Stevens, who was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service
and served two tours of duty in Libya, was nominated by President
Obama to be ambassador to Libya early this year. His term of
appointment as ambassador to Libya began on May 22.
Anger over the film that some believe insults the Prophet
Muhammad also provoked protests in Cairo Tuesday, where
demonstrators climbed the walls of the U.S. embassy, took down
the American flagand replaced it with a black flag.
A senior U.S. senior official told ABC News they are on alert
throughout the region and fear there could be more attacks to come.
One of the American State Department employees likely died of smoke
inhalation Tuesday from the fire at the consulate, according to the
U.S official.
The death of the second employee was confirmed Wednesday,
according to the U.S. official. There is no word yet on how that
employee died.
There were about 20 attackers with small arms who stormed the
consulate. There was a firefight with Libyan security officers
guarding the consulate, according to the U.S. official. One of the
buildings was completely destroyed by fire set by the
militants.
The group that attacked the consulate is called Ansar al Sharia,
according to Libyan sources. The group has claimed responsibility
for the attack, but did not mention the movie as motivation. The
group is close to al Qaeda ideology and exists in east Libya.
This video of Ambassador Stevens introducing himself to Libya,
full of idealism about the future, now makes for painful
viewing:
About the Author
John Tabin is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator online.
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause
and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress
impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist
surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our
culture.
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it,
makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so
many people seem to be hostile to it?