A Statement from the CCNS, Following the Capture of another Benghazi Perpetrator

The Citizens Commission on National Security, which started out as the Citizens Commission on Benghazi, wants to thank and praise FBI Director Kash Patel and the Trump administration for continuing to pursue the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on the Special Mission Compound and the nearby CIA annex on September 11, 2012.

Patel said Friday that an alleged terrorist in the attack on the U.S. Special Mission Compound in Benghazi, Libya in 2012 has been extradited to the U.S., and is set to face charges.

“Early this morning, the @FBI and our partners executed a Foreign Transfer of Custody (FTOC) of Zubayr al-Bakoush – one of the individuals allegedly behind the deadly 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya where four Americans were killed: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty,” Patel posted on X on Friday.

“After more than a decade of American pursuit, Al-Bakoush landed in Virginia earlier this morning and is in custody. He will face charges later today. We will have more to say at a later time – but this is a massive moment for the country and a clear message from President Trump’s administration that those who attack our service members will ultimately find American justice, no matter how long it takes. Thank you to our great partners who helped execute the mission – @AGPamBondi @TheJusticeDept @USAttyPirro and @CIA @StateDept for assisting us.”

In addition, this action brings to mind several iconic movie quotes. “Round up the usual suspects” (Casablanca); “You can’t handle the truth” (A Few Good Men) and “Here’s to the real author of the Caine mutiny. Here’s to you, Mr. Keefer” (The Caine Mutiny).

And one more quote comes to mind, though it’s not from a movie: “What difference, at this point, does it make?”

That was Hillary Clinton’s response during a 2015 Congressional hearing about the 2012 Benghazi attack, over the issue of whether the attack stemmed from a protest over a video or a terrorist attack.

The real issue for us is that this was a scandal in multiple ways. From Obama switching sides in the war on terror, as we described in the first of our two reports; to going to war in the first place in Libya when Qaddafi offered to abdicate under a white flag of truce; to the failure of our military to come to the rescue though they clearly had time; to the lies told in the aftermath; and finally to the media for covering up the scandal to help Obama win reelection.

We laid it all out in our second report, “Betrayal in Benghazi: A Dereliction of Duty.” And if you really want to take a deep dive, click here to see our press conferences, articles, videos and more.

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