Were they al-Qaida with a plan?RE: Clinton’s testimony at the Benghazi hearings: The attack, siege, and murder that happened in Benghazi were the results of terrible leadership and security operations. And the subsequent investigation doesn’t show much promise for finding the responsible parties. But the startling retort from the secretary of state during her testimony, was breathtaking.In what should have been a congressional “call to the carpet”, an indignant and uncooperative witness summarily dismissed her conduct, which bordered on criminal, as unimportant. She redefined her role by declaring that the outcome won’t be changed if the State Department called the attack a planned al-Qaida anniversary attack, or spontaneous mob angered by a video clip. There are four dead Americans and it didn’t make much difference who did it. Her actual quote was “What difference does it make?” She may as well have said that this investigation “never fed a hungry child.” Both comments are irrelevant to the issue and do nothing but derail the train of thought.Look, there are three parts to the attack as I see it:• Lack of security at the mission;• Lack of rescue response for an eight-hour siege• A manufactured cover story as the reason for the attack and the identity of the assailants.The “difference”, to which Clinton refers, is in part three.Were they al-Qaida with a plan or just a mob, out for a stroll? Well, they came armed with enough ammo to lay siege to the U.S. Embassy for eight hours. Which story would you go with?Keep in mind, the administration was running for re-election on Sept. 11 and had claimed credit for all but eradicating al-Qaida in the area. So how would it look if the lead story in the news cycle was that al-Qaida stormed the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi and raped the ambassador?Obviously, this “pig” needed a new dress, so Susan Rice was trotted out with “the video” explanation on the Sunday news shows. The film’s producer was jailed and a righteously indignant secretary of state railed against such an inflammatory, extremist view of religion. All of the little people were placated, and the administration walked away to the next podium.The curious part for me is why the investigation has hinged on the obfuscation instead of the neglect. The other two parts I mentioned earlier — lack of security and lack of rescue response are the more damning. I’ll forgo the details of their eight-hour siege and simply ask all involved — Where were you? What did you do? Why didn’t you respond? Who issued the order to stand down? Somebody watched real-time reconnaissance video. Somebody heard the satellite phone calls pleading for support.Somebody else was ready, willing, and able to respond from areas nearby, but never got the order. Someday, somebody is going to talk about this event, and we’ll find out what difference the truth makes. What we’ve heard so far, is not very close, in my estimation.James Davis, Colorado SpringsVoters will make the decisionI was amazed that Deborah Hendrix thinks that City Council makes the decision on council pay, based on the Jan. 17 article, “Candidate urges council to shelve pay raise proposal.”Shows what she knows. The council will decide if it gets out on the ballot. If you ask me, it isn’t the council or Hendrix’s decision. This is a voter’s right to make the decision because we pay the taxes.So much for Hendrix saying she is a citizen politician. She thinks she has all the power and has already forgotten that voters rule.Helen Breazell, Colorado SpringsProvide funding for MSAt a time when many people remain challenged by the economy, Colorado’s nonprofit organizations are working diligently to continue providing services to communities throughout the state — and the need is greater than ever.Once again Coloradans can make a gift of support using Checkoff Colorado, the program that allows taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to their favorite charitable organizations when they file their state income tax return. This year, taxpayers can donate to 15 funds listed on the 2012 Colorado 104 individual income tax form.The Colorado Multiple Sclerosis Fund is one of the funds eligible for check-off donations, which supports the vital work of the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.Colorado has one of the highest prevalence of MS in the nation, and I encourage our generous community to check line 46 on their tax forms, which will to help provide one-on-one assistance, resource connections, educational programs and financial assistance that make a significant impact on the lives of the 95,000+ affected by MS in Colorado.Carrie H. Nolan, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, National MS Society, DenverDisappointed in the hypocrisyI am very disappointed in the sponsors of SB11 (civil unions). Last year, they listened to adoption placement organizations that for moral andor religious reasons would not place a child outside a marriage. The Senate sponsor Pat Steadman went out of his way last year to insure religious freedom for organizations that will not place a child outside a marriage.This year, however, Sen. Steadman claims since organizations like Catholic Charities will not support the bill anyway, all religious freedom protection has been dropped. This violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.They claim that the religious exemption discriminates against couples who are not married. Yet, in the name of nondiscrimination, they will discriminate against adoption agencies that for moral or religious reasons will not place a child outside of marriage. What hypocrisy!Fr. Bill Carmody, Colorado Springs