Its something to keep in mind the next time someone who knows a guy wants to put his own spin on the story. Those words were used verbatim100 percent. Everythings dull when you get back to the States., Director Michael Bay and Pablo Schreiber on the set of 13 Hours.. The gunship is out of fueling rangethats what theyre telling me, says one of the Americans after communicating with headquarters at home. An American staff member of the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi has died following fierce clashes at the compound, Libyan security sources said on Wednesday. You have reached your limit of free articles. "We jumped up and got ready to go," says former Army Ranger Kris Paronto. John Krasinski plays Jack Silva, an alias for another one of the contractors guarding the annex when the diplomatic compound came under attack. That's who killed the ambassador." John Krasinski plays Jack Silva, an alias for another one of the contractors guarding the annex when the diplomatic compound came under attack. "When they heard the RPGs and AK-fire they volunteered.". Its a scene Krasinski re-lived on set. But the men who were there say the movie has nothing to do with Washington, DC, or presidential campaigns. The seven Americans inside quickly barricaded themselves in locked rooms. Friday is not only a day for solemn memorials for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but it's also the somber anniversary of the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans. [11] On February 3, Pablo Schreiber also signed on to star in the film, playing Kris "Tanto" Paronto, one of the six-man security team. But people are out there sayin' that we are lyin'. And that was just a prelude to the really hairy stuff, an Alamo-like stand against unseen enemies raining bullets, RPGs, and eventually mortar shells on the besieged Americans. It does show that security at the diplomatic compound was insufficient and signs of trouble were ignored, in part due to government ineptitude. Those men saved two dozen Americans, and thats what the movies about, as much as anything.. Benghazi, a city of 700,000 thats roughly the size of Atlanta, is one of two power centers within Libya. Politicians hijacked it. He later passed away. Check here if you would like to receive subscription offers and other promotions via email from TIME group companies. In real-life, the tragedy triggered massive investigations. The movie is an adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book "13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi," which recounts the battle from the perspective of a group of Central. The team couldn't locate Stevens but rescued his security detail, who were separated during the fire. He preferred to let a friendly Libyan militia respond. [18], Doherty was the second of three children born to Bernard and Barbara Doherty. At dawn, friendly Libyan forces rolled up in 50 armored vehicles. Thats who killed the ambassador.. He was centrally involved in the rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch from Iraqi forces in 2003 and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009. Known colloquially as "the Benghazi movie,"[7] the film was released on January 15, 2016, by Paramount Pictures. 'Jack' was a true gentleman who told me, 'Ask any questions, because I want to get this story out, and I want it told right.' The third attack occurred early in the morning: the compound was hit by mortar fire, and two security agents were killed. In the days following the attacks, officials in the Obama administration reported that the incident was related to demonstrations that same day that occurred outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, after an Egyptian-American had produced and posted an anti-Islam video on YouTube. Do I hold her accountable? Specifically, the character played by. There are pilots that come up to us and say, Sorry, dude. [29] Since 2010, Woods had protected American diplomats in posts from Central America to the Middle East. [9] Similarly, The Economist described the film as "a sleek, poorly scripted and largely meaningless film". We want people to know the true story, and if they want to use it as a determination of candidates, we cant stop that. No other congressman was there that I saw, and we made a decision to go and we saved lives. "Whether we'd like to or not, it's still a safety issue. At its core, questions of insufficient security and what then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did and didn't know. Tripoli, in the west, is wealthier and more modernized, while Benghazi in the east is more tribal and religious. This was a way to live up to their principles.. Bob said he was familiar with the contents. As the U.S. government began to investigate the incident, initial remarks from officials were vague and at times seemed contradictory. Based on the best-selling account by Mitchell Zuckoff (with the participation of five of the survivors of the attack), the film begins as former Navy SEAL Jack Silva ( John Krasinski) arrives in Benghazi to work as a private consultant on the security detail for a CIA outpost alongside old friend Tyrone "Rone" Woods ( James Badge Dale ). As the book makes clear, there were no U.S. forces anywhere close to Benghazi that night, a fact verified by countless hearings and investigations over the past three years. A lot of politicians dont realize that we were all in the military and we know a lot of the military guys, and they tell us things. Yet after 70,000 pages of documents , 32 hours of hearings -- longer than Congress took to investigate the 9/11 attacks -- Benghazi has become synonymous with partisan sniping and the movie is already re-igniting a firestorm in the midst of a heated presidential race. The best thing you can do is stay out of their way. Next door, the rough-hewn, non-Ivy League soldiers spend their days lifting weights, drinking beer and video chatting with their kids and wives back home. You will wait, the pudgy CIA commander tells the armed operatives at the nearby base who are desperate to go help. Benghazi became one of the most dangerous places on Earth. John Krasinski poses as Jack Silva in a still from Michael Bay's "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi." | AP Photo By Rachael Bade 01/14/2016 05:16 AM EST [37] The film made $900,000 from 1,995 theaters during its Thursday previews and $16.2 million in its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office. The smoke made it hard to see each other. [59], Kris "Tanto" Paronto, a CIA contractor who was involved in action during the event, said, "We were told to 'stand down'. That night, a group of militants from Ansar al-Sharia assault the compound. In January 1660 Shaista Khan arrived at Aurangabad and quickly advanced, seizing Pune, the centre of Shivaji's realm. The CIA base was protected: 6 elite ex-military operators. [54][55][56], At the 89th Academy Awards, 13 Hours received a nomination for Best Sound Mixing. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. More attacks followed before dawn broke. "I thought they were vaporized in front of my eyes," says Kris Paronto. One man got out, climbed to the second floor of a restaurant overlooking the outpost and began taking photos. New to the detail is former US Navy SEAL Jack Silva, who arrives in Benghazi and is picked up by fellow former US Navy SEAL Tyrone "Rone" Woods, the commander of the GRS team and a personal friend of Silva. It's like so hot. 13 Hours falls into a tradition of political films that offer an indictment proved by tragedy. Less than a mile away is a top secret CIA base, "the Annex," which is protected by a team of private military contractors from Global Response Staff (GRS). [52][53] Many Libyans believed it ignored the contributions of local people who attempted to save the US ambassador. [17] On March 5, 2015, THR reported that Dominic Fumusa also signed on, to play John "Tig" Tiegen, one of the members of the security team, who is also a former Marine with weapons expertise. To prepare for his role of Jack Silva, John Krasinski dropped from 25% to 8% body fat. If youve got useful intel, put it in a memo, says the CIAs Hillary stand-in. Despite repeated calls for air support, none ever came. Its shameful that, in order to highlight the heroism of some, those responsible for the movie felt the need to denigrate the courage of other Americans who served in harms way., Congressional committees have been told CIA officials were trying to protect the rescue team and waited to team up with local militias. Expand your knowledge of the 13 Hours true story by watching the featurette below featuring three of the real GRS operators who helped to save lives during the Benghazi attack. Tiegen was never under fire when he went up the ladder, or the whole time he was on the roof treating the four down Americans. The smoke is so thick and black, he said. The real-life CIA chief stated that there was no stand-down order, but multiple sources who were willing to identify themselves have refuted the still-unnamed CIA chief. The Annex staff was ultimately evacuated to the airport and out of the country with the help of a Libyan militia. That kept the conversation going, as hot-button political controversies typically do. though a congressional committee determined none were available to make it in time. The team fought back. Paronto, Jack Silva, and DB Benton were the only GRS security contractors who remained outside to defend the Annex. Shortly after, he briefly recalls a conversation with Woods they had at the annex and zips his bodybag up. They review the location and warn Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Agents Scott Wickland and Dave Ubben about the risk of minimal-security arrangements and the high probability of a surprise attack due to the weak central government. Period.. [17][23] A large film set was built in March 2015 in Ta' Qali, Malta at .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}355358.9N 142542.6E / 35.899694N 14.428500E / 35.899694; 14.428500. — -- What happened during the 2012 Benghazi attack is the most scrutinized, most politically explosive 13 Hours in recent history, and now the real-life American commandos who fought that night are coming forward to share their stories. published 17 January 2016. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}The 19 Things Every Man Needs in His Apartment, There's a New Layer to Earth: An Ancient Ocean, Scientist Discovers Hidden Chapter of The Bible, The Craziest Vacation Activities Around the World, A Krispy Kreme Favorite Returning on April Fools', The TikTok Trend Causing Chaos at Chipotle, Dairy Queen Is Selling Blizzards for Just 85 Cents, Internet Reacts to Costco's New Sample Kiosks, The Age-Defying Power of True Friendships, Mysterious Navy Craft Washes Up, Then Disappears, This 55-Bed, 55-Bath Texas House Can't Sell. In the film's most controversial scene, the CIA chief in Benghazi (identified only as "Bob") tells the military contractors there when they seek permission to go defend the embassy to "stand down" and thus denies them permission. That was a powerful engine." Eventually, they returned to defend the CIA annex where they encountered repeated heavy fire. January 13, 2016 1:57 PM EST. The two are stopped in the streets by a group of militants. And its unclear that any different decisions on the night of September 11, 2012from the top brass in Washington to the CIA at the annex next doorcould have saved the ambassador. The history doesnt excuse the actions of those who killed four Americans that night, but it does explain why the anti-Gaddafi revolution began in Benghazi, and why so many radicalized, anti-American militias were based there. "Look at . But thats not really the point. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. . Omissions? [10], The film's historical accuracy has been disputed. [17] In the month prior to the attack, Doherty as a contractor with the State Department, told ABC News in an interview that he personally went into the field in Libya to track down MANPADS, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, and destroy them. Though the men now suffer from post-traumatic stress (they refuse to term it a disorder), they say the movie makes them miss their other life and want to return to Libya. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On national television they're accusing us of lying for a book. At the airport, the CIA staff and the wounded Geist board the plane to Tripoli while the remainder of the GRS team waits for the next plane with the bodies of Stevens, Smith, Woods, and Doherty. Paronto is approached by his 17-Feb allies and gives them some keys to Gaddafi's old armored vehicles. "We saved another 25 lives at the annex. -MensJournal.com. (Heres .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}How John Krasinski Got Incredibly Ripped in Just Four Months for the role.). We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. -The O'Reilly Factor, Yes, and as the GRS operators have indicated, the decision likely saved 30 lives. The State Department later admitted the Benghazi outpost was "woefully" under secured. No. A House Armed Services Committee report found that air support was unavailable or that it would have arrived too late to make a difference.[51]. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [54] Libya's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Salah Belnaba, denounced the film's portrayal of the Libyan people and described it as "fanatical and ignorant. After an intense firefight inside the compound against the militants, the DSS team retreats in a car, but after a beat-up Wickland goes the wrong way, they are followed by militants on their way back to the Annex. We dont have any fking support! says one of our American operatives. Criticism of Clintons Washington world is implicit in 13 Hours. Jack Silva : Loud and. The only difference with this one was that we were left behind. Republicans have been hellbent on pinning it on then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. [39], 13 Hours received mixed reviews from critics, though some viewed it as a welcomed tame effort from Michael Bay. No one has talked about those 13 hours and what happened.. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. "This is something that I think was done right down the middle youve got honor, youve got integrity, youve got courage because that is what we need and I hope people come to see this, to bring it back to the center. Black Hawk Down (2001) showed the deaths of 18 Americans due to a failed 1993 military operation in Somalia during President Bill Clintons tenure, while Fahrenheit 9/11 sought to reveal the fecklessness of President George W. Bushs foreign policy through the debacle of the Iraq War. To help transform himself for the role, Krasinski worked out with the same personal trainer who helped bulk up Bradley Cooper for American Sniper, another combat film we researched. "That's where the difference is where people understand that we are going to give our lives. [14] David Denman signed on to star in the film on March 3, 2015, playing Boon, an elite sniper. Bob : These are your credentials, and two weeks' per diem. As they were leaving for the main compound, Kris 'Tanto' Paronto, says that he requested support. [38] The film added 528 theaters in its second weekend and grossed $9 million, a 39.8% drop. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/2012-Benghazi-attacks, NPR - Chronology: The Benghazi Attack And The Fallout. Minutes later, the operators and surviving outpost personnel were packed into two cars, driving the dangerous streets back to the Annex. Once the action begins, the Americans are left high and dry. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. In 2012, following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Benghazi in Libya is named one of the most dangerous places in the world, and countries have pulled their diplomatic offices out of the country in fear of an attack by militants. Arriving at the Annex, Silva is introduced to the rest of the GRS team: former US Marines Mark "Oz" Geist, John "Tig" Tiegen and Dave "Boon" Benton and former US Army Ranger Kris "Tanto" Paronto and the CIA Chief of Station, "Bob", who constantly gives the team strict reminders to never engage the citizens. He forms a team, including two Delta Force operators, that flies to Benghazi after several delays. Thats who attacked them. The ARB report released December 20, 2012, stated that two Americans were wounded. The men made the journey to the outpost by car, then approached on foot. Combined, there were fewer than 30 Americans in the compounds the night of the attacks. ), Im very impressed by the fidelity to the truth, Zuckoff says, while acknowledging that its not a documentary. Check out his new book Strong: Nine Workout Programs for Women to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and Build Strength for Life, with coauthor Alwyn Cosgrove. At 6:43 a.m., a car bearing Libyan police markings filled with three men pulled up to the diplomatic outpost. Lou Schuler is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor to Mens Health. There were a lot of different ways to support their families. Read More: How Hillary Clinton Won the Benghazi Hearing, And if theres any question that the Bay movie is being used as a political stunt, two Republican groups will host a screening of the movie on Friday in Washington, D.C., and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton will speak at the event. Wickland escapes but loses both Stevens and Smith. Christopher Stevens. We've received your submission. ), And then they were held up at the annex for 20 minutes, under orders from the CIA station chief, whom Zuckoff identifies only as Bob.. Also, the National Review commentator David French argues that the Senate committee cited above found plenty of evidence of the "stand down" order in the form of personal testimony from multiple witnesses but chose to rule that the contrary testimony outweighed it. They also find out that Stevens had been found behind the compound but was pronounced dead at the hospital. . Likely due to a boost from the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, the film made $40 million in DVD and Blu-ray sales by August 2016. A firefight began, and 10 minutes later, the first wave was repelled. Geist is still living with the aftermath of that night. Four Americans were dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens and two CIA members. In a statement to ABC News, the CIA called the claims in the movie "shameful," "a distortion of events" and denied that a stand down order was given. [32][33], 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi was released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray on June 11, 2019. It happens. Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith,[1] and two CIA operatives,[2] Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods,[3][4] both former Navy SEALs. Code name: G.R.S. You tense up. Written by Chuck Hogan, "13 Hours" follows the arc of Mr. Zuckoff's book, mixing scene setting with an introduction of Jack Silva (John Krasinski, pumped and cut), a member of the Navy SEALs . The incident continued to generate controversy, however, as various congressional committees conducted their own investigations; the final investigative report on the attacks was released nearly four years later, in the summer of 2016. We can debate that, but the facts are the facts. But both the testimony and the reason for the award are classified. One very long. The three contractors were also joined by ex-SEALs Tyrone Woods and Jack Silva (played by The Office alum John Krasinki in the film) and former Marine Dave Benton, both pseudonymous names because their real identities have not been revealed. [26] The film premiered on January 12, 2016, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,[27] benefiting the Shadow Warriors Project, which supports private military security personnel and other groups. "After I was leavin', I said, 'Well, get us an ISR,' which is a UAV, a drone, 'and get us a spectre gunship.'" Thats just the truth. The 19 Things Every Man Needs in His Apartment, How John Krasinski Got Incredibly Ripped in Just Four Months, 4 Daily Exercises Every Navy SEAL (and Every Fit Guy) Should Do, Strong: Nine Workout Programs for Women to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and Build Strength for Life, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. [28][33] He led 12 direct action raids and 10 reconnaissance missions leading to the capture of 34 enemy insurgents in the volatile Al Anbar province. At the Annex, the GRS team desperately wants to go to the compound to help, but the Chief refuses for fear that the team's departure would expose the Annex. The movie is based on the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by Mitchell Zuckoff and that team of operatives. While congressional reports say that didnt happen, the men say the crucial delay, about 20 minutes, crippled their rescue mission. This book was written for the story that wasn't being told and to represent the lives of the individuals that died." He left the Navy in 2005 as a petty officer first class and joined the CIA. John Christopher StevensApril 18, 1960 Grass Valley, California, U.S. Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs. Zuckoff wrote 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi with the surviving members of the six-man security team that tried to rescue Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who died that night along with State Department computer specialist Sean Smith and two others. The militants launch a mortar attack in which Ubben and Geist are wounded, and Geist's left arm is partially severed. He went on to describe the military assets that were sitting on a base a short distance from Benghazi on the night of September 11, 2012. Soon afterward, local Libyan militias friendly to the United States arrived to escort the remaining Americans to the airport. Three are ex-Marines, and the sixth served as an Army ranger. We can get into semantics but stand down was said credit to the movie that they believed what we were saying and they put it in the movie.. They loaded guns and body armor into a waiting armored car as they watched flames rise from the nearby outpost. But no evidence of similar protests in Benghazi could be substantiated, and other evidence emerged, suggesting that the attacks were a premeditated act by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Ansar al-Sharia. The film stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, David Denman and Dominic Fumusa, with supporting roles by Toby Stephens, Alexia Barlier and David Costabile. "I got a lot of lung damage when I was over there trying to get care through the workmans comp and it just wasn't working. [15] Freddie Stroma was added to the cast on March 17, 2015, to play the role of an undercover CIA officer in Libya. The first, where Stevens and Smith were based, was neither an embassy nor a consulate. The men who were there say the movie made them miss their life in Libya, and want to return. Couple compares miserable flight to 'child abuse', Haribo fans shocked to learn green gummy bear flavor: 'Calling the police', Woman fatally shot by upstate NY homeowner after pulling into wrong driveway: sheriff, Yuengling takes apparent jab at Bud Light with conspicuous tweet, Pump Rules alum Billie Lee exits Tom Sandovals home in same clothes from night prior, Robert Kraft, Meek Mill to march in Poland to fight anti-Semitism, Janet Jackson chokes up talking about son Eissa with Today, Larry Brooks previews seventh playoff series between Rangers, Devils, Even AOC Cant Believe Netflix Crashed During Love Is Blind Live Reunion, Viewers pan Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos' 'brutal' first 'Live' show together.