"the film" - does it have a title? If so, let's have it. Or do we offend by naming it?

This film is not the reason. It started on 9/11, that was the reason. The movies is just the media's way of saying it's not the administations issue. The administation had their guard down. This was calculated at the start. Other countries are jumping in because it's convienient and becasue of social media.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/germany-opines-obamas-middle-east-policy-ruins

This is about much more than a film or Islam. Many Muslims hate the United States for several reasons. Our long occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan are factors. Stories about how some Americans treat our own citizens who are Muslims also contributes. The fact that we're a big powerful nation that sometimes tends to bully other countries certainly affects the helplessness that many feel in Muslim countries. The most important factor, I think, is our long-time support of Israel.

So this is isn't really about a film, just like earlier riots weren't really about a Florida preacher threatening to burn Korans, or our military actually doing that. Events like the movie are merely triggers that let loose much of the hatred that many Muslims have bottled up inside themselves.

It's a difficult problem that doesn't lend itself to sound bites or partisan bickering. When these riots are over, the hatred will still be there ready to be triggered by some other seemingly minor event. Too many people just see rioting people without wanting to acknowledge the underlying causes. If we continue to give them reason to hate us, and they continue to live miserable lives, we'll see it again and again.

rioters swarmed over the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia, tore down the American flag and replaced it with the black flag of al Qaeda: I

Thanks Juliette:

It's reassuring to know that these are just "small" outbreaks of violence against U.S. interests.  

I suppose the question is is this a truly emotional reaction to a film.  I would say probably not.  As one who was raised Muslim but does not practice the religion I know that most of those who go to Mosque, listen to the Imam's are merely family men and women looking to lead succesful lives.  However, I speak about Muslim's in this country.  Back in the old countries the sense of community, the sense of Ummah can be very strong.  Is it recognizable to us as American's I would say in general it is not.  We tend to band together over what we view as attacks upon the nation as a whole.  A movie attacking Baptists or Catholics would be viewed with probably bemusement, although when P****d on Christ came out Christians went a little bonkers.  However, it is not our cultural response to rise up in anger over philosophical differences.  In the Middle East it is a completely different story.  We at times forget that others are not us. It does not justify the action of the militants nor make the loss of the Ambassador any less.  I know, however, that the Ambassador would not wish to see our support for those of moderate persuasion in the Middle East be lessened.  Why?  Because he knew that this was not an American culture that their world was different and he respected the culture within which they lived.  It was his hope and it should be the hope of any reasonable person that as we work through these difficult times that we come out the other end we will be able to bring the Middle East and Islam into the modern world.

There comes a point that the United States could do well to just announce that we are a plauralistic, civil society with free speach for all and leave it at that.