Agreed, they used the Tripoli assets because they did not need any permission, they were already in Libya. That said, the best we could muster was 8 guys? Obama was in the Oval Office during the initial assault with Panetta and Biden. The Defense Secretary asks you...”Mr. President, should we send some special ops guys to Benghazi?” Obama....”Nah, let Hillary and Petraeus handle it, I’m going to watch some Sons of Anarchy on FX”
How many actual “shooters” / “operators” did they muster in Benghazi? Damn few, and they were not there as “shooters” but as weapon locator/collectors etc. It just so happened they were ex gunslingers, they were not there in a “security billet” or not many of them.
If the Tripoli “QRF” mirrors the Benghazi situation but 2X scale, then mustering 8 of a mixed bag of “security” and “experts” who were ex-shooters with M-4s sounds right.
It might turn out there was no “formal” security of Americans by Americans, the 16th Feb Martyr’s Brigade being the armed “external security.” The Welsh-contracted, native-muscle “internal security” for the consulate was unarmed. IOW, some shady locals to open the gate, without guns.
My take is that the WH believed they had an “arrangement” with the MB honchos in Benghazi. “Since we are cooperating on parallel lines with arms shipments to your brothers in Syria, you won’t hurt us. We’ll demonstrate our trust, by agreeing to unarmed interior guards you’ll recommend, and external security by the Martyr’s Brigade.”
Sounds like an insane world view, but not as explained by Amb Bolton to Greta the other night. The WH view is airtight. THey had a deal in Benghazi, no overt American weapon display, you can stay. No Marines, etc. “We’ll keep you safe.”
Reminds me so much of the Aesop’s fable about the farmer and the semi-frozen viper, who recovered against his skin and bit him. This is gratitude in the Muslim world.
Obama’s biggest bitch-slap, on 9-11, and he couldn’t even muster up the guts to approve a rescue that was already under way.
So he said, “No,” and went to bed, or otherwise disappeared with his Ipad.