Doesn't pull any punches, does he. Whether or not help could have arrived in
time, all the
help available should have been airborne and trying to get into position to
help, not
standing down while some political twit dithers around.
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.
Here is what Col. Handley wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey's
claims there was
no time to send help to Benghazi
---------------------------------------
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-SEAL's
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.
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 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 is simply Bull Chit, regardless how many supposed "experts"
the
Administration trots 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 Woods, 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 mortar direct 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 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 P.O.S. 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."
YGBSM!( You Gotta Be Chittin' Me)
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.
FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS, DO ONE THING
FOR ME AND
FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!! TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, WHOM EVER
GAVE THE "STAND
DOWN" ORDER NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED!
____________________________________________________________
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