Libya Report

Libya Report

By Melissa Wiggins

Recently in Benghazi, Libya there has been a terrorist attack, involving four americans; one of whom was the ambassador to Libya. Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya.  The attack took place on September 11, 2012 involving 150 Libyan militants.  Infact, the Islamic Militants did not just invade one location, but two.  The first location was at the main consulate office where the ambassador lay dead from smoke inhalation, Along with another U.S. official.  The second location was about a mile down the road, where the other two americans were evacuated and later died after they were hit by a precision mortar attack.  The second location was also set on fire.  The terrorist group also set fire to the consulate building that the ambassador, Chris Stevens, was in.  It is uncertain whether the terrorists struck the building, because of a protest against the american made movie that portrayed the prophet Muhammad unfavorably.  Another theory is that it was a planned attack to avenge the killing of an Al- Qaeda commander.  So far, the attackers' motives can only be speculated upon.  Before the attack had begun it was said that there were about 150 bearded men wearing afghanistan like tunics.   They rode up on pick up trucks that were mounted with heavy machine guns.  They also set up roadblocks according to witnesses.  The trucks had the logo of Ansar al-Shariah, a powerful local group of Islamist militants. They worked with the municipal government to manage security in Benghazi.  One of the consulate's private Libyan guards said masked militants grabbed him and beat him, one of them calling him "an infidel protecting infidels who insulted the prophet."  This was a tragic event, and what was even more heartbreaking was that another catastrophic occurrence  happened on a date that we now remember as 9/11.   As Americans remember the day of the twin towers coming down along with thousands of people, we now have another tragic event to associate with that date.  
There is only one question that still lingers in our mind about this tragic event and that is; Why did it happen?  There is no telling why it exactly happened, but we do have some theories.  Although the attack of the US consulate might be related to the american film, experts believe otherwise.  The film was  extremely discriminating to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.  The American made film talked about Islam in a hurtful way.  This film may have been the reason why this attack happened.   A lawyer passing by the scene said he saw the militants gathering around 20 youths from nearby to chant against the film. Within an hour or so, the assault began, guns blazing as the militants blasted into the compound.  Though this also may be incorrect, we have no way of knowing for sure.   Experts also believe it may have been done to avenge the killing of Al- Qaeda commander.  Al-Qaeda is also an islamic militant group.  It is believed that the militants that constructed this attack is a fairly new group called Ansar al-Sharia.  They have been blamed for many terrorists attacks through the last weeks in Eastern Libya.  They have also killed some Libyan officials... Although they are new to the terrorist world, they are making up for lost times... It is hard to say why it exactly happened, but the United States of America is trying to figure it out desperately.  
Many people’s minds are swarming with the question, why should we care? The ambassador sent out letters seeking security help in Libya by contacting the American Government.  With many opportunities to help, the government chose not to act on the problem. This makes many people think about our trust in our government policies.  The president and therefore our governments level of international security has been brought to the forefront of the present political debate.  Also, there could be more embassy attacks around the world.  Four americans are left dead in Libya, which leaves some Americans extremely angry.  This was a very tragic event and U.S. officials are trying to get to the bottom of this suspicious story.  
    Bibliography
                                             By Melissa Wiggins

Works Cited

Banerji, Robin. "Did Ansar Al-Sharia Carry out Libya Attack?" BBC News. BBC, 09 Dec. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19575753>.

"Libyan Witnesses Recount Organized Benghazi Attack." CBSNews. Ed. Cbsnews. CBS Interactive, 27 Oct. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501713_162-57541737/libyan-witnesses-recount-organized-benghazi-attack/?tag=mncol;lst;2>.

London., David D. Kirkpatrick And Steven Lee Myers; David D. Kirkpatrick Reported From Cairo, And Steven Lee Myers From Washington. Reporting Was Contributed By Osama Alfitory And Suleiman Ali Zway From Benghazi, Libya; Mai Ayyad From Cairo; Eric Schmitt And Scott Shane From Washington; And Alan Cowell From. "Attack On U.S. Site in Libya Kills Envoy; A Flash Point for Obama and Romney." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/world/middleeast/us-envoy-to-libya-is-reported-killed.html?pagewanted=all>.