Obama: Americans laid down lives 'in service to us all'
President Barack Obama speaks Friday at a ceremony in for the four Americans killed Tuesday in Benghazi.
September 14th, 2012
01:23 PM ET

Obama: Americans laid down lives 'in service to us all'

Editor's note: Several protests stemming at least in part from an anti-Islam film produced in the United States are unfolding outside U.S. embassies around the world. Friday's protests follow ones Tuesday at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, where attacks killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

In Tunisia, protesters have scaled a U.S. Embassy gate and set fire to cars on the property, a journalist there says. In Egypt, the influential Muslim Brotherhood canceled nationwide protests planned for Friday, but a running battle between police and protesters in Cairo continued into its fourth day.

Follow the live blog below for all of the developments around the world.

[Updated at 3:04 p.m. ET] A ceremony at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews for the returned bodies of the four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate has ended, and the caskets are being carried to hearses. See the 2:59 and 2:51 p.m. entries for remarks by President Barack Obama, who said the four laid down their lives "in service to us all."

[Updated at 2:59 p.m. ET] President Barack Obama, at a ceremony at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews for the returned bodies of the four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate, added:

"The United States of America will never retreat from the world. We will never stop working for the dignity and freedom that every (person) deserves. ... That’s the essence of American leadership. ... That was their work in Benghazi, and that is the work we will carry on."

At the beginning and toward the end of his remarks, Obama cited the Bible's John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Obama said the four killed Americans laid down their lives "in service to us all."

"Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," Obama said.

[Updated at 2:51 p.m. ET] President Barack Obama, at a ceremony for the returned bodies of the four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate, is now eulogizing the four at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Ambassador Chris Stevens, Obama said, "was everything America could want in an ambassador."

"Four Americans, four patriots. They loved this country. They chose to serve it, and served it well," Obama said. "They had a mission they believed in. They knew the danger, and they accepted it. They didn't simply embrace the American ideal, they lived it; they embodied it. The courage, the hope, and yes, the idealism - that fundamental American belief that we could leave this world a little better than before."

Ex-SEALs, online gaming maven among Benghazi dead

[Updated at 2:45 p.m. ET] At a ceremony for the returned bodies of the four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said:

"Today we bring home four Americans who gave their lives for our country and our values. To the families of our fallen colleagues, I offer our most heartfelt condolences and deepest gratitude."

She saluted Sean Smith, a computer expert, as someone known as "an expert on technology by colleagues in Pretoria, Baghdad, Montreal and The Hague."

She hailed ex-Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods as someone who protected diplomatic personnel since 2010 "in dangerous posts" around the world.

"He had the hands of a healer as well as the arms of a warrior, earning distinction as a registered nurse and certified paramedic," Clinton said of Woods.

Clinton also hailed the other ex-Navy SEAL, Glen Doherty. "He, too, died as he lived, serving his country and protecting his colleagues."

Clinton said Stevens, as a diplomat, "won friends for the United States in far-flung places.” She thanked his parents, who were at the ceremony, for the "gift" that Stevens was.

The ceremony was at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

[Updated at 2:35 p.m. ET] The ceremony for the returned bodies of the four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate has begun. A prayer is being offered. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak soon, followed by Obama.

[Updated at 2:31 p.m. ET] Marines at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland are removing from a plane the flag-draped caskets of four Americans killed in the consulate attack in Libya, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. The caskets will be placed at a hangar nearby, and President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will give remarks.

[Updated at 2:28 p.m. ET] We're awaiting a ceremony at which U.S. President Barack Obama will honor the arrival of the bodies of of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Penetta have entered the hangar where the ceremony will take place at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

[Updated at 2:22 p.m. ET] Marines will take the caskets off a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will give remarks. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will also be present, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

People are seated at a facility on the base. The caskets will flank the podium from which Obama and Clinton will speak.

[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] Three people were killed and 28 wounded during protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on Friday, Tunisia state television reported.

[Updated at 1:23 p.m. ET] U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at this afternoon's "transfer of remains ceremony" marking the return of the remains of the four Americans killed this week in Benghazi, Libya.

Obama and Clinton will deliver brief remarks at the 2:15 p.m. ET ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

[Updated at 1:15 p.m. ET] Here is video from today's protests in Khartoum, Sudan:

[Updated at 12:23 p.m. ET] Nigerian military and police fired shots to disperse a crowd of protesters in the city of Jos, an eyewitness said.

About 2,000 people protesting the anti-Islamic film gathered at a central mosque, and security forces intervened when the crowd started moving toward the city center.

[Updated at 12:15 p.m. ET] Some protesters who scaled the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, reached a garden outside the building but have not breached the building itself, journalist Zeid Mhirsi reports.

Also, the thick, black smoke that we previously reported was near the Embassy is coming from burning vehicles on the Embassy grounds, Mhirsi reported.

Earlier, he reported that protesters took down a U.S. flag from a pole at the Embassy and replaced it with a black flag. Police were firing tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. (See 10:20 and 10:42 a.m. entries.) Hard-line Muslims known as Salafists were among the demonstrators, Mhirsi reported.

[Updated at 12:06 p.m. ET] Some Friday protests that hadn't yet been mentioned in this blog post:

- In Afghanistan, hundreds of demonstrators in the eastern Nangarhar province burned a U.S. flag and chanted "Death to America" and "We condemn the film." The demonstration lasted about an hour and ended peacefully, a local official said. The Afghan government has ordered an indefinite block of YouTube to prevent people there from watching the clips and staging violent protests.

- In Baghdad, Iraq, hundreds of followers of the radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr chanted "No to America, no to Israel."

- In Jerusalem, Palestinians marched from the al-Aqsa mosque toward the U.S. Consulate, but were prevented from reaching the mission by Israeli riot forces.

- In Syria, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. Protesters waved placards that condemned the film and blamed the U.S. administration for allowing the production and broadcast of it, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.

- In Iran, the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council called for nationwide rallies Friday to protest the film and what it is calling a U.S.-backed plot against Muslims, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

[Updated at 11:57 a.m. ET] An update on Friday's protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan: Journalist Isma'il Kushkush says no protesters have been able to get inside the compound, and that police and security forces appear to have the situation under control.

Small fires are burning nearby. Kushkush said he believes protesters set tires ablaze. For more on the Khartoum protests, including one at the German Embassy there, see the 9:54 and 8:42 a.m. entries.

[Updated at 11:52 a.m. ET] Ninety-three protesters have been arrested in Egypt since Thursday night, Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman Alaa Mahmoud said. Forty-eight officers have been injured, he added.

[Updated at 11:40 a.m. ET] Protesters in southern India have been arrested on suspicion of throwing rocks at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, the city police commissioner said. As many as 200 protesters were demonstrating in front of the building, but the number arrested was not reported. There were no reported injuries.

[Updated at 10:57 a.m. ET] Video from Tunisia's capital shows thick, black smoke rising from an area near the U.S. Embassy. It's not clear what was on fire.

Protesters there had taken down a U.S. flag from the embassy property and replaced it with a black flag, journalist Zeid Mhirsi reported. Police fired tear gas at protesters as some of them climbed the property's walls.

[Updated at 10:42 a.m. ET] Protesters have taken down a U.S. flag from a pole at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, and replaced it with a black flag, journalist Zeid Mhirsi reports.

Earlier, Mhirsi reported protesters were climbing the building's gates, and police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. (See 10:20 a.m. entry.) Hard-line Muslims known as Salafists were among the demonstrators, Mhirsi reported.

[Updated at 10:25 a.m. ET] A U.S. Marine Corps security team is being sent to help protect U.S. diplomatic installations in Yemen, including the Embassy in Saana, a senior U.S. official said, according to CNN's Barbara Starr.

Earlier today, Yemeni police opened fire to stop protesters from reaching the U.S. Embassy in Saana, witnesses said (see 7:31 a.m. entry).

The protection team is similar to the team of 50 Marines that was sent earlier this this week to Tripoli, Libya, in the wake of the attack in Benghazi.

[Updated at 10:20 a.m. ET] Protesters are climbing the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, and police have fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse them, journalist Zeid Mhirsi reports.

Some protesters, who are about 20 meters outside the U.S. Embassy gates, are throwing rocks at the police, Mhirsi says. He says
that some protesters are waving black flags as they attempt to vandalize the gates.

[Updated at 10:15 a.m. ET] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to receive the remains of the U.S. diplomats killed in Libya at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 p.m. ET Friday.

[Updated at 10:13 a.m. ET] Add Tunisia to the list of Friday's protests. Hundreds of protesters have left Friday prayers and are heading to the U.S. Embassy in a neighborhood in Tunis, journalist Zeid Mhirsi reported. There is a strong Tunisian police presence in the area.

Hard-line Muslims known as Salafists were among the demonstrators, who were in pickup trucks and on foot.

[Updated at 9:54 a.m. ET] Ron Hawkins, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, said that because Friday is a non-work day, most of the staff and Embassy personnel are not there as protesters gather outside the building. As far as security goes, Marines are assigned there, and local police officers were sent there earlier Friday as a precautionary measure, Hawkins said.

Earlier Friday, a fire was set at the vacated German Embassy as protesters gathered there. The protest at the U.S. building so has been peaceful, journalist Isma'il Kamal Kushkush said (see 8:42 a.m. entry).

[Updated at 9:31 a.m. ET] More information from Khartoum, Sudan: Protesters have gathered outside the U.S. Embassy there, a journalist at the scene said. The demonstration is peaceful so far.

Earlier today, protesters in Khartoum set the German Embassy on fire and also rallied outside the nearby UK Embassy (see 8:42 a.m. entry). The German Embassy was vacated before the protests.

[Updated at 9:24 a.m. ET] Lebanon has joined the list of Friday protests. One person was killed by police in Tripoli, Lebanon, after a group of armed men stormed a KFC restaurant amid protests in the city, Lebanese security forces told CNN.

About 40 armed men were spotted among 3,000 protesters, officials said.

Gen. Bassam Ayoubi, of the Lebanese internal security forces, said a group of armed men stormed the KFC and asked people to leave. Ayoubi said that the armed men then set the KFC on fire, at which time police arrived and began to fire at the armed men, killing at least one of them. Twenty-five were injured, he said, but it wasn't clear which of the injured were on which side.

[Updated at 9:09 a.m. ET] The German Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, was vacated before the protest that reportedly has set the building on fire, the German Foreign Ministry said.

The German Foreign Ministry also said that the Sudanese ambassador to Germany has been called in to the German
Foreign Ministry in Berlin to discuss the situation in Khartoum.

Journalist Isma'il Kamal Kushkush told CNN about 30 minutes ago that the German Embassy in Khartoum was on fire after protests against the online anti-Islam video.

[Updated at 9 a.m. ET] An update on protests in Egypt, while we await more information about the burning German Embassy in Sudan:

Fifteen protesters have been injured in Egypt on Friday, according to Dr. Mohamed Sultan, a health ministry spokesman. Most of the injuries were related to inhaling tear gas or getting it into their eyes.

Two hundred twenty-four people have been injured this week in protests in Cairo, 11 of whom have been hospitalized, Sultan said.

On Friday, officers armed with shields and batons, backed by an armored personnel carrier, rushed a group of several hundred protesters shortly after dawn to quell a violent demonstration that had raged through the night in Cairo. After the rush, a smaller number of demonstrators regrouped near the U.S. Embassy across from police lines, and stones and tear-gas canisters once again crossed in the air. Police fired rubber bullets at protesters. The army began constructing a wall of concrete blocks about 10 feet high across the road leading to the embassy.

Hours later, in the afternoon, youths climbed the newly built wall and threw rocks at police, according to eyewitnesses. Security forces fired tear gas and used water cannons to hold off the rioters. But 100 to 200 hundred meters away in Tahrir Square, a few thousand protesters congregated peacefully.

[Updated at 8:42 a.m. ET] The German Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan was on fire Friday after protests against the online anti-Islam video, a journalist on the scene, Isma'il Kamal Kushkush, said. No embassy personnel were believed to be inside.

The UK Foreign Office also says protesters were demonstrating Friday outside its embassy, next to the German Embassy, in Khartoum.

[Updated at 8:35 a.m. ET] U.S. embassies aren't the only Western diplomatic posts facing protests on Friday. Protests have been reported outside the UK and German embassies in Khartoum, Sudan.

UK Foreign Office Spokesperson Mandy Heffield confirmed there is an ongoing demonstration outside the British Embassy in Khartoum. Sudanese police are on the scene, Heffield said.

Earlier, a journalist on the scene said thousands of protesters had marched on the German Embassy in Khartoum, and that a few protesters jumped onto the embassy grounds and pulled down the German flag. Riot police fired tear gas, causing the protesters to pull back, the journalist said.

[Updated at 8:30 a.m. ET] Thousands of protesters marched on the German Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, on Friday, as protests against a short online film mocking the Prophet Mohammed swept across the Muslim world, a journalist on the scene said.

A few demonstrators were able to jump into the embassy grounds and pull down the German flag, Isma'il Kamal Kushkush said. Riot police fired tear gas, causing the protesters to pull back. The German Embassy is next to the British Embassy, which did not seem to be the focus of the demonstration.

[Updated at 7:40 a.m. ET] Afghanistan saw its first anti-American protest over the film Friday, as hundreds of demonstrators burned a U.S. flag and chanted "Death to America" and "We condemn the film."

The demonstration in Nangarhar province lasted about an hour and ended peacefully, said Zia Abdulzai, a spokesman for the governor of the eastern province.

[Posted 7:31 a.m. ET] Yemeni police opened fire Friday to stop protesters from reaching the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, witnesses told CNN.

Meanwhile, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood canceled nationwide demonstrations Friday, except for one in Cairo's Tahrir Square against the controversial film about the Prophet Mohammed, the group said in a Twitter message.

Post by: ,
Filed under: Egypt • Lebanon • Libya • Sudan • Tunisia
soundoff (3,687 Responses)
  1. bill davis

    Let's all rise up against the RICH and TAX the to DEATH...

    Works in the USA,

    Anyoen not like us has got to be bad...I can not blame the Muslium are the TRUE prople...Obamaland.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:39 am | Report abuse |
  2. Violence Uncalled For

    I'm sooooooo tired of these people always looking for any excuse to start burning down buildings and cars. I'm a very open minded person and not one to preach violence but at this point, it's crossed the line. I really don't see how an idiot posting something on youtube is any reason to take on violenace against US Embassies and potentially other western embassies. This this mean that the US should go blow up everything conuntry that has anti US sentiments, I'm sure you can dig up plenty of those online. I can understand that argument that some say this is different...no it's not. Christians and for that matter Jesus has been demonized more times than I think anyone can count. And is this any different than flag burning or hanging dead people thaty have killed on the streets for public display. Those countries have lose my patience and support.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:39 am | Report abuse |
    • yuri pelham

      What the barbarians were to the Roman Empire the Muslims are to us. We are doomed. Why? Because we don't recognize they are at war with us such that we respond inappropriately. This is a war of civilizations and we don't know it.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:47 am | Report abuse |
  3. Lacee

    All I can say is consider the source. Pull our people out of there and let them do themselves in – eventually they will . I guess it's an excuse to riot and ruin. All this because of a film – people watch films and then "poof" they go on to the next one to watch. Is a film worth all this? Life is way to short!

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
    • jim

      Unfortunately, there are many in this country who think and act like these people. Look at the anti-G8 riots and OWS violence.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:43 am | Report abuse |
  4. bbucher

    This is the byproduct of obama's middle east policy. Any questions?

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
    • Mel

      Yeah I got question. Were events like this the byproduct of Obama's policies even years before he was in office? Please get real. These people have been fighting, killing & protesting for years & years. Regardless of who the US President is. I really don't get people like you.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:52 am | Report abuse |
  5. caesarbc

    spreads to Africa, huh?....

    so basically, there are stupid people everywhere.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
  6. JSmith

    I'm sorry these people need fulltime jobs, because they have way too much time on their hands. The muslim religion is based on terror not peace. They want to scare the world so that no one even mentions their beloved prophet without threat of violence. I say put the movie in the theaters, I want to watch it. This is what freedom is all about people, not leaving in fear like most muslim nations. You start burning down Carl's Jr. in the US you got troubles.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
  7. Woody

    I guess First Amendment exemptions have to now include NOT making fun of Islam as well as shouting FIRE in theaters to make AllahLand happy.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
    • AndyDaniel

      I respect the first amendment but having watched a few minutes of the movie online it really straddles the fine line between free speech, which is protected, and hate speech, which is not. It's purpose seems to be incite violence – though the movie itself, what little I saw, could be construed as a political statement, the made-up comments by the producer about the director being an Israeli Jew (now shown to be false) and the movie costing $5M and funded by 100 Jews (now also shown to be false) makes you see the intent in its true light – true incite Muslim violence against Jews, and then Jewish retaliation against Muslims.

      September 14, 2012 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jane

      I was only able to watch a few minutes of the movie because it was so bad. The part I watched was how the Muslims treated the Coptic Christians and soldiers let their businesses be attacked without intervening. The truth is that if you say anything about Mohammed that they find offensive(even if its in the Koran) they will attack you. They already don't like the west because they are "infidels'. See how they treat the Christian minorities in Pakistan, Egypt etc. Even there, they will start a rumor just to justify an attack. Nothing appeases them.

      September 14, 2012 at 4:12 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Sally

    They kill and torture human beings. They treat women as less than human. They burn Bibles and flags and property belonging to others. They intimidate and threaten ALL other Religions, but that's just fine? Enough.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
  9. caesarbc

    I wonder if ther Arab spring will be replaced with.... the Arab spring?

    September 14, 2012 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
  10. Atul Chaudhary

    Stop importing stuff from these countries. I will be looking into all the stuff where they are made. I wished I had enough decent choices to buy made in America.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:41 am | Report abuse |
    • flexy145

      Yes, stop buying all that "Made in Afghanistan" stuff.... /facepalm

      September 14, 2012 at 10:45 am | Report abuse |
    • Sir Pablo Sanchez

      Amen! This reminds me of people types in our own country that burn their stores and businesses to the ground when they riot, furthermore degrading their living conditions and surroundings.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:50 am | Report abuse |
  11. Nelson

    Such a great and peaceful religion, Islam. Naturally, with the acquiescence of the Islamic people who adore hatred and violence while attempting to limit personal freedoms. They fail to accept these freedoms while living in oppressed societies. Ignorance is bliss. Bottom line hatred for the west is behind all.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:41 am | Report abuse |
  12. Senses

    Egypt and Libya are in Africa, I believe the news headline was directed to Sarah Palin. She 'thinks' ( if this is possible! ) that Africa is a country!

    September 14, 2012 at 10:41 am | Report abuse |
    • TRWY

      She can see Africa from her laundry room

      September 14, 2012 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
    • Sir Pablo Sanchez

      Ya, sounds similar too, "If I had a son he would look just like him"

      September 14, 2012 at 10:52 am | Report abuse |
  13. Alex

    Lets just complain and complain in forums like this... Lets maintain our silence and dormant behavior... it is just a matter of time before we have protests like this everywhere in America, along with suicide bombers, a mosque every three blocks, and muslims blocking streets five times at day to pray just like in France. We Americans are OLVERLY TOLERANT, and that will costs us OUR COUNTRY and FREEDOM. Just look at the situation and demographics in Europe... Well, that is just the beginning.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:42 am | Report abuse |
  14. DopWin

    What a bunch of sub-human animals. Unleash the wrath of a superior nation on them. No mercy. It ends here. The entire world will thank us.

    September 14, 2012 at 10:42 am | Report abuse |
    • lolz

      and a comment like that is why the world despises us.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:45 am | Report abuse |
    • DopWin

      That "world" will be gone so who will care? The victors write history. I doubt any civilized people will care and the few that do will get over it. I'll push the button.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
    • akat

      I keep seeing headlines and stories that say "islamic rage". Where is the American rage? It is obvious that these countries are always on a low simmer, and these people are always waiting for the next excuse to perpetrate violence against us. The film is just their newest excuse. I would like to wake up to the headline of "America's rage" and see us throwing their worthless diplomats out of our country in an angry (but non-violent) manner. This has been going on long enough, it is not the US that needs to apologize anymore. We should cut ALL aid to every nation that will not openly apologize and PUBLICLY request our assistance. IF a nation wants our help, then they need to be ready to combat their own violence and acknowledge our aid to them on the world floor. The islamists are in a rage again, surprise surprise. The Americans and allies are OUTRAGED at the openly accepted murder and attacks on our soldiers, embassies, consulates. We are the ones who should be enraged.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:56 am | Report abuse |
    • Sir Pablo Sanchez

      Yes lolz I too think we should just lay down and let them come in and rule us with Sharia Law and all will be well. That's worked real well for the rest of the world so far, why not us too. Your another Lemming, willing to be led without a shred of thought of your own.

      September 14, 2012 at 10:57 am | Report abuse |
  15. mike

    We can make fun of everything else in the US via movie or cartoon..but god forbid we say anything about the Islamic religion. Any excuse to riot and kill some people and shout "death to America".

    September 14, 2012 at 10:42 am | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140