God And The Service Go Hand-in-Hand

Benghazi Soldier: 'God And The Service Go Hand-in-Hand'
Town Hall
Cortney O'Brien
Dec 30, 2015

“God and the service kind of go hand-in-hand,” said Paronto. “You’re doing something honorable that’s above yourself.”

“Faith teaches you how to live with courage, how to live with honor, gives you something to strive for,” said. U.S. Army Ranger Kris “Tanto” Paronto. “To me, that’s the American spirit.”

On September 11, 2012, terrorists attacked the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. We lost four brave diplomats. While the incident will forever be remembered as a tragedy, we would be remiss to forget the courage displayed by the six American servicemen who ran toward the fire. It is their story that is told in the new Paramount Pictures film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.

What was it that compelled these men to run toward danger? In a new featurette from Paramount Pictures ahead of the film's release, a few of the soldiers who defended the Benghazi compound explained that they received their strength from a higher power.
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3 State Department resignations after Benghazi report

3 Resign at State Department After Libya Attack Report
By MICHAEL R. GORDON and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: December 19, 2012

WASHINGTON — Three State Department officials resigned on Wednesday after an independent panel severely criticized the “grossly inadequate” security arrangements at an American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, where Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack.

The officials who resigned were Eric Boswell, the assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security; Charlene Lamb, the deputy assistant secretary responsible for embassy security; and Raymond Maxwell, a deputy assistant secretary who had responsibility for the North Africa region, an administration official said.

The report left unscathed some more senior officials who oversaw those bureaus, including Ambassador Patrick Kennedy, the undersecretary for management. Mr. Kennedy has vigorously defended the State Department’s decision-making on Benghazi before Congress.

Thomas R. Pickering, the former ambassador who led the independent review, told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that most of the blame for what happened in Benghazi should fall on officials in the bureaus of diplomatic security and Near East affairs.
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John McCain playing politics with tragedy again

Should members want to get to the bottom of what happened? Hell Ya! Should they be playing politics instead of seeking the truth? Hell NO. Don't you find it very interesting that while McCain and Graham are pushing for answers on this, they were not doing it after 9-11 when a lot more people died? The difference is this President does not belong to their party.

Republicans Hound Obama over Benghazi Attack
Dec 01, 2012
Military.com
by Michael Hoffman

Four Republican Senators sent a letter to President Obama Wednesday as they continue to hound the president for answers to questions regarding the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in four dead, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.

In the letter, signed by Senators John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the senators demand answers to the questions sent in seven previous letters over the past month to members of the Obama administration. In each, the senators have asked for more details regarding events before the Sept. 11 attack and the actions taken after it.

"The American people deserve to know all the facts surrounding the terrorist attack in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, that resulted in the murder of four Americans-including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Unfortunately, you and your senior administration officials have not been forthcoming in providing answers to the many questions that have emerged," the letter read.
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The security was provided by Defense Contractors and all the information has not been released yet. McCain is not the type of person to wait for the truth before he opens his mouth. Wish he did the same thing after 9-11, before troops were sent into Afghanistan, before they were sent into Iraq and long before they came home wounded and waiting for help. Oh well, that would meant McCain would have to go against the President that was a member of his party.

Romney Drops SEAL Story After Mother Complains

Romney Drops SEAL Story After Mother Complains
ABC News’ Michael Falcone and Emily Friedman report
Mitt Romney’s campaign said today he will stop citing his meeting with a former Navy SEAL killed in last month’s terror attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya after the victim’s mother protested his use of her son’s death.

“He shouldn’t make my son’s death part of his political agenda. It’s wrong to use these brave young men, who wanted freedom for all, to degrade Obama,” said Barbara Doherty, the mother of the slain Navy SEAL Glen Doherty.

She added, “I don’t trust Romney.”

A Romney aide told ABC News today that the Republican candidate will respect Mrs. Doherty’s wish and stop telling the story on campaign stops about how he met Doherty a few years ago.
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Two former Navy SEALs died saving others in Benghazi

Former Navy SEALs died after coming to the aid of others
From Fran Townsend
CNN National Security Contributor
Sat September 22, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were part of a security team that rushed to scene of consulate attack
After they made their way back to a safe location, they came under fire
They were among four Americans killed last week in Benghazi

(CNN) -- Two former Navy SEALs who were among four Americans killed last week in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, died after rushing to the aid of their colleagues, according to sources familiar with the incident.

Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were in Benghazi as part of a security contractor force. On September 11, they were ensconced in the safety of an annex location in another part of the city when they got word that the main consulate building was under fire and the diplomats there -- with an armed force of only nine people -- were overwhelmed by the deteriorating situation.

Doherty and Woods, along with other security personnel, left the secure annex and made their way to the chaotic scene, rounding up the consulate staff who were under attack and guiding them back to the second safe building.

Their grim task also included recovering the body of computer expert Sean Smith, who had succumbed to smoke inhalation from a fire ignited by the attackers. The sources said diesel fuel was used to set the fire and the thick, black smoke created by the accelerant added to the confusion on the ground.
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President Obama honors return of Libya attack victims

Pres. Obama honors return of Libya attack victims

After meeting with families of the victims, Obama watched as flag-draped cases containing the remains were carried off of a transport plane and loaded into four black hearses.

Last Updated: Friday, September 14, 2012
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE

President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others killed in the assault on the U.S. compound in Libya, calling them patriots who served America's ideals -- and laid down their lives for others.

Obama took part in a transfer of remains ceremony in a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base, joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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Marine team sent to Yemen

Official: Marine team sent to Yemen
By Lolita C. Baldor
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Sep 14, 2012

WASHINGTON — An elite Marine rapid response team arrived in Yemen's capital Friday in the wake of violence and protests at the U.S. Embassy, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said the decision to dispatch about 50 Marines to Sanaa was partly in response to the violence and partly as a precautionary measure.

The Marines are members of a platoon from a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, a specially trained and configured group that makes short-notice deployments in response to terrorist threats and to reinforce security at U.S. embassies.

A similar team was dispatched to Tripoli, Libya, on Wednesday
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US student killed in embassy attack in Yemen

U.S. student killed in embassy attack
Eighteen-year-old Susan El-Baneh and her husband of three weeks died holding hands, her brother said, victims of a terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. The Lackawanna, New York, native, a high school senior, had gone to Yemen a month ago for an arranged marriage. She and her husband were at the embassy to find out how to bring her husband back to the United States. full story