The Difference the TRUTH Makes Regarding Benghazi

We all heard it.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells a congressional committee – “What difference does it make how these men died!” in reference to Benghazi.  To quote Jay Carney, the president's press secretary, “Benghazi happened a long time ago.” … especially for those who'd just as soon forget it.  The difference is this – We want to know the TRUTH and the pursuit of the TRUTH will not pass in time!

 

We’ve heard bits and pieces of the truth on the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others in Benghazi, but not the whole truth … and nothing but the truth.  Very few have heard the story of incredible bravery, heroics, and courage that should be the top story.

 

So what actually happened at the U.S. embassy in Libya?  Ambassador Stevens and Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, along with administrative staff, were working out of temporary quarters due to the fact that in the spring of 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring, the United States cut ties with then president Moammar Gadhafi.  Our embassy was looted and ransacked, causing it to be unusable.  (It is still in a state of disrepair.)

 

Security for embassies and their personnel is to be provided by the host nation.  Since Libya has gone through a ‘civil war’ of sorts in the past 18-months, the current government is very unstable, and therefore, unreliable.  A well-organized attack by radical Muslims was planned specifically targeting the temporary U.S. embassy building.  The Libyan security force that was in place to protect our people deserted their post, or joined the attacking force.  Either way, our people were in danger.  And it should be noted that Ambassador Stevens had mentioned on more than one occasion to Secretary of State Clinton, that he was quite concerned for his personal safety and the welfare of his people.  A short distance from the American compound, two Americans were sleeping.  They were in Libya as independent contractors working an assignment totally unrelated to our embassy.  They also happened to be former Navy SEAL’s.  When they heard the noise coming from the attack on our embassy, as you would expect from highly trained warriors, they ran to the fight.  Apparently, they had no weapons, but seeing the Libyan guards dropping their guns in their haste to flee the scene, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty snatched up several of these discarded weapons and prepared to defend the American compound.  Not knowing exactly what was taking place, the two SEAL’s set up a defensive perimeter.  Unfortunately, Ambassador Stevens was already gravely injured, and Foreign Service officer, Sean Smith, was dead.  However, due to their quick action and suppressive fire, twenty administrative personnel in the embassy were able to escape to safety. Eventually, these two courageous men were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers brought against them – an enemy force numbering between 100 to 200 attackers which came in two waves.  But the stunning part of the story is that Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty killed 60 of the attacking force.  Once the compound was overrun, the attackers were incensed to discover that just two men had inflicted so much death and destruction.  As it became apparent to these selfless heroes, they were definitely going to lose their lives unless some reinforcements showed up in a hurry.  As we know now, that was not to be.

 

To understand why Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty would engage in defending the American compound knowing they were going to die in this gun fight, you need to understand the tenets of the Navy SEAL Code. 

 

Consider these tenets of the Navy SEAL Code:

1) Loyalty to Country, Team and Teammate,

2) Serve with Honor and Integrity On and Off the Battlefield,

3) Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit,

4) Take Responsibility for your Actions and the Actions of your Teammates,

5) Excel as Warriors through Discipline and Innovation,

6) Train for War, Fight to Win, Defeat our Nation’s Enemies, and

7) Earn your Trident every day.

 

We owe it to Tyrone and Glen to learn the TRUTH.  To the very last breath, they both lived up to the SEAL Code.  They were courageous in the face of certain death.

 

Tyrone never got to hold his newborn son.  The least we can do is to be sure his son grows up to know the character and quality of his father – a man among men who sacrificed himself defending others.  He needs to know the TRUTH!

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel