Tag Archives: Benghazi

Trial of alleged ringleader of Benghazi attack begins in Washington

Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, smiles at his home in Tripoli June 28, 2012. Stevens and three embassy staff were killed late on September 11, 2012, as they rushed away from a consulate building in Benghazi, stormed by al Qaeda-linked gunmen blaming America for a film that they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad. REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal prosecutors opened their case against Ahmed Abu Khatallah on Monday by telling jurors he orchestrated the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Khatallah has been awaiting trial since 2014, when he was captured by a team of U.S. military and FBI officials in Libya and transported on a 13-day journey to the United States aboard a Navy vessel.

Prior to his capture, he was part of a revolutionary militia group aimed at overthrowing the Gaddafi regime.

In his opening statement, federal prosecutor John Crabb said Khatallah hates America “with a vengeance” and played a leading role in organizing the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi.

Khatallah “didn’t do the killing by himself,” he said. “He didn’t light the fires and he didn’t fire the mortars but you will hear he is just as guilty as the men who lit those fires and the men who fired those mortars.”

The Benghazi attack led to a political fire storm in Washington, where Republicans repeatedly accused then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of failing to adequately protect the diplomatic compound. That debate stretched on for years and continued throughout the 2016 presidential election while Clinton was running unsuccessfully for president against Donald Trump.

Monday’s trial represents a high-profile test in the use of a federal court to try a foreign terrorism suspect, as opposed to holding him at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba where he would face military legal proceedings.

While Khatallah was being transported by a Navy ship from Libya to the United States, he was questioned by U.S. intelligence officials before he was read his Miranda rights and questioned by FBI agents.

He waived his rights to remain silent and have a lawyer present before speaking with the agents. His attorneys had sought to suppress the statements, saying the government had violated his rights.

However, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper issued a lengthy ruling in August that found his statements could be admitted at trial.

Crabb alluded to prior statements by Khatallah, telling the jury the defendant had said: “I didn’t do all of that by myself.”

The charges against Khatallah include murder and providing material support to terrorists.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Bill Trott)

 

East Libyan forces say they will investigate Benghazi abuses

Members of East Libyan forces celebrate as they open Tripoli road after they captured the final holdout of Islamist-led rivals in the southwest of Benghazi, Libya, March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

By Ayman al-Warfalli and Aidan Lewis

BENGHAZI, Libya/TUNIS (Reuters) – An eastern Libyan force says it will investigate abuses by its troops, after images showing the public display of corpses and allegations of summary killings surfaced following the end of a siege in Benghazi last week.

The self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said dozens of its Islamist-led opponents were killed as the siege at unfinished tower blocks in the eastern city was broken on Saturday when fighters and their families tried to escape.

Soon after, photos and videos emerged on social media appearing to show LNA troops posing with corpses and parading the rotting body of a prominent opponent on a vehicle.

Eastern military figures, separate from internationally recognized officials in Tripoli in the west, present the LNA as an expanding and increasingly capable force that will eventually control the whole of Libya.

The LNA’s general command called on unit commanders to hand over all those filmed carrying out abuses to the military police, for questioning by a military committee.

“The actions carried out by members of the Libyan National Army after the liberation of west Benghazi are considered individual acts and do not represent the instructions of the army,” it said in a statement late on Monday.

“Those who committed these violations will be held accountable for their actions and for not following military law.”

The suspected abuses raise fresh questions over the coherence of the LNA as a professional fighting body.

Its leader, Khalifa Haftar, is widely assumed to be seeking national power. He has spurned a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli that has sought to unify political and armed factions that splintered into rival camps in the east and west in 2014, three years after the uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

The LNA’s critics say it is a loose collection of armed groups with fickle loyalties and little discipline, similar to the militias operating in western Libya.

They point to its slow progress in Benghazi, where it launched an operation against Islamists and other opponents nearly three years ago, but still faces pockets of resistance.

This month the LNA suffered a setback southwest of Benghazi, losing control of two oil ports before regaining them 11 days later.

It says it is now pursuing its opponents, who it accuses the U.N.-backed government of supporting, in the desert region of Jufra, whilst also preparing to “liberate” Tripoli from the militias that control it.

The offensive in Jufra and the LNA’s stated intention of taking control of the Tamanhent air base risks triggering renewed fighting between the LNA and forces from the western city of Misrata, which control the base.

It comes as some of Misrata’s armed groups, which became powerful during the 2011 uprising and the conflicts that followed, have come under pressure in Tripoli where they have lost ground to local rivals and faced popular protests.

U.N. Libya envoy Martin Kobler warned on Monday of a “dangerous escalation across Libya emanating from the deteriorating security situation in Tripoli and events in Misrata and Benghazi”.

“I call for all parties to put Libya and the unity of Libya ahead of their own narrow interests. The violence, hate speech, and mutilation of corpses in Libya is completely unacceptable.”

(Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alison Williams)

Congressman Tells Believers Not To Wait On Political Messiah

Congressman Trey Gowdy, who is heading the House of Representatives’ select committee for the Benghazi terror attack, told a group of believers at Second Baptist Church Houston that they need to stop waiting for a political messiah and place their hope in the true messiah.

“If you want to change culture, don’t wait on the Supreme Court or anyone else,” said the South Carolina congressman. “The real hope in Christ is expressed through the lives of His followers. Changing the hearts and minds in this country is our job.”

Gowdy said that Christians must to step up and speak the truth in a way that is respectful to other people but unwavering in presenting the Gospel truth.

“You don’t insult people into changing their minds,” said Gowdy.

Gowdy said that it’s important for people to hold their elected officials accountable for more than just the votes they cast or actions they take in their office.  He said leaders need to be held accountable for their actions in their private lives because everything we do is a reflection on the Lord and how He is working in our lives.

Gowdy said that Christians need to educate themselves because the answers to all things are in Scripture.

“Are you educated in the teachings of Christ?” Gowdy said. “The answers to all our political questions are in the Bible… But what good does that do unless you know the Bible?”

State Department Names Terrorists That Attacked Benghazi

The U.S. State Department has officially named specific groups as being responsible for the 2012 Benghazi attack.

According to State Department officials, Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi and Darnah are now officially terrorist organizations designated in part because of their roles in the Benghazi attacks.  The heads of the two organizations, Sufian bin Qumu and Ahmed Abu Khattalah, were also designated as most wanted terrorists.

Both groups have been accused of also attacking civilian targets, frequent assassinations and attempted assassinations of security officials.

The State Department tried to downplay any connection with Al-Qaeda saying the groups acted alone but Fox News was able to confirm that the leaders have been trained in al-Qaeda camps.

U.S. Government Seeking Al Qaeda Terrorist For Benghazi Attack

The U.S. government has announced they are seeking an al-Qaeda terrorist in connection with the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack.

Muhammed Jamal was arrested last fall in Egypt and imprisoned by the Egyptian government for terrorist activity but has since disappeared. Various intelligence reports say he is still in Egypt while others place him inside Yemen.

Four Americans were killed in the September 11, 2012 attack on the Benghazi embassy.

The release from the government about the hunt for an Al Qaeda terrorist in the attack is seen as a direct rebuke of a New York Times story that said al Qaeda had no connection to the terrorist attack. The newspaper had been receiving criticism from elected officials in both political parties saying that intelligence confirmed the involvement of al Qaeda.

American Diplomat Told Friends He Could “Die Tonight”

An American diplomat killed in Tuesday’s terror attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya told friends on an internet gaming site that it was possible he could “die tonight.”

Sean Smith, the father of two killed in the attack, was an active player on the gaming forum “EVE Online” where he went by the nickname “vilerat.” Smith was killed along with US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and two others. Continue reading →