American news is notorious for being tunnel visioned, focusing disproportionately on American issues and only giving non-western topics coverage when they affect the United States or have reached a certain level of international interest. In order to gain a broader picture of the contexts and perspectives related to the Benghazi issues. These international sources are able to present American and western readers with unfamiliar perspectives and expand the narrative of the Benghazi attack. This episode seeks to find new information from non-western sources.
Just days after the attack, the President of the General National Congress in Libya, Mohammed al-Magaraif responded to the events, strongly condemning them as planned events. “There was planning,” he asserted, “It was not a peaceful protest which degenerated into an armed attack or aggression. That’s how it was planned.” This strong assertion contrasted greatly with American government claims which were hesitant to label the attack before a thorough investigation. A report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn found that the accounts of the attack given by Libyan and American officials were starkly different. The report observes that while American officials were hesitant to label the attacks as terrorism, emphasizing the presence of the protests, the Libyan officials immediately attributed the attack to extremist groups who they said had entered the country just months ago.
These differences in reporting can also be seen in the considerations of who fought in the attack. While American coverage of the details of the attack focuses on the U.S. soldiers involved in the fighting, Middle Eastern sources such as Al Jazeera spend more time covering the Libyan assistance that Americans received. According to these reports, 10 Libyan security guards died and two Libyan staff members were injured in the fighting. When Steven’s body arrived at the local hospital, a doctor attempted to revive him for 90 minutes before declaring him dead.
Middle Eastern sources such as The Jerusalem Post also focus on the local fallout of the attack over a long-term period. Following the Benghazi attack, they report on the increased enthusiasm of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. After significant indications of reasonable threats to American embassies, which resulted in the decision to close 19 American embassies and consulates throughout the Middle East for almost a week in August of 2013, in an almost unprecedented decision. These news outlets continued to track extremist threats to foreign presences for months and years to follow the September 12 attack.
Libyan sources, in particular, are especially critical of the United States and their handling of the attack. The Obama doctrine comes under fire for focusing on “inner-city teenage ‘rioting,’” and other small-scale issues and turning a blind eye to enormously concerning issues such as weapons suppliers providing Syria and Libya with arms. Upon the apprehension of suspected orchestrator Ahmed Abu Khatallah, Libyans were concerned that the United States would not give him due process with a lawyer and judge in light of the United States’ record with Guantanamo Bay Prison.
These non-western sources provide new details which are not present in western new coverage of the attack. By expanding the pool of sources, the narrative became a deeper and more nuanced issue, especially when placed in the context of Libya’s political climate.
Works Cited
Baraka, Ajamu. “Africa: War, Repression and International Gangsterism – U.S. State Policy From Benghazi to Baltimore.” All Africa. Nov 4, 2015, http://allafrica.com/stories/201511090514.html.
“Libya: U.S. – Ensure Benghazi Suspect’s Rights – Rightly Charged in Federal Court, Not Guantanamo Military Commissions” All Africa. June 18, 2014, http://allafrica.com/stories/201406190948.html.
US Envoy Dies in Benghazi Consulate Attack.” Al Jazeera. Sept 12, 2012, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/09/20129112108737726.html.
“US, Libya Differ on Accounts of Benghazi Attack.” Dawn. Sep 17, 2012, https://www.dawn.com/news/749966/us-libya-differ-on-accounts-of-benghazi-attack.
“US Consulate Attack Was Planned: Libya Assembly Head.” Dawn. Sep 15, 2012, https://www.dawn.com/news/749561/us-consulate-attack-was-planned-libya-assembly-head.
Wilner, Michael. “Target Not Necessarily Embassies as US Extends Worldwide Alert.” The Jerusalem Post. Aug 5, 2013, http://www.jpost.com/International/Target-not-necessarily-embassies-as-US-extends-worldwide-alert-322122.
Appendix
Glimpse into Life in Libya after the Arab Spring
