U.S. May Have Put Mistaken Faith in Libya Site’s Security

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/world/africa/mistaken-sense-of-security-cited-before-envoy-to-libya-died.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=world&

Before the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya, there was an attack that occurred on June 6.  There was a bombing outside the American diplomatic mission to which the Libyan security forces were able to mount an effective response.  There was also a team of Special Forces that aided the Libyan forces in April and June.  The amount of unpreparedness shown by the security forces is augmented by the mortar attack that happened after the initial attack.  The compound was overrun from three different sides.  There were five Libyan guards and only three had weapons.  Those three took up a defensive position on the roof of one of the buildings and held off the assailants as best they could.  The ambassador's bodyguard was seen running across the compound to try and get to the ambassador.  A convoy was able to escape the compound and make it to an annex building that no one was supposed to know about.  Just as the American convoy arrived at the annex, the attackers opened fire with mortars that are assumed to have been put in place before the initial attack.  Through all this, no one knew where Chris Stevens was.  It was not until about 4:00am that it was discovered Mr. Stevens was deceased.

Chris Lencioni