Benghazi Breakthrough?

Well, maybe. I have made no secret on this blog of my feelings about Benghazi. What happened last September 11, the weeks and months leading up to that day, the months and months of obfuscation by all the major players, is nothing but a despicable travesty of the truth, of right and wrong.

I had all but given up on the story. The vaunted press, whose cause célèbre to shine the light on government has so clearly taken a backseat to an almost propagandizing patronage, has undeniably turned its back - for now - on its cherished Watergate heritage. Whereas then the press successfully exposed a government cover up, its modern progeny is working feverishly to assist in the effort to make Benghazi "go away." Today, however, there are signs, albeit small ones, that maybe - just maybe - the country might actually hear actual news reports and testimony about that horrible night. And maybe, they'll start asking questions.

This week, high level State Department whistleblowers testified at a House Committee hearing. These aren't some low-level lackeys, either. One is Mr. Greg Hicks - the deputy to the late Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed that night in the attack. Another is Mr. Mark Thompson, in charge of the Foreign Emergency Support Team who had direct knowledge of the alleged orders to "stand down" and not deploy a rescue force. Finally, there is Eric Nordstrom, assigned to head up Benghazi security, whose requests for enhanced security support for the consulate was repeatedly denied in the months leading to the attack.

If you go looking for balance in the American newspapers, you're not likely to find anything but an effort to paint these hearings as a Republican effort to beat a dead horse in the faint hopes of damaging Hilary Clinton's presidential prospects. The bile just drips from their words, dismissive and derogatory. Politics always matters, yes. But so does the truth, at least in the world I want to believe in. You'll have better luck gleaning information from UK papers, if you can believe that. But what is more interesting is that the big three networks - ABC, CBS and NBC - may be showing small signs of actually covering the story if not objectively, more objectively than their newsprint counterparts. Consider:

CBS: Diplomat: U.S. Special Forces told "you can't go" to Benghazi during attacks

NBC: NBC's Lisa Meyers: Benghazi Hearing "Reopens" Case Against Hillary Clinton See also: Democrats Actively Working to Undermine Testimony of Benghazi Whistleblower

ABC: Exclusive: Benghazi Talking Points Underwent 12 Revisions, Scrubbed of Terror Reference

Go to the ABC link. Read the article, watch the video at the top of the page. Get informed. Will these questions lead to investigations, in turn leading to revelation of the truth? That remains to be seen. Careers should end over this, but unfortunately, the audacity of our present oligarchy and their loyal subjects in the press will do everything possible to avoid that outcome, honor and rightful shame be damned. But for the moment, kudos to ABC for the actual practice of investigative journalism.

Finally, though normally I wouldn't point to a political ad like this, this is just politically brutal, but it would have resonated if it had aired (which it did not).

Truth matters. And if an "objective" news source ever says a story "doesn't matter", question their objectivity. As the Wall Street Journal says, let the chips fall.

Update: I finally get a blog post out on this, and suddenly there's new and interesting developments. Not that we get to hear about it of course. Why? Because the White House decided to hold an off-the-record meeting with select journalists to provide "deep background" on the latest Benghazi developments. Why off the record? Probably because they don't want any names recorded with their quotes. More stories with anonymous sources to come. So, either the adminstration is providing the press a new set of talking points to push, or somebody's about to get thrown under the bus. Either way, it reeks of collusion. (Pardon me while I adjust my tin foil hat). Maybe it's nothing big, but one thing for sure - it sure is strange.