Army sets up African response team in Djibouti after Benghazi

Washington Times:
The Army now has a rapid response force in East Africa in case of another terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, the Army‘ deputy director of strategy, plans and policy said Thursday.

During a media roundtable at the Pentagon, ArmyBrig. Gen. Kimberly Field said the response team was established in April in Djibouti with 129 troops from the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kansas.

“They are a response force specifically trained and ready to respond to a crisis such as [Benghazi … which we didn’t have before,” Gen. Field said. “They’re ready to get where they need to be.”

Former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta ordered the team be established after U.S. and Libyan forces were unable to stop a terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi on Sept. 11.

...
The base in Djibouti has been there since the early days of the war on terror.  It has been staffed by a contingent of Marines and has also been a base for drones used in Somalia and Yemen.  That is why it is puzzling that its drones were not called on during the Benghazi attacks.

That they set up the force is also an admission of how ill prepared the military was to deal with events in Benghazi.

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