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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 believe warriors have died under every administration so be sure not to pick and choose when to decide to blame an administration without having all of the evidence. Too many in uniform have forgotten our duty to remain apolitical.
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Just what did Republicans do wrong in regards to Benghazi besides letting themselves be stonewalled by the Democrats? Help was spun up and then shut down. A regional commander was relieved of command for attempting to send a QRF team. Amambassibor Stevens was a friend of Hillary's, and she refused to take his calls. It was a big deal and a photo op When the Seals took down Ben Laden. But Obama and Hillary were indifferent about Benghazi refusing to send help. And then put out a false narrative about it being a spontaneous incident set off by a comic book with a Picture of Mohamad in it. My family has served since the Civil War, were the first to Gold stare would have been given if they did that back then. I fell apart when Benguiz happened. I was spitting mad out in my front yard. When a neighbor of mine walked by and asked me what was wrong, he was more concerned about me then what happened in Ben Guzi. He lost his only son, A Marine in Afganistan earlier that year. I'm still mad and disappointed in the lack of action taken them. And the lack of action taken later in Afghanistan. When troops in contact called for support and were denied by pencil pushers in the rear on several different occasions. You can read the book (Into the fire) By Dakota Meyer A CMH recipient. For one example of poor and indifferent leadership.
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When you desert your fellow soldiers/comrades in arms you betray those who trusted you, that is you become a traitor. In the days of the US cavalry in the expanding west such deserters, traitors and cowards were branded. The Obama administration, and particularly Secretary Clinton will forever have the stigma of deserting those they led, and will be "branded" as traitors.
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I hole hartley agree that the party in office must be held accountable. As a service member they were put in harm's way and should have been backed up/covered. Wether working for the DOD or the DOS (dept of state). America owes those that serve the backing while undertaking assigned duties for our country!!!!!
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What I fail to understand about this issue and how it became such a partisan rallying cry, is the fact that there were multiple investigations created and administered by Republicans and each of the investigating bodies came away empty. It seems as though many want this investigated until they get the outcome they want.
Unlike others we see, in these investigations no one ducked and dodged any subpoenas or refused to testify. Ten investigations were conducted into the 2012 Benghazi attack, six of these by Republican-controlled House committees and even though mistakes were made, no one was proven to be complacent. So do we ignore all of those investigations because they did not deliver the outcome that we wanted?
If we go back to my era of battle there are a host of questions still lingering over the loss of life due to Friendly Fire. It’s estimated that there may be as many as 8,000 friendly fire incidents in the Vietnam War caused by mistakes, negligence, exhaustion, panic, horseplay, dim lighting, dense vegetation, inattentiveness, faulty equipment, poor training, foolishness, ill fortune or some combination of the above. Does anyone know any of those names? I personally knew a few.
We Honor them, We Mourn them and we say in all sincerity, REST IN PEACE.
Unlike others we see, in these investigations no one ducked and dodged any subpoenas or refused to testify. Ten investigations were conducted into the 2012 Benghazi attack, six of these by Republican-controlled House committees and even though mistakes were made, no one was proven to be complacent. So do we ignore all of those investigations because they did not deliver the outcome that we wanted?
If we go back to my era of battle there are a host of questions still lingering over the loss of life due to Friendly Fire. It’s estimated that there may be as many as 8,000 friendly fire incidents in the Vietnam War caused by mistakes, negligence, exhaustion, panic, horseplay, dim lighting, dense vegetation, inattentiveness, faulty equipment, poor training, foolishness, ill fortune or some combination of the above. Does anyone know any of those names? I personally knew a few.
We Honor them, We Mourn them and we say in all sincerity, REST IN PEACE.
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My wife and I got to meet Oz Geist, co-author of 13 hours and listen to his story and what a story it is. Hillary and the administration left them out to dry. Damn shame.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SGT James Bower My son and I had the privilege of listening and meeting Kris "Tanto" Paronto. One Interesting Tidbit- Oz and Tanto do not care for one another.
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I am hopeful the guilty parties will get their due justice. All justice does not happen in a courtroom. It would be great if it did this time though.
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Oddly you blame The Secretary of State but made no mention of those who pulled all security funding from US Embassy’s...
We are military. We keep it real. We speak truths and condemn lies. We believe the omission of truth is a lie.
Benghazi was a failure on the administration not an individual.
We are military. We keep it real. We speak truths and condemn lies. We believe the omission of truth is a lie.
Benghazi was a failure on the administration not an individual.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Actually I name no one individual to blame as you suggest. But you cannot deny the failures of the Administration’s handling of the situation.
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SGT Dan Theman
MSgt (Join to see)
I blame the seated Congress and speaker of the house for removing the funding that Guaranteed the security detachments for all embassies for the seated Secretary of State to use at his/her discretion.
It was a Republican led congress and as a Republican I was disgusted. Ultimately it falls on President Obama.
As does the current mishandling of the pandemic. That falls on President Trump.
Keeping it real
I blame the seated Congress and speaker of the house for removing the funding that Guaranteed the security detachments for all embassies for the seated Secretary of State to use at his/her discretion.
It was a Republican led congress and as a Republican I was disgusted. Ultimately it falls on President Obama.
As does the current mishandling of the pandemic. That falls on President Trump.
Keeping it real
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MSgt (Join to see)
SGT Dan Theman - Truthfully the blame goes to both the legislative and executive branches. Also a problem, Benghazi was not an embassy and was not secured as such. It was the State Department who convinced the President that we needed to be there.
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The fact that you blame Clinton says everything anyone needs to know about your intelligence, or lack thereof. A good dose of facts would do you some good.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - As you claim of me I too can see we’re your loyalty lays. I would agree blame does go to our government representatives as a whole both Legislative and Executive. Have a good day sir.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) loyalty? My loyalty lies with what’s good for the entire population, not some ignorant apolitical ideology that I was brainwashed into believing as a child.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - Actually my parents leaned Democrat. Both of them loved JFK and were big supporters of Congressmen Tom Foley here in Eastern Washington. So my ideology evolved from my own perspective of what’s good for our nation. Yes I am a conservative, but I try to keep my mind open to different opinions. So with all do respect sir to only blame Congress is an apolitical ideology. Yes, Congress did withhold funding and deserve blame. But it was also the Secretary of State who convinced the President that we needed to be represented in Benghazi. So the failures squarely fall on all in charge at the time both in Congress and the Executive branch. That is truly looking at it without blinders.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) you’re a conservative based on your own determines of what you think is good for the country? That’s even worse, says a lot about your character and judgement. And blaming the Secretary of State for wanting representation is a typical deflection strategy of conservatives. Find any way possible to point blame somewhere else.
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They may have still died, they would have at least known that help and our government was backing them. Instead they fought for honor and were hung out to dry by our administration. God Bless them
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