I have thought that myself. However, I think looking for a deep explanation for the attack is over thinking it. Al Qaeda chased out the Brits, Red Cross and all other westerners. I see no reason to think they wanted anything more than to humiliate the U.S. and chase us out. They did get a load of intel but IMO that was a happenstance bonus.
Here we go:
Zawahiri: Benghazi Showed US Weakness
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"Their awe is lost and their might is gone and they don't dare to carry out a new campaign like their past ones in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Zawahiri.
U.S. officials have said they were shifting their focus to the Asia-Pacific. A September report from U.S. policy center Rand Corp. warns that a "fourth wave" of al-Qaida is spreading to new areas of the Middle East and North Africa as the U.S. strategic focus moves east
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Reminder how Obama was making a big campaign out of killing Osama bin Laden......then the Benghazi attack happened.
A ready made opportunity for Zawahiri to demonstrate that Al-Queda was alive...... How about that for motive......
To be clear... I think you are right...I just wanted to support what you said.
The US was kept off that site for so long that I don't think that passes the smell test. They wanted to allow our enemies to acquire all they wanted first.
Have a problem with the reported fact from an eye witness that the attackers wore Afghanistan type apparel and that they wore Al Qeada emblems on their clothes. Hard to believe that they would be so brazen. Yes, it is Al Qeada, but this was just a few months before the Presdiential election. And they knew the US President would have a green light to counter attack. Remember how Osama and company packed up and ran into the mountains fearing the counter attack ? Someone obviously wanted the US to think this was Al Qeada.