09.30.2012
10.01.2012 link update / paragraph edit
U.S. Embassies & Staff Come Under Attack, PART II: Global Campaign
original article written by Net Advisor™
Excerpt: This is Part II of our 5-part series report on not just recent, but numerous terrorists attacks on U.S. Embassies and staff covering especially the last four years. The Obama Administration has blamed a “video” for recent terrorists attacks against U.S. Embassies and staff in Libya.
Part II discusses a time-line of the on-going global campaign of terrorist attacks on U.S. Embassies and its staff over the last four years.
[1] The Terrorism Campaign. Libya has received most of the attention lately regarding the terrorist attack at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo was also attacked on 9/11 by radical religious militants who scaled the U.S. Embassy walls, tore down the American flag, and replaced it with a black Salafist flag (Source: Time).
“Salafists originally are supposedly not violent,” and the Salafis whom Gilles Kepel encountered in Europe in the 1980s were “totally apolitical”, by the mid 1990s he met some who felt jihad in the form of “violence and terrorism were justified to realize their political objectives”.
— Wikipedia entry on Salafist
What we have is a radical group who has used violence as a means to try and achieve a political end.
Separately, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s diplomatic vehicle was attacked in July 2012 with water bottles, tomatoes, and shoes (ultimate insult in that part of the world), upon her visit to Egypt. The group chanted for her departure and shouted “Monica” referring to former President Bill Clinton’s sex scandal with then White House intern.
[2] At Least 19 U.S. Embassies and Staff Under Terrorist Attack in the Last 4 Years
The U.S. Embassy’s in Libya and Egypt are not the only places that have come under recent terrorist attacks. There have been at least 19 terrorist attacks where U.S. diplomatic consulates and their staff have been targets over the last four years.
The 19 attacks include the 12 below in [brackets], plus recent Libya (13) and Egypt (14) attacks, plus 5 repeated attacks on separate dates hitting U.S. Embassies more than once, also noted below. The shoe and bottle throwing at Hillary Clinton’s diplomatic vehicle in Egypt in July 2012 is not counted as an “terrorist attack,” but none-the-less presents obvious security issues for diplomats.
[3] Yemen, Middle-East
In 2008, the U.S. Embassy was hit by a terrorist attack by those dressed like policemen “armed with rocket-propelled grenades, automatic rifles, grenades, and car bombs, attacked the outer security ring at the entrance of the main gate from a car… A 20-minute battle ensued between the terrorists and the embassy security force, during which some embassy security forces were fired upon by snipers from across the road.” 19 People were killed, but no U.S. personnel physically injured (Source: Wikipedia). Al-Qaeda was blamed for the attack (Source: Washington Post).
This wasn’t the first time this Embassy or personnel had been under attack. On December 16, 2010, a bomb attack occurred against a vehicle carrying four U.S. Embassy personnel. No injuries reported (Source: CNN).
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen was also under attack for the third time in four years where on 09-13-2012 where 100’s of “protestors” who stormed the U.S. Embassy gate, set fires to vehicles and smashed (ballistic resistant) windows while shouting, “We sacrifice ourselves for you, Messenger of God.” Allegedly some 15 people were wounded including some by gun fire by local Yemeni police (Source: Reuters).
[4] Damascus, Syria.
On February 11, 2009 the U.S. Embassy in Syria was attacked.
“Islamic militants tried to storm the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday (02-11-2009) using automatic rifles, hand grenades and a van rigged with explosives, the Syrian government said. Four people were killed in the brazen attack, including three of the assailants, but no Americans were hurt.”
— Source: CBS News (Story #2100-202_162-1999271 gone), 02-11-2009 (PDF)
Two year later, on July 11, 2011 (11-11-11), both the U.S. and French Embassies in Syria came under attack by so called “protestors.” U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford’s personal residence in Syria was also attacked, however no major damage or personal injuries reported.
Syria’s official statement is that the cause of attacks were conducted by “armed gangs” and Muslim extremists (Source: CBS News (Story #2100-202_162-1999271 gone)). In all likelihood, we are talking about the same people – armed religious extremists. When help was called to protect the U.S. Embassy and staff, local authorities were “slow and inefficient” reports the BBC. Why the U.S. government did not respond to protect Americans at the embassy is not known.
[5] Peshawar, Pakistan.
In April 2010, the U.S. Embassy in Peshawar, Pakistan was attacked by terrorists using a suicide car bomb, grenades and weapons fire in attempt to breach inside the U.S. Embassy compound. The U.S. issued the following statement:
“Statement: Terrorist Attack On U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar
April 05, 2010
Islamabad – The United States condemns the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar today. At least two Pakistani security guards employed by the Consulate General were killed in the attack and a number of others were seriously wounded. The coordinated attack involved a vehicle suicide bomb and terrorists attempting to enter the building using grenades and weapons fire.”
— Source: Embassy of the United States, Islamabad, Pakistan, 04-05-2010 (full statement PDF)
Next, on September 3, 2012, eight days before the U.S. Embassy attacks in Egypt and Libya, two Pakistani employees working for the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan were killed by a suicide bomber who rammed a U.S. consulate vehicle (pictured above). Over a dozen other people were wounded including two Americans stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Peshawar (Source: Reuters).
This was the second time in recent memory that the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan was attacked. If Pakistan was truly interested in supporting U.S. policy, they would better secure their borders, and not harbor terrorists such as they did with Osama Bin Laden.
[6] Kabul, Afghanistan.
Almost a year to the day of the recent terrorist attack in Libya, other parts of the North Africa, Middle-East and Indonesia, came the 1 year anniversary when the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan came under attack.
“A Taliban spokesman said several attackers with rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47s and suicide vests had taken up positions to attack government buildings.”
— Source: Guardian.UK, 09-13-2011
We know Afghanistan is a long-time hot zone for war, so not surprised that the Taliban would attack the U.S. Embassy there. The timing of that attack again came within nearly a year to the day of recent U.S. Embassy attacks in Libya and Egypt.
[7] Cuernavaca, Mexico.
In August 2012, two U.S. Embassy employees were shot and wounded driving down a highway near Cuernavaca, Mexico. The U.S. vehicle was armoured and displayed diplomatic license plates. Mexican officials claim that the American vehicle got caught up in a chase (Source: The Guardian.UK). If you take a look at the photo, the vehicle appears hailed with bullets, so I think the police missed their intended target?
Two years early in that same city, four men were found decapitated and hung by their ankles in an apparent turf war with the local drug cartels. U.S. citizen named Edgar Valdez had been seeking to head of a local cartel after their leader was killed (Source: BBC News).
[8] Nassiriya, Iraq.
The U.S. is not the only county whose embassies and personal are being attacked recently. Two days before the 11th anniversary of September 11th (2001), some 58 people were killed throughout Iraq including a car bomb near the French Embassy. Since active U.S. troops left Iraq, “insurgents” have hit high-profile targets including religious sites and government buildings in effort to undermine stability in Iraq (Source: Reuters via Yahoo News PDF).
[9] Berlin, Germany.
On 09-13-2012, “the U.S. consulate in Berlin was partially evacuated after an employee fell ill on opening a suspicious envelope” (Source: Reuters).
[10] Kuwait, Middle-East.
The U.S. saved Kuwait and their people from an unprovoked military attack by 100,000 Iraqi soldiers and 700 tanks which led to brief occupation by Saddam Hussein in 1990 (Source: BBC).
Twelve years later, we see some 200 people “protesting” at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait on or about September 13, 2012 holding banner saying, “USA stop the bullshit. Respect us” (Source: Reuters).
[11] Tripoli, Lebanon.
On September 14, 2012 Islamic extremists set fire to a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), shouted anti-western chatter because the Pope visited the area and called for peace (Sources: Huff Post/ Reuters PDF and Telegraph.UK). Since the attack on its restaurants, KFC has shut down all franchises in Pakistan (Source: CNN). Parent company Yum Brands did not note the attacks or store closings on their KFC website at least as of 09-25-2012 (PDF).
[12] Tunisia, North Africa.
The U.S. Embassy in Tunisia was also attacked. An American school was also looted and burned down (Source: Atlantic Wire PDF). The school called, American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST) said many classrooms were burned including their elementary library on or about September 14, 2012 (Source: ACST Website PDF) (About ACST PDF). On or about September 16, 2012, the U.S. orders “all non essential diplomatic staff from Tunisia and Sudan” (Source: BBC via NAU, PDF).
[13] Kenya, East Africa.
A report which seems to have been overshadowed was found in the New York Times on 09-14-2012 said Kenyan police broke up what was called a “major terrorist attack…in its final stages.”
Two arrested and 8 more suspects at large and “having ties to the Shabab, a militant group in neighboring Somalia that is linked to Al Qaeda.
The police found four suicide vests rigged with hundreds of metal ball bearings, two improvised explosive devices, also rigged with ball bearings, four AK-47 assault rifles, ammunition and 12 grenades.”
— Source: New York Times (PDF), 09-14-2012
Less than three months earlier, the Australian media reported that the U.S. Embassy in Kenya warned of an “imminent threat of a terrorist attack in Mombasa, Kenya.” Two people from Iran were arrested on “suspicion of planning bomb attacks” (Source: AFP/ News.com Australia PDF).
[14] Sudan, North Africa.
On 09-15-2012, the Country of Sudan rejected an offer to send U.S. Marines to help protect the U.S. Embassy in the city of Khartoum despite “protestors” attempting to storm the U.S. Consulate (Source: Fox News). Why the United States even bothers to ask permission to protect its own people and assets is beyond reason. Again, an embassy of any foreign nation in another nation’s land is sovereign territory. The U.S. does not need permission to prevent Americans from being subject to risk of death or property subject to destruction whether attacked by “protestors, rioters or acts of terrorism.
I would not be surprised if the State Department spent hours in a 20-person committee discussing what to do as the Embassy was under attack. This is where leadership takes place. This is why we are supposed to have a Commander in Chief at times of crisis. This is a no-brainier decision.
You send in troops immediately to protect embassy staff, and or evacuate them (by air) if necessary and if safe to do so. That does not mean troops have to engage “protestors”. Only when fired upon or a breach of sovereign embassy walls troops can take appropriate action as necessary to stop the violence from progression, and to protect American lives and property.
The U.S. is sending some 3,000+ new troops to Africa in 2013 (Africa map above) for “training foreign militaries and aiding locals” (Source: Army Times)(PDF). This obviously didn’t work out in Iraq which is a bigger mess since we left, and is not working out in Afghanistan which the U.S. plans to leave by 2014. So far 51 allied troops have been killed by “Afgan insiders” just in 2012. These are the people whom the U.S. and our allies have assigned to protect Afghanistan locals when we leave. Basically, the U.S. seems to be training the enemy how to kill Americans and our allies?
“Four U.S. troops were killed Sunday at a remote checkpoint in southern Afghanistan when a member of the Afghan security forces opened fire on them, military officials said. The attack brought to 51 the number of international troops shot dead by their Afghan partners this year.”
— Source: Washington Post (PDF) 09-16-2012
See our in-depth report on what we are really doing in Afghanistan.
[16] Why the “anti-Islamic Video” is not the Reason For Protests
Initially the controversial video trailer allegedly produced by an Egyptian person living in California could have re-sparked some of the attacks against U.S. Embassy in Libya and Egypt. A trailer of the controversial film was placed on YouTube in July 2012. Not until it was translated into Arabic, and copied 1,000 of times did it take up further issue (Source: NY Times).
But as we now know, U.S. Embassies are being hit all the time and without a video for Obama to blame.
The so called recent “Protests” spread to at least 20 countries well outside the Middle-East to various parts of Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia. All of these countries coincidentally have aspects of Al-Qaeda and radical Islamic Fundamentalist in them.
[17] Terrorist Organization Vows More Attacks on the West
The radical fundamentalist group Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made public warnings in front of “tens of thousands” of supporters in Lebanon advocating more violence because of the controversial video trailer. Nasrallah: “America, hear us – don’t insult our prophet…Enough humiliation!” Nasrallah demanded that the U.S. ban the (internet-based) video.
On August 10, 2012, the State Department published a reminder that Hezbollah:
- is classified by the United States as a known “terrorist organization” since 1995;
- is responsible for “bombing of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Lebanon during the 1980s;”
- “has consistently used terrorist operations to attack civilians;”
- before 9/11/2001, is “responsible for killing more Americans in terrorist attacks than any other terrorist group;”
- is currently providing “support to the Government of Syria;”
- is “actively providing support to the Assad regime as it carries out its bloody campaign against the Syrian people;”
— Sources: Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counter-terrorism and David Cohen, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, U.S. Department of State (PDF – highlight added / share link).
What Hezbollah’s Nasrallah doesn’t realize is that in America, as soon as someone calls to ban a film or anything and when such receives high media attention, it is an attack on our 1st Amendment right of free speech. Concerned about loss of free speech, that just makes more people want to see it. If no one brought up the video to such an extent, as a Middle-East talk show did, no one else in the free world would have likely taken interest in it.
The controversial video trailer does not explain all the other terrorists attacks on U.S. and Western Embassies and their staff over the last four years, let alone explain acts of terror over the last 92 years.
In contrast, Pope Benedict encouraged leaders in the Middle-East ‘to work for reconciliation’ (Source: Reuters).
Six days after initial 9/11 attacks in the Middle-East and Africa, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut reportedly had been burning classified U.S. documents as a precautionary measure (Source: NY Daily News PDF).
[18] Despite “Special Day of Love,” Violent “Protests” Continue
On Friday, 09-21-2012 was supposed to be a “Special Day of Love” for the Prophet Mohammed in Pakistan. Groups of religious, anti-western radicals celebrated such love by rioting, burning the American flag, clashing with police, setting random fires in their own country, and creating general chaos and mayhem (Source: Mail OnLine.UK – PDF with photos).
This Report is Continued Here: U.S. Embassies & Staff Come Under Attack, Part III: Security Lacking
Credits: Images/ videos may be copyright of their respective entity where noted.
Original content copyright © 2012 NetAdvisor.org® All Rights Reserved.
Additional information about the author:
Author has long followed global events, and developed military strategy games. While attending a major private University, author initiated a senior project and wrote a research report titled: “International Terrorism: Challenge to U.S. Intelligence.” Net Advisor’s™ bio.
NetAdvisor.org® is a non-profit organization providing public education and analysis primarily on the U.S. financial markets, personal finance and analysis with a transparent look into U.S. public policy. We also perform and report on financial investigations to help protect the public interest. Read More.
