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| Lack Of Strike Force Impeded Benghazi Response |
| 2012-10-29 |
| As U.S. Africa Command waited for any order to rescue Americans on Sept. 11 at the besieged consulate and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, it was missing a key unit that the Pentagon gives every regional four-star commander — an emergency strike force. The new command’s lack of such a unit is another piece in the unfolding Benghazi timeline that shows an overriding theme: As radical Islamic extremism swelled in the chaotic coastal city, U.S. security assets in Libya diminished. From the State Department’s denial of diplomats’ requests for more security in Libya to Obama administration officials repeatedly saying the military-style attack on the consulate resulted from “spontaneous” protests, the events before, during and after the Benghazi assault reflect the political, diplomatic and military confusion that is post-Gadhafi Libya. Each U.S. geographic combatant command, whether it be in the Middle East, the Pacific or, in this case, Africa, is entitled to a special operations rapid-response team — a group of Green Berets to perform instant combat in situations like the Islamist militants’ attack on the U.S. Consulate. But on that day, AfriCom, the Pentagon’s newest geographic combatant command, which is still in the building phase, lacked what is called the “commander in-extremis force,” said a senior special operations official. “All geographic combatant commands have one allocated to them, except AfriCom,” the senior official said. “AfriCom’s is in the process of being established.” The gap shows that while North Africa has become a growing battleground for Islamic extremists, the U.S. regional command in charge of operations there is still not at full strength. “We cannot discuss the availability of specific capabilities in order to protect our operational security,” AfriCom spokesman Benjamin Benson said. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on national security, told Fox News that ArmyGen. Carter Ham, who heads AfriCom, received no request from any government entity to intervene in Benghazi during the seven- to eight-hour fight. As it turns out, some special operations troops, likely from U.S. European Command, were moved to a naval air station at Sigonella, Sicily, but were never ordered to go farther. The Pentagon has declined to say exactly at what hour they arrived in Sicily or whether the battle was over by then. |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #9 Based on what I could find online, about 2/3 of it is in Germany and 1/3 of it is in Italy, and their last deployment to Afghanistan ended at the end of 2010. I don't know how accurate that is. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-29 22:29 |
| #8 Most of the 173rd. is in the Stan. You wouldn't send them anyway, you would send the Marine strike force or Delta, both would be on station 24/7. |
| Posted by: bman 2012-10-29 17:38 |
| #7 This is going to be shown to be a Charlie Foxtrot that begins with indecision and irresolution at the top flowing down hill to commanders playing CYA or risking insubordination. Bummer didn't want that coming out before the election, so now he's got something much worse. But in the end, it will just be stupidity and incompetence for all to see. For the second time, Bummer could regret winning. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2012-10-29 16:04 |
| #6 The 173rd is still based in Italy, right? |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-29 15:46 |
| #5 It's not just "Africom." Benghazi's on the Mediterranean. I thought there would be a lot of available forces there. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-29 15:44 |
| #4 Not buying this either. Like Besoeker said: AFRICOM was set up about four years ago. Lots of assets and attention thrown at this command. Even if there was no “in-extremis” force, there should have been contingency plans, even if they were borrowed from another reqional command. Perhaps it's true that no one in charge wanted a repeat of Operation Eagle Claw (or as we called it, "Rice Bowl"). And it looks like they got their wish but replaced it with something worse. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-10-29 14:17 |
| #3 Besoeker and others keep on asking questions about BenghaziGate. This is far worse than Watergate. If people don't question everything we will never know what happened. The four who died, embassy staffs abroad, our military, Americans, and voters deserve truthfulness about this rather than some convenient narrative that attempts to get Obama re-elected. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2012-10-29 12:20 |
| #2 I have heard that US Africa Command not only had a commander in-extremis force, but it deployed to Southern Italy in preparation to going into Benghazi. In addition, I heard that Delta Force was conducting a training mission in Europe and had troops ready to go. (They cancelled their training and prepared to go operational). This article is the White House throwing out an excuse to see if anyone buys it. The point is to last until election day. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2012-10-29 12:16 |
| #1 Not buying this one. AFRICOM stood up at Stuttgart in Oct 2008. Assumption of NEO plans and safeguarding US Missions abroud would have been a specified task and resourced appropriately. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-10-29 11:56 |