Posted on 10/17/2012 4:12:50 PM PDT by drewh
The founder of Libya's Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia was at the U.S. consulate compound during the deadly attack here, Libyan officials say, but he remains free a week after those allegations were disclosed to Libyan political leaders and US investigators.
Ahmed Abu Khattalah—who current Libyan officials and former Islamic militants describe as propagating an al Qaeda-style ideology—was seen during the Sept. 11 attack at the diplomatic mission where two of the four Americans died, said two senior Libyan security officials familiar with the investigation.
The officials' allegations provide the most direct link so far between the assaults and Abu Khattalah's militia. They also may fuel a political controversy in the U.S., where the Obama administration faces questions over security at the consulate and its response to the attack.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment, citing the continuing probe. Ansar al-Sharia has denied it orchestrated or participated in the violence.
The two Libyan officials say their evidence of Abu Khattalah's presence at the consulate came from witness statements as well as recent raids against Ansar al-Sharia members' homes.
"There's no doubt the sheik was there," said one of these officials, referring to the religious title Abu Khattalah's followers use for him. "If the sheik was there, then the sheik was giving commands. That's how the group operates
The U.S. has sent a team of FBI agents to probe the case, but they are operating mostly out of the capital city, Tripoli, which is 400 miles away. Any move by Libya's ramshackle police force against radical Islamists or al Qaeda sympathizers in Benghazi might create an unpredictable backlash, according to security officials here.
"Tripoli is far away, and we aren't going to start a civil war here by ourselves," said one of the Libyan officials in Benghazi.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Ladies and gentlemen...herein is found our October Surprise.
This just came from the White House Insider:
Have a heads up for you. This comes directly from the Old Man. Military intelligence may have tracked location of a guy called “Khattalah” who apparently organized the Benghazi attack. Check media reports for name. Obama to order drone strikes or possible all out bombing operation. Says it appears imminent. Obama will then make claim “perpetrators brought to justice” to squash Benghazi questions and play part of hero. “Bin Laden Version 2 “ If accurate, this scenario would fit with the earlier rescue operation scenario you had sent me earlier. That went to sh-t so now they are recalibrating the same general idea with an updated version of it.
I have not heard anything resembling something this specific. Doing double time trying to confirm. Nobody in Romney camp aware of this. Or if they are, not tipping their hand.
This has me worried. Old Man attempting to get in front of it be he’s got his hands full with other critical Europe related issues. Says he has source in Libya but has been unable to locate. ????? Tone of his message suggests more worried than me.
Any ideas?
Yup.
Is that you, quidam?
Laying the foundation for the big lie. Who will it be? Some random goat-herder who will never see it coming while BO gets off on the video footage from the drone he sends in.
a bit more.
Where's Code Pink?
I think O is saving this for after the foreign policy debates if he tanks it and he knows a loss is imminent.
I pity the poor sap they pick to be Khattala.
You gotta be kidding. obama sending a drone or bomber in to kill the guy?
It’ll more likely happen like this: CIA gets intel of guy’s location. obama pulls trigger. Bombers over libya. Met by about 200 shoulder-fired missiles and blown to friggin’ bits. Footage placed on Youtube by al qaeda, libyan citizens dancing in streets and firing AKs. Mission accomplished baby.
When the New York Times is pumping retaliatory strike on Jihadist, without any self hatred or self deprecating examination, thing are really bad in Obama’s polling.
This weekend.
If this Khattalah guy has anyone monitoring US outlets then he’s heading for the slums of Torbruk where only boots on the ground can get him. And since Libyans seem much more connected to Western media than the 12th century types in the ‘stans, Saudi and Iran I’d bet he saw his name on Ulsterman as soon as it was posted. Also WHI indicates that a full air strike is in the works. If they’re using assets in Europe local permission must be obtained, either to deploy from or overfly. That wouldopen the door to leaks. Honestly I’m not confident that Obama’s DoD can pull off a strike package that WHI speaks of.
I heard a story yesterday while in Washington, DC. The the guards hired by the British firm were known Jihadist’s. It true this would be the nail in Obama’s reelection chances. If the story is true then it makes sense for Romney to wait until Monday’s debate. Allowing obummer to really keep his lies going until the can bring his regime down.
Has anybody else heard this about the guards being Jihadists?
I think it will happen this weekend if not before so that he can counter Romney’s Benghazi attack with what a big “hero” he is during the debate (because he vaporized some innocent herder and all his goats.)
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