Rep. Ruppersberger Says U.S. Ambassador's Killing In Libya 'Very Disheartening'
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- More unrest in Libya, but this time, protesters rally against extremists. The unstable situation is being closely watched by a Maryland congressman.
Tim Williams has new reaction from Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger.
The House and Senate intelligence committees continue getting regular briefings on the deadly attack on the US Consulate in Libya.
"I was contacted by our intelligence community very early in the morning," said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger.
The violence just more than a week ago at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was reportedly a two-part operation carried out by heavily-armed militants. U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed at the Consulate and a safe house.
"I've been to a lot of these hot spots. I've been to Libya. I've been to Egypt. I've been to Yemen. When you see individuals who work for the the State Department, these men and women are out there and they put their lives on the line and this occurs. It's very disheartening," Ruppersberger said.
WJZ spoke to Baltimore native Matthew VanDyke. It's been one year since the freedom fighter and journalist returned to the United States from Libya after fighting with Libyan rebels during the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. He offers his insight on the cause and effects of the violence.
"All it would take is people making a few cell phone calls after they saw the protest in Cairo, maybe four or five pickup trucks to load four or five men with weapons in each truck and go to the Consulate," VanDyke said. "Libyan people are grateful to us for our help during the revolution and 20 or 50 idiots doing something like this shouldn't affect relations between two countries."
The FBI is continuing its full investigation of the deaths of the four Americans killed in the embassy attack in Libya.
