Now it has come to light, with the release of a report from the Citizens' Commission on Benghazi, that there were many more lies that were much more serious that letting 4 Americans die at the hands of terrorists. Here is the link to the complete report.
Just in case you can't remember that well, here is a photo of Ambassador Christopher Stevens after he was killed, courtesy of an Al Qaeda terrorist and the internet. He and Glen Doherty were trapped in the Embassy the night of the attack. Doherty was killed in the compound and Stevens was found wounded in a Libyan hospital, but was killed and drug out into the street by the terrorists. (More photos from the night of the attack)
Here are photos of the 4 Americans who were killed that night. Woods and Smith left the comfort of a CIA safe house to go to the Embassy a mile away, but the attack there was over. They went back to the safe house to protect the other Americans hiding there, but it was attacked a few hours later and in the ensuing 4 hour battle, Woods and Smith were also killed.The most terrible tragedy that occurred is that multiple mistakes were made that could have saved the lives of all 4 of these people, regardless of the reason for the attack.
- The Embassy security staff was reduced by Hillary Clinton's State Department office, from 16 to 4 people a few weeks before the attack.
- Woods and Smith wanted to leave the safe house immediately upon hearing of the attack at the Embassy, but were told to wait. They might have saved Stevens and Doherty
- Lt. Col. Gibson and his Special Forces Team heard of the attack on the Embassy and were on their way to board a C-130 cargo plane from Tripoli for Benghazi prior to the second attack on the safe house when he received a phone call from SOCAFRICA which said, "You can't go now, you don't have the authority to go now." And so they did not go.
- Hillary Clinton and Military Commanders said there were no available resources (planes) to send in time. President Obama could have boarded a commercial flight and been there, from Washington DC, in 14 hours. They could have scrambled jets from Andrews Air Force Base and been there before the second battle started, (F-22 Raptor, 5221 miles/1220 mph cruising speed = 4 hours 30 minutes). But we also had scores of jets within 30-60 minutes; in Italy, Turkey, Germany, Spain, England, all armed and ready to fight.
- F-16 fighters were available and according to the Commission's report, “Even if they were not armed, even if they were not loaded with munitions, simply flying a jet like that low and fast on afterburner over a scene like this, has, in the past, in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, had the salutary effect of absolutely scattering the attackers, who are taken by surprise and frightened out of their wits,”
In an article, What Assets Could US Military Use Against Syria Chemical Sites, by Michael Lipin, he discusses the positioning of US Bases and ships at the time of the Benghazi attack. This map was generated to show the US Military Assets available in the fall of 2012, capable of striking Syria. That little bump of land, below the back end of the destroyer, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower, in the Mediterranean, (15) is Benghazi.
To quote Mr. Lipin, "Two U.S. navy battle groups capable of firing those missiles are on duty in the region."
"The USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault group is at sea as part of the U.S. 6th Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes the Mediterranean. Pike said that is where the group spends most of its time.The USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier group is on duty specifically in the Mediterranean. Pike said the two battle groups likely have about 500 Tomahawk cruise missiles between them."
"The USS Eisenhower also has the ability to launch warplanes into Syria. Additional U.S. warplanes could be sent into Syria from a variety of air bases that United States shares with allies in Europe and the Gulf." (Bold text added)
Half of these planes would have flown past Benghazi on their way to Syria.The biggest mistake of all, was when the Libyan Rebellion began months before and we started to bomb the day lights out of Libya, Muammar Qaddafi offered to step down with only 2 conditions.
- Assurances that Libya would not fall into the hands of Al-Qaeda
- Legal protection for himself and his family
That was all he wanted. But we said, "No."
We then continued to provide support for the Libyan Rebels, by helping to broker a deal for guns to be purchased from Eastern Europe with a loan from the United Arab Emirates for about $1 billion. The guns were sent to Libya and the Transitional National Council, (the revolutionary government) which was staffed by the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Qaeda supporters) and enforced by Al-Qaeda operatives. As the guns were sent into the country, NATO had such a tight blockade, that nothing went in or out without NATO (and US) approval. This meant, the United States was knowingly helping to supply guns and ammunition to Al-Qaeda, the same organization who declared war on us on September 11, 2011 and over 3000 of our young men and women had given their lives fighting to destroy for the past 11 years.
(It should also be noted that during this time, the uprising in Syria was gaining momentum and many of the weapons purchased were also shipped on to Syria to aid the Al-Qaeda-backed rebels.)
(It should also be noted that during this time, the uprising in Syria was gaining momentum and many of the weapons purchased were also shipped on to Syria to aid the Al-Qaeda-backed rebels.)
The US Constitution states in Section 3: "Treason against the United States, shall consists only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid or Comfort." Anyone who condoned, allowed, or ordered this gun transaction to occur is guilty of treason.
Then to move from ridiculous to incredulous, the TNC decided to sell half of the guns and munitions to Qaddafi supporters for $500 million. That's right, they sold guns to the very people they were fighting. Since they had the backing of NATO, the TNC was sure they could not lose; so this transaction allowed them to raise cash, prolong the war and liquidate more of their opponents before a new government was installed.
To summarize:
- Qaddafi offered to step down shortly after the Libyan Rebellion began which was months before the Benghazi attack.
- Tens of thousands of lives and damage would have been spared if the President Obama had agreed, but he said, "No."
- The Transitional National Council was staffed by the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Qaeda supporters) and enforced by Al-Qaeda operatives.
- The rebellion and overthrow of Qaddafi were the goal of Al-Qaeda, supporting the ouster was supporting the agenda of Al-Qaeda.
- The US had brokered a deal for arms to be purchased and shipped to Libya to support the rebel fighters, knowing who they really were.
- The US and NATO allowed the guns and ammunition to pass through the blockade into the hands of the rebels.
- Providing aid to Al-Qaeda is treason.
- The rebels turned around and sold half the guns and ammunition to their enemies, Qaddafi supporters, raising cash and prolonging the war.
- The State Department, under the direction of Hillary Clinton, intentionally reduced the number of security personal at the Benghazi Embassy from 16 to 4, even though the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks were just a few weeks away.
- When the attack occurred, no one was mobilized to provide any aid or extraction for the Americans at the Embassy.
- Stevens and Doherty were completely abandoned by the United States Government.
- At least 2 different independent rescue missions were started, but told to "wait". The order to "stand down" was never given, but "wait" produces the same result.
- There WERE assets available to have evacuated the CIA safe house and possibly have saved the lives of Stevens and Doherty.
- Who abandoned our people, allowing them to be butchered and the debauchery published on the Internet?
Anyone who refuses to support investigations that get to the bottom of who was responsible so those people can be appropriately punished, is complicit or an accessory after the fact, in these horrible acts.
Bibliography:
All photos are from the afore-mentioned articles.
