‘The attack was believed to have been carried out by Ansar al-Sharia, an al Qaeda-style Sunni Islamist group that has been active in Benghazi, a Libyan security official said. Witnesses said the mob also included tribesmen, militia and other gunmen.’
NBC has more here. Ostensibly, it’s over a video depicting the prophet Mohammed, which has since been banned:
‘The video, clips of which are online, shows a portrayal of the prophet having sex and calling for massacres, the AP reported. It was allegedly produced in the United States.
Egyptian media have been reporting on it for several days, with ultraconservative clerics going on air to denounce it’
The video was made in the U.S.:
‘Sam Bacile, a 56-year-old California real estate developer who identifies himself as an Israeli Jew and who said he produced, directed and wrote the two-hour film, “Innocence of Muslims,” said he had not anticipated such a furious reaction’
Perhaps the current administration’s approach to Israel is also inflaming Israelis as well.
Addition: Was it a coordinated attack by Al Qaeda…other forces? I’m guessing Islamists. Apparently, the video in question is…amateurish, and likely not made by Americans.
Foreign Policy has a piece on the Salafis. I’ve still got my hand on my wallet. The voids and vacuums created by the winds of the ‘Arab Spring’ do not seem to be filling with democratic revolutions, as Western interests are focused on their own visions of freedom. How many people in the Middle East seem willing to devote themselves to the institutions and ideas that democracy and representative government require?
Another Addition: Was that a real film that incited the violence?
Another Addition: There are reports it was a planned, retributive attack, by Al Qaeda, or its affiliates.
Another: More potentially violent protests in Yemen and Egypt. Foreign Affairs digs up its pieces on how Libya got where it is during and after the fall of Gadhafi.
Related On This Site: Does Islam have less of a hold on the Middle East due to an individualizing Muslim world…if so does this partially explain why there is such a strong Islamic resurgence?: Adam Garfinkle At The American Interest: ‘What Did The Arab Spring Really Change?’…
Liberal Internationalism is hobbling us. If America doesn’t lead someone who probably doesn’t share our values will…Via Youtube-Uncommon Knowledge With Fouad Ajami And Charles Hill
Free speech (used both well and unwell) meets offended Muslims: ‘Mohammad Cartoonist Lars Vilks Headbutted‘During Lecture’……From The OC Jewish Experience: ‘UC Irvine Muslim Student Union Suspended’…From Volokh: ‘”South Park” Creators Warned (Threatened) Over Mohammed’
Walter Russell Mead At The American Interest Online: ‘Obama’s War’…From The WSJ: “Allies Rally To Stop Gadhafi”…From March 27th, 2009 At WhiteHouse.Gov: Remarks By The President On A New Strategy For Afghanistan And Pakistan…From The New Yorker: ‘How Qaddafi Lost Libya’…
Adam Garfinkle At The American Interest: ‘Remember Libya?’…A Few Thoughts On Watching Operations In Libya
Is Bernhard Henri-Levy actually influencing U.S. policy decisions..? From New York Magazine: ‘European Superhero Quashes Libyan Dictator’…Bernhard Henri-Levy At The Daily Beast: ‘A Moral Tipping Point’…Charlie Rose Episode On Libya Featuring Bernhard Henri-Levy, Les Gelb And Others…
