On the So-called Film that So-called Incited an Attack on US Consulate in Benghazi
Across internet, many are sure that an anti-Muslim film made by some unknown man in California and translated into Arabic and posted on YouTube incited Muslims to arson and worse. This remains to be verified by those investigating on the ground at the site of the death of our US Ambassador and his staff people.
The man who appears to have made the film– in which some of the actors say their voices were overdubbed post set, and that they never said the things in the film on the sound/film stage whilst shooting– is quoted below. See what you think. It seems odd to me that YouTube allowed this racist film on its servers. But more so, a 2-hour movie is very long, and takes much money. What I wonder, is where did the money come from to finance a two hour anti-Muslim amateur movie, and who, by name, are those who gave money for such a project.
That too, I know we will know in ensuing days. Whether the film had anything to do with any deliberately set conflagrations across the world or not.
From the NY Post:
The two-hour movie that sparked the protests, titled “Innocence of Muslims,” came to attention in Egypt after its trailer was dubbed into Arabic and posted on YouTube.Sam Bacile, a 56-year-old California real estate developer, said he wrote, produced and directed the movie. Bacile told The Associated Press he was an Israeli Jew and an American citizen.
But Israeli officials said Wednesday they had not heard of Bacile and there was no record of him being a citizen. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not permitted to share personal information with the media.
Separately, the film was being promoted by an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner in the United States. The US Ambassador Chris Stevens and at least three staffers were reported to have died in the attack.
Bacile said he had not anticipated such a furious reaction. Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location, Bacile, who went into hiding Tuesday, remained defiant. He said he believes the movie will expose Islam’s flaws to the world.
“Islam is a cancer, period,” he repeatedly said in a solemn, accented tone.
Israel, however, sought to distance itself from Bacile.“It’s obvious we’ll have to be vigilant. Anything he did or said has nothing to do whatsoever with Israel. He may claim what he wants. This was not done with or for or through Israel.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said on Wednesday.
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The image is of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi set afire by men attacking with incendiaries and rifles.
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It is looking more and more like the film was inconsequential, that this was a planned attack to either “commemorate” 9/11 or in retaliation for various drone strikes and deaths of al Qaeda leaders, and it would have happened regardless.
It doesn’t excuse hate speech, but putting the blame on a film (or the dirtbag Terry Jones) does not seem to be accurate.
It will be interesting Barky, if the film is not the underlying point, who started such rumors and for what motives. Just tell me it is NOT to seize oppty to publicize his film.
I agree with you re TJ. I can hardly find a word to describe his actions, his salacious grandstanding for the cameras, the media who seem happy to tell about his poison without comment. Fred Phelps and his ghouls, but even more brute and untethered.
also Barky, I am up on night shift and keep hearing reports that the film-maker seems not to be what he has claimed in terms of nationality. age and other ‘facts’ that could be the result of careless journalism, or?? and… that the film is alleged to have cost 5M. Who contributed $$$$, I still wonder. I also note trailers all the heck all over the internet for the film, as ads on the sides of news blogs and media sites. That cant be right.
Seems like there’s a lot we don’t know today and that given the current chaotic nature of Libya a lot we may never know.
Dr. E., let me clarify my comment a bit. By “inconsequential” I mean “it is a convenient excuse”. The terrorist groups are using the film to excuse their actions, but based on what I have read so far it would have been an attack regardless of any film. When the film became known they simply used it as a justification.
As always, time will tell, but it certainly looks more and more like the film was just a convenient “reason” and not a real motivator (for the rocket attack, I think a lot of the street protests are caused by the video).
Well, I think the truth about the film will come out, which should then explain the intent behind its making.
Its likely both. The organized bad guys wanted to pull off something big on 9/11, and wanted some mob support. So they spread out some details of this absurdly amateur film to rally some locals to storm an embassy. Pure conjecture, but its what I would do in their case. Also we have another embassy attack in Yemen now, and more random acts of violence no doubt to come as the word about this hack’s film makes its rounds around the middle east.
There’s an irony – and a point – that is getting overlooked by most of the media and punditry. Let’s assume the film played some role in inciting mob action, perhaps as Slamfu suggests.
One “citizen” commits a bad act in the eyes of the Muslim world and the entire country of the United States is blamed. Sound anything like how many Americans viewed and discriminated against and committed acts of violence against all Muslims after 9-11?
Just sayin.