State Department: Benghazi Not Planned By 'Core Al Qaeda'

[DonViejo]

Two groups that attacked the U.S. mission in Benghazi are about to be designated as terrorists. But officials say they aren't "official affiliates" of al Qaeda.

The State Department confirmed Wednesday that it would be designating two Libyan groups that took part in the Benghazi 9-11 anniversary attacks of 2012 as terrorists. But the Obama administration insists there is no evidence linking the attack to al Qaeda's central leadership.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki chose her words carefully saying the branches of Ansar al-Sharia, a militia that claimed credit for the Benghazi attack in the first hours after the incident on social media were not "official affiliates" of al Qaeda.

“Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi and Ansar al-Sharia in Derna have been involved in terrorist attacks in the past, of course, against civilian targets, frequent assassinations, and attempted assassinations of security officials and political actors in eastern Libya," Jen Psaki said. She added that these attacks "include the September 11th attack against the special mission and annex in Benghazi, Libya.”

Psaki was responding to a report in the Washington Post that the Obama administration would soon designate the Derna and Benghazi branches of Ansar al-Shariah as terrorist organizations.

full article
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/08/state-department-benghazi-not-planned-by-core-al-qaeda.html

[giftedgirl77]

1. Yet, stupid Issa stands by his assertion

that Al-Qaeda was involved.

Can we sue that asshole for wasting so much of our money on all of the bullshit hearings? I know there is federal code governing fraud, waste, & abuse.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. The name "Al-Queda" has become virtually meaningless IMHO

esp when anybody can call themselves that-with or without official sanction.