Barack Obama, President of the United States, waited fifteen hours after the uprise began in Cairo before making a public statement. At that, he criticized Mitt Romney, not the terrorists. Remember that the media and Democrat critics (but I repeat myself) were demanding that George W. Bush return immediately to Washington, D.C. after the attacks of 9/11/01, despite the fact that the Secret Service had determined that to be too risky in the immediate aftermath. I clearly remember ABC News anchor Peter Jennings railing that Bush was not in the White House. It was a common criticism of Bush that he didn't leap out of his small chair in that elementary school classroom when he heard the news of the attacks whispered in his ear by then Chief of Staff Andy Card - Bush was reading a story to the young children. Bush remained composed and calmly told the children and their teacher that he had to leave. He kept them all calm. That was his job and he performed well. You may remember the Saturday Night Live skits, the Michael Moore movie opening scene, the journalists then claiming it was a sign that Bush was out of touch and too removed from regular life. Funny how these same people don't voice that of Barack Obama. He is proudly proclaimed No Drama Obama.
The media push has become so skewed that little questioning is done to hold President Obama's press secretary accountable when he states utter nonsense as though it is fact. When asked about burning embassies overseas and ugly, violent protests complete with burning American flags as "Death to America" chants are heard, the press secretary boldly proclaimed that these protests and murders committed were not anti-America responses. No. These heinous acts were the reactions to a fifteen minute video film trailer on the Internet that was deemed offensive and disrespectful of Islam.
Press Secretary Jay Carney quoted by Mediaite.com:
"This is a fairly volatile situation, and it is in response not to U.S. policy, not to, obviously, the administration, not to the American people. It is in response to a video--a film--that we have judged to be reprehensive and disgusting. That in no way justifies any violent reaction to it. But this is not a case of protests directed at the United States, writ large, or at U.S. policy. This is in response to a video that is offensive and--to Muslims."So, we are left with a "Film Critic- in-Chief", as one pundit said, instead of a president who understands the explosion in the Middle East is a reaction to his foreign policy carried out over the course of the last three and a half years. Press Secretary Carney now sounds eerily like Baghdad Bob from the early days of the Iraq war. It is disturbing, to say the least, and it is an insult to any thinking American, too.
The protests are anti-American protests. To say it is "obviously" otherwise is to deny reality for the sake of the president's re-election campaign. This is very dangerous stuff. Protesters have ripped down American flags and burned them, as the flags are replaced with black flags displaying pro-Islamic wording. The chants of the crowds ring out "death to America". This video trailer is fifteen minutes long and was released on the Internet two months ago. No one heard of it and there is doubt that a real full length 'film' is out there. The filmmaker is described as a crank from California.
No doubt the film is offensive to those believers of Islamic faith, if reports of the subject matter are correct. But, both Secretary of State Clinton and Barack Obama are far too busy blaming a bad video for the sentiments expressed in the Middle East. This is a direct, coordinated attack on America and it is because the policy initiatives of Barack Obama have failed. His wait and see, lead from behind manner of governing looks like weakness to those living overseas. Appeasement does not work. Ever.
Barack Obama was elected not on his experience or competence. Barack Obama was elected due to the financial meltdown late into the 2008 campaign. He was behind in the polls to John McCain well into September 2008. We all remember the campaign ad circulated by the Hillary Clinton campaign questioning Obama's ability to answer a phone call at 3:00AM for a national/international crisis.
Barack Obama began his term in office by going on an international tour, most remembered for his speech in Cairo where he all but apologized for America's leadership in the free world. It was beneath the dignity of his newly acquired office.
Three years ago in Cairo, Obama stressed his leadership would be dramatically different than former President George W. Bush’s: “I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition.”The protesters in Cairo this week were heard to be chanting, "Obama, Obama, we are all Osama". Do you think that might be some kind of reaction to Vice President Biden's boast on the campaign trail and at the Democratic National Committee's convention (during his televised prime time speech) that "bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive" ? It's a bumper sticker slogan that Joe Biden thinks is clever. Did the murdering terrorists and the Muslim demonstrators find offense in that slogan?
How about the new movie coming out that brings the demise of bin Laden to the forefront on the big screen? Shouldn't "Zero Dark Thirty" be stopped from release? How will that sit in the world of extremists? If we are to accept that all of this turmoil was brought about by a fifteen minute video trailer on You Tube, then what will a full feature movie do?
See how the argument quickly falls apart?
It is tragic that even well into Sunday, Ambassador Susan Rice was firmly relaying the White House talking point that it was all because of this video that the Middle East blew up on 9/11/12. She continued to deny advance notice that attacks were planned and coming. She refused to acknowledge the reports of concern voiced by even Ambassador Stevens himself about security. She was more concerned trying to express how 'popular' the United States is overseas. The Sunday chat shows were her venue to parrot the White House talking point and it is, in fact, her job to do so but it sure damages her credibility. The video is a convenient excuse for the attacks but to insist that the violence and murdering attacks were spontaneous is just dishonest at this point.
This is not high school. This is American foreign policy. It is not necessary to bellow about popularity or how much other countries "like" us. It is important that we are, instead, respected. Peace through strength, as President Reagan stated.
No comments:
Post a Comment