# Benghazi Attack for Dummies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 8, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466 "2013-11-08T23:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 44
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/861 "2014-02-03T19:38:25Z")
I’m sure it looked great on his Xbox. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/862 "2014-02-03T19:39:24Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …can you point out which part of post 775 is plausible? Ohhh! Ohhh! {waves hand in air} I know! \*I know!!! \*It starts with this part: > [@Acewiza](#): > > 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. And then it goes on with the part where he makes “act of war” into a patriotic requirement: > [@Acewiza](#): > > 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. I get extra credit, right?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/863 "2014-02-03T19:40:10Z")
> [@Acewiza](#): > > How many times do you need to be asked to re-read my post #775 which posits a perfectly plausible military response with the associated timelines and militarily relevant details? > > Speculative dismissal of aforementioned post is hereby preemptively dismissed. 😉 Your post is utter nonsense. Jets strafing a friendly city in the hope of killing an unknown number of militants isn’t an intelligent plan. It’s a stupid plan. Do you think the the US military should do stupid things, just so you have fodder to complain about a politician you don’t like? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/864 "2014-02-03T19:41:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m sure it looked great on his Xbox. I’m not a gamer, but is there a _Star Wars_ game where you could practice on womp rats? ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/865 "2014-02-03T19:45:23Z")
> [@Acewiza](#): > > How many times do you need to be asked to re-read my post #775 which posits a perfectly plausible military response with the associated timelines and militarily relevant details? > > Speculative dismissal of aforementioned post is hereby preemptively dismissed. 😉 Not able to heed your own advice, I see: > [@Acewiza](#): > > I’m no longer responding to confabulation about a rescue mission that never took place. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/866 "2014-02-03T20:13:09Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > [indent] > You’re right: they didn’t know what was to come, so they sent forces. No, they didn’t. They sent people to evacuate Tripoli. No special forces were sent to directly to Benghazi which is where the attack occurred. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/867 "2014-02-03T20:25:25Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > No, they didn’t. They sent people to evacuate Tripoli. No special forces were sent to directly to Benghazi which is where the attack occurred. Because by the time they arrived in Europe (or, in the case of the FAST platoon, arrived in Tripoli, or in the case of the team in Croatia, arrived at their staging base), everyone had been evacuated. Why would they be sent into Benghazi when there was no one there to rescue? When the teams were being readied and shipped out, it was unknown whether they would be needed for a rescue mission. What you seemingly are advocating was done: **four** separate teams were organized and transported, even though it wasn’t clear if they’d be able to have any impact on the events. One made it in time to assist, the others didn’t. Feel free to criticize the _positioning_ of forces, as the Senate Intelligence Committee report did - the nearest combat aircraft were in Italy, unarmed, and refueling aircraft were another 10 hours away in Great Britain, leaving the F16s out of combat range; special forces were on a training mission in Croatia, the FAST platoon was in Spain, etc. But, those forces were sent to assist, they simply (save for the 4-man team in Tripoli) arrived too late to assist, because of said positioning. ETA: See the timeline: the last Americans left Benghazi at 4:00 am, the FAST platoon arrived at 2:56 pm. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/868 "2014-02-03T21:54:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m sure it looked great on his Xbox. “Buzzing the tower” as a strategy is actually from Top Gun and the Eighties, not Xbox. People had a much higher tolerance for stupid shit back then. Disco is my cite. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/869 "2014-02-03T22:24:40Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I’m not a gamer, but is there a _Star Wars_ game where you could practice on womp rats? Yep. _Rogue Squadron II_. Also, maybe one of the _Rebel Assault_ games. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/870 "2014-02-04T02:53:50Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Because by the time they arrived in Europe (or, in the case of the FAST platoon, arrived in Tripoli, or in the case of the team in Croatia, arrived at their staging base), everyone had been evacuated. Why would they be sent into Benghazi when there was no one there to rescue? > . There were CIA people ready to go when this started: Westmoreland said the CIA security contractors loaded into two vehicles, with weapons ready, the moment they heard the radio call for help from the diplomatic building. Some of the contractors wanted to rush to the U.S. compound roughly a mile away, and their agitation grew as they heard increasing panic when the diplomats reported the militants were setting the compound on fire. As to the use of aircraft to attack this was considered and turned down supposedly because of availability: [One of the contractors](http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/cia-benghazi-stand-down-report-101162.html) testified that he shouted repeatedly over the agency’s radio system to his CIA security boss that they should request combat aircraft to help. But the security chief explained to lawmakers that he ignored his subordinate’s demands, because he said he knew that no combat aircraft were available for such a mission, Westmoreland said. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/871 "2014-02-04T03:33:29Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > There were CIA people ready to go when this started: > > Westmoreland said the CIA security contractors loaded into two vehicles, with weapons ready, the moment they heard the radio call for help from the diplomatic building. Some of the contractors wanted to rush to the U.S. compound roughly a mile away, and their agitation grew as they heard increasing panic when the diplomats reported the militants were setting the compound on fire. > > As to the use of aircraft to attack this was considered and turned down supposedly because of availability: > > [One of the contractors](http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/cia-benghazi-stand-down-report-101162.html) testified that he shouted repeatedly over the agency’s radio system to his CIA security boss that they should request combat aircraft to help. But the security chief explained to lawmakers that he ignored his subordinate’s demands, because he said he knew that no combat aircraft were available for such a mission, Westmoreland said. The only thing I can even begin to do to rebut your VERY selective quoting is to tell people to read the article that you (badly) linked. Because it doesn’t lay blame for anything that happened that night on the White House or State. The article is talking about confusion among CIA people actually AT Benghazi, not an order to stand down. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/872 "2014-02-04T04:00:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > There were CIA people ready to go when this started: > > Westmoreland said the CIA security contractors loaded into two vehicles, with weapons ready, the moment they heard the radio call for help from the diplomatic building. Some of the contractors wanted to rush to the U.S. compound roughly a mile away, and their agitation grew as they heard increasing panic when the diplomats reported the militants were setting the compound on fire. If only they’d gotten there sooner, they could have put out the fire. With bullets. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/873 "2014-02-04T04:02:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The only thing I can even begin to do to rebut your VERY selective quoting is to tell people to read the article that you (badly) linked. Because it doesn’t lay blame for anything that happened that night on the White House or State. The article is talking about confusion among CIA people actually AT Benghazi, not an order to stand down. They were a mile away. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/874 "2014-02-04T04:42:44Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > They were a mile away. And? They were a bunch of CIA guys with small arms. They were supposed to do what? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/875 "2014-02-04T05:17:22Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > They were a mile away. Why don’t you say what you’re implying: that they didn’t go to the other compound? Because the article says they did. Are you implying that they would have saved lives if they left earlier? The article says they would not have. > [@](#): > > According to previous accounts by U.S. officials, the attacks began at approximately 9:40 p.m., and the CIA team arrived roughly 25 minutes into the attack. > > None of those who testified would say they believed the ambassador or the others could have been saved had they arrived any faster, according to two officials, who also were briefed on the testimony. I guess I’m not sure why you keep bringing things up that show that there was no cavalry to call that would have saved the four lives. It’s terribly unfortunate, but we just can’t have Special Forces mount effective rescue operations anywhere in the world on 5 minutes notice. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/876 "2014-02-04T05:22:43Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And? They were a bunch of CIA guys with small arms. They were supposed to do what? make Hillary regret her decisions? Have a bake sale? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/877 "2014-02-04T05:27:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Why don’t you say what you’re implying: that they didn’t go to the other compound? Because the article says they did. > > Are you implying that they would have saved lives if they left earlier? The article says they would not have. I guess I’m not sure why you keep bringing things up that show that there was no cavalry to call that would have saved the four lives. It’s terribly unfortunate, but we just can’t have Special Forces mount effective rescue operations anywhere in the world on 5 minutes notice. they waited a half hour. The time line fits a rescue. And again, you’re trying to justify a decision after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/878 "2014-02-04T05:33:21Z")
Read what the people testified: getting there earlier wouldn’t have saved Stevens’ life. That’s their own conclusion, apparently. Who are you to contradict what they said? First you’re an armchair general throwing A-teams out of planes on parachutes into the middle of hostile cities; now you’re an armchair CIA security contractor who knows better than the people who were actually on the ground? You’ve got the biggest pair of huevos I’ve ever seen on a Monday-morning quarterback. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/879 "2014-02-04T05:35:57Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Read what the people testified: getting there earlier wouldn’t have saved Stevens’ life. That’s their own conclusion, apparently. Who are you to contradict what they said? First you’re an armchair general throwing A-teams out of planes on parachutes into the middle of hostile cities; now you’re an armchair CIA security contractor who knows better than the people who were actually on the ground? > > You’ve got the biggest pair of huevos I’ve ever seen on a Monday-morning quarterback. you just got done saying 25 minutes would have put them in the battle. they waited 30 minutes. And what they testified to is that they wanted to go but were delayed. And cities aren’t hostile, people are. they had a drone onsite. This is a huge advantage to work with. I can’t imagine a police unit not responding to a shooting. Why would we not send people trained in combat into a combat situation? It’s what they’re trained for. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466/880 "2014-02-04T05:40:02Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > you just got done saying 25 minutes would have put them in the battle. they waited 30 minutes. …because Hillary? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benghazi-attack-for-dummies/673466.md?page=45)