The National also reported arms being hoarded in Misrata, despite simultaneous reporting by other outlets that militias were surrendering in Misrata.[171]. Libyan security forces used water cannons and rubber bullets against the crowds, resulting in a number of injuries. It was a planned attack, not a protest. 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. [249][250] In an interview with the Associated Press, Fox News' White House correspondent Ed Henry suggested that he thought Benghazi was being covered too much by the network. For example, the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee "did not conclude that Rice or any other government official acted in bad faith or intentionally misled the American people," according to the Associated Press. Libyan newspaper The Tripoli Post noted that Libya's National Congress also condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death . [13][14] The Libyan Government condemned the attacks and took steps to disband the militias. February 20, Rebels take Benghazi. He also urged the United States to continue supporting Libya as it went "through a very difficult time" and that the young Libyan government needed help so that it could "maintain security and stability in our country". At least 75 people were killed in militia clashes in Benghazi on May 16 and 17, and 140 were injured. The . The protesters called for Qaddafi to step down and for the release of political prisoners. The 2012 Benghazi attack was a coordinated attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia. [31][32][34][35], Stevens had his last meeting of the day with a Turkish diplomat (Consul General Ali Sait Akn), and escorted the Turkish diplomat to the main gate at about 8:30p.m. local time. . I didn't see those requests, I didn't approve them, I didn't deny them. [138], Also in October, a Libyan suspect, Karim el-Azizi, who had recently returned to Egypt from Libya and was storing weapons in his hideout, detonated a bomb and was found dead in his apartment after clashes with security forces. "[90], By 4:30p.m. Sean Smith noticed this surveillance, and messaged a friend online around noon, "Assuming we don't die tonight. Instead of patting a weak government on the back, concerned countries should focus on Libya's fragmented justice and security sector. The brutal death of Chris Stevens shows Libya is home to many unregulated, well-equipped radicals who are hostile to the US. On May 2, 2013, the FBI released photos of three men from the Benghazi attack site, asking for help from the public in identifying the individuals. This assessment may change as additional information is collected and analyzed and as currently available information continues to be evaluated. Rice and Sen. McCain", Leila Fadel, "Consulate Attack Preplanned, Libya's President Says", "Protesting Libyans storm militant compound in backlash against armed groups", "Libyan protesters force Islamist militia out of Benghazi", "UPDATE 3-Libyan Islamist militia swept out of Benghazi bases", "Libya orders militias to operate under government control or disband", "Libyan troops raid rogue brigade's base", "Libya's army evicts unauthorized militias", "Hundreds of Libyans hand over their weapons", "Libyan militias amass weapons as rivalries surface", "President Obama Discusses the Attack in Benghazi, Libya", "Remarks by the President on the Death of U.S. Embassy Staff in Libya", "US Marine anti-terrorism team heads to Libya: official", "Marine anti-terrorism team dispatched to Libya after diplomats killed", "U.S. launching apparent terrorist hunt in Libya", "Obama vows to track down ambassador's killers", "Remarks on the Deaths of American Personnel in Benghazi, Libya", "Years of warning about embassy security preceded Libya attack", "U.S. vows to hunt down perpetrators of Benghazi attack", "U.S. struggles to determine whether Libya attack was planned", "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 9/14/2012", "Explanation for Benghazi Attack Under Scrutiny", "Ambassador Susan Rice: Libya Attack Not Premeditated", "Ambassador Rice spends Sunday reinforcing White House position that Middle East violence was 'spontaneous', "Transcripts, State of the Union with Candy Crowley, interview with Susan Rice", "September 16: Benjamin Netanyahu, Susan Rice, Keith Ellison, Peter King, Bob Woodward, Jeffrey Goldberg", "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 9/18/2012", "Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Miami, FL, 9/20/2012", "As Carney labels Libya strike terrorism, Obama continues to incorrectly cite anti-Islam film", "Obama's Responses To Libya Questions At Univision Forum Contradicted By Reports Of The Attack", "Obama pressed on failures at Univision forum", "Obama defends embassy security during Univision town hall", "Univision's Town Hall Meeting With President Obama", "Republican senators decry 'useless, worthless' Clinton briefing on Libya attack", "Senate GOP furious newspaper got better briefing on Libya", "Anti-film ads in Pakistan feature Obama, Clinton", "Transcript: President Obama Talks to the U.N. about Mideast Peace, Iran", "Remarks by the President to the UN General Assembly", "Transcript: Obama address to U.N. General Assembly", Clinton Suggests Link to Qaeda Offshoot in Deadly Libya Attack, "Statement by the Director of Public Affairs for the Director of National Intelligence, Shawn Turner, on the intelligence related to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya", "Producer of anti-Islam film arrested, ordered held without bail", "State of the Union with Candy Crowley, Interview with John McCain; Interview with David Axelrod; Interview with Martin O'Malley, Roy Blunt", "FBI came to Benghazi and left in past 24 hours", "Whistle-blower: Botched talking points hurt FBI probe of Benghazi attack", "U.S. to Help Create an Elite Libyan Force to Combat Islamic Extremists", "CNN Fact Check: A day after Libya attack, Obama described it as 'acts of terror', "The truth about what Candy Crowley said", "Obama's claim he called Benghazi an 'act of terrorism', "Issa's Benghazi document dump exposes several Libyans working with the U.S.", "Interview with Senator McCain re Benghazi", "Hillary Clinton Benghazi Testimony Postponed After Secretary Of State Sustains Concussion", "Rep. Allen West accuses Hillary Clinton of faking concussion to avoid Benghazi testimony", "In Context: Hillary Clinton's 'What difference does it make' comment", "Hunter wants Congressional medal awarded to slain Benghazi SEALs", "H.R.1186 To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to each of Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods in recognition of their contributions to the Nation", "After Benghazi, Marines approved for crisis response force", "Spain authorizes U.S. rapid reaction force in south", "Sources: 15 days after Benghazi attack, FBI still investigating from afar", "Congressman: Consulate attack in Libya was coordinated", "Intelligence chairman doubts Libya attack linked to video", "The Benghazi Transcripts: US military woefully unprepared for attack, documents show", "Romney Campaign, Media Collude in Unprecedented Politicization of Benghazi Attack", "White House: GOP Focus On Benghazi Tied To Mitt Romney", "Ambassador's dad says son's death in Libya shouldn't be politicized", "Gates: Some Benghazi critics have "cartoonish" view of military capability", "President Obama Dismisses Benghazi Criticism as 'Sideshow', "Obama calls Benghazi controversy a 'sideshow', "Carney Identifies Which Scandals Obama Thinks Are Phony: Benghazi And IRS", "Investigative Report on the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 1112, 2012", "The House Intelligence Committee's report on Benghazi (op-ed)", "Navy SEALs secret medals reveal heroism during past 15 years", "Delta Force Marine awarded Navy Cross for fight at CIA annex in Benghazi", "2 US commandos involved in Benghazi rescue to be privately honored for bravery", "Libyan tied to Benghazi attack sentenced to 19 and a half years", "Study: Media accepted Obama version of Benghazi attack", "White House told of militant claim two hours after Libya attack: emails", "E-Mails Offer Glimpse at What U.S. What did the president know? Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. However, none of the ten Benghazi investigations determined she had. On May 28, the air force in Benghazi, which is aligned with Haftar, again targeted headquarters of Islamist militias, including the February 17 Brigade and Ansar al Sharia. [141], On October 7, 2013, the Muhammad Jamal network (MJN) and Muhammad Jamal were designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists by the U.S. Department of State, which noted in its designation that "Jamal has developed connections with al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), AQ senior leadership, and al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leadership including Nasir 'Abd-al-Karim 'Abdullah al-Wahishi and Qasim Yahya Mahdi al-Rimi". ", "America's Assassination Program in Libya", "US House panel debunks many Benghazi theories", "Was Syrian weapons shipment factor in ambassador's Benghazi visit? [67] In her January 2013 testimony before Congress, Secretary Clinton claimed security decisions at the Benghazi compound had been made by others, stating, "The specific security requests pertaining to Benghazi were handled by the security professionals in the [State] Department. | Getty Images By Josh Gerstein 10/10/2017 03 . A burnt house and a car are seen inside the United States Embassy compound in Benghazi, Libya, following an attack on the building on Sept. 11, 2012. Stevens sent cables to D.C., including a Benghazi weekly report of security incidents . As Doherty attempted to reposition and take cover, a second round fell on him, killing him. [18][19][20][21] Four career State Department officials were criticized for denying requests for additional security at the facility prior to the attack. The incident sparked controversy and ignited a political firestorm in the United States. On May 30, 2013, it was reported that the Republican National Committee filed a FOIA for "any and all emails or other documents containing the terms 'Libya' and/or 'Benghazi' dated between September 11, 2012 and November 7, 2012 directed from or to U.S. Department of State employees originating from, or addressed to, persons whose email addresses end in either 'barackobama.com' or 'dnc.org'". For all these crimes, there have been no real investigations, no known arrests (except of one man, who managed to break out of prison in May 2013), and no known prosecutions. "[40]:34, According to a local security official, he and a battalion commander had met with United States Diplomats three days before the attack and warned the Americans about deteriorating security in the area. [60][61], On June 18, 2012, the Tunisian Consulate in Benghazi was attacked by individuals affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia, allegedly because of "attacks by Tunisian artists against Islam". The moderator of the debate, Candy Crowley, agreed, stating "Hehe did call it an act of terror." [162][163] Protesters burnt a car and a building of at least one facility, and looted weapons. On September 11, 2012, the Islamic militant group, Ansar al-Sharia, attacked the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. [112], On September 10, 2012, at least 18 hours before the attack in Benghazi, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released a video to coincide with the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which called for attacks on Americans in Libya in order to avenge the death of Abu Yahya al-Libi in a drone strike in Pakistan in June 2012. [6][7] [155] A 2012 Gallup poll noted that "A majority of Libyans (54%) surveyed in March and April 2012 approve of the leadership of the U.S.among the highest approval Gallup has ever recorded in the region, outside of Israel. The first shots exploded around 9:40 p.m. On Sept. 11, 2012, a group of local fighters, AK-47s in hand, burst through the fortified front gate of a US outpost in Benghazi, Libya. [226] Supporters argued, Critics including Republican Party members accused the Obama White House and State Department of overemphasizing or fabricating the role of Islamic anger over the anti-Islamic movie Innocence of Muslims and alleged that the administration was reluctant to label the attack as "terrorist". [176], Secretary of State Clinton also made a statement on September 12, describing the perpetrators as "heavily armed militants" and "a small and savage groupnot the people or government of Libya". Libya: Crackdown on Nongovernmental Groups, Joint Statement on the Implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law, Indian Girls Alleged Rape and Murder Sparks Protests, Ukraine: New Light on Russias Rail Station Attack, Video: Violence and Rape by Zimbabwe Gov't Forces After Protests. [154], In the days after the attack, The New York Times stated that young Libyans had flooded Twitter with pro-American messages after the attacks. [241], Multiple conservative media outlets, most notably Fox News, promulgated an elaborate narrative of a scandal and cover-up by officials of the Obama administration, including, among other things, accusations that officials issued a "stand-down order" to preclude a military rescue operation; that officials knowingly lied by repeatedly asserting the attack was spontaneously triggered by the Innocence of Muslims video rather than a pre-planned terrorist attack; that a secret CIA gun-running operation to Syrian rebels was being conducted out of Libya; that President Obama and Hillary Clinton were absent and negligent on the night of the attack; that Hillary Clinton had personally declined multiple requests for more security at the compound; that a live video feed of the attack was viewed at the White House or State Department; that Ambassador Stevens had been captured by terrorists and dragged through the streets; and that witnesses had been prevented from testifying. 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