Mother of State Dept. Official Killed in Benghazi: ‘I Believe Obama Murdered My Son’
(Nov., 2012)
he families of the four Americans killed in the terrorist attack on the U.S. Mission in Benghazi on Sept. 11 continue to grieve, however, they are also continuing to speak out.
A father and a mother used the word “murder” when discussing the Obama administration’s response to the attack while an older brother of one of the victims is not questioning the decisions made in the heat of battle, UT San Diego reports.
State Department computer expert Sean Smith was killed during the terrorist assault on the U.S. Consulate in Libya on Sept. 11. (Photo credit: Department of State)
Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was one of four Americans killed in the terrorist assault on the U.S. Consulate in Libya on Sept. 11. (Image source: ABC News)
This undated photo provided by Mary Commanday shows Chris Stevens. Stevens was among four Americans who died Tuesday night, Sept. 11, 2012 in Benghazi after they were attacked by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. Stevens’ death deprives the United States of someone widely regarded as one of the most effective American envoys to the Arab world. (Credit: AP)
Glen Doherty was among the four Americans killed in the attack in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012. (Source: FILE)
Patricia Smith, the mother of Sean Smith, a State Department computer wiz killed in the assault, told the paper that she blames President Barack Obama for the death of her son.
“I believe that Obama murdered my son,” she told UT San Diego from the living room of her Clairemont home. “I firmly believe this.”
Believe it or not, the mother actually voted for Obama in the 2008 election because of her son, Sean, who encouraged her to do so. Sean Smith was reportedly an avid supporter of the president.
Charles Woods, the father of slain former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, argues the White House should have made an effort to save the Americans under attack in Benghazi.
“I’m a retired attorney, and I know that these actions legally do not constitute murder. But in my mind the people in the White House, all of them who have authority to send in reinforcements to prevent what they knew was going to be the death of my son, are guilty of murdering my son,” Woods told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Sunday.
More from UT San Diego:
The older brother of Glen Doherty, a former Navy SEAL from Encinitas working as a U.S. security contractor, said Doherty and Tyrone Woods were part of the force that responded to the consulate attack.
“They rescued a bunch of people and brought them to the (consulate) annex, and then people defended the annex after Glen and Ty fell. All those people didn’t get overrun and wiped out. They had enough people to fight off that battle,” said Greg Doherty, who lives in Kensington in Northern California.
In that light, Doherty said the debate over needing more help doesn’t make sense to him, unless it might have been U.S. airstrikes against a mortar position used by attackers.
“But then you are getting into real specific strategy, and I don’t think it is civilians’ job to pick apart an actual battle and talk strategy, unless you are a general,” said Doherty, reached by telephone Thursday.
GOP lawmakers and others have criticized for Obama administration for what has been perceived as a lack of transparency in the aftermath of the attack. The White House also spent nearly two weeks blaming an anti-Muslim YouTube video for the attack before eventually admitting that it was a coordinated terrorist attack on the anniversary of 9/11.
Currently, the Obama administration is under the gun and being asked to explain why more resources weren’t sent to Benghazi to save the Americans that were under attack. CBS News reported on Thursday that a key counter-terror task force wasn’t even convened that night.
Former SEAL Brent Gleeson of San Diego said it is questionable whether help might have been able to arrive in time. Additionally, flying in troops from another country would have required ground support.
“Logistically speaking, it’s not as black and white as people are making it sound. It’s not just, call for help and they fly in the reinforcements,” Gleeson said.
“If they fly people in, well great, how are they going to get to the target? They need vehicles. Where from? Unless the vehicles are staged there already, logistically in that situation it’s kind of a nightmare. They weren’t prepared for this, obviously,” he added.
To read UT San Diego’s full report, click here.
Doherty’s family has created a charitable organization in his name. Details can be found at glendohertyfoundation.org.