US Embassy Stormed in Cairo...

[Pelado]

There is a subtle nuancing there. The article says there was "credible information" but the administration says they had not "actionable" information. I would like to know more about the threat before passing judgment. What was the information? How was it different from the other threats they probably get on a daily basis? If they had a good idea this is coming, you have to wonder why they decided to ignore it. Why is the ambassador still there? Surely he is aware of what the threats are. I would not be surprised to find out they misjudged the seriousness of the threat, but the idea that they knew it was serious and didn't bother to tell anyone or didn't care about the lives of thier people doesn't make any sense. I think people get a little carried away by their dislike for the politics of the guy in charge. Most of the civil service and military folks are not political appointments, they are the same people who were there before Obama took office and they will still be there if Romney is elected.

If the article is accurate, then maybe the diplomats didn't know about the threats until it was too late to get out or take other preventative measures...

According to senior diplomatic sources, the US State Department had credible information 48 hours before mobs charged the consulate in Benghazi, and the embassy in Cairo, that American missions may be targeted, but no warnings were given for diplomats to go on high alert and "lockdown", under which movement is severely restricted.

[UtahDan]

Since they took no action, of course they didn't consider the information to be "actionable." No shit. They were wrong -- the real question is what kind of information they had.

Islamic Democracy is a horrible thing in 2012 and makes me feel like the dictators should be brought back. Maybe in a few decades things will be different if education and secularism can prevail over ignorance and superstition.

I like your new avatar, but it makes me feel anxiety that your enthusiasm will cause you to do something unwise that will get you hurt. Let's hope not!

[pellegrino]

There is a subtle nuancing there. The article says there was "credible information" but the administration says they had not "actionable" information. I would like to know more about the threat before passing judgment. What was the information? How was it different from the other threats they probably get on a daily basis? If they had a good idea this is coming, you have to wonder why they decided to ignore it. Why is the ambassador still there? Surely he is aware of what the threats are. I would not be surprised to find out they misjudged the seriousness of the threat, but the idea that they knew it was serious and didn't bother to tell anyone or didn't care about the lives of thier people doesn't make any sense. I think people get a little carried away by their dislike for the politics of the guy in charge. Most of the civil service and military folks are not political appointments, they are the same people who were there before Obama took office and they will still be there if Romney is elected.

come on. shoot first, aim later.

[UtahDan]

If the article is accurate, then maybe the diplomats didn't know about the threats until it was too late to get out or take other preventative measures...

If someone decided to not to tell them, then whoever made that decision should be fired. I really, really doubt that is the case. Also, diplomatic sources (who work for the State Dept.) say that the State Dept knew? In other word, they knew, but they are claiming other diplomats didn't know? Obviously I'm missing some information there.

[UtahDan]

come on. shoot first, aim later.

Obama has looked pretty good in all this, you know. Are we really supposed to believe he didn't orchestrate this? The truth will out.

[pellegrino]

Obama has looked pretty good in all this, you know. Are we really supposed to believe he didn't orchestrate this? The truth will out.

it was a joke, UD. a poorly executed one, but it was a joke.

[UtahDan]

it was a joke, UD. a poorly executed one, but it was a joke.

Oh, I know. I was adding my sarcasm to yours.

[il Padrino Ute]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...n-8135797.html

I'm not one to think that this administration knew about it before it happened, despite the fact that I think Obama is a cowardly Marxist pussy who believes that appeasement is how to deal with enemies.

Until I see concrete evidence that he knew, I'll just say that this is a result of Obama's incompetence in foreign policy and his idiotic naivete that supporting the overthrow of an allied President in Egypt would never be a problem down the road.

[Pelado]

I'm not one to think that this administration knew about it before it happened, despite the fact that I think Obama is a cowardly Marxist pussy who believes that appeasement is how to deal with enemies.

Until I see concrete evidence that he knew, I'll just say that this is a result of Obama's incompetence in foreign policy and his idiotic naivete that supporting the overthrow of an allied President in Egypt would never be a problem down the road.

I don't think that article indicates that Obama knew - only that some* in the State Department had credible info that didn't get disseminated to the right people in time.

That may be part of the problem, though. When was the last time Obama had attended a daily intelligence briefing prior to the attacks?

* I have no idea how high ranking these State Department personnel would have been, and whether or not they passed it up the chain or just failed to disseminate themselves...or if the article is even correct.

[UtahDan]

I don't think that article indicates that Obama knew - only that some* in the State Department had credible info that didn't get disseminated to the right people in time.

That may be part of the problem, though. When was the last time Obama had attended a daily intelligence briefing prior to the attacks?

* I have no idea how high ranking these State Department personnel would have been, and whether or not they passed it up the chain or just failed to disseminate themselves...or if the article is even correct.

I think we all agree that it's going to be important to figure out why we weren't ready for this, whether it was a failure of decision making or a failure of intelligence. It may even be the case that we did everything right and that you simply can't anticipate everything properly.

[il Padrino Ute]

I think we all agree that it's going to be important to figure out why we weren't ready for this, whether it was a failure of decision making or a failure of intelligence. It may even be the case that we did everything right and that you simply can't anticipate everything properly.

Correct. Just like that awful day of Sept. 11, 2001.

[YOhio]

Handy map with information on U.S. embassy protests throughout the world.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/globa...d-world/56865/

[pellegrino]

Oh, I know. I was adding my sarcasm to yours.

man, I was really off yesterday.

[YOhio]

U.S. Embassy in Tunisia.

[Moliere]

U.S. Embassy in Tunisia.

Is Obama still in Vegas or is he at the Jay-z concert today? I'm having a hard time keeping up with his demanding schedule.