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Stranger than Fiction: Hollywood Gets Benghazi Right
The Weekly Standard ^ | January 18,2016 | Stephen Hayes

Posted on 01/07/2016 3:02:19 PM PST by Hojczyk

For three years, the White House and its defenders in the media have characterized the Libya raids as a tragedy, a series of unfortunate events that were utterly unpreventable and for which no one is much to blame. Many of those who were on the ground in Libya, CIA contractors and diplomats alike, see them as something quite different. To them, Benghazi represents bureaucratic indifference and incompetence before the attacks, deadly governmental indecision and fecklessness during the attacks, and official deception and dishonesty after the attacks.

This is their story. And the fact that it's a story familiar to readers of The Weekly Standard indicates that Bay, the man behind the blockbuster "Transformers" movies, has taken sides in a way that one might not expect from a successful Hollywood director.

The film documents the contractors' concerns about security before the assault on September 11, 2012, making clear that the attack was not an isolated incident but the culmination of a long series of hostilities directed at Western targets. Even before the events of that day, viewers are led to understand the difficulty of distinguishing friend from foe.

The February 17th Martyrs Brigade, a Libyan militia the State Department engaged and ostensibly the good guys, is filled with shady characters, some of whom seem to know well in advance the plans of the jihadists who attack the diplomatic compound and the CIA annex. Hours before the attack begins, members of the local police force are observed conducting surveillance on the compound. Throughout the hours of fighting at both sites, when the Americans trying to repel the attacks see large groups of dark-skinned, heavily armed men show up to the battle, they cannot determine whether the new arrivals are there to help them or kill them.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 13hours; benghazi; benghazimovie; libya
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1 posted on 01/07/2016 3:02:19 PM PST by Hojczyk
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To: Hojczyk

I wonder how the liberal rags (NY Slimes, Washington Compost, LA Slimes etc) will review this film.

It could be another Citizen Kane and they would still pan it, the dishonest bastards that they are.


2 posted on 01/07/2016 3:05:49 PM PST by Signalman
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To: Hojczyk

I hope so. I’ve been on the fence about spending the $$$ to see this flick.


3 posted on 01/07/2016 3:06:36 PM PST by dware (Everybody wants to be a patriot, until it's time to do patriot stuff.)
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To: Hojczyk

I’m looking forward to seeing this movie.


4 posted on 01/07/2016 3:08:46 PM PST by wmfights (a stranger in a hostile and foreign land that used to be my home)
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To: Hojczyk
Whatever its impact, 13 Hours is a powerful film that is well worth seeing. From beginning to end, it forcefully rejects the sanitized, no-fault version of Benghazi. In scene after powerful scene, it assigns blame: to policymakers in Washington who naively overestimated our ability to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys in post-Qaddafi Libya; to Washington bureaucrats who paid little attention to repeated warnings about the security of U.S. facilities in Benghazi; to CIA officials more concerned with career advancement and positive performance reviews than saving lives.
5 posted on 01/07/2016 3:09:36 PM PST by CedarDave (Extremist muslims want to kill you; moderate muslims want extremist muslims to kill you.)
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To: Hojczyk

I thought Hannity said the producers wimped out on blaming anyone...he wanted to see Clinton or Hussein blamed but they were not. Anyone know more than I do on this?


6 posted on 01/07/2016 3:10:01 PM PST by CincyRichieRich (Freedom is costly; but Marxism takes all.)
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To: Hojczyk

If it ends without blaming BO & HRC, I won’t waste my money. It is crystal clear the blame lies squarely on them!


7 posted on 01/07/2016 3:16:12 PM PST by demkicker (My passion for freedom is stronger than that of Democrats whose obsession is to enslave me.)
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To: CincyRichieRich

” it assigns blame: to policymakers in Washington who naively overestimated our ability to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys in post-Qaddafi Libya; to Washington bureaucrats who paid little attention to repeated warnings about the security of U.S. facilities in Benghazi; to CIA officials more concerned with career advancement and positive performance reviews than saving lives. “

IT just doesn’t name Hillary or Barry specifically.


8 posted on 01/07/2016 3:16:36 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: CincyRichieRich

Hannity talks too much. unlike soldiers, who actually DO, not talk. Stopped watching that channel.

From what I’ve heard and read it is pretty scathing to anyone with a brain.

That leaves dems out.

Very courageous to even touch the subject in Hollywood if you’re hoping to work again afterwards.


9 posted on 01/07/2016 3:17:23 PM PST by dp0622 (i)
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To: CedarDave

P.S. Thanks to you for providing the original quote and making the cut and paste easier.


10 posted on 01/07/2016 3:17:31 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: CincyRichieRich
I thought Hannity said the producers wimped out on blaming anyone...he wanted to see Clinton or Hussein blamed but they were not. Anyone know more than I do on this?

From what I have read, neither Clinton or Hussein are mentioned in the movie.

The movie is based on a book, I don't know if Clinton or Obama are mentioned in the book. In any case, I'm going to see the movie.
11 posted on 01/07/2016 3:18:13 PM PST by Ticonderoga34
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To: Hojczyk

I recently watched an extended trailer of this film. It looks really good. The CIA station director is shown repeatedly telling the heroes to “Stand down!” You hear the distress cries coming from the consulate, and a woman pleading that if they don’t come they will all die.

I pray this opens some eyes. Lots of them.


12 posted on 01/07/2016 3:23:22 PM PST by Shelayne
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To: annieokie; penelopesire; maggief; Protect the Bill of Rights; thouworm; SE Mom; Nachum; onyx; ...

Benghazi ping.

Let Republicanprofessor know if you want on or off this ping list.


13 posted on 01/07/2016 3:32:10 PM PST by Republicanprofessor
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To: CincyRichieRich
I thought Hannity said the producers wimped out on blaming anyone...he wanted to see Clinton or Hussein blamed but they were not.

Exactly right. I'll go see the film even though it doesn't show the f****** sleazebag Hillary shouting out: "WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE" - - just a miserable woman and last week she said she is not the liar and alluded that the families were lying!! This dirty ...blah, blah..._-__-...!

14 posted on 01/07/2016 3:34:47 PM PST by Mr Apple ( Thank you democrats & Bill and Hillary Clinton for your 1994 Agreed Framework / TRUMP 2016)
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To: Hojczyk

Thanks, I’ve been wondering if this movie tells the truth or the whitewash.


15 posted on 01/07/2016 3:37:53 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: Shelayne

I already got choked up during the trailer and expect to fight back tears during the movie.


16 posted on 01/07/2016 3:38:12 PM PST by Williams (Dear God, please save us from the Democrats. And the Republicans.)
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To: Hojczyk

If this is true then I will forgive Michael Bay for Pearl Harbor.


17 posted on 01/07/2016 3:41:22 PM PST by skeeter
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To: Hojczyk

Everyone knows how the Clintons buried “The Path to 9/11”, and that TV movie only indirectly blamed Bill (but also Bush admin too).

So we know this will grind Hillary’s gears even worse.

Right before Iowa. Sanders getting close.

With an indictment threat hanging over her...


18 posted on 01/07/2016 3:42:07 PM PST by ReaganGeneration2
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To: Hojczyk
Benghazi represents bureaucratic indifference and incompetence before the attacks, deadly governmental indecision and fecklessness during the attacks, and official deception and dishonesty after the attacks.


19 posted on 01/07/2016 3:49:31 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Hojczyk

A pretty good book, I just finished it.


20 posted on 01/07/2016 3:58:19 PM PST by isthisnickcool (Say what you will about The Donald, but he has all the right enemies.)
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