Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks on U.S., Libya

Afghanistan Foundation Marks Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks on U.S., Libya

Washington, D.C., New York,  Shanksville, Pennsylvania and Benghazi, Libya, September 11, 2013

The Afghanistan Foundation today marked the anniversary of terrorist attacks on the United States and Benghazi, Libya.  The Foundation is participating in, and attending, memorial ceremonies in New York City, as well as Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

“Today we memorialize the anniversary of the brutal terrorist attacks on the American people at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., aboard United  airline flight # 93 in Pennsylvania , as well as one year ago at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya,” said Philip Smith, President and Executive Director of the Afghanistan Foundation. http://www.afghanistan-foundation.org

“The thousands of Americans killed by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya-linked terrorist organizations are not forgotten as America continues to seek to bring security, stability and economic development to Afghanistan and Libya,” Smith somberly commented at ceremonies in Arlington, Virginia.

Smith stated:  “Along with the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America, we also remember and memorialize today, on this anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the over 2100 American soldiers and members of the U.S. Department of Defense, and other U.S. agencies, killed in Afghanistan and Libya, including the U.S. Ambassador in Benghazi, J. Christopher Stevens and his colleagues. “

“Moreover, it is also important to not forget the allied forces from NATO and ISAF, including the United Kingdom, Germany and America’s European allies, as well as Australia, New Zealand and many other nations, who have all paid a very heavy price in terms of their soldiers killed and wounded in Afghanistan in support of the anti-terrorism effort since September 11, 2001, and the joint military intervention there,” Smith continued. 

“Many civilian U.S. government contractor employees have also been killed, or suffered casualties, in significant numbers in Afghanistan and Libya; they also should be remembered today in the context of the effort to remember the victims of 9-11 attacks and the ongoing struggle to combat terrorist attacks on the United States and its allies,” Smith remarked.

“Today, sadly, on this somber occasion as we seek to memorialize September 11, we understand that a massive bombing occurred in Libya that appears to be linked to terrorist organizations; We are not yet clear as to the exact organization, or affiliate, responsible of today’s anniversary terrorist attack and massive car bombing that occurred with a violent explosion near the Foreign Ministry Building in Benghazi, Libya,”  Smith observed. “Some Libyan militants and militant leaders, linked to international terrorist organizations, have fought in Afghanistan.”

“Our hearts still ache…,” said U.S. President Obama at keynote remarks at memorial ceremonies today at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, marking the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.  “…. May God Bless the memory of those we lost.”

In New York City, in keeping with tradition, the names of the American’s killed at the World Trade Center are being read aloud today.  Similar ceremonies are being held in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on September 11, 2001, by Afghanistan and Pakistan-linked terrorist attacks on the United States which lead to the U.S., and NATO / ISAF, military intervention in Afghanistan later that year.

One year ago today, on September 11, 2011, four Americans, including  U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed , and ten injured, in Benghazi, Libya, after attacks on the U.S. consulate linked to Libyan and international terrorist groups.

The Afghanistan Foundation was founded as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, with the mission of helping to educate policymakers and the general public about the nation of Afghanistan, its people, culture and history.  American and NATO / ISAF forces are slated to withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

ENDS

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