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Background
At9:40p.m.ontheeveningofSeptember11,2012,agroupofapproximately150heavilyarmedIslamistmilitiamembersattackedtheUnitedStates’diplomaticmissioninBenghazi,Libya.Theensuing8-hourassaultontheSpecialMissionCompound(SMC,andhereafter:“Compound”)andthenearbyCIAannexclaimedthelivesoffourAmericans:AmbassadorChristopherStevens,U.S.ForeignServiceSpecialistSeanSmith,andformerNavySEALSGlenDohertyandTyroneWoods.Stevens,whohadpreviouslyservedastheU.S.SpecialEnvoytotheLibyanTransitionalNationalCouncil,wasthefirstAmbassadorkilledinthelineofdutysincethe1979shootingofAmbassadorAdolphDubsinKabul,Afghanistan.Intheaftermathoftheattack,PresidentObamaandsenioradministrationofficialswerequicktoidentifyMuslimoutrageoveranobscureInternetvideomockingMohammedasthemotivationfortheattack
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.InaSeptember12
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statementabouttheincident,thePresidentremarked,“Sinceourfounding,theUnitedStateshasbeenanationthatrespectsallfaiths.Werejectalleffortstodenigratethereligiousbeliefsofothers.”
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AtaSeptember14,2012eventhonoringthefourvictims,SecretaryofStateHilaryClintonstated,“We’veseentheheavyassaultonourpostinBenghazithattookthelivesofthosebravemen.We’veseenrageandviolencedirectedatAmericanembassiesoveranawfulInternetvideothatwehadnothingtodowith.”
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ThoseinLibyadidnotsharethistheory.DuringaSeptember15
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televisioninterview,LibyanPresidentMohamedal-Magariefobservedthat,“It’sclearfromthetimingonSeptember11
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andfromthedetailedplanningoftheattacksthatbehindittherewereexperiencedmasterminds.Itwasnotaspontaneousactinprotestofamovie.Thishasbeenpreparedforalongtimeonthisspecificday...Ifyoutakeintoaccounttheweaponsused,likeRPGsandotherheavyweapons,itprovesthatitwaspreplanned.It’sadirtyactofrevenge,andithasnothingtodowithreligion.”
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Nevertheless,topadministrationofficialscontinuedtoclaimthattheattackwasspontaneousandtheresultofthevideo.DuringaSeptember16
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televisioninterview,U.S.AmbassadortotheUnitedNationsSusanRiceinfamouslyassessedthesituationasfollows:
“TherewasahatefulvideothatwasdisseminatedontheInternet.IthadnothingtodowiththeUnitedStatesgovernmentandit'sonethatwefinddisgustingandreprehensible.It'sbeenoffensivetomany,manypeoplearoundtheworld.Thatsparkedviolenceinvariouspartsoftheworld,includingviolencedirectedagainstwesternfacilitiesincludingourembassiesandconsulates.Thatviolenceisabsolutelyunacceptable,it'snotaresponsethatonecanevercondonewhenitcomestosuchavideo.Andwehavebeenworkingverycloselyand,indeed,effectivelywiththegovernmentsintheregionandaroundtheworldtosecureourpersonnel,secureourembassy,condemntheviolentresponsetothisvideo.”
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