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Slain ambassador warned in '08 about extremists near Benghazi
Before he became U.S. ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens warned in a 2008 diplomatic cable of jihadist sentiment growing not far from Benghazi.
Stevens, who became ambassador to Libya this year, was killed this week in an attack that U.S. sources tell CNN was planned by a pro-al Qaeda group of extremists. While it is not definitively clear whether this group, or what group specifically, is behind the attack, it's clear that Stevens expressed concern about a radical movement fomenting in the port city of Derna.
The cable was leaked in the trove that WikiLeaks released in 2010 and 2011, and CNN reported on it last year.
In his 2008 missive Stevens, who at the time was U.S. deputy chief of mission in the North African nation, wrote about that "one Libyan interlocutor likened young men in Derna to Bruce Willis' character in the action picture "Die Hard", who stubbornly refused to die quietly."
There is "frustration at the inability of eastern Libyans to effectively challenge" Moammar Gadhafi's regime, Stevens wrote.
That and "a concerted ideological campaign by returned Libyan fighters from earlier conflicts, have played important roles in Derna's development as a wellspring of Libyan foreign fighters in Iraq."
Moammer Gadhafi was killed in October 2011, at the hands of Libyans.
"Other factors include a dearth of social outlets for young people, local pride in Derna's history as a locus of fierce opposition to occupation, economic disenfranchisement among the town's young men. Depictions on satellite television of events in Iraq and Palestine fuel the widespread view that resistance to coalition forces is justified and necessary," Stevens wrote.
Stevens describes Derna: "The lower-middle class neighborhood, comprising poured concrete homes crowded along largely unpaved streets, sits on a hill overlooking the town ... A number of residents were on the streets; however, they were visibly more wary and less friendly than in other Libyan towns."
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Oh no!!! Somebody offended little 6lb 8oz baby Mohammad! LOL Islam is a huge JOKE of a religion. I don't know why I didn't realize this earlier. It's followers are among the most brainwashed sheep I've ever come across... so easy to completely destroy in an argument, it's pathetic.
Yeah, they're as bad as Catholics and just slightly worse than Christians in general.
What you wrote makes no sense- organize your thoughts and explain your cute code names as they are not common words used/ known to most folks.
So he was warned. Why didn't the US provide extra protection for him, or marines with loaded guns instead of empty. This is another one of Obama's clusterfluffs that cost good Americans their lives.
despite the confusing headline, the oint of the article isn't that Stevens was warned. He did the warning. That's the point.
????.? I would not no y there are not under grown bunkers in all types of places like that world wide? With vary well planned fire power?pnm.
As in u no come get some who ever u think u where.pnm.
Engrish much? I agree with what I think you say, maybe.
Sad that instead of being a strong leader, Obozo – our apologizer-in-chief went right to work apologizing for upsetting those poor radical muslims armed with AKs and RPGs.
When will America have real leadership again, instead of a muslim sympathizer?
Ahh here comes another die hard "birther" with a new pack of lies. You claim President Obama is a "Muslim sympathizer?" Well it is true he supports the religious freedom for peaceful Muslims who shouldn't be attacked because of the actions of those hardliner radical terrorists who happen to be Muslim. But Muslim terrorists don't think Mr. Obama is a Muslim sympathizer... because of all the drone attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.. (and they weren't attacks on Christians)! Tell you what.. let's ask Osama bin Laden if he thinks President Obama is a Muslim sympathizer. Oh wait, Obama killed him too!
you really think Obama kill Osama?!? Bush set that in action. Its a wonder Obama didn't scrap the program. Obama takes credit where he shouldn't. Bush set the stage for Osama to be brought down. The military did it. And Obama took the credit.
Sorry but despite what Romney the liar said Obama didn't apologise to anyone. Unlike Romney he also didn't shoot off his mouth before he knew what was going on. ven the GOP is admiring about how Obama has handled this. Well except for Romney and Limbals both of which lie.
No Bush didn't put anything into motion. He admitted 6 months after 9/11 that he had dissolved the group of CIA experts that had been tracking bin Ladin and gathering evidence. He said he just wasn't interested in him any more. According to the CIA Obama put the Bin Ladin CIA group back together, met with them weekly, helped them develop plans and chose the plan that would be used, then he tweaked the plan so if they lost a helicopter they could still finish the mission. The GOP appointed head of the CIA said it was the bravest action he has ever seen a president take. He didn't say that about Bush, despite being appointed by him. Bushie was a dud.
jimmy23
you really think Obama kill Osama?!? Bush set that in action. Its a wonder Obama didn't scrap the program. Obama takes credit where he shouldn't. Bush set the stage for Osama to be brought down. The military did it. And Obama took the credit.
^^
He's right!
How about just paying homage to those who passed and moving it along.
Okay, I don't know if I should be horrified or amused. You're saying that getting Osama was Bush's doing, and we're lucky that Obama didn't scrap the program?
Newsflash: Bush downgraded the priority of Osama. He got us stuck in a pointless war in Iraq, and transferred CIA agents who had been assigned to go after Osama, telling them to instead work in Iraq. Obama made getting bin Laden back into a priority. You have things about as backwards as they can get.
When Bush and Rumsfeld got word that bin Laden might have been found, they did not give the order to proceed, and the terrorist leader escaped from the caves of Tora Bora. When Obama got word that bin Laden might have been found, he gave the order to proceed, and the terrorist leader got a bullet to the skull.
One man sent us into Iraq to avenge his father's honor, and let the man responsible for 9/11 slip through his fingers, squandering resources on Iraq instead. The other man gave the order to make bin Laden a priority again, and did not let Osama get away with his crimes any longer.
When will John K. grow a brain?
When will John K. get back on his MEDS?
When will John K. discover there is not a FACT in his post?
Throughout history the world's organized religions have fomented wars and have been at the root of much evil. Even in modern times where "christians" gleefully sided with Nazis to religious leaders fanning the flames of racism while others raype our boys.
Bannish them ALL. If your form of worship is true, you have no need to fear religions being abolished. For would God himself not defend your true religion while allowing the others to be abolished?
Banish politicians, lawyers, and bankers while you're at it will ya?
This is the reason why dictatorships were needed in these countries. Democracy doesn't work in every culture or country. Sometimes a dictatorship or other authoritarian government is needed to keep order. We'll wish we still had Ghadaffi and Mobaruk someday.
Totally agree. I'm not sure what gives the US the right to cram democracy down any country's throat....like Iraq, for example. It's ridiculous to think democracy can be in a country that has many tribal divisions.
Ikr Annie. its so much easier to just rule with an iron fist and a loaded gun. If they disagree with you, cut em up and deliver the chunks in a body bag to their family as a warning to their family and others. and if they still give you trouble, gas a few 1000 to show em you mean business. Tyranny is sooooo much more effective. I totally agree Annie. Freedom is soooo overrated. Wish I could be oppressed and tortured for having an opinion. If you arent suffering, you arent living....
Nope we will not want a man back that murdered hunderds of Americans, Actually if you look at what really happened the crod protected Americans against the murderers and the Libyan security forces put an end to it and helped Americans. This was by all accounts an AlQuaeda linked group that had been around while Daffi was still murdering people. Remember the ambassador warned against them in 2008 while Daffi was still in charge.
Mubarek, not likely The Egyptions have as much right as Americans to choose their government.
Nope we will not want a man back that murdered hunderds of Americans, Actually if you look at what really happened the crowd protected Americans against the murderers and the Libyan security forces put an end to it and helped Americans. This was by all accounts an AlQuaeda linked group that had been around while Daffi was still murdering people. Remember the ambassador warned against them in 2008 while Daffi was still in charge.
Mubarek, not likely The Egyptions have as much right as Americans to choose their government.
What the USA – businesses – and our government want and need above all else – because these are OCD folks – is ORDER!
The USA does not care if Hitler is ruling a country, as long as there is ORDER and a fair level of STABILITY!
That, and only that, is what the USA is attempting to maintain and impose upon the world...
REASON: businesses make $$$ and the government has what they really want: CONTROL...
I agree. Abolish all organized religions except mine. It's the jew plan anyway. What? Did you actually think jews would all of a sudden stop denying your Christ and accept gentiles into the fold? LMAO. Really?
It's long overdue that mankind embraces the fact that all religions are falsehoods perpetrated for the singular goal of control over the masses.
It's fruitages are debt and obesity. If you are obese and deep in debt, chances are your government is a democracy. Or at least a Republic passing itself off as one.
and if you are throwing rocks at people and blowing stuff up, chances are your government is a theocracy.
Most American media is biased. I do my own research. Go to un.org, or other countries news sites. If you search long enough it is not hard to discover the truth. CNN is absolutely run by Democrats no doubt. Half of our elected officials should be tried for treason. Read the dictionary definition. Anyone who aides our enimies. Stop sending any money to hostile countries.
Let's ask Usama bin Laden who his boss was. (who paid him to go into Afghanistan to begin with, and who invaded Afghanistan under the guise "get OBL" but got the Afghani government instead as "OBL" fled to Pakistan)
Had they simply handed OBL over to the US or even UN for trial, think of the world stage he would have had to declare his grievances.
There was a time when no country would attack a American Citizen out of fear of what we would do to them Now here is a Man who was attacked on American Soil.This was not some fool who went there on vacation and got his self kill this Man was killed while doing his duty fo his country.And as read all these comements no one seems to under stand what that means.We should be calling for alqueda blood .I am tired of kissing muslim ass.We send kids to to war with there hands tied.We need to make them fear us.They dont like us who cares We should blow that city to dust.Put a new ambassador in place .And show any movie that we want to see.Men and women have payed the price for that in blood .
Yeah, we really need another Ronnie Ray-gun (recipient of my very first vote,) who'll teach them suckers to quake in their boots at the mere mention of "America".
WRONG on all counts!
RESPECT is EARNED... and that is what we need to earn from the people who oppose us!
FEAR is FORCED upon people, who, when the slightest oportunity arises, will turn on you and kill you.
THINK about it...
Ask Osama bin Laden if we want Al Qaeda blood, or any of his followers whose last memory of life on earth was the sound of an incoming drone.
The only real solutions to this are a) Stop meddling in their affairs b) start at the west coast of Africa and kill everyone all the way to the east coast of India.
I choose a
This man deserves respect. He was in the service of our country. You commentators are gonna come on here and argue politics. Then, argue which news source ? He died an American diplomat at the hands of foreigners. He deserves our respect. HE is a PATRIOT ! He left behind people who knew and loved him. He is a hero. If you can't say something good.....shame on all of you !
I agree with you, buddy, that he was a good man and a patriot. Not only is his murder a terrible loss for America but the Libyan people have now lost one of their greatest advocates within the current administration. Libya as a whole will be worse off for the reprehensible actions of a few murderous animals. The best thing the people of Libya can do for themselves, now, is to hunt these dastards down and turn them over to the American authorities to face justice.
Yes, Sandra. Let US stop borrowing money from China to finance wealthy jews. Good point, considering Israel has been cited over 100 times by UN resolution for violating serious international laws. Way more violations than Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, N. Korea, and Afghanistan combined. And odd how Saudi Arabia remains unscathed even after 9/11, other than their soaring drug problem.
We should also do away with the Fed and go back to the gold standard so that they can no longer print money at will and loan it to us.
Reading these comments make me feel sorry for the state of affairs in US politics. I'm not an American by birth, but feel proud to be a US citizen. Some of you folks so blindly support this President even at the expense of the United States. Look at the facts instead of finger pointing and blaming others for the state in which the US is in. This Administration supported (perhaps still support) the very same people that are killing our American envoy to Egypt and Lybia. This President and his Administration gave money and possibly armed these people that are now killing our people. This Administration need to take responsibility for what's going on. This is a lot like the hostage in Iran during the Carter Administration. However, at least they took hostage in Iran back then compared to actually killing Americans now. This is a disgrace every which way you look at it. For those of you folks that thinks Obama and his Administration can do no wrong, wake up and see what's going on around you. Is it a coincidence that this happens under two of the most weakest Presidents (Carter & Obama) in US history?
Well spoken Reptile Party talking points... right from the memo by Reince Priebus Coitus (SCREW-US) Maximus...
It's not a matter of Obama being weak, and I'm not an Obama lover. It's about just what the hell do you do with a world-wide group of religious extremists when you can't even sort them out from the civilian population? Do you just go killing everyone until it stops? Do we now attack Libya, Egypt, and Yemen because of this? What should we have done when Afghanistan refused to hand over OBL? The Iraq deal i believe was a farce, but what about how Saddam Hussein flagrantly violated the cease fire agreements over and over again? How about Iran and it's refusal to allow its nuclear sites inspected despite the fact it signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Act? Just how does one proceed in this tangled web short of just declaring war on Islam?
Go Ducks...You bring up some interesting points, but Islam has already declared war on us (infidels). Their goal is world domination. We either resist them or be controlled by them.