"[173] After referring to "the 9/11 attacks", "troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan", and "then last night, we learned the news of this attack in Benghazi"[173] the President urged, "As Americans, let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases, lay down their lives for it. In addition, no AC-130 gunships were within a 10-hour flight of Libya, and their crews did not reach a staging base in Italy until 19 hours after the attack began. [40]:31, On the day of the attack, two consulate security guards spotted a man in a Libyan police uniform taking pictures of the consulate with his cell phone from a nearby building that was under construction. The GNC also failed to reverse a 2012 law that grants immunity from prosecution for acts "promoting or protecting the [2011] revolution," which in practice propagated a culture of impunity and selective justice. After several days of fighting, and hundreds of people killed, anti-Gaddafi fighters seized control of Libya's second city.. Cities further east, including . Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty died in the attack at the Mission and the nearby Annex in Benghazi. [145] Al-Shibli was detained after he returned from a trip to Pakistan, though his exact role in the attack is unclear. For example, Hassan al-Bakush, a young journalist with a local TV station, survived two assassination attempts in Benghazi this May. The President of the Palestinian Authority, who worked closely with Chris when he served in Jerusalem, sent me a letter remembering his energy and integrity, and deploringand I quote'an act of ugly terror. On September 28, a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence stated, In the immediate aftermath, there was information that led us to assess that the attack began spontaneously following protests earlier that day at our embassy in Cairo. citizens.[185]. According to Bishari, it was launched without warning or protest and was led by the Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia (different from the group called Ansar al-Sharia based in Yemen designated by the U.N. and the U.S. Department of State as a terrorist organization[116]). [59] The British Foreign Office withdrew all consular staff from Benghazi in late June 2012. [152][153] On September 13, at a U.S. State Department reception in Washington D.C., the Libyan ambassador to the U.S. Ali Aujali apologized to Secretary of State Clinton for "this terrorist attack which took place against the American consulate in Libya". However, families of many victims, as well as media outlets and commentators, often point the finger at Islamist militias -- particularly when the victims are members of state security forces and the judiciary. The hearing began at 10 a.m. and, with breaks, lasted until . At about 1:15 a.m. on September 12, a rescue team from Tripoli arrived in Benghazi. [119][120][121] CNN,[119] the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,[122] Commentary Magazine[121] and The Daily Telegraph[120] have listed this group as a chief suspect. "[214] In the article, Kessler accused Obama of "revisionist history" for stating he had called the attack an "act of terrorism" when in fact he had used the term "act of terror", observing that Obama had gone out of his way to avoid calling the incident an "act of terrorism" or blame the ambassador's death on terrorism.[214][225]. The team then decided to return to the annex with the survivors and Smith's body. "[49], In April 2012, two former security guards for the consulate threw an IED over the consulate fence; the incident did not cause any casualties. The fighter planes based in Aviano were unarmed and no aerial refueling planes were within a 10-hour flight to the base. That's the first version of events we heard. Knew in First Hours After Attack in Libya", "October 28: John Kasich, Scott Walker, John Hickenlooper, E.J. The CIA, which made up most of the U.S. government's presence in Benghazi, had a ten-member security team at its annex and the State Department believed that this team would assist the consulate in the event of an attack. Over 25,738 migrants and asylum seekers arrived in Italy and Malta from January to mid-September, 11,295 of whom had departed from Libya, according to the IOM. [244], On the edition of October 24 of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer claimed that a State Department e-mail, which passed along a report from Embassy Tripoli that Ansar al-Sharia had claimed responsibility for the attack on Facebook and Twitter,[245][246] proved that the White House knew of terrorist connections to the attack almost immediately. In Benghazi, top state security officials and outspoken journalists and activists have been targeted for death. [263] One email, dated September 14, 2012, with a subject line "RE PREP CALL with Susan: Saturday at 4:00 pm ET", was from deputy national security advisor for strategic communications Rhodes stated:[264] "Goals: To underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy"[265] According to another e-mail obtained by Judicial Watch, when asked about whether the attack was linked to the Mohammad video, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said she "could not confirm a connect as we simply don't knowand we won't know until there is an investigation". Our Sources. A CNN analysis stated that Obama had indeed referred to the incident as a "terrorist attack", but that Romney was correct in noting that the administration delayed in conclusively stating that the attack was not a spontaneous protest related to the video. No casualties were reported. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night and decided they'd go kill some Americans?! The laws passed by the General National Congress (GNC), the first elected parliament, served to inflame a tense political environment: Instead of reforming a host of Qaddafi-era laws that violate Libyans' basic freedoms, the GNC simply pushed through a political isolation law, which fostered further divisions through its vague criteria excluding Qaddafi-era officials and government employees from public office. While being interviewed on Fox News by Jon Scott, Ricks accused Fox News of being "extremely political" in its coverage of the attack and said that "Fox was operating as a wing of the Republican Party." Freedom of Information Act requests have been made since the attack. During Congressional hearings, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens' top deputy in Libya, Gregory N. Hicks, testified that Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi in 2012 because "Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton wanted the post made permanent", and it was understood that the secretary hoped to make an announcement to that effect during a visit to Tripoli later in the year. [5] [6] Stevens is the first U.S. ambassador killed in an attack since Adolph Dubs was killed in 1979. [213] A May 14, 2013 Fact Checker by Glenn Kesler said that "Immediately after the attack, the president three times used the phrase "act of terror" in public statements. Consequently, her testimony was postponed. Witnesses, Benghazi residents, and Western news reports have described him as a leader of Ansar al-Sharia, though he stated he was close to the group but not an official part of it. [81] The attackers entered the main building and attempted to enter the safe haven. [91], Just after midnight, the CIA annex came under machine gun, rocket and mortar fire. [31][32][33][34][35] Surplus funds originally dedicated for use in Iran for fiscal year 2012 were to be redirected and obligated for use in Benghazi: an action that had to be completed before the end of the fiscal yearSeptember 30, 2012. [206], Also on September 28, it was reported that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the producer of the Innocence of Muslims video, had been arrested in California and was being held without bail for alleged probation violations stemming from a 2010 bank fraud conviction. [63], United States Security Officer Eric Nordstrom twice requested additional security for the mission in Benghazi from the State Department. [28] Another suspect, Mustafa al-Imam, was captured in October 2017. ", "CIA 'running arms smuggling team in Benghazi when consulate was attacked'", "U.S. Consulate in Benghazi Bombed Twice in Run-up to 9/11 Anniversary", "U.S. embassy Tripoli Libya Security Incidents Since June 2011 hosted by ABC News", United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform, "Pro-al Qaeda group seen behind deadly Benghazi attack", "U.S. mission in Benghazi attacked to avenge al Qaeda", Benghazi attack: US officials look for answers over deadly consulate assault, "British ambassador escapes missile attack on car", "British Guns Accounted For After Benghazi Consulate Attack", "More details emerge on U.S. ambassador's last moments", "CNN vs. the State Department: A long story", "U.S. officer got no reply to requests for more security in Benghazi", "Flashing Red: A Special Report On The Terrorist Attack At Benghazi", "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton takes "responsibility" for Benghazi attack", Ambassador Died in Smoke While Agents Searched for Him, "Benghazi timeline: How the attack unfolded", "No protest before Benghazi attack, wounded Libyan guard says", "Four Media Reports From Libya That Linked The Benghazi Attacks To The Anti-Islam Video", "President Obama's Address at 67th U.N. General Assembly", "The Attack on the American Mission in Benghazi, Libya", "Islamists targeted U.S. diplomats with gunfire, RPGs in planned assault, witness says", "Libyan witnesses recount organized Benghazi attack", "Timeline of comments on attack on US Consulate", "Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Charlene Lamb: Testimony Before House Oversight Committee Washington, DC Wednesday, October 10, 2012", "Timeline: How Benghazi attack, probe unfolded", "Top CIA officer in Benghazi delayed response to terrorist attack, U.S. security team members claim", "New Book Says CIA Official in Benghazi Held Up Rescue", "New Book Claims Top CIA Officer In Benghazi Told Commandos To 'Stand Down' During Attack", "Benghazi Bombshell: Security Team Told to 'Stand Down' By CIA Officer", "Benghazi hero David Ubben still recovering at Walter Reed", "The Army Is Training Specialized Companies Of Green Berets To Crack "Hard Targets", "Africa's fast-reaction force ready to go from Colorado", "U.S. military poised for rescue in Benghazi", "The Benghazi Transcripts: Top Defense officials briefed Obama on 'attack,' not video or protest", "Pentagon labeled Benghazi a terrorist attack as Obama administration wavered: newly declassified testimony", "The Benghazi Memo Drafts, as They Evolved", "Who was Glen Doherty? "[156] Another poll in Eastern Libya, taken in 2011, reported that the population was at the same time both deeply religious conservative Muslims and very pro-American, with 90% of respondents reporting favorable views of the United States. This latest spasm of violence is not unique. These accusations were widely shared across various blogs and social media platforms. T hose caught up in the excitement and . GOP legislators also took issue with delays in the investigation, which CNN attributed to "bureaucratic infighting" between the FBI, Justice, and State. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens steps outside the consulate to say goodbye to a Turkish diplomat. At least 48 people were killed in ensuing clashes, which have yielded neither an investigation nor any prosecutions. On September 11, 2012, at 9:40 pm local time, members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi resulting in the deaths of both United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Libyan newspaper The Tripoli Post noted that Libya's National Congress also condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death . . [40]:43 After being held up at the airport for a few hours, the Libyan forces and newly arrived Americans went to the CIA annex at about 5:00a.m. to assist in transporting approximately 32 Americans at the annex back to the airport for evacuation. . Please give now to support our work. These teams were sent to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy as a staging point on the night of the attack but did not deploy to Benghazi. interests."[194][195][196][197][198]. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. At the time, they were informed that the attack was a "terrorist attack". September 11, 2012: 9:43 a.m. Benghazi time (3:43 ET): Amb. Ambassador Chris Stevens. In his Univision Town Hall appearance on September 20, President Obama said that the "natural protests that arose because of the outrage over the video were used as an excuse by extremists to see if they can also directly harm U.S. 6 of 30 7 of 30 A man looks at documents at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, after an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. Details emerge on former SEAL's final actions in Benghazi", US military's response questioned in wake, Dad of U.S. bodyguard 'blown up twice' in Benghazi says State Department should admit mistakes, "Video shows Libyans helping rescue U.S. ambassador after attack", "Libya witness: Stevens was alive when found", "Video shows Libyans trying to rescue U.S. ambassador", "President Obama on the Attack in Benghazi", "Diplomat: Ambassador in Benghazi Said, 'We're Under Attack'", "Video shows Libyans trying to save U.S. ambassador", "US ambassador killed in Libya attack: Chris Stevens 'given CPR for 90 minutes', says Benghazi doctor", "Diplomats' Bodies Return to U.S., and Libyan Guards Recount Deadly Riot", "Revealed: inside story of US envoy's assassination", "Statement on the Death of American Personnel in Benghazi, Libya", "Statement on the Deaths of Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty in Benghazi, Libya", "Clinton Recognizes Victims of Benghazi Attacks", "Former Navy SEALs identified as consulate attack victims", "Libya Attack Brings Challenges for U.S.", "U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens killed in consulate attack in Libya", Paul Cruickshank, Tim Lister, Nic Robertson, and Fran Townsend, "Sources: 3 al Qaeda operatives took part in Benghazi attack", Paul Cruickshank, "Analysts search for clues in al-Zawahiri remarks on Benghazi", Paul Cruickshank, Tim Lister and Nic Robertson, "Phone call links Benghazi attack to al Qaeda commander", "Terrorist Designations of Ansar al-Sharia as an Alias for Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula", Attack by Fringe Group Highlights the Problem of Libya's Militias, Election-Year Stakes Overshadow Nuances of Libya Investigation, "US ambassador killed in Libya: investigators probe whether Benghazi assault was planned", "Libya Attack Pre-Planned By Terror Group? one prominent former judge asked me. 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