144 minutes of truth and that’s more than we’ve had from a politician on either side of the aisle in a very long time. You’ve heard the old adage that if their mouth is moving, they’re lying. With the Muslim terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy and the “secret” CIA annex on the anniversary of 9/11, we heard it all. What a pack of lies that spewed out of our leaders.
Believe it or not, I truly don’t go in for conspiracy theories but I don’t believe this falls into that category. I do believe that there were a lot of high level mistakes made leading to nothing short of tragedy. Then came the lies.
I aspire to be a Patriot. I work at being a Patriot. As far as I’m concerned, don’t mess with the good guys. When you dishonor or disrespect the very people who lay their lives on the line every day for our freedom, you’re just downright stupid.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a truly amazing story. The beginning of the movie introduces the audience, one by one to a small group of former military personnel known as GRS hired by the CIA to protect a covert compound in Benghazi, Libya. Some of the ex-soldiers are former Marines, one is an Army Ranger and the others are Navy Seals—just a handful of America’s finest.
After this docu-drama footage of the military introducing themselves, Jack, a former Marine, lands in Benghazi and is picked up at the airport by another soldier, nicknamed Rone. On the way to the compound they get boxed in by vehicles of unfriendlies. Trapped in an ambush, they call the CIA Chief who is unwilling to intervene in any way. After a tense few minutes, they talk their way out of it and proceed.
When they finally arrive at the CIA annex, Rone confronts the CIA Chief who tells them flat out that the CIA and other Washington DC government bureaucrats, being smart Harvard and Yale graduates, cannot be bothered with the ex-military bodyguards. They are told, not so politely, that their presence isn’t really needed.
Later the team is sent to prepare the nearby United States Embassy outpost for the arrival of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, hired by the Obama Administration to oversee things in Libya in the wake of the death and overthrow of Libyan leader Moamar Qaddafi. The team goes and returns to report that the Embassy outpost is quite literally indefensible.
On September 11th 2012, a massive, well planned and executed Muslim terrorist attack occurs on the Embassy outpost. The CIA, Ivy Leaguers refuse to let the military team go to help, ordering them to “Stand Down.” Soon, they tell the chief they’re going whether he likes it or not. They arrive in the middle of chaos, the buildings are burning, some are dead, some are wounded and Ambassador Stevens has been taken.
The fight eventually moves to the CIA compound. The terrorists, under the cover of night, outnumber them in forces and weaponry. It was quite literally, almost The Alamo.
13 HOURS is a straight-forward true story: just the facts and that’s enough.
It’s a story or incredible bravery, reminiscent of the previous 9/11 fight for lives.
You’ve heard the news reports, you may have even seen the interviews. I challenge you to go straight to the source. If 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi isn’t still showing at a theater near you, I implore you to rent or buy it as soon as it is available on DVD. I assure you, you may be angry, you may be dismayed, but you won’t be disappointed. This is definitely not for children. I would truly like to hear what you think. chastings@rockcliff.com
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