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Never Forget

by Brandon Webb · September 11, 2012 · Posted In: Admin

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Brandon Webb

Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Middle East. His last tour in the SEAL Teams was as the Course Manager for the US Navy SEAL Sniper program, arguably one of the most difficult sniper courses in the world. He was formerly a contributing editor for Military.com, and currently the Editor-in-Chief of SOFREP.com. Brandon is regularly featured in the media as a subject matter expert on military affairs. An avid writer, his last two books (The Red Circle, & Benghazi: The Definitive Report) both hit the New York Times best seller list, and his writing has been featured in print, and digital media worldwide. You can follow him on Twitter @BrandontWebb

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72 comments

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t2gunner

I'll never forget flying over NYC shortly after 911 on the way to Germany. We could see the twin lights tribute from 42k feet. I had goose-bumps for an hour... I.Will.Never.Forget

I tried to enlist in the Marines twice, at 17 and 19. My uncle, Colonel Robert A. Maloney (my personal hero, who flew 11 aircrafts in 3 wars, WWII POW, Squadron CDR, Base CDR, and OIC CIA) talked me out of enlisting and sent me off to college. After 911, I tried again, but was denied by all 4 branches as I was over age, with no prior service. So, past four years, I’ve been in Iraq and Kuwait supporting the war fighters the only way an older man can.

majrod

According to the Lebanese news organization Tayyar.org, citing AFP news sources the Ambasssador was raped before he was murdered.

http://maroonedinmarin.blogspot.com/2012/09/unconfirmed-report-us-ambassador-in.html

This is getting uglier by the minute...

majrod

3 Like

This year I remembered 911 quietly. I didn't watch numerous 911 specials. I didn't stay glued to the news. I remembered and reflected on what the world looks like 11 years later.

Late in the day I learned the way the rest of the world remembered 911. In Egypt they stormed our embassy. Tore down our flag and raised the same flag Al Qeada uses (and said WE need to be sensative to Islam). In Libya (totally unrelated - sarcasm) they killed our ambassador. Our reaction? A statement to Egyptians stating we aren't against Islam and for Libya a promise that we'll seek justice. No apologies from Libya or Egypt, countries we have actually supported in the replacement of their previous rulers with more democratic (and Islamic) leadership.

Damn, we still haven't figured out they are at war with us.

HugeFan moderator

1 Like

@majrod Yep, that about sums it up.

gaelichunter

1 Like

By the way, in case someone thinks I'm out of line in saying POTUS is skipping more than 50% of the PDB's - the Washington Post (not exactly the most conservative newspaper in DC) ran the article. Here it is: http://goo.gl/zLTlh

wvbalrog

Further proof there is no fear of the current administration. No time to meet with Netanyahu but takes time to meet with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Un-effing believable!!!

Old PH2 moderator

8 Like

Some Fine "Howdy do?" this morning woke up to find the US ambassador to Libya was drug from his post and killed along with 2 others. My outrage can't be fully expressed with words. Think I'll be splitting some wood when I get home tonight. SHIT

JHR

@Old PH2AS most people already know on here, we lost a former Navy SEAL along side the Ambassador in Libya, doing security. 42 years old. RIP.

MedicSteve2

@Old PH2 Front page of drudge right now shows these savages carrying the ambassador over a shoulder. CKyle was spot on in his assessment: they truly are savages

JHR

@MedicSteve2 @Old My son says the same thing. Savages. he believes we need to act more like them. That is just an immature mind speaking. However, "act more like them" in the sense that we need to be in their heads and turn the tables, that I would go with.

majrod

1 Like

@MedicSteve2 @Old It's being reported they were taking him to the hospital.

Reports still coming in.

MedicSteve2

1 Like

@majrod I heard that, too, Major, but he looks gone in the pic where he's being carried over the shoulder of the guy in the white T shirt.

I've carried wounded out in a fireman's carry before, so it's possible, he's got a different look in that pic.

gaelichunter

3 Like

@Old PH2 You know what really burns me about this as well? It's not just that the US Ambassador and three (not two) staffers were killed. It's also that now that the situation has completely deteriorated, POTUS is sending the USMC in. I was reading last week that he has attended LESS THAN 50% of the PDB's since becoming POTUS. I don't mean to become too political here, but there is not a modern President that has done that (or not done that more appropriately). The WH defended it by saying, he "catches them" on his iPad. And then we wonder why an Ambassador is caught without the proper security in the middle of an uprising.

That an American Ambassador's dead body was dragged through the streets...complete bullshit.

blkyank

@gaelichunter @Old PH2 The WH never never apologized in order to appease islam.

The apology was posted by the US embassy in Egypt hours before the attack per the call of an on site press official.Now I'm sure plenty of folks here will insist Obama is covering up by placing the blame on a local guy but the very same press people are fine citing for other bits of info have pretty much confirmed that.

What is really sad is that our would be president Romney in a moment of panic over his sinking pol numbers seized on this outrage for political advantage.

That move is so crass even the Republican punditry was offended by such an

obvious headline grab by Romney while the bodies of dead Americans are still warm.

Another thing,why do some people persist with this "Obama doesn't know we're at war"

bull? The US just took out another high level AQ honcho.Obama has no problem sending in the drones and will surely send in JSOC to target the killers when the CIA locates them.

How does missing PDB (in person) make Obama responsible for the ambassadors death

while Bush was allowed to avoid blame for failing to act after blowing off information provided in a PDB?.

Its not as if Obama doesn't take terrorism seriously,its the fact that he believes in gathering information over lashing out at a whole nation with his hair on fire as so

many people not in the know are clamoring for.

Obama may have personally attended 50% of his PDB, but the last guy to hold the office failed to act on the same PDB'S so many times CIA officials were thinking about resigning to avoid blame for the attack they knew was coming.

I'd rather have a President who can make the right choice after attending 50% of his meetings then one who failed to do the right thing after attending them all.

Hell,Romney can't even get his intel together before making one public statement.

Many other "uber patriots" who called all Libyans "savages" have to eat crow when the story came into focus that Libyans risked their lives getting the ambassador to a hospital

where Libyan doctors fought in vain to save his life.

Everybody take a deep breath and gather more info before going off half cocked.

JHR

2 Like

@blkyank @gaelichunter @Old PH2 I am from a very political family. How Political? About as Political as it gets. We have a rule, NEVER,EVER talk about poilitics in Public. If any of us did, we would be disowned. It would be in bad taste as the family represents bi-partisan. One side of the firm are flaming liberals, another-moderates, the other-staunch republicans. I was walking precincts at 5 years old. I learned the ropes from the ground up, just like any other business. Although I work around politics a bit, it is not my main gig. I have many.

What you see in newspapers is Bunk. Laughable. The one line headline-attention grabbers that folks grab onto and try and make an argument with are laughable. Anything about the CIA, or Military, even more so- you won't get accuracy in print.

UNLESS you are in the inner circle of an arena, you will never know what is really going on. Be it a U.S. Navy SEAL, an NSA-CIA-FBI-black ops Operator, A Ranger, DELTA, affiliation (sp? :-) ) etc...you will never know...and those entities are siloed to an extent, they don't have the whole picture, some of them put it together over time, but the whole enchilada in never given out-thats the way our security apparatus works, its' the foundation of the Intelligence field/world.....as in any other such dynamic (think both sides of the fence).

....and by the way, I know Grunts who won't divulge information they were privvy to either by confidence, accident or in the field, to this day they protect others and this country. Military ETHOS mixed with personal integrity.

And BTW, I am starting to have an enormous respect for the USMC and The National Guard. Those Marines are somethin, damn, I am getting enlightened. And the Guard, they have their place and we will see more and more of them in our future warfare.

I am by no means saying shut the fuck up to anyone on politics, perdonal agendas or views. What I am saying, is don't believe everything you read. And the statement at the embassy as an apology (excuse me, I have been grieving for 2 friends lost this week-I am behind in updates)...I know from experience, that would be a god damned smart political thing to do on a pick the situation moment. If we can calm violence with a statement, if these deaths (including an Ambassador and a former Navy SEAL) could have prevented by a statement, DO IT. PLay The Game in that instance.

WE took a big hit up the ass with the burnings of the Quran a while back. The real story behind that is unreal, its nor for public display. We took one to keep Peace. There is more to warfare and national security than meets the eye. I learned along time ago, I know nothing and I am learning every day. Thanks for letting me swear. This was to a response to a comment above, not directed at you blyyank! Just me, spilling my opinion. I think it is political season, so there are many voices and opinions to be outed. It is squid pro quo, apparently:-) However, we need to not fall into the ding-dong zone of the media and their spins. if we do, are we any better than 3rd world countries believing the propaganda being fed to them? Just a thought.

Where is Corialanus, I need equipment before I hit the road and can't stop by the shop. I will buy it on the fly.

majrod

1 Like

@blkyank Yank – You’re being hypocritical. While Obama was a Senator he had no problem making an issue of any difficulties the sitting Pres was having in the world and that didn’t stop when he was on the campaign trail. When 911 happened there was quite a bit of flack directed at the Pres for not getting back to DC immediately or that he didn’t walk out of the kids classroom immediately. There wasn’t a wholesale condemnation by the media that the “timing is wrong”.

Reference the PDB’s before 911 (the ones that were overwhelmingly attended), what information was presented that could have avoided 911? Pres Obama may have been similarly failed by our intel in his PDBs. That doesn’t excuse the fact that they aren’t a priority for him and it’s difficult to identify a problem if you aren’t going to the briefs.

Speaking of “right choices”, the DAY AFTER the Libyan consulate was attacked/burned/Ambassador killed, Egyptian Embassy grounds were compromised the Pres missed his intel brief. Instead he spent six hours flying to/from Vegas for a campaign trip where he said we had a “tough day” today.

BTW, who said "Obama doesn't know we're at war"? I said, "Damn, we still haven't figured out they are at war with us." My comments were directed as us as Americans similar to the 911 Commissions findings after 911. You feeling guilty or something?

I don’t think every cloudy day is caused by Obama but I’m not so partisan as to deflect why a sitting Pres is missing over half his PDBs and his administration’s knee jerk reaction to demonstrators is to apologize to them. He IS responsible for the climate and message of the gov’t as well as subsequent responses by the gov’t to crisis. We have yet to hear any definitive “diplomatic” statements made to the gov’ts of Egypt and Libya.

@gaelichunter @Old PH2

gaelichunter

@blkyank @gaelichunter @Old PH2 I'm breathing just fine, but thanks for your concern. Clearly you have a political ax to grind and an opinion you would like to share in defending this administration. That's your right. If you don't feel that part of a US President's duty is to attend the PDB, that's also your right. Mind you, they have been given since 1961 and the current President is the only person who suddently feels they are optional. You may want to take a deep breath and just be upfront with your agenda.

JHR

2 Like

Its 12:05 am 9/12 0n the West Coast. I never sleep on 9/11. I don't have TV as most know on here. I was working on a political project and got a call from my BF at Coronado, she gave me a blow by blow as it happened. Her husband would soon be wheels up in a C-130 doing his thing. We said our goodbyes. I would move on to re-enter a life I thoght was over. 11 years later, it is not over.

usapatriotonthemove

3 Like

@JHR

Don't think for a second that what you and the others do on here go unnoticed. Some of us are paying close attention and reading between the lines on things. Your sacrifice and hard work is appreciated more than you'll ever know. Thank You's don't seem like nearly enough. Take good care.

DesignatedDiver

1 Like

Never forgive.

Tango9 moderator

5 Like

so the window lickers got mad we recognized 9/11, stormed the US embassy in egypt and scaled the walls.

And people wonder why we see them as less than human.

ColonelProp

@Tango9 oh... And this little tidbit that ain't in the news. How's that Arab Spring going boys? The US Ambassador to Libya was killed yesterday to commemorate 9/11.... http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/09/a-time-of-testing.php

JHR

1 Like

@ColonelProp @Tango9 I have something to ad here. After 9/11 I had a Jihadi look me in the eye and tell me (this was on U.S. Soil) that the islamic message must be conveyed properly to the American People and that their "message" needed to be heard through conventional media outlets. Thus, there would be a strong movement towards getting educated on american media, journalism and marketing through attending western universities. This movement was pre planned, expected, timed and deliberate. The purpose of this, and this was actually said with "conviction" was to show the western world the good of Islam and that UBL and the ideologies were not bad, but that western life must be changed as it was heading down the wrong path. America "had the wrong idea about the Jihad" was the message I heard. What I also heard, was that our media sstem would be exploited and used against us. Guerilla warfare via social media tools.

This person even got a degree in Journalism and gave speeches as to the value of Islam as a religion. Folks praised the speaker for raising a higher conscious towrads Islam and Peace. Mind you, his/her relative is/was on the drone strike list and his/her agenda was different than what was being portraed to the media. It was a deliberate deception. There was and is a formidable, pre-meditated, well thought out and well orchestrated plan to use our media against us in this Jihad (Holy War). This video you have linked above is just one example of this being orchestrated and timed perfectly for a mob attack on 9/11.

When propaganda is put out in these countries, the people believe it. Thats part of the control. AQ and other cells used this video as propaganda for an attack against the U.S. on 9/11 and it worked. The used the media, the tools and them used their own people to do their dirt work. Their sophistication of using the media to their advantage is not to be taken lightly. From this video, to pro sharia messages for laws in the U.S. down to the original coup in Cairo whereas AGYM admitts that social media tools were an extension of their arm that led to the success of the coup-media and cyber space are free tools to be used b terrorists. When will we counter this? Why did we not see this coming?

ColonelProp

@Tango9 And our government does this stupidity... http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/09/11/the-second-911-today-will-go-down-in-infamy-as-the-day-our-government-became-our-enemy/ WTF?

Old PH2 moderator

2 Like

@Tango9 Check out the post I linked to down below about all the reactions on the day of the event. It's from Black5net. From the first hour many Islamist have celebrated our injury as payback, WTF? What did we do to them?

Tango9 moderator

4 Like

@Old PH2 I'm with Chris K. on this. They're savages. Period. Wife and I were debating whether or not some person just unfortunately born into that shithole or shitholes, who doesn't have a choice, should be referred to as a "savage." I replied "does he want to kill me? then yes." I can't affect the circumstances people are born into, all I can do is defend against the ones to want to kill me.

Nuke 'em.

N3V3R_SRRNDR

1 Like

@Tango9 @Old PH2 Nuke 'em is what I always said. But my humanitarian is always showing. The Mid-East would be come a giant glass bowl and we could fill it with milk and cheerios, thus solving starvation problems. Only problem would be the radiation...milk cancels that though, right?

Tango9 moderator

@Old PH2 If it were only that easy.

Old PH2 moderator

@Tango9 The major issue I see is societal programing. Some of these folks could be regular citizens, flip the mullah switch and the turn into blood thirsty killers. We need to decapitate these extremist leaders, every where they exist.

MedicSteve2

My flippin iPhone type pad is a lousy piece! Forgive my typos

JHR

@MedicSteve2 I need to do surgery on all of my netbooks. UGH.....I go thru them like mad. One da the t does not work, the next the u....blah-blah...and, BTW...sand doesn't help inthe keyboard. Or Tab. or H20.

SEAN SPOONTS

6 Like

I have a hard time watching 9/11 coverage. I watched it live the morning it happened. My first thought was that this was a massive failure of our government to carry out its first duty; The protection of its citizens. Part of the story of 9/11 is the failure of our leaders for some 30 years to take seriously the threats and actions of Islamist terrorist groups. When I look at how we are dealing with North Korea and Iran right now I sometimes wonder if we've really learned anything. Hindsight is certainly 20/20, but I think had we engaged this threat under the Reagan administration after the Beruit bombing (RIP James Knipple, Sgt. USMC) we might not have had any of the terrorist attacks that followed, including 9/11. So, on this day, I'm proud of the heroic actions of so many on that day, many of whom were civilians who were just travelling like the passengers on Flight 93. They did not cower and passively accept their fate, they fought back reflecting great credit upon themselves and their country. The police and fire fighters that gave their lives did so without hesitation and for the sake of complete strangers. Where do we find men and women like this? This disasterous failure of our government to protect its citizens is mitigated somewhat by the great valor and self sacrifice of so many on that day. I'm glad that American troops have exacted a great retribution on our enemies. We have invaded their countries, toppled their brutish rulers and kiiled our way though any who have tried to oppose us. The last thing Osama Bin Laden saw was angry Americans coming at him with loaded guns. I like to think that in his final moments he realised what a grave mistake he'd made attacking the United States. In the book of Romans the Bible says of God; "Vengeance is mine. I will repay." Well, I think God sometimes hires contractors for that work if the cause is a good one. And I don't see that contract expiring anytime soon.

RobMaylor

@BrandonTWebb Always going to be a sad day mate

davne

@RobMaylor @brandontwebb I feel pissed off everything I see images of the hijackers. You guys got to get some retribution firsthand. Nice.

MedicSteve2

6 Like

Still pisses me off. My righteous anger has not abates in 11 years. Seeing the video of people jumping from the buildings to escape he fire just puts more fuel on the fire. How can there be peace with this ideology. There. An only be two alternatives: utter vanquishment of the evil behind the attacks or it's embrace. Thank God for this group of patriots, heroes, regular Americans on SOFREP/TLOR. Like minded, focused, uncompromising, locked, loaded, and dialed in. God Bless you all

gipbmac

@MedicSteve2 and to read that Bobo (biden) said today that he has "bittersweet" memories of this day... I'm just WAY more than curious what the HELL the sweet part is to him.. there was NOTHING sweet about it...

Ben K

@gipbmac My mom was born on 9/11. It's bittersweet for her. VP Biden is many things but lay off on that one. Probably just another gaffe.

CJCJ

2 Like

@gipbmac @MedicSteve2

WTF is wrong with that douche bag?

gipbmac

1 Like

@CJCJ @MedicSteve2 he's an idiot! I just can't believe the level of classless, Honor-less, and Godless people running this Country right now... it's become a psychotic road-show of mindless greedy freaks! Sorry to get on a bit of a political rant but with level of hypocrisy, lying and greed in this administration just doesn't seem to stop...

usapatriotonthemove

3 Like

Uff....Always such a somber day for me. The air always seems to be extra crisp, and the sky extra clear. So much was lost and sacrificed. It was a day my eye's were opened and I was changed forever. I transformed from care free sheep (surfing that morning, from hurricane swell) to a sheep dog, and have Never Forgotten those who watch our six's 24/7. I've been sponge concerning all that will prep me for what may come next. Part of the reason, I find myself here, in good company. Thanks Guys....God Bless those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the victims of our enemy.

Never Forgotten.

dethenigma

5 Like

~ My military career was already over, I just retired a few years prior, and was already working the civilian sector monitoring security camera systems and managing dispatch. - I just completed a 3rd shift and was sleeping (when) I received a call to turn on the TV..

- - I watched as the first tower was burning, then I saw the second plane hit the other tower... the first thing I said while on the phone was ..."This has changed the world forever"

- - and it has...

Respects and THANK YOU! to our Men & Women in Uniform and their Families!

- - THANKS to - ALL of YOU - who have served, have ventured into the depths of hell, to maintain the strength that we are known for.

* Respectful Perpetual Salute to ALL!

dethenigma

3 Like

~ I should also state what I placed on my FB page:

"‎~ I DON'T CARE about the politics, the conspiracy theories, the speculations, the innuendos, the hearsays...

- - What I do care about - is those passengers aboard the aircraft, the individuals in the buildings, their final moments and the men who raced towards - 'those buildings' - who did their job without question... that's what I care about!"

IDRINKWATER

Any one of the SOFREP Mafia ..gonna be at Ground Zero Today ???

ThePatriots

10 Like

Several of my friends deployed today, as did my wife, in support of OEF. It isn't easy sitting this one out and watching her go over, but if I had to script a perfect date for her to go then today would be that day. Imagine boarding that flight today and knowing you're going over to defend! Can you? I get chills just thinking about it! My god...how lucky!

To those brothers and sisters that have laid it down, I salute you and will forever remember you. To those that are willing, thanks for stepping up. And to those that are going downrange, I pray for you and your families. It isn't easy. If it were, then we'd be the majority and not the 1% that enlist to defend our nation and others.

Keep kicking ass, remember why you're there and when times get tough, think of my 3 yr old that prays for you. Think of men like Neil Roberts, Adam Brown, Cpl. Lance Clark USMC and so many of America's sons and daughters that so bravely died a warrior's death. And think about how it felt to watch those towers fall, the Pentagon burn and that field smolder with the wreckage of innocent lives ashed into the soil.

Never forget!

Recon6 moderator

7 Like

@ThePatriots Godspeed to your wife, and may she be safe and return quickly.

Thank you for your sacrifice on this and every day. R6

ThePatriots

2 Like

@Recon6 Thank you R6! It's been a bittersweet day. I'll pass everyone's goodwill toward her. She's usually the one keeping me up to date on SOFREP so it's only fitting I return the favor!

StormR

3 Like

@ThePatriots @Recon6 Please giver her my thanks, respects and good wishes - and to you as well. It is hard being the one left behind.

StormR

9 Like

I remember this day as one of grief and unity. It was a day when we were truly one - American. Those that died that day were NOT labeled by their age, color, gender, religion, natural origin, sexual orientation, or political preference - they were American (even if not citizens). America came together in grief and resolve and unity. And when our warriors first were sent to fight, we were unified and standing wtih them and for them, as they did for us. We say 'never forget', but it seems that we have forgotten - not the losses, but the unity. The only label any of us should be wearing is 'American". I wish you all well, this day, my brothers and sisters.

mattinnc

6 Like

Thanks to all of you acitve and retired who are protecting or have protected me and my family.

The boys over at Blackfive post this link annually as do I on my facebook page.

Remember Rick Rescorla, one of the first heroes to give his life so others might live.

"Stand and Never Yield!"

9/11 Remembered: Rick Rescorla Was A Soldier

http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/000307.html

gipbmac

6 Like

This is one of those few days in my life where I remember EXACTLY where I was, what I was doing and what I did the rest of that day! Time really seemed to stand still that day.. My we ALL Never Forget what makes this Country so Great! God Bless and God Speed to our Men & Women in Uniform and their Families!

Never Forget

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