From FOX News exclusive:
Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. Consulate and subsequent attack several hours later was denied by U.S. officials -- who also told the CIA operators twice to "stand down" rather than help the ambassador's team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11.
Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was part of a small team who was at the CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. Consulate where Ambassador Chris Stevens and his team came under attack. When he and others heard the shots fired, they informed their higher-ups at the annex to tell them what they were hearing and requested permission to go to the consulate and help out. They were told to "stand down," according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to "stand down."
Woods and at least two others ignored those orders and made their way to the Consulate which at that point was on fire. Shots were exchanged. The quick reaction force from the CIA annex evacuated those who remained at the Consulate and Sean Smith, who had been killed in the initial attack. They could not find the ambassador and returned to the CIA annex at about midnight.
At that point, they called again for military support and help because they were taking fire at the CIA safe house, or annex. The request was denied. There were no communications problems at the annex, according those present at the compound. The team was in constant radio contact with their headquarters. In fact, at least one member of the team was on the roof of the annex manning a heavy machine gun when mortars were fired at the CIA compound. The security officer had a laser on the target that was firing and repeatedly requested back-up support from a Specter gunship, which is commonly used by U.S. Special Operations forces to provide support to Special Operations teams on the ground involved in intense firefights. The fighting at the CIA annex went on for more than four hours -- enough time for any planes based in Sigonella Air base, just 480 miles away, to arrive. Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.
wow, since the President is so incompetent, Romney is going to win, right? I mean, unless this is just a biased media attack on the president. If this information you provided is substantial, this would clearly sway the election to Romney and he would be the winner by far. Care to stand behind your post by declaring Romney the winner Victoria?
ReplyDeleteHi vote,
ReplyDeleteAre you on drugs? This is not about Romney and Obama. It's about the death of four Americans and if something could have been done to help them. Are you so absorbed by the political drama that you have no compassion about the tragic loss of these lives? If you are, your unworthy to be an American.
I don't know what happened that day and neither do you. The people that do know aren't talking. The President owes the familes and us an explanation. Just because things went bad, doesn't mean the President is culpable. There is a bureaucracy in place for those contingencies, but like all bureacracies, responsibilities are divided and the ability to make rapid decisions is hampered. The President is responsible as Commander in Chief is to make sure an effective system is in place to react as necessary. In those times, someone needs to step forward and make effective decisions. It's clear this did not happen. I think it's a fair question to know who did what and when.
Just because there are forces in the area, doesn't mean they can make an effective response. The State Department is going to be concerned with the diplomatic issues of taking military action within another sovereign country. You can bet nobody was going to make a decision with "all of the relevant information and intelligence".
That's the rub, there is never enough of the relevant information and intelligence. There are always questions that are unanswered and the fog of war makes combat uncertain. There are no guarantees that it will be successful or more Americans might die than would be saved. There was the failed attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran and the 26 Americans that died trying to resacue the imprisoned crew of the merchant ship Mayaguez. That goes with the turf and is part of the risk involved. Soldiers accept that risk to save those in peril while politcians worry about the consequences. Its called paralysis by analysis.
Your right about one thing, the reports are unsubstantiated, but so were the reports of Romney being a felon and a tax cheat. Be nice if the President set the record straight and let the chips fall where they may. Most Americans are fair minded and will listen and make a fair judgement on who is responsible.
So vote, what do you think should have be done? What if it were you or your child in that situation? How many Americans lives is your life or yoru son's life worth? Those are the decisions Presiden's have to make.
I think the president is smarter than you, I just want to know, since this president has performed so poorly. Why are you not claiming Romney the winner, right now? Just say it. Attacking the president is just old fodder, the true conservatives that believe what they say will openly declare the better the candidate teh winner just to support their own conviction. Noone that claims to be a conservative on here seems to have that same strength. too bad. My family being involved in military and diplomatic missions would receive my full support, that includes the president. I face danger every day, I could be killed on the job any day, dont bother playing the risk/respect card on me.
ReplyDeleteHi vote,
ReplyDeleteI don't have to smarter than the President. I am perfectly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when the facts are known. However, the fact that he is stonewalling, is not a good sign. Asking reasonable questions about the attack on our embassy is not an attack on the President nor an endorsement of Romney or an electoral prediction. Your powers of critical thinking are seriously hindered by your bias for the President.
Your lack of curiousity about this belies the last part of your rant. It's been a month and a half since this happened, when will we learn about what happened?
You don't want the risk/respect thrown on you? Try throwing it less yourself. Try showing a little compassion for these people and their families instead of the usual hate filled, thoughtless, fact deficient, political blather.