An open thread:
The attack that killed US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three of his staff appears to be read one of two ways in most discussion this morning. The first is that it is evidence of a rising tide of violent extremism in transitional Libya. The second is that Libya has yet to build the police and justice system necessary to counter threats from its murderous, but unrepresentative fringe. The former argument, which supposes an Arab Spring leading to a so-called “Islamist winter,” has gotten significant media attention. The latter argument has gotten less public traction. It seems like a useful discussion to have and we’re offering the comments as one place to have it.
(Arabists, we’re looking at you.)
