http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E8KCMYB20120912
Libya rescue squad ran into fierce, accurate ambush
BENGHAZI, Libya, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A squad of U.S. troops despatched by helicopter across the Libyan desert to rescue besieged diplomats from Benghazi on Wednesday ran into a fierce overnight ambush that left a further two Americans dead, Libyan officials told Reuters.
Two American troops killed in ambush en route to rescue besieged diplomats in Benghazi
Speaking of the rescue mission, he said: “A team of commandos arrived by air and went to a farm which we thought was a secret location. Once they got there, they came under heavy fire from heavy machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles, which resulted in the death of two others.”
Thanks for the links.
That account sounds confused. Why would a rescue squad be flying over the desert? Where were they coming from? The path from either Tripoli (405 miles) or Sigonella (467 miles) would be over water.
Additional evidence of the article's confusion is that it seems to support the Susan Rice version of the story, namely, that the attack was a protest that got out of hand. But we knew that to be false from open sources very soon after the attack.
By 14 September, we had, for example, the testimony of Ethan Chorin, who was in Benghazi with Dr. Thomas Burke of Mass General, Boston. They were there to assist Libyan doctors in setting up an Emergency Room operation at the Benghazi Medical Center. They and the Libyan doctors were slated to meet with Ambassador Stevens the morning of the 12th.
On the evening of the 11th, Chorin was on the phone with the Ambassador's security detail arranging the meeting, when the call ended abruptly with a shout of "We've got a problem here". Then Chorin and Burke were left to hole up in their hotel listening to sounds of the distant violence. And the Libyan doctors ended up treating the Ambassador unsucessfully at the BMC for severe asphyxia.
IOW, no demonstration, no build-up. Just a sudden surprise attack by Al Qaeda.
More than likely, the article is double-counting Woods and Doherty, Doherty being the American who had arrived from Tripoli.