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, spoke to Breitbart News Saturday about combating radical Islam as chairman of the Leading from the Front advocacy campaign, which is organized by the American Legacy Center.

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.

“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,” he added, referring to President Barack Obama.



Paronto revealed that he plans to vote for Donald Trump because unlike his Democratic rival Hillary 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 added.

Paronto described his Leading from the Front 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.”

It is “a grassroots movement to get people involved…speak out against ISIS [Islamic State], radical Islam, Sharia law, jihad…and also making sure politicians understand that this is a problem and Americans are standing up and they’re fearing for their safety,” said Paronto.

During the 13-hour firefight against terrorists at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, Paronto helped save more than 20 lives. His story was featured in the New York Times bestselling book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi,” which he co-wrote.

Paronto was portrayed by actor Pablo Schreiber in the Hollywood movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, which was based on the book.

The American Legacy Center organizing Paronto’s 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,” according to the center’s website.

Breitbart News Saturday airs weekly on SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time.