So much for the conspiracy theorists!

Last year I wrote (angrily) about the malicious stupidity of conspiracy theorists, who were twisting the known facts about the Benghazi affair into something ridiculously overblown.  In particular, I cited this rumor about General Carter Ham, who was then the commanding officer of US Africa Command (Africom).

The information I heard today was that General Ham as head of Africom received the same e-mails the White House received requesting help/support as the attack was taking place. General Ham immediately had a rapid response unit ready and communicated to the Pentagon that he had a unit ready.

General Ham then received the order to stand down. His response was to screw it, he was going to help anyhow. Within 30 seconds to a minute after making the move to respond, his second in command apprehended General Ham and told him that he was now relieved of his command.

The story continues that now General Rodiguez (sic) would take General Ham's place as the head of Africon (sic).

At the time I called this 'scurrilous nonsense'.  That's now been proven to be true.  CNN reported recently:

Ham was in Washington for a meeting of all combat commanders when the attack was under way. Although a decision was made to send a drone from eastern Libya toward Benghazi, by the time it arrived above the facility, the attack on the mission was winding down.

Ham knew Ambassador Chris Stevens was missing and believed he could have possibly been kidnapped. Stevens and three other Americans died in the attack.

"In my mind, at that point we were no longer in a response to an attack. We were in a recovery and frankly, I thought, we were in a potential a hostage rescue situation," Ham said.

Ham said although he had authority to scramble a jet to the scene, he decided there was "not necessity and there was not a clear purpose in doing so."

"To do what?" he asked. "It was a very, very uncertain situation."

There's more at the link.

So, to all those idiots who disseminated unfounded, patently ridiculous rumors such as that above . . . thanks for nothing.  Your cretinous conspiracy theories have damaged the reputation of this country, probably damaged the reputation of General Ham, and done nothing whatsoever to clear up the mess surrounding the Benghazi affair.  We can do without your involvement in future crises, thank you very much.





Peter