One of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks upon hearing of the death of the US ambassador and his colleagues in Libya was:
The mission that drew Chris and Sean and their colleagues to Libya is both noble and necessary, and we and the people of Libya honor their memory by carrying it forward. This is not easy. Today, many Americans are asking - indeed, I asked myself - how could this happen? How could this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we helped save from destruction? This question reflects just how complicated and, at times, how confounding the world can be.
I believe the answer is that after the initial success of any revolution there are always elements of the old regime that go underground and attempt to wage counter-revolution. They can be expected to have ferreted away a large amount of cash and hidden stockpiles of weapons, they may get assistance from outside the country, and that they can launch a nagging terror campaign.
After listening to the news and views all day on the protest and attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, I strongly suspect we are looking at two distinct events with one consciously trying to confuse or associate itself with the other.
One event was a Salafist led mass protest of several hundred people at the consulate. What they were protesting is not entirely clear. There was the racist film on YouTube but there was also the announcement of the death of Abu Yahya, no matter, event one was an angry crowd, anti-US protest, at the US embassy; as in Egypt, the same day and more countries the next.
Two was a well co-ordinated military attack on the US compound that involved mortar teams and RPGs. This attack used the first event for cover and diversion. This attack, particularly given the target, was most likely the work of the remnants of the Qaddafi regime. Maybe they were also Salafists but ramrodded by the regime remnants, the way the terrorists that hit the polling station appear to be Federalists with regime remnants ramrodding them.
The so-called "Green Resistance" has been a complete failure in finding any support for a return of the old regime and they are far too tiny to wage even a guerrilla war, so they make mischief with what wedge issues they can and back extreme elements with money and weapons. The Qaddafi regime, such as it is, is still the number one security problem facing Libya today.
This attack is similar to an attack on a polling station in Benghazi on election day, done under cover of a small federalist protest. I also suspect that these pro-Qaddafi elements are strongest in Benghazi precisely because they had to go underground there the earliest.
With the election day attack, it was the revolutionary brigades saddling up and taking to the streets in their technical vehicles that stopped any further violence. The point here is that the question of arms in the hands of elements of the old regime should not be conflated with arms in the hands of the revolutionary brigades as is all too often done. The old-regime elements definitely must be ferreted out and dis-armed. The revolutionary brigades should not lay down their arms until that is done.
While this incident does reflect badly on the security provided by the revolutionary Libyan government to those the Qaddafi terrorist may target for revenge, including a number of generals that defected, it tells us nothing about the attitude of the Libyan people towards the US and certainly should not be taken in that light.
It probably can safely be taken as a reflection of the attitude of the remnants of the Qaddafi regime towards the US because while Clinton maybe right that "The mission that drew Chris and Sean and their colleagues to Libya is both noble and necessary" the Qaddafi people may still remember the good old days when they could torture people with the CIA in the room and feel betrayed.
These are my articles on the Libyan Revolution:
Women and the Libyan Revolution
The Left and the Arab Spring
Libya's elected congress to take power today
The Elections and Libya's Violent Militias
#Libya at the crossroads: The ballot or the bullet
Is Libya better off than it was?
Libyan Elections to be held July 7th
Qaddafi forces Strike Back in Libya
Libya & Syria - two videos - no comment
BREAKING: Libyan High Court strikes down anti-free speech law
Where should Libya's Saif Qaddafi be tried?
MSM plays Hankey Panky with Libya
Qaddafi lies live on after him
Another "Houla style" massacre in Syria
Libya's Qaddafi helped US & Israel against Iran in Olympic Games
Why is Russia demanding NATO boots on the ground in Libya?
#LyElect Libyans register to vote 1st time in 60 years
Libya's Revolution: How We Won - The Internationale in the 21st Century
Good News from Libya
On Libya & Glenn Greenwald: Are the anti-interventionists becoming counter-revolutionaries?
UN: NATO killed 60 civilians in Libya
Libya in the news today
Amnesty International on Libya again
The Current Situation in Libya
Democracy Now & Amy Goodman gets it wrong again.
Why is Chris Hedges calling for "boots on the ground" in Libya?
The Worm Has Turned: Good Film on Libyan Revolution from PressTV
Why NATO's mission in Libya isn't over yet
Libya's Freedom Fighters: How They Won
Racism in Libya
Abdul Rahman Gave his Eyes to See the End of Qaddafi
BREAKING: Secret files reveal Dennis Kucinich talks with Qaddafi Regime
BREAKING: Libyan TNC won't extradite Lockerbie bomber
Who really beat Qaddafi?
#Feb17: @NATO Please help MEDEVAC wounded from #Libya
What should those that opposed NATO's intervention in Libya demand now?
BREAKING: Qaddafi's Tripoli Compound Falls!
Does PDA Support Qaddafi?
BREAKING: Operation Mermaid Dawn, the Battle to Liberate Tripoli is Joined
Helter Skelter: Qaddafi's African Adventure
Qaddafi's Long Arm
SCOOP: My Lai or Qaddafi Lie? More on the 85 Civilians presumed killed by NATO
Did NATO kill 85 Libyan Villagers As Qaddafi Regime Contends?
CCDS Statement on Libya - a Critique
The Assassination of General Abdul Fattah Younis
NATO over Tripoli - Air Strikes in the Age of Twitter
How Many Libyans has NATO Killed?
Qaddafi Terror Files Start to Trickle Out!
Have Libyan Rebels Committed Human Rights Abuses?
Tripoli Green Square Reality Check
Behind the Green Curtain: Libya Today
Gilbert Achcar on the Libyan situation and the Left
NATO slammed for Libya civilian deaths NOT!
2011-07-01 Qaddafi's Million Man March
NATO's Game Plan in Libya
February 21st - Tripoli's Long Night
Did Qaddafi Bomb Peaceful Protesters?
Tripoli Burn Notice
Libyans, Palestinians & Israelis
'Brother' Qaddafi Indicted plus Libya & Syria: Dueling Rally Photofinishs
An Open Letter to ANSWER
ANSWER answers me
2011-06-22 No Libyans allowed at ANSWER Libya Forum
Are they throwing babies out of incubators yet?
Continuing Discussion with a Gaddafi Supporter
Boston Globe oped supports Gaddafi with fraudulent journalism
2011-04-13 Doha summit supports Libyan rebels
Current Events in Libya
Amonpour Plays Softball with Gaddafi
Arming Gaddfi
North African Revolution Continues
Is Libya Next? Anonymous Debates New Operation
