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Subscribe to RSSJ. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya who was among four Americans killed amid protests in Libya, was a "courageous and exemplary representative of the United States," President Barack Obama said in a statement on Wednesday.
The four -- who also included Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith, a father of two -- "exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe," Obama said.
Born in 1960 in northern California, Stevens had been a diplomat for two decades after previously working as an international trade lawyer in Washington, D.C., according to his biography on the State Department website.
"Chris was committed to advancing America's values and interests, even when that meant putting himself in danger," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday in a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.
Ben Curtis / AP, file
U.S. envoy Chris Stevens speaks to local media at the Tibesty Hotel in Benghazi, Libya, in this Monday, April 11, 2011 file photo.
"I had the privilege of swearing in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. As the conflict in Libya unfolded, Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he started."
Stevens had only just taken up his appointment, arriving in May after having served two previous roles in the country: Special Representative to the Libyan Transitional National Council during the Libyan revolution from March 2011 to November 2011, and Deputy Chief of Mission from 2007 to 2009.
US ambassador, 3 others killed in attacks on Libya mission
He had also previously worked in Jerusalem, Damascus and Riyadh and was a Pearson Fellow with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. From 1983 to 1985 he taught English as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco.
A video posted on the U.S. Embassy's official YouTube channel in May showed Stevens introducing himself to the Libyan people and speaking of his excitement at his new role.
President Obama, alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, condemns "in the strongest terms" the "outrageous and shocking attack" that claimed the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
He was fluent in Arabic and French, and had earned an undergraduate degree at the University of California at Berkeley in 1982, a J.D. from the University of California's Hastings College of Law in 1989, and an M.S. from the National War College in 2010.
'Smiling, easygoing'
The Washington Post reported that Stevens was "smiling, easygoing and friendly" and "well-known at the State Department and on Capitol Hill."
His efforts to improve relations between the U.S. and Libya were underlined at one of his most recent public appearances. At a reception in Tripoli on August 26, he announced that the issuing of U.S. visas to Libyans would resume the following morning, according to a report in The Tripoli Post.
Mourning the incomprehensible, tragic death of my friend Chris Stevens, a great man &proud FSO.Stunned.
— Lara Friedman (@Lara_APN) September 12, 2012
"The reopening of our consular section will create new opportunities for deepening the ties between our two countries," the newspaper quoted him as saying. "Relationships between governments are important, but relationships between people are the real foundation of mutual understanding," Stevens said.
A statement from Frank Wu, Chancellor and Dean of the University of California's Hastings College of the Law, issued to NBC Bay Area station KNTV, said: "The Ambassador was performing the highest role that a lawyer is called upon to perform: public service. He and I communicated when he was appointed Ambassador. He had been looking forward to sharing his experiences with students when he returned. This is a tragedy. We mourn this loss."
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, also issued a statement, saying: "I had the chance of meeting Ambassador Chris Stevens during his confirmation process and again when I visited Libya last year. He was an exemplary diplomat and his embassy staff could not have been more helpful and knowledgeable during my visit. My prayers are with the families and loved ones of these courageous diplomats who were working to help the Libyan people rise from the ashes of Gaddafi's rule."
Steven McDonald, a longtime friend of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens who was killed in the consulate attack in Libya, comments on his friend's compassion, integrity and commitment.
Lara Friedman, director of policy and government relations at Israeli-American charity, Americans for Peace Now, who described herself as a friend of Stevens, posted on Twitter that his death was "incomprehensible, tragic."
The BBC reported that, in diplomatic cables leaked by the WikiLeaks site in 2010, Stevens had once described Col. Moammar Gadhafi as "notoriously mercurial" and wrote that he could be an "engaging and charming interlocutor."
Sean Smith was a husband and a father of two, who joined the State Department ten years ago, Clinton's statement said. "Like Chris, Sean was one of our best. Prior to arriving in Benghazi, he served in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and most recently The Hague," it said.
Ambassador Chris Stevens was popular, young. A new generation of ambassador. Active, an athlete. He'll be missed
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) September 12, 2012
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what do you expect from a Muslim President that is a racist and that is supporting the muslim botherhood. Wake up, every thing this racist Muslim President is doing is directly aimed at destroying America. His children don't walke to school, yours do. His Children dont' get shot and murdered walking to school. Your children do. We Americans are foced to tolerate Muslim's murdering us in the name of religous freedom. What about our rights to our religous freedoms? Perhaps it is time we stop turning the other cheek and start acting with the convinction of an eye for an eye. Obama eats steaks and has french chefs. You eat dog food and have no job. WAKE UP AMERICANS, time is running on out. Take back being a free people, and punish those with the same eye for an eye actions that are being done to us.
Let's see, Romney's first week as president...the first thing that crops up due to moronic obama policies and they will blame ....you guessed it...Romney....when the truth is we will be digging ourselves out of this if we are lucky enough to get the chance to try by ridding ourselves of this infanile sophmoric boob obamab for the next 20 years....That means possibly as many as five presidents in the future can blame Obama for our ills in the future for about 20 more years or so. In islam...weakness breeds contempt...they smell weakness on obama and possibly they smell a little bit of permissiveness from him as well....
Sounds like a replay of everyone blaming President Obama for digging out of Bush's mess and taking too long, but gee 20 years ! . But no you can't blame Bush after he is out of office. But I guess you can blame Obama if Romney is elected and fails as he will.
obama's and clintons should be put on trial for treason.
Thank you for your service, Ambassador Stevens.
My condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends.
GO BEARS!
Vote obama out. Throw the bums and bummets out. They're traitors and seek after debauchery and lasciviousness. The nation which follows in the steps of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will destory, you can blame you're sodom and gomorrah loving leader.
Go Bears? Suitable callous remark from a dimwitocrat libtard. I guess you can put another notch in Obamas belt. If he is reelected perhaps an American Spring would be supported by the brotherhood, Iran, russia, china etc...then when all the gun hating libs are done starving to death those nations can fight over the scraps.
@iraqiexpat
He's an alumnus of University of California, Berkeley. The Golden Bear is the school mascot. Every student who has ever attended knows the cheer, and appreciates it.
wasn't the prophet depicted as a bear on South Street? Re- elect is supportive of the prophet( secret code?)before you know it South Street will cause more riots. And you think Christians are not tolerant?
Some people on here need to take a refresher course in history. Islam is built on hate and violence?? Yeah because the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades had nothing to do with Christians right?? Pull your head out of your ass and realize that all religious people can be capable of extreme, fervent violence. As for what happened yesterday, it is unacceptable especially on the anniversary of 9-11 and some action must be taken by Obama. On the other hand, please stop with blaming all the middle east's and north africa's problems on Obama and the Dems. Last time i checked it was Mr. Reagan who was in power during the 80's when thousands of guns and supplies were being sent to afghanistan. That worked out well didnt it??
Tim Graves...then it has been a long time since you checked. Because we gave the muslim brotherhood millions of dollars in Egypt and trust me that money didn't stay there. This president supported the NATION BUILDING scheme of ARAB SPRING and it has turned into an EARLY WINTER...worse yet you fools keep supporting him and claiming to have checked your facts....yeah right...you checked your facts at the door m8....update your pitiful knowledge troll.
Yes you should and yes it was. Just another Islamic apologist.
What does what happened hundreds of years ago have to do with excusing the violence of Muslims murdering americans today? Wake up - it is time to treat Muslims exactly as they are treating us - it is time that Americans grow some and do what real americans have done - we kick ass. And right now, Obama is kicking our ass while his children eat steak and yours' eat dog food. Strongly suggest you get your head out of the past and stare down the barrel of the reality of what is going on today. Stop making excuses - start being an American of courage, strength and willing to die for freedom. Stop being willing to be slaughtered like sheep at the hands of Obama's Muslim brotherhoos.
Reagan was not in charge yesterday or today and neither is Bush. Its up to Obama to respond with something more than empty words, platitudes or apologies. This one is squarely in Obama's lap and the whole world is watching to see if he actually has a spine. If it was the Israeli embassy in Libya that got hit, there is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind what they would be doing today, is there?
Still want to keep appeasing your mooslim brothers, Obama? ("Muslim"misspelled purposely for mockery)
So.... what's President Noballsbama going to do about it? apologize to the murderers and ask them to please pretty please stop killing us??
I'm sure a day of flying balloons and holding hands for peace will be scheduled.
worse than anything is the tv medias avoidance of reporting this.. if it was the bush era there would be 24/7 coverage from now till nov 6th...pigs.
The Religion of Peace strikes again! Last time over a book, this time over a movie! If Muhammad is so flimsy his words can't survive one movie, then maybe he's not so great after all! We may someday just have to euthanize Muslims from the face of the world just to finally know peace on earth!
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAWS---AN ACT OF WAR AS VICIOUS AS 7 DECEMBER 1941---AN ACT OF WAR.
Well NOW you see just what TRASH we are dealing with in the MIDDLE EAST !!
HERE'S a case where WE helped--(LIBYA) get rid of their leader--Qaddafi---WE stepped into a CIVIL WAR and ASSISTED in the removal of a SOVEREIGN leader--REAL COOL there MR BUTTWIPE---and so NOW we have a US MISSION attacked and OUR PEOPLE MURDERED--shades of JIMMY the PEANUT PICKER--only difference is NO ONE was KILLED then. WE have a USELESS SEC of STATE--the OTHER CLITOON--who people laugh at--TWO USELESS clowns........and WHATS going to be done in EGYPT and LIBYA---NOT A DAMM THING!!
WHAT you fools who voted the OBAMANATION in need to remember--HE has DONE everything to screw OUR COUNTRY--at his own admission HE leans toward the MU-SLIME--YA SLIME !!
Well WE the PEOPLE are NOT COWARDS as he is---and AS a MARINE COMBAT VETERAN---contained in the MARINE HYMN are TWO LINES at the start--
ONE deals with the MEX PROBLEM and THE OTHER is RIGHT on about LIBYA--
From the Halls of Montezuma, To the shores of Tripoli;
WE kicked #$%$ in both of these 3rd world sandboxes in the past AND CAN DO IT AGAIN!!!
WISH I had been the CO --MARINE GUARD in EGYPT---would have CLEANED these TRASH UP QUICK---and AS to LYBIA--NO MARINES---what kind of a FOOL leaves OUR PEOPLE AT RISK in a POWDER KEG AREA---a COWARD who has NO EXPEIRENCE!
WORD to you ISLAMIC TRASH everywhere---WE OUT NUMBER YOU and WE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH YOUR CRAP ANYMORE!
"They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake"." Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991
"The above was brought to you by a DHS-CERTIFIED TERRORIST---A VIETNAM COMBAT MARINE-AMONG OTHER PLACES---a VETERAN with an ATTITUDE" jscusmc69 USMC RVN 65&67
caps are for emphsis only and not shouting!
Romney used Steven's murder as an excuse to shower our president with vitriolic crap! Shame on the GOP, Romney and every other person who uses tragedy to advance their brand of dogma.
and Obama used Steven's murder for yet more apologies to the radical Muslims.
well nibor, don't forget, beside placating the muslims he has to have a sacrificial lamb for his liberal base. They are rejoicing over this because they see it as a chance to blame President Bush. Hateful apologist them dumb@!$%#ocrats...there is still time to watch Iran get nuked by Israel before the election...
Wow the right wing is angry.... Romney's election is in the toilet so they will blame everything on Obama..
No, someone will find a way to blame Bush...just wait.
yeah, we are worried because we are sane you fool...only a libtard would see this a boding well. If your not angry then you have no heart. Keep telling yourself Obama is in...while his world implodes around him and every action around the globe shows his amateurish skill. We will stay angry until he's gone...and angrier we will get...and at some point you may wish you lived in Libya rather than the U.S.A.
I am totally convinced that there will never be lasting peace anywhere in the middle east ever.
I am also convinced that the free world should leave the area, supply small arms and amunition to all declared militants in the middle east and just watch them kill eachother instead of us. Seriously, if they did not have us as a common enemy they would turn on eachother...we should help them.
Meanwhile back in the desert the Arabs were eating their dates.
How anyone can call a goat a date is beyond my comprehension.
The banksters are the ones you should be pointing your finger at. There is money to be made with chaos. And those rich turds just love chaos so they can sell weapons to both sides and make even more insane profits.
Open your eyes sheeple. The American way is no longer about God and country. It's about profit at any cost.
Easy, the camels are just way to ugly.
Arthur66
Our country needs a LEADER!
PRESIDENT REAGAN would have had our embassies secured by now, and those savages brought to justice!!
You tell em, Arthur66! The Gipper would have kicked butt and taken names, just like he did after 280+ Marines were killed in the 1983 Beirut bombing.
Wait. Sorry. I just checked the facts. He didn't really do anything about that. Never mind.
You don't remember Reagan like I do. After a truck bomb killed 250 Americans in Lebanon, he turned tail and ran...and Granada? What a farce.
This seems to be a sight were people try to get in their personal political agenda. Here is my comment.
It does not matter how courageous he was - he is DEAD - for not a good reason. These heathens the US is supporting is crazy. All the kinds words will not bring him back to his family. No way should a smart US citizen be sent to these no nothing countries. Obama and Clinton - you go next time if you love them so much.
Yeah, and they were all over Amman when I was there last winter getting their "medical treatment"...we were handing over cash like the printing press was in the next room. Many of the people there were MB instigators.
When is the US Government going to understand that it cannot Change anything in the middleast, these people have been Killing each other and other people from other countries for over 2,000 years, we need to stop all Aid, and get the hell out of these countries and let them kill each other, or we can Nuke them all and be rid of the Terrorism and stupid uneducated, babarrack actions that will continue for the next 2,000 years, to all you rag heads your religion is ficticious and barbarrack, I have a suggestion, why don't each one of you , shoot yourself in the head in the name of Allah!!!
Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder should be brought up on Murder charges. These incompetent political hacks are putting our people in harms way. They supported the Islamic brotherhood. If I remember right they were at the White House a few months ago getting a check. Vote them out now. They should be in prision.
"He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation".
Obviously the Libyan people didn't give a rat's ass he lent a helping hand. Pretty much how it goes. The only US hand any foreign country wants is the one with money in it. Once they get that, the door can't hit us in the butt fast enough as we get out of their country.
You might be a Bush hater, but he stood his ground against the muslim terroists. They're nothing but bullies and we can't continue to give them our milk money. If they don't like what you say or do, they kill you and feel they have every right to do so. How long Mr. President will you apoligize bending over backwards for the enemy? I don't want to be Arab America. I want to AMERICA...LAND OF THE FREE.
Buckwheat Barry and his gal Hillary will have to write a book about all the wonderful successes they have had with the Arab Spring. All the peaceful little muslims singing and dancing as they celebrate their freedom from tyranny. Now they are free to riot, kill, burn flags etc. and get paid for it by the US taxpayer as Buckwheat and hillary hand out more money and apologies. The ragheads do not believe in the 1st ammendment but we do and if someone wants to make a film about the pedophile, pervert, murderer, scumbag Mohammed it is their right to do so under our constitution. Lets get the ragheads to killing each other again.
This is the thanks you get for assisting in ridding the country of Qadaffi. They are brainwashed muslim ingrates. Shut the embassy down, next they will be taking hostages.
Qadaffi was a despot but he was also mean and nasty enough to keeps these radicals under control or under 2 feet of dirt. Obama just thinks they are his friends.
Perhaps they should rethink the opening of the visas to the US now. We don't need these kinds of idiots here we have enough of our own. They don't care who they have a beef with they will attack anyone they want like the cowards they are.
gramgigi, I agree, lets shut down all visas from the middle east. Dearborn, mi. is already full of ragheads and we do not need anymore. Everyone talks about the southern border but the real threat is the visas we give to ragheads to come in here build mosques all over the place and live on the dole. We already have too many home grown bums. However knowing how Hillary and Buckwheat barry work they will probably want to take all the refugees from Syria over here.
yeah, yeah, obama blow some more smoke up the families ass's, now the question is whatcha gonna do about it?? my suggestion is maybe grow a pair and stop apologizing to these middle eastern turd balls
Can we finally stop trying to make these people our friends, it has not worked in over 2000 years.
I am so tired of our people being killed by these idiot terrorists who have no respect for human life. We should bomb the crap out of thier countries and get it over with.