Newly Released Documents Show White House Pushed Video

      Judicial Watch, through a Freedom of Information Act request, received documents that identify who in the White House gave former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice the Benghazi talking points which attributed the attack on the Benghazi compound to a video-inspired protest (Benghazi 4-7-14, 2014). These documents show former White House Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes in an e-mail to former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and others with the purpose of preparing her for a later phone call listed the following:

Goals:

•  To convey that the United States is doing everything that we can to protect our people and facilities abroad;

•  To underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy;

•  To show that we will be resolute in bringing people who harm Americans to justice, and standing steadfast through these protests;

•  To reinforce the President and Administration's strength and steadiness in dealing with difficult challenges.

Top-lines:

•  Since we began to see protests in response to this Internet video, the President has directed the Administration to take a number of steps. His top priority has been the safety and security of all Americans serving abroad.

•  First, we have significantly increased security at our diplomatic posts around the globe, with additional resources from across the government. The safety and security of our personnel is paramount and under constant review.

•  Second, we have reached out to governments in the region to make sure they are cooperating closely with us, and meeting their obligations to protect diplomatic facilities as best they can. For instance, we've seen cooperation from Yemen and Egypt cooperate significantly after President Obama called those leaders.

•  Third, we've made our views on this video crystal clear. The United States government had nothing to do with it. We reject its message and its contents. We find it disgusting and reprehensible. But there is absolutely no justification at all for responding to this movie with violence. And we are working to make sure that people around the globe hear that message.

•  Fourth, we've encouraged leaders around the globe to speak out against the violence, and you've seen very important statements in the Muslim world by people like Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, President Morsi of Egypt, and others who have condemned the violence and called for a peaceful response.

•  I think that people have come to trust that President Obama provides leadership that is steady and statesmanlike. There are always going to be challenges that emerge around the world, and time and again he's shown that we can meet them.

      Probably the most incriminating statement is the goal “to underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy” (Benghazi 4-7-14, 2014). These documents also show that “Several top White House staffers, including political strategist David Plouffe and press secretary Jay Carney, were involved in these emails” (Adams, 2014). This e-mail further underscores the multiple revisions of the talking points where all references of terrorism and al- Qa’ida were removed.

      Why was there this intentional attempt to redirect American’s focus away from terrorism and al-Qa’ida? Perhaps, in the lead up to the 2012 election, it was because as of November 1^st, 2012 “President Barack Obama has described al Qaeda [sic] as having been ‘decimated,’ ‘on the path to defeat’ or some other variation at least 32 times since the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to White House transcripts (Lucas, 2012). This shows, as many have believed, an intentional attempt to downplay the term terrorism and the role of al-Qa’ida in the attack on the Benghazi compound.

Bibliography

Adams, B. (2014, April 29). New White House Emails Reveal Effort to Portray Benghazi Attack as Being ‘Rooted’ in an ‘Internet Video,’ Protect President’s Re-Election. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from The Blaze: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/29/new-emails-reveal-effort-to-portray-benghazi-attack-as-being-rooted-in-an-internet-video-protect-presidents-re-election/

Benghazi 4-7-14. (2014, April 28). Retrieved April 30, 2014, from Judical Watch Document Archive: http://www.judicialwatch.org/document-archive/1919_production-4-17-14/

Lucas, F. (2012, November 1). Obama Has Touted Al Qaeda’s Demise 32 Times since Benghazi Attack. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from CNS News: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-touts-al-qaeda-s-demise-32-times-benghazi-attack-0