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What happened in Benghazi is an aggravation, ‘a craw in our side’, with many veterans still today. It is a sad story of Americans being abandoned by their nation, and it’s unfortunately been used by many politicians for political gain. Excuses were made to explain what happened and to somewhat justify it. Both Republicans and Democrats distort the facts during TV appearances and hearings. But the damage to those left behind - the families and survivors - seems forgotten, without explanation.
Many Americans don’t even understand what these men and women went through - they were living in hell for the thirteen hours preceding the final assault and the evacuation from the CIA annex. Many incorrectly think that the four Americans - Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty - died during the initial assault on the U.S. Diplomatic Compound. There was actually four separate attacks; the first attack on the compound and then three more on the CIA annex where everyone fled to after the first assault. Also, ten others were injured in these attacks. The compound was not an embassy, which means that it didn’t have the normal security detail or bunkering/protections that an American Embassy has. Only five diplomatic security special agents were in Benghazi at the time of the attack; two of them were there by chance, having traveled with Ambassador Stevens from Tripoli. One mile away, a CIA team at the annex was the quick reaction force for the compound, but no one was supposed to know that the CIA security team existed.
Ambassador Stevens was adored by many Libyans and had a great fondness for the country. He felt he could make a difference in the lives of those in Libya, and wanted to show the people that the United States stood behind them in establishing a new democracy. Eastern Libya, Benghazi in particular, was a key hub for intelligence operatives monitoring Ansar al-Sharia and members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Along with Ambassador Stevens, Secretary of State Clinton also wanted a more permanent post in Benghazi.
There was quite a bit of instability in the region prior to the attacks of September 11, 2012. There was frequent IED-related violence. The International Red Cross office in Libya was attacked and there was an assassination attempt on Dominic Asquith, the British ambassador. Requests were made for more security, but according to the regional security officer, Eric Nordstrom, they were rebuffed. Nordstrom told media that, for him and his staff, “it was abundantly clear that [they] were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident.” Lt. Col Andrew Wood, U.S. site security commander in Libya, testified that a regional security officer had tried obtaining more personnel, but was never able to attain a level of security that he felt comfortable with. It was pretty well known within the American intelligence community during the months preceding the attack that Benghazi was unstable and increasingly dangerous - and that a significant attack was imminent.
Top U.S. officials reported the attack as if it had been a spontaneous protest created by an anti-Muslim video...yet there were no such protests immediately prior to the attacks. There was, however, every indication that everything was premeditated. The assault began at nightfall, by militants swathed in flak jackets with covered faces. They were armed with RPGs, hand grenades, AK-47s, mortars, and machine guns. With that level of artillery, it’s quite apparent that this was not a spontaneous protest.
But for some reason...that is what we were supposed to believe.
Ambassador Stevens and State Department information management officer, Sean Smith - an Air Force veteran, died during the initial assault on the compound. The Global Response Staff team, which included former SEAL Tyrone Woods, left the CIA annex approximately twenty minutes later as the Quick Reaction Force in order to aid and/or rescue everyone at the compound. The Quick Reaction Force evacuated everyone from the compound to the CIA annex where they began preparing for potential continuing assaults.
In the ensuing hours, attacks continued as they bunkered at the CIA annex waiting for reinforcements or rescue. Meanwhile another former Navy SEAL, Glen Doherty, and six other men (five CIA operatives and two volunteer Delta operators) gathered at the Tripoli Embassy preparing to mount a rescue - 406 miles away from Benghazi. Since this was not a planned evacuation or rescue attempt by U.S. leadership, they had to figure some way to get to Benghazi. They somehow garnered $30,000 and, with a little persuasion of a couple of Libyan military pilots, they got them to fly from the airport in Tripoli to Benghazi.
At the Benghazi airport, they met up with supportive Libyan troops who took the team of seven men to the CIA annex. Upon arrival, Glen Doherty met Tyrone Woods on the roof of the annex. Within minutes, mortars were fired and both were mortally wounded - two more Americans killed in Benghazi within hours. After this final assault, everyone remaining was transported to the Benghazi airport with the help of the same Libyan troops who assisted Glen Doherty and his team.
The whole incident is very disappointing to me, and something I will never forget. We, as Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors, exist under an oath stating that we will “never leave our brothers and sisters behind”... but these people were left to die. They were left alone - abandoned by the administration, Congress, and in a sense, by their country. Their families also seemed to be forgotten as they never received any explanation regarding this incident. The names of everyone else who had been in Benghazi were also quickly forgotten. It seemed as though many Americans heard enough and didn’t want the truth regardless of the facts...and still don’t. Overall, the incidents that day were incredibly tragic, and I will continue to hope that someday everyone will have the answers they need!
Many Americans don’t even understand what these men and women went through - they were living in hell for the thirteen hours preceding the final assault and the evacuation from the CIA annex. Many incorrectly think that the four Americans - Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty - died during the initial assault on the U.S. Diplomatic Compound. There was actually four separate attacks; the first attack on the compound and then three more on the CIA annex where everyone fled to after the first assault. Also, ten others were injured in these attacks. The compound was not an embassy, which means that it didn’t have the normal security detail or bunkering/protections that an American Embassy has. Only five diplomatic security special agents were in Benghazi at the time of the attack; two of them were there by chance, having traveled with Ambassador Stevens from Tripoli. One mile away, a CIA team at the annex was the quick reaction force for the compound, but no one was supposed to know that the CIA security team existed.
Ambassador Stevens was adored by many Libyans and had a great fondness for the country. He felt he could make a difference in the lives of those in Libya, and wanted to show the people that the United States stood behind them in establishing a new democracy. Eastern Libya, Benghazi in particular, was a key hub for intelligence operatives monitoring Ansar al-Sharia and members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Along with Ambassador Stevens, Secretary of State Clinton also wanted a more permanent post in Benghazi.
There was quite a bit of instability in the region prior to the attacks of September 11, 2012. There was frequent IED-related violence. The International Red Cross office in Libya was attacked and there was an assassination attempt on Dominic Asquith, the British ambassador. Requests were made for more security, but according to the regional security officer, Eric Nordstrom, they were rebuffed. Nordstrom told media that, for him and his staff, “it was abundantly clear that [they] were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident.” Lt. Col Andrew Wood, U.S. site security commander in Libya, testified that a regional security officer had tried obtaining more personnel, but was never able to attain a level of security that he felt comfortable with. It was pretty well known within the American intelligence community during the months preceding the attack that Benghazi was unstable and increasingly dangerous - and that a significant attack was imminent.
Top U.S. officials reported the attack as if it had been a spontaneous protest created by an anti-Muslim video...yet there were no such protests immediately prior to the attacks. There was, however, every indication that everything was premeditated. The assault began at nightfall, by militants swathed in flak jackets with covered faces. They were armed with RPGs, hand grenades, AK-47s, mortars, and machine guns. With that level of artillery, it’s quite apparent that this was not a spontaneous protest.
But for some reason...that is what we were supposed to believe.
Ambassador Stevens and State Department information management officer, Sean Smith - an Air Force veteran, died during the initial assault on the compound. The Global Response Staff team, which included former SEAL Tyrone Woods, left the CIA annex approximately twenty minutes later as the Quick Reaction Force in order to aid and/or rescue everyone at the compound. The Quick Reaction Force evacuated everyone from the compound to the CIA annex where they began preparing for potential continuing assaults.
In the ensuing hours, attacks continued as they bunkered at the CIA annex waiting for reinforcements or rescue. Meanwhile another former Navy SEAL, Glen Doherty, and six other men (five CIA operatives and two volunteer Delta operators) gathered at the Tripoli Embassy preparing to mount a rescue - 406 miles away from Benghazi. Since this was not a planned evacuation or rescue attempt by U.S. leadership, they had to figure some way to get to Benghazi. They somehow garnered $30,000 and, with a little persuasion of a couple of Libyan military pilots, they got them to fly from the airport in Tripoli to Benghazi.
At the Benghazi airport, they met up with supportive Libyan troops who took the team of seven men to the CIA annex. Upon arrival, Glen Doherty met Tyrone Woods on the roof of the annex. Within minutes, mortars were fired and both were mortally wounded - two more Americans killed in Benghazi within hours. After this final assault, everyone remaining was transported to the Benghazi airport with the help of the same Libyan troops who assisted Glen Doherty and his team.
The whole incident is very disappointing to me, and something I will never forget. We, as Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors, exist under an oath stating that we will “never leave our brothers and sisters behind”... but these people were left to die. They were left alone - abandoned by the administration, Congress, and in a sense, by their country. Their families also seemed to be forgotten as they never received any explanation regarding this incident. The names of everyone else who had been in Benghazi were also quickly forgotten. It seemed as though many Americans heard enough and didn’t want the truth regardless of the facts...and still don’t. Overall, the incidents that day were incredibly tragic, and I will continue to hope that someday everyone will have the answers they need!
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 232
I can't believe they will ever be forgotten nor will those responsible for their murders forgiven
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This was an egregious FAILURE by the previous Presidential Administration and Department of State to support and defend... against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Ineptitude, outright prevarication and unwillingness to accept responsibility was rampant not only regarding this incident but throughout the Executive Branch in the past 8 years.
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SGT Randy Kestner
How is what happened at Benghazi any different than what happened in Beirut? You want to hate Obama, that's your right, but don't make it sound like he's the only president that had a failed military operation during his administration. Clinton, 43, and Carter also had unforeseen incidents. And don't forget Reagan's Iran Contra mess.
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Cpl Les Ciapponi
The sad thing is not one person who has brought up that sentence has alluded to what she actually meant. That is what being blinded by your political bias does to you. But then again a person must want to search out the truth. And right wing news media is not exactly what I would consider truthful or fact based.
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They will never be forgotten by us. In the eyes of these politicians, active duty military, and Veterans, are deemed as expendable. Sadly, it will continue to be, business as usual. No empathy at all. God Bless my brothers and sisters.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I don’t completely understand your comment Dr. V. The deaths in Lybia weren’t military deaths. I understand that the security posture was substandard and had not been deemed significant enough by some senior diplomats to action with more personnel but I guess I don’t understand all the sentiments about this. I’d like to though. Is it lax security posture? In December 04 I survived the Mosul chow hall suicide bombing which killed 20 Americans and wounded nearly 90. It was largely due to a lax security posture on the FOB. I guess I’m not sure how this event got so hotly politicized.
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SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD
Hello, Sir. I was lumping all personnel together. To me it's lax security posture. Thank you for your service. Blessings.
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Diplomat: U.S. Special Forces told "you can't go" to Benghazi during attacks
Diplomat contradicts White House, says U.S. Special Forces in Tripoli were told to stand down prior to second Benghazi attack
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SPC Robert Brooks
Makes me sick to my stomach that they had a advance warning and still did nothing! There were enough people within blocks that could have diverted the Horrific Avoidable Catastrophe. The worst part was the media showing the Ambassador drug thru the streets deceased! Gods Speed to the family of these Brave Hero's.
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MSG Louis Alexander
MSgt Borders – Curt, Benghazi needed assistance from men who knew what had to be done and done it. Old school soldier’s who wouldn’t give a damn about the thoughts of temporary politicians or what they considered to be right. Knowing their loved one’s would be taken care of, their only concern would be to support, fight, defend and defeat the posing threat directed at their Brother’s. Men like Art Simons, Roy Benavidez, Jimmy “Nick” Rowe and others who know politicians can’t be trusted or depended upon. If a reaction team consisting of these and other warriors were able to get to Benghazi on time, rest assured there would have been a very different outcome. Today it seems not only politicians but many within the military are hesitant to make a sound decision. If I had been in Tripoli, rest assured those Brothers of mine would not have lost their fight in vain. I’d stand before a Courts Martial or before Congress in defiance of their cowardly acts. For in my heart I’d know we’d be right and come judgement day, when I stand before God Almighty I’ll testify to that fact. I’m not saying rebel against authority, but we must challenge the ignorant, and when the time comes, vote them the hell out of office. This will be the only way to prevent recurrence of this nature.
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SGT Randy Kestner
MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi - First of all, Ambassador Stevens was dead by smoke inhalation within the first hour of the attack, as well as Mr. Smith. So I don't understand how they could be tortured. Doherty and Woods were CIA civilian contractors and were killed about 8 hours after the attack on the Benghazi mission, so the CIA failed them.
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Lack of POTUS response to act properly when they could have, should be required to face charges of conspiracy and lieing to the public costing American lives to cover up their lack of response.
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MSgt Fred Gottshalk
The attack was designed to cover up the ILLEGAL transfer of weapons to the Turks. And those there were all supposed to die.........
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Judicial Watch: New Benghazi Email Shows DOD Offered State Department “Forces that Could Move to...
Judicial Watch today released a new Benghazi email from then-Department of Defense Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash to State Department leadership
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SGT Damaso V Santana
SEC DEF Mad Dog Mattis should really open an inquiry as to this, those guilty need to be prosecuted and Indicted, hopefully if they avoid the death penalty, then rot in prison for life.
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I don't think there will ever be a full accounting. The fear is that it would cause such embarrassment and perhaps legal problems for the former Sec of State and President. Nothing is as important to these people as their political positions and ambitions. It has been evident for 8 years that the military was just a pawn in a poorly played chess game.
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MSG Louis Alexander
If those politicians involved with Benghazi are seeking sympathy, they need look only between shit and syphilis.
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My group has a Benghazi remembrance function every year. We have had relatives of the fallen, intelligence people who worked the issue; Admirals, Generals, DOD civilians who all worked the issue, AND ARE IN THE KNOW.
Interested? Contact MS Beth HEATH @ turning points for American phone # [login to see] . Please be prepared to help with expenses and be involved.
God Bless America and the families of those who sacrificed ALL for her.
Interested? Contact MS Beth HEATH @ turning points for American phone # [login to see] . Please be prepared to help with expenses and be involved.
God Bless America and the families of those who sacrificed ALL for her.
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MSgt Fred Gottshalk
Several of our speakers, "WERE THERE"'. Our next 'tribute' will be Sept 09,'17 at Ritz-Carlton, downtown Jacksonville, FL
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Cpl Les Ciapponi
Are you people that screwed up?! Dinesh D'souza was your keynote speaker? Every damn one of you should be ashamed to have that scumbag liar speak at anything.
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