"13 hours" - a must to watch

[Vincent]

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" Co-Author Speaks

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[Vincent]

[Bob Womack]

I met Kris "Tanto" Paronto this week through a friend who is dating an operator. Kris seemed like a really nice guy.

Bob

[Gil Boyd]

Like with all things brought to the silver screen, was it factual, and were the guys happy with the way it was finally portrayed?

It appears so, by using their inside knowledge of what happened on the ground that day and assisting in the making of the film. Probably the hardest thing to understand was the final evacuation and how it came down to the Libyan resources to get the people out.......not U.S. assets in the region.

Aviano would have had long range helo's as one of the SF bases in Southern Europe, but it appears no one "commanded" them to go from the way it reads.

Yes the F16's were in bits undergoing a rebuild on the base, and yes Washington was told they were unsuitable for the mission anyway, but there had to be a "what if" built into this somewhere, surely, even if it meant calling in FF in the region? You hear Governments say they'll review this and that once its gone pearshaped, but do they truly learn. This always confirms to me, these matters should always be left for decsion making at a Military level where one hopes those making the decisions, give quick/supportive and decisive assistance when requested. Should never IMHO be left in Politicians hands!

[CINDERS]

Thing I got from it was the Spooks span of control diminished to the point where his grasp of the actual ground situation was flawed as were his tactics the relieving of command should have happened well before it got to the point of the mechanics having to fight a one sided battle to try and save the ambassador. Let the spooks gather intel which is what they do well but in the pointy end its better to have the guys who have trained for years and been in battle that is what they do best adapt and over come the enemy. A gunship had it been available would have given invaluable assistance to the ground troops and as it was the poor chaps were fighting against impossible odds.
All the same a grand movie showing inspirational courage from those involved. 10/10

As a postscript ~ remembering Mogadishu the US went to the Indian army for assistance to save the USA troops why could not the US call on NATO allies to help. Once the shooting starts all the covers are blown and secrecy is out the window there must have been closer allies that could have helped. Surely Germany has a rapid deployment force.
I mean when Thatcher wanted those missiles from the NATO stocks they were handed over yes mam take 2 for 3 all you can carry. Those troops in that compound must have felt from what I can gather very much alone, isolated and in a sense staring down the barrel of a very nasty death if captured........

[brent65]

As a postscript ~ remembering Mogadishu the US went to the Indian army for assistance to save the USA troops why could not the US call on NATO allies to help. Once the shooting starts all the covers are blown and secrecy is out the window there must have been closer allies that could have helped. Surely Germany has a rapid deployment force.

So you were in Somalia then were you?

[Bob Womack]

On a lighter note, it is clear the Defense and State Departments didn't have Jeff Baxter working the case. Jeff is the former guitarist for Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers who went on to be tapped by the Defense department to be one of their "out of the box" thinkers. He specializes in entering a war gaming scenario and creating and introducing unexpected wild-card scenarios that are exactly like the kinds of things terrorists do and keep the military minds on their toes. His type of thinking wouldn't have allowed the situation to develop where every F-16 at Aviano would be down for repairs at once and/or there would have been no other airborne asset available on 9/11.

But then, who needs Jeff? Why, on earth didn't someone else think about consular support on 9/11?

Bob

[Vincent]

Why, on earth didn't someone else think about consular support on 9/11?

For that to happen, the Obama administration and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have to admit she sent them to Benghazi without proper security.

[CINDERS]

#16 - I was drawing a line that the US could have asked for assistance from alternate avenues to help ease the pressure on those that needed it most, you may wish to let people have their say, it is a free world.

[Gil Boyd]

I thought by drawing attention to the film 13 HOURS members could see not only the bravery of those men that took part as an accurate protrayal, but also to see their respective use of a variety of weapons systems professionally and in a military fashion, which is no mean feat as a civvy actor.

To learn lines is one thing, but to throw in weapon handling as well, under a great deal of time line pressure is another.

Well put together in my view, as its hard to be under fire and keep a smile on your face with it coming in from all directions IMHO.

5 star rating from me and a great way of ensuring, those that enjoy hard fought freedom realise the sacrifices of brave men while they sleep!