Obama and the Cairo Embassy 'apology'

[bit_slicer]

I had to dig deep to actually find the apology issued by the U.S. consulate in Cairo, so I thought I'd share:

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/09/white-house-disavows-cairo-apology-135247.html

I don't have an opinion yet on how the current administration is handling things. I think it's too early to tell. Although Romney is proving to be a consummate and capable politician.

[Chris]

This is an interesting development, but there's one thing I'm confused about... I keep reading on Fox News that Obama apologized for the film, but I can't actually find any response from him, just the Cairo Embassy's weird response. Is this just misleading wording, or can someone link me to what he said? Is the Cairo Embassy considered part of The Obama Administration? This is a completely honest question.

[kbvette]

                             Our embassies have been the target of attacks for decades, they are a symbol of our presence and power
   all over the world.They are not usually heavily fortified compounds.......easy targets.I consider Romney to be an interloper
 in this situation,he holds no official office and he is not privy to all the intel that the President has.He would serve himself well
 to not exacerbate the problem with his press releases and opinions. 

[funky49]

Since 9/11 we have been making our embassies more secure and less open/inviting. I forget where I read an article on that.

[briefcase]

I honestly can't keep track of (if or) what apologies were issued or when, but I can't see how this does anything but weaken attempts by the Obama administration to declare themselves accomplished or capable on foreign policy.

Let's look at the facts: the United States isn't any more respected now than it was when George W. Bush was in office, which is something that Obama said he would accomplish during his tenure as president. Even if you totally disregard the claims about sitting down and talking with one crackpot foreign leader or another, the fact is that we have fewer allies in the Middle East now than we did under the Bush administration, not more. Formerly friendly regimes have toppled in Egypt and Yemen (and there are probably more that don't immediately spring to mind) and have been replaced with Islamist leaders. Syria is in the midst of a bloody civil war. Iran continues to work toward nuclear capabilities and Israel is getting nervous and seems to be gearing up for a war footing (or at least targeted strikes) due to the same.

So... yeah, he gave the order to kill Osama bin Laden, although, the leaking of classified operational intelligence about the killing somehow has been leaking out of the Obama administration and we've recently heard from family members of Seal Team 6 members who said that the unit shouldn't even have been identified as the one that carried out the operation. Obama is trying to make Mitt Romney's lack of foriegn policy experience an issue, but I'll wager that it's at least as much as Obama had when he was elected president. With the recent turmoil (even more than usual) in the Middle East, anyone else might a little more circumspect in tooting their foreign policy horn, but that doesn't seem like Obama's M.O.

[briefcase]

I consider Romney to be an interloper
 in this situation,he holds no official office and he is not privy to all the intel that the President has.He would serve himself well
 to not exacerbate the problem with his press releases and opinions.

The same could be said for candidate Obama in 2008, who had no issues criticizing George W. Bush for his handling of foreign policy. Despite Obama's campaign rhetoric about closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay and other issues, he's been remarkably Bush-esque in his foreign policy, although, I think Bush would have been a little more hands-on with the conflicts and transfers of power in Libya and Syria and other countries (rightly or wrongly). Even though they regret or deny it now, the phrase "leading from behind" vis-à-vis American foreign policy originated with the Obama administration.

[number six]

At this point I think Romney has to make a comment on any major (inter)national happening, even if its 'from the outside'. If he didn't make a comment on this he'd get slammed for not paying attention.

This is true of any presidential candidate this close to the election.

Of course the goal will be to chide the current administration and take a swipe if at all possible.. but that's just politics.

As for the original topic.. from what I heard the Embassy in Egypt made some pretty apologetic statements and did even worse over twitter (?) I haven't seen the original transcripts. It would appear that the White House is rejecting the comments but it's not like we haven't apologized for almost everything in the past so I don't see it as too far off from what the official policy is currently but at least the White House had the sense to distance themselves from it. The question will be if any action will be taken against whoever released those comments, assuming they weren't killed (and yes that's awful).

Honestly the Muslim situation is going to just get worse. Islam as practised by millions of people isn't very tolerant of anything that isn't muslim. There is no god but Allah and muhammed is his profit.. that sort of thing. If you disagree, well expect a bunch of the 'brotherhood' to show up with RPGs and bombs. If you dare criticize the religion well that's worse. Call us violent and we'll cut off your head. Not a lot of room to reason with folks like that.

You can say this resembles Christianity and you'd be right.. if this was the middle ages. Christians evolved, Islam in large portions hasn't.

You can also say not every Muslim is an ultraconservative kill the infidels type. That is also true. I'd go so far to say as the majority are probably peaceful folks however there's obviously a significant portion that are the slit your throat in the name of allah types and unfortunately they are now in power in an increasingly larger number of countries. Even the more moderate islamic states aren't exactly bastions of freedom or equal rights for citizens.  I can't imagine you'd want to be a gay woman in Saudi Arabia. (or even just a woman probably)

I just find it something to be extremely cautious of. Everyone equates the Nazis with being just horrifically evil but in many ways many of your hardliner Muslims are just as bad if not worse. It's also a lot more widespread. Getting this back on topic one thing I really worry about with Obama is his attitude towards all of this. He doesn't seem to really be down with Isreal and his appeasement/apology rhetoric hasn't helped at all.. in fact as BC pointed out we're in a far worse situation muslim wise than during bush and hell bush was bombing them.

Interesting times ahead. Did this go all rambly?

[kbvette]

The same could be said for candidate Obama in 2008, who had no issues criticizing George W. Bush for his handling of foreign policy. Despite Obama's campaign rhetoric about closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay and other issues, he's been remarkably Bush-esque in his foreign policy, although, I think Bush would have been a little more hands-on with the conflicts and transfers of power in Libya and Syria and other countries (rightly or wrongly). Even though they regret or deny it now, the phrase "leading from behind" vis-à-vis American foreign policy originated with the Obama administration.

                                     Big difference .....this is a developing event, not a discussion of policy and events that have already
    transpired         BIG DIFFERENCE
                                                             

[briefcase]

                                     Big difference .....this is a developing event, not a discussion of policy and events that have already
    transpired         BIG DIFFERENCE

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were developing/ongoing events when Obama was a candidate in 2008.

[kbvette]

                          We are not at war with Egypt and Lybia.....yet, IT'S CALLED INTERFERRING WITH DIPLOMACY!

[briefcase]

                          We are not at war with Egypt and Lybia.....yet, IT'S CALLED INTERFERRING WITH DIPLOMACY!

You can call it whatever you wish. Everyone, including you and Mitt Romney, is entitled to both an opinion and the freedom to express it, and others may agree or disagree as they like.

[funky49]

I hope every pro-violence Muslim jackhole is able to look at these pictures
http://imgur.com/a/tlCyI
bonus: Hilarious English spelling!!! These people spell just as awesome as Americans on Lamebook.com

Absolutely Romney needs to take every chance to look presidential as he can. Unfortunately he can't look like a dumb cowboy either and jump the gun like he did with his Cairo statement and with the China/prisoner thing.

[Todd]

I'm sorry but it was September 11th. What asshole was asleep at the switch to beef up security on this muslim extremist holiday? This attack clearly is the responsibility of the current administration. It really is very simple.

[funky49]

I can see 9/11 being a cheerleader day for the d1ck muslims (and anyone else that hates the US actually)

Is there historical evidence of previous attacks on 9/11 anniversaries?

In any case, there is now. We will have to be ever vigilant on 9/11 no matter what.

[Todd]

I can see 9/11 being a cheerleader day for the d1ck muslims (and anyone else that hates the US actually)

Is there historical evidence of previous attacks on 9/11 anniversaries?

In any case, there is now. We will have to be ever vigilant on 9/11 no matter what.

We have had threats in the past in regards to 9/11. It is not up to us to know when to beef up security or the proper level of security to have stationed at our embassies it is the administrations. They failed. Common sense should dictate that security is increased around 9/11.