The House Oversight Committee has released transcripts of its interviews with Ambassador Pickering and Admiral Mullen, co-chairmen of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board. The interviews were conducted on June 4 and June 19, respectively. The Pickering transcript is here, and the Mullen transcript is here.
No big revelations in there, but it is clear the Oversight Committee majority was looking for an opening to go after Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy.
My favorite quote is on page 114 of Admiral Mullen's transcript, in which Mr. Castor, majority Chief Investigating Counsel, questioned Admiral Mullen about the extent of U/S Kennedy's involvement in making decisions concerning Temporary Special Mission Benghazi:
Q: Under Secretary Kennedy is not, by everyone's account, is not someone who is detached -
A: - correct -
Q: - from the details.
U/S Kennedy will be interviewed by the Oversight Committee himself later this week, I believe. Maybe we'll hear more then.
55 comments:
TSB: I made it to page 55 experiencing intense boredom. Fortunately I looked at diplopundit and found what I was looking for:
"So people simply did their jobs and did not ask questions. That’s that. Welcome to a lobotomized bureaucracy where smart people do stuff and no longer ask questions." gwb
TSB: How to disarm the armed guard at your place of work. Surprise him with any old shotgun and then blow him away. Pick up the AR-15 Bushmaster he was holding and you are on your way. Since you brought your own ammo the public will spend ages trying to figure out how this was possible by watching CNN. (because they will never talk about it and Piers Morgan has made a career out of demanding that we quit letting wackos get Bushmasters.) Let's see how they play it this time. gwb
Since he claimed he had ptsd in 2004 and it got him sprung from a 'tire rage' episode it is tragic that the military has spent the last 10 years trying every which way to keep spending $$ on this problem so it could spend $$ pursuing wars and weapons that produce more suicidal/homicidals.
So they told the guy they wanted to help him but would have to make him unemployable first? gwb
GWB: It looks like the Navy Yard shooter used only his (own) pump shotgun, and a pistol taken from a guard or police officer. The FBI confirmed today that no AR-15 or other black rifle was used. Politically, that won't matter, because all guns are either "Glocks" or "assault weapons" to the news media.
However, politically, I noticed that Obama didn't say a single word about guns today. He stuck his neck out after the Conn. school shooting, and he got burned when Congress wouldn't pass any new gun legislation. Liberals are no longer kidding themselves about that 'overwhelming support' they detected for gun control, not after the Colorado recall.
Good point TSB. Given the long list of 'disturbed behavior incidents' that go back to 2001 it would seem that the Navy Yard shooter had not PTSD but something like schizo affective disorder. He joined the Navy in 2007? right when the army at least changed their standards and started ignoring all kinds of behavior problems in recruits and started intense recruiter competition to get those bodies in uniform! Being intelligent and a good worker
this guy would have been hard to spot as a mass murderer.. except for that 'violent gamer obsession'
which even his Thai friends saw as a major problem. I think he needed a skilled, experienced and dedicated psychiatrist which as we learned from Ft. Hood is not to be found in today's Army. gwb
TSB: As my dear old dad used to say: "There's always room at the top." Of course getting to the top in his career took him about 20 years. Today's 'Institute For War' types know that it takes a few shortcuts to get WSJ op-eds on your resume and get the attention of FP luminaries like bsJoe Biden in a rush to war. gwb
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/16/embattled-syria-expert-was-never-in-phd-program.html
TSB: 'Pivotfarm Obama' proves that old saying: "Americans always do the right thing after exhausting all other possibilities." gwb
http://www.debka.com/article/23287/Obama-softens-on-nuclear-Iran-Keep-components-just-promise-not-to-weaponise-them
In Obama's case only after all the polls turn against him.
http://www.infowars.com/media-buries-psychiatric-drug-connection-to-navy-shooter/
TSB: $2.4 billion a year in media advertising says the Zoloft, Prozac
or both won't soon be mentioned on CNN as a factor in this 'AR-15 rampage'.
From what I can tell the VA is doing an awful job of treating veterans for mental health problems. They have no $$$ and are in total denial about the needed resources which are very expensive.
The investigation here is going to be very interesting.
gwb
TSB: Listening to Darell Issa open the oversight and reform hearing I am always struck by how clear and pursuasive his statement always are. On the other hand the others on both sides of this strike me as endlessly self-congratulatory and partisan. The 4 richest counties in the country are right where you live and that seems to be enough for the defenders of the status quo. (ie total spectrum dominance)
also- wondering why E.Snowden seems to be more articulate than most of these politician? gwb
TSB: September (says J. Isakson R Georgia) is Suicide Prevention Month. Veterans are suiciding at the rate of 822 per year and active duty military at just under 1 a day. Remember all the glowing references to the VA System during the 'health care debate'? Truth was it was broke then and denial hasn't done much to fix it. gwb
TSB: Syrian President Assad said the cost for removing chemicals from Syria would be $1B.(USAtoday)
It will be interesting to hear what
the experts say about costs and timelines. I'm still betting the US will pick up the whole tab decide to airlift the whole shebam to our facility at Umatilla, Oregon. gwb
TSB: I'm listening to Kerry repeating all the evidence it was Assad who did the sarin attack. In the process he essentially admits that the opposition may have had and used sarin as well, just in different places and with different equipment. He refuses to answer any questions. I wanted to hear about the Assad request for $1 billion but I'm sure that will come up in today's State Briefing..
just kidding! gwb
TSB: The US is like an inverse Weimar Republic. By inverse I mean after winning a great war it was taken over by a small group who foresaw an existential battle for natural resources. Unfortunately these guys were delusional. As Banzai puts it:
Rudolph Don Havenstein
A picture of dimwitted men
Old Rudy is looking like Ben
If Ben has his say
And goes Rudy's way
We're headed for Weimar again
The Limerick King
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-09-19/meet-rudolf-von-havenstein
TSB: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/09/19/spitting-on-their-graves-democrats-leave-benghazi-hearing-before-testimony-from-benghazi-families-n1704732
I think it would have been classier if they would have just sat there, put their fingers in their ears and stuck out their tongues. This might be the amazing headline of the week? gwb
GWB: Regarding Issa, I get the same reaction from his committee statements, calm and persuasive. Really stands out because so many Congressmen just use their time on camera to posture for their YouTube clips. High profile hearings always go downhill fast.
I didn't see the end of the Benghazi hearing. Somebody actually walked out on the parents? Bad form. The mother of Sean Smith is distraught of course, but people are taking advantage of her grief by not correcting her when she says things like she is being denied information that by law may only be disclosed to the next of kin (Smith's widow). It's a delicate business to correct her about anything, but not trying is really doing her a disservice.
I didn't get to hear Kerry on Syria. Those rebels really make it hard on people who are trying to help them - cutting off heads, eating hearts, creating Islamic caliphates, and such. I don't see the U.S. interest in backing them.
C-Span did not show anyone walking out but the only 2 dems present for the hour were the ranking member and the a new rep from Ca.
The statements of Janet Smith and Mr. Woods were the most moving I have heard in this whole affair. If those statements don't sink Hillary in 2016 nothing can.
What came out today was that Carter Ham told Rep Jaffetz in Libya that he was removed from his
job after ordering forces to the rescue in Benghazi. That came from Mr. Woods. gwb
Correction: The only Democrats who stayed were Rarnking Member Elijah Cummings and Rep. Jackie Speier.
(is what the story said) also another Ca congresswoman came in after it started. All 3 of them were great. I think none of the Dems wanted to be there to hear that Ham Carter was fired for insisting on sending rescue forces to Benghazi. That order could only have come from Obama or the Pentagon. Let's see if Diplopundit has the freedom to cut loose on that one? gwb
TSB: The BEST commentary yet on the
Navy Yard massacre. It is a shame it takes a psychiatrist to explain this to an educated public.
:http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-the-real-navy-yard-scandal/2013/09/19/ddfde26a-2162-11e3-a358-1144dee636dd_story.html?hpid=z3
I got the same experience and training 40 years ago in Med School. This country has regressed a lot in 40 years (as I'm listening to Pelosi lecture about our moral obligations on health care) The congressional women from 1993 era have presided over a huge decline in medical 'morality'. gwb
TSB: Here is your Friday chuckle. (I mean "Obama never mind moment" and Kerry humiliation. Assad is pushing my plan for the chemical weapons stockpile which would cost a fortune so all Obama has to do is get his buddies in congress to change the law to allow it and pony up the money.
Chelsea, I'm sorry, Lindsey Graham has a better idea: Forget about Syrian, let's start a war with Iran
before they nuke Isreal AND us!
I hope Kerry goes on the Sunday shows to explain what the hell we are going to do now that Putin has won. gwb
http://www.debka.com/article/23295/Moscow-pulls-away-from-Kerry-Lavrov-deal-on-Syrian-chemical-disarmament-Assad-gets-to-keep-his-WMD
TSB: Your tax dollars at work:
https://laudyms.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/colombian-farmers-defeat-monsanto-win-back-control-of-seeds/
My wife noticed this at the beginning and showed me a video of Columbian farmers protesting as the government confiscated and burned all their crop seeds. No, we aren't a banana republic, we buy banana republics! But it's harder to get away with this 19th century crap with all the internets. gwb
TSB If you are like me and occasionally get irritated by Joe Biden's remarks imagine how it would be to have him for an uncle!
I would have disguises too!gwb
http://nypost.com/2013/09/21/addicted-biden-niece-blames-veep-pressure-for-woes/
TSB: The Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi seems to have become a 1 day story in the USA..even on the drudgereport! I guess someone called the tv editors to remind them the Westgate Malls are THE mall brand in the US. It would also help if no one found out who pushed Kenya into the war with Somalia and the US troops sent to Kenya not long ago to support them. CNN has a team there but they have been reduced to reporting text messages among friends in Nairobi. gwb
TSB: I didn't realize this before today but it's now illegal to use the letters NSA on a blog, a T-shirt, bumper sticker etc. I think it's still ok to say it but maybe not at work? The law was passed by our old buddy IKE! gwb
No person may, except with the written permission of the Director of the National Security Agency, knowingly use the words ‘National Security Agency’, the initials ‘NSA’, the seal of the National Security Agency, or any colorable imitation of such words, initials, or seal in connection with any merchandise, impersonation, solicitation, or commercial activity in a manner reasonably calculated to convey the impression that such use is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the National Security Agency. - See more at: http://wemeantwell.com/blog/#sthash.5p83EIt8.dpuf
GWB: I guess it's alright to use the NSA seal, etc., so long as you do it non-commercially. But do they really need to protect the market for the NSA's licensed logo merchandise? I don't think it sells stuff except in its gift shop. This is likely to effect sidewalk vendors in DC, who sell a lot of FBI and CIA, etc., T-shirts and hats.
The Westgate Mall attack is a hard sell for the news media. They have to explain why Somalis are angry at Kenya, that this mall was chosen because it's a venue for the expatriate / international organization crowd, etc. Any story that can't be reduced to Good-Guy-vs.-Bad-Guy style of coverage has lost the audience before it starts.
Thanks for the good comments TSB! I found this article quoting Lavrov about the US position on Syrian chemical weapons really good. He used diplomatic language to basically show that Kerry is trying to 'bait and switch' the discussion to get 'regime change if this doesn't work' into the agreement(s). Lavrov makes perfect sense to me. Was wondering what you thought? gwb
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html
GWB: I keep finding these Russians making diplomatic sense on Syria, and I also find the new Iranian leader more peaceful and engaging than any U.S. counterpart I can think of going back to before Carter. I don't know, it's like there are no rules anymore.
On the other side of the coin here is the latest from NBC on Nairobi:
3 terrorists are dead and the whole thing has ended!
After 3 days all we get is total nonsense? Kenya said there were 10-15 attackers and also said 3 of them were Americans. So the rest of them went to heaven without leaving their bodies behind? And NBC acts like this makes perfect sense. A foreign born American citizen this morning said she was rescued by US security forces; the first mention I've heard of any US military being involved. Where is Carter Ham when you need him? gwb
TSB: George Washington has been doing a great job detailing the NSA revelations as they roll out. The list of over the top practices is getting very long! gwb http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-09-23/spy-agencies-are-doing-what
TSB: Listening to Greg Starr sitting next to Anne Patterson for nominations. Starr is great! Patterson has no answers but a great broach so I'm sure she is Madeline Albright approved. gwb
TSB: I am really jazzed that Ted Cruz is Phillyblustering the ACA because:
1.He is providing the 1/2 half of the debate the democrats have refused to engage in. Having half a debate is not that great but it exposes the entire Senate's disregard for anything but corporate $$.
2. The ACA is a perfect example of the worst kind of secret government (like NSA) where all the bills are written in the back room and the public only finds out later that they got screwed.. in this case they are going to find out pretty soon! (so the timing is good) Hurray for Ted Cruz on ACA!
gwb
GWB: I like Starr, too. He does well with Congress, and he's also a manager who has credibility with the troops.
On Obamacare/ACA, if I were the Republicans, I'd be filibustering to revoke the waivers the White House granted and enforce all of ACA right now. No more delaying until the next election is over. If nothing else, we'd find out how popular ACA is without all the hundreds of deals that were cut to get it passed.
Amen TSB! I've been enjoying all the tv regulars, especially the politicians dissing Ted Cruz for damaging the party, damaging himself and (horror) raising the danger of a gov shutdown! So far his best point has been the one you make: Ask Obama why it's not good enough for the WH and ask Reid why it's not good enough for him! gwb
TSB: "I keep finding these Russians making diplomatic sense on Syria,".
Saul Alinsky read their book.
GWB: " Patterson has no answers but a great broach so I'm sure she is Madeline Albright approved." You're flirting with some scary imagery!
TSB: It's looking like the Nairobi
massacre had about double the toll that was dribbled out and destroyed the whole place. Also sounds like the CTTF training didn't involve defending REALLY vulnerable targets. I think that chapter reads: Call the FBI? gwb
TSB: Hats off to Mike Lee (R-Utah)!
I learned as much from him last nite as from Cruz. (at 1st I thought he was a Dr. from the way he was explaining the details.)
1. For 18-30 yo's they are being forced to buy insurance for a lot of crap they neither want or need.
2. The main route to lower insurance costs-allowing ins to sell across state lines was not done= no competition=sell out
3.The Medicaid changes are clearly unconstitutional because with them the Feds take over the state's Medicaid admin machinery and tell it what it can do.
4. The goal admitted by all the libs (including quotes) is a single payer for all but those who can afford to pay privately or travel elsewhere.
5.77% of job gains this year are part time so 29 hr work week will at least match the French! So it's a big job creator. I just saw Jake Tapper try unsuccessfully to rip him. This was a very successful effort by Cruz and Lee. gwb
TSB: When Pepe Escobar is knocking out columns every other day that means big things are happenin! Tomorrow is the security council meeting about Iran. Pepe's close:
It all comes back to the same drama; will Obama and his team have enough balls to stare down the Israel lobby, the House of Saud, the neo-cons and assorted armchair warmongers across the Beltway? If not, the War Party victory will mirror the anti-Rouhani hardline victory in Tehran - with devastating consequences.
My answer: Guts! Are you kidding or haven't you been paying attention to that Syria-Putin deal? Obama will tell Kerry to keep it in the middle of the fairway and then cheat on the short puts. gwb
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/nsa-reform-bill-surveillance-congress
TSB: This may be a realistic start to countering domestic NSA spying but it is already clear that when NSA wants to go around the law it simply has the Brits do it for us.
Clearly the NSA intends to spy on anyone they want anytime for any reason. I think the rest of 'our friends' have this figured out and realize it is up to them to do something about it. They will do it by creating networks that don't connect to the NSA or the USA and Brazil, China, India will probably be the leaders. gwb
TSB: The Germans have offered $2.7 million to help destroy Syria's stockpiles of gases. The Russians are offering troops to guard the stockpiles and the gas destroying crew. I'm anxious to see what Kerry says to this impressive start. gwb
http://rt.com/news/russia-syria-destroyed-chemical-weapons-402/
GWB: The ACA rollout isn't going well so far. The DC exchange announced it won't be able to calculate subsidies or do new entries into Medicaid. Kaiser Permanente has a calculator that is showing some people premiums of double what they pay now, and apparently the ACA one-size policies have huge deductibles plus co-pays. People who have been sold on ACA = free health care are going to be unhappy.
James, Madeleine loved those broaches! She had all kinds, with political symbolism and everything. Amb. Patterson ought to borrow them and maybe bring them back into fashion. Retro jewelry - why not?
Yes James: I think Madeline says all those broaches were gifts from diplomatic friends so she has to say she loves em. They probably scare her too. Besides, it sort of takes your mind of listening to how great Bill and Hillary were on foreign policy and terrorism. gwb
"Patterson ought to borrow them and maybe bring them back into fashion. Retro jewelry - why not?"
If the diplomatic community was the sole audience I would stand in applause, but for the world at large it would be a great cruelty.
SENATE CHAPLAIN: 'Lord, deliver us from governing by crisis'...
TSB: Here is your Friday chuckle!
gwb
TSB: This is pretty good!
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/27/ron-wyden-nsa-systematically-deceived
Sen. Ron Wyden: NSA 'repeatedly deceived the American people'
NSA'S Alexander is clearly not used to any oversight from this committee which is packed with sycophants. It will be interesting to see if Wyden's bill gets out of committee. gwb
TSB: This Syria thing is starting to look pretty easy. Just let the Russians have their way in working out the poison gas destruction with
Assad and the inspectors. It is now clearer that the brits and germans and Russians supplied Syria with the program essentials
(see here: http://www.juancole.com/2013/09/queue-twilight-hawks.html)
so it's time to turn away from regime change and look for a political settlement. Ditto for Iran! gwb
TSB: House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said it would be the “fastest whip check in history,” as every member raised their hand, saying they would support the bill.
I think Cruz and Lee did a lot to make this happen. How will a Tues shutdown affect state workers? gwb
TSB: Ed Royce bill to fully fund overseas STATE security! Nobody gonna vote against that today! gwb
GWB: Thanks for pointing out the Royce bill:
http://www.gop.gov/bill/113/1/hr2848
It fully funds new embassy construction plans, plus security upgrades, adds some Marine Security Guards, and comes with some oversight concentrating on the high risk posts. That's all good.
On the down side, I see it also caps locality pay for Foreign Service Officers posted overseas, which means those FSOs will get less pay than they get when assigned in Washington, DC (where locality pay adds 24% to base pay). Since FS employees spend most of their careers overseas, this eventually reduces their pensions, as well. Other agency personnel who are posted overseas are usually Civil Service employees, and they retain their locality pay when they are overseas on TDY status (which can last a year or longer).
It's inequitable treatment, but, it's also an absolute political loser for State to lobby for locality pay for people who are actually located overseas.
GWB: I'm not sure yet how a gov't shutdown will affect me, but most likely I'll have to keeping going to work anyway (essential function related to security), only I won't have any assurance of eventually getting paid for that time. The biggest problem will be paying bills while not getting a paycheck(s).
Most times, these budget negotiations are lots of drama but no real shutdown. This time might be the real thing.
TSB: Good luck! The pressure will really be on to end this fast. I think the democrats having jammed this monstrosity thru without reading it has finally caught up with them. gwb
Good luck.
TSB: This article attempts to answer who will be furloughed. It looks like STATE is a big unknown because?? 'mission critical' probably varies greatly from place to place: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/27/us/who-goes-to-work-during-government-shutdown.html?hp&_r=0
This can't be good for morale but I like the proposal to let the Dems have ACA for 15 mo's but eliminate all the exemptions and then have a sunset vote. That would sink it! Huntsman for Prez!!
gwb
James, GWB,
Thanks. I think the shutdown is more drama than real impasse, but it will be a bad week or two for USG employes without savings.
Now, if the impasse were over whether to eliminate all ACA waivers and exemptions, well, that would tie Congress up in knots indifinitely.
TSB: I know this will never be mentioned by reputable sources but it appears that the NCTC is mainly tasked with collecting every bit of data on US citizens. I'm looking forward to seeing the Intelligence Committee dismiss this as fear mongering by an out of control press! gwb
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-09-29/nsa-central-us-assassination-program
TSB: Forget about Mon nite Football; here's today's KABOOM!from Juan Cole: "Frighteningly, Secretary of State John Kerry recently demanded that Iran’s Fordow facility be opened to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. But Fordow has been regularly inspected! If a worldly US official of such long experience in foreign affairs can make such a serious error because he has swallowed too much propaganda, what hope do we in the alternative media have at correcting the record?"
I hope diplopndt gives us a detailed STATE furlough rundown. I'd like to see if the propaganda dept is considered mission critical. gwb
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