Ready, shoot, aim on Libya
The presidential challenger’s response to U.S. deaths in Libya was less than presidential.
Mitt Romney’s response to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya, which killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, cast further doubt on the Republican presidential nominee’s ability to navigate sometimes roiling foreign policy seas.
Relying on scant reports gathered in the haze of battle, Romney was too quick and too brash in his criticism of the Obama administration’s reaction to events in the Middle East.
September 14, 2012 - 6:15 AM
Hard to believe Obama actually accused Romney of shooting first then aiming later. How many times has this neophyte spoken first and then sent his press secretary out to “clarify” what he really meant?
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/white-house-defends-clarifies-obama-egypt-201653034–election.html
Obama is President. Romney is not. What’s it going to take for Obama to take action? Is someone going to have to get killed?
Court-Martial Obama And Clinton
-
Obama and Clinton placed the Ambassador and his staff in this cauldron of hostility without a security Marine Detachment or any backup support. This isn’t neglect – this is way beyond “failure to foresee”; this is criminal depraved indifference.
-
http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2012/09/court-martial-obama-and-clinton.html
-
Hard to believe the Times found criticism of Romney their first reaction to events. Wait. That was Obama’s first reaction. If the Times wants to increase circulation, they could be less biased.
Diane, you seem to have it backward. President Obama’s first reaction was to condemn the attacks. Mitt Romney’s first reaction was to go after his November opponent. It’s just the Republican spin machine trying to rewrite history. Scratch that, it’s just the Romney campaign. Most Republicans don’t want to touch this one because they know how badly Romney botched it.
It is the RTEB who is shooting first & aiming later:
“Romney distorted the chain of events when he condemned a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo as “akin to apology” for Islamists who stormed the compound and later attacked the consulate in Benghazi, inflamed over a video that ridicules Mohammed. The embassy boilerplate statement came hours before either event.”
Not exactly. The first “apology” came at 6:00AM from the Cairo embassy. Obama made no reference to it, and such apology was repeated by the embassy at 6:30PM. Six & a half hours after the embassy was attacked & breached.
Romney made his statement at 10:09 PM, but put a hold on it’s release until midnight. When Obama disavowed the embassy statement at 10:10PM, 16 hours after the original apology & 4 after the reiteration, Romney released his statement:
“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 attack.”
At his news conference the next morning he did nothing but stand by that response.
Not an apology?
“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 belivers of all religions.”
The attackers themselves were not to blame? Freedom of expression in the U.S. is?
The entire blaming of “the film” is a ruse. It doesn’t even exist. If it did, a hundred times a hundred, it is not the blame for the attacks, or Obama’s lack of security and leadership.
I’m sure that LB and Henry and others are well aware that one problem U.S. embassies face is that Congress (including Repubs) have been cutting the State Department budget for years. They can no longer afford the kind of protection they need. That is NOT Obama’s fault.
Wow are you way off, Diane.
You really don’t see what’s going on here? Romney and the right-wing political machine are working hard to make sure the public doesn’t come together like it usually does after a crisis. Coming together would be the best thing for our nation right now, but it would be a bad thing for Romney’s election chances. Can’t have that can we?
BTW, at one of his campaign stops yesterday, a heckler was giving Romney a hard time about his completely inappropriate reaction on Tuesday night. Romney’s reaction to the Heckler? Sputter, make a bad joke about a moment of silence, change the subject.
#2 Henry must be one of those turn-Libya-into-a-smoking-crater guys.
I think Romney should have kept his mouth shut plain pure and simple. He’s not privy to information that a sitting president receives and therefore can do more harm than good for nothing more than pure political gain. What is more striking though is that he has not articulated any kind of foreign policy other than to say that the current administration’s policy is wrong. Not too bright on his part.
With regard to the video itself and the people behind it…I was watching tv this morning and saw an ad with Ben Netanyahu asking for donations on behalf of a Israeli women’s group for bomb shelters in Isreal. It got me to thinking…
Who would stand to benefit the most if the United States would become totally involved in a Middle Eastern war? It has generally been that the US leaves the politics of the countries over there (except for Iraq) to their own devices. I don’t think Isreal particularly cares for that approach and needed some catalyst to get the US more directly involved. To accomplish that end, create a subterfuge to “kick the beehive”. The video was the kick.
Something to ponder on a Friday.
Romney has foot in mouth disease. Simply not Presidential material
Hey, GDad, any more conspiracy theories?
@10 – uhhh Will, you’re watching too much TV.
Ask the Interwebs:
http://www.mittromney.com/collection/foreign-policy
Here’s is the President’s:
http://www.barackobama.com/record/national-security?source=primary-nav
#11 – “Romney has foot in mouth disease. Simply not Presidential material”
Really, Richard? Have you not heard our great orator speak without a teleprompter?
“Uh, uh, uh…”
Maybe, just maybe, if your butt was planted in a volatile situation, you might try a conciliatory message and try to avoid the massacre that could have happened? No, of course not, you big, brave, macho cowboys, hiding in the safety of anonymity here in the free United States of America use your time decrying the people who were in harm’s way and trying to save themselves and others. Way to go!
Obviously, for Romney and the right wing, there is NOTHING that is off limits or too low! What a candidate you have! I literally cannot produce enough scorn to make my point!
The ambassadors and the staff that literally are over there risking their lives, knew the risk and they believed in the efforts to help these people. You make me as ashamed as that disgusting “movie” and IMO, all are on the same level as the pawns who stormed the Embassies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/libyan-peace-rally-slams-terrorism-offers-apology-for-attack_n_1881798.html?utm_hp_ref=world
“On the heels of Tuesday’s deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, protesters took to the streets of Tripoli to offer condolences for the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and express their disapproval of the protests against a film that demonstrators deemed blasphemous to the Prophet Muhammad.
Bearing signs that read “RIP Christopher Stevens” and “This is not how we thank who helped us when we needed help the most,” among other anti-terrorist sentiments, the demonstration maintained its message of peace and the belief that not all people in Libya agree with those who attacked the consulate.“
@13 Uptheriver…
Hardly. I saw a 30 second commercial. Nothing more and nothing less. I don’t stay glued to any TV.
The link you posted for Romney’s “plan” makes for good political rhetoric but is extremely short on substance. If he’s got a plan, why not articulate it in specifics and then let the voters decide which one is better.
@14 Michael…
Really? You’re still hung up on a TelePrompTer? Most people have used some form of speech aids for as long as they have been speaking. Ronald Reagan used a TelePrompTer…I don’t recall hearing any complaints about that.
More mature topics would be interesting.
If it looks like an apology and sounds like an apology, it is an apology. The Obama administration response did little to discourage future attacks and, if anything, probably encouraged the radical Islamists to further challenge the spineless president.
However, even more troubling is the news that there were warnings about the impending attacks several days before they happened and the incompetents in the Obummer administration apparently did nothing to stop them.
#12 Gosh, Diane, got any more incorrect comments about Obama’s first reaction?
Mine was no conspiracy theory. It’s politics. Romney simply cannot afford for the American public to pull together behind the president. That’s quite plain in his divisive comments.
#14 Michael, mentioning a teleprompter has become the equivalent of bringing up the Nazis first. You lose.
The spineless president who has decimated al-Qaida? The one who made finding and eliminating bin Laden a priority after Bush shut down the unit dedicated to the task? The one who gave the order to take bin Laden out? The one who helped liberate Libya from Qaddafi? The one who’s taken far more severe actions against Iran’s nuclear programs than Bush ever thought about?
And, seriously, David, bringing up presidents who ignore urgent warnings about imminent attacks probably isn’t a good idea right now.
Newsflash, some damn body SHOULD have apologized and explained that it was not American values to denigrate and incite violence by lumping violent radical so called Islamists with the religion of Islam! Not to have done so would have confirmed that America is like that cretin and those who support such efforts. We live our values and yes, die for those values, but it is never wrong to apologize for something that is so clearly and absolutely not our values.
There are a bunch of news articles with a time line of events and statements including three I’ve linked. I don’t see any apologies. There’s condemnation of the film for being insensitive and insulting to Islam (which it is) and condemnation for the violence, attacks, and murders coming from the embassy and administration.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81114.html?hp=t4_7
http://swampland.time.com/2012/09/13/timeline-what-happened-in-libya-and-how-the-u-s-reacted/
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/09/12/timeline-of-statements-on-libya-egypt-attacks/
#19 – “Michael, mentioning a teleprompter has become the equivalent of bringing up the Nazis first.”
What in the world are you talking about, gdad? Nazis?
Richard brought up Romney stumbling while speaking, so I merely reminded him how Obama without a teleprompter is not the great orator that you guys like to make him out to be.
I must have hit a nerve.
And no, Will, I’m not hung up on Obama and his dependence on teleprompters…I was simply pointing out a fact. Take it away from him and, like many other folks, he stumbles.
Dan, you do drink a lot of the kool-aid, don’t you? Obama would not have gotten Bin Laden were it not for the groundwork laid down by Bush. As far as Libya is concerned, there is no question it was good to be rid of Gadaffi but the way its going it looks like the replacement may be worse. The Arab Spring we heard about from the eager to take a bow president and his media friends is not looking very promising from a diplomatic standpoint. As for the severe actions against the Iranians, how effective have they been in stopping the progress of their nuclear program?
Also, I have to disagree about the urgent warnings comment you made It is always a good idea to point out incompetence in our leaders whether Democrat or Republican.
Dan, I do miss your editorials. They always got me going in the morning. Better than coffee to get me jump started, but, too bitter and lacking in accuracy to swallow.
If every cretin in the world was just waiting to pounce on your every word, it might make even Jesus stutter IMO. I do not know when or even if we have ever been, a nation united, but we sure are not now!
The Middle East is in flames and 4 Americans were killed as a result of Obama’s “Arab Spring” and our beloved Roanoke Times decides to criticize Romney! This would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic.
Could they have maybe asked why security wasn’t beefed up for 9/11 when there was actionable intelligence that an attack may occur? Could they have investigated why Obama skipped the security briefing the week of 9/11? Perhaps they could ponder why the Marines didn’t have live ammo to protect themselves?
Why don’t they just change their name to the Obama Times to avoid any further confusion?
“The Middle East is in flames and 4 Americans were killed as a result of Obama’s “Arab Spring” and our beloved Roanoke Times decides to criticize Romney! This would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic.”
Exactly.
@26 – Pure speculation and falsehoods.
“Could they have maybe asked why security wasn’t beefed up for 9/11 when there was actionable intelligence that an attack may occur?” – They did adjust security based on reports and each embassy is different. Intelligence did not have any evidence of a large attack.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444433504577650000611298674.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
“Could they have investigated why Obama skipped the security briefing the week of 9/11?” – Despite Right-Wing attacks, there’s no evidence to support this claim.
http://thehill.com/video/senate/248673-mccain-knocks-obama-on-skipping-intelligence-briefings
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80992.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/thiessens-intelligence-question-misses-the-point/2012/09/11/0c7d73e8-fc30-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_blog.html?wprss=post-partisan
“Perhaps they could ponder why the Marines didn’t have live ammo to protect themselves?” – This is not true and has already been debunked.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/egypt-embassy-marines-live-ammo
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/88396.pdf
David, I thought the whole idea of the invasion of Iraq (you know, once we discovered they didn’t have WMD) was to spread democracy to the Middle East? Well, guess what? Democracy is messy. Diplomacy may be easier when you’re dealing with a bunch of autocrats, but I always thought America favored the spread of democracy, even if it is harder.
No kool-aid here, David, just facts. And the fact is that Bush had eight years to get bin Laden, and he didn’t do it. The fact is that Bush shut down the unit tasked with finding him. The fact is that Obama once again made finding bin Laden a priority and in less than two years, the intelligence community got the job done. Yes, some of the groundwork was laid under Bush’s watch, as Obama acknowledged when he announced bin Laden’s death, but Bush took his eye off the ball. He had other priorities. Obama refocused the effort and got the job done.
There are no real good options for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, especially military ones. Its facilities are protected in deep bunkers and scattered across the country. But it’s clear to anyone who actually looks at the facts, that Obama has been tougher on Iran than Bush was, and he has taken no options off the table for dealing with the issue.
15. “Maybe, just maybe, if your butt was planted in a volatile situation, you might try a conciliatory message and try to avoid the massacre that could have happened?”
Sandi, I challenge you to name just one instance where appeasement and capitulation worked with the Islamists. Obama doesn’t even push for our Marines to have loaded weapons in our embassies.
Obama’s failure in foreign policy almost trumps his failure on the economy….almost.
“Congress (including Repubs) have been cutting the State Department budget for years.”
For years? The Democrats controlled the House from 2006-2011 and still control the Senate. Are you saying they are to blame?
Can we just shut down this unloaded weapons nonsense now. I know facts hardly matter any more, but this stupid claim is simply false. Anyone repeating it is repeating a lie.
#26 & #30 Ah yes, the whole unloaded weapon lie. Why am I not surprised that JimW is one of the people spreading this?
#312 Henry, it’s been going on to some degree even since Kennedy. Including when Repubs were in the WH or controlled Congress. Repubs even more than Dems think the DOD should control our foreign policy. Sad.
So tell us, Henry, are you one of those turn-Libya-into-a-smoking-crater guys? I know a lot of your FR buddies are.
#2 What’s really sad, Dan, is that every single time there’s something like this, conservatives recycle this lie. I’m not sure whether they’re being willfully deceptive or they’re just extremely gullible.
Dan it’s rather hard to take your “source” seriously when it refers to people as “wingnuts”. Do you have an authentic source that isn’t a 19 year old pizza delivery guy’s blog?
Apologizing for an offense is “appeasement”? Wow, some folks truly do not live in the real world! I can remember when apologizing for a fool’s antics was what decent people did. Who was “capitulating”? What terms were discussed? Who surrendered? Some folks just like to talk with no idea or truth to back it up. That is part of the problem with communication in this nation. Nobody wants to admit the truth unless it flatters or proves their POV.
Henry, you know better than that lying “Dems had control” meme, but you push it anyway. JimW, you know better than unarmed Marines and an undefended Embassy, but you push it anyway. Does credibility truly not matter when you are an anonymous name on a blog? Get information outside of the right wing bubble every now and then folks. It is telling on you.
The Roanoke Times editorial distorts the truth about Romney’s statement four times in two paragraphs.
#36 Try Snopes, quoting Lt. Col. Chris Hughes of the Pentagon, Henry. I don’t think that guy delivers pizzas.
Mother Jones is hardly a 19-year-old pizza delivery guy’s blog, Henry. And the confirmation came from the Marines themselves. However, I assume Fox News is a credible enough source for you?
Further Marine spokesman at Pentagon Lt Col Chris Hughes says these reports are NOT true. This is on the record:
“The Ambassador and RSO have been completely and appropriately engaged with the security situation. No restrictions on weapons or weapons status have been imposed. This information comes from the Det Commander at AMEMB Cairo.”
Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/us-embassy-attack/2012/09/13/reports-marines-not-permitted-live-ammo#ixzz26T7qXZvI
Dan, your comments about the messiness of democracy miss the point. There does not appear to be a coherent policy coming from this administration regarding facilitating democracy in Egypt and Libya. The news today about the spreading violence at U.S. and other embassies in the Arab world underlines the failure of this administration to foster change in the direction of democracy. Nothing hopeful that I see in this.
Your obsession with Bush, possibly a lingering effect of the Kool-Aid, clouds your vision: Bush is no longer the issue. Get over it. I wouldn’t want to deny Obama some credit for getting Bin Laden-it’s about the only foreign policy success he has had (even if Bush did do the groundwork). Today’s news is certainly not a sign of success.
As far as Iran goes, it looks more and more like the military option may be the only one left How long do you suggest we wait for sanctions to work? Perhaps you dismiss threats to the existence of Israel like the president, who finds time to go on late night TV talk shows but cannot find time to talk to Netanyahu.
37.”Apologizing for an offense is “appeasement”? Wow, some folks truly do not live in the real world!”
Sandi, apologizing is all this President does. And apologizing for a movie our government didn’t make is asinine. Our embassy should have been prepared to repel any attack. It WAS NOT!!!! That is Obama’s fault directly….PERIOD.
And Dan, Motherjones!!!!!! REALLY?????
#42 JimW, please be an adult and just face up to the fact that you were taken in and have been spreading a lie.
#41 David, you ARE aware, aren’t you, that Romney had acknowledged that his and Obama’s approaches to Iran are probably about the same?
And you are aware, aren’t you, that administrations have been trying to “foster” Democracy in the Mideast for decades now? People who have been living under dictators and religious regimes for all their lives haven’t the slightest idea what Democracy is or entails. And, BTW, some of these countries did indeed have open elections, but right wingers don’t like the results. Oops, that’s part of Democracy. Pretty messy, isn’t it?
#42 – “Apologizing is all this President does”
- Seriously? Care to share some examples? And don’t try to cite the widely debunked right-wing talking point about Obama’s “apology tour.” It’s still not true regardless of how many times Fox News and the echo chamber repeat it.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/sep/12/romney-says-us-embassy-statement-was-apology-was-i/
http://factcheck.org/2012/09/romney-gets-it-backward/
http://factcheck.org/2012/08/romneys-sorry-apology-tour-dig/
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/romney/2012/09/12/fact-check-romney-misstates-facts-attacks/YvlBS2cDH8EoiC02ic8GXK/story.html
“Our embassy should have been prepared to repel any attack.”
- They made preparations based on intelligence reports. Which is something embassies are supposed to do. They heightened security planning back in 1998. This was a bad situation that got out of hand. To try to pin this on Obama is like trying to blame Bush for all of the embassy attacks during his presidency and Clinton for the attacks during his, etc.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444433504577650000611298674.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I doubt that I would be too far off the mark if I said that the closest thing to Foreign Policy experience that Romney has is the activity associated with the opening of off shore bank accounts for his personal dealings.
Obama’s Arab Spring? Really??? I think that’s even a stretch for the right wing octagonal fasteners. Should we have called the bombings in Beruit in 1983 Reagan’s Fall? Until you can muster the same degree of indignation at the failings of your own, your pontificating about the perceived failings of others rings hollow.
As to the ongoing situation, no longer just in the middle east, some have blamed Obama for “our” disengagement. The truth goes much further.
Obama rode into Cairo in 2009 and in effect told Islam and the world that the Bush policy of containment, & as necessary, confrontation was over.
We are all universal citizens, with universal aspirations. Think, Rodney King; why can’t we all just get along? And, I want to buy the world a Coke.
Not just disengagement, but utter naivety
As I type, the Obama administration has once again gone to the the film ate my homework rationale. A film that does not exist, the “trailers” for which went on you-tube 3 months ago, and no one, especially in the areas in question, have seen.
Now, the orchestrated attack in Libya on 9/11 was a coincidence. The very argument they had earlier “dis-avowed”.
Where is the president? Why is the media not asking this rather than the bogus attack on Romney?
As our “allies” (the quote is because who could blame them for bolting?) and enemies detect such weakness & naivety, Obama snubs our only reliable ally in the region & in the philosophical dichotomy. Almost insuring Israel will act unilaterally against Iran.
As Obama speaks to universal rights, etc., he perhaps need be reminded who he works for.
“A film that does not exist, the “trailers” for which went on you-tube 3 months ago, and no one, especially in the areas in question, have seen.”
Jim Lucas loves him some Rush Limbaugh, taken almost verbatim from today’s “show.”
“Bush is no longer the issue.”
Unfortunately for you, a clear majority of Americans disagree.
46..Reagan did something about it. Hilliary will continue to be a film critic and Obama will apologize some more.
“Unfortunately for you, a clear majority of Americans disagree.”
You have asked every American?
@JimW #50 Why don’t you tell us what Reagan did in retaliation of the April, 1983 bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut, which killed 63 including 17 Americans, the October 23, bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 American serviceman, the cold blooded murders in 1985 of Navy diver Robert Stethem and disabled Leon Klinghoffer who was celebrating his 36th wedding anniversary with his wife on a Cruise Ship?
#50 “Reagan did something about it.”
WELL, that settles that.
#561 I see, Henry, that you realized you had to give up the “guards didn’t have live ammo” lie wasn’t going to fly. Good for you.
52…..On February 8, 1984, USS New Jersey (BB-62) fired almost 300 shells at Druze and Syrian positions in the Bekaa Valley east of Beirut.
#50, yeah Reagan and his Boyz did something about it; they continued to illegally sell weapons to the same people who attacked us. Outstanding leadership…not.
gdad, you guys really do just re-write or forget any historical fact that doesn’t help your political cause du jour, don’t you?
And Art:
“Bush is no longer the issue.”
Unfortunately for you, a clear majority of Americans disagree.
Comment by Art Hill — September 15, 2012 @ 4:38 am
The sad part is, this seems to be one of the primary points of the democratic platform. Keep everyone focused on Bush. Forget the fact that Bush is not the president and is not running for president. The dems apparently know they can’t run on performance, so now they have morphed into what they used to deride . . . the party of fear. They think if they mention Bush often enough they will scare people into voting for the hapless Obama once again.
Do you guys truly have nothing of your own merits to stand on? Is the entire campaign to be based solely on “how bad Bush was” and “how bad Romney might be”? Three years in office and this is all you’ve got?
Jimmy Carter is widely hailed as the worst president ever, but even he had a few accomplishments to point to during his term. The SALT II treaty, diplomatic relations with China, peace between Egypt and Israel.
Apparently all Obama’s got after three years is “Vote for me, I’m probably not as bad as the other guy would be.”
Chuck, “Jimmy Carter is widely hailed as the worst president ever” umm, nope. Not even in the Top 10 Worst Presidents…try James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore, John Tyler, Uylesses S. Grant, William Harrison, Tricky Dick Nixon, Herbert Hoover, and Ronny RayGun. These national embarrassments outshine as losers Carter any day of the week.
#57 “you guys really do just re-write or forget any historical fact that doesn’t help your political cause du jour”
Nope, that’s what YOUR kind does, Chuck.
#58 “try James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore, John Tyler, Uylesses S. Grant, William Harrison, Tricky Dick Nixon, Herbert Hoover, and Ronny RayGun”
And of course, Dubya. Can’t forget Dubya.
#60, well, yeah, ole Dubya was a true dud…
#48 My dear Mr. Hill, to exemplify the accuracy of your missives (and by extension your instictive and intellectual POV) I have never listened to Limbaugh in my life.
Maybe he’s listening to me.
““Vote for me, I’m probably not as bad as the other guy would be.””
You nailed it, Chuck. That’s why he’s going to win.
“My dear Mr. Hill, to exemplify the accuracy of your missives”
Why, thank you, Mr. Lucas. I’ll take that as a compliment.
#57 So let’s see, Chuck accuses me of rewriting history but offers absolutely nothing to counter nay claims I made.
Well, I guess that settles it then.
RT hit piece on Romney above needs to be updated! The Obama Admin. refuses to admit it was forewarned about the situation in Libya.
It stretches credibility to think that the attack in Libya was spontaneous and just happened to occur on the anniversary of 9/11 and the demonstrators just happened to have the RPG’s and other weapons just sitting around.
Ambassador Rice seems a little mixed up!
“Our current best assessment, based on the information that we have at present, is that, in fact, what this began as, it was a spontaneous – not a premeditated….” UN Ambassador Rice said on “This Week.”
This contradicts what the Libyan president said “It was planned, definitely, it was planned by foreigners, by people who entered the country a few months ago, and they were planning this criminal act since their arrival…” he told CBS News.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/ambassador-susan-rice-libya-attack-not-premeditated/
“Three days before the deadly assault on the United States consulate in Libya, a local security official says he met with American diplomats in the city and warned them about deteriorating security.” CNN reports.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/world/meast/libya-diplomats-warning/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
It’s been reported now in the Israeli press that Israel had warned the US about the increasing radicalization of the governments of Egypt, Libya, and other Arab states but was ignored.
“For months before the most recent attacks on U.S. embassies in North African states, [Israeli] Foreign Ministry and U.S. State Department officials had been arguing over developments in these countries. Senior figures in Jerusalem claimed that Washington was burying its head in the sand and ignoring the increasing radicalization in states such as Tunisia and Egypt.”
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-foreign-ministry-u-s-ignored-arab-radicalization.premium-1.465210
The truth is that Obama’s disengagement in the Middle East has allowed the “Arab spring” to be taken over by the radicals and was never a move toward democracy.
The Obama Admin. needs to answer why more steps were not taken to ensure the safety of our embassies. If their safety could not be assured, the delegations should have been brought home. The new governments are too weak or unwilling to oppose the radicals.
Blaming Romney is just a tactic to divert the attention away from the failure of the Obama Admin. to anticipate these attacks.
If only John R, you had felt that the Bush/Cheney administration needed to answer why more steps were not taken to ensure the safety of this nation, the need for the Iraq War, or the Medicare boon to insurance, (or paid for either) or the justification for torture and secret prisons, I would grant you a lot more credibility and integrity in calling for same from Obama. As it stands it is glaringly pure partisan politics.
Romney has failed. He is no leader. He should not be elected. There is nothing he will not make worse IMO.