CIA base chief in Benghazi denies ordering team to stand down as depicted in '13 Hours'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The officer in charge of the CIA's Benghazi base on the night four Americans were killed during attacks in 2012 says 13 Hours, a big-screen account of the events, is inaccurate.

A source identified only as Bob told The Washington Post he did not instruct his security team to "stand down" rather than attempt to rescue U.S. diplomats under siege nearby.

"There never was a stand-down order," the high-ranking operative insisted. "At no time did I ever second-guess that the team would depart."

Bob said he decided to speak up now because he thought he would regret it if he didn't.

"So much of this information has been wrong," he went on to say.

Helmed by Michael Bay, 13 Hours stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini and Toby Stephens. It is based on a book co-written by Mitchell Zuckoff and U.S. contractors hired to protect the CIA base in Benghazi.

The movie was No. 4 at the box office when it opened this weekend, earning $16 million in receipts, after critics panned the action-drama.

Zuckoff told the Post he stands by the depiction of the events in his book.

"I think the evidence is extremely strong that the guys' account is far more credible" than that of the CIA base chief, Zuckoff said, adding that the agency rebuffed his numerous requests to speak with Bob.