Gunmen attacks US consulate in Benghazi, Libya over US film

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

We don't have many Libyan petitions come through here but it appears this US based film is causing a storm of protests in the Middle East North Africa region.

Hours later after the first ever breach of the US embassy in Cairo gunman stormed the consulate in Benghazi and set fire to it. According to Arab news reports one American is dead but according to US news reports the nationality of the person who died is unconfirmed. Link According to another source there are fierce clashes between the Libyan army and armed militias with rocket propelled grenades. Link

I have confirmed through Arabic news websites that Terry Jones in cooperation with a US-based Coptic Christian group, with several members equated to be known as the Egyptian version of Terry Jones, made the three hour movie about the Prophet Mohammed that has incited this violent reaction. This tension has been building for two to three days in the media over there. The interviews are all over Youtube. The articles on the news websites also go back several days explaining that Terry Jones along with the US-based Coptic Christian group intended to hold a trial for the Prophet Muhammed on Sept. 11th for the attack on Sept. 11th and hold Islam accountable for what happened. So there is the connection of the protests happening today, Sept. 11th with what once again Terry Jones is doing in Florida.

They've been working on this movie for three years and it seems they only planned to release it online at this time with clips dubbed in Arabic. Anyone can release whatever they want online. There is no censorship, yet.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Apparently since writing this there are even more injured than I knew about. Link

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

AP and US sources have confirmed through Libyan officials one American staff member is dead and others are injured. Link

I suspect we haven't seen the last of the violent protests in these countries as this spreads over the next week.

Sam Bacile, an American citizen who said he produced, directed and wrote the two-hour film said he had not anticipated such a furious reaction.

Speaking from a telephone with a California number, he said the film was produced in English and he doesn't know who dubbed it in Arabic.

"The main problem is I am the first one to put on the screen someone who is (portraying) Muhammad. It makes them mad," he said in an interview in a telephone number in California. "But we have to open the door. After 9/11 everybody should be in front of the judge, even Jesus, even Muhammad."

He said many of the film's cast quit half way through the production, which he started "three or four" years ago, because they were afraid of Muslims.

He said the film also addresses the persecution of Copts in Egypt and blames the U.S. and its allies for fighting Muslims. "The U.S. should fight the ideology, not the people."

Morris Sadek, an Egyptian-born Christian in the U.S. known for his anti-Islam views, told The Associated Press from Washington that he was promoting the video on his website and on certain TV stations, which he did not identify.

He said the video "explains the problems of the Copts who suffer from Muslims," which he blamed on the Quran itself.

For several days, Egyptian media have been reporting on the video, playing some excerpts from it and blaming Sadek for it, with ultraconservative clerics going on air to denounce it.

Medhat Klada, a representative of Coptic Christian organizations in Europe, said Sadek's views are not representative of expatriate Copts.

"He is an extremist ... We don't go down this road. He has incited the people (in Egypt) against Copts," he said, speaking from Switzerland. "We refuse any attacks on religions because of a moral position."

But he said he was concerned about the backlash from angry Islamists. "They don't know dialogue and they think that Islam will be offended from a movie."

Edited September 12, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[NY_BX 397]

We don't have many Libyan petitions come through here but it appears this US based film is causing a storm of protests in the Middle East North Africa region.

Hours later after the first ever breach of the US embassy in Cairo gunman stormed the consulate in Benghazi and set fire to it. According to Arab news reports one American is dead but according to US news reports the nationality of the person who died is unconfirmed. Link According to another source there are fierce clashes between the Libyan army and armed militias with rocket propelled grenades. Link

I have confirmed through Arabic news websites that Terry Jones in cooperation with a US-based Coptic Christian group, with several members equated to be known as the Egyptian version of Terry Jones, made the three hour movie about the Prophet Mohammed that has incited this violent reaction. This tension has been building for two to three days in the media over there. The interviews are all over Youtube. The articles on the news websites also go back several days explaining that Terry Jones along with the US-based Coptic Christian group intended to hold a trial for the Prophet Muhammed on Sept. 11th for the attack on Sept. 11th and hold Islam accountable for what happened. So there is the connection of the protests happening today, Sept. 11th with what once again Terry Jones is doing in Florida.

They've been working on this movie for three years and it seems they only planned to release it online at this time with clips dubbed in Arabic. Anyone can release whatever they want online. There is no censorship, yet.

I haven't seen the film and do not intend to. However, I bet all this violence will only "prove" Terry Jones "right"- which is the saddest part. These shenanigans- not to be called filmmakers, please- stir up controversy knowing that a few fanatics will go nuts. Then they can say "see? I told you so. Islam is not the religion of peace." That makes me sick!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Oh Lawrd it is sick. How is everyone doing with their SO's? We got into it last night over this subject. I think fundementally what it comes down to is they don't believe in freedom of speech as we do here when it is hurtful, hateful and offensive.

We're getting reports now from Libyan officials that the US Ambassador in Libya and three other Americans were killed in the attacks on Benghazi.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[RFQ 110]

I am furious and saddened. This reaction is completely contradictory to Islam and our Prophet's example. (saaw)

He would never have advocated this sort of response.

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

sad Just read U.S. ambassador killed in Attack

http://libya.usembassy.gov/principal.html

Edited September 12, 2012 by inluvnwaiting

[NY_BX 397]

I am furious and saddened. This reaction is completely contradictory to Islam and our Prophet's example. (saaw)

He would never have advocated this sort of response.

This is exactly how my husband feels. No education and extreme mood swings lead to this tragedy. Don't get me wrong, although he hasn't seen the film, he truly believes is offensive and insulting. My argument was if someone- or a group of people- call me a $lut or calls my dad the "N" word I WILL talk back.... throw a punch or two. I don't go burning flags and shooting people. Especially when the whole point is to prove me wrong. If I retaliate with violence, I just proved them right.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

That's how my husband feels too. He says that most of them aren't educated and that even as a moderate muslim the material is offensive and insulting.

I'm confused this morning by our American media reporting that the film is made by an Israli American real estate developer living in California and it is called, "Innocence of Muslims". That conflicts with what the Egyptian media has posted across several websites in their articles for the past 2-3 days and has been talking about with others in several TV interviews that are also posted on Youtube,. Unless this guy is part of the Terry Jones and US-based Coptic Chrisitian group?

Edited September 12, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I see that some of the American media websites I linked yesterday in the other thread have updated online. While the Egyptian media has been reporting and citing Terry Jones as the creator of the film for several days the producer is the person mentioned above. The film is the same that I linked though which was posted three days ago on Youtube condeming it in English and Arabic.

Update: * - This sentence originally credited Terry Jones with producing the film, as some Egyptian media had suggested. In fact, as the Wall Street Journal now reports, Jones is playing a promotional role, but the film was in fact directed and produced by "an Israeli-American California real-estate developer who called it a political effort to call attention to the hypocrisies of Islam." Separately, members of a Libyan Islamist extremist group called Ansar al-Sharia attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, over the film, firing at the building with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Link

Edited September 12, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Mithra 1,185]

The reaction is OTT and ridiculous IMO. I don't understand the making of offensive films nor do I understand killing and destroying over offensive films.

[NY_BX 397]

The reaction is OTT and ridiculous IMO. I don't understand the making of offensive films nor do I understand killing and destroying over offensive films.

I do understand the making of offensive films, simply because they're meant to be exactly that: films! Not a political movement, not a manifesto, not an instructional video, but a film.

You don't like porn? don't watch it. Some- if not most- find it offensive. People don't go killing others (unless you're simply nuts) over a porn film. We had this discussion with the film "Borat." I mean, the country's people were depicted as..... well, go watch the film. It is offensive and insulting to them, but as far as we know, they didn't go burning flags and killing people. They just filed lawsuits on end and boycotted the film.

That's the problem: religious zealotry. When it trascends to religion, some fanatics go clinically insane to the point of committing a crime of passion. Is that really necessary? That goes to both ends of the spectrum: the conspirators and the killers. It's sad, tragic and I completely unnecessary.

[sweetlymystic 19]

Bottomline...the entire situation is sad.Now we see why we cannot have peace in this world. We are all about retaliation.....Now the question is..WHAT IS NEXT??

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Now reports are coming in that they're sending a special group of 50 marines to Libya for security. They're trained for short notice terrorist situations like this. From reports I've seen and read the defense department response is investigating if this was a coordinated attack due to the level of of violence, i.e. rocket propelled grenades, and the date that it falls on, Sept. 11th.

Libyan government officials are also indicating in their statements that it was more of an act of cowardice and terrorism of a small group than it was going along with the more peaceful protests that occurred at the US Embassy in Egypt. Yesterday Libyan officials stated that this militant group was taking advantage of the security situation in that there is a sort of power vacuum going on right now with their newly formed democracy. If this is indeed the case than it would fit in the Western model of revolution from my political science classes were after a newly formed government is established more radical ideal people challenge and attempt to over throw the more moderate ideal people that are put in control. In history most examples fitting this model have the radicals succeeding and placing their own leaders into power. I noticed in Clinton's special address this morning she also seemed to be indicating this was the case which is putting a different perspective on what happened as we learn all the details. In her special report on Libya this morning she first addressed the American people, then she addressed the world and fellow diplomats and finally she addressed the militants or whoever is responsible for these Americans deaths. At times it seemed like she was fighting tears for those that lost their lives. And I agree with her that no matter what there is no justification for the killing of innocent people over inflammatory material.

In Egypt there hasn't been an official statement yet from their government but their response is in action with putting more of their security forces outside the US Embassy. Video and pictures show that the street is clear of the protests from last night except for security outside. The Embassy also has loads of graffiti on their walls with one saying in English that says, "Do you want war with Moslims?" But it seems like everything is more peaceful and in order there.

In Libya I do wonder if this was a coordinated attack by you know who. I also wonder if there will be more protests over this film and if it will be like what happened in Egypt or like what happened in Afghanistan awhile back and what recently happened in Libya.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[NY_BX 397]

Now reports are coming in that they're sending a special group of 50 marines to Libya for security. They're trained for short notice terrorist situations like this. From reports I've seen and read the defense department response is investigating if this was a coordinated attack due to the level of of violence, i.e. rocket propelled grenades, and the date that it falls on, Sept. 11th.

Libyan government officials are also indicating in their statements that it was more of an act of cowardice and terrorism of a small group than it was going along with the more peaceful protests that occurred at the US Embassy in Egypt. Yesterday Libyan officials stated that this militant group was taking advantage of the security situation in that there is a sort of power vacuum going on right now with their newly formed democracy. If this is indeed the case than it would fit in the Western model of revolution from my political science classes were after a newly formed government is established more radical ideal people challenge and attempt to over throw the more moderate ideal people that are put in control. In history most examples fitting this model have the radicals succeeding and placing their own leaders into power. I noticed in Clinton's special address this morning she also seemed to be indicating this was the case which is putting a different perspective on what happened as we learn all the details. In her special report on Libya this morning she first addressed the American people, then she addressed the world and fellow diplomats and finally she addressed the militants or whoever is responsible for these Americans deaths. At times it seemed like she was fighting tears for those that lost their lives. And I agree with her that no matter what there is no justification for the killing of innocent people over inflammatory material.

In Egypt there hasn't been an official statement yet from their government but their response is in action with putting more of their security forces outside the US Embassy. Video and pictures show that the street is clear of the protests from last night except for security outside. The Embassy also has loads of graffiti on their walls with one saying in English that says, "Do you want war with Moslims?" But it seems like everything is more peaceful and in order there.

In Libya I do wonder if this was a coordinated attack by you know who. I also wonder if there will be more protests over this film and if it will be like what happened in Egypt or like what happened in Afghanistan awhile back and what recently happened in Libya.

I think you're giving it more credit than it merits. Don't get me wrong, this is a thorough, intelligent political analysis. But, I believe this is just a group of nut works with little else to do reacting violently to a film. Yes, there may be a couple of evil street-smarts that outwitted the system and found a great opportunity to rebel. Of course, then you have the overly dramatic 'telenovela' style news we've been presented with. Bottom line the reaction- I bet my last dime- is proving the film right.... and I haven't even seen it. That alone proves these people aren't as smart and sophisticated as your analysis presumes. If they wanted to react intelligently- and prove them WRONG-, they would've deviced a better plan.