Changes

{{Cquote|It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html</ref>}}

{{Cquote|It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html</ref>}}

With images of besieged U.S. missions in the Middle East leading the evening news after the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] told reporters, authorities “have no information to suggest that it was a preplanned attack.” He added that there was no reason to think that the attack on the sovereign territory at the United States consulate in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of Americans wasn’t related to a satirical youtube video.

With images of besieged U.S. missions in the Middle East leading the evening news after the eleventh anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] told reporters, authorities had no reason to think that the attack on the sovereign territory at the United States consulate in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of Americans was a terrorist attack.

:“The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive,” Carney said.

{{Cquote|The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive,}}

When pressed by reporters who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was preplanned, Carney said that “news reports” had speculated about the motive. He noted again that “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”

The White House said. When pressed by reporters who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was a terrorist attack, Carney said that “news reports” had speculated about the motive. He noted again that “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”

By Sunday, September 16, 2012 the evolution of the Obama administration narrative was complete when Susan Rice, the U.N. ambassador, showed up on all five major morning talk shows to make the most direct public connection yet between the Benghazi assault and the incendiary video. Couching her remarks in caveats – “based on the information we have at present,” for example – Rice clearly intended to make the link before a large American audience. Rice told ABC’s ''This Week,'' the attack was “a spontaneous – not a premeditated – response to what had transpired in Cairo” – a reference to a demonstration triggered by the anti-Muslim video in which hundreds breached the U.S. Embassy compound there and tore down the American flag. Rice repeated the claim throughout her talk-show appearances and later blamed intelligence services for giving her incorrect information before she went on air.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/18/171933/obama-administration-officials.html</ref>

By Sunday, September 16, 2012 the evolution of the Obama administration narrative was complete when Susan Rice, the U.N. ambassador, showed up on all five major morning talk shows to make the most direct public connection yet between the Benghazi assault and the incendiary video. Couching her remarks in caveats – “based on the information we have at present,” for example – Rice clearly intended to make the link before a large American audience. Rice told ABC’s ''This Week,'' the attack was “a spontaneous – not a premeditated – response to what had transpired in Cairo” – a reference to a demonstration triggered by the anti-Muslim video in which hundreds breached the U.S. Embassy compound there and tore down the American flag. Rice repeated the claim throughout her talk-show appearances and later blamed intelligence services for giving her incorrect information before she went on air.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/18/171933/obama-administration-officials.html</ref>