Our ambassador to Libya and three other embassy personnel were killed by an Islamist terrorist raid early Wednesday morning. The attack seemed to have been set off by an anti-Islamic film made by a California man. He calls Islam "a cancer" and depicts Muhammed as a fraud, a womanizer, and a madman in a ridiculing way.
The embassy in Cairo (not Libya) had issued a statement that "condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
After the attack, Romney put out a statement, and then held a press conference in which he doubled down on his criticism of Obama:
"I think it's a -- a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values. That instead, when our grounds are being attacked, and being breached, that the first response to the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation. And apology for America's values is never the right course."The problem is that the embassy statement was put out before the attack, in an effort to calm the increasing furor in the Islamic world over the film. Even after this was pointed out to Romney, he kept up his criticism -- adding to it by accusing Obama for showing a "lack of clarity" in his foreign policy.
Lack of clarity? From Romney?
A Republican foreign policy expert said Romney was ". . . trying to score a cheap news cycle hit based on the embassy statement and now it’s just completely blown up." He called Romney's response an "utter disaster" and likened it to John McCain's rash resoponse to the 2008 financial crisis, in which he "failed to come across as a steady leader."
A former aide to John McCain's campaign called it a "disgrace" and said Romney's foreign policy team is "not ready for prime time."
Steve Clemons, of the New America Foundation, said:
"Romney blew it and revealed how seriously maladroit he is when it comes to foreign affairs and national security. . . . Romney talks of leadership but with his reckless commentary when events were fragile and still unfolding, he belly-flopped."Obama, in his steady, calm leadership role, held a press conference in the Rose Garden and said:
"The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack. . . . We will not waiver in our commitment to see that justice is done for the terrible act; and make no mistake, justice will be done."When even your own party attacks you in the middle of a heated campaign to take the White House, you've got big problems. I just don't see this getting better for Romney -- and we haven't even had the debates yet, with all those golden opportunities to put his foot in his mouth and reveal his lack of readiness to be president.
Ralph
The full statement by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, which Romney so crassly criticized, reads as follows:
ReplyDelete"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."
In addition to the fact that it was released before the attack, the inclusion of that last line, makes Romney's attack on Obama even more off-base.
It seems that he has mis-fired on almost every opportunity he has had to act with maturity and judgment in the foreign policy arena.
Obama gave his own cool response to Romney's attack, telling CBS News:
ReplyDelete"There's a broader lesson to be learned here: Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later, and as president, one of the things I've learned is you can't do that," Obama said in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday. "It's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them."
When asked if he found Romney's statement "irresponsible," Obama responded, "I'll let the American people judge that."
Obama added to his Rose Garden statement these words:
ReplyDelete"We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, but there is no justification for this kind of violence. None."
Now let's see if Romney and Ryan continue trying to make political hay of this. I believe it will backfire on them. Trying to make Obama look like a wimp, when he ordered the risky mission that got Osama bin Laden, plus all the Al Qaeda leaders his drone attacks have brought down.
I believe the American people will see this for what it is -- and there's something shameful and juvenile in this kind of attack within hours of this kind of loss of American lives.