Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Al Qaeda linked terrorist chief, Abu Sufian bin Qumu, played a role in Benghazi attacks, and helped train Libyan rebels

US officials believe that Abu Sufian bin Qumu - the leader of Ansar al-Sharia in Darnah, Libya, who previously trained in an Al Qaeda terrorist camp and fought in Afghanistan in 2001 - played a role in the September 11, 2012 attacks in Benghazi that left four Americans dead, news media outlets reported on Wednesday. Bin Qumu also helped train the Libyan rebels during the Libyan uprising.

According to US officials, members of Ansar al-Sharia in Darnah participated in the attacks. The State Department also confirmed on Wednesday that Ansar al-Sharia in Darnah participated in the attacks.

Abu Sufian bin Qumu previously "trained at Usama Bin Laden's (UBL) Torkham camp", according to a Department of Defense document that was released by Wikileaks in April of 2011.

Bin Qumu also fought in Afghanistan in 2001, the document says.

The DOD document also notes that bin Qumu's name was "found on Al-Qaida's 11 September [2001] attacks financier Mustafa Al Hawsawi's laptop as an Al-Qaida member receiving family support."

In April of 2011, while the Obama administration was assisting the Libyan rebels, and after Wikileaks released the DOD document that detailed Mr. bin Qumu's ties to Al Qaeda, US intelligence officials conceded, according to news meadia reports at the time, that they believed bin Qumu was helping train the Libyan rebels in Benghazi, Libya. But, of course, this did not deter President Obama from further assisting the rebels. Moreover, other reports at the time indicated that among the Libyan rebel ranks were militants who fought against allied troops in Iraq. But this too, did not deter President Obama from helping the rebels.

As it turns out, President Obama and Mr. bin Qumu were both helping the Libyan rebels. However, while Obama did lend a helping hand to the Libyan rebels, who were being trained, at least partially, by Mr. bin Qumu - he did not lend a helping hand to the four Americans who were being killed by bin Qumu's men. Nor did he provide the Americans with adequate security in the months prior to the Benghazi attacks.

Nevertheless, as the old adage goes: "All's well that ends well", and, much to Obama's credit, Ansar al-Sharia and the Libyan rebels are now living in freedom; they are now free to roam about the country!

All's well that ends well, indeed!