First, to be clear, this is not a simple matter of guilt by association. As we’ve previously reported, the U.S.-Islamic World Forum (U.S.-IWF) that was held in Doha, Qatar earlier this year had some very interesting figures in attendance. Multiple Muslim Brotherhood representatives were on-hand, as was Thomas Pickering, Chairman of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board (ARB).

This reality could be extremely relevant if, as we suspect is likely, there is a Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt) connection to the Benghazi attacks. Pickering’s attendance at the aforementioned forum – coupled with the ARB’s whitewash report – could signal a huge conflict of interest if there is an Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood connection to Benghazi.

Saleha Abedin: At U.S.-IWF in 2006.

Apparently, the U.S.-IWF is an annual event that’s been around for some time. It’s 2006 participants are in many ways, more interesting than its 2013 participants. According to the agenda of the event, topics discussed included “Iraq and the Danish cartoon controversy”. This excerpt from the meeting’s summary was particularly interesting:

“…an important demonstration that a middle ground of respectful dialogue, shared interests, mutual concerns, and joint solutions does exist.” {emphasis ours}

In light of what Americans are learning about the Brotherhood, that part about dialogue is a known ruse.

Here are some screenshots of some interesting individuals who were there, to include Saleha Abedin, the mother of Hillary Clinton’s close adviser, Huma Abedin, Liz Cheney, Feisal Abdul Rauf, and Bush adviser Karen Hughes.

Via Wayback Machine:

Saleha Abedin in attendance at 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Feisal Abdul Rauf: Ground Zero mosque Imam at 2006 U.S.-IWF

Liz Cheney: At the 2006 U.S.-IWF

Much has changed in seven years. Americans are far more informed about who the Muslim Brotherhood is and what its goals are. However, as the daughter of then Vice President Dick Cheney who held a high-ranking position in the State Department, Liz Cheney likely knew more then than is publicly known now about the Brotherhood. What was the reason for her attendance at the forum?

Liz Cheney: At 2006 U.S.-IWF

If it was a matter of ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’, how well has that strategy worked to this point? The answer should be obvious. It appears that Cheney went to Doha in her job capacity with the State Department. If so, fine but why has she been so silent on the Muslim Brotherhood members in the U.S., like the ones represented at the 2006 conference? How come she didn’t publicly support Rep. Michele Bachmann last year when legitimate questions about Huma Abedin, the daughter of one of the U.S.-IWF attendees in Doha with Cheney, were raised by Bachmann?

As an aside, perhaps the fiercest attack on Bachmann relative to her concerns about Abedin, came from her own former campaign chief, Ed Rollins, who identifies himself as “a longtime friend of her (Cheney’s) father”. With each passing day, Bachmann is being proven right; Cheney has been silent.

This past July, Cheney announced that she would be running for U.S. Senate in Wyoming against incumbent Mike Enzi, who is actually one of the more conservative U.S. Senators. Perhaps Mr. Enzi should start asking why Cheney was rubbing elbows with individuals who should have been identified as enemies of the U.S.

Perhaps another unintended consequence of the mainstreaming of the U.S.-IWF has been that Pickering’s attendance at the forum in 2013 is not considered all that controversial. Precedent has essentially dictated that, which doesn’t make it any less wrong. Again, if the Muslim Brotherhood – which was heavily represented at U.S.-IWF in both 2006 and in 2013 – was in any way involved in the Benghazi attack last year, Pickering has a conflict of interest as chairman of the ARB.

That conflict is manifest in that no one was held accountable at State.

Liz Cheney is widely regarded as a staunch Tea Party conservative but she’s also something else – the daughter of a former Vice President who needs to have his legacy protected. Until politicians from past administrations admit who and what this country is up against, their intentions – no matter how pure – do not matter. In fact, they’re counter-productive.

The strategy implemented by the Bush administration after 9/11 was fatally flawed. When it comes to the war on terror, we are absolutely not better off than we were twelve years ago. Unless and until there is a confession of that fact by those involved (Karl Rove included), America will continue to fail in identifying her enemies.

Perhaps if this did happen, Saleha wouldn’t be permitted to roam the streets of New York City in western garb in 2013:

Saleha in NYC in July to help daughter Huma during Weiner scandal. (via Daily Telegraph)