There is a reason for that and it’s a complete mystery. Why did they feel the need to work so hard to distance themselves from the idea that the U.S. gov (obviously them specifically) had something to do with making the “video?” As you ask, “who are they trying to convince?” Not the American people that would be too weird. I can’t see why the Arab Street, as they call it, would think it either and would the muzzies give a rat’s patoot if they did think so?
It DOES sound stupid for them to repeatedly declare that the government had nothing to do with the video. But there’s clearly some kind of method to their madness.
Your question of “who are they trying to convince”...ie WHO are they aiming for when they utter this denial, is on target, and in your reasonings you seem to discount every possibility and so, are left with a mystery.
I’m thinking it might be simply a generalized denial...what does the world think of us (even though “the world” isn’t likely to think they were complicit in the video), what is in the media that we need to answer, etc. In other words, general PR. But that has to be tied in with the fact that they are claiming - and this is key - they are CLAIMING that the Arab street is aflame BECAUSE of the video. Therefore as a government (engaged in that fictitious claim about the video) they think it’s pro forma, it’s expected of them to deny the U.S. government had anything to do with it.
I put it in the same category as their tv ads on arab media apologizing about the video. And condemning...don’t ever forget...CONDEMNING the video. And sympathizing with the poor little Muslims who have their feelings hurt by the video. All their actions are part of the same piece. I doubt they thought they were talking to anyone in particular when they denied complicity with the video.
It was part of their phony “narrative” that they wanted to get out there, for one and all.
It was that apologetic attitude they took, that caused Mitt Romney to come out with his statement...because the State Dept. people in Cairo issued a very apologetic statement in response to the violence on our embassy there, soon to be followed by Steven’s death in Benghazi from a military assault.
And in all of it, the video was being held culpable. Which is hogwash.
But it IS being used for propaganda and to whip crowds up after mosque worship services. And, ayman al zawahiri has issued a call for all Muslims to attack America everywhere in revenge for that video. That is true, he has done that.
But it’s the tail wagging the dog, at this point.