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Subscribe to RSSThe murders of four U.S. diplomats are a grim reminder of the dangers that lurk in Libya. NBC's Steve Handelsman reports.
BENGHAZI, Libya -- U.S. troops dispatched by helicopter across the Libyan desert to rescue Ambassador Chris Stevens and other diplomats in Benghazi ran into a fierce overnight ambush that left a further two Americans dead, Libyan officials told Reuters.
Accounts of the mayhem at the U.S. consulate, where the ambassador and another diplomat died after a chaotic protest over a film insulting to Islam, remain patchy. But two Libyan officials, including the commander of a security force that escorted the U.S. rescuers, said a later assault on a supposedly safe refuge for the diplomats appeared professionally executed.
Miscommunication that understated the number of American survivors awaiting rescue -- there were 37, nearly four times as many as the Libyan commander expected -- also meant survivors and rescuers found themselves short of transport to escape this second battle, delaying an eventual dawn break for the airport.
Capt. Fathi al-Obeidi, whose special operations unit was ordered by Libya's authorities to meet an eight-man U.S. Marine force at Benghazi airport, said that after his men and the Marines had found the American survivors who had evacuated the blazing consulate, the ostensibly secret location in an isolated villa came under an intense and highly accurate mortar barrage.
"I really believe that this attack was planned," he said, adding to suggestions by other Libyan officials that at least some of the hostility towards the Americans was the work of experienced combatants. "The accuracy with which the mortars hit us was too good for any regular revolutionaries."
Obeidi's Libya Shield Brigade was formed by civilians during last year's U.S.-backed uprising against Moammar Gadhafi and is now part of the ad hoc government militia forces which the fledgling democratic administration uses to keep order.
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The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed after protesters angry over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad stormed the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
Other Libyan officials cited the possible involvement of former soldiers still loyal to Gadhafi's family or Islamist fighters, some of whom have trained and fought in Afghanistan.
U.S. officials have noted it was "complex attack". Several Libyan officials and witnesses said an initial demonstration at the consulate appeared to be largely unarmed, though some elements of an Islamist militia were spotted.
Related: What's known about the consulate attack
At some point, the crowd became incensed, believing they were under attack from within the consulate, many fetched weapons and the consular villa ended up in flames, with most of the Americans fleeing to the safe house after two, including Stevens, had been fatally injured.
'Six mortars' on path to villa
Of the eight American troops who had come from Tripoli, one was killed and two were wounded, Obeidi said. A Libyan deputy interior minister said a second American was also killed in the attack on the safe house. It was not clear if this was a diplomat or one of the consulate's original security detail.
"It began to rain down on us," Obeidi told Reuters, describing the moment the attack began -- just as the Libyan security force was starting up the 10 pickup trucks and sedans they had brought to ferry the Americans to the airport.
"About six mortars fell directly on the path to the villa," he said. "During this firing, one of the Marines whom I had brought with me was wounded and fell to the ground.
"As I was dragging the wounded Marine to safety, some Marines who were located on the roof of the villa as snipers shouted and the rest of the Marines all hit the ground.
"A mortar hit the side of the house. One of the Marines from the roof went flying and fell on top of us."
A senior U.S. diplomat -- not Ambassador Stevens, who Libyan officials said died at a local hospital of the effects of smoke -- urged pushing ahead with the evacuation, Obeidi said.
But he had a transport problem. Having been told to expect 10 Americans and having found 37, Obeidi did not have enough vehicles to break out, despite having one heavy anti-aircraft gun mounted on a pickup truck.
"I was being bombarded by calls from all over the country by Libyan government officials who wanted me to hurry and get them out," he said. "But I told them that we were in such difficult circumstances and that I needed more men and more cars."
Eventually dozens more vehicles were dispatched from pro-government militia brigades and, with the sun rising, the convoy headed back to the airport where an aircraft flew a first group of U.S. personnel out to the Libyan capital.
Libyan Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif said Stevens and another diplomat died in the first series of incidents around the consulate, while the other two Americans died during the attempt to evacuate from the safe house to the airport.
"(The ambassador) died as a result of suffocation by the fumes of the fire inside the embassy and one was also killed by gunfire before around 37 people were moved to a place we thought was safe," Sharif told Reuters in Benghazi.
Speaking of the rescue mission, he said: "A team of commandos arrived by air and went to a farm which we thought was a secret location. Once they got there, they came under heavy fire from heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles, which resulted in the death of two others."
He estimated that a dozen or more Americans were hurt.
More world stories from NBC News:
- US won't rule out Islamist link in killing of US ambassador to Libya
- US Ambassador Chris Stevens was 'courageous and exemplary,' Obama says
- Romney slams Obama over attacks on US officials in Libya, Egypt
- Report: Maker of Muhammed film goes into hiding
- Despite dark past, young Israelis seek new lives in German capital
- No Obama-Netanyahu meeting as rift over Iran widens
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Leave a Comment:
Is anyone else getting angrier by the minute or is it just me?
Nah, me too.
Waiting to see who claims responsibility.
Perhaps it is time to consider a world-wide CRUSADE against militant Islam - fight fire with overwhelming firepower. These brainwashed fanatics desperately seek martyrdom and the West should assure them of this wish fulfilment.
I had already left the other threads about this attack and had calmed down a little and was looking over the other news articles, then saw this.
Now I am furious and typing with tears in my eyes.
We cannot, we simply cannot, coexist with Islam. We cannot trust any of the so called allies we have in any of these countries and to leave our people, including our military, in these countries for one more day is deliberate murder by the Commander in Chief.
This was so obviously planned and executed with the help of high officials in the Libyan government that to even consider "diplomatic" channels of communication is ludicrous.
I'm sorry but President Obama is an embarrassment to this great nation. We have freedom of speech and expression and we tolerate unbelievably vile things here because we have this "right" to just say what the hell we want to say regardless of who it offends...it's one of the things that makes us who we are is our right to free speech. For Obama to apologize to muslims is absolutely atrocious...he should be telling them that they don't run the world and just learn to deal with people who have opinions different than your own like f'g grown ups.
I've never seen a president so candyassed that he runs around with his tail between his legs any time a muslim get their nose out of joint. We, as a country, deserve better....we deserve a President how won't run around apologizing for our citizens using their f'g constitutional rights.
I hate a whole lot of stuff that gets the "free speech" free pass but I have to deal with it because we live in a society that has the rule of law, not the rule of just riot and kill people if you get mad because someone says something about your religion you don't like. ffs, we have "performance artists" that paint with their own feces and call it free speech...Obama, tell these backassward children called muslims to just deal with it already.
LOL...some of you people get all worked up in hissy fits. "murder by the Commander in Chief," LOL!!
Your statement reminds me of the trust the American Indians didn't have in you'll when you invaded their land.
Calm down bro, go invade Iran, don't they have nuclear weapons.
OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!
I AM American Indian, jerk, and yes, if he leaves any more of our people in these countries where it is obvious the professional attack of our SAFE HOUSE was perpetrated by the government of that country, it will be nothing less than murder to leave our people there unless we declare all out war on that country and send in enough troops to accomplish victory.... and we aren't going to do that.
We cannot coexist with Islam in a Muslim country when Americans at home have freedoms and liberties that extend to freedom of expression including speech, press and publication.
Here in the US we can tolerate each other, but we need to stay out of the Middle East and let them do what they will.
screminmimi: When you say you can't coexist, you're talking about these libyans soldiers who fought to go rescue the americans ? You know they're muslims too.
As for help from "high officials", unless you have proof of that, you should avoid launching baseless rumours. And no, simply the fact that someone knew where the safehouse was doesn't mean high officials were involved.
Drone 'em and quit apologising.
Perhaps it is time to consider a world-wide CRUSADE against militant Islam - fight fire with overwhelming firepower. These brainwashed fanatics desperately seek martyrdom and the West should assure them of this wish fulfilment.
You win dumb comment of the day award! I don't think we need to fight a global war against a religion which has over a billion followers, the vast majority of which are peaceful, because a very small, violent minority has committed itself to attacking the United States. Meeting intolerance with intolerance gets you nowhere. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
Two nukes carefully placed at the epicenter of Mecca and Medina.
Okay, we can be nice and give them 48 hours notice until we launch.
Let the rest of the 1Billion members of Islam figure out who is next...
Don't you dumbasses get it, this was a professional hit by a small group of people we've been fighting for years already. This is even more threatening to the Libyans, they have to live at the mercy of this kind of crap. I doubt some of you posters are smart enough to cross the street safely.
Here, Afghanistan, even in Iraq, when our people are killed, excuses are made for the incompetence of the host country and its leaders.
If they are that incompetent they have no business being included in security details and plans. If they are not incompetent, they are divulging information to the enemy.
The very fact that eight marines were left to guard a US consulate in a war torn country is outrageous. The General in charge should be relieved of his command. You have at least two carrier task forces in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulfs and no one could bring in some air support. I doubt the rebels would have been a match for a pair of F-14's or F-18's. Every American consulate in the Arab world should have the support of a company of U.S. Marines and at least air backup from Cobra or Apache gunships. The consulates should also be within an hour's striking distance of our fighter jets. Come on, you don't have to be from West Point to figure out that this attack was bound to happen.
@satanick;
Good one my young brother, your post rings true to answer to their ignorance.
Horrified - You are right. Talk to our Commander In Chief & Congress. If you would like to start a petition, I am sure you would get a LOT of signatures.
But, this is their job - as defined in the Constitution. How is it that you have to point this out to them?
intel leaks, moles and traitors..........
I must agree with RTColorado; this situation makes my blood boil.
I do not expect much from the rabble that participated in this outrage, nor do I expect any Islamic leaders - either religious or political - to condemn the act.
Apparently, these Islamic leaders think that it's okay for mobs to murder innocent people in the name of Islam.
So it boils down to this: the reluctance of Islamic leaders to condemn this act is tantamount to condoning the act, which is complicity.
I am trying to fathom this entire story... I think that Pres. Obama is trying to bring order and sanity back, but there needs to be an immediate investigation about why the Consulate and safe house had been so vulnerable, the safe house known, and not enough transport for those who needed it. Altogether, I agree that American military should have been available immediately, including gun support and transport. There is absolutely no excuse why the Libyan government did not protect them, or try to fight off the militants, especially considering that the Ambassador had helped that government. But this is way beyond that point.
America has freedom of speech: this was used, on purpose, by American extremists in order to incite foreigners to attack Americans and make the President look bad. We will not stop freedom of speech, but shouting "Fire" in the world theater is hardly wise, and not something that is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Even so, I want to know why there should be any huge protest over a dumb movie. Christianity is insulted all the time by people who do not take the religion seriously, and even the most extreme Christians in America do not attack foreign Consulates, throw grenades, etc. To call any secular war a "Crusade" (not America's words) is a total lie; America is pluralistic.
So it must be something religious. I've heard that people do not like their Prophet portrayed in any way because humans may not be pictured in that religion, but the old Moghul art (from the Pakistan area) had lots of human pictures. They don't like to divert attention from God by talking about the Prophet, some have said, but then why should it matter whether or not the Prophet is insulted? We really don't know; the ignorance, for better or worse, is often most perpetuated by those who claim that they want us to know. If the reason is simply that they do not want to be insulted, that sounds more human than religious, but I don't have the facts. Something is missing in this picture; if there is no divinity involved in one human being, then it should not be a problem to them; things just don't make sense, and I'm trying to make any sense out of this. This question is probably the source of people wondering if there is a tendency for that religion to be violent for no reason; I'm sure there is a reason, but it has not been defined or explained very well.
wow, some obama supporters think americans some how "incited" this attack "to make the president look bad"
it's worse than i ever imagined. obama supporters are trying to blame americans for this.
So US Marines where involved? One US Marine was killed? Am I reading this right? Why is this story buried? I know I have too many questions but I'm shocked at this. This story should be the headline.
The Obama admin. and the intelligence failed miserably. The US was taken completely by surprise and its embarrassing. These terrorists even knew about the secret location. Reports are that Obama did not attend one intelligence meeting all last week.
The media is too busy trying to tear down Romney instead of talking about these very important issues.
The media is the reason we got stuck with Obama and now they are trying to get him re-elected. Haven't they learned?
Marines may have fallen during the Consulate rescue attempt, [they were helicoptered in from Tripoly] but at the Bengahzi Consulate, there were no military, only Libyan security and State Department Security Officers.
U.S. rescue mission to Benghazi hit by 'professional' ambush
Sacked Benghazi Consulate Had No Protection From US Marines
Obama's response to these attacks on the sovereign soil of the United States (yes the consulates/embassies are Us sovereign territory) has been weak and embarrassing. He should have deployed the rapid response force from the Amphibious Ready Group in the Med to go get our people, not relied on a bunch of poorly trained Libyan Militia with questionable loyalties. Doesn't anyone realize that maybe the secret hiding place was sold out by at least some of those who were supposed to be the rescuers. Doesn't it strike anyone as suspicious that none of the Libyan rescue forces were injured in this ambush, like maybe they knew it was coming. Just the mere fact that Obama only had a security force of 8 Marines defending the consulate in a country as unstable as Libya is unforgivable. Then to basically apologize for the video that was used as an excuse to start all of this was absurd. The video was not made by the US government and we have freedom of speech in this country and supposedly support that freedom of speech worldwide. What kind of message does it send to the rest of the world when our supposed Commander in Chief is apologizing for Americans exercising their constitutional rights. Obama is a complete embarrassment and needs to be out of office as soon as possible. He is a joke as President and does not even support the rights of Americans in his press releases to the rest of the world. This sends a chilling message to those in other countries that the US does not even pays lip service to our most cherished right, the right to freely express our view no matter what others may think about them.
Thank God! President Obama is at the Helm protecting us Freedom Loving Americans, and all you Federal employees, including you Policemen, Firemen, and Teachers, and all you Undecided Voters from.............
Foreign and Domestic Terrorists, Republicans, Teabaggers, all those right-wingwacko talk-show hate radio hosts, and Mitt Romney who is now saber-rattling like the bully he was in prep-school.
Thank God for President Obama
Thank you BXURZ.
You be the Judge, America!
Mitt Romney, known Liar, admitted Tax-Cheat, and probable Felon,
or Barack Obama, the Good, the Kind, the Merciful.
It's not even a Contest.
Vote a straight Democratic ticket come this November 2012, and let's send Mitt Romney and his Bush Regime including Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, "Back to the Dung Heap of History" where they all belong!
You are a piece of work. Granted, the Obamamedia is twisting and spinning this story into some sort of political punditry puffery, however, to intelligent people, those not besotted with adoring the head of the Cult of Obama, this is a dreadful series of events. US ambassador and four Americans are attacked and murdered and all the braindead and heartless Obama supporters care about is dissing Romney. Romney said what needed to be said, Obama pussyfooted and then attempted to look caring.
Obama is a joke, he is worse than a joke and those who support this pathetic buffoon are truly pathetic people. Let us not look at reality, let us not understand that an act of war was perpetrated by Islamists, well armed (remember Quadaffi's weapons stockpiles, the ones Obama essentially handed over to radical extremists) no, let us not concern ourselves with loss of life and the burning of the flag, storming the embassies and murders, no, that is of no consequence here, we must bash Romney, far more important to do that.
The media is a joke, a propaganda machine that only exists to promote Obama. Hero worship? Vote for the Messiah, Obama is God and the media are there to convince you of it if you haven't been sufficiently brainwashed on your own. I weep for this country and I truly fear for it if Obama is re-elected.
Killing anyone over a movie just shows these people are animals.
All Hail Obama!
Ruler, Master, and Overlord of all you war-mongering Ruplicans and crazy-wacko Teabaggers, for the next Four (yes! 4) very long years!
Ain't Life grand?
And maybe, just maybe, in those hidden Tax-returns of Mitt Romney's, he's hiding his shady Financial dealings with known and/or Unknown Islamic Terrorists Groups. It is possible!
We already know that mitt Romney has Outsourced thousands and thousands of good old American jobs to China, a Red Communist country, and Mexico. Maybe Mitt Romney is Outsourcing to Radical Islamic countries. It is possible!
We don't know, but we do know that Mitt Romney is a know Liar, an admitted Tax-Cheat, and a probable Felon, because of his shady dealings at Bain Capital.
How Unmanly of Mitt Romney!
So, when will your altar of Love and Obama Worship be completed? Do you have the proper prayers and ritual in place? Is there a special Obama liturgy or some other offical worship practice that the Obama administration has taught you? Interesting that you love and worship Obama, seems others did the same for Mao Tse Tung and Stalin. Do you have large photos of Obama prominently displayed in your home?
mygirl,
and your point is.......?
Should I be honoring and admiring all those hideous and horrific character defects, and shortcomings and failings of Mitt Romney who Worships some hidden "Golden Tablets" (kind of like his hidden Swiss Bank accounts and his hidden Tax-Returns).
or Mitt Romney's "little sidekick" Paul Ryan who Worships the Infamous Rightwing wacko-nutjob, Ayn Rand, who wrote the GOP's Bible "Atlas Shrugged", and who is quoted as saying the Poor are merely insects and parasites.
That's Not too Christian, now is it.
Let's face it, Mitt Romneys steals hardworking American's Pension Funds, then launderies their stolen Money in his phony Cayman Island shell companies, and then hides that ill-gotten loot in his hidden Swiss Bank accounts so he can take off his Stepford Trophy's wife Olympic Show Horse off his Taxes as a "Therapy Horse" Hello?
Sick.
Hey, want to be my "facebook friend"?
The other post are pretty much on party lines... I could tell as soon as word came about the Cairo incident at the same time. What most folks don't realize is that Libya and Egypt politics are supposed to be independent of each other... but this story confirms it... It was a planned, coordinated attack and it is America with not only loss of life but egg on our face... Pres Obama will do nothing but "Trying not to stoke the flames of intolerance."
I'm a Christian AND a former soldier... Part of me wants to forgive... the other..... well lets just say my attitude doesn't reflect the prevailing "war weariness" in the nation. I hate war but if we are in it... we should win it.
You win dumbest comment of the week award! It is well known that AQ command and control has penetrated Libya (the precise IDF the Marines at the safe house received is proof enough of battle hardened elements training Libyan rebels), Egypt and Syria. The populations in rebellion will eat this up the way they did in Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya and populations YOU consider peaceful will be easily swayed to commit atrocities, violence.
Your "VERY SMALL VIOLENT MINORITY" will probably number in the low 7 figure category if it hasnt reached that consensus yet. Trust me when I say the worst has yet to come. When I was in Ramadhi, the entire population of nearly a million seemed to be at war with us after the women and children fled thanks to a just a few rabble rousers who successfully fled Fallujah. Im glad you are so protective over these docile sheep that look to any zealous Islamic cause excuse to pick up a weapon, load a mortar tube or plant an IED.
pw-777
Two nukes carefully placed at the epicenter of Mecca and Medina.
Okay, we can be nice and give them 48 hours notice until we launch.
Let the rest of the 1Billion members of Islam figure out who is next...
#1.10 - Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:01 PM PDT
------------------------
...Seriously?
And you don't think the Islamic World won't find a way to retaliate, in spades? Keep your genocidal final solutions to yourself, because it is so wrong on so many levels, I wouldn't know where to begin.
Repub for Obama
show us where Romney cheated on his taxes and lied. you got nothing but your own made up lies. Get off your soapbox the thin air is damaging your brain cell.
Flying Eagleview? I think you need to find an O2 tank and hook up. We showed the birth certificate for Obama... Why is it that McCain decided on Palin, after viewing the Romney's taxes.... I would LOVE to have and hour with them...
Obama is choosing words carefully to avoid further escalation of a crisis, caused by a person, that I have no doubt, knew how his film would be viewed by a great population of this earth. We share the planet. We don't rule the planet. Place the blame where it belongs. I hope that little minded film maker is happy with the deaths on his soul.
Obama is choosing his words carefully not for the reason you posted.
He chose his words carefully because he knows he was the cause of all this and it backfired.
Look at his expression and emotion when he read his short statement. He flat lined pretty bad. He read those lines just to read them and get out. He didn't want to answer any questions and he still hasn't.
Hillary on the other hand showed calm emotional anger. You could tell she was hurting badly and she meant her words.
I'm shocked that no one has mentioned that Obama didn't even bring up the Egypt fiasco. Did anyone notice this?
For all those wanting to take on Islam and other muslim countries - Let me ask you this - are you just going to kill everyone?
Well yes, why not? I wonder why they opened this consulate in an unsafe area in the first place? What diplomatic reasons would require a consulate in that dangerous area with that many Americans? That was a very bad decision and must have been approved by Clinton. Benghazi does not need a US consulate. Our Congress needs to look into the workings and needs of the State Department.
I am sincerely sorry to hear about all the deaths of Americans. I believe , even not knowing it can be done, that we stay completely away from those countries. You cannot reason with those people. All they think about is killing. Keep our soldiers and civilians here. Let them kill each other till no one is left. Let them fight each other and we stay home.
This was clearly a planned attack by Al'Queda for the 9/11 anniversary and the movie was just an excuse to get others riled up. They've been predicting some type of attack on every anniversary. Taking them 11 years for such a small attack seems to indicate this is the best they can do.
Larry - 367607
Your absolutely right this attack has Al'Queda's finger prints all over it. The fact that our ambassador was killed makes hunting down and eliminating these militants a high priority of which I'm sure President Obama has already ordered.
The tragedy itself is bad enough without Mitt Romney and other Republicans are trying to make political hay from it....... To all the Republicans trying to exploit this incident; you people sicken me ,what the hell is wrong with you, have you forgotten that your Americans too..... Or are you.
Hmm if this was a Republican Administration I would be giving them plenty of @!$%#.. I already emailed my local congressmen telling him wtf why was there no Marines protecting Americans at the embassy during 9/11.....
A screw up is just that & someone dropped the ball on protecting Americans from harm..
This administration knows damn well 9/11 is coming we need to bolster the security at our embassies and installations across the globe 8) especially in the middle east
Epic Fail FTW........
Want to bet they "get" the plotters in a remote location with a drone attack - about two weeksw before the election?
Back in 1980, Reagan's friends (George H.W. Bush) pulled strings to keep the American hostages in Iran until after the election. Carter tried to rescue them, but unfortunately, the helicopter had an accident.
I don't care when the plotters are hit with a drone attack or a full frontal attack; this is an act of war. Even the Japanese before Pearl Harbor did not kill an American Ambassador.
And I am an Obama supporter, but something is very wrong, and it is the same wrong that led the military to react too slowly on 9/11, leaving the NYC police and firefighters to try to save citizens on their own without the special equipment that the military might have had. This is a terrible way to test the system, but the military reaction time would have caused a courts martial in World War II.
I want to know why this administration didn't feel it was prudent to bolster the security forces at our embassies prior to 9/11 this is simple common sense 8)
uh, maybe cause House GOP won't allow any spending on anythng.
A reasonable question, Al - but you won't get an answer. The media won't ask that one, and Barry sure ain't gonna volunteer to address it.
Do you know for a fact they didn't and didn't go on alert as they usually do every 9/11 anniversay? Didn't think so.
Well, apparently there wasn't enough concern raised, as proof...there should have been a security team literally within arms reach of the Ambassador. But now isn't the time to be pointing fingers at anybody, but the people responsible for this attack and the attack on the embassy in Cairo. Let's get them and then we can piss in each other's Wheaties later. Let's settle this first.
Wait, if WE go after these SCUMBAGS and actually catch any of them, we will have the "Bleeding Hearts" screaming that we better not hurt em to get any info. As far as IslamaObama and his complaints that Romney is using this as a political attack, surely we must remember who promised to give our southern border buddies a free pass in 2007 if they helped him get elected. Oworthless' timing was just as most expected, he did nothing until he needs there vote again. Or maybe his promise to shut down Guantanamo???? Hmmmm..... Or promising Russia our missile defense code's when he is re-elected????
Hmmmmm....... I may not be the sharpest tack in this group but if somethins eatin the food I leave out at night, I start thinkin I may have a RAT in the cave I reside in. Yes, I live in a cave! I'm still waitin for BHO to fix this dang economy issue. He just needs more time as I understand it. He's startin by puttin another 90+ thousand solders out of work. Ohhhh, sorry!!!! That's not his fault either? Illegals warranted an Executive order but OUR Troops and security are out of his authority.
Have a great day all.
TKO, your emotional ranting and lashing out isn't making any sense at all, your confused hyperbole lacks fact-checked substantiation and it isn't helping, either. If in the least, show some semblance of respect for the CIC. You obviously may not agree with him or more than half the nation's population for not being as neo-conservative as you, but there is no cause to label anyone like that unless you are prepared to face the music for not thinking about the ramifications of what you say before you say it.
Chill OUT.
I hope the so-called Israeli/American is pleased with his work. But I agree his work was just the excuse some terrorists were waiting for in order to mark the 9/11 attacks (good timing Israeli/American). Added to my disgust at these events are the attempts by politicians to use this to defame their opponents. The attacks in Libya and Egypt are tragedies and politicians should not be using them for their own gain. Shame all around.
There is no proof the man was an Israeli.
Screminmimi is no American Indian and most likely Israeli judging from his stout defense of anything criticizing Israel. A Hasbara agent more likely.
Screminmimi is female, with Choctaw on her Mother's side and Lakota Sioux on her Father's.
You do not insult me by accusing me of being Israeli, though I am not. Perhaps I feel an affinity with them, who knows? It was probably born when I was a small child and watched The Diary of Anne Frank, thinking how much like the genocide of Native Americans was the genocide of Jews under Hitler.
My assertion that the film maker was probably not Israeli is based on the news reports.
Mimi -
Ignore him. You can click on his name and see that he accuses everyone of being Hasbara. Another Jew hater is all.
Maybe because we're being led by idiots. First thing we did was say we were sorry for offending them. How about dropping a nuke ont he whole damn region.
No We Did Not. The embassy personnel in Cairo, tried to diffuse a situation by giving out a statement BEFORE any attack. Read the time line.
They initially released the statement - then re-issued it after the attacks. (Or so it has been reported.)
Clarko -
While I can empathize with your feelings, it always bothers me when people propose the nuclear option at the drop of a hat. You do know that the cleanest nuke will put radiation up in the atmosphere, and that prevailing winds may distribute that crap around the world on friend, foe and us alike right?
Think before you post please.
I am so tired of hearing him apologize to these bastards, ohh I am sorry for offending your religion please stop killing Americans.
Bull@!$%#
Maybe you should get your facts straight, learn and understand the timeline of events and statements before spouting off your "Bull@!$%#". Of course, if Romney is your guy, I guess we can't let facts stand in the way....
Anything is better than what we currently have 8) and NO Romney is not my man but I would give him a chance to show his worth 8) He is lesser of the evil.
I think giving Obama a second term is extremely stupid and reckless. I may spout off but it's the truth he does apologize to much and that's pathetic.
Apologizing is a sign of weakness especially when you do this to Muslims in the Middle East.
That's the problem Obama never apologized. The Cairo embassy made a statement trying to calm the rioters outside their doors but it was neither made by Obama or authorized by him so indicating he apologized is simply a lie. Maybe you'd have been braver having hundreds of armed attackers and taunted them but apparently they weren't.
Here is the statement the embassy put out 6 hours before the riot
I don't see an apology in this
6 hrs before the riot? they prob didnt even know about the movie till they told them about it.
On the Arab grapevine, someone told these Egyptian extremists a maliciously distorted view of the movie in question. It's all in the Machiavellian timing. You see, it easy to manipulate certain ignorant demographics into violent action, of whom their religious "true believers," lacks even a 4th grade secular education. Add to the mix a preemptive campaign statement by Romney falsely and illogically blaming President Obama for all of this, and you're practically motivating these militants to become committed to do far worse, once they hear of it.
Why not use this man in the above picture as an example. Use a facial recognition program and search facebook for his picture(since this all started because of a facebook page, I am confident he has an account) find out where he lives, use a drone and drop a 2000 pound bomb on his ass!!!!!
Because you somehow know that this guy was one of the bad guys rather than a pro-government militiaman kicking people out of the embassy ?
Well Michael, depends on which "pro government" you are alluding to, the old regime or the new one. I don't recall seeing pictures of a "pro govenment militiman" ever wearing sandals and a t-shirt to battle have you??
Now, Tracy, you are trying to commit reason. That isn't allowedd here!
We help them win their freedom and this is how they repay us - where are all the apologists now?
It's Obama's fault. He stood on the sidelines as a wait and see... he then decided to send assistance because of a dumb movie. I am horrified by what these lunatics have done to our american diplomats - but Obama should have sent assistance way before to deflect the massacre of thousands of syrians! how do we look to the world now --
We need to stay the hell out of Syria!
We got all teary-eyed over the plight of Libya and sent help to them and, hey! Look at us now! Four dead Americans because of an amateur film made last year posted to the Internet.
No one asked your country to overthrow Ghadaffi. Your country engineered the uprising and conducted the bombing which killed many soldiers and civilians. Many Libyans were always against the revolution by force. This morning, some got revenge for the destruction caused by NATO and the US. It is your country who invaded theirs with military force.
Stay out of the middle east. Just surround them with boomers (SSBMs). They'll eventually kill themselves. The world will have a better gene pool.
Most of our country DID NOT WANT to have anything to do with Libya's revolution. Our president made a decision that we did not agree with. Don't know where you live, and I suppose you have never heard of such a thing happening before, huh?
A lot of us didn't want to go into Iraq, either, and by god, a damn good lot of us don't want to be in Afghanistan, either, but we can't make Obama get us out.
You don't think we have problems with our rulers, too?
DOU44. Ghadaffi? That party animal is dead using up all the virgins.
-SSN Fasr Attack vet
GTFO
America is a member of NATO alliance force. We are obligated to assist with their operations in Libya, that is the moral consequence of having a strong military with good weaponry and logistics capability.
Good thing, President Obama did not commit US soldiers to operations on the ground, just air and logistics support. He does not need congress approval for that operation.
As for getting involved in Syria, I support President Obama's choice to stay out of it, let diplomatic channels work.
The events in Cairo and Benghazi reminds me of the Somali incident that is now known as "Black Hawk Down". Armed militants used the opportunity to turn this to a gun fight with the Americans.
This is a time for the blame rhetoric to stop to honor those people who died. As reported, it appears Ambassador Chris Stevens died of smoke inhalation. Probably making sure everyone is out of the burning building.
For those war mongers amongst us, you do know that America do not have the money to fund another war, invading Egypt or Libya, will have serious consequence to the safety of all Americans, in the US and abroad. It will bring more hatred for the US, worse than when we invaded Iraq.
Some of you American horn tooters above are pathetic. I wonder how many of you ever served in America's Military, and actual combat? Probably most of you are nothing but arm-chair warriors, who hate the President for who he is, and this is just another opportunity to attack him.
OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!
Tell us about your most memorable firefight, mouth man. 3 tours at firebases for me.
I know "incoming" to you means a d!ck headed your way.
Obama is a disgrace to the human race and does not warrant hatred.
Hmm I have plenty of cousins and a brother serving in @!$%#canistan and guess what they f,ing hate his ass.
A great song back in the day we listened to from 2 live crew it's called P.A.N. this should be Your Messiah's theme song 8)
anything other than Obama....2012
Com'on man....moshuluu cat got your tongue??? Life loser to the max!
Cunical -
Glad you made it home, hopefully safe and sound.
Thank you.
(Also, great definition of "incoming" for Mosh!)
Mosh, C'mon man...grow a pair (testicles or ovarians, doesn't matter to me). You seem to want to know more about us, what about you? We're interested...tell us a little more about yourself.
Big Al ...ever heard of Tokyo Rose in WW2?
Man, you're not helping.
And you think that someone like Romney and Ryan in the White House is going to make things all "hunky-dory" with our troops downrange? Think again.
Why not give someone else a chance because the current douche has had his chance and he sucked it.
Total ambush, drones only. Perhaps napalm?
On whom, the Libyans who faced mortars and guns to support our consulate personnel?
I've read alot of news reports on this from both sides and one thing that bothers me about some of the posts here is the people saying how some Libyans tried desperately to help us. Funny thing is the American body count keeps going up but we're hearing nothing about all the great Libyans injured or killed.
Looks like the fallout and retribution for the US-fomented revolution and NATO bombing in Libya is not over as it is still not over in Iraq either after 9 years. Careful what you start in someone else's country- it might not turn out like your comfortable roundtable meetings back at Georgetown or at an AIPAC convention. "Ambasador" Stevens was an inserted foreign agent helping to overthrow the gov't of Libya evidently. The former regime certainly had his face on a card. Sounds familiar.
Ambassador Stevens helped you overthrow a dictator and build your own country, and this is the thanks you give. This wasn't a hit from a former regime, that is now gone.
Has anyone remembered that ISLAM is a younger religion than Christianity, which is a younger religion than Judaism? Those who practice ISLAM act as if they are an all-knowing entity.
We should not forget that Mohammed put forth ISLAM around 700 AD. Now spend a little time to look at how ISLAM was spread __— not too peacefully !
they should have took notes instead of making stuff up as they go along.
Peaceful or not back then, it could be counted as history from the far past, just as Judaism hasn't wiped out whole tribes in a few thousand years, and the Crusades of Christianity were also way in the past, mostly caused by European politics and a split in the churches.
But this still doesn't answer the question of why do the people in Islam feel insulted by any hint of distrust, mockery, etc., when we are not supposed to care about insults to humans, only insults to God. I really want to know, because as a Christian, I am also offended by insults to God, but not so much to humans, even humans that are Prophets.
There is a lesson in this: Every time the U.S. rescues a country from one abusive dictatorship, another fills in where the old one left off. "No good-deed ever goes unpunished". Those idiots don't want a democracy. They want to worship some sicko who was "appointed by Allah".
In the "You have to be effing kidding me" department, this: http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/12/report-u-s-consulate-in-benghazi-had-no-marine-protection/
Is this administration THAT stupid? On September 11th?
Meanwhile, Obama travels to Vegas for yet another fundraiser.
Enbassies are protected by Marines. Consulates typically have hired security - I believe Benghazi used a local crew. Earlier reports, on other sites, say the security people gave up the consul escapees' safe house.
Haven't seen it on MSNBCLite yet, but from earlier today:
[A] spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, the mainstream Islamist group and the sponsor of Egypt’s first elected president, Mohamed Morsi, urged the United States government on Tuesday to prosecute the “madmen” behind the video, according to the English-language Web site of the state newspaper, Al Ahram.
The spokesman asked for a formal apology from the United States government and warned that events like the video were damaging Washington’s relations with the Muslim world. He also emphasized that any protests should remain peaceful and respect property.
It just gets better and better doesn't it?
They urged our President to prosecute someone for freedom of speech?
I'd say that is a clear indication that the Muslim world has no concept of our government's limitations on its citizen's liberties and freedoms... such as we have so far.
It is also an affirmation of my belief that we cannot coexist with Islam in Muslim countries.
Sadly, I thinkk you may be right. All of the "peaceful" and "moderate" muslims seem to have no effect on their governments. And then again, Egyptians elected the brotherhood.
As much as Pres. Obama did not call in the military fast enough (nor did Pres. Bush on 9/11 for a much bigger attack), I am an Obama supporter. One of my reasons is that Americans in the Republican Party have also nominated extremists who are trying to impose their religion on the whole country, and want to take away freedom of speech from women.
Yes, the Pres. should have done better. But he might yet do so, while I expect extremism from the Republicans.
HURRY! Let's apologize and tuck our tails so the Islamic Extremist will stop killing US citizens
We are now fighting Gadaffi's remnants. If so, warships aren't going to do it. I'm sorry Mr. Netanyahu but you will have to get in line.
So going by the media and Obama's thinking it's okay to apologize to them for making a film? Killing an Ambassador is well.....LOL! but not for his family...disgusting. So if a Muslim comes over to this country and kills Obama for this film?? I wonder how many would be singing a different tune. Make no mistake, there will be a major war involving the USA and Muslims. This was set in motion by Obama and the Democrats by releasing the cover of the "Arab Spring" and the power to the Muslim Brotherhood ( your modern day Nazi/SS). To the Democrats supporting Obama, bitch all you want but it is your life on the line. They are going to attack NYC, other eastern big cities, along with other big cities in the USA. Not Iowa. This time around, were not going to go to fight in a war for people in big cities who crap on the rest of the USA.
I know that you are frightened, but all that isn't going to happen. What is going to happen is that Ryan's budget and birth control plan (NOT) is going to go into effect, putting American women into jail for having a miscarriage. I don't want the Taliban in America; Pres. Obama killed OBL, and he will go after these goons too, but Romney-Ryan is certain to force their religious agenda on millions of women in America.
Embassies need a dedicated drone overhead at all times lethally armed.
Lybian government says there were US drones flying during the attacks, with the approval of that government.
Didn't do us much good did it? (probably weren't armed)
Few remember that Israel offered to deliver our diplomatic hostages from the clutch of the ayatollah's idiots back in Carter's time (twenty-four hour delivery!)
Carter turned them down.
I don't think the Israelis will stand in line and wait on anyone when it comes to defending themselves.
Raid on Entebbe.
Lets get this straight. A terrorist band in Benghazi maybe with Al Quaida connections attack a US Consulate under cover of a protest about a film. No surprise there, that is an AQ m/o. Libyan irregulars who helped liberate Libya with American and allied help come to the rescue with US Marines and risk their lives to save the rest of the staff at the safehouse. The government of Libya promises to hunt down the terrorists which any civilized government would do. It appears the right wing response is to blame the president and nuke all Libyans or the entire mid-east. The president gave the only positive response to this which is provide the material and intelligence resources to the Libyan government with maybe a few FBI and special forces to hunt these people down. Our ambassador and his staff there went bravely into a chaotic post revolutionary situation in Benghazi to support the vast majority of Libyans who just want normal lives. It would be a great disservice to their sacrifice and a threat to our security to not work with those Libyans who also want to see these terrorists eradicated.
With the all the US DOLLAR$ they receive, what else would you expect them to say? Do you believe press releases from all countries (and I especially include ours)?
Very naive.
We should close all embassies, withdraw all forms of help until the Libyans hand us over the responsible characters (preferably alive). Let's put it on them this time.
Fourth paragraph of Presidential statement issued today at 10:43 am:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/12/remarks-president-deaths-us-embassy-staff-libya
Obama, stop denigrating Catholics by forcing them to violate their religious belief and pay for abortions and contraceptives... by ANY measure this denigrates the religious beliefs of Catholics.
Give it a break. States have had this requirement for a decade. Why wasn't there an uproar before now? Politics? Hatred for the man in the White House?
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/insurance-coverage-for-contraception-state-laws.aspx
Nonsense. It was only earlier this year that HHS mandated that the Catholic Church pay for abortions and contraceptive for their employees. Due to the outrage that position provoked, and it being an election year with many Catholics in swing states. Obama suspended implementation of this mandate for one year... it goes into effect in 2013... if Obama is reelected.
How in Hell do you stupid SOB's allow yourselves to get off message so easily? The discussion is about the miserable bastards that killed an American Ambassador and attacked the American embassy in Cairo. Off you go on some mindless tangent so removed from the issue at hand, it amazes me if you remember your own names. Shame on you, the American Ambassador still has some body temperature left in him and you turn his murder into some idiotic partisan argument over birth control. Well, he got his birth control retro actively, feel better?
The Marine hymn starts "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shore of Tripoli". The Shores of Tripoli refers to the wars with the Barbary pirates, sometimes called Barbary corsairs or Ottoman corsairs, who were pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers. Piratical activity by Muslim populations had been known in Mediterranean since at least the 9th century. The Barbary threat led directly to the creation of the United States Navy in March 1794. While the United States managed to secure peace treaties, these obliged it to pay tribute for protection from attack. Payments in ransom and tribute to the Barbary states amounted to 20% of United States government annual expenditures in 1800.[20] The First Barbary War in 1801 and the Second Barbary War in 1815 led to more favorable peace terms ending the payment of tribute. However, Algiers broke the 1805 peace treaty after only two years, and subsequently refused to implement the 1815 treaty until compelled to do so by Britain in 1816.
Looks like there will be another Barbary War real soon.