Posted on 07/31/2013 6:53:04 PM PDT by xzins
A Marine operations commander told lawmakers Wednesday he gave troops in Libya permission to respond to a September 2012 attack on a U.S. mission in Tripoli.
Testifying in closed session before the House Armed Services Committee, Col. George Bristol contradicted claims by some congressional Republicans he had issued a stand-down order following the attack, in which U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stephens and three other Americans were killed, The Hill reported.
Bristol, who commanded Joint Special Operations Task Force-Trans Sahara at the time of the attack, said he gave the Tripoli security team leader, Lt. Col. S.E. Gibson, permission to act freely in response to the attack, The Hill said, citing a description it had received of the committee's members-only briefing.
Gibson told Congress last month he was ordered not to send his team to Benghazi because they were needed in Tripoli in the event of an attack on the U.S. Embassy.
Republicans argue the United States wasn't prepared to respond adequately to the Benghazi attack.
They accuse the Obama administration of downplaying or covering up the administration's handling of the attack, its lead-up and aftermath during the heat of the 2012 presidential campaign.
"Colonel Bristol has experience that could be valuable in deepening our understanding of the events of that day," a committee source told The Hill.
"Of particular interest to the committee is what our posture was in the weeks and months that preceded the attack," the source said.
Bristol, a seasoned combat commander, stepped down from his task force commander post in March.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
wtf
How can he remember since it was so very looong ago?
B F L
Bump!
Legal Weasel Words.
It sounds to me like Col Bristol is riding the fence. Nobody wants to take the responsibility. But it’s really sad when a Marine Colonel sits on his ass and allows the enemy to come over the wall.
For those who think the military will stand with the people, what do you think now? Maybe this is why Boner and all the GOP are a bunch of cowards. They’re afraid they’ll face a firing squad of American soldiers. And they may be right.
Bristol must have given the “launch if necessary” for the original team that went from Tripoli to Benghazi is my guess. That’s the team that lost at least one man when they arrived. Hicks (deputy chief of mission in Libya the night of the attacks) told Gibson to go to Benghazi to bring everybody home. At that point, Bristol must not have given the second launch or permission to Gibson to do the withdrawals. At least that’s my guess based on what I’ve read.
They were lucky there weren’t more attacks at the airport.
I think it was the Asymmetric Warfare Group watching the front door as thieves came in the back door and stole the best silver.
Boner is worse than a coward, he is a willing collaborator.
What is CBA?
CBA = Cross Border Authority
Without orders from POTUS the military can do many, many things; move airplanes and men from super far away to a standby status immediately outside the country in which the final national action is to take place (or not).
They can do MANY things without orders from POTUS but they absolutely CANNOT cross a national border w/o permission from the President.
Actions at the national level require orders from the national level, i.e., POTUS.
NO ONE but POTUS can give that authority.
I do NOT believe General Bristol is telling us the truth. From what we’ve heard, read, by credible sources there isn’t any way to believe a stand down order was not given IMO. The evidence is in the fact the Ambassador, and four other Americans are dead.
bookmark for later
Bristol sent the assets to Tripoli, to protect the Ambassador, who was in Benghazi. Whatever....
Dude can’t even return a proper salute without looking like a freaking poofter..
Gibson was stationed in Tripoli and was not going to cross any borders. He was supposed to secure the airport for everone’s withdrawal after the two main attacks (consulate and annex), but was never given the go-ahead.
Sounds like Bristol said he gave the “do what you want” approval for the first team that went to defend the annex from Tripoli.
What I haven’t heard or don’t know is - was Bristol only in charge of the guys in Tripoli. What about other resources - who was in charge of that and why wasn’t any go-ahead given for them. Why only the guys in Tripoli?
there were TWO seals... TWO
was that his idea of responding??
what bullshit is this? i thought marines weren’t bullshitters.
this guy has to be a ‘new age marine’
Really? Air Force General officers are less patriotic or less ballsy in your opinion? Guess the perception is destroyed now, eh? What kind of fortitude do you think it takes to drop munitions within “danger close” of Marines in hostile engagements?
CYA
Bull crap! The military, especially in life and death situations, does not operate on "permission." The mode of operation is "DO this," or "DON"T do that." Not, "well, if ya wanna, ya can."
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