BENGHAZI FACTS--NOT PRETTY!

Here is what Col. Handley wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey's
claims there was no time to send help to Benghazi.
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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.


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 AM on Wednesday morning, where they hold off the attacking mob
from the roof of the compound until they are killed by a direct mortar
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 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 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 Sigonella 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.

THE BLACK DILEMMA