News.
*The US ambassador to Libya and three other embassy staff have been reported killed by an armed Islamist mob that stormed and set fire to the United States consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi.
*
How come none of the U.S media is carrying this story as of 4.00 AM Chicago time?
No idea. One would think this sort of thing would hit the news cycle immediately.
One of the staffers killed was a moderator on another forum I frequent. He was a smart, level-headed guy who died doing a job he loved. 
It’s made it to Reuters now, and everyone’s picked it up.
Reuters appears to have released it at 5:23 Chicago (that is, Central) time. Why did it take so long? Probably to fact check it, write it and edit it, but that’s just a guess.
When did it happen? The article just says “late Tuesday night”, but I have no idea whose “late” they’re referring to.
JLRogers, I’m so sorry. 
Thanks, WhyNot, but Sean and I weren’t close. He left a widow and a couple of kids, which is the real shame.
Word went out at 2305 last night. He was in contact with some forum members when he commented that he heard gunfire.
Nytimes is carrying the news now at 6.25AM ET.
All over a movie.
It’s impossible to even imagine such a mentality.
It’s not funny-haha so much as funny-heh, but I was given a moment of pause when it mentioned that the people involved in the mob were religious extremists and soccer fans.
But yeah, what a mess. And I just know my Facebook wall is about to be overrun by angry idiots wanting us to declare war on some vaguely defined group of people over this. Don’t get me wrong, most of my friends are very smart, when they are being level-headed and in their zones of competence, but stuff like this tends to make the stupid come to the top like fat in a boiling pot.
Apparently, as I understand it, the movie was made by Egyptians – NOT by Americans. Which makes it all the more baffling that Americans were attacked. Or, sadly, not baffling at all, if it was pre-planned terror using the movie riots merely as cover.
My husband just finished a rotation in Libya on Sept 9. Last year he left right before the Arab Spring, now this. While he was in Libya, he could not tell me what a cock up it. Sad so sad about Amb. Stevens.
Anyone know more on this? I was also wondering if it was planned for yesterday or if there really was a video.
Also, since when is Libya pissed at us? We backed them up just what, a year ago?
Apparently, the video in question was made by an Israeli guy who lives in California. The guy in question has since gone into hiding (ie, he’s disappeared). The people who donated money to make the film are also apparently mostly Jewish.
There’s going to be conspiracy theories circulating within days. (If they’re not already out there.)
Still, from what I’ve heard this video is not especially new, but it was picked up by local radical clerics and used to stir up shit. The fact that this protest happened on the anniversary of 9/11 cannot be a coincidence.
Here’s the trailer for the movie:
I wouldn’t bother watching it if I were you, unless you appreciate spectacularly poor acting. Like, sub-porn-movie acting.
Backed one faction, yes.
It’s terribly sad and Ambassador Stevens was well liked and respected. They haven’t released the names of the other two Foreign Service staff killed and we’re all just waiting. Such a senseless tragedy.
One of the other dead people was a mod on SomethingAwful, and his real-life name is widespread there.
Edit: And Mrs Clinton has paid tribute to him too
I found a lot more info on the thread in GD.
I just have a problem trying to imagine myself in a mindset that a movie would piss me off enough to get mad at the country the producer lives in. I mean, there have been some pretty bad Bollywood films but you don’t see me going to the Indian Embassy to complain.
Where the f*ck were the Marines?
As I said on the other thread, Obama is screwed. Realistically, he can’t do anything except issue strongly-worded statements, and not doing anything he looks weak.
Do the Marines protect consulates? I know they protect Embassies. Also, if the Marines were there, there would only be so much they can do against a large mob attacking the consulate itself. In any case, it sounds like the consulate itself was evacuated, and the personnel were attacked en-route while moving to another location, in which case, the answer would likely be that any defending personnel would have been in the same vehicles being shot at.
My guess (that the riots were incited to cover the rocket attack, conveniently on Sep. 11th no less) is looking slightly plausible.
I’ve only seen sources that it was the work of an Egyptian Christian, albeit an expatriate living in the US.
… to the shores of Tripoli…