Posted on 09/13/2012 5:55:14 AM PDT by Kaslin
So far, the presidential race has focused on the economy, health care and jobs. Events this week are likely to change the course of the presidential election.
Foreign policy will increase in importance and focus.
As the United States marked the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks this past Tuesday with ceremonies, prayers and memorial services, demonstrators gathered at the U.S. embassy in Cairo and the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. They were protesting an online video filmed in California by Sam Bacile, a self-described Israeli Jew.
According to CNN, "In a series of disjointed scenes, filmmakers depict Prophet Mohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer."
Based on reports at the time of my filing Wednesday morning, four American personnel were killed in the attack in Libya, among them U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. In Cairo, several protesters climbed over the embassy walls and, according to CNN Producer Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, tore down the American flag. Protesters raised a black flag over the U.S. embassy compound bearing the words, "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger."
By international law, embassies are considered territory of the country that they represent. The U.S. embassy in Egypt is U.S. territory. Invading a U.S. embassy is tantamount to invading the United States.
The U.S. embassy in Cairo released the following statement that same day. "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. 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."
No mention of the protesters in Cairo tearing down our flag or raising theirs. The Obama administration has noted that the statement was not approved internally. It will be interesting to see if there will be ramifications or changes in language.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released the following statement the same day about the Libyan attack. "I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed. We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack. ... 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."
This statement was stronger and more forceful, noting that the attacks were not justified.
Deciding that the statements were not enough, the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney released this statement late Tuesday night: "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 says. "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."
President Obama released his own statement Wednesday morning, "I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. ... 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.'"
It is too early to tell how these events will shape the presidential race. Much will be determined by how both camps respond to unfolding events and actions from other countries and involved groups.
What might resonate best with the American people: strength without chest thumping, calm determination rather than agitation, resoluteness versus caution and weakness.
Of course... ANYTHING to take the heat off “O’s” ghastly economy failure!!!
I would to ask the Nobel Peace Prize committee, “So how is that award to -bama working out for you all?”
Ahhh, now his brotherhood gave him the incident he needed to make him look presidential and knowledgible on foreign policy.. This was co-ordinated. I guess his October surprise came alittle early.
His brotherhood needs their muslim brother to stay in the WH. Something really stinks here!
Obama needed a change of subject considering the new jobs report
His “foreign policy” ain’t lookin’ so hot, either.
Not looking good for the Affirmative Action Community Organizer.
Meanwhile, our ally and leader of the ONLY Democracy in the Middle East is on the brink of war...
Can’t stand 0, but the quote from his book is inaccurate.
Actual quote from “The Audacity of Hope” [pg. 261]: “Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
Correct... for all the ill-educated and deliberately mis-informed young people who for the last few decades have been graduated from the public school system.
There are some bare-bones facts of life everyone MUST comprehend, if he/she wants to pass himself off as an American citizen.
The issue of Diplomatic Immunity is only one of them and is so basic to even the most cursory understanding of international politics and our sovereignty, that I don’t know how someone who’s confused about this can even be a competent voter.
But then, cultivating incompetent voters is the DNC reason for being and it’s the ONLY way they were able to foist an incompetent leader on the country!!
Diplomats here and OUR diplomats the world over are untouchable... the very ground under their feet is sacrosanct... so to speak.
When diplomacy fails or is abandoned (as “O” has FAILED in our diplomatic stature in the ME) of course, the mob will fill the power vacuum. Is that news to anyone?
I hate to defend him because he does not deserve it, but here is the full quote. He was referencing potential internment of American citizens as happened in WW II with the Japanese Americans. I do not like our side doing what their side does.
“Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
One of the few things about this entire debacle that isn’t making me want to commit random aacts of violence is the fact that so many news organizations are repeating the line about the film portraying nasty Mo as a pedophile, etc., etc. The more they repeat the line (ostensibly to get us outraged over the claim) the more people might go and look at the reasons why the claim was made. Nasty pedophile.
That was the plan but it has blown up in obama’s face. He will lose over the ME and the ME will be in flames on election day.
LLS
LLS
I smell October Surprise.
I don’t disagree at all. I am just pointing out that if we use a quote, I want our side to be accurate.
No problem with that at all.
LLS
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.