(New York, NY—February 7, 2013)—William Morrow announces the publication of BENGHAZI: The Definitive Report as an e-book original (available February 12, 2013; $2.99) by Jack Murphy and Brandon Webb, editors of SOFREP.com, the world’s premier special operations website. Written with the consultation of more than a dozen experts, former Special Operations personnel, and those with inside information, BENGHAZI is the first insider’s account of what happened during the Benghazi attack that claimed the lives of four Americans.
“Brandon and Jack’s reporting finally brings clarity to the events of 9/11/12,” says Executive Editor, Peter Hubbard. “By presenting the facts without partisan agenda, they pay tribute to the heroism of four Americans who served their country beyond the call of duty.”
On September 12, 2012, Webb learned that Glen Doherty, one of Webb’s closest friends and his former Navy SEAL teammate, was killed alongside Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith (a dedicated communications specialist for the State Department and Air Force veteran), and Ty Woods (a distinguished Navy SEAL who continued to work as an independent security contractor for the CIA) 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 embarked on a relentless investigation to understand exactly what happened to their countrymen, as well as the role played by the Obama Administration, State Department, and CIA.
New information revealed in BENGHAZI to include:
- Ambassador Stevens did not see eye to eye with White House counterterrorism adviser (and current CIA director nominee) John Brennan: Brennan was running a significant number of covert operations for the CIA and Stevens viewed Brennan’s unilateral military action as counterproductive to his diplomatic mission in Libya. Webb and Murphy believe that the 9/11/12 attack was blowback for the CIA’s covert operations.
- Dangerous warning signs lead up to the attack: On May 22nd, 2012, the International Committee for the Red Cross/Red Crescent building in Benghazi was hit by two rocket propelled grenade rounds. On June 6th, the U.S. Temporary Mission Facility was targeted by an improvised explosive device attack that blew a hole in the perimeter wall. On June 11th, attackers fired on a convoy of the British Ambassador to Libya, and on June 18th, the Tunisian consulate in Benghazi was stormed by individuals affiliated with Ansar Al-Sharia Libya.
- The guards were poorly armed: Shockingly, the Department of State local guards were armed with bats, not guns, so it’s no surprise they were the first ones to flee the scene. With the Libyan government weak and unable to provide security, the State Department felt forced to rely on Third Country Nationals.
- The team from Tripoli: Two Army Special Operations personnel from Joint Special Operations Command and five CIA personnel commandeered a small jet and were able to bribe their way onto a plan with $30,000 in US cash in order to help in the attack.
- CIA deserves some credit for what was accomplished: They managed to successfully rescue six State Department personnel, recover Smith’s body, get approximately thirty Americans out alive, and left Benghazi with all Americans accounted for. Plus, they didn’t compromise any classified material in the process.
- Details inside General Petraeus’s resignation: While it appeared that Petraeus resigned over something to do with Benghazi, he was likely sold out. Petraeus knew that he was a perpetual outsider in the administration and was waiting until after the election to resign. Over the years he made plenty of enemies at the CIA and when they decided they wanted him out, details regarding his affair with Paula Broadwell emerged and they forced him out on their terms.
- Fascinating myth busters: The media circled around various reports and untrue stories in the wake of the attack. For example, one false story was that there was a gunship circling over Benghazi the night of the attack but that the crew was denied permission to initiate airstrikes to support those on the ground.
The Benghazi attack continues to remain at the top of the news cycle—especially with the ongoing testimonies, investigations and the new Secretary of State and CIA Director nominations. This e-book aims to cut through the white noise and get to the truth. BENGHAZI does not shy away from naming names and does not place blame on a faulty bureaucracy. According to Webb and Murphy, the attack must be viewed as a commentary on American foreign policy and counterterrorism strategy.
About the Authors:
Brandon Webb is the editor in chief of SOFREP.com and a former U.S. Navy SEAL with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. President George W. Bush awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to Webb and the SEAL platoon following their deployment to Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. After his Afghanistan combat deployment, he was Course Manager for the U.S. Navy SEAL Sniper program, arguably the most difficult sniper courses in the world. The author of the bestselling memoir The Red Circle, Webb has appeared in the New York Times and on ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, BBC, and other outlets.
Jack Murphy is the managing editor of SOFREP.com and a former U.S. Army Ranger/Green Beret with multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is an Army Special Operations veteran who served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant on a Military Free Fall team in 5th Special Forces Group. Acting as the senior trainer and adviser to an Iraqi SWAT team, his Special Forces team conducted Direct Action and other missions across Northern Iraq. Having left the military in 2010, he now studies political science at Columbia University. He is author of both Reflexive Fire, and Target Deck.
