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cali

(114,904 posts) Thu Sep 13, 2012, 02:33 PM Sep 2012

Inside the US consulate in Benghazi: material and human damage laid bare

The bullet holes, smashed masonry and blood on the walls of the burned-out consular building on the southern outskirts of Benghazi are testament to the gun-battle that raged through the building, claiming four lives including that of the US ambassador, Chris Stevens.

The owners of the damaged consulate building and the accommodation block a mile down the road took the Guardian on a tour of the sites on Thursday. Reports that the attack was the work of an isolated group seemed to be at odds with the physical evidence of the attack on Tuesday and what their staff had told them.

"Better security would not have stopped this," said Adel Ibrahim, the owner of the accommodation building where blood is now spattered beneath a hole smashed in a wall by a heavy projectile. "A security unit is fine if you are facing 10 persons, but there were 400 attackers. [The Americans] would have needed an army to stop them."

<snip>

Embassy staff had prepared for such an eventuality, having built themselves two positions with sandbags on either side of a villa to the left of the main gate. Three of the Americans, including Stevens, were forced to retreat from these positions towards the small terrace in the centre of the villa. This, according to Busheri, is where two of Stevens' security guards died. Stevens himself ran inside the villa, the landlords said, where he suffocated in the smoke from the blaze that has left the interior of guest rooms and a kitchen charred, blackened and heavy with the stench of putrifying food.

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/13/libya-us-consulate-benghazi-damage

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Inside the US consulate in Benghazi: material and human damage laid bare (Original Post) cali Sep 2012 OP

And Romney thinks it is okay to play politics with this Angry Dragon Sep 2012 #1

There's a mystery here concerning the number of deaths. dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #2

Were those security guards Libyans? From what I read, the two Americans were soldiers on their sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #3

No dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #4

Here's the link which raises the oddity concerning the number of deaths dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #5

Thanks, it still isn't really clear if these were the same two people. sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #6

But it states clearly in Purveyor's post dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #8

Yes, that part is clear, they were part of a squad that was dispatched to help the sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author dipsydoodle Sep 2012 #7

Angry Dragon

(36,693 posts)

1. And Romney thinks it is okay to play politics with this

Reply to cali (Original post)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 02:40 PM

Sep 2012

the Willard is just scum, an ass, an asshole, a pile of shit and not fit to lead this country .........

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

2. There's a mystery here concerning the number of deaths.

Reply to cali (Original post)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 03:50 PM

Sep 2012

The two security guards were shot elsewhere.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)

3. Were those security guards Libyans? From what I read, the two Americans were soldiers on their

Reply to dipsydoodle (Reply #2)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 03:57 PM

Sep 2012

way to help out, when they were ambushed. This seems like it was planned, not a sudden reaction to some movie on Utube. IF the story of the ambush of the troops is true someone knew they would be coming and were waiting for them.

I agree this article is not clear on who those two security guards were. We also heard that ten Libyans died so it's possible they were two of those ten people.

What a horrible nightmare, to have been inside that Embassy with so many outside and it appears not nearly enough protection to fight them off. I can't imagine the terror they must have felt.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

4. No

Reply to sabrina 1 (Reply #3)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 04:28 PM

Sep 2012

I can't on link using mobile.. Search for purveyors post earlier. They were US and were ambushed on their w I'ay to help coming from Tripoli. I'll check to see if you found it when I get home.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

5. Here's the link which raises the oddity concerning the number of deaths

Reply to sabrina 1 (Reply #3)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 05:32 PM

Sep 2012

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=228224

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)

6. Thanks, it still isn't really clear if these were the same two people.

Reply to dipsydoodle (Reply #5)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 05:46 PM

Sep 2012

I also read that ten Libyans were killed. So that would be a total of 14 people. But our MSM has not mentioned the Libyan deaths from the coverage I have seen.

I guess I was wondering if the two Guards mentioned in this OP were Libyans since we generally refer to American troops as 'troops'. Although I believe Embassies do have troops guarding them so it is possible they were Americans. Otoh, then they would not have been coming from Tripoli. Guess it will take a while to get all the facts straight.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

8. But it states clearly in Purveyor's post

Reply to sabrina 1 (Reply #6)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 05:52 PM

Sep 2012

A squad of U.S. troops dispatched by helicopter across the Libyan desert to rescue besieged diplomats from Benghazi on Wednesday ran into a fierce overnight ambush that left a further two Americans dead, Libyan officials told Reuters.

That would make the number of American deaths 6 and not just the 4 originally reported.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)

9. Yes, that part is clear, they were part of a squad that was dispatched to help the

Reply to dipsydoodle (Reply #8)

Thu Sep 13, 2012, 06:36 PM

Sep 2012

people in the Embassy, they were coming from Tripoli, I believe.

The part that is NOT clear is what is in THIS OP:

Three of the Americans, including Stevens, were forced to retreat from these positions towards the small terrace in the centre of the villa. This, according to Busheri, is where two of Stevens' security guards died.

Two of his security guards. That means they were not part of the squad that was sent to rescue them. They were already part of his security at the Embassy. The squad was not part of his security as I understand it.

Response to dipsydoodle (Reply #5)

dipsydoodle This message was self-deleted by its author.

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