Confirmed NBC: Ambassador Stevens has been killed

[Firebrand Gary]

The President has already released a statement. Link to follow.

Edited to add President Obama's statement.

Updated at 7:23 a.m. ET] President Barack Obama has released the following statement on the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya:

"I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.

I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.

On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya's transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.

The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward."

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/

[nanabugg]

1. Condolences to his family. May he RIP. May Secretary Clinton be safe. nt

[greytdemocrat]

2. What scum. n/t.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. Huffington Post Link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/j-christopher-stevens-ambassador-to-libya-killed_n_1876544.html

[nc4bo]

6. Al Jazeera English has a slightly different version...

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/09/20129112108737726.html

The US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, has died from smoke inhalation in an attack on the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, the country's interior ministry and security sources have said.

An armed mob attacked and set fire to the building in a protest against an amateur film deemed offensive to Islam's Prophet Muhammad, after similar protests in Egypt's capital.

The ambassador was paying a short visit to the city when the consulate came under attack on Tuesday night, Al Jazeera's Suleiman El-Dressi reported from Benghazi.

He died of suffocation during the attack, along with two US security personnel who were accompanying him, security sources told Al Jazeera. Another consulate employee, whose nationality could not immediately be confirmed, was also killed.

I'm just posting this because I think we shouldn't trust everything we read and see. The right-wing Christian/Republican/neocons in this country has a strong and powerful influence on the media message.

[Robb]

10. What difference in the story do you see that matters?

[nc4bo]

13. Well smoke inhalation is less dramatic than killed by a bullet or stab wound..

Is it an omission? I don't know and looks like it depends on who you ask or the news source.

Not executed. Not killed by bullet or some other bodily violence, but suffocated by smoke (if you were to take the word of Al Jazeera).

I am not agreeing with any one's actions that directly or indirectly caused the death of another human being at all, I just want to know the truth before we start talking retaliation.

I don't trust any of the players in this game some seem hell bent on playing.

[Robb]

22. Are you fucking kidding me? They're DEAD.

You prefer the idea of a bullet to dying in a fire? Disgusting.

[nc4bo]

28. Yes, sad as these deaths are, there are some treasonous people in this country who want war....

everlasting, neverending.........

I am not fucking kidding. Just how many times has the right attempted to lie to us so that are men and women die in senseless wars. Are you going to tell me that this country or the people controlling this country are above creating such a situation?

People died and God knows I am terribly sorry for them and their families but *I* think we all should keep an eye on the bullshit coming from the neocons. Especially after those same neocons (here and overseas) openly declared their willingness to start more wars.

[nc4bo]

4. Sorry - posted in wrong place.

[Missycim]

5. An attack on our ambassador and consulate is

an act of war. I guess this is how we are paid back for helping them.

[nc4bo]

7. Or there are people who will benefit from conflict in the Middle East

and will do what ever it takes to create that conflict.

The U.S. Media, along with reporting on the effects, should also do their damn jobs and report EVERYTHING leading up to this.

[CJCRANE]

18. Um...no it's not. The Libyan government fought off the attackers. nt

[Odin2005]

8. So, we free them from Gaddhafi and they thank us by murdering our ambassador?

Get the fuck out of the Middle East, that region is beyond hope.

[Missycim]

9. Its such a heart felt

display of gratitude isn't it?

[CJCRANE]

19. This had nothing to do with the Libyan government.

They may have been foreign fighters.

[Renew Deal]

11. MSNBC killed an ambassador?

[Shrek]

14. That momentarily shocked me as well n/t

[area51]

12. Terry Jones has blood on his hands.

Not that he cares.

[malaise]

15. Who financed that film???

That lil pipsqueak in Florida (who had an effigy of Obama being lynched) coes not have this kind of money.

[Marrah_G]

17. The problem is not the film

The problem is religious extremism.

[malaise]

23. The person(s) who financed it knew the response in advance

Religious extremism from both the Fundie lunatics like Jones and those in the ME is well known. Those with money and a well-timed agenda merely fuel the fire.

[Marrah_G]

25. The problem is with people who want to murder in the name of god

They will always find a reason to murder in the name of god.

We have some here in the US in the form of anti-choice nuts and the guy who shot Gabby Gifford for example.

[nc4bo]

20. And who are those called "Islamic Law supporters"?

All the players need to be identified including ALL those behind the film.

"A group calling themselves the "Islamic law supporters" carried out the attack in response to the relaese of the film, Al Jazeera's El-Dressi reported."

The AJ article said they were well armed, even more so than the Libyan security forces.

What is really going on here?

[Ganja Ninja]

24. Produced by an Israeli, made in America, financed by "around 100 Jewish donors".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocence_of_Muslims

I assume that "100 Jewish donors" means primarily Sheldon Adelson and the Likud Party.

[Marrah_G]

16. I feel so sorry for all their families

They are victims of religious extremism that seems to be ramping up all over our planet.

[ellisonz]

21. Ambassador Chris Stevens and his collegues were public servants of the American people...

...who laid down their lives in our service. This awful incident says not so much about the wrongs of an extremist group, but about how everyday around the globe these people go to work knowing that this day could be their last on alive. Their service was noble and their sacrifice painful

[malaise]

26. Well said

Sadly there are people who don't give a flying fuck about any lives. All they care about is their agenda - religious or political.
The timing of this one along with other stuff going on is highly suspicious.

[NotThisTime]

27. Thank you very well said, I agree with each and every word.