Catching up on posting links, and in the light of the continued politicization of the consulate attacks in Benghazi, this article from Sept. 14 is worthwhile. The author correctly notes the factors surrounding the violence and upheaval in the wake of an anti-Islamic video appearing on YouTube.
The West has had a long, brutal history in the Middle East and then a video comes out of California insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Anger can be expected. However, many of those who led the protests around the region - and the attacks - were rightwing Islamists, who during the Arab Spring were left out of the conversation. So it stands to reason that they would like to reassert themselves in an effort to revive their basically failed cause.
The people protesting the attack on the consulate, like the people protesting the shooting of Pakistani student/activist Malala Yousafzai, are more indicative of the region and its people. The fringe just gets more attention.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/14/embassy-attacks-salafis-jihadists
