economy, health care system and open border debacle ain't enough already!

Geee Whiz!

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It's clearly all political.

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You mean politicians are political? No?

In this particular case it's also the right thing to do. If there is nothing nefarious behind all the smoke why are the Dems worrying about the investigation at all? If it turns out to be a boondoggle great for them - they can use it against Repubs in the next election cycle.

I can't understand why progressives keep denigrating the investigation unless they really believe something may be uncovered.

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because not agreeing with someone else's opinion on a subject makes them ignorant.

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No. Saying there is no smoking gun is ignorant.

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I've posted this for those who suggest this is some sort of pious "quest for the truth". It's clearly all political.

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The fact that they waited so long to do this suggests that it is partially political, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

Ironically, on the other hand, you suggesting it's "all political" is all political.

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There are people that deny the Holocaust. So what?

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Those are the people I'm talking to. Well...not the holocost but those acting like this is a "quest for the truth". No more, no less. It's that simple.

I know it's all political. I know both sides do it. I'm not judging the GOP for doing it. In fact, in one post in this thread I said if I were a GOP political consultant, I'd would continue to run on Behghazi.

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I've got no problem being a 1 and done representative as long as that 1 makes waves and raises eyebrows. I don't need to have power or be in the lime light.

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Most politicians aspire to make $$ while in office, not actually perform their job as voted to do. It's a sad state of affairs but it's also reality. Obviously a few truly care for their constituents, but then you see idiots like SJLee continuously being reelected and it makes you shake your head.

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Book it, the reason for the low profile over there is that Obama was running guns to AQ in Syria, and they will go to the mat to hide it.

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This is not directed at you in particular, RCD, but at everyone who has made similar references regarding the "gun-running" issue being related to the 9/11 attack.

First, that issue will not be a part of this committee's investigation. It is all conjecture at this point and plays no role in what happened that night. If testimony or documents come to light in this committee's work that gives credence to the issue, you can bet it will be the subject of a separate investigation, and it would be a bi-partisan effort.

For those who believe there is a "story" there, however, it would not be what you posted, i.e., a situation of the administration sending small arms and manpads to AlQaeda-related groups in Syria. The allegations of those who subscribe to Benghazi gun-running is that the shipments of arms were meant for the group the administration supports over there - the Free Syrian Army. Those guys dislike AlQaeda-related groups as much as we do. Their side of the civil war has been corrupted by, plagued by and viciously undermined by AlQaeda in that war. There are not two sides in the Syrian Civil War, there are three. The only thing the Free Syrian Army and AlQaeda have in common is that both seek Assad's death or departure.

If the allegations that the U.S. played a role in the shipment of Russian arms from Libya to Syria, via Turkey, become proven, they will show the intended recipient of those arms was the Free Syrian Army group and not the dozen or so AlQaeda groups fighting Assad. We know that such shipments were made from Benghazi to Turkey in the days preceding 9/11/12 - but there is no proven evidence that the U.S. played any role in those shipments.

I tend to avoid that issue when I discuss Benghazi because it's a PERIPHERAL issue. If proven, it will have a life of its own separate from the Benghazi attack.

Sen. Rand Paul is not the guy anyone should be listening to when it comes to Benghazi. Follow the work of the House Committee, and if there is anything to the story, it will become evident as a by-product of testimony and documents. Unless and until it is, you will not see Rep. Gowdy chasing that angle, because its not within the purview of his committee's mission. All the gun-running talk does is take away from the real and valid aspects of the investigation, and give Dems a chance to belittle the committee's work.

And again, even if the speculation about U.S. involvement of gun-running eventually proves to be true, it certainly will not be a situation of running them to AlQaeda, but to the Free Syrian Army. Since the AlQaeda groups in Syria have basically taken away whatever weapons the FSA gets from outside sources, I do not dispute that those arms would not end up in the hands of AlQaeda. But back in September of 2012, the Free Syrian Army was still the main force opposing Assad. The takeover of the anti-Assad armies by AlQaeda has evolved mostly over the past 18 months.

Always count on you, NH.

BTW, I would not be opposed to undercover gunrunning by our covert agencies, if it hurts enemies that hurt our folk. If this gunrunning would develop legs, it would probably be quashed in the name of security, and Bush would probably be in there backing up Obama. It's sausage making up there.

For me, it's all about exposing and delegitimizing Obama; anything to negate the man's political power. He is not a leader who persuades, inspires, unites, and motivates the populous toward fair and practical solutions to our complex societal problems.....he employs the 'Alinsky/Chicago politics' model, and strong arms an ignorant and duped electorate. Bait and switch, with all manner of promises that can never be fulfilled; at least not in a flailing economy, crippled by his regulation and anti-energy policy. He's sewing the seeds for societal antipathy.

And this is so destructive to our nation, in that if honest politics is abandoned...then the alternative is unthinkable. And inexcusable...but for good people standing by and doing nothing. But they don't care. Obama foolishly thinks he can control the (cloward-piven) engineered collapse; worst political gambit in American political history. His foolheartiness will harm many.

I want to see Obama face the evidence of his action, and justify it. For once. But I won't be holding my breath. I wholeheartedly embrace every single day of life...every glass of clean water...every fruit off my vines, and family and animals, and the blessings of a good and challenging life. Things that are out of my control...are simply...'challenges'.

Be well.

Whole heartedly agree, ab.

A lot of politicos are Type A personalities, or they wouldn't be where they are. Their (perceived) status means a lot to em'; and the MSM has power to seriously affect that perceived status.

So they question is...do they "deny themselves and take up their cross"...pick up the sword and start swinging...or just hold on to status and go along to get along. It's been the latter. We'll see, now that it's either now...or never.