The Apology Heard Round The World

September 12, 2012 | Filed under Barack Obama,Egypt,Libya,War On Terror | Posted by

Today the full extent of attacks on the U.S. consulate in Libya and the embassy in Cairo on September 11th have come to light, with the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens and three other State Department employees being killed in Benghazi, Libya.

So what was the Obama administration’s first response? To apologize to the rioters.

“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions,” the embassy in Cairo said in a statement.

“Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Jeff Poor at Daily Caller reports that syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer called a U.S. response “disgraceful,” yesterday (before the attack in Libya came to light).

“That’s a hostage statement. That’s a mob of al-Qaida sympathizers in Egypt forcing the United States into making a statement essentially of apology — on 9/11 of all days — for something of which we are not responsible. I would issue a statement saying to the mob, ‘Go to hell.’ The way America works, the way a democracy works, is that everybody has a right to express themselves. We don’t police our speech and you ought to apologize to the United States for storming an embassy and the violation of the ultimate sacred principle of democracy, which is protecting embassies and missions abroad. For the U.S. to what, essentially, issue a veiled apology, I think is disgraceful.”

After heavy criticizm the Obama administration has thrown the Cairo embassy under the bus:

The Obama administration is disavowing a statement from its own Cairo embassy that seemed to apologize for anti-Muslim activity in the United States.

“The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government,” an administration official told POLITICO.

The U.S. embassy in Cairo put out a statement early Tuesday that apologized for an anti-Muslim film being circulated by an Israeli-American real estate developer.

The whole thing started over a small film titled “Innocence of Muslims,” that mocks the life of Islam’s prophet Muhammad.

Maybe if the President attended some of his daily intelligence briefings he’d have been up to speed on this…

As Newt Gingrich noted on CNN this probably wasn’t two random, unrelated events.

“This is not just about Libya. You don’t get, simultaneously, attacks in Benghazi and Cairo, in Libya and Egypt on a purely local basis. And you don’t get them on 9/11, a day we’re already honoring terrorist attacks against the United States, without a fair amount of collusion and a fair amount of planning. I think you have to look at this in a larger context…. There’s a substantial faction, particularly in Benghazi, which was sending people to Iraq to kill Americans. There’s a substantial faction in Egypt which wants to defeat the United States and destroy Israel. That faction looks for opportunities to do things to hurt the United States and yesterday was the example of an attack that’s part of a very long war that we’re going to be at for a very long time.”

A fitting summary tweet was publicized by Glenn Reynolds, “This presidency started with an apology in Cairo & looks like its ending with an apology in Cairo.”

And what’s the New York Times take on this today? Who knows. They didn’t have room for it on the front page, but they did have room for a fluff Romney hit piece…

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Posted by on September 12, 2012.
Filed under Barack Obama, Egypt, Libya, War On Terror.
Doug Johnson is a news junkie and long time blog reader, turned author.

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  • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

    The Ambassador to Egypt, Anne Patterson, is a career foreign service officer who was previously ambassador to Pakistan, not a political appointee.

    It’s not even likely that she issued the press release, but rather the public affairs officer or some junior FSO at that mission did. It’s retarded to say that every press release and Tweet from every embassy is personally approved by Obama. Anyways, I don’t see what was particularly apologetic about the press release. It’s OK for the embassy to express an opinion on someone else’s expression.

    But this is a common story: an Israeli and his stooges (Terry Jones) stir up shit in the Arab world, and Americans get killed. Meanwhile, the Israeli disappears while U.S. diplomats and troops have to take the heat.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

      Gee. How Common of a story. Something coming up involving an Israeli and Chico tripping over himself in his eagerness to launch an attack at Israel …

    • GarandFan

      Yeah, those evil Israelis. Ya’d think that someone was constantly talking about ‘wiping them off the face of the earth’.

      Your head is so far up your liberal ass it’s a wonder you can breathe.

    • jim_m

      Gee Chico, Anti-Semitic much?

      Is there anything that you don’t either blame on Bush or the Joos?

      • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

        This has no more to do with the Jews as a people than Soviet propaganda had to do with the Russian people.

        This is the propaganda of a foreign government attempting to influence other governments and peoples to their advantage.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

          But somehow it’s only a problem to you when Israel does it …why might that be now?

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            Because good Americans are dead.

          • herddog505

            Relax. Don’t worry about it. Take a trip to Vegas and do some fundraising. Make a speech about how wicked Mitt Romney is. You’ll feel a lot better.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

            Ok. So that doesn’t change my question one iota.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

            still waiting. Even if I accepted your tinfoil hat interpretation – which I don’t – why is it only a problem for you when Israel is involved?

      • SCSIwuzzy

        Yes, he blames that Catholic church too.
        The BryanD/Chico hierarchy of Eeeeevillll:
        1) Joooooos
        2) Papacy
        3) Booooosh

        He does however support the rape of HS kids by public school teachers, because to him it is “hot” and fantasy he never got to live out.

    • UOG

      Ok, Chico, I understand your position relative to Obama not being directly involved in the crafting of that craven apology. Point taken.

      Tell me, is this incident indicative of the smart diplomacy Obama touted he’d bring to the White House during the 2008 campaign. If it isn’t why wasn’t smart diplomacy ever implemented?

      • LiberalNightmare

        Yeah – where the hell was Joe Biden?

    • Bird666

      These people’s job is to represent the president, Chico. So you’re full of Shi’ite.

      • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

        No, they represent the United States, not the president personally.

        • SCSIwuzzy

          They represent the US Government, specifically the executive branch. The State Dept is still part of the executive branch.
          When diplomats or the functionaries that support them step out of line and say things contrary to policy, the President or Sec. of State can and should recall them.

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            So what did the Cairo embassy say that was so bad?

          • SCSIwuzzy

            “The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government,” an administration official told Politico.

            Ask the State dept, as they disavowed the statement.

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            I asked you, not the State Department.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            I didn’t comment on the statement, I commented on who the State dept represents.

            However, condemning an American citizen is making a movie, an action protected in our Constitution, because it might offend another country’s civilians is not in my opinion, a good position to take.
            Taking the time to explain that the US values freedom of speech even if it may offend would have been a better tactic.

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente
          • jim_m

            Not on behalf of Israel in an official capacity you anti-Semite. Anyone who speaks up in favor of Israel seems to be doing so on behalf of their government to you.

            Anyone who apologizes for the US, even though they are representatives of the US government, do not speak on behalf of the US. You’re a dishonest fraud.

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            Read and judge. Where did he get that $5 million to make the movie? Information operations are not always avowed by a government.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            From your own link:

            But his background came under growing doubt Wednesday. A Christian activist who said he was a consultant on the film told The Atlantic that Bacile was a pseudonym and that the man was not Jewish or Israeli. Israeli officials said there was no record of him being a citizen.

          • herddog505

            You have to remember: early on, George Zimmerman was a Jew.

            Lefties see the sinister hand of the Joooooo… or, at least, the Israeli… everywhere.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

            Israel!!! Israel!!! Jooos!!!

          • SteveCrickmore075

            The mysterious filmmaker, Sam Bacile, says he has relatives in Egypt, (they must be pleased), and claims he is an Israeli Jew. He may not even be an American citizen..or an Israeli citizen?

            The spokesman for the Israeli Foreign ministry said the filmmaker was “a complete loose cannon and an unspeakable idiot.” I suppose Romney will now double down and criticize the Israeli foreign ministry for questioning the intelligence of the filmmaker.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            What does that have to do with what members of the Egyptian delegation said, or the attacks on their embassy?

            Another question I have: How did the embassy staffer(s) know to apologize for the film before the attack?

          • SteveCrickmore075

            the protests had been going on for a couple of days as radical clerics went on tv repeatably to denounce the film.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            Thank you Steve. I didn’t see that on the CNN feed we have in our office yesterday.

  • Vagabond661

    I just read that Obama is backing off that and instead put them on Double Secret Probation.

  • GarandFan

    “This presidency started with an apology in Cairo & looks like its ending with an apology in Cairo.”

    Carter v2.0

    • http://www.outsidethebeltway.com rodney dill

      Carter v2.0

      That should be a bumpersticker with the 0 being the Obama campaign icon

    • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

      carter tried to warn us we needed to sacrifice and return to real american values. reagan screamed screw that noise excess excess. look where we are now. at least carter wasn’t short sighted. he was looking out for future generations. as is obama. don’t make the same mistake twice as it will be twice as bad for generations ahead.

  • jim_m

    The obama admin owns this one top to bottom. The NYT printing it on page A4 won’t hide the fact that obama’s foreign policy is an abject failure and is leading the world into another world war, this time between an aggressive and violent islamic world and the whole of civilization.

    • http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson

      Hope like hell you’re wrong on the ‘World War’ thing. Trouble is, we’ve worked diligently to be a ‘weak horse’ on the international front – so now we’re going to see how well that all works.

  • Hank_M

    Obama, who says he has no time to meet with Netahyahu, is going ahead with his campaigning. It’s off to Las Vegas according to the schedule released today by the WH. But do note, as of an hour or so ago, the WH is re-evaluating whether or not to go.

    Great isn’t it?

    Two embassies attacked on 9/11 and Obama and his staff are re-evaluating whether or not to go to Las Vegas.

  • jay

    The apology you unamerican idiots refer to came from the embassy under attack. You know the Americans violence was committed against. Oh, and the letter was actually penned prior to the attacks. Stop hating America and show some shame

    • SCSIwuzzy

      That they apologized before being attacked made it BETTER?!?

      • jay

        It means that Romney was attacking the American victims. Real patriotic. And he is doing it on the falsehood that Obama apologized for the attacks, when instead the embassy personal (read VICTIMS) issued a statement calling for understanding and nonviolence BEFORE the attack happend. Mitt commited political suicide and those unpatriotic enough to hate their fellow Americans Should be ashamed.

        • 914

          Then all you Bush haters should fess up.

        • GarandFan

          You’re so full of shit it’s pathetic.

          • jay

            I’m sorry you’re a fucking moron who hates reality. But there is nothing I can do for you. I’m also sorry you hate America so much scumbag.

          • GarandFan

            Still PROJECTING, aren’t you? You’ve got quite a thing about “hate”. REALITY is the picture of a DEAD US ambassador – courtesy of your Obamassiah’s ass-kissing foreign policy. No worries. After he’s re-elected, he can be “more flexible” with the Russians.

          • jay

            I’m sorry facts are facts. And it is obviously a fact you hate your country.

          • jim_m

            So it was love of country that moved the Dept of State as represented by the Egyptian Embassy to apologize for allowing our citizens to walk the face of the earth as free persons?

            Screw you, fascist.

          • jay

            A nazi who hates America is calling me a fascist. that’s rich.

          • jim_m

            Only in your twisted universe is selling out our nation “loving” America. You constantly side with those who tear down our country, denigrate our culture and demand that our institutions and traditions be trashed in order to make way for your ideological demands. Most of the rest of the world will say that you are the Anti-American one here.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            And Godwin

          • GarandFan

            LMAOROTF! You wouldn’t know a “fact” if it walked up and bit you on your ass.

          • jay

            You can’t be that stupid…. well yes you can. and are.

        • SCSIwuzzy

          I know reading comprehension is not your strong suit, but here is what Romney said:

          I also believe the administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions. It’s never too early for the United States government to condemn attacks on Americans and to defend our values.
          The White House distanced itself last night from the statement saying it wasn’t cleared by Washington. That reflects the mixed signals they’re sending to the world.

          How do you parse that into attacking the victims? Is Obama a victim in your mind?

          Breathe. Read it again. Breathe. Then respond

          • jay

            Easy that statement which spoke for freedom of speech and non bigotry was condemned by Romeny the embassy wrote that. He is therefore attacking the embassy for what they wrote. Secondly it’s a lie to characterize the Obama team as “Sympathizing’ with the enemy. This is the far right nonsense I can’t take anymore. Come back to reality people.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            The embassy statement did not speak of freedom of speech. It condemned the exercise of of freedom of speech, because it hurt the sensibilities of adherents to a given religion.

            Romney didn’t say Obama sympathized with the “enemy” (he never used that word, did he?). He did say Obama was wrong to stand behind the statement condemned the exercise of free speech and characterized it as an effort to hurt feelings.

            Again, you have issues with reading.

            If the statement from the embassy was not a problem and was somehow patriotic, why did the State dept disavow it? Why was it deleted from the twitter feed?

          • jay

            He never used that word. It’s in your own quote.
            also believe the administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions. It’s never too early for the United States government to condemn attacks on Americans and to defend our values.
            The White House distanced itself last night from the statement saying it wasn’t cleared by Washington. That reflects the mixed signals they’re sending to the world.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            enemy, jay, enemy. Did you ever need to diagram a sentence while you were attending school?

          • jim_m

            Yeah, but to Jay the people sacking our embassies and killing our countrymen are not the enemy.

          • jay

            I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.

            Must not be the enemy in your world.

          • jim_m

            Sacking an embassy and murdering the ambassador is an act of war. You do not consider someone committing acts of war against your sovereign territory (an embassy is considered sovereign territory of the government that owns it) as your enemy?

            Your ignorance Cowardice beggars belief.

          • jay

            Of course I do. as does the president. The issue is Mitt Romney lying and saying the president was in effect sympathizing with the enemy. That is true cowardice that beggers belief

          • jim_m

            Yeah, that’s the ticket. Standing up against violent thugs who murdered fellow Americans is cowardice and apologizing to them like the obama admin did is ever so brave.

            (say whatever excuses you want, obama runs the government and the State Dept issued the apologies. The captain is responsible for what happens on his ship. obama needs to man up and actually take ownership of what his government does. A real leader would have sacked our ambassador to Egypt immediately.)

          • jay

            So you think it is okay to smear the Americans who were attacked. Real patriotic of you.

          • jim_m

            No. I did not say that . More leftist reading comprehension troubles?

            What I said was that obama is a coward and runs his government with a blame America first policy. That his State Dept issued two apologies before the admin realized that these weren’t playing well back home and they did an about face.

            I think that the smear is hateful anti-Americans like you that think defending our nation is evil. I think that the smear is people like you dismissing an act of war as a minor foreign event that does not warrant more than two minutes of the President’s time and that his fundraising gig is far more important than the safety and integrity of our nation.

          • jay

            Jesus, I’d advocate having IQ tests on this site but then I’d be left with no one to talk to but myself. Saying Obama is a coward because the people on the ground at their embassy issued a statement before the violence occurred, saying they were for freedom of speech and against bigotry somehow equates to the president having sympathy for the enemy, has to be the most lopsided chowder headed reasoning I’ve ever heard. I expect nothing less from the far right though.

          • jim_m

            obama has never defended the US. I recall that he sat silently by was Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, demeaned our nation to his face. Not defending our country was cowardice. Not standing up in a forceful way is cowardice. Promoting a state dept climate that leads the embassy to apologize for American freedoms rather than defend our nation is cowardice.

            Oh, and my IQ is 148.

          • jay

            He didn’t stand up to anyone. He attacked the president for something the president didn’t do in a cowardly attempt to score a political point and save his desperate campaign. Oh well, can’t wait to watch you wail when Hail to the chief is played for President Obama in November.

          • jim_m

            As a matter of fact it will be played for obama all the way to Jan 20th when Romney is sworn in.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            Disgraceful Jay, unable to admit you were wrong in even the smallest detail. Wait… Are you Barak’s sock puppet?

          • jay

            How Am I wrong? Are you on meth?

          • jay

            Oh and the freedom of speech part. a Tweet from the embassy with the protesters outside their door.
            Sorry, but neither breaches of our compound or angry messages will dissuade us from defending freedom of speech AND criticizing bigotry
            — @USEmbassyCairo via HootSuite

          • jim_m

            Jay’s responses have nothing to do with reality. The obama admin defends our nation even when it’s Dept of State issues abject apologies for not crushing the civil rights of our citizens and Romney hates America for shaming that same admin for being the supine and impotent tool of fascists in the middle east and not standing up for the rights of US citizens at home and abroad.

            The point is that such an apology as originally issued by the embassy should not even be conceivable and any idiot in any way involved in that should be out on their ass.

        • jay

          Here is the president’s statement for those not too far gone into whatever land the far right has retreated too.
          The United States condemns, in the strongest terms, this outrageous and shocking attack,” the president said. “And make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to track down” the killers.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jack-Zimms/100003653414389 Jack Zimms

            And how many replies did it take before Obama made that one.
            This isn’t Hollywood where you take as many retakes as you like to get it right.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jack-Zimms/100003653414389 Jack Zimms

          They had an apology letter before and an apology letter after
          the attack. Who does the embassy speak
          for?

          • 914

            Not Me

          • jay

            You are saing that the embassy should have done more to place themselves in danger. Maybe issue a statement telling muslins to “fuck off” real smart.

          • jim_m

            The embassy should have kept their mouths shut. and guarded their walls. Of course the consulate in Benghazi had no protection so they were screwed.

    • GarandFan

      “Stop hating America”
      Doing some more PROJECTING Jay?

    • 914

      Give it up spongeslob, you lost..

  • SCSIwuzzy

    President had a presser this morning. Took no questions on the topic.
    Had to run to get to those Nevada fundraisers.

  • 914

    Barry’s transparency knows no bounds-

    #1 Fundraising

    #2 Golfing

    #3 Blame, bow and apologize for America

    #4 More golf

    # 5 Worst pres ever

    Thank goodness only a 1 1/2 months till Christmas..

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134495147 Amanda Picklesimer

      Amem

    • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

      transparency in fundraising is a good thing. you know who is trying to buy pull in shaping policy.

      bush had more vacation days than any president since hoover.

      everything wasn’t perfect before obama came into office. it’s like the gop is remembering this fantasy world that never existed that was so great and this one guy… obama… ruined it

      he saved us from a depression. romney would let some states go bankrupt… that’s what he does! those states that are in the red… if romney gets in… YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

  • GarandFan

    Doug – the New York Times policy is “We don’t report it, it didn’t happen!”

  • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

    By the way, the black flag in the picture is the Al Qaeda flag.

    • LiberalNightmare

      I guess that means the drone war isnt going so well.

      • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

        Al Qaeda is a US ally in Syria, don’t they have any gratitude?

        http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/alqaeda-now-a-us-ally-in-syria-20120910-25oby.html

        • cirby

          Not really. That article stretches the story a loooong way, but it’s really based on “al Qaeda is fighting someone the US doesn’t like, so they’re allies, right?”

          “The enemy of my enemy is my enemy’s enemy. No more. No less.”

          • jim_m

            The left actually believes that . This is why the left finds common cause with radical islam against the US. This is why the left is tripping over itself to ignore an act of War against our nation to blame Mitt Romney.

            They would rather use this as a tool to damage their political enemies than to actually defend our nation. Chico is happy to jump on that bandwagon at the earliest opportunity.

          • http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson

            I’m starting to get the feeling it’s the late 1930s, and we’re watching the German American Bund having their rallies… and making excuses for Hitler’s aggression.

            Historical hindsight’s a wonderful thing. It can give you ideas about what to watch for, but sadly little idea about what to do to avoid being hit by the avalanche.

          • jim_m

            I have thought that for several years now. I see Chico as one of those Charles Lindbergh adherents going to his rallies supporting radical isolationism and characterizing Hitler as a better ally than the UK.

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            Hitler declared war on the USA. It wasn’t as if the USA was invading and bombing countries all around Europe before that.

            Anyways, what gave rise to Hitler was US involvement in World War I. Now those Americans who protested entering that war were spot-on.

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_World_War_I#In_the_United_States

          • http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson

            And if it hadn’t been for the various treaties and alliances pre WW1, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand wouldn’t have been a convenient casus belli. How far back do you want to go?

            (Not being intentionally snarky or argumentative here, it’s just that every major event has minor contributing factors that – at the time – seemed at least somewhat reasonable to the people who caused and were caught up in them – and what may seem minor at the time can be a trigger point for an unstoppable event cascade. Oh, and Germany didn’t declare war on the US until December 11th, 1941. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/11/default.stm )

            Like I said about historical hindsight – you can figure out what to watch for, but that doesn’t mean you’ll know what to do to avoid it IF you spot it.

            On the left, however, the apparent lack of critical thinking about the causes they support makes me think that they do know what they’re doing – but believe that there’s no way they’ll ever be affected by their support of the cause of the decade, so to speak.

            The excuses for radical Islam, which (at least in the case of the GLBT community) seems to be support for a violently homophobic, xenophobic and misogynistic culture, and one that doesn’t allow for even nominal freedom of thought or worship. It really does seem like they’ve decided “The enemy of my ‘enemy’ is my friend” – and they see all around them who don’t hold the same attitudes regarding sexual orientation, abortion, or social issues as their enemies.

            So you see support for headhacking homophobes by folks who’d be the first under the knife in that culture… which really doesn’t make much sense to me aside from an ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ POV that isn’t likely to last past the first city being nuked in the US.

            (And to be honest, I’m surprised that particular event hasn’t happened yet. I can only figure that either the real fanatics are so technically inept that they’ve not managed to cobble anything usable together, or the fanatical regimes like Iran and NK understand quite clearly that no matter how nominally friendly Obama may seem to them, there’s a very clear boundary that they dare not cross.)

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            I am talking about Wilsonian interventionism, which gave rise to the term “make the world safe for democracy.” That was the original sin from which every American disaster in the last 100 years seems to flow.

            Before WW 1, the USA concentrated on trade, internal development and keeping others out of its backyard (Monroe doctrine). Afterwards, the USA tries to run the world.

            The thesis that US intervention in WW 1 was a bad thing and led to worse things is not originally mine – Niall Ferguson wrote about it in The Pity of War.

            Think about it – if the Germans had won WW 1, they would have dominated Europe afterwards, but as a constitutional monarchy. They’re dominating Europe now anyways.

            WW 1 is always forgotten by those who screech about “Munich” and “appeasement.” It offers the opposite lesson – a little appeasement in 1914 would have been a good thing.

            I don’t support Islamic fanatics, but I recognize that the USA can’t control tribal peoples on the other side of the world, and it’s best to let them sort themselves out. Intervention leads to retaliation and blowback.

          • http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson

            I’m starting to think the best thing to do would be to drill the hell out of oil here at home and build nuclear power plants to supplement that. Massively decrease our dependence on oil from the ME and do what we can to reduce the effect of the ME oil cartels on the rest of the world.

            Take away their money, seal ‘em up, let them sort themselves out. That’s starting to look like a viable option.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Murphy/100001624276605 Ryan Murphy

            Sure you don’t. You just always oppose anyone opposing them …

  • jay

    What the president said:
    I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.

  • jay

    The above is what the embassy said. You know the people under attack. the Americans Doug hates so much he tries to score cheap political points against.

    • SCSIwuzzy

      If the statement is so great, why was it disavowed? By your standards that must make the president and the state department unpatriotic, shameful haters.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jack-Zimms/100003653414389 Jack Zimms

    Liberals insist on being tolerant of religion when their
    followers are often violent. The bash and ridicule religion when its followers
    are mostly peaceful.

    What action do you think they are encouraging?

    • jim_m

      Behavior that is rewarded is repeated. My dog’s obedience trainer could have told you that.

  • jim_m

    Here’s where the left stands on the whole incident: The filmmaker should be imprisoned for using his constitutional rights. The State Dept’s first instinct is to apologize and bow in obeisance to muslim fanatics who want to kill us for how we think.

    We have an admin that is not interested in our rights and will sell them out at the earliest opportunity. For pointing this out we are told that we hate America. For standing up for our own rights we are told that we are anti-American. And Jay and Chico and the rest of their ignorant coterie wonder why we call them fascists.

    • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

      If this filmmaker was coordinating his activities or paid by the government of Israel or any political factions within Israel, he should be stripped of his US residency and deported. It’s called “being an unregistered foreign agent” and it’s illegal.

      • jim_m

        Proof or shove it.

        The point is that the left is intolerant of people exercising their civil rights. The left doesn’t believe that you have the right to dissent from their politics. Dissent from the leftist code is sedition. Dissent from everything else is patriotism. Dissenters from the leftist code should be imprisoned without trial as the elitist academic I linked wants. This is what passes for intelligent policy and tolerance on the left.

        • herddog505

          Good heavens, man, what more proof do you need??? We all know how clever those damned Jooooos… er, Israelis, I mean to say… are. And getting a filmaker to p*ss off Muslims so they’d attack our embassy to get the ambassador to apologize to them is so diabolically clever a plan that only a Joooo… er, an Israeli (don’t know why I keep doing that)… could have cooked it up.

          • jim_m

            As Chico will surely explain, this is all part of an ingenious plan by the Jooos to trick obama into a war with Iran, (or Syria depending on Chico’s med levels). Thus he doesn’t need any proof to show that this film was produced in some secret bunker outside of Tel Aviv by Mossad films LTD, it is obvious to anyone who can see. (it’s probably explained in Chico’s personal edition of the Protocols of Zion)

        • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente
  • jim_m

    While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.

    Thanks President obama. Now we understand that you see verbal criticism of religion as the moral equivalent of murder.

    Now we see that you “Reject the efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others” we wait with rapt attention your soon to come denunciation of the dems who booed the reinstatement of the references to “God” in your party’s platform.

  • http://www.wizbangblog.com David Robertson

    I want to express a couple of observations.

    1. Yahoo! News is reporting the following:

    The deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya may have been a planned operation and not a spontaneous protest that turned violent, U.S. officials told the New York Times and CNN on Wednesday.

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/report-u-officials-believe-libya-attack-planned-171504894.html

    I suspect that the attack on the U.S embassy would have taken place even if the aforementioned film did not exist.

    2. Fox News is reporting the following:

    The top U.S. military official has asked a Florida pastor to pull his support of an anti-Islam film that may have played a role in inciting protesters who attacked U.S. diplomatic posts in Libya and Egypt.

    Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with Terry Jones by phone Wednesday morning to voice his concerns.

    “In the brief call, Gen Dempsey expressed his concerns over the nature of the film, the tensions it will inflame and the violence it will cause. He asked Mr. Jones to consider withdrawing his support for the film,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said.

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/12/joint-chiefs-chairman-urges-pastor-to-withdraw-support-anti-islam-film/

    Terry Jones and the maker(s) of that aforementioned film may be patting themselves on their backs for what they have done, but I see no good in what they have done.

    • jim_m

      It would not surprise me that this was planned and only waiting for an excuse to provide some cover. If true that makes this even more so an act of war and obama’s ignoring it an act of the utmost cowardice.

      Gen Dempsey is right in his expression of concern and words it correctly. As for Terry Jones, his behavior continues to be vulgar and crude but the left is way off base in their demands that he be imprisoned or tried for murder. Nothing else is so like the left than to blame America first and to want to exempt our enemies from the consequences of their actions.

  • retired.military

    Has Obama bowed to the Muslim brotherhood yet?

    If not than that may explain these attacks even though he gave them $1.5 b . After all he has bowed to everyone else.

  • jay

    Anyway keep harping on it. It’s turning into a disaster for Romney. Looks like you guys will be screaming about president Obama for four more years :)

    • jim_m

      Not likely. obama has once more demonstrated his manifest incompetence in foreign policy. He has allowed the ME to degenerate into a cesspool of islamic radicalism on his watch and in many ways promoted that outcome.

      His State Dept lost no time in blaming Americans for the violence that irrational foreigners committed. His lapdog media has embarrassed itself by showing itself to be rabid partisans seeking to turn this into a political weapon against Romney and ignoring obama’s impotence.

      The vast gulf of competence was clearly demonstrated between Romney, who has the ability and bravery to answer questions from an antogonistic media compared to the cowardly obama, who first apologizes to our enemies then refuses to take any questions from the supine leftist media.

      Watch the polls. obama will nose dive shortly. Even the MSM’s attempts at smothering this story so it doesn’t get out will not avail this time.

      • jay

        I’ve been watching them. His lead on Romney continues to grow. He leads nationally and in every key state. Good luck though. You’ll need it.

        • jim_m

          You are looking at the bogus CNN poll where they refuse to release the demographics but it is apparent that they have skewed it dramatically toward the left? obama gets a bounce from the convention. That is to be expected. Carter was ahead at this point too and he got crushed.

          • jay

            I didn’t know about the Cnn poll for thanks for that one. No I was speaking of the
            NATIONAL (Fox News): Obama d. Romney (48-43 LV; 46-42 RV)NATIONAL (Gallup Tracking): Obama d. Romney (50-43)NATIONAL (Ipsos-Reuters): Obama d. Romney (48-45 LV; 47-43 RV)NATIONAL (Rasmussen Tracking): Obama d. Romney (46-45)NATIONAL (YouGov): Obama d. Romney (49-45)
            Now I can add Cnn to the list :)

          • Commander_Chico_Cognoscente

            National polls mean nothing. State polls mean everything.

            Romney can run up 80-20 big numbers in Utah or Alabama, for example, and still lose the election. Same thing with Obama in Massachusetts or Hawaii.

      • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

        the embassy in cairo (does not reflect WH administration) re-affirmed a stance against religious intolerance against an offensive (poorly done) film that went viral and was causing unrest. Romney’s campaign, against Romney’s wishes, and on SEPT. 11th, jumped at a chance to link Obama to the unrest… this was all before news of violence broke. When it did break, Obama put out his first and only statement. (Google it.) Romney hasn’t yet put out another statement.

  • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

    the embassy in cairo (does not reflect WH administration) re-affirmed a stance against religious intolerance against an offensive (poorly done) film that went viral and was causing unrest. Romney’s campaign, against Romney’s wishes, and on SEPT. 11th, jumped at a chance to link Obama to the unrest… this was all before news of violence broke. When it did break, Obama put out his first and only statement. Romney hasn’t yet put out another statement.

  • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

    Below is a statement by U.S. President Barack Obama on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya:
    I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya’s transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.

    • jim_m

      While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others,

      I’ll remember that the next time some insufferable leftist condemns Christians or Catholics for considering homosexuality a sin. I didn’t realize that obama had taken to eating at Chick-fil-a.

      • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

        As long as you don’t stand in the way of equal rights for gays. I don’t stand in the way of someone’s right to make a religion bashing film that only asks for trouble. One is just a little stupid… to clarify… it’s the second one that is stupid.

        • jim_m

          As long as you don’t stand in the way of equal rights for gays

          OK so I can think whatever I want but if I want to act on my religious conviction you think that should be illegal? Nice. I suggest taking a remedial class in the constitution, idiot.

          I will note that what you consider denying gay rights (ie gay marriage) requires redefining an institution that has existed for thousands of years to suit your ideological goals.

          It is more than a little stupid to draw an equivalence between opposing gay marriage and the murder of an ambassador, but you managed it.

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            It should be illegal if you impede another’s rights and that’s what being against gay marriage calls for! and hows this for a remedial class…declaration of independence… all men are created equal endowed with right to life liberty and pursuit of happiness. you are the one that brought up gay rights dude so don’t blame me. lastly, how’s this for an idea… REDEFINE IT! we’re not in the bronze age anymore.

          • jim_m

            What you are talking about is not impeding someone’s rights. What you are talking about is trying to stop a new right from being created. That is different and not illegal or even necessarily immoral.

            One does not have to be married in order to pursue happiness. In fact I would rather argue that marriage often creates an impediment to the pursuit of happiness.

            So what you are advocating is the suppression of people’s existing rights to religious expression in order to create new rights. You are advocating the suppression of people’s rights merely because you feel like it. What happens when someone else is in power and they decide that your rights need to be suppressed? I’ll wager you haven’t ever bothered to think that far ahead.

            And no, we aren’t in the bronze age anymore, but there is no evidence that the institution of marriage needs to be redefined for any other reason than to please intolerant ideologues like yourself who think it their responsibility to force everyone else to surrender sincerely held religious beliefs in order to stroke your ego.

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            you don’t understand that gay marriage becoming simply marriage will not suppress you in any way shape or form. It will not hurt you. Only a little butt hurt will ensue… which can be fixed by growing a pair and jogging on.

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            using logic… not letting a group of people get married… that’s impeding. marriage is a right. separate but equal is BS. it’s just a way to justify segregation. people just want to feel superior as if gays are second class citizens. it’s awful.

          • jim_m

            Where is the right to same sex married in the constitution? Exactly. There is no such right currently. Therefore it is impossible to impede the exercise of that right. Nor has there ever been such a human right recognized to marry a partner of the same sex.

            You are asking for establishment of something very new. I have said many, many times before that I supprt civil unions and that there is no reason to demand that the definition of marriage be changed other than a desire to offend, insult and demean the religious beliefs of millions. The demand for gay marriage is ultimately a bigoted and hateful movement.

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            jim. marriage in general is not mentioned in the constitution at any point. gay rights have been the only issue here and im sorry you feel the way you do. the fact is civil unions is just any way of saying separate but equal… i told you not to do this jim. there are federal benefits granted in marriage that do apply to civil unions. and alot of states don’t recognize civil unions so agreements can become void. this is not equal jim. you obviously are projecting the words ‘bigoted’ and ‘hateful’. gay marriage does not hurt marriage in any way that can be proven.

          • SCSIwuzzy

            Think what you want, but do not voice what you think. Otherwise it becomes a thought crime.

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            ok gotcha. : / be well.

      • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

        It’s the second one that played a part in four people’s deaths. Gay rights, I believe, have killed zero people…

        • jim_m

          Oh, so you agree with the idiots that blame the film for the deaths of innocent civilians and not the actual people who committed the murders?

          The Jones film is ugly and repulsive, but not an excuse for murder. It’s nice to know that you would let murderers off because they felt their religion was offended. At what point, if any, would you actually hold someone responsible for their own actions? When they are a conservative?

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            It’s nice to know nothing! If you interfere with someone’s rights… you should be held responsible. Murder is definitely interfering with someone’s rights. Would you like to say anything else on my behalf?

          • http://www.facebook.com/justin.vanwie.1 Justin Van Wie

            the news of the film broke first. then the news of violence. what gets me is that a defense of religious tolerance called before the violence… was immediately labeled as defense of the murder and violence that ensued. these were two separate incidences… cause and effect… i’m not limited to one side when both are wrong.

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