I Want to Know

I am not one who believes the POTUS should have served in the military to be a more effective Commander-in-Chief. I prefer they have served in uniform because they are afforded the opportunity to understand camaraderie and can experience firsthand, what being a member of a team feels like.

From the very first day of Boot Camp, we are taught we must trust the Marine (Soldier, Sailor, Airman) to our left and right because they and our training are all we have. They will watch your back, treat your wounds, and if necessary bring your body home. The movies love to show the lone warrior dodging incoming mortars, diving for cover, and maybe even sustaining a wound, just to get his buddy’s body. We are taught to run towards the gunfire, to protect those who need protection, and to help those under fire. The thought of hearing your buddies cry out in agony while still maintaining fire discipline trying to hold out until help—you—arrive, serves as a motivator. Those same cries easily turn to torment, if you do not get there in time. You second guess your every action, attempting to determine what you could have done, to get there before they died.

I do not know how it was in Benghazi, but I can imagine Ambassador Chris Stevens and Sean Smith running for their lives into what they thought was a location secure enough to hold out until help arrived. They probably reassured themselves, maybe even picking up items that could be used as weapons. A mile away, former USN SEAL Tyrone Woods hears the mortars and small arms fire and wants to go help them—to run towards the gunfire. He is told No. Stand Down. He asks again, and a third time. Each time he was told No. Stand Down. Disobeying orders, he and a small group of men go to help. They recover Sean Smith’s body but cannot find Amb. Stevens. During the fight, Tyrone Woods is killed. A while later, a second former USN SEAL, Glen Doherty is also killed trying to help his countrymen. During it all, everyone is calling for help. Help that is denied. They are told No. Stand Down.

Body of Ambassador Chris Stevens.

This attack was not a surprise—it was expected. In the previous six months, two different attacks were made on US soil. Ambassador Stevens made multiple requests for more help. He was denied. Why did he not have more protection before 9/11? Why were requests to help denied during the attack? Who told Amb. Rice, Jay Carney, and Sec State Clinton to say this was a result of a video? There are too many questions, yet this administration believes they do not have to answer. Even worse, most of the mainstream media is refusing to ask questions. As an American citizen, I want to know. Do you? It is my opinion his campaign made the decision(s) relating to Benghazi because if they acknowledged there was a threat, then al-Qaeda is not on the run. Please remember the same president who was quick to spike the ball after the SEALs' actions in Abbottabad is the same president who was even quicker to punt the ball when the SEALs needed his action in Benghazi. Again, I do not know what happened, but I want to know. Do you?

Perhaps if President Obama had spent time in the Service or at least in the uniform of a Little League Baseball team, he might have some understanding of what it means to belong to a group of people who depend on each other. He might have some idea that Commander-in-Chief is not a title that is easily thrown around in a manner to build his self-esteem, but rather is a title that burdens even the strongest of men. Mr. President, please tell us what happened. I want to know.