May
30, 2013
Betrayal in Benghazi
Phil "Hands" Handley Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
The combat code of the US Military is that we don't abandon our dead or
wounded on the battlefield. In US Air Force lingo, fighter pilots don't
run off and leave their wingmen. If one of our own is shot down, still
alive and not yet in enemy captivity, we will either come to get him or
die trying.
Among America 's fighting forces, the calm, sure knowledge that such an
irrevocable bond exists is priceless. Along with individual faith and
personal grit, it is a sacred trust that has often sustained hope in
the face of terribly long odds.
The disgraceful abandonment of our Ambassador and those brave ex-SEALs
who fought to their deaths to save others in that compound is nothing
short of dereliction-of-duty.
Of
course all this depends upon a
Commander In Chief more concerned with saving the lives of those he put
in harm's way ...
It also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood "What
difference did it make?", and a Secretary of Defense who was watching
the feed from the drone and understood what the attack consisted of
instead of making an immediate response that "One of the military
tenants is that you don't commit assets until you fully understand the
tactical situation."
Additionally, the patently absurd cover-up scenario that was fabricated
in the aftermath was an outright lie in an attempt to shield the
President and the Secretary of State from responsibility.
It has been over eight months since the attack on our compound in
Benghazi ..
The White House strategy, with the aid of a "lap dog" press has been to
run out the clock before the truth is forthcoming. The recent
testimonies of the three "whistle blowers" have reopened the subject
and hopefully will lead to exposure and disgrace of those responsible
for this embarrassing debacle.
It would appear that the most recent firewall which the Administration
is counting on is the contention "that there were simply no military
assets that could be brought to bear in time to make a difference"
mainly due to the unavailability of tanker support for fighter
aircraft.
This is simply BS, regardless how many supposed "experts" the
Administration trot out to make such an assertion.
The bottom line is that even if the closest asset capable of response
was half-way around the world, you don't just sit on your penguin ass
and do nothing.
The fact is that the closest asset was not half-way around the world,
but as near as Aviano Air Base , Italy where two squadrons of F-16Cs
are based.
Consider the following scenario (all times Benghazi local):
When Hicks in Tripoli receives a call at 9:40 PM from Ambassador
Stevens informing him "Greg, we are under attack!" (his last words),
Hicks immediately notifies all agencies and prepares for the immediate
initiation of an existing "Emergency Response Plan."
At AFRICON, General Carter Ham attempts to mount a rescue effort, but
is told to "stand down".
By 10:30 PM an unarmed drone is overhead the compound and streaming
live feed to various "Command and Control Agencies" so everyone
watching thatfeed knew damn well what was going on.
At 11:30 PM Woods, Doherty and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in
Benghazi at 1:30 AM on Wednesday morning, where they hold off the
attacking mob from the roof of the compound until they are killed by a
mortar direct hit at 4:00 AM.
So nothing could have been done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that
tanker support really "was not available" what about this:
When at 10:00 PM AFRICON alerts the 31st TFW Command Post in Aviano Air
Base,Italy of the attack, the Wing Commander orders preparation for the
launch of two F-16s and advises the Command Post at NAS Signorelli to
prepare for hot pit refueling and quick turn of the jets.
By 11:30 PM, two F-16Cs with drop tanks and each armed with five
hundred 20 MM rounds are airborne.
Flying at 0.92 mach they will cover the 522 nautical miles directly to
NAS Signorelli in 1.08 hours.
While in-route, the flight lead is informed of the tactical situation,
rules of engagement, and radio frequencies to use.
The jets depart Signorelli at 1:10 AM with full fuel load and cover the
377 nautical miles directly to Benghazi in 0.8 hours, arriving at 1:50
AM which would be 20 minutes after the arrival of Woods, Doherty and
their team.
Providing that the two F-16s initial pass over the mob, in full
afterburner at 200 feet and 550 knots did not stop the attack in its
tracks, a few well placed strafing runs on targets of opportunity would
assuredly do the trick.
Were the F-16s fuel state insufficient to return to Signorelli after
jettisoning their external drop tanks, they could easily do so at
Tripoli International Airport , only one-half hour away.
As for those hand-wringing naysayers who would worry about IFR
clearances, border crossing authority, collateral damage, landing
rights, political correctness and dozens of other reasons not to act --
screw them. It is time our "leadership" get its priorities straight and
put America's interests first.
The end result would be that Woods and Doherty would be alive.
Dozens in the attacking rabble would be rendezvousing with "72 virgins"
and a clear message would have been sent to the next worthless POS
terrorist contemplating an attack on Americans that it is not really a
good idea to "tug" on Superman's cape.
Of course all this depends upon a Commander In Chief more concerned
with saving the lives of those he put in harm's way than getting his
crew rested for a campaign fund raising event in Las Vegas the next day.
It also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood "What
difference did it make?", and a Secretary of Defense who was watching
the feed from the drone and understood what the attack consisted of
instead of making an immediate response that "One of the military
tenants is that you don't commit assets until you fully understand the
tactical situation."
Comment
YGBSM! ( "You Gotta Be Shittin' Me".)
Ultimately it comes down to the question of who gave that order to
stand down? Whoever that coward turns out to be should be exposed,
removed from office, and face criminal charges for dereliction of duty.
The combat forces of the United States of America deserve leadership
that really does "have their back" when the chips are down.
——
