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Pentagon: Benghazi was too unclear and risky for US military
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he and other senior military leaders, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey, withheld U.S. forces from responding to the scene of the September 11 attack in Benghazi because the situation was deemed too unclear and risky. Panetta said there was not enough "real time information" for him, Dempsey and Africa Command's Gen. Carter Ham, all of whom felt "very strongly" at the time not to deploy any military assistance to the American compound. Panetta and Dempsey, speaking in a Pentagon press briefing, said U.S. forces were on alert and ready. Panetta also indicated the seven-hour attack was over too quickly for the Pentagon to have enough information to respond effectively. Dempsey would not comment on ongoing Pentagon and State Department investigations, saying "It's not helpful in my view to provide partial answers. ... I can tell you, however, sitting here today that our forces were alert and responsive to what was a very fluid situation." Posted by: Pappy 2012-10-26 |
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