I didn’t know the three other men that died that day, but I deeply mourn them nonetheless. Chris Stevens was a friend of mine. Not a close friend, but we did spend a good portion of our comfortable time together enjoying small talk and coffee. It had been many years since we’ve had any personal contact but his death (and the manner in which it took place) hit me like a rock. It continues to affect me in inexplicable ways with every picture or headline about Benghazi. What has transpired since the horrific murder of these four American heroes has left me bitter, angry and disillusioned about the efficacy of our legal system to procure justice for these brave and honorable men.
There has been no healing, no moving on. I fear that the families, friends and colleagues involved will never receive the answers about who is responsible for the massacre, and thus, will never find the peace in their hearts that is necessary for understanding and forgiveness.
Today is certainly not about me or my feelings, but it is going to be a very difficult day, regardless. I’ve been anticipating it and dreading it at the same time. There will be no escape because every channel, radio station, newspaper and internet site will be giving coverage and frequent updates throughout the day. People will be discussing it, taking sides and voicing their opinions like it is new news.
It is old news. It has been three years, one month and eleven days since Benghazi. The facts are the facts and they haven’t changed. The problem all along is there has been a concerted effort not to reveal all the facts, the actual truth. There has been conjecture on both sides why these truths have been out of reach, concealed from the American people and lawful investigators and hidden as “state secrets” or “what does it matter?” information. It matters, Madame Secretary. Believe me when I say it matters greatly on so many different levels to so many different people.
It is clear to me that the ugly subterfuge has been supported from the very top of the government—there is no way a willing Government seeking justice and truth when faced with multiple cover-ups (later proven false) would allow this macabre farce to continue without individual accountability. In my opinion, there is no way certain documentation could have been mishandled, misread and then misinterpreted by high ranking professionals in our government that handle sensitive information as their primary jobs every single day.
The American public may not know or realize the rigorous training that potential government officers go through from the beginning of their employment so that mistakes like this are not made. Those who currently or have work for these governmental entities certainly do. Why haven’t they spoken out to set the record straight? There is no believable explanation why a senior official at the State Department or CIA, let alone the actual Secretary of State of the United States of America, could misread any cable heading and then falsely over-look it’s content and intent, unless there was a specific reason to do so. I have exhausted just about every possible scenario by imagining how this could possibly have happened during the numerous times Chris requested additional safety for his limited staff personnel and himself.
Last week the Benghazi committee finally received Ambassador Steven’s emails and cables. After three long years and seven prior investigatory panels that declared the government or Hilary Clinton innocent of any wrong-doing or illegal act, we can only wonder why now, why this particular committee at this particular time? Did the State Department finally “find” these documents as a result of uncovering Mrs. Clinton’s secret servers and classified emails— incredibly important information that somehow managed to escape the knowledge of previous committees? Perhaps this important information did indeed fall through the cracks in the first few investigations (this is me giving the benefit of the doubt and stretching the realm of probability and reality) depending on the questions asked, but in all seven investigatory panels? I whole-heartedly doubt it.
Could it be that this current committee is yet another cover up, general incompetence and /or political machinations that achieved nothing more than waste taxpayer money? Either way, once again the families and public at large got screwed by the elected officials that were sworn to uphold the law, those who knowingly participated and perpetrated this blight on American history.
I believe the vital information necessary to solve the entire “who done it”” puzzle that will begin the healing process for all of us will not be revealed by Mrs. Clinton today, tomorrow or ever. I do not believe we will find out “why” it was necessary to lie repeatedly about the horrific deaths of these men. Too much time has passed. Too many redactions and alibis have been established. Someone(s), somewhere has the power and wherewithal to make sure the ugly, damaging truth of the Benghazi Massacre never sees the light of day. Someone(s) is at real risk of losing everything if it ever does.
What that means for the families of the fallen and the American people is that we are either labeled as “badgers”, those ever-fighting for the truth regardless of what happens at the hearing today, or we are “lemmings” ready to forget the whole mess and willing to move on. At the end of the day, at the very least, that choice will be ours to decide. Make no mistake, there is real danger in either action, personally and as a nation.
R.I.P. American Heroes, all of you.