Our embassy in Egypt, fresh from being attacked by the perpetually outraged Islamists who can always find an excuse for mayhem, released a statement on the attack so decidedly milquetoast in its sentiments that Zwieback is stiff by comparison:
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 government of the United States is blaming its own citizens for an attack by crazed Islamists, who tore down the American flag and replaced it with the black flag of al-Qaeda.
The black flag, which hangs atop a ladder inside the compound, is adorned with white characters that read, “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger,” an emblem often used in al Qaeda propaganda.
It was unclear which film upset the protesters.
Others in the crowd expressed their grievances over U.S. policy, chanting anti-American slogans and holding up bits of a shredded American flag to television camera crews.
An embassy operator told CNN that the compound had been cleared of diplomatic personnel earlier Tuesday, ahead of the apparent threat, while Egyptian riot police and the army were called in.
Several individuals claimed responsibility for organizing the demonstrations, including Salafist leader Wesam Abdel-Wareth, who is president of Egypt’s conservative Hekma television channel.
Mohammed al-Zawahiri — the brother of al Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri — added that “we called for the peaceful protest joined by different Islamic factions including the Islamic Jihad, Hazem Abu Ismael movement.”
“We were surprised to see the big numbers show up including the soccer Ultra fans,” he said. “I just want to say, how would the Americans feel if films insulting leading Christian figures like the pope or historical figures like Abraham Lincoln were produced?”
The film was an excuse. If this wasn’t a deliberate slap in the face to the US on 9/11, the Islamists couldn’t have planned it better. Raising the flag of those who murdered 3,000 of our citizens on the anniversary of that attack is a deeply wounding action — and our government responds by mouthing ridiculous platitudes about “religious freedom” and “democracy” as if the Muslim Brotherhood and their Salifis allies care a whit about such things.
And the pitiful, groveling statement of our government regarding this outrage — apologizing for some non-existent, or imagined slight instead of expressing the American people’s outrage at this violation of international law and common decency — guarantees it will happen again.
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