Article

2012-09-13 Africa North

Attack on consulate included heavy, accurate mortar fire

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Posted by Frozen Al 2012-09-13 11:35|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Nothing says spontaneous protest like mortar fire. Reading the article, the whole mess sounds like a rerun of Blackhawk Down - an inadequate response to a rapidly evolving situation.

Posted by SteveS 2012-09-13 16:19|| 2012-09-13 16:19|| Front Page Top

#2 Not quite like Mogadishu: in Mog we had plenty of resources, and supposedly had the UN forces (including our bestest friends, the mighty Pak army) backing us up.

Whereas in Benghazi we didn't have much to assist the ambassador when things went bad. That is a problem but we can't have a SEAL team at every consulate just in case.

We'll find out if the intel boys blew it, or whether the ambassador had too optimistic expectations of security, or whether Foggy Bottom misread the situation. But this doesn't sound like Mog.

Posted by Steve White 2012-09-13 17:17|| 2012-09-13 17:17|| Front Page Top

#3 Under the best of circumstances, a well planned complex attack, by well armed and trained personeel who are willing to die to make it a success, is very difficult to defend against.

Posted by Besoeker 2012-09-13 17:25|| 2012-09-13 17:25|| Front Page Top

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