Hillary Clinton ordered troops to stand down in Benghazi
| Hillary Clinton ordered troops to stand down in Benghazi | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "During the 2012 attack on the US compound in Benghazi, Libya, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered rescuers to "stand down," leaving Americans to die." | |
| Domain | War, Conflict & Geopolitics |
| Tactic | Fabrication Propaganda Technique |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2012 |
| Origin | Accounts by some security contractors, commentators and political advertisements after the September 11–12, 2012 attack |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on War, Conflict & Geopolitics | |
On September 11 and 12, 2012, militants attacked the US diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, killing Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. A persistent claim holds that Clinton ordered rescuers to "stand down." Multiple investigations, including the Republican-led House Select Committee on Benghazi, found no stand-down order.
The claim
The claim is based partly on accounts that CIA security contractors were told to wait before leaving the annex to help the compound.
What the evidence shows
- Short delay, not an order. Investigations found the CIA team at the annex was delayed for about 20 to 30 minutes while the CIA base chief tried to arrange local support. They then went to the compound.
- No order from Washington. The House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence found no stand-down order. The House Select Committee's 2016 report also did not identify one.
- Chain of command. The secretary of state does not command military forces or CIA personnel.
- Real criticisms. Investigations criticized security at the compound and the State Department's handling of requests for more security, which are legitimate concerns.
See also
Sources
- US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Investigative Report on the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, November 2014.
- US House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, Final Report, June 2016.