Colonel Phil
"Hands" Handley is credited with the highest speed air-to-air gun
kill in the history of aerial combat.
He flew operationally for
all but 11 months of a 26-year career, in aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, F-15
Eagle, and the C-130A Hercules. Additionally, he flew 275 combat missions
during two tours in Southeast Asia in the F-4D and F-4E. His awards
include 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Silver Star.
Here is what Col. Handley
wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey's claims there was no time to send
help to Benghazi
Betrayal in Benghazi
Phil "Hands" Handley Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
The combat code of the US Military is that we don't abandon our dead or wounded
on the battlefield. In US Air Force lingo, fighter pilots don't run off
and leave their wingmen. If one of our own is shot down, still alive and
not yet in enemy captivity, we will either come to get him or die trying.
Among America 's fighting
forces, the calm, sure knowledge that such an irrevocable bond exists is
priceless. Along with individual faith and personal grit, it is a sacred
trust that has often sustained hope in the face of terribly long odds.
The disgraceful abandonment
of our Ambassador and those brave ex-SEAL's who fought to their deaths to save
others in that compound is nothing short of
dereliction-of-duty.
Additionally, the patently
absurd cover-up scenario that was fabricated in the aftermath was
an outright lie in an attempt to shield the President and the Secretary of
State from responsibility.
The White House strategy, with the aid of a "lap dog" press has been
to run out the clock before the truth is forthcoming.
The contention "that
there were simply no military assets that could be brought to bear in time to
make a difference" mainly due to the unavailability of tanker support for
fighter aircraft is simplyBull Chit, regardless how many supposed
"experts" the Administration trots out to make such an assertion.
The bottom line is that even
if the closest asset capable of response was half-way around the world, you
don't just sit on your penguin ass and do nothing.
The fact is that the closest
asset was not half-way around the world, but as near as
Aviano Air Base, Italy where two squadrons of F-16Cs are based.
Consider the following
scenario (all times Benghazi local): When Hicks in Tripoli receives a call at
9:40 PM from Ambassador Stevens informing him "Greg, we are under
attack!" (his last words). Hicks immediately notifies all agencies
and prepares for the immediate initiation of an existing "Emergency
Response Plan."
At AFRICON, General Carter
Ham attempts to mount a rescue effort, but is told to "stand down".
By 10:30 PM an unarmed drone is overhead the compound and streaming live feed
to various "Command and Control Agencies" so everyone watching that
feed knew damn well what was going on.
At 11:30 PM Woods, Doherty
and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in Benghazi at 1:30 AM on Wednesday
morning, where they hold off the attacking mob from the roof of the compound
until they are killed by a mortar direct hit at 4:00 AM.
So nothing could have been
done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that tanker support really "was
not available" what about this:
When at 10:00 PM AFRICON alerts
the 31st TFW Command Post in Aviano Air Base, Italy of the attack, the Wing
Commander orders preparation for the launch of two F-16s and advises the
Command Post at NAS Sigonella to prepare for hot pit refueling and quick turn
of the jets.
By 11:30 PM, two F-16Cs with
drop tanks and each armed with five hundred 20 MM rounds are airborne.
Flying at 0.92 mach they will cover the 522 nautical miles directly to NAS
Sigonella in 1.08 hours. While in-route, the flight lead is informed of
the tactical situation, rules of engagement, and radio frequencies to use.
The jets depart Sigonella at
1:10 AM with full fuel load and cover the 377 nautical miles directly to
Benghazi in 0.8 hours, arriving at 1:50 AM which would be 20
minutes after the arrival of Woods, Doherty and their team.
Providing that the two F-16s
initial pass over the mob, in full afterburner at 200 feet and 550
knots did not stop the attack in its tracks, a few well placed strafing
runs on targets of opportunity would assuredly do the trick.
Were the F-16s fuel state
insufficient to return to Sigonelli after jettisoning their external drop
tanks, they could easily do so at Tripoli International
Airport , only one-half hour away.
As for those hand-wringing
naysayers who would worry about IFR clearances, border crossing authority,
collateral damage, landing rights, political correctness and dozens of other
reasons not to act -- screw them. It is time our
"leadership" get its priorities straight and put America's interests
first.
The end result would be that
Woods and Doherty would be alive. Dozens in the attacking rabble would be
rendezvousing with "72 virgins" and a clear message would have been
sent to the next worthless P.O.S. terrorist contemplating an attack on
Americans that it is not really a good idea to "tug"
on Superman's cape.
Of course all this depends
upon a 'Commander In Chief' more concerned with saving
the lives of those he put in harm's way than getting his crew rested for
a campaign fund raising event in Las Vegasthe next day. It
also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood "What
difference did it make?", and a Secretary of Defense
who was watching the feed from the drone and understood what the attack
consisted of instead of making an immediate response that "One of the
military tenants is that you don't commit assets until you fully understand the
tactical situation."
YGBSM! ( You Gotta Be
Chittin' Me)
Ultimately it comes down to the
question of who gave that order to stand down? Whoever
that coward turns out to be should be exposed, removed from office, and
face criminal charges for dereliction of duty. The combat
forces of the United States of America deserve leadership that really does
"have their back" when the chips are down.
FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY
TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS, DO ONE THING FOR ME AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU
KNOW!!
TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING
AGAIN, WHOM EVER GAVE THE "STAND DOWN" ORDER NEEDS TO BE
EXPOSED, IMPEACHED, TRIED CRIMINALLY AND HUNG!
(+5 rating, 7 votes, rated)
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