The capture and opportunity for interrogation of accused Benghazi assassin Ahmed Abu Khattala have gone smoothly so far and are a credit to American authorities. ADVERTISING The capture and opportunity for interrogation of accused Benghazi assassin Ahmed Abu Khattala have
The capture and opportunity for interrogation of accused Benghazi assassin Ahmed Abu Khattala have gone smoothly so far and are a credit to American authorities.
What happened in Benghazi, Libya, the night of Sept. 11, 2012, which included the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three of his colleagues, has been engulfed in the fog of Washington politics and a strange war that continues in that country.
A suspected architect of the attack was Abu Khattala. Regardless of the absence of a Libyan government, American security officials have been determined since to bring the attackers to justice.
There is room for complaint it has taken so long, but the capture of Khattala was carried out smoothly by U.S. special forces, with no loss of life by Americans or Libyans.
The government’s intent is to try him in civilian court, appropriately, rather than cart him off to the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, and add him to the 149 prisoners still being detained there for years without trial.
Beyond ascertaining Khattala’s role and obtaining justice, the United States could learn from his interrogation information that might offer clarity on what occurred that fatal night.
“Benghazi” — now an issue in American politics — would definitely benefit from the application of a solid coat of facts. Khattala might be able to offer them.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
