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13Hours: The Inside Account Of What Really Happened In Benghazi
Publishedin 2014, the novel ‘13hours:The inside the Account of What Happened in Benghazi’is a historical and also an ‘action’ related piece of writingthat was authored by Mitchell Zuckoff. The story presented in thenovel can be categorized as an action-drama genre as the author hashis focus on the explanation of what transpired during the Benghaziattack on Libya. This was when a group of Islamist Militants launchedan attack on an American occupied compound in Benghazi, Libya. Insummary, “13Hoursfocuses on the terrorist attack that was executed on the night ofSeptember 11, 2012 (Zuckoff,10).The attack was carried out on an Annex compound in Benghazi, Libya,whereby it targeted a building occupied by American personnel’s andintelligent. The terrorist torched the building. A set of six men(trained forces) came to the rescue of the people in the burningAnnex. The six men looked forward to save the people under attack ata time when the region was marked with security unrest and differentattacks. More so, the aftermath and life of the soldiers who survivedcontributes to the publication by Mitchell, and rarely addresses thepolitical controversies that marred the attacks in the region, butinstead focus on the actual version of what occurred on the fatefulnight of 11th Sept 2012. This paper provides a literal interpretationof Mitchell work in the novel ‘13hours’explaining reasons as to why or why not the work of Mitchell has arole in education or even cultural impact today.
"Theharrowing, true account from the brave men on the ground who foughtback during the Battle of Benghazi”(pg. 2)
Oneof the major contributions that can be drawn from the Mitchell’swork and in terms of his publication role towards education is theaspect of the historical explanation of the now infamous attack. Thepublication gives a description of the attack in Libya and more sogiving the interpretation from surviving soldiers who contributedenormously towards protecting the Americans in Libya. The story byMitchell is well presented, an eye opener, stunning as well as atruthful justification of the incident in Benghazi. Much of therelevant information available with regard to the incident is how theincident unfolded, what contribute to the attacks, the role ofAmericans in the attacks as well as issues to do policies andpolitical indifferences. However, the novel by Mitchell provided adifferent view of the attack, in turn providing another host ofhistorical sources for the past events which in one way or anothercontributed to the international community’s response to theattack. However, despite not giving an interpretation of how theattack was, why it occurred, and the point of view of the story givenby the author is an insight into the aspect of how the militarypersonnel contributed to the making of history. This is through theirbravery and decision to save the Americans showing their side ofhumanity (Zuckoff,146).In terms of the role played by the author’s work towards worldhistory, it can be said that his main focus is for the people to knowthe truth behind the Benghazi attacks and about this date (date ofthe attack) in history. This, in turn, makes the book, good forhistorical information for every person who wants to know theincident and view of the attack from the surviving soldier’sexperience.
Inaddition to serving as a source of historical details, the ’13Hours’would also serve as a show of how different men and women ‘militarypersonnel’make sacrifices for the rest of population’s safety. One of themajor revealing aspects of this publication is the detailed work ofmilitary men and women, the risk when on duty, and also when thingsget thick like the case of the attack in Benghazi. More so, showingtheir human side when executing their orders, and going beyond theirduties to save people. This can be attributed to the detailedexplanation into the life of a soldier. The account of the scenes iswell described by the author giving into details the actions or theoccurrences that come along through lives, of militants wheneverthere is an attack. More so, the detailed explanation of the incidentcovers the untold stories behind daily life of soldiers. With thepersonal narratives, the author has given a well-developed account ofhow the incident in Libya affected the personal lives of theAmerican, not to mention the country’s foreign policy and anexplanation of how the chain of command works in the military. Theauthor has well-presented information presenting the view of thesoldiers through interviews on the aspects of men and women whovoluntarily puts their lives in danger, as well as believing in theircountry and work and provide the security deserved to the Americans.Less is known how the soldiers manage their time when such incidentsoccur, but the work presented in the novel reveals, they are humantoo, hence bringing the aspect of humanity (Scaliger,26).
Theattacks in Libya were as a result of the Arab uprising which wasexperienced in numerous of the Arab countries. The story developed bythe author excellently elaborates the unfolding of the event giving ajustification of the ground incidents how things, were theemployee’s experiences, not to mention the making of the heroes ofthe attack who came to the rescue of the Americans. More so, theauthor has explained the impact of private security agencies, withnumerous questions put as to why the people in charge entrusted agroup referred as ‘February 17th Martyrs Brigade’ to guard U.Sintelligence and personnel in Benghazi (Zuckoff,102).Additionally, Mitchell’s work serves as a remembrance to the fallensoldiers and Americans. However, what is clear evidence in thepublication by Mitchell is that he had done future historians a greatfavor and will find the book an indispensable source of details withregard to how the specific night attack was.
Despitethe findings by the author, his work played an impact/role ineducation, much of its success is attributed to the exposure of thetruth behind the case in Benghazi, and with the releasing of a moviebased on the Mitchell’s work this year, the issue of Benghazi hasserved as a reference point for military training. More so, it servesa reference point when remembering the different heroes who saved theAmericans. “Thefighting came in waves and continued at the CIA annex down the road,where a series of intense clashes were fought through the night.Before sunrise, four Americans were dead, including the ambassador.”Though an interesting story to read, the one may find is it hard todraw the impact or the role towards the education, but rather may beseen as an eye opener to security agencies.
Inconclusion, the author is well descriptive of every event happening,as well as using pictures to accompany stories making the author’sview of the incident more real. Despite the widely known of the fightin Benghazi, the author has a well-developed approach to theincident, giving the story from the ‘soldiers’ point of view. Interms of education purposes for the book by Mitchell, the ’13Hours’ presents key educational references such as the serving as ahistorical reference to one of the infamous incidents in Libyamarking the epitome of the unrest with regard to Arab uprising. Notonly does his work serve as an education tool, it also remains a keyreference to education with the varying accounts of the Benghaziattack.
WorksCited
Scaliger,Charles. "Benghazi Attack Retold." NewAmerican (08856540) 32.4(2016): 25-28. AcademicSearch Premier.Web. 18 May 2016.
Zuckoff,Mitchell. 13Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi., 2014. Internet resource.