According to Alex Jones the fearmongering ‘terror alert’ is nothing more than theater to distract from Benghazi.
UPDATE: Dr. Mark Christian from the Global Faith Institute has an alternative reading of events in the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012: it was not an act of Sunni related terrorism, but a nation state assault by a Hezbollah and Iran related Shia group. (Source) More on this likely hypothesis here.
May 25, 2013
CIA Involvement in Weapons Transports to Syrian Rebels
The American ambassador Chris Stevens, who died in terrorist attacks on 9/11 last year in Benghazi, was negotiating a shipment of shoulder fired guns through Turkey
In March 2011 the American diplomat Chris Stevens was appointed as the liaison to the Al Qaeda allied Libyan opposition. He worked closely with Abdelhakim Belhadj, Head of the Military Council of Tripoli. Belhadj was also involved with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (now discontinued). Some members of the group were involved in the terrorist attacks on the CIA annex in Benghazi, where Stevens died of his injuries.
The negotiations
The CIA annex in Benghazi, not far from the US consulate, was used as a collection point of information regarding the proliferation of weapons, raided from Libyan arsenals during the revolution. During the revolution, the Obama administration jumped into backing the Libyan rebels without finding out if they were tied to Al Qaeda.
In November 2011 The Telegraph reported that Belhadj, on behalf of the new Libyan government, met with leaders of the Syrian rebellion, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in order to discuss how to supply them with money and arms. The meetings took place in Istanbul and close to the Turkish-Syrian border.
The attacks on September 11, 2012
In the evening of September 11, 2012 ambassador Stevens had a meeting with the Turkish Consul, General Ali Sait Akin. The attack began at 9.30pm, just after Akin had left. We don't know what was discussed, but sources admit that Stevens was negotiating buying back SA-7s from the Libyan rebels.
Perhaps these discussions had nothing to do with the presence of Stevens at that location at that specific time, or with the events later on that night, but it certainly would explain the presence of Stevens. A spokesperson from the State Dept. however denies that possibility and maintains Stevens was in Benghazi for the inauguration of a cultural center.
The "Al Antisar"
A mysterious vessel, the Al Entisar (the Victory), under Libyan flag, docked on September 6, 2011, five days prior to the attacks on Benghazi at the Turkish port of Iskenderun, near the Syrian border. Her cargo was a shipment of weapons consigned to the Syrian rebels. The captain of the ship was "a Libyan from Benghazi and Head of the Libyan National Council for Relief and Support," an organization probably set up by the new government.
The Times of London reported on September 14 that the cargo contained humanitarian aid and 400 tons of SA-7 missiles, described as "the largest consignment of weapons for Syria". This heavy weaponry probably came from the arsenals of Muammar Gaddafi, and consisted of 20,000 portable heat seeking missiles - mostly SA-7s - which the Libyan tyrant got from the former East Block.
Stingers
Reuters reported later on that Syrian rebels used these weapons to shoot down government choppers and fighter jets. Also that a fight had broken out between the Free Syrian Army and the Muslim Brotherhood how to divide the lot.
The captain of the vessel told Times of London that he was only able to "discuss the shipment of humanitarian aid" for the Syrian rebels, whereas the shipment in fact consisted of air defense missiles, RPG's and Russian Stingers (MANPADS). These weapon systems are extremely accurate and easy to use. With a few simple instructions anyone, anywhere is able to shoot down any aircraft.
IHH and the flotilla for Gaza
The Foundation for Human Rights, and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) - a group seen to have sent the consignment (also known as the organizer of the Gaza flotilla) vehemently denies the accusation and has reacted strongly in a number of Turkish publications.
(We) "will take legal action against this article which was written without concrete evidence. It is defamatory, includes false and unfair accusations and violates publishing ethics."
We know Jihadists are part of the opposition army. But where are they from? The Telegraph has reported that an FSA commander refers to his troops as "Libyans". And if the new Libyan government sends well trained Islamic fighters and 400 tons of heavy weaponry - a deal that was mediated by Stevens' Libyan liaison during the Libyan revolution - the US and Turkish governments must have known about it.
Benghazi-Syrian connection
Between ambassador Stevens and the man who brought the weapons to Syria, was just one person, Belhadj. We know the CIA supplied weapons to the Syrian rebels through southern Turkey. The question is, was the CIA involved in delivering the Stingers from Libya. In any case, the connection between Benghazi and the Syrian rebels is much stronger than is publicly admitted.
In March 2011 Reuters reported that Obama had signed a secret executive order, "(allowing) covert U.S. government support for rebel forces "in order to depose the Libyan dictator". During a hearing on March 31 at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, several representatives expressed their worry about the article in Reuters and asked whether the government knew who the rebels were and if Jihadists were among them. The Republican chair, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla) asked:
"What assurances do we have that they will not pose a threat to the United States if they succeed in toppling Qaddafi? There are reports that some opposition figures have links to Al Qaeda and extremist groups that have fought against our forces in Iraq."
The source of the weapons is still under investigation, but former CIA Director Porter Goss has said that there's no doubt that they ended up in Libya and that intelligence agencies, given their presence in Benghazi, must have known.
"Absolutely. I think there's no question that there's a lot of networking going on. And ... of course we know it."
Proliferation
In October 2011, one month after the death of Ghadaffi, Hillary Clinton announced in Tripoli that the US government would reserve $40 million aid for Libya to buy back arms.
Earlier that year Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, Andrew Shapiro expressed worry that the situation was out of control. On February 2 Shapiro said:
"This raises the question -- how many (weapons) are still missing? The frank answer is we don't know and probably never will.
One thing is for sure: since Ghadaffi has been deposed his extensive arsenal has spread all over the region, mostly to Gaza and Syria. Chances are that this history will repeat itself with the demise of the Assad dynasty in Syria. Israel is very worried indeed.
More background on Benghazi and the gun running from Libya to Syria: Glenn Beck- Why Obama Hid the Truth of Benghazi ? (video)
Related:
- Benghazi Live Blog
- Confirmed: SA-7 Missiles Are in Terrorist Hands
- Read the Uncut Interview with Dutch Jihadists
- Gas Plays an Explosive Role in the War in Syria
- What is the Benghazi Scandal? A Simple 10 Point Explanation
- Build up of Russian War Fleet in Syria Largest Since the Cold War