First off, I offer my sympathy and condolences to the people lost in the attack on our embassy in Libya. This attack on our embassy is repugnant and wrong. I wish peace and comfort to those hurt, to those killed, and to their families.
Second, I reject as irresponsible, inflammatory and simply wrong, the religiously divisive video attacks on Islam.
Before anything else, I needed to make that clear.
More below the squiggle :
I find it distasteful to have to engage the politics of this.
It should be obvious to all that a crass political attack after these recent events is a mistake. It is a mistake both in reality and in political perception.
Quickly let's review the timeline.
Sam Bacille makes an inflamatory religiously divisive video attacking Islam.
The American Embassy in Egypt responds by condemning the video.
The American Embassy in Libya is attacked as a response to the video.
Willard inserts foot in mouth.
President Obama issues statement.
Now, let's think through this.
After the video and before the attack, why would one ever think that the statement by the American Embassy in Egypt was inappropriate ? The Americans working there know the culture and people of the Middle East better than most of us. They know how many people in will feel about the video. They stayed on top of this. Hindsight proves they were right to make the statement (the statement was the right thing to do for its own sake and not merely to defuse tensions). They may have asked the White House about making a statement. If so, how does one think that the White House should have responded to that request before the attack ? Why would President Obama tell them that their response is inappropriate ? Is it not likely that, if the President were asked, he would approve the statement ? And he would have been right to do so. The point is to reduce tensions and to bring about peace. That is an act of wise diplomacy. Let's leave the failed policies of Bush and Cheney behind on DKos please.
The video, it turned out, did serve as an impetus to an attack. It did not justify the attack; nevertheless, it did provoke a response.
President Obama waits to find out the facts and contacts the Libyan President.
He engages in the work of quiet diplomacy.
Willard, desperate to try to change the trajectory of the race, displays his inexperience in foreign policy and makes a partisan political attack for the transparent reason of trying to boost his poll numbers. Where fools rush in ....
President Obama releases a statement that condemns the attack in no uncertain terms, offers praise and condolences to the families that suffered loss, especially regarding the American Ambassador to Libya, makes clear that the video did not justify the attack, but rejects the divisive video as well.
Willard's foreign policy trip was a disaster. He has no credibility in the arena of foreign policy both according to the msm and according to most voters. This attack refocuses attention on his foreign policy inexperience and foreign policy debacles, resulting in greater scrutiny of his attacks. It takes attention off of the economy and back onto an area where he loses to President Obama : foreign policy.
policymic explains
An amateur video sparked the protests:
The film, whose lengthy trailer is on YouTube, was written and directed by an Israeli-American named Sam Bacile, and has been promoted by the infamous and dunderheaded Floridian pastor, Terry Jones. Bacile is currently in hiding.
Here is what Secretary Clinton said :
“Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
”
Willard's attack preceded even a White House statement
From Reuters
CBS and the Associated Press identified the American ambassador as Chris Stevens. He and the diplomatic staff were reportedly killed in a rocket attack on his car after protesters stormed the embassy in Benghazi. This attack apparently came after the attack on the consulate in Benghazi in which another embassy staffer was killed.
From TPM
The timeline of events, as it appears to have developed:
Earlier today, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt issued a statement that “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 said the statement was drafted and released before the protests
Here is what the President actually 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.
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.
US News and World Report reminds us that
According to a recent Ipsos/Reuters poll, voters believe President Barack Obama is stronger on foreign policy than Mitt Romney by 51-35 percent. The president also enjoys a 47-38 percent advantage on national security and has a 50-35 percent advantage on the war on terror.
As commander in chief, it was President Obama who gave the orders to take out Osama bin Laden, to responsibly conclude the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to sign the new START agreement with Russia, to mount a successful campaign in Libya without the loss of American blood and treasure, to impose the toughest sanctions on Iran and to provide Israel with the necessary funding to extend the Iron Dome system across southern Israel.
In the Audacity to Win by David Plouffe, he points out that Sarah Palin lacked the gravitas in the eyes of the American public to give her the credibility and the standing she needed to make her attacks on then Senator Obama, now President Obama, stick.
The same thing is true here for willard. His attack will thrill rabid right wingers but will not move the polls for him. It will not change the trajectory of the race. It does change the conversation away from the economy. He is flailing. He is desperate. He knows he is well behind and his only remaining opportunity to win consists of dominating the debates, something very unlikely to happen.
7:14 AM PT: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...
CAIRO/BENGHAZI/BEIRUT: BEIRUT: The US ambassador to Libya and three other embassy staff were killed in a rocket attack on Tuesday night that targeted his car in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a Libyan official said on Wednesday.
"The American ambassador and three staff members were killed when gunmen fired rockets at them," the official in Benghazi told Reuters. Asked about the deaths, a US Embassy employee in Tripoli said: "We have no information regarding this." The employee said the embassy could confirm the death of one person.
The Libyan official said the US ambassador had been on his way to a safer venue after protesters attacked the US Consulate in Benghazi and opened fire, killing a staff member, in protest at a US film that they deemed blasphemous to the Prophet Mohammad.