We Don’t Leave Our Soldiers Behind

Terrorism has become not so much a way of life for us, but an integral part of our national lexicon. We’ve dealt with it many times over the years. The marine barracks attack in 1983. The attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. The Khobar Towers in 1996, The USS Cole in 2000. The World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001. The two soldiers in Arkansas in 2009. The Fort Hood Shooting in 2009. Benghazi in 2012 and the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. These are just the ones that I remember off the top of my head.

The army has a creed or a saying and they take it seriously. “We don’t leave our soldiers behind”. Two examples. Jessica Lynch was captured and rescued within a very short time. Matt Maupin was captured and it took two years to find his remains, but they were found and he was brought home.

After the hearings on Wednesday regarding the attack on Benghazi last September 11, it was discovered, and even today more is discovered that there was a coverup. Four men died on September 11. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Glenn Dougherty and Tyrone Woods.

Not only did they get no help, but the Obama Administration did all they could to avoid the term “terrorist attack” as well as mentioning Al Queda going so far as to edit out those terms so that they didn’t have to give Congress something to question them about. They blamed it on a video that almost nobody has seen that was considered anti-muslim. Yet they knew it was a terrorist attack and affiliated with Al Queda as the attacks were happening. Those on the ground witnessing the attack knew it and the administration knew it.

Five days later, UN Ambassador, Susan Rice,  blamed it on the video and spontaneous demonstration on national television shows and on one of them, CBS Face the Nation, she said it yet again despite the leader of Libya stating just before her that he knew it to be a terrorist attack. Two weeks later, President Obama was still blaming it on a video in a speech at the United Nations.

This all took place in September, six weeks before the election. The hearing took place on May 8, 2013. Just shy of eight months later. In January, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said at one point “what difference does it make?” Then there is Jay Carney, White House Press Secretary when asked about the whistleblowers testifying saying that Benghazi was a “long time ago”.

Why keep the fact that it was a terrorist attack from the American people? Why give no help to those under fire? Why tell those offering help to those under fire to “stand down”? Why change the talking points at least 12 times?

What was the mistake that was made? The mistake was making decisions based on an upcoming election rather than the actual events on the ground at the time.

The Obama Administration was looking at the election and how they could handle this so that it wouldn’t negatively impact his re-election bid. No bad news allowed. A terrorist attack would apparently not be good for his re-election bid in their eyes. They reacted to the election desires rather than to the events taking place.

Let’s turn this around. Imagine some different choices made. The Administration is informed that Benghazi is under attack. The first question is asked, “what do we have in the area to get in there and put a stop to this or get our people out at least?” After finding out, the administration says “send them in and get our people out of there and put an end to this attack”.

What could have happened? We could have sent in the soldiers that were told to stand down. Even if our soldiers are outnumbered, I’d still put the odds in favor of the Americans. Would we have saved the four that lost their lives? Maybe, maybe not. But by not going in, we appear weak and we definitely can’t save those lives. The possibility of a rescue was eliminated because it was never tried.

We could even have lost more soldiers trying to affect a rescue but we’d have tried to save every American life. The American people can understand a failed attempt. But to not even attempt is unacceptable. To not make the attempt because it could influence the outcome of an election is beyond the pale. Yet, had he done the right thing and done everything  possible to quell the attack and save the lives, even in a failed attempt, that too could have influenced the election...but in his favor. We reward honor, integrity, valor. 

With the choices that the Obama Administration made, they left those four brave Americans behind to die for the sake of their re-election. There was no honor. They left them behind a second time by trying to cover up what they knew and by their now discovered out and out lies. There was no integrity, The Administration sacrificed those lives for Obama’s election. There was no valor. 

Our soldiers risk their lives to bring back the remains of soldiers lost even years after the fact. The Obama Administration didn't risk their political careers to save Americans from an attack. To attack our consulate is the same as an attack on our soil. The Obama Administration did nothing to protect the Americans that day. The Obama Administration left Americans behind! But hey, at least he won his election.

You’re welcome to comment.

Brett