If nothing
else, from this you now know why the military is so screwed up today. Military
leadership has been subjugated by this president to be nothing more than
political hacks and yes men. God help us all.
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"Hands" Handley is a
well-respected USAF fighter pilot. Here is his short resume of accomplishments.
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 .
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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 eight months 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 recent 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 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 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 Untied
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, WHOMEVER GAVE
THE "STAND DOWN" ORDER NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED!!!!
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