Render: Clinton finds opportunity in crises

In 2011, during the heady days of the Arab Spring, the U.S. armed forces were involved in an unauthorized kinetic military event that would eventually lead to the death of deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Although now almost forgotten, Hillary Clinton’s role in that story remains available via the following email chain initiated by Sidney Blumenthal to Secretary Clinton on her unsecured server, and is once again gaining prominence during the presidential campaign.

Rube Render

Blumenthal praised the military success of the U.S. led bombing campaign designed to destroy Libyan military assets and overthrow Gaddafi. In August of 2011, Blumenthal wrote, “This is a historic moment and you will be credited for realizing it. When (Gaddafi) himself is finally removed, you should of course make a public statement before the cameras wherever you are, even in the driveway of your vacation home. You must go on camera.

You must establish yourself in the historical record at this moment. The most important phrase is: ‘successful strategy.’”

Never one to let a crisis go to waste, Clinton forwarded Blumenthal’s email to Jake Sullivan, a close State Department aide:

“Pls read below. Sid makes a good case for what I should say, but it’s premised on being said after Gaddafi goes, which will make it more dramatic. That’s my hesitancy, since I’m not sure how many chances I’ll get.”

Sullivan then suggested that Clinton write an op-ed after the fall of Gaddafi to lay out the “Clinton Doctrine.”

They did not realize that when a dictator relinquishes power in the Mideast, he doesn’t go quietly, he is disposed of.

When Gaddafi abandoned Tripoli, President Obama made a triumphant announcement to that effect and Clinton’s opportunity to highlight her joy at the Libyan “regime change” had to wait until Oct. 20, 2011, when he was captured, tortured and murdered.

In a TV interview that day, Clinton reprised Caesar’s boast of veni, vedi, vici with “We came; we saw; he died.”

She then laughed and clapped her hands.

Asked about the Libyan situation on a televised Town Hall meeting on March 7, Clinton compared Libya to the situation in Syria and noted that Libya was in much better shape than the latter.

In a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 8, Gen. David Rodriquez, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, was asked if he believed Libya was a failed state. After what used to be referred to as a pregnant pause, Rodriquez answered, “Yes sir.”

Rube Render is the Curry County Republican chairman. Contact him at:

[email protected]