[TigersEye]

But, he said, the attack happened over a few hours and was over before the U.S. had the chance to know what was really happening.

They were on the phone with someone in the consulate who was describing exactly what was going on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I would say that they thought it was over after the first attack on the major complex. The length was about an hour,.

Then there was quite an interval before the attack with mortars was launched on the annex.