You are asking a specific question about a stand-down order.
Some other replies don’t address your question.
There have been numerous reports about security forces a few miles away
who were literally ready to go, loading up and boarding helicopters IIRC—and these reports included quotes from security forces who were THERE-—and they were told, no, don’t go. Not enough time, too late, yadda yadda. And these folks disputed that, saying there was time, they wanted to do something, but weren’t allowed. They were prevented from doing so by an order from on high—and IIRC, from whom the order came never been clear. I’m fuzzy on some of the details.
Ok, here’s what you need to know: there have been several threads on FR about the “stand down order.” Find those threads; perhaps use keywords “Benghazi” “Libya” “standdown” “chrisstevens” etc.
I’m a pretty new noobie and none of my searches ever work, but maybe this can help you or others to find the threads. I know they exist.
Ok, never mind my post # 25.
I used the keyword : standdown written just like that. First delete the asterisk, then type in standdown in the search thingy.
You get a bunch of threads, with excellent sourcing and verifiable quotes.
Your friends are insisting the stand down order did not happen. They’re wrong. Present them with direct links to the posted articles.