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Benghazi: The Definitive Report
B008LQ20YYWritten by the team of former Special Operations warriors who run SOFREP.com, here is the definitive account of what happened before, during, and after the deadly Benghazi attack.
On September 12th, 2012, Brandon Webb learned Glen Doherty, one of his closest friends and his former Navy SEAL teammate, was killed alongside Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and two other Americans when the U.S. State Department and CIA headquarters in Benghazi, Libya, were sieged in a shocking terrorist attack. For the next four months, Webb and his team at SOFREP.com, the world’s premier Special Ops website, embarked on a relentless investigation to understand exactly what happened to their countrymen, as well as the roles played by the Obama administration, State Department, and CIA. Drawing on unmatched sources, they spoke to individuals who would talk to no one else, including fellow Special Operations team members familiar with the African theater, and to well-placed contacts in the Washington intelligence community. This is their report—an unforgettably gripping minute-by-minute narrative of the events and their aftermath as they really unfolded on that terrible day in Libya.
On September 12th, 2012, Brandon Webb learned Glen Doherty, one of his closest friends and his former Navy SEAL teammate, was killed alongside Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and two other Americans when the U.S. State Department and CIA headquarters in Benghazi, Libya, were sieged in a shocking terrorist attack. For the next four months, Webb and his team at SOFREP.com, the world’s premier Special Ops website, embarked on a relentless investigation to understand exactly what happened to their countrymen, as well as the roles played by the Obama administration, State Department, and CIA. Drawing on unmatched sources, they spoke to individuals who would talk to no one else, including fellow Special Operations team members familiar with the African theater, and to well-placed contacts in the Washington intelligence community. This is their report—an unforgettably gripping minute-by-minute narrative of the events and their aftermath as they really unfolded on that terrible day in Libya.
75 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2013
94 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 3, 2013
Unfortunately I read this spread out over several weeks/months.....even though it is not very long. Such was my life this spring. This added some insight into the whole Benghazi debacle, but it still left a lot of things unanswered. I've been completely intrigued with this scandal (and it IS a scandal) since it occurred nearly 9 months ago. I've been blown away by the MSM's dismissal of the story, the left's game of politics, the administration's flippant attitude, and the fact that is still not resolved. There's a lot to be uncovered and a lot that is being hidden about this attack. I just pray we get to the bottom of it, and I applaud the whistle-blowers and few Congressmen who are pressing for details and answers.
March 17, 2013
Finally, the truth comes forward. Excellent report!
After watching the bizarre and shocking news about Benghazi for months, the analysis and political mystery behind the attack and the lies covering it up were getting very stale and sickening. This book by Murphy, Webb (and others contributing) who understand the insider intrigue behind the scenes of intelligence, special ops and diplomatic security and who see the conflict between our own intelligence agencies and the administration have painted a clear picture of what really happened. This fact based report gave me the perspective that answers those deep questions I have wondered about from the 9/11 attack on Benghazi.
There was no demonstration. An internet video was not the cause. The talking points were lies. It was a planned terrorist attack. The administration successfully covered up what was really going on. Admitting that radical Islamic terrorist organizations were well established and growing widespread in Libya and North Africa was unacceptable to admit by the administration that killed Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. And the administration's secret military operations (secret even from other agencies such as the CIA and possibly the DOD) confounded the situation and made the atmosphere in Benghazi lethal to American & Western diplomacy. The British Consulate and the Red Cross knew it was too dangerous to stay & closed their operations. Terrorists were seeking revenge against actions taken by the administration's secret operations in Libya & Northern Africa. The Ambassador and other brave Americans that died on that day were not properly protected, even a twelve year old could have figured that out. But even the Ambassador was unaware that the administration's special operations in North Africa, run by John Brennan and others, would cause the reaction by terrorists in Lybia to come calling.
While I am not a believer that secret operations should be made public, I do conform to the idea that incompetence must be exposed and fixed. Murphy and Webb advise to carefully evaluate media reports and feedback we hear from the administration about what happened in Benghazi - and elsewhere. We'll be hearing more accurate information about Benghazi in the coming months. Partially due to this report being provided to readers to review. I hope that the real story is finally told by the administration to the American people about Benghazi.
This is a quick but excellent read that provides some great perspective about what really happened.
Dale Lowther, Author
After watching the bizarre and shocking news about Benghazi for months, the analysis and political mystery behind the attack and the lies covering it up were getting very stale and sickening. This book by Murphy, Webb (and others contributing) who understand the insider intrigue behind the scenes of intelligence, special ops and diplomatic security and who see the conflict between our own intelligence agencies and the administration have painted a clear picture of what really happened. This fact based report gave me the perspective that answers those deep questions I have wondered about from the 9/11 attack on Benghazi.
There was no demonstration. An internet video was not the cause. The talking points were lies. It was a planned terrorist attack. The administration successfully covered up what was really going on. Admitting that radical Islamic terrorist organizations were well established and growing widespread in Libya and North Africa was unacceptable to admit by the administration that killed Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. And the administration's secret military operations (secret even from other agencies such as the CIA and possibly the DOD) confounded the situation and made the atmosphere in Benghazi lethal to American & Western diplomacy. The British Consulate and the Red Cross knew it was too dangerous to stay & closed their operations. Terrorists were seeking revenge against actions taken by the administration's secret operations in Libya & Northern Africa. The Ambassador and other brave Americans that died on that day were not properly protected, even a twelve year old could have figured that out. But even the Ambassador was unaware that the administration's special operations in North Africa, run by John Brennan and others, would cause the reaction by terrorists in Lybia to come calling.
While I am not a believer that secret operations should be made public, I do conform to the idea that incompetence must be exposed and fixed. Murphy and Webb advise to carefully evaluate media reports and feedback we hear from the administration about what happened in Benghazi - and elsewhere. We'll be hearing more accurate information about Benghazi in the coming months. Partially due to this report being provided to readers to review. I hope that the real story is finally told by the administration to the American people about Benghazi.
This is a quick but excellent read that provides some great perspective about what really happened.
Dale Lowther, Author
August 19, 2015
This is a must-read for all American citizens who fear for the loss of our founding principles, ie, the Constitution.
A hard-hitting account of the events leading to the Benghazi attack and murders, combined with analysis of what went on and how US foreign policy is destroying our own nation due to egos and rivalries and black ops that only a few people are ever aware of - at least until all hell breaks loose.
Also a touching homage to the four victims of Benghazi, this is a succinct and no holds barred reason to be watchful: be very, very watchful.
A hard-hitting account of the events leading to the Benghazi attack and murders, combined with analysis of what went on and how US foreign policy is destroying our own nation due to egos and rivalries and black ops that only a few people are ever aware of - at least until all hell breaks loose.
Also a touching homage to the four victims of Benghazi, this is a succinct and no holds barred reason to be watchful: be very, very watchful.
March 3, 2014
Just finished this book. This is an independent view of the Benghazi tragedy. It becomes very clear, very quickly that the Dept of State, DOD and the Pentagon have less communication in this administration and have a view of do nothing and see how things play out.
It also becomes very obvious that the leader of the Dept of State at the time has no business leading anything.
I must read for anyone voting in the 2016 election.
It also becomes very obvious that the leader of the Dept of State at the time has no business leading anything.
I must read for anyone voting in the 2016 election.
October 26, 2018
So many stories... where is the truth? Just another side to consider.
April 3, 2013
For my review via the MIPJ:
http://www.mipj.org/2/post/2013/02/be...
Note from MIPJ Publisher/Executive Editor:
While many in humanitarian affairs may not read reports, books, or other works about intelligence and/or military operations, inclusive of special forces operations, these are inherently important. Such operations and intelligence gathering are part of an overall context on the ground. This case of the attack on the U.S. State Department compound in Benghazi is thereby significant, as it was preceded by attacks on NGO's, inclusive of the ICRC and NGO demining/ordnance clearance operations, as part of heightened anti-Western, sentiment and subsequent Jihadist action, which is a clear threat not just to humanitarian action and those conducting it, but to human security considerations among vulnerable populations. Nothing on the ground in conflict areas can or should ever be seen in a vacuum, as any such tendency would be as insular and oblivious as any government agency not sharing operationally necessary information because of departmental or organizational solipsism. As mentioned here, information--and information integrity--is at a premium in crisis areas, and any such solipsism will always risk unnecessary lives, whether those of operators or those whom they seek to serve.
This ebook by Jack Murphy and Brandon Web with Editors of SOFREP.com (William Morrow/Harper-Collins 2013) is a worthy read; coming from those who know the SpecOps (Special Operations) world and its role in current Counter Terrorism efforts, this is an evocative operational and political look into events that resulted in the deaths of four people, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stephens in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.
Operationally, this ebook is excellent for those not as familiar with the SpecOps community, clearly delineating the varying factions among U.S. intelligence and special operations forces--including the confusion caused when, as the old adage goes, and is used to great demonstrable effect here, "the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing."
The authors' opinions are clear--as neutral as they may try to be--in terms of where the blame should be placed, and including the depth of the loss of those who, but for the jockeying for position of the Executive, Intelligence, and Defense communities, might still be alive.
Especially castigated is The White House's tacit consent to allow John Brennan, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, to operate "secret wars" and conduct Direct Actions (DA) via "creative interpretation" and exploitation of loopholes in Title 10/50. Such "off books" operations could only come into conflict with State Department efforts and those of the CIA and JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command), who were conducting separate missions, inclusive of "advisory" efforts in Libya among rebel factions in combatting Jihadists combining forces with Al Qaeda in Libya, in addition to AQ throughout North and West Africa. In fact such off books operations, in combination with and complicating those sanctioned by the CIA and Defense departments, only fomented the vitriol of Jihadists, whose anger turned into action on the anniversary of 9/11.
With the varying factions loathe to share information, as is often the case, despite efforts to bring various departments together and in fact finally make it legal to share information following 9/11 (including with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security), the level of the disconnect among those on the ground proved deadly, as information that should have been provided to all parties regarding the varying events and any and all dangers, would have successively indicated that the situation was heating up to the point of explosion.
However, as counter-intuitive as it should seem to most when it comes to operations on the ground, and when more information is better than not enough, information is most often not provided laterally from operations, and instead is passed up the chain of command. It is then at the discretion of command to determine with whom information will be shared. The basic truth has continued to be an unfortunate one: operational and bureaucratic rivalries among departments assure that such information--which is at a premium--is an asset to be hoarded, despite everyone supposedly being on the same side.
As the authors also demonstrate, and with true poignancy, the only time that cooperation finally happened was when the temporary consulate (as it was not a fixed, permanent location, with permanent security; instead there were only temporary, hired third-party security forces guarding the outside of the compound) was under attack, and the violence further moved on to CIA headquarters in Benghazi. Here, the CIA had been ready for attacks, having been well-fortified and defended, unlike the compound holding Ambassador Stevens and those among his staff from the State Department.
More broadly, Benghazi proved to be the microcosm reflecting the greater weakness of the whole. An event such as this, and not the first, is functionally indicative of the unfortunate tendency of America's response to impending crisis: the lack of action to address issues in a comprehensive, streamlined manner at the outset of any hint of difficulty--often for political reasons-- actually assures that there will indeed be a crisis later. And when it happens, this is when disparate factions may suddenly join forces--including when for all intents and purposes, it is too late. Until then, it's much easier to kick the proverbial can and wait to see what the endgame will look like, hedging bets along the way, for to commit to an action might have deleterious political consequences. When the endgame finally occurs, this is when the greatest sacrifices are made, and the unnecessary, if not tragic, occurs, which more often than not could have been avoided. The media ramps up its bombast, and hearings are held so that fingers can invariably be pointed, and those who have been lost or compromised the most become political fodder for the masses. In fact, this is what Jihadist forces and developing-world opponents count on when faced with the proposition of American involvement, and especially in hotbeds of conflict. Just this tendency of White House, State, Defense, and Intelligence authorities to kick the can at the highest levels and not confer with all stakeholders regarding intelligence will invariably buy their opponents on the ground necessary time to further entrench, information as to their actions predictably being placed in the vacuum of self-contained channels.
For the authors, this is the greatest tragedy--loss of life because of intentional rivalries and the lack of coordinated information among organizational fiefdoms, clinging hard to their own figurative swaths of ground. Only time will tell if this incident will constitute lessons learned, as the authors hope, or if it will become yet another example of the kind of myopia that seems to run rampant among those in the top echelons of government and departmental authority, relegating, as always, losses to those individuals they've sent for dangerous or special operations on the ground.
http://www.mipj.org/2/post/2013/02/be...
Note from MIPJ Publisher/Executive Editor:
While many in humanitarian affairs may not read reports, books, or other works about intelligence and/or military operations, inclusive of special forces operations, these are inherently important. Such operations and intelligence gathering are part of an overall context on the ground. This case of the attack on the U.S. State Department compound in Benghazi is thereby significant, as it was preceded by attacks on NGO's, inclusive of the ICRC and NGO demining/ordnance clearance operations, as part of heightened anti-Western, sentiment and subsequent Jihadist action, which is a clear threat not just to humanitarian action and those conducting it, but to human security considerations among vulnerable populations. Nothing on the ground in conflict areas can or should ever be seen in a vacuum, as any such tendency would be as insular and oblivious as any government agency not sharing operationally necessary information because of departmental or organizational solipsism. As mentioned here, information--and information integrity--is at a premium in crisis areas, and any such solipsism will always risk unnecessary lives, whether those of operators or those whom they seek to serve.
This ebook by Jack Murphy and Brandon Web with Editors of SOFREP.com (William Morrow/Harper-Collins 2013) is a worthy read; coming from those who know the SpecOps (Special Operations) world and its role in current Counter Terrorism efforts, this is an evocative operational and political look into events that resulted in the deaths of four people, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stephens in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.
Operationally, this ebook is excellent for those not as familiar with the SpecOps community, clearly delineating the varying factions among U.S. intelligence and special operations forces--including the confusion caused when, as the old adage goes, and is used to great demonstrable effect here, "the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing."
The authors' opinions are clear--as neutral as they may try to be--in terms of where the blame should be placed, and including the depth of the loss of those who, but for the jockeying for position of the Executive, Intelligence, and Defense communities, might still be alive.
Especially castigated is The White House's tacit consent to allow John Brennan, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, to operate "secret wars" and conduct Direct Actions (DA) via "creative interpretation" and exploitation of loopholes in Title 10/50. Such "off books" operations could only come into conflict with State Department efforts and those of the CIA and JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command), who were conducting separate missions, inclusive of "advisory" efforts in Libya among rebel factions in combatting Jihadists combining forces with Al Qaeda in Libya, in addition to AQ throughout North and West Africa. In fact such off books operations, in combination with and complicating those sanctioned by the CIA and Defense departments, only fomented the vitriol of Jihadists, whose anger turned into action on the anniversary of 9/11.
With the varying factions loathe to share information, as is often the case, despite efforts to bring various departments together and in fact finally make it legal to share information following 9/11 (including with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security), the level of the disconnect among those on the ground proved deadly, as information that should have been provided to all parties regarding the varying events and any and all dangers, would have successively indicated that the situation was heating up to the point of explosion.
However, as counter-intuitive as it should seem to most when it comes to operations on the ground, and when more information is better than not enough, information is most often not provided laterally from operations, and instead is passed up the chain of command. It is then at the discretion of command to determine with whom information will be shared. The basic truth has continued to be an unfortunate one: operational and bureaucratic rivalries among departments assure that such information--which is at a premium--is an asset to be hoarded, despite everyone supposedly being on the same side.
As the authors also demonstrate, and with true poignancy, the only time that cooperation finally happened was when the temporary consulate (as it was not a fixed, permanent location, with permanent security; instead there were only temporary, hired third-party security forces guarding the outside of the compound) was under attack, and the violence further moved on to CIA headquarters in Benghazi. Here, the CIA had been ready for attacks, having been well-fortified and defended, unlike the compound holding Ambassador Stevens and those among his staff from the State Department.
More broadly, Benghazi proved to be the microcosm reflecting the greater weakness of the whole. An event such as this, and not the first, is functionally indicative of the unfortunate tendency of America's response to impending crisis: the lack of action to address issues in a comprehensive, streamlined manner at the outset of any hint of difficulty--often for political reasons-- actually assures that there will indeed be a crisis later. And when it happens, this is when disparate factions may suddenly join forces--including when for all intents and purposes, it is too late. Until then, it's much easier to kick the proverbial can and wait to see what the endgame will look like, hedging bets along the way, for to commit to an action might have deleterious political consequences. When the endgame finally occurs, this is when the greatest sacrifices are made, and the unnecessary, if not tragic, occurs, which more often than not could have been avoided. The media ramps up its bombast, and hearings are held so that fingers can invariably be pointed, and those who have been lost or compromised the most become political fodder for the masses. In fact, this is what Jihadist forces and developing-world opponents count on when faced with the proposition of American involvement, and especially in hotbeds of conflict. Just this tendency of White House, State, Defense, and Intelligence authorities to kick the can at the highest levels and not confer with all stakeholders regarding intelligence will invariably buy their opponents on the ground necessary time to further entrench, information as to their actions predictably being placed in the vacuum of self-contained channels.
For the authors, this is the greatest tragedy--loss of life because of intentional rivalries and the lack of coordinated information among organizational fiefdoms, clinging hard to their own figurative swaths of ground. Only time will tell if this incident will constitute lessons learned, as the authors hope, or if it will become yet another example of the kind of myopia that seems to run rampant among those in the top echelons of government and departmental authority, relegating, as always, losses to those individuals they've sent for dangerous or special operations on the ground.
December 12, 2025
This report tries to set the record straight about the causes of the 9-11-12 terrorist attack on the State Departments consulate in Benghazi Libya that resulted in 4 American deaths including the American Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens. The number of security agencies and their inherent bureaucracies, both government as well as Private Military Companies (“PMC”), caused a great deal of confusion and poor communications which contributed to the disaster. Plus, this consulate attack occurred just two months prior to the 2012 Presidential election. So, after the terror attack, politically motivated charges and counter charges kept the truth from coming out about this attack. This report concludes that the White House Counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan, was given a free hand to run Joint Special Operations Command (“JSOC”) missions against terrorist in North Africa. Mr. Brennan did not communicate nor coordinate with other security agencies what he was up to. Thus, Ambassador Stevens and his security team(s) were unaware of antiterrorist operations JSOC was running near Benghazi that had killed terrorist. So, the attack on the Benghazi consulate was retaliation by the terrorist against those JSOC attacks. But the terrorist just focused their retaliation at any American. They could not pinpoint their retaliation against JSOC members only. Thus, the consulate staff was totally unprepared for the attack. The initial cover story to protect Brennan’s actions was that a five minute You Tube video that mocked the Prophet Mohammad inspired the terrorist to attack the consulate in Benghazi. That You Tube video story was completely false.
February 18, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I’ve seen the move “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” about 30 times. The movie only consumed 3-4 pages of the book. The authors did a great job bringing the reader the important events both prior to and after the attack. Who is responsible for the deaths of Stevens, Smith, Woods and Dougherty? America’s State Department and others. Failure: America did not secure the Consulate in Benghazi. Property destroyed and people were injured and killed because of America’s failure to do their jobs.
September 1, 2017
Challenge is to read this without feeling sick
Sick of the incompetent political animals operating at the highest levels of our government.
This is a rare straightforward look at the events leading up to the attack, the details of what happened and the motivations for the cover stories and myths that we all heard.
Sick of the incompetent political animals operating at the highest levels of our government.
This is a rare straightforward look at the events leading up to the attack, the details of what happened and the motivations for the cover stories and myths that we all heard.
November 27, 2025
Not many publications like this anymore
A window into how the real world works and how MSM can't be trusted. And it's only gotten worse since Benghazi. How those bureaucrats sleep at night is beyond me. No souls.
A window into how the real world works and how MSM can't be trusted. And it's only gotten worse since Benghazi. How those bureaucrats sleep at night is beyond me. No souls.
February 18, 2017
No, Hilary nor Obama had much to do with what went on. Great book.
November 29, 2018
Heart breaking !
July 1, 2019
Very frank and interesting
This was a frank and direct telling of the actacks and showed how the media distort our views of events
This was a frank and direct telling of the actacks and showed how the media distort our views of events
November 2, 2020
Thanks gentlemen for cutting through the BS, books and movie to provide a well researched, easily digestible understanding of that night
November 16, 2020
Benghazi
It was insightful and well written. The problem is it told me exactly what I already knew! Politics as usual!
It was insightful and well written. The problem is it told me exactly what I already knew! Politics as usual!
February 23, 2013
The events of September 11th, 2012, suffered the effects of happening in an election year. The opposition party attempted to use it as political capital to cash in at the voting booth, and the ruling party did its best to sweep it underneath the rug. Media outlets have either aired narratives that have no factual basis or have lauded the current administration without asking the tough questions that their predecessors of lore would have. For a while, it seemed that the entire event had been swept under the rug, and four dead Americans were swept underneath with it.
What the administration didn't count on was the fact that two of the four dead belonged to a fraternity that has a very long memory. Glen Doherty and Ty Woods were both former Navy SEALs, and their deaths being hand-waved and misrepresented by the media and the politicians definitely caused disenfranchisement within the Special Operations Forces community. This is the driving factor between what drove Jack Murphy and Brandon Webb--both former SOF operators, authors in their own right, and editors of the former SOF-run website SOFREP--to engage in a piece of investigative journalism the likes of which has not been seen in mainstream media for some time.
BENGHAZI: THE DEFINITIVE REPORT does what any good news story does: sets the stage with the four Ws and H, details the events with eyewitness reports, and then debunks myths from both major political factions. As it says within the book, the truth is often stranger than fiction, and this report is demonstrative of that. Operations being run outside of the chain of command, poking into a hornet's nest, and clear evidence of what Richard Marcinko would call "stove-piping," where the left hand doesn't talk to the right, are all major factors of what led to the tragic events of 9/11/2012. It opens the eyes of the American public to what really happened behind the scenes, and furthermore, offers a glimpse into our nation's foreign policy that the powers-that-be would rather keep from the populace.
As the book says, an informed populace is a crucial component of a democracy. It would behoove every American to pick up this eBook and give it a read. One could read it over their lunch break and walk away knowing more in that solitary hour-long period than what any media outlet, mainstream or alternative, has produced in the past five months. Simply put, this is a book nobody in Washington, D.C. wants you to read, which is all the more reason why everybody should read it.
What the administration didn't count on was the fact that two of the four dead belonged to a fraternity that has a very long memory. Glen Doherty and Ty Woods were both former Navy SEALs, and their deaths being hand-waved and misrepresented by the media and the politicians definitely caused disenfranchisement within the Special Operations Forces community. This is the driving factor between what drove Jack Murphy and Brandon Webb--both former SOF operators, authors in their own right, and editors of the former SOF-run website SOFREP--to engage in a piece of investigative journalism the likes of which has not been seen in mainstream media for some time.
BENGHAZI: THE DEFINITIVE REPORT does what any good news story does: sets the stage with the four Ws and H, details the events with eyewitness reports, and then debunks myths from both major political factions. As it says within the book, the truth is often stranger than fiction, and this report is demonstrative of that. Operations being run outside of the chain of command, poking into a hornet's nest, and clear evidence of what Richard Marcinko would call "stove-piping," where the left hand doesn't talk to the right, are all major factors of what led to the tragic events of 9/11/2012. It opens the eyes of the American public to what really happened behind the scenes, and furthermore, offers a glimpse into our nation's foreign policy that the powers-that-be would rather keep from the populace.
As the book says, an informed populace is a crucial component of a democracy. It would behoove every American to pick up this eBook and give it a read. One could read it over their lunch break and walk away knowing more in that solitary hour-long period than what any media outlet, mainstream or alternative, has produced in the past five months. Simply put, this is a book nobody in Washington, D.C. wants you to read, which is all the more reason why everybody should read it.
July 15, 2016
The good thing about this book is that it tells the actual story of the attack itself in a clear and understandable way. I do think I understand much better now what happened to our temporary mission and Ambassador Stevens. But it is written as if narrated by a Special Forces guy, with colloquialisms galore. And it is a mess in terms of organization . . . the book is very short and ends right after recounting the attack, then appends a cast of characters which should have gone up front if anywhere, then a capsule history of Libya which is both too long overall and too short in discussing the period leading up to the attack, and finally ends with a big attack on a few notable names, without really explaining why they bear any responsibility.
I came away with an understanding that the authors blame JSOC operations for stirring up the militants who attacked the mission, but darned if I know if that is a well founded assertion or not.
This is worth a read, but I'd skip the appendices,which shed very little light.
I came away with an understanding that the authors blame JSOC operations for stirring up the militants who attacked the mission, but darned if I know if that is a well founded assertion or not.
This is worth a read, but I'd skip the appendices,which shed very little light.
February 15, 2013
Interesting background on the country of Libya and its history along with some of the recent behind the scenes work by the special operations forces that kicked up the retaliation against the U.S. in Benghazi. The book comes across as rather balanced with plenty of blame to go around for the outcome. Much of the retelling of the events of that day in September is apparently based on contacts high in the government and also in the special forces. The heroism and bravery of the men who gave their lives to save other Americans is amazing. The full accounting of the history of Benghazi will be years down the road when the documents and files are finally declassified.
November 26, 2014
The authors interviewed a lot of folks that were involved in the attack on the American consulate in Libya. Unfortunately, most of the interviews are anonymous because they are not authorized to be talking about this, so you have to take the authors at their word regarding what was said. They seem to do a good and fair job of explaining the chain of events and assigning blame where it needs to be. May not be the definitive report it claims to be, but it is the best we're going to get for a long time.
February 20, 2013
This was a slightly more interesting account than the State Department's version. I think it takes quite a bit of hubris to suggest this is the definitive report, and that it will take years to improve upon what is contained here. If that is truly the case, we know a lot about what happened in Benghazi on 9/11/12.
I would have given it four stars except the author editorializes several times in the account, and shows he is not rational when it comes to John Brennan. And that puts some of the rest of the account in jeopardy, in my opinion.
I would have given it four stars except the author editorializes several times in the account, and shows he is not rational when it comes to John Brennan. And that puts some of the rest of the account in jeopardy, in my opinion.
October 13, 2016
Informative and understandable
I had no idea, and I read great deal, about the amount of warfare taking place on the African Continent. That alone made the book valuable as I will search for more information. The book makes clear the we lost four grave and extremely talented individuals in Benghazi. I am profoundly disappointed in the public outcome of the various investigations in the Congress. It seems like there are many lessons to be learned and from the impressions left by the authors, few if any taken to heart.
I had no idea, and I read great deal, about the amount of warfare taking place on the African Continent. That alone made the book valuable as I will search for more information. The book makes clear the we lost four grave and extremely talented individuals in Benghazi. I am profoundly disappointed in the public outcome of the various investigations in the Congress. It seems like there are many lessons to be learned and from the impressions left by the authors, few if any taken to heart.
October 29, 2020
The real details
I am blown away at the number of events leading up to the attack on Benghazi. All of the politics and different players being uncovered in this report that are still active make me ill.the real reason that Hillary Clinton and President Obama wanted us to believe a video caused the attack. Hope President Trump has an autographed copy. A certain General deserves a pull pardon with all benefits. Muller, Brennan Clapped to name a few bad actors. Well worth reading of you interested in the truth.
I am blown away at the number of events leading up to the attack on Benghazi. All of the politics and different players being uncovered in this report that are still active make me ill.the real reason that Hillary Clinton and President Obama wanted us to believe a video caused the attack. Hope President Trump has an autographed copy. A certain General deserves a pull pardon with all benefits. Muller, Brennan Clapped to name a few bad actors. Well worth reading of you interested in the truth.
October 12, 2014
This report is riveting. Why people bury their heads in the sand and why main stream media ignores Benghazi is beyond me. This goes along with 13 Hours at Benghazi. Bret Baier did a great job hosting an hour special on Michael Zuckoff's book. Unfortunately the audience of Benghazi: The Definitive Report is small and the deniers of truth run the other direction.
I would highly recommend Benghazi: The Definitive Report to anyone seeking the truth.
I would highly recommend Benghazi: The Definitive Report to anyone seeking the truth.
January 9, 2016
Tedious read
This is the second book on Benghazi that I have read. The first book was written more as a narrative, while I found this one more like a textbook. I jokingly told my husband that I needed a doctorate in political science to understand this book. I don't think I'm far off. The one part that I did enjoy the most was the authors reflection on who possibly was to blame for the events at Benghazi.
This is the second book on Benghazi that I have read. The first book was written more as a narrative, while I found this one more like a textbook. I jokingly told my husband that I needed a doctorate in political science to understand this book. I don't think I'm far off. The one part that I did enjoy the most was the authors reflection on who possibly was to blame for the events at Benghazi.
September 29, 2013
Blessedly short, I read this as a follow-up to Fred Burton's "Under Fire" account, a denser but more thoughtful book. I didn't appreciate the author's surly style and am bothered by both the account of the discovery of Sean Smith's body as different from the more thorough "UF"; and, that the identification of Stevens' body deserved much more than its brusque abbreviation.
June 20, 2014
I liked this book. Informative. But it raises as many questions as it answers. I believe it accurately reconstructs the context and events as they happened but the unknown factors that the authors bring to light are fascinating. Overall a good read and quick. Just be ready to have more questions afterwards.
February 10, 2016
A must read on Benghazi
For those who want truthful unspun insight into why the terror attack on Benghazi took place and who was responsible, this book will be extremely enlightening. Plus, it gives an eye-opening account of what goes on behind the scenes in the U.S. Government. I would suggest reading this book in conjunction with 13 Hours.
For those who want truthful unspun insight into why the terror attack on Benghazi took place and who was responsible, this book will be extremely enlightening. Plus, it gives an eye-opening account of what goes on behind the scenes in the U.S. Government. I would suggest reading this book in conjunction with 13 Hours.
February 13, 2016
This is an excellent book. I have seen the men who went in and tried to save the Ambassor and his staff. I believe them, they were there. The whole process of the State Dept is appaling, they do not take their risk assessments seriously, then something bad happens and they all lie and cover their butt. These brave contractor heroes are retired after this mess.
February 26, 2013
Very detailed and hard to follow for those of us who have little knowledge of the intricacies of government/military operations. Created a lot of concern than one or two can have so much freedom to fight wars that are undeclared and unknown.
March 28, 2014
What really happened
An account on the events which took place in Benghazi and how involved the USA really was. Removes the myths and speculations the media had made to deceive the public of the truth.
An account on the events which took place in Benghazi and how involved the USA really was. Removes the myths and speculations the media had made to deceive the public of the truth.
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