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Posted on 10/27/2012 5:59:20 AM PDT by Aria
If you don’t get torches-and-pitchforks irate about this, you are not an American:
The security officer had a laser on the target that was firing and repeatedly requested back-up support from a Specter gunship, which is commonly used by U.S. Special Operations forces to provide support to Special Operations teams on the ground involved in intense firefights. The fighting at the CIA annex went on for more than four hours — enough time for any planes based in Sigonella Air base, just 480 miles away, to arrive. Fox News has also learned that two separate Tier One Special operations forces were told to wait, among them Delta Force operators.
There were two AC-130Us deployed to Libya in March as part of Operation Unified Protector.
The AC-130U is a very effective third-generation fire-support aircraft, capable of continuous and extremely accurate fire onto multiple targets. It has been used numerous times in Iraq and Afghanistan to save pinned-down allied forces, and has even been credited with the surrender of the Taliban city of Kunduz
It was purpose-built for a select number of specific mission types, including point-defense against enemy attack. It was literally built for the kind of mission it could have engaged in over Benghazi, if the administration had let it fire. As the excerpt above clearly shows, we had assets on the ground “painting” the targets with the laser.
An AC-130U flies in a counter-clockwise “pivot turn” around the target, with the weapons all aimed out the left side of the aircraft.
There are two state-of-the-art fire-control systems (FCSs) in a AC-130U, using television sensors,infrared sensors, and synthetic aperture strike radar. These fire control systems can see through the dark of night, clouds, and smoke.
The two FCSs on the AC-130U control a 25mm Gatling gun for area suppression, a precision 40mm cannon, and a 105mm cannon which can engage hard targets.
What this means is that we have the forces in the air and on the ground to have stopped the attack at any point, eliminating the terrorists and saving American lives.
See video of AC-130 engaging in a live fire exercise on next page.
Update (Bryan): Here is an AC-130 engaging in a live fire exercise. The crackling sound you hear is its extreme rate of fire.
Update: BlackFive confirmed with a retired Delta operator: The fact that ground personnel were painting the target says there was a Spectre on station.
From the comments: Having spent a good bit of time nursing a GLD (ground Laser Designator) in several garden spots around the world, something from the report jumped out at me. One of the former SEALs was actively painting the target. That means that Specter WAS ON STATION! Probably an AC130U. A ground laser designator is not a briefing pointer laser. You do not “paint” a target until the weapons system/designator is synched; which means that the AC130 was on station. Only two places could have called off the attack at that point; the WH situation command (based on POTUS direction) or AFRICOM commander based on information directly from the target area. If the AC130 never left Sigonella (as Penetta [sic] says) that means that the Predator that was filming the whole thing was armed. If that SEAL was actively “painting” a target; something was on station to engage! And the decision to stand down goes directly to POTUS!
After the third or fourth change of aircraft (refuel, re-ammo) of the night, pray that “Spooky” (Puff) still knows where your perimeter is.
I carried a buddy’s body to the medevac bird. He had 5 to 7 rounds in his chest from errant Spooky fire.
Spooky DID keep us from being overrun that night by an NVA battalion.
“The rate of friendly fire deaths for all U.S. troops in World War II was 12-14 percent; Vietnam, 10-14 percent; Grenada, 13 percent; and Panama, 6 percent.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-1391626.html
“$*&% Happens”
I did a Bing search last night on "Benghazi". Only a few articles came up, Fox, Washington Times and...........NBC. All NBC did was quote Fox and the article wasn't linked on their main page. I read the comments. Wow! People were FURIOUS that the news is not covering this. Not one comment defending Obama. All of them yelling for Benghazi to be covered by the press.
The more we know the less we want to know, because the perp is going to go free, and if I was free to voice my disapproval, I would be zotted for life. We have been attacked once again without a response. Remaining comments self censored out of self preservation.
A lot of assertions are made in this article without proof, sourcing or backup. I hope that someone among those who know the truth will step forward and tell it - soon.
That's an answer.
Thanks.
AC-130U Gunship, Puff the Magic Dragon redux
Amen to every bot of that, my friend! You should be one of the ones talking on Fox NEws, Limbaugh, and elsewhere.
Maybe General Ham will do it...there are rumors that he ordered the help in and was overruled by Obama to the point of being relieved during the meeting. Someone must do it. They will be an American heroe for so dong from now on.
We have an abject traitor in the Whote House. He is now getting desperate. He allowed Americans to die...and was willing, IMHO, to allow them all to die, and betrayed them in order to cover up his even larger betrayal of all of America because of what this whole thing was about.
If he will stoop to this level...it also means our entire nation is in grave danger as we approach this election.
With these revelations, I would put absolutely NOPTHING past them. Remember, join us and be BRAVE for America. In addition to working hard, pray and fast and follow II Chron 7:14, we need His help now as never before.
Be BRAVE for America on November 6th
http://www.facebook.com/bebraveforamericanov6th
You said “Modern laser designators can archive grid locations/GPS coordinates for later use by other platforms. I don’t know about the guy saying that painting a laser on the mortar team means that an AC-130 or armed Predator was overhead at that time.”
If I’ve got the terminology right, the key word is “painting”. To “paint” a target is to hold a designator on it, so it can be attacked by something which can hit the designation point. The same designator can be used to capture coordinates, to be used in a call for indirect fire (or to stamp on a souvenir photo, for that matter), but that’s not called “painting” a target.
If I’ve got the terminology right, when someone is painting a target instead of shooting, that means that he thinks something is available to fire on the laser spot.
You’re more familiar with this than I am; it that right?
And the longer it's on, the longer everybody in Benghazi with a NOD (or even many modern digital cameras) would be seeing that green line pointing right at the SEALs.
Dear Sir,
You said, “Obama must be held to account for his cowardice and gross incompetence.”
It is clearly evident to me that it was neither cowardice nor gross incompetence, it was willful treason.
As would most of us.
Unfortunately, the Founding Fathers, in their worst nightmares, literally could not imagine the President commiting treason while in office. His immunity is absolute. Already this president by executive order, successfully has hidden his entire life history from scrutiny. He even has the power to pardon himself!
This has to change.
YA THINK??!!??
Obamamugabe has stated repeatedly that he was not personally aware of the crisis at the embassy as it unfolded.
To my knowledge, no one has asked him where he was for the 2 to 4 hours after the attack began.
Where was Obama during those critical 2 hours???
The physical protection of his country and its citizens is JOB ONE for any elected president.
No exceptions!
Interesting Rumor Concerning General Carter Ham and Stand Down Order (Posted on 10/26/12 at 9:45 p.m.)
quote:
The information I heard today was that General Ham as head of Africom received the same e-mails the White House received requesting help/support as the attack was taking place. General Ham immediately had a rapid response unit ready and communicated to the Pentagon that he had a unit ready.
General Ham then received the order to stand down. His response was to screw it, he was going to help anyhow. Within 30 seconds to a minute after making the move to respond, his second in command apprehended General Ham and told him that he was now relieved of his command.
The story continues that now General Rodiguez would take General Ham’s place as the head of Africon.
I found this story when I got home after hearing this story.
quote:
General Rodigues Nominated as Head of Africon
As I was typing this I heard John Bolton on Greta say that there are conflicting reports of General Ham’s comments on this tragedy and why a rapid response unit was not deployed. Bolton says someone needs to find out what Ham was saying on 9/11/12.
Interesting to say the least.
My God....this is the price of having a CIC who announced before he was even elected that he’d stand with the sworn enemy of the US if the winds turned ugly.
Does it matter who or what he lit 'em up for?
Snuffy believed there was an armed asset overhead and got no response.
That is, no response except from the bad guys.
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