The Benghazi Consulate was secured by a private contractor from Great Britain.
The Blue Mountain Group (click here) are security professionals, many from Special Forces backgrounds, sharing and utilising experiences gained from working in the varied arenas that we supply to.
We consistently demonstrate a systematic understanding of our clients requirements and are proud of our ability to deliver cost effective and professional services aligned to many complex and diverse objectives....
...Security practices at the diplomatic compound, (click here) where Blue Mountain guards patrolled with flashlights and batons instead of guns, have come under U.S. government scrutiny in the wake of the September 11 attack that killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
Federal contract data shows that the Benghazi security contract, worth up to $783,284, was listed as a 'miscellaneous' award, not as part of the large master State Department contract that covers protection for overseas embassies....
The Ansar al-Shariah militia is supposed to have grown out of the "February 17 Brigade," a group of Salafists proud of their work in Sirte. The Ansar al-Shariah militia was probably a spin off of the most extreme of the Salafist group.
Abu Khattala was virtually unknown to the intelligence community until this attack on the USA Consulate in Benghazi. He is the groups leader and admits to being at the compound during the attacks.
The Ansar al-Shariah militia is supposed to have grown out of the "February 17 Brigade," a group of Salafists proud of their work in Sirte. The Ansar al-Shariah militia was probably a spin off of the most extreme of the Salafist group.
Abu Khattala was virtually unknown to the intelligence community until this attack on the USA Consulate in Benghazi. He is the groups leader and admits to being at the compound during the attacks.
...But Mr. Abu Khattala’s exact role, (click here) or how much of the leadership he shared with others, is not yet clear. His leadership would not rule out participation or encouragement by militants connected to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an Algerian Islamic insurgency that adopted the name of Bin Laden’s group a few years ago to bolster its image, but has so far avoided attacks on Western interests.
Like the other leaders of the brigade or fighters seen in the attack, Mr. Abu Khattala remains at large and has not yet been questioned.
The authorities in Tripoli do not yet command an effective army or police force, and members of the recently elected Parliament have acknowledged with frustration that their government’s limited power has shackled their ability to pursue the attackers....
But, that limited power was known to the USA and that is why they hired a British private contractor to secure their people.
...“Ansar al-Shariah is not only a shadowy group, it’s also quite factionalized,” the official said. “There isn’t necessarily one overall military commander of the group.”...
Exactly. They are very loosely organized. I would seek out their Holy Man for information to their identity and their purpose. They could be connected to the religious group of Salafists destroying other holy sites in Libya.
The entire Libyan Revolution was loosely organized. They were successful though once the killing of the citizens stopped in Benghazi. To understand these men might be the same type of fear witnessed in post invasion Iraq. Extremists with the idea having infidels in their land would give power back to people who were known to kill them. The Libyan Rebels were very much supported by others in the region with the same type of views. They almost didn't want foreign soldiers in their presence. They sacrificed their lives to achieve victory in their Holy War, I doubt they would allow any detail to purity remain among them after their victory.
...“Ansar al-Shariah is not only a shadowy group, it’s also quite factionalized,” the official said. “There isn’t necessarily one overall military commander of the group.”...
Exactly. They are very loosely organized. I would seek out their Holy Man for information to their identity and their purpose. They could be connected to the religious group of Salafists destroying other holy sites in Libya.
The entire Libyan Revolution was loosely organized. They were successful though once the killing of the citizens stopped in Benghazi. To understand these men might be the same type of fear witnessed in post invasion Iraq. Extremists with the idea having infidels in their land would give power back to people who were known to kill them. The Libyan Rebels were very much supported by others in the region with the same type of views. They almost didn't want foreign soldiers in their presence. They sacrificed their lives to achieve victory in their Holy War, I doubt they would allow any detail to purity remain among them after their victory.
...Mr. Abu Khattala fought Colonel Qaddafi along with the rest of the Libyan opposition and the current leaders of the big militias in eastern Libya. But as those groups lined up behind the transitional government and the democratic process, Mr. Abu Khattala and a small core of like-minded Islamists formed Ansar al-Shariah, which now includes 100 to 200 fighters. Its name means “supporters of Islamic law,” and it opposes electoral democracy as a substitute....
These were unknown people going about their lives until they were faced with Gaddafi's death machines in Benghazi. They were trained, they have no exposure to international dynamics, they would not understand the presence of an American Consulate if their lives depended on it. They probably never knew a television or radio in their lives.
The bottom line here is the private security company which was being well paid didn't have an adequate understanding of the brevity of their jobs, and if they did they didn't perform intelligence to understand the threats to the USA diplomats.
I still don't believe all the details are known. We have to wait for the State Department to finish their investigation. This attack was not al Qaeda. I apologize to the families, but, the men were killed by hapless people in fear of the difference that existed between them.
The bottom line here is the private security company which was being well paid didn't have an adequate understanding of the brevity of their jobs, and if they did they didn't perform intelligence to understand the threats to the USA diplomats.
I still don't believe all the details are known. We have to wait for the State Department to finish their investigation. This attack was not al Qaeda. I apologize to the families, but, the men were killed by hapless people in fear of the difference that existed between them.
