US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
As the Muslim world, once again, goes mad over a perceived insult the violence against American interests gets ramped up. An attack on the US Embassy in Libya has left the Ambassador J. Christian Stevens and 3 other staffers dead.
While this is tragic, it does behove us to note the timing of the attacks in Libya and Egypt as well as the response of the Obama administration. It's a story that we've seen before, in Iran of 70s, for instance. The population is getting more and more radicalized and the US just wants to talk it out and apologize for its citizens exercising their Constitutional rights.
The question is, what do you think the correct response of the US Government should be to both attacks?
I'm of the opinion that for starters all material aid to Libya and Egypt should be cut off. That includes the favored trading status that Egypt has since the days of Camp David. Obviously, the perpetrators should be hunted down and prosecuted to extent possible. I would even go as far as to eject the Egyptian and Libyan ambassadors to the US, until such a time that the safety of diplomatic personnel can be guaranteed.
Have at it.
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Comments:
Dec '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
The question is, what do you think the correct response of the US Government should be to both attacks?
I'm of the opinion that for starters all material aid to Libya and Egypt should be cut off. That includes the favored trading status that Egypt has since the days of Camp David. Obviously, the perpetrators should be hunted down and prosecuted to extent possible. I would even go as far as to eject the Egyptian and Libyan ambassadors to the US, until such a time that the safety of diplomatic personnel can be guaranteed.
I agree. The problem is that the current US administration will likely have a limp wrist reply. The Carter/Obama comparisons were prescient.
Apr '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Evan Pokroy:
Obviously, the perpetrators should be hunted down and prosecuted to extent possible.
Prosecuted? Cite the statue under which you'd bring a prosecution. Do you really think the proper response to this attack is to take depositions or subject the perpetrators to a severe cross examination?
Attacking a consulate or embassy and murdering an ambassador is an act of war.
Jun '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Like everybody (that's been in high office before) has been saying, the reason not to look weak is, so that your enemies don't think they can test you and get away with it. When they test you, you're forced to act, and often act in ways that are lose/lose.
Sep '12
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Prosecuted? Cite the statue under which you'd bring a prosecution. Do you really think the proper response to this attack is to take depositions or subject the perpetrators to a severe cross examination?
Attacking a consulate or embassy and murdering an ambassador is an act of war. · 1 minute ago
I don't mean prosecuted in the US. I mean prosecuted locally. The attack is a casus belli if there was government involvement. While the government should be taken to task for not preventing it, a mob is a mob (not excusing the actions thereof) but unless there is some proof of the state being involved, war is not a legal option.
Mar '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
I agree. If when they test you, you don't act, you will be tested further. The tests will become more extreme. A lot of people forget that the takeover of the Embassy in Tehran that resulted in the hostage crisis was the second takeover of that embassy.
Apologies are not in order on our part.
Apr '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Evan Pokroy
I don't mean prosecuted in the US. I mean prosecuted locally. The attack is a casus belli if there was government involvement. While the government should be taken to task for not preventing it, a mob is a mob (not excusing the actions thereof) but unless there is some proof of the state being involved, war is not a legal option. · 2 minutes ago
You understand that under the protocols governing the exchange of diplomatic missions between nations, the host nations - in this case Libya and Egypt - are required to provide for the security of the embassy and the protection of the diplomats?
There are no free-floating, spontaneous mobs in these countries. There is most assuredly government-involvement in these attacks.
There world is an ugly place my friend, we have shown weakness and we are reaping the inevitable consequences.
Aug '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Paramilitary (ie Al Qaeda) training camps must be stopped immediately. Weapons need to be accounted for. Government forces need to be more in control and in fact proper spokespeople for public order. Increased security for the US Embassy is necessary. Further, I would demand that the political party that lost the elections in Egypt be represented in politics. The US can't support a regime that is extremist and militarist in the face of a diverse population.
Aug '12
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
The arab world respects only strength. There is only one way to get that respect. Do to them what we did to Dresden. Do to them what the Greeks did to Troy.
Sep '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
I'd be really, really surprised if these two attacks were not coordinated. I doubt it is cooperation between the Libyans and the Egyptians--but it very well may be cooperation between terror groups in Libya and Egypt that are eager to provoke a war (or at the very least, some form of humiliating prostration) that would weaken their government.
When this story becomes the political firestorm it will, the terrorists will have succeeded. If (as they so dearly wish) a U.S. response subjects their nominal government to further humilation, all the better. And in the case of the Libyans, they have furthered their political cause--and heightened their street cred with the illiterate Muslim rabble--by pulling off a picture-perfect assassination.
Carpet-bombing some neighborhood in Benghazi might make Americans feel better--but it would only make the terrorist victory all the more complete--by proving the ruthless murderers a bevy of martyrs to celebrate.
Less gratifying, but more effective? An Israeli-style campaign to kill every single person involved--no matter how long it takes, or how far the trail leads.
But the Obama White House won't do that. They'll just bluster and apologize.
Sep '12
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Well, as I posted on Facebook. Benghazi Delenda Est.
Jul '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
The first Obama response was to issue an apology for the alleged provocation. He has now disavowed his first response and so begun the chain of trial balloons floated until they find a position they don't get slammed for.
Stopping payment on the $1.5B just sent, sending a carrier group to the mouth of the Nile, and ceasing all diplomatic and military contact with the new terror state in Egypt would be a swell start.
As far as Benghazi goes, why in the world are we still operating an embassy there? There is no faction there worth supporting (bombing, yes, supporting, no) and the Soviets, I mean Russians, seem to have already sewn up the terror-happy rats nest. So the remaining reason is to avoid admitting utter and complete failure, after blandly aiding Al-Qaeda in its quest for political power.
Welcome to the Arab Fall, where the Arab world finds out why Islamist terror dogs have been so routinely suppressed, even in Muslim countries. It won't take long for the bloom to come off the rose. Of course, in Egypt it was entirely Obama's sponsorship of the Muslim Brotherhood that brings us here.
Jul '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
John Murdoch:
...
Less gratifying, but more effective? An Israeli-style campaign to kill every single person involved--no matter how long it takes, or how far the trail leads.
But the Obama White House won't do that. They'll just bluster and apologize.
It is important to remember, this is our first new President post-9/11. And Chief Bows to Tyrants is licking the boots of terror. As they murder his ambassador.
We cannot put this right with bombing. We have to put our own house in order, and then address each insult appropriately and in turn. Do you think the Muslim Brotherhood and Czar Putin are looking forward to the restoration of America's Presidency?
Dec '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
My first thoughts are with the families in this time of loss. My heart goes out to them and wish as a nation some comfort can be shown to them. This does bring the consequences of "feel good" diplomacy home in a shocking way.
Sep '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Clearly we need to apologize again, and more forcefully, for any past or future insult of the great prophet.
Congress should pass a law immediately that bans all expression of Muhammed by a non-Muslim. We (non-Muslims) must not be allowed to speak his name, draw his image, create his image in an artificial manner.
Congress must also immediately triple the amount of aid we send to Egypt and Libya. Poverty is the root cause of terrorism, so we must do our part to end poverty in these countries.
Oh, wait, you asked what we should do. I was listing was this president would do.
Aug '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Why were our marines not allowed to defend our people? Did the State department tell them to stand down? Why have marines at our consulates and embassies if they are not allowed to defend them?
Jun '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Maybe the President will memorialize the murdered embassy staff with a solemn tour of swing states.
Jun '12
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
A commentator on FNC says this is Obama's Jimmy Carter moment. If he responds well, he will likely win. If he doesn't, Romney will trounce him in a landslide.
For all those who don't like references to Carter/Reagan: Get over it. The parallel is there.
Oct '11
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
ConservativeWanderer: A commentator on FNC says this is Obama's Jimmy Carter moment. If he responds well, he will likely win. If he doesn't, Romney will trounce him in a landslide.
For all those who don't like references to Carter/Reagan: Get over it. The parallel is there. · 8 minutes ago
The comparisons gets clearer by the day. It's scary.
Jun '12
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Albert Arthur
ConservativeWanderer: A commentator on FNC says this is Obama's Jimmy Carter moment. If he responds well, he will likely win. If he doesn't, Romney will trounce him in a landslide.
For all those who don't like references to Carter/Reagan: Get over it. The parallel is there. · 8 minutes ago
The comparisons gets clearer by the day. It's scary. · 2 minutes ago
It was also pointed out that when the Iranian Hostage talks broke down for the final time, Reagan went from +2 to +10 in the polls in about a 24-hour period.
Now, there's no American hostages in Libya -- yet -- but if things continue to deteriorate, Obama is really not going to look good.
May '10
Re: US Ambassador and 3 Staffers Killed in Benghazi, Libya
Herkybird
Evan Pokroy:
Obviously, the perpetrators should be hunted down and prosecuted to extent possible.
Prosecuted? Cite the statue under which you'd bring a prosecution. Do you really think the proper response to this attack is to take depositions or subject the perpetrators to a severe cross examination?
Attacking a consulate or embassy and murdering an ambassador is an act of war. · 2 hours ago
Prosecute: To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" (Tom Clancy).