Benghazi Hero Slams Obama for Failing to Use Term 'Radical Islamic Terrorism,' Says Goal of ISIS is To Eliminate Christianity

Jun 27, 2016 09:46 AM EDT

One of the heroic survivors of the 2012 Benghazi attack has criticized President Obama for refusing to use the term "radical Islamic terrorism" and warned that the goal of extremist groups such as ISIS is to not only destroy Western values but eliminate Christianity entirely.  

During a recent interview with Breitbart, former U.S. Army Ranger Kris "Tanto" Paronto, one the CIA security contractors who helped fight off jihadists during the Sept. 11, 2012, Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, cautioned that the United States is slowly losing the war with radical Islam.

The primary goal of radical Islamic terrorism is "the destruction of Western values" and "the destruction of Christianity...and anybody else that doesn't believe in Sharia law and doesn't adhere to Sharia law and the Quran and how terrorists [believe] it should be interpreted," he told Breitbart News Saturday host Matt Boyle.

In an effort to combat the growth and influence of radical Islam, Paronto serves as the chairman of the Leading from the Front advocacy campaign, which is organized by the American Legacy CenterAccording to the center's website, Leading From the Front effort "focuses on large-scale issue advocacy campaigns to help ensure that America remains a land of opportunity, prosperity and freedom for all."

Paronto described the campaign as an effort to get Americans involved in the fight against Islamic extremism.

"It is to further the movement against terrorism and also to hold politicians accountable because we do have a problem with terrorism in this country and I think the majority of them don't see that or they're failing to see it or they just don't want to see it," he explained. "They've got their heads in the sand."

In a separate interview with the Washington Times, Paronto explained that he hopes to impress upon the American people that the West is the target of a violent Islamic terrorist movement that attacks indiscriminately.

"Terrorists don't care who you are," he told the outlet. "They don't care if you're the most accepting group in the country. They hit a gay club, for God's sake. I can pretty much be sure most of the gay, homosexual community, LGBT community, out there never spoke an ill word against terrorism. They probably were more, 'We're excited about Muslims so we love everybody.' And that's OK. That's the lifestyle, and they're the ones who got hit."

Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was Obama's secretary of state when terrorists besieged the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya nearly four years ago.

While serving as a private security officer, Paronto witnessed two of his comrades die during the 13-hour firefight, in which a U.S. ambassador and his aide also were killed. He was featured in the book-turned-film "13 Hours," which told the harrowing story of defending the base that night against hoards of Islamic extremists.

Paronto revealed that he plans to vote for Donald Trump because unlike Clinton, he says "what's on his mind without using that political correctness filter, which is not necessary."

"I'm not endorsing Donald Trump, but will I vote for him...Hillary has political correctness up the wahzoo, and that's what left us behind in Benghazi," he contended.

The military veteran also criticized President Obama for refusing to use the term "radical Islamic terrorism" when referring to the attacks such as the June 12 shooting at an Orlando nightclub, which left 49 dead and dozens of others wounded. The gunman, American Muslim Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to ISIS during the attack. 

"If you cannot say what it is [radical Islamic terrorism], you cannot fully grasp what it entails and what it can do to you and you can't defeat it," Paronto said.

Evangelist Franklin Graham has also slammed the Obama administration for refusing to recognize and acknowledge the threat from Islamic radicalism and terrorism.

"Mr. President, with all due respect, don't forget Fort Hood; don't forget the Boston Marathon; don't forget San Bernardino; and don't forget 9/11. What do they all have in common? They were all Islamic terrorists carrying out their treachery in the name of their religion," Graham, the head of Samaritan's Purse wrote shortly after the Orlando attack.

"Mr. President, your administration has cut our military to the bone, and some experts say we're the weakest we have been in modern times. It's time we were rebuilding our military force worldwide to take on this enemy. It's time we tighten America's borders until we can clearly vet those we're letting into the country," he continued.

"Mr. President, how many more American lives have to be lost before you understand the threat radical Islam is to every freedom-loving person?"