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Subscribe to RSSIn an interview with NBC's Ann Curry, Libya's president Mohammed Magarief said there's 'no doubt' the attack that killed four Americans in Libya was preplanned, and not a result of the controversial anti-Islam movie that sparked violent protests.
Updated at 6:37 p.m. ET: An anti-Islam film that sparked violent protests in many countries had "nothing to do with" a deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi earlier this month, Libya's president told NBC News.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Ann Curry, President Mohamed Magarief discounted claims that the attack was in response to a movie produced in California and available on YouTube. He noted that the assault happened on Sept. 11 and that the video had been available for months before that.
"Reaction should have been, if it was genuine, should have been six months earlier. So it was postponed until the 11th of September," he said. "They chose this date, 11th of September to carry a certain message."
NYT: Deadly Libya attack a major blow to CIA efforts
Magarief said there were no protesters at the site before the attack, which he noted came in two assaults, first with rocket-propelled grenades on the consulate, then with mortars at a safe house.
Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
Protests ignited by a controversial film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad spread throughout Muslim world.
The attack took the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens, as well as information management officer Sean Smith and security personnel Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.
US Ambassador Chris Stevens was 'courageous,' Obama says
Magarief told Curry that based on the accuracy of the assault, he believes the attackers must have had training and experience using the weapons.
"It's a pre-planned act of terrorism," he said, adding that the anti-Islam film had "nothing to do with this attack."
Though Magarief believes the attack was the work of Islamist fundamentalists, he dismisses any notion that Libya is in danger of becoming a theocracy.
Libyan President Mohammed Magarief tells NBC's Ann Curry that Islamic fundamentalists do not share the same goals and aspirations as most people in his country.
“This will never happen,“ he said. “ They don’t have the strength. They don’t have the supporters. They will remain a minority that’s isolated, that will not be accepted by us. And I’m sure Libyans will fight to the last man against seeing this happen in our land.”
'A strong friend'
Magarief said that while Libyans appeared to be behind the attack that "these Libyans do not represent the Libyan people or Libyan population in any sense of the word."
Hilary Stevens, sister of Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya who died Tuesday during an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. In an interview with Rock Center Anchor Brian Williams, Stevens reflects on her brother's legacy and work.
He added: "We consider the United States as a friend, not only a friend, a strong friend, who stood with us in our moment of need."
More than 40 people have been questioned in connection with the incident, the Libyan leader told Curry.
He described Stevens as a "humble and very unique human being" and a "great friend of Libya."
Backlash: Protesting Libyans storm militant compound
Thousands of Libyans stormed the headquarters of an Islamist militia group in Benghazi Friday night in a deadly exchange. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
The Obama administration initially maintained that the attacks were directly linked to protests over the film. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sept. 16, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said: “What happened in Benghazi was in fact initially a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired hours before in Cairo, almost a copycat of the demonstrations against our facility in Cairo, prompted by the video.”
However, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney last week said it was "self-evident that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack."
Slain ambassador's mom: 'He was trying to do something much bigger'
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Barack Obama said: “There are no words that excuse the killing of innocent” people.
On Tuesday, President Obama spoke to the United Nations general assembly in an emotional speech about the recent violence against Americans. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
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Leave a Comment:
Bush and Republicons lied and thousands died of our brave men and women not to mention the thousands of innocent men women and children in Iraq. Iraq was based on a proven lie. But hey it was a RepubliCON lie so this makes it ok right? DEAD WRONG !
Dude: Get off Bush already you sniveling, whining, snot-rag liberal coward. That was four years ago or are you too stupid to count? How many American soldiers have been killed since your lying Kenyan Klown was elected. anybody? Anybody?
Well, there goes Libyas chance of any nation building, tell the opposite truth will you!
You mean Obama LIED? You mean the Democratic State Department and that uglier-that-excrement troll Clinton LIED. You mean the Democratic ambassador LIED. This can't be true. The Saviors never LIE. The Messiah is not capable of LYING. I can't fathom how many politically-ignorant idiots in this country are going to vote for this LYING CLOWN again. What in God's name is the dysfunctional problem with you people. You're led by your mule-rings, plodding through life, ingesting the obama's administration's LIES, LIES, LIES.
Crasher your a pussy that needs bitched slapped just like you bitch VoMitt Romney you phuck!
Love this stuff, Jim tries to deflect from the story and attacks
McCain with a rant and the Fisted Dead Head spews an insult
and fails to address the story period.
Susan Rice got thrown under Obama's Canadian made bus.
Oblamo tries to cover up the fact that his administration was
warned in advance but did nothing while he was fund raising
and now Clinton is preaching economy gloom...
Another CIA blunder.................does WMD ring a bell
After America waged 11 years of wars against Muslims in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Muslims of the world have little warm feeling regarding the USA. While Americans see the armed struggle as a global war on terrorism, the Muslims see the American aggressors as infidels wanting to annihilate Islam. Having seen the unbearable destruction of Muslim lives and land, many Muslims are on a hair-trigger ready to unleash their fury and hate toward any symbol of America, especially foreign consulates. Benghazi is no accident.
The American war mongers and profiteers have guaranteed that several generations of Muslims and Americans will be locked in deadly combat. Unbeknown to the American people, their corrupt political leaders, war lovers, and Military Industrial Complex have started the 100 year war, a war with no winner.
Obamass is the dumbest ass to ever occupy the White House..
I like your comment but he isn't that dumb, you can't be dumb to get so many Americans to side with you. He is more of a lier than anything. The promises he made and didn't keep. He said if he couldn't do it in one term he wouldn't run again. He blames Bush, Congress and everyone and thing and forgets when he is pointing his finger he has 3 pointing right back at him. It's the people that are dumb. They don't have the facts nor do they want to know. It's a big mess that has been going on for a long time. I was raised a democrat, and if my Daddy was alive and seen the dems have to vote on God and Israel he would have changed over.
LinSing
Like your post... The part about the fingers is GREAT, I have said that many times myself. I also was raised as a democrat and I am glad neither my Mother or Father are here to see this.
Fire Obama. Extreme failure.
We came out of 8 failed years of Bush 4 failed years of his daddy. 2 wars started by Republicon lies a housing crash a stock market crash jobs being taken away by the thousands daily. I say we came back pretty damn good considering that the republicons have fought this president at every turn and have made the country suffer more than it would have. America is not STUPID they have seen the doings of the RepubliCon party in their attempt to see Obama was a 1 term prez, But he will get his 4 years and we will see what becomes of it
Housing is coming back
wall steet is doing better
401 are better
we stopped bleeding jobs
Bin Ladin is dead
GM and Chysler is saved and PAID BACK THE LOAN.
AND BUSH AND ROMNEY ARE TWO OF A KIND NEITHER ONE HAS THE BRAIN OF A PISSANT!
You need shock treatment. You brains are all befuddled. GM stills owes the US taxpayer, over forty billion and their sales are down by 6%. More people are out of work. -16.1% The market is up at the moment because of the bulls collecting nice dividend checks from their stocks and buying because of those dividends, But will be going down even more very shortly. The housing market is slow, but not up. 401's what a joke...gone. and the only correct statement you made is "Obama was a 1 term president.
Every time Nobama and the Lib. media open there mouth its a lie nothing new. I am a vietnam vet. i am not a big Mc cain fan but this guy did bleed for his country and in my eyes he is a hero, i can remember coming home from southeast asia and being spit upon and called nasty names from war prostesters.
It happended to me as well Navy. macain is a hero, whereas kerry was a dips--- while in the navy.
Randy Bob-6630222 and Doc S
Thank You for your service, and if no one has told you yet... Welcome Home.
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
Romney on the other hand Throws away 47% of the country you pukes backing him included
wants to gut hud
wants do gut medicare
wants to do away with planned parenthood
want to destroy social secuirty
and on and on
Make statements and then prove.
This proves Obama has $hit for brains . . . what a Fool's FOOL!!!
Soon he will be just a bump in the road, too . . . LOL!!!
We came out of 8 failed years of Bush 4 failed years of his daddy. 2 wars started by Republicon lies a housing crash a stock market crash jobs being taken away by the thousands daily. I say we came back pretty damn good considering that the republicons have fought this president at every turn and have made the country suffer more than it would have. America is not STUPID they have seen the doings of the RepubliCon party in their attempt to see Obama was a 1 term prez, But he will get his 4 years and we will see what becomes of it
Housing is coming back
wall steet is doing better
401 are better
we stopped bleeding jobs
Bin Ladin is dead
GM and Chysler is saved and PAID BACK THE LOAN.
AND BUSH AND ROMNEY ARE TWO OF A KIND NEITHER ONE HAS THE BRAIN OF A PISSANT!
Jim, YOU must be thinking again with YOUr little head!!! LOL!!!
Hey jt its enough to choke your worthless slut wife lol back @ ya puke
Jim: can see that your intelligence has taken you as far as it can go.
WHERE IS/ARE the MONITORS????
Jim-1963716: "Hey jt its enough to choke your worthless slut wife lol back @ ya puke"
I was wondering the same thing, Times. It's ridiculous for his remark to stand.
JIM: If that's all you can offer by way of discussion and in defense of Obama, please stop. You're making a fool of yourself. Try logic, reasoning, a semi-educated guess even, but stop with the shameful, filthy remarks. You may not care, but young people read these posts and it's not fair to have such vile remarks for their innocent eyes to read. Make an argument for your man if you can. If not, move on to some place that regards that kind of talk as "intelligent debate". DU, perhaps.
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
I think this whole thing is unfair. We really can't expect obama to know what's going on in the world with all the campaigning he has to do.
If obama was paid an hourly rate - for time actually spent on the job - he'd qualify for welfare and food stamps.
obama - one and done
4 and no more
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!
OBama clueless again . . . Oh my!!! What shall we do?
Save America and the World!!! Defeat Communist Obama and the GOD-less Demon-crats!!! LOL!!!
Romney / Ryan in a landslide in 2012!!! HaHaHa!!!