• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Benghazi report: Ben Rhodes pushed false Muhammad video narrative after jihad massacre

Jul 11, 2016 9:26 pm By Robert Spencer

This was a direct assault on the freedom of speech. Rhodes’ narrative was that Americans criticizing Muhammad led to the deaths of the four Americans in Benghazi, with the subtext clear: if Americans would just stop criticizing Muhammad, no one would get hurt. That Obama and Hillary readily signed on to this narrative was even more ominous.

Ben Rhodes

“Benghazi Report Shows Ben Rhodes Pushed False Video Narrative After Attack,” by Helle Dale, Daily Signal, June 30, 2016:

After two years of investigation, many might be asking if the just released Benghazi report was worth it. The answer is yes.

With the publication of the 800-page report by the House Benghazi Select Committee on Tuesday, Americans now have an exhaustive account of the terrorist attack in Benghazi and its aftermath.

The administration’s concocted narrative blaming the Benghazi attack on an amateurish anti-Muslim video is a major focus in the report.

For the first time we know that U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was briefed by Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, and David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s senior political adviser, which gave her statements the desired political spin:

Susan Rice’s comments on the Sunday talk shows were met with shock and disbelief by State Department employees in Washington. The Senior Libya Desk Officer, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, State Department, wrote: ‘I think Rice was off the reservation on this one.’ The Deputy Director, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, State Department, responded: ‘Off the reservation on five networks!’ The Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications, Bureau of Near East Affairs, State Department, wrote: ‘WH [White House] very worried about the politics. This was all their doing.’ [pg. 132]

It appears Rhodes is very good at spinning false narratives.

The House Select Committee on Benghazi puts on display the Obama administration’s absolute ineptitude in the conduct of foreign policy and its political motivations that left U.S. diplomats in Libya tragically unprotected and the American public misinformed about what happened to our diplomats and why.

In a moment of national shock and horror, leaders in the White House and the State Department tried to shift the blame to a silly anti-Muslim video.

In a moment of national shock and horror, leaders in the White House and the State Department tried to shift the blame to a silly anti-Muslim video—and then, as we all remember too well, Obama took off for a political fundraiser in Las Vegas.

The basic Benghazi narrative, familiar from other investigations of the Benghazi attack, remains unaltered: The Obama administration wanted Libya to be a civilian nation-building success story, not another case of military intervention.

Consequently, the State Department sent one its most experienced diplomats to Tripoli, Ambassador Christopher Stevens, with the mandate of opening a consular facility in Benghazi. The State Department disregarded numerous instances of terrorist activity and attacks on diplomats in the city.

When the terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2012, the administration was totally unprepared for a rescue and allowed political sensitivities to override the need for swift military action. In the aftermath, the administration shied away from blaming terrorism, which it had just declared to have defeated in the run up to the 2012 presidential election.

Nevertheless, there is plenty in the new report not previously known to the public. One instance is the account of a two-hour meeting—beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11—at the White House after the attack began to attempt to flesh out a rescue attempt.

The failure of the administration to launch a rescue operation has been at the heart of much speculation surrounding Benghazi. Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta may have stated that they wanted a rescue operation, but no actual military orders were given.

Details of the high-level White House meeting show that no one had even thought of contingency plans, and it reads like an exercise in utter incompetence and confusion:

With Ambassador Stevens missing, the White House convened a roughly two-hour meeting at 7:30 PM, which resulted in action items focused on a YouTube video, and others containing the phrases ‘[i]f any deployment is made,’ and ‘Libya must agree to any deployment,’ and ‘[w]ill not deploy until order comes to go to either Tripoli or Benghazi.’ [p.115]…

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, free speech, Muhammad Tagged With: Ben Rhodes


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. Custos Custodum says

    Jul 11, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    Not buying it.

    Stevens’ very last transaction in Benghazi was with a representative of Turkey.

    What exactly were they doing? And why were they meeting in Benghazi rather than Tripoli or Cairo?

    Most likely scenario is some kind of Iran-Contra three-way deal to ship anti-aircraft missiles and other armaments to Barry’s friends in Islamic State.

    • Lia says

      Jul 12, 2016 at 2:52 am

      We’d all like to know the complete background. And we all know, by this time, Ben Rhodes, and Messrs Obama, Toner, Kirby, Kerry, and the women like Mrs Clinton, Pelosi, Harf/Herf, Sherman, etc. Not a shred of credibility, honesty or honour amongst the lot of them.

      • Shane says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 11:26 am

        While are people in Benghazi were under attack, Obama’s political operatives were planning how to blame the attack on an anti-Mo video instead of on Islamic Jihadists who hated America. You can be certain that if W. Bush had been President that help would have been sent to Benghazi.

  2. Gary says

    Jul 11, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    “tried to shift the blame”

    Tried?!!

    This administration HAS shifted the blame on a continual basis. Day after day. Week after week. And year after year.

    “Hope And Change”

    2017 can’t come soon enough!

  3. sam says

    Jul 11, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    Lets be honest now. These traitors, Obama, Hillary and the Company are getting away with everthing. Americans are buying it. Of course they will keep on their communist agenda to stay on power. They will even enable Islam as long as they can put the blame on USA so they can get votes.

    We are governed by people we deserve. I wont be surprised if Hillary wins with all the brained washed youth we have.

    • Gary says

      Jul 11, 2016 at 11:49 pm

      There is hope!

      If….

      If you… If I…. If we….

      If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

      If we do that, Hillary doesn’t stand a chance!

      • Davegreybeard says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 12:44 am

        Oh BULLSHIT Gary!

        When you are done genuflecting, go out and campaign for Mr. Trump with all the energy and imagination you have.

        That MIGHT help!

        • aaron morand says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 8:21 am

          ….to the perishing, the cross is foolishness…..a man much wiser than you or I mr.
          davegreybeard said that…and that is where Gary is coming from……have a nice day..
          and yes, work as if it all depends on you and pray as it ALL DOES depend on GOD…..

        • Carolyne says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 10:44 am

          Dave Graybeard, I agree with you. Being on our knees while the world burns will not save us. I don’t know what a God’s name is that we are called such; Bruce? Jim? Jerry? but I know we will be called stupid if Hillary Clinton wins.

        • Gary says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 2:56 pm

          Dave,

          I’m just passing along what God has stated. He’s given you free choice.

          Sincerely,

          Gary

      • Champ says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 1:14 am

        Hear, hear, Gary! Prayer is *powerful*!

      • Champ says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 3:11 pm

        By suggesting that we pray in NO WAY suggests that we sit idly by and do nothing BUT pray. This isn’t what Gary is suggesting, at all, and I’m not sure why some of you have reached this conclusion.

        • Gary says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm

          Champ,

          You’re correct. That’s not what I’m suggesting at all. And as you’ve already stated: Prayer is Powerful.

          I think we’ll be surprised to see the effect of our prayers,(Revelation 5:8 “which are the prayers of the saints.”), when we get to Heaven.

          Bottom line: If God is asking us to humble ourselves and pray that He would heal our land…. I’m gonna pray!

    • Shane says

      Jul 12, 2016 at 11:29 am

      Yes, it looks like America has reached the stage where the majority of voters vote for the candidate who promises to give away the most free stuff, and that is usually the Dem candidate. People say they want honest politicians, but they end up voting for liars like Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and Shillary.

  4. linnte says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 12:09 am

    For crimminy sake! Just the DATE of the Benghazi attack should have been a clear indicator that it had nothing to do with a video of Muhammad. We have MORONS and traitors working in the White House! 9/11 and 11 years after the Twin Towers attack. DUH!

    • Christianblood says

      Jul 12, 2016 at 9:42 am

      US, Nato directly armed and backed the Libyan jihadists that overthrew the Libyan leader Qaddafi and then after the fall of Qaddafi transported his weaponry and hundreds of islamic jihadists to Syria to overthrow Assad of Syria. Please watch the video clip below:

      • Christianblood says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 9:49 am

        “Anything US touches turns into Libya or Iraq”.

        • Carolyne says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 10:46 am

          Correction:
          Anything Obama and Hillary Clinton touch turns to Libya or Iraq.

        • gravenimage says

          Jul 12, 2016 at 8:58 pm

          Wait–now “Christianblood” is lauding the (supposed) efficacy of the appalling OIC-dominated *United Nations* in opposing Jihad? Simply laughable.

      • Jay Boo says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 12:02 pm

        In reference to the top video about Libya.
        Yes it is clear
        If Obama and Hillary aided the terrorists who later killed 4 Americans in Benghazi that would explain:

        1 — Why they desperately needed an excuse (fall guy) to blame and to apologize for other than the terrorists they supported.
        2 — Why Hillary needed a private server.
        3 — Why Obama needs a Black Lives Matter diversion.
        4 — Why the Mo Bro will fund Islam’s (willing HO) Hillary’s super pack campaign.

      • gravenimage says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 8:48 pm

        Yes, Gaddafi was such a wonderful “secularist”. It’s not like Lockerbie was a Jihad terror attack, or anything….oh, wait…

        What is there now is, if possible, even worse. But pretending that Gaddafi was anti-jihad is simply rewriting history.

        • Manual Paleologos says

          Jul 13, 2016 at 9:24 am

          Gaddafi was more or less under control. We had him afraid to do too much. A demonstration of that is how he turned over all of Libya’s nuclear capabilities, down to the notebooks. The crap that has been spawned by offing Gaddafi is much worse than Lockerbie.

  5. mortimer says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 12:51 am

    Ben Rhodes and Hillary should go to jail for their lies.

    • dsinc says

      Jul 12, 2016 at 3:48 am

      Tes. thumbs up.

      • dsinc says

        Jul 12, 2016 at 3:48 am

        Yes

  6. Stephen Golay says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 1:03 am

    Am going through my Dante looking for the proper circle that habitats the like of that – or should that be the likes of him?

  7. RichardL says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 2:09 am

    anger is the only thing that can help the US: anger of decent Democrats at being duped and staying home, anger of Independents who then go vote (for Trump).

    But Barack Hussein’s approval rating is above 50%. That doesn’t bode well for November.

    Hillary could be better and she could be worse than Obama. No telling as she has no soul, no opinion just crass power hunger. Like Merkel.

  8. Angemon says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 5:45 am

    *gasp*

    The Obama administration… lied? I’m shocked. SHOCKED!!!

  9. Marty says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 6:48 am

    Presumably this gent would argue that the inmates of Auschwitz
    were there because of their unfavourable views of Hitler.
    Western pseudo liberals don’t merely look foolish when faced with islam.
    They are very dangerous in their folly to civilisation.

  10. Frank Livingston says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 7:46 am

    Is Obama and the Democrat Party nudging us closer and closer towards the global Caliphate being formed by the United Nations (UN), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and the newly formed United States Muslim Brotherhood political party, the United States Council of the Muslim Organizations (USCMO)? The United States Council of the Muslim Organizations (USCMO) was established in March 2014, with strong support from the political activism by Muslim Brotherhood-linked operatives in our government, including the open support of the U.S. Department of State! Don’t you think this deserves hearings in the House and Senate?
    Why won’t the RINO/GOP leadership/followers in the Republican Party hold hearings on the Muslim Brotherhood and their plan to destroy America from within by what they call their “Civilization-Process Plan? Why did Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama push America into UN Resolution 16/18 that places Shariah/Islamic law above our First Amendment rights! Think not! Go to YouTube and watch Stephen Coughlin, Part 5: The Role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Enforcing Islamic Law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkAZUvQAzkc
    This is all about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam!
    ARTICLE 24: All the rights and freedoms stipulated in this Declaration are subject to the Islamic Shari’ah.
    ARTICLE 25: The Islamic Shari’ah is the only source of reference for the explanation or classification of any of the articles of this Declaration.
    Did Obama violate his Oath of Office when he signed UN Resolution 16/18?

  11. Brad says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 8:39 am

    I have read the 800 Benghazi Report, Iran Nucular Deal and 9-1-1 Commission Report. I have met no other person (on the street) who has. Wake up and educate yourself!!

  12. Nigel GFF says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 9:03 am

    One of the more obvious consequences of NOT ‘naming’ is that your friends won’t know where to strike.
    As Polyphemus discovered, if ‘no one’ attacked you then you’ll be laughed at.
    Alas, not naming your enemy cost lives.

  13. Manual Paleologos says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 9:25 am

    The Treasonous Criminal Zerobama Regime took a video that no one had seen, and promoted it as a cause for violence. This caused a lot of people to watch his crap, and then go on moslem rampages. This is more blood on Zerobama’s and Clinton’s hands.

  14. Robert John Bennett says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 11:45 am

    “If Americans would just stop criticizing Muhammad, no one would get hurt.”

    Really, that makes about as much sense as, “If you insult Islam by saying it’s a violent religion, I’ll kill you.”

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 12, 2016 at 9:04 pm

      Yup. It is simply a lie.

  15. awake says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    When government and media meet in collusion.

  16. gravenimage says

    Jul 12, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    Benghazi report: Ben Rhodes pushed false Muhammad video narrative after jihad massacre
    ………………….

    *Sickening*. How can this creep live with himself?

  17. Donovan Nuera says

    Jul 13, 2016 at 1:03 am

    Rhodes is the brother of a major MSM network president, naturally. I think President Ike would be pooping bricks if he saw the danger of the (incestuous) Media-Government-Academic Complex.
    At least the Military-Industrial Complex actually made cool things that protected this country….

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • Lion heart on Muslim cleric: ‘We welcomed the takeover of ISIS because they wanted to implement the Sharia’
  • Graham Bryant on Biden vows to surrender to Iran, then negotiate
  • gravenimage on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe
  • Lion heart on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship
  • Graham Bryant on Canadian Mental Health Association studies Muslim women’s mental health due to ‘discrimination’ and ‘hate crimes’

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.