Alamo Falls on March 6, 1836. Parallels to Benghazi 2012?

In his review of James Donovan’s The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo–and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation, Alan F. Sewell argues that “The Alamo encapsulates the entire American experience into one event. There stood the two hundred armed American citizens in a crumbling mission defending their liberties to the death against the pompous tyrant Santa Ana and his professional army of 6,000 men. The defenders stepped across the line that young William Travis drew in the sand, understanding that this meant that their odds of surviving were slim, but knowing that they would buy time for the rest of the Texans to organize their forces and secure their independence.”

       But what is not often reported is that William B. Travis, co-commander of the Alamo along with Jim Bowie, had begged for help of more men and supplies in a series of letters once he realized the overwhelming imbalance.  Sadly, other Americans and Texans held back, not wanting to risk involvement.  Fewer than a hundred came forward–not enough to make a difference.

    Shouldn’t we be reminded of September 11-12, 2012, when the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi was attacked by organized rebels.  Fox News “learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. consulate and subsequent attack several hours later on the annex itself was denied by the CIA chain of command — who also told the CIA operators twice to “stand down” rather than help the ambassador’s team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11. “

       The results of this indecision were that Americans were kept waiting for hours for their government to come to their rescue, but none came.  All perished as at the Alamo:  Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two embassy security personnel, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs.

      The difference between Texans in 1836 and the Americans in 2012 after these defeats? The Texans went on to defeat the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836.  The Americans went on to re-elect the Democrats in the general election the following month.