US Ambassador killed in Libya

[JohnR]

U.S. ambassador to Libya Killed - CNN.com

The United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, was killed in a rocket attack on the U.S. Consulate in the city of Benghazi on Tuesday, President Obama said Wednesday.

[Fishpart]

I'd like to recommend a campaign stop for Barak and Joe since they don't have an hour to meet with the Netanyahu

[Jim in CT]

These Muslim extremists are true barbarians. Someone they don't know posts something on youtube they don't like, and the response is to massacre the next Americans they see. Forget the fact that these Americans had nothing to do with the video.

JohnR, sometimes, in my weak moments, I think we should launch a few missles and turn that desert into glass.

Off topic, but I also thought it was interesting to hear Obama say "
the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others..."

Really? Then why do liberals say that Catholics are waging war on women, simply because the church doesn't want to be forced to provide that which it teaches is immoral? Isn't that denigrating the religious beliefs of others?

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

I think we should turn that desert into glass.

Off topic, but ............................................

*Something a handful of scientists haven't quite wrapped their collective heads around
is the discovery of sand fused into glass
by a nuclear explosion from our distant past....

Apparently this isn't our first rodeo....

[FishermanTim]

Wouldn't it just take the cake if this were a clandestine case of "Wag the Dog", in an attempt to bolster low/bad poll numbers?

You can't tell me that it couldn't be possible, since similar claims were made against Bush (war for oil?).

When the "experts" make claims that the attacks were too coincidental to just be random attacks, and they weren't all-out, "balls to the walls" attacks using conventtional weapons, it makes you wonder what was the purpose of the attacks?

Just food for thought....

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

I'd like to recommend a campaign stop for Barak and Joe since they don't have an hour to meet with the Netanyahu

Seriously - you'd want to send our President into an area where Americans who were bravely serving our country were just killed?

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Wouldn't it just take the cake if this were a clandestine case of "Wag the Dog", in an attempt to bolster low/bad poll numbers?

I agree - the Christian Right had to know that this would inflame tensions in the Muslim world and w/Romney's low poll numbers maybe they thought some dead Americans would help Romney's poll numbers - sad to have that type of thinking.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Raven

*Something a handful of scientists haven't quite wrapped their collective heads around
is the discovery of sand fused into glass
by a nuclear explosion from our distant past....

Apparently this isn't our first rodeo....

Or of course, it could just be from an impact event, not some theory of ancient aliens.....

[nightfighter]

One of the dead was a former Navy SEAL, raised in Winchester, with family now in Woburn. RIP warrior, and prayers for the family.

[PRBuzz]

Everything is now OK: "Libya's Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib apologized "to the American people and the government, and also to the rest of the world" for the "cowardly criminal act."

BTW there were 3 others killed:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton identified a second victim as Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information management officer who was a ten-year veteran of the State Department, a husband and a father of two.
The two other victims have not been named.

[Nebe]

Bastards
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

These Muslim extremists are true barbarians. Someone they don't know posts something on youtube they don't like, and the response is to massacre the next Americans they see. Forget the fact that these Americans had nothing to do with the video.

JohnR, sometimes, in my weak moments, I think we should launch a few missles and turn that desert into glass.

Absolutely agree. I fear the world is heading down a scary path where the Arab Street gains Democracy. These people make Trailer Trash look like MIT postgrads

Nuke em from orbit, it's the only way to be sure... Yes, in weak moments it is the easy path. But we are supposed to be better than that and reality kicks in. Now, should nuke's fall into the sure and steady hands of the Arab Street...

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Off topic, but I also thought it was interesting to hear Obama say "
the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others..."

Really? Then why do liberals say that Catholics are waging war on women, simply because the church doesn't want to be forced to provide that which it teaches is immoral? Isn't that denigrating the religious beliefs of others?

Jim - I agree with you probably more than I disagree but can we not have all of these threads devolve to X -v- Liberals

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Absolutely agree. I fear the world is heading down a scary path where the Arab Street gains Democracy. These people make Trailer Trash look like MIT postgrads

Nuke em from orbit, it's the only way to be sure... Yes, in weak moments it is the easy path. But we are supposed to be better than that and reality kicks in. Now, should nuke's fall into the sure and steady hands of the Arab Street...



Jim - I agree with you probably more than I disagree but can we not have all of these threads devolve to X -v- Liberals

John, I am trying to tone it down. I thought I was stating facts without a lot of commentary.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

John, I am trying to tone it down. I thought I was stating facts without a lot of commentary.

Maybe I'm slow to notice the change

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Maybe I'm slow to notice the change

My hope is that you notice soon...

I'm surprised that in certain parts of the world (THAT part of the world), state department officials don't have secret service-quality protection. That's what they deserve...

[Piscator]

If they didn't have oil, they would have nothing

[Nebe]

Maybe the 2 others were secret service style body guards?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Maybe the 2 others were secret service style body guards?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

3 others and I'm thinking marines maybe
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Scuttlebutt]

I'm so glad we "extended our hand" to these barbarians. Too bad they didn't "unclench their fists".

[striperman36]

All these people know is war, they've fought among the tribes for centuries.
It's no different now, just at a global level.

Not sure what precipitated the Bengazi incident, other an isolated tribalism.

[sokinwet]

This is a section of an article posted by a facebook friend. Kind of interesting in light of the recent Libya tragedy....shows that everything isn't as black and white as it sometimes appears. Tyler Stark was a navigator in an F15 shot down over Libya; he was also a survivor of Colombine. Please no arguments...I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. ;-)

" The soldiers from the Libyan rebel militia who found Tyler Stark weren’t entirely sure what to make of him, as he didn’t speak Arabic and they didn’t speak anything else. At any rate, he didn’t seem inclined to talk. The Libyans were now of course aware that someone was dropping bombs on Qad#^&da#^&fi’s troops, but they were a little unclear about who exactly was doing it. After taking a good long look at this pilot who had fallen from the sky they decided he must be French. And so when Bubaker Habib, who owned an English-language school in Tripoli, and was then hunkered down with fellow dissidents in a hotel in Ben#^&gha#^&zi, received the phone call from a friend of his in the rebel army, the friend asked him if he spoke French. “He tells me there is a French pilot,” says Bubaker. “He’s crashed. Because I spent 2003 in France, I still have some French words. So I said yes.”

The friend asked if Bubaker would mind driving the 30 kilometers or so out of Ben#^&gha#^&zi to talk to the “French pilot,” so they could figure out the best way to help him. Even though it was the middle of the night, and you could hear bombs exploding and guns firing, Bubaker jumped in his car. “I found Stark sitting there, holding his knee,” says Bubaker. “He was, to be honest with you, frantic. He doesn’t know what is going on. He was surrounded by the militia. He doesn’t know if they are friends or enemies.”

“Bonjour,” said Bubaker, or maybe not—he has forgotten the first thing out of his mouth. But in response Tyler Stark said something and Bubaker instantly recognized the accent. “Are you American?” asked Bubaker. Stark said he was. Bubaker leaned over and told him that he actually had friends in the U.S. Embassy who had fled in the early days of the war, and that if Stark would come with him back to Ben#^&gha#^&zi he could put them in touch. “He looked at me, astonished,” remembers Bubaker.

On the drive to Benghazi, Bubaker sensed that Stark was both shocked and wary. At any rate, as much as Bubaker might have wanted to know more about why America was dropping bombs on Libya, Stark would not tell him. And so Bubaker put on some 80s music and changed the subject to something other than war. The first song that came on was Diana Ross and Lionel Richie singing “Endless Love.” “You know what,” said Bubaker. “This song reminds me of my second marriage.” They talked the rest of the way, says Bubaker, “and we didn’t mention anything of any military action.” He drove the “American pilot” back to the hotel and instructed the militia to surround the place. Even in Libya they understood the fickle nature of American public opinion. “I told them, ‘We have an American pilot here. If he gets caught or killed it’s the end of the mission. Make sure he is safe and sound.’” Bubaker then called his friend, the former staffer in the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, now removed to Washington, D.C.

It took a few hours for someone to come and fetch Stark. As he waited with Bubaker inside the hotel, word spread of this French pilot who had saved their lives. When they’d arrived at the hotel a man had handed Tyler Stark a rose, which the American found both strange and touching. Now women from across the city came with flowers to the front of the hotel. When Stark entered a room full of people they stood up and gave him a round of applause. “I’m not sure what I was expecting in Libya,” he says, “but I was not expecting a round of applause.”

[PRBuzz]

Not KFC

Embassies stormed, KFC torched as anger over anti-Islam film rages

U.S. and other Western interests were targeted by angry crowds across much of the Muslim world on Friday, as rage spread over an anti-Islamic video produced in California.

The only reason various parts of the world tolerate the US is the many the BILLIONS & BILLIONS of $$$$$ the US "donates" every year to those countries. Let's start withholding those $$ for use at home or truly friendly allies.

[Scuttlebutt]

The only reason various parts of the world tolerate the US is the many the BILLIONS & BILLIONS of $$$$$ the US "donates" every year to those countries. Let's start withholding those $$ for use at home or truly friendly allies.

Much of the funding is for FMF and FMS programs (Foreign Military Funding and Foreign Military Spending). These are US taxpayer dollars given to mostly Israel and Egypt. This money must be spent back in the US and is mostly for military/communications gear. I think these "investments" attempt to keep the Arabs and Jews from killing one another and to a lesser degree, provide us a "listening post" in various regions of the middle east. For example, Iraq and Afghanistan...guess who's in the middle? Our buddy...Mahmoud Imanutjob. The unfortunate part is sometimes these "investments" don't pan out so well....

[spence]

Romney accuses Obama of 'mixed messages' following Libya attacks - latimes.com

This is pathetic.

-spence

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by spence

Romney accuses Obama of 'mixed messages' following Libya attacks - latimes.com

This is pathetic.

-spence

Well he certainly has the spotlight now

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

Romney accuses Obama of 'mixed messages' following Libya attacks - latimes.com

This is pathetic.

-spence

Spence, Obama clearly sympathized with those offended by an insignificant video on youtube...(as an aside, Obama takes a million bucks from Bill Maher, who offends Catholics every day, so Obama is apparently on board with Catholic-bashing, but not Muslim-bashing). Many Americans don't feel that an insulting video is just cause for mass murder, and we don't like our President implying that there are 2 sides to this story. Because there aren't.

The administration is bumbling through this. Obama specifically says Egypt is not an ally, his State Departmenmt contradicts this.

Obama's response to this has not exactly been inspirational. Romney is free to criticize him for that, just as then-candidate Obama bashed Bush for mis-handling Iraq.

[scottw]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

just as then-candidate Obama bashed Bush for mis-handling Iraq.

and everything else under the sun

'mixed messages' is an understatement

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by scottw

and everything else under the sun

'mixed messages' is an understatement

You're darn right it's an understatement. And the entire media is criticizing Romney for having the hutzpah to be critical of the Messiah. As if candidate Obama never said anything negative about Bush or Hilary or McCain.

Their hypocrisy knows no bounds, and they literally have no shame.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Spence, Obama clearly sympathized with those offended by an insignificant video on youtube...

Jim, this is the fundamental problem with your thinking.

It didn't happen.

During the day on Tuesday the embassy in Cairo independently put out a statement condemning the video before any violence began.

That night, Romney issues an embargoed statement (to be released after the 9/11 truce ironically enough) attacking the administration with "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,".

Before the Romeny's backwards statement was even issued to the press, the Whitehouse had already disavowed the embassy comment. The attack on Obama by Romney and the GOP is either grossly inept or worse an intentional manipulation of an event where Americans serving their country have died.

And on 9/11 of all days

How you can't see that as anything but shameful is beyond me.

-spence

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

Jim, this is the fundamental problem with your thinking.

It didn't happen.

During the day on Tuesday the embassy in Cairo independently put out a statement condemning the video before any violence began.

That night, Romney issues an embargoed statement (to be released after the 9/11 truce ironically enough) attacking the administration with "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,".

Before the Romeny's backwards statement was even issued to the press, the Whitehouse had already disavowed the embassy comment. Obama by RomneyThe attack on and the GOP is either grossly inept or worse an intentional manipulation of an event where Americans serving their country have died.

And on 9/11 of all days

How you can't see that as anything but shameful is beyond me.

-spence

"It didn't happen."

Sure it did. I saw a stament that both expressed sympathy for the hurt feelings caused by the video, and also said that wasn't justification for the attack.

Spence, even if the attack never happened, Obama shouldn't be commenting on that video. If Obama doesn't like the anti-Islamic views in that video, why does he pal around with libs who say hateful things about Christianity? Like saying we've declared war on women?

"The attack on Obama by Romney"

I see. When Obama criticizes someone, that's OK. When we criticize him, it's an attack, is that right?

I don't want to keep you from your Kool Aid stand anymore.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Sure it did. I saw a stament that both expressed sympathy for the hurt feelings caused by the video, and also said that wasn't justification for the attack.

Please show me where Obama expresses sympathy for those hurt by the video. If you saw it it should be easy to find.

Spence, even if the attack never happened, Obama shouldn't be commenting on that video. If Obama doesn't like the anti-Islamic views in that video, why does he pal around with libs who say hateful things about Christianity? Like saying we've declared war on women?

Please provide a link where Obama is commenting on the video.

I see. When Obama criticizes someone, that's OK. When we criticize him, it's an attack, is that right?

No, I'm saying that your criticism is based on a flawed understanding of the facts.

You do like facts right?

-spence