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Q&A: Libyan photos of Ambassador Stevens appear authentic Q&A: Libyan photos of Ambassador Stevens appear authentic

 
Published Oct. 7, 2012

Libyan photos appear authentic

I received photos by email purporting to show our ambassador being dragged through the street of Benghazi, Libya. Is it true? The only official explanation I have seen for his death so far has been smoke inhalation. Has an autopsy been performed?

Libyan Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed in an attack Sept. 11 on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Three other Americans also were killed.

At first the motive was thought to be a protest of an anti-Muslim film made in America, but subsequent information indicated that military-grade weapons were used and the attack seemed to be planned, most likely by a group linked with al-Qaida.

The photos that are on the Internet appear to be authentic, but there's been no official confirmation. What's happening in the photos is unknown. We've seen explanations that these are Libyans trying to help Stevens after he was attacked.

News reports indicate an autopsy was planned, but no results have been announced. A doctor at the hospital Stevens was taken to said the ambassador died of smoke inhalation.

Stevens was the first ambassador to be killed since 1988, when U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphel died in a mysterious plane crash. Also killed were Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq and Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Wassom.

Maple syrup siphoned away

A recent article in Time stated that 10 million pounds of maple syrup, or $30 million worth, was stolen from Quebec's reserve. How do you steal $30 million worth?

Quebec's maple syrup reserve is managed by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, which has about 10,000 members and "is responsible for the administration of the bulk maple syrup sales agency as well as the global strategic maple syrup reserve," NPR.org reported. Quebec produces about two-thirds of America's syrup and 70 to 80 percent of the world's supply, and U.S. producers endured a "catastrophic" harvest this season. The thieves hit a warehouse northeast of Montreal and siphoned the syrup into containers. Last week, 600 barrels of the maple syrup were recovered.

Drought drives up food prices

Why are eggs so expensive right now? They are about $2 or $3 a dozen. Is there a shortage of eggs or hens?

Several factors, including this summer's severe drought across the United States and high gas prices, drive the cost of the eggs and other food items, including milk, beef, poultry and pork. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said consumers can expect to pay 3 percent to 5 percent more for groceries in 2013. The USDA said the drought limited the amount of feed that was grown to be consumed by animals, which means farmers have to pay more to feed their animals.