MEMRI Jihad & Terrorism Studies Project
November 1, 2012 Special Dispatch No.5034
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6785.htm
Arab TV Report Exposes Lax Security At U.S. Consulate In Benghazi Prior To Ambassador Stevens' Arrival And Security Breach Prior To Attack – Revealed By Documents Gathered At Consulate Following Attack
On November 1, 2012, Alaan TV, a UAE channel, stated in a report on the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that letters found inside the consulate, written by the U.S. Consular staff and addressed to the Libyan Foreign Ministry and the Benghazi police chief, revealed security breaches at the consulate. According to the letters, not only had a Libyan policeman photographed the compound 15 hours prior to the attack, but the Libyan government had not provided the security at the consulate requested by the consular staff prior to Ambassador Chris Stevens' arrival in Benghazi. According to the report, the letter stated, "We are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all."
November 1, 2012 Special Dispatch No.5034
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6785.htm
Arab TV Report Exposes Lax Security At U.S. Consulate In Benghazi Prior To Ambassador Stevens' Arrival And Security Breach Prior To Attack – Revealed By Documents Gathered At Consulate Following Attack
On November 1, 2012, Alaan TV, a UAE channel, stated in a report on the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that letters found inside the consulate, written by the U.S. Consular staff and addressed to the Libyan Foreign Ministry and the Benghazi police chief, revealed security breaches at the consulate. According to the letters, not only had a Libyan policeman photographed the compound 15 hours prior to the attack, but the Libyan government had not provided the security at the consulate requested by the consular staff prior to Ambassador Chris Stevens' arrival in Benghazi. According to the report, the letter stated, "We are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all."
Alaan TV, which operates from Dubai, began broadcasting in August 2006. It states that its aim is the cultural enrichment of Arab women, and it has often focused on Al-Qaeda and other terror organization from a critical point of view, inter alia interviewing family members of jihadi leaders.
Following are excerpts from the report.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/3629.htm
"The Letters Read As Follows: 'Early This Morning, On September 11... A Member Of The [Libyan] Police Force Was Seen...
Photographing The Inside Of The U.S.
Consulate'"
Reporter: "These documents were found by Alaan TV in the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, in the Tactical Operations Center building. The most important of these documents are letters written by the U.S. consulate staff on September 11 [2012], the day of the attack.
"One of the letters was addressed to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the MFA, as it is referred to in the documents. The other letter, which was almost identical in content, was addressed to the Benghazi police chief.
"In the letters, the Americans complained about an incident that occurred on the morning of September 11, an incident they described as 'troubling.' The letters read as follows: 'Early this morning, on September 11, 2011 [sic], at precisely 06:43, one of our diligent guards made a troubling report. Near our main gate, a member of the police force was seen in the upper level of a building across from our compound. It is reported that this person, who belongs to the police unit sent to protect the U.S. Special Mission, was photographing the inside of the U.S. consulate.'
"One of these letters contains important information about the police car that was present at the scene: 'The police car stationed where this event occurred was number 322.'"
"As is well known, there is no professional police force in Libya, and
therefore, the police and armed groups often work together. Thus, it seems clear, from the tone of the letter, that the Americans were extremely concerned about this incident, describing it as 'troubling.'
"According to the letter, they were hoping that the Libyan authorities would conduct an official investigation into this incident."
"The Letters Revealed That Since September 9, The Americans Had Been Requesting Special Security Arrangements In Preparation For Arrival Of Ambassador Chris Stevens" – But That These "Were Not Granted"
Reporter: "The letters revealed that since September 9, the Americans had been requesting special security arrangements, in preparation for the arrival of Ambassador Chris Stephens to Benghazi. These arrangements included the police guarding the front and rear gates of the consulate around the clock, in addition to a mobile patrol and a bomb-sniffing dog.
"The Americans, however, were not granted these requests, as was made clear from the letter, dated September 11, just hours before the attack. 'We are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all.'"
"The Attack On The U.S. Consulate Began 15 Hours" Later
Reporter: "This is how the attack on the U.S. consulate began, 15 hours after the policeman was seen photographing the building." [...]
© 1998-2012, The Middle East Media Research Institute All Rights Reserved.
Materials may only be cited with proper attribution.
Reporter: "These documents were found by Alaan TV in the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, in the Tactical Operations Center building. The most important of these documents are letters written by the U.S. consulate staff on September 11 [2012], the day of the attack.
"One of the letters was addressed to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the MFA, as it is referred to in the documents. The other letter, which was almost identical in content, was addressed to the Benghazi police chief.
"In the letters, the Americans complained about an incident that occurred on the morning of September 11, an incident they described as 'troubling.' The letters read as follows: 'Early this morning, on September 11, 2011 [sic], at precisely 06:43, one of our diligent guards made a troubling report. Near our main gate, a member of the police force was seen in the upper level of a building across from our compound. It is reported that this person, who belongs to the police unit sent to protect the U.S. Special Mission, was photographing the inside of the U.S. consulate.'
"One of these letters contains important information about the police car that was present at the scene: 'The police car stationed where this event occurred was number 322.'"
"As is well known, there is no professional police force in Libya, and
therefore, the police and armed groups often work together. Thus, it seems clear, from the tone of the letter, that the Americans were extremely concerned about this incident, describing it as 'troubling.'
"According to the letter, they were hoping that the Libyan authorities would conduct an official investigation into this incident."
"The Letters Revealed That Since September 9, The Americans Had Been Requesting Special Security Arrangements In Preparation For Arrival Of Ambassador Chris Stevens" – But That These "Were Not Granted"
Reporter: "The letters revealed that since September 9, the Americans had been requesting special security arrangements, in preparation for the arrival of Ambassador Chris Stephens to Benghazi. These arrangements included the police guarding the front and rear gates of the consulate around the clock, in addition to a mobile patrol and a bomb-sniffing dog.
"The Americans, however, were not granted these requests, as was made clear from the letter, dated September 11, just hours before the attack. 'We are saddened to report that we have only received an occasional police presence at our main gate. Many hours pass when we have no police support at all.'"
"The Attack On The U.S. Consulate Began 15 Hours" Later
Reporter: "This is how the attack on the U.S. consulate began, 15 hours after the policeman was seen photographing the building." [...]
© 1998-2012, The Middle East Media Research Institute All Rights Reserved.
Materials may only be cited with proper attribution.
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