The anniversary of 9/11 was marked by ceremonies throughout the United States commemorating those who lost their lives. In Benghazi, Libya, it was marked with a car bomb, which came one year after the attack on the US Consulate, which cost four Americans (including US Ambassador Chris Stevens) their lives. The car bomb was set off near a Libyan Foreign Ministry building in Benghazi, a building that once housed the US Consulate under the rule of King Idris (whom Muammar Qadhafi overthrew in 1969), according to the Los Angeles Times. Thus, it was a symbolic return to the scene of the crime for the perpetrators. The early morning blast caused no serious injuries, and no group claimed responsibility for the bombing. A side wall was destroyed, and desks and computers were scattered throughout the area. A near-by branch of the Libyan Central Bank was also damaged by the blast. As noted in the Washington Post, the Benghazi Foreign Ministry Chief Mohammed el-Ubaidi told Libyan television that the vehicle that caused the destruction carried 132 pounds of explosives. Lawlessness and disorder Since the uprising that led to the death of long-time Libyan dictator Qadhafi and the civil war that ensued, the country has been largely under the control of militias, with little centralized law and order. There have been a series of interim governments, but none has been able to sustain any long-term peace or effective rule of law. Instead, reports the Los Angeles Times, the country “remains hostage to unruly militia forces” that were formed to oust Qadhafi. Unfortunately, they possess large stockpiles of weapons, a serious threat to not only peace, but stability within the nation. Since the change of government, drive-by shootings and car bombings have become routine, particularly in Benghazi, which was the city where the rebellion against Qadhafi took root. Other recent militia-led incidents detailed by the Washington Post included the taking of hostages at the post office, to prevent mail delivery from reaching Sabha, a city in the southern part of the country, which in turn led to the stoppage of water supplies to the capital city of Tripoli. Other militia groups have shut down the oil fields, costing the nation millions in lost revenue. In contrast, the bombing of the building at 6: 00 am, was a more minor militia incident. More criticism of the Obama Administration This attack drew yet more criticism to the Obama Administration, which was roundly condemned following the deaths of four Americans last year and the apparent lack of transparency about what occurred in its aftermath. Hearings on Capitol Hill did little but inflame the situation. In the wake of the incident in 2012, the US government has taken a number of measures, many opaque. Among them has been filing (sealed) criminal charges with the Justice Department against alleged perpetrators of the attack. The government has also released photos of five men it wants to question, who were in the area when the Benghazi attack occurred, although no names were made public. Those in the photographs are suspected of being members of a militia group known as Ansar al-Shariah. There were also reports that the leader of the Abu Obaida bin Jarrah group (a fundamentalist Islamic group) was at the scene. He is one of the suspects in the sealed indictment, but denies his involvement and says he has abandoned the militia and now works in the construction industry. Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan issued a strong warning to the militias in the wake of the car bombing, noting “We will not bow to anyone.” However, the Prime Minister also admitted, “The security situation is tough.” Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society