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Reexamining the timeline of events in Libya

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    A look back at attack and administration's response

  • Duration 11:19
  • Date

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-- story and the deadly terror attack on the US mission in -- -- Timing what the administration knew and set and when they knew and said it is really at the crux of this entire story.

Let's take another look at the time line we first brought you two weeks ago now -- All -- 2012.

An unclassified report called al-Qaeda in Libya a profile.

Compiled by the defense department's combating terrorism office in The Library of Congress states that under the direction of al-Qaeda is senior leadership.

Al-Qaeda affiliates in Libya.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic -- grab or -- Q I am and unsure Al Sharia.

Are gaining strength are likely joining forces and our quote currently in the expansion phase.

September 5 and sixth at their convention in Charlotte Democrats touted a crippling of al-Qaeda.

-- Osama bin Laden.

If he is better off now than it was four years ago al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat an Osama bin Laden is dead.

Just four nights later September 10.

A video surfaces of al-Qaeda is a -- its spiritual leader Ayman Al zawahiri.

Calling for jihadist to avenge the deaths of Libyan terrorist Abu Yahya Al Libby.

Killed in a drone strike in June September 11.

On the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks expected protests erupted in Cairo after an anti Islam video -- played on Egyptian TV.

The US embassy in Cairo puts out a statement condemning the video.

8:30 PM local time in -- Ghazi Libya.

2:30 PM eastern US ambassador Chris Stevens says good night to a visiting Turkish diplomat escorting him to the front gate of the console -- compound.

Officials say quote everything is calm there's nothing unusual there has been nothing unusual during the day at all outside.

No protests all day.

9:40 PM Ben -- time.

3:40 eastern agents in building C of the compound in the tactical operations center here gunfire and explosions at the front gate.

And agencies on his cameras that show the perimeter of the compound.

Dozens of armed men flowing into the compound the attack is under way an attack that would last some six hours.

About 5 PM eastern time the first wire reports cross of an attack on the US consulate and then got -- That night the Romney campaign releases a statement condemning the attacks.

But also criticizing the Obama administration.

-- earlier Cairo embassy release about the anti Islam film.

Also that night the White House disavows the original Cairo embassy press release about the film September well.

US ambassador to Libya our ambassador.

Has been killed.

Along with three other Americans after a series of attacks America's commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.

But let me be clear.

There is no justification.

For -- It's -- the focus at the Romney press availability and use his overnight press release.

-- do you think that coming says stands.

After the events really hedge -- -- overnight it was appropriate.

The White House also.

Issued a statement saying it tried to distance itself from those comments and said they were not reflecting of their views I have the exact same reaction.

The Rose Garden minutes later.

We will not waiver that our commitment to see the justice is done.

For this terrible act.

By this point according to sources the US intelligence community already knows the attack was a terrorist act has listed it as such internally to unlock -- sources.

And believes it was al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda linked groups in Libya.

Sometime within the next three hours President Obama sits down with sixty minutes -- bar was pretty certain and continue to be -- pretty certain that.

They're going to be bumps in the road that afternoon the president leaves her campaign trip in fund raiser in Las Vegas 6 PM.

Fox News already has intelligence sources saying al-Qaeda linked groups could be behind.

US officials are investigating whether a pro al-Qaeda group was involved there was a.

Coordinated military style commando type raid that had both direct fire an indirect fire.

Military movements involved then it -- this was a well planned well targeted -- them no doubt about it.

And we -- alone this was executed by a group.

That is either associated with or sympathizes with -- al-Qaeda roughly 9 PM.

President Obama mentions -- -- attack but spends most of his time campaign.

Because.

The -- Electric car from Nevada the president goes on to campaigning Colorado.

September 13 that the State Department.

Questions about security.

We did and evaluate.

The threat stream.

And we determined that these security.

At -- -- he was appropriate for what we knew and another statement about the anti Islam video there is no justification.

None at all.

For responding.

To this video with.

Violence.

September 14.

The unrest.

Around the region has been in response to this video we do not.

At this moment have information to suggest or to tell you that.

Would indicate that any of this unrest was.

Pre planned the president and secretary of state greet the bodies of the fallen at joint base Andrews.

-- we've seen rage and violence directed at American embassies over an awful.

Internet video that we had nothing to do list.

It is hard for the American people to make sense of that.

Because it is senseless.

Later that day on Capitol Hill.

That it's pretty obvious that there's very likely that there was a terrorist organization.

That.

That's affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Personnel and guys see -- At least some role.

In this attack September 16.

US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice goes on five Sunday talk shows -- this was not a pre planned premeditated.

Attack.

That what happened initially was it it was a spontaneous.

Reaction to what had just transpired in Cairo.

As a consequence of the video man as that unfolded.

It seems to have been.

It hijacks what we think can transpired in Ben -- is that opportunistic.

Extremist elements.

-- came to the consulate as this was unfolding we believe that.

It looks like extremist elements.

Individuals joined in that and that effort with heavy weapons.

Remember State Department officials on -- conference call October ninth.

Confirmed.

There were no protests outside the Ben Ghazi consulate before the attack zero.

And quote everything was -- from video surveillance and security officials there.

September 17 this -- first reported the no protests development the day after -- appearances.

Six days after the attack.

Facts and intelligence -- on the ground in Libya tells fox.

There was no protests and the attacks were not spontaneous he intelligence -- said adding -- Libyan attack was planned and had nothing to do with the movie.

September 17.

Simply on the basis for -- license publicly disclosed.

Does the United States government regard.

What happened and then housing -- -- an act of terror.

Again I'm not gonna put labels on this until we have a complete investigation.

Could not suitable person to terrorism I don't think we know enough.

I don't think we know -- September 18 on the David Letterman -- is this an act.

War are we at war now know what happens here well who say here's what happens if we knew he had a video that was released by.

Somebody who lives here.

Sort of shadowy character who who is extremely offensive.

Video directed at the that Mohammed and Islam making -- of -- profit making it and making fun of the Prophet Mohammed and so that this cause.

Great offense.

In much of the Muslim world.

But what also happened was extremists and terrorists.

Use this as an excuse.

Two.

Attack.

A variety of our embassies including the one the consulate in in Libya.

September 19 on Capitol Hill.

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center the only administration official to testify so far question I would say yes they were killed in the course of -- terrorist attack on our embassy.

Meantime CNN had recovered ambassador Stephens journal at the consulate was that the investors specifically mention the rising Islamic extremism.

The growing al-Qaeda presence in -- said he was on an al-Qaeda hit list September 20.

Yesterday that head of national counterterrorism senators up on Capitol Hill open hearings says it is terrorism was -- terrorist attack.

There were developments yesterday let alone what we reported just put that aside.

-- the New York Times there was not one story in New York Times about Libya let alone the terrorism angle there's not a story in here about Libya.

Now it's it just seems.

Strength true.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

We have reports that then White House says today that the attacking Libya where where the terrorist attack what -- -- still during an investigation.

And.

They're going to be different circumstances in different countries.

And so I don't want to speak to something until we have all the information.

September -- when he first.

What happened in Ben Ghazi was a terrorist attack September 24 that I heard this Hillary Clinton say that it was an act of terrorism is -- what do you have.

Well we're still tournament.

Investigation.

There's no doubt that.

That kind of weapons that were used.

Ongoing assault.

That it wasn't just a mob action September 25 that the United Nations there are no words could excuse the killing of -- There's no video the justifies an attack on an -- Al-Qaeda in the Islamic -- grab and other groups have launched attacks and kidnappings from northern Mali into neighboring countries.

Now with a larger safe haven and increased freedom to maneuver.

Terrorists are seeking to extend their reach and their networks in multiple directions.

And September 27.

-- -- -- to the reason.

I think it pretty clearly it was a terrorist attack is because a group of terrorists.

Obviously you know conducted that attack ball on the console.

And against or individuals October 8 and today.

-- -- -- -- -- And Osama bin Laden is no more.

Okay.

More sound.

Was obviously added after that hearing today on Capitol Hill --

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