Odyssey Dawn

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula lost his citizenship under the prior government.

Judge denies actress' bid to remove anti-Islam film

Pro-democracy demonstrators marched in Benghazi, flushing radical Islamists from their compound headquarters. Members of Ansar al-Sharia fled as the crowd approached and occupied the grounds, freeing 20 captives in the process. Although one vehicle was burned, not a single shot was fired. Eight members of Ansar al-Sharia had previously been detained by authorities in connection the attacks on Sept. 11.

It appears that this was part of a broader demonstration, widely targeting various armed militia groups located in Benghazi. Although unverified, some people may have been injured by armed gunmen who fired at protesters as they fled. After occupying the various militia headquarters, they allowed the Libyan Army to take over the facilities.

Earlier in the day, a group of 30,000, fed up with the armed gangs, marched in the streets carrying sights saying they wanted justice for Chris. Wow.

The phrase that keeps coming to mind when I read about this is "off-script". I was against going into Libya pretty early on, and I haven't seen a lot till now that made me think I called it wrong. Unarmed demonstrators kicking out armed extremists? That is just not on the teleprompter.

On Twitter, idiots are complaining that the unarmed protestors aren't "Pro-America."

Why is this the worry? I mean, really, let them gain control of their country and kick out the militias. THEN, maybe, worry about them on the world stage.

BBC Coverage

what a scumbag.

I was a tad worried when they "interviewed" him in the middle of the night. I don't want the return of McCarthyism, no matter the cause.

Now, having learned about his prior conviction, and his probation violations, that's different. Fuck that guy.

Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Darrel Issa (my District ), has released 166 pages of sensitive materials regarding the Benghazi attack.

Unfortunately, American foreign policy may have been further jeopardized, particularly since the release failed to redact the names of Libyans working with the U.S. In his rush to try and undermine the President just before the foreign policy debate, Issa has placed the lives of American allies in danger. The State Department and the FBI are currently engaged in an investigation, and the GOP's premature efforts to tar the administration have tainted these investigations with political partisanship. The irony is that contrary to Republican assertions that U.N Ambassador Susan Rice (and by proxy, the Obama administration) falsified events, her reported comments are actually supported by intelligence community (who also believed that the attack had been precipitated by the spontaneous video protests).

The Republicans have tried to make political hay out of this tragedy, and have added insult to injury. I hope that the president finally lays this to rest in the next debate, pointing out how unethical Issa and other Republicans efforts have been. By rights, this should turn on the

Also, the famously rejected request for increased security asked for a DC-3 to be parked at the airbase just outside Tripoli, so the embassy staff could use it to evacuate the country if needed. Not for any kind of additional troops at the diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Even if it had been granted, it would have made precisely zero difference to ambassador Stevens.

There is no indication that anyone in Libya asked for tightened security in Benghazi, or for additional personal bodyguards for the ambassador.

^Definitely a "have you no sense of decency" moment...

Pretty much, yeah.


A couple of points I didn't mention.

Even if additional troops had been stationed at the embassy, it wouldn't have helped Stevens. Because they would have been at the embassy. In Tripoli. 600 miles away.

Also, as we know from the report of the guy he had breakfast with that day, Stevens himself didn't think there was any particular danger that day. So I'm not sure who would have requested more troops.

Now, it's possible - remote, but still possible - that the only reason Stevens thought he was relatively safe was because the State Dept. told him he didn't need additional security. Since Ambassadors are not the ones who are supposed be the experts on security. But if there were suspicions among the people who were, why did they let him go to the Benghazi mission with only three bodyguards? And no American security personnel on site?

My guess is that no one really had any reason to suspect there would be any violence. And that if there was, it would be at the Embassy in Tripoli, just like the protests that day in Cairo. And like others over the following days in Sana'a, Khartoum, Athens (yes, Athens), Tunis, Jakarta, Islamabad, etc.

In most places, the only real violence took place at the actual embassy, though the protests were more widespread. The exception appears to be Pakistan, where there were several voilent clashes in other diplomatic locations. But Libya still seems to be one of the only countries with a U.S. Embassy that but protests, but not at the embassy.

McCain's statement on the attacks:

Are you really really sure you want to go there, McCain?

I heard McCain's statements on the radio while driving home from work this morning...and I immediately had similar thoughts.

So...McCain is saying either he's grossly incompetent....or involved in a coverup...and there's NO OTHER explanation........yikes.

I just want to know what the endgame for the GOP is at this point? What are they trying to gain out of this when they just got shown up in an election that proved that their party is short on ideas, short on compassion for the average american, and just a plain turn-off in so many ways. How is this going to help their brand?

Senatorial Joke John McCain has been "leading" the call for more information on the Benghazi attacks. How has he been leading?

When asked why he skipped it, McCain apparently started yelling about the kids on his lawn.

Oh, and then he held a press conference to whine about not getting the information he wanted.

Is this the same news conference where he scolded a reporter, saying the question of whether or not the Gen Petraeus scandal was potentially more of a national security risk then the Benghazi attack was "one of the dumbest questions" he's ever heard in all his years?

Old Fuddy-Duddy McCain really doesn't like to have his judgement questioned. Or maybe he's just irritated that his state still hasn't finished counting the votes from 10 days ago.

Patraeus has told lawmakers that US wanted to avoid tipping off the terrorists after the Libya attack

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Libya rebel flees to UK as revolution sours for women

The next bit describes the violence which Ms Abaida experienced at the hands of militia members. I have spoilered it as it is rather upsetting.

Wow, that's tragic. It makes you wonder how many others have experienced similar types of displacement. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the first time that militias have been accused of inciting violence after refusing to disband. Notably, the group blamed in connection with the Benghazi attack was similarly defiant, and it took a citizen's revolt to expel them. Hopefully the Libyan transitional government will be able to establish it's legitimacy and improve security, until then, I'm afraid that lawlessness and brutality will favor these types of militia groups (reminds me of the Taliban).