It’s starting to feel like 1979. In that year, a US president turned on a flawed but vital ally in the Middle East. That turn helped usher in the Islamic Revolution in Iran, turning a nation that had been the lynchpin of US interests in the Middle East into a violent enemy.
Now it’s 2012, and President Obama’s call for the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has led to the slow-motion capture of Egypt by Islamists.
In Tehran in 1979, a student attack on the US embassy led to a protracted hostage crisis.
Today, protesters in Cairo attack the US embassy there, supposedly over a film that insults Mohammed. According to reports, about 2000 Islamist protesters have surrounded the embassy and about 20 of them have scaled the wall. Reportedly, there are no American personnel inside the embassy. The protesters took down the American flag and attempted to replace it with a black flag to symbolize Islam’s conquest.
As if to make sure that conquest proceeds apace, the US State Department released an appalling statement that amounts to bowing to the Islamists’ offense:
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 fact that the US embassy in Cairo would issue such a statement to Islamists, on 9-11 of all days, is a deep low point in American history.
Why aren’t the walls of our embassies studded with claymores for events like this?
Waiting for the day when someone says, “Hey, muslims, being offended is a fact of life. Suck it up.”
The cowards of Obama.
No, the dhimmis of Obama. Thanks to Obama the idea of sharia coming to the US is not as far fetched as it once was.
I wanted to throw up when I read that statement from Hillary’s state department. We are indeed dhimmis, getting down on all fours to kiss the backsides of Muslims while they pray to Mecca. I’m fed up with this administration, but I fear on the issues that concern Muslims, the Republicans are no better. Political Correctness will do us in yet.
It’s a lock that Obama will do nothing but appease, make excuses, and apologize about it. What a doubly sad day is today.
Kudos for the post title.
as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. As long as they don’t involve Jews or Christians. . .
Thought I’d clarify what they were actually saying.
Are there no Marines there to “repel” the protestors? Oh wait, we don’t allow them to fight back against “civilians”.
On the upside, we’re only a couple months from the election so any hostages won’t be held very long.
Just a note. Local guard forces are responsible for external Embassy security. If an Embassy perceives that they are especially threatened, host government is obliged to provide augmented security.
If host government informs the Embassy that they are unable to ensure the safety of official Americans, then a significant event has occured.
Let me guess … no link because no media covered it?
This was no spontaneous protest over a film. It was a planned attack by Islamists and the plan was published in Egyptian media. Egyptian, and presumably US intel knew about it that is why it was empty.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/egyptian-intelligence-terror-strikes-planned-for-us-israeli-embassies/
What that inane embassy statement is about I have no idea.
Must be Israel’s fault. That explains why Obama would rather do a one-on-one with The Pimp with a Limp than with Israeli PM.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/egyptian-protesters-scale-wall-of-us-embassy-in-cairo-pull-down-american-flag/2012/09/11/59312502-fc41-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html
I think BHO just lost the election.
One can hope, but this story will be ignored, minimized, spun, and explained away by our execrable media.
This event won’t receive widespread coverage in the American media. Besides, the American people are not the same as they were in 1979.
Let’s send them a billion dollars jizya so they can do it some more.
BTW, where’s Hillary?
“Reportedly, there are no American personnel inside the embassy.”
That would be contradicted by TODAY’s warning linked below from the Embassy to Americans in Egypt.
http://egypt.usembassy.gov/em091112.html
This indicates that there are US personnel there to respond to Americans in trouble in Egypt. And that they knew of the pro-9/11 Egyptian demonstrations.
#7 CraigZ
Once they breach the wall, our Marines are responsible for defending the embassy, as it is sovereign US territory. They breached the wall. I have a nephew who is now a Gunnery SGT, and who was NCOIC of the security detail at a small African embassy during Clinton’s term. Also, he helped defend the Embassy in Cyprus when it was attacked after Clinton intervened in Bosnia.
Not going to happen, because our pResident is on the side of the demonstrators; but I would be willing a) to imitate the Canadians in Iran and pull out of Egypt AND kick them out of here, b) cut off the #1 billion plus in aid we give them every year, and c) cut off grain sales to Egypt.
Egypt imports 60% of its caloric intake. They are already broke and will run out of money to buy grain by about the time of the election. Our subsidies are feeding them till then. They are being subsidized so that they will keep the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty on the Sinai. That treaty puts limits on the size and composition of Egyptian military forces in the Sinai, and they broke that as soon as Mubarak fell. Why are we still paying them? [yeah, I know why.]
On a related note, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu formally asked for a meeting with Obama at the end of the month while he is in the US for a UN conference. Even after the blatant insults he received at the White House last time, Netanyahu offered to come to the White House. This would imply that the matter is of some import, especially since there is a war expected in the Middle East. Obama refused to meet with him. That would indicate that Obama has chosen sides for the United States in the coming war.
I wonder if Mitt Romney has time to make a trip to New York to meet with Netanyahu? And how loud would the Democrats “BOO!” if he did so?
Subotai Bahadur
Essentially correct. However supervisory personnel may choose to deploy the Marines within and on top of the Chancery only. One of the Marines primary responsibilities is to safeguard classified information.
I increasingly think the State Department views its job as being the ambassador of world opinion vice being the representative of the U.S.
This entire thing is going to end in blood.
evil savages! They deserve what’s in their future (i.e. starvation)
Will happen again and again now.
Hamilcar Barcalot wrote “…evil savages! They deserve what’s in their future (i.e. starvation).” Hamilcar Barcalot should not be so severe on the Republican Party. The two dog night, Romney and Ryan(d) might win in November, and in that case, the REAL fun will begin. They will fight more wars, many killed americans, much money spent, NO TAXATION as per Grover Marx, cut out the middle class, along with taxes for the 2% and all oversight on corporate “america.” T’will be great fun.