There are so many different stories and narratives we are told about the attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya by Islamic militants on the evening of September 11, 2012. The only sad truths that we actually know for sure is that U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith, CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the bloody attacks and ten others were also injured. However, an Air Force whistleblower has come forward to say that his team could have made it to Benghazi in time to save the diplomatic staff, contrary to what the Obama Administration has claimed.
“I definitely believe that our aircraft could have taken off and got there in a timely manner, maybe three hours at the most, in order to basically at least stop that second mortar attack and have those guys running for the hills,” the anonymous squadron member at the Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy said of the fateful night.
“There were people everywhere,” the unnamed military source told Fox News. “That flight line was full of people, and we were all ready to go” to Benghazi.
“The whole night we were told that we are waiting on a call,” said the Air Force whistleblower who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution.
That call never came. This is an important detail because two of the four Americans who died in the attacks were killed in the second wave of attacks. The Obama administration, including then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have repeatedly insisted that the military provided the maximum possible support for the vulnerable diplomatic staff.
“That’s a horrible feeling to have when you can help someone, especially when you don’t even find out ’til later and you hear that people actually died,” the whistleblower said.
The Benghazi attacks became the first occasion when a U.S. Ambassador was killed in the line of duty since 1979.
When asked why the whistleblower has not spoken to Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., the chairman of the select committee investigating the attacks, he responded by saying “there are so many ways you can get screwed over” for cooperating with lawmakers.
This is an aspect that has frustrated Gowdy. “As a former federal prosecutor, I find it deeply troubling there are individuals who would like to share their stories, but have not because they are afraid of retaliation from their superiors,” Gowdy said on Wednesday in response to the whistleblower’s allegations. “No one should be afraid of talking to their elected representatives in Congress.”
“I can promise these witnesses and others, if they talk to our committee they will be treated fairly, and both Republican and Democrat members will have questions for them,” Gowdy promised. “Nearly 100 people have testified before the committee, and not one witness has said they were treated otherwise.”
“Democrats may be content to stick to their preordained conclusions, but the committee has an obligation to determine what can and cannot be substantiated when it comes to the new witnesses we have interviewed and the new evidence we have gathered,” the Republican politician stated.
This news comes a day after Donald Trump lambasted Hillary Clinton with a video condemning the former Secretary of State for her handling of Benghazi. The video features the leading Democratic presidential candidate laughing as the ill-fated embassy is burning to the ground.