Betrayal in
Benghazi
By 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.
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
three years 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 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 that feed knew damn well what was going
on.
At 11:30 PM
Doherty and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in Benghazi at
1:30 AMon Wednesdaymorning, where they hold off
the attacking mob
from the roof of the compound until they are killed by a direct
mortar hit at4:00 AM.
So nothing could
have been done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that tanker support
really "was not available" what about this: When at10:00 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
Sigonella 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 Sigonella 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
Sigonella at 1:10 AMwith 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 Sigonelli
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."
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.
About the Author:
Colonel Phil
"Hands" Handley is credited with the highest
speed air-to-air gun
kill in the history of aerial combat. He flew operationally for
all but 11 months of a 26-year career, in aircraft such as the
F-86 Sabre, F-15 Eagle, and the C-130A
Hercules.
Additionally, he
flew 275 combat missions during two tours in
Southeast Asia in the F- 4D
and F-4E. His awards include 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished
Flying Crosses, and the Silver Star.
FOR THOSE OF YOU
HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS, DO
ONE THING FOR ME AND
FORWARD IT!!
TO AVOID THIS
HAPPENING AGAIN, WHOMEVER GAVE THE "STAND DOWN" ORDER NEEDS TO
BE EXPOSED!
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