Caustic Light on White House’s Reaction to a Terrorist Threat

New York Times ^ | August 7, 2013 | By ROBERT F. WORTH and ERIC SCHMITT

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The gloating among jihadists and their sympathizers began last week, right after the United States shut down almost two dozen diplomatic posts across the Middle East in response to a terrorist threat.

“God is great! America is in a condition of terror and fear from Al Qaeda,” wrote one jihadist in an online forum. Another one rejoiced: “The mobilization and security precautions are costing them billions of dollars. We hope to hear more of such psychological warfare, even if there are no actual jihadi operations on the ground.”

The Obama administration’s decision to evacuate so many diplomats on such short notice — however justified by the seriousness of the threat — has upset some of its foreign partners, who say the gesture contributes to a sense of panic and perceived weakness that plays into the hands of the United States’ enemies, and impedes their efforts to engage with people in their countries.

The diplomatic shutdown may have been especially jarring, analysts say, because the administration has portrayed Al Qaeda as a waning force in the past year.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Random act of journalism.

[Rocky]

Wow. The NYT momentarily casts a somewhat negative light on the Obama Administration.

What’s next? A favorable report on the Tea Party?

[Buckeye McFrog]

“We can bring the US of A to a screeching halt whenever we feel like it with Magic Jack and an Ayman Al-Zawahiri impersonator”.

Sure, why WOULDN’T they be laughing and grinning?

[Roccus]

“God is great! America is in a condition of terror and fear from Al Qaeda,” wrote one jihadist in an online forum. Another one rejoiced: “The mobilization and security precautions are costing them billions of dollars.

This thought is understandable and, in part, true. The way every two-bit government entity in the nation lined up with hands outstretched to receive every last possible cent doled out for "Homeland Security" HAS (and continues to) cost us billions while making the nation "appear" to live "in a condition of terror and fear from Al Qaeda"

[Datom]

Obama is truly one dimensional it is either black (doing nothing ... Benghazi) or white (shutting down and evacuating embassies ...to many to list). Oops, kind of like his racial makeup.

I know NSA...I'm a racist.

[TigersEye]

When the commander gives the order to...

... it's not usually a sign that you're ...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Oldeconomybuyer. New York Slimes, so don’t expect much.