Statements are important. A lot of political blustering has been made about statements as I read regarding the attacks on our embassies and the death of our Libyan ambassador along with three other brave souls.
I have been deeply angered and affected by what has transpired on then eleventh anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on the American homeland. But my anger doesn't just rest at these attacks, but as equally on the apologies and lack of indignation I am witnessing among not only the press, but our political leaders and the American public.
I refer to the fact that we as a nation have been attacked again, and instead of feeling outrage at those that attacked us, we opt to apologize, or in the case of Cairo, overlook what the attackers have done.
I'm going to break down the events as I was receiving the alerts via twitter feeds, news articles and State Dept. statements.
Prior to the attacks at the Cairo embassy, our staff there got wind that trouble was brewing. They were either told, or warned or perhaps simply deduced, that perhaps one of the reasons for the manifestation that would eventually occur, could be linked to some really horribly made movie that depicts Mohammed as a pedophile or some such thing. So our embassy in Cairo released that highly pathetic and craven statement that essentially apologizes for us having free speech.
As you all are now aware, the embassy was attacked, our flag was taken down, burned and then the supposed black flag of al-Qaeda was raised in its place.
Now this is important, at this point the only official statement regarding any of this was this apologia that our embassy in Cairo made. Furthermore, it reissued the same statement after the attack on our Cairo embassy and just prior to the Libyan attack (this repeat statement is the one they then either tried to delete, or was deleted from the twitter feed when obviously someone at either State or the White House realized how pathetic it was. More on this later though).
Some interesting points to make out about the attack on our Cairo embassy. It appears, contrary to what is being reported last night, this attack had very little to do about any film, but rather a well organized and premeditated attack quite possibly conducted by al-Qaeda. Also, much like when our embassy was overrun in Iran back in 1979 during the hostage crisis which ensued, the local authorities did absolutely nothing to prevent this. Even though they have the logistics, equipment and wherewithal to put an end to any demonstration it wants to terminate. As was evidenced by the way they have brought order to Egypt post Mubarak. On the other hand, The Libyan attack was much different.
A few hours later a much more violent demonstration begins to take place in Libya. As opposed to the attack in Cairo, which was essentially unarmed, this one had guns, rifles and even RPG's. This was a deadly mob. It is important to know that when this attack was occurring, very little was known of what actually was happening. I recall sitting at dinner and receiving several tweets that we had a casualty, it was reported at the time as a service personnel. But all this was unconfirmed as it was happening.
Up until this time the only statement on record from our govt. was that apologia. Nothing from the White House nor from State. Many of us, myself included, were offended and angered that here we have reports that an American has possibly died and the statement of record is this bullshit apology/ mea culpa statement.
Mitt Romney finally issued the following statement soon after the possibility of a death in Libya did occur:
"I'm outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. 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 attacks."
That's it. That's the famous statement that everyone today is supposedly indignant over. He only expressed what anyone who was concerned about events over there were voicing to themselves but lacked a platform to say to the world that we Americans are angered and deeply offended by what is transpiring half a world away.
Yet that statement has received more condemnation today, not just from the media, but our leaders from both sides, and that is baffling. And what is most confusing and perplexing is that no one really has harped on the apologia, or the lack of further clarification as events unfolded.
It wasn't until the following morning that the administration finally made a statement confirming the death of our four State Dept. embassy officials in Libya. And while there was a condemnation on the attack of our Libyan embassy, a remarkable omission also occurred, the President never mentioned the attack on our Egyptian embassy.
I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.
I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.
On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya's transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.
The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.
Nothing. Not a single word regarding Cairo. Makes one wonder that if these horrible deaths had not occurred if the President would have just ignored it.
I've tried to place the Cairo apologia in perspective, but the only comparison I can conjure is the following:
Imagine a women were to go to a bar wearing the shortest skirt, the most revealing top and acted in an overt promiscuous way. Because of this the men at the bar decided that because of her provocative demeanor they were entitled to rape her. Now try to imagine that after her rape trial the jury finds her guilty and orders her to apologize to her rapists. Perhaps the men go punished but she still has to apologize. In essence, we are condoning the act of the rapists because she was provocatively dressed. And perhaps to add further insult to injury, she is fined for not knowing any better that a woman should never dress provocatively when she goes out, especially to a bar with men.
The Cairo statement says that we are sorry for offending you so please don't riot, and the Presidents statement says, so long as you don't kill anyone and just keep it to burning our flag we won't even scold you publicly..
Yet Romney is the bad guy. It appears to me that Romney is the only sane one.
As I've been trying to piece together this rant, our embassy in Yemen has been attacked, the embassy in Cairo has been attacked...again, and our embassy in Berlin had to be evacuated due to a suspicious package. Secy. of State Clinton has issued statements that are sterner in words if not in action.
So what is going on here? Statements matter. Leaving that apologia as the de facto statement of the United States while two of our embassies were attacked, burned and in its wake left four more American dead to add to the ranks of 9/11, that is deplorable. Americans yesterday were mourning. We will be mourning this date for least a generation, if not more. We ache as a nation whenever the date approximates never mind if you're a NY'er the pain is even deeper and anger is still naturally palpable.
Had the President not issued any statements would have been bad, but not issuing anything and letting that Cairo statement be the position of the United States while embassies were burning and Americans were dying, especially on 9/11. I don't know adjectives that fully describe what I feel about this president today.
A very liberal minded friend who's opinions I respect and admire, offered the following excuse for the President, he said that he would prefer a President that is calm, cool and collected while in the midst of a crisis. That is all well and good, but I contend that if the midst of getting all calm, cool and collected Americans are dying, then he has to get cooler faster and decisiveness needs to replace calm.
