Who are these guys?

Reading between the lines in this CNN story it sounds like a SOCOM outfit was rushed to the scene of the troubles in Libya on that fateful night.

After the consulate was attacked and set on fire, a number of Americans escaped to a safe-house in another part of the city. But that came under attack too.

Mabrouk said he received a call from an official in Tripoli, who said he had been called by a "terrified" American in Benghazi.

The official was at the safe-house. Mabrouk says the Brigade asked the Americans if they needed help -- but were told that while the situation was dangerous, it was under control.

A few hours later, Mabrouk said he received another call from Tripoli about the arrival of a U.S. team at Benghazi airport that needed transport into the city.

He met the seven Americans, who were heavily armed but not in military uniform, on the runway and provided them with an armed escort, he said.

As soon as the two vehicles carrying the seven Americans arrived at the safe house, they came under intense attack -- including a volley of grenades and machine-gun fire. The assailants then fled.

Who are these guys?

I have no idea but we have a big base on the horn of Africa.  You have Special Forces, Rangers, MARSOC, SEALs and USAF Special Operations all there.

There is also that former LPD, now SOCOM mothership in the area...and of course you have SOCOM basically rampaging all over the African continent.

If you have any doubt about this whether or not the US was aware that the consulate might be attacked read this section again.

A few hours later, Mabrouk said he received another call from Tripoli about the arrival of a U.S. team at Benghazi airport that needed transport into the city.

That's fast response.

Real fast.

I'm sure more is to come.

NOTE:
My reader named Tom is under the belief that this scratch force came from the embassy.  Marine Security Guards are trained in personnel protection and of course they have infantry skill sets with additional CQB training added in.  So it is plausible.  But that leaves me with still more questions.  They flew from Tripoli to Benghazi?  Why not directly to the scene.  Why did the ambassador travel with Private Security instead of the State Dept's Diplomatic Security sections?  Rumor has it that the former SEALs were involved in some type of intel mission.  Was the diplomat part of that effort?  And perhaps most damning.  Was the Ambassador lured into a trap by former Ghaddafi forces that he was trying to bring to the peace table?

We're left with nothing but speculation but the truth will come out eventually.