LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Still no justice in Benghazi

OPINION:

At a recent news conference, President Obama mentioned a “sealed indictment” in response to a question about why 11 months after the murderous attacks in Benghazi, Libya, during which four Americans were killed, not a single individual has been brought to justice (“Obama challenged on terror, al Qaeda claims,” Web, Aug. 9). He said the perpetrators would be caught, and after all, it took him 11 months to get Osama bin Laden. But in the case of bin Laden, we did not know where he was. In the case of the Benghazi killings, many of the attackers are still openly enjoying drinks in hotels.

Mr. Obama’s mention of a “sealed indictment” has been described by expert lawyers as unlawful. It also probably endangered the lives of FBI and special-operations agents who may be in pursuit of the perpetrators of the attack. One of the suspected leaders of the Libyan attackers has been seen in a hotel in Libya for weeks. He was even interviewed recently by a CNN reporter.

At the time of the Benghazi attacks, there were Marine ground and air assets, along with Air Force and Navy aircraft and an Army special-forces team, available to enter the fighting in Benghazi in time to influence the outcome. However, they were never called by White House officials. Help was not sent — probably because the president and other Democratic leaders did not want the 2012 election to be affected.

The delay in bringing the perpetrators to justice in Libya has been caused in part by Mr. Obama’s policy of taking no prisoners to avoid having to try them in civilian courts or sending them to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Therefore, those responsible for the deaths of the four Americans in Benghazi last year have to be eliminated to avoid years of litigation. Recall the case of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, a native American jihadist, who killed 13 soldiers and wounded 32 in 2009. Maj. Hasan has not yet been brought to justice and will continue in court for a long time to come before a final verdict is rendered.

LT. COL. DOMINIK NARGELE

U.S. Marine Corps (retired)

Arlington