Accused Benghazi Ringleader Acquitted Of Murder Charges But Convicted Of Terrorism

New York Times: Libyan Convicted of Terrorism in Benghazi Attacks but Acquitted of Murder

WASHINGTON — A former militia leader from Libya was convicted on Tuesday of terrorism charges arising from the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed a United States ambassador and three other Americans. But he was acquitted of multiple counts of the most serious offense, murder.

The defendant, Ahmed Abu Khattala, 46, was the first person charged and prosecuted in the attacks, which took on broader significance as Republicans and conservative news outlets sought to use them to damage the presidential ambitions of Hillary Clinton, who was then the secretary of state. Yet the seven-week trial in federal court in Washington received relatively little attention from such quarters.

Mr. Khattala was convicted on four counts — including providing material support for terrorism, conspiracy to do so, destroying property and placing lives in jeopardy at the mission, and carrying a semiautomatic firearm during a crime of violence — but acquitted on 14 others. He faces life in prison.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: He may have escaped the death penalty, but he other convictions will guarantee him spending a good number of years behind bars.

More News On The Accused Benghazi Ringleader Acquitted Of Murder Charges But Convicted Of Terrorism

Benghazi 'ringleader' cleared of most serious charges -- BBC
U.S. Jury Acquits Accused Benghazi Attack Organizer of Most Serious Charges -- US News and World Report/Reuters
Libyan convicted of terror charges, not murder, over Benghazi attack -- AFP
Libyan cleared of murder charges in Benghazi attack -- ABC News/AP
Benghazi suspect cleared of murder, guilty on terror charges -- CNN
Libyan militant accused of 'masterminding' Benghazi attack that left four Americans dead is ACQUITTED of murder -- Daily Mail
Benghazi attacker guilty of terrorism, acquitted of murder -- UPI
Accused Benghazi ringleader convicted on terrorism charges in 2012 attacks that killed US ambassador -- Washington Post
Benghazi Mastermind Acquitted of Murder, Most Serious Charges -- Sputnik
Libyan cleared of US envoy's murder in Benghazi, convicted of terror -- Digital Journal

President Trump: US Special Forces Have Captured The Benghazi Attack Mastermind

An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, late on Sept. 11, 2012. Politifact

The Hill: US captures key militant behind Benghazi attack: report

Special operations forces have captured a top militant who helped lead the deadly 2012 attacks against a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, The Associated Press reported Monday.

U.S. commandos captured the man in Libya during a joint mission that was approved by both President Trump and the Libyan government, U.S. officials told the news wire on condition of anonymity.

The man, who has yet to be identified, is seen as a key player in the assault that resulted in the deaths of a U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

The militant is being transported to the United States, according to the report.

Read more ....

More News On US Special Operations Raid Captures Benghazi Attack Mastermind

US captures key militant in Benghazi attack -- FOX News/AP
U.S. captures suspected Benghazi attack militant: official -- Reuters
US special operations raid captures alleged Benghazi plotter -- ABC
Benghazi Attacks Suspect Is Captured by US Commandos -- New York Times
US Captures a Second Suspect in 2012 Benghazi Attack -- Wall Street Journal
US forces capture second Benghazi suspect in Libya -- CNN
US Captures Benghazi Attack Mastermind -- Sputnik

Casualties From The U.S. Benghazi Consulate Attack Could Have Been Worse If It Was Not For The Actions Of One CIA Officer And Former Gaddafi Loyalists

A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during a protest by an armed group said to have been protesting a film being produced in the United States September 11, 2012. Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Daily Caller: If It Wasn’t For This CIA Officer, A Lot More People Would Have Died In Benghazi

Casualties sustained during the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, could have been much higher if it was not for the work of a mysterious CIA officer, according to an official report from the House Select Committee on Benghazi.

The report, released Tuesday, noted that U.S. military support did not arrive to aid the small contingent of U.S. personnel defending the consulate during the attack. Instead, it was a militia made up of former Gaddafi loyalists known as Libyan Military Intelligence (LMI) that would come to the rescue of the U.S. officials several hours after the attack. According to the report, the militia group came to the aid of the officials thanks to a quick-thinking CIA officer known only as “Officer A.”

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WNU Editor: The irony of former Gaddafi loyalists coming to the rescue of U.S. officials thereby limiting the number of casualties to only 4 U.S. KIA (instead of a massacre of an untold number) .... I just cannot help myself but shake my head. I have mentioned this many times before .... around the world many people do hate the U.S. government .... but many of these same individuals are smart enough to differentiate the U.S. government from its citizens .... even to the point of risking their lives to help and protect them.

Benghazi Report: U.S. Marines Rescue Was Delayed For 3 Hours Because Washington Could Not Decide On What Uniforms They Should Wear

U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response. Africom

Daily Mail: House GOP Benghazi report – Marines' rescue was delayed because no one could decide whether they should wear uniforms or civvies

* On night of 2012 attacks, government officials whether Marines should wear military or civilian uniforms
* Marines had to change FOUR TIMES in three hours
* The U.S. also failed to scramble military assets in time to stop the attack on the U.S. Benghazi compound
* Top official at Hillary Clinton's State Department said he was sensitive to not diminishing security through overt presence

Add to the litany of failures during the Benghazi attack a serious wardrobe malfunction.

As the Sept. 11th, 2012 attack raged, government officials debated whether U.S. Marines being dispatched should don their military uniforms or wear civilian clothing, according to a new report being released by Republicans on the select Benghazi committee.

The report cites one commander who said as forces got ready to deploy, 'during the course of three hours, he and his Marines changed in and out of their uniforms four times,' NBC reported.

Read more ....

Update #1: Marines responding to Benghazi were held up by debate on weapons and uniforms, commander says (Marine Times)
Update #2: State worried about Marine uniforms during attack (Politico)

WNU Editor: The U.S. main stream media has moved on with this story .... too bad .... there are still too many embarrassing details on how the administration reacted during (and after) this crisis that should not be ignored. And while (in hindsight) this Marine rescue detachment would never have arrived in time to save these 4 Americans .... the fact is that during this crisis the priority was on what clothes should they wear .... instead of going there .... should give chills to everyone.

Congressional Benghazi Report Detailing Administration Errors Released

CNN: Benghazi report: Clinton should have realized risks

Washington (CNN)House Republicans released a long-awaited report Tuesday on the Benghazi terror attacks that killed four Americans on Hillary Clinton's watch as secretary of state, reviving the politically charged issue less than five months before the election.

The report, parts of which CNN reviewed in advance, paints a picture of a perfect storm of bureaucratic inertia, rapidly worsening security in Libya and inadequate resources in the months that led up to the killings of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three colleagues on September 11, 2012.

Clinton told the House Benghazi Committee last year that she was aware of the dangers in Libya but "there was no actionable intelligence" indicating a planned attack.

The portion of the report obtained by CNN doesn't offer a scathing indictment of Clinton. But it does argue that intelligence was available suggesting an attack was possible and Clinton and a top aide, Patrick Kennedy, should have realized the risks posed to the Benghazi mission by extremist groups.

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WNU Editor: The full Benghazi report is here. The Democrat version is here.

More News On The Benghazi Report

House Republicans' Report Faults Obama on Benghazi Attacks -- AP
Final Benghazi report details administration failures -- Politico
Benghazi Committee Releases Final Report -- ABC News
Benghazi Panel Says Clinton Should Have Been Aware of Risks -- Bloomberg
Benghazi Report Describes Inertia, Failure to Recognize Risks -- Roll Call
Clinton can't escape Benghazi responsibility -- The Hill
House Republicans' Report Sheds New Light on Benghazi Attack -- NBC
Benghazi GOP lawmakers say Hillary Clinton created conditions for attack -- Washington Times
Benghazi Republican Report: Read The Investigation Into Terror Attack And Hillary Clinton’s Role -- IBTimes
Gowdy: Clinton, State Department stonewalled Benghazi panel -- Politico

The CIA Is Not Happy With The Movie '13 Hours'

Variety: CIA Spokesman Slams ‘13 Hours’ as ‘Distortion’ of Benghazi Events

A spokesman for the CIA is criticizing the Michael Bay movie “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” as a “distortion of the events and people who served in Benghazi that night.”

The spokesman, Ryan Trapani, was quoted in an exclusive Washington Post story, which also features an interview with the CIA chief in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, when Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed in a siege of the diplomatic compound and attack on the CIA annex.

“No one will mistake this movie for a documentary,” Tripani told the Post. “It’s a distortion of the events and people who served in Benghazi that night. It’s shameful that, in order to highlight the heroism of some, those responsible for the movie felt the need to denigrate the courage of other Americans who served in harm’s way.”

Tripani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Update: Former CIA officer in Benghazi challenges Michael Bay's '13 Hours' (Chicago Tribune/Washington Post)

WNU Editor: I always find it amazing how some movies just get some people all riled up.

New Clinton Emails Reveal That The Pentagon Had Troops Ready To Respond To The Siege Of The U.S. Consulate In Benghazi

A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during a protest by an armed group said to have been protesting a film being produced in the United States September 11, 2012. Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

FOX News: 'Spinning up as we speak': Email shows Pentagon was ready to roll as Benghazi attack occurred

As the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was unfolding, a high-ranking Pentagon official urgently messaged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s top deputies to offer military help, according to an email obtained by Judicial Watch.

The revelation appears to contradict testimony Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave lawmakers in 2013, when he said there was no time to get forces to the scene in Libya, where four Americans were killed, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.

“I just tried you on the phone but you were all in with S [apparent reference to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton],” reads the email, from Panetta’s chief of staff Jeremy Bash. “After consulting with General Dempsey, General Ham and the Joint Staff, we have identified the forces that could move to Benghazi. They are spinning up as we speak.”

Update #1: Disclosed: Email Shows Pentagon Offered ‘Forces that Could Move to Benghazi’ Immediately -- Washington Free Beacon
Update #2: New Clinton Email Shows Pentagon Had Forces Ready To Respond To Benghazi Attack -- Daily Caller
Update #3: Emails suggest Pentagon had troops ready during Benghazi seige -- Washington Examiner

WNU Editor: If true .... this contradicts what Pentagon and White House officials have been saying for years .... that U.S. troops were not available to send to Benghazi at the time.

What Is The Impact Of Hillary Clinton's Benghazi Testimony

Richard Fernandez, PJ Media: What Does an 800 Pound Gorilla Do?

The shifting narrative over the “hateful video” which allegedly provoked a lethal attack on the US consulate in Benghazi is chronicled in the videos shown after the “More”.

1. In the aftermath of the attack, the State Dept ran ads on Pakistani TV disavowing a video which purportedly played a role in provoking the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.
2. Domestically Susan Rice went the round of talk shows to explain how a hateful video provoked outrage in the Muslim world leading to an attack on Western facilities.
3. The producer of the “hateful video” was carted off to the hoosegow.
4. Within a few weeks the narrative has subtly changed. Here Romney being told by Candy Crowley that the administration never thought a hateful video played a role in the Benghazi attack at all. How could he think that? Romney is roundly mocked for thinking that it should have ever been so.
5. Fast forward to House Benghazi hears of 2015. Hillary is asked about the video’s role in the Benghazi attack and becomes clear from her own her own correspondence that she never seriously believed it played a role at all.

WNU Editor: Hillary Clinton's entire Benghazi testimony is in the above video. As to what is my take .... both sides followed a script to appeal to their supporters, and both were successful. And as for the 4 dead Americans .... and for their families .... there is no closure. In the meantime .... the scandals and questions that always follow the Clintons and pointed out by their critics continues.

A CIA Insider's Account On What Happened At Benghazi

Mike Morell, Politico: The Real Story of Benghazi

A CIA insider’s account of what happened on 9/11/12

On September 11, 2012, I was in Amman, Jordan, part of my routine international visits as deputy director of the CIA. I had already been to Israel and was due the next day to depart for Saudi Arabia. I had dined that night with the head of the Jordanian military and the head of Jordanian intelligence, and upon returning to the hotel I checked in with Washington and caught up on e-mail before going to bed. Earlier in the day I had seen reports about an incident in Cairo that, although troubling, seemed to have ended without too much damage and with no injuries.

It wasn’t long before I was woken from a sound sleep by a knock on the door from one of my assistants, who told me that another incident had taken place, this one at the State Department facility in Benghazi, and that CIA security officers had responded in order to assist. My assistant told me that one State Department officer had been killed and the ambassador’s whereabouts were unknown. She said that everyone else had relocated to the CIA base in Benghazi and was believed safe, adding that our chief of station (COS) in Tripoli was sending security officers as reinforcements from Tripoli to Benghazi.

WNU editor: It is telling that former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell admits to the following ....

.... At the end of the day, are the Libyan people better off after their revolution than before? I’m not so sure.

Mike Morell does not add any new information to what happened at Benghazi .... he still blames it on a video that no one saw, and that the attack was not premeditated .... even though tit occurred on the anniversary of 9/11 and other reports are saying otherwise .... Hillary Received Memo Describing Benghazi As Planned Terror Attack Within Hours (Daily Caller). He also does not make any mention of this .... Military intel predicted rise of ISIS in 2012, detailed arms shipments from Benghazi to Syria (FOX News) .... nor has he commented on the above video (from FOX News) because his comments in the past .... Former CIA Deputy Director In New Book: CIA Failed To See Al-Qaeda "Rebound'. Benghazi Attack Has Been Politicized .... are a complete contradiction to what we now know the intelligence assessment was saying at the time.

The Beghazi Scandal Refuses To Die

Benghazi Bombshell: Clinton State Department Official Reveals Details of Alleged Document Review -- Daily Signal

As the House Select Committee on Benghazi prepares for its first hearing this week, a former State Department diplomat is coming forward with a startling allegation: Hillary Clinton confidants were part of an operation to “separate” damaging documents before they were turned over to the Accountability Review Board investigating security lapses surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya..

According to former Deputy Assistant Secretary Raymond Maxwell, the after-hours session took place over a weekend in a basement operations-type center at State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. This is the first time Maxwell has publicly come forward with the story.

Read more ....

More News On Reports That Documents On The Benghazi Attack Were Removed By State Department Officials

Ex-Official Claims Clinton Allies Scrubbed Benghazi Documents In Secret Session -- FOX News
Hillary Clinton's staff told to hide any documents that could make her inner circle look bad in aftermath of Benghazi, whistle-blower claims -- Daily Mail
Clinton aides scrubbed Benghazi files before review, former official says -- Washington Times
Staffers loyal to Hillary Clinton covered up potentially damaging Benghazi documents: former official -- New York Daily News
Benghazi documents scrubbed to protect Hillary: former official -- New York Post
Democrats Baffled by Benghazi Whistleblower’s New Accusations -- Slate

Update: Defenders of the administration are painting a different story .... "Scrubbed" Benghazi Docs "Bombshell" Is Based On Evidence-Free Report By Discredited Benghazi Hoax Architect (Media Matters). More at the following .... Democrats claim House investigation of Benghazi is 'wasting taxpayers' dollars' (Daily Mail).

My Comment: What's my take .... this drip drip of new revelations must be killing the White House .... the solution is an independent prosecutor ... but for their own reasons not yet explained .... the U.S. Justice Department does not want to go there.

CIA Security Contractors At Benghazi: About 25 More Americans Would Be Dead Today If We Had Obeyed Our 'Stand Down' Order

Benghazi Security Contractors: About 25 Americans Are Still Alive Because We Broke 'Stand Down' Order -- Breitbart

The Obama administration, the CIA, and even some congressional committees—they all said there “was no 'stand down' order.”

But now five men who helped ward off the terrorists that attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya two years ago say it's only because they defied such an order that as many as 25 Americans are alive today.

“There’s quite a few—the soft-skins, we call them, or the non-shooters,” Kris “Tanto” Paronto, one of the security contractors that fateful evening, said in a phone interview on early Monday afternoon. “They’re all still working. I can’t give their names out or give their call signs out. The only ones I can are like me and Oz and Tig who have come out. We’re all on board with the project and we are all a team together, but some want to remain anonymous.

Read more ....

My Comment: Breitbart .... with FOX News .... has been consistent in investigating and reporting on the Benghazi story when new facts and/or info are uncovered. As a reward for their efforts .... Breitbart appears to have caught the attention of someone in the IRS .... Breitbart News says IRS targeted company for audit (FOX News).

Coincidence? Who knows.

On a side note .... the speculation on why Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi  on the day that he was killed continues .... Finally revealed: What ambassador in Benghazi was really doing (WND).

Once we understand why the Ambassador was there .... a question that the White House continues to not answer .... is when we will have a better understanding on what led to the events that led to the terrorist attack of the U.S. consulate that day.

U.S. Security Team In Benghazi Contradicts White House Claims That There Was No Significant Delay During The U.S. Consulate Attack

Top CIA Officer In Benghazi Delayed Response To Terrorist Attack, US Security Team Members Claim -- FOX News

A U.S. security team in Benghazi was held back from immediately responding to the attack on the American diplomatic mission on orders of the top CIA officer there, three of those involved told Fox News’ Bret Baier.

Their account gives a dramatic new turn to what the Obama administration and its allies would like to dismiss as an “old story” – the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Speaking out publicly for the first time, the three were security operators at the secret CIA annex in Benghazi – in effect, the first-responders to any attack on the diplomatic compound. Their first-hand account will be told in a Fox News special, airing Friday night at 10 p.m. (EDT).

Read more ....

More News On FOX News' Report On Benghazi

US commandos claim CIA station chief delayed Benghazi rescue -- The Hill
U.S. security team from secret CIA annex: We were told to stand down in Benghazi -- Washington Times
Benghazi attack: book alleging CIA failures dismissed by Democrats -- The Guardian
American Commandos Say They Were Ordered to ‘Stand Down’ During Benghazi Attack -- New York Magazine
Top Intel Dem: ‘No evidence’ for Benghazi ‘stand down’ claim -- The Hill

My Comment: The White House has been consistent in saying that there was no significant delay in responding to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi .... but these officers who were on the ground are saying the exact opposite. So who is right?

This FOX news report is a good start to ask some serious questions. It is also a riveting video .... for the first time we are seeing the CIA heroes who tried to save Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans.

On a side note .... the main stream media is still continuing to not cover this story .... Networks Skip Bombshell Benghazi Claim: Rescue Was Delayed By CIA Official (Newsbusters). I guess they ... unlike FOX News .... decided to not antagonize the White House .... Greta Van Susteren: Obama Admin Pressured us to Drop Benghazi Story (Breitbart)

Benghazi Survivors Break Their Silence On The Terror Attack That Killed U.S. Ambassador Stevens And Three Other Americans

Top CIA Officer In Benghazi Delayed Response To Terrorist Attack, US Security Team Members Claim -- FOX News

A U.S. security team in Benghazi was held back from immediately responding to the attack on the American diplomatic mission on orders of the top CIA officer there, three of those involved told Fox News’ Bret Baier.

Their account gives a dramatic new turn to what the Obama administration and its allies would like to dismiss as an “old story” – the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Speaking out publicly for the first time, the three were security operators at the secret CIA annex in Benghazi – in effect, the first-responders to any attack on the diplomatic compound. Their first-hand account will be told in a Fox News special, airing Friday night at 10 p.m. (EDT).

Read more ....

More News On The Benghazi Survivors Who Are Now Breaking Their Silence On The Terror Attack That Killed U.S. Ambassador Stevens And Three Other Americans

New Book Says CIA Official in Benghazi Held Up Rescue -- NYT
New Book Claims CIA Guards Were Told to Stand Down During Benghazi Attack -- The Wire
New Book Claims Top CIA Officer In Benghazi Told Commandos To 'Stand Down' During Attack -- Business Insider
'13 Hours': New Book Says CIA Official In Benghazi Stalled Rescue Of Ambassador Chris Stevens -- IBTimes
Bombshell Claim: Security Operators on the Ground in Benghazi Say They Were Told to ‘Stand Down’ — and That’s Not All -- The Blaze

Head Of Benghazi Probe Says That No Witnesses Will Be 'Off-Limits'

Head Of Benghazi Probe Says No Witnesses Off Limits, Including Clinton -- FOX News

The Republican head of the Benghazi Select Committee warned Tuesday that no witnesses would be off limits in its upcoming probe and that he would consider going to court, if necessary, to compel testimony.

"I can't skip over a witness that I think we ought to talk to simply because there is an assertion of either privilege or immunity," Chairman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina told Fox News in an exclusive interview.

He said that while he has received good cooperation to date, and the issue had not yet arisen, "if you mean to say that 'not only can they not talk, they don't have to come,' you have to litigate that."

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My Comment: This is going to be messy. Benghazi has always been a "hot-potato" for the White House .... as far as they are concerned the case is closed. But for the families who lost loved ones and for House Republicans .... this is only starting.

Was The U.S. Consulate Attack In Benghazi Actually 2 Attacks By Two Different Groups?

Top Commanders Suggest Two Separate Groups Organized Benghazi Assault -- The Wire

Evidence suggests that the Benghazi attacks were the work of two separate militant groups, commanders involved in the U.S. response to the attacks told the House Armed Services Committee in testimony released on Wednesday. The deadly 2012 attacks killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

We already knew that there were two separate waves of attacks on the diplomatic compound: the first attack killed Stevens and a second American at the consulate. But as the Associated Press explains in their advance look at the testimony, a second attack had the markings of a different group of militants. That group killed two American security contractors. The AP explains:

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More News On Reports That The U.S. Consulate Attack In Benghazi Was Actually 2 Attacks By Two Different Groups

Benghazi: 2 Days, 2 Distinct Attacks on Americans -- ABC News/AP
Newly released testimony latest evidence Benghazi attacks premeditated -- FOX News
New testimony suggests separate Benghazi attacks -- L.A. Times
Benghazi attacks may have involved two different groups, say US commanders -- The Guardian/AP
2 Separate Groups Might Have Attacked the Benghazi Compound -- NYMagazine
Testimony Suggests Second Group in Benghazi Attacks, Though Evidence Seems Thin -- Slate

Primary Suspect In The Benghazi U.S. Consulate Attack Now In The U.S.

Benghazi Killings Suspect Abu Khatallah Now In U.S. -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Ahmed Abu Khatallah -- the man the U.S. accuses of being the ringleader in the 2012 attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya -- has been brought to federal court in Washington, a U.S. official confirmed Saturday.

He had been interrogated aboard the USS New York after being captured earlier this month.

Abu Khatallah was awaiting an appearance before a federal judge in Washington after being flown from the ship, an amphibious transport dock, to the nation's capital.

Authorities say Abu Khatallah is among the senior leaders of Ansar al Sharia, whose members were among several militias that participated in the attacks on U.S. government facilities in Benghazi on September 11-12, 2012. The attacks killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

Read more ....

Update #1: Captured Benghazi Attack Suspect Arrives in U.S. -- NYT
Update #2: Benghazi suspect now in federal custody in D.C. -- FOX News

My Comment:  Here is an easy prediction .... this case is going to take years to be resolved.

The USS New York Has 'Gone Dark'

The USS New York in the Hudson River on Nov 2nd, 2009. Wikipedia

USS New York, Carrying A Benghazi Suspect, Has Gone Dark -- Washington Post

Where is the USS New York?

At 684 feet long and displacing over 24,900 tons, the Mayport, Fla.-based San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock is no smart car of the seas. Yet the vessel has gone “dark” for more than a week now.

The low profile might have something to do with the fact that the New York is currently home to the recently captured Ahmed Abu Khattala, one of the accused ringleaders of the Sept. 11-12, 2012, Benghazi terrorist attacks that left four Americans dead.

While any ship’s location is supposed to be a well-guarded secret when deployed, the New York is in a unique position, because instead of threading its way through the Suez Canal or dodging a Chinese destroyer, it’s believed to be steaming toward the East Coast: Abu Khattala is expected to be arraigned soon in Washington.

Read more ....

Update: Mayport-based USS New York 'goes dark' with Benghazi suspect on board -- AP

My Comment: I am betting that it will show up in New York City within 2 weeks.

Libya Demands Return Of Benghazi Suspect Seized By US Special Forces

Libya Condemns U.S. Arrest Of Benghazi Suspect, Demands His Return -- Reuters

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya on Wednesday condemned U.S. special forces' arrest of a man on its soil suspected of masterminding a deadly Islamist militant attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, describing the detention as a violation of Libyan sovereignty.

In the first official reaction from Tripoli, Justice Minister Saleh al-Marghani said the suspect, Ahmed Abu Khatallah, should be returned to Libya and tried there.

"We had no prior notification. We did not to expect the U.S. to upset our political scene," Marghani told a news conference.

Read more ....

More News On Libya Demanding The Return Of The Benghazi Suspect Seized By US Special Forces

Libya accuses US of violating its sovereignty -- Al Jazeera
Libya demands return of Benghazi suspect, slams US raid as attack on sovereignty -- RT
Benghazi: Libya Condemns US Arrest Of Suspect -- SKY News
Libyan government condemns US operation -- RTE News
Libya demands return of Benghazi suspect seized by US forces -- L.A. Times

Why Did It Take So Long To Capture The Key Suspect In The US Consulate Attack At Benghazi?

Why Delta Force Waited So Long to Grab a Benghazi Ringleader -- Eli Lake and Kimberly Dozier, Daily Beast

In echoes of the raid to capture Osama bin Laden, Delta Force operators practiced the raid to capture Ahmed abu Khatallah on a mock-up of his compound at Fort Bragg before going into the real thing.

The mission to capture Ahmed abu Khatallah, one of the ringleaders of the September 11, 2012 attacks on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya was more than a year in the making.

In the months leading up to the raid, teams from the Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, or Delta Force, practiced the extradition on a mock up of abu Khatallah’s compound at Fort Bragg, according to a U.S. military contractor familiar with the planning for the mission. Eventually, it was a Delta Team with embedded FBI agents on Sunday that snagged the man wanted for the murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department officer Sean Smith and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

The Obama administration has come under withering criticism because the whereabouts of abu Khatallah have been generally known. Journalists in Libya were able to interview him, critics asked, so why couldn’t American journalists track him down, too?

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More News On Why Did It Take So Long For The U.S. To Apprehend The Chief Suspect in The U.S. Consulate Attack In Benghazi

Nabbed Libyan militant lived openly in Benghazi -- Washington Post
Hiding in plain sight: Captured Benghazi suspect an enigma -- CNN
Captured Benghazi suspect did interviews with U.S. media outlets as authorities searched for him -- New York Daily News
Benghazi Suspect Was Well Known To Journalists Long Before His Capture -- Huffington post
Why did it take so long to capture key Benghazi suspect? -- PBS Newshour
Fox’s James Rosen to State Dept Spox: Why Such ‘Egregious Delay’ in Capturing Benghazi Suspect? -- Mediaite
James Rosen to State Department: Why’d it take nearly two years to arrest a Benghazi suspect who wasn’t hiding? -- Hot Air

My Comment: James Rosen (see above video) does make a good point .... why did it take nearly 2 years to arrest the top Benghazi suspect who wasn’t even hiding? Who even made the point of telling journalists where he lived and what was his schedule like. Even Special Forces .... who trained for months for this operation .... when it came to the moment of actually capturing Ahmed abu Khatallah .... were faced with the situation where he actually opened the door to let them in. To say that this entire case is very strange is an understatement.

Update: Why does this not surprise me .... Benghazi Suspect Said He Was Moved To Take Revenge For American-Made Video (Huffington Post/New York Times). Rush Limbaugh certainly called this one right.

U.S. Special Forces Capture Suspected Leader In The 2012 Benghazi U.S. Consulate Attack

Sept. 11, 2012: A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames.Reuters

Sources: Benghazi Attack Suspect Captured, En Route To US -- FOX News

EXCLUSIVE: A suspected terrorist linked to the 2012 Benghazi terror attack that killed four Americans has been captured inside Libya by U.S. forces and currently is en route to the United States, Fox News has learned.

Sources told Fox News that the suspect, Ansar al-Sharia commander Ahmed Abu Khattala, was captured Sunday during a joint U.S. military and law enforcement operation, and will face prosecution in the United States.

President Obama signed off on the mission on Friday night, Fox News is told. Khattala was captured south of Benghazi by U.S. special operators and is on his way to the U.S. aboard a Navy ship.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Special Forces Capture Suspected Leader In The 2012 Benghazi U.S. Consulate Attack

U.S. Captures Suspected Ringleader Of Attack In Benghazi -- NPR
U.S. captures Benghazi suspect in secret raid -- Washington Post
U.S. Says It Captured Suspected Leader of Benghazi Attack -- New York Times
U.S. Captures Suspected Leader in 2012 Benghazi Attack -- Bloomberg
Pentagon: Benghazi Suspect in U.S. Custody -- Time/AP
U.S. nabs suspect in Benghazi attack -- USA Today
Benghazi attack suspect in U.S. custody after secret raid -- CBS
Benghazi Suspect Captured by US Special Forces -- ABC News
Benghazi suspect captured in weekend raid: official -- Chicago Tribune
Suspect in Benghazi Terror Attack Captured in Libya: U.S. -- New York Post
Ahmed Abu Khattala, Alleged Benghazi Attack Ringleader, Captured In Libya By US Forces -- IBTimes
U.S. commandos capture 'mastermind' behind 2012 Benghazi consulate attack and plan to bring him to Washington for trial -- Daily Mail
Suspect in Benghazi consulate attack captured by US Special Forces -- Al Jazeera
The Suspected Ringleader of the Benghazi Attacks Is in U.S. Custody -- National Journal
Capture of Benghazi suspect thrusts U.S. special operations in Africa into spotlight again -- Washington Post
Meet Ahmed Abu Khattala, an alleged ringleader of the Benghazi attack -- Washington Post
Timeline: How the Benghazi attack played out -- Washington Post

My Comment: So much for the White House storyline that a video caused a ragtag group of protestors to spontaneously attack the US consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.