Benghazi survivor has brutal response to Iraq-Benghazi comparisons
John “Tig” Tiegan, who took part in the heroic battle against terrorists at the Benghazi embassy on Sept. 11, 2012, had powerful words for those who are trying to equate Tuesday’s violent protest at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad with Benghazi.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Tiegan said, “To sit there and say it was just like Benghazi? There was no ambassador there and there was no consulate [and], technically, no personnel at all because they all got evacuated prior to the protesters getting there and that’s the big difference between this administration and the last administration."
The Obama administration and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were roundly criticized after apparent security blunders and missteps resulted in the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, communications officer Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.
“At least this administration is smart enough to get all the nonessential personnel out before the protest even happened,” Tiegan said in a separate interview with the Boston Herald.
Tiegen was responding to a tweet (now deleted) by VoteVets, a veterans group that supports progressive candidates.
The group suggested the violent protests at the U.S. compound in Baghdad would go down as President Trump's "Benghazi."
"Hey @POTUS remember [your] Benghazi rants during 2016? You're about to have your own one unfortunately in Iraq," the tweet said.
Tiegen said on Fox & Friends the comparison is "not even close."
“I kind of laughed when someone said that, ‘Oh, this is Trump’s Benghazi.”
Per the Boston Herald, the attack on the embassy in Baghdad followed U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. President Trump blamed Iran for the embassy breach and called on Iraq to protect the American diplomats.
Tiegan also laid out a harsh reality about Iraq and its future saying the nation “will truly never evolve into anything until they can get disciplined and real leadership without being under a dictatorship. Sad to see Iraq military personnel in uniform protesting against a country that has sacrificed thousands of Americans’ lives so they could be free and live without fear of being fed to lions, shot, beaten, etc. … for just disagreeing with the leadership.”
Despite the effort American troops have put into defending and rebuilding Iraq, the former Marine Sergeant from 3rd Battalion 7th Marines India Company, Infantry Squad Leader believes enough is enough.
“In my opinion we should end all financial and military aid,” Tiegan said.
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