Watch: Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama Speak on Embassy Attack

First, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's infamous "3 a.m. phone call" advertisement pays dividends (it's interesting to watch that ad now with the Obama campaign essentially using the same attack on Mitt Romney). Anyway, notable quote: "Every day America's diplomats and development experts risk their lives in the service of our country and our values, because they believe the United States must be a force for peace and progress in the world."

 

Next up, Mitt Romney brings in the politics, saying, essentially, "This was terrible. Barack Obama's foreign policy sucks. Vote for me and I'll never apologize for America." (That's not a direct quote, but a summary of his talking points.)

 

RomneyBot's programmers need to do something about that creepy smirk that keeps popping up at points. Of course, he's being criticized for how quickly he responded, criticizing the administration before President Barack Obama gave his own statement.

And finally, President Barack Obama speaks, condemning "in the strongest terms" the attack: "We will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people." He also claims America respects all faiths, and he rejects any "denigration" of other religions. But he doesn't believe such behavior should lead to violence. That's some pretty weak tea, and as Jesse Walker pointed out, leads to demands for government officials to denounce anything somebody doesn't like. Clinton actually was a bit more adept at blending the ideas of "religious tolerance" while condemning violence.

Comments

[John]

So we have an American Ambassador murdered and his body drug through the streets, but what really is important story is Mitt Romney. Wow.

[wareagle]

THAT is the attempted narrative across most media. I thought Mitt did a pretty good job of NOT backing down when asked about it. Of the three speeches, Obama's was the weakest by far.

[nicole]

Folks are saying now, including, I think, Hillary, that he was actually being carried toward a hospital by people trying to help.

[John]

Maybe so. Regardless, a dead Ambassador is kind of big story. It is both sad and funny how brownshirts like Tony will do anything to get the blame and focus off of Obama. It really is like Obama is running against that damned President Romney.

[nicole]

Oh it's a huge story. And an awful photo.

[T o n y]

So Obama is to blame for the bombing, in addition to your stubbed toe and headache?

[Randian]

Mitt Romney is to blame. That's the lesson I am getting here.

[o3]

i'll go w ansar al islam

that black flag over our consulate aint mitt's.

[darius404]

that black flag over our consulate aint mitt's.

Barack Obama is a secret Muslim? That's the message I've getting here.

[Lord Humungus]

wait, I thought Bush was too blame. At least he got the blame for just about everything from 2000-2008... and on and on...

[Heroic Mulatto]

I dunno, My Little Tony,

Does Obama still get to claim credit for the sodomization and summary execution of Ghaddafi?

[lightning]

Yes dumb*ss he is. He continued the damn arab spring Bush started in Egypt and left the country in the hands of a bunch of religious nutjobs bent on the destruction of everyone who doesn't hold their beliefs. I don't like Romney on bit, but give me an ever luvin break. Obama - not Romney - is the commander in chief who just had four employees murdered on his watch and is first concern is Romney's comments? I thought the repubs were hypocrits, but the democrats make the repubs look virtuous.

[Juice]

He continued the damn arab spring Bush started in Egypt

LOL

[T o n y]

His first concern was Romney's comments?

God I wish I could just make shit up whenever I wanted.

[darius404]

Ok. "lightning", is it? Let me give you some advice. When someone says something retarded, try NOT to reply with something even more retarded.

[rts]

Indeed. NY Post

A Libyan doctor who treated Stevens said he died of severe asphyxiation, apparently from smoke. In a sign of the chaos of during the attack, Stevens was brought alone by Libyans to the Benghazi Medical Center with no other Americans, and no one at the facility knew who he was, the doctor, Ziad Abu Zeid, told The Associated Press.

[John]

Thanks.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Ah, I see.

[darius404]

Wow. Thanks for that, rts.

[CampingInYourPark]

Does this look like someone that is capable of being helped?

http://thegatewaypundit.com/wp.....tevens.jpg

[CampingInYourPark]

I guess the one with the cell phone stuck in his face was helping him make a call home too.

[SugarFree]

Yes, because the actions of some Libyans reflect on all the others, you collectivist twit.

[CampingInYourPark]

Just like some Libyans carrying a corpse to a hospital doesn't reflect on all others. Where did I say it reflected on "all others"?

[SugarFree]

You're the one that's been stroking your warboner all day.

[CampingInYourPark]

"Where did I say it reflected on 'all others'?"

"You're the one that's been stroking your warboner all day."

Since you can't answer the first question, then show where said anything about war?

[Episiarch]

You seem really upset, Tulpa. Almost...manufacturedly so. Why do you get off on this stuff, you sick fuck?

[CampingInYourPark]

"Why do you get off on this stuff, you sick fuck?"

I'm not Tulpa, and if I recall you're the scumbag that doesn't care if a bureaucrat is dead, so fuck off.

[Episiarch]

Answer the question, sick fuck. What's the matter, you don't like your crocodile tears being questioned, scumbag?

[The Hammer]

He does have a point, Epi.

[Episiarch]

No it doesn't.

[darius404]

Yeah, he does. You're being retarded and a pointless ass.

[nicole]

I'm not saying it looks pretty, I'm just saying that earlier reports appear to have been wrong about what was actually happening.

[WTF]

Do we know the new reports are accurate?

[nicole]

Well, there's a link above to an account by a Libyan doctor, and I believe Hillary has confirmed this, but no, I can't actually vouch for it in any certain way.

[Zeb]

It looks like it would be worth a try.

[T o n y]

And isn't Mitt Romney the real victim here?

[John]

Obama could start putting people in ovens or accidentally nuke a US city and you would still be apologizing for him Tony.

[T o n y]

I didn't say anything about Obama, though I'm sure that he did something horrifically wrong in your eyes, as he does every day just by existing.

It is true however that foreign policy hands from both sides of the political spectrum have condemned Romney's hasty and tone-deaf political attack:

"I guess we see now that it is because [the Romney campaign is] incompetent at talking effectively about foreign policy," said [William Kristol]. "This is just unbelievable ? when they decide to play on it they completely bungle it."

[Randian]

I promise you that very few people in the real world give a shit.

[John]

Yes Tony. You will always defend Obama. We get it.

[Heroic Mulatto]

It is true however that foreign policy hands from both sides of the political spectrum have condemned Romney's hasty and tone-deaf political attack:

Speaking truth to power is "tone-deaf"? Those "foreign policy hands" are paid to be obsequious little fucks.

Is it a Godwin if I mention Neville Chamberlain? Of course, not that someone as uneducated and ignorant as Tony would know who he was.

[Randian]

Dissent is Patriotic!...except when a Democrat fucks up foreign policy and a Republican calls him on it.

Then it's time to circle the wagons and say America LIOLI.

[James Anderson Merritt]

Hmmm ... that sounds like a great name for a BlackWater type of company: LIOLI Enterprises. I wonder how many seeing the corporate logo would guess its acronymic origin?

[T o n y]

If Romney said something that wasn't utterly tone-deaf and distasteful, don't you think Republican shills like Bill Kristol would not be shaking their heads in embarrassment over the statement?

[Randian]

One can question the timing and tone of Mitt Romney's statement last night. One can note he wasn't as fluent and clear as he might have been at his press conference this morning. Still, the fact remains that the events of September 11, 2012, represent a big moment for the country. Romney is right to sense this, and to seize on this moment as an occasion to explain the difference between his foreign policy and President Obama's. He's right to reject the counsel of the mainstream media, which is to keep quiet and give President Obama a pass

Bill Kristol, this very fucking day.

[Randian]

Here's the link, Hacks McGee.

[Heroic Mulatto]

If Romney said something that wasn't utterly tone-deaf and distasteful, don't you think Republican shills like Bill Kristol would not be shaking their heads in embarrassment over the statement?

Listen you Down's Syndrome mongoloid. Anything Romney has ever said in his life is nowhere as utterly tone-deaf and distasteful as the cowardly, little apology for hurting the religious feelings of the Islamic world that the Cairo embassy saw fit to issue on 9-FUCKING-11, of all days.

[Ptah-Hotep]

Listen you Down's Syndrome mongoloid. Anything Romney has ever said in his life is nowhere as utterly tone-deaf and distasteful as the cowardly, little apology for hurting the religious feelings of the Islamic world that the Cairo embassy saw fit to issue on 9-FUCKING-11, of all days.

He does have a knack for timing, does he not? Like cancelling the missle stuff in Poland, on the aniversary of the soviet invasion. IIRC

[T o n y]

It was meant to stave off violence against themselves, you hyperventilating cretin. It was made before the attack in Libya. There was nothing wrong with what they said.

On the other hand Romney is being pretty much universally criticized for his slimy, tasteless politicization of the death of American servicepeople.

[Randian]

On the other hand Romney is being pretty much universally criticized for his slimy, tasteless politicization of the death of American servicepeople.

Again, if by 'universal' you mean 'in the pages of HuffPo and The Atlantic', then yes.

[T o n y]

I think Mitt has Sarah Palin, media figure, on his side. Maybe a couple other partisans. But it is beyond belief that you wouldn't have seen the near-universal condemnation of Romney's remarks if you were paying attention to any media. Not that it's remotely important considering the gravity of the events at the heart of the matter, but it was a very bad day for Romney. Which seems to get people here at this nonpartisan libertarian site pretty worked up, for some reason.

[Randian]

Haven't seen it.

No one I know is talking about.

My Facebook is overrun with liberal clowns, and it isn't on there either.

Sorry, this is only an outrage to the media-types, including talk radio.

It's NBD to everybody else.

Like RC said, it's pretty incredible that the media is making a hash out of Romney, of all things, when there are two overrun embassies and four dead diplomats. You all have absolutely no shame.

[Heroic Mulatto]

It was meant to stave off violence against themselves, you hyperventilating cretin. It was made before the attack in Libya. There was nothing wrong with what they said.

You calling me cretin....that's funny. Then again you claim to have a PBK key. Didn't know they had chapters in Clown College.

They were cowards. Liberty and universal human rights are things they pledge an oath to defend, with their lives, dumbass.

I hope you die a painful death from bone cancer.

[The Hammer]

If he was a Republican shill, wouldn't he be supporting what the Republican Presidential nominee said?

[BarryD]

Oh...

Uh...

San Dimas High School Football Rules!

[darius404]

So, how's that [sports team]?

[Fatty Bolger]

Don't you mean villain, Tony? Get your narrative straight, please. The DNC is counting on you.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Wait, they actually got a hold of his corpse and went all Somalia-style on it?

Where did you read that?

[John]

That was the rumor. But apparently they were taking him to a hospital.

[Lyle]

There are photos.

[Lyle]

This.

[Pro Libertate]

I don't fucking care about the electoral implications.

[RyanXXX]

Thank you. John and Tony really need to get some fucking perspective

[darius404]

Yeah, I know right? They totally need to realize that Gary Johnson should capitalize on this by criticizing BOTH of them. John and T o n y need to get their acts together and agree with me on this one.

/unselfaware

[johnl]

It's Romney's fault security wasn't upgraded earlier.

[BarryD]

It is, in a way. Romney lost the primary to John McCain in 2008.

[Barack Obama]

Present.

[o3]

mr president, why are your muslim bros attacking us since you appeased und surrendered?

[WTF]

mr president, why are your muslim bros attacking us since you appeased und surrendered?

Because they know they'll be safe from retaliation?

[Nephi]

That's not a direct quote, but a summarization of his talking points.

I think you meant "summary," but maybe you were going for humor.

[Scott S.]

I meant summary. I originally wrote bastardization and only half-fixed it. Corrected.

[sage]

That was an obvious jab at Bush, whose silence on this issue is deafening.

[John]

And apparently the black Jesus did not take questions over this.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Speaking of Jesus...

This whole "Prophet Mohammed" in news reports thing really pisses me off. I understand that it started to clear ambiguity as there are a million and one people named Mohammed/Muhammed/Muhammed/Mohammad, et al. in the Muslim world.

However, there are a million and one people name Jesus throughout the Latin-Hispanic world, I don't see the media using the phrase "Jesus, the Son of God" to clear ambiguity. As a Buddhist, I don't see any news reports refering to "Lord Buddha, the Fully-Enlightened One; not the fat guy and not a fat spliff either."

Cowardly hypocrites.

[Rich]

Yeah, and what about the ubiquitous omission of "PBUH"?

[Heroic Mulatto]

It's ?(alayhi s-salam), you unlettered infidel.

[Rich]

But, but, I saw it on a sign at the Cairo embassy brouhaha. Seriously.

[Archduke Pantsfan ?]

Fascinating.

[rts]

You get that past the squirrels, and we still can't have ampersands.

[Archduke Pantsfan?]

I guess ampersands aren't halal.

[rts]

And what's up with your timestamp? Neat trick.

[Archduke Pantsfan?]

The unicode confuses the server

[darius404]

The unicode confuses the server

Yeah, I noticed the foreign text took it's place.

[LTC(ret) John]

That or the squirrels find them irresistably tasty. Maybe they have whole piles of them buried all over the servers, for winter.

[Restoras]

Obama has no balls. Watch what happens next - events like this have a habit of spiralling into others when you don't show any resolve and you are dealing with savages.

[NoVAHockey]

Am I way off base here? After hearing him say that "he rejects any 'denigration' of other religions, my mind immediately went to the debacle with Catholics and contraception coverage. Seems like we were told to STFU.

[darius404]

But, but, that's not denigration because those things were BAAAD!

[Tman]

President Not My Fault reporting for duty!

[BarryD]

Some things called "religions" run counter to fundamental moral values that Americans have.

How can we not denigrate ANY of them? I don't think it's possible.

[Rich]

Easy. You just did it: by using scare quotes.

Seriously, there's simply some critical number of adherents at which a cultish "religion" becomes a REAL religion. Except, of course, for the druggie "religion".

[BarryD]

Those weren't scare quote. Grammar, I know people don't know it or pay attention to it, but I do.

But your point is similar to mine, in the end. 🙂

[BarryD]

quoteS

[Rich]

They were "scare quotes". 🙂

[BarryD]

No they weren't.

Animals called "bears" shit in the woods.

English grammar, when referring to the word that something is called.

[Citizen Nothing]

This thing called "grammar" be hard.

[Zeb]

No, it was a correct use of quotation marks. He was mentioning the word "religions", not talking about religions. Most of the time people are very sloppy at distinguishing use and mention. I applaud BarryD for his unambiguous typography.

[Episiarch]

No, let's denigrate all of them. That's the appropriate response.

And stop collectivizing us. "We" do not have "fundamental" moral values. Each individual has their own.

[Hugh Akston]

Except for you, of course.

[Episiarch]

I am a moral vacuum, Hugh.

[Randian]

There's some sucking going on, but I am pretty sure it ain't moral in nature.

[Episiarch]

I've gone from suck to blow!

[Warty]

BLOWJOBS

[darius404]

Thanks for clarifying, Warty. What would we ever do without you? Besides sleeping peacefully and without fear, of course.

[Pro Libertate]

Think about, Hugh. Only a society this decadent and unprincipled could produce an Episiarch.

[nicole]

an Episiarch

There can be only one.

[Episiarch]

nicole: Epi, wait. The Highlander was just a movie.
Episiarch: No, nicole, The Highlander was a documentary, and events happened...in real time.

[nicole]

I can't decide what I was more irritated by in Obama's remarks, that he thinks the US should be against denigrating religion, or that he thinks "the US" has any beliefs about anything at all.

No, I think it was the first one, since that subsumes the second.

[Episiarch]

Wait, what if Obama is Locutus of Borg? Then it all makes sense!

[Warty]

No, no, Obama is Q. Annoying, boring, and not as smart as he wants to be.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

He's worse. He's Riker.

[Randian]

There isn't any universe where I see Obama snatching up some Marina Sirtis.

[o3]

he's jordi

[Randian]

Geordi had better vision.

Zing.

[nicole]

Warty, I am sorry, but fuck the fuck off. Q is actually omniscient and all-powerful. Obama is Chakotay.

[Warty]

Oh, bullshit. Q pretends to be omniscient and all-powerful, but he's really a dipshit putting on airs. I can't believe he fooled you.

[Randian]

Obama is the Squire of Gothos.

[Episiarch]

You idiots, Obama is Harry Mudd.

[nicole]

You're just mad he didn't snap his fingers and take you to Risa. Or to a Civil War reenactment.

[The Hammer]

Obama is the Gorn.

[Bobarian]

Obama is the first tribble.

Michelle is Worf's wife.

[rts]

Obama is clearly Grebnedlog.

The Pakled got their technology by stealing it from other species...

It fits!

[Rich]

"Every day America's diplomats and development experts risk their lives in the service of our country"

Would you say as well that every day [insert any other country]'s diplomats and development experts risk their lives in the service of their country?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Somehow, I don't think Canada's ambassador to, say, Luxembourg gets hazard pay.

[Rich]

Interesting, isn't it?

But s/he still gets diplomatic immunity, I'll bet.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Well, sure.

You don't expect an ambassador to Luxembourg to risk prosecution for sampling those delicious, imported Eastern European "escorts", do you?

[Episiarch]

IT'S JUST BEEN REVOKED

[Ptah-Hotep]

Would you say as well that every day [insert any other country]'s diplomats and development experts risk their lives in the service of their country?

Sure, but what is your point? Diplomats have for 1000's of years been held as "non-touchable" by governments. To kill one is a BFD, and should not be taken lightly.

President Barack Obama speaks, condemning "in the strongest terms" the attack: "We will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people."

This is taking it lightly.

[Rich]

Heroic Mulatto got my point.

If your diplomats have to *risk their lives*, perhaps you'd better deal with that country via Skype.

[BarryD]

Diplomacy is war by other means.

Some things, you can't do with Skype. Or drones.

[Ptah-Hotep]

If your diplomats have to *risk their lives*, perhaps you'd better deal with that country via Skype.

I got your point. Diplomats are paid to handle difficult matters. They are expected to be places that are not conducive to long life from time to time. This is why they are not normally killed. And when they are killed, it is not something that you condem "in the strongest terms."

Not all areas of the globe are hazardous, but some are, that is why we only put career diplomats in those hazard areas and not some idiot that helped the current occupant of the white house get elected.

[Zeb]

And when they are killed, it is not something that you condem "in the strongest terms."

What would you reserve condemnation int he strongest terms for then?

[Ptah-Hotep]

What would you reserve condemnation in [t]he strongest terms for then?

Someone stealing a $billion would get a condemnation. Someone killing your diplomats requires a stronger response.

Unfortunately, this is not something that words alone can fix. Otherwise, you set yourself up for more people getting killed in the future.

[LTC(ret) John]

When Hans Brix gets verwy angwy!

[Killazontherun]

He was, however, the idiot in charge of overthrowing the last Libyan leader. Can't deny there is a 'reap what you have sown' going on here.

[hotsy totsy]

I thought that legally a nation's embassy was actually that nation's territory. Libyans or Egyptians barging into the embassy are invading US territory, and should be dealt with accordingly.

[BarryD]

True.

The downside is that the ambassador to countries that are our closest friends and allies tends to be some worthless preppy goofball who isn't even fluent in the country's language (even if it's English). This is especially true if the country has good food.

"Ambassador to France" is essentially synonymous with "well-paid 4-year vacation and I can't even get traffic tickets!"

[WTF]

And finally, President Barack Obama speaks, condemning "in the strongest terms" the attack: "We will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people."

Translation: "We will do nothing, and assume the furor dies down in time for the election in November."

[hotsy totsy]

"(I)n the strongest terms" or even STRONG terms it could involve invading Egyptian and/or Libyan consulates here and arresting and jailing the ambassadors.

In World War II, the Japanese diplomats were sent home, and likewise, US personnel were "escorted" out of Japan. Nobody shot the US ambassador.

[The Hammer]

"We will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people."

I really don't see where AP got "strongest terms" out of any of that.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

They've been held as untouchable because Genghis Khan set the standard. Touch a diplomat and your city get ground into the dust.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

US embassy in Libya attacked.

I blame Bush.

[Isaac Bartram]

Actually, it was a US Consulate in Libya that was attacked.

But, of course it was still Bush's fault. 🙂

[Archduke Pantsfan]

So when does Obama suspend the election?

[Rich]

Smile when you say that.

[Pro Libertate]

In all seriousness, I wonder how far gone some of his supporters are. How many would smile and nod if he did something like that? I'm sure most wouldn't, but some would. What's that number?

[Episiarch]

I think you'd be surprised how many would support it, ProL, I really do. Remember, the other TEAM and its candidate are pure, concentrated evil. No measure is too much to stop them.

[Rich]

"Since Congress is failing to act to suspend the election, ...."

[Pro Libertate]

Dude, if one person, even a family member agreed, I'd be horrified and shocked. Not so much surprised, sadly.

If we keep walking down this path, something like that isn't that far away.

[Episiarch]

I completely agree. The partisanship is getting to the point of cultishness.

[Pro Libertate]

Of course, since the military is more likely to side with a Republican, all this cult of personality crap will backfire on the Democrats. So, at least, you and I can explain this to our fellow concentration camp inmates of the leftwing variety.

[Episiarch]

This is burned in by laser scan. Some of us were kept alive...to work...loading bodies. The disposal units ran night and day. We were that close to going out forever. But there was one man who taught us to fight, to storm the wire of the camps, to smash those statist motherfuckers into jelly. He turned it around. He brought us back from the brink. His name is Johnson. Gary Johnson. Your son, Sarah, your unborn son.

[Pro Libertate]

Sarah Palin? Holy shit.

[Warty]

AVENGE MEEEEEEE

[Gray Ghost]

Needs more domestic chaos before he could pull something like that.

Add a mass casualty attack in this country, and all bets are off.

I do agree with you ProL: I've never seen such slavishness in U.S. political supporters before. Makes the cretins who drove around with "W: The President" stickers seem like members of the Union of Skeptics. I don't know at this point what they wouldn't excuse, or blame on a GOP/Whitey/Koch conspiracy.

[Kaptious Kristen]

It looks like the US Embassy in Cairo pussy-edited its web site and Facebook page, BTW.

[BarryD]

Better than the alternative, I guess.

[Tman]

Exhibit A in how not to handle an international crisis. Maybe they should hold a "Let's all eat Halal for a day" potluck dinner and see if that settles everything down.

[Rich]

hold a "Let's all eat Halal for a day" potluck dinner

I'd be shocked if this isn't already done routinely.

[Killazontherun]

Oddly enough, I did have couscous with meatballs made of equal portions of ground lamb and pork yesterday.

[Isaac Bartram]

I remain unconvinced of the whole "the Cairo embasy staff went off the reservation story" WRT to the original statement.

Considering today's nearly instantaneous communications, I find it hard to believe that the Cairo Embassy would release a public statement of this type not fully vetted by honchos at both State and the prezzydink's office.

[Hugh Akston]

RomneyBot's programmers need to do something about that creepy smirk that keeps popping up at points.

That unit's proper designation is the ROMNIAC 500, and as any robotics enthusiast knows, human expressions are one of the most difficult things to properly replicate.

[CampingInYourPark]

He needs lessons on proper use of retarded facial expressions from GJ

[Episiarch]

Producer: Watch this. ROMNIAC, given the current trends of the movie going public, can you come up with an idea for a movie that will break $100 million box office?
ROMNIAC: Um...okay, how about this: Adam Sandler is, like, in love with some girl. But it turns out that the girl is actuallya golden retreiever or something.
Mitch: Oh! Perfect!
Executive: We'll call it "Puppy Love".

[Randian]

You are an incredible robot, ROMNIAC. I was just wondering, are you by chance a *pleasure* model?

[Eduard van Haalen]

Oh, thank you for *that* image.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

ROMINAC:

If you are referring to sexuality, I am... fully functional, programmed in... multiple techniques.

[LTC(ret) John]

Paging Barfman. Barfman, please pick up the red courtesy phone...

[Gray Ghost]

Numbness will subside in several minutes.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Damn, Hillary looks like she's aged about twenty years in less than four. That office has not been kind to her at all.

[Pro Libertate]

Evil incompetence isn't good for the skin.

[LTC(ret) John]

See also, Pelosi, N.

[lightning]

What is truly sick about this article is that it focuses on a bunch of amoral narcissistic jerks who collectivly plan to screw this country over and completely ignores the important aspect of the story. FOUR AMERICANS WERE MURDERED ON US SOIL (that should be the focus of the story). A US embassy is US soil according to international law and this attack occured on the memorial of a similar attack eleven years ago. Yet, all anyone cares about is the response of a bunch of psychopathic narcissistic jerks who will do the same thing in office whether or not there is an "R" or "D" designating their political beliefs.

[Citizen Nothing]

So don't leave us hangin'. What's your big plan, lightning?

[Citizen Nothing]

I'm guessing it involves caps lock.

[Gray Ghost]

When it involved the deaths of 63 Americans on U.S. soil, the big plan was for the U.S. military to take a nice Caribbean vacation.

Sleep tight, Hugo.

[lightning]

Only a true partisan dumb*ss would ask what the plan is. No wonder this country is so screwed. The attack was planned, which to coin a phrase from the E*TRADE baby "Here's my shocked face". The plan, whenever you are attacked, is to strike back. Lest you are a card carrying member of either party, an attack does not mean invading said country (which we already did anyway). It is to send in a team of special ops guys to remove the specific murderers from the face of the planet. As for my use of caps lock I indicated that the phrase was to be the title of the article; if your little feelings were hurt by the idea that I might be stating the phrase strongly, well tough. The point of my prior comment was about how focusing on the politics of the attack instead of the victims is amoral. No one has even considered how this is affecting people who lost loved ones on 9/11. Your focus is on my use of caps and "what my plan is". Author focuses on Romney. Real focus should be on the victims of this attack and 9/11 victims. What's sad is that I need to spell this out again.

[BarryD]

A true Scotsman might, also.

[BarryD]

Bring out the Leroy Nieman paintings!

[Isaac Bartram]

FOUR AMERICANS WERE MURDERED ON US SOIL (that should be the focus of the story). A US embassy is US soil

Actually, no, while it's true that a US embassy is US soil, these murders happened in the US Consulate in Benghzzi (no the consulate at the US Embassy in Tripoli).

Consulates are not the "soil" of the country that owns them. Thay are business offices to facilitate dealings between individuals and the US government and'r other instituions or individuals in the US.

Nevertheless, in many ways this does not diminish the seriousness of this event. The Ambassador, that is the sovereign representative of the USA was attacked and killed. The Libyan governemnt failed in its obligation to protect him and if they fail to bring the perpetrators to justices they are plainly and simply complicit in the murder.

[lightning]

I apologize for the misstatement regarding "American soil". What has bothered me about the reporting on this subject is the lack of respect for the victims of this tragedy. Not only their loss, but understanding how the fact that the attack occured on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 could hurt the survivors of the 9/11 attacks. After all the cr*p both political parties have put this country through, the continued partisan swipes, the my guy is better than your guy, and the ongoing loss of civil liberties in the name of safety it truly amazes me that the main focus is on the "politics" of the subject - not the people.

[hotsy totsy]

YES!

[Killazontherun]

I've seen as part of the noise today the idea there has not been enough spent on social programs in the Middle East. Stupid, really, but okay fine. Much like some Blue cities run money for gun buy back programs we could support a money (or food, or what have you) for Korans exchange program. Paper cuts aren't the only thing dangerous about those things.

[LTC(ret) John]

Nikes for RPGs? Rice for AKs?

[0x90]

Sarah Palin, yesterday:

" [Our] nation's security should be of utmost importance to our Commander-in-chief. America can't afford any more 'leading from behind' in such a dangerous world. We already know that President Obama likes to 'speak softly' to our enemies. If he doesn't have a 'big stick' to carry, maybe it's time for him to grow one."

[Pro Libertate]

She went there! Wow.

[T o n y]

She's a vulgar imbecile. She was thought fit to be a very old heartbeat away from making foreign policy. Actually she wasn't thought fit once they flew her down, but by then it was too late.

Lots of armchair foreign policy experts here too, who think the best way to deal with wild barbarous animals is to poke them with sticks.

[John]

And yet, she is right and the Kenyan village idiot is wrong. And this is like the 50th time that has happened in the last 4 years.

Tony, it well be that Obama is actually dumber than Sarah Palin.

[T o n y]

Right about what? She doesn't know what she's talking about. Neither do you. You're obviously getting your assessment of this situation from the remaining dregs of the Republican right who haven't yet slapped Mitt Romney for politicizing the deaths of Americans abroad.

[John]

Tony we already knew that you were dumber than Palin. You didn't have to go out and prove it again. The question is is Obama? And that appears to be yes.

[lightning]

Especially since apologizing and appeasment has worked so well with these "wild barbarous animals" in the past.

[T o n y]

When was that tried?

[lightning]

President Obama was sworn into office in January of 2009. Since then, he has worked hard to erase the militant stance of American foreign policy especially in the Arab world. He bows, he apologizes, and he seeks to reverse the errors of Bush. This has impressed the Arab world so much they burn his image, Afgan security forces invite troops to dinner to shoot them, protesters storm our embassy in Egypt, and our ambassador is killed in Lybia, both of the latter countries which we allegedly helped to "liberate". I guess we might get better results in the next four years, but not thinking it likely.

[darius404]

Since then, he has worked hard to erase the militant stance of American foreign policy especially in the Arab world.

Our abundant military actions overseas disagree with you.

[0x90]

Get out of my yard, lame-o.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Letters of Marque, mother fuckers!

[R C Dean]

To summarize:

Libyan ambassador, three others killed, Egyptian embassy attacked and flag burned.

Administration issues statements aligning with attackers in opposition to no-name web video and the awfulness of offending Islamists.

Romney issues statement without waiting for Obama to do so first.

Obama heads for Vegas for fundraisers. Takes no questions on the incidents from the press.

The real outrage, of course, is Romney.

Fuck, the media and the Obamabots have gone completely bugshit nuts.

[T o n y]

The Cairo embassy's statement was released before any violence occurred, in response to an apparently inflammatory and bigoted video going viral in the Middle East, in order to attempt to protect itself from violence.

The administration never once issued a statement sympathizing with the attackers.

You are not only getting your facts wrong, but in such a way as can only be explained by you reading directly from a Mitt Romney campaign memo. Nobody else, not on the right or left, has constructed the narrative this way.

[Randian]

The Cairo embassy's statement was released before any violence occurred

Overrunning the Egyptian embassy is not violence now?

The administration never once issued a statement sympathizing with the attackers.

Are the ambassadors not members of the Administration now?

Tony, what is your narrative here? What is the flaw?

[T o n y]

I presumed Dean was referring to the Cairo statement, but he was apparently equally offended by Obama's statement condemning the religious intolerance that started this whole mess.

The ambassadors are part of the administration but their statement was disavowed by the administration. Not that I think there was anything wrong with what they said.

Where the fuck are the libertarians? Is it the consensus here that the problem with American foreign policy is that it isn't aggressive enough?

[Randian]

Where the fuck are the libertarians? Is it the consensus here that the problem with American foreign policy is that it isn't aggressive enough?

I am more dovish than most here, and even I think that diplomats are off limits and the behavior needs to be punished. Not just for justice reasons, but because this has to be deterred.

Please understand that two embassies have been overrun and we have absolutely no statement of 'what is to be done' from the Administration at all.

The President had no problem breaching Pakistan's 'sovereignty' to get OBL; it's time to breach some 'sovereignty' and remove them root-and-branch.

[John]

That is above his pay grade Randian. It is not like Obama is President or anything.

[Randian]

Fuck me running, it just blows me away that our ability to do diplomatic business has been severely compromised if not totally destroyed in two key countries in the most turbulent area of the globe, and the Administration is 'not taking questions' while giving out some stern talkings-to.

[Randian]

And he's at a campaign event right now.

But the problem is obvs Mitt Romney. WTF.

[John]

It blows me away too. Who gives a shit what Romney has to say. This is a crisis an Obama is President. I care what Obama has to say and what he plans to do. And he seems to have no idea what to do.

[Randian]

Liberals went absolutely nuts when Bush stayed 10 extra minutes to read My Pet Goat.

But it's hunky-dory that the President is fucking fundraising in Vegas today.

What the fuck ever. This is sheer insanity.

[Isaac Bartram]

Actually, sorry to be pedantic but it is one embassy and one consulate.

Which, of course does not change the fact that four Americans are dead, including the Ambassador*. That's serious.

I'm all for trying to work out a settlement with the Lybyan governemnt through diplomatic channells (though allowing the killin of your ambassador kind of chills the diplomatic environment, dont you know?). I also don't think it would hurt to deploy a naval task force to that part of the Med to just kind of give the libyans a little bit of incentive to come to terms.

*Who, although it doesn't change anything, probably should not have been there, though, I suppose he thought he had some standing with the Libyan mob that might change something. I also doubt the mob actually knew it was the ambassador either. Not that that makes much difference, either.

[lightning]

My understanding is that he was an active part of the Arab spring (got this from various news sources), which is probably why he was there. They did know who he was though because intelligence is comming out that he was identified by Lybian security forces. Don't you think sending a carrier group would be a bit much? I suggested special ops earlier because they could help the Lybian government, without inciting the protesters even more. I say this since Lybia appears very fragile right now.

[Isaac Bartram]

Actually. I think a naval task force of some kind is called for, for two reasons.

First, just for the show of force hell of it. "America, fuck yeah." works sometimes.

And second, to be on hand for the posssible evacuation of US citizens from either Egypt of Libya should events get really out of hand.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Where the fuck are the libertarians? Is it the consensus here that the problem with American foreign policy is that it isn't aggressive enough?

You can say "We don't apologize for Freedom of Speech" and not bomb the fuck out of a country, you mendacious little twat.

[darius404]

It never occurs to him that the people posting the most in this thread perhaps aren't the most reasonable on the matter.

[lightning]

Since when do libertarians believe that victims of religious intolerance should be allowed to overrun a consulate office and kill 4 people? Tony, you are obviously a troll. Although I don't comment often, I have been registered at reason long enough to now that not only do I know libertarians support the right to piss off the religious they enjoy engaging in that sport often themselves. As a Christian libertarian, I support and encourage them to enjoy their sport because it is beautiful to see the free expression of speech. No religion should ever use the excuse of "religious intolerance" as an excuse to become violent. That is NOT libertarian and usually is a violation of most (please note I said "most") religions.

[T o n y]

I don't even know what you guys are saying. There seems to be an everpresent need to criticize the president no matter what the situation, and since there is precious little to go on here you're just winding yourselves up over nothing. He is under no obligation, constitutionally or strategically, to defend the inflammatory speech of bigots. No one is arresting Terry Jones, even though his speech has led directly to deaths in the Middle East. Yay freedom. Okay. I see no value whatsoever in the president siding with him. But claiming he sides with the attackers is just an ugly partisan lie.

[Ptah-Hotep]

No one is arresting Terry Jones, even though his speech has led directly to deaths in the Middle East.

No, his speach did not lead directly to anyone's death. The assholes who perpetrated the acts of violence led to the deaths. If you can prove his speach lead directly to deaths, you could arrest and try him. Let me know how that works out for you.

[Randian]

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.

Why are these two things placed together in the same sentence?

Why?

[T o n y]

Would a semicolon have calmed you down a bit? You're bitching just for the sake of bitching.

[Randian]

You are absolutely hopeless.

When a military-style attack takes out your Ambassador and three State employees, you have no business even mentioning the manufactured pretext used to 'justify' such a thing.

"While the United States rejects efforts to dress like a slut, we must unequivocally oppose rape"

Do you see the problem right there? You're blaming the victim.

[Ptah-Hotep]

You're blaming the victim.

Actually Randian, he is blaming Terry Jones for their deaths.

No one is arresting Terry Jones, even though his speech has led directly to deaths in the Middle East.

Pretty fucking sad that he cannot place the blame where it belongs; on the people who commited the acts.

[BarryD]

The President went to Vegas instead of calling an emergency meeting, to figure out what the best response would be.

He held a press conference and wouldn't answer any questions.

There's nothing to criticize?

Give me a break.

[R C Dean]

The administration never once issued a statement sympathizing with the attackers.

I didn't say "sympathizing", you illiterate. I said "aligning", as in "echoing their grievance", which was done both in the Cairo embassy statement (whenever that was released) and after the attack.

[T o n y]

Then evidently you can't read and you let Mitt Romney do it for you.

Religious tolerance is an American value too, you know.

[Randian]

Your first instinct when your embassy is overrun should not be "sorry that some random citizen pissed you off and you couldn't control yourselves. Our bad"

[T o n y]

If it works to prevent violence, sure it should. I'm sure diplomats in the center of a Middle East shitstorm would appreciate the advice you so generously dish out from the safety of your armchair.

[Randian]

'm sure diplomats in the center of a Middle East shitstorm would appreciate the advice you so generously dish out from the safety of your armchair.

Top. Men. eh?

I don't want to hear you complain about Bagram, Gitmo, torture, or civil liberties violations. Ever again. Because the government is in the middle of the War on Terror shitstorm and you're all ensconced in the safeness of the Homeland.

[lightning]

So, using your theory secular society and athiests can be made to stop ridiculing Christianity by Christians engaging in terrorist attacks. Or, even more simply, folks should just shut up and forget their right to free speech, if the target of that speech is prone to acts of terrorism? Kinda violates the whole purpose of free speech doesn't it?

[T o n y]

Nobody is being arrested for any speech. POTUS has free speech too. He doesn't have to reflexively defend the ugly bigoted speech of insane people just because they're Americans.

[Randian]

He has to defend the principles. He has to defend the values.

He has to say "We may not agree with what you say, but the United States can and will defend to our death your right to say it"

That's the right answer. It's categorically tragic that you don't know that.

[T o n y]

I support free speech as much as you do, but I don't see the value in the POTUS potentially causing more riots by making a pious (and inherently aggressive) boast about American values. Not to mention saying essentially, "Sorry you had to die, guys, that's the price of free speech." Condemning inflammatory attacks on Islam is just something politicians have to do in light of the practical reality that such causes violence against Americans abroad. There's nothing wrong with what Obama said. He didn't assault anyone's free speech. This is not 8th grade civics class, this is geopolitics.

Then Romney comes along and plays the ugly American neocon "fuck you" card and nobody here seems to give a shit. Isn't the potential of his replaying the nakedly aggressive Bush foreign policy a little more of a worry than Obama not rushing to the defense of antiMuslim bigots?

[lightning]

Tony, how exactly is Obama's foreign policy any different than Bush's? Really? He followed Bush's timetable for Iraq, he relied on Bush's intelligence to get Bin Laden, he continued Bush's war in Afganistan, he continued the Arab spring started by Bush (see Wikileaks) via revolution in Egypt and Lybia. I could go on about drone strikes, Gitmo, and violations of civil liberties, but I think even you can get the picture. What has he done (in foreign policy) that is truly his own? Please, anybody? BTW, Tony, if you perceive any dislike of Obama in my posts it is because in my mind he is a Bush clone.

[T o n y]

Then you're tragically ignorant of the singularly incompetent, violent, and counterproductive Bush foreign policy. When Obama starts another Iraq, then he'll be like Bush.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Then you're tragically ignorant of the singularly incompetent, violent, and counterproductive Bush foreign policy.

As opposed to the singularly incompetent, violent, and counterproductive Obama foreign policy.

[Heroic Mulatto]

God, you are so stupid.

Terry Jones has nothing to do with this. It's about a movie made that recounts the life of Muhammad based on actual stories from the Koran, the Sunnah, and various hadith.

If there is any "ugly bigoted speech of insane people" it's from actual quotes in the Koran, the Sunnah or the hadith.

[darius404]

If it works to prevent violence, sure it should. I'm sure diplomats in the center of a Middle East shitstorm would appreciate the advice you so generously dish out from the safety of your armchair.

You know what else would? Censorship. When citizens want to say something, they should need government approval first. It would sure work to prevent violence overseas, so I guess you think that's a good idea, too.

[lightning]

Don't think the Catholics or the bitter clingers would agree with you.

[hotsy totsy]

And by the way, how are we NOT religious tolerant? Is there anyone in jail for being a Muslim? Are we outlawing copies of the Koran in this country - OR in our embassies, as Islamists do with the Christian Bible or Buddhist Sutras?

The attacks came because we ARE tolerant of different beliefs, one being that it is not a capital offense to portray the prophet Mohammed in an unflattering light.

Are we going to be bullied into outlawing, for instance, Dante's Divine Comedy because it portrays Mohammed in Hell?

[BarryD]

I have a copy of South Park on DVD, that actually shows Mohammed, not blacked out...

[R C Dean]

Then evidently you can't read

I can read just fine. Both the attackers and the administration are in agreement in their opposition to criticism of Islam. I call that alignment.

Granted, their tactics are different, but they are both on record as saying that Islam should not be criticized.

[Mike M.]

Goodbye and good riddance Jimmy Carter Junior, it wasn't nice at all knowing you. You'll be missed even less than your peanut farming forebear.

[Gray Ghost]

Oh, he's not going anywhere. Even after this.

The cognitive dissonance on the left---I just got done reading Volokh, and the majority of the commenters defending O's and Hillary's speeches---is mind-boggling. They were making comments like not wanting to parse the statement too deeply, or that the statements weren't written with lawyerly precision.

WTF! It's a diplomatic statement. Of all things left in English discourse, the one thing that's supposed to be parsed deeply is an utterance from a diplomat! Every word has meaning. Or is supposed to. To not know that, or use that kind of thinking as an excuse, should disqualify you from the position!

I'm at the point of thinking there's nothing---repeat, nothing---that O could do, that would get rid of their support. It is a cult, and I don't think I'm throwing that accusation around lightly.

[hotsy totsy]

I find Obama's behaviour disgusting. He's showing himself to be a coward who easily shrinks before bullies, and lets his goofy wife bully candy companies into shrinking the size of their candy bars so she can feel like she's doing something important.

"Being president doesn't change who you are, it REVEALS who you are" Michelle intones. Indeed.

[T o n y]

"I don't know what Obama did, but I know it was disgusting!"

[hotsy totsy]

He is a COWARD. It's not so much what he does, it's what he DOESN'T do, and does not face.

He's full of TALK. MOMS! Hard Work! My hard working grandmother! American heroes! American heroes who work hard! Moms! Moms who work hard who are American heroes! Children! I love my children! Mothers and fathers who have children who work hard! Tolerance! Fairness! American hard work and values!

But don't expect the motherfucker to respond to QUESTIONS from the press in a press conference he himself called about the murder of an American ambassador, (who we may presume was hard working)

[T o n y]

It goes without saying that Romney was equally an enemy of free speech when he said that Terry Jones' plans to burn the Koran were "wrong on every level. It puts troops in danger, and it violates a founding principle of our republic."

[R C Dean]

So, you're now taking the position that there is no difference between Romney and Obama on criticism of Islam?

[T o n y]

The only position I have here is that you guys seem worked up over nothing.

That Romney is a pathological flip-flopper and liar is a given.

[darius404]

Saying something is a stupid idea /=/ saying offending people is wrong. I don't believe your this stupid, so I'm going to be charitable and assume you're lying when you equate them.

[Isaac Bartram]

No one is arresting Terry Jones, even though his speech has led directly to deaths in the Middle East.

Holy crap, that's on a level with:

No one is arresting the leaders of NARAL or gar rights groups, even though their speech has led directly to deaths in Georgia and Alabama.