Little Progress in FBI Benghazi Investigation: Suspects, Including a Former Gitmo Detainee, Still At Large

The day after the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attacks President Obama said: “Make no mistake. We will work with the Libyan government to bring justice to the killers who attacked our people.”

But, more than seven months later, there are no indictments and no arrests. According to a House Republican Conference report on the Benghazi attacks, FBI investigators have made “very little progress.”

In fact, the only one who has actually been apprehended and locked up is the filmmaker who, it was determined, was not responsible for inciting the violence in Benghazi. Meanwhile, the actual suspects are still at large.

Sufyan Ben Qumu, is believed to have been involved and may be the ringleader of the attacks. Qumu has been recently spotted in Libya. Released from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2007 Qumu was then transferred into Libyan custody on the condition he be kept in jail. He was released, however, by the Qaddafi regime as part of its reconciliation effort with Islamists in 2008. One of the suspects in the attack was detained in Tunisia but was released before he could be captured or questioned by US investigators.

The FBI recently released images of three individuals who were on the grounds of the US Special Mission in Benghazi when it was attacked in September. The images are of men who may be able to provide information to help the FBI’s investigation. Additionally, a webpage was launched by the FBI in order to solicit tips in the region. Also provided is a companion Facebook page which is in Arabic. The webpage, fbi.gov/benghazi, includes images, tip forms, and posters in Arabic and English, as well as an e-mail address, benghazitips@ic.fbi.gov, for submissions of confidential information to investigators. The site also includes a video featuring an Arabic speaker soliciting tips from the region.

A source told Fox News, however, that the government is “sitting on” information. ”We basically don’t want to upset anybody, and the problem is, if Ambassador Stevens’ family knew that we were sitting on information about the people who killed their son, their brother, on and on, then, and we could look them as a government in the face, then we’re messing up. We’re messing up.” the source said.

Fox News spoke exclusively with one special operator who watched the events unfold in real time and has debriefed those who were part of the response:

“He remains anonymous for his safety and has decided to talk because he says he and others connected with the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks in Benghazi are frustrated with the excuses and lack of a military response since Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

‘We have all the capability, all the training, all the capacity, to kill and capture not only terrorists involved, with the specific events of 9/11, and Ambassador Stevens’ death, but terrorists that are feeding other regions including Europe that could eventually affect our national security in the short term,’ the source said. ‘And we’re not talking midterm or long-term, this is the short-term.’

Another threat is a larger terrorist haven that continues to build in parts of Libya and North Africa. Those working the region in the interest of U.S. security say the ball is being dropped by top leaders at the White House, Pentagon and State Department.

‘The analysts, the intelligence experts all say the same thing, that if we just ignore the situation as it presents itself, eventually it will be another invasion will have to take place for us to eventually turn the tide.’”

The group the FBI is pursuing is Ansar al Sharia, an offshoot of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Ansar al-Sharia means “Partisans of Islamic law” in Arabic. The terrorist organization was formed by AQAP in response to the growing youth movement in Yemen, which has marginalized Salafi-jihadists who support the violent overthrow of the government and the establishment of an Islamic state.

Ansar al Sharia remains active in Benghazi, operating patrols and checkpoints. According to military officials it is also working in collusion with other Islamist groups, allowing it to operate openly. The group, “continues to spread its ideology in the Benghazi area, particularly targeting youth,” said one official, who acknowledged that the lack of central government security was the why the militia is able to thrive.

In terms of apprehending the suspects, Deputy chief of Mission in Libya, Gregory Hicks, told the House Oversight Committee at Wednesday’s hearing on Benghazi, that the administration’s claims regarding an impromptu protest in Benghazi  (which were in direct contradiction to statements made by Libyan prime minister Mohammed al-Magarief) hampered the FBI’s investigation by breeding resistance from Libyan authorities. Also problematic is that when asked whether he had been interviewed by the FBI in the course of its investigation, Hicks said that he had not. Hicks explained that the FBI was delayed in getting to the consulate and that evidence had not been secured.

Susan Rice’s description of the attack as spontaneous, “made achieving the objective of getting the FBI to Benghazi very, very difficult,” Hicks said.

Terror Linked Al Jazeera Opening 12 New Bureaus Across the US

Al Jazeera, the Qatar based international cable network, will open twelve new bureaus in various locations across the US. The goal of the news outlet’s aggressive expansion is to become a household name in America.

The launch of the new bureaus will begin in the summer. In addition to expansion in New York City, bureaus will open in Nashville, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Detroit, and Washington DC.

Dawud Walid, executive director of Hamas linked Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), said he believes Al Jazeera America in Detroit is a positive development for the local Muslim community. “I believe Al Jazeera coming here to the heart of Muslim America can play a productive role in showing a clearer image of who we are as Muslims.”

Al Jazeera has seventy divisions around the world and has been criticized for being a propaganda tool. The network is partially backed by a grant from the Qatari government, which is a contributor to Hamas, in Gaza. The owner of Aljazeera, the emir of Qatar, has donated four hundred million dollars to Hamas, a State Department designated terrorist group.

During an October 2012 visit by Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, to the southern Gaza strip, the emir agreed to an investment of four hundred million dollars to rebuild the Gaza Strip which sustained damage during Operation: Cast Lead, between Israel and Gaza terrorist groups in 2008.
“The emir agreed to increase Qatari investment from two hundred and fifty-four million dollars to four hundred million,” Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya announced during a press conference. “Today we demolish the wall of the blockade through this visit, thank you Qatar,” he added.

James Simpson, in a RedState article, provides examples of Al Jazeera’s anti-American propaganda and terrorist connections. A few highlights:

• Film footage of captured terrorists in Iraq demonstrates intent; they arrived to kill Americans because of Al Jazeera.
• NBC’s Lisa Myers, in an article, wrote: “Why do they go? Saudis captured in Iraq say it’s because of pictures on Arab television network Al-Jazeera. We saw the Americans massacring the Iraqis,” said one Saudi prisoner in Iraq…”
• According to CNN, a document found in bin Laden’s compound following his death referred to a meeting with the Al Jazeera bureau chief in Pakistan.
• 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was protected by the government of Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera.

Cliff Kincaid, president of America’s Survival Inc. and director of the Accuracy in Media (AIM) Center for Investigative Journalism, refers to Al-Jazeera as an “enemy propaganda network that has served as a mouthpiece for terrorist groups.” Those terrorist groups would include Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah.


Kincaid told The Clarion Project’s Ryan Mauro, in an interview, that, “at a time when Americans are increasingly concerned about gun violence and the murder of innocents, Al Jazeera wants access to tens of millions of American homes to promote its own brand of anti-American violence and terrorism. For the sake of our loved ones, we have to say no.” Kincaid went on to explain that Al Jazeera could inspire jihadism in America in the same way it has incited anti-American terrorism abroad.

Lebanon’s Al Manar TV has already been banned from the U.S. because it was found to be part of Hezbollah. So, in the same way, a hearing should have been held to determine if Al Jazeera should be banned due to its obvious ties to terrorism. Keep in mind, Al-Jazeera was the voice piece of Osama bin Laden. And, though we are not at war with Qatar, we are at war with the jihadists being supported by Qatar.

What needs to be investigated is why Al Jazeera’s broadcasts in the US aren’t treated by cable and satellite providers as foreign propaganda under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Also in question is why public television stations are turning their broadcast time over to Al Jazeera and other foreign channels, in violation of Federal Communications Commission rules. Additionally, the deal bringing Al Jazeera into the US was not reported to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) of the Treasury Department, which is a violation of the law.

In as much as these are significant concerns, it did not persuade Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA), chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), to call for investigation of Al Jazeera. Citing the First Amendment, Scalise said that Al Jazeera has the right to expand its broadcasts in the United States and that there are no grounds for a congressional investigation of Al Gore’s deal with Al Jazeera.

In the US, it is against the law to provide material support to terrorists, with “material support” defined as including expert advice or assistance and communications equipment. Consider the fact that during World War II, Tokyo Rose along with Axis Sally broadcast anti-American diatribes from overseas but were apprehended by US authorities after the war, charged with treason and sent to prison. Similarly, the US is officially still at war with global terrorism, but Al Gore provided supporter of terrorism, Al Jazeera, an opportunity to continue its campaign of anti-American, pro-jihadists propaganda on American soil.

Last December, Al Jazeera ran a story about the “gentle” al Qaeda terrorists in Mali who kidnapped and killed three Americans. With statements like this having been and the news organization’s ties to terrorism, there is good reason for concern regarding Al Jazeera’s potential for inciting home grown terrorism.

Terror Attacks in Iraq Kill 8

Iraq dealt with a series of attacks that left eight dead and thirty-eight injured, on Wednesday.

The offices of a Kurdish political party were hit with a car bomb, in Kirkuk. Twenty people were wounded in that explosion.

One person was killed and six wounded when a suicide bomber struck a military check point, in Kirkuk. It was being manned by Kurds and all of the casualties were members of their security forces.

A police station in Fallujah was hit by a drive by shooting. Three officers died the attack.

In Baghdad, three people were killed and eight wounded when a bomb blew up on a commuter bus.

A suicide bomber in Mosul blew up a carpenter's, killing one and injuring four.

Most of the attacks have not yet been claimed, but Al Qaeda is considered the likely suspect as they regularly try to disrupt life in Iraq.

Yau Yau's Rebels Seize South Sudan Town and Military Base

David Yau Yau

Rebels in the South Sudan have chased the government's forces out of the town of Boma.

They've also chased them from the neighboring military base.

Government troops have taken refuge on the mountain, which over looks the town.

UN aid workers abandoned the town, as well, to avoid being in the cross fire between the two armed groups.

The rebels belong to the South Sudan Democratic Army, led by David Yau Yau.

He says his forces are working to force South Sudan into having an actual democracy, rather than a one party system.

His forces are regularly supplied by the Sudanese government, who regularly denies that it supports the rebels fighting the country which until a few years ago was part of their own.  

Ship Hits Harbor Control Tower in Genoa Killing 7

A traffic control tower in the port of Genoa, Italy collapsed when it was struck by a cargo ship, late Tuesday night.

Seven people were killed and four injured in the collision, and two remain missing.

Due to the timing of the accident, right at shift change, there were thirteen people in the tower.

Officials believe that a malfunction with the ship's engine caused the accident.

No damage was done to the Jolly Nero, the ship that struck the tower.

Colorado Senate Passes Weed DUI Bill

After voting against weed DUI limits five times, Colorado's Senate passed a bill on the sixth time, on Tuesday.

The bill officially places a limit of five nanograms per milliliter on THC, while driving.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana, which can cause impairment.

Monday had seen the House pass the bill, forcing the sixth vote in the Senate.

Governor Hickenlooper had worked very hard to see the bill passed and will sign it as soon as it reaches him.

Suspects in Death of Chris Haney to be Held Without Bond

Haney

The suspects in the shooting death of Chris Haney to be held without bond.

Haney had tried to break up a fight on April 27, in Denver, Colorado, when he was shot and killed.

Police have arrested Robert and Paul Bernal for the shooting.

On Tuesday, a judge decided that they should be held without the possibility of bail, until a hearing on June 21.

Delaware Becomes 11th State to Legalize Same Sex Marriage

Markell

Delaware's Senate voted on Tuesday afternoon to pass a bill legalizing same sex marriage.

Governor Jack Markell has already promised to sign it, as soon as it gets to his desk.

By passing the bill, Delaware will become the eleventh state to legalize marriages between same sex couples.

The state already allows for same sex civil unions, so the bill won't add any more legal rights.

It simply allows for the term married to legally be used.

Women Escape 10 Years After Being Kidnapped

One of three women who had been kidnapped a decade ago was able to escape on Monday night and call Cleveland, Ohio police.

Michelle Knight disappeared on August 22, 2002, at the age of twenty-one; Amanda Berry had last been seen on April 21, 2003, when she was sixteen; and Georgina DeJesus went missing, when she was fourteen, on April 2, 2004.

Amanda Berry was able to escape the house, while their kidnapper was gone, gaining help from a neighbor in calling police.

Since then, police have arrested the home owner, fifty-two year old Ariel Castro, and his two brothers, fifty-four year old Pedro and fifty-one year old Onil.

A six year old girl also escaped with Berry, and it is believed to be her daughter.

Not much has been released about the conditions the four lived in, but it seems that they were all in good condition after being taken to a hospital.

Neighbors are in shock with the realization that they were so unaware of what was happening right in their neighborhood.

DC Police and US Park Service to Block Loaded Gun March on July 4

Kokesh

Self described libertarian, blogger, and radio host Adam Kokesh has called for a protest in Washington DC, against governmental abuses of liberty, on July 4.

Marchers of the protest are called upon to come with loaded rifles slung on their backs as they march around the US Capitol, Supreme Court, and White House.

So far, more than twenty-five hundred people have signed up to join Kokesh, on his march.

On Tuesday, DC Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier promised that if the marchers attempt to enter DC they will be arrested, by riot police who will be waiting for them.

Carrying a firearm is illegal in DC, whether it is loaded or not.

As the march will also bring the protesters onto land owned by the US Park Service, the Park Service plans on joining the DC police in blocking the path of the march.