“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.”
I am shocked that anyone would politicize this critical situation. I believe Mr. Romney’s behavior has been disgraceful.
Romney’s statements do not stand the test of chronology.
TIMELINE of events in Cairo and Libya
Not a bad statement.
As I’ve said earlier, Romney should have kept quiet. And I posted a link to National Review that also posted a time line and pointed out that Romney’s timing sucked.
There’s always time to criticize later.
However, I think that Romney was speaking about the statement in Cairo and thought that it had come after the Egypt riots.
“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”
“The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government.”
But I wonder, what part of the above statement is worth disavowing? And for what reason? If its a valid statement that the gov’t feels supports our principles, why disavow it? If its not, then what is it that the gov’t finds objectionable? Because, while I feel that the statement is inappropriate, I find it interesting that the gov’t agrees with me.
Or could it be a “disavowal” to CYA?
The disavow part has to do with it not being the official position of the United States govt. after having a consulate and an embassy breached and over-run. Perhaps disavow is the wrong word but it worked for the moment.
why does every effen word have to go under a microscope?
There are embassy statements, and there are official statements by White House and the State Department. Obviously the situation was way beyond what was described in the Cairo statement.
Yes, Romney got it wrong. He thought…he needs to make sure he is certain about what is being said before he shoots off his mouth and sounds like a moron.
His own party isn’t coming to his rescue either because once again, he made an AH of himself. He simply isn’t ready for the job he is running for. Take him out of the USA and he turns into a bumbling idiot.
I am still sitting here in disbelief that he would say the things he has said. I can’t remember a presidential candidate ever doing the bluster and bumble quite this badly.
@Moon-howler
The disavowal part is on the later Romney thread. The statement was disapproved because of wording…..the exact wording that Romney and I both dislike. Go figure.
It was hard for then candidate Obama to stumble when the press was presenting him a golden tongued orator that was the second coming.
snark alert.
Actually, Obama said that there was only one president and his name is President Bush.
That’s a little more class than Romney has shown the past 2 days.
Romney needs to shut up and let those in charge handle the very volatile situation. Romney is simply a distraction right now.
I can’t express how disappointed I am in him.
Actually, Obama said that there was only one president and his name is President Bush.
Yeah…then. But he sure criticized the war in the Iraq theater before that.
Disappointed in him? Why? He’s just another politician with a need to be seen doing something. However, his criticism is justified. The first responses did sympathize with any possibly offended people BEFORE decrying the attacks. That’s called speaking from weakness. http://washingtonexaminer.com/romney-is-right-in-embassy-incidents-obama-administrations-first-instinct-was-to-sympathize-with-attackers/article/2507749?custom_click=rss#.UFFil6PdtQJ
This whole episode is a disaster. Funny how Mitt was willing to be grilled by the press, now known to be coordinating their hostile questions, while Obama refused to answer any foreign policy questions at all. That’s called “voting present.” http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/12/dueling-pressers-romney-takes-questions-obama-doesnt-on-egypt-libya-attacks/
I’m having flashbacks to 1979 and Iran.
They must be high school flash backs. re Iran.
Why can’t Obama or anyone else criticize being in Iraq? is that off limits? I criticized some of it also, especially all the contract workers making 4 times more than our troops.
Actually I thought Romney had more on the ball and that he had more class. I was obviously wrong.
Again, look at the chronology. The statements were not responses to an embassy breach. Please just go read the chronology. You are not correct.
Furthermore, if they did, their ass was on the line, yours was sitting on your computer. You are second guessing someone who, if you are right and I am wrong, (and the chronology is wrong) was very much in harm’s way. That was not an apology. I am getting tired of hearing that it is.
That last statement is absurd. Don’t be a rube. How could Romney respond to foreign policy questions?> He isn’t in the chain of command. Why should Obama take any questions on foreign policy. They are in the middle of a frigging crisis in 2 different countries. Its about 2 am now and they just got Cairo secured. I am not sure who “they” are. The situation is still very explosive. Obama needs to handle what he needs to handle. I feel certain it doesn’t involve answering 65 questions by some dumb ass reporter who wants to play gotcha.
@Cargosquid
How do you know? Did Obama or Clinton call to brief you?
We really don’t know what they did or why they did it at this point.
Ok, apparently we are talking past each other.
Whose statements? The embassy’s or Romney’s.
The EMBASSY issued an apology about the video prior to the demonstrations, trying to preempt the demonstrations. Never works.
Romney commented about THAT embassy statement and the admin’s statements about the attacks. got the timing wrong.
“Furthermore, if they did, their ass was on the line” Unsure as to who you are talking about.
” That was not an apology. I am getting tired of hearing that it is. ”
Tell that to the State Department.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/12/inside_the_public_relations_disaster_at_the_cairo_embassy
One staffer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo was responsible for the statement and tweets Tuesday that have become grist for the presidential campaign, and that staffer ignored explicit State Department instructions not to issue the statement, one U.S. official close to the issue told The Cable.
Schwartz sent the statement to the State Department in Washington before publishing and the State Department directed him not to post it without changes, but Schwartz posted it anyway.
“The statement was not cleared with anyone in Washington. It was sent as ‘This is what we are putting out,'” the official said. “We replied and said this was not a good statement and that it needed major revisions. The next email we received from Embassy Cairo was ‘We just put this out.'”
“Frankly, people here did not understand it. The statement was just tone deaf. It didn’t provide adequate balance. We thought the references to the 9/11 attacks were inappropriate, and we strongly advised against the kind of language that talked about ‘continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.'”
___________________________
The State Dept seems to have the same concerns about that statement as did Romney and myself, for the same reasons.
At no time should a gov’t agency decry our use of freedoms. We can decry the content, but at the same time reinforce the fact that we have the freedom to do such.
As for the questions…if Romney isn’t President, why did he get a coordinated grilling? As you say…he can’t actually make policy and if he followed your logic, couldn’t answer.
And Obama should have said SOMETHING. Refusing to take ANY questions is wrong. He doesn’t know what was going to be asked. Answering to the public is part of his freaking job.
Cargo, maybe you were still in bed asleep. Yesterday Romney took the embassy statement and blamed the Obama administration for it. It wasn’t an apology. It doesn’t matter if it was. You can call it what you want on your blog. Here, please refer to it as the Cairo embassy statement so we aren’t talking past each other.
If you agree that Romney should have shut up,why are you still arguing about it?
You are aware that the link is not to an official state department website? You are aware that the word “apology” is not being used by the state department?
Right now that is just all rumor and innuendo and really something I don’t give a rat’s ass about. They issued it. If they disobeyed then Hillary can fire them or put them in the naughty chair.
The point is, a presidential candidate called the President of the United States “disgraceful” in the middle of a crisis. That’s really all I care about as far as who said what to whom. I think Romney’s behavior makes him unfit for office. Every time he attempts foreign policy he bungles it.
I am aware that I supported Romney getting the nomination. I was wrong. I should have gone for the long shot, Huntsman.