U.S. ambassador, 3 consul officials killed in Benghazi; Cairo embassy also attacked

How happy is the US now with "helping" these countries get rid of their oppressive leaders? So the film was done by Egyptians living in the US so they attack the embassy? Wonderful idea there folks... Libya is nothing but a cesspit with tribes killing each other off. Funny how it really isn't covered in the news these days.

Libya is falling apart at the seems and is experiencing massive unrest yet the Western press isn't reporting on it.

Regime change gone bad, as always.

expatriate members of Egypt’s Christian minority resident in the United States.

Since the so called "Arab Spring" many of the Coptc Christians in Egypt have had their churches burned and faced other beatings and attacks. So a group in America makes a film. The response, they storm two embassies, and demand apologies, yet when their churches are burned, there is no major outpouring of disdain from those same people who are storming the embassies condeming those attacks.

And yet, as broke as the US is, we can seem to find $1 billion to give to Egypt.

Yesterday was 9/11, Americans around the world should understand that we got lucky, real lucky back on 9/11/2001 and yesterday was nothing, if you try to understand how terrorists think. Why are Egyptians and Libyans attacking Americans?? American embassies?? Like I posted yesterday, many Arabs, Muslims etc..are not HAPPY about the USA messing around in Iraq, in Afghanistan etc..killing MUSLIMS, so we can cry rivers of tears for poor Prince Harry for being out in those nasty countries, now imagine what the average Mustafa etc..on the streets of Iraq, Egypt etc...really think about the USA and its policies of intervention in THEIR countries.

For a film that supposedly got someone killed, it's strange that this story lacks any details, such as who produced it and what the contents are about. Didn't AFP think that would be worthy of inclusion?

Why are Egyptians and Libyans attacking Americans?? American embassies?? Like I posted yesterday, many Arabs, Muslims etc..are not HAPPY about the USA messing around in Iraq, in Afghanistan etc..

@ Elbuda Mexicano: Take a closer look at the story. They are protesting because an evangelical Coptic Christian group made a movie depicting Mohammed in a negative way. In case you didn't know it, Coptic Christian Church was formed in Egypt and are basically christians who are Egyptians, not people coming from America to spread Christiantiy. The producers of this movie had to move to America, due to their persecution in Egypt since the "Arab Spring." Under Mubarak, they were left alone, and didn't face the outright hostility that they are receiving now having their homes and churches burned since the more radical Muslims have taken over.

So the US and its policies had nothing to do with this to warrant storming of our embassy, especially since we just gave them $ 1 billion to help them out. Their anger is an Egypt on Egypt issue, since the Coptic Christians are Egyptians and Muslim Egyptians. America had no hand in this, yet our embassy is attacked.

protest over a film

Oh, now I see.

Elbunda: the USA messing around in Iraq, in Afghanistan etc

And don't forget about Afghanistan and Iraq! And Afghanistan! And what about Iraq?!

Never, it was never stable when "we" left. Well aware of that. We went in, we took out Daffy and left them to fight it out among themselves. So perhaps we should have just stayed out and let them do it from the get go? Which is exactly why I don't support the notion of going into Syria, didn't for Iraq and Afghanistan. "We" can't change their feelings and anger of hundreds of years so why bother trying?

Does this film even exist? This sounds like it's coordinated - 2 nearby embassies on the same day on the 9/11 anniversary? This non-existent film was probably just a cover for the planned attacks.

Just look how they repay the Americans help. Why they could not protect the diplomatic compound is unknown.

Ah.. violence in the name of religion, protesting at someones accusation that certain extreme fringes of religion are dangerous. How beautifully ironic.

Kudos to Libya's General National Council for condeming the violence. It's time official organizations in Islamic countries tell Muslims that violence is bad, even when your feelings are hurt. I sincerely applaud your courage.

And to the beasts who are perpetrating this violence; your childish, short-sighted stupidity has just made the repulsive Benjamin Netayahu of Israel look like a genius. When America changes their collective mind and says, "why, yes, Bibi, you're right. Muslims are animals. We will help use force to stop Iran's nuclear program," remember this incident.

Does this film even exist?

It's supposedly on You Tube. Not even a televised film or movie on TV, just some internet video.

The price of meddling isn't cheap.

The price of meddling isn't cheap

Well said. We should ban films that might make Muslims angry.

Ah yes, Islam the religion of Peace and Tolerance, NOT!

Ah yes, Islam the religion of Peace and Tolerance, NOT!

Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values.

Obama was so happy to support the "Arab Spring" aka the islamist takeover.... now he got the results.

Many of told you so.

Never Submit:

" Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values. "

Oh yes. That is Muslim Brotherhood position.... everybody has to submit under islamic supremacy. Shariah takes precedence over free speech.

So you really want to live in Dhimmitude?

Another fine example of "NATO" (i.e. the US) actions leading to a good outcome. Ingrates!

Ah the joy of religion and praise of celestial dictators... Enjoy it folks.

Funny how you NEVER hear anything about fellow 'Humanists' causing trouble..

The film was made by a Jew living in America, who is quoted in the article as making a bigoted statement.

the film, "Innocence of Muslims," was made by Israeli-American Sam Bacile, a 52-year-old real-estate developer from southern California who says Islam is a hateful religion.

"Islam is a cancer," Bacile told the newspaper.

The film is being promoted by controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has drawn protests in the past for burning the Koran and vehemently opposing the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York.

Arab League deputy secretary general, Ahmed Ben Helli, has condemned the film saying it "contained insults against the prophet Mohammed" and “was denounced by Christians and Muslims” across the Arab world.

Like the recent church incursion in Russian, seems there is a conflict between freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

"a film deemed offensive to Islam"

Probably most Hollywood films belong to this category.

Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values.

So the movie Producer can't voice his opinion and that makes it justifiable for these idiots to take his life, because they felt "their" prophet was insulted. Please don't make excuses for these people NS.

"Probably most Hollywood films belong to this category."

Can we stretch that to "just about everything" these insane fundamentalists seem to take umbridge with?

Maybe if they could stop killing each other first we might have a bit more respect for their heightened sensibilities.

Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values.

Maybe they're both problems. But tell me which problem is bigger: making an offensive movie, or killing someone who is completely uninvolved in making that movie?

From cartoons to movies... good to see the Islamists proving the basic points in both.

I was also under the impression that attacking a diplomatic mission was the same as a declaration of war, and that host nations were responsible for protecting all diplomats within their borders. If you want to talk about a lack of respect, look no farther than Benghazi.

Latest reports are saying that the US Ambassador to Libya was actually murdered in the consulate. That's just not on, and demands immediate retaliation. Let's see if President Obama has the stones to do anything other than wring his hands and possibly make Hillary Clinton deliver a stern warning.

Why do we bother trying to help these countries? Throwing money and lives away for what?

Madness.

Here's the question that needs to be asked and shoved down the Egyptian and Libyan Governments throats in no uncertain terms and not let them squirm out of it. Our embassies and consulates in the Arab world on the anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks would be prime targets by Islamic radicals regardless of any bloody "film" excuse. The Libyan and Egyptian Governments hosting our embassies would know this also and yet they DIDN'T provide heightened security around them on this day to prevent any attacks or mob protests??? That is criminal in itself.

Our Government should be demanding from the Libyan's and the Egyptians that until arrests are made and those accountable are brought to justice all foreign aid to these countries ends now.

The Libyans and Egyptians know who did this and know who the leaders are and are just as culpable for allowing this happen.

Those murdering creeps are dead meat. I give them one week, max, before the Navy SEALS have their heads on platters.

" Let's see if President Obama has the stones to do anything other than wring his hands and possibly make Hillary Clinton deliver a stern warning."

What are you expecting him to do, level Benghazi à la GWB?

Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values.

There are many movies out there that are disrespectful of my values, many from outside of the U.S. but you don't see me going to Washington D.C. and destroying their Embassies. I believe in the freedom of speech more. Islam needs to move into the 21st century just like every other major religion. The fact that we read on this site a couple of weeks ago that they were going to severely punish a mentally disabled young girl for damaging a copy of their Quran is further proof of my statement above, NO tolerance.

A tragedy that the ambassador and others were killed.

wow the comparisons of obama to the miserable failure jimmy carter are more valid than we had all imagined.

"I believe in the freedom of speech more. Islam needs to move into the 21st century just like every other major religion."

Catholics may be ahead of Islam in evolution, but they are still rooted in the 19th C.

Yesterday was 9/11, Americans around the world should understand that we got lucky, real lucky back on 9/11/2001 and yesterday was nothing

Ok.......How lucky did we get? What were the Libyans and Egyptians planning?

Why are Egyptians and Libyans attacking Americans?? American embassies??

Because of the video originating in the US.

Like I posted yesterday, many Arabs, Muslims etc..are not HAPPY about the USA messing around in Iraq, in Afghanistan etc..killing MUSLIMS,

No it is because of the video. US isn't involved in Iraq, they are not involved in Syria, Libya or Egypt and as for Afghanistan NATO has already announced a withdrawal date.

so we can cry rivers of tears for poor Prince Harry for being out in those nasty countries, now imagine what the average Mustafa etc..on the streets of Iraq, Egypt etc...really think about the USA and its policies of intervention in THEIR countries.

Who has been crying rivers of tears for Prince Harry? No one has just you.

I doubt the US invading Iraq or Afghanistan really had anything to do with this.

Perfectly understandable. Someone in another country made a film that you find offensive. What else could you do besides riot at their embassy? And what better way than violence to make people realize that can't mess a peaceful religion?

"can't mess with a peaceful religion".

tokyokawasaki: "Ah the joy of religion and praise of celestial dictators... Enjoy it folks. Funny how you NEVER hear anything about fellow 'Humanists' causing trouble.."

You need to read more (or perhaps our news services just like the readership they get on these sorts of stories more). Let's not forget about the Maoists in Northern India, the IRA splinter nationalist groups in Ireland, the Tamil Tigers, ETA, FARC in Colombia, etc. The key to all of this is a high level of fundamentalism and an intolerance of other ideas. We can see this in religion, nationalism, politics, ideologies, and yes... even 'humanism'. Even the Enlightenment resulted in a century of revolutions that killed large numbers of people as groups sort to impose their 'informed' views on others. This does not mean that the basic principles of the Enlightenment are wrong, any more than the act of small groups of fundamentalists proves that religion is wrong.

The indicator that things are wrong tends to be the reaction of the majority of those who follow the same ideal. If they condemn acts of violence like this, then it shows clearly that this is not a integral part of the belief system (whether religious, political or whatever). The question to ask here is... are other Muslims condemning these actions? Currently, I hear an awful lot of silence...

Murder an ambassador, and there has to be, HAS to be, a price. Not just protests or condemnations. Blood needs to flow. Unleash the drones. Murdering a diplomat is the ultimate expression of contempt for the normal niceties of civilized relations.

If you head over to the Drudge Report, they have a photo of what looks like the Ambassador being carried away by the mob. Despicable.

Wouldn't have happened if Gadaffi was still in power,!!!

just saw the photos of the mayhem on matt drudge's website. other sites show the crazies in libya dragging the body of the slain ambassador through the streets. the new york times and the usual suspects seem determined to keep this off the front page.

Romney and the RNC chairman, Reince Priebus, have put the finishing nails in the coffin of the Romney candidacy. Really, there is no reason for him to even continue; he might as well drop out, retire to Utah, and watch the coming internecine warfare destroy what is left of the Republican party.

His insensitive, undiplomatic comments will only reinforce his greatest weakness: that he is willing to say anything - ANYTHING - to win.

Greg Sargent at WaPo hit the nail on the head with this:

It’s yet another sign of Republicans attacking the version of the President who is a figment of the GOP base’s imagination, rather than the one swing voters perceive.

The idea that Obama fecklessly roams the world apologizing for America, that is. This is a must-read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-gop-claims-obama-sympathizes-with-attackers/2012/09/12/899c3a92-fcc3-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_blog.html?hpid=z3

The attacks were a tragedy, but no one ever predicted that the road to stability in the Arab world would be smooth. The attacks in Libya, in particular, seem to have been carried out by the same groups who overthrew Gaddafi, and this could severely complicate Romney's argument that Obama has been remiss in not tossing arms to the rebels in the Syrian conflict.

Really, Obama has been masterful at keeping the US at arms-distance from events and from preventing as much as possible over militarization of the region. This event was a tragedy; Romney's suggested handling would have compounded it; his response was immoral. He is toast.

Maybe the problem is that the movie producer is intolerant of Islam and disrespected their values.

How many Christian groups have stormed other countries embassies to protest negative depictions of Christians or Christ that have been shown in the movies? At the most, you get a group that leads a protest in front of a movie theater or movie studio, but never storming a company or embassy and killing people.

I'm just sayin'.

Wouldn't have happened if Gadaffi was still in power,!!!

@ Betraythetrust!: Nothing would have happened. I don't recall seeing the Danish embassy being overrun in Libya when that cartoonist made those pictures of Mohammed. There may have been some protests, but they were under control. Same for Egypt when Mubarak was there. A little protest but he was still in control. Sometimes the Devil you know is better than the Devil you don't know.

I hate to put this into the American political perspective, but this just killed Hillary's chance at ever becoming President. After all, it was this year that she famously quoted: "We came, we saw, he died" in reference to Gadaffi. I guess those words will haunt her as much as "W's" "Mission Accomplished" banner at the end of the major offensives in Iraq.

events have developed since the initial reporting of this tragic incident. however, why don't we just get a new article instead of altering the content of the old one?

the title and content of this article has been changed after it had been published here at a point where it had already accumulated more than twenty readers' comments.

note that the content i quoted from the original text has been altered.

Alphaape, are you suggesting that the US should have acted in support of Gadaffi? If so, how - should they have armed him? Should they have intervened to put down with lethal force the opposition? Should they have just stood back and watched as a humanitarian crisis unfolded?

No doubt a vast number of Libyans and Egyptians will condemn these attacks, and the groups that committed them will lose support. That is what happens when economic results are based on free participation in the broader world. This will not happen overnight, but it will eventually happen. The overthrow of the dictatorships was a necessary step, but just one step in many which must be taken to integrate these regions into the wider world. This is a generational challenge.

"I believe in the freedom of speech more. Islam needs to move into the 21st century just like every other major religion."

I agree 100%! It doesn't matter what these government think, Egypt and Libya now have blood on their hands, they can play the dumb complacent card all day long, but there has to be some kind of sanctions or punishment imposed. But this act cannot and should NOT be swept under the rug, it is just mind boggling that this man had to die for what, because a bunch of thugs got angry? You can make an argument about every religion having done some scandalous and outrageous things throughout the centuries, but Islam or rather the radical Sharia side takes the cake. Honor killings, decapitation, handing out the death penalty to individuals for converting their religions and the standard treatment of women, if I don't believe in you, I will receive the death penalty? In particular a rape victim is just depressing. Yes, Islam NEEDS to come into the 21st century, they say Islam is a tolerant religion, Where? When Salman Rushdie wrote "Satanic Verses" the Ayatollah Kohmeini issued a Fatwa from 1989 until just recently this man had to go in hiding like a witness protection program, or Van Gogh in Holland a few years ago was stabbed to death for saying while at a radio station that Islam is a violent backward religion, the attacker waited for him outside the radio station where he attacked him upon leaving and then the Dutch artist that had to flee his own country to guarantee his safety. I am just sickened by all of this, I have no problem with Muslims, it's not about race or color, but damn people, your religious ideology is really backward and it is time someone calls them out on it! When you can't even speak out in your own country and have to go underground because a group of fanatics want to cut off your head defies all sanity! I really hope the people that were responsible for doing this get their due justice. I doubt it, but one can hope...

Absolutely insane.

Betraythetrust! Wouldn't have happened if Gadaffi was still in power,!!!

But of cause !! But U.S. does not looking for the easy ways............

Perhaps replacing Uncle Qadhafi (who at least held the place together) with the hardcore Islamists and the Muslim brotherhood wasn't the best idea.

Expect more trouble from these two countries and much more animosity towards the US. Since now the US has two enemies in Libya, the people they bombed to get Qadhafi out and also the Islamists who the US helped put in power who hate the US as a matter of course.

Syria will turn out just as bad if not worse if the Islamist rebels win over there.

Alphaape, are you suggesting that the US should have acted in support of Gadaffi? If so, how - should they have armed him? Should they have intervened to put down with lethal force the opposition? Should they have just stood back and watched as a humanitarian crisis unfolded?

@ Laguana: No I am not saying that we should have supported him, even though he did try to renounce his terrorist ways and tried to get back into favor with the rest of the world. But I want to know, what was the widespread oppression that was in Libya that led up to his ouster. I don't seem to recall the brutality ordered by him like that which is going on in Syria now.

The US is in a diplomatic mess with this one. We supported the rebels in Libya, and regardless of what the media says, those NATO planes supporting them were largely US plans, and this is the thanks we get.

These are the "freedom fighters" that Obama so enthusiastically supported to the tune of billions of US taxpayer money.

I hope he is enjoying their way to say "Thank you".

(Many of us warned of exactly this...)

Laguna:

" Obama has been remiss in not tossing arms to the rebels in the Syrian conflict. "

Where does that bizarre claim come from? Obama actually went to war on behalf of these jihadi "freedom fighters". The US not only coordinated the French and British bombing but participated in them.

Obama swooned about the "Arab Spring"... now he can enjoy it. And while we are speaking, Obama is supporting the same islamists in their takeover attempt in Syria. Just brilliant.

Serrano:

"a film deemed offensive to Islam" Probably most Hollywood films belong to this category.

All of Western culture with its freedom of expression, its arts, its political culture, its sensuality, its modern laws, its unveiled women is offensive to islam.

Once you step on the slippery slope, it is a long way down to the 7th century.

Gadaffi wanted oil from Africa traded in Euros not Dollars, he had to go. As we see in Iraq, lower standard of living, higher crime and higher gap between rich and poor. I must add of course acts that would never have happened before.

Unfortunately the koran has some specific penalities for "defaming" the prophet. Remember the "Satanic Verses" incident? BTW, the USA wasn't doing all that much on 9/11/2001 except that there were troops stationed in Saudi Arabia at the request of the Saudi government. That "insult to islam" upset bin Laden enough to plan the attack. It's been all downhill from there as the islamists prove that they are as intolerant of freedom of speech as the spanish inquesition was. But this is the 21st century, Pakistan has nukes, and the islamists are still taking the koran literally and killing people who disagree with them or insult them in some way. This is to the extent that "South Park" wouldn't show an image of mohammud.

islam isn't the religion of peace, it's the religion of submission. Submit to their rules and you live in "peace." Don't submit and there's violence. How very civilized.

And Obama apologizes for the insult? I don't think there are going to be any consequences for the death of the Ambassador.

here are some interesting links about this so-called film maker.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/169872/what-we-know-about-anti-islam-filmmaker-who-helped-spark-riots-libya-and-egypt#

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/6377/who_is_%22sam_bacile%22

he may be a fictitious frontman according to these pieces. one would imagine that if he were a real estate developer there would be more information about him.

Everyone here knows how I feel about Obama and while true he has NOT spoken up on this issue, it's not his fault that these thugs took the life of these 3 innocent workers. No one told them to do this. They acted on their own selfishness and HID behind the vale of religion to justify their bloodthirsty, barbaric need to lynch some Americans, if they insult you, it's ok, if you insult them, then you must die. BS all the way! It's just as bad as when the KKK would lynch someone and they would use God and Christianity as the reason for doing so, calling it, God's will. Let me digress!

The movie and subsequent protests are a nice pretext but hadn't even been dubbed into Arabic until last week. This hit is something that was clearly being planned months in advance between al-Queda and embassy security forces.

Of course Obama and crew took the diversion hook, line and sinker attacking our 1st amendment rights instead of the real issue...

Im surprised they were able to get through the marines

Islam truly is stuck in the past. From the killing of Van Gogh, to Danish cartoon controversy to Salmon Rushdie, it has been proven that Islam is a religion which survives on the restriction of freedom of speech. I don't care in the slightest if anyone disagrees with my religion. Sure, I might get offended if someone said my faith was evil, but I would say "No, that's not true for reasons 1, 2, 3." instead of stabbing people, burning flags and blowing up buildings.

No Doubt the work of a pro-al Qaeda group, more than just criminal's.

Chris Stevens risked his life to help Libyans. They murdered their friend, who was happy to see Libyans stand up for their rights. This is an ancient saying " From evil do'ers come evil deed's"

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/09/12/transcript-video-hillary-clinton-addresses-deadly-attack-in-libya/

Today, many Americans are asking, indeed I asked myself, how could this happen? How could this happen in a country we helped liberate in a city we helped save from destruction? This question reflects just how complicated and at times how confounding the world can be.

But we must be clear-eyed even in our grief. This was an attack by a small and savage group, not the people or government of Libya. Everywhere Chris and his team went in Libya, in a country scarred by war and tyranny, they were hailed as friends and partners.

And when the attack came yesterday, Libyans stood and fought to defend our post. Some were wounded. Libyans carried Chris’s body to the hospital and they helped rescue and lead other Americans to safety.

And last night when I spoke with the president of Libya, he strongly condemned the violence and pledged every effort to protect our people and pursue those responsible.

I am posting where US stands on this issue. This is very complex and It is very dangerous to make a quick analysis. For those who are criticizing US positions, are you willing to go to war against Islamic Jihad groups (Islamic Brotherhood) in the Middle East spreading all over in Egypt, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Afganistan, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon? . I have done my share in Vietnam and Korean War. Now it is your time if you are advocating US to go to war.

bass4funk "I believe in the freedom of speech more. Islam needs to move into the 21st century just like every other major religion." I agree 100%! It doesn't matter what these government think, Egypt and Libya now have blood on their hands,

And US & UK have not ??

T-Mack Chris Stevens risked his life to help Libyans. They murdered their friend, who was happy to see Libyans stand up for their rights. This is an ancient saying " From evil do'ers come evil deed's"

.

" From evil do'ers come evil deed's"

The motto of the U.S. State Department ?

short and clear !

And US & UK have not ??

Sure, but whats that got to do with this?