Obama: Extremists used video as 'excuse' to attack

Associated Press ^ | Sep 20, 2012, 8:08 PM EDT | KEN THOMAS

[Hunton Peck]

President Barack Obama said Thursday that extremists used an anti-Islam video as an excuse to assault U.S. interests overseas, including an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

The president's comments came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton faced questions from members of the House and Senate about the Sept. 11 attack on the consulate in Benghazi in a series of closed-door classified briefings on Capitol Hill.

Republicans have accused the Obama administration of misreading the assault as the outgrowth of widespread demonstrations in the Middle East over the video. They insisted it was a terrorist attack, a term White House spokesman Jay Carney used on Thursday. Obama did not use the phrase.

"What we do know is that the natural protests that arose because of the outrage over the video were used as an excuse by extremists to see if they can also directly harm U.S. interests," the president said at a candidate forum on the Spanish-language network Univision.

Asked if that meant al-Qaida, Obama said, "We don't know yet."

"We will focus narrowly and forcefully on groups like al-Qaida, the ones that carried out the 9/11 attacks. Those forces have not gone away," the president said.

Clinton also announced that, in line with federal law, she will appoint an independent panel to look at circumstances of the attack in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and there other employees. The so-called Accountability Review Board will be chaired by retired diplomat Thomas Pickering, she said.

Democrats and Republicans emerging from the briefings provided some details about what the administration is still piecing together - who was responsible, how much of it was planned and what was the security.

Joining Clinton at the back-to-back briefings were Director of National Intelligence...

[Hunton Peck]

The latest in the continuing evolution of the administration's narrative about the attack.

[grumpygresh]

0bama used the video as an excuse to cover for his incompetence and to apologize.

[Roccus]

So is Zer0 now going to apologize to the mooselimbs for previously apologizing for the wrong reason?

[longfellow]

obama and klinton committed treason today by filming a propaganda enlistment film for our enemy. THEY AIDED AND COMFORTED OUR ENEMY!!!

[basil]

Does anyone know if obammy can find his butt with both hands and his eyes closed?—Unless someone else helps him figure it out?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Stand back! Barry is evolving again!!!

[notbuyingit2]

He’s OOT (out of touch)!

[randog]

"We will focus narrowly and forcefully on groups like al-Qaida, the ones that carried out the 9/11 attacks. Those forces have not gone away," the president said.

Then perhaps another apology is overdue??

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I’m wondering if ‘the video’ was created. Hell if I KNOW. You decide.

I’m unfurling the Reynolds Wrap as we speak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7os9D-EsFmM&feature=player_embedded

Could be absolutely NOTHING. With this administration......I don’t doubt anything.

[Hunton Peck]

Alternate link for this article (in case the posted one doesn’t work for everyone): http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2012/sep/20/obama-extremists-used-video-as-excuse-to-attack-ar-508051/

[onedoug]

Obama is deranged as are all Islamists.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

In the world of fast breaking news, Obama’s “grasp” of events is always at least a week behind that of the man on the street. Let’s elect the third guy in the phone book. Obama really comes off as a dufus How can even the Democrats stand him?

[Hunton Peck]

“So is Zer0 now going to apologize to the mooselimbs for previously apologizing for the wrong reason?”

I’d expect that before I’d expect him to apologize to America for his corruption, incompetence, malfeasance . . .

[Mike Darancette]

President Barack Obama said Thursday that extremists used an anti-Islam video as an excuse to assault U.S. interests overseas, including an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

This is just sad, the killing of Osama was the only real foreign policy victory that Obama felt he could claim. And an attack by Osama's boys that kill the American Ambassador pretty much makes the killing of OBL unmentionable.

[American Constitutionalist]

And this administration, along with the complaint main stream media kept on with their narrative that this so called film was their excuse for their incompetence and lies.

Joe Wilson and " THE PEOPLE " had it right the first time " YOU LIE ! " .

[eyedigress]

It doesn’t matter. The PRESIDENT of Libya said it was a Terrorist Attack. Obama cannot defend that. The man is a liar complete and the spin that his weak policy is not to blame falls short of a diplomat being dragged by the hair through the streets. Obama is worse than Carter. He should know better.

[Dilbert San Diego]

What the heck is going on?

Wasn’t the narrative that this half baked video caused such outrage in the Muslim world, that rioting and attacks on our embassy happened???

Now, we’re saying that the video was an excuse for the mayhem???

Does Obama really know what’s happening in that part of the world?

What about Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world? How is that working out? Didn’t the rioters/attackers see Obama’s Cairo speech??? He pronounced “Koran” with an Arabic inflection. You mean these Al Qaeda/Muslim Brotherhood types are NOT impressed with Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world??????? They aren’t impressed at Obama having said that America hasn’t always lived up to our highest ideals??????

[chessplayer]

Going back to blaming the video for it all again. al-Qaeda wouldn’t have attacked if there wasn’t that video, you know! They didn’t need the anniversary of 9/11 as an excuse to attack. They didn’t need the killing of bin Laden as an excuse. Nope. They needed the youtube video. obama treats his lemming like supporters as total morons because he knows they will accept without question anything he says.

[Huskrrrr]

Her: “I think Obama is the best person for the job.”

Me: “That’s your opinion.” Click

[American Constitutionalist]

Correction : And this administration, along with the complaint main stream media kept on with their narrative that this so called film was the reason for the terrorist attacks in Egypt and Libya.....

But now ? this administration, along with the complaint main stream media will kept on with their narrative that this so called film was the reason for their excuse for their lack of concern for American security over seas and their incompetence.