Libyans Recall a Rare Ambassador Who Shared Their Struggles

The death of Amb. Christopher Stevens is a blow to those Libyans who worked closely with the US diplomat before and after the 2011 revolution.

Alaeddin Muntasser is a businessman based in Tripoli who had been a friend of Amb. Stevens for the past five years.

The two men were planning a reception for this weekend where Amb. Stevens would be formally introduced to the Libyan people.

Muntasser says Stevens “really believed in Libya, in some cases more than us.”

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Marco Werman: I’m Marco Werman. This is The World. President Obama today ordered increased security for U.S. diplomats around the globe. The move follows the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans. The Obama Administration is still investigating what happened at the Consulate in Benghazi and at the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Egypt in Cairo. Both buildings were the targets of angry protests yesterday over an obscure film produced in the U.S. that is said to insult and ridicule Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. In Cairo, the incident culminated in protestors taking down the U.S. flag, but the Benghazi some of the demonstrators were armed with heavy weapons. Today, President Obama called the attack in Benghazi “outrageous and shocking”.

[clip of President Obama]

Werman: The President also remembered Ambassador Stevens. Particularly, his work in Libya during the revolution that toppled long time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

[clip of President Obama]

Werman: President Obama speaking earlier today. Alaeddin Muntasser is a businessman based in Libya’s capital, Tripoli. He was a long time friend of Ambassador Stevens. He recalls how he and Stevens were on the same flight into Tripoli in October of last year, just two days after the fall of Sirte and the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

Muntasser: What struck me was the happiness, the joy, that he showed that day. As you know, he was there from the very early on. I think he was the first non-Libyan diplomat to arrive in Benghazi when things were very dangerous and he maintained the communication between the west and the transitional counsel. So he was there from the very beginning and he saw how this really started with just a spark and eventually led to the downfall of that regime. In a way, that victory as he was part of that process and he witnessed all of it. That was a victory for him as well and it was very clear that day. The joy and happiness on his face and his demeanor.

Werman: Tell me more about Christopher Steven’s role during the uprising. What was he doing?

Muntasser: He was involved in the assessment of what you refer to as the rebels and our leadership at the time and he was instrumental in the decision to help us and to enforce the no fly zone and, as you probably recall, if that didn’t take place on the 19th, Benghazi would have been very similar to what Homs and Aleppo is right now in Syria.

Werman: Mr. Muntasser, we’d like to listen to Ambassador Stevens himself right now. This is a video that the Ambassador used to introduce himself to the Libyan people when he first arrived.

[clip of Ambassador Stevens]

Werman: It’s numbing to hear that. Chris Stevens recently wrote in an email, Mr. Muntasser, that he was very encouraged by how life was changing for the Libyans. That people were smiling again. I mean, those little details. Not all Ambassadors get that stuff. He really seemed sincerely plugged in to what Libyans were going through.

Muntasser: That’s absolutely correct. He frequented a beach that’s used by the very common people in Tripoli. He didn’t go to very high security, exclusive resorts or anything. He actually used the beach that very simple, common people would use and he would go there, and sit there, and suntan and all that, and speak to people, take pictures if they asked to. He was frequenting a lot of the fast food joints here in Tripoli. He really felt at home here. We really connected with him. There’s a famous picture of him when he visited the city of Gharyan where he had very traditional Libyan food that you have to eat with your hands. I’ve never seen an Ambassador actually join in and make really people see something that we’ve never seen from an Ambassador or an ex-pat here in Libya before.

Werman: And you received an email from Ambassador Stevens about an event the two of you were planning for this Saturday evening. Can you tell us about that?

Muntasser: Ambassador Stevens is a friend of the family and we were planning on setting up a reception in his honor welcoming him. It’s traditional here that new Ambassadors are welcomed like that. He very, very excited and very happy and grateful for this opportunity to be introduced to the Libyan people and to the community here as well.

Werman: What will you remember personally about the Ambassador, Mr. Muntasser?

Muntasser: The thing that really, every time I think of him, I spend all these hours since I got the news this morning is his very outgoing nature and I’ll give you an example. I’d had a meeting with him a month and a half ago or so. Actually, a little bit before Ramadan and he noticed that I was a little bit down. I was disappointed with some of the things that were going on and he kept on assuring me that things will improve. That this is just a natural process and that we will overcome this. This is the kind of person he was. He was very positive and he really believed in Libya. In some cases, more than us.

Werman: Alaeddin Muntasser, a businessman based in Tripoli and a good friend of the late Ambassador’s. Christopher Stevens idealism really shines through in the video we heard a moment ago. It’s at theworld.org.

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