Testimony from top U.S. commanders after the attack revealed that the military was unprepared for conflict across Africa and the Middle East . No attack aircraft had been placed on high alert on September 11 , the anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001 , and the closest fighter planes to trouble spots in North Africa were based in Aviano , Italy . The fighter planes based in Aviano were unarmed and no aerial refueling planes were within a 10-hour flight to the base . In addition , no AC-130 gunships were within a 10-hour flight of Libya , and their crews did not reach a staging base in Italy until 19 hours after the attack began
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2012 Benghazi attack