Fiasco – Benghazi: Episode 3 — "Barefoot"

Host: Leon Neyfakh
Release Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Leon Neyfakh immerses listeners in the harrowing, minute-by-minute events of September 11, 2012—the night of the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, where four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, lost their lives. Through firsthand accounts from survivors, colleagues, and Libyan contacts, the episode reconstructs the chaos, confusion, and courage that defined the night, while setting the stage for the political firestorm that followed. The narrative moves beyond politics and into the relentless uncertainty on the ground, highlighting the personal toll and tactical dilemmas faced by diplomats, security agents, and local allies.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Prelude: Rising Tensions in the Region (03:50 – 10:18)

• Background events: The episode opens by connecting the dots between the broader turmoil of the Arab Spring, the recent Libyan revolution, and global outrage sparked by the crudely made anti-Islamic "Innocence of Muslims" YouTube video.
• Spread of unrest: Egyptian protests over the video prompt security concerns at American diplomatic sites, but Libya initially appears calm until nightfall.

Notable Quote

"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
— U.S. Embassy Cairo statement (07:22)

2. Ambassador Stevens Returns to Benghazi (15:38 – 19:28)

• Stevens’ mission: Baker Habib describes Chris Stevens’ attachment to Benghazi, comparing it to coming home, and the purpose of his visit—to reinforce America’s cultural and political ties and inaugurate the American Corner study center.
• Security context: DS agent Scott Wickland outlines the compound’s vulnerabilities and daily routines, setting the scene for the impending attack.

Notable Quote

"He considered Benghazi as home."
— Baker Habib on Chris Stevens (16:16)

3. The Attack Begins: Chaos and Isolation (19:28 – 26:28)

• Initial breach: Around 9:30pm, Wickland hears chanting, followed by the compound’s rapid assault. State Department staff scramble to secure Stevens and IT specialist Sean Smith in a safe room.
• Communication breakdown: Attackers breach the building; outside support is unavailable. Wickland silently signals for help, fearing for his team.
• Personal fear: Wickland contemplates last-ditch defense as attackers approach the safe room.

Notable Moments & Quotes

• "If they blow the locks, I'm going to start shooting. And when I die, I want you to pick up my rifle and keep on fighting."
  — Scott Wickland (25:22)
• "I was scared, wondering if the other guys, OK, were they killed, were they captured? You know, I had no idea."
  — Scott Wickland (24:52)

4. Fire, Smoke, and Desperate Escapes (26:28 – 39:09)

• The firetrap: Attackers set the villa ablaze with diesel fuel. Wickland moves Stevens and Smith to the bathroom, trying to survive the toxic smoke as the building fills with flames.
• Harrowing attempts: Wickland repeatedly risks his life, crawling and calling out, desperately trying to lead Stevens and Smith to safety, ultimately forced to retreat to a rooftop without shoes.

Notable Quotes

"By the time we reached the corner...the smoke was super thick. I mean, that's how quickly it filled up."
— Scott Wickland (33:37)

"Like, my plan was that I was going to jump off the roof without shoes, and I was going to run to the edge of Benghazi. I was going to steal a car and drive it to Egypt. And that was my real plan."
— Scott Wickland (40:14)

5. Frantic Rescue Attempts and Evacuation (43:03 – 46:43)

• DS agents regroup: Wickland is finally contacted by teammate Dave Ubben. DS agents, joined by CIA contractors from the nearby 'Annex', launch a rescue attempt, finding Sean Smith dead and forced to evacuate under renewed threat.
• Missing Ambassador: Stevens is unaccounted for, sparking fears of kidnapping.

Notable Quote

"When I see them, it's like, oh, my gosh, I might survive."
— Scott Wickland (43:59)

6. Fragmented Communications and the Libyan Response (47:00 – 55:03)

• Failed outside support: U.S. military tells State Department leadership there are no available assets for a rescue, leaving only intra-Libya options.
• Locals at the scene: Vast crowds, a mix of looters, bystanders, and possible rescuers, swarm the compound. Cell phone footage captures confusion and rumors about what happened to Stevens.
• Confirmation of Stevens’ death: Through a convoluted network of calls and intermediaries, Habib’s contact confirms Stevens’ identity at the hospital, and his death.

Notable Quotes

"We were very, very focused on asking the kinds of questions that would reveal whether we were talking to a friend or an enemy."
— State Department official (53:48)

"So he called me back and told me that I'm next to him. Yes, it's Chris Stevens—100%."
— Baker Habib (55:10)

7. Second Wave: The Attack on the CIA Annex (56:11 – 58:58)

• Americans brace for more: Survivors at the CIA annex prepare, anticipating another attack. Reinforcements arrive from Tripoli.
• Mortar attack: As dawn breaks, mortars rain down, killing CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, wounding others.
• Final evacuation: The Americans—with four bodies—evacuate Benghazi with the help of Libyan allies.

Notable Quote

"But then, you know, was I expecting mortars? No, I was not expecting mortars, and I definitely wasn't expecting the accuracy of the mortars."
— Scott Wickland (57:21)

• "We loaded up on the plane, and there were four coffins. Everybody’s looking at these coffins and at these people and silently trying to figure out what just happened."
  — Scott Wickland (60:59)

8. The Aftermath and Sense of Loss (59:14 – 61:26)

• Personal loss: Baker Habib says goodbye to Stevens at the airport, promising to seek justice.
• Evacuation: The rest of the Americans, grieving and exhausted, board planes out of Benghazi.

Notable Quotes

"He was there in the city he loved to support, to back up, and to open their gate to United States. So I spoke to him. I told him, Chris, whatever it takes, I will do my best to bring those criminals to justice." — Baker Habib (59:19)

"If we leave, then we've lost. They win. That was the purpose of the attack, was to chase us out of the country. So my view was that we needed to take some time, regroup, rebuild, and then continue our job." — Greg Hicks (60:18)

Memorable Moments and Character Insights

• Human cost: The episode goes far beyond policy discussion, providing intimate glimpses into real-time terror, the bonds among diplomats and agents, and the loyalty and courage of Libyan allies.
• Scott Wickland’s ordeal: His barefoot escape through fire and gunfire, repeatedly risking his life for his colleagues, crystallizes the theme of resilience in impossible circumstances.
• Ambiguity and confusion: The chaotic nature of the attack, presence of looters and bystanders, and unreliable communication with authorities underscore how unclear the situation was, both for survivors and for those watching from afar.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:50 — Arab Spring & "Innocence of Muslims" video triggers regional unrest
• 15:38 — Stevens arrives in Benghazi; introduction of key players
• 19:28 — Attack begins; Wickland's and DS agents' initial actions
• 23:50 — Breach of Villa C; safe room standoff
• 26:35 — Attackers set fire to the compound
• 33:37 — Crawling for survival through fire and smoke
• 40:14 — Wickland’s desperate escape to rooftop
• 43:03 — Wickland reunites with DS agents; CIA contractors arrive
• 45:12 — Evacuation to CIA annex, Stevens missing
• 47:00 — AFRICOM announces no outside help available
• 53:48 — Identification of Stevens at hospital
• 56:11 — CIA annex prepares for attack; mortars kill Doherty and Woods
• 60:18 — Hicks reflects on withdrawal as a defeat
• 60:59 — Evacuation; reflection on losses

Episode Tone & Style

• Immersive and urgent: The storytelling is vivid and immediate, using first-person narration and interviews to bring listeners into the scene.
• Reflective and respectful: Neyfakh maintains a somber, respectful tone throughout, drawing out the humanity of each speaker, while offering critical context about the attack’s complexity.
• Balanced: The episode refrains from political grandstanding, focusing instead on the lived realities and practical dilemmas of those on the ground.

Closing Thoughts

“Barefoot” is a deeply human episode that strips away the rhetoric and anchors the Benghazi story in the chaos, fear, and heroism of a single night. Through detail-rich narrative and raw testimony, it conveys the tragedy’s immediacy—while foreshadowing the storm of controversy that would follow. The suffering, resilience, and split-second decisions are captured in the voices of those who survived and those who mourned, offering a powerful counterpoint to the politicized aftermath.

Next Episode: The political fallout as the Benghazi attack becomes a lightning rod in American culture and governance.

For further reading and transcripts, follow the episode’s show notes.