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400 Missiles Stolen During Benghazi Raid

Mike

Well-known member
Aug. 12, 2013 10:00pm Jason Howerton

A former U.S. attorney representing Benghazi whistleblowers is claiming that 400 surface-to-air missiles were stolen during the deadly attack in Libya and are now “in the hands of some very ugly people.” He also said the Obama administration is “deeply concerned” that the weapons may be used to shoot down airliners.

In an interview with WMAL radio, Joe DiGenova explained that the stolen missiles also represent one of the reasons the U.S. State Department shut down 19 embassies across the Middle East last week.

400 Surface to Air Missiles Were Stolen During Benghazi Attack, Says Whistleblower Attorney

400 Surface to Air Missiles Were Stolen During Benghazi Attack, Says Whistleblower Attorney
This file photo taken on September 11, 2012 shows an armed man waving his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

He said the development has the Obama administration “deeply concerned” and on alert.

Even more potentially shocking, DiGenova claimed the missiles are now in the hands of al-Qaeda operatives, according to his sources. His sources include “former intelligence officials who stay in constant contact with people in the Special Ops and intelligence community.”

“And it’s pretty clear that the biggest concern right now are 400 missiles which have been diverted in Libya and have gotten in the hands of some very ugly people,” he added.

DiGenova’s wife, Victoria Toensing, also represents Benghazi witnesses and other individuals with direct knowledge of the attack.
 

Steve

Well-known member
What was not immediately clear is why the U.S. government had stockpiled 400 surface-to-air missiles somewhere in Libya, or when exactly they were stolen and where they were taken from, although the suggestion seems to be the were taken around the time of the attack.

I realize I have said this repeatedly but why didn't they just blow them up before they left?

I wanted the US military to target the weapons depots from the beginning.. but they didn't...

it's not like we can't make more.. :roll:

The total haul in Libya was 21,000 MANPADS with 5,000 rounded up and destroyed. That leaves 16,000 remaining, and 400 stolen. That makes 15,600 unaccounted for

Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS)

so why was this 400 so important? US made?
 

Steve

Well-known member
something isn't kosher about this latest revelation... to say the least..

missing surface to air missiles is not new..

Thousands of Libyan missiles from Qaddafi era missing in action

The U.S. has been unable to secure thousands of potentially dangerous shoulder-fired missiles known as "MANPADS" that were leftover from the Qaddafi regime in Libya, CBS News has learned.

Before his overthrow and death in the fall of 2011, Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi was believed to have purchased 15,000-20,000 Soviet MANPADS. Concern over the whereabouts of the missiles - and the possibility that terrorists could buy them on the black market and even use them to shoot down American passenger jets - drove a U.S. effort to recover as many as possible. But only about 2,000 were accounted for prior to the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attacks on Benghazi, Libya, according to the source. He describes those working to locate the missiles as "beside themselves" and "frustrated."

The only successes they had were in western Libya, the Tripoli area. In the eastern half toward Benghazi, they were getting nowhere."

More recently, a source who was on the ground in Libya says Mexican crime syndicates were looking for MANPADS to purchase there.

so with 15,000 to 20,000 missing,.. 2000 recovered.. still leaves 13,000 to 17,000 missing...

why the concern for this 400?
 

Steve

Well-known member
this might scare you...

Just remember...When you see the launch, don't forget to chop the thrust and fly towards it!

source.. pilot forum..

I've been lazed a few times on arrival. Haven't seen any SAMs yet.

Remember.....you are flying against a dude wearing "man Jammies".....they are "probably" not trained to fire said man pad so you "should" be ok.....This message provided by Air Force Intel..

dhl.jpg
DHL Airbus A300 being attacked by a shoulder-launched IR guided missile
November of 2003 when a DHL Airbus A300 was struck by a surface-to-air missile and successfully landed at Baghdad International Airport. Of course, the size of the plane and the missile do make a difference, and where the plane gets hit is probably even more important

In the past, when airliners were hit by manpads, they typically take the whole engine and pod out.



The issue I have with saying there's a manpad threat in LA, means there's really a threat nationwide. They are, after all, very portable. On the tongue in cheek comment about training, once you turn on the missile and it acquires it is automatic. If it is an sa-7, it may miss on its own. If its a stinger or sa-14/18, its going to hit.


http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=33ee9ffe-3ff4-4d69-9367-eff02ddf093d

Thu, Apr 25, 2013 FAA Issues ATIS Report Of Possible MANPADS Threat To Aircraft In LA Area

Pilot Reports of Worrisome ATIS Transmission Confirmed by FAA, Feds

ANN has received and confirmed multiple reports late Wednesday about the content of at least one ATIS transmission reporting the potential of a MANPADS threat to aircraft in the LA (Los Angeles) area. MANPADS are otherwise known as man-portable air-defense systems and can take the form of portable, often shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles often used to target aircraft and associated airborne targets.

According to one ANN Reader report, the KTOA ATIS reported at 2247 Zulu, via Information Quebec, "...Attention all aircraft: reported MANPADS threat, exercise extreme caution for the LA area and surrounding airports, reported by the internal security at 1200 local time...." By the time that the ATIS had updated to Romeo, the alert had either been retracted or dismissed.

Conversations with FAA and FBI sources confirm that there has been a threat of unknown (anonymous) nature that local Law Enforcement became aware of and a number of agencies were alerted.

al quida is on the run,.. or is that runway?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
I guess if you tell them where they are, and refuse to protect them, it saves you the trouble of selling them and transporting them for your customers.

Just another case of wealth distribution, carried out the obama way, with no need for congressional approval.
 
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