I just finished the Books On Tape edition of "Under Siege-The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi"
It is a detailed account of the attack. As the book progressed I got the feeling that part of it's purpose was to put the best face possible on the Obama Administration.
It made one mention of Amb Stevens requesting more security, but no word about why the Mission wasn't better protected.
Steven had a scheduled appointment with The February 17 Militia, that had been contracted to provide armed security for the Mission. Feb 17 had become unresponsive to Steven's request for better security because they felt the DOS was reneging on agreed upon payments. No mention in the book as to why Feb 17 wasn't being paid , as agreed.
The book talked about the video and the turmoil it caused in the Arab World. It described the first notice of the attack was when the terrorists kicked their way into the Guard Gate house The book said simply, "There was no demonstration" The Video & Benghazi were not linked in the book.
There were 7 Americans at the Mission. Stevens, Smith and 5 DOS security agents.
About an hour into the attack 7 volunteers from the CIA Annex left in two armored SUVs, for the Mission. There have been reports that the 7 men were told not to go to the Mission. Who told them that has never been identified, as far as I know. The book made no mention about how the men were selected. They were suddenly in the SUVs.
Something I had never known was that the 7 men stopped by Feb 17 headquarters to get Militiamen to join them. They didn't refuse to go but it quickly became obvious they had no intention of going to the attack.
A huge surprise. Three Militiamen grabbed their guns and gear and joined the 7 Americans. They behaved bravely throughout the fight. I hope those three me are alive and living in America.
It told of the two drones. One was over head when the attack started. It's video feed was transmitted to Germany and DC. And from Germany, back to the men in Benghazi. They were able to view the video and move the drone around with laptop type computers. Actually I think they were able to tell Germany what they wanted to look at. The 5 agents would have likely been over run if they hadn't been able to see where the terrorists were. They killed dozens of the attackers.
The second drone was dispatched from an un-named location. There was no mention as to why the drone was launched, unarmed. The attack was underway when it left the ground. I'll never believe that arming the drone wasn't discussed. IMO, someone made the decision. If it had been armed Woods and Daughtery would probably be alive. The terrorist mortar crew fired 4 rounds before firing the two rounds that killed our two men.
As with the 7 men that went from the Annex to the Mission, there was no discussion. in the book about how the 7 men from Tripoli came to be on their way to the Tripoli Airport. I've herd they were also told to stand down. I think that was in House Hearing testimony.
Tripoli Embassy personnel greased the way through the Libyan Government for a Libyan C-130 to fly the team to Benghazi and to cut red tape to get them in the air. When they landed in Benghazi the grease can to a halt. They got to Benghazi at 01:10 AM.
The Libyan Government had little influence in Benghazi. The CIA men among the 7 man team contacted the Feb 17 militia and they responded with about50 armed men and 12 armored SUVs, some with mounted machine guns. After three hours the rescue team was off for the 10 mile ride to the Annex. Woods and Daughtery were killed shortly after the rescue team arrived. The mortar round that killed Daughtery was the last mortar round fired in the Battle of Benghazi.
There were 36 American at the Mission and Annex. The 32 living ones and, 4 dead were flown to Tripoli.
The book never mentions any discussions about bring in rescuers from out side Libya. No mention of what was going on in DC. There was a very curious thing. I've paid close attention to Benghazi, but the book told of something I never heard of , from MSM, FOX or the Administration.
On the morning of 9/12, 50 US Marines landed in Tripoli in a C-17. I don't know if I had missed that or if the writers made it up. I can't imagine the Administration not having that at the top of their flag pole.
The Epilog made it obvious that the book was written to put a Happy Face on the Administration. The story about Obama and Hillary at Andrews AFB the day the bodies were returned was enough to gag a maggot! All of Obama's speech was read. It actually said " Secretary Clinton's touching address to the grieving families has been lost in the political eye gouging."
It also said that "Vice President Biden was at his blue collar best." Not a word about the Video. Nothing about Hillary telling the families that justice would come to the man responsible for the horrible Video.
It told of Hillary, on her last day a Sec Of State, having a ceremony in her office to give 4 Benghazi survivors awards for bravery. More touching words. They left out "At This point, what difference does it make?
It told of Kerry going to Walter Reed Hospital on his first morning in office to give an award to a survivor. It said a small group of DOS and CIA personnel witnessed the award.
The writer actually said. "Those men knew Sec Kerry had their back. He had seen his share of combat."
I guess it comforts them to know that, if they ever need support, Kerry is ready to launch "an unbelievably small attack"
B2B
